It has been a week since the adoption of the clan of goblins and June has been a witness to an aspect of the species not many were aware of. Although they were weak creatures, goblins can settle anywhere, especially an old barn house that used to house a giant green dragon. For the first time in years, June was able to look at the goblin’s new home with a sense of fulfilment. The old tattered wooden structure was revived with newly wet green paint and a perimeter, made of a mudbrick wall.
Inside the refurbished barn house is a giant common sleeping quarters, where Titan used to lay, filled with two dozen bedrolls. The top floor of the barn house has somewhat maintained its use as a tool shed but instead of an old veteran’s collection of rusty tools, it’s now filled with makeshift tools and weapons the goblins felt more comfortable with.
“Nana, may I see Linda?” June’s admiration of the goblin’s efforts break at the sound of Gerald’s words. “Your speech is getting a lot better” she looks down at Gerald, holding himself up with a small branch. “Go see her, she might need a break from the girls”. The goblin nods and starts to hobble towards the house.
Struggling with the weight, Noah slugs around the watering can, splashing the soil and sometimes the flowers. Full of curiosity, June struts over to Noah, attempting to care for the flowers in front of the big oak tree. “And what are you doing?” she asks. “Flowers, Nana” he responds innocently. Gently, June takes the watering can from him. Noah looks at the watering can and then up at June, tears enveloping in his eyes, expecting a punishment. June rests it down on the ground and sits next to it, groaning as her joints click. She pats the ground next to her invitingly. Noah follows the silent request and sits next to June, closing his eyes, bracing for what’s to come.
He jumps at her touch, but relaxes as she pulls him close. Her arm tightens around his shoulders and she kisses the top of his head. “Do you know what this is, my boy?” she asks. “Flowers, Nana” he repeats through his sniffling. “This was where we laid Titan to rest” June looks at the newly watered patch of flowers. “When age finally got to him, like it will me, we requested for him to be buried here. Now he can watch over the house forever.”. Noah points to June’s cheek “Water”. Hearing his voice broke through her thoughts, helping her to notice the tears rolling down her face. She wipes them away in her sleeve and lets out a long held breath. June pats Noah’s shoulder before slowly getting up. “You’re a good boy Noah, your mother did an amazing job”. A smile stretches across her face causing Noah to mimic.
The peaceful whistle of the breeze June very much enjoyed broke with screech of goblin voices. “Nana! Nana!” frightened echoes boom from her home. She quickly picks up a paced walk to the home. Some of the goblins working on the barnhouse see June’s distressful movement and accompany her. Reaching the backdoor, she sees Debby, one of the female goblins that cared for Linda. “Linda hurt” Debby squeals. June passes her and rushes upstairs, hearing loud painful groans. She reaches Linda’s bedroom, catching the sight of Linda laying down, drenched in sweat. Both Linda and Gerald turn to June wearing identical expressions of fear. June’s eyes darted around the room, internally questioning the situation. Her eyes widened with realisation. “Debby! Get here!” she commands, rolling up her sleeves. “Gerald, I’m going to need you out of the room, the entire clan are outside bricking it!” Debby rushes into the open doorway and starts following June’s orders. Gerald sits still, shocked by the sudden rush. “Gerald, she’ll be okay. Go see to the clan. They need you to calm them” Linda reassures him, squeezing his hand. They share a smile before he follows her request.
The door slams behind him as he hobbles into the corridor. He looks down the stairs to witness his clan. Their eyes unanimously on him, awaiting his words. “Today, our clan grows” he begins, “We were nearly nothing. Nana ensured that never happened, and it is because of her, do my children enter this world in a safe environment. They can grow and learn strength without struggle. They can learn the ways of metal tools and the comfort of quality wool. My children will have the very beginning we are all envious of, but it is not just because of Nana, but of Rodry for guiding us through the dark. Bruce for breaking the old shelter walls, giving us a way to escape. More importantly, it is because of those that sacrificed themselves during the attack that allowed the clan to live on”. The goblins watch in awe as their leader rallies them with his words, exciting them for the birth of his children.
Some of the bigger built goblins climb up the stairs and bring Gerald down into the living room. Although having practice, he still struggled climbing downstairs with a missing leg. They rest him onto the couch. “Do you need anything boss?” one goblin says to him. “Yes, grab me my needles. My children need warmth, and I’ve not finished preparing”. The goblin nods and grabs a round tin from the kitchen. Gerald opens it, pulling out crochet needles and wool before pulling out a brown half-made crocheted blanket. He starts continuing to work on his project, hesitating every few minutes, undoing loops and knots where he made mistakes. “Boss, I’ll never get used to seeing you do that”. Gerald’s hands halt as he puts his needles and blanket down at the sound of such a snigger. “Whoever said that, come forward” Gerald’s demands, not in the usual soft tone he’s known for. The crowd of goblins turn their gaze to a singular, skinny looking individual. He’s pushed forward and responds with a betrayed look to the one that pushed him.
