a/n: Finally! Vrine has come to get the boys! Now we can proceed to the better half of the story (hopefully its better, but then again this is my first) :) enjoy!
"Vrine?" Alfred exclaimed wide-eyed. Matthew turned to see her. "What are you doing here?" Alfred asked.
"Well," she leaned against the bench, "I came to inform Matthew here that your boys' problems – and past – are more of my business than you think," she smirked.
Her belligerent statement irritated Matthew. "Don't play games," Matthew replied crossly, "What do you want?"
"Matt don't be rude! We haven't seen her in years!" Alfred commented.
"No, Matthew is right in asking. I came here for an important task involving you two. Why don't you both sit down?" Vrine recommended. Vrine took a seat on the bench and Alfred sat next to her. Matthew remained standing.
"So explain yourself Vrine," Matthew demanded curiously.
Vrine was hesitant to start. She had no idea how she'd tell them everything without them walking out on her or thinking she belongs in a mental institute. "First off – your dad, Arthur Kirkland, is still alive."
Alfred just stared at her. He couldn't even blink while comprehending what she'd said.
"How would you know?" Matthew interrogated.
"I'm getting there," she looked up at him, "Just promise you'll—What is that?" Her attention was focused on the amber pendant around Matthew's neck.
"Eh? This?" Matthew held it in his hand and observed it, "Dad used to wear it all the time. I've been wearing it a lot lately – I don't know why."
"I think I already know what it is. And believe me it's more than what it looks like. Look, just promise you'll stay and listen no matter how crazy I start to sound, okay?" she asked them.
"Um, okay?" Matthew was puzzled, but complied anyways.
"Of course we'll listen Vrine!" Alfred smiled.
"Alright," she began, "My business with you boys has mostly to do with that stone you have around your neck Matthew. It is called Naerom, and it used to possess great magic power. Used to, that is, because your father accidentally stole its power."
"…Magic power?" Alfred questioned.
"Yes. You see I am from Lahvstyr – the land of elves, fairies, and other things you humans consider 'mythical'. I, myself, am an elf. And so is the empress of Lahvstyr, Lyqele. I am her loyal servant," Vrine explained.
"I see…. And if you're an elf, why don't you have elf ears?" Matthew asked skeptically.
"Because I'm in human camouflage of course. All elves must wear human camouflage if they want to roam in the human world," she said.
"Ah, right. Of course. Go on," Matthew replied doubtingly.
"So, the stone was forged in my homeland – Lahvstyr – with the power of light. Your father found the stone here, in the human world, and when he looked at the stone through the light of the sun, he absorbed its power unknowingly. Then, soon after, he had an encounter with your mother and you two were conceived. Upon this act, you had both taken most of the magic from your father, but he didn't know it at the time."
"So…we have magic powers?" Alfred asked dumbfounded.
"I'll get to that," Vrine replied, "So, since you boys were pure when you obtained the power, you possess the good magic of the stone. But since your father was an adult and was impure, he was left with the evil powers of the stone. Slowly but surely, the evil began to take over him, and he has become an evil wizard and a great threat in my homeland. I wouldn't be surprised if he's been completely consumed by the evil, but there is a chance that part of him still remains. Anyway, your father didn't realize that you had inherited powers from the stone until you were seven years of age. That is why he tried to kill you, Matthew, and to scare you off, Alfred," explained Vrine.
"So…we have magic powers?" Alfred asked again.
"Yes, you do. It took years for them to develop, but by now you should possess physical magical abilities. You just haven't used them yet," she smiled.
"That's why Dad tried to kill me? Because of magic powers?" Matthew scorned.
"Well it isn't that simple Matthew. Arthur has been planning to wage war for some time now, and he figured that if you two were still alive by now, that I would come to retrieve you. Which is exactly what I'm doing now," Vrine smiled, "You two with your magic powers are basically the only ones who can stop Arthur from completely overtaking Lahvstyr, since you are the only ones who also possess the powers of the stone."
