AN: We're back! Sorry for the wait. This chapter got longer than I expected it to be.
Slight trigger warning: Some of the Polymorph Project is talked about in this chapter and that does involve mentions of past torture.
LLB
Lenora felt arms wrap back around her.
"No!"
"It's alright, Zaubermous. VVe're boz alright."
She looked up into her husband's blue eyes, "Y-You're ok?"
"Only because ve have ze most amazing children, "Otto grinned and looked over.
Lenora followed his gaze and found Toby and Mary pressed against the bars of the cage. Two large sleeping bags covered them all. She chuckled and wiped her eyes.
"I'm just glad we made it in time," Toby gasped.
Their parents laughed quietly before Lenora leaned against Otto's chest, clutching his arms once more.
"VVhere's Eli?"
"Getting the lockpick set from the Janis Order car Onkel Walt had us take," The boy poked under the sleeping bags, "Give me a couple minutes and I'll have this open for you."
Otto didn't get a chance to reply before Lenora groaned and doubled over.
"Lenora?"
"Oh…"Her grip on his arm tightened and she looked up at him, tears flooding her eyes again, "That's not good…"
Otto stroked her hair gently and looked up at thee teens. The joy on their faces quickly melted away and was replaced with unease. He looked around the cage and back at his wife.
"Do you know vvhen your Wasser broke, Zaubermaus?"
"I-I don't know!" She whimpered through another contraction.
Otto kissed her temple carefully, "Shhh. It's going to be alright. Eli, I need you to get zat door open zen go start ze car. Can you do zat? Ok. I'm going to need YOU to drive. Barchen, I vvant you to go und make ze car as comfortable for Mama as possible. Can you do zat for me? Good. Und Mary-"
"Tanta Barbara's on her way," She shoved her phone back into her pocket.
"Good vvork. I'm also going to to need your help keeping Mama cool. Can you do zat?"
She licked her lips and nodded.
"Zat's my girl. Und, Zaubermous?" He helped her into a more comfortable position, "I just vvant you to keep calm und focus on your breazing."
Lenora nodded and tried to relax. She looked over and saw that Eli's hands were shaking. A slight red glow surrounded the padlock.
"Hey, Baby. Can you look at me?" She wait until he looked up, "There you go. You need to calm down. Will you breath with me?"
Eli chuckled shakily but nodded and took a deep breath. He reached through the bars, ignoring how it burned his hands, and held her hand for a moment. The glow subsided. Then, taking another deep breath, he turned back to the lock. Lenora smiled. Then she groaned again and squeezed her husband's hand.
"She's early," She breathed.
Otto smiled thinly and stroked her hair, "I know, Zaubermaus. But, it's going to be ok. VVe vvon't let anyzing happen. You boz are going to be ok."
Lenora nodded and whimpered. Only a few minutes later they heard the click of the lock and screeching of the hinges.
"I got it!" Eli cheared, "I'm going to run and start the car."
Otto nodded and scooted out of the cage, transforming as soon as he was out. Then, he reached back and scooped Lenora into his arms. She whimpered and grabbed a fistful of his shirt.
"It's going to be ok, Mama," Mary put a hand on her mother's shoulder, "The car's not far and Tanta Barbara will be here soon."
Lenora gave her daughter a shaky smile and buried her face in Otto's neck. He shifted his hold on her, careful of her wings. As much as he wanted to run to the car and make her as comfortable as possible, he took careful measured steps to keep from jostling her to much.
Eli had moved the car closer to the foot bridge. Toby jumped out of the passenger seat and opened the back hatch. Mary leapt into the back seat while Otto gently settled Lenora into the back and closed the hatch behind them. As soon as all the doors were closed, Eli stepped on the gas and made his way back into town.
"Alright, Zauermaus. I'm just going to see how you're doing."
She nodded and bit back a scream, allowing only a small cry to slip through her teeth. Otto bit his lip and looked to the front of the car.
"Barchen, can you see ze ozers?"
"Not yet, Papa."
