by Emma Hamm
Ruric stood in the opening, his arms crossed firmly over his chest.
If she didn’t know any better, she would say that he had an amused expression on his face. But she refused to believe that Ruric had any emotions at all, not when she was still half asleep and terribly grumpy.
“Bad luck.”
“Excuse me?”
“Bad luck before ceremony.”
“If you’re trying to tell me it’s bad luck for you to see me before the ceremony, I’m going to throw something at you.” She stomped to the back of the cave where there was a small alcove with running water that was used as the bathroom. This was something she did not have even at home. Somehow the thought that goblins had better technology than her own people made her even more grumpy.
“I need to go home, Ruric!”
“No.” He called back to her, his voice having a decided tone of amusement.
“I’m not doing this ceremony, I already told you how I feel about it.”
“You will. Goblins will help.”
“Right. Goblins will help.” She rolled her eyes as she finished up, holding the cloths to her chest still. “Goblins have done so much for me already.”
In reality, they had. There was no reason for them to be as kind to her as they had been, in fact they had every right to be much worse. The other humans had likely not gotten the same treatment as she had. That didn’t mean she had to be happy about it.
“You need to change.” Ruric said.
She rounded the corner, arching an eyebrow at him. “What? Am I not properly dressed for your ceremony? I was unaware goblins even knew how to dress formally.”
He seemed to chuckle. “Goblins will help. You-” he pointed at her firmly, though with a trademark goblin grin. “Don’t scare them.”
“I don’t like it that you’re getting better at speaking my language.” She replied.
Melodic laughter trailed after him as he disappeared behind the flap once more.
Another goblin was quick to take his place, not the one that had been in before. This one had the same tattooing as well, but his arms were a little bulkier, his face broader, nose flatter.
She didn’t like him any more than the other.
“Fine. Let’s get this over with.” She grumbled, holding her arms out. “It’s not like I have a choice.”
As the goblin skimmed the thin fabric off of her body and started a much more intricate design with clean cloths, she realized just how frustrating it was to have someone else dress her. Rumors were that in the City people didn’t dress themselves. Jane didn’t understand the appeal. She had two strong hands and a mind that could very well figure out how to put clothing on herself.
She looked down at the knotted fabric that was being roped over her body. This was a much more detailed design than what Ruric had been teaching her. It still had the base layer of fabric she was used to, but the coverings over her breasts were now the same leather strappings as Ruric had worn. It looked like a piece of armor.
This continued throughout the entire bodice of the piece, ending with a presentation that left more skin showing than she was comfortable with. Was not a wedding supposed to be something similar to giving away virtue? Not that Jane was a virgin by any sense of the word, but she hardly thought she was supposed to have her skin bared like this.
“I don’t think I can wear this.” She said nervously.
The goblin barely flinched, stooping to continue the pattern down her hip to link it to the wider pieces of fabric around her waist.
“I really can’t wear it like this, there’s too much skin showing.” She tried to explain once more.
It didn’t take long for Jane to feel the licking cold air at her back. There were no coverings on her ribs or spine. The rest was open to the air including the lines of her ribs which had also not been covered. She was truly concerned that she felt as though she was donning armor that did very little to protect her.
This was going to end terribly.
Gritting her teeth, she reminded herself that she didn’t have a choice. They didn’t care about the number of times she had said no. She couldn’t fight or run. There was nothing for her to do but stand still and agree to do what they wanted.
The skirt the goblin created was sleek and molded to her legs. Even Jane had to admit that it was a flattering style. Though she wasn’t certain it would hide the parts of her she didn’t want the goblins to see. Two slits down the sides allowed her to move freely, showing skin every time she moved.
She looked down at herself, then back at the goblin. “This is really a bad idea.”
The goblin seemed quite pleased with his work. He even dusted off his hands before gesturing for her to move out of the cave.
“I know you don’t understand me, but I’m really not the kind of person you want to wear this. I’m going to ruin it.”
Gently he started herding her towards the door.
“It’s going to end badly for everyone and likely in embarrassment.”
She could feel the flap of the cave against her spine, and in one last ditch effort she pleaded, “Please don’t make me do this.”
It was a low blow to her pride, but she refused to admit to herself that she had stooped low enough to beg. She didn’t want to do this. She didn’t have a choice.
With a light shove, he pushed her out the door. She stumbled before she caught herself. She had learned how important it was to be sure footed on these ledges. The last thing she needed was to go tumbling from the edge on a day that was supposed to be something like a wedding.
As she looked up towards the path, she was startled. Most of the globes had been put out. Instead, there was a clearly lit single path that traveled across those bridges. It wound its way up to the large cave at the highest point of this crevice.
She had no way to know when she started following that path that there were hundreds of goblin eyes watching her. She couldn’t see past the thin pool of light that was guiding her from globe to globe. The goblins, however, could see her perfectly. She was a creature made entirely differently than them. Her dark skin that had been kissed by the sun. Her blunt fingers grasped the ropes to pull her small and delicate form forward.
