Only The Beginning

Lodgok's Farewell

  Olive felt her chest tighten as she raced up the mountain side, head whipping around wildly looking for the goblin. It was difficult to make out any faces that entered or exited the glowing mouth of the mine, but she was thankful for the darkness that surrounded the area, making it easier for her to sneak around. She shrouded herself in a disillusionment charm and willed the rocks under her feet to keep still as she crept through camps leading into the mine.

"Did you see Lodgok come crawling back with his tail between his legs?" One goblin grumbled to the other huddled around the fire.

"I knew he would, that traitor would never survive on his own."

She felt a wave of nausea slip over her as she realized Lodgok went in on his own without waiting for her, she hadn't been fast enough. Picking up the pace she crept into the mine, the scent of blasting jelly and fuel assaulting her nose.

Following the faint sound of cheering she could hear the unmistakable voice that haunted her sleep, "We have done it. Another drill has been successful, and we will see the wizarding world crumble at our feet!" Ranrok's voice roared through the caverns over the cheers of his most loyal. Olive crouched behind a barrel and watched as they gathered around the platform Ranrok stood and listened to his speech. They slammed their tools into the ground repeatedly, a makeshift war drum.

Olive winced as a stream of dust fell into her eye. Upon further inspection of the rock ceiling above her, she noticed the series of cracks, more than hairline fractures. This clearing was significantly bigger than any mine she'd been in and the goblins with their careless drilling had made a mistake. The space was too open with no support to not crumble immediately under the weight, so why hadn't it crashed yet? Four metal pillars stood throughout creating stability, all she had to do was bring them down, and hopefully the drill with it.

In a split moment of insanity, she burst into the room, all subtlety thrown out the window. "Bombarda Maxima!" The iron groaned as it gave way on the first pillar, she whipped around and cast it again hitting the second. The goblins finally recovering from their shock began to chase after her, generals barking orders.

"Get the girl!" Ranrok growled

Something grabbed her ankle and she fell to the floor in a heavy thump, her chin forcing her jaw together in an incredibly painful way. She screamed and wildly kicked her legs trying to knock away whatever was holding her down and rushed to her feet. Adrenaline pumping, she cast Diffindo to clear a path and used her wand to latch onto a barrel of blasting jelly and launched it at the third pillar. The explosion threw everyone to the ground and her ears wouldn't stop ringing, but the sound of metal buckling was clear as the fourth pillar, unable to bear the weight on its own crumpled like paper and sent a wave of rocks towards them.

The explosion sent her flying into the wall, knocking the wind right out of her. She fought to catch her breath, desperately inhaling as everything settled. She barely registered a pair of boots coming into her line of sight, "I should have known you'd show up eventually." The voice was low and oddly calm which sent a shiver down her spine. Olive willed her body to move as she slowly scraped herself off the ground.

Ranrok stood before her, staring at the drill that she'd just crushed, still hissing in protest. "While this is unfortunate," His voice was laced with irritation, "We will build another. Small delay." He turned to face her, "Now the question lies: What do we do with you?" Olive gripped her wand a little tighter.

Scuffling from behind her caught both of their attention, "Found this one lurking outside." She felt her stomach drop as Lodgok was shoved before them by Rookwood. The goblin looked uneasily between her and Ranrok, clutching a leather-bound book tightly to his chest.