"So you're using us for war?" Matthew asked bluntly.
"Matt I'm sure it's not like that!" Alfred tried to reassure him.
"Well, actually it is pretty much just that," Vrine said, "The empress wants me to bring you back to Lahvstyr just for you to defeat Arthur Kirkland. I, on the other hand, believe you boys deserve revenge against him for what he's done."
"But didn't you just say that our real father might still exist? That he might not be completely consumed by the evil? It wouldn't be right to kill an innocent man," Matthew said.
"Innocent? He tried to kill you!" Alfred exclaimed.
"You're right Matthew, but even if it is a chance, that chance is extremely slim. I highly doubt your father exists anymore. He is only an evil sorcerer now; controlled by darkness and thirsty for power," Vrine assured him.
"I see," Matthew replied solemnly.
"Wait, why did you visit us when we were ten? And why not have just taken us to Lahvstyr then?" Alfred asked.
"Oh, because at that time I came to the human world looking for Naerom. I didn't know you boys had its power yet. Now that I know that though, I've come looking for you! I couldn't have taken you then, because you didn't have any magic yet. You do now though," Vrine smiled.
"Oh," Alfred nodded. He looked oblivious to what she was saying.
"Another thing – your father doesn't know you're alive Matthew. And we want to keep it that way until you've mastered your powers so that he doesn't attempt it again," she informed them.
"He doesn't?" Alfred asked.
"So, he thinks I actually died when he tried to kill me?" Matthew added.
"Precisely," she smiled.
"…Why are you smiling?" Matthew inquired.
"If he doesn't know you're alive, it creates the perfect opportunity to attack when he least expects it!" Vrine exclaimed.
"Why would I want to do that? Why would I even want to see him again?" Matthew said softly and sadly.
"Well it's not just for your revenge; you're both saving my people's lives!" Vrine argued.
"Yeah Matt! Don't you Canadians like doing stuff for the greater good and whatever?" Alfred beamed.
"Hmm, I guess it is for the greater good…" Matthew admitted.
"That's the way to think Matt!" Alfred exclaimed. Alfred was anxious to serve justice to their father – not just for the people of Lahvstyr though. Even he knew that revenge is sweet.
"That's the spirit!" Vrine said.
"So when can we go?" Al smiled.
"How about now?" Vrine returned the smile.
"Really?" Alfred asked excitedly.
"Yes, and I'll teach you both how to use your powers!"
Matthew sighed, "I'm not so sure Alfred…I just don't want to see him after all these years."
"Oh Matt," Alfred stood and hugged Matthew, "Don't worry okay? Everything will be fine! Besides, I can't miss this chance to get him back for what he did to you, and what he did to our family! Please Matthew, let me do this!" he smiled.
"Alright. I guess we've got nothing to lose," Matthew forced a smile.
"See?" Alfred smiled in return. "Now let's go Vrine!"
"Alright, I'll take you to the gateway between our worlds," Vrine replied and led the way into the park. They followed her to the arch.
"Whoa I've never seen this thing before!" Alfred gazed at the arch in wonder.
"Well only people of Lahvstyr can use them, so I suppose now that your powers have activated, you can use it!" she smiled.
"So what does it do?" Matthew asked.
"We just step through and we're in Lahvstyr – simple as that!" She replied. She then grabbed both of their hands and stepped forward into the arch. "Here we go!"
Alfred and Matthew were caught off guard, and before they knew it, they were in a forest.
"Are we here?" asked Alfred, "It looks similar to the park…."
"No, this is a forest in Lahvstyr. This arch is the closest to the castle," Vrine smiled. "Follow me please," she instructed.
"Alright. Lead the way," replied Matthew.
It wasn't too long of a walk until they reached Lyqele's castle.
Arthur awoke from his nap to find that Francis was not there beside him.
"F-Francis?" he worried, "Where are you love?" he had feared, of course, that Francis had run off. "Oh how foolish I am!" Arthur threw off his blanket and stormed down the hallway. The first sound he hear was the sizzling of a skillet; so he turned into the kitchen to see if the chef had seen Francis.