To them she was both delicate and pitiful. A creature that needed to be protected at all costs. For surely how could something like that survive on its own at all. They would need to provide her with what they could once she became part of the tribe. She was their last hope for survival.
The journey took her by every goblin in this tribe. Every last goblin would see the human woman that had the potential to change the future for them. Even if she did not create the hybrid that they so desperately needed, she would be the first human to ever be brought into the tribe. Some would never accept her. The oddities of her body and shape would make them recoil. But others would find her enchanting. A creature out of myths and legends.
Most here had never seen a human before.
Her heart was beating faster and faster as she followed the lights. It seemed a little bit like someone lost in a desert, following mirages to an untold destination. Or perhaps she was already dead. It certainly felt as though she was being guided to an Underworld.
The inside of her destination was as familiar to her as it was strange. A small gathering of goblins waited there, among them stood Micah. She didn’t recognize any of them other than the fragile queen who was leaning heavily against Ruric’s arm.
She had to do a double take when she saw the couple. She had never seen him in anything other than leathers that were clearly made for battle. Now he was clothed as the others, pale blue fabric stretched tight across a wide chest and thick legs. He had tied them into trousers, forgoing the usual tradition of both males and females wearing skirts.
It was startling to see him dressed like this. She had been under the impression that he was little more than a warlord. Jane had not realized how wrong she had been. With these clothes
on he looked presentable.
After he gently steadied the queen, Ruric walked towards her. His strides were purposeful and heavy.
The look in his eyes was familiar to her. Apparently it was very much the same between human men and goblins. He desired her. They had been in close quarters for weeks now. She had bathed in front of him. This look was one she had never seen before from him. Or perhaps one that she had not thought to notice before.
He bent low. “You look-” He paused, seeming to try to find the word.
“You’ve seen me naked,” She hissed. “Calm down.”
He laughed, tossing his head back as the tendons in his neck contracted in that odd head bob. “Yes. You are right.”
“Of course I’m right.” Bravado appeared to be the only reassurance she had.
She did not want to do this. She did not want to walk up to the queen and do whatever strange things they were going to ask her to do. She could only imagine the ceremony that would unfold before her. She hoped they didn’t make her eat anything. Or worse, that Ruric and her would have to “bind” themselves before the others. Really what else could binding mean?
The queen looked up at her. Looked up at her. Jane was suddenly struck by how small the creature was. Her spine curved so heavily that she appeared even tinier. How could such a creature rule the goblins? Why did they listen to one that was so weak compared to them?
Jane was incredibly out of her element. Ruric beside her bowed, and she tried to copy him in the precarious dress. Her heart was beating hard at the possibility of exposing herself in front of a queen and other goblins. But thankfully the cloth managed to stay exactly where it was supposed to be. Perhaps that was part of the trick of tying these intricate designs.
The queen started speaking. Instead of addressing the small crowd around them, the other female spoke only for Jane’s ears.
Ruric stiffened slightly beside her. Jane could see that he didn’t want to translate, but the queen seemed to gesture at him until he finally sighed.
“Queen asks. Does human want this?”
This was it. This was her out. Jane shook her head firmly, clutching her hands together in front of her as though in prayer. “No. No I just want to go home.”
She could almost hear his teeth gritting as Ruric translated for her.
The queen seemed to pause, nodding slightly as her eyes narrowed. Jane felt very much as though those dark eyes were trying to look right into her soul. There was a long pause after her admittance, even from the goblins behind them who were obviously leaning forward to hear everything that was said.
“Queen says.” Ruric paused. He seemed to be stumped for a moment, his harsh angled face pausing before continuing. “Wants to make deal.”
“A deal?” Jane asked.
He shook his head. “I do not know words.”
Whatever it was the queen was saying, it was something that Ruric didn’t know how to translate for her. Either that, or it was too complicated for him to easily say. She needed to know. A deal was better than what she was getting now.
Just as she was going to turn to Micah, to insist that the queen repeat what she had just said, Ruric placed his hand on her arm.
“Family for family.” He murmured.
“What?”
“Family for family.” He said, pointing between the two of them and then pointing just at her.
“You’re saying you’ll get my family for me? I don’t want them to be brought down here. I want all of us to go back to the lives we lived.”
He shook his head. “Information only.”
And there it was. A dilemma that made her mind race. Information to her family, about her family, it was more than she was getting now. But it was also a dangerous thing to agree on. Luther and Willow should be leaving to go to the City, if they hadn’t left already. It very well might be impossible to get information to them.
But these creatures weren’t going to let her leave. This deal was likely the best offer she was going to get.
“What is the other option?” She had to ask.
Ruric shook his head. “No other option. This is honor.”
