One warm winter day when I was quite young, my father took me with him to check his traps.
I didn't really like the fact that the animals were killed, but the furs were luxurious and
could be sold for many useful items. I was full of energy, hopping and skipping along,
darting in and out of the trees, looking at anything remotely interesting.

Suddenly I saw a scrap of yellow. I pushed through some dense underbrush and came upon a large, terrible, bloody monster! Being the small child that I was, I screamed in pure terror!

In just moments I felt a hand clap over my mouth. I was terrified, but it was my father. He whispered in my ear. "Shhhh... don't scream, He can't hurt you now. But we don't know who did this to him. Be quiet."

I nodded my head and father released me. He went over to the monster and checked him over. "He will heal, he's a troll." I just stood there looking lost and terrified. "heal? It's dead! What is it!"

By now I was shaking with fright. The monster was like nothing I had ever seen. It was HUGE! My father told me to hurry and go back to our house and bring bandages, food, water. I looked at him like he was crazy, but arguing with my father is useless, so I left. "And Kiley, don't tell a soul what you have seen. Not your mother, your brothers... anyone! Understand?" "Yes, Papa"

I ran through the woods like I had wings. I was panting when I got home. Mother was busy in the garden, so I sneaked in and grabbed the things I needed and hurried back to my father. I was completely out of breath, so I just dumped the stuff in a pile and collapsed. I watched as father cleaned and tenderly treated the monster. I felt as if this was all a dream. I truth as the years went by I often wonder if perhaps it was a dream.

I learned that my "monster" was a troll. A troll that had been brutally beaten and left for dead. My father laughed when he told me that part of what he had learned. "Trolls can't be killed like that. Must have been a fool after him."

That afternoon, Father spent a long time talking to the Troll. But I couldn't understand a word they said. Father searched through the trolls belonging and came up with an oilskin wrapped package. After talking more, Father said he needed to go to Bangalor to deliver the package. He left instructions for me to stay and help the Troll. And to tell NO ONE about him.

"Don't worry about coming home tonight, I'll tell your mother something. I'll leave supplies in the shed for you to pick up tomorrow". He then kneeled down next to me and gave me a hug. "I know this seems pretty strange to a little girl Kiley, but this isn't a monster, it's a man. Just a different kind of man. He won't hurt you, but he needs your help. He should be okay in a week or so, but I need you to help him and get him the things he needs. You know my shed? There are lots of supplies there. Give him anything he needs. Understand?"

"Yes Papa. I'll try." My father smiled, gave me a key to the shed, and disappeared into the night.

"Trembling I walked over and looked at the monster... no ... the troll." I sat down and watched him while he slept. I wondered where he came from and why he was here. Eventually I felt him looking at me with the most hypnotic deep blue eyes I have every seen. I let out a little squeak and jumped back about 4 feet. "You are awake!"

I think he laughed then, or at least chuckled. Maybe he didn't expect to see a little (human) girl to be taking care of him. "Don't worry, I won't hurt you."

"I know that." I responded.

We continued to talk for a long time. His name was Maddrid. He came from far away. A place I had never even heard of. He told me my father was delivering a very important package. Evidently there were three gems cut from a single stone. When the three gems are brought together, they would be very powerful. Two of the gems were missing. One was believed to be in the far East. Father was delivering a description of the gem to the trolls that live there.

My eyes were wide. "Why would my father go so far?" Again I heard his laughter. "Dear lady, you father travels father than most people ever dream of. I have no doubt a man of his abilities will be safe." The days went by and Maddrid was soon well enough to travel. I gave him anything I though he would need from my father's shed. He asked for a few things that seemed very strange, but I was able to find even those things. I was amazed at what that shed contained, but that is another story.

I was sorry when Maddrid left. I hugged him and I cried. In that week he had become very dear to me. I had never talked with someone like I could talk to him. I told him my dreams and he told me his. I knew at that point I would never think of a troll as a monster, because Maddrid was my friend.

Epilogue:

My father returned 2 weeks later. He had with him a necklace holding a large gem. This must have belong to the troll. Maddrid had told me he had a copy of the gem that was taken during the fight. I looked at the necklace. It held a large golden gem in a delicate necklace. "Can I keep it Papa?" I think at that point I actually blushed. "I'd like something to remember him by. I've never met anyone like Maddrid before."

And so I kept the gem with me always. Over the years the chain has broken and the findings have fallen aside. But that beautiful gem I carry with me everywhere to this day.