The Lonely Troll

by Harpie Alexander

  When no one answered, she called out again. Perhaps this wasn’t someone’s home like she had originally thought. Rubbing her eyes, she took in her surroundings. Uncertainty loomed around her.

  Where am I?

  It was a reasonable question given she lay at the mouth of a cave. Some supplies were strewn about here and there, no rhyme or reason, mostly just primitive-looking tools, some bones and such. It was evident it was a home, just not the kind of home she was used to.

  Suddenly, the need to relieve herself was so overwhelming, she staggered to her feet and wandered outside to find a safe spot to go. Lifting the soiled hem of her muddied dress, she squatted beneath a tree until her bladder was no longer screaming its needs at her. Tearing a leaf from a nearby bush, she wiped herself, then took stock of her surroundings.

  In every direction she looked, a mixture of trees surrounded her. Mostly evergreen and maple, but a weeping willow caught her eye. Her favorite. She loved the way the leaves swooped low to the ground, proving ample shade. It reminded her of all the times her mother used to read to her beneath the willow that used to be on her father’s estate, before he chopped it down. As beautiful as the area was, it was quite evident she was still lost in the forest, and not some village like she’d had hoped, despite her rescue from a generous stranger.

  Turning around she spotted the cave she came from. It was a natural formation of several large rounded rocks that jutted from the earth, each stacked and staggered in a pattern that almost gave it the appearance of being man-made, but given its sheer size and height, there was no possible way it could have been.

  To her left was a steady stream which slowly flowed until it became wider and deeper the further it traveled from behind the cave, where it likely originated from. Perhaps when she was feeling better, she might indulge in a little exploration to see where it led, then maybe wash up. As much as she preferred a good cleanse, she had no spare clothes.

  If only Mathias hadn’t ripped her bloomers from her body, but then again, with the weather as cool as it was, the water no longer sounded as inviting. As much as she hated to be so dirty, she was happy to be alive. Delilah figured a near-death experience would do that to someone. After everything she’d been through, she felt like a survivor and decided right then and there to refuse to let anyone stand in her way of freedom ever again.

  Delilah’s eyes trailed to her right, to an unkempt vegetable garden, and then laughed. Oh, how good it felt. Truly it was the most unruly one she’d ever seen. The borders were uneven, the vegetables were improperly spaced apart, and it was overgrown with such an abundance of weeds. Whoever managed it either didn’t understand the concept of gardening or didn’t care for the amount of hard work required to keep it healthy.

  All in all, it was a rather nice spot, and probably belonged to the stranger that saved her. She immediately wondered who would live like this, so far away from the safety of a village, but immediately closed her eyes.

  Won’t my life be similar?

  Maybe her rescuer was someone like her. Someone who had no choice but to escape an unforgivable situation and had nowhere else to go. Hope bloomed in her chest. If that was the case, maybe she wouldn’t be so alone after all.

  While she didn’t see their face that night she begged for their help, Delilah was certain she would meet them soon. Despite having survived death’s doorsteps, and not feeling her best, she decided she would find a way to repay them for their good deeds.

  With no idea as to where she was, where to go, or what to do, Delilah did just that; found a way to repay her rescuer. Maybe she didn’t have survival skills or knew anything related to living in the wilderness, but she refused to sit idle. She was alive and free to do what she wanted. Be damned her deceased father and his ever insistent words in her mind. Lacking in skill? Maybe. Pitiful? She hoped not. Useless? A hard no.

  Now…What can I do that won’t be too taxing, but shows my appreciation?

  Chapter Nine

  Skarde

  After wiping the blood clean from his bone dagger in the river, he patted it dry on the side of his leg before placing it back in its sheath on the side of his hip. Exhaustion took root in his legs as he hoisted the deer up and over his shoulders. An entire day and night had passed since he left the ill female to go hunting, but despite the serious need to lay down and rest, Skarde felt it had been worth every tiring moment.

  Not only had he secured himself a healthy amount of deer meat—which he’d gone so long without since their numbers declined—but he also secured two varduush. While it wasn’t much, it was much better than catching nothing at all.

  With a giant grin on his face, he trekked for several hours in the direction leading to his den.

  Night turned to morning, and eventually, the sun began its ascension up into the bright blue sky. With such pleasant weather, Skarde couldn’t help but feel like the gods themselves were smiling down on him. While King Erike was no god himself, the only troll to be crowned king was considered a god among his people. And perhaps by following his laws now, the gods were giving him leniency for his past mistakes.

  Warmth bloomed in his chest. Oh, how he wished it to be true. The thought of reuniting with his family, his tribe, and possibly having a mate of his own sparked desires buried deep in his mind for so long, he forgot they were there.

  As he drew closer, his thoughts drew increasingly darker. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t tear his thoughts from the human female.

  On one hand, he wished she succumbed to the snake’s venom, because he truly abhorred the idea of having to take her life. But then on the other hand, there was something satisfying about keeping her away from the humans as long as he could. Depriving them of whatever they desperately wanted to take from her, or punish her for. It was the perfect way to punish humans for their transgressions.

  Skarde stilled when his ears picked up the most exotic tune.

