Middleton paused, relaxing his posture. “We have come in search of an elf who goes by the name of Goffer. We are friends of his.”
The dwarf raised his eyebrows. “If you are who you claim to be, I will provide you with a safe escort into the Stronghold, but first I must be sure.”
Charlotte’s heart leaped. At last, they were getting somewhere. “He’s not lying!” she said, taking a step closer.
The dwarf gave her a quick glance before turning back to Middleton. “Who are you, and where are you from?”
“My name is Middleton. I own a farmstead close to Rivertown. I have been led to believe Goffer is here, is that so?”
A faint smirk momentarily lightened the dwarf’s rugged features. “Yes, he is here, and he has been expecting you.”
Charlotte punched the air. “Yes!” She clenched her hands, grinning. “That means I can go home now. I can't wait, even though I'm in loads of trouble," she blurted out without taking a breath." He'd better have a good explanation for..." She stopped, realising everyone looked at her. She felt her face flush.
Drew continued. “I apologise for the formalities, and for my friend, Tiler. He was unaware of the situation. Goffer instructed only me of your expected arrival.”
“This is good news indeed.” Middleton sighed. “I was beginning to think we would never catch up with him. Will you take us to him immediately? It is urgent that we speak to him.”
“Patience, my friend. You will get to speak with him. Your journey could not have been an easy one, judging by the looks of you.”
Charlotte tugged at Elderfield’s arm. “This is well exciting.”
He turned and offered her a smile.
Drew guided them out of the cell. Reaching the top of the stone stairs, Charlotte shielded her eyes against the sudden brightness. Holding Elder’s hand, she followed the dwarf to where their horses stood tethered beside a water trough.
She paused to stare at the wonder of the mountain city. It was the most awesome thing she had ever seen in her life. Why had she never heard of this place? It was far more impressive than the Egyptian pyramids she’d learned about in history. This single question sparked a chain reaction in her mind, opening a thousand possibilities that only left her more confused.
Elderfield interrupted her thoughts, offering her help to remount Swift. With reluctance, she accepted, but not without complaining about how sore her legs had become through sitting for so long on the saddle.
They wove their way towards the city streets that surrounded the base of the fortress. The mountain grew larger and more forbidding the closer they came. Busy cobbled streets replaced the muddy track, and a mixture of burning wood fires and baking bread filled the air. Wagons rumbled to and fro, loud voices yelled, and playing children laughed. Charlotte stared in awe, thinking how different it looked from the dreary town of Thistlemoor.
The streets gave way to a single road that ended against a wall of solid rock with no obvious openings. The nearest window was at least two hundred feet above their heads. Drew dismounted and invited Middleton and the others to follow. He felt along the rough stone until his fingers located a small notch. Removing a pendant from around his neck, he placed it into the space and a square crack appeared to one side. Charlotte watched in amazement when he pushed a small door. A grating sound echoed from the opening as the slab swung inward.
“Wow,” she murmured to herself.
Drew gestured for them to come closer. “If you would be so kind as to follow me. Your horses will be well cared for, and your belongings will be sent to your rooms.”
Charlotte glanced at Middleton for reassurance.
He smiled and nodded. “You are quite safe now,” he whispered, walking with her to the entrance.
She hesitated, peering into the gloom before stepping through. A rush of excitement blended with fear. She blinked and gripped Middleton’s hand tighter as they entered the short, dark passageway. It led to the base of a stone staircase, lit on either side with burning torches. “Scary stuff!” she remarked, taking a deep breath.
The steep angle of their ascent made the climb difficult. Middleton remained by her side, supporting her along the way. She noticed a number of small chambers chiselled into the rock. Each one contained a heavily armed guard, who saluted when Drew passed. They continued at a steady pace for some time, occasionally veering in different directions. She struggled to keep pace, complaining on occasion about how far they had to walk. Close to the point of refusing to go any further, the passage ended at a large door. It hung from two enormous, iron hinges, but she could see no handle or lock.
