Author's Note:
I don't own any of the Aveyond franchise or the characters, just so you know (and so I don't get sued). Other than that, enjoy! This chapter is all fluff, so fun times ahead!
-Tangent
The garden was silent for a moment, as if every living thing seemed to be holding its breath while the nymph spoke. Her eyes roved over each of them, and she seemed satisfied with what she saw.
"You are Ceri?" Ean asked, relaxing slightly.
"I am." The nymph nodded, her pointed ears bobbing up and down with the motion. A bird flew low over the grass and up onto her outstretched arm. She petted it, and it seemed quite unafraid of the spirit. Jack realized that she was short, just a little under his own height, which left her a foot or two smaller than Ean.
"It's okay, little one. I have returned." Iya was still frozen, but she managed to speak:
"Why?" It was not the first question she wanted to ask, but Ceri did not falter.
"Why am I here?" Iya nodded slowly. "I think you already know the answer, young one. You are wise beyond your years." The elf seemed to think for a moment before answering.
"This is your…shrine, I suppose? Or your altar, where people would visit before you sealed yourself in?" Ceri's smile grew a little wider as she spoke. "But something happened, and you had to seal yourself away to protect both you and the city."
"Indeed." Ceri said. "A dear friend of mine, the only person I trusted with my offerings, helped me build this place, away from all the eyes of Candar."
"You mean Wallace." Ean said quietly, and Ceri nodded. She seemed unhappy.
"He is a very loyal man. To tell the truth, I do believe that he is in love with me." Emma's eyes widened as the nymph continued. "But I am an immortal, and so I do not wish to cause him suffering when he ages and I do not. Still, I love him in my own way just as much, and I have ensured his prosperity."
"So you really are one of the Goddess's daughters?" Rye asked, and the nymph nodded.
"I have not seen my mother in many years, but yes." With a clap of her hands, the nymph pointed at Iya. "I can aid you as much as I can, but I think that the full story must be told first."
"You mean about the nymphs?" Emma asked, and the creature dipped her head in acquiescence.
"In order to assist you, I think that it would be prudent to give you the information I possess about the prophecy concerning all of you."
"All of us?" Ava asked quietly.
"Indeed. The story revolves around two elves, but everyone here has a role to play as well. Only by working together will the quest succeed." Ceri clasped her hands together, taking a breath.
"The story begins with my mother, as all things do. She had six daughters, each representing a different portion of the spirit that resided in all living things. Wickedness, love, compassion, wisdom, luck, and hope are central in all beings, although in different amounts. She released us into the Land of Man, so that we could help the different races that lived in the mortal world. Each of us found a different home, among people that identified more closely with us than the others. I was drawn to this city, where love seemed to be more prominent than any other emotion. Over time, people came from all over to seek my wisdom and guidance."
"But it did not last." Ceri said, and she was not smiling now. "One day, approximately a decade or two ago, I felt my sister, Ishtar, vanish from the connections that bind us all. I have never felt a force that could tear us apart from one another, and I was scared. I found that I could no longer speak to my mother, nor could I speak to my sisters through the magic I wield. I waited here for days, but then my mother appeared to me. She spoke of a dark force rising in the world, and she knew it was coming for me and my sisters. Unfortunately, because of ancient laws, my mother cannot directly interfere with mortal lives. That was our duty."
"Couldn't you see who was doing it?" Jack asked hesitantly, but the nymph shook her head.
"No. Whatever power it was, it shielded itself from my sight. Before my mother faded, she told me of a prophecy that would come to pass very soon, about a band of heroes that would free me and my sisters from whatever has attacked us. And it would all center around one eleven woman, a song mage." She smiled slightly at Iya, who seemed startled. "So I asked Wallace to build this place, and I hid here, sealing away my power until I could awaken at the right time. Your powers, young Tiki, are what triggered my release, and you have my gratitude for it." She lowered her head slightly in a bow, and Iya's eyes widened.
"So, then… You have been waiting for us." Ean said quietly. "So that you can help us defeat the Snow Queen."
"I know not who that is." Ceri said. "But she is the force behind all of this, correct?" Ean nodded, and she frowned. "Such power is not easy to contend with, especially with a broken spirit." Iya's cheeks reddened, and Ceri placed a hand on her shoulder. "Yes, I can sense it. I meant no offense, young one. That you have come such far with such a burden is a testament to your strength, not your weakness."
