Sherry-By-The-Bend.

With conflicted thoughts Clive made his way towards the tent of Fallmeadow. Which wasn't hard to find since it was the largest of the tents within the colony, baring the feasting and bathing tents. Even the assembly tent was smaller in comparison to the large patch of cloth that housed the halfling hero and his kin.

As he neared he was greeted by one of the girthling's boys. The portly lad rubbed his hands together as he tended to a small plot of flowers out front.

"E'enin'! 'Ow can I 'elp you, Mayor Clive?"

"Evening. Is your dad home?" Clive asked.

"O' course! One moment!" The lad said and left to fetch the even more rotund pater familias.

Clive stood there in the chill air and looked around while he waited for the portly halflings to return. He doubt he'd have to wait long given the halflings' belief that making one wait is "rude". But he wasn't going to hold it against any of them for making Clive wait for a minute or two, especially since Fallmeadow required the assistance of a horde of his own spawn just to get about the place.

He was looking over the small sprouts of flowers that littered the plot just outside the tent as he waited. Pretty robust things, he thought as he watched the little starts doing alright in the cooler weather. He doubt that will last when the snow starts to fall though. He turned his attention back towards the tent flap at the tell-tale noise of Fallmeadow being pushed towards his destination by his brood.

The wide tent flaps were parted by his two wives and soon after the tub-o-lardling was rolled out on his wheelbarrow on the grunted moans of his children as they pushed him with all their might. Fallmeadow, however, had a wide grin on his face and reached a greasy hand out for Clive to shake while he chowed down on slabs of bacon that were in every stage of rareness.

"Welcome Clive! Wha' can *hack cough cough* I do fer you?!"

"Evening Fallmeadow. I was wondering if you had a minute to talk?" Clive asked.

"O' course! Wha' *hack wheeze hack* kinda halflin' *hack hack spit* would I be ta turn you away?! Come *cough fart* in!" The three-fourthling called out as his poor spawn moaned and worked their muscles into getting their father turned around and pushing him back into the tent with his wives following close behind.

Clive followed after the halfling convoy into the fairly spacious tent. Unlike most every tent he's visited, it was fairly well decorated and even clean! As clean as a tent could be that is. Also unlike the assembly tent which was covered in all manner of dishes, trash, and papers. Fallmeadow's tent was devoid of anything even remotely unclean! No dirty dishes with stuff growing on it, no piles of refuse that did nothing more than attracted flies, and no mountains of soiled paperwork that looked like they were used more like napkins than paper!

All dishes he could see were cleaned spotless and orderly stacked and put away, any bits of trash was quickly removed and properly disposed of, what paper he could see was neatly stacked and organized! Despite being in a tent, everything looked clean and orderly! Clive just starred at the stark contrast between the man and his living quarters. Or what he could see that is. Clive was currently standing in some sort of entry way with staked flaps seeming to act as room dividers a little further in. To his left was some sort of home kitchen that appeared to be sparsely furnished with nothing but the bare minimum. To his right was a living room that had a few seats set in front of a coffee table and a warm stove fire.

"Come come!" Fallmeadow called out as his spawn pushed him into the living room and beside the stove fire.

Clive followed along and took a seat on one of the rather comfy seats that were big enough for him to sit in! The spawn of Fallmeadow heaved gratefully as their father dismissed them and they left to do whatever it was that they were doing before. One of them limped over to Clive and asked if he would like anything, which Clive politely refused.

Clive turned his attention back towards the girthling as his two wives took their places at either of his sides. Fallmeadow scarfed down a greasy slab of bacon and gestured towards a nearby desk with a soiled sausage finger.

"I gotta *hack hack* show ya somefin'!"

One of his wives sauntered over and retrieved a piece of paper and held it before Clive. It was a home. A halfling home but changed slightly. The overall appearance remained the same, but the front looked more like the classic colonial style with large pillars that held up a roof and provided a shaded porch. Even the door appeared more square rather than the circular wooden doors the halflings had on their homes so far.

"Is this what you have planned?"

Fallmeadow laughed/coughed in delight.

"Tha' it is! Saw some *hack cough* designs yer mates 'ad! Wha' fanciful thin's!"

"Well, I hope it's to your liking." Clive said and returned the piece of paper.

"Certainly goin' ta be better ta get 'round! *cough cough* Damn 'ard ta get out tha door when its *wheeze hack* barely as wide as you are!" Fallmeadow explained.

"I wish you luck in your future home then." Clive stated.

"Aye! 'Nd I ne'er did properly congratulate *hack wheeze cough* you on bein' mayor! 'Ows it comin'?" Fallmeadow asked as he tried to peer at Clive from under his forehead pouch.

