Chapter Forty-Six: A Father's Decision
Time passed in a whirl.
Before Vrael even realized it, night had fallen and his family had all eaten supper, but Xaphile still hadn't shown his face and Ella remained asleep in front of the fireplace.
After his father had draped a blanket over her and tucked a pillow beneath her head so she wouldn't be uncomfortable, his family had gathered around in the living area, clamoring for Amelia to tell them stories of her travels and home. The brunette seemed to have a very sweet disposition since she happily did so.
Vrael could only sit back and watch as she chatted with his mother about Ella's role back in the crumbling city of Chisago.
He listened with furrowed brows as Amelia told them about her profession as a town healer and herbalist... about their friend, Gus, and about her proficiency with magic.
How she was teaching Phil to use his own magic.
He sat off at a distance, barely paying attention to it and feeling grim, since he couldn't stop glancing at Ella.
That's the girl I saw, he thought, jaw tight with discomfort. That's the horrid girl I saw in his memories when we became sworn siblings... the one who scarred and tortured him.
He cast a quick glance at his parents to see them fully immersed in conversation with Amelia, then, as inconspicuously as possible, he stood up with a casual stretch and padded off down the hall towards the guest room. He peered inside.
Xaphile was sitting up on the bed with his back against the wall, eyes closed.
He knocked.
"You awake?" he quietly inquired. "I need to talk to you."
Xaphile slowly open his eyes.
"Sure, go ahead."
Vrael nodded and stepped inside the room, flopping down on the bed with a sigh. For a long moment, he didn't say anything... but then, he turned and looked Xaphile dead in the eyes.
"Are you... going to be leaving with them?" he asked, rubbing the back of his neck. "Tomorrow?"
Xaphile closed his eyes.
"Yeah," he muttered. "I am."
Vrael scowled and leaned forward, glaring at the floor with a grim expression.
"What if... my family offered to let you stay here? With us?" he asked in a low voice "Would you... reconsider?"
Xaphile gave him a startled look.
"What?" he rasped. "Where are you going with this?"
"You know where I'm going with this," Vrael retorted, giving him a loaded stare. "The same girl who tortured you is sitting in my family's living room. And after what I saw earlier, I don't like the idea of letting you go with them. She hit you in the face with no hesitation, Phil. Drunk or not, that isn't okay."
"I don't have a choice," Xaphile croaked. "The reason she even bothered traveling across this country was for my sake."
Vrael's face screwed up, but he sighed and crawled up so he was sitting next to him.
Pressing his back against the wall, they sat there, side by side.
"Don't go," he murmured. "You can be happy here, Phil... my mother and father both like you, and Faeble has taken a rare shine to you. Even Windal likes you. Please... stay here."
Xaphile closed his eyes and lowered his head.
"Even if I did," he muttered so quietly that his voice was barely audible, "this isn't my family."
Vrael turned, then, and wrapped an arm around his shoulder.
"Wrong," he said just as quietly. "My mother and father aren't your parents. Just like Windal and Fae aren't your brothers. But you and I? We are family now, so please... don't go with her."
A lump rose up Vrael's throat.
In the short time this extremely unhappy boy had been with his family, he'd actually become happy enough to smile for real.
Happy enough to play a bit, even.
He couldn't leave.
Not with people who saddened him so much, not with people who hurt him without hesitation.
It wouldn't be right.
"I have no choice," Xaphile croaked, giving him a small, forced smile. "You're forgetting that I marked Ella. Amelia has told me that there are people who might know how to help the two of us, and that's the biggest reason why I can't stay. I have to fix my mistake."
Vrael's heart sank and his face slackened in defeat.
"So," he said, ears drooping sadly, "there's no way I can convince you... to stay here?"
"Sorry," Xaphile said simply, then hesitated. "For what it's worth, though... yesterday, I somehow found myself happier than I've been in months. I had... fun. So, thank you."
Vrael lowered his eyes.
"Then," he murmured, "come back."
"What?"
"Come back," Vrael repeated, lifting his eyes again. "When everything is said and done... after you've found what you're looking for... please come back here. Stay with my family."
Xaphile obviously didn't know how to respond since he swallowed and turned away, not speaking.
A knock came from the bedroom door and both boys looked up to see Bruno standing there. The blue-skinned elf was smiling, and his eyes were gleaming with something unfathomable.