Drew took out his pendant again and placed it against an indent in the stone wall. A loud clunk echoed throughout the chamber beyond, and the door groaned to an open position.
She clung to Middleton’s hand and followed Elder and the dwarf through the opening.
They entered another corridor, much wider than the stair passage. Rows of arrow slits lined each side of the walls, and projecting from the ceiling hung the menacing spikes of a portcullis. They continued around a network of tunnels that opened out into a magnificent hall. It was a complete contrast from the dark passages.
Charlotte let go of Middleton’s hand and spun around to view the full grandeur of this unexpected place. Beautiful, carved fireplaces with crackling logs gave off a warm, orange glow. The solid marble floor glistened like ice with the reflection of the many candles flickering all around. She stared in amazement, wanting to run and see how far she could skid on the shiny surface, but resisted the temptation.
She gazed at the colourful tapestries hanging from smooth plastered walls, woven with intricate patterns and pictures illustrating the green countryside surrounding the Stronghold. At the far end of the great hall stood a grand marble staircase, curved in a graceful semi-circle to an upper gallery. Along this floor, stone archways displayed a single row of doors.
“Wow, this place is mega! Will we get to meet Goffer now?” Charlotte asked.
Drew stopped and turned to face the small group. “I apologise for the long trek, but we do not have much further to go. First, I will take you to your rooms for refreshment. I think you will find your accommodations comfortable. I will inform Goffer you have arrived.” He continued towards the staircase. They followed in silence through several more corridors and halls, all of which looked equally elaborate. They remained speechless until they reached their rooms.
Drew opened one of the arched doors lining the passage, gesturing for Middleton to step inside. “There are a further two rooms for your companions.” He walked along and opened the next door, before crossing the passage to open a third.
“I’m not staying on my own!” Charlotte held her ground and gave him a disapproving stare.
The dwarf turned, shifting from one foot to the other, seemingly lost for words.
“That is not a problem. You can share with me if you want,” Elderfield suggested. “Someone has to keep an eye on you any ...”
Before he had time to finish his sentence, she rushed past him and made a dash for the enormous bed standing in the centre. “Bagsy getting the bed,” she yelled, jumping up and down, waving her arms around. She gazed around the odd shape of the room. The far wall appeared much narrower than all the others and the ceiling came down at an odd angle, almost to a point, before rising back to the outer wall.
Elder followed her inside with a grin.
Charlotte scurried around and found a table covered in white linen with a feast of delicious food spread on top. The smell of roast chicken filled the room with a tempting aroma. Fruits and a variety of pastries surrounded a large plate of carved ham and miniature loaves of bread. She leaned over and sniffed the rising steam. I’m so hungry. She spotted another two doors and ran to see what treasures lay behind them. She shoved one with her shoulder and it swung open and crashed against the wall.
Middleton stood on the other side, eyes wide.
“Oops, sorry!” she said in a mu
ffled voice, standing in the doorway with a chicken leg in her mouth. She swallowed a mouthful of meat. “Look! Our rooms are joined.” She clapped with excitement, pointing the piece of meat at him. “We’ve got food and everything in our room.” She rushed past him to have a look around.
“Joining rooms. Mm, that is nice,” he said with a smirk.
She hurried back through the door and across the room, discarding the remains of the chicken onto the table and grabbing more food along the way. She opened the door on the opposite side and beckoned Middleton to follow her. “Come and have a look at this!” She gestured for him to hurry. From the doorway, she smiled with her arms forward. “Look at that!”
He followed her down the three steps that led into a beautiful tiled bathroom. A ring of candles flickered on a small mantle shelf running around a huge bathtub. They reflected a twinkling light on the crystal clear water that steamed invitingly.
“I’m having a bath!” she said. “So don’t anyone come in—right!” She pointed her finger at him. “You can go now.” She waved him away with her hands.
“Oh, sorry.” He hurried back out into the bedroom.
