When Branch and Benjamin came back in the house Merry was happy to see that they were having fun.
Suddenly Branch's smile fell a bit which caused Merry to be concerned.
"What's up Branch?"
Branch shook his head. "Nothing."
He sadly went to his room.
Merry knocked on the door. "Branch can we talk to you?"
Branch quickly hid his face away and tried to dry his tears before his mother came in.
"Oh boy," Lief whispered.
Merry gently walked over to Branch and sat on the bed next to him.
Branch tried to look the other way but his uncle sat on the other side of him.
"Branch you can talk to us. What's going on?"
"I wish I never sung in the first place. My grandma would have still been alive. The journey I went on to find my parents was almost a complete bust. I nearly got my little brother killed the first time I spent some time with him when we were in the castle. I nearly killed myself when we were locked in that pot. I didn't get any other clue to find my parents and-"
Branch cut off and closed his eyes tight trying and failing miserably not to cry.
The two trolls cuddled Branch to try to make him feel better.
"Wow looks like you've had some adventure in one night," Lief said rubbing a hand on his back.
"I just feel so guilty. Everything was fine until I decided to sing on the troll tree. My grandma would still be alive right now."
"She's never gone Branch," Merry assured.
"Besides you have a family who loves you," Lief told him.
"I feel so guilty about letting Benjamin come with me. At least he wouldn't been so traumatized about the whole thing. Now I feel like he's going to be taking after me."
Branch covered his face with his hands. He felt so regretful for saying those nasty words to Benjamin. Merry looked at her child. She tried to think of something that would cheer him up.
"Wanna make something in the kitchen with us?" asked Merry.
Branch turned a deaf ear. Leif put a comforting hand on Branch's back. "It's okay kid. It's okay."
Merry left the room so her son could have some privacy and alone time with his uncle. She couldn't think clearly. She wanted to take all the pain and misery that the young troll had in his heart and put it in her own.
Lief decided to make Branch feel better. He went to talk with Merry who was sitting in the living room.
"I feel like a failure," Merry said wiping her tears.
"You know being grey is a very big challenge to overcome."
"Is there a way to cheer him up?"
"Sorry for being pessimistic but I don't think there will be any way to get him to cheer up."
Merry closed her eyes tight. "This poor little troll is going to grow up with a broken heart."
Lief took that comment to heart. "Like me?"
Merry turned away from him. "I'm so sorry Lief."
"Well how about I talk to him about his parents? That's why he left in the first place."
Merry took a deep breath and sighed. "I can't believe I'm saying this but let's go tell him."
"Alright Branch you want to find out what happened?"
Branch nodded.
Lief took a deep breath as he leaned forward in his seat. "We were sitting on the tree as we held you in our arms. Your mother Berry told us to name you Branch to keep the tree cycle going. We heard the gate swung open and knew that that terrible day was here. We escaped from the pod and ran into the grass knowing that the pods weren't going to protect us from those creatures. As we were running we heard your mother screaming and looked back. There she was in the clutches of the hungry Bergen. We hid in the grass and blended in so it wouldn't be able to spot us. The Bergen walked off with her and I also saw your father hair in her fist screaming..."
Lief stared out into space until he broke down and covered his face with his hands. Everyone's hugtime bracelet went off and the family shared a group hug.
"Thank you Uncle Lief."
"You're welcome Branch."
