As soon as the clock had gone a little over 4, Cherry went to prepare and brew Gothel's tea. She was helped by Tino and Hazel, Hazel being the one who had taught her to brew things.
Tino noticed that the tea drainer was on a high shelf.
Despite the knowledge that both Cherry and Hazel could reach the shelf easily, Tino felt it would be worth a try. He could be useful too! Being a rabbit did have its upsides - he could jump and bounce very well. So he did jump several times.
Hazel had been about to summon the fire-breath her kind was known to do when a crash startled her and Cherry. She turned to see that Tino had dislodged a floorboard in his attempt to be helpful. Now her poor cousin-in-law had gotten himself stuck between the floorboards.
"Oh my Odin, Tino!" Hazel gasped.
"Tino! You scared the life out of us! Are you alright?" Cherry asked as she helped the cursed rabbit out.
"I'm alright. I still have my high tolerance to pain as my old self" Tino assured the other two.
Hazel gave an amused smirk; she knew how much of a secret badass Tino really was. "Yeah, compared to battling that giant troll that one time" she teased her cousin-in-law out of habit.
"Hey, that led to my getting engaged, didn't it?" Tino remarked.
Upon freeing Tino from where he was lodged, Cherry noticed a rectangular box hidden under the floor. She reached in and pulled the box out. She also noticed a small wrapped object and brought that up too. First, she opened the box as Tino carefully replaced the floorboards he had dislodged.
Inside the box was a beautiful violet hairbrush. Engraved were the words "As everlasting as the stars above, remember you are always loved. To our sweet little Cherry on her first Birthday with much love, your mother, your father and your sisters, Marissa and Skye".
Cherry looked sad as she read the engraving. "With much love? Gothel always said I was abandoned.." she muttered. Had Gothel been lying to her? She then unwrapped the smaller object.
It was a silver child's rattle with moon and dragon charms, along with a small cluster of mixed gems. It also had an engraving on it. "Destiny has a funny way of surprising us, as does life. Treasure your surprises with pride. My beloved little Emil on his first birthday. With our eternal love, Mor & Far" Cherry read the message aloud. She knew that 'Mor' and 'Far' meant 'Mother' and 'Father' in Norwegian.
Tino noticed the heartbroken look in Hazel's eyes when she saw the rattle. He knew who she was thinking about. He understood, since he also missed that particular person too. Almost as much as he missed his princess.
"I never knew Gothel had a son..why didn't she say anything?" Cherry wondered.
"She doesn't. Emil was my son...mine and Lukas'. He was our pride and joy. I spent two weeks making this rattle for Emil's first birthday. Gothel has spilt a lot of blood over the years...including my little boy" Hazel injected as she gently took the rattle and looked at it, memories of her son clouding her thoughts. The worst being the night Gothel's curse killed the small boy in his own crib while his parents tried desperately to break down the door to save him in time.
Cherry then put the pieces together; Hazel was still grieving for her child. The child Gothel took from her. And why she had become Cherry's guardian. "So that's why you are the way you are with Gothel" she realised.
"Yes, a mother never forgets losing her child like I lost my little Emil. I couldn't protect him from Gothel in the end. Ever since that night, things between me and my husband haven't been the same. He chooses not to think about Emil" Hazel confirmed as she used a spell to hide the rattle in a safe dimension.
Noticing the clock was close to 5, Cherry gathered the plate of butter biscuits and the cup of tea onto a tray. She picked up the tray and rushed up to Gothel's chambers.
Gothel was already in her bed by 5. Francis sat around her neck as usual. She raised an eyebrow as Cherry entered. "Right on time again, child" she noted.
Despite knowing that Gothel had never been completely honest with her, Cherry still tried to seem cheerful. "This outing for tomorrow..is it for herbs to plant in the garden?" she asked.
"No, just a few things that need taking care of. I can rely on you to keep the fortress in good condition while I'm gone, yes?" Gothel stated.
"Yes, ma'am" Cherry replied.
Gothel took a sip of her tea. "Excellent. You may go about your business. But remember, I am not to be disturbed" she requested.
"Yes, ma'am" Cherry repeated as she left Gothel's chamber to rejoin Hazel and Tino downstairs. Upon rejoining them, she asked Hazel to tell her about Emil.
As if she guessed the moment would occur, Hazel retrieved a folded piece of parchment up her sleeve.
