Grandfather

“Eethyl what happened to you?” The old gnome asked.
“I was trying to help in the herb garden. The badger came back though.” The young one responds, holding a somewhat bloody rag against an elbow clutched close to his chest.
“Here let me see it.” The older gnome lifted his arm by the elbow examining the wound. “Yeah he got you pretty good.” The older gnome reaches into a pouch and pulls out an oil and uncorks it, pouring a small amount over the wound and causing Eethyl to flinch in pain. He glances at the smaller gnome's reaction as he uses a piece of moss to spread the oil and wipe at the dirt in the cuts. “Feeling sorry for yourself there?”
“Grand-da it hurts.” Eethyl responds defensively. “How do you expect me to act with the pain?”
The old gnome nods and smiles. “I didn’t ask if it hurt. I asked if you were feeling sorry for yourself?”
Eethyl takes a minute to think about it, his brow creasing down and frustration showing on his face. “They were supposed to help build the fence for the herb garden” He finally responds, glancing across the burrow to his older brothers as they shed their aprons and washed for supper.
“Don’t worry about them boy. You worry about yourself. Are you not grateful for today? Have you somehow been buried from Glittergold’s sight?” He pulls a bandage from a cupboard as he speaks and begins lining up the arm for a wrap.
Eethyl sighs deep, realizing he is wrong but at a loss for words on a response. He holds the end of the bandage in place as his grandfather begins to wrap it.
“Eethyl, you need to remember. Pain of all kinds in this world that is rife with evil and broken people…It’s all temporary and ultimately inconsequential. If you can’t figure out your capacity and the strength he has placed in you then you will be controlled by that pain.”
The young gnome looks up at him with some confusion and searches his grandfather's face. “It’s just a bite grand-da.”
“Obviously, I’m using the opportunity to speak to you about something connected and more important.” The old gnome says with patience and he finishes the wrap.
Eethyl turns his head sideways and nods slowly but he lets the arm fall to his side before straightening his shoulders. He takes in a deep breath and lets it go.
“There you go. Much better. Now… Are you ready for the rest of the evening?”
Eethyl nods once and a slight smile returns to his face. Rastor notices the smile as he walks by the two and looks quizzically toward his younger brother and the bandage, nodding as he walks by. “Grand-da we are ready for you when you are ready.” he says as he passes and heads for the main room.
The old gnome clasps Eethyls shoulder for a moment and smiles. “Remember. You are responsible for your own life. You will have pain. Learn to give that up and keep the plan in sight and give up any of these distractions and your adventure will end in success apart from any set back. You will come out with a finally cut gemstone that he will be proud of.”
Eethyl glances toward his arm and then his brothers as they move through the space and his expression flickers but he maintains the smile and meets his grandfather's eyes again before nodding.
“Alright. Let’s go hear how they did and be a blessing to them even though you and I would rather be out there.” He says nodding toward the door and smiling as he turns the younger gnome toward the gathering room and moving that way himself.