Author's Note:
Welcome to Happily Ever After! I hope you're enjoying the story so far, and let me know if you have any comments or suggestions. There's quite a few side quests coming up, so look forward to that.
-Tangent
The residents of Happily Ever After were some of the most unusual Ean had ever encountered. The vast majority were elves, much like him and Iya, but with a more yellowed skin compared to their pale color. However, there were many other creatures that were unfamiliar. As they passed through the town square, he saw a large brown creatures that resembled a pig lying upon the stones at one end. It did move, and the party did not disturb it. Several times, he saw finely dressed human walking around, and he guessed that they were wealthy and powerful.
"Where exactly are we going?" Rye asked and Ean looked around.
"I was looking for the inn, but…" He stopped an older elf walking by. "Excuse me, sir? Where could I find somebody with authority in the city?"
"Well, our king and queen are gone." The man said with a trace of sadness. "But their chancellor is running things right now. Arwen is the name, and you'll find him in the main hall." He gave them directions, and Iya thanked him before they set off once again.
The hall was much larger than Ean had expected, with high, curving roofs and elegant wood frames that made the structure seem quite ornate. Lanterns hung from the roof here, and there were two elves standing guard outside.
"Hold on, there." One said, raising a hand. "It's not often that human come to Happily Ever After. What's your business?"
"We're on a mission from the mainland." Ean said firmly. "I have news regarding your monarchs, and I must speak to the chancellor." The two soldiers glanced at one another before admitting them into the building.
"So assertive." Iya muttered, and Ean felt his lips twitch as they approached a raised dais that sat at the end of the large room. An elf was standing next to the thrones that sat upon the platform, eyes scanning a piece of paper. As they came nearer, he glanced up.
"Oh, good day. I'm Arwen, and I'm guessing that you are travelers here." Ean nodded, and the chancellor placed the piece of paper on a nearby table. He was a short, balding elf with yellow robes that reached the floor, complete with a set of crystalline glasses that rested upon his long nose. "What can I do for you?" Ean reached into his pack and produced a letter bearing Uthar's seal.
"Chancellor, your King and Queen have been taken prisoner by the Queen of Shaenlir." To his surprise, the elf did not look very shocked at this news. Instead, he let out a long sigh.
"Yes, I feared as much when they did not return. How do you know this, and who are all of you?" Ean gave him a brief explanation of their mission, and gestured to the letter.
"This proves we aren't lying, doesn't it?"
"It is credible, yes." The other elf admitted. "But still, what are we to do? Our island has been overrun with monsters, and we cannot set sail."
"That's why we're here." Iya spoke up. "Aisling is being prevented from doing her duties, and we are here to free her as we have done for three of her sisters already."
"Truly?" The chancellor gasped, eyes widening. "You have a way to find her?"
"So she's vanished, then?" Ean asked, and the elf nodded.
"Without a trace, unfortunately. We cannot find her anywhere, nor can our mages sense her presence."
"I have a link to the nymphs, as part of my heritage as a song mage." Iya said quietly, gripping her staff. "I can find her, if given time."
"Then time you shall have." The elf said, a small smile crossing his weathered face. "You are more than welcome here, young ones. Please, update me on any progress you make."
"And what of the war?" Rye said, gazing up at the elf. "If we can free Aisling, could you help us overthrow the Snow Queen, if it comes to that?"
"I… I do not know. Much would need to be prepared, but… Yes, I am willing to try." The chancellor said with a deep sigh. "If you truly are a song mage, young one, seek out our guild that has long existed in this town. They once taught song mages, and the teachers may yet be able to show you some new powers."
"I will." Iya said, bowing slightly to the elderly elf. "Thank you, Arwen."
"Aisling's spring is within the woods to the north of the village." The creature said, extracting a paper from the pocket of his robe, handing it to Ean. He unfolded it to see a detailed map of the village and forest beyond. "You should start there. Good luck to all of you. If you need lodgings or anything else, my people are at your service."
"Thank you." Ean said sincerely, before turning and exiting the room. Once outside, he turned to the others. "I say we find the inn, stow our gear in there, and have a quick look at Aisling's spring before the sun sets. Agreed?" The others nodded, and the elf led them back out into the town.
Navigating to the inn was easy with the map, and the proprietor was only too happy to rent rooms out to the party, seeing as his venue was mostly empty. After a quick change of clothes, Ean felt much better as he returned to the first floor, strapping his gear to his side. He felt Cigne press against him, and he opened his mind:
"Where are we now?"