  A soft melodic tune called to him, like a sea siren ensnaring the likes of males. While he couldn’t help but scoff at the well-known myths, his eyes grew wide with worry at the chance that maybe there was some truth to the childish legends.

  No. Sea sirens do not exist.

  As much as he tried to convince himself that was the case, he couldn’t ignore that the alluring sound enthralled him.

  I am not by the sea. This must be some sort of witchery.

  Of course, he never met a witch in his life either. They too belonged to the old myths drilled into his mind by his tribe from when he was a youngling.

  The female continued to hum and sing.

  Pushing his way through a leafy bush, he came upon his den…and the person whose beautiful voice nearly stopped his heart in his chest.

  There she was. The human female. The one that had plagued his mind ever since he tore those two males apart. Seemingly happy, healthy...and alive. The snake venom didn’t take her life. Skarde could do nothing but groan and rub his temples as he watched her move about in his den.

  Strangely, he was intrigued by her lithe movements. It distracted him from the unease that filled his stomach. Surely, humans could not be so graceful. He thought it must be some trick of the eye; some spell she was capable of. So he stood there and watched her move back and forth, busying herself with something she seemed important as she sang with a bright smile upon her face.

  Why is she so happy?

  He didn’t know, but more than anything he wanted to. In his miserable and lonely existence, he had never been that happy...not since he lost his tribe. It was perplexing, and it made him wonder if she could feel that way, maybe he could too.

  His anger boiled over his curiosity when he spotted the female moving stockpiles of food and hand-carved tools to the mouth of the cave.

  "By Erike’s axe! You think you can steal from me, human?" Skarde demanded an answer as he stalked forward out of his spot and into plain sight, heading straight for the thriving female.

  All this time he spared her the injustice
of dishonor, and this is how she repaid him? Stealing with her prying hands the moment she wanted and had but a single moment alone? Oh, how he regretted helping the vile little thing in the first place.

  “Oh, sorry, I was not–” Her dress twirled around as she turned to face him.

  Her eyes grew wide with fear and her mouth became slack as if she was about to scream, but couldn’t. The remaining tools in her hands clattered when they were dropped to the ground before she raised her arms as a means of protection. While slowly backing up, her brown curly hair bounced side to side when she shook her head as if she couldn’t believe what her eyes were telling her.

  “Do not lie to me,” he growled, menace laced his voice like a newly sharpened axe. “I do not like liars. And let it be known, I like humans even less.”

  This was the moment. He prevented her death in the cursed lands. He allowed her the chance to die an honorable death from the snake’s venom, but now that she’d recovered, it was time to take her life as King Erike demanded. Her life belonged to him now. And even if it didn’t, Skarde refused to be taken for a fool. No one stole from him, especially not in his den.

  “I...I’m sorry. Please...don’t hurt me,” she stammered, unblinking while her feet continued to back up further and further into the darkness of his cave.

  Skarde muttered curses beneath his breath. He should have ended her life before she could blink an eye. At least then she could have gone peacefully. At least then she could have died easily, and without tainting herself as a thief. It wasn’t possible now. She was absolutely terrified and had already committed her crimes.

  Even now he could hear her speedy heart hammering in her chest, caught in the act of her crimes. Fear permeated the air.

  “I cannot." He wrinkled his nose in disgust, but try as he might to rid his nose of her fearful scent, he could not.

  “Cannot what?”

  “Let you live.”

  “I didn’t...oh gods...please I woke up here.” An exhale was forced from her mouth as she jarringly backed up against the wall of the cave. She turned to face the wall, if only to confirm that she had cornered herself. There was nowhere else for her to go. Nowhere else to hide. No other choice to be made.

  “I know,” he responded, only a few hands away from her now. He unsheathed his bone dagger. “This will be quick. You’re lucky that I’m willing to ignore your transgression. Others would not have been so kind.”

  Slamming her eyes shut, she turned her head away as if she couldn’t bear to witness what she knew was coming. “Please. I cannot die now,” she begged. “Not after everything I’ve been through just to survive.” The sides of her mouth turned while she pushed her hands against his chest with all her strength.

  It made no difference. Her physical strength seemed more like a weakness. Skarde could barely feel her struggles, let alone a push. With one arm placed on the wall to cage her in, he placed the dagger beneath her delicate chin, against a throbbing vein on the side of her neck.

  “It is out of my hands. You were destined to die when you saw my face the night those males–”

  “That was you? I didn’t see your face until now. I swear. I won’t tell anyone.” The pitch of her voice grew higher, the more desperate she became.

  His wrist trembled slightly. Skarde paused, a look of confusion plastered his face while a shattering thought donned on him.

  Did she really not see me? Did she really not know of my existence until now?

  If it were true, all this time he spent hunting her, he forced his own hand. Doomed her very existence by his perusal of justice. His mind swirled, pushing and pulling in many directions all at once. While he wasn’t sure what would’ve happened to her had he not followed her, perhaps she would have died in the cursed place, perhaps not. But one thing was very clear. She could have lived.

  Knowing he was responsible for her death all because of an assumption through his mind for a loop. It didn’t sit well with him, regardless of the fact she was a thief, because he understood she was just trying to survive. He was the one that brought her here.