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“Is it because crafting with wool is a female’s task?” Gerald asks, his glare aiming at the wise cracker. “Well yes boss” hearing such a response, Gerald leaps from the couch. Although only equipped with a single leg, he reaches the goblin with his momentum and pins them to the ground. “A father’s job is to meet the needs of the child” he snarls into the goblin’s ear, “Much like a leader does for his clan. A task isn’t restricted by your mating equipment, but your ability to be useless”. He raises himself from the now petrified goblin. “What did Nana dub you?”. The lone goblin remains on the floor and mutters “Wayne”. Gerald hops back onto the couch. He picks up his crochet equipment, and continues working on the blanket. “Wayne, and the rest of you, I hope my efforts with this blanket lead by example. I do not want to hear another word similar to what was said today”. Seeing a familiarly angry Gerald, the males of the clan agree silently.
Rodry marches into the room, breaking the hostile and awkward silence. “I have informed the rest of the females of the situation. They are in the kitchen preparing food for the clan and more importantly Linda”. Gerald nods “Thank you Rodry”. Rodry nods back at his leader, before leaving in a similar manner. “Why does he rush around like that?” one goblin asks another. “Just be glad we don’t have to” the response is followed by a shared chuckle amongst a few of the crowd.
The kitchen is filled with a racket of plates and cutlery banging and rattling. “Pull out the pork and beef!” Theresa demands whilst standing atop a small step ladder, buttering bread. Another female goblin does as she’s told, rummaging through the fridge for packets of meat. Several other female goblins start preparing stacks of sandwiches on plates and carrying them into the living room, to the joy of their male clanmates. After Theresa passes on another load of buttered bread along their makeshift work line, she’s handed empty jugs. “If that’s not enough, tell them to cook their own bread!” she yells over the sounds of the running tap filling the jugs, before passing them along as well. Noah wraps his arms around one of them and carries it in with the similar struggles he had with the watering can. The males cheer “Working hard there Noah!” “You’ll get as big as Bruce doing that!”. His face beams with pride before reverting back to his attempts of stoicism, knowing he’s supporting the clan.
An hour passes as the goblins, the males and females stay with Gerald in the living room, the majority stuck with sitting on the floor. Noah sits on Theresa’s lap as he pesters her with questions, primarily about having children. “Can I help with them?” Noah looks up at Theresa, his eyes filled with the usual innocence. Gerald intervenes “Of course Noah. Raising a child is difficult, we’ll need our best on the job!” the room fills with laughter at his words. Debby slowly walks in. “Oi Debby! Coming to meet the dad to the next litter eh?” a goblin jests gesturing to Noah. The laughter continues, until it starts immediately dying. “What’s the matter Debby?” Theresa pushes Noah off her lap and approaches her. Her head hung low. She tilts her head for her eyes to meet Theresa’s, already bloodshot with the tears that soak her cheeks.
Behind the house is an elevated mound of dirt, now covered in flowers in front of a big oak tree. Next to the flower patch, the goblins start digging. Gerald sits on a stool next to the hole. “I’m so sorry Gerald” June rests her hand on his shoulder. “No” he grunts, “If mother dies, child strong. Linda strong, child stronger” he attempts to explain in broken tongue. “Warrior’s death” Gerald mutters, looking down into his mate’s soon-to-be final resting place. His face battles along with his emotions. Grief and joy clash. He tries to smile for his new children, yet can’t help but mourn his life mate.
On the living room floor lies a small figure, wrapped up in bedsheets. The females of the clan sit around, routinely checking the wraps, seeing that they are appropriately covering her. “Will they be ready soon?” Debby asks one of her peers. “Hopefully” an answer is sounded.
In the basement, Noah is left with Theresa and two goblins his age. “Can we go upstairs?” he asks Theresa, a question she’s heard too many times since she took him down there. “A burial isn’t a sight for children Noah, so no” she responds, tired of the pestering. A cry is heard from an open wooden box. Theresa approaches, picking up one of the new-born goblins, cradling it in her arms. She manoeuvres the child to one arm as she checks the others, still soundly asleep on a mattress of blankets. She gestures to Noah, who approaches with his common enthusiasm. “You see Noah, these young ones are going to grow up without a mother like you okay?” he nods accordingly. “So they’ll need you to guide them, show them how to be strong without a mother. Can you do that for Linda?”. “Yes Theresa!” he stands up straight, mimicking Rodry’s sense of duty.
Slowly, a group of goblins carry the wrapped figure up the hill and lower her into the newly dug hole. “Won’t feral creatures try digging her up and eating her?” “Would you feel hungry if you smelled a dragon nearby?” two goblins exchange. Gerald pushes down on his branch turned crutch and forces himself to a stand, taking a long and final look at Linda. “What. Are. Strong human names?” June is initially stunned by Gerald’s attempts of improved speech before answering him “What do you mean by strong names?”. “Strong children. Need strong names.”. June stands there, watching the clan pour the dirt into the hole. After a while of pondering, she finally answers his question.
“Cherish, Hope and Joy.”