Ah My Goddess Fan Fiction ❯ The Secret of the Fae ❯ The Gnome Valley ( Chapter 6 )

[ P - Pre-Teen ]

Chapter 6 - The Gnome King

It was misty again when Keiichi awoke. He got up and found the cool
mist was quite rejuvenating at such an early hour. He looked down at
the valley of the Gnomes. He wondered what the Gnomes would be like,
if they were at all like what he imagined. The Faeries certainly
weren't. As tall as any normal human, he assumed that all his prior
stereotypes were from fairy tales he read as a child. It was strange
that their size really didn't occur to him, well, maybe except Belfar,
until now.

Keiichi looked down at the sleeping Goddesses and his little sister
Megumi. He wondered why Belldandy and the others had to leave the Fae
realm. It seemed like such a beautiful place...it must have been
something bad that made them leave. And then there was the other, more
perplexing mystery, of why he and Megumi were here. There was no
logical explanation that linked he and his sister to anything here in
the Fae realm.

Belldandy stirred in her sleep. She really didn't look that much
different to Keiichi, though she had changed noticeably. She was still
the same Belldandy, maybe a bit more decisive and more of a leader
than he was used to. Her physical appearance had changed as well,
including her hair and eyes. She also seemed taller, but Keiichi
couldn't be sure. She stirred again and this time her eyes opened
blearily.

"Keiichi," she smiled. "You're up already."

Keiichi nodded. "Sleep well?"

Belldandy nodded herself and got up from her cloud that promptly
disappeared behind her. "It should be an interesting day," she
observed, looking down at the Gnome valley, which was shrouded in the
morning mist.

"Why?' Keiichi asked, interested.

Belldandy chuckled. "The Gnome King Alferius."

"What?"

"He's the most horrible creature in the whole realm," she laughed
again. "It's amazing, really. He's worse than any of the Elves, even
the Dark Warriors."

Keiichi shook his head in confusion but didn't ask any more questions
about it. "When do we go?" he asked instead.

"When the mists part," she answered simply. Glancing toward their four
sleeping companions. "We'll let them sleep for awhile longer. It will
be some time. The valley is misty nearly half the day."

Keiichi nodded. He was suddenly nervous to meet this Alferius the
Gnome King. At least Belldandy could laugh about it so it might not be
as bad as he was anticipating.

It was another hour before the others woke up, Pacatus being the last.
Keiichi and Belldandy passed the time with small talk that didn't
stray away from what they'd do when they got home. It never dawned on
Keiichi but going home may not happen. He had no idea what these Elves
were capable of. Pacatus may be passive but the others could be the
complete antitheses. After all, Belldandy mentioned that Alferius was
worse than even one of the Dark Elf Warriors. This must have meant
something...

The others were now waking up, stretching their tired arms to the air.
Keiichi decided to go for a little walk as Skuld and Urd argued over
what to eat for breakfast. When Keiichi returned he found only Pacatus
waiting for him, which made him frown significantly.

"Keiichi," Pacatus said. "Come on, we have to get going," he said. He
pointed down the valley and Keiichi could see Megumi, Urd, and Skuld
were all already making their way down the hill. He and Pacatus
quickly hurried to catch up.

"So," Pacatus said off-handedly. "what brings you to the Fae realm?"

Keiichi wasn't in much of a mood for small talk with this Pacatus but
he decided to oblige this time. "Malaya, the Faerie Oracle, called my
sister and I here after Belle and the others left. They live with me."

This didn't seem to surprise him. "Malaya, huh?"

Keiichi nodded.

"I've heard many stories about her..." he said with a dazed sort of
look on his face.

If Pacatus wanted Keiichi to probe him, he would be disappointed.
"That's nice," Keiichi said, running ahead.

Keiichi didn't bother to look back but when they had reached the end
of the path that wove down to the valley, Pacatus didn't look as happy
as usual.

