Hope
The door whispered open as Stonebeard crept into his home. As quietly as he could he closed the door behind him. He didn't know if Frega was up but it was better safe than sorry. She needed all the rest she could get. Rolling his shoulders he shed his light cloak and hung it on its hook. Water dripped and formed a puddle. Stonebeard paused and squinted at the puddle. At just the right angle the torch light around him made the puddle sparkle. Sparkle like stars. Only Frega calling out to him pulled him away from the puddle.
"Dearest? Are you there? I am going to warm up some soup. Do you want any?"
"Yes Dear. That would warm me right up."
"Alright, I will be by the fire."
With smooth movements Stonebeard pulled off his boots and padded over to his wife. She was resting in by the fire in her chair, one hand absently caressing her stomach. With a soft grunt Stonebeard sat down in his chair and took the offered bowl of soup. They stayed like that for a short time. Enjoying the warm soup and the crackle and pop of the fire.
"I didn't wake you up did I?" Stonebeard asked, "I tried to be as quiet as I could."
Frega waved away his concern. "I was already up. Your daughter has quite a pair of legs on her."
Stonebeard smiled, "Don't forget, you'll owe me two bowls of mushroom and goat soup if he's a boy."
Frega laughed softly, "I'll remember." She looked back into the fire. "How was today?" She asked, her voice quiet and hesitant.
Stonebeard shrugged. "Better than most days. A couple of demons mindless attacked and word from the thanes is that they are expecting another big attack in a couple of days so everyone is gearing up for that."
Frega went silent at that. The two of them enjoyed some of the warm soup and the crackle and pop of the fire. Eventually Frega spoke again. "Any word?" She asked. It was the same question she asked every night. Every night for the last two decades.
Stonebeard stared into the fire. It was dying down. "No." He said. "No word."
Again they descended into a comfortable quietness. The fire was just embers now as they finished their soup. With a satisfied sigh Stonebeard set his bowl aside. Then he rested his hands in his hands and looked back to the fire. Dull embers burned inside the fireplace. The light casted from them extended shadows. Then he spoke.
"It's getting harder." Frega stilled beside him. "Each battle," he continued, "there are less dwarfs. More demons. I don't know when it will end. If it will end. Just moments ago I stared into a puddle of rainwater that reflected torch light like stars. I used to take stars for granted but now…" He sighed. "Will our child ever get to see stars?"
Frega reached over and gripped his hand. "I pray every day," she said, "to Grungi, Valaya, and Griminr that this test ends. Until that day we must endure. For your daughter."
Stonebeard stared into his wife's brilliant eyes. An unborn tear glistened there. "Of course dear. I was being silly. We will endure as Grungi taught as. As the mountains do." He lifted his hand to her face. His calloused thumb brushed aside her unshed tear. Frega sighed and leaned into his hand. They stayed together like that for a time.
Rough knocking at the door interrupted the moment. With a grumble Stonebeard got up and gave a quick kiss to Frega.
"I am coming, I am coming."
When he opened the door a panting beardling was standing there.
"I am very sorry to knock on your door at this hour, honored Elder," said the beardling. "But I have been instructed to inform you that a clan wide meeting has been called. The meeting is taking place at Elder Stonefoot's house."
"When is the meeting taking place?" Stonebeard asked, knowing and dreading the answer.
"Now, honored Elder." The beardling replied.
"Very well, go on your way then." Stonebeard grunted out.
The beardling nodded his thanks and hurried off to the next house. Stonebeard turned around and stomped back into his house. Frega was standing by the entrance to the kitchen.
"Is something wrong?"
"A clan meeting. I don't know what it's about. You should get some rest though. I don't know how long this will take."
Frega nodded and retreated further into the house. Stonebeard grabbed a pair of boots, almost grabbing the wet ones, and made his way to Elder Stonefoot's house.
The clan head's house was the perfect meeting place. Large and spacious with plenty of light rooms carved into tasteful nooks and crannies. A large table that could sit each head of house as well as the food they often ate. Such meetings used to take place at most every three months. They would be scheduled well in advance and everyone would know the topic. With the coming of disasters the meetings had changed. Grim news and dire signs came almost every day and it was a rare week that less than three meetings were called to discuss the latest disaster and how it affected the clan. At the head of the table sat Elder Stonefoot. He puffed on a small pipe and the smoke from it drifted lazily away. Even as Stonebeard pulled up his seat Elder Stonefoot's daughter was feeding wood to the fireplace getting it to a roaring heat. The news must be quite fresh if Elder Stonefoot wasn't prepared yet. When the chairs had been filled Elder Stonefoot broke the gentle murmings filling the hall.
"We have news from Kraka Drakk."
Silence descended on the hall. Stonebeard closed his eyes. This was it. For two decades the center of the north had been cut off with Frega's brother. This was the expected bitter news.
"It stands." Elder Stonefoot continued.
Stonebeard's eyes snapped open. All around him he could see the relief on the craggy faces of his clan.
"Even as the Valiant cleared away the demons sieging Kraka Drakk from the underway the hold's throng sallied out and drove away the demon hoard that had been besieging them." Now the silence in the hall was one of stunned disbelief. Elder Stonefoot continued seeming to care little about the magnitude of the news he was sharing. "King Otrek Ironarm held the fourth wall of Kraka Drakk and in a pitched battle slew Kholek Suneater Ruiner of the North."
Excited murmuring filled the grand hall. Everyone could feel it. A great blow for dwarf kind had been struck. Like an ax blow making a flooding river pause. It wouldn't stop the horrors. But this. This was proof that hope was not lost.
Elder Stonefoot continued, "I know that many of you have family living in Kraka Drakk." Stonebeard could almost believe that Elder Stonefoot had glanced in his direction. "While there is little we can spare from the defense of our hold I hope that there is something that we can do for our families living in the north. This meeting is to discuss what can be spared and how to arrange its travel north."
The rest of the meeting moved quickly. Each head of family gave an account of what they believed could be spared. Grain was promised, as well as kegs of ale. It was a meager, but heartfelt, amount. Elder Stonefoot called the meeting to a close with a declaration that he would work with other clan heads to create a caravan strong enough to brave the underway. With that everyone hurried home to share the news.
Stonebeard, for the second time, opened the door as softly as he could. Just in case his wife had gone to sleep. She hadn't. He could see her shadow from the fire that she had kindled back to a roar.
"Frega dearest," he said, as he sat next to her, "I have news."
Frega looked at him, concern filling her eyes.
"Kraka Drakk stands."
A.N
@soulcake Omake for the Omake throne
