Hi guys! GD98 here with another one-shot. Thin Ice Chapter 16 will be coming this weekend, I promise. In the meantime, enjoy this little father-son story : )

A Father's Advice on Love

"Da, I'm feeling troubled and I need your advice." 10-year-old Eret, Son of Eret, asked his father one night as they docked their ship into the South's harbor. "What kind of advice, lad?" Eret's father, Eret the First, asked him, curious to know what was troubling his son. The young boy chose his words carefully and made sure to say them in his mind before saying it out loud.

"Well…it's been about a year since I met Zenna. And, lately, I've been feeling kind of…strange." Eret admitted to his father. His Da raised an eyebrow at him. "Now what kind of strange are you talking about, son?" he asked, but already having a pretty good idea on what was troubling his young son. Eret sheepishly shuffled his feet. "The kind of strange that is just, well, strange. Whenever she's near me, my face gets all hot and it feels like my heart's trying to jump out of my chest or something…" he said quietly before looking up at his Da fearfully. "Da, I think I'm sick!" Eret said worriedly.

Eret's father couldn't help himself at this point and burst out laughing! "Da, it's not funny! What if I am sick and it gets worse?!" Eret exclaimed crossly. "I'm sorry son…But I couldn't help myself…" Chuckling, Eret the First led his son home where they could have a better conversation.

"Well, Eret, I can confidently say that you are not, in any way, sick. But I do think…that you are in love." Eret's father told his son, smiling. Eret still looked confused. "In love? Like…the kind of love you have for Mum?" he asked curiously. "Exactly." Eret's father replied, his face softening a bit at the mention of Elisabeth…his beautiful wife and Eret's mother.

It took Eret about half a second to fully understand his Da's words before his eyes widened. "Wait, I'm in love with Zenna?!" he asked, surprised. "It sure looks like it." His father chuckled. Eret blushed a deep crimson and mumbled, "Yeah…I guess so…She's so pretty…" before clapping a hand over his mouth at the last part, making his Da laugh again.

"I heard that." Eret's father chuckled while his son blushed. "What do I do, Da? Do I tell Zenna upfront that I love her?" Eret asked timidly. His father gently shook his head. "You can try, son, but you will find yourself completely tongue tied in the end. It's best that you just show to Zenna that you love her…until you find the courage to tell her upfront." He advised Eret. "Was that how you worked things out with Mum?" the young boy asked curiously. "Aye. Back then, I could hardly work up the courage to even talk to your mother. So I let my kind deeds speak for themselves. And when I grew up, I decided that the time was right and professed my love to her, the day I asked her to marry me." Eret's father said fondly, smiling at the memories.

Eret slowly nodded before his Da gently placed his hands on his shoulders.

"Eret, do you really love Zenna?" Eret's father asked him seriously. "Yes, Da." Eret nodded. "Are you willing to do anything for her then?" his Da asked him again. "Anything and more." The young boy said seriously. The last question made Eret think twice before answering.

"If you love her, will you be willing to let her go?"

That question confused Eret. What did his father mean by letting Zenna go? Did that mean he was willing to let her go home instead of staying with him so they could always play together? His 10-year-old mind couldn't quite fully grasp what the question really meant…but, then again, he did just tell his Da that he would be willing to do anything and more for Zenna so he was willing to let her go…whatever that meant.

"If Zenna has to go…then I'll let her go, Da." Eret replied after a minute. His father smiled and ruffled his hair. "Good lad. That shows that you truly love her." He said. Eret smiled back at his father. "So until I'm grown up and have enough courage…I should just be very nice to Zenna and let my actions speak louder than words, right?" the young boy asked his father. "Actions speak louder than words, Eret. And as long as your actions are good, I'm sure Zenna will get the hint." The older man told him. "Thanks, Da!" Eret said cheerfully before going upstairs to his room to sleep.

Well Eret followed his Da's advice…and it worked.

Through his simple and sweet gestures, Eret was able to show Zenna how he felt about her. And, to his amazement, Zenna actually reciprocated his feelings by doing the exact same thing! When he was 12, Eret finally found the courage to tell Zenna that he loved her…and she also said that she loved him too. Needless to say, Eret was very grateful to his father for giving him such great advice.

But it wasn't until he turned 13 when Eret finally understood his Da's last question.

And true to his word, he let Zenna go.

He let her go so she can sail with her family to a new home and a new life.

Long after his childhood sweetheart's ship had sailed away and disappeared from his view, Eret still stood at the docks. His father arrived shortly after the sun had set and stood by him as well, the two of them watching the waves.

"You let her go?" Eret's father asked his son. Eret nodded sadly. "I let her go, Da…because I love her." He said softly. Gently patting his son on the back, Eret the First looked out into the horizon. "Da…do you think I'll see Zenna again someday?" Eret asked quietly. His Da smiled at him. "I'm sure you will, son…But for now, it's time for us to go home." He said gently. Eret smiled hopefully, believing in his Da's words.

And as the stars slowly appeared in the sky, father and son walked home together.

I specifically mentioned in a couple of my stories that Eret had lost his father when he was 14 while his mother died when he was 3. Since he lost his mother at such a young age, Eret was very close to his father and when Drago murdered him…it greatly affected him. This is just one of the many memories Eret has of his dad, which is one of his most cherished ones because…he learned the true of meaning of loving someone. And his father was right…he did see Zenna again : )

Anyways, read and review : )

-GuardianDragon98