Upon unfolding the parchment, Cherry saw that it was a painting of Lukas and Hazel, obviously during happier times. In Hazel's arms was a small boy with white blond hair and the most peculiar eyes; although they were predominately a deep shade of purple-blue like his father's, there was a hazel ring that was barely visible around the outside of the irises. Like his parents, the small child had silvery-gold scales around his face and on his forearms, as well as two very small protruding horns of the same colour that looked very similar to his mother's own elegantly curved copper-gold horns. He wore white and blue Nordic noble clothing that complimented his fair skin, like his parents.
The child in the painting obviously had to be Emil. He seemed to be a few months old at the time the painting had been made. He also looked happy as he was laughing, clasping two of Hazel's fingers in his much smaller hand - not knowing that his happy life would be cut short.
In the painting, Hazel had a look in her eyes that was very familiar to Cherry as she held her baby; it was the look of a kind, protective mother. Only there wasn't a hint of sadness in her eyes as there had been when she'd become her guardian. Then again, this Hazel hadn't lost her child to Gothel's wrath yet.
What was strangest to Cherry about the painting was the loving way Lukas looked at Hazel and Emil with a slight smile; he obviously adored his wife and child like they were his whole world - which they most likely were at the time. It was definitely the look of a loving husband as well as a proud father.
As far as Cherry was aware during the few times she'd seen Lukas in both human and dragon form, he didn't smile and had no emotion in his eyes. Maybe losing his son had affected him more than Hazel thought.
"He would've been a year or so older than you by now..he was a proud and stubborn boy. He took after his father. A quick learner too..surprised us both when he learnt the fire-breath spell at just 5 months old. When you were first brought here, you reminded me so much of Emil...so innocent and with your whole life ahead of you. My instincts as a mother kicked in. As I told Lukas then, I wasn't going to fail you like I failed our Emil" Hazel explained.
"Speaking of the first time I came here..why would Gothel lie to me all those years?" Cherry asked.
"She has a bad reputation in the magic world. There's so much she won't tell you..like your parents didn't abandon you. They loved you. Just as Lukas and I loved our Emil. You were stolen from them by Gothel. She also doesn't want you knowing about passages..." Hazel replied. She pressed a loose cobblestone on the floor near her. A panel in the wall suddenly opened beside Cherry. "...like that one" she finished.
"How did.." Cherry wondered.
"This old fortress was once Berwald's home. He was our cousin. Well, mine and Lukas' at least. We know this place better than Gothel ever could, we all grew up with memories of being here. Hazel's been here before too" Tino answered.
Cherry stood up to inspect the passage inside.
"It leads straight to the town of the nearest kingdom. It's how Berwald used to go visit his 'special friend', Erin (Aland). It's perfectly safe" Hazel stated.
"Go on..we'll cover for you" Tino stated.
Knowing that Tino and Hazel never stirred her wrong, Cherry followed the pitch black passage. All the way through to the town. The cobblestone streets were alive with colours and music, nothing like the drab and silent fortress. An imperial white castle loomed over the little village.
In her wonder and awe, Cherry found herself in the gardens that surrounded the castle. Two teenage Asian girls in fine clothing were playing tag with five other Asian boys around their teenage years too, most likely their brothers.
Suddenly, the game was cut short when the girl in a pink dress and a pink flower in her hair fell through something. Her siblings had gathered around where she fell in shock.
Cherry also rushed over. Sure enough, there was a hole big enough to trap a large animal. The girl in pink was holding onto a thick root that was sticking out of the soil for dear life. "Don't worry. I'll help you out" she offered.
The other girl, who was in a green dress ran off with her brother who was clad in red and gold to get help.
"I'm scared, Miss" the teenage girl whimpered.
Cherry reached out one of her hands. "Grab on and I'll pull you out" she advised.
The girl only moved her hand slightly, not letting go. "I can't" she insisted.
Cherry kept her composure. "Just let go with one hand and reach up" she assured the troubled girl. The girl did what she was told this time. "You can do it" Cherry encouraged. The girl reached up and caught Cherry's hand. When Cherry offered her other hand, the girl grabbed it. Halfway in pulling the girl out, Cherry felt herself lose her footing.
To Cherry's surprise, someone else caught her; an Asian young man with short black hair and dark brown eyes. He wore white fine robes. He was able to pull Cherry back as well as the girl. He gave the girl a brief hug.
"Mei, you're arright. Thank you for saving my younger sister" the man thanked Cherry.
Cherry felt herself turn slightly pink. "Well, thank you for saving me" she replied.
A moment passed until Cherry realised she needed to get going. She waited until the young man faced his sister, Mei to reprimand her for worrying him and endangering another's life. Cherry quietly and swiftly left.
The young man, who was the Prince Kiku, turned back to ask for Cherry's name. Yet he was astonished that the girl had practically vanished. As was Mei.