"That's what I said." Ean muttered quietly. Iya's embarrassment, and she looked up at the nymph with gratitude.
"Thank you." She said. Ceri's eyes swept around the group.
"Indeed, I see many of you that are missing piece, although not like Iya. Hers were forcibly taken, while you lost them along the way, as is normal for mortals." The group murmured and looked around at each other, wondering who she was talking about. The nymph turned back to Iya and placed a hand on her forehead.
"I will give you my blessing, if you are willing."
"I am." Iya said firmly, and the nymph closed her eyes. Everyone seemed to be holding their breath, but nothing happened for a long moment. Finally, Ceri opened her eyes, and they seemed to hold a large amount of astonishment.
"What happened?" Ean asked, stepping forward. "Iya, are you-"
"I feel no different." The elven woman said, blinking once or twice. "Ceri, did it-"
"I see now." The nymph said, a smile spreading across her face. "Child, you are in no need of a blessing from me."
"What do you mean?" Iya asked. "The Snow Queen took my love with the rest of my spirit, didn't she?"
"That much is true." Ceri said. "I can feel a place where the love was taken from you, but it is not empty. Something else has grown there, to replace the love you had before. It is not complete yet, but I think it will be soon." Her eyes were sparkling, and Rye's mouth parted slightly.
"What do you mean?" Iya asked quietly, a frown creasing her brow.
"You have all the love you need, child." Ceri told her gently. "I can feel it, clear as day." Iya seemed to make the connection, and a blush spread over her face so quickly that Ceri laughed. Ean seemed similar embarrassed as he looked down at his feet, his cheeks scarlet. Ceri's merriment rang out through the garden, and it was a soothing sound. "Ah, do not be embarrassed, child. It is only natural." Emma was smiling now, as was Rye as they watched the two elves stutter and try to form coherent sentences.
"I sense potential from you two." Ceri said, turning to face them. They were similarly struck dumb as the nymph moved forward, standing in front of Jack.
"You have lost your family, but you have gained another. Treasure them with all your heart, child." Jack nodded mutely. Ava was next, and she stood fast as the nymph looked up at her.
"Your heart is conflicted, but you must do what you think is right." Ceri said simply, and Ava nodded slightly. Nicholas was next, and Ceri placed a hand on his forehead.
"It is not a crime to show emotion for others, young prince. Cherish what is really valuable, but do not lose the kind heart I see in you." And now, the nymph approached Gavin, who physically drew back as she approached. She stared at him for a long moment, and the colorful eyes filled with tears.
"Child…"
"I am not a child." Gavin said quietly, not looking at her. Ava had turned, staring at the nymph, as had Nicholas. Ceri merely nodded, and turned to the rest of the group as she wiped her eyes.
"I know that you must leave soon. We must make haste, before the enemy unleashes plans of their own."
"Thank you, Ceri." Iya said sincerely, looking at the nymph. "I promise we will find your sisters."
"I do not know what fate has befallen them, but it would be prudent to assume that they are in danger like I was." Ceri said, casting her eyes towards the ground. "If the Snow Queen is behind this, then there will be traps waiting for you."
"We can handle them." Ean said. "I know we can."
"I have no doubt." Ceri said with a calm smile. "But before you leave, I would like to ask one more thing of you." She turned towards Gavin. "I would like to speak to young Morven alone." Ean had never heard anybody use Gavin's last name like that, and apparently neither had he. The warlock took a step back, seeking a way out, but he saw none. Reluctantly, he nodded. "I will stay." Iya touched Ean's arm.
"Come on, everyone. Give them some privacy." The rest of the party moved back towards the entrance of the garden, and Ean locked eyes with Gavin. The unspoken message passed between them, loud and clear:
You can do this. Gavin still looked nervous, but he dipped his head slightly. With one last glance at the garden, Ean and Iya stepped through the exit and back into the castle, the door closing behind them.
The instant they were gone, Gavin turned to Ceri, eyes wide.
"What do you want with me?"
"I'm not going to hurt you. Heaven knows you've suffered enough already." Ceri looked sad now. "I saw the memories in your heart. Do you know what they're doing to you, you poor child?"
"I am fine." Gavin said, but he knew that it was a lie. "The past is past."
"That may be, but your spirit still very much dwells there." Ceri said. "But perhaps I can alleviate that pain." She extended a hand to Gavin, who stared at it. He had prayed that he would never have to face this particular nymph, but it seemed that fate was conspiring against him.
