Princess, Under The Mountain

“Vera, dumpling stop slouching.”

The young dwarf grumbled and straightened up. “Don’t you want to tell me how beautiful I look?”

“More beautiful if you didn’t slouch.” Her mother sang fretting over Vera’s braids.

Nothing drives a person mad quite like a parent’s love. She looked to the other princesses stationed outside The Princes hall, all their minders had left them alone and gone inside. “Mom, all the other royals have already gone inside.”

The Queen of the dwarves looked about. “Well, I don’t see any of their children slouching…”

“I’m not fookin slouchin’ ya old hag!” Vera cried out, earning her the attention of all her peers. Luckily she knew any Shane she felt was inflicted tenfold on her mother.

Indeed the old dwarf gasped and moaned. “That’s the thanks I get for getting your father to pull you out of that dreadful rehab.”

This again. Vera could feel her innards bubbling with a familiar rage. Already her mind was screaming. “Use, get fucked up, that’ll show her.’ She chewed it down and instead was able to convert her tone into a pleading whine. “I didn’t want to leave, I was getting better.”

Her mother made a throaty sound of disdain that only a dwarven mom could really pull off. “Better. Those headshrinkers got you thinking you’re sick. You’re not sick dumpling you just need something to keep you busy.”

“I feel sick.” Vera held her stomach. “Momma, I really don’t think I should be doing this…”

Her mom was fully exasperated. “You’re just telling me this now?”

“I’ve been telling you.” Vera lamented. “You don’t listen.”

“Yes because I’m the adult and you’re the child.”

“I’m 38, I’m old enough to be making my own decisions.”

Vera’s mother grabbed her daughter be the ears and pulled their foreheads together. It was an intimate gesture, and it hinted at more to their relationship than simple villain and victim. “Vera please, I just need you to be a good daughter and do this. It’s the Prince, we can’t say no.”

The princess slouched hope of reaching her mother once more withered on the vine. “Okay, fine. I’ll do it.”

All was forgiven as far as the Queen was concerned. Her rogue daughter was brought back in line, her reputation was safe. “Good I’m so proud of you.” She put away some of the tools she’d been using to beautify her daughter. She kissed the damsel on the cheek. “I better meet up with your father. You’ll do great! And remember no slouching!”

“Thanks mamma.” Vera mumbled as she watched her mother waddle off. Once she vanished inside hall, Vera looked around for a server. “I need a drink.” She needed twelve if she was going to be drinking the human stuff.

She stepped out of place to begin her search and thought with some glee of the panic it would cause her mother if she missed her entrance. She’d never hear the end of it.

Then she thought of the people at rehab. The only people who’d ever rooted for her, and how disappointed they’d be if they found out. She briefly considered if she’d be disappointing herself, but figured that she didn’t care about her opinion enough, to begin with. For whomever her decision was motivated she paused and picked up the book chained to her wide hips.

“The code of Gabe” it read.

She held it close to her chest. The nuns who ran the rehab made sure one of those was on every nightstand of the facility.

It… saved her.

It spoke of lessons from Gabriel’s life as the crown prince, his struggles, and triumphs. And most importantly it spoke of how people could live happy and fulfilling by following his rules.

She knew it sounded ridiculous, the rebellious daughter finding salvation in a book of rules. But it’s true. These were not the hypocritical rules of her mother, there was no sign of the double standards of the mountain court. These were iron-clad rules that applied to all, and the best part was…

She blushed and got in line. “He's going to write in it!” She smiled. She’d convinced the court to add this to the ceremony. Vera would stand before him and he would stare into her soul, and know exactly what she would need. He would give her new rules by which to live her life.

She was so nervous.

She wasn’t a nervous person. She was quite comfortable with risk, but this made her nervous. Why?

“You’re next.” A servant gave her a respectful nod.

Scratch that.

She was panicking!

She knuckled into her book and stepped up to plate.

“Presenting the imitable daughter from the mountains. Vera Hammertits!”

“Time to embarrass mom.” She groaned and walked into the hall. Back straight chin up, she strutted like the perfect marble doll.

Ooooh there he was, handsome as a topaz. Eyes like sapphires, little skinny but she could fatten him up in no time. She shook her head and blushed. What a silly thing to think. Her figure was just about the dwarven ideal… for dwarfs. Her stocky figure would not compare favorably to the sticky human girls already at his sighed. One good breeze and those two would go flying out the window.

