Chương 174: Chapter 172 – The Voice of Reason

Sheera moved like a shadow through the pre-dawn darkness, her makeshift bow at the ready. She would show Ray and Grim once and for all that she was not some delicate flower that needed to be placed on a shelf and watered occasionally. She was capable of taking care of herself… and them, if the need arose. She was more than just a woman, more than just an Elf, more than just a mom.

Yes, she was raising probably the most important child the world would ever see, but she was so much more than what she had been reduced to.

'Stay here and stay out of sight, only use that thing if they attack. We will strategize and figure out the best way to handle it.' Ray's last words to her echoed back.

"Yeah, by the time you guys are finished figuring it out the rest of them will be here," she whispered to herself.

"You boys go play your war games, I will handle this on my own thank you very much." She suddenly became as stealthy as the morning breeze, making short work of the distance between her and the potential threat. The dwarven raiders hadn't noticed her circle behind them… they were too focused on their whispered arguments about how to best attack the camp to notice. Their amateur attempts at stealth made her want to laugh.

Even without her enhanced hearing, their "whispers" carried like stones tumbling down a mountainside. She nocked an arrow, drawing back the string of her improvised bow. It wasn't perfect, but it would serve the purpose. Back at camp, Ray and Grim were probably still planning their strategy, still thinking they needed to protect her. Well, they were about to learn differently.

"Gentlemen," she called out, her voice carrying clearly through the cool morning air.

"I suggest you put down your weapons and step out where I can see you." The effect was immediate. The dwarves spun around, weapons half-raised, then froze when they caught sight of her. Their eyes went wide, jaws slack, as they tried to understand who or what stood before them.

"Might you be the goddess Freya?" one asked, dropping his bow suddenly.

"What?!" she replied, looking confused as she looked from one dwarf to the other. They all had that stupid enamored teenager look on their faces. She'd seen that look before on Grim, on Max… but never quite so dramatically.

"No!" she hissed.

"I'm not a goddess, but I can smite you like one… so don't push it!"

"I... uh... what..." the nearest dwarf stammered, his face flushing red beneath his beard.

"Ye, ye are just so… so… beautiful wit the sun rising behind yur lovely head. Will you marry me by chance?" the dwarf asked, getting down on one knee.

"Get up, you fool!" Sheera said harshly.

"No, I will not marry you, I already have a husband. I will however kindly ask you gentleman to…" she paused and pulled the length of rope she had coiled around her shoulder down and threw it at the dwarf who had proposed, "tie your friends' hands up, no sudden movements, understand?" she asked.

"Yes, me love, ask me to flys to the moon and I wills, if only to make yous happy," he said, smiling warmly, picking up the rope.

"Not so stinkin' tight, Durkin!" one of the dwarves yelped as his love-struck companion yanked enthusiastically on the rope.

"Hush yurself, Mort! The lady asked for us to be tied up, and by Moradin's beard, tied up the lot of us will be!" Durkin replied, his eyes darting hopefully toward Sheera for approval. This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. She fought the urge to roll her eyes. This was getting ridiculous. Though she had to admit, having one of them so eagerly restraining the others was making her job considerably easier.

Still, the way they were all staring at her like moonstruck puppies was becoming unsettling.

"My dearest flower," another dwarf piped up, "by chance or fate, whens this is all overs, might yous consider…"

"No proposals!" Sheera snapped, making them all flinch and sigh dreamily at the same time.

"Just... finish securing them, then tie yourself up too."

"But how shall I's tie me hands when I needs me hands to tie?" Durkin asked, looking genuinely distressed at potentially failing her.

"Here, gimme," she said dryly, keeping her arrow nocked.

"Put out your hands." She said, shaking her head, wrapping the length around his hands. From somewhere in the back of the group came a muffled voice, "Has everyones gones completely mad? She's obviously enchanted yous all with some kinds of…"

"Shut yur fool mouth, you blasphemer!" Durkin barked at his friend.

"How dares you utter such 'spersions on our beloved!" Sheera pinched the bridge of her nose. She was all for being admired, adored even, but this was a little extreme. She tugged on the end of the rope and pulled her dwarven admirers toward the camp.

"What be yur name, lassy?" Durkin asked.

"If you not be Freya, then who shall ye be?" he asked in such a sickeningly sweet voice, Sheera wasn't sure if she should laugh or vomit.

"My name is Sheera, but you can just call me Ma'am," Sheera said, exasperated.

"Sheera," Durkin sighed dreamily, "it's like music carried on a valkyrie's wings."

"Oh for heaven's sake," she muttered, giving the rope another firm tug.

"Just walk."

"Boys, did ye hear her melody?" the dwarf behind Durkin swooned.

"She wants us tos walk with her. I'd walk to Valhala if she asked and spits in Thor's eye."

"I be walkin' into a chasm of fire!" another chimed in.

"Would you all just hush yurselves?" the dissenting voice from earlier grumbled.

"Can't you recognize the dark arts when you sees 'em? She's not even a…"

"Not 'nother word out of your fool mouth, Gorrick, does yous understands me? I'll happily headbutt you myself, tied hands or no," Durkin threatened, then turned to Sheera with puppy-dog eyes.

"Please never you mind, Gorrick, Ma'am. He's just a crotchety ol' man, without the senses thats the Gods done give him." As they crested the small hill overlooking the camp, Sheera could see Ray and Grim huddled over what was probably a hastily drawn map, still deep in their strategic planning. She cleared her throat loudly.

"Excuse me, boys," she called out, causing both Ray and Grim to snap their heads up in surprise.

"I believe the problem is handled." Ray's jaw dropped as he took in the sight before him. Five bound dwarves trailing behind Sheera like lovesick ducklings.

"What? How?" Ray laughed, watching the dwarves comically struggle to get closer to Sheera. Grim sat helplessly red faced.

"I told you I could handle a pack of unruly dwarfs. It's like herding a pack of five year olds, sometimes you just have to tell them what you want them to do." Durkin announced proudly.

"We done surrendered ourselves completely to her divine…"

"Divine nothing, you addled fool!" Gorrick interrupted from the back.

"She's bewitched the lot of yous!"

"How dare you speaks such lies and hate…" Durkin started, but Sheera cut him off with a sharp look that made him beam with pleasure at being noticed.

"As you can see," Sheera said dryly to Ray and Grim, "I decided not to wait for the committee to finish their strategy session." She handed the rope to Ray, who was still staring at her in disbelief.

"Though I should warn you, I don't think they will react quite the same way to you as they have me…" she paused.

"At least I hope not anyway, it might make things a little awkward around here." She snickered. Grim shuffled uncomfortably, suddenly finding his boots fascinating.

"Aye, well... that's... that's..." he stammered, his own face reddening further.

"Brilliant," Ray finished, finally finding his voice.

"Though I have to admit, this wasn't quite what I expected when we told you to stay out of sight."

"Yes, well," Sheera replied with a slight smile, "perhaps next time you'll remember that I'm not just some delicate flower that needs protecting."