"It's gettin' late, so all of us are turnin' in," he said, glancing at Vrael with eyes that held a mixture of emotion. "Son, may I have a word with yeh?"
"Eh?" Vrael asked, feeling a bit surprised. "Sure, Pa. Goodnight, Phil."
"Night," Xaphile murmured, not looking at him.
When Vrael left the room with his father, he was confused since they headed straight for the front door. Amelia was relaxing on the floor in front of the fire beside Ella, reading a book she'd pulled out of her pack with furrowed brows. She didn't even glance up when they walked out.
The blizzard had died down quite a bit, but it was still snowing heavily.
Vrael followed his father through the snow until they were a fairly good distance from their home.
Then he stopped and simply stood there, hands balling up into fists.
"Son," Bruno uttered, not turning around. "Yer an adult now... and it's about time we have a serious talk about the future."
"What do you mean, Pa?" Vrael asked, tilting his head. "I don't understand."
"Son, yer still young," the dark-elf told him. "Yeh've grown up in a secluded and sheltered environment... and although yeh've become a man I can say I'm proud of, yeh need to see the world for what it is. Yeh can't stay cooped up in this little mountain cottage yer whole life."
Vrael's eyes widened with a jolt and his heart dropped through his stomach.
In that moment, he knew where this was going.
"Pa..." he croaked, shaking his head. "You can't be serious... this is my home!"
"And it will always be yer home... but for now, yeh need to go with him, son," Bruno said, finally turning around. "Yeh've become that boy's sworn sibling. Yeh must guard him with your life."
"My life?" Vrael whispered, staring into his father's eyes with a sense of numbness. "What are you saying?"
"I'm saying, that he needs yeh since them allies he's got don't seem very trustworthy," Bruno croaked, red eyes growing misty. "Guard each other with yer lives, Vrael. Who knows? Someday, yeh may return with a wife of yer own."
"But Pa!" Vrael cried, frantically tearing his hood off. "What if they say no?! There's always a chance that they'll refuse to let me come along!"
"I've already spoken with that kindly lass in there," Bruno quietly informed him. "She said it wouldn't be an issue to have yeh come along. And since yeh don't have a horse of yer own, she offered to let yeh ride on hers."
Vrael was speechless. His mouth quivered slightly.
"But Pa!" he whispered, "if I'm discovered as a halfling by anyone, I'll... I'll be killed!"
"Not with him around, yeh won't," Bruno chuckled, nodding towards the cottage. "Trust me when I say yer safer by his side than yeh are in our very own home. Plus, I don't trust that shifty countess with our secret, so I want yeh to keep an eye on her."
Vrael slowly lowered his eyes, swallowing as everything came crashing down on him.
He steeled himself and took a deep breath, filling his lungs with cold clean air.
"Father," he said softly, meeting his dad's gaze. "If you really want me to leave... I will."
Bruno nodded sagely.
"Aye," he murmured, face completely expressionless. "Go out and see the world."
"Fine," Vrael whispered, then stalked forward and hugged his father fiercely. "Know this, Pa... I'll definitely come home with enough coin to buy a castle, and a bunch of amazing stories to tell."
Bruno's returned his embrace, staring over his shoulder with eyes that watered.
Then those maroon eyes closed.
"Vrael," Bruno muttered, gently rubbing his back, "nothing could make me any less proud to have yeh for my son. Yeh need not follow these people out of fear for that. Nini would box my ears if she thought I had ever given yeh reason to think I didn't love yeh or I was cross with yeh."
"What if I'd wanted to go of my own accord?" Vrael asked in a small voice. "Would... would you have still been proud?"
"Of course," the elf muttered. "Don't worry about yer mother... in time, she will feel proud that yeh have begun to walk yer own road, no matter where it leads yeh."
Vrael's eyes stung,
"I'll make you proud, Pa," he whispered. "I promise."
A deep chuckle reverberated against his chest.
"I bet yeh will," Bruno murmured, squeezing him for a moment. "I haven't told yer mother... I don't know how to break the news."
"Don't tell Ma," Vrael whispered, shaking his head. "She'll cry and try to stop us."
"Then let's just get yeh packed up," Bruno murmured, finally pulling away and heading back towards the cabin. "All of yeh are going to be leavin' once the storm subsides."