Charlotte closed the door behind him. After a short pause she shouted, “You two won’t go anywhere and leave me here on my own, will ya?”
“No!” they called back in unison, bursting into laughter.
Chapter Eleven
Intruder
Hours passed. Charlotte sat in front of the fire munching on the remains of their supper. Elderfield lay on the bed with his hands tucked behind his head, watching his father pace the room. A sudden knock brought Middleton to a standstill. The door opened without prompting and four dwarves bustled through, carrying a spare bed. They began setting it up with clean sheets and a soft pillow.
“Thank you very much,” Elder said as they hurried from the room after completing the task.
“You’ve got somewhere to sleep now,” Charlotte said with a playful grin.
Middleton sighed. “I am going to see if I can find Drew. I have had enough of this waiting around.”
“There is no need.” The dwarf stood in the doorway, waiting for an invitation to enter.
“Please come in, Drew,” Middleton said, waving him inside. “I take it you have made arrangements for a meeting?”
“I have spoken to Goffer and he apologises for the delays.” He gave a regretful dip of his head. “If you will follow me, I will take you to him now.”
Charlotte discarded her plate of food, a sudden rush of excitement quashing her appetite. “Are we going right now?” She picked up the cloak she had been using as a cushion and wrapped it around her shoulders. Running to Elder’s side, she linked arms, and the three of them followed the dwarf through a rabbit warren of tunnels. They hurried down several staircases and through a long corridor lit by torchlight before coming to a halt outside a narrow door. Drew opened it without knocking, gesturing for them to enter the dark, musty smelling room.
Charlotte hesitated. A bead of sweat trickled down her forehead and her heart pounded. She forced herself to take one step at a time, gripping the back of Elderfield’s tunic. Glancing from side to side, she noticed the room had no windows, just doorways, each framed by a stone archway. At least twelve ran along each side. An elegant, open fireplace stood against the far wall. The mantle held an assortment of ornate iron stands where several tall candles flickered in the gloom, giving the place an aura of intrigue.
Goffer sat hunched over a long table at the far end of the room. He lifted his head as they entered.
Charlotte didn’t recognise him at first. He looked much smarter than the scruffy, old man she had met in the shop.
He stood to greet them. “We meet at last. I do apologise for the delay, Middleton.” His hard face softened with a smile. “It has been a long time. I am happy to see you looking so well. You must be Elderfield?”
Elder straightened. “As much as I would like to stand here talking pleasantries all night, we have come a long way and almost lost our lives to talk with you. We are eager for you to answer our questions.”
Charlotte was surprised to hear the stern tone he used, but a surge of courage flared inside her because of it. “Yeah, that’s right! You’ve dropped me right in it.”
Goffer didn’t look the slightest bit ruffled by the sudden outburst. “Please, sit down. I will be pleased to answer all your questions.”
Charlotte sat next to Elderfield, holding his hand under the tabletop. Middleton eased himself into the spindled chair beside them, making it creak. A rush of emotions threatened to overwhelm her. Her throat tightened and she fought to stop herself from crying. She had so many questions she just wanted to scream out at him.
Middleton went to speak, but Goffer raised his hand to stop him. “First things first.” He turned to Charlotte, holding her gaze.
She felt as though she was about to explode.
“Your main concern, my child, is that you will be in trouble with your parents, is it not?” He spoke in a kind voice, continuing before she could answer him. “Please trust me when I say you have nothing to fear. They are unaware you are missing.”
“How do you know?” She wrinkled her nose. How could she believe anything this old man had to say?
“I know many things, child,” he replied. “I know that it troubles you to think they are worrying about you. It is hard to explain, but they will know nothing of your time here in our realm.”
She glared at him, confused. Realm? What did he mean?
He turned to Middleton, who sat opposite. “Swallow is fine also. She is desperately worried about you all, but is busying herself around the farm.”
Elderfield scowled. “Entertainer’s tricks do not impress me. I would much prefer you simply answer our questions.”
