Author's Note:
Hello! I hope you enjoyed the tension from last chapter! Much has changed, but much is still the same. Gavin's new powers will come into play at a later date. Also, I just hit 250k words on the story, so hooray! Enjoy!
-Tangent
The sun rose that morning on a forest that had finally been healed of its sickness. Every creature in the woods felt the return of their guardian, and rejoiced at their safety. The inhabitants of Happily Ever After were no exception, and celebrations could be heard on every corner as the news spread throughout the town.
Wherever they went, Ean and his companions were hailed as heroes and plied with gratitude from nearly everybody they passed. It took the two elves nearly fifteen minutes to reach Arwen, who received them warmly.
"You have done it!" He exclaimed from behind his desk, a wide smile on his lined face. "Aisling has returned and our forest is safe once more."
"I'm sorry, but it isn't." Ean said quietly, causing the chancellor to look up. "The Snow Queen is still out there, planning to enslave the world." By unspoken agreement, he and Iya had told nobody the truth of Ishtar's capture.
"I know." Arwen said with a sigh, his lips drawn tightly as he gazed towards the window. "Others may not be safe."
"Thais is the gathering point for the rebellion." The younger elf told him. "Elven soldiers are stronger than most humans, and we need men badly."
"And what would we receive in return?"
"Trade. Prince Uthar will deal in good faith with all who will help us. Seri, Candar, and Verashema have already put their might behind our flag." The chancellor appraised the figures standing in front of him.
"Of course, we intend to oppose the Snow Queen. But war is dangerous, and my citizens may not wish to be drafted into such a thing."
"The only way to win is to stand together and unite." Ean said, echoing the words of the Oracle from what felt like a lifetime ago. "We need you, Arwen, and the people of Happily Ever After." The sentence seemed to jar the older elf, and he nodded slowly.
"I understand. I will send a messenger to Uthar immediately, to discuss our situation. Most of our fleet was destroyed, but the King and Queen managed to preserve several ships. Now, I understand that you need to speak to Aisling?"
"Yes." Iya said, speaking for the first time. "I need her blessing still. She had not yet regained her strength as of yesterday."
"Of course. Thank you, young ones, for everything. You've given us back our heart and soul. If you ever need us, the people of Storybook Island will answer at once." Ean held out his hand, and Arwen shook.
"We will see you once we have found the last two nymphs." The pair left the office and exited the palace, heading towards Aisling's glen. Gavin had returned an hour or two earlier, with a blackened arm, but claiming he was healthy and ready to hit the road.
"That's all of the kingdoms, then." Iya murmured quietly. "At least you've secured their cooperation."
"We secured it." Ean said firmly, correcting her. "And we'll save the nymphs too."
"Of course. Still, won't it take some time for the armies to travel to Thais?"
"I would assume so." The elf murmured. "I'm guessing we have another few months or so."
"Not a lot of time, if we have to travel back to the Land of the Lost."
"True. I'm sure we'll find a way." Her companion said, and that was that.
When Iya entered the glen, she was surprised to see the dozens of plants that had sprouted overnight, as if enchanted by the nymph. The grass was wild, and there was a small pebble path leading to the pond's edge. As she approached, Ean by her side, there was a shimmer of light, and Aisling rose from the water.
"Iya Tiki. Forgive me for not greeting you and Ean sooner." Iya knelt next to the pool, gazing up at the nymph.
"Aisling… Are you okay?"
"I am mending." The creature said with her beautiful voice. "If I am not now, I soon will be. All thanks to you and your friends."
"It was our duty." Ean said, a few paces behind Iya. "We had to."
"Three of my sisters are free." Aisling said. "I feel their auras faintly, but they are there. Perhaps our connections are being restored. But I see a frown on your face, young one. What is wrong?"
In a shaky voice, Iya told Aisling about their meeting with the Goddess, and the information they had uncovered. At the mention of Ishtar, Aisling shuddered, and the pool rippled outward sharply.
"Who could do such a thing, and hide it from my mother?"
"We don't know." Ean confessed. "We hoped you would have an idea."
"I'm sorry, but I do not know this answer." The nymph murmured. "Whatever force controls my sister, it has managed to fool all of us. If Hepititus knew…"
"Hepititus?"