"Happily Ever After, on Fairytale Island." The elf said. "You know it?"
"Heard of it." The healer responded. "Thought you should know: We haven't detected any of my kind on the island yet." Ean frowned.
"That's unusual. There's been one in each major location so far, but not here?"
"We'll keep an eye out." Cigne assured him before fading away.
The rest of the group filed back into the room, looking refreshed. As they sat at the bar, eating the quick meal that the innkeeper had laid out for them, Ean unfolded the map from the chancellor.
"Okay, so the forest isn't very big. We've got Aisling's spring to the east and what looks like a house to the north."
"What about the other house?" Jack asked with his mouth full of bread.
"Where?" Ean said, frowning. The boy gestured to a point north of the Dogwort Plains away, from the town. A small label read: Mirror Mansion.
"A mansion?" Gavin said, leaning forward to study the map. "Why's it way out there? And what does it have to do with mirrors?" The innkeeper, a middle-aged elf, had come wandering down the bar, and he froze at the mention of the strange house.
"That's a cursed place, young ones." He said as he took their empty plates. "I wouldn't stray too close if I were you."
"What's wrong with it?" Iya asked curiously, and the man shrugged.
"Nobody knows, because nobody can get inside to see. The door's locked with some strange keyhole, they say. But elves passing by have seen strange lights in the windows, and strange sounds at all hours of the day."
"We'll stay clear of it for now." Ean promised the elf, which seemed to satisfy him as he vanished into the back, apron swaying.
"A gold coin says we don't stay clear." Rye said with a grin, and Ean shrugged.
"We'll see. Still, it sounds promising."
"Promising to get us all killed by a ghost!" Jack said in a lowered voice, and Ava rolled her eyes.
"Oh, come on."
"As the only person here who has likely seen a ghost, I can tell you they're not nice." Gavin supplied, which made Ean raise an eyebrow.
"When did that happen?"
"About a hundred years ago. I'll tell you the details some other time." Gavin said evasively, rising from his seat. "Right now, we should get going."
"Agreed." Ean said as he reached for his backpack. "Everybody ready?" There was nods all around, and he smiled at them. "Of course you are."
Half an hour later, Rye found himself standing at the edge of another wild forest. At this point, the ranger was used to the thick trees and shrubs of nature, but this island truly was different from the rest. The trees were spindly, and made of a black wood that contrasted magnificently with the purple stone. Here and there, trees were colored blue and green, enough that they stood out against the landscape. The air was calm, and the sun shone down upon the trees with a gentle warmth.
"A nice of change of pace, I'd reckon." Gavin said as he passed him.
"Agreed." Rye said as he set off down the path, Emma right behind him. Nicholas was trailing them, brows furrowed as he surveyed the forest.
"There's a lot of magic here." He murmured as he plucked a plant from the roadside. "Could be a powerful herb, or maybe…"
"Don't fall behind!" Ava called to him, and the prince rolled his eyes.
"I won't." Rye shared a grin with Emma as they continued down the road, eyes peeled for any sign of danger.
Of course, it wasn't long before the danger found them, in the shape of several unfamiliar creatures emerging from the forest in front of them. Fairies that were a deep, rich blue floated towards them, making odd sounds as their wings sparkled in the light. Accompanying them was what appeared to be two walking mushrooms, with a broad base and a stalk that contained purple and red specks.
"I think we can assume they're hostile." Rye said as he knocked an arrow to his string. Instead of charging forward, however, the creatures stopped, merely staring at the party. And then, with a strange hiss, purple mists began to flood from the stem of the mushrooms, creating a cloud that rushed towards the party.
"Don't breath it in!" That was Nicholas, whose hands had begun to glow as he raised them towards the mists. "I think it's meant to paralyze us or something similar!" The others retreated backwards as the mists came, and the prince was muttering as he began casting a spell.
"Can you neutralize it?" Rye asked, and the man grimaced.
"Maybe. Get your bow ready." With a flick of his hands, a wave of light blasted outwards, consuming the mists just before they reached the party. As the magic faded, so did the mists, and Rye fired an arrow that went straight through the nearest mushroom, all but tearing it in half. A second later, a well-placed knife from Jack ensured that the second met the same fate, leaving the blue fairies unprotected.
And a few savage moments later, the monsters lay dead upon the forest floor, dissolving into their respective loot.
"Good teamwork." Ean commended them as Jack finished picking up their spoils. "Nicholas, how'd you learn to do that?"
"It's a basic spell I was taught, to counteract magic that might be blocking healing or whatever." The prince said, waving a hand. "Thank me later."
