To Have and To Hold

Prompt 072: Ego

At the end of all things Balthazar remained in bed for the next three days. He was staring out the window most of the time, not really answering when people talked to him. Marie had been excused for intruding by her master and then lead back home, from where they would keep in contact with Dave and come over if necessary; but only if necessary. Becky was usually helping Veronica fix up the new Arcana Cabana, and then walking back home with Dave; who dropped in every afternoon, after class. Balthazar had uttered softly that for now, Dave should do some independent studies, and that he'd done well in the battle with Horvath and those two new apprentices.

Dave had intended to follow his master's instructions, but it was sad to see Balthazar like that; defeated and depressed over the bed, legs and arms covered in bandages. The worst part was probably seeing how he wore no rings beyond the wedding band.

So the Encantus lay over Dave's bed opened, sometimes for hours during the nights, while Dave just tried to go to sleep ignoring it. If he had only recovered the dragon ring from Horvath maybe he would have been able to offer it to Balthazar as a replacement, or until he could get a new one. So maybe if he talked to Veronica he would be able to find Horvath and get the ring. Thoughts swirled through his head, over and over, interrupting his study time, his sleeping time… All thoughts were about Balthazar and his lack of ring…

"Dave?" Said Veronica softly, finding him in the library he usually studied at, with his books open but nothing been read. "How are you?"

"Veronica, how did you find me?"

"I used a cell phone, and Becky told me you'd be here." With much grace Veronica sat beside Dave, looking at the pages of his books. "Wow, you must know quite a deal about theories and laws of science, yes?"

"A bit, yes." He dropped the pencil he was holding and turned to the woman. "How is Balthazar?"

"He is still staring out the window."

Dave paled. "Please, don't… don't give up on him. He's just shaken you know? With losing his ring and everything that's happening..." Veronica let out a laugh, making several students turn to them, frowning.

"I waited a thousand years for him to free me, I think I can understand. I would be worse if I had lost my ring. But that is not what bothers Balthazar."

"Then what?"

"He fought us, believing we were demons. Guilt is eating him from the inside out, and when he found out he'd broken my arm… No, I didn't tell him, he remembered, he's been apologizing day and night." Veronica looked down at her hands, probably because she was about to start crying. Dave touched her hands, trying to comfort her and smiled.

"He hadn't apologized to me." That made Veronica laugh.

"Dave, his ego is bruised."

"That's the understatement of the year." He said bitterly, only to apologize to Veronica. "I think that apologizing is becoming contagious around us."

"You should visit him. He's been asking all day for you."

"Alright, then let's go." He started to pack everything he'd laid down over the small desk, methodically putting in into his back pack as Veronica smiled at him.

Back to their place Veronica told Dave she'd wait downstairs while they spoke, so Dave left his bag beside the cashier and hurried upstairs. He walked to their room, and called Balthazar's name, getting no answer. He tried again, pushing the door open and heard water running. So he walked into the room and to the bathroom, finding Balthazar standing before the sink, gathering water in his hands to splash it on his face, he did it once more and then stopped the water flow, reaching for a towel.

"You called Balthazar?" He said as the man stood up straight, drying his face.

"Dave," He greeted the boy, finally lowering the towel and nodding at his apprentice.

"Balthazar."

"You were at class?"

"Studying, I have one of those nasty tests Monday." Balthazar nodded, and turned off the bathroom's light as Dave sat over the bed. "You?"

"I want to walk around the city, but Veronica says is not wise to leave because of my injuries, so I'm stuck here." He sat beside Dave, and rubbed his face, continuing his talk. "It was easy before, to walk around the city and be on my guard. But now, without a ring…"

"I could be your body guard, I am a sorcerer."

"I am aware, but no thanks. I wanted to be alone during my walk."

"Then why ask for me?"

"Have you been studying the Encantus?"

"Yeah, sort of." Balthazar smiled. "Alright, I have opened it but not read a thing, I've been worried."

"I want to tell you something, where's Veronica?"

"Downstairs." He stood quickly moving through the house with Dave following and once downstairs he waited for Dave to catch up and then smiled at Veronica.

