World's Over Journal XXV Majestic Hall

When I reached the top of the steps Priscilla was sitting upon her knees beside the large male troll whose spear was upon the ground as he too sat comfortably, cross legged under the shadows of evening's twilight. They were discussing historical events after the Last War as I approached. Toki saw the perplexed look upon my face, turning to me she touched my shoulder and with a fang filled smile said 'all will be explained in due time.'

Only after Toki had finished speaking did Priscilla become aware the two of us standing so near by. Maybe I had imagined this, but it seemed to me that Priscilla was deeply aware of everything around her, in ways I didn't yet understand, had she waited to acknowledge us until after she had finished her conversation, out of respect for the troll sitting beside her? 'Have any pleasant dreams Jane,' she asked with a brilliant smile and a kind wink, 'can you smell the feast, the sent is seeping through the citadel's front door and the windows above.' With that she got up and the four of us started off towards the main gates.

As we neared the gate Toki ran ahead of us the last few feet and put her four fingered hand upon the etched stone, after speaking softly the gates began to open. I looked away as the firelight from inside streamed out, the citadel doors were built into the site of the mountain, they were set upon a large flat stone courtyard which lay at the top of the dual crescent stair case. Beautiful and terrifying how large the citadel truly was, for I couldn't see how high up the last of the hundred terraces was, upon which was set a tower of stone surrounded by amazing gardens.

I turned my gaze from the twilight which had engulfed the vale towards the citadel doors, slowly my eyes adjusted to the fire light within. I was the last to enter through the threshold into the troll city. Inside the gate we stood amidst several pillars of stone in a shallow hall at either end was a crescent stair case which lead into the hall beyond. Beyond the pillars in front of us the firelight streamed set within a massive inner hall. We stepped forward together and slowly began to realize how large the hall was. The crescent stairs wound their way along the outer walls of the great hall as they grew larger and wider as they rose. There were several levels to the great hall which the stairs gave access to. Along each layer were many doors, some larger led into homes, storage spaces, armouries while other much larger doors lead you down passages to the upper terraces.

The lowest level of the great hall, beyond the pillars in front of us, was a large rectangular courtyard, filled with gardens of twisted grey trees with white flowers instead of leaves, a multitude of mushrooms and odd vegetables surrounded them amidst blue rose and black berry bushes. There was a pathway down the centre of the garden and one on either side along the walls wherein was set many hearths from which the fire light poured out from, lighting the courtyard. At the far end of the hall there was a large table upon a raised dais, there sat a very large and ancient troll upon a throne, he raised his hands and beckoned us forward.

As we walked through the majestic gardens, tiny fire bugs began to stream around us like a flying river of flame. They were pouring out from the hearths along the walls, which were now dark, they insects had been the fires we had seen. The stream of fire circled around us as they ascended on their way towards the table before the throne. When we finally reached the steps all the hall behind us was dark and empty, as if the moon had been availed by a tide of obsidian clouds passes over a sleepy beach.

There were three large tables atop the dais above which the fire flies circled, set in a triangle before the throne, each could seat more than a hundred people on each side; though no one sat there, the tables were set for a magnificent feast. The ancient troll sat there alone, silent in his tall stone chair, his hair was white and long, braided much like Toki's was. His lower tusks protruded out from his green skinned face, his yellow cat like eyes searched me for a moment until found Priscilla, they lingered upon her as a look of intrigue came over his face. Wrapped about him was a long brown robe over which was a red and white vest and matching kilt. He wore no jewelry or crown, nothing that would let you know he was any different from the rest of his kin, who had begun pouring out from doors on either side of the hall.

Battle maidens and blacksmiths came streaming into the hall, with them the young came as well, each of them bearing plates of pastries filled with fruit and meat or bowls of sauces, some spicy others salty, some were sweet. The colour pallet of food set out before us was astonishing, for the hall showed no sign of colour beyond the tan stone, grey tree trunks and wooden doors. The trolls were so unique from one another that it was hard for me to take in their individual features, for I was famished, and anyone that knows me, knows that once I cave in to the cravings of my stomach the world about me gets lost. It was a magnificent evening, I could not remember the last time I had ever seen so many smiles or heard so much laughter. Priscilla and Toki sat to my left, while Kensori who we met as the troll statue, sat upon my right.

After dinner we were ushered down many corridors and up several flights of stairs to a garden terrace. Toki's home was at the end of the terrace, built into the side of the mountain. Her simple two story stone home had two bedrooms upstairs and a kitchen on the main floor. Priscilla and I snuggled in to bed and fell fast asleep.

In earnest anticipation of,
Jane
Without Charles