"If you insist." Ava said, sheathing her blade. The party continued down the path, revealing a fork in the road that led in three directions.
"Well… according to the map, east should take us to the spring, so that's a good place as any to start." Ean said, gesturing to the leftmost path. "Come on, it's not far."
As it turned out, Aisling's spring was much the same as Serendipity's had been, with a circular pool surrounded by a bed of flowers. The clearing was also circular, bordered by many multicolored trees that gave the area a pleasant atmosphere. But still, something seemed to be lacking…
No, someone is missing. The thought rang through Emma's head as she surveyed the area, one hand on her sword.
"She's not here." Iya said, taking a few steps forward as she closed her eyes. "No sign of her presence."
"Can you feel her in the forest?" Emma asked, and Iya frowned, her blue hair waving in the slight breeze.
"I… I'm not sure what her spirit feels like. Is it the same as the others? Serendipity was slightly different from Ceri, but…" She stopped suddenly, and her hand flew up to her forehead as the elf clutched her temple. "Ah!"
"What is it?" Ean said instantly, moving to her side in case she fell. "Sense something?"
"I… Aisling's voice… She needs help." The elf said with a pale face, opening her eyes. "I felt something powerful near her presence, but I can't quite pinpoint it. Whatever monster has taken her, it isn't close to here."
"So out of the forest, then." Rye said as he gazed into the pond.
"She sounded… almost scared." Iya said quietly, her eyes downcast. "What could frighten her like that?" The group was silent for a moment, considering the possibilities.
"She's still alive, at least." Ava broke in. "So we have to find her quickly, before she gets worse. Iya, could you identify her voice again if you hear it?" The female elf nodded, and Ean slid his hand into hers surreptitiously, squeezing it slightly.
He's so supportive of her. Must be nice. Unthinkingly, Emma glanced towards Rye, whose brows were furrowed in thought. He was probably a dependable boyfriend to that other girl. Immediately, the green-haired woman mentally scolded herself for thinking such a thing.
Idiot! Why even think that? She noticed Rye staring at her, and she blushed a little before turning away.
"Let's explore a little more, first." Ean said. "Perhaps the forest contains a clue as to where she could have been taken. There's a house up north, but the chancellor never mentioned whether or not it was occupied."
"Worth a shot." Jack said, and Iya nodded firmly.
"We can't give up yet." They exited the clearing and returned to the fork, where they turned northward. Here, the path was more rocky as the elevation gradually increased, and small walls of rock began to pop up on either side of the party.
"Why is everything important on top of a hill?" Jack panted after a few minutes, causing Ava to smirk.
"I think it has to do more with the length of your legs than the slope of the hill."
"I'm a growing boy." Jack retorted. "At least I'm not on my last legs like you."
"We'll see about that if we do knife training again." Ava said seriously, causing Jack to pale in fright. As much as he dreaded walking up the hill, facing the purple-haired pirate was even worse.
They act like one big family. Emma smiled at the thought. I don't remember ever having something like this in Candar.
"They do act like siblings, don't they?" Rye murmured, and Emma glanced at him in surprise.
"How'd you know what I was thinking?" The ranger merely gave her a secretive smile, one that made her feel… warm inside? Emma brushed it off nervously, turning her attention back to the man.
"I've been thinking that a lot as well." Ahead of them, Jack had turned his attention to Gavin, who was telling him something about an exploding cauldron, causing the boy to laugh as they moved up the path. Ava had a slight smile on her face as she watched the pair, and Emma wasn't sure if even she was aware of her facial expression. Nicholas seemed more exasperated than anything else, but at least he wasn't making a rude comment.
"I suppose it is nice to travel with a group." Emma said, and Rye nodded.
"I felt the same way when I was recruited. Still, I had no idea what we were getting into. None of us did. I-" The ranger was cut off by the emergence of more foes, including one that they had not seen before. A large bird, standing on two legs and sporting a very sharp-looking back was pacing towards them, black eyes gleaming dangerously. Rye glanced at her and pulled out his bow, a smirk tugging at his lips.
"Bet I get more than you."
"You're on." Emma said with a fierce smile as she drew her sword.
Despite their best efforts, Rye and Emma were forced to come to a draw with two kills each, much to their disappointment.
"Well, mine were bigger, so I think we know who the real winner is." Rye said as the monsters disintegrated.
"That's not how this works." Emma said with a raised eyebrow. "Besides, my kills were much more stylish."
"Oh, really?" Rye chuckled, and Ean tapped him on the shoulder.
