Part IV

Corabelle grabbed on the branch and slowly pulled herself out of the water, drenched. She lay on the bank sputtering and coughing.
"Are you all right? You certainly are topnotch at hanging on," said her rescuer, patting her hands.
Corabelle looked around and there before her was a shorter man dressed in red britches with a faded white shirt, torn at the hem. He had a fringe around his face, was bald, and had a big nose.
"Thank...you for saving me, Sir...?" replied Corabelle, sitting up.
"Much obliged. My names Barnabas, the overgrown dwarf," said the man, grinning sheepishly.
Corabelle got up. "You seem to be the height of a regular man, how came you to be called dwarf?"
"Its a short story. My father met my mother who was a dwarf in these very woods and he so fell in love with her that they were married in Midsummer, lived happily all their days and so I came along," answered Barnabas.
"How lovely that must have been!" sighed Corabelle. "I am just a niece to the king, and have been for seventeen years, living in the dank tower walls, living the life of a cooped up Bird of Paradise."
"How lonely that must have been. Have you had any breakfast, Niece of the King?" asked the Overgrown Dwarf.
"If you please call me Corabelle. Only a starburst from my bottle. OH here comes my heron!"
Herald stalked towards them and bobbed his head cordially.
"Was he the one who let out that terrific scream? I could have sworn I saw him, sailing thru the sky and letting out shrieks. Everything important happens at the brook and so then I helped you out," said Barnabas, stroking the herons neck.

Suddenly hoofbeats were heard and Corabelle turned to see a banner fluttering in the wind bearing the Macron. "Baron Woodcock!" she gasped.
The Baron came into view with all his knights, armed and ready for combat.
"If you come to me, dearest Corabelle," growled the Baron, "I shall let your friend go free. Hasten no, my pretty one!"
Barnabas lifted Corabelle into a high tree and then taking a sword from his belt he uttered one word, "Loan!"
Several little dwarfs ran out of the forest brandishing swards and spears. The knights jumped off their steeds and the battle began.

Herald flew up and started screaming and more foresters came out of log and tree and cave, preparing for the fight. Corabelle took some vines and braided them together making a large ball which she swung out into the middle knocking knights to and fro on the ground.

The Baron, the coward that he was started to retreat but three dwarfs jumped on his horse, and Barnabas pulled him off. "It is a fight between me and you, Baron!" He cried.
Baron Woodcock took out his spear.
Barnabas cut it up into pieces. And so it went till Baron had used all his weapons, all lay broken on the ground.
Then a dwarf by the name of Dronten stabbed Woodcock in the back, making him fall flat in the dirt.
Barnabas clapped him on the shoulder. "WE win again! Dronten, by my sword, you are a worthy warrior and friend."
Corabelle climbed down and rushed into Barnabas's arms."You have done so much for me and I can only give you myself!"

And so finished the Macron diminished. If you are wondering Corabelle and Barnabas were married and had eight children six boys and two girls who all took after their spirited parents in likewise manners. They lived happily on the mountain, in the forest for many years.



THE END