Every dwarf in the village scrambled to continue their training or they went inside their homes. Bilgard Cvorkin after a long journey was either filled with excitement and relief or he would be fuming with rage if the journey did not go how he wanted. Winthorp and Cobble had a feeling that their father did not have a good trip despite arriving on a dragon-like rabbit. Bilgard did not like the sight beholding him, seeing his boys fight one another must have sent him over the edge.

“Boys, to thee house, NOW!”

Bilgard’s bellows echoed throughout the once serene atmosphere. The boys followed their father to their home with sullen faces and preparing for what they had to face. When they arrived home, their father only pointed to their wooden chairs and they both sat diligently. Their father grabbed a wooden mug used for drinking alcohol and poured himself some honeymead. He sloshed the drink in the mug slowly and looked up at his two sons. Cobble, who was bleeding still, covered his mouth with his hand and Winthorp whose face was filled with mischief and anger.

“What did I tell yee boys when I was away? Yer fightin’ gives the whole village different thoughts about both of yee.”

Cobble began to immediately defend himself before Winthorp had the chance to open his mouth.

“Winthorp is the one that started it! If he hadn’t thrown a punch and minded his business, none of this would’ve happened!” Winthorp glared at his brother, as if he was ready to give him another thrashing.

“Aye! Yee was yelling at yet another villager. Yee ugly mug scares people around here. Yee needed a little touch up.”

Cobble, now infuriated by his brother’s response, spat the scarlet liquid near Winthorp, as if to threaten him. Cobble got up so quickly from his chair, it tumbled down when he stood up.

“You are immature, and your intelligence is that of a small bug! You punched me for doing our job, which yee lack!”

Winthorp looked at his brother once again with the same glare as earlier. “Yee, think you run this village? Yee don’t treat people with good will brother. Instead yee treat them as if thee are dung under yee foot. Yee don’t care!”

“ENOUGH!” Bilgard’s father shouted before the boys could continue to argue. He quickly drank the mead in his mug and threw it on the ground hard enough that it cracked in half. Liquid seeping onto the floor and spreading to the boys feet.

“I have had a tireless journey and this is what I come back to? Both of yee do yourselves a favor for yee father and blow off steam. I would like to be left alone fer now and when yee both stop makin' me head pound.”

Both Cobble and Winthorp got up and left their father. Without saying a word to one another, Cobble went into the direction that was in the forest and he had disappeared into the shrubbery. Winthorp knew what he needed to do, visit his friend Gabusmead once more. Winthorp began the climb up and as he was climbing, he heard some strange sounds in the forest. It was as if someone unfamiliar was whispering, and there was also an odd scent that lingered in the air. Winthorp couldn’t think properly after the fight and the lecture he received all in one day. Winthorp decided to shrug this off and just assumed he was only letting his thoughts get to him.

Winthorp made it to his friend’s canopy and just allowed himself, knowing that Gabusmead didn’t get a lot of visitors.

“Your father is mad at ya huh?” Gabusmead said matter of factly and Winthorp hopped onto his friend’s bed, treating it as his own. Gabusmead put down the feather pen he was using to write in his book about herbs. He looked at his friend and decided to do what all dwarves did for any and every occasion; drink. He poured two mugs full of mead and brought one over to Winthorp. They both clinked their mugs and drank together in silence. The silence was almost comforting because Winthorp was not in his home.

“I don’ know what is up with me brother Gabus. I feel like he is not even a dwarf sometimes. He is not friendly and makes everyone around him feel so…little.”

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Gabusmead looked down into his mug and pondered what to say next. Gabusmead decided to choose his words wisely, but also show he was in support as a friend.

“Your brother is…I think jealous yee will be taking over as village head someday, I think he shows power over everyone to show he can run thee village. But, his ways have gotten bitter and full of hate.”

Winthorp just slowly drank his mead as he thought of what to say.

“My brother though, I worry that his issues will affect all of us. His anger, Gabus, runs deeper than any I’ve ever saw.”

Gabusmead began to chuckle abruptly and Winthorp looked at his friend questionably.