"Let's get going before Emma beats you up." The ranger spluttered slightly, but turned and began heading up the path with the others. Iya fell into step behind Emma, who was grinning at what had just happened.
"I think it was a tie." The female elf said calmly, and Emma shrugged.
"I'll get him next time." As they rounded a corner, the house on the map came into view, tucked against a cliff a few hundred feet away. The structure was simple, made of stone and wood in a style that seemed more like a village on the mainland than on the elven islands. A chimney emitted black smoke, and Ean could smell… something.
"Somebody's home." Iya said from next to Emma. "Shall we knock?" They moved closer, seeing stumps of trees that had evidently been cut down to make the house in front of them.
The porch was made of the same wood, and it creaked as Ean placed a foot on the stair. The elf knocked once upon the door, and the noise echoed through the forest. For a moment, nothing happened. And then, the wooden door slowly creaked open, revealing a small woman wearing black robes. Her nose was hooked, and her hat bore an odd resemblance to ones that the party had seen before. Gavin's eyes widened slightly, but he did not say anything. His eyes seemed to be locked onto a leather band around the woman's neck, which held several beads of varying colors.
"A witch?" Rye said curiously, and the woman cackled.
"You got that right, kid. Now, what do you want?" Behind her, they could see a glimpse of the messy house, which was full of books, cauldrons, and other messy artifacts.
"Can we come in? We'd like to speak to you." Ean said politely, but the witch shook her head.
"No way! Get out of here before I blast you to pieces." She tried to shut the door, but Gavin stopped her before she could. The woman's eyes began to glow, but Gavin held up a hand, his own magic emanating from his palms. The woman stopped quite suddenly, eyes moving to the warlock's glowing hand, and her mouth curved up into a smile.
"Well, well… What are you doing with a group like this, brother?"
"I'm looking for something important." Gavin replied. "Can we speak to you inside?" The witch deliberated for a moment, then let out a huff of disappointment.
"Only you and the elves. The humans stay out here." Rye opened his mouth to protest, but Ean cut him off.
"That's fine." The witch smirked as she stepped aside, and the three entered the house as the door sung shut behind them with a definitive thunk.
"Guess we wait." Ava said after a moment.
Gavin wasn't sure if he was terrified or elated at the sight of the strange woman who was currently striding over to gaze into a cauldron filled with some material.
"Well?" She barked, turning to face them. "Spit it out!"
"That necklace…" Gavin said quietly. "How did you come by it?" The witch gave him a nasty grin as she pranced through the crowded room, grabbing various items as she went. Behind her, the warlock could see a bed and a single, ornately carved mirror that was separated from everything else. Perhaps it was just a trick of the light, but the reflective surface seemed… different.
"Is that any of your business?" Ean was glancing between the two dark magic users, unsure as to what was going on.
"Gavin?" Iya asked.
"Those necklaces only come from one place." The man said, eyes narrowing slightly. "But you're a long way from New Witchwood." The woman's eyes widened slightly, but she did not say anything. "Did you kill someone to get that?"
"As if." The witch snorted, waving a bony hand. "Those fools weren't worth my time. I got it many, many years ago as a gift."
"What do you mean, 'were'?" Ean asked quietly, and the figure opposite them cackled again.
"Well, they aren't around anymore. Apparently people got tired of having covens of witches and warlocks in their backyard, so the government went out in force. As far as I know, nobody got out of there alive." Gavin's heart stopped, and the world seemed to slow around him.
Gone?
"What did you say?" He asked numbly, and the woman smiled at him coldly.
"I mean to say that the members of New Witchwood are likely dead."
No. Gavin's knees shook, but he remained upright as shock coursed through him. I never got a chance to break my curse, and now everybody is gone… I failed them again.
"Enough." Ean said angrily, cutting off the witch's laugh. "We're here to find Aisling. Have you seen her?"
"Once or twice… but not recently." The woman mused, adjusting her black hat as she stirred her potion. "I prefer to stay away from nature spirits like her. We don't always get along, you see."
"She's been taken." Iya said quietly. "Do you know where somebody would have taken her?"
"Why would I know that?" The witch said, eyebrows raised. Her eyes flickered to her mirror for a moment before returning to her guests. "If you've got nothing useful to ask, then get out." Ean took a pace forward, glancing at the mirror. The surface shone, but the reflection seemed hollow and fragile. The elf's hand stretched out, trying to touch the surface.
