The Misadventures of Ka-Ron the Knight (42 page)

Rohan, slowly, started swimming towards his friend.

At first, Dorian became quite uneasy, realizing that Rohan was swimming towards her. She started looking around the millpond, as if she wanted to rush out and bolt away in shame. How could she face such a wonderful friend, with him now knowing that he had been so deceived? The dwarf was beside herself with incredible grief.

Still, there was a wonder in Rohan's eyes which seemed, above all else, to cement her to her muddy resting spot.

"So&" Dorian accepted. She closed her eyes.

She was about to go against all her instincts. If she could, that is.

It has, indeed, been a hell of a long time since I have done this!

In the dim moonlight, as if by magic, the dwarf started to change in both form and volume. Gone was her long beard and her harshness. She even appeared taller.

Dorian, now fully female, smiled. "This is my true form."

Rohan stopped his advance.

He gawked at the lovely vision before him, not even realizing that he had stubbed his right big toe. His blue elfin blood floated to the top of the water, not even fazing his sensitivities. Rohan was absolutely taken by Dorian's beauty.

Having cleared her throat, Dorian lowered its tone and pitch to that of her true condition. Her voice was as soft and gentle as her frame was vulpine and angelic.

"There are many questions." Rohan stated.

"And I will answer each and every one of them."

Both embraced.

A passionate kiss was exchanged.

The world changed&forever.

Dorian was a strikingly beautiful woman. Not as voluptuous as Ka-Ron, by any means, but what she did have pleased the elf as he gazed upon it. In her true form she was almost as tall as he was - only off by half a stick in length. It must have taken an enormous amount of concentration to enable the dwarf to perceive herself as so short and stocky.

The dwarf's face was as soft as her voice was musical. Dorian had long, light green hair that fell to the arch of her back. Her emerald green eyes, big and bright, dominated her entire face. Her nose was so small that it was almost ignored, and her lips were as full and as inviting as a juicy turkey would have been to a starving man.

"You are staring at me again," Dorian softly stated, her head bowing a little in controlled embarrassment.

"I am?" Rohan said, jerking his head purposely away from the dwarf.

"I kind of like it, Rohan," Dorian said a soft hand landing into the elf's. "Please, continue."

Rohan looked down, realizing that they were indeed holding hands.

Who would have believed such a thing?

The energy between the two of them was quite powerful. Rohan could not seem to stop staring into his friend's fantastic eyes. Dorian's dwarfish powers seemed to pull at the elf like nothing else he had experienced in nature. Arching an eyebrow was all it took by Dorian, to once again enjoy the wet softness of her embracing kiss.

Certain deep emotions caused the elf to stir.

Dorian, feeling the elf's excitement, moved in closer.

Rohan took hold of one of Dorian's breasts.

The woman let out a seductive moan.

Rohan took hold, closing his eyes.

Reluctantly, both pulled apart.

There was a long, awkward pause.

"Why do dwarfs hide their women?" Rohan finally asked.

Dorian took hold of Rohan's hand once again, and both started walking.

"Before I start, may I ask you a question?"

"By all means." Rohan bowed.

Dorian was amused by the respect and attention the elf was bestowing on her, and giggled. "What have you been told about how Dwarfs are born into this world?"

"Well," Rohan, said, turning thoughtful, "Elves have believed for as long as the memory goes back that dwarfs were elemental creatures. That you were conceived and brought forth from deep within the earth. Dwarfs are carved out of the rocks, in which they love and live, only to take the place of another, carrying on the grand tradition of cultivating both mineral and mine."

Dorian gazed into the elf's eyes, living on each word he spoke. After Rohan paused, the dwarf broke her stare, giving him an understandable nod of her head. A brief wind blew by, causing her gossamer hair to float up and around her face. Dorian's well-manicured hand gently brushed her hair away as she continued with her walk.

Rohan meekly followed.

"It is a well-established lie, as you can see."

"But," Rohan said, stopping Dorian in his frustration, "why do you go to such elaborate schemes to hide your women? I do not understand. You are quite lovely. To hide you would be a crime against nature."