"How do I know this will help?"
"I don't know that it will." Ceri admitted. "But it is your only hope for making amends with the pirate." Gavin staggered slightly at the words.
"You… saw?" Ceri nodded, but she was wearing a patient smile.
"You were both at fault, but I think that you must make the first step to repair the rift between you." Gavin frowned and looked downwards.
"It's not that easy."
"Worthy things are usually not easy to obtain." Ceri said. "You must decide for yourself what you want to do." Gavin looked at the nymph's hand, still outstretched, and came to a decision. Reaching out, he placed his hand on top of hers, and everything faded away.
When Gavin awoke, he was lying on the floor of his house. With a sudden jolt, he remembered what had happened, and he pushed himself up quickly.
"How long have I been out?" His house still looked the same, as did the sky outside. As he listened, he could still hear the Halloween festival going on. From what he could see of the moon, it looked like it had been an hour or two since the spell had gone wrong.
"Did it work?" He muttered, pulling on his cloak. He had been determined not to go to the festival, but he needed to check if anything had happened as a result of his magic. The warlock opened the door, feeling the cool night air on his face as he stepped outside.
The woods were alight with dozens of colored lights floated in the air, each bobbing up and down slightly. He lived on the outskirts of the village, but he could see people moving around by the center of the festival, where the activities would be taking place. He joined in, blending into the crowds with his black cloak pulled over his head, and nobody gave him a second look. He saw candy being dispensed to the children of the town, briefly noticed the pumpkin carving contest, and saw two witches demonstrating various hexes and curses to a crowd of spectators.
Somebody bumped into him, and he stepped back quickly, apologizing.
"Gavin?" Glinda said, looking up at him. "I've been looking for you!" She grabbed his arm and pulled him through the crowd, ignoring his protests.
"Glinda, what are you-"
"I want to dance!" She said, pulling him into a space where other people were beginning to gather. "Come on!" She tried placing her hand on his shoulder, but Gavin grabbed it before she made contact.
"Glin, what's going on? You never dance." She was acting strange, and Gavin was starting to feel the fear bubbling up inside of him.
"Well, maybe I just want to do it with you." She said with a pout. "I realized that-"
"Gavin!" He whirled around, and his heart seemed to stop. Hilda was standing there, wearing a black dress and smiling at him in a way that she never had before. Come to think of it, she had never smiled at him, period. "Will you dance with me too?"
"Oh, no." Gavin whispered. Hilda looked at him with concern.
"Are you feeling well? Maybe you should come with me, and-"
"No, he's fine." Glinda cut in. "I can take care of him." The two women continued bickering, but Gavin wasn't listening anymore. The panic was beginning to set in, and he did the only thing he could think of at the moment: run. Yanking free of Glinda, he bolted away through the crowd, ignoring their cries for him to come back.
"What have I done?" He said, over and over. But no matter what he did that night, he could not reverse the spell that he had cast.
By morning, it seemed that nearly all the women in the village had fallen in love with him, thanks to the magic bewitching their minds. Everywhere he went, they followed him, asking to spend time with him and telling him how handsome he had become.
"Go away, please." Gavin said for what felt like the hundredth time to a group of girls following him.
"But Gavin…" They began, but he ignored them, striding away towards his home and locking the door. What was he going to do now? Pretty soon the men would notice, and then he would be in deep trouble. They might even try to kill him for casting such a spell. The elder of the village was not a very nice person, and everybody avoided him if they could.
He had tried to snap Glinda out of it, but it had not worked. She had just sat there, staring at him with a slightly dreamy expression, as though envisioning them as something more. In the end, he had sent her away, sat down upon his bed, and wept. This was the result of his selfishness, and so he would have to fix this mess on his own.
And what was worse, he felt twice as lonely as he had before. But now, he had nobody to comfort him, and he had lost the one person who had ever been kind to him…
Gavin opened his eyes, and felt tears running down his cheeks. He was sitting on the ground, in the middle of a garden, and Ceri was kneeling next to him.
"Are you okay?"
"I…" Gavin choked. He could not speak, nor did he want to after reliving the worst memory of his life. He felt the shame and guilt crashing down, and the warlock struggled to draw in a breath. The nymph patted him on the back, and felt his lungs contract and expand once again, sending oxygen to his brain.
Ceri sat next to him for a few minutes while he regained his composure. When he looked up at her with red eyes, she spoke:
"What happened next?"
