Maybe he's the one who doesn't like me. That's why he wants to leave, because I'm just not-- not good enough for him.

I find relief from my punishing thoughts as we enter a gobli encampment on the side of the mountain.

Alvar is hailed immediately by the gobli there with a cheerful welcome. These gobli rushing toward us with grins and applause are not as deformed as the ones in the depths of Goblia. They look similar to Fletch, albeit warty, well-proportioned, and kindly. They all wear shaded spectacles to protect their eyes from the sun. How terrible for them to stay out here in the sun when they belong in the dark caves of their mountain. I realize I almost relate to them. I wonder if how they feel on the surface of Axus is similar to how I felt when first pulled into Axus from Earth. Completely out of their element.

"What news on the goblin queen, Remora?" The tallest of them asks.

"As of now Remora has broken a critical treaty with me and all of Axus by insulting me with sending one of her henchmen to kidnap my bride," Alvar declares in a shout. "Her intent was to send Queen Lucy back to Earth. I will not stand for such actions, I shall dethrone her and help you all establish a new gobli ruler of Ferar!"

"Aya valka, ALVAR! Aya valka, ALVAR!" The group chanted, a chant I'm presuming means they are rallying behind him.

More gobli appear from their makeshift homes and I notice a group of the deer-like people are emerging from the forests of the mountains into the crowds of celebrating gobli as well.

"Alvar," the largest stag amongst them approaches. A magnificent set of antlers crowns his head. He is heavily tattooed and taller than any normal human man. He wears a brown, leather kilt and brilliantly colored beads around his neck. "I shall go with you to help."

"You Agnor, chief of the stogs of Ferar?" Alvar asks. "Why do the stogs take an interest in a gobli war or an alliance with me?"

"Us stogs have been hunted down and killed by Remora and her group, she claims we have no right to this mountain, but we have always resided on the surface of it while the gobli dwelled beneath in the caverns and caves," the chief continues. "My son, Jahn chief hulder of his tribe in the north, will also be joining us to come with me. If you stop once and for all the genocide of my people we will gladly forge an alliance with Underland."

I make a mental note. These are the stog people. They look like fauns from Greek myths except their lower half has the appearance of a deer instead of a goat. Their skin on their fronts and face is bare and white as snow. Their eyes are large and dark brown like a deer's. Their backs are covered in red brown fur all the way down to their deer-like tails. Their bare chests are covered in red war paint.

"We will gladly accept your support," Alvar says, smiling vaguely. "We could always use more fighters. Remora will go down easy as most of her warriors are at a disadvantage to us. The main obstacle to our success will be getting through into Goblia. There is only one entrance and it is heavily guarded."

"Aye, but what you don't realize, King Alvar, is that we've cut another entrance into Goblia. A secret road into the city from the other side of the mountain. There are those who are spies for us in Goblia and they've made it possible for us to have that advantage," the lead gobli of the encampment speaks once more.

"Then we shall trick them. Distract them so all the gobli fighters are at the main entrance and storm them from behind. All we need to do is cut the head off the dragon. We get Remora, the head is severed," Agnor growls, he turns to a female warrior beside him. "Take a message to Jahn, let him know of these plans."

I don't know where I fit in all this, but I sense a greatness in this moment, as if a wonderful change is about to happen and I'm somehow apart of it. Never in my life had I imagined to witness battle plans or ride the back of a dragon. Never had I imagined I'd start falling in love with Alvar of Underland. I know Alvar himself is in no danger with this plan as he cannot die, but I realize the sobering reality that some of these who stand before me, may not come out alive from this.

Conversations of the different groups drone out my ability to make out the rest of the plans. Alvar approaches me after they've finished meeting and presses his Mystar into my palm, closing my fingers over it.

"I dare not take you back to Goblia. You will be safe here. The gobli women will look out for you in the big tent over there. Sleep with the Mystar on your forehead. You will see what you want to know of my memories and only that. I'll instruct the gobli women to awake you when we've returned."

"And miss all the excitement?" I ask, rolling my eyes. "You're about to go to war and you want me to take a nap?"

"There will be plenty of difficult things for you to experience in my memories, Lucy," Alvar warns. "I assure you that the loss of life in this battle will be minimal at the worst, we have the upper hand and Remora already did us a favor by defeating her own people."

"Who are these deer people... uh... the 'stog' I think they said?"

"The stog are a people who have been in hiding for many decades during Saul's reign, they are distrustful of the human race in general as Saul's religion demanded them as sacrifices for his gods."

"Oh," I murmur and shudder. I understand why Saul is a person Alvar avidly acts to keep out of Axus and I wonder if on Earth Saul is doing horrible things to other people too.

"Go, sleep. Dream of my life and tell me your decision," Alvar says. He presses his lips to my forehead and brushes a strand of hair from my eyes. "You're so beautiful and smart, Lucy. I'd never give you up if I were a worthy man."

With those words he leaves, following a groups of gobli and huldra away from the encampment.

I sigh and clutch the Mystar tightly.  A tear forms without my willing it.

He doesn't want to leave me.