(Serious) Author's Note: Thanks to (guest) for reviewing the last chapter! :)

I've put a lot of effort into writing this chapter, and I feel as though it's one of my better ones. Hopefully you'll all enjoy this as much as I've enjoyed writing it.

Chapter Three

Klaus was surprised.

The second of Jacques' requests had caused indecision between the volunteers, who could not decide whether to allow Jacques' wish or not.

"No volunteer has ever apprenticed three kids at the same time before," one elderly man said firmly. "I'm not sure it should be allowed."

"Nonsense!" scoffed another woman who Klaus didn't recognise. "If Lemony is capable, then he should be allowed to do so."

"But the Baudelaires haven't completed the first stage of training yet," complained another. Usually, young volunteers had to show that they had completed their basic training by taking a series of tests at the Training Centre before they could be apprenticed to a senior volunteer.

"They don't need to take the tests," Kit Snicket said, speaking up in defence of Violet and Klaus, who both thought that becoming apprenticed to Lemony was a very good thing indeed. "Both Violet and Klaus have survived situations more dangerous than any have faced without any real training. They have already survived the treachery of the world without any of our help."

"That is true," admitted the elderly man who had spoke out earlier against the proposition. "I can understand that Violet is ready to undertake a full apprenticeship. But surely Klaus is too young for such missions?"

"He's no younger than I was when I began my own apprenticeship," Lemony protested. "And this was what Jacques would have wanted. It was his dying wish. All of us here-" Lemony gestures around the table "-knew Jacques well. Surely you all want to respect his decisions, even in death?"

"Maybe so, but it still seems like a risk," says another volunteer, a middle-aged man who seems to be contemplating which side of the argument to support. "I suppose we should let Dewey be the adjudicator," he finished, using a word which meant "judge".

All, heads turned towards the end of the table where Dewey Denouement was sat, he merely shrugged. "I think the decision should be between the Baudelaires and their father," he said slowly. "It's their lives, after all."

Now all eyes turned to the other end of the table, where the three Baudelaires were sat, and both Violet and Klaus were relieved when their father spoke up first.

"I think that my children are old enough to make the decision for themselves," he decided. "I'll put my own opinion forward and say that I think Lemony would be an excellent chaperone, and I would encourage my children to take up his offer, but at the end of the day, it is their decision, and not mine." Bertrand Baudelaire paused for a moment before adding, "I will, however, state that Klaus should not take part in any missions in the near future. He is a researcher, not an agent, and he is too young. Maybe other apprentices take an active role in V.F.D. at such a young age, but most of you know already that I am opposed to such a low age limit for apprentices."

Klaus felt angered that his father wouldn't let him stand with his sister and play a part in the fight against the Firestarters, and so he started to object. "But father-"

"There are no buts, Klaus," his father said with a sad smile, cutting off his son mid-sentence. "This isn't a permanent thing, Klaus, but you are only twelve years old, still a long way from being an adult. Another year or two, and you can play a more active role in our organisation. Violet is, in my opinion, only just old enough to go. Hopefully she won't have to anytime soon, although I fear that that is unlikely. But she's almost fifteen, and an intelligent and resourceful young woman. She'll be able to take care of herself now."

Violet felt honoured by her father's praise, but it only served to anger young Klaus. "And you don't think I can look after myself?" he snapped.

"Not as Violet can," his father began, trying to calm Klaus. "She is more experienced than you are. Not necessarily in the ways of the organisation - the pair of you have been through everything together this autumn - but when it comes to life experience, those two years matter. Violet has had the time to see things that you haven't, Klaus. She is more prepared than you. It isn't your fault, but she is older than you. She is ready to play a part in our struggle before you are."

Klaus appeared frustrated by his father's comments, but the anger faded. "Fine," he said sullenly after a pause, crossing his arms over his chest and learning back in his chair.

"Klaus, you will have plenty to do here," his father said, trying to reassure him further. "Lemony is a researcher himself. He will find you plenty to do, plenty to keep you interested You role in V.F.D. may be less active than Violet's, but your efforts will still mean something to our cause."

"Ok," Klaus replied dismissively, still not convinced. "Apprentice us to Lemony, then."

The next fortnight in the Mortmain Mountains passed quickly as the Baudelaires settled into a new chapter of their lives. Now that they were apprentices, Violet and Klaus found themselves to be moved out of the dormitories and into their own compartments, being given more responsibility. With Lemony now having to apprentice three young volunteers at once, they both found that they had a lot of free time on their hands. Violet found herself working on an assortment of models to satisfy her inventing mind, and spent much of the fortnight trying to build a scale model of Mount Fraught, as she planned to devise a faster way of travelling to the peak than taking the circuitous route up the mountain paths. She regularly visited her former tutor, an elderly volunteer called C.M. Kornbluth, to show him her ideas, and together they made many improvements to Violet's theories during that fortnight.

