The Dwarf
Copyright [-Shadow-Nell-] aka Janell Poulin 2006

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Once upon a time, there was a beautiful, gorgeous land, still in the age of castles and princesses. There, the days went by like in any other: The sun rising and setting, and meanwhile, many things happened, many adventurous things. But none was so exceptional as that one day, on which the sun was rising into a rather misty morning. It seemed quite plain as any other, but for one thing. A bird sat on the edge of a cliff, watching over the valley. On the other side, lay a castle, quite hidden in the damp air of mist. But a light shone over it, and the bird too might have noticed, that something was about to happen.

In an old farm house, far away from the misty land, lived a little boy and girl. As brother and sister, they of course had times to argue, but also to play. They lived there together with their aunt and uncle, for their parents had died when they were still far younger. Every day passed as another. Until that one fateful day when the old bell on the door rang. The boy hurried to open it, but there was a sight which he had never seen before. In front of him, on the doorstep under the pouring rain, stood a little, pointy-hatted dwarf.

The boy, whose name was Timothy, was so startled, he nearly forgot his manners. "Good evening, sir! What can I do for you?"

The dwarf snapped at him; "Aren't you going to let me in out of the rain? What a dreadful cretin you are! "

"I'm sorry sir, uhh…come in," Timothy stammered, unsure of what to do, for he wasn't allowed to let strangers in

"Bah! You are a dumb child!" scoffed the dwarf rudely. The cunning creature had timed his arrival so that the child's guardians wouldn't be home. He knew he could trick the youngster into letting him in.

Settling himself in the best chair, he began demanding food and comforts from Timothy. His older sister, Candice, came to see what was going on, and found her poor brother waiting upon the dwarf. 

Candice was clever beyond her years and had been taking training from the good local witch; she knew instantly what she should do about this dwarf.

"Excuse me sir," she said. "You're not allowed in this house without my uncle's permission. Please leave now.”

The dwarf yelled, threatened, and stormed about, but he could not get the girl to back down. He was no longer in control.

It was then that the children’s aunt arrived home. Mistakenly thinking that her husband had invited the dwarf, she let him stay and made him tea.

The dwarf's demeanour quickly changed as he boasted; “"I am a warlock of respectability, travelling to meet King Oern. In return for your generosity, I will scry the children's future.”

Excited at the honour, she brought the children before him. Using an incantation, he gazed deeply into the children's eyes through a crystal globe the size of a chestnut. The ever-attentive Candice noticed that while the dwarf was scrying Timothy, he slipped a small coloured stone into her brother's pocket.

Finally the warlock spoke; "This lad will have many adventures and travel far. He'll see and do many wonderful things. But the girl will never see anything beyond her home or set foot beyond her own lands."

Candice was disheartened by his announcement; she'd wanted to travel too. Timothy was already imagining what great deeds he might perform.

At that moment, their uncle came home from working at the mill. Presuming his wife had invited the dwarf, he didn't comment.

They all sat down to supper, and the warlock impressed them with tales of his adventures and clever jokes. The children were sent to bed while the grown-ups stayed up late to talk. 

Intuitively, Candice did not trust the dwarf and she stayed near the door to listen.

The rumble of the warlock's voice carried clearly from the living room; "Give the boy to me and he'll have a rich occupation!"

"I'm not sure…," began their uncle.

"Trust me, he'll be better off!"

They relented. Why refuse the boy a chance to work for a notable warlock?

Candice ran to her bed, crying. "They're giving you to him and splitting us up!"

"And why not?" Timothy huffed. "He said I'd travel far! I think you're just jealous."

"Well you're just stupid!"

They began to argue, then wrestle, and it was then that the stone fell from Timothy's pocket. With a startled shake of his head he cried; "Your right! I don't want to go with him; that dwarf is a liar and a bully.”

Candice gasped. “He bewitched you with that stone!" she quickly kicked it into the corner. "He wanted us to fight so that we wouldn't do anything to stop him. I'm sorry."

"So am I, but what can we do?" Timothy despaired.

"We need help. Go to my tutor, the witch; she'll know what to do," Candice told him.

Timothy crept out the window stating he would return in the morning. Candace fell to sleep, after packing a bag for each of them.

She awoke to Timothy knocking softly on the shutter. She let him in and he immediately showed her the large walnut in his hand. 

"It's magical! If you step inside it, I'll be able to carry you around in my pocket. Then I'll let you out and you can travel with me!" Timothy told her.

"It's too small for me to fit into!" Candice exclaimed, but she stepped into the walnut her brother had laid on the floor. Suddenly, she found herself the size of a grasshopper, and nestled comfortably inside the shell.

At that moment, their uncle called Timothy downstairs. The boy was told to pack his belongs and say farewell to his sister for he was to be the apprentice of the warlock. Running upstairs, he grabbed his bag and told Candace they were leaving.

The days that followed were not kind to Timothy. He was given countless difficult tasks, and was punished if he didn't complete them to the warlock's satisfaction.

On nights when he was sure the dwarf was asleep, he would open the walnut to speak with Candice. She would not step out in case the warlock caught her, and it was so dark, even by the fire, that she never saw any of the lands they travelled through. Nevertheless, they would whisper merrily about the things they would do once they were free of the dwarf, until Timothy would fall fast asleep.