Dorian let out an amused laugh.

"Why?" Rohan insisted, desperate for an answer.

Dorian stepped up to the elf.

Again, they kissed.

"I still seek an answer, woman." Rohan stated sternly.

"And I seek another kiss as my price."

"Done, woman." Rohan's face melted into mirth. "Done."

Dorian's tongue was well-educated. Her kisses held both a tenderness and a hunger which pulled at the elf's hearts. Her hands slowly found their way down towards his bottom, and playfully squeezed. Although female, and still quite small, her hands held within them great strength and purpose.

Rohan could barely contain himself.

Both lost track of the time.

When they parted, dawn was not too far behind them.

"And now?" Rohan asked.

Wiping her lips clean, Dorian settled down.

Storytelling time.

"Your people and those of both Ka-Ron and Jatel's call the time period The Coughing. Am I correct in this?"

"Yes," the elf confirmed. "It was the great plague that almost extinguished all life. The Nowns, whom this world is still named after, were completely destroyed."

"Well, we dwarfs have always referred to it as The Great Sickness."

Rohan shook his head, accepting the simple but ancient logic of the thing.

"Many uncounted seasons ago, during the time of The Great Sickness, dwarfs were as normal folk, openly displaying male and female sexes. But, as the deaths added up, we soon discovered that our females were immune. We worked peacefully with our neighbors doing what we could to ease the sufferings."

"I see where this is going." Rohan awkwardly said.

"Yes. As the people tried to survive, they soon realized that their female populations were dangerously low. Without women to bring forth children, there would be no future." Dorian paused, picking up a long stick, playing with it, nervously. "Our men were not warriors at that time. They knew only the mines."

"There were&invasions?"

"Yes." Dorian started poking a small ant hill with the point of her stick. "The beauty of dwarf women was well known, and sought out - mostly by slavers. It was thought best to retreat deep into the earth for a generation, which we did, and come out with only one sex - male."

"Therefore, there were no more invasions."

"Precisely." Dropping the stick, Dorian once more gazed into the elf's eyes. Unlike most women, she had no need for blinking. She had eyelids, but they were only for protection. This ability gave her the illusion of a mounting an intense stare. "Female dwarfs became first a memory, then a fable, and finally, we were forgotten."

"But you must breed."

Dorian's face started to blush. "Yes. We breed."

"How is that maintained a secret?"

"Do you go around broadcasting what you're doing when you make love?" Dorian asked, projecting a sly smile.

"Well, no."

"Then, elf, take it from me, we govern ourselves under the same decent rule of privacy."

Rohan's brow turned troubled.

"Can dwarfs breed with&elves?"

The woman's stance started to buckle, and she momentarily stumbled, losing her footing. She regained her composure instantly.

"It is said that if an elf were to search his family tree, a dwarf slave-woman is there...somewhere."

"Oh." The elf turned silent.

"Rohan&I&love you."

The dwarf lowered her head and gazed down at her shoes. Rohan noticed that Dorian had closed her eyes, as if waiting for the fatal blow. It was not unlike dwarfs always to expect the worst in life. But in his travels he had learned that those who constantly seek the worst almost always hope for the best.

She would not be disappointed.

"I know," Rohan stated. "What shall we do about all of this?"

Bouncing up, Dorian gazing deeply into Rohan's features. She studied him quite hard and with all her attention.

"You do not protest?"

"How could one protest such beauty?" the elf asked, letting his outstretched arms express the way he felt.

"Upon my nose," Dorian cried, covering her mouth with shaky hands. "I have lived long enough to know a miracle."

"Indeed," Rohan barked, playfully. "What will the neighbors think?"

The woman jumped up and down, advertising to the elf all her "bouncy" parts for later enjoyment. They embraced in a loving hug and laughed for several beats.

Soon, it was time to return to the
Argo.

"We must stop here, Rohan!" Dorian pleaded.

Both the dwarf and Rohan were within sight of the
Argo
. They could clearly see that the wizard was pacing the deck, waiting for them to return. Ka-Ron and Jatel were spotted at the foot of the gangplank, dancing. By all appearance, everyone seemed to be having a delightful time.