"Don't touch it." The witch snarled ferociously, and Ean pulled back as a blast of magic hit the wall nearby. Iya's eyes narrowed, but Ean held up a hand.
"Then we have nothing else to discuss. Thank you for your time." He strode to the door and yanked it open, prompting Gavin out of his reverie. The warlock followed them out, but the witch called after him:
"Don't go messing with me, warlock. It won't end well." The wooden door shut, and they heard no more from her.
Gavin was barely aware as Ean addressed the group in a low voice, gesturing away from the house. He followed almost in a blur as memories and thoughts invaded his mind, dredging up things he had not thought about in decades.
"So, she threatened you?" He heard Rye say, and saw Ean's nod. "And what about him?"
"Leave it alone, Rye." Iya said quietly, and the ranger fell silent as the party moved back down the path that led to the entrance of the forest. Gavin walked behind the party, silent as memories welled inside of him.
It was the final day, the day where he had made up his mind once and for all. As the warlock frantically packed his bags, filling them with his most valuable scrolls and books, he glanced nervously towards the windows. He had gotten better at hiding from the women of the village, but still, Hilda had a way of sneaking up on him when he least expected it. His bed was neatly made, since he figured the next person to move in shouldn't have to deal with a messy house.
The dawn was cool as Gavin stepped outside, clutching his backpack. He turned, giving one last look to the place he had called home all his life before the wooden door sealed it away forever. From the outside, the house seemed just as it had ever been: frayed and slightly wobbly, but it was his home nevertheless.
"Thanks." He murmured before turning and striding off into the swamp. His secret paths would take him to the outskirts of the village, where he could set off on his journey properly.
After a few minutes, he emerged onto one of the side streets of New Witchwood, and crept out onto the main thoroughfare quietly. The inhabitants of the town were not early risers, and as such, he was alone in the dim light. Moving up the main street, the warlock took one last look at the shops he had frequented for so long. There was the spell shop and the library, which had fueled his passion for knowledge, and the general shop where he had purchased his supplies. Even his armored robed, uniquely made by him, had been created using materials from the store.
As he passed the last house, Gavin took a deep breath as he surveyed the swamp in front of him, the final barrier between him and whatever awaited him in the wide world beyond. Perhaps he would travel to Mysten Far, or the kingdoms to the north. With his gaze set on the horizon, Gavin began walking into the swamp.
"Gavin!" The cry came from behind him, and he froze, recognizing the voice. Of course, Hilda had to show up now. He turned slowly to the witch walking towards him, a blush on her face. "I've been looking everywhere for you, and I… where are you going?"
"Just on a trip." The warlock said shortly, and the witch smiled.
"Can I come?"
"No." Gavin said tightly. "Leave me alone, Hilda."
"Awww, but why not? I can be helpful." The witch said with a pout. "When are you coming back?"
"I don't know." The red-haired man said quietly. "Perhaps not ever." Hilda looked at him blankly, confused. The warlock began walking away
"But why would you leave? This is your home. Besides, I need you to stay." Gavin stopped, daggers piercing his heart for what felt like the millionth time. He turned slowly, and this time, he did not stop the tears from sliding down his cheeks.
"Gavin?"
"I'm sorry." He croaked. "I'm so sorry for doing this to you, Hilda. I know you don't understand, but I'm doing this for all of you."
"Doing what? Stop being so silly!" Hilda said with a frown on her face. "You'd never hurt me."
"I already did." Gavin said in a shaking voice. "But I'm going to fix it, I swear. No matter how long it takes, I will find a way to fix this spell. But to do that, I have to leave." Slowly, with each step causing more tears to fall, the warlock began walking into the swamp.
"Wait, Gavin! Don't go!" Hilda called, but he did not turn around again.
"This is goodbye." He said quietly, and his figure vanished into the mists of the swamp, leaving the witch standing in the middle of an empty street, confused and lonely.
"Gavin?" The warlock blinked, before realizing that he was not standing in a swamp thousand of miles away. He was in the forest, with seven people staring at him curiously. Ean was the closest, and he was examining him with concern.
"Are you okay? You were really spaced out." Iya said, frowning, as Gavin looked around. He realized that they were near the village now, and Ean gestured towards a path.
"We've only got one path left now, so that's where we've got to go.
I walked that far without thinking?
"I… I think I'll head back to the village." Gavin said quietly. "I'm… not feeling well." Nicholas raised an eyebrow, but the prince said nothing. The other members looked at him with various levels of concern, but the warlock found that he did not want to be around anybody at the moment.
"Are you sure? "Ean said finally, and he nodded.