Otto sighed and nodded, "Alright. Lenora, get ready to push. Mary, are zere any more blankets?"
She shook her head, lipps pressed tight together.
"We have this," Toby passed her their father's black jacket.
"Good enough."
Lenora groaned, tears rolling down her cheeks. She bore down, whole body shaking.
"Very good. Again, Zaubermaus."
Mary used her powers to keep her mother cool, running cool water over her face and neck. Lenora pushed again, crying.
"You're doing so good, my Love. Just a little more."
She shook her head and grit her teeth. Otto rubbed her leg gently. She pushed again.
"Zat's it," Otto held the baby's head in one hand and wiped her mouth and nose with the other, "Only a couple more. As hard as you can."
Lenora took a deep shaking breath and pushed as hard as she could. She screamed.
"Perfect! Just vone more! You're almost done."
She pushed and screamed again. All at once the pain ebbed. Otto wrapped their baby warmly in his jacket and pressed her into Lenora's arms. She held her tight with shaking arms, unable to tear her eyes away even as her husband sat beside her.
"Sh-She's not crying."
Otto chuckled, tears rolling down his cheeks, "Not all babies do, Mein Hertz."
Otto couldn't stop the tears from spilling down his cheeks as he looked down at his tiny, newborn daughter. He heard Lenora hiccup and knew she was crying too. As unorthodox as her entry into the world had been, the baby girl had succeeded in steeling both her parents' hearts. Managing to tear his eyes away from her, Otto looked up at his older three children. Toby, Mary and Eli watched, wide eyed, from a distance.
"Don't be shy," he chuckled, holding out one arm for them, "You can come over und say hello."
Mary burst into a wide grin, hopped over the back of the seat, and wiggled over to her mother's side. She hesitated for only a moment before reaching forward and stroking her sister's cheek. Toby and Eli moved much slower. Toby leaned over Otto's shoulder and Eli stretched over his lap both eager to see the newest addition to their growing family.
Eli reached forward and let the baby wrap her fingers around one of his. Mary leaned back and took a picture.
"Princessin, don't sent zat to anyvvone or post it anyvvhere. You can tell everyvvone vvhen vve get home. Ok?"
Mary pouted a fake pout and smiled, "Ok, Papa."
She settled back down and rest her head against Lanora's shoulder. Otto wrapped his free arm around Toby and Eli rest his head on Lenora's knee, content with the knowledge that his new sister was going to hold his hand hostage for however long she wanted. As ridiculous as they looked, all crammed together in such a small space, looking over his family Otto knew, he wouldn't trade this moment for anything in the universe.
"VVait. Eli, why is ze car parked?"
"Oh, we met up with Tanta Barbara and the others about a minute ago," he didn't look up.
Otto looked out the back window and saw his brother and sister-in-law smiling down at them. Walt opened the hatch. Barbara chuckled and sat on the bumper.
"So, I see my assistance wasn't entirely necessary," she teased.
Toby, Mary, and Eli crawled away and out of the car to stand by their uncle. Their aunt set her emergency bag on the floor and reached for the baby. Lenora leaned away.
"It's alright, Jay. I just want to make sure she's alright. Then I'll give her right back. You can hold her while I look YOU over."
Lenora eyed her best friend for a moment before, slowly, handing her baby over.
"Did you three see Elizabeth Lucisus?" Walt put an arm around each Eli and Toby, "I have the strongest suspicion that she was here."
"No," Mary hung her head, "There was only Mama and Papa when we got here and Mama went into hard labor before we got a chance to look for anyone else."
"Damn," Walt sighed and rest his head on top of Eli's, "We need to find her and break Roland's spell. We can't let this happen again."
"Ze spell has already been broken," Otto kissed his wife again and joined the others, "She got angry at us und grabbed ze bars vviz her bare hands."
"Ah."
Otto's lips trembled as he looked away, "Did you know? Did you know she vvas alive?"
"Of course not. I thought she was killed with the others."
Otto growled and slowly pushed Mary behind him, eyes trained on his sons.
"Papa?"
"I meant BEFORE. Did you know about ZAT?"
