A week had passed already, and Lily was leaning against the ruins of Magrog's workshop, sipping at a cold glass of water as she watched Malroth and the miners flex at each other before the last run into the mine for the evening when Dougie waved her over. "Ya might be scrawny, but you can try to flex wiv us!"

She laughed and ran over, flexing with them, twisting to show off the little, but hardy muscles in her arms. Her laughter grew when Digby roared with laughter. "Lookit them muscles! Yer a bon-a-fide Khrumbul-Dunner now!" He smashed his fists against his chest before pointing to the mines. "Le's get the last of the days' work done, boys!"

Lily started to run after them when Babs came up, stopping her. "Lily… you're 'eadin' back down into the mine, ain'tcha?" She gave a sheepish smile, holding out a small sack. "It's nothin' much, I know, but I made it 'specially for you – in case you get peckish."

Lily opened the small sack, seeing three sticks of cooked mushrooms. She beamed as she tucked them away. "Thanks, Babs! I'm excited to eat 'em later!" She watched Babs run off again, she flinched when Digby was suddenly in her face. "Hey!"

"Oi! Wot she jus' give ya?! Where's mine?! It ain't fair!" Digby stomped around, growling about how he wanted Babs to make him something for his trip into the mines.


Lily ran after she lit the bomb, jumping down into the little hole that the miners had dug. She let Malroth cover her, letting him have the peace of mind that she was safe as the wall beyond them crumbled with the explosion. They all peeked over, seeing a little bit of the wall was left. Lily lit another and tossed it, ducking to avoid the flying debris. One more peek, and the miners took off through the new opening in the mine.

Lily grabbed Malroth's hand, yanking him along with her to go explore the new area of the mines when Malroth pulled back hard, eyes on the cart on the tracks next to them. "What's that crate doing on the rail tracks?"

Dougie glanced over, seeing what Malroth was talking about. "Wot, that old fing?" He let out a laugh and slapped Malroth on the shoulder. "Tha's not a crate, Malroff. That there's a minecart. This is an ol' loadin' station." He looked to Lily, a low whistle leaving him. "If only we could mend the tracks and connect it back to the base station…" He saw the gleam of a challenger sparkling in her eyes before tipping his head to an area just behind her. "There ol' tracks back that way, if ya feel like fixin' 'em up."

Malroth let out a groan, knowing that Dougie all but challenged Lily on purpose to rebuild the tracks, and she fell for it, hook line and sinker. He looked up, seeing the sky peeking out in between the two areas of the mines, a frown on his lips as he quickly grabbed Lily before she could take off. "Nah-uh. It's getting dark, we aren't staying up all night so you can rebuild tracks."

"But, Mal!"

"No buts!"

"I can do it super quick!"

"Four hours isn't super quick!"

"Mal!"

Malroth moved quicker than she did, easily pinning Lily against the dirt wall, growling at her as his hands slammed against the wall on either side of her shoulders. "Do I have to put you over my shoulder and carry you back to Khrumbul-Dun? You need sleep." Something ignited in him when she dropped down and took off along the old tracks, he watched her run; glancing at him over her shoulder with laughter on her lips. "You wanna play a game of cat and mouse?"

When Lily looked back, she saw a dark warning in those vibrant red eyes. Part of her knew she shouldn't run from Malroth, not with how that dark energy had coursed through him; but she couldn't help herself, he was fun to mess with. She ran, leading in this game of chase through the mines. She let out a squeal when Malroth's longer legs allowed him to easily catch her before she could get to the extra tracks. She squirmed in his hold, gasping through laughter when he tossed her over his shoulder and carried her back to town.


Lily laid the last piece of track, grinning as the late morning sun beat down on the bridge between the two areas. She looked over, seeing Malroth's watchful gaze from where he sat on the loading station. He had one leg propped up and his elbow resting on his knee as he used a whetstone to sharpen the axe she had made him back in Furrowfield. "What?" She frowned when Malroth lifted a brow at her like he was waiting on her to do something. "I'm sorry there aren't any monsters down here, Mal, I can't just-" she lifted her hand as she spoke and snapped her fingers. "and there be monsters magically in front of us."

A loud scream had the two looking at the new, unexplored area of the mines, attention perked as Dougie and a few other miners came sprinting out and across the bridge. A small horde of Hargon fighters running after them. Malroth was grinning as he got up, swinging his axe to the side as he walked to the middle of the bridge. "As you were saying, Lily."

Lily felt a chill run up her spine, but at the same time, butterflies attacked her belly when he looked back at her, making her a little light headed. "I'm not going to try that, ever again." She looked back at Dougie and the other miners, giving them a soft smile. "We got ya boys, don't worry."

