Behold The Faerie Realm Part Three

PARENTS DISCRETION IS ADVISED ON THIS PART.

 

Part Three

By early morning Ogrok the goblin leader woke up with a throbbing head and exhaustion from oppressive nightmares which left him foul-mouthed . “Sprig...Bleel!” He yelled at the top of his voice

Across the far side of the cave the two goblins were both worse for wear themselves, but quickly sat up when they heard their leader, not wanting to be a target for his anger.

“Yes master!” Declared the goblin, “Just coming.” Sprig jumped to attention, almost knocking over Bleel who sprung up at the same time.

Ogrok licked his lips, mouth hungering for food. “Go get me a juicy rat to eat Sprig, I'm starving.”

“Yes master!” Replied Sprig whipping out his forefinger, flame at the ready to catch the first poor unfortunate vermin he could find.

“Oh! And Sprig!” Yelled Ogrok, wagging his finger at the young goblin.

“Yes master,” Sprig swiftly turned desperate to please the leader, who was now on the edge of his throne.

“Try not to singe my rat to the point of no return.” Ogrok's eyes glinted as he spoke, a pure sign of there would be trouble if Sprig came back with a burnt offering. The leader never did like crispy meat, and was emphatic about Sprig bringing him juicy tender meat. Though rats and mice were the goblins main diet, they did enjoy wild mushrooms and the many tasty berries of the season.

Sprig returned with well cooked rat on a stone platter and placed it on the leader's knees awaiting his next order.

“So Sprig!” Spoke the leader. “Bleel tells me there's another meeting on the village green.”

The two goblins sniggered in their usual fashion. “You be right master,” replied Sprig, wondering what Ogrok had in store for them next.

By now all the other goblins were awake. Noticing Ogrok chewing on his meat, had them all aware of how hungry they were. Flaming fingers began circling the cave in an effort to catch a fat rat, or even a mouse. All the goblins were nimble, so it never took them long and was actually a cinch.

“Get me some ale Bleel,” requested Ogrok smirking, “then you can go and eat.” The leader spoke a lot calmer this time, enjoying his rat meat, even though it wasn't that juicy.

This time it was Bleel's turn to jump to command. “I be right on it master.” The goblin kept bowing his head as he turned to walk away, nervous of upsetting Ogrok.

“It's a request, not a decree Bleel,” the leader declared smiling.

Bleel felt relieved his master was in a better mood now. Once he'd filled a tankard with ale and returned to Ogrok, the goblin bowed once again, then was able to revel in catching a rat for himself.

Sprig and Bleel did everything together, including hunting for insects, worms were their favourite snack, they would use sharp stones to dig them up. Due to their extra large ears that gave the goblins very good hearing, they would place their heads to the ground and listen, pleased at always finding the largest worms.

Most fay had good hearing, but also had extra sensory perception to go with their sizable ears, which meant they could sense when something wasn't right, they always followed their instincts.

As the two goblins munched away on their food, Ogrok summoned them again. “Sprig! Bleel! Come here.”

The order was clear as the two goblins halted their chewing and quickly placed their platters of food on the ground. Helpless, yet again with fear, the leader's voice booming out in a lower octave.

They rushed over to Ogrok. “Yes master, what can we do for you now?”

The leader spoke quietly in deep contemplation. “I feel turbulent weather's coming, I want you two located at the gathering on the green, find out what the meeting holds in store, but be discreet, don't on any condition let those menacing fay folk know we put the birds to sleep, we need to be ready for what's coming, for I'm sure that witch has knowledge...I can feel it.”

“We're right on it master.” The two goblins bowed as Ogrok left his throne to relieve himself. “Oh! And bring back some barrels of the finest ale for tonight.” The leader had a real thirst on him.

While all the other goblins sat around planning their day, Sprig and Bleel picked up their green hooded capes they'd stolen from the elves and skulked out of the cave along the tunnel to the entrance, encountering a strange feeling of lingering enchantment, but shrugged it off as being their imaginations working overtime and went on their way.

***

Rowana stood on the village green waiting for all the folk to arrive, her charismatic charm enfolded all who encountered her. The witch hadn't had much sleep, she'd awoken from a dream leaving her with a plan which roused her from bed eager to take action, using spells and potions at her disposal with the assistance of her tiny helpers the orbs. The healer had created a concoction that would teach the goblins a lesson, or so she hoped.

Rowana searched among the crowd seeking goblins, she could smell them, but probing was to no avail. Pretty soon all Fay were gathered and keen to hear what Rowana had to say.

As she lifted her arms there was hush. “Dear friends, I've searched amongst you all, watching your daily labourings, measuring depths of conjuring to pollute our environment. Those that walk barefooted scattering remains of their dangerous hearts, dividing us with evil magical dust. You know who you are, but clearly have no conscience. Consequently due to not coming forward I'm sadly compelled to take action.” Rowana paused before continuing.

