Archive of Our Own ^beta

The new castle’s goblin market was lively and loud as Marianne entered the gigantic underground cave. Goblin children ran through the puddles and played in the underground lake. The stalls had so many curios and foodstuffs that Marianne could spend hours simply perusing and never once get bored.

It was very different from the brownie and elf market. The Fairy Kingdom had a monetary system, and the elves and brownies would purchase goods or services. Here, it seemed, that the goblins would give their items away. Unlike the Fairy Kingdom, the goblins lived for free and ate what they could find and hunt. Money was not present at all.

Bog had no use for it either, as his claim on the Dark Forest was natural, and the trees secured his borders. He had no reason to buy or sell to the other kingdoms surrounding the Dark Forest’s edges. Outsider opinions never held any significance to the goblins of the forest either.

The goblins seemed to take well to Marianne. Except for her first night in the Dark Forest when she had crashed into the skylight of the old castle, she hadn't been met with any hostility from the goblins. Instead, they seemed to adore her and were very supportive of her relationship with Bog.

A slight hint of red brushed her cheeks as she thought about how a large group of goblins had encouraged her to express her feelings to Bog. Their collective excitement and widespread concern for Bog and his happiness was heartwarming and spoke of the extent to which his subjects respected him, and it seemed that they saw him in a positive light.

Her return had been met with equal enthusiasm. Stuff and Thang had explained that Bog’s attitude had severely plunged and that they had all been distressed over it. Marianne’s presence made such a positive impact on their king that many would come and ask her never to leave again.

Whenever they were around, Stuff and Thang would accompany her under their own decision. Their antics were amusing, but it was their insight that Marianne most treasured. She considered them both friends. Stuff was the more intelligent between the two and often expressed herself with sarcasm and wit. Thang, on the other hand, was very kind and pure, even if he was a bit dingy.

As Marianne passed by the stalls, the goblins would excitedly offer her objects if she showed any interest in them. At first, she would anxiously turn them down, explaining that someone else might want it, but Stuff later told her that they just wanted her to have a piece of their heart since they put so much love into their work. Since then, Marianne felt no further misgivings against receiving objects and food that she liked. Better still, she noticed goblins held nothing against her if she didn't take something.

This convinced her that goblins had a better nature than any of the fairies, elves, or brownies in her old kingdom.

Brutus, the largest of all the goblins, had picked up on a trade for making clothes. His stall mainly was cloaks, hats, and vests and had become so popular that he ended up with the most oversized stall. Many goblins sported the clothing he made. Even Thang wore a little vest and a hat. On his vest was a crudely made boutonniere.

After Dawn had given Bog his boutonniere, the goblins adopted the gesture as a token of affection. Someone interested in another would provide them with a boutonniere they made, and the receiver would wear it if they accepted their admiration. It wasn't always romantic. Though Marianne suspected Stuff had been the one to give Thang his and was generally under the impression that they were together.

As Marianne examined Brutus’s clothing items he made, she came across a circlet made out of a very reddish orange that distinctly reminded her of the Autumn King’s hair.

“Did you make this, Brutus?” Marianne asked, feeling slightly disturbed.

“Uh… No. Found that one.”

Marianne frowned and took it with her. It looked like it could fit on Bog’s head, as a matter of fact.

How strange…