"I left after a few months." Gavin said quietly. "Roamed around the world, but nobody was too fond of my kind. I became something like a traveling historian and magical researcher, but it was long time before I found Bogwood."
"But the spell followed." Ceri said simply, and he nodded.
"Iya and Ava are… not affected, I suppose. Emma neither, for which I am glad."
"Or perhaps they simply care about you in a different way."
"Ava doesn't." Gavin said sourly, and Ceri raised an eyebrow.
"So sure, are you?" Gavin stared up at her in disbelief.
"You saw what she said! I don't know what happened to her in the past, but she hates all users of dark magic, even one like me."
"Why do you care so much?" Ceri asked, and Gavin opened his mouth, but found her logic quite unbeatable. Why did he care so much about somebody like her?
"I… Because she seems like a strong person, and I… I think we could learn from each other." Gavin admitted, and Ceri smiled.
"So then what must you do?" Gavin nodded slowly, understanding dawning in his eyes. It was quickly quashed by his returning fear.
"But what about the things I did? Can I really atone for that?" Ceri placed a hand on his shoulder and looked him in the eyes.
"Only you can decide that, Gavin. But I have faith in you, and so do the others."
"I suppose you're right." The warlock said, standing up as well. "Perhaps… maybe eventually… I can try." Ceri smiled now, and it was a proper smile that sent a rush of emotions through him. For just a moment, she reminded him of Glinda.
I wonder how she is doing.
"Thank you, Ceri. For everything." Gavin said, but Ceri raised a hand.
"One more thing." Reaching out, she touched his forehead lightly, and he felt as though his body was filling up with a calm, peaceful sensation. It was centered on his heart, and he slowly felt the magic fade, now nestled somewhere within his chest. "I give you my blessing, Gavin. Be at peace." Gavin looked at her in astonishment, and she gave him another, more teasing smile. "Do give Ava my regards." He chuckled, the first time he'd laughed in days, and turned to leave the garden. As he did, he felt Ceri dissolve into nothingness, and he vowed that he would come back and thank her again one day, when he had made amends.
Iya looked up as Gavin exited the garden, a solemn look on his face. The others had been waiting for around half an hour to see what happened, but the warlock seemed unchanged on the surface. Still, Iya thought she could feel an unfamiliar energy residing somewhere within him, giving him strength.
"Everything good now?" Rye asked, looking at the warlock, who nodded.
"I think Ceri is resting for a bit. Manifesting her form took a lot of her energy after being locked up for a while."
"And what could the nymph of love want with a warlock like you?" Nicholas asked sarcastically, and Iya felt Ean tense up beside her. With Gavin's strange mood, he might very well snap. However, all the warlock did was shrug.
"Still trying to figure that out myself." He seemed extraordinarily calm, and Iya began to piece together what had happened in the garden. Ean seemed to come to the same conclusion, but he shook his head when she looked at him. "Well, shall we get going?"
"It is getting late." Ella said, appearing behind them. "You should stay here tonight. Besides, my researchers may have some answers for us."
"What do you think, Ean?" Iya asked, glancing at the elf beside her.
"I suppose it would not hurt. Besides, we still need to plot the course for the ship." He said, nodding to Ava.
"Excellent." Ella said. "Come, we can meet the researchers inside." The party followed the princess down the stairs and back towards the throne room. Iya noticed that Ava kept throwing Gavin weird looks, and she smiled internally. He seemed to be much more happy, and she hoped whatever Ceri had done would help him make amends with the pirate.
When they arrived in the throne room, Ella invited them to sit while the guards retrieved the head researcher. A few minutes later, an elderly man with a beard came into the room, attended by a slightly younger man with black hair. They were wearing green robes, and both bowed to Ella.
"Your majesty."
"Have you found anything that would help us ascend the cliffs of Eredar?" Ella asked politely, and the two exchanged looks.
"We have no records of a machine that would help, but…" The older man turned to Ean. "You are planning on visiting the two nymphs on the southern isles, correct?"
"Yes." Ean said, glancing at Ava. "The Wildlands and Storybook Island, correct?" The pirate nodded, her purple hair swaying.
"Each of those places have their own smaller kingdoms." The researcher explained." But our books contain a record of one, more ancient place located somewhere near the isles. Apparently these people possessed some sort of traveling system that let them go nearly anywhere at speeds practically unheard of." Ean glanced at Rye and Gavin, who shrugged.