The two set to work on the moles and the skeleton, Lily took out the moles with ease before going to help Malroth with the skeleton. She stopped though, seeing he was easily swinging his axe one-handed when a month ago he had been wielding it two-handed. "Huh… new weapon for Mal… noted."

When Malroth finished off the skeleton, Dougie came over, sheepishly grinning at them. "Mind helping us blow through a few walls of rock?"


Malroth was sitting next to Tiny and Goldirox on the declaration post, his eyes trained on Lily and Babs who were giggling and drinking their own Digger's Jiggers inside the skeleton of the bar. Lily had been working on setting up the walls of the bar when Babs had asked her to share a drink. He sipped on his own drink, gulping down the sweet pink liquid like it was nothing.

"You should be careful drinking that. You might have a fast metabolism and your body might heal itself quickly, but Den doesn't go lightly on the alcohol in those." Tiny warned, looking up at Malroth.

"What are they giggling about?" Mal growled, his eyes narrowing as he tried to focus despite his clouded mind. "Lily seems flustered. She seemed flustered to you?"


"You an' Mal seem real close, Lily." Babs grinned, putting her hand on Lily's. "Are you two a thing?"

"Wh-What? N-No… no! That's silly, Babs!" Lily grabbed her drink in both hands, using it to hide her face. "What makes you say something so silly?"

"Cause, you's beat red and you look at him with the stars in your eyes." Babs grinned and leaned against the table the two were sitting at. She glanced over, seeing Malroth watching them. "And he sure is protective over ya."

"Th-that's just because he thinks I'm a weakling who can't hold her own, it's-" Lily's eyes shot wide open and she went into a fit of stammers when Babs kissed her forehead.

"You should tell him how ya feel, Lily. I think you'd be surprised what that big ball of destruction would have to say. You haven't heard him bite at the miners when they say you're scrawny." She patted the other girls' head, smiling. "Now, I'm headin' to bed, I'll save the two spots next to me so you and Mal have a spot to rest."

When Babs went to go find a spot to sleep, Digby came over, muscles tight as he approached the still flustered Lily. "Oi! Builder! I ain't wantin' to cause problems wiv ya, but Babs is my girl! I'll 'ave ya know!"

A few other builders came over, jeering at Lily who was still fried in reaction to Babs. Malroth jumped down, his knees wobbling beneath him as he started over to Lily when Goldirox jumped up, brilliant eyes blazing down at the miners. "BABS ANGEL. BABS KIND. BABS IS MINE. ME LIKE BABS TOO!"

"Hey now!" Magrog came over, eyes narrowed on the miners. "Babs has looked up to me since she was a tot! If anyone deserves her affection, it's me-!"

"The only reason Babs looks up to you, is because you're taller than she is." Malroth growled as he grabbed Lily, hiding her against his side. "And no one belongs to anyone else, 'cause right now, you all belong to Lily and me! You mine the ore she needs," he jabbed a finger at the miners before looking to Magrog again. "And you teach her how to work it! As far as I'm concerned, you're all meat heads who wouldn't know what to do with yourselves if it weren't for Babs and Lily!"

"MALROTH AND LILY DO ME FAVOR. I LIKE YOU. I LIKE BABS. BABS DRESS UP PRETTY FOR ME." Everyone turned to Goldi, the miners' eyes almost bugged out of their helmets at his words.

"SHE'S GONNA BE A DANCIN' GIRL?!" Dougie gasped, fists flying at the air. "Got my spirits up with those words, Goldi!"

"THAT'S IT. I AIN'T TAKIN' NOTHIN' FROM ANY OF YA! You're all my rivals for Babs' affection! 'Specially you, builder!" Dougie jabbed a finger at Lily before storming off, the miners following him.

"What… just happened, Mal?" Lily looked up at him, confusion written on her face.

"Hell, if I know."


Malroth was back on his perch at the declaration post, his muscles were aching from all the mining he was helping with down below while Lily was busy fixing the town up. It was entertaining to him; watching Babs give Lily food and in turn, watching the miners go nuts over the small gesture. The water he drank sent a cooling sensation from the back of his throat all the way down to his toes. Den had gotten stricter on not making Digger's Jigger when the sun was peaked, but nighttime was fair game for the miners and the others.

He gave a tilt of his head as Lily placed few blocks of wall for the pub. She quickly moved on though, building up a place for everyone to sleep in. Dougie had said the smaller the better, not that Malroth agreed, he wasn't as fond of muscle-bound men bumping up against him while he slept. Lily only laughed as she promised him that she would make them a place to sleep before too long.

