Dallas and Tim had escorted the deer to Dally's kingdom before preparing for a meeting of the council that would be held. Dallas had called for the meeting, muttering something in his native tongue, which he still hadn't taught Tim, but it didn't bother him as much as it used to. It sounded complicated and not at all like it would be pleasant to learn. Tim watched Dallas pace around the halls of the great hall anxiously. The only species not invited was the dark elves, which made sense, Tim supposed.
"Dal, relax." He said. "You'll wear down the floor with all your pacing."
Dallas turned to him, annoyance across his face. "Don't tell me what to do, human. It's not like your the one whose father is trying to start a damn war!" Dallas said to Tim, his voice raised.
Tim held his hands up in surrender. "Alright. Alright."
Dallas huffed and returned to his pacing.
Cherry was sat by Tim, waiting for the others to arrive. She looked at Tim, then Dallas, and back to Tim. "Don't mind him. He gets like this when he is upset. He was like this when mam died."
Tim nodded a bit. "Will he ever calm?"
"Eventually." Cherry shrugged. She sighed softly. "I do worry though."
"Why?" Tim asked, looking at her.
"If Surtyr is trying to start a war, there is no doubt he will succeed." She responded, fiddling with her hands.
"Well, don't worry. If he does, he'll have to fight Dallas and a damn dragon!" Tim said. "That can't be an easy feat."
Cherry gave a nod. She looked at Tim.
"You look like you want to say something," Tim said.
"It's just, I got thinking..." Cherry began. "It's just, I know one day I'll die, and I'm scared to leave him alone. But at the same time, I know that if he ever has a kid, he'll die, regardless of if he is the one to carry it or not. It's a lonely life his species leads, the only one there can be except for a brief 20 years which isn't exactly a long time to them...I guess I just have been thinking about death ever since the fire and how unpredictable it is."
"He can get pregnant?" Tim arched a brow.
"Yes. He has to change his front, but he can." Cherry said.
"Front?" Tim asked.
"It's complicated, but he can change his sex on a whim. Nature fairies can be either, usually only for reproductive purposes. If he lays with a female, he doesn't have to change his front. Lays with a man, however, and wishes for a child, he must change his front to his feminine form." Cherry looked at Tim. "He has all the parts, he just can't use them without the appropriate front."
Tim nodded and looked at Dallas, before smiling as he saw Two-bit arrive first in his large, dragon form. The dragon faded into the human form.
"I see you're still alive." Two-bit grinned. "I'm surprised Dal didn't kill you."
"Gee. I see you still enjoy me." Tim rolled his eyes. Two-bit felt like a friend o him, despite the fact they had only met once before. Perhaps it was because Two-bit was just so charming.
Two grinned and turned to Dallas and gave him a smirk.
They waited for the others, the elven brothers announcing they'd be slightly late with news of their own. The group held warm conversations with each other, informing each other of changes. there weren't many, but Tim felt warm and safe in the group of friends. Even Dallas was finally smiling instead of pacing with a scowl.
Finally, the brothers arrived with another figure that Tim instantly recognized. "Curly?" He called out, standing up.
Curly turned to him and the brothers embraced. "I missed you," Curly said.
Tim chuckled and ruffled Curly's hair. "I missed you too. Where were you?"
"Well, it's a long story. You see, I went to Jane, made out with her for a while, then she dumped me because her father arranged her to some prick in the capital. then I went out into the forest to mope and I landed in one of my own traps. I was stuck down there for a few days before I finally got out, and then finally I went to see dear Angela and she said you went out looking for me and hadn't been home for nearly three days, so I went out searching for you and here I am." Curly shrugged.
"Three days? It's been almost 2 months I've been here..." Tim looked confused.
"Time must pass faster here." Ponyboy shrugged.
Tim agreed and sat down. He smiled as Curly sat beside him.
"So what did you call us here for?" Steve asked.
"My father burned down Hyln...I believe he is trying to start a war, much like the first King." Dallas said.
"You mean, beyond just the light versus dark?" Tim asked.
"Yes," Dallas says. "If he wants a war, we'll give him a war."
Darry looked at the two humans. "We should teach them to use a sword. I have no doubt they will be involved. Especially if the legend is true."
"Legend?" Curly asked.
"There is an old legend that a human would come and free us on the darkest eve," Dallas said. "My great-grandmother was a seer, and she predicted it. It became legend."
