Chapter 13: Waiting is Always the Worst Part
Three months passed by. During those three long increments of time the dwarves carved through the main mountain like a drill. The main pathways and supports were finished with all the rooms the goblins would ever need and more. The most concerning action was to fill those rooms and tunnels with new decorations. There had to be indoor water supplies, plumbing, tiles, lights, trees, flowers, furniture, and so on. Some of the goblins were commissioned to help with building stables on the other side of the mountain while others joined with the dwarves on the homemaking expedition. Some elves helped here and there, but adults kept together and away from the mismatched race. Inanna was included in the majority of the pretty elves.
Inanna wove garments in her assigned tent. Her little sister wove with her, though her skills were no match to the older woman's experienced magic and skilled fingers.
"Lendil and I gathered flowers yesterday." The girl jabbered in elfish. Loss of concentration caused the girl to forget a crucial increment of the spell, and the swatch she was weaving shriveled. Her lower lip trembled, but she picked up the tangled yarn and began afresh.
"Do not get too attached, sister. He will either steal you, or you will be forced to marry that monster." Inanna said in a ghostly tone.
"He is not a monster! Even if I am to marry him, I would not mind at all!" Enanatuma preached. She got up and exited the tent in a hurry. Inanna shrugged, continuing her labor. Her sister will learn soon enough. The gorgeous woman thought of Lord No Star and scowled, soiling her own weaving. She made no move to mend her mistakes.
"Let's spend time together, he says. Every night that he's able to, he says." Mabrey grumbled at the opposite side of the valley. She finished her duties of the day, which included cooking for the campsite and lending a hand over at the makeshift stables. Even after the never ending hours of work, she still had time to head over to where Marak had kissed her that one time three months ago. At first, he had kept his promise. He came every night and talked with her until both were content for the day. It was only when Lord No Star, with his never ending proposals, stepped in was when Mabrey saw less and less of Marak. She still had her friends, but none of them could fill the hole Marak had left behind. That did not mean she did not try to fill it.
While Marak was away and she was done with her chores, Mabrey spent time with the goblin and elven children. They tore through the books both races studied, Mabrey learning alongside them. Slowly Mabrey progressed from simply speaking odd goblin phrases to whole sentences and more. She could hold a small conversation and sometimes longer. Her elfish still needed work, but the children, Enanatuma included, always corrected her. She adored these children and their thirst for knowledge. It reminded her of her own forgotten desire to succeed in life as a knowledgeable human being. How long had it been since she forgot?
But now, sitting under the comfort of leafless trees, Mabrey felt more alone then she had since her time before Marak. She sighed deeply. He was not coming tonight and that was that. Yet she stayed planted on the ground, her knees up to her chest.
"You are so quiet and small. I always mistake you for an elf when I see you like that." Lord No Star announced himself and emerged from the darkness like a specter. Mabrey jumped, despite herself. He always used his strange elf ability to blend in with the forest and scare her.
Tonight was the night of the new moon. It was completely dark. Lord No Star peered up at the sky then back down at her.
"But then all I have to do is look at you, and I am corrected."
"If all you have to say is something rude, then you best be on your way. I am not in the mood tonight," Mabrey said. She grew used to politely being called ugly, but the absence of Marak tonight made her grumpy. Currently, she wanted to tear the elf's head off.
"Forgive me. I am merely telling you the truth. Next time, I will lie."
"All right. Have a nice night. I am leaving."
"Wait, I promise I shall behave." Lord No Star was serious now. His black eyes narrowed. "My true purpose here was not to heckle you. I solely wanted to ask you a question." Mabrey saw no harm in answering whatever he wanted. What harm could ensue? She permitted him to continue. "Why is it that you wait for Pantherclaw here each night when you know that he will not return to you?"
"We promised." Mabrey kept it simple, not wishing to delve deeper into herself and answer that question truthfully. Not for Lord No Star, but for her.
"Is that all? Interesting…" He made a motion to leave.
"Now it is my turn," Mabrey said. "Why is your name Lord No Star and not Lord Ash?" That stopped the elf King where he was. After a few moments, Mabrey began to wonder if she really should have said a word. What right did she have to ask this of an elf King? She gulped, but remained silent. It was too late now.
"My father was named Lord Ash," Lord No Star began. "He was pure bred, strong, intelligent, and proud. But he fell in love with an elf woman. So in the name of that love, they married. Despite what his magic told him…warned him of…the two had a child. This child's magic was unleashed in a wave of destructive power, killing both Lord Ash and his elf wife. All this because of love. All this under a night sky with no stars." His teeth flashed as he let out a low growl. "And here you sit waiting for one who will not come. Why?" The elf King knelt so he could be at eyelevel with Mabrey. "You sit here crying."
"I'm so sorry. I did not mean to hurt you with remembering," Mabrey said. Tears silently flowed down her cheeks. She placed a tiny hand on Lord No Star's cheek. He closed his eyes and the both stayed in that position for what seemed days upon days long. It was almost soothing.
"Your hair should be let down. It looks better that way," He said, ending any breakthrough. He stood and peered down at her. "Maybe you can become somewhat appealing if you do so." After he left, Mabrey noticed that the hair tie used to tame her thick locks was gone.