Lily was bounding all over the place, so much so that Malroth could barely keep track of her as she worked on the sleeping quarters and a small kitchen for Babs. Halfway through the day though, he finally caught sight of her again. She was panting and looked like she was going to be sick as her skin glowed with magic. He got up and grabbed her, tucking her hand in his elbow. "C'mon, time to ring that bell before you explode."

Lily gave a nod and leaned on Malroth as he helped her up the stairs to the bell. She fumbled with her hammer, it felt so heavy against her sore arms as she lifted it over her head. The hammer fell against the bell, but it was enough of a strike that the magic poured from Lily into the ringing wave that pulsed through the town. She slumped down onto the stairs, sighing with relief as the built-up magic left her. "Tiny, do you think I'll ever get used to that amount of magic?"

"I do hope so." Tiny landed on her shoulder, nuzzling against her cheek. "Until then, Malroth and I will keep an eye on you, make sure you don't absorb too much of their gratitude."

"Wot's goin' on 'ere?!"

The small ground gathered around the bell looked over, seeing six more miners and another man standing just beyond the bell. "I'm building. And Mining." Lily stood, letting Malroth help her up as she made her way down to them.

"Sinner." The man huffed; his dark eyes wide with surprise. "We should go tell the Underseer right away!"

"Why would ya do that?"

The man's eyes nearly popped from his skull when Babs came around and stood next to Lily and Malroth. "Oh… my…" He let out a cry when the butt of Lily's hammer was tapped against his chin. "Wh-what are you doing?!"

"Helping you hold your jaw in place." Lily frowned at the man. "C'mon, you miners can have some Digger's Jigger and fresh food if you mine some ore for us." She turned to go back to work when the man grabbed her arm. Malroth went to step in when Lily pulled away on her own, a frown fixed on her lips. "Excuse you."

"My name is Serge; I'll be staying here as well. If for nothing else than to save this beauty from your sinful ideas."

"Great. Just what we need, a freeloader." Malroth snarled when Serge waved his arms to point out Babs as the beauty he was referring to.


Lily sat next to Malroth the next morning, looking over the budding town, a grin on her lips. "I feel like things are moving a lot more smoothly here than they did on Furrowfield. We were getting bombarded by monsters back on the farm, we've only dealt with a few in the mines recently."

"I don't want to get too comfortable though, we should keep ourselves sharp in case monsters come in for an attack." Malroth harped as they both leaned back, flinching some when their hands touched. They looked in between them, seeing that Malroth had put his hand on top of Lily's. He looked up at Lily whose face was steadily getting redder the longer they sat like that.

Before they could react though, Dougie ran up to them, bouncing around excitedly. "Lily! Malroff! We found the iron site! We need ya to fix a scaffolding up so we can mine it!"


The trio stared up at the busted scaffolding, iron sparkling up at the top of it. Lily turned to go to the workbench she had brought down when Malroth grabbed her hand, making her look at him. "Lil. Can I give this building stuff a try again?"

Lily looked down at their hands, her heart skipping a few beats before looking up into Malroth's excited eyes. "Go for it." She gave him a warm smile as she followed him to the bench. She crossed her arms and cocked a hip up onto the table, watching as he did everything exactly as he had seen her do it. Her smile started to grow when she saw a part of a ladder forming. She saw his excitement growing as well; until it crumbled when he picked it up to show it off to her.

"What the FUCK?!" Malroth snarled, his fists slamming down on the table. "Why can't I make anything?! Everyone else can! Why can't I?!" He went to hit the table again when Lily was suddenly there, her soft fingers on his cheeks, they were cool against his burning skin. He leaned into her touch; his eyes squeezed shut. "Maybe that voice was right… maybe I am just a master of destruction."

"Mal, you know I don't mind building things. And I'll build whatever you need whenever you need it, besides, who else is going to slice and dice monsters for me?" She laughed when his eyes opened again, meeting hers. "C'mon, let's build this scaffold so we can get some iron and go back up top."

Malroth stood under Lily a little while later, ready to catch her if she slipped as she placed the last bit of ladder. When she climbed to the top she looked down, smiling at him. "C'mon! My hammer isn't strong enough to collect all of this iron!"

Malroth rushed up the ladder, the miners right after him as they all started working at the iron deposits. He pulled back after gathering a bit of iron, frowning at his axe. "I'll need another axe soon, Lil. This one is starting to crack."