"My sister, although wicked, has long held a soft spot for Ishtar, my compassionate sister. Out of all of us, they are bound the closest." Iya glanced at Ean, who shrugged slightly. The nymph of wickedness had not been kind, but if what Aisling said was true, she was their ally.
"She loves Ishtar?"
"Like none other." Aisling said, smiling softly, before floating down to hover next to Iya. "But, young one, I can see your spirit. It may still be broken, but the cracks are beginning to disappear."
"I…" Iya seemed at a loss for words.
"And yet, my mother has hurt you greatly." The nymph continued, her smile replaced by one of understanding. "You are disheartened, angry, and afraid."
"No, I…" Iya felt Ean's stare, and a flush of shame spread across her face. She had tried so hard to hide it from him, but it clearly had not worked. "You know?"
"I know." Aisling said. "Your hope has diminished, but do not fear. Continue to travel, and you will restore your essence." She touched Iya on the forehead lightly.
Immediately, the elf felt as though she had been infused with something like courage, glowing warmly somewhere inside of her. It made her feel brave, and somehow… less lost. Like she really could finish her quest.
"To be mortal is to hope and dream. And now, your dreams have been restored, Iya Tiki." A tear rolled down her cheeks, and she felt Ean's arms wrap around her as she cried silently.
"It's okay." He whispered, and his voice was the same as the warm feeling inside of her. When she looked up again, Aisling had moved back down to the surface of the pond. She was smiling again.
"Do not apologize." She said as Iya opened her mouth. "Nobody should be denied the ability to hope. To come so far without it is a testament to your bravery and strength of will."
"That's what I've been saying." Ean said gently, and she felt, rather than saw, him smile at her back.
"Thank you, Aisling." She said, and she truly meant it.
"You are welcome, Iya. Consider it repayment for saving me. Now, we must discuss what you are going to do next…"
As it turned out, Emma had not been lying about the warthog in the town square. Rye opened his mouth, closed it, and tried to speak.
"It can talk?"
"Of course I can!" The creature snapped angrily. "I was a man once, you dolt. And now, I'm nothing but a beast, and I can't go anywhere because no woman will have me!" The thing in question was a giant, brown boar, with long ivory tusks and a thick, bristling hide. The only identifying factors were the decidedly male voice and blue eyes, which gleamed with uncommon intelligence.
"How did you end up like this?" Gavin asked, arm wrapped in a white bandage. He and Ava had accompanied Rye and Emma to the town square, where the warthog had called to them yet again.
"I was cursed! I don't know who did it, though. If I had to guess, it was because some warlock wanted the princess I was set to marry!" The voice was baritone, with a slightly whiny accent mixed in.
"So you're a prince?" Ava asked, her brow furrowed, and the head bobbed up and down.
"Yes, yes. A kingdom from across the ocean. Much better then here, but I suppose the townsfolk have done alright by me."
"Can you cure him?" Rye muttered under his breath to the warlock, who shrugged.
"Honestly, I could try, but without knowing anything about the caster, it could do more harm than good."
"I just want to find a wife again, but alas…" The warthog said. "I think the curse would be broken if a woman loved me for who I am, but that will never happen."
"What if we could find one?" Emma said slowly, her eyes contemplative. "Could we bring her here to you?"
"You would do such a thing, peasant girl?" Rye glared at the hog. "I mean, warrior girl? You would find me such a woman?"
"We could try." Emma said. "Give us a moment, please." The warthog turned away from them, and the young woman pulled the others into a circle.
"Gavin, do you think a woman would like him. Have you ever met… someone like that?"
"No, but… I think Bogwood would be a good place to start. After all, some witches like ugliness in the husbands." The warlock said, a small smile on his face. "That's why I wasn't more popular."
"But would they believe it?" Rye said curiously. "Enough to come all the way here?"
"Well, this sort of curse isn't that rare." Gavin admitted. "Just hard to undo without the original caster."
"Hmmm." Was all Emma said before she turned back to the animal.
"Yes, what is it?"
"We'll help you find somebody." The swordsman said. "But we'll need some kind of proof. Do you have anything that could help?"