Vrael acknowledged that with a hollow feeling in his stomach.
When they walked back in, Bruno grabbed an old hiking pack from behind the rack and handed it to him. Taking it with shaking hands, the Vrael glanced at Amelia, who was looking at him with a solemn smile.
"So," she tentatively inquired, "I guess you're really coming with us, then?"
He gave a curt nod, then headed down to the room he shared with his brothers.
Faeble was already asleep, but Windal was sitting on the floor, humming to himself as he played with one of his toy horses. The blonde turned when he knelt down behind him, but squealed when he was hugged fiercely.
"GROSS!" Windal screeched, kicking his legs. "GET OFF ME, VRAEL! HUGS ARE FOR BABIES!"
"Just shut up and accept it," Vrael murmured, making his brother fall still. "Hugs shouldn't be taken for granted. Someday, you might just wish you had taken them more seriously."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Windal snorted, blinking rapidly. "You're acting weird."
"Yeah," Vrael chuckled weakly, letting go and glancing at his youngest brother, who was fast asleep with his thumb in his mouth. "I am... but it's okay."
When he stood up and bent down, kissing his youngest sibling on the forehead, Windal looked at him with confused eyes and stood up with his long ears wiggling curiously, watching as he walked over to their wardrobe and started pulling his clothes out.
"Are you going on a hunting trip with Pap?" Windal inquired when he started stuffing his belongings in the hiking pack. "Why are you taking all of your clothes?"
Vrael's hands stilled, then continued packing.
"Because, it's going to be a very long trip," he weakly chuckled. "Pa says I need to see the world, so... I'm leaving home for a while."
Windal's face went blank and he stared, eyes slowly widening.
"You... you're leaving?" he asked in a small voice. "You can't leave! Liar!"
"I am," Vrael murmured, giving him a smile. "Don't worry, though, I'll come back."
"NO!" Windal screeched, stomping his foot; face screwing up, he burst into tears. "STAY!"
"I can't," he sighed, wincing when Faeble twitched and sleepily opened his eyes; the little elfling looked up and stared at them in confusion, but his eyes widened when he saw Windal crying. "I'm sorry, but I'm an adult now. While I'm gone, you'll have to help Mom and Dad."
"NO!" Windal bawled, running forward and hitting his stomach. "YOU CAN'T GO!"
"Shhhh," Vrael soothed, wincing when his brother continued hitting. "Windal, calm down."
"Don't go!" the blonde sobbed, finally clutching his shirt. "I don't want you to go!"
Right around that moment, a tiny hiccup came from the bed, and Vrael glanced up to see that Faeble's large blue eyes were full of tears. His cherubic face was screwed up and he looked scared, but when he actually started crying and crawled out of bed, his heart broke.
"No go!" Faeble squeaked, toddling over and clutching his pant leg. "No go, Bubba!"
Before things could get out of hand, however, Bruno showed up.
"Boys," their father murmured, making all three of them turn. "Please, be a little quieter. Your mother and our guests are sleeping."
"Pap! Vrael says he's leaving!" Windal cried, tearing over and clutching the hem of his shirt. "He can't go, right?! Make him stay!"
Bruno sighed, then squatted down and hugged his son tightly.
"He can't," he murmured, patting the little boy's back. "I'm sorry, Windal... but yer brother is now on a very important mission, and he has to complete it."
"Mission?" Windal asked. "What mission?!"
"A very important mission, something only he can do," his father soothingly replied. "That boy, Xaphile... the one we saved from the snow... he's actually a prince."
Windal gasped, then pulled away, looking totally shocked.
"A prince?!" he squeaked, eyes huge; his tears, instantly forgotten, spilled down his cheeks. "The boy with the weird horns and tail is a prince?!"
"Yes," Bruno explained, giving a huge smile. "He's the prince of the southern forests! Your big brother was given the honor of protecting him from harm! He's leaving home so nothing happens to the prince!"
"Oh," Windal murmured, sniffing; then, rubbing his eyes, he turned around. "So, you're... going to be a knight, then?"
Vrael glanced at his dad, who pointedly gave him a look, then sighed.
"Yeah," he confirmed, nodding with a weak smile. "I guess you could say that."
