Love and War: Home (part 3)

“Giat!” Ella ran in and hugged him tight now crying a little. “I… They never wanted anyone more dead, and I thought maybe I…”

“Hey, hey” Giat recovered from being practically tackled. “I’m right here.” He stated hugging back.

“Poor soldier boy here didn’t want to worry alone in his room, I guess.” Sofia stated before silence making more beers as Giat stared at her. “So no on the elope thing?”

“What?!” Ella stated turning to Sofia. “These are our people, and the only homes we ever had.”
“Home is the place where you belong” Sofia sang her first sentence as those she was quoting part of a song. “Your people clearly aren’t going to accept the truth.”

“Where would we go?” Giat question. “Where would we even begin to start over?”

“Oh yeah ya definitely can’t figure that out with only 4 kingdoms.” Argus butted in. “Much too risky, right lads?” Naturally, the other dwarfs make every sarcastic comment they could think of.

“Let’s just go.” Giat stated after a long silence.

“Giat?!” Ella replied in shock. “I do need two groups of people wanting to kill you.”

“Where would they search?” Giat rebutted. “Or did your kind believe you.” The was another long paused before Ella replied.

“I thought you humans valued honor and pride.” Ella responded.

“I thought you fauns valued purity and truth.” Giat rebutted.

“Surely, we can’t just leave?” Ella questioned. “I mean they WILL search, and eventually someone is going to find this place.”

“Look, with all due respect, that’s a lot of work for two people no one was even willing to guard properly.” Sofia rebutted as a bell chimed. “You sit down, and see what ya can map out with that group there, alright? The first new map of the world would be great for business, so the next two rounds are on the house.”

“Don’t fall for it, laddy!” One dwarf shouted. 

“Aye.” Said another dwarf. “First rounds always free cuz they’ll keep coming back.” Both Giat and Ella stared at the 5, routy, dwarves, and watched them quickly quieten down and drink as their beer was served.

“You’re a race of drunkards.” Sofia rebutted. “Not my fault I’m the best enabler in Alchano.” 

“Elliot Mastrot Quelyon Ludwig Tallyho Areoclock Limbar the Gnome.” Elliot took a bow. “And a proud member of the Larger than Life Charters at your service.” With that introduction the questions began. An introduction to five races of their world. The happy-go-lucky Gnomes who never knew a bad day. Their pride was in their technological knowledge, and never left any place untouched as a result. There was little you could do to ever bring the small creatures down. They made their home in the endless hills. Land deemed unsuitable by the rest of the world, but the small optimists found a way nonetheless. The Dwarves were usually found deep in the mountains. They were lovers of beer, but blacksmith first. Normally taking on a more serious tone, but they can always enjoy themselves after a hard day's work. The Dwarven kingdom was a series of mountain ranges, which they lived inside of. Giat told of the pride found within the human species, and their ability to adapt in combat. Their obsession with honor, and need to earn each other respect. Ella went next mentioning the Fauns dislike of order. They prefer the beauty that emerged from the chaos of nature. Preferring the value of things left untouched, which included themselves to the strictest degree possible. In terms of species that left only the Firbolg. Define, as Sofia was, by their height and blue skin. Both looked up to find Sofia had left the area as Elliot described an isolated species with a general distaste for the world. Even the few found outside the icy lands don’t seem to like sharing much about their history, but it’s speculated that they may stem more from a desire to leave it behind more than anything. To the same extent it’s unknown if they simply do not believe in culture, or if the culture they have is not one they wish to share. 

“Don’t be asking her any questions, now.” Argus stated. “She’s just another Alchanian, here.” Alchano, as the Giat and Ella learned, was a kingdom of outcast. Dwarves that didn’t like the mines of the mountain, Gnomes that considered inventing a serious business. “And last, but certainly not least, Firbolgs that would rather run a warm, cozy, bar than live in nothing but snow and ice.”

“I…” Ella paused, and looked to Sofia then to Giat.

“Both of us, I think, find it hard to imagine.” Giat stated. “That one find their enjoyment so far from home.” Sofia sighed, and took a deep breath. Her voice echoed a bit as she sang.

A frosty keep, and tatters logs. Deep in ice, and encased in fog. Home is where one be-longs.

“It’s one of the great mysteries the Firbolgs leave us.” Elliot stated. “No one ever hears more than that one line.” As Sofia went back to quietly working. “Yet they most often say ‘home is the place where you belong.’, and in a very different tone I might add.” Both Ella and Giat looked at each other.

“They can make it work.” Giat stated.

“It couldn’t hurt to make a plan.” Ella replied. “Just in case.”