"I've no recollection of such people." Gavin shrugged.
"The last recording of such a group was over five hundred years ago." The researcher stated. "A bit beyond any of us humans, but the inhabitants of the southern islands may know more. I suggest you inquire with them when you are there."
"I suppose we don't have much of a choice." Ean said quietly. "I've been thinking much of the same recently, to be honest." He turned to face the rest of the party. "Well, it seems that, like always, we have limited options. Are you all willing to head south and see what we can find?"
"Of course." Iya said.
"I'm game."
"Count me in."
"Sure."
"It's my ship, so I suppose so."
"If we have to." Nicholas muttered, and Ean smiled at them.
"I'm glad we are in agreement." Ella said. "Thank you, gentlemen." The researchers bowed and left. "I'll inform Uthar of what you're doing."
"My crew will have already restocked the provisions." Ava said. "I left orders for them, so we don't need to worry."
"Then we'll teleport back tomorrow, and be on our way." Ean said. "How far is it to The Wildlands?"
"Probably two or three days." Ava said. "It's not nearly as far as Eredar is."
"It seems we will bid each other goodbye tomorrow morning, then." Ella said. "Come, dinner has been prepared for us." She rose and led them to the dining room, where the servants were laying out the evening meal, consisting of salmon, bread, and a wide variety of side dishes. They sat, and the next few minutes were composed of very little but eating and drinking, with conversation scattered in between. Iya kept finding it hard to ask Ean questions, or even to look directly at him. When she did, she would inevitably blush and look the other way, while stammering an apology.
I'm still confused about what Ceri said… Indeed, Iya's thoughts were racing, still trying to contemplate all the knowledge that she had received today. When dinner was finished, she rose from the table and looked at Ella.
"I'm going for a walk, if you don't mind." Ean glanced at her, but did not say anything. Ella nodded, and the elf left the room quickly, her cheeks still hot from being next to Ean. She retrieved her cloak from her room and hurried down the hall to the castle entrance, where the guards let her out into the garden. The sun was beginning to set, but she still had some time before she needed to head back inside. Her feet found the path, and she wandered aimlessly among the flowers, hardly noticing them as she went.
I have all the love I need? What does that mean? Unbidden, an image of her family rose in her mind, and she remembered the days when she was happier, before she had to rest for magic that would not come. I still love my family, even after everything that happened. I know that, but… For the first time, Iya forced herself to look deeper into her own heart, and she saw the image of a brown-haired elven boy, smiling at her. As she watched, he grew older and older, until she remembered their conversation on the wall in Ceri. But still, no matter how much the memories changed, Ean's smile was always the same. Am I… in love with him?
No, the thought was preposterous. She did care about Ean, of course she did, but not like that! Or did she? The concept was so confusing that she did not know what to think about him anymore. With a flush, she recalled clinging to him as he pulled her into the oasis. She had gotten soaked, but she had rarely felt so alive as she had in that one moment.
Does he love me? Immediately, she felt a sense of dread in her stomach. As much as she may or may not have cared about Ean, it didn't seem like he could care about her in the same way. The very thought of Ean pulling away from her made her heart clench, and it hurt more than she would have thought.
"Iya?" She whirled around, eyes wide. Ean was standing there, his hands at his side. As always, his ears pointed outwards from his head, much like her own. Her heart skipped a few beats, and she drew in a breath. "Are you okay?"
"Yes." She said quietly, not sure that she could speak any louder. They were out of sight of the castle entrance now, in a remote part of the garden. Overhead, the sky was streaked with the colors of the sunset.
"I…" Ean seemed hesitant as well, but he took a deep breath and continued. "Do you want me to leave?" Despite her own whirling thoughts, she was very sure that she did not want him anywhere else at the moment.
"No." she said softly, leading him over to one of the nearby benches. "You can stay." He sat next to her, fidgeting with his hands slightly. He seemed nervous, perhaps more so than her.
"Iya, I… I need to tell you something." She looked at him curiously, unsure as to what he was going to say.
"What is it?"
"I've been thinking about what Ceri said." Ean said, and her heart seemed to sink into her stomach. "About what she said about both of us having enough love…"
"Ean…" Iya said. "I…" She struggled to find the words to tell him. Actually, she didn't know what to say to him. I love you. No, that wasn't it. But she could not, would not say that, and her mouth opened of its own accord. "We can just forget about it if you want. I-I mean, if it's uncomfortable, we don't have to talk about it…" She trailed off, seeing Ean's face. It was a mix of emotions, and she could not decipher which ones were most prominent. He seemed similarly at a loss for words, and it was a minute or two before he spoke.