"My mirror!" The large man-turned-animal cried. Turning again, he rummaged carefully through a bag with his snout before withdrawing. On the end was a small blue mirror, dangling on a tusk. "It always shows me, so it should show a warthog instead of a man now!" Emma took the item and looked into the glass. Indeed, the same warthog was glancing back out at her.
"So, we show this to people, and ask if they're interested?" Ava said, and the pig nodded.
"That seems good to me! Please, hurry back if you can! I've been stuck this way for years!" With that, the half-warthog turned and lumbered back across the square and vanished from sight.
"How odd." Rye said after a moment. "To think I'd ever see something like that." Emma giggled.
"We've come a long way from Thais, huh?"
"Do you think the others would be interested in helping him out?" Ava asked. "Bogwood isn't exactly close to here."
"I think so." Rye said slowly. "After all, Arwen said that the volcano the Goddess mentioned was a few days from here. So either way, we're in for a longer journey." They had spoken to the chancellor the previous night, after everything had been settled down. The old elf had shown them a world map and pointed to a small speck north and west of the mainland. "Ava, did you check in with your crew?"
"Yeah, one of the guards brought a message from the port. The elves outfitted the ship with food and supplies, so we're set to sail."
"Excellent." The ranger said, fastening his bag securely to his waist, with the mirror inside. "Shall we?" And he led the way back into the depths of the town.
For the first time in years, Shaenlir was being pummeled by a terrible storm. The citizens had fled inside as rain and hail had begun to fall, mixed with bolts of lighting that left craters in the stone streets. Wind howled through every neighborhood, shattering windows and destroying anything in its path.
For weeks, the Snow Queen's citizens had suspected something was amiss. Thais had waged war upon them months earlier, and other kingdoms were rumored to be joining them. Any noble who had fled the palace had been killed, or if the whispers were true, frozen solid by the queen herself.
Thunder boomed as the commander of the guard moved quietly through the deserted palace. The rooms that once housed wealthy nobility were empty and dusty, and the servants cowered in fear in their respective corners of the kingdom.
Wart wondered if the kingdom had always been fated to go this way, ever since he had been bound to a woman as cold as death itself. For a moment, he saw his brethren in his far-away home, living peacefully in a warm place. But no heat, no light could reach the palace tonight.
Shoving away his rebellious thoughts, the man prowled through the hallways, looking for his guards. They were not in their usual places. Even more strange, the Snow Queen had not summoned him all day. She had never done that before.
This kingdom is going mad.
As Wart approached the doors to the throne room, he thought he could hear voices on the other side. His hearing, better than any man, was picking up two voices.
"…Enough." The Snow Queen fell silent, and his mouth opened wordlessly. Who would speak to her like that? His master was the strongest mage he had ever seen, barring the Goddess herself. "The kingdoms are united against you now." The words swept over him, and a wave of pure anger made his knees wobble.
"But… surely I can…"
"No. You must stay here. Your soldiers are strong, and you are stronger."
"But what of the girl? Tiki?" The air seemed to drop twenty degrees at the merest mention of his sworn enemy.
"She will come to you. You know she must, in the end. And then, we will kill her, and steal the spirit she has regained."
"A good plan." The Snow Queen murmured. "You have made preparations?"
"I have. My spirit has been magnified to match even her own power of song."
"… Very well."
"Be prepared, Ishtar. I will come again soon."
Wart turned away, careful not to make any sound as he crept wordlessly away from the throne room. When he was far enough away, the man broke into a helpless sprint, hurling himself through the large hallways. Metal boots rang on the stone as he sprinted through the vacant guardhouse before running out into the storm.
Nobody saw the imp as he slowed in an alley and slumped against the brick wall, heart pounding with shock and terror.
Who was that person? Is she controlling Ishtar? He had known, no, suspected for months about the identity of the queen he served. And yet, he had never seen nor heard of another controlling a nymph. It simply wasn't possible.
What could he do? Any attempt to leave the city would fail, and he had nobody he could contact. Still, the imp knew that he could never say a word about what he had heard to anybody.
If the Snow Queen ever found out… she would kill him. And his family would follow.
The swamp that housed Bogwood on the southern tip of the continent had not changed since their last visit. As Ava's crew tied the ship securely to several rocks on the shore, the pirate wrinkled her nose.
