Peter entered the silent house and walked to his parent's room. His Mama sat holding his Papa's hands in his.
Tino looked up and his eyes glittered with tears of hope. He glanced around for Alfred, and when he didn't see him, he frowned at his son, confused.
Peter ignored his mama and went up to his father. He took out the bottle and uncorked it. Gently and with great care he lifted the king and poured the misty contents in his father's mouth. The King swallowed and almost instantly relaxed back with a sigh of relief.
Tino smiled happily and turned to his son and frowned. Though there was a smile on the young man's lips, it did not reach his eyes. Peter's shoulders seemed to be heavy as if something was placed on them.
Tino motioned for his son to follow him as he got up and went into the living room. He closed his lover's door with a soft click and turned to his son.
As soon as they were alone the young man collapsed into his mama's arms in a series of sobs and half hearted whispers.
Shocked and worried Tino held his boy until he calmed enough to tell him what happened. It only took a few minuets and Peter was recounting his journey. It was difficult for him to keep it together when he reached the moment where Alfred died, and his confrontation with the wizard. When he was finished he collapsed into tears once again and Tino held him all the tighter.
"I-It's all my fault," he gasped.
Tino frowned and ran a soothing hand over the young man's hair, "No, No it is not. Would you really dishonor Alfred's memory by saying such a thing. Alfred," his voice broke and he bit back tears, "Alfred gave his life for you my son, and we will not honor him by being sad. Your father is healed and curse free. We can return home and he can resume his rightful place at the throne. No longer will he be feared or hated."
Peter nodded but still felt miserable. His mama told him to go lay down and sleep before dinner. Tomorrow they would return home.
Peter did as he was told and just before he entered Tino stopped him.
"I am so proud of you Peter," he said. Peter smiled wetly and went into his room.
Sighing, Tino stood and went to his lover. He was surprised to see the King's eyes open and confused.
"My love, how do you feel?" He sat next to Berwald and took his hand.
There was a moment of silence where Berwald took stock of himself.
"I feel...free," he turned to his love, "The curse? Is it gone?" he began to sit up and smiled at his love, but stopped when he saw the sadness in the smile returned.
"What is it? What's happened?" His lover hesitated, "Tino..."
"It's Alfred... He is dead," Tino whispered.
Berwald felt his throat close. He gasped and grabbed his love's shoulders.
"How?" He rasped.
In between tears, Tino recounted the tale of their son and their friend's sacrifice and the death of Ivan the terrible. When he was finished he sobbed and hugged Berwald as he drew him close.
As tears ran down his own face, Berwald wondered if this cure was really worth the price, but Tino, seeming to read his thoughts interrupted them.
"No, do not think like that. I know what you're doing. Alfred would be ashamed and angry at us for mourning. He would want us to be happy and over joyed at your cure."
Berwald held his lover tighter, "How do we tell Mathaius and Lukas, on top of me just showing up and telling them I am not dead?"
"They will understand..." Tino pulled back and looked up into the face of his lover, "Did you know they have a child? They named him Berwald," Tino said.
Berwald's resolve shattered and he collapsed into the smaller body in tears. This had been the second time Tino had to run his hands through blond hair and whisper comforting words.
Finally after what seemed to be an age, Berwald pulled away and kissed his love.
"Marry me Tino, please," He said.
Without hesitation Tino smiled, "Yes."
"How's my boy doing?" Mat lifted up the little black haired boy and swung him around the room, while the boy laughed madly.
Lukas smiled at them and returned to his book.
"My lords," A knight entered and went to them. Mat held Berwald and watched curiously as the knight went to his husband and whispered into his ear.
"What?!" Lukas had nearly shouted.
"What is it Lukas? What's wrong?" Mat asked getting scared. He had never seen his lover so surprised or worried before.
Instead of answering the silver haired man stood up and ran out the door. With a surprised sound Mathaius followed, still carrying a confused Berwald.
They ran outside and paused in confusion. There was a large crowd gathered in the square and many people talked at once.
"It can't be," Lukas' voice was distant and Mat had never heard it sound so shocked.
He turned back to the crowd and strained his eyes. Over the heads of the townspeople was a tall blond man that looked eerily familiar.
"No..."
"Daddy, what is it?" Berwald asked looking to both of his parents.
Mathaius however ignored his son and set him down. In a daze, he told him to stay there and obediently the boy did.
Mat went down and pushed his way through the crowd, closely followed by his husband. As he neared he could hear familiar voices and finally he reached the center.
He fell to his knees and shook his head.
There before him, alive. Stood King Berwald.
A hand fell on his shoulder and he looked up at the owner. His love had his other hand over his mouth in shock and he realized that he was not imagining it. He looked back at the supposedly dead King and the man looked at him, a strange mix of sorrow and joy in his eyes.
Mat snapped out of his shock and unsheathed his sword. He brandished it angrily at the would be king. The man before him did nothing but look at him sadly.
"Who are you imposter," he growled. How dare this man pretend to be his best friend, deceased or no.
"Mat no!" Tino jumped in front of his blade and Mat and Lukas glanced to one another in confusion.
"I will explain, but not until we are somewhere more private," The imposter said in an eerily similar voice to the king.
Mat shuddered and looked to Lukas who seemed hesitant. Finally his husband nodded and turned to lead them into the castle. Now that they were walking Mathaius noticed a young blond man following them. He held out his sword to stop him.
"Who are you?"
The young man looked at him with eyes that had seen far to much far to quickly. It startled the other man but he held his ground.
"You don't recognize me Uncle Mat?" The young man said.
Mathaius gazed at him for a long moment before it hit him, "Peter?" He asked in awe.
Indeed, it was Peter and the young man smiled in affirmation. He followed after his parents leaving a perplexed Mat behind.
Oh, he was dying to hear the explanation for all this.
"So I had to leave in order to prevent Ivan from destroying the Kingdom. I believe that he thought me dead until he found Peter trying to take the cure back to me," Berwald's voice grew soft. Lukas and Mat sat with their young son, listening with rapt attention.
"What then Berwald?" Lukas said, and shook his head when the little boy looked up from his dolls.
"I..I am sorry to say that Alfred is dead," he nearly whispered.
Mat jumped out of his seat. "What?!" He could not believe what he was hearing. He had gotten his King back at the price of his best friend. He ran a furious hand through his hair.
Berwald was about to respond when Peter stepped up, chest squared and eyes set.
"He sacrificed himself for me and killed the evil Wizard. If you want to blame someone, blame me," he said, his voice steely.
Lukas and Mat frowned at him and the young man prepared himself for the verbal lashing, but was surprised to feel arms wrap around him.
"It's alright Peter, we don't blame you, and you shouldn't blame yourself either," To everyone's surprise it was Lukas who said this. He pulled away and smiled at them all.
"We are glad at your return and overjoyed that you were able to find a cure," he said.
Mat smiled and nodded, though he couldn't say anything for fear of letting the tears fall.
Peter smiled and nearly felt the tears fall as well, "Thank you," he whispered.
And that was that.
Tino and Berwald married properly and ruled together for many years with kindness and wisdom. As the younger Berwald grew, he and Peter grew to be great friends and took great care of each other as brothers.
The kingdom grew and flourished as many hoped it would. No longer did its people fear their king. Instead they revered him as a hero and a great ruler.
Though many many years later, when Peter had taken up the throne and Berwald and Tino were old. The old king would sometimes glance to the silver bottle his son had gotten from the Faerie and he silently thanked the ghost of rain.
Thank you all. This has been such a joy to write and hear from others, I hope you all enjoyed reading this as much as I did writing it. Have power and "Live long and prosper."