There are guards outside the king’s door. They are ceremonial though and quickly move aside as the princess approaches. After my encounter with the underground goblin group, I wonder how successful they could be if they ever wanted to overthrow the king. The goblins are so orderly and regimented it’s hard to believe it could happen here. But maybe that’s also why it could succeed.

Vestra knocks on the door. “Father?”

Silence.

“Father. Sir Ethan is with me. We need to speak to you.”

Now I hear scuffling behind the door and a key turning in a lock. A goblin opens the door, though it’s not the king. It’s a wizened old goblin with white hair sticking out of his ears and a long pointy chin that could've been used as a dagger in a pinch.

He bows low to the princess. “If you’ll wait here, Highness. His Majesty left instructions to not be disturbed but I’m sure he’ll make an exception for yourself and Sir Ethan.”

The servant bows again and moves toward the bedroom door. The royal couple exit their bedchamber shortly thereafter. The king’s face is flushed though I can’t tell if it’s from anger or embarrassment.

Were they in the middle of…

The queen’s face is downcast and she is actually dressed sort of …normalish. It’s a robe, and it’s long and heavy, with thick fur and a high back which covers nearly every inch of her body. She looks incredibly awkward as she speaks.

“Pardon me, Sir Ethan. I did not know you were coming. Please excuse my attire, but I was told this is urgent.”

“It had better be anyway,” the king says whilst looking at his daughter. “You’re so late I didn’t think you were coming anymore.”

Well, this is sure going well.

“I’m sorry, father.” Vestra says quickly. “But please don’t let my impropriety cloud your judgment.”

“I never have,” says the king.

“Thank you,” Vestra says, her own neck bent low. “We think this is of grave importance.”

“We?” the king turns his glance to me now. “Is this true Sir Ethan? Are you aware of this grave matter? My daughter can be rather dramatic at times.”

We can all be dramatic at times. Just depends about what.

“I do, Majesty. I have learned things since my time here that may warrant your attention and give cause for you to reconsider your strategy against the orcs.”

The king’s eyes narrow a bit but his voice is still polite, indulgent even. “Pray tell, Sir Ethan, so that we may discuss. I admit to you that this is highly unusual for me to be approached about my own decisions like this. But then you are an unusual man and we are in unusual times.”

That’s for damn sure.

“Thank you, Majesty. I don’t want to be long-winded so I will cut right to the point. We believe that the sorceress has awakened the god beneath the mountain.”

The king raises an eyebrow. “The god beneath the mountain? You mean the dragon from the stories of old?”

“Yes, Majesty, I believe so.”

The king shakes his head. “Frankly, that sounds crazy to me.”

“I understand, Majesty, but it’s not if you believe your destiny is to rule. If you have supreme confidence in your own power. And now these gods are free from her control. The dryad rose-up an army to attack the elves. This dragon seems to be aiding the orcs.”

The king scoffs. “Aiding the orcs? How do you know that?”

“Because we have eyes, Daddy,” the princess interjects.

And the king’s face immediately sours.

Weren’t you the one who said I should do the talking?

This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

“Think about it, Daddy –”

“We’re in the presence of company!” The goblin king booms.

I glance at the queen who is frowning herself.

The goblins are definitely serious about decorum.

The princess curtsies. “Apologies, Majesty. If I could calmly continue…”

“Yes. Calmly,” the king emphasizes.

“We’ve never seen the orcs act this way before. You know it, the generals know it, the soldiers know it. The orcs are too organized, too disciplined, too strategic. Frankly, they’re acting like goblins.”

The queen laughs a little. A good sign I hope.

The princess continues. “And that has always been our advantage: that they’re so unlike us. We’ve always taken advantage of their division, aggressiveness, and stupidity to keep them at bay. Perhaps we should have tried to wipe them out completely or banish them from the mountain. But now the tables have turned on us. They’ve figured us out, Majesty and it’s we who are in danger of losing our home.”

The queen sighs and I can tell she thinks Vestra has gone too far, become too hyperbolic for her own good, like she’s done before I bet. And maybe she was too dramatic before. Maybe this teenage girl lends herself toward bold, extravagant statements. But this time the statement is bold but not extravagant.

How to get them to see that?

“Even if that’s true,” the king continues. “We are not the small clan of creatures we were when the dragon terrorized the mountain. We have strength now. An army.”

“And so does the dragon, Majesty. That is the problem. He has the orcs.” The princess’s voice is stressed. She’s starting to get too intense again.

“Which we will defeat. With the Maker’s blessing.” The king retorts. “I spoke with the clerics. The vigil has already begun. Our troops will shortly march out under it.”

“Shortly?” asks the princess.

“Yes, I see no reason to delay.”

“At least let us tell you our plan,”” the princess pleads.

“Your plan?” the king asks. “To deal with the dragon you mean?”

Ugh we don’t have a plan to deal with the dragon.

The princess looks to me like I’m just supposed to jump in but she’s the one who got us to this point. Truth is we don’t have a plan for the dragon. We only discussed the orcs.

The queen steps forward and looks at the princess. “You don’t have a plan for the dragon do you dear? You were just plotting for the orcs if I know my Vestra.”

“You don’t even think we can take the orcs?” the king speaks like he’s been stung. “Do you have so little confidence in your people? In your Maker?”

The princess looks at me again, her eyes pleading this time.

The old me would do nothing here. Just let this girl rest in the hole she’d dug for herself.

“Majesty,” I say. “I don’t think this is an either/or situation.”

The king wrinkles his brows “Either/or?”

Of course he doesn't follow the Earth expression.

“It means we can have faith in the Maker and adjust plans. Having faith doesn't have to make us rigid or inflexible. We aren’t trying to undermine your decisions, Majesty. We’re just trying to help. We wat the same thing”

“I see,” says the goblin thoughtfully. “I understand about flexibility. And I know you mean it sincerely. I’m just not sure that anything needs to be changed.”

“But you haven’t even heard our idea yet,” Vestra interjects.

I hold-up my hand for silence.

Quiet this once, please.

“Your Majesty,” I say. “I respect your will. So perhaps you can respect mine as well. I wish to help. I’m no longer content to just let the goblins bear the full burden of this battle. So as much as I appreciate your offer to wait and wtach, and as much as I respect your people, I would like to be involved in the mountain’s defense.”

“Hmm.” The king murmurs and glances sideways at the queen. She nods and the king turns back to me. “Very well. As you say, this is a matter of respect and I extend the same to you. In fact I appreciate your offer. I admit I don’t not know that I would say the same if the roles were reversed, but perhaps that is why you’re the Maker’s chosen and I am not.”

Amazing how this man can be so stubborn and so humble at the same time.

“But what about our plan?” the princess whispers, too loudly of course.

The king opens his mouth but I rush in.

“Majesty, thank you for your understanding. What about a compromise? Let me speak with your generals and explain my plan to them. I believe it can offer similar results while saving more goblins. It’s an improvement, not an abdication of your idea. And if they say I’m wrong then so be it. And we can continue with the all-out attack.”

“Hmm,” the king rumbles again and even smiles a little. “I admit you are a cool salve on my hot temper, Sir Ethan. Very well. I can’t see how it would hurt and if you are risking life and limb thne I should give you the chance for input. Perhaps I should have included you from the start. I’m sure you have a keen eye for such things.”

Well I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express one night so…

The princess appears at least molified by this concession and I’m not inclined to push our luck any further.

“Thank you, Majesty. For your time and guidance.”

The kings laughs. “I think ‘guidance’ may be too strong a word. But I wish the Maker’s guidance on you Sir Ethan, and upon my army.”

“Thank you, Majesty.”

I have a feeling we’ll need it.