"It's... difficult. Not really something I'm used to doing." Clive said hesitantly.

"Oh ain'y nothin' ta do! Jus' sit back 'nd those tha' know wha' ta do do it!" Fallmeadow explained.

Clive let out a frustrated sigh before he could stop himself. Oh well, may as well just rip off the band-aid, he thought as Fallmeadow looked at him.

"I just can't do that."

"Well why not?! Ifin you dinnae gotta work why do it?" Fallmeadow asked.

"Because alot of bad things have happened in our world because people 'just let it sort itself out'. recessions, depressions, wars, famines, millions of people have died by leaders simply 'letting it sort itself out'! I can't do that! But every time I try and actually do... ANYTHING it feels like I have to give up an arm and a leg! I can't even leave the colony for an afternoon for a holiday with friends and family without the place imploding! What if I have to leave for something important?! How can I discuss things like trade, bureaucracy, taxes, or even schooling without coming back to a place that more than likely burned down while I was gone?!" Clive vented, his own frustrations causing his voice and anger to rise at the situation he's been put in.

"I didn't even WANT to be mayor! I'm not a leader! I'm middle management at best! I can barely get my two friends to not kill one another over a fucking board game! How can I even ATTEMPT to get a colony of people that are so fundamentally different to get along long enough to get even the basics done?!"

Clive vented, and Fallmeadow simply waited. No hacking, no wheezing, no coughing, nothing. He just sat there and waited for Clive to finish before the halfling took a moment longer to collect his thoughts before finally speaking.

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"You say yer not a leader?"

"No. I'm not. I tried to be one. But I just don't have it in me to try and get things done." Clive said tiredly.

"Yes you do." Fallmeadow stated as if it were obvious.

"No. I don't." Clive stated.

"Really? Ifin I recall *cough* it were you tha' gave us tha hothouse."

"Yippy, a slightly better greenhouse. I'm sure one of you would've figured it out eventually." Clive retorted sarcastically.

"Maybe. But 'ow long befer we did? 'Ow much food *cough* would we waste befer finally figurin' tha' out? 'Nd 'ow long befer we would get it done?" Fallmeadow asked.

"It isn't that hard to get help. A visit to town would've gotten you some good hands to help you."

"Ta you maybe. Dinnae mistake our *cough spit* friendliness towards tha tallfolk as our willin'ness ta ask fer 'elp. Ifin it weren'y fer you, we woulda meandered through town with *hack* polite smiles as we tried ta find a new 'ome. Then we woulda rolled up our sleeves 'nd *cough cough* broke our backs 'nd bodies ta try 'nd make a livin'."

"I doubt-"

"E'erythin's 'arder fer us Clive. We're halflin's. Ain'y rude ta say it as it is. *hack hack* A day o' work fer us is a few 'ours fer you. 'Ow much work got done with yer 'elp? 'Ow much got done thanks ta tha other humans? You saved us MONTHS *cough wheeze* o' work. By tha way tha weather is gettin' it might be wha' keeps some o' us alive."

"But still-"

"'Nd you brought us tools! Tools tha' we ain'y ne'er seen befer! Thin's tha' make back breakin' work seem as easy as bakin' a pie! *cough hack* It were also you tha' made peace with tha giant, turtles, 'nd defended tha colony! You say yer not a leader, but yer more a leader than any halflin' 'ere e'er could be! When Hamish came ta you fer 'elp. You came. When we 'ad a problem, it were you tha' found a solution. Yer a better leader than me by far!" Fallmeadow decreed with a hint of bitterness at the end.

"But you're a hero to them! I'm just some guy!" Clive retorted.

Fallmeadow went silent for a long moment as he seemed to debate on what it was he wanted to say. Eventually he turned his multi-chinned head to his wives.

"Give us a moment loves."

His wives looked at their husband with sad eyes before giving him tender kisses and leaving him alone with Clive. With them gone. Fallmeadow took the clump of bacon he still had left and looked like he made to eat it before stopping just short of his mouth. He spat bitterly and tossed the slabs into the open stove fire with disgust.

"I'm no 'ero. I'm sure tha others told ya some o' wha' tha truth is?" Fallmeadow said in a low and tired voice.

"That the 'rebellion' was just an excuse to get rid of taxes on your exports?"

"Aye. Tha' were part o' it. But let me tell ya tha REAL story. *cough spit* We rebelled fer tha very reason you've 'eard. At tha time I were much like yer lover. Restless. Wantin' a bit o' adventure other than tendin' ta fields. Those taxes stung, but dinnae 'urt. Then one day we all 'ear tha news. War. Rebellion. Voices called out tha' we was goin' ta war fer our freedom agains' tha 'greedy elves tha' fattened themselves on our hard work'."