Hazel was checking through the herb gardens for something that would turn Tino to normal when she felt the wind beside her change, meaning someone was there. She turned around just as the dragon turned into a human man; or to be correct, her husband Lukas.
"What is it, Lukas?" Hazel remarked; she knew what was to come.
Lukas crossed his arms, unamused. "Please don't tell me you're still wasting your best years here, Hazel" he stated.
Hazel scoffed. "Course not. I was helping Cherry out. As well as trying to find a way to turn Tino back to normal" she answered.
"I see" Lukas replied, feigning understanding before resuming a straight face. "Whilst neglecting your abilities? Prove you can still do the fire-breath spell" he requested.
Hazel rolled her eyes. To humour Lukas, she raised her hand to her mouth, her ring and necklace were now a fiery red. But when she blew, a frost ice blast came out. She checked the back of her hand and saw that the Norse rune for 'ice' was there instead of the fire rune. "Wrong rune" she joked.
However, Lukas was unimpressed. Which annoyed Hazel greatly; the old Lukas still would've laughed and claimed that she probably did that on purpose. "What about your flight? Surely you've practiced that at least?" he stated.
"That was on my list of things to do..but you know how I am with prioritising these days" Hazel remarked. This only served to inwardly infuriate Lukas.
Hazel sighed before taking her dragon form. She felt herself going higher; it had been a while since she last flew. Although she kept reminding herself not to look down, she couldn't help but to. Everything seemed so disorientating, she had to rush back down and turn back. "Stupid disorientation, that motion sickness sucked!" she complained.
Lukas looked slightly disappointed. "We don't get disorientated or motion-sick, Hazel. You've really let me down. The Hazel I know could face barrage after barrage of demons and still have more than enough energy to spar with Matthias and Berwald. And beat them" he remarked.
Hazel turned on her heel and walked off. '"Well, that makes two of us. The Lukas I married would've never associated himself with the likes of the woman who murdered our child in cold blood" she countered.
Lukas sighed. "If only you knew the real reason, my dear" he muttered.
Using the same passage, Cherry rushed back to the fortress. In her chambers, she told Tino and Hazel everything. From wandering the village to the moment she had met Kiku (not knowing that he was the Prince).
Hazel smiled thoughtfully the whole time. After all, she remembered when she and Lukas first met and sparred. Lukas had been intrigued enough to pursue her; his persistence and charm soon won her over. It hadn't been long after that until she married him which had led to their son's birth.
Tino looked blissful as well, remembering the moments he'd spent with his fiancé when he was still human.
Gothel suddenly stormed in. For the first time, she looked slightly angry. "You've snuck out" she guessed.
Cherry stood up. "Gothel, please.." she asked calmly.
"I've taken you in and cared for you since you were a baby and this is how you repay me?! By defying me?! You are to stay in the fortress!" Gothel demanded.
Hazel snorted. 'Since when have you cared for Cherry?! I'm the one who's been mothering her all these years, you foul excuse of a magic user!' she protested in thought.
From Gothel's shoulder, Francis smirked. He had been the one who ratted Cherry out.
"And I've heard you met someone. Tell me the boy's name" Gothel ordered.
"I don't know" Cherry answered honestly.
Gothel's eye twitched. She didn't believe Cherry. "You dare lie to me now?!" she accused.
Hazel stepped in, a dark aura that only a protective mother could master surrounding her. "She's telling the truth!" she interjected.
Gothel now glared at Hazel. "You and your rabbit cousin ought to stay out of things that aren't your business!" she argued.
Hazel glared back, her eyes going a red-gold colour like the fierce embers of fire. Tino recognised it as a sign that Hazel was about to either use her own magical powers or turn into a dragon herself. The last time Hazel had glared at Gothel like that was when she caught the witch staring at little Emil in such a way that terrified him. "Everything to do with Cherry IS my business!" she insisted.
Gothel didn't flinch. "You two ought to leave. Or do you want your husband to suffer a worse fate than your son?" she challenged Hazel, knowing full well that Hazel would never risk Lukas' well-being.
It was a dragon-shifting sorceress' duty that she uphold the honour and safety of her partner at all times. Especially one who still felt she had failed to protect her hatchling.
Hazel's eyes suddenly turned to normal; she knew she had to uphold that sworn duty as a wife. Despite their recent problems since they lost Emil, she still loved Lukas. So she dejectedly left, followed by Tino.
"Perhaps some solitary confinement will change your mind.." Gothel stated as she made the stairs and doors to Cherry's chambers disappear. The room then grew into a tower.
Before teleporting away, Gothel shattered Cherry's paintings and painting equipment out of sheer spite.