"Ah! You're up!"

"Yes, I am. Come beloved, we must talk."

Veronica frowned, but took Balthazar's extended hand, and the three of them sat around the expensive table where Queen Antoinette used to have tea with her favorite girls from court. Veronica wanted to go upstairs and make tea, but Balthazar stop her. "I have been thinking a lot, because of the circumstances, and I have reached a conclusion."

"Yes?" asked Dave, amazed that his master could think thought all that emotional issues he thought Balthazar was going through.

"Veronica, I have lost my sorcerer ring." The woman wanted to answer but he lifted his hand. "I cannot finish Dave's training, so I wish for you to finish it."

"What!" Cried Dave, getting up quickly making his chair fall back to the ground. Balthazar was untouched by the outburst while Veronica leaned away from her husband. "I don't want Veronica as master! You are my master!" He turned to the woman. "No offence."

"None taken." Veronica turned to Balthazar giving him a small smile.

"As you can see I can not do it, Balthazar; Dave needs you."

"Of course I need you, you pledged inside Merlin's ring!"

"The vow is broken, I lost my ring. I cannot be your master." Dave scoffed and turned to walk out the store. Balthazar stood and followed him, while Veronica remained.

Balthazar hurried after his apprentice, and for a moment felt like he was hurrying after his son, who was trying to escape home, and wrapped his fingers around the boy's thin arm. "Dave listen to reason. I lost my ring I cannot protect you, or Veronica. I don't have the power you do! I cannot cast spells without my ring."

"Then we'll find you a new ring. We'll find you Merlin's ring and you'll be casting spells in no time, but don't ask me to take another master because I won't. You are my master Balthazar, you pledged yourself to educate me and no one else can take your place." There were tears in the boy's eyes, and Balthazar felt a pang of guilt (another one) hit his chest. "I thought we talked about this, man. You are my master, my father. I don't' want to loose you."

"You are not loosing me, Dave. I'll still be here. But I can't teach you, I don't have the power..."

"I'll do independent study until we can figure out something." He suggested, and Balthazar shook his head.

"You need someone to teach you, not pull you back. I've lost my ring, and I've hurt you Veronica, probably even Becky and that Marie girl. I am not worthy of serving as a Merlinian anymore."

So that was it. He felt unworthy of the power he could regain. We are but servants of a grater good, he'd said once to Dave, and now he felt he wasn't so. "It wasn't your fault. You were under a spell, it wasn't your fault!" Balthazar smiled, sadly and turned -

To see Veronica standing a few feet form them. "He's right you know? You are free of fault and we are not angry at you."

"I hurt both of you I broke your arm," he said to Veronica before turning to Dave and continuing "And gave you a black eye. What else did I do? Who else did I hurt? Merlin would have been furious at me."

"You were under Horvath's curse."

"You are still the man I love, the man I married."

Balthazar's eyes widened in anger. "And I clawed at my hand to rip the ring off my finger!" He cried, walking to stand close to Veronica pointing at the finger and ring in question, Veronica smiled at him, eyes full of tears, and she took his hand into hers, lowering the limb to press to the space above her heart.

"But the ring is still there." Balthazar's eyes widened slightly, and he could do very little beyond leaning over Veronica and pressing his forehead to her shoulder, letting out several open mouthed gasps of pain. "So you are going to forgive yourself, because we've already forgiven you."

"And you'll keep training me, and we'll find a way to get you another ring. Understood?"

There was a moment of silence, in which Veronica held Balthazar dearly, kissing his ear (that wasn't bleeding anymore). "Are you giving me orders Dave?" Balthazar finally asked, with a rare hint of humor in his voice.

The apprentice smiled, and walked towards them. "Yeah, it feels awesome to hold some power you know." Thunder rolled in the distance, and Dave looked up. "Let's go inside, guys. Rain's coming."

To Have and To Hold: The End

Ahahahaha, I'm done. Good God that took long to write. I hope you love it as much as I love writing it. By the way, this isn't the last you'll hear from me. So keep your eyes open and your accounts logged because I'll be back. Soon. *laughs into darkness*Hits her head on a lamp* Where's that light switch?