Fallmeadow coughed and hacked for a moment before continuing his tale.

"Wha' it actually were, was tha' our fathers got tired o' payin' those taxes 'nd convinced some neighborin' human 'nd dwarven kingdoms ta go ta war with tha elves. Tha humans 'nd dwarves would get disputed land *hack spit* from tha elves as well as payments, in exchange we would be given our independence. Wha' they dinnae tell you is tha' a full third o' our exports went ta tha humans 'nd dwarves near free as thanks fer fightin' fer us. *cough cough* Which we made up fer by exportin' wha' we could ta keep our treasury full."

"My part in tha 'war', was ta be tha face o' independence. My father told me tha' me 'nd other heirs would be goin' out ta do battle. I was scared, *hack hack* 'nd excited. I were given some simple leather armor 'nd a short sword. Lil more than a larger dagger ta a human. Then me 'nd 'bout fifteen o' my friends marched out o' our town with cheers at our backs. We marched fer tha better part o' a day befer we arrived at a small creek."

"When we got there. My mate, Hobart *wheeze cough*, told us ta stop. When I turned ta ask why I saw 'em all gettin' out o' their armor! Then they pulled poles and snacks from their packs 'nd went inta tha creek ta catch fish 'nd toads! I asked 'em wha' they was doin', you know wha' they said ta me? Fightin' a war. *hack spit* It was then tha' they filled me in on tha rest o' tha plan. We weren'y goin' ta a battle. We weren'y e'en at war with tha elves! At tha time I were furious, we was trickin' folk! Then another o' my *hack hack* mates explained ta me. Said ifin we went ta war we'd die. Said war was fer folks taller 'nd bigger than we was. *cough cough* I hated 'earin' it. But part o' me was relieved. Ta find out there weren'y no war, tha' you weren'y goin' ta die. But it dinnae sit right with me. Ne'er did. I was 'alf tha mind ta tell folk when we returned after a few days. Our armor was dented and smeared with frog blood ta sell tha fact we was in battle, wha' few scrapes we 'ad from roughin' it was sold as war wounds."

"But then I saw tha folks' faces. Pride. Joy. *wheeze cough* 'Nd it were all directed at us. 'Nd I liked it. I liked bein' some 'ero ta 'em! I shoulda told 'em. But I dinnae. I got sucked inta tha fantasy o' bein' a war 'ero. So we 'went ta war' every other week. We'd have a big feast, pack up plenty of snacks with some poles or other games. Then we'd wander out ta tha creek again. Where we could do our bloody fightin'. *cough wheeze* But as time went by, months turned ta years, my conscious grew more 'nd more unsettled. I told my mates, I wanted one real battle under my belt. Just somethin' ta make me feel like an actual 'ero!"

"They said I was crazy. I said ifin they dinnae do it, I'd tell e'eryone tha truth. *cough cough* So tha next time we left ta 'war', I took a map tha' 'ad tha locations o' elven outposts near us. So I lead us there. Past tha creek. Through fields o' grain o'ergrown from tha 'war'. Then we saw it around three days inta our march. A small outpost. Barely garrisoned since we weren'y at war. We managed to sneak in close when it got dark *cough* 'nd find tha' most o' 'em were bored 'nd tired. Most those tha' could fight were sent elsewhere. Those left were either too wounded ta go back ta tha front or 'ad connections tha' saw 'em put somewhere not dangerous."

"So it were decided. We would rush 'em when tha moon fell. We would capture 'em. Tie 'em up. 'Nd march back 'ome with our prisoners. *cough cough hack* So we did. Tha moon fell 'nd tha sun remained hidden a while longer. Under darkness we attacked. We hollared 'nd screamed like wild beasts! We was supposed ta disarm 'em or wound 'em enough ta make fightin' not worth it. But it all went wrong. VERY wrong. Some o' my mates 'ad slings tha' they threw. Their aims were better than they thought though. Got two young lads right in tha 'eads they did. They went down without a sound. Tha rest o' us dinnae notice 'nd continued on. *cough cough* It went from tryin' ta capture 'em ta fightin' fer our lives in a right hurry. Luck 'nd our natural way o' bein' sneaky ifin we likes were tha only thin' keepin' us alive tha' night. Could'y say tha same fer tha elves."

Fallmeadow took a shuddering breath to calm himself before he continued.