"The Polymorph Project? Of course not, Bruderlein! Do you honestly think I would willingly participate in something like THAT?!"
"Was der Hölle ist der ‚Polymporph Project'?"
Walt blinked, "Wait. What are YOU talking about? Otto? Do you know who Elizabeth is?"
"Of course I do! I've NEVER forgotten her! Not after sechs hundert Jahre!"
The color drained from Walt's face. He let go of Toby and Eli and took his little brother by the shoulders.
"Are you saying that Elizabeth is…"
Otto nodded and dug the heels of his palms into his eyes. Walt pulled him close, both shaking.
"I'm so sorry, Otto. I swear I didn't know. I didn't know she was alive. I didn't know what they were doing to her."
Otto shook as he leaned into his brother's embrace.
"Hey!" Jim landed beside them all, holding Elizabeth by the arm, "Not to freek anyone out but isn't she supposed to be DEAD?"
She sank to her knees and looked up at her brother and his family. The kids staired at her, gobsmacked. Walt chuckled and looked at her in wonder. Otto pulled away from his brother and knelt in front of his baby sister. He took her face in his hands and looked her dead in the eyes. He smiled.
"It's YOU. You're alive und you're free of him. You're- you're-"
He pulled her against his chest. She was stiff for only a moment before melting into his arms. She grasped the back of his shirt almost tight enough to tear it. They stayed like that until a different, younger cry reached their ears. Otto looked over his shoulder and smiled. The crying stopped almost as suddenly as it started. Otto stood, pulling Elizabeth to her feet. Pulling her along behind him, he sat next to Lenora once more. He nuzzled her hair gently and watched as she nursed their daughter. Elizabeth shuffled her feet nervously.
"So…who is she?" Jim whispered to his cousins.
"Papa's lost baby sister," Eli whispered back, "Apparently it has something to do with the Polymorph Project."
Jim nodded and watched the adults for a moment. He looked from his uncle to the young woman at his side.
"And we're sure she's not YOUR sister?"
His father burst into peals of laughter. The four teens stared at him.
"What makes you say that?" Walter chuckled.
Jim furrowed his eyebrows, "Well, if she's his little sister and you found him when he was six, she would only BE six years younger than him. That means they would look roughly the same age at this point. But she doesn't look much older than us. And she looks just like him. Like, a skinny girl Onkel O. Siblings don't usually look that much alike."
Walt shook his head and stepped away from the car.
"No, Young Atlas. There is no way she is any relation to your Onkel O than Liza Scaarbach. For one, she is, at most, sixteen years younger than him."
"But, in the fifteenth century, wouldn't that have been normal?" Toby pointed out, "I thought you said something like that in class."
"That's true," Walt conceded, "However, your Papa was still such a clingy little guy at the time that he wouldn't even leave the house if I wasn't with him."
The four broke into quiet chuckles and giggles. Even Elizabeth allowed a small smile.
Barbara shook her head, "Alright, I say we get the car back and head home. I don't know about the rest of you but I would like to take care of everything before sunup in Arcadia."
"I second that," Lenora lay her head on Otto's.
"I'll drive," Walt took the keys from Eli, "You four, in the back seat. Elizabeth? Would you like to sit up front with Barbara and I?"
She looked up at him, startled, "Y-You WANT me to come with you?"
"Of course," Barbara put an arm around her shoulders, "Come on."
Once everyone had piled in and the doors were closed, Walt grinned and drove off. Mary looked over her shoulder at her parents and sister.
"Mama? Papa?"
"Yes, Princess?" Lenora looked at her older daughter but didn't lift her head.
"Can we know her name now?" Eli turned and grinned.
Otto chuckled and held the baby's hand, "Her name is Antonia."
"Antonia Elain Scaarbach."
"After Oma Elain and Nonna?" Toby turned.
Lenora nodded, "That's right. Now face forward. I know not all of you have seatbelts on."
The rest of the drive was quiet. Walt parked the car in the Omni Reach garage and everyone filtered out. Otto scooped Lenora and Antonia into his arms as soon as he closed the back hatch.