"Smells like everything's rotten."
"I suppose I was just used to it." Gavina admitted, now fully aware of how the swamp smelled after being gone for several months. "The town is better, though." As the warlock leapt down onto the moist, dark ground that served as a dock, he felt a sudden flutter of apprehension. Had Bogwood changed? Was he no longer welcome?
Stop that. You'll only drive yourself crazy. His blackened arm, now functional once again, twitched slightly.
As the rest of the party exited the ship, Rye patted his pack.
"I've still got the mirror. You say you might know some witches who would like the warthog?" Gavin grimaced.
"I think so. There's still a few that haven't been married for a long time. Still, they're rather picky about exactly how ugly the men must be."
"Such an odd way to go about finding a partner." Emma murmured. "But I suppose it's a different culture." Ava turned to her crew, giving a few quick orders. When she turned back, her eyebrows were raised.
"Well? Let's get going."
They arrived in Bogwood more or less in one piece. Jack had, at one point, sank to his knees in a hidden pond, and had require Ean and Rye to free him. Surprisingly, the boy didn't care much about the mud now encrusting his lower legs.
"I've been dirtier."
The town had changed little since they had last visited. Gavin could see one or two new houses, but nothing else. As they moved through the village, several witches nodded a greeting to him. In one case, a younger witch threw her arms around him, causing the warlock to wince and extricate himself as quick as possible. At this scene, Ava said nothing, but he thought he saw her frown every so slightly.
They were heading towards the inn when a croaky voice called out to them.
"Gifts! Gifts, for your friends!" Gavin turned to see an elderly witch he recognized as Glenna sitting on the ground behind a table, which had boxes of various shapes and colors.
"What kind of gifts?" Emma asked dubiously, eyeing the witch carefully.
"Glenna, what's all this?" Gavin asked, stepping closer to examine the makeshift shop.
"Ah, Gavin! You'll appreciate these! Want to buy one?" The witch said, an evil grin crossing her face. "You, of course, know the deal…"
"Deal?" Ava said, her eyes moving from the warlock to the witch. "What are these?" Sensing a sale, Glenna turned and nodded to the pirate.
"As I said, young lady, gifts for your friends. Just buy one, and have them see what's inside! And there's a catch! Once it's bought, it must be opened, or else…"
"So the receiver is forced to open it?" Ava asked, a small smile beginning to spread across her face. "How much?" The witch gave her a price, and the pirate handed over several gold coins in exchange for two boxes.
"Ava, are you sure about this?" Iya looked wary, taking a step back from the grinning woman. "What exactly are you going to do with those?" Ava winked at her, and Gavin knew what was coming a second before it happened. In the blink of eye, he and Nicholas both had a present in their hand, and everybody had instinctively moved a few paces away from them.
"There you are." She said evilly. "You have to open it now, right?" The two men looked at her, dumbfounded.
"You…" Gavin started, but the words died in his mouth.
"What's wrong? You don't like it?" Rye and Emma were smirking now, and Gavin realized there was no way out of the situation he had unwittingly created. He turned to look at Nicholas, who was still holding his box as though it was going to explode.
"You first." The prince muttered.
"No way. We do it on three. Ready?" Nicholas looked resigned to his fate, but nodded grimly.
"I suppose there's a chance it could be something good?" Iya said to Ean, who nodded gravely.
"A high chance, I'd say." Nicholas bit back a retort, before realizing he had nothing to say in any case.
"Three… two… one!" Both men opened the lid of their boxes.
What followed could only be described as total chaos. Gavin's gift, upon being opened, immediately blasted him with so much swamp water that the warlock was thrown onto his back a good three feet away, soaking wet. He lay there for a moment, blinking and spluttering before looking up to see the results.
Nicholas had received the worse end of the deal, as the prince was now covered in so much mud that he looked like a golem. His hair was flat, and his clothes were absolutely ruined, leaving him in a state of total shock.
Silence reigned, but only until Ava began laughing so hard that she had to sit down on the grass, clutching her sides. Emma followed suit, and then Rye and Jack, until the whole rest of the party was fighting their laughter to no avail. Gavin and Nicholas merely sat there, incapable of processing what had just happened.
