The Warrior and the Troll

The warrior appeared
resplendent in her finery
resigned in her action
bowed with her responsibility.

The troll sat silent
eyes lowered in defiance
sword laid beside him
ready for the calling.

The two had known each other for a while. Not long, but close and seemingly without reason. They both had respect for the other, told and untold. They each knew the others’ reasons for laughing and reasons for crying. They were close friends, the lucky kind.

The mutual regard between the two showed when they met, but the best friends in life are honest, and the troll could not even smile a hello.

“How be you, dear friend? You look as though slighted” She put her arms out in greeting, and hugged the furry creature to her chest.

“Slighted is a kind word. My own is much heavier.” The troll returned the hug, though it was more passionate, keeping her close. Wrapping his protective arms around the shoulders, hiding her back.

“I know your feelings on the subject, but this isn’t your fight, it’s mine to overcome.” She let him go. She lifted the sword, her own forged steel.

“Let my claws defend you along the way, I can stop whatever will attack you. Those demons will not even come near.” The trolls muscles flexed, showing the power to crush, to level the foe.

“The demons you speak of, are mine alone. I have to face them on this path on which you sit. You can pound and curse and drive them away. Their destruction and dismissal, though, will only come from facing them myself.” She stepped back from him quickly, mock posing a fighting stance. Smiled bravely.

“This is such a matter, that I cannot do nothing.” He settled, standing, towering over her. His arms like columns higher than the top of her head.

“You have not done nothing, dear friend. You have made me my sword, to fight my way through. You have stayed with me to this path, to check on my way. From this point onwards, it is not yours to follow.” She stepped further away, to move down the road, her armor reflecting, tarnished but strong.

“Let me come to the half. The second half will be yours. I have to do something to help.” The clawed hand on her arm should scare her into submission, but the troll wasn’t a monster of yesteryear. She put a hand over the talon that would rip flesh from limb and looked at her friend once more.

“Maybe there is one thing you can do, dear friend. My confidence is strong in facing my demons, the ones ahead I can face, but for the path behind I have no defence. Can you stand here and guard my back from the world? Keep the worlds’ demons at bay while I fight my own.” Her hands closed lightly on his, then slid to the sword.

“That, dear friend, I can do for you.” He felt her hands drop, watched her move on without another word.

And the Troll let her walk
straight on down the path
knowing his post was a ruse
but also a reason to wait her return.

And the warrior moved well
her pace fast down the path
to finish her demons with confidence
her friend to meet, on her way back.

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Tags:

path, troll, warrior and demons