  And if you didn’t bring her here, those humans would still be on my mountain, having their way when her.

  “If you’re going to kill me, then do–”

  “Why are they after you?” he demanded, holding the knife slightly more tightly against her soft skin, forcing the trembles in his wrist to subside.

  “What?” Her breath hitched. She turned to face him with a questioning look on her face. The movement forced the blade to slice through her skin, catching his attention. It wasn’t deep by any means, but a trickle of blood still dripped beneath the blade where it nicked her flesh.

  Skade couldn’t help the growl that escaped his throat. While he didn’t like playing mind games, he backed his blade up slightly, not wanting her to die before she could properly answer. “Don’t play coy with me. Why are the humans chasing you?”

  Looking away again, she mumbled something inaudible under her breath.

  “Tell me human, or I will end you here as I should,” he threatened with a loud snarl.

  “Because they think I murdered my father!” she yelled before slamming her mouth shut and covering her lips with her palms. A few tears dripped from her eyes, sliding down her cheeks.

  Shock held him frozen like a river that iced over. Killed her father? Were humans capable of such horrifying atrocities? If so, his disgust for their kind only grew, which was a new feat given he honestly didn’t believe he could despise them any further.

  Recovered from her last outburst, the female took the moment to squirm out of his hold, then stepped away, putting some distance between them. “I didn’t murder him. Just like I didn’t steal from you,” she shouted angrily beside him. “I was merely cleaning up to show you my gratitude.” Her wands waved around gesturing to different areas of his den.

  Now that he was looking, his home did appear to be significantly cleaner and more organized. His food bowls had been stacked neatly in a corner, the sleeping furs had been washed and were folded neatly, and the floor had been swept clean from all the debris. Just outside the cave was a broom lying against the wall. Primitive in form with hundreds of small branches, but handcrafted none-the-less.

  She wouldn’t have done this if she meant to steal from me.

  Horrified by his actions and accusations against her, he opened his mouth to speak, but she whirled around and strode back until she was an arm’s length away. All signs of her fear were gone, but was replaced with pure anger. Her beautiful blue eyes could murder with the look she gave him, but Skarde didn’t give in, nor did he challenge the way she glared at him.

  “I don’t know what you are exactly, but you’re just like every other man I’ve ever met. Treating women like we’re nothing more than a slave. Something you can order around. Something you can chain up or beat because we’re nothing more than property you own. I’m tired of being a pawn. I’m more than just property,” she yelled in frustration and jabbed her pointer finger into his chest.

  “I would never–”

  “Never what? Never what?” She jabbed him again. “Never beat me?” Jab. “Never harm me? Never order me around?” Jab. Jab.

  He didn’t dare interrupt her. When she realized he wasn’t going to respond, her eyes grew wider, all the while everything she’d been holding in all this time exploded out of her, directly at him.

  “No, of course not. You just wanted me dead instead. Heavens knows why you’re so hell-bent on murdering me too. Go on then. Kill me. If you don’t, they surely will if they ever catch up to me. I’m tired of running. I’m tired of hiding.” She paused to catch her breath and inhaled sharply. Then her brilliant blue eyes bore deeply into his, before her voice became soft and quiet. “I’m so tired of being so damn alone in this world.”

  Moving over to the wall, she turned her back against it and sagged to the ground. Her shoulders slumped forward so she could huddle her knees. Her anger appeared to be depleted, leaving on
ly the other raw emotions devouring her. Then, she cried.

  Skarde stood in disbelief. He didn’t know what to say or how to react. For the first time in his life, he was rendered completely speechless. He didn’t know what she had been through, but it was clearly more than anyone should have to handle. By the sounds of everything she said, it was evident she had no one by her side to stand up for the injustice against her.

  “You know, when I woke, for the shortest moment I believed that maybe someone was finally on my side for once. I sat in those furs and thought that the only other person to live out here in the middle of nowhere would have to be an outcast. No one would willingly choose to live like this, so isolated and alone. Maybe I’m just a fool, but I thought maybe, just maybe, the two of us could work together and then we both wouldn’t have to be alone. But just like the other times I thought things were starting to look up, I was let down.”

  And just like that, all the reasons he thought were justified to end her life crumbled to bits as Skarde’s chest overflowed with sympathy.

  Chapter Ten

  Delilah

  Her eyes burned, and her chest was heavy like the weight of the world sat upon her shoulders. Every moment she’d been beaten to a pulp, whipped until her body bled dry, and tormented by those who only wished to see her harmed, had surged through her entire body all at once. While it was uncharacteristic of her to act out in such a way, with no other outlet or means to control the flooding emotions raging through her, she lashed out at the only other individual within reach.

  The male who claimed for reasons unknown that she must die.

  Everything she ever wanted to say but was forced to keep her lips closed in fear of retaliation, poured from her mouth in an endless stream of angry outbursts. She had yelled and yelled her frustrations of the world until her throat was dry and raspy and she was out of breath. When she was finished, all that was left was pure emptiness. She was depleted.

  Sinking her body to the floor, she brought her knees up to her chest and wrapped her arms around them to comfort herself in her moment of desolation.