"I can walk, Otto."
"I know."
Their children rolled their eyes, smiling, and followed their family out to the street.
LLB
They came out of the portal into a homey cave keep. It was lit with crystals like the keeps in Trollmarket but also sported a human kitchen in one corner, a sofa and large TV in another, and even a blinking internet modem tucked into a nook behind the TV.
"Chuck?" Walt called, "Chuck?...Charlette?"
"Who are you and how do you know about that?!" A black and blue winged changling tackled the now human Trollhunter, "Wait. Wally World?"
"Hello, Chuck," He groaned, "Please get off me."
She leapt up, long tufted tail twitching and wings quivering in excitement, "What are you doing here? You do know it's, like, midnight, right?"
"We just needed to make a pitstop on the way home and figured you wouldn't mind if we popped in and said 'hello'."
Chuck turned to face the rest of the family and her eyes widened comically, "The rumours are true…" She tackled Jim, "You've reproduced!"
She rounded on Otto, "And Otto! Damn you've been busy!" She dived and grabbed Eli, "He looks just like his mother! 'Cept his hair. That's all you." She dropped him and grabbed Toby, "And this one looks just like you! Again, 'cept his hair but genetics are weird so whatevs." She dropped Toby and hugged Mary, "Is it safe to assume this one has a different Mommy?"
"And Daddy," The mermaid croaked, scrambling out of Chuck's arms and hiding behind her parents.
Chuck laughed and held Elizabeth up by her ankle, "Holy shit! This one looks EXACTLY like you! I haven't seen ANYONE look this much like you since the baby in your painting!"
Otto leapt out of the way of the hyper changeling, "Chuck! Take a chill pill!"
She tumbled, landing on her butt and whimpering like a wounded puppy. Otto sighed.
"It's good to see you again, Chuck. Zis is my vife, Lenora. Und our children, oldest to youngest; Eli, Mary, Toby, und Antonia. Und my baby schwester, Elizabeth."
Chuck fluttered her wings and landed on her feet, "So she IS the baby in your painting."
"Indeed," Walt put an arm around Barbara, "Do you mind if we hang out with you for a little bit? Just until Barbara recharges and we can go home."
She shrugged, "Yeah, sure. I don't get enough visitors up here anyway. Just make yourselves comfortable."
The family dispersed. Otto set Lenora on the sofa and sat beside her.
"You're hovering."
"VVe almost died today. Of course I'm hovering."
"WE? No. YOU almost died today. If anyone should be hovering it should be me."
"Can we please not talk about Papa's near death experience right now?" Mary sat next to her mother.
She eyes her baby sister and hummed nervously. Lenora chuckled.
"Do you want to hold her?"
"Yes please!"
Mary froze as the baby was handed to her. Antonia cooed and shuffled for a moment before settling quietly.
"I think I understand what Seamus was saying about baby sisters."
Her parents laughed quietly.
"Oh! We get to hold her?" Eli sat on Mary's other side, Toby hot on his heels.
Antonia was none the wiser as she was passed from sibling to sibling. Chuck sat on the floor in front of them, phone tucked under her chin.
"She's so tiny. How old is she?"
"About a half an hour," Otto said, accepting the baby from Toby.
"Wait. What? How?"
"Why are you recording us?" Mary asked instead of answering and pointed at the phone.
Chuck grinned sheepishly, "Blackmailing my brother into visiting. I haven't heard from him in months. A part of me is worried. The rest of me thinks he's just being a dick."
"That would be in character for him, Chuck," Walt approached, arms crossed.
"I know. But the last time we went this long without talking he opened an Egypt themed strip club...in CHINA."
Walt snorted and hid behind one hand, "Oh God. I thought he was joking about that."
"I wish."
"Chuck?" Otto interrupted their reminiscing, "Quick question. Is ze Seven Eleven at ze foot of ze mountain still zere?"
"Yeah. Why?"
"We don't have anything for Antonia," Lenora explained, "She came...kind of suddenly. We really just need diapers and maybe a blanket right now."