Goffer studied him, his bushy brows folding over his forehead. “There is much you know of our history, Elderfield, some of which you have learned recently. But there is also a lot you do not know.” He matched Elder’s serious tone. “You have no reason to trust me, but I am not your enemy. The rumours that have been circulating these last few weeks on the movements of the troll armies are true. They are indeed led by—”
A loud hammering on the door interrupted his explanation. “Not now!” he yelled out.
Despite his voice of authority, the door opened and in walked a nervous-looking dwarf.
“I said, not now!” he repeated, clenching his jaw.
“I am sorry to disturb your meeting, sir.” The warrior stood in the doorway, refusing to budge.
“Well, spit it out. I am in the middle of something important.”
He scurried to where Goffer sat, giving a salute. “There has been a breach in the outer defences. Four warriors have been found dead,” he explained in a breathless rush.
Goffer rose to his feet. “Is Drew aware of the situation?”
“Yes, sir. It was Drew that told me to inform you, sir.”
He nodded, pondering for a moment. “Be sure to double all sentry guards. I want these intruders captured immediately, do you understand? That will be all.” He waved his hand and waited for the dwarf to leave the room before taking his seat. “Sorry about that. Now, where was I?”
“I want to go home!” Charlotte announced. She couldn’t stop the tears that flowed freely down her cheeks. “You were supposed to be the one to help me.”
Elderfield put his arm around her shoulder, glaring at the old man. “Yes. That is the reason why we have all risked our lives to be here, after all. Seeing that you are responsible for bringing Charlotte here, I assume you know how to return her to her family.”
He looked surprised at Elder’s statement. “Charlotte, you have the power to go home whenever you want.”
She stared in disbelief.
“If you wish to return, simply use the Gateway in the same way you used it to come here.”
“I don’t know how I got here!” she said, choking back a sob. “One minute I was lying in bed looking
at that dome thing you gave me, and the next thing I knew I was standing in the woods. It was a good job Elderfield nearly ran me over, or I would have been stuck there on my own. I probably would have frozen to death or something, and it was dark. I hate the dark!”
“The dome is the Gateway,” he replied, staying calm. “You can use it to travel either way; to your realm or to this one.” He looked puzzled, and turned to Middleton. “I thought you travelled here because you received my message from Gile? Did you not get my message?”
Middleton glanced at Charlotte before turning back to Goffer. “Yes, I have spoken to Gile, but we do not have the Gateway. That is why we came to ask for your help.”
Goffer slumped back in his chair, his face crumpled with worry. “That is most unfortunate. Do you know where it is? Did you leave it in Chapel Forest? Maybe it is still there?”
Elder leaned across the table. “I returned to Chapel Forest the following day.” He shook his head. “If the Gateway was there, I would have found it.”
“Does that mean I can’t go home?” Charlotte cried out, her voice breaking. “What am I going to do now?”
Goffer started to speak, but a scuffle outside the door and the yelling of a guard stopped him. He rose from his chair to investigate.
Charlotte gazed at Elderfield, her eyes blurred with tears. He stared back at her, his helpless expression revealing the true horror of her predicament. Her one and only chance at returning home was gone. That was it. How could something like this happen to her?
Charlotte’s anguish vanished in an instant as a massive explosion ripped through the tiny room. The force of the blast blew the door off its hinges and sent her crashing to the floor amongst the remains of shattered furniture. The room filled with thick, black smoke and dust.
Charlotte lay semi-conscious and covered in debris. For a moment, all she could hear was ringing in her ears. The stabbing pain in her head was almost unbearable. Cries erupted from all around, but she could see nothing through the haze. She coughed and gasped to catch her breath. She tried to get up, but something heavy pinned her to the floor. Help me, somebody. As if to answer her plea, an iron grip fastened around her arm and dragged her clear from the obstruction. She couldn’t make out who it was. A black shroud swept over her and the voices faded into the distance.
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