Teacup the Troll

Twisk make this hilarious and adorable picture of the children enjoying Unghaahi's story time. I had to write something more about it so here it is.

Story time by Twisk. The kid on Unghaahi's leg kills me.

Teacup the Troll

                When the tea party in honour of the brave and brazen Teacup the Troll had done, the Reverend Mother declared the children finished with their amusement for the day and ought to return to their studies. Unghaahi, though hesitant to leave the children when they were so well settled by snoring in the crevices of his strong legs or enjoying the view atop his mountainous shoulders, he could not deny the needfulness of education and carefully pealed his giggling adornments from his form to set them down beside the table. When he announced his departure for the day, taking with him Obhantaa Leraa and the giant cat of which they were so fond, they moaned in disappointment, as their diversion from the dreariness of Church services had been altogether too perfect. They groaned and cried when the giants stood to take their leave. Unghaahi made promises of returning soon and Obhantaa Leraa and when one of the children requested that Den Asaan join them for their next visit, Unghaahi laughed and vowed to have Rautu at his side. The Den Asaan made many protestations, claiming he would never have come were it not for the chocolate cake given him, but when the children remarked that there could be no proper tea party without him, Rautu grunted his consent and the children cheered.

                As the Haanta were waving their farewells, one of the young boys ran toward them with the small book Unghaahi had read to them in his hand.

                “Here, Unghaahi,” the boy said in his small voice, desperately attempting to reach his hand by standing on his toes. “Take my book.”

                Unghaahi smiled and knelt down to the boy, placing his colossal hand on his back. “I will not take what is yours, Mivaari Leraa,” his low voice purred.

                “But it’s a gift.”

                “Are you certain? This legend of the troll is an important lesson for you, Mivaari.”

                “I’ll remember it,” the boy said smilingly. “I want you to have it so you can read it to everyone in the castle.”    

                Unghaahi exhaled with fondness and gave the boy an affectionate embrace. “I am honoured to accept this gift, Mivaari Leraa. I will convey the example of the troll to others and they will learn to follow their purpose just as you have learned.”

                The boy’s eyes gleamed with happiness. “Can you come again tomorrow?” he asked hopefully.

                Unghaahi looked at his brothers and though Rautu scowled at the young creature, Obhantaa Leraa’s eager expression imparted that they would return as soon as they were able.

                The boy hopped up and down and shouted his approbation, making claims of how he wished he could take his nap on the Den Amhadhri every day. He embraced Unghaahi one last time about the neck, gave over his book, and hurried back inside to tell the others that the giants would return to play sooner than expected.  

                Unghaahi smiled at the simple gift he was given. He had read the story of Teacup the Troll several times to the orphans at the Church and not once had they asked him to regale them with another one form the pile of picture books given to them by the castle. He reaffirmed his statement of honouring his promise to relay the message of Teacup’s history to everyone residing within the castle keep. He was warned that such a tales was considered to be for the young of Frewyn and those but Unghaahi believe the legend universal in its teachings. Everyone regardless of birth or consequence had the ability to follow his Mivaala and Unghaahi made it his dominant proclivity to spread the legend of Teacup the Troll throughout the capital.

                When they returned to the keep, the Den Amhadhri’s first visit was to the throne room where Alasdair was in the midst of a negotiation with the herald. He appeared in the entranceway and bowed, claiming there was a matter of grave importance that required the king’s attention. Wishing to do anything other than continue his discourse with the disagreeable herald, Alasdair agreed to hear circumstance Unghaahi withed to dispatch and called him into the room to say as he would. The Den Amhadhri raised his tiny book and began reading. At first, he was treated with looks of confusion from the king but Unghaahi would be heard and the story of Teacup the Troll would be told. Once the little history of the troll’s triumph had done, Unghaahi declared his mission in the throne room a success and continued toward the yeoman’s quarters while leaving Alasdair bemused and yet enlightened to the troll’s cause.

                Unghaahi came to the tailor in search of Carrigh and when he knocked on her door, she answered his call and bid him to grace her with his presence. He told her there was a message to convey and she sat with fixed eye and a keen ear, waiting to be told the communication. She had expected unfortunate news for so intimate a visit but she was pleasantly surprised to see one of her favourite books in the giant’s hand. She entreated him to read it for her own selfish delectation and though Carrigh already understood the lesson he would transmit, he obliged to please her and to keep his promise.

                When Carrigh had said her goodbyes and encouraged her visitor to persist his quest of the keep’s illumination, Unghaahi walked the short distance from the tailor to the kitchen where Martje, Bilar, Merra Lingha, Tomas and Mrs. Cuineill were all sitting at the table enjoying repose together. They were enjoying freshly brewed tea and baked biscuits, a fitting scene for the Den Amhadhri’s tutelage, and when he was greeted with cordial bows and smiles, he sat on the ground and had begun to read to them.

                Being reminded of reading to her two boys when they were young, Mrs. Cuineill’s eyes teared at the thought of having Tomas and Bhaunbher on her lap and reading them the very same story the giant was reiterating. “Aye, you lads,” she sniffed toward Tomas, “And didn’t you used to make me read you t’at Fey tale every night when you were young-uns? It makes an old lass smile to ‘ear t’at story still bein’ told. It’s no good bein’ old, lad, but I still got my memories of you and your brot’er.”

                “Aye, Ma,” Tomas said warmly, recalling the many evenings he begged her to read the old Frewyn fable.

                Although Merra Lingha, being a Nnodainya, was never privy to hearing such a moving account, she smiled to think that she and her sister Nerri were now performing the very moral Teacup the Troll related. She was immensely pleased with the story and applauded Unghaahi once he had closed the book. She bid him to travel to the barracks and tell the story to her sister and the Den Amhadhri happily obeyed.                   

                He went to the garrison and found Captain Connors, Nerri, Mureadh and Teague just beginning their trek toward the taverns for some merriment and supper. They stood at attention when the Den Amhadhri neared and they were ordered listened to the history of significance he was about to relate. They listened to their commander, giving each other awkward sideways glances as they wondered why he had chosen to read them a parable but they said nothing to gainsay his recanting and stood silently in their place until Unghaahi had done. He bowed, signalizing that they may now consider themselves enlightened, and walked through the training yard and up the steps toward the commons.

                While Nerri and Connors thought the repetition of such a tale odd, both Mureadh and Teague were delighted. As both Frewyn recruits had large families, Mureadh having thirteen sisters and Teague claiming a multitude of young brothers, they recalled the familiar tale with partiality, thinking of their beloved relations to whom they being the eldest siblings would regale the story of Teacup the Troll on a nightly basis.

                Unghaahi came to the commons and was pleased to see everyone gathered together. The commander sat with the Den Asaan before the fire, Kai Linaa and Obhantaa Leraa were beside khaasta, and Otenohi reclined at the large window with Rautu’s gull resting at his feet. He sat in the center of the furs along the ground and called for everyone to heed his last retelling of the narrative. His Anonnaa gave him the silence and unmitigated attention he was owed and when he was finished with the legend, he closed his book and observed Kai Linaa sleeping on his thigh, Obhantaa Leraa resting with khaasta, Rautu closing his eyes and crushing his mate in a pleasant embrace before the fire, and Otenohi leaning against his Khaapaboa while the gull slumbered at his feet. The Den Amhadhri surveyed his Anonnaa with a tender smile, wiped his mate’s drool from his leg, and softly proclaimed his mission a success.