"We can go," Jim offered, "It shouldn't take too long and Eli and I will be able to fly the others back up."
Chuck shrugged and pocketed her phone, "Sure. I'll show the kids the way there and back."
Without waiting for an answer, she herded the teens towards the door.
"Oh!" Mary turned, "Tanta Liza, do you want to come with us?"
The polymorph staired and shook her head.
"Oh. Ok…"
With the kids and Chuck gone, the keep seemed unnaturally quiet. Barbara and Walt sat on the other end of the sofa and Lenora dosed against Otto's shoulder once more.
"He said she's named after her grandmothers?"
"What?" Walt lifted his head to look at her.
"T-Toby? He said the baby is named after her grandmothers."
Otto smiled, "Zat's right. Antonia after Lenora's Mama, her 'Nonna'. Und Elain after our Mama, her 'Oma Elain'."
"So...she was the human?" Elizabeth hugged her knees closer.
"That's right," Walt nodded slowly, "You told Gunra that your FATHER was the human."
Elizabeth shrugged, "I just put whatever I thought made the most sense. It wasn't in my paperwork since that part wasn't deemed important information. Just that one was human and the other was a troll."
"Well, it worked in Roland's favore. If Erik hadn't found your compartment and Nono and I started looking into everything we may never have found out what had happened."
Elizabeth curled further into herself. Otto shook his head.
"It vvasn't your fault, Elizabeth. You didn't ask for vvhat Roland did to you."
"How do you know?"
"Because I was there."
Everyone turned to look at Lenora. The fairy didn't lift her head from her husband's shoulder.
"I saw what Roland did. You didn't ask for it. If anything, it's MY fault. I ran. I didn't even TRY to help the girl I saw."
Elizabeth looked down in thought. She scootched a little closer.
"Does this make us even?"
Lenora shook her head, "Not even close. I owe you so much more."
"But I almost killed you all!"
"And I let you get tortured for nearly seventeen years. We're not even."
"We're back!" Eli set Mary on the floor.
"We got diapers but they didn't have blankets so we got a soft towel," She handed the shopping bag to her parents.
"Jimbo and Chuck are goofing around," Toby handed his aunt another bag, "He bought you a sandwich and a bagel."
"Thank you, Toby."
Lenora groaned as she unwrapped her baby, "Oh, she is going to need a BATH when we get home."
"Why wait?" Mary grinned, "I could use my powers."
"Princessin, you still don't know how to heat vvater vvizout BOILING it."
She hung her head, "Oh yeah…"
"I do have a bathroom you could use," Chuck and Jim glided in, "I may live in a cave but I still have running water."
Otto and Lenora exchanged a look and glanced over at Barbara.
"Go ahead. If Chuck doesn't mind then I won't complain. She needs a bath either way."
They nodded and followed Chuck's instructions to the bathroom.
"Alright, Kid," Chuck turned to Jim, "Grab the old man so we can go. I haven't had a flying buddy in DECADES and I am not going to pass up this opportunity."
"Y-Young Atlas," Walt looked down sadly, "I can't fly anymore, remember?"
Jim grabbed his arm, "I know, Da. But neither could I and you still took me flying. My turn."
Walt smiled and followed the changlings out the door. Mary sat on the floor next to Elizabeth.
"So, are you going to stay with us?"
"Um...I-If your parents don't mind. Just until I can get a job and a place of my own."
"Don't mind? You'll have a hard time getting Papa to let you leave," Toby sat on her other side.
"I think Mama might get jealous," Eli teased.
"O-Of me?"
"No. Of Papa. Tanta Maranda...just up and left a few months ago. Mama didn't even get to tell her about Antonia. I didn't even get to say goodbye."
Elizabeth looked up at him, "When the sky got all dark like...like an eclipse? And-And everyone was running all over the place?"
"The Eternal Night. Yeah."
"Elizabeth?" Barbara sat forward, "What all do you remember from the past seventeen years? Are they like normal memories or...something else?"