"Oh, wow!" Windal breathed, shaking his head. "Vrael, you're so lucky!"
"Now, this is all a secret," Bruno murmured, tapping the blonde's nose. "Don't tell your mother, and help your brother pack his things."
"All right," Windal mumbled, pouting for a moment before he sniffed. "I will."
Bruno sniffed when the little boy turned and walked over to the shelf, pulling stuff out.
The next few hours were well spent with all three of them packing everything up. It was well into the early morning by the time they finished, but even though both Windal and Faeble were practically asleep on their feet by that point, they refused to lie down.
So, the three of them just sat together on his bed.
Vrael held his little brothers close, feeling a bit dazed.
"Hard to believe I'll be leaving home," he murmured. "I've always been here, ever since I can remember... I wonder what the world outside is like?"
"Exciting, probably!" Windal muttered, sleepily rubbing his eyes. "When you come back, you have to tell me about everything! Pinky promise!"
When he held out his little finger, Vrael laughed.
"I will," he chuckled, taking his younger brother's pinky in his own and gently pushing their free thumbs together. "In return, take care of Mom and Pap for me, and make sure to help out a lot while I'm gone. Pap will probably be showing you how to chop wood sometime soon."
"You bet!" Windal snickered. "I'll be better at it than you when you come back!"
"I'll hold you to that," Vrael snorted, roughly tugging on his nose. "Better keep your promise."
"I will," Windal mumbled, smacking his hand away. "Jerk."
After that, it was quiet for the most part... and Vrael's eyes started feeling droopy.
He realized that he must have dozed off when he felt a warm hand touch his arm. Another warm hand gently cupped the back of his head, soothingly running through his hair, stirred him.
Sleepily, he looked up and found Amelia looking at him.
"It's almost time to go," she murmured, and he blinked awake. "Your father made you some tea... it'll warm you up."
The girl was seated at the edge of his bed, and holding out a mug. Vrael smiled at her sleepily, then glanced at his sleeping brothers before carefully extracting himself from their hands.
He pushed himself up and stretched, scratching his long ear.
"Smells wonderful," he yawned, taking the mug when she held it out. "Thank you."
He cradled the cup in his hands and gratefully inhaled the fragrant steam.
"Now," Amelia pronounced evenly, giving him a steady gaze. "It's time to talk... Vrael."
He lowered his eyes, sipping the tea without comment and Amelia waited patiently, giving him time to gather himself. He didn't know if it was obvious that he needed it or if it was because she was just a considerate individual, but either way, he was thankful for it.
"So, I'm going with you," he murmured in a subdued voice. "What is there to talk about?"
"The spell binding you and Xaphile together," she quietly explained. "Tell me, what did you do that connected the two of you?"
"Elvish blood magic," he instantly explained. "We're joined by blood, through blood, with a spell unique to the race of dark elves and dark elves alone."
"What sorts of things can we expect from it?"
"I'm not entirely sure, but from what I remember of my father's teachings," Vrael said slowly, "our lives and bodies are somewhat connected now. If he suffers a physical injury, I'll probably feel it too no matter how far away from me he is. The same goes for him with me."
"Anything else?"
"Not that I can think of..."
"I see," she murmured, closing her eyes with a sigh. "Look... there's a lot you don't know about this situation. I'm going to press that you don't ask too many questions, even if you hear something that doesn't make much sense. And... please, treat Phil as gently as you can."
"I'm not one for prying, and you don't have to worry about me being gentle with him," Vrael explained, shaking his head. "Phil's a good guy... he's a little odd, and definitely down on his luck from what I can tell, but he's got a good heart."
Her eyes warmed.
"Yeah, he does," she agreed, nodding with only an imperceptible tightening of her hands around her cup. "However, his state of mind is very fragile... as are the relationships between him and us. With all due respect, don't interfere with anything that happens between him and Ella."
His face darkened.
"I'll try to hold my tongue," he stated curtly, not wanting to think about it. "It'll be hard, though."
"Ella is a harsh young woman, but she means well, even if its not expressed properly," Amelia commented softly. "She should be waking up soon. When she does, we'll be setting out."
Vrael nodded, grudgingly, but then the corner of his mouth unwillingly quirked up.