As the weeks passed, the warlock gave him harder and harder jobs. Then one day, as they were camping by a river, he stormed up to Timothy in a huff.

"Go to the river's edge!" he ordered. "There you must catch me three fish without a rod or net! If you fail, I'll eat you for dinner!"

Timothy was horrified; how could he be expected to do such a thing? At the water's edge, he drew out the walnut and whispered to Candice about the impossible errand.

"Don't worry!" she called to him. "I can help!"

Drawing a deep breath, she began to sing. She sang sweetly and sadly; of the loss of their parents and of the suffering of her dear brother at the hands of the warlock. She sang, and the fish were filled with such grief that they flopped up on the shore, and gave their life for the sake of the children's. The children thanked the fish, and the boy brought them back to the dwarf. 

"Master, I have done as you've asked, and bring you these fish.”

The dwarf was angry that the boy had managed outwit him. But he muttered to himself: "Tomorrow, tomorrow I will have him!"

The next day the dwarf came to the boy with a small basket of un-spun hemp.

"You must spin this hemp into a perfect thread as a gift for the King. I will know it is worthy for it will be tied to your existence. Should you falter, time in your life will be lost. You must also stir this pot of stew constantly or it will burn. If either task is flawed, then I'll eat you for lunch!" With a harrumph, the dwarf stormed away to collect truffles.

Desperate, Timothy asked for his sister's advise.

"Don't worry!" said the clever girl. "Give me the spindle and I'll turn it for you. Should it falter, do not be afraid for I'll exchange your life thread for mine. All will be well!"

Timothy passed her the hemp and she began spinning it smoothly on the floor of the walnut. He in turn kept the stew in motion and it did not burn.

But before the hemp was completed, the children heard the dwarf returning. Candice quickly passed the spindle back to Timothy, but in that pause she aged five whole years.

The dwarf came upon their camp to find the stew un-burnt and the hemp finished. He was furious that Timothy had outwitted him once again. He muttered to himself: "Tomorrow, tomorrow I will have him!"

When it was night, Timothy opened the walnut shell for Candice. She told him of the plan she had devised.

"That wicked warlock will keep on setting more impossible tasks until he can eat you! But I have the stone he used to gain your loyalty and have covered it with a sweet elixir. Tomorrow you must drop it in his porridge, and then you'll control him! "

Timothy agreed that it was a good plan, and took the stone.

At dawn the dwarf shook him awake, growling; "There is a unicorn grazing in the field next to us! Catch it and bring it to me, or I'll have you for breakfast!"

Timothy was frightened for, as all people know, it was impossible to catch a unicorn if you weren't a girl. Fortunately, an idea came to him. He retrieved the stone and walnut from his pocket. Opening the walnut he whispered; “You must sing, sister, so that this unicorn will not be frightened of me.”

Candace immediately began a tune as he walked slowly towards the creature, the stone on one outstretched palm. Looked up, it would have taken flight were it not for Candice's enchanting music. Upon reaching the unicorn, Timothy offered it the stone. It whinnied and swallowed the sweet-smelling object, then snuggled against Timothy’s chest. He laid a hand on the animal's neck and led it back to the dwarf.

"No! No! It can't be!" the warlock howled when he saw the unicorn.

Suddenly a murder of crows descended from the sky and carried the dwarf away. Timothy's mouth dropped open in shock as an extraordinary raven landed before him.

“Follow me!" it cawed and it took off.

Instinctively trusting the bird, Timothy leapt onto the unicorn's back and they magically speed after it, with a strange wind building behind them. Presently, they came upon a great mist blocking their way, and Timothy slowed. A gigantic gust blew past them and swept the mists away to reveal a glorious castle.

All around the castle were crows changing into men and women. The large raven flew on, through the open castle doors into the main hall. The boy got off the unicorn and followed, just in time to see the raven transform into a man.

"I am King Oern," stated the young man. "By completing the three tasks set forth by the warlock, you have released us all from an evil spell. I and my people are in your debt, Timothy."

"How did you know my name?" the boy gasped.

King Oern laughed. "It was prophesied long ago that you and your sister would one day save us from a curse, and that a strange light upon this castle would foretell your coming. You were sent off to your aunt and uncle's until you were needed. Your parents didn't die; they were merely cursed like the rest of us. How might I repay you for this great deed?"

"I'd like to be a knight!" said Timothy eagerly.

"It shall be done," granted the King. "And what of your sister?” He looked around expectantly.

Timothy brought out the walnut. As Candice stepped from it, she transformed to her normal size, but five years older. She had blossomed into a lovely young woman, and the King was instantly taken with her.

"Candice," he said. "Should it suit you, I would love to have you for my wife."

Candice smiled and curtsied, equally enamoured with the King. She replied; "That would suit me very well."

Timothy became a great knight, and travelled far. Candice was made Queen, and never felt the need to pass beyond the borders of her land.

Though there are many wicked warlocks in this world, as long as you are good, kind, and clever of course, then wonderful things may also happen to you.

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This has been my entry for The Elftown Prose Contest
You may also return to Prose Contest - Fairy Tales