"D-Different...It's mostly just colors and emotions...Like dreams in a way. I couldn't stop but I wasn't fighting it either. It all just kind of happened…"
"What's the last thing you really remember?" Barbara sat on the floor with them, a look of concern spreading over her face.
"I was in Italy...I was looking for him. For my brother. I was angry. So angry…" Elizabeth looked down at her feet and started rocking slightly, "I met Ro-Rol...him. He...He said he would help me so I followed him and...and...and"
Her breath came in short bursts. She slid back against the wall and tried to make herself as small as possible.
"Elizabeth?" Barbara knelt directly in front of her, "Liza? Can you look at me?"
She still shook. She still gasped for air. But she looked up.
"There we go. I need you to take deep breaths for me. Ok? In for four, out for eight. Good. Again. In for four, out for eight."
Elizabeth followed her instructions and, slowly, her breathing evened back out.
"That's better," Barbara smiled, "I think that's enough questions for now. I'm sorry. Here," She handed her the bagel, "Eat this. It'll help. And you look like you haven't eaten in a while."
"I don't need it."
"Don't give me that. I'm pretty sure none of us have eaten since close to noon and it's nearly seven in Arcadia now."
"No. I don't need it. I don't need food…" Elizabeth hid her face in her knees, "Starvation can't kill a polymorph…"
The room went deathly silent. The three Scaarbach teens looked at each other, the younger two silently asking the same question. Eli nodded slightly. Barbara sighed and pressed the bagel into Elizabeth's hand.
"That may be true. But that doesn't mean you'll continue to function without it. And, even if you can," Barbara held up a hand, "Eating will help you feel better. And it's ok to indulge in earthly comforts. Though, I wouldn't call a BAGEL indulging."
Elizabeth looked down again and slowly took a bite out of the bagel. Mary turned back to her brothers.
"Anybody remember where the air mattress is?"
"It's in the attic with the camping cot," Toby explained, "We made sure they were together after Seamus moved in with his dads."
"Hey! If you set them both up, and put a blanket over the cot before you put the mattress on, it'll look like just another bed," Eli grinned. (1)
"Perfect! We can set it up in my room before we do the paperwork."
"You'd trust me to sleep in the same room as you?"
"Sure. Do I have a reason not to?"
Elizabeth blinked at her, "I kidnaped your parents, nearly killed your father, sent your mother into early labor, and probably countless other atrocities over the past seventeen years. And you just met me."
Mary just smiled. Toby laughed.
"If we stopped trusting every family member that got mind controlled, possessed, or manipulated, we wouldn't be able to trust anyone."
"We could trust each other," Eli grinned.
"And that's about it…"
Elizabeth continued to stare. Mary sighed.
"If it makes you feel better, I can keep a better eye on you if we're in the same room."
Elizabeth shook her head, "You are WAY to forgiving."
"And someday it will bite us in the butts," Mary nodded.
Eli leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees, "Hey, since we have you all to ourselves right now, what do you want us to call you?"
"What?"
"What do you want us to call you? Elizabeth? Liz? Beth? Lizard?"
"Liza?" Otto and Lenora returned with a warm and clean Antonia.
"Liza vvas ze name Mama gave you. But Elizabeth is ze name you chose. Is zere any particular name or diminutive you vvould prefer us to call you?"
She blinked up at him for a moment before looking away again, "Can...Can I be Elizabeth Scaarbach? And then...all of you can call me 'Liza' for short. But j-just you all."
Otto grinned, "VVe can do zat."
"We can have Walt draw up your paperwork while I do Antonia's," Barbara offered.
Just then, Jim and Walt tumbled through the door. They were both laughing as they splayed out over the floor. Chuck chuckled and shook her head as she landed much more elegantly. Barbara smiled down at her boys.
"Oh, what am I going to do with you two?"
Walt leapt to his feet and pulled her close, "Hug us, squeeze us, love us forever?"
She pulled him down by his lapels, "You're so lucky you're cute."
"Save it for when we get home, you two."
They looked down at their son, who grinned up at them.