"I think I need to rest, but I'll be fine." With that, Gavin strode away from the party, back down the forest path. The other watched him go, concern etched on their faces.
"Is he going to be okay?" Emma asked, and Iya nodded.
"He's just going through a lot right now."
"But it's not our place to share." Ean reminded her. "He'll talk when he's ready." Jack and Nicholas stared mutely after Gavin, while Ava tried to hide the slightly worried frown that crossed her face. "Right now, the best thing is to give him some space." Rye nodded, and the party set off into the forest, heading west.
As for Gavin, he did not return straight to the inn, but merely wandered around the town of Happily Ever After, barely looking at the shops and stalls that he was passing. His feet carried him where they would, turning corners and following streets without guidance from him.
I wonder… was the spell ever broken? Or did they live their whole lives just like I left, pining after me? An ugly frown crossed his face, and unbeknownst to him, dark lightning crackled between his fingers. What a fool I was, thinking I could make others love me.
After what felt like hours, he found himself in front of the inn they were staying in, and he went inside, too tired to walk much more. The innkeeper greeted him politely, but he ignored it, climbing up the stairs slowly and methodically. Once inside his room, which had walls and floor made of a richly colored wood, accompanied by lanterns with blue flames, the warlock sat down on the bed. At once, everything that had happened seemed to come crashing down upon him, and Gavin's eyes welled with tears.
I'm so sorry. He wiped at his eyes, trying to stem the flow of water. And then, there came a quiet knock at his door. Ean or Iya, no doubt, but he wasn't in the mood to be consoled, and he merely rolled over on the bed.
"Gavin?" The warlock froze, recognizing the voice that did not belong to Ean or Iya, but to a certain battle-hardened pirate.
Ava?
"Gavin? Are you in there?" Moving slowly, he slid off the bed and moved over to the door, opening it slightly to reveal Ava One-Eye. Her eyepatch gleamed dully in the light as her good eye examined him. "Oh."
"What is it?" He asked tiredly, and Ava's eye slid towards the floor.
"I wanted to… check on you, I suppose. Make sure you weren't hurt."
"Are the others back?"
"No, I came back after we went west for a little bit, but they'll be back soon." The woman hesitated, her hand on the doorframe. "Can we… talk?"
Although he really wanted to say no, Gavin decided to entertain the idea.
"I suppose. Come in, then." He stepped aside, moving back towards the bed and flopping onto it. Ava followed, closing the door behind her. She stood there awkwardly, still assessing him.
"What happened?" She asked finally, and Gavin's heart twisted.
Really? She wants to know now? His mouth turned into a bitter smile as he stared at the door.
"I…"
"Was it the witch?" He nodded mutely, and Ava frowned.
"Did she curse you or something?" His breathing was getting quicker, and Gavin felt his memories pulling at him once more.
I can't bear not telling anybody.
"No…" He said quietly, and Ava seemed to sense that something was wrong. Moving forward, she knelt next to Gavin, examining his face.
"It's okay. Just focus on breathing." Her voice was almost… kind, and it sent a strange feeling through the warlock's body. "Can you tell me what happened?"
And in a whispered voice, Gavin told her everything that he had done since he had cast the spell that had ruined his life. For once, she just let him talk as his tale poured out of him, torn from his heart with a wrenching pain.
"And now they're dead." He finally whispered, unable to meet the pirate's eye. "It was all my fault for being so selfish, and they died before I could fix the spell."
"Gavin…" Ava whispered, her voice low.
"I always thought that I would go back one day." The warlock said with a warbling voice. "I always though I'd find a way to fix it. But to have it end like this…" And then he could say more as tears rolled silently down his cheeks once again. He barely registered it as Ava got to her feet, moving to sit next to him on the bed. Her hand touched his shoulder, and the pirate did not pull it away.
"I'm so sorry." She said finally, and Gavin finally mustered the courage to look at her. She had a sad look on her face, but it seemed to be directed at him. "All those times I called you vain and selfish… I had no idea."
"You didn't know." He said, moving his gaze back to the door. "How could you have?"
"But still… I don't think it was your fault." The pirate said, and Gavin felt as though his world had been flipped upside down.
How can she say that?
"But I-"
"I know what happened." Ava interjected. "But I also know that from what I've seen, you truly are a kind person at heart. If only more warlocks were like you." The last sentence made Gavin pause. Why had she said it like that?
"Do you really mean that?" He asked finally, looking into Ava's singular eye.
