The Final Doubt

Mari and the slaves stayed inside the barn, waiting for the caretakers. The bell near the wall rang, alerting the tribe of a troll attack. The caretakers were preparing to evacuate them, gathering bags of water and blankets to cover them. They waited patiently except for one.

Mari stood at the door, rubbing her hands together while looking at the direction of the smoke. Sun was fighting for his life on the eastern wall. She walked back inside and grabbed her book and wore a cloak over her head. Once she had everything she needed, she started walking to the entrance."Mari, what are you doing?" Natasha asked. "Where are you going? Shouldn't we wait?"

Mari looked down at her book, "I'm going to the wall and help them fight the troll."

"What? Are you crazy" Natasha whispered so the caretakers would not hear them. They were on the second floor, getting ready. "What if you get hurt? It's a troll for god sake. An adult troll may I add. It takes a party of four just to kill that thing."

"Exactly, they're going to need my help."

"Why do you care so much anyway?" In the back of the room was Sam. She was cleaning her teeth with a toothpick. "They promised to get us out of this hell, and yet here we are, still trapped in the forest."

"They are doing their best."

"Doing my best? Now, that's funny. You do realize they have the power now. They can do whatever they want with us. Just like those,"

"They are not like them. They promised they would get us out of the forest when the time comes."

"And we're just going to sit here and wait!" Sam jumped out of her chair and threw the toothpick as hard as she could on the floor.

"Sis, please calm down." Cyrus rushed to her sister's side and held her right arm.

"They are goblins, Mari! They are not us. They're aliens that just showed up out of the blue and began terrorizing us. They are just like their father, whichever they were. They're monsters! If I could, I would have stabbed my womb and got rid of those little demons."

"Well, its too late now!" Mari stomped her foot on the floor. "You gave birth to Stick, I gave birth to Sun, and we all gave birth!" Mari closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She took a step back and looked deep inside her for the answer. She wants to help Sun, but why? Curiosity, love, regret, or hope. "I also wished I never gave birth to Sun, but I can't. I have to raise the child of the goblin that raped me. And if that's my new reality, then why I will do my best to guide my son. So he won't turn into them, those monsters that harmed us."

"Why? Just leave him to die. We can escape during this confusion like the men."

"Then go, I won't tell on you." Mari covered her head and left.

Mari ran through the back alleys, avoiding the mob of goblins running on the larger streets. Above her were the archers running on the rooftops to get into their positions. Mari bowed down to hide her head.

After running through the town, Mari finally reached the wall. A large wall of fire blocked her way, forcing her to run around it. Suddenly, a goblin flew through the fire and slammed against a pole. Mari rushed towards the goblin. His forearm was broken in half with the shattered tip poking out of his skin. The goblins tried desperately to stop the bleeding while calling for help. Mari took out her book and followed the instruction.

Blue mist traveled down her shoulders, stopping on the palm of her hands. Then they slowly turned bright yellow. The glowing light emitting from her hands healed the open wound, but the bones remained broken. She didn't have enough mana to use the spells to heal his shattered forearm, but bandages and arm support should heal him over time. The goblins in charge of supporting the frontline ran towards Mari and the injured. They were perplexed to see their Chief's slave mother and even more surprised to see the goblin have no flesh wounds despite covered in blood.

"What are you standing there for?" Mari yelled in frustration.

The goblins did not know how to respond, but their dying comrade calls for help could not be ignored. They carried him by the legs and shoulders. "Thank you." The injured goblins whispered in a raspy voice before getting taken away.

Mari stood up and followed the goblins around the flames. She saw the goblins getting destroyed by the rampaging troll. The only reason why they have not given up yet was because of Sun's presence in the battle. He continued to fight despite a dislocated shoulder. This adamant attitude kept the goblins from abandoning the fight.

That is not to say they weren't any cowards running away. Mari saw many run away when the troll approaches them, but they always come back if not to run away again, at least to save face in front of their great Chief.

But the battle was clearly one-sided. Sun's injury was like an anchor, holding him back. Mari ran behind a line of goblins holding spears. "I need to get to Sun!" She yelled at them. The goblins looked at her, confused. "Can you help?"

"Why help you?" They asked.

"I can heal him." She showed the goblins her glowing hand.

"Tribe's great Chief's mama healer!" They yelled in excitement. Healers are highly respected in goblin tribes. Even if they are slaves, lesser goblins will follow their command so long as they do not overstep their boundaries. After all, they are still slaves, and if they stop healing, they are no longer of any use.

But Mari is different. Her son is the highly venerated Chief, considered a hero by most of the tribe because he was the hero that killed a troll all by himself. And so, their respect for her is equal second only to the Chief and his brothers. "Spear goblins, charge!" The goblin up front yelled, and they all ran towards the troll.

The troll was trying to catch Sun when the swarm of goblins began to thrust their spears on its legs. Sun was then pulled out by two goblins while the troll was busy. "What are you doing? I told you to stay back!" He screamed.

The goblins dropped their Chief on Mari's feet. "Chief! You mama healer!" They said happily. Sun looked up. He saw his mom staring at him.

"Mom what are you doing here?" Sun tried to push himself upright.

"To help you. Now stay still, your shoulder is broken." Mari took out her book and skimmed through the pages until she found what she was looking for, a chapter dedicated to bones, and how to heal them. Fortunately, a dislocated should is much easier to treat. "Ok, this might hurt a lot." She took Sun's elbow and gently pushed the arm bone back in the socket.

"Oh, Fuck!" Sun yelled. Mari placed her hand over his shoulders and showered it with gold glitter that seeped through the skin. It felt cold despite the warm yellow light.

"I remember the first time I used the healing spells in this book." Mari said, "Your left shoulder got bitten by a Timber Wolf, and your blood was all over the floor. Thank goodness you only dislocated your shoulder this time."

Mari and Sun laughed. "Is it done yet, mom?"

"Yes, its done, you're good to go."

"Good because it looks like I need to go." The goblins began to retreat after getting overwhelmed by the troll. Sun stood up and picked up his sword. One of the retreating goblins managed to retrieve Sun's buckler and gave it back to him. "Thanks, mom. Now its time for me to fight!"

"Go, I'll heal you." Mari's hands grew brighter.