She sensed she was passing her parents but stared ahead, sure that her mom would do something that would send her into a rage. Vera just felt lucky her mom wouldn’t be on the quest with her. Mortal danger? No problem. Camping with her mom? **** sentence.

It took her longer than either of the humans. Her ponderous waddle was firm but slow. She noticed that he was watching her intently. She blushed and tried not to meet his gaze. Maybe she was wrong? She had more ass and tits than the humans combined, and men were men regardless of their heritage.

At last he stood before him. She gave him a modest curtesy. “Vera Hammertits… pleased to bring honor to the Dwarves by joining you side my Prince.” She dared to look up, and saw pain in his eyes. Her heart sank, and she looked to the humans and the orc. All shared the same sorrow, she gulped now sure that the inheritors of the quest carried a burden greater than she knew.

“Vera,” the prince spoke softly. “Remember.”

And she did.

Her first reaction was to look down at her stubby body, and burst into tears. This instinct was followed swiftly by her running back out of court.

——-

Vera had practically mugged the waiter distributing champagne to guests not important enough to make it into the main hall.

When her mother found her she was in a janitor’s closet. The floor was littered with glass, and her daughter was tearily chugging from another flute. “Vera…” her mother said gently. “What happened?”

“Fuck off.” Vera sobbed. “I get thrown into a fantasy world and you still followed me.”

She wasn’t making any sense. The prince must have better **** than his fellow humans. “Of course I followed you, you’re my daughter.”

“I’m your prisoner.” Vera spat, and brought another flute to her mouth. “Gah, it all tastes like water!”

Her mom inched forward. “Dumpling tell me what’s wrong.”

“And what’s with this dumpling shit? You never called me that.” Vera threw another flute against the wall.

“You’ve always been my dumpling.” Her mother said, hurt clearly cracking her stone heart. "please tell me what’s wrong?”

What was wrong? Vera got to live two lives and she spent both of them as a burnt-out loser! “You ruined me twice mom, I hate you.”

“Ruin?” The queen was softly offended. “I didn’t ruin you. You’re not ruined.”

“I’m almost forty and I needed my mom’s help getting a job as a maid.”

The queen was distraught. “You’re not making sense. You’re still so young. I’ll be the first to tell you, you’ve made mistakes but you haven’t ruined anything.”

The closet door opened, and there, backlit by the hall was Gabe. “Is she okay?”

The queen stiffened and turned to face him. “Your majesty I’m so sorry this is all my fault. Vera has been sick and I **** her to come here. She only just got back from the healers.”

Gabe nodded, though the queen could tell he knew she was lying. Or at least his divine eyes saw the greater truth to her daughter’s despair. “Can I speak with her, alone?”

The tiny woman scowled and put herself in front of Vera. “I already told you, it’s my fault. You’ll be punishing me.”

He seemed to like that, he smiled at least. “No one is getting punished. I just want to make sure she’s alright.”

The queen looked back, and all Vera had for her was a shrug. “Okay.” The Queen nodded her approval. “I’ll be right outside.”

Gabe watched her leave and almost close the door the whole way. ”She seems sweet.”

Vera shrugged. “This is what she does. Drives me crazy, and then gets to play the good mother when I crack.”

He looked twice as handsome now that he was so much taller than her. They’d been almost the same height once. He gave her a moment of silence so she knew he heard what she said. “I don’t think this is about her.” He physically braced himself. “Let me have it.”

Ver took a shaking gulp of her last remaining flute. “I know you had to pick someone for every heritage… but I got Dwarf?”

“I know I please…”

“Let me finish.” She held up her hand. “I’ve been sweet on you for a while. And I know this isn’t your fault, but to me this just seems… the one you’d want the least. That’s all. You don’t owe me anything, you didn’t have to give me an elf or human… but this just confirms that you were never even interested in me.”

He nodded slowly. “I just tried to… it wasn’t easy for me. The description I got, it said dwarfs were familial. And I saw that and thought, ‘perfect, I’ll still have Vera with me to figure this whole thing out.'”

“You did not.” She hide her face against the shadowed wall.

“It’s true.” He thought about kneeling to get more on her level, but thought that would be demeaning. “I need you Vera, and I don’t care what you look like. You’re the rock of this team."