"So we can learn to use a sword?" Curly grinned, bouncing slightly from where he sat.
"Yes." Tim grinned. "Exactly that."
Dallas gave a small, brief smile. "We will begin in the morning. I suggest you all go back and inform your leaders and people." He told everyone, who gave a nod and departed, except for Cherry.
"So this is Illusia? The one mother always told about?" Curly asked, looking at Tim as night fell onto the land.
"Yes," Tim said.
"I can't believe it. I mean, I never doubted her, but I thought maybe it was long gone. the fact it is here...and thriving. It's incredible." Curly grinned.
"I didn't believe it at first, but I can't not now. I mean, I'm here." Tim said.
"Do you miss it? Our world?" Curly asked.
"Parts of it." Tim shrugged. "You, Angie, Clyde. But oddly, I don't."
Curly looked at him.
"You know, if we do go back, we probably shouldn't say anything. Some things are best kept secret. besides, we already fucked this place up once, I don't want to do it again." Tim said, looking at him.
"Do you ever plan on going back?" Curly asked.
"I don't know..." Tim sighed softly.
"Is it because of that fairy?" Curly grinned, a teasing grin on his face.
Tim turned to him and scoffed. "No."
"Uh-huh, sure." Curly teased. "Come on, just admit you wanna bang the guy and then act on it."
"Curly!" Tim scolded, his face reddening. "I can't just do that."
"Yeah, 'cause you're a coward." Curly snickered, laughing more and Tim hit him in the back of the head.
"Shut up, prick." Tim huffed, his face red now.
Curly just grinned and watched the moon rise.
The next morning came and the brothers woke up early, much too excited for sleep.
Well, Curly was anyway.
"This is so great!" He grinned. "I'm gonna use a sword!"
Tim smiled at his brother as he got dressed for the day. He and curly had always shared a room, so neither brother was unbothered changing. "Relax. We still have breakfast and probably just basics today."
"Still. A Sword!" Curly beamed, racing out of the room once he was dressed.
Tim rolled his eyes and followed his brother out of their room, into the grand hall where breakfast was being served.
Dallas was already waiting for them, eating his pancakes. "Eat up boys, we have to get started soon."
Curly hopped in a seat and Tim calmly got in his, although he was excited as well.
Breakfast had a pleasant air to it. Tim found breakfast to be his favorite time in Illusia, and not just because the food was spectacular, although it was. No. it was the peace he felt, the happiness. He felt more alive here than he had since his mother had died. Tim never considered himself depressed, but he had always felt empty since his mother's passing, and Illusia seemed to be filling the hole that had been left. It had been a long time since he had seen Curly this excited, and he was sure Angela would love it too. He hoped he could convince her to join him here. Perhaps he should stay.
He cleared his thoughts as they finished breakfast, letting Dallas lead them outside where there was a large open field with two swords.
"Today we work on the basics," Dallas said, handing them both a sword.
The sword felt balanced, although heavier than what Tim assumed when it finally was in his hand.
"Hold your sword firmly, yet not so firm that your knuckles turn white. Just enough to make sure it stays in place. Your blade must become an extension of you." Dallas said, adjusting Curlys hand slightly. "Make sure it is comfortable on the handle. Move your wrists, and your sword should follow easily."
Tim tilted his wrist, smiling as the blade moved without wobbling.
"Good. Now, your feet must be shoulder-width apart, your knees slightly bent. You must maintain a strong center so that you may have an enemy strike you and not be knocked back. Part of sword fighting is holding your ground as long as possible hoping your opponent will tire out before you do, and hopefully will lose their center. We will talk about true combat tomorrow." Dallas said, adjusting their positions, lingering slightly longer around Tim.
They trained for hours, until lunch, and then for about an hour after before Dallas decided that was enough for today.
Tim went into the palace and soaked in the bath as he thought about the war and what would happen, and about Dallas. Perhaps what Curly said had some truth, not that he would tell Curly that.
Dallas was sat in the great hall while the humans bathed. He was thinking about many things and curiously turned to the tapestry before seeing something new. He looked closer and frowned as he saw that a spot on the family tree had been revealed.
"Tim Shepard"
It said along with a picture of him.
"Shit..." Dallas said in a whisper. Things just got a lot more complicated.