Lily looked over as she dropped the iron nuggets in her bag, she reached over, touching the blade. "When we get back up top, I'll make a new one for you." She looked to Dougie who was working hard at mining. "We're going to head back; I think I have enough iron to last me until you all get back this evening."

"Before you go, can we go down a little farther? Make sure there aren't any monsters that need clearing out?" Dougie turned to them before climbing back down to the base of the scaffolding.

The three made their way down a little way, seeing a large wall looming over them. It wasn't like the other cave ins; this was harder stone. Lily placed one of the explosives and ducked for cover with the others, frowning when the explosive had done nothing but scorch the wall. "Alright… so if those can't do anything, then my hammer definitely won't." She sighed and shook her head at Dougie. "I'll try to come up with a stronger explosive, until then, we're stuck with what iron we have here."


Magrog watched as Lily put up pub signs and large dart boards for the miners. He glanced over, seeing Malroth walk in and talk to Babs and Digby who were laughing and throwing darts at a board that Lily had placed earlier that afternoon. He waved to Lily, quietly waving her over. "Lily, I gotta ask; what's going on between you and Babs? I saw her give you some food before you went into the mine every day."

Lily let out a groan, she was sick and tired of everyone bugging her about Babs. "Look, I don't know what you're talking about. Babs gave me some mashrooms on a stick so I wouldn't get hungry down there. I don't have as much stamina as the rest of you, nor the muscle."

"Why does everyone go crazy when Babs is brought up?"

Magrog and Lily looked over, seeing Malroth standing with his arms crossed over his bare chest. Lily gently shook her head, smiling at him. "Because they love her."

Malroth's head slowly tilted to the side, confusion knitted his brows together as the words processed in his head. "Love? What's that?"

"Wh… what?" Lily's jaw went slack, unable to really form words as her stomach knotted up and her head spun. How was she supposed to explain love to Malroth? She couldn't use herself as an example! But what… how?!

Magrog let out a roar of laughter at the two youngsters in front of him. "Love starts off as this feeling in your chest that spreads all the way to the tip of your nose all the way down to your toes, it makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside. If you love someone, you'll want to protect them at all costs, you'll always want to be touching them one way or another. It'll feel like you are as light as a feather, walkin' on air when you're with that person."

Malroth thought about it for a moment, shrugging as if it didn't sound all that bad. "If you find any, can you give me a bit? I wouldn't mind walking on air." He laughed as he brushed by Lily whose face was bright red at the thought of giving Malroth some love if she happened upon some. She turned and watched him leave, a softness coming to her face as she watched him.

"If only he knew." Magrog winked at Lily when he got up. "I see you're starting to work on a smithy. If you need any help, just let me know."


"Lulu is going to kill you when you finally get back." Tiny offered as he rode around on Lily's shoulder as she put up the finishing touches on the workshop and the bar. "We've already been here for just under three weeks. We won't be leaving any time soon, I have a feeling, especially if it takes a thousand copper to get the golem from a stone golem to a copper one."

"Don't remind me." Lily sighed, but she smiled anyways as she hung the leather sack and placed the chest next to the door. "I won't lie though, I wouldn't mind staying, I like it here."

"I fdoo shtoo." Malroth spoke with a full mouth as he munched on some cactus steaks from where he sat on the crates in the smithy.

Lily laughed and shook her head at Malroth. "I need to teach you some manners. C'mon, I have a few more things to do at the pub and then it's done. Plus, we should be able to help Goldirox finish his shift into a copper golem tonight."

"And then we can party until the sun comes up!" Babs laughed as she poked her head in. "Sorry, I was just seeing how y'all were doin' in here. It looks great!" She put her hands behind her back and smiled at Lily. "You said you're almost done with the pub too?"

"I sure am. And tomorrow I plan on going down into the mines with Dougie to finish up the first level." Lily grinned as she led the way out of the smithy and over to the pub. "I figured we could throw a celebration tonight to get ourselves pumped for tomorrow!"


"Alright, Goldi! We're just fifty lumps shy of gettin' you that Copper Golem body!" Digby flexed his muscles with a loud 'hmph'. A grin in his voice as he cheered. "But the sun is going down and it's time to celebrate now that the pub is done!"

The miners beneath Digby let out a roaring cheer before flexing their muscles as well. Malroth laughed and joined in after yanking his purple jacket off and tossing it at Lily. Lily caught it easily, grinning as she watched him. She turned to Babs, seeing the knowing smile on the other girls' face. "No cottontail?"

"No, not yet. The boys ain't ready and we still have a lot of work to be done." Babs smiled, handing over a Digger's Jigger. "Thank ya, really. None of this would be possible if it weren't for ya."