"It appears that everyone has struck up quite a delightful friendship with the local town folk," Rohan said. His features showed a light smile. He was happy over the fact that he was not the only one who had had such a magical night.

"Rohan," Dorian said, her voice sad.

"Yes?"

"I have to turn back."

Rohan's eyes turned careworn.

"Do you have to continue this lie?" The elf paused, silently directing the dwarf's attention towards their friends. "Even now?"

"One cannot change his life overnight, Rohan," Dorian pointed out. "And to stay this way would go against all that I have been taught, and most of what I have forgotten."

"How will we&love?"

Dorian beamed at the pure sound of frustration in the elf's voice. She understood. Her mother was the same way. Her mother loved being a woman, and hated the gruff image she had been forced to project while she was with her father, when they were out in public. Still, her mother did live for those private moments when the veils could be dropped, hoping above all hope to feel the joys of an honest love.

That was all they had to look forward to.

That was the life of a dwarf.

"We will love as all who have loved, my dear," Dorian promised. "With passion."

Before the elf could ruin the moment with logic, Dorian attacked him. Unaware, Rohan fell backward and landed upon his back. Both exploded into laughter.

Dorian bent down, showering the elf's face with her long green hair. She blinked her eyes a couple of times, using them to help maintain the male's focus. With great skill and passion, the woman kissed Rohan lovingly, passionately, and wholly.

Rohan's hands rubbed softly up and down the dwarf's back as she shifted from side to side, enjoying the firm wet universe that was their kiss. He had never been one to close his eyes while deep in desire, but he soon discovered that his partner was. Her gentle eyelashes became the focus of his attention, while the dwarf's tongue played a wrestling match with his. The elf was amazed that her saliva tasted a lot like honey. She was a treasure he would never let go of.

"We must enjoy what we have, Rohan," Dorian proclaimed.

Rohan started to breathe quite heavily.

The elf soon noticed that Dorian had raised the skirt of her dress.

The elf misunderstood.

"No, my love!" Dorian placed a hand on the elf's. Tactfully, she stopped him from unbuttoning the front of his pants. "Not now. We have friends who need the best of our help."

In frustration, the elf silently pointed at the
Argo
and then at the two of them hidden in the tall weeds. He scowled, as if to silently state, "But we are nowhere to be seen! Why not? Who knows when I shall see you like this again?"

Dorian understood, for her sex was informing her that she wanted Rohan as much as he wanted her. She would give up all her family gold to embrace him now, but, this was only a cheat. This moment was a proclamation, not a honeymoon.

This was the binge before the famine.

"I see my unborn children in your eyes," Rohan stated.

"Honey, just enjoy the moment," Dorian begged, kissing him. "For now, that is all that we can have. When this quest is through, I will take you to my cave, and there we shall work on having those children."

Rohan gave Dorian a satisfied smile.

"You must prepare yourself," Dorian warned.

A quick kiss was exchanged.

Both returned to their feet.

"I am ready," Rohan said. His face belied his words.

Adjusting her clothing, Dorian hid the fact that her nipples were as hard as diamonds. Rohan did not need to see her true signals - not so soon in the relationship.

Relationship! By my nose, I have a relationship.

The ground around the dwarf started to feel electric. A blue hue surrounded the woman. Slowly, the dwarf closed her eyes.

At first, Rohan saw the woman bloat, as if her flesh were decaying. Then, suddenly, her bones seemed to collapse. She shrank down to normal size. Her soft features turned hard. Her beard grew from her chin, becoming long full and quite dirty. Once more, she was Dorian, the male dwarf.

She was now a he.

"Let's find our adventure!" Dorian huffed, his hard and dry voice sounding as Rohan had first known it.

"Let's," Rohan said, letting his friend take the lead.

As if to destroy her beautiful true image, the dwarf bent down a little and let out a blast of foul gas from his shorts, leaving the elf to savor the sharpness of the air.

"Heh-heh-heh!" Dorian laughed, running towards the
Argo
. "Onward."