Despite his initial reservations, Klaus found himself to be enjoying his new life as an apprentice. He spent most of his tie with his new chaperone, who was busy engaging himself in his work. Away from the dangerous work as a V.F.D. operative, Lemony spent the remainder of his time as a researcher, making sure that the travails of his fellow volunteers were recorded correctly, preserving their stories for future generations. But Lemony had a quick mind, and had taken to spicing up his accounts of the volunteers by writing them as though it was a work of fiction, and had produced several short 'stories' by the time that Klaus had been made his apprentice. That week, Lemony had been working on an book that he called When Did You See Her Last?, which Klaus thought was about Lemony's own apprenticeship to V.F.D. when he was younger. Klaus seemed to spend much of the fortnight assisting Lemony is his work, ferrying books and documents between the V.F.D. library and Lemony's private study, where he was completely dedicated to his work.

After those first couple of weeks, Violet and Klaus seemed to be enjoying themselves immensely in their new roles, although things weren't turning out quite as well for the volunteers around them, who were becoming more and more anxious that their side was to lose the schism that divided V.F.D.. But for Violet, Klaus and the small group of volunteers that they had begun to know, November began with a rare cause for celebration in such a desperate time, as Arlo Thursday turned sixteen.

It was quite common for birthday celebrations to be going on somewhere in the V.F.D. Headquarters at any given time due to the number of people living there, and I can say that I've been to quite a few such celebrations myself over the years. Usually they're small affairs, a dozen or so people invited, an afternoon off from work. An exchange of a few gifts, usually a cake of some sort cooked up in the kitchens. Such was the case on the November 7th, when Arlo Thursday turned sixteen.

It was a quiet celebration. A handful of people invited to a meal, the exchange of gifts afterwards, many cheerful greetings given, although sometimes it seemed as though Arlo didn't actually want them. Violet and Klaus were invited, of course, along with Lemony Snicket, his sister Kit and Dewey Denouement, adding in the Baudelaires' father, there were seven of them that day.

Violet and Klaus hadn't know that it was Arlo's birthday until that morning; he had never mentioned it. Having seen other birthday celebrations at the Headquarters, Violet had hoped that Arlo wouldn't take offense to her not getting him a gift, but as Lemony handed over a thick, long coat to his apprentice that seemed perfect for surviving the ordeals of a winter spent in the Mortmain Mountains, she began to feel guilty that she hadn't provided anything herself.

It was that evening when she found him, alone in the V.F.D library, leaning against a bookcase, a book on bungee jumping in his hands. For a moment, Violet was worried that it might turn into another obsession, one that was maybe a step to far. Hang gliding, she could cope with. But bungee jumping? She wasn't sure.

"Hey," she said quietly, trying to grab Arlo's attention. He looked up from the book, giving Violet a strange smile she couldn't fathom.

"Oh, hello Violet," he said, an odd tone to his voice, as though he wasn't completely there. Lost in his thoughts or something, glancing back to his book.

"Look, I'm sorry I couldn't get you anything for your birthday," Violet apologised. Arlo looked up again, and shook his head, still smiling, although it concerned Violet even more. It wasn't sadness that was registering on his face. Not quite. "I had no idea it was today."

"It doesn't matter," Arlo replied, quietly, filing his book back onto one of the shelves. She had his full attention now. "I don't care much for birthdays," he continued.

"Why not?" she asked. To her, any excuse for a celebration was welcome. There wasn't enough time in life to spend it moping around. You might as well be happy while you can.

Arlo looked at her and sighed, as though he was about to begin a very long explanation. "I've never liked birthdays," he began. "They remind me too much of my childhood. Of home, and of mother. I never knew her like you know your mother, Violet. She was gone before I'd fully escaped infancy. I was just four years old when she died. Enough to remember her face, her voice, her mannerisms. Beyond that, I know nothing of her." He paused a moment, tears starting to form in his sea green eyes, and Violet reached out to grasp his had with hers, trying to offer Arlo support in any way she could. Of course, having not lived through Arlo's life, she had no way of knowing what to say to him as he continued his explanation.

"I hate all family celebrations," Arlo continued sadly. "Christmas. Birthdays. Whatever. They make me think about what I once had. What was taken away from me by V.F.D. and the schism that divides us. What might have been, had things been different." Arlo reached down with his free hand and pulled a small sheet of paper from his trouser pocket.