"On that note," Walt looked over his family, "I think we've imposed on Chuck for long enough. We should head home before it gets too late there."
"You better visit again soon, Waltolemue Stricklander," the changeling put her hands on her hips, "Or at least tell me your address or something. It gets lonely here and scaring humans can only amuse me for so long."
"We'll visit soon, Chuck. But I'm not telling you my address. I don't trust you not to tell your brother."
"I can keep a secret!"
"Said the person who makes her living scaring humans in her troll form."
"It works best if you start in your human form, run out of sight, scream like crazy, and jump at them in your human form."
Walt shook his head and turned, "Goodbye, Chuck."
LLB
Otto rubbed his neck as he made his way up the stairs. The sheer amount of paperwork for the day had taken MUCH longer than anticipated. He had sent his family to bed hours ago, promising to finish the paperwork and come up after. He peeked into the boys' room to check on his sons. Toby half hung off his bunk and Eli's wings twitched in his sleep. Otto smiled and made his way down to his daughter's room. Liza was curled up tight on her makeshift bed, back to the wall and blanket pulled tight. Fragwa was curled up next to her, nose tucked under her long legs. Mary was curled up in her bed, reading on her phone.
"Nightmares already, Princessin?"
"No, Papa. Just couldn't sleep."
He sat on the edge of her bed, "Anyzing particular keeping you up?"
She shook her head, "No. But I gave Tanta Liza the last of my sleeping potion."
"Ze vone Oma brewed for you?"
"Yeah...Papa? She said 'Polymorphs don't need sleep'. That sleep deprivation can't hurt you."
"Zat is true...To a point. In our troll forms vve can go a VARY long time vvizout sleep. Like Jim did vvhile you vvere in ze past. But sleep is still good for us. It helps us recover, stay strong, und releases ze 'happy chemicals' into our brains. Same as humans."
Mary yawned and curled into her father's side, "She also said polymorphs don't need to eat. I don't think I believe her."
Otto licked his lips, "It's like vviz sleeping: True to an extent. Starvation vvill not kill us. But it makes us vveaker. Makes us sick. I've never gone longer zan a few monzs…"
"Tanta Liza said she can't remember the last time she ate or slept. She doesn't remember much from her time under Roland's controle."
He sighed and played with her neon blue hair, "Zat doesn't surprise me. Is zat vvhat's been keeping you up?"
She nodded.
"It's going to be ok, Princessin. Maybe not right avay, but eventually. VVe are going to do everyzing vve can to help Tanta Liza," He held her close, "But, for tonight, don't vvorry about it. Our family is safe. Zey are all tucked in zeir beds und everyone is home. Und I zink vve deserve it after ze day vve've all had. VVouldn't you agree?"
The young mermaid didn't reply. She was sound asleep. Her father smiled softly and tucked her back into bed. He kissed her forehead.
"Goodnight, Princessin. Papa lieb dich."
He left the door open for the goblin to come and go as she pleased. Finally, he entered his own bedroom. Lenora and Antonia were both asleep, the baby finally dressed in a soft purple sleeper. Otto stopped to watch his youngest for a moment before changing into his pajamas and slipping into bed with his wife. Lenora sighed and snuggled closer.
LLB
The blond fairy knelt before the two demigods, waiting for their verdict.
"What could this mortal aid us with?" The ice spirit hissed, "He cannot possibly help us get Nari back."
"I can offer you something of EQUAL VALUE to your wayward companion," He promised and rose to his feet.
The spirit bristled but their fiery companion stepped forward with interest. Roland smiled.
"I can give you the Heartstone of Heartstone Trollmarket."
"HOW!?" Skrel's whisper voice was a chill on the wind that would have frozen his wings had they been out.
"I know where it's equal on the surface is," His smile grew as he wrapped one arm around the woman at his side, toying with her black curls, "I have someone who has been in Arcadia for many years."
LLB
AN: So, after this the events of the movie start to take place. There will be spoilers but it will also be different. See you all then! TTFN Ta Ta For Now!
1) The current setup I've been sleeping on for a while.