Lily looked down into the drink, a surprised noise leaving her when Malroth took it from her and downed it in a few gulps. "Mal!"

"I gotta get myself loose! Digby wants to see who's better at darts!" He laughed as he booked it into the pub.

Lily let out a groan and followed Malroth inside, getting herself a new drink. She and Babs took turns with the boys at darts throughout the night. Lily kept herself to just two Digger's, not wanting to have a headache come morning when she would need to be the most alert in those tunnels. She was surprised though when Malroth kept tossing them back, as well as Digby and Dougie, it was like they were trying to see who could handle the most drink. "Malroth, don't forget we have to be down in the mines tomorrow."

"I know, I know!" Malroth walked over to her, the alcohol making him drowsy as he draped his arms around her and nuzzled his face against her soft hair. "I'll be fit as a fiddle come morning."

"I bet-" Digby raised a fist up, slamming it down on the counter as he hiccupped, eyes narrowed on Malroth. "that I can… kick your ass in a fight, Malroff."

Malroth seemed to perk up at this from his mellowed attitude. "Excuse… the fuck out of me?"

"Dammit, Digby… I was probably gonna be able to get him to bed just then!" Lily barked, frowning as the two men raced each other out of the bar. "Damn these meatheads!"

Babs let out a laugh and followed the small group out, brow raised at Digby who was coming up with prizes. "Whoever wins this fight, gets a kiss from the beautiful Babs!" The muscled meathead declared, fanning his arms out to Babs when she emerged from the pub.

"No offense Babs, but I don't want a kiss from ya. Whatever the fuck that is." Malroth went to push his sleeves up when he realized he wasn't wearing his jacket.

"You ain't knowin' wot a kiss is?! Are ya dumb in the head, Malroff?!" Digby roared, holding his gut as he burst into a fit of laughter.

"None taken, Malroth." Babs smirked as she walked over to Lily. "How about, if Digby wins, he gets a kiss from me, if you win… you get a kiss from Lily."

"Again; I don't know what the fuck a kiss is." Malroth snarled, not seeing just how flustered Lily was getting at this idea getting thrown around.

"I'll show ya." Babs sneered, turning Lily so her back was to the two boys. "May I?" When Lily didn't say no, Babs tipped her head and cupped Lily's cheeks.

Malroth and Digby stood there, jaws slack and eyes wide. Malroth gave a tilt of his head, unsure of what to think of a kiss. "What is that suppose-" A fist to his jaw shut him up for a moment as he stumbled back. He reached up, holding his jaw for a moment before turning dark eyes to Digby. "Cheap shot."

Babs pulled back, dropping her hands so her thumbs slipped away from Lily's lips. "Stage kiss." She winked to the embarrassed girl. "Hope that wasn't too much for ya, but it got the point across to Malroth." Lily was still stunned as she turned, watching as Malroth and Digby exchanged blows. "I'll need ya to win, Malroth!" Babs cheered, laughing as she wrapped her arm around Lily's shoulder. "Besides, can't have the guys thinking you're the weak one around here."

Her words seemed to light a fire under Malroth, he wasn't the weak one, he took on monsters and the mines for three weeks straight now. He ducked under a loose punch from Digby, he slammed a foot down into the loose dirt before pulling his fist back and slamming it into Digby's gut. He held the other male there for a moment when the miner collapsed against his arm. He pulled back, letting Digby fall to the ground.

Babs and Lily sat there, eyes wide as they watched Malroth, who was slimmer in build than Digby, twist and turn around the miner. There was a power behind each swing of his fist, each one had a purpose. And what girl wouldn't want to watch the way the muscles in his abdomen and back flexed with his movements. Babs gave Lily a shove, a grin on her face. "Time for your prize, Mal!"

Lily gasped, stumbling for a few steps until she collided with Malroth, eyes wide as she looked up at him. Her fingers slowly spread out against the hard muscles of his chest. She couldn't hold eye contact with him as he stared down at her, those red eyes looking right through her. "You don't have to, if you don't want to." She jerked her head up, finally meeting his gaze at his words.

She swallowed the lump in her throat as she shook her head. "Th-That's not it… Mal." She whispered as she pushed up onto her tiptoes, she trembled when she felt his hands on her waist to steady her against him. She tipped her head and closed her eyes as she pressed her lips to his.

Malroth gave a small jolt when her lips touched his, her lips were soft. He felt her start to pull away, only to freeze when he let out a short gruff noise. He leaned into her again, enjoying the feeling that spread through him, it wasn't a foreign feeling, just… stronger; he had felt something similar back on Furrowfield when she was dancing with him at the festival.