CREAKGawayn jumped in his skin from the sound - which was odd, you see, because his skin didn't jump anywhere, so he remained essentially where he'd been. Still, he was mighty spooked. He'd woken up a few hours ago behind the door to the haunted dungeon, where he'd watched the imps fly out en masse, happy to finally see a deserted passageway again. He was a little embarrassed about passing out earlier.
He leapt up the stairs at break-neck speed, even in his armor. He only stopped when he reached the kitchen, out of breath, in time to nearly run over an imp. The little creature heard the clanging and didn't even bother to turn before running away in fright. It wasn't until Gawayn started knocking on the bolted kitchen door that the realization hit him. . .
. . .at almost the same time as the pot, swung through the open door to hit him in the forehead. As his eyes refocused, he could make out Torra scowling at him with a bemused Orrv looking on in the background, making bacon and eggs.
"What did you do that for?" Gawayn cursed, still clutching his head as he entered the kitchen.
"For being the cause of this!" harrumphed Torra, closing the door and folding her arms, pot still in hand in case Gawayn misbehaved.
"Breakfast?" Orrv asked, lifting up his own pan cheerfully.
"Not right now," Gawayn said, becoming excited again. "I have an idea that just might. . . " Gawayn stopped when he heard a strange sound, coming from neary. thingying his head to one side, he walked over to the outside door and unlatched it, a butter knife at hand just in case.
"Why hello there," he smiled as he looked down. "What are you doing here, little one?"
Bre'cheye wiped sleep out of her eyes as she yawned, her brow descending into a scowl. "I was knocking on the door but no one let me in!" she explained, getting to her feet. "And who are you calling little, Tin Man?"
"Maybe I was talking to him," Gawayn replied, pointing down to the ground, where Fade the dragon was also coming awake. "He looks to be a little less surly than his mistress, at least." An expression passed over Bre'cheye's face, caught between further anger and apology, but was dismissed by a ready smile from Gawayn. "I'm sorry for waking you up, but I thought you might like to help us beat back the imps who've filled the castle." Bre'cheye nodded.
Gawayn quickly explained his idea as they munched on toast with marmalade. Orrv thought Gawayn was nuts. Torra thought Gawayn was just being normal. Fade the dragon liked the idea.
Soon, they all made their way to the great dining hall, near the throne room of Queen Beth, one of the largest places in the castle. They had to fight hard to reach their destination, overcoming many an imp, and none could have reached the dining hall safe without the others and their unique and special skills.
"This crazy idea of yours better work," Torra muttered to Gawayn as she skewered another imp running past. They were nearly to the middle of the hall.
"Try not to get us killed, alright?" Orrv slapped Gawayn on the back.
"rawr!" voiced Fade, excitedly breathing fire on passing imps and nibbling the more delectable parts.
"Trust me," Gawayn grinned as he climbed up on one of the tables, a sea of imps scrambling around beneath, all hungry. "What could go wrong?"
Silence greeted the question.
Bre'cheye coughed politely. "Umm, we could all die horrible, meaningless deaths because of your foolishness? Again?"
"She's awfully nice to have around," Torra chuckled. "Now get to it."
"You know what to do," Gawayn nodded, taking a deep breath. With one cue, Gawayn began to sing at the top of his lungs while the other three made a horrific clamor on plates, pots, swords, shields, armor, and whatever else they could find. The imps, used to so long making the scariest noise imaginable, were caught wholly unprepared for the evil din descending on their ears. With a great shriek, they all fled as fast as their little impish feet would take them. Gawayn, Torra, Orrv, Bre'cheye and Fade were hot on their tails, winding all through the castle, until they were herding the mass of monsters back under the entryway through which they'd first come. With a great heave, they all helped push the heavy door closed with a loud thud.
"Whew!" breathed Orrv, wiping at his face as they climbed the stairs afterward. "That was really dangerous and really difficult, but it worked!"
"I didn't know you could yodel," Torra teased Gawayn as she pushed him a bit. "For worrying me so much, I think you should give me a diamond."
"Umm, aren't we forgetting someone?" Bre'cheye asked as they neared the kitchens again.
"Who?" Orrv asked, his stomach already grumbling.
"Toki!" Bre'cheye answered. "I thought he was supposed to be around here too. Do you think he's trapped downstairs?"
Of all things, Gawayn giggled. "Actually, he's been the safest any of us has been all evening. Come here." He gestured over to a locked door. Taking out a key, he unlocked the door.
"No, don't kill me!" came a cry.
Gawayn opened the door to a small, dark room, where Toki was tied to a table lying down with a blindfold over his eyes. A bucket was set over his head, and a little water leaked out of it to sprinkle down on Toki's face. Gawayn whistled softly to Fade the dragon, who hopped up on the table by Toki's head. At Gawayn's instigation, Fade began licking the water from Toki's face.
"Ahhhh!! No, don't eat my face!!"
"Gawayn, not only were you foolish tonight but you were mean!" Torra frowned. "Let poor Toki go." Gawayn shrugged and cut Toki loose, his friend jumping up from the table and blinking his eyes at the sudden light.
"Wha- what happened?" Toki asked. "Are you going to kill me? My friends, you rescued me!"
"Actually, I found you asleep in your cups a lot earlier tonight," Gawayn answered, a little sheepish. "You looked to be dreaming. So I thought I'd tie you up in this broom closet while you were still out and set up some terrible thing. See that shirt?" Gawayn pointed toward a blood-stained bundle in the corner. "That was from the butcher. You were still feeling out of it when you woke up, so didn't recognize me." Gawayn smiled. "Trick or treat?"
Toki growled and clenched his fist.
"I think we've already had enough violence tonight," Orrv spoke up. "How about breakfast for everyone?"
"We can't let Gawayn get away with what he did!" Torra objected.
"We shouldn't hurt the poor lout, you're right," Bre'cheye said, drawing all eyes too her, "but with Queen Beth returning in another day or two, it might not hurt to have Gawayn do a little chore before he has anything to eat. . ."
* * *
"What would Queen Beth say if we told her what you did?" Gawayn grumbled, pushing the mop across the floor. He'd started in the chaos of the dining hall, and his mind was long occupied with how many hallways and cleaning there were in the castle. But then he thought of what Queen Beth would do to him if she knew of his mistakes and pushed the mop with extra vigor, still glad he had friends and clanmates like those who'd saved him tonight.
THE END