"And if you had a better attitude, you might actually be attractive," Mabrey mumbled, mimicking the elf King's accent. She plopped onto the grassy floor and closed her eyes, close to sleep. A twig snapped purposefully just a few yards away from the half asleep girl. Mabrey was up in mere seconds.
"Such a feisty little cat!" Marak boomed. He put out his arms, expecting a hug, but Mabrey only stood in one spot with her eyes narrowed and arms crossed.
"Nope. You made me wait."
"And stubborn, too!" The tall goblin rushed forward, snatching the girl up easily in the arms that originally wanted an embrace. She wondered if it would be worth struggling against his strong arms, and decided against it. There was a limit to how stubborn she could be. Wherever they were going, it was only right she should be carried for the long wait Marak made her go through.
"I really am sorry for being tardy. I was completing the longest project I have ever taken upon myself to do. I want your approval, if you do not mind." Mabrey wrapped her arms around the goblin's neck and rested her head on his chest. Not too long ago, she would have paled from any contact with this man yet alone actually feeling comfortable enough to fall asleep in his arms.
"Hello there! Hey Mabrey! Marak!" Dani had spotted the two figures materializing from the forest and had walked up to greet them. Mabrey, suddenly embarrassed, wriggled out of Marak's arms and to her feet. "What are you two up to?" Somehow, Mabrey did not like the dangerous tone laced under Dani's regular voice.
"You can come with us if you desire to," Marak offered. Dani nodded, her straightened hair bouncing.
"Oh, yes. It is Gresh's turn to look after Sasha, so it is my night off. May Beth come too?" Beth appeared by Dani's side, smiling.
"Why not?"
By the time Marak and Mabrey had arrived inside the mountain, Dani, Beth, Shamus, most of the workers, Lendil's group of children, and Enanatuma along with other elf children were gathered in. The door that guarded Hollow Hill's entrance had not been placed in the hole carved out for it here as of yet, so all non-goblins were allowed to exit whenever they pleased.
This was the first time Mabrey had seen the progress the dwarves had made in the past three months. She tried to keep her mouth closed and failed. Yes, it was dark, yet electric torches lit the whitewashed hallway. The beginnings of bright and detailed murals on those walls enchanted the girl, and she fought to pay attention to where she stepped. The floors were tiled in vast mosaics resembling Roman's archaic era. In one room, there were the beginnings of trees and flowers carved from sparkling jewels and marble. As they passed into one of the larger chambers, Mabrey saw a large hill that looked at if they were planning to convert it into a waterfall. They went by some completed rooms as well. Some obtained the strange rock trees, still incomplete, that imitated a natural forest. Others had gorgeous beds, tables, chairs, and modern necessities such as lamps, telephones, computers, and televisions. One room was comprised of more electronics than the technologies office back at Mabrey's college.
Merely one other room seized Mabrey's interest, and that was the one lined with books upon books. It was vast and exciting. The room wanted to steal her away with its enticing smell of fresh books and well sought knowledge. Mabrey bit her lip and tried her best to stay away. At last, the group halted when Marak turned around to face them. They were all now inside the highest part of the mountain. The top was so far above ground that it could not be seen from where they were at. It was nothing but a black hole.
"If I timed this right, which I know I did, the sun is about to rise. Before it does, take a closer look." The group did as they were instructed. Mabrey noticed it first.
"That is the sky. See? There are stars." Mabrey and the other stared in open mouthed astonishment. Small glittering speck graced the black hole as a cool breeze wafted through. "But what will happen when the sun comes up. Will it harm you?"
"This is where the sunrise comes in." They simply remained still for five or so minutes more until the stars were replaced with the dullest of golden light. It was a poor sunrise to say the least. "I placed a spell that will allow the night sky in, and most of the sunlight out. What you are seeing right now is the sun, only dimmed." Marak glanced at Mabrey, searching for approval. "Since non-goblin wives usually spend most of their time inside our dark hallways, I thought this would be a nice touch. It also reminds me of the lake back at Hollow Hill."
"I think it is wonderful. Now that I know what you were spending so much of your time with, I think I can let you off the hook for now." Mabrey stared at the sun spot, hoping to learn more about magic. It appeared to be a very interesting topic. Maybe Marak could teach her. Soon, the group departed from the cavern, leaving the Goblin King and Mabrey alone.
"I missed you," Marak said softly. His low and tender tone of voice caught Mabrey by surprise. She twirled around to meet his eyes with hers. "I made this for you, you know. And this was not exactly the easiest of magic. I first had to read the records of how the lake was completed and then I needed to construct a similar spell that was appropriate for the mountain. Also…" Mabrey rolled her eyes and closed the distance between them, lending her arms for an embrace.
"Fine, I get it. It was really difficult, yet you made it for me. Thank you." She hugged him close and sighed when his arms found their way around her waist. Honestly, she could have stayed like that forever. She let herself get caught when she had desperately tried to free herself so many times before. What had changed, and why did she let it do so?
"Mabrey, I know now is not the time, but I have to tell you." Marak pulled back to gaze adoringly at her. Mabrey's stomach dropped and her heart sped up to a crazy pace. She grasped at his hands, taking a breath for this moment. "Mabrey, I l-"
"HOW COULD YOU DO THIS?! WHAT WERE YOU THINKING, YOU HORRIBLE SISTER?!"
To say the least, anyone about to profess love would come to a dead stop after hearing screams like that.