It had never occurred to her that a walking, talking, bearded rock would come to her aid — now especially in this mess she had gotten herself into, and with such an improbable punctuality and respectable presence. The arrival of the stout savior that had emerged from the damp, drizzly afternoon was a nightmarish experience for a simple lass who'd know only humanity of all the sapient races, and only the small portion of it that dwelt in the Kingdom of the Mark. Stones did not wield mattocks. Nor clothes. And they most certainly did not read or exchange messages with men. But there was one, issuing commands and reproaching her liege's guardsmen. Perhaps the Allfather still lay his fingers upon this small corner of his limitless mind. Awe seized her, and fear. She stared at the newcomer, as mute as the guards.
Is that a...? Impossible."A dwarf?" said one of the guards puzzled.
A dwarf. It hit her like mallet.
Greedy, dirty, nasty little dwarves. From underground caverns where all the monstrosities gnaw the soil while they mine, and burn, and strike the anvil, and drool over those horrible jewels and disgusting gold and trinkets. Oh, my... She tried to swallow but her mouth was dry. No one seemed to mind the stray dog come from nowhere now scampering around their legs and whining miserably. She could swear she'd heard the dwarf chuckle under his beard. There seemed to come upon his face a leer at the possibility of a fight, and her heart beat stronger.
No. It is the stories I've heard about them tricking my eyes. He seems friendly. Or at least friendlier than those other two. Give him a chance. You can always outrun him, can you not? He did help too, in a way."Y-yes! A dwarf! And a great, famous one, if I may add. Finest warrior of the underworld you've ever seen! Sung in many a song," she said to them, turning with haste and sudden pride and confidence in reality so fragile she thought they would collapse any second. "And he's got a letter, just like me!" With those words she walked to the dwarf, almost losing her balance to the mud twice doing it. Standing beside him, she dared not look at him, let alone touch him.
Keep your hand on it at ready. Just in case. She held onto the hilt, her knuckles white.
@POOHEAD189