Gavin supposed that he should've felt mad, but as he gazed as the pirate, still smiling and giggling with mirth, he felt his anger subside. Sitting up completely, he let out a rueful laugh that made the prince look at him.
"What's so funny?" Nicholas demanded, but Gavin merely chuckled.
"I'd say we are, right now." The healer stood up, sending mud sloshing every which way, and turned to glare at Ava, who only laughed more.
"I… I'm going to…" But after a moment, Nicholas seemed to dismiss whatever he was going to say, and sludged off towards the inn.
As it turned out, it took Iya only moments to remove the mud and water, sending them back into the swamp where they belonged with a splash, leaving Nicholas frustrated and Gavin half-amused.
"If I get infected from that, I'm blaming you." He informed Ava, who was still grinning at the pair of them. He tugged at his damp cloak and hair with a sigh, before giving it up as a lost cause.
"You only had water." Nicholas grumbled. "I got the dirty mud, and I can still taste it." All in all, the prince had taken it much better than Gavin had hoped.
Perhaps Ava is rubbing off on him. The thought was both comforting and disturbing.
"I'm sorry for laughing, Nic. But it was pretty funny." Rye told the prince, who merely let out an exasperated sigh.
"Anything for your amusement, I suppose."
"I'll buy you new clothes." Ean said cheerfully. "So don't worry. I haven't laughed that hard in a long time."
"Not have I." Iya put in, her eyes sparkling slightly with hidden humor. Gavin merely rolled his eyes.
"I'm totally going to get you back for that." He told Ava grimly, who nodded slightly.
"I'd like to see you try." From behind him, he thought the prince mumbled something about 'suspending her from her ankles' and 'dungeon', but he was fairly certain it was a joke.
He hoped.
The party spent several hours going from house to house, questioning whether or not anybody was looking for a suitably ugly husband. After the fifth witch, who was undoubtedly large, turned them down, Rye sighed.
"This is harder than I thought it'd be. Who knew everybody here was content with being single?"
"We've asked people who are mostly married or have a partner." Gavin pointed out. "I tried to tell you, but…"
"So who isn't?" Emma interjected.
"Hmmm… There's a couple girls I'd rather never see again, but… I suppose if we have to…" The warlock was slightly paler than normal, and his hands shook slightly. "There's Hilda."
"Hilda?" Ean asked calmly, and the warlock nodded.
"The one who cast a spell on you and Iya." Ava, Emma, Nicholas, and Jack, who had not heard the story, turned to the elves for an explanation.
"It's nothing." Iya said dismissively, frowning slightly. "And she's single?"
"Yes. She pursued me for quite a few years, but she's never gotten over it. Still, it might be our best chance." Ean looked wary, but he nodded all the same.
"Very well. Do you know where she lives?"
Gavin led them to the edge of town, where some of the more ramshackle houses could be found. As they rounded a corner, he pointed to a figure standing in the grass, waving what appeared to be a wand around. Purple and green sparks would shoot out occasionally, but they seemed to have no effect.
"Rye, can I have the mirror?" Gavin said quietly, and the ranger passed it to him. Straightening up, Gavin smoothed his hair and fixed his clothes before stepping towards the witch.
"Hilda!" The woman turned, and Ean saw that it was indeed the same witch that had placed a love spell on him and Iya.
"Gavin? The whole town's been talking about you, you lout!" She lowered her wand, and flicked her green hair over her shoulder. Her eyes moved to the rest of the party, standing a few feet behind the warlock. "And this is who you went with?"
"Yes. I just wanted to-"
"Ooh, I remember the elves now! Does anybody else need a love spell cast on them? Maybe the two green-haired ones?" Emma shook her head vehemently, while Rye merely twitched uncomfortably. "Or, maybe…"
"Hilda, please. I came back to do you a favor, actually." Gavin said, his brows contracting on his forehead. The witch spun back to him, giggling.
"Really? You don't seem like the kind of guy to offer favors, Gavin. Unless, of course, you're proposing to me?"
"Are you still looking for a husband?" Gavin asked pointedly, ignoring her previous comment.
"Hmm… And if I am?" The red-haired man held out the mirror wordlessly, and she took it.
For a moment, she seemed too stunned to speak. Blood rushed to her face, and Ean thought she was going to scream or faint.