"Hope my mother doesn't get too upset," he muttered, glancing at his brothers with the faintest quirk of a smile playing about his lips. "I'm afraid she might not forgive my Pa for this."
Amelia sighed, then slowly stood up.
"Lastly," she whispered, "when times call for it, we may have to hide your identity. If worse comes to worst, you might not have a say in the methods of choice."
"Fair enough."
With a great heave, he lifted his pack and looked at his brothers one last time before walking out into the hall and making his way towards the fireplace. Amelia followed, hands folded in front of her: the dim firelight reflected off of her spectacles when she glanced at Ella.
Much to his surprise, she was awake and sitting up.
"Ella," Amelia murmured, "how do you feel?"
The girl turned with dazed eyes, disheveled hair sticking out in every direction.
"I have the worst head pain I've ever experienced," Ella drawled, then lifted a hand to touch her head itself. "Did I lose consciousness yesterday? The last thing I remember is standing by the window... my mind is drawing a blank."
"Er, yes," Amelia said quickly, "you fainted from the exhaustion, I'd wager."
"Oh," she mumbled, rubbing her eyes. "No wonder my head hurts. I must have hit it going down."
"You did indeed," the herbalist nervously lied, then changed the subject by adding, "but there are several things we need to discuss before we head out. Once we've grabbed Xaphile, we're leaving. The storm has subsided completely."
"What is there to talk about?"
"First," Amelia said firmly, giving her an intense expression, "we're changing our initial travel course and heading to the eastern forests instead of the northern cities."
"What?!" Ella scoffed, instantly snapping awake. "What makes you think you have the right to decide something like that?!"
"Because there's a chance that the Primordial Sprites in the east can tell us if there's a way to remove the mark he gave you," Amelia retorted, blue eyes flashing. "It struck me yesterday that I don't know enough about the Faery Folk to help either one of you. So, we should head to the only beings who can!"
Ella digested that with a frown.
"All right," she murmured, letting out a rough sigh. "You do have a very good point on that. What else?"
"Well, we have a new companion for our journey," Amelia informed her, gesturing to Vrael when he gave a hesitant wave. "Vrael Daael is coming with us."
Ella's glare could have curdled blood.
It curdled his, that much he was sure of.
"Is that so?" she asked, finally standing up and stalking over to him. "Is there a reason?"
"Yes," Amelia confirmed. "He wishes to see the world, and his knowledge on foraging herbs could be useful. Plus, he and Phil became sworn siblings using blood magic, so the two of them need to stay near each other until someone can process the depth of that bond."
"Excuse me?!" Ella squalled, face tightening in outrage. "They WHAT?!"
"You heard me," Amelia confirmed, then set her hand on Vrael's arm, "but the biggest reasons are also the simplest... he seems to want to help Xaphile open up, and their similar situations might make it easier for the two of them to connect. It's a good idea to let him come."
Ella was fuming, but she tightened her mouth and genuinely thought about it.
For several minutes, there was silence... but then, she looked up.
"Fine," she hissed, "but he comes on two conditions. One, he must never speak about Phil to anybody, and two, you need to keep an eye on him so he doesn't get us branded as criminals."
"Agreed," Amelia chimed, glancing to the side when Bruno came into the room with a sleepy-eyed Xaphile in tow. "Let's just get ready to go, shall we?"
The rest of the packing was hurriedly completed in silence.
Vrael, the only one who was fully packed, stood in the middle of the room, knowing in his heart that there was no more time, and at last, with great reluctance, he pulled his Parka off the rack and reluctantly slipped it on. Xaphile looked extremely confused and a little grim.
"What are you doing?" he asked. "Why are you putting on your jacket?"
"Because I'm coming with you," Vrael explained, giving him a weak grin. "Have to make sure you keep your nose out of trouble. I was serious about what I said."
"We've decided to let him come with us," Amelia added, noticing just as well as he how shadowed the boy's eyes became. "After all, you two seem to get along well, and it's never a bad idea to have another healer around. Plus, his father wants him to see the world."
"It's not a problem, is it?" Vrael inquired, giving a hesitant expression. "I'll be looking out for you from here on out, and who knows? Having me around might make things easier for ya."
Xaphile closed his eyes and sighed, giving in.
"Not like I have a choice," he muttered, shrugging a little. "Whatever."