"You – chef! Francis is—" Arthur paused as he saw little Francis instructing the cook in making crepes with strawberries. "Love!" Arthur gasped and ran over to Francis, "I-I thought you ran out on me!" he picked up Francis and brought him up to his face, "Don't scare me like that again! I saved you because I care about you Francis, and I shrunk you so I can keep watch over you – you know that little Francis. So don't you try to run away, or scare me into thinking you did! Okay?" he shook his finger at Francis in scolding him.
Francis nodded.
"What on earth were you doing in here anyways?" Arthur looked at the food in the skillet, "Crepes with strawberries? It's your favorite I believe. Were you hungry?" he asked. Francis shook his head, smiled, and poked Arthur's chin. "For me?" asked Arthur, surprised. Francis nodded and kissed Arthur's chin. Arthur blushed and sat down at the table, placing Francis on the napkin next to the plate. The cook brought the food over to Arthur's plate.
"Do we have any bottles with caps?" Arthur asked the chef.
"Hm…" the chef looked around in the cupboards, "Just some of this old wine with corks."
"Open it and bring it over, would you please?"
"Of course," the cook replied. He did as requested, and brought two wine glasses over also.
"Ah, thank you, but he is…a bit too small for a glass," Arthur got up out of his seat, "I'll find something. He looked around the counter, "Ah!" Arthur found a package of pistachio nuts, and removed the shell of one, bringing half of the shell and the wine cork to the table. "Here we are, pet," Arthur sat the cork down before Francis. He poured some wine into the chalice, and scooped some up with the nut shell. "A little inventiveness goes a long way," he smiled. He cut a small piece of crepe and strawberry and placed it on the cork. Francis took a sip of the wine. It was bitter. He hadn't had wine since he lived in the human world years and years ago. Wine was an acquired taste, but Francis was willing to re-acquire it, since he remembered how he used to love it so much. Besides, the chef said it was very old, and Francis was never one to waste a good wine.
"Is it all right?" Arthur asked, taking a sip. Francis nodded. Arthur's face cringed at the bitterness, "Well, I've always preferred rum anyway," he smiled and set the glass aside. He began to eat the crepes, and Francis did the same; but rather than a fork ate with his hands.
"These are amazing!" exclaimed Arthur. Francis nodded in agreement. They would've tasted normal to him, but he hadn't eaten something tasty in so long that simple crepes with strawberries seemed like a delicacy. When Francis finished, he licked his palms and fingers clean.
"Come now, pet, mind your manners," Arthur smiled at Francis and handed him a napkin. Francis wiped his hands and mouth with the napkin – which was much larger than he was.
Arthur couldn't help but laugh, "You look hilarious!"
Francis blushed and pouted with embarrassment.
"No, no – it's adorable!" Arthur continued giggling and lifted Francis up to kiss his head. "This is the closest I've come to being happy in a very long time," Arthur admitted as he pet Francis. Francis was overjoyed; and he wondered if maybe the evil that was taking control of Arthur was beginning to recede.
"You're such a pleasure! Would you like to accompany me at work this evening?" Arthur smiled, "I'm going to go discuss land negotiations and such with the empress Lyqele. I know it sounds like a bore – and it is – but I'd love to bring you along! You're such a delight to have with me!" Arthur cheerfully suggested. Francis nodded happily.
"Outstanding!" I'll get dressed and we'll be on our way!" Arthur exclaimed. So he dressed into the proper attire and put Francis in his jar. Arthur cast a simple spell transporting them to the castle.
a/n: Ooh Al and Matt are going to the castle at the same time as Arthur and Francis? What will happen? I love suspense :3 I hope this chapter was alright, even though it was nearly pointless xD Oh and the part with Arthur and Francis was actually supposed to be chapter 8, but it was only like 700 words so I just merged it with this chapter :) So now there is only 13 chapters instead of 14, but that's alright! Hope you're enjoying it so far!
