The Moon That Rose At Dawn

Chapter six The Start of a Long Journey

Chapter six. The Start of a Long Journey

I wake with a start hearing twigs snapping in the distance. I stay as still as I roll over searching for Mont. He was dead to the world in a deep sleep. “Some guard dog.” I think to myself. SNAP! “Shit that was way closer, whoever this is keeps getting to close to our camp.”  I hear the footsteps of what seems a man, they are loud and heavy. I await the footsteps that come closer and closer to our camp. They come into our camp and I pretend to sleep, I hear him sit on the log by the fire. I stir just enough to show I would be waking up and slowly sit up while rubbing my eyes. When I pull my hands from my eyes I see what seems like a dwarf sitting in front of the fire across from me. “But that just can’t be! Dwarfs have been extinct for centuries!” I think softly to myself.

“No, we Dwarfs have never gone extinct. We only went into hiding. Just ask Mont, he’s an elf don’t you know?” He took in my puzzled face and smiled before continuing, “Aye, and you’re one too.”

I stared at him with my mouth hanging open before fumbling trying to get my words out of my confused mind, “I-I am? H-how? I thought I was just an ordinary human just two days ago and now I’m a princess and an elf?? Wait a second! How did you know what I was thinking just then?!”

“Aye, although you’ve always been one you just didn’t know it. This is who you truly are Nirrana. Where do you think you get your tall, lean body from?” He said in his thick Scottish accent. While completely ignoring my question.

“How do you know all this?” I question before I see movement out of the corner of my eye. It’s Mont finally waking up.

“Ah!” The dwarf exclaims, “It’s about time you wake up my old friend! Oh Mont it’s so good to see you!” I giggle slightly at Mont’s confused expression, “He certainly is a heavy sleeper.” I think to myself.

“Duncan? Oh my word! Duncan Lyall Maddock?! Is that really you?!” Mont’s eyes widened in recognition and his mouth hung open.

“Aye Mont tis really me.” The Dwarf whose name is apparently Duncan laughed out. I couldn’t help but laugh too at Mont’s shocked face. “Oh Mont, if only you could see your face old man!” Duncan continued while still laughing his ass off at poor Mont.

“Oh please Mister Duncan sir.” I began to plead, “Let him alone. He’s only just woke up.” I couldn’t help but release a small giggle at Duncan’s face of pure shock.

“Aye! I like this gal! She calls me mister and sir! But little lass you don’t need to be like that, you can call me Duncan.” He gave me a large toothy smile through his thick beard. “Do yah know what Duncan Lyall Maddock means little one?” His smile only grew when I slowly shook my head no, “Ah! Wonderful! A Scott lesion! I come from there you know? Well Duncan comes from the Gaelic name Donnchadh which means ‘dark warrior’, Lyall comes from the name Luifr and that means loyal, finally Maddock can be a first or last name, but it means generous.” 

I smiled at him, “That’s really interesting Mister Duncan. Perhaps you can teach me more another time?” I asked him sweetly while batting my eyelashes at him slowly and softly. I couldn’t resist a chance to make him flustered, I felt like I knew this man my whole life. I laughed outright when he turned strawberry red. “I’m sorry Mister Duncan, I just feel as if I’ve known you my whole life.” I confessed to him, “I feel like we’ve always teased each other like that.” Duncan’s face palled to a ghostly white. I could see his lips moving quickly but the only word I made out through his mumbling was “Solist.” I looked to Mont only to see him as pale if not paler than Duncan. Mont was staring at Duncan and Duncan at me.