She felt herself melting. “You mean it?”

Heck, he kneeled down, he was now looking up at her. “You’re one of my best units now. Strong and sturdy, just like you always were. Whatever this quest brings, I’m going to need you at the front acting as my shield.”

She felt like a kitten being coaxed out of a hole. She supposed this closet was hole enough for her. "You want me... as your shield?"

"I do."

She teared up. "I always thought you guys just saw me as the woman who did the laundry..."

"No way." He pushed her playfully. "Whenever they weren't playing, you were their coach. They would have turned that place into a frat house if it weren't for you."

She allowed herself a teary laugh. "They are kind of a handful."

"I'm gonna need all the help I can get on this. Will you be my shield, and help me get them through this?"

She felt a swelling inside her heart, as her two lives seemed to come together. Vera had enjoyed being a House Mother, against all odds. Now the most ill behaved daughter in the dwarven kingdom was being given the chance to become The Prince's Paladin. It felt like these two characters from different worlds were coming together shake hands. Maybe together they'd finally make something out of this life. “Of course, I won’t let anything happen to our girls.” The she sighed and looked away. Vera's confidence was a thing built and stages. The Prince had said he needed her, but had deftly avoided the reason behind her tears. “And I’m sorry for asking this,” she paused. “Am I hideous?”

Gabe broke into a wild laugh. “No, of course not!”

She growled, her dwarven stubbornness was rearing its head. “Yes I am, you’re a liar. I’m so short.”

Gabe shrugged. “I like being taller than my girlfriend.” He grinned. “Makes me feel powerful.”

“Okay fine.” She crossed her arms. “This might be tmi, but dwarfs are pretty proud of their hair.” She flipped a braid. “And the carpet matches the drapes.”

“My dad had every Playboy since Vietnam. You could make a hedge maze with all the bushes I’ve jerked off to.”

She rolled her eyes. “Fine, you want me to say it, I’ll say it. I’m fat. I’m a fat, hairy little dwarf. You don’t want me, so just say it, so I can move on and stop…Mphm!”

All her stupid words were cut short by his lips. He kissed her! He was kissing! Worse than that he had a handful of her gut in his hand and was squeezing it as he kissed her. He would not stop, would not relent until he finally felt her moan against him. And she did, she closed her eyes and moaned.

“You’re beautiful.” He stood up, and offered his hand. He didn't give her time to think or argue. Her being beautiful to him wasn't even on the table for discussion. “Let’s go meet the team.”

“Wait.” She brought up The Code of Gabe. The transformation you gave me…”

He looked down at the book. The page read “Gabriel’s 1st commandment.” She handed him a pen, a ballpoint pen, somehow in fantasy land there was a ballpoint pen hanging around. China was able to build fighter jets before they could make a ballpoint pen.

Gabe took it. “What do you want me to write?”

She blushed and shook her head furiously, she had to might her lip to keep from blurting something out. “You know what I need.”

Far too cryptic for his liking. “We’re a team Vera. If we’re going to escape, you guys need to become my harem by the end of this. What’s a rule that you’re comfortable with that will push you in that direction?”

She shrugged and smiled up at him. “I don’t know. I’m too stupid to even know how beautiful I am. You decide.”

“Last time I made a decision without you it made you cry. We’re doing this together.”

She just shook her head, still smiling. “No we’re not, she wants this, or I want it. Something inside of all of this wants you to choose. I can feel my own resolve on the matter, stretching on for the end of time. You could ask me for 100 years, and I would never allow you to rob me of the honor of this moment.”

“Oh boy.” She better not be this stubborn on all matters. He looked at the blank pages he thought of a few fantasy fulfillment rules he could come up with. “Vera must always be nude.” For one. But they had a game to play, a paladin without armor? Besides these were just rules, they didn’t change her mind or anything. If he gave her something harsh or perverted now, it would turn her against him.

He had no credibility going into this. We was going to need Vera on his side. She would be his shield, just not against monsters. She was going to protect him from the hatred of his own harem.

For that, he needed rules that would endear her to him.

Edict: a Paladin of Gabe must know she is beautiful and worthy of love. If a Paladin fails to attain this mindset, they must instead work daily to obtain this state.

Anathema: A Paladin of Gabe must not harm another member of their party.