“I can’t even imagine yee brother being involved in any sort of thing. I don’t think if you intervened when you did today, he would’ve been pounded to dirt.”

“Aye, ya know what? I agree with yee Gabus, my brother is quite the cowardly lot, ever since he was a wee lad. He has all teh’ bark and not a fight in him.”

Both friends laughed and finished drinking their mugs of mead. The two talked for hours about other matters such as reminiscing about their youth and discussing different women in the village who they found appealing. They discussed current matters in their lives such as Gabusmead’s herbal developments and Winthorp showing off his new fighting techniques.

These two talked until the sun had set and night had engulfed the forest. When the time was right, Winthrop departed and made his way back to his home. Where he knew he had to face his father who was ready to have his head displayed on a pike.

Winthorp slowly opened the door and peered in, he saw his dad who had been sitting at the table where they all ate together. His father looked more exhausted than usual as he rubbed his fingers on his wrinkly forehead showing he was stressed. Bilgard was getting more gray hairs by the second it felt. Winthorp came in and closed the door behind him, clearing his throat as he approached his father.

“Father, I don’t mean to disturb ya. I know yee want us out yee hair but-”

Bilgard raised his hand in the air signaling Winthorp to stop talking and to let him take over the conversation.

“Son, I wasn’t mad at yee or yer brother. It was just one more thing I had to deal with after a long journey. Yee two are me flesh and blood, you know I care for yee both.”

Winthorp nodded and continued to listen to what his father had to say.

“I am going to tell yee Winthorp because you are going to have to take on thee responsibilities as head of this village. War is upon us my son.”

Winthorp froze in place and instead of feeling anxious, fury rose from the bottom of his short stature to the top of his head. His face turned bright red and his fists were clenched in a tight grip.

“Father, what are yee saying? Who wants to go to war with us?”

“Son, it was bound to happen. Thee elves want us gone son; they don’t want us around anymore. They rather we be worm food down below.”

“Father, this is not right! Just because they think we’re classless mongrels. Why can’t we be at peace with one another instead of resortin’ to bloodshed!?”

Bilgard’s face looked sunken, and he seemed to have more wrinkles than Winthorp remembered, the stress and burden his father must have felt during his journey.

“Son, I feel yee anger and I know why yee upset. I never understood this silly war either, but when I visited the beast people, they warned me of what they had heard. That is why I was riding a Ragan to ensure I had a safe journey home. We have good allies to warn us all. So, I gave information to thee other dwarves, they are goin’ to decide if they want to fight or flee.”

Winthrop began to pace around the house, dealing with all the emotions he was feeling. Rage was the most prominent, along with fear, and worry. Winthorp had never been in a position where he had to deal with war, but he was prepared to give his life for his village.

“Father, I will join yee in battle, I will do whatever it takes to protect thee ones I love. Even my dimwitted brother.”

A grin formed on Bilgard’s face, and he chuckled gently at his son. Bilgard stood up and patted his son’s shoulders. Bilgard’s eyes gleamed as he looked into his son’s determined eyes.

“My boy, I knew yee would do anything fer’ tis family. That is why yee will be the next head of this village. Yee always think of others and have thee hart of a true warrior.”

Winthorp felt proud of himself at that moment, his father truly viewed him as a man. Winthorp always feared that his father viewed him as someone who was lacking maturity and intellect. His father truly appreciated his ways with the villagers even if they were playful interactions rather than serious. Suddenly, he noticed his father’s grin fade and a rather serious shift took over his face.

“Son, I need yee to do me a favor. Please keep tis between I and yee okay? Yee brother is someone who would make everyone run rampant if he knew.”

Winthorp nodded, understanding his father's words.

“Now son, please join me for a mug of honeymead. Yer father needs a drink to calm thee nerves.”

Bildgard found Winthorp’s mug and poured his son enough to fill the brim of the mug. Since Bilgard had broken his previously during his fit of rage earlier in the day, he decided to drink directly from the jug. Both Winthorp and his father shared some laughs and shared tales of what had been going on these past few months. Little did they know, Cobble was right outside their door. Cobble, enraged, stormed off into the night once more and was developing a plan that neither Winthorp nor his father were prepared for.