"I do." She said. "And I'm sorry for treating you the way I did." Gavin felt a flicker of heat rise into his cheeks, and he realized with no small amount of horror that his cheeks were turning red. Ava flushed slightly, crossing her arms. "Well, I meant it."
"Thank you." Gavin said simply. "For not hating me."
"Maybe I did before… but not anymore. Not for a while, anyways."
"But how can you not?" Gavin burst out. "Knowing full well that you were right about what kind of warlock I am!"
"I think you changed." The pirate said simply, and Gavin was struck dumb for what felt like the hundredth time. "You found people that accepted you. No evil person would treat the others like you do, and it's because you really care about them. Am I wrong?"
"No…" He said quietly. "They're the first real friends in many years."
"Then I think you should leave it at that."
"I… will think about it." Gavin said calmly, taking a deep breath. His mind was clearer now, and he could feel as Ava retracted her hand from his shoulder, seemingly embarrassed by what she said. He had another question to ask, but he didn't know whether it was appropriate to ask. Still, Ava did not show any signs of getting up, and so he gathered his courage again:
"What did you mean, when you said you wished other warlocks were like me?" Ava's eye shot up to meet his, then flitted away just as quickly.
"That is… a very personal question. And I'm not sure that I am willing to answer you just yet."
"You don't have to." Gavin said instantly, his eyes widening. "I just thought… it sounded like it came from experience." Ava's gaze roamed around the room, and her expression was unreadable. She turned back to him, and her hand rose slowly towards her face. And then, without warning, the pirate peeled back the eyepatch that covered her other eye.
Gavin let out a sharp breath as he beheld the scarred skin beneath the patch which formed a mark covering the now-closed eye.
"Can you open it?"
"No." Ava said, letting the eyepatch fall back into place. "I can hold it open manually, but I've lost all sight in it." She sighed, leaning back to stare at the ceiling as her good eye traced the wooden frames. "A warlock gave that to me when I was young with a curse."
And to think that I threatened her with magic. No wonder she was angry.
"I'm so-" Gavin began, but the pirate cut him off yet again.
"You aren't the one who did it."
"Still, can't help but feel a bit responsible." He muttered, and Ava actually let out a small laugh. Gavin turned to look as she smiled, and the expression made him glad that he was sitting down at the moment.
"Are you really going to try to apologize for everything bad that has happened to me?"
"I suppose not." Gavin said with a wry grin, surprised at how easy it was to smile with her. "I can leave you alone, if you'd like."
"I don't want that either." The pirate said, now definitely making an effort to not look at him. "But perhaps we can agree to… help each other."
"I would be okay with that." Gavin admitted, fighting the blush rising in his face once again.
Damn. I might have a problem with this now. Finally, she turned to face him, and he was astonished to that her singular eye was sparkling with something that resembled humor.
"Then we can agree to get along?"
"Sure." Gavin said, knowing full well that he would never say anything else. Downstairs, he heard the door to the inn open, and Ava head turned towards the door.
"I'd better go." She said. "But think about what I said."
"I will." Gavin murmured. "Thanks, Ava." She merely nodded before disappearing through the door, and he fell back onto the bed. His heart was racing, and he suspected that it was for more reason than one.
What am I going to do?
Thankfully, the others did not pressure him as Gavin rejoined them for dinner, but included him in the conversation as though he'd never been gone.
"And so, we found a giant spider living in the cave!" Jack said enthusiastically. "But it was friendly!"
"Really?" Gavin said, eyebrows raised. "What was it doing?"
"Sitting on the wall, mostly." Jack said. "But it was still so cool!"
"It asked if we could gather fireflies to light the cave." Ean put in, taking a bite of his stew. "I figured we could go get some from the other side of the island later, and bring them back to it. It said we could have some silk if we did, so I figure that's a worthy trade."
"Lenora in Candar needs silk, doesn't she?" Iya said, and the elf nodded.
"Find anything pertaining to the nymph, though?" Ava asked, and Ean shook his head.
"No, but apparently there is still a large house somewhere in the Dogwort Plains, so perhaps there is a clue there."
"That's the plan tomorrow, then." Rye said, stretching as he got up from his chair. "Iya, don't you still need to visit the song mages here?"
"Correct." Iya said, standing up and thanking the innkeeper for the meal. "I was planning on going tomorrow, and some of you can go check out this house. Emma and Ava can come with me, if they'd like."
"Sounds good to me." The green-haired woman put in. Ava merely nodded, and Jack shrugged.
"Guess the men are going it alone."
"You'll be fine." Emma said with faint amusement. "Besides, Nicholas can fix any limbs you get chopped off."
