Two Become One: The Story of Egil Swenhaugen and Catherine Van Helsing
A/N: Hello to all! A word from Rora...well, after the obnoxious two-day waiting period, we were finally allowed to put our story up! So...without any further ado, here it is!
Summary: At a splendid ball, four curious, supernal children question their parents about the contents of the celebration and end up learning how their parents met each other during the second return of Count Dracula. [Egil x Catherine]
Chapter One: A Tale At the Revelry
Merry laughter and jovial voices permeated the air as the celebration progressed and entertained its guests. People from all race, backgrounds, heritages, and species coincided together in this magnificent, prominent manor, home of the mighty Swenhaugen clan. Friends and families were reunited in the festive conjuncture and companions embraced one another from years of absence.
Danica Alianne Swenhaugen, firstborn of Egil Lars Swenhaugen (a potent figure in the Swenhaugen House) and Catherine Elizabeth Van Helsing, (sister to none other than the legendary Gabriel Van Helsing himself) watched the reveling crowd with a sharp eye. Her siblings, Keiran, Kasper, and Aurelia, were right beside her.
"They do this every year," Aurelia commented offhandedly, peering at the massive horde of luxuriously clothed people over her older brother Keiran's head, "and I–we don't even know the reason why!" Keiran smiled softly at his baby sister's outburst and patted her affectionately on the head.
"I'm sure Mum and Egil can tell us if we just ask," he answered assertively, earning an agreeing head nod from Aurelia.
"I've heard people mention Dracula on many of occasions," Danica added staidly, her stormy eyes grew keen and alert as she discerned the gala around them, "I reckon that's what the party's all about: The defeat of Count Dracula."
The eyes of her brothers and sister lit up with recognition and curiosity, only there was a darker luminance in Keiran's star sapphire orbs, for he loathed Dracula more than his three younger siblings combined.
"Yes…that would make perfect sense," Keiran began slowly, idly brushing a lock of onyx hair out of his face, "I once heard this date was the day he was vanquished so you could be accurate on that, Danica." A smirk crept onto his said sister's lips as she tore her calculating gaze off from the terpsichorean coterie.
"Keiran, I know I'm accurate about this," she replied thusly, her stoic attitude very much like her father's, "I've gathered all the facts, all the rumors, and analyzed the information before me."
"I think Uncle Rolf has been rubbing off on you," jested Kasper, his mouth twitching into a regaled smile. His older sister shrugged, finding nothing wrong with his remark.
"Actually, that is what Dad instructs me to execute during training, you'd be shocked in how many people act on that level of perception," mused Danica, standing up while she hastily smoothed out the faint wrinkles of her burgundy gown, "Oh, and Kasp, at least I won't be mistaken for one of Uncle Rolf's children." Her smirk widened as Kasper's countenance flushed cerise, a vivid hue spreading across cheeks and all the way to the back of his slightly pointed ears.
"That's not funny, Danica!" Kasper retorted hotly, grasping his ears as if he meant to shield them from further insight. "How was I supposed to realize Grandma Hedda was actually being serious when she threatened to drag me across the compound by my ears!"
Grandma Hedda, Egil's no-nonsense mother, was notorious for dealing out punishments consisting of ear-pulling, ear-dangling, ear-dragging, and among other painful acts. She was a true battle axe, the bane of the Elders and one of the cover leaders who governed over the Swenhaugen House. The stout-hearted woman could even wield a halberd and could slice any man as if they were construed out of pudding. Despite her rather alarming traits, the four children absolutely adored their grandmother, bear hugs and all.
"Keiran! Danica! Kasper! Aurelia!"
The voices of the said progenies' parents attracted the four youths' attention and through the exuberant, dancing bevy, they managed to find their mother and father.
"There you are!" exclaimed Catherine, opening her arms out wide for her approaching children. Aurelia embraced the huntress immediately while her older siblings hovered close, exchanging small grins with Catherine and Egil–who stood formidably behind his wife.
"Mum," started Aurelia, "We've been wondering about this revelry and we also overheard Dracula's name mentioned several times—Is his defeat the main reason for this party?" Her mother nodded sagely.
"That's right, Aurelia, This feast is dedicated to those who fought against Count Dracula and either survived…or perished." As she spoke, Catherine recalled one casualty, yet Enrique's death wasn't really guided by the hand of the licentious vampire king. As if he had sensed the sliver of dolor in her, Egil placed a reassuring hand on his wife's shoulder, his thumb subtly caressing the nape of her neck.
"Don't fret, Dame Englen, Enrique hasn't been forgotten," he whispered into her ear so only Catherine could him. She nodded once more, focusing back onto her four semi-bemused children.
"Well, what would you all like to know first?" she asked as Egil motioned for his family to sit down in some push, opulent chairs nestled into the corners were they would not be disturbed.
"Tell us how you and Dad met!" blurted Kasper, cerulean irises glowing with avid interest. The same excitement glowed from his older brother Keiran and younger sister Aurelia. Even Danica permitted her intrigue to flicker across her visage before she became her cool, indifferent self once more.
At their antics, Catherine laughed mellifluously and a warm smile found its way on Egil's features. "All right, if that's the story you want, then that's story you'll get," Catherine replied drolly and the scions of the Swenhaugen House scouted their chairs closer towards their mother so they wouldn't miss a single word. Before she commenced the tale, Catherine flashed Egil a joyful beam and he returned the gesture with a half-grin of his own.
"About the time your father came along, I was already posing as a bride for Dracula, trying to find a way to undermine him and bring about his defeat."
Thus, the story had begun.