"I just… here." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small black box, which he extended to her. She took it warily, but did not open it. Ean took a breath, as if trying to work up the nerve to say something.
"When you were taken by the Snow Queen, I… I was in so much pain. I thought you were gone forever." His voice was low, and she shivered at the sound of it. "And the only thing I could think of was getting you back. But now, seeing you recover your spirit, seeing you cast magic no elf could dream of…"
"Ean…" Iya said again, at a loss for words.
"I guess I didn't make the connection until Ceri said it for me, but things changed for me, Iya. When you were sad, I was sad too. And when you were happy, when you smiled…." Ean looked up at her, a small smile on his face as well. "I wanted to do everything to keep you like that. So I guess I'm trying to say that… I always cared about you, but Ceri made me realize that it was as something more than just friends." Iya's eyes widened.
Did he really just say that? Glancing down, she realized that she had not opened the box, and she did so, pulling the black cover away to reveal a ring. It was silver, with a variety of leaves engraved upon the smooth surface. A small gasp of shock left her mouth, and Ean blushed.
"I… It's not like that! I'm not asking you to… you know…" Iya looked up at him, and she saw that he truly was adorable when he looked like that, with a small, embarrassed smile on his face. She felt her own lips curve up slightly.
"I did assume you were not asking me to marry you." She leaned forward slightly, meeting his eyes without a trace of fear. Wherever this courage was coming from, she hoped it wouldn't vanish before she could say what she really wanted to. "I… I've also felt something changing, but I didn't think…"
"I care about you, Iya." Ean said. "Both as my friend… and as the beautiful elf that you are." He flushed again, and Iya felt her own cheeks turning red.
"I care about you too, Ean Okho. You saved me, time and time again. You still do." She took the ring and slipped it onto her index finger, surprised to find that it fit perfectly. "I just…"
"I know I'm not the best at talking about how I feel." Ean said. "But maybe we could figure these feelings out together?" He didn't know what effect those words had on her, and he might never find out. She was glad to be sitting down, and Iya suddenly felt very sure of what she wanted.
"I would like that." She said, touching the ring that now sat upon her finger. "I'm not good with words either, but…" Iya reached out slowly, touching Ean's hand shyly. He moved it, turning it so that her fingers meshed with his between them. "Is this… is this okay?" Her voice was slightly shaky, but Ean nodded. He stared into her eyes, and she saw the spark in the green that she knew was reflected in her own.
The couple sat there for a while, feeling the connection that spread beyond their joined hands and into their hearts as the moon rose over the horizon, bathing the garden in silvery light.
Not far away, a certain warlock was pacing the halls of the castle, his mind racing. He was holding a small bouquet of flowers, purple to match the recipient. Ella had told him that flowers were always a good attachment to an apology, and she had procured some for him in a surprising show of foresight.
And so, Gavin had walked across the castle to the room Ava was staying in, only to find that he had a hard time gathering his nerve to knock on the door. As he walked past for the seventh time, he thought he heard a sound from behind it, and he blushed. What would he say? How could he apologize for something like what he had said.
Perhaps I ought to just knock and get it over with. The thought crossed his mind, and he found himself stopped in front of Ava's door, clutching the purple flowers in his left hand. Before he could lose his nerve, he raised a hand and knocked smoothly on the door three times. Silence fell for a moment before he saw the door shake slightly. And then, it opened to reveal the one person who hated him more than anyone else: Ava. Seeing him, her face clouded over, and she made to shut the door. Frantically, Gavin cried out:
"Wait, please!" And having said so, he did something he had never done before: He fell to his knees in the hallway, bowing his head in shame. The door stopped, and Ava stared down at the kneeling man in shock. Thankfully, there were no servants nearby, which made Gavin feel a little braver. "Ava, I am so, so sorry for the things I said to you, and I wish to apologize, if you'll let me." The pirate merely stood there, her brown eyes wide. "If you want me to leave, I'll do that too." Having said his piece, he held the flowers out to her, and her eyes fell upon them. She stood still for another moment before meeting his gaze.
"Why?"
"Why what?" Gavin said, standing up.
"Why apologize to me."