"Actually, I don't think I can do that." The prince put in with faint amusement. "Never tried, at any rate."
"Now you tell me?" Gavin smiled faintly as he observed the friendly banter. Perhaps he could wait a little bit longer to tell them.
The hours passed, and soon night had fallen completely, darkening the outside world. The innkeeper had stoked the fire before retiring, leaving the party sitting in the room, talking quietly so as to not disturb the other residents of the building. Finally, a silence spread over the room, Gavin leaned forward in his chair, catching Ean's eye.
"There's something I need to tell all of you." The others seemed to grasp how serious he was, and Jack sat upright in his chair as he looked at Gavin. His eyes were wide, and he seemed surprised.
"Is it about earlier?" Rye asked, and the warlock nodded slowly.
"Yes, and no. Some of you know more about me than others, but I think it's time that you hear my full story. I only ask that you reserve judgement until the end." Ean nodded, his eyes fixed upon Gavin, and Iya spoke:
"Whatever it is, none of us here will think the worse of you." Gavin took a deep breath, and his gaze met Ava's as he began to speak.
"When you met me, I lived in Bogwood. But before that, many years ago, a place called New Witchwood was my home. I was born there, but I never truly belonged, because I was considered to be unnaturally good-looking compared to everybody else. In a society where cruelty and ugliness are prized above most other traits, I was deemed unworthy, and most people treated me unkindly." His voice was clear as he related his tale, only faltering when he got to his failed spell. But still, he managed to get the words out, not daring to look at anybody's face as he told them what he had done. He left out the part about New Witchwood's destruction, feeling that he was not quite ready to reveal that particular secret.
"And so I left, searching for some sort of magic that could help me reverse a spell I had created. That's why I'm interested in archaeology and ancient magics. Eventually, I ended up in Bogwood, only to find that my spell had followed me."
"There were girls all around you." Rye recalled, and Gavin nodded.
"I grew somewhat used to it, but I still searched for a way to fix what I had done. They all were forced to love me, but I could love none of them in return. And then… you came, Ean, with Iya and Rye. And for the first time in a while… I felt hopeful that things could change. But still, I dared not tell you for fear that you would send me back to Bogwood. And… here we are, I suppose." He fell silent, and nobody spoke for a few moments. The fire crackled behind them, shadows dancing upon the walls.
"Gavin…" Iya said, her voice tremulous. "I do not blame for concealing that from us, nor do I believe that you are the same person that cast that spell. You've proven over and over that we can trust you, and I see no reason why we would stop."
"What she said." Rye added. "I don't know you to be anything but dependable."
"That's what I said." Ava muttered. "But maybe hearing it from all of you is better."
"I was a little intimidated at first." Jack piped up. "The stories of you paint you as much… harsher, but it turns out that I was completely wrong."
"I haven't known you for long, but even I see how much the others care about you." Emma said. Nicholas merely nodded, and Gavin saw no trace of contempt in his eyes.
"We're not letting you go alone." Ean said firmly. "You're as much a part of this journey as any of us." Gavin bowed his head to the rest of the group.
"I can't tell you how grateful I am to hear that. I-"
"There's no need to." Iya admonished him. "You think none of us have done things we're ashamed of? It's part of being mortal, even for people like you."
"Perhaps you're right." Gavin said, and a smile crossed his face. "I don't know why I thought that you would cast me away, but hearing about my home really brings back bad memories."
"Wait a minute." Jack said. "If you cam with us, why doesn't the love spell affect Ava, Iya, and Emma?"
"Perhaps their wills are stronger than mine." Gavin said. "It seems to really only affect users of dark magic like witches, but Iya already had feelings for Ean, so…" The elves blushed, and Rye grinned at the sight.
"Don't think we haven't noticed you two lovebirds."
"Fine, fine." Ean said with an eyeroll. "Did we really need to tell you anyways?"
"Nope. I knew since day one." The ranger replied smugly.
"On that note, perhaps we should get some rest." Iya interjected, her cheeks still a bright scarlet. She stood from her chair, tucking her cloak around her as the others got up as well, adjusting their chairs. "We do have a long day tomorrow."
"Fine by me." Gavin said. "Talking is exhausting." Jack gave him a sympathetic smile as they went up the stairs, each of them entering their own room for the night. The warlock leaned against the wall with a sigh, mind still racing.
I feel better now, I think. Maybe sleeping is a good idea. His eyes closed, and he fell almost instantly into a deep, dreamless sleep.