AN: This is so short it hardly deserves to be called a chapter.
ASN: Oh, well. It was a good stopping point.
Chapter 36
Artemis headed up to his room, as livid as he had ever been. In his fury, he probably wouldn't have noticed his parents if he had run over them, so it was good they weren't there.
He opened the door to his room to find a slim elfin finger three inches from his face, pointing at his nose.
"Don't you dare walk away from me like that! Especially when I wasn't done talking to you!"
"I am done talking to you." he replied. "Go away."
"No! You are going to stand right there and listen to me if I have to stun you to do it!" When Artemis didn't move, she relaxed a little.
"All right. You accused me of not trusting you. Well, I'll tell you right now that you have absolutely no idea how much I trusted you this last week.
"I came here after you regained your memories and I didn't tell a soul. Not the Council, not my commander, not even Foaly. Why? Because I knew if they discovered you had your memories back, they might not stop at a full wipe. At one point, the Council had been talking about whether or not they should just arrange for you to have an accident."
Artemis was floored, though he didn't show it. "They would kill me?" he asked.
"Maybe not kill, but they'd definitely make it so anything you said would be dismissed as mindless babbling- if you could talk at all."
"And you think my morals have problems." Artemis muttered. "So what happens now? Am I still under a death threat? What about the rest of my family? The Butlers? Will the Council 'get rid' of innocent bystanders as well?"
"I'm not done yet." Holly snapped. "The Council doesn't view you as a threat anymore since you've helped us so much. But do you know how much I risked to be able to prove to them you wouldn't harm us? Do you have any idea?! I was withholding dangerous information. I risked my job, I risked my career, I risked being exiled from Haven if the Council ever found out!" She stopped, then continued in a softer tone. "And I did it because I believed in you. I believed in the Artemis you once were, before the mindwipe. And I had to show all the others."
There was complete and total silence as Artemis stared at Holly. She glared back, still angry. After a moment, he got an odd look on his face and glanced at the floor. To Holly's surprise, he seemed to be searching for something to say. When he looked back up, all the confusion and surprise that had been in his eyes was gone.
"You mentioned the Council?" he said emotionlessly. Holly sighed inwardly. Just like Artemis, to avoid any conversation that had to do with feelings.
"I did. They've decided that you had nothing to do with either Grub or Simone being kidnapped; you were just an innocent bystander." Artemis raised an eyebrow, but she ignored him and continued. "And since you offered your help in retrieving Grub and Simone without asking for any payment or compensation, they believe that it's perfectly safe to let you keep your memories." She paused. "Actually, they're still a little hesitant, but Root convinced them you wouldn't be of any danger. After all, you saved his life and mine. Twice."
Artemis studied her for a moment. "Did you tell them anything about before I had my memories returned?"
Holly flushed, just a little. "No."
"So, you lied about me being perfectly harmless?"
"I didn't lie!" Holly snapped. "I exaggerated a little. Why, are you complaining?"
"I'm not complaining, I'm confused. Why? Why would you try and save my memories when you ever you were able to completely remove my presence, my threat from the People?"
"You idiot, how many times do I have to tell you? You're not a threat!"
"You're not answering the question." he snapped right back.
Big sigh. She glanced at the teen, her emotions a mixture of lingering anger, honesty, and pity. "Because… before the mindwipe, we were almost friends, and friends do that, take care of each other." Holly watched as the Mud Boy stared back at her, face unguarded and readable for a change. He was obviously astonished.
"No one should have to go through life without a couple of friends." She grinned, trying to lighten the mood. "Even a conceited criminal like you."
Holly could almost see the thoughts racing through Artemis's mind as he dropped his gaze to the floor. He kept quiet. Holly continued to hover at eye level. Having extended a truce, she was uncertain what to do next. Just as the silence became unbearable, Artemis spoke up softly, finally looking up at the elf.
"Thank you, Holly." he said simply, and then proceeded to look anywhere except at the elf. It was his turn not to know what to do next. A motion caught his eye.
Holly stuck out her hand. Artemis stared at her and her hand, a closed expression on his face. The elf sighed in irritation. "I don't bite, Mud Boy."
Artemis Fowl Jr. hesitated, then took Captain Holly Short's outstretched hand. They shook hands. Not as two opponents in a temporary truce, but as colleagues. Not as two rivals, respectfully acknowledging the other's abilities, but as equals.
And as friends.
AN: And so, they are friends. Not romantically involved, but friends.
ASN: And we are ever so glad it only went that far.
"Butler…I know you are my bodyguard, sworn to protect me until your death, but after the incident with Spiro, you changed. Your body cannot keep up with the demand my activities place upon it. This adventure with the fairies was fairly simple. I-" he stopped, a shadow falling across his face, but quickly disappearing, "I trust Holly, and she kept an eye out for me. However, if you had gone, it's quite possible something would have happened to you."
"But something could have happened to you!" Butler protested.
"I know. But the fairies looked after me. Butler, you are not accustomed to being protected. I am. You would refused their help, and you could have been killed." Haunted eyes bored into Butler's. "I have already been responsible for your death once, my friend. I didn't want it to happen again."
ASN: That part was so sad to write. It's not often Arty feels sorry for something
AN: But you have to admit, Butler's death would weigh heavily upon anyone. I know I cried like a baby when I read that part.
ASN: And thank you for admitting it. Talk about your blackmail.
AN: *Looks at readers* oh, come on! I'm certain I wasn't the only one who bawled. Right?
**Dead silence.**
AN: Right??