It was a bright autumn day, the leaves on the trees were golden and red, and the chilling early morn weather had all but disappeared.  Shaladarn Forest truly was a beautiful place to dwell, and it appeared that to live there forever would be Ruggart's fate. Shaladarn Forest was not only beautiful, but enchanted as well, and those who were wise knew not to live within an enchanted forest.  Merely travelling through that land was dangerous, but for Ruggart, there he would stay.  Only he knew the paths, secrets, and dangers of the forest, only  he knew how to safely navigate through the forest and live there.  He stood at the end of the forest and at the foot of the Zepkon Mountains, blocking the entrance to the Eastland where the faerkin live.  This was his duty, it was what he did to protect his people.
    Ruggart was a goblin, very skilled in combat.  He looked at the dirt before him and remembered back to when he had first been chosen to guard the Highlands.  It had been many years ago, perhaps a hundred or more, he couldn't remember exactly for time passed very slowly within the Shaladarn Forest.  He had been a young goblin training to become a mighty warrior so he could fight in the war, he hadn't known that the fates had a different plan for him.
    One day after an especially difficult day of training, Ruggart had been at home, a hut, with his parent.  He was ready for a meal of fresh dear meat, but his supper had been interrupted when the door to the hut smashed in.  A very tall faerie man walked in, his skin was flawless and a shade of light green.  His hair was long and silky, a golden color, his eyes were an intense gray, and from his back grew long dragonfly wings.  He was dressed in loose translucent clothes that did nothing to hide the curling tattoos that ran down his body and the edge of his face.  They were tattoos of a warrior.  He carefully stepped into the house, his shoeless feet moved soundlessly across the ground, and then he stopped.  He lifted his long arm and pointed at Ruggart.  Ruggart, without hesitating, stood up and followed the faerie out of the hut.  The faerie continued to walk heading west, and Ruggart continued to follow.  He never asked any questions, for one did not speak to a faerie unless first spoken to, and he had yet spoken to the small goblin child.  He followed merely because the faerie had come for him and sooner or later, would explain his reasons.  Until that time they continued to walk.
    It was three weeks later when the faerie finally stopped, they were within a beautiful forest.  Ruggart had collapsed within the first two weeks, he hadn't slept nor ate the entire journey. He had crawled after the man for a week and now was close to death.  The faerie turned to Ruggart and placed his hand on the child's head, he fed him and helped him drink.  After only a few moments, Ruggart was alert.  He stood and stared at the faerie before him, and finally the magical being spoke.
    "This is Shaladarn Forest," his voice was like a chorus of angels. "Do you know why you are here?"
    Ruggart shook his head.
    "You are here because the great powers have chosen you." the faerie looked around at the forest and smiled before continuing. "There must always be a guardian to stand at the entrance, there must always be someone to protect the Eastland and its people."
    "Why me?" Ruggart asked softly. "I am merely a child... and a goblin.  Would the high powers choose a goblin to protect its fair people?"
    "The high powers would." the faerie answered. "For we can use all for great things... even a goblin child." he smiled at Ruggart. "The last guardian has passed into the next life, it is time for a new guardian to stand and protect us.  We have seen your great potential and that is why the high powers have chosen you, do not disappoint us."
    The faerie took from his belt a great sword, and handed it to Ruggart.  He took the hilt firmly and could feel the power of the sword.  It was then he realized that he held the sword of the previous guardians.  And then without further instruction, the faerie left Ruggart there, standing between the Zepkon Mountains and the Shaladarn Forest.  He stood between the world of the faerkin and the world of man.  He would be the only one to prevent danger from entering the Eastland.  And that's where he had stood ever since.  He had become a giant of goblins, a great warrior... none had ever gotten pass him and he would do all in his power to keep man out.
     Ruggart smiled, he knew his skill it filled him with pride.  Remembering the mysterious faerie made him feel unique, and he would try his best to keep such an honor and to never disappoint the high powers.  But what he didn't know was that the high powers would allow a man in, they would allow a hero from men's world to enter, in order to save all races.  Ruggart would loose, but it would be for the best.
    Just ahead, in the trees, was rustling.  Ruggart stared intensely at the spot, and suddenly two young boys broke through the forest and faced the guardian of the Highlands.