"Here's the plan," Skuld began which seemed to take everyone by
surprise as they all looked at Skuld curiously. She either didn't
notice or didn't care to acknowledge it. "Belldandy, Urd, and I will
go in by ourselves fist. Alferius won't like it if an Elf and two
humans come in to his village unannounced," she explained.

Megumi, Pacatus, and Keiichi all nodded in unison.

"You wait here then," Urd ordered and she and her sisters began
walking toward the mass of mushrooms and mounds that was the village
of the Gnomes.

It was a rather long time before they came back. Keiichi was beginning
to get uncomfortable as neither he nor Megumi felt very safe in this
strange place with someone they just met. Pacatus seemed to have
gotten in a better mood, though, as he babbled incessantly about how
he had never been to the Gnome valley and he was very interested to
meet Alferius and the other Gnomes. Keiichi didn't bother to mention
Alferius' reputation, as he had a feeling Pacatus already knew and was
too good-natured to worry.

Megumi and Keiichi were relieved when Skuld returned alone. "You can
come back with me. Alferius is in a strangely good mood," she said,
smiling.

The three followed the youngest Goddess into the village. Keiichi
noticed several heads popping out from holes in the mounds and
oversized mushrooms. They had round faces with pink-hued cheeks. They
had rather angry expressions on their face which didn't quite seem to
fit them.

They came to the largest mushroom and Skuld tapped on the side eight
times and a hole opened at her feet. She crawled inside and the others
followed.

Inside was an assortment of wooden furniture. The room looked much
more sophisticated than the Faeries' quarters. Keiichi wondered how
they made such ornate furniture.

"I've heard the Gnomes are good woodworkers but I never would have
imagined this," Pacatus gushed.

A surly looking Gnome walked in at that moment. He was about three
feet tall and almost as wide. He nodded at the three newcomers and
then to the Goddesses. Keiichi had barely noticed Urd and Belldandy,
who were sitting at two chairs, with all this surprising furniture.
The Gnome frowned slightly at seeing Pacatus.

"Welcome," he said in a scratchy, deep voice.

No one was quite sure how to reply to this so they merely said `Thank
you' as one group.

"I hear you have come to see me about joining the side of the Faeries
and Belldandy, Urd, and Skuld gave me their reasons," he informed
them, looking about them with stares that seemed to look much deeper
than their outward appearances. "But I am confused," he said, almost
glaring at Pacatus. "why an Elf has joined them."

Belldandy began to answer but Pacatus interrupted her. "I was banished
by the Elfen King Marinatus. I spoke out against the ensuing war and
have now taken the side of the Faeries," he explained.

Alferius looked at Pacatus loathingly. "Callida!" he called.

A slightly shorter and obviously female Gnome walked in. She smiled at
each of the visitors separately. "What is it Master?"

"You will join these travelers," he said, again glaring at them all as
if daring them to object. "I want you to keep a close eye on all of
them. Make sure we have chosen the right side in this war."

Belldandy smiled. "Thank you so much Alferius!" she burst.

Alferius put his hand out to hush her. "Do not thank me until you have
won the war. I guarantee the aid of the Dwarves as well," he added and
this made Belldandy even happier.

"You are most helpful," Urd said.

"Now go," Alferius ordered with a booming voice.

The five travelers left the mushroom but Callida stayed back to talk
to Alferius a moment. When she came out she smiled at them all again.
"My name is Callida," she said. "I'll be joining you."

"Welcome aboard Callida," Megumi welcomed. "I'm Megumi," she began.
"This is Keiichi, my brother, he's Pacatus, and they're, obviously,
Urd, Belldandy, and Skuld."

Callida smiled again. Her short blonde hair was rolled into a tight
bun that looked as if it might burst at any moment. She wore a simple
blue dress that came to her feet and had an overall sweet, innocent
look. Keiichi just wanted to trust her right away and decided he
would. Alferius seemed like an honorable Gnome and this Callida must
be as well if he thought enough of her to send her with them.

"Alright," Callida said, clapping her hands together in happiness.
"Where to next?"