"Because you were right." Gavin said. "I'm not a good person, and I certainly haven't been for most of my life." He didn't know why he was telling his secrets to her, but she didn't stop him. "Some warlocks view humans as cattle, but I don't. I was just so angry…" Ava had the grace to look slightly ashamed.
"You act like I didn't do anything." She said, and the words were torn from her as though they were hard to speak.
"I started the fight." Gavin said. "The blame lies with me, for acting like every other warlock." Ava leaned against the doorframe, studying him as though for the first time.
"I have my own prejudices as well." She said. "I am not perfect by any means. But," she said, and Gavin froze, holding his breath. "I am willing to give you one more chance." The warlock's gaze snapped up to meet hers, and her eyes seemed to soften ever so slightly. And then, just as quickly, they hardened once more. "But if you do it again, that's it for you."
He knew that as close to an apology as he was going to get, so he held the flowers out once more, and she took them hesitantly.
"See you tomorrow, then?" Gavin's throat was suddenly bone dry, and he gulped nervously as he spoke.
"Yes." Ava said quietly, and Gavin stepped back, allowing her to close the door completely. He walked away, and a growing sense of happiness began to spread through him. He smiled widely, and he was glad nobody was there to see him grinning like a fool.
Little did he know, Ava was doing much of the same as she leaned against the wall, studying his gift to her.
The next corridor over, Emma was sitting on her bed, facing the green-haired man sitting in a chair opposite her. The fire was crackling, thanks to one of the servants, and she studied it for a moment before speaking.
"So, tell me about yourself." Rye had been hesitant when she had invited him to talk for a bit, seeing as Ean and Iya were "busy", and Gavin had vanished. Nicholas was not very good company, and Jack was already in bed.
"I'm from Ryva. I grew up tending animals, farming, that sort of thing."
"Is that where you learned to shoot?" Emma asked, miming the use of a bow, and Rye nodded.
"I had to hunt for the town sometimes, or just my own family. I ended up being really good at it, and I decided I would be a soldier for Thais one day." Rye paused, eyes on the floor. Emma looked at him curiously.
"What happened then?"
"Well, the village needed my help more than I thought, and I waited to leave. Then, a pox spread through the town, and well… my parents caught it too. They were old, and it didn't take long before they passed."
"I'm sorry." Emma said, and Rye shrugged.
"I barely remember it, or them. It's sad, but they'd want me to keep moving on." He smiled slightly. "I think they'd be proud if they could see me now: helping save the world or something like that."
"It does sound rather grand, doesn't it?" The green-haired woman said dryly. "Just another boring day." Rye chuckled, a sound that fell delightfully on her ears.
"Anyways, I stayed after that, and didn't go to Thais. Many years later, two elves showed up in our village and helped me take out a whole squad of trained soldiers." Emma's brows rose at the mention of Ean and Iya doing such a thing.
"I know they can do it now, but way back then?" Emma shook her head in astonishment. "I was unsure about this prophecy thing, but maybe they were meant to be the ones to defeat the Snow Queen."
"I doubted too." Rye said, looking her in the eyes. "But now I believe it, one hundred percent." He hesitated for a moment, then continued. "It's not just their fighting skills, it's their abilities to bring hope to the people around them. Ean inspired Seri to revolt with a few words, you know."
"Ava said something like that." Emma said. "And they've treated me with nothing but kindness, even though they have no reason to help me."
"It was the same for all of us." Rye said quietly. "They bring us together, don't they?"
"They do." The woman on the bed agreed. They sat in a silence that was not quite uncomfortable for a little while before Rye spoke:
"How do you know how to use a sword?" Emma raised an eyebrow. "Before you were trained, I mean."
"Honestly, I don't know." The lady said, casting her gaze around the room. "Uthar though it was natural talent, but I think I just… wanted to protect something bad enough to use the sword."
"When you killed the soldier." Rye almost whispered, and she nodded, shuddering slightly at the memory. Standing over Ean, blood splattering onto the ground and her arms…
"I wish I didn't have to murder him."
"It was justified." Rye cut in, his eyes full of some unidentifiable emotion. "He would have killed Ean, and all would have been lost." Emma gave him a grateful look, but did not speak.
They sat there for a little while longer, enjoying the heat of the fire until Rye thanked her and left the room. When he was gone, Emma curled up in her own bed, feeling as though she had just run a race, hearing her heart beating quicker than she thought possible.