Sprig poked Bleel with a broken twig he'd snapped from a tree on their way to the village green. The two goblins stared at each other worried at her words. “Come on Bleel I've heard enough.”

Sprig sighed and the two caped villains slipped away thinking they hadn't been noticed, but Rowana caught sight of the two rogue goblins and smiled to herself.

All the fay folk shouted at once, “What action are you going to take?”

A stocky gnome with a bushy dark beard and large black hat bellowed, “Who are the culprits?” He shook his fist in the air. “Just wait till I get me hands on them.”

Rowana called for hush, she knew their fears of repercussion. “Good people! I want to assure you that when I've finished with the villains, they won't want to upset you good people of the fairy realm anymore.” The Witch was interrupted.

“Yes! But who are you talking about?” the gnome shouted once again.

Rowana tried to keep her cool. “That my friends I cannot reveal at this present time...I'm sorry.”

“Why not?” Everyone shouted at once.

The healer was becoming agitated at their questioning. “Please! Enough,” she said raising her hands for quiet. “You have to trust me, have I ever let you down?”

The crowd looked at one another, they had to admit Rowana had always taken care of them. Slowly the crowd dispersed talking amongst themselves. The folk felt they'd heard enough and returned to their daily lives much to the relief of Rowana, who was slightly worried about whether her plan would work.

The Old Oak Inn wasn't that busy when Bleel and Sprig entered. There were a couple of gnomes sat at a table in front of a roaring fire, having a lunchtime drink and smoking clay pipes that peeped from between beards. They both put their tankards down at the same time gazing at the two goblins, unsure of their motive for being there.

The landlord who too was a stocky looking gnome stopped what he was doing. “We don't want any trouble, so be on your way.”

Sprig and Bleel stepped up to the bar. “Ain't no trouble from us guv,” uttered Sprig. “We have no quarrel with any your folk, pretty much all me and my companion require is two barrels of your best ale and we'll be on our way.”

The landlord didn't argue, he just reached under the bar and rolled out two barrels without hesitation. “Here! Now take them and go.”

The two goblins felt very pleased with themselves thinking the landlord was a right pushover as they propelled the two barrels out the door.

It was hard going for two skinny goblins. By the time they reached the rocks, Sprig and Bleel were worn out. All the rolling was hard and thirsty work, but they dare not touch the ale, it was always their leader that had the first drink, they knew Ogrok would smell the ale on their breath.

Sprig turned to his companion collapsing onto a rock exhausted. “Bleel, you go and get some other goblins to help us move these barrels into the cave, I'll stay here and guard them.”

“Okay!” Replied Bleel striding off over the rocks, leaving Sprig feeling chuffed at their escapade, yet concerned at what the witch had planned.

Ogrok was sat on his throne compelled to do nothing as usual apart from handing out orders. He glanced up noticing the goblin. “Ah! Bleel, how did your morning go? Tell me the news...and where's Sprig with my ale?”

“Master, we got your ale, two barrels of the finest.”

“Good, good, good...so where are they?” Questioned the leader.

“Sprig be watching them, we needs help getting the barrels into the cave master.”

“Well! Don't just stand there, take Krig, Nyk, Razk and Snig to help get them in.”

“Yes master!” Bleel jumped to it taking the four goblins with him.

“Hurry up now Bleel, I have a great thirst to quench,” said the leader.

The six goblins were parched and eager for a drink themselves. Between them they managed to carry the barrels over the rocks and roll them down through the tunnel and into the cave.

Sprig approached the leader unsure of how to explain what happened at the meeting. “Master! I'm almost sure that witch knows it's us that put those pesky birds to sleep, because she mentioned the barefooted ones.”

“So! Replied the leader, “what does the witch plan to do?”

“That's just the problem, she wouldn't say,” uttered Sprig with a pout.

“We needs to be on our guard at all times Sprig. But tonight we forget our troubles and enjoy a drink.” The leader grinned with anticipation. Instantly he made his way over to the barrels and dispersed ale into tankards. When every tankard was filled to the brim, the goblins held aloft their drinks with a need for goblin merriment, for they knew uncertainties lay close by, separating them from the other fay of the realm. The goblin leader took the first sip recognizing that their wickedness would come back to haunt them, despite their efforts to try and remain undetected.

In a short time eyes of ruby red fell into groups of roused goblins, becoming lost in the moment, drawing off tankard after tankard of the ale they liked to call nectar, dissolving into loud conversations about nothing in particular, their roaring laughter echoing clear and sharp around the cave, bouncing off walls. The goblins believed they had the greatest power and it was their right to make merry.

 

To be continued...

https://www.abctales.com/story/skinnerjennifer/behold-faerie-realm-part-...

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