Of course it was. She was little more than a bargaining tool or a brood mare for these creatures. Why should she think that they would do anything more. She had to force herself to admit that it was kind of them to even consider giving her a connection Above.
At Jane’s nod, the ceremony continued.
She expected some kind of religious rite. Or at least some kind of barbaric ritual. But none of her imagined tribulations happened.
It seemed that the ceremony was little more than the queen tying their hands together with a soft silk cloth and saying what appeared to be a few sentences. Already a few goblins were wandering off.
“That’s it?” She asked quietly.
He looked down at her and arched a brow, those large eyes seemingly amused.
“Yes.”
“There’s nothing… else?” There had to be something else.
“No.”
“Really?”
He was looking at her strangely now.
“I just thought that it would be more involved. That could have been done anywhere and certainly didn’t need all the work put into it.”
Ruric shrugged, and for a moment she wondered if he understood her at all. Just saying a couple words could have been done without the gathering, and it certainly could have been done without all the fuss. It made no sense that the goblins would go through all this trouble just to have it end… like this.
A voice from behind her spoke up. “The goblins are not much for official ceremonies or functions.”
“Micah,” She said in response, turning to the man she thought she might have liked Above.
“This is very different from our world. They don’t take hours to do one thing when they believe that a union between two is the female’s choice.”
“Oh.” She said angrily, one hip cocking to the side. “Yet I told the queen no and she offered me a bargain. Could I have insisted I did not want this?”
“Well no.” He replied. “You are certainly a different case, but a goblin woman could have refused him. They lead a different life than the women you are used to.”
“I’m starting to see that.” She said quietly, looking out over the goblins that were slowly disappearing out of the cave and back down into the crevices that they lived in. “It all seems like a lot of work for thirty seconds of murmuring over bound hands.”
“Ah, that’s because you haven’t seen the best part. Goblins may not be one for ceremonies, but they do enjoy the festivities afterwards.”
Micah held out an arm, a true gentleman if she had ever seen one. Ruric started forward from their side, allowing the old man to guide her when it likely should have been his place. Instead he stayed a few feet in front of them. With his wide shoulders and powerful stance, she wondered if he was taking up a position of protection.
As they reached the edge of the cliff, she realized that it was no longer a dark hole. The small path of lights that had guided her here were now illuminated brighter than she had ever seen before.
Every light the goblins could get their hands on was lit, hanging haphazardly in as many places as they could reach. Hundreds of goblins moved across the ladders, some pulled what looked like woven chairs out in front of their caves and others leaping from ladder to ladder.
She watched with wide eyes as one goblin hooked a clawed hand on the bottom of a ladder, dangling for a moment before he let himself drop to the next.
A drum beat started. A few of the goblins that had dragged out chairs started drumming upon skins stretched over wooden frames. The more she looked, the more details popped out at her. There were gourds of drink being passed around, music starting, light from every corner.
It was shocking. These people had always seemed so stoic to her. A lost race that was dying out and desperate for help. But this… This
brought them to life.
Again she remembered the first time she had ever seen these creatures. The vibrant colors, the delicate cloths, and the dignity at which the queen had held herself. She was starting to understand that even though these creatures were dying out, that they were enjoying life to its fullest.
This was a stark contrast to the life she remembered from Above.
“Come.” Ruric held his hand out for her to take, the curved claws no longer making her heart jump in her throat.
She looked back at Micah, a question in her eyes that her head had not yet recognized.
“Go on, child. Enjoy, be merry. You might not have expected to become a goblin bride, but you are one now. These are your people as much as they are his.”
It was with that reassurance that she slid her hand into Ruric’s.
CHAPTER TEN
THE MOMENT THEY started down the cliff they were surrounded by goblins. They treated her as one of their own. Claps on the back were firm for Ruric, soft hugs for her. It was uncomfortable for Jane who had never been a very physical person. Yet these people wanted nothing more than to touch her.
Many fingered her long braid. They were fascinated by that part of her. She watched as a goblin turned it this way and that in the light. It appeared that they had never seen hair like this before.
She was suddenly trustworthy simply because she was bound to Ruric. They smiled at her with their sharp teeth. They touched her where they had not before, hands stroking against the tan lines on her skin and tugging lightly at her braid.
Boundaries were no longer there. She was, in essence, a goblin now. They saw her as one of them, though oddly shaped. She could not speak to them and they did their best to help her to understand. Her fragility was beguiling to them.
Down they went, passing by caves that held people who danced as she had never seen before. Their bodies were made for battle. Claws and teeth that could deliver death on a silver platter. But they moved with the grace and fluidity of water. She had never seen anything so beautiful in her entire life.
Eventually they stopped, walking into a much larger cave that seemed to be the lowest point. She guessed this was usually used for political things. There was another version of the throne that was held at the top of another peak, and a few of the smaller ones that always seemed to accompany it.