He glanced at Amelia when she swept forward and handed him a jacket, and without a word he put it on. Ella, looking grumpy, donned the layers of clothing she'd shed after taking respite in the Daael family home and huffed.
She tested her movement and waddled a bit.
"I really hate these clothes," she growled, flapping her arms. "Amelia, are we ready?"
"Almost," the brunette murmured, packing her books and shrugging on the pack she'd brought; aside from a light brown cloak, she wasn't actually wearing any heavy clothing. "Everything is packed, but..."
She glanced at Bruno and Vrael, who were standing on the other side of the room.
They didn't really say anything.
"Pa," Vrael mumbled, keeping his eyes lowered. "Is this the right thing to do?"
"Aye," his father confirmed, then set a hand on his shoulder. "Marching with your new blood brother will do nothing to change the man you've grown to be. In fact, I think he needs you more than he realizes. Keep an eye on that sad-lookin' boy for us, son... and, take this."
Motioning for him to stay put, Bruno turned and walked down the hall before sliding into his bedroom. Moments later, he returned holding a beautiful pine bow and a quiver of arrows.
Vrael's eyes widened when his father handed him the weapon.
"But Pap, this is your hunting bow!" he squeaked, looking up with huge eyes. "I can't take this! Without it, how will you get food for Ma and my brothers?!"
"I've been spending the last few weeks making another one," the elf explained, expression never wavering. "I was planning on giving that to you soon, anyway... I was going to take you hunting with me when the deer came through this year."
"Pa..." Vrael choked, eyes scrunching as he fought back tears.
"Yeh should have this, too," Bruno murmured, slipping off a green signet ring resting on his finger and pressing it into his palm. "To help yeh remember that you are a credit to yer family, wherever yeh are."
"Pap," Vrael whispered. "I could never forget. Ever. You are my father and this is my home."
Bruno's red eyes gleamed and crinkled at the edges when he smiled, a flash of white set in dark blue skin.
"I could not be more proud of yeh," he chuckled, pressing his knuckles against Vrael's chest, right above his heart; there was no shadow over his words. "Be well, my son."
Vrael could only nod, striving bravely to keep back the tears standing in his eyes.
And then, with one last hug, he turned and walked out the door before he could burst into tears.
He paused outside the door, however, and looked back in to see his father walk up to Xaphile.
"You," he said softly, setting a hand on his shoulder, "take care of my boy. I want you to keep him safe... because from here on out, you two are brothers in arms."
Xaphile swallowed, then nodded without saying a word.
"Phil," Amelia murmured, hefting her pack before glancing at Ella, who was waiting by the open door. "It's time to go."
"Take care of yourself," Xaphile muttered, turning away. "I... I had fun. In the snow."
With those words, he walked out of the Daael family home. And high above, the stars twinkled brilliantly, as if trying to say that all was not yet lost... that someday, things would be okay.
🌓🌔🌕🌖🌗
Bruno waved until his son finally vanished, and it was only once he was gone that his mask broke. His face contorted and quiet tears of pain, pride, and bittersweet joy ran down his cheeks, long ears drooping, but even though it had been a spur of the moment decision, a chance so perfect might not have found any of them again.
It was a chance for his boy to see the world freely, without fear.
Deep down, he'd known from the beginning that his eldest son had been an adventurer at heart.
When he'd been small, Vrael had often played at being a soldier, with a stick for his sword and a cracked cooking pot for a helmet, charging about the snow and shouting war cries.
Whenever the traveling merchants or strangers had passed through, his child had listened to stories of their travels with sheer rapture and awe, and as he'd grown, the soldiering games had become fewer and fewer, but his craving for tales of adventure had merely grown.
Ninira was going to panic and cry, and possibly want to go after them, but in time she would realize that their son would have left on his own someday.
He had grown into a fine adult. His voice had hardly quivered at all, but Bruno had still seen the little boy he had been, who would never admit it but who very desperately needed his reassurance that he was loved, that he could come back home.
That this wasn't goodbye.
Bruno sniffed, smiling a bit as he raised his eyes to the stars.
It grieved him slightly to think of his son traveling to some far-flung corner of Aerika, constantly facing the dangers they had tried so hard to hide from, but if there was one thing he was sure of, this wasn't goodbye at all.
It was the beginning of something big.