"Look at this," he said, holding the piece of paper up so that Violet could read what was written on it. "It's a letter from dad and Anna. From home. It arrived a couple of days early, but I only read it this morning." Sure enough, Violet could read the words printed there. Nothing much, just a few lines wishing Arlo a happy birthday and asking about life at the V.F.D. Headquarters. "You know, it made me think," Arlo continued, folding up the paper once more and returning it to his pocket. "It made me think that maybe I've done the wrong thing. That I should have stayed away from V.F.D." He paused again, looking Violet straight in the eyes as he tried to get across his feelings to her.

"My mother's life was taken away by being a part of this, and I often wonder whether I'll end up going the same way that she did. All around me here in the mountains, there are reminders of her. In everything I do here. She would have once done the same thing in her youth. Violet, I've told you before that I don't want to know what happened to my mother. As little as I do know of her, what I remember are happy memories, of times before my life was tainted by the world's treachery. I'm certain that within this library lie all the unknowns surrounding her past. Somewhere they must lie hidden. It's as though the books themselves are calling to me. As much as I tell myself that I don't want to know, it's taking all my energy to restrain myself from searching for the answers."

Violet took a step towards Arlo and hugged him, wrapping her arms tightly around his sturdy figure, standing on tip-toes to rest her chin on his shoulder. Arlo sighed and weakly hugged her back, which worried Violet even more. He was usually so strong, so confident. Here in the mountains, he was struggling.

"Sometimes, I think that I should go back home and forget about all this," Arlo admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "Start a new life, alone and reclusive in the Verdant Valley, with my father and sister. That it was a mistake to get involved when you arrived at my home this summer. But after all that we've been through, I know that I can't go back. Not now. We're deep enough in that we have no choice but to see this through, ending in one of two ways. We can survive the schism, defeat the villainous Firestarters and make a new life for ourselves in a world safe from the current evils that surround us. I refuse to accept the alternative."

Violet held on to Arlo even tighter, knowing full well what he was implying, and knowing herself that he was right. They had to see this through, or they would die in the process.

"It's not all bad here," Arlo admitted. "In fact, I enjoy myself here. There's plenty to do, and plenty of interesting people to meet. I can go gliding. I can work on inventions. And I get to see Lemony and Klaus and... and you. But while I'm here, I'm constantly reminded of my mother's fate, and I can't help wondering if you or I will end up the same way." Arlo paused for a moment, laughing slightly. "It's enough to send a guy insane."

Without thinking, Violet looked up at Arlo and kissed him. It was only a for a brief, fleeting moment, but when Violet pulled away, she saw Arlo smiling, properly smiling, for the first time that evening. "Happy birthday, Arlo," she said, laughing quietly as she reached up to kiss him again, more meaningfully this time. Unlike before, Arlo started to kiss back, pulling Violet even closer in towards him, before losing his balance and crashing backwards into the bookcase behind him, Violet still in his arms, struggling to suppress a giggle. In that moment, it seemed to Violet that all the troubles in the world were gone, that Jacques wasn't dead, that her mother and sister weren't in the clutches of the Firestarters, that the sinister schism simply did not exist. She did not know how long it would last, but on that evening she was safe, safe in Arlo's arms, his free hand caressing her long dark brown hair that fall untidily around her, her lips firmly pressed against his. Somehow Arlo slipped again - something was making him unsteady - and contact was broken for a moment, and Violet tried to crane her neck around to reach him once more, if only she could just-

"Violet! Arlo!"

It was Klaus, calling for them through the library. Violet sprung away from Arlo almost instantaneously, laughing nervously, her arms folded across her chest, blushing slightly. Glancing up the aisle, she and Arlo were still alone. "Violet!" Klaus called again, slightly more desperately.

"What is it?" Violet called as a way of a reply, despite knowing full well that it was rude to shout in a library. The V.F.D. library was massive, and she knew that it could take hours to find someone unless they spoke out, so Violet felt as though she would be excused for shouting.

"There's been a new arrival," Klaus called again, and Violet wondered what was so special about the arrival of another volunteer. At the Headquarters, people were coming and going all the time. "They've got news of mother and Sunny!" Klaus called excitedly, and Violet sighed. It wasn't that she thought it was bad news, not by a long shot. But just as Arlo had said, they could no longer sit back and wait for the other volunteers to solve their problems.

"I guess we'd better go," Arlo said quietly, giving Violet's hand a reassuring squeeze, even though the time for affection had passed. Violet smiled weakly back at him, hoping that maybe this was the beginning of the end, that this could be the first piece of the puzzle that manages to find its own place in the picture. She hoped that maybe with the help of Klaus, Lemony, Arlo and the other volunteers, everything might eventually turn out all right.

(Serious) Author's Note: If you enjoyed this chapter, please review! Constructive criticism is, as ever, welcomed :)