Landsbyen -Into the North- An Epic Poem 48

“Now, let's see about the elf at the door.” Pulling himself up to his full height and stretching his shoulders to make himself look as large and fierce as possible, Joulupukki grabbed the door handle and with one smooth movement jerked the door open and stepped through it to within inches of the waiting elf. The elf shrank before this horrible sight and instinctively threw up a defensive barrier between he and Joulupukki. Joulupukki's eyes grew wide and even more frightening as his magic twisted the elf's and wrapped him in his own energy. “How dare you come to this house and try to use magic against those who live here.” The elf could not move, but his fear was evident in his face. “Why have you come here! You are either a very, very brave elf or the most stupid elf I have met, thinking you can summon me like calling a dog. Quickly,” Joulupukki raised his voice, “stop whimpering, why are you here?” “I...I...I...I..., brought these,” looking down at the papers in his hand. DynDoeth took them from the elf and looked at them. They were official documents. The elf, still scared to the point of barely being able to speak confessed that he had taken them from a Council Guard, but he did not hurt him, just put him to sleep and told them where he left him. As for why, he was sent to appraise the defenses of the cottage, but was not informed as to the reason or who wanted to know. He said there were two others with him when they stole the documents, but they ran off when Ceridfen slammed the door in his face. “If I ever see you again I will have you sent to the dungeon in the Keep and I will take personal pleasure in stripping you of your magic.” Joulupukki released the magic holding the elf and he quickly turned away and scurried off. Gwaldon took a very long look at the half elf. “I hope to never get on your bad side,” he said to Joulupukki. “What? Oh that,” he said closing the door. “Yes, that,” the old elf said. “You were frighteningly angry at that Elf.” “Angry, no actually I was not angry at all, but we needed to find out what he knew so I put a bit of a fright into him.” “If that wasn't anger how will I know when you are angry,” he asked? Joulupukki turned to face him his expression suddenly turning to stone. His eyes burrowing deeply into Gwaldon's. Slowly and with deliberate words he said, “Do you remember when we met, I was angry then.” He let this sink in and suddenly let out a loud belly laugh. “You see I can have a rye sense of humor too.” Gwaldon let out a breath that he had not realized he was holding and smiled. “Come now my friend, you are like a brother to me, albeit, a much, much, much, ....much, ...much older brother, or perhaps a great great grandfather, yeah that would be more like it.” Everyone laughed at this including Gwaldon. Dyndoeth sent out a second elf to let Lumi know where they should look for the guard. After the display at the front door he felt safe that no one would start trouble this night. “By the way,” Dyndoeth speaking to Joulupukki, “you do realize that there is no dungeon in the Keep.” They all laughed again and continued the joviality, until each of them grew tired and one by one excused themselves leaving only Joulupukki and Dyndoeth sitting at the eating table. “What are the papers,” Joulupukki asked? “They are official documents from Seileach and the Council,” Dyndoeth said, “They specify that your appointment to prove your assertion as son to Erlenkönig and your desire to gain his crown will be at sun rise two days hence, as tomorrow they will be observing a full day's recess.” Both of them smiled, “That little deceiver,” Joulupukki said, “I didn't know he had it in him.” “Nor did I,” Dyndoeth agreed, chuckling.