Legolas and Robin 42/49
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Chapter 42
In front of them rose a dark mountain wall where small birches and other plants climb. The stallion stopped beside two large stone blocks that lay in front of a big opening in the mountain.
“Here you enter,” he said.
“Will you not come with us?” Robin dared to ask.
“In to mountains and under ground I not walk,” said the stallion. “But I will give you a firebrand that makes the dark shy. Get off my back.”
Greenwood and Robin jumped down in the flexible moss. They looked curious when Iarwain took a dry branch in his mouth and with his hoof made a sparkle. The sparkle flew and put the branch on fire that started burn with a slow blue flame.
“Magic is in this fire,” the stallion said. “Only I can put it out.”
“I thank you, oh master over water,” said Greenwood and lifted the torch. He took Robin in his hand, and they went together through the crack.
The blue light fell on high, rugged stone walls where nothing grew. Soon the crack got wider, so they barley saw the walls. Their steps echoed and went rolling in the dark. But there was another sound as well, a rumbling, regular sound from the depths of the mountain.
Robin held tighter to Greenwood's hand. Chilly air met them, and the flame flickered. The passage turned into a big cave, where the light didn’t reach up at all. The whole cave was filled with the brawling sound.
“I know what that is,” whispered Robin. “That moust be the Giant which snores. Ugh, then we have to wake him. I know how angry you can get when you are woken up.”
“That depends on how the waking is made,” said Greenwood. “Let me to handle the talking.” And he shouted:
“Four fat sheep in your vestibule stands!”
A very noise was heard from the dark. “Whaba?” said a muddy deep voice, which echo in the cave: “Who is it that speaking about sheep?”
“It is I, but when you noised so much they went to the forest,” said Greenwood regretful.
“What are you for little pestilence creep,” the Giant muddy on. “Do you think that tiny flame reaches against my dark? That I will easily blow out.” A strong breath of air came towards them, but the flame didn’t go out.
“That was peculiar,” said the giant. “What are you for creep?”
“I reside in the goldenblack water,” said Greenwood with a deathlike voice. “Iarwain’s friend I am, and at my side stand Robin the daring, Robin that walks between the worlds.”
“What nonsense do you speak?” said the Giant. “Are you tenderize in the meat, by the way? Fat and well?”
“Not especially,” said Greenwood, “we have lost our flesh, so long we have travelled to reach you.”
“How odd,” said the giant. “You are either foolish or unwise to come here. Because it is some time I got a real tuck-in. At least a thousand years, I think. I lay down to sleep to forget the rumbling in my stomach, and the talk about fat sheep have made me wild of hunger.”
“It can be so,” Greenwood said. “But if you eat us now, you never will hear why we come.”
“Hm,” said the giant. “Have it anything with food to do?”
“In a way,” said Greenwood and squeeze Robins hand. “It is about Manulô, to be more exact. Manulô and thind mân. They are trying to take over the wood. And without to overstate too much I can say that they isn’t especially appetizing. They are both mouldy and vapid in taste. I would not hesitate to call them inedible.”
“What do I care about that?” said the giant.
“Yes,” continues Greenwood assiduous, “Thind mân get more and more because all other beings in the forest turn into Thind mân’s too, when the Thind mân catches them. Do you understand?”
“Hm,” said the giant. “You say that it gets more Thind mân and less of everyone that is eatable?”
“Exactly,” said Greenwood. “And soon there is only Thind mân, if nothing is done.”
“So awful,” said the giant worried. “Then is it best I eat you fast, before you get grey too.” And they heard how he came on feet somewhere in the dark.