"We killed 'em. We was so piss scared durin' tha fightin' tha' we just hacked 'nd slashed at anythin' taller than us. Tha elves dinnae know who or wha' was e'en attackin' 'em by tha time they was all dead. There were maybe less *hack spit* than a baker's dozen o' 'em in total. We 'ad 'em surprised 'nd out numbered. Poor lads dinnae stand a chance. Once all was said 'nd done, we panicked. Capturin' folk was one thin'. But killin'? *cough wheeze* It were decided tha' we would hide our tracks 'nd leave. If anyone asked we would say what we always did, tha' we was in battle. As part o' tha war."

"But by tha time we returned, tha war was o'er. It 'ad ended tha day we 'ad left. We killed those poor lads fer nothin'. We dinnae e'en 'ave a fake war ta justify it. When our father's 'eard they was white as *cough cough* spooks. Said they would handle it. 'Nd they did. Not sure wha' tha price was, only tha' tha attack were declared ta be done before news o' tha peace bein' signed reached those responsible. I learned later tha' some human criminals were sent ta tha elves as compensation. *hack cough* Then we was told ta ne'er talk 'bout it. E'er."

"So we dinnae. My mates became their fathers in e'eryway. Politicin' lil shites more content in keepin' their power 'nd out o' trouble. Ifin it were up ta 'em, they'd 'ave given those brigands not long ago wha'e'er they wanted. They'd make some show o' resistance, but they'd cave eventually. *hack wheeze* I gorged myself. I 'ated wha' we did, 'nd hid it all under food 'nd fat. Tried ta be an actual leader when it came time ta step up. But I jus' dinnae 'ave it in me. Not after wha' I did. When my mates said ta just let it sort itself out, I did. 'Nd it worked. All these problems I wanted ta fix managed ta fix themselves plenty *hack cough* fine without me."

Fallmeadow hacked and coughed for a minute, to the point that Clive almost got up to help him in case he was choking! But the halfling just waved to Clive to show he was fine. As fine as he could be considering what Clive had just heard.

"You say yer not a leader? Yer a better leader than I e'er was, or would e'er be."

"I'm sorry for what happened to you, but I'm not a leader. I can't lead them."

"So dinnae lead. Do what you've been doin' 'nd they'll follow you. Dinnae worry 'bout tha small stuff, it really will sort itself out. Otherwise you'll run yourself ragged 'nd just make it worse."

"But it's not small stuff, it's taxes, relations with others, trade, all this stuff isn't small!"

"Yer right, it's not. So do 'em 'nd dinnae worry 'bout tha *wheeze hack* colony."

"Haven't you heard what happened just by me leaving for a few hours?!"

"Aye. A mess tha' is. Instead o' worryin' 'bout it, just get it worked out. We halflin's arn'y wha' you should worry 'bout. We make a mess 'nd we clean it up. Maybe not in a way YOU would prefer, but it'll really sort itself out ifin you let it. Dinnae worry 'bout bein' a leader. Do what you *cough cough* KNOW is right, 'nd folk will follow you. At least yer worth followin'." Fallmeadow told Clive with a hint of sadness.

Clive starred at Fallmeadow.

"But I-"

"Dinnae give up Clive. Yer a good sort you are. You care fer folk 'nd ken wha' yer doin'. Dinnae become like me. Dinnae be a leader, be someone worth followin'." Fallmeadow almost seemed to plead before falling into a coughing fit.

"But-" Clive started before stopping himself. Was it really that simple? Was he trying too hard to be something he wasn't? Just do what he knows is right and the right thing to do and don't worry about the rest?

It was a bad idea. Partially. Leaving small things to fester and grow into bigger problems wasn't how he did things. But maybe he didn't have to pull his hair out worrying about a mole hill becoming a mountain. The constables were working and the artificers were more or less keeping to themselves. As long as he put actual boundaries in place to stop any sort of overlap they should be fine. Same with the whole halflings vs elves. How he was going to do that was a question for later. But for now, he actually felt a little better.

"Be someone worth following. I'll keep that in mind." Clive said and got up.

"Aye lad, dinnae give up jus' yet. Do wha' yer good at, 'nd folk will follow when they see wha' you can give 'em." Fallmeadow said before thrusting out a greasy hand for Clive to shake.

Despite the fact he still didn't like the feeling of congealed grease against his palm, he was glad to have spoken to Fallmeadow. Maybe not the part about learning that the halfling was eating his depression away. But that was something he had nothing to help with. Maybe with him being 'retired' he can let go of his past and find peace eventually.

As for Clive? He had things that needed doing. He departed and left Fallmeadow to his peace and family and made to find Kilpa. He wasn't a leader. He didn't have the natural country-boy charm Jeb had, or the iron fist of Morty. But he didn't need to. He just had to do what he knew was the right thing and the halflings would follow of their own free will.