"This… This is him?" Gavin nodded. "He's… he's beautiful!" Hilda squealed, and Ava's eyebrows shot up. "That ugly face, and those brown tusks?" The witch seized Gavin's arm. "Where can I find this amazingly grotesque man?"
As the warlock gave her directions, Ean turned to the others.
"Unbelievable." Rye muttered.
"Agreed." Jack said. "Now I've seen everything."
When Gavin finished speaking to Hilda, he took a step back.
"See you later! I'm off to find my love!" She said, and waved her wand. There was a flash of light, and the witch simply vanished into thin air.
` "That was… interesting." Ean said as Gavin rejoined them. "She's gone, then?"
"Presumably. I can't believe she fell for him so quickly." The warlock said with a grin. "I thought I'd have to do some convincing, but…"
"Well, at least we can get out of here." Ava said. "I'd rather not be in the swamps anymore."
"Fair enough."
Ean opened his eyes, and nodded to the four figures arrayed around him.
"Hello. I'm sorry I've been away for so long."
"About time." Vincent muttered, but the werebear seemed pleased to see the elf all the same.
"You've been busy." Amari commented. "Another nymph free?" Ean nodded.
"Only two left, but…"
"We heard your conversation with the Goddess." Cigne murmured. "A tragedy, to say the least." The largest of them all nodded wordlessly.
"We'll fix it." Ean said confidently. "But that isn't why I'm here. Why did you call?"
"We have… remembered." Edward rumbled. The elf straightened up, eyes alert in the dim light of his mind.
"Another one?" Amari nodded wordlessly.
"The first one." Cigne said sadly. "Erik."
"The boy." Ean said, and Vincent nodded.
"He was a good soul, and a hard worker."
"Until Horace gave him to the witch." Amari snarled, her feathers rising and falling in her anger.
"And you think he's the next creature we'll find?" Ean asked gently.
"We are unsure." Cigne answered after a moment's hesitation. "We felt a presence several time as we sailed, but saw nothing. Perhaps this new creature can fly, or swim."
"I'll be careful. Show me, if you can." Ean promised, and the griffin bowed slightly to him.
"I expect you will." They closed their eyes, and memories began to flow from the creatures to their inheritor…
The elf's eyes opened once again, gazing at the dim cabin he shared with the other males in the party. Gavin, Nicholas, and Jack were asleep, judging by their lack of movement, but Rye was sitting at the table, carving what appeared to be a piece of wood by the light of a candle Ean had sat on the floor before entering his trance, and he had evidently fallen over sometime during it.
"That's embarrassing." He muttered, stretching as he got to his feet. "Did I keep you up?"
"No, not really. Just keeping an eye on you." Rye said, shadows and light dancing over his face. His voice was low, so as not to disturb the sleepers. "Ava gave the helm to one of her crew and retired for the night. We should be back by morning."
"Aye." Ean said, sitting down across from Rye. "But what kept you up so late in the first place?" The ranger paused, and his expression became carefully controlled.
Emma, huh? Too easy.
"Just… talking, I suppose." Ean gazed at the candle, and did not speak. Rye seemed to be on the verge of telling him something important. "So… you and Iya are... dating?" The elf looked at the man with a small smile.
"Back home, people never used that word. They called it courting or mating."
"Is there a difference?" Ean paused again, thinking.
"Yes and no. Dating implies something more superficial, although I understand that it is not always the case?" He looked at Rye for confirmation, who nodded. "In our culture, mates are two people who have become so connected that their lives are intertwined. It's more than love, or attraction, or feelings. It's like having another person be a part of your very soul."
"And Iya is yours."
"Yes." Rye exhaled, a smile touching his lips.
"That's really something. I'm happy for you, though." The elf smiled in return, a gesture of easy friendship.
"We haven't told the others, not in so many words."
"Trust me, they know." The ranger said, and Ean rolled his eyes.
"Just like we know about you and Emma?" He was pleased to see that this disarmed Rye completely, who mumbled something incomprehensible before clearing his throat.
"I… I mean… We're friends, Ean. That's all."
"I see." The elf said, nodding slowly. "And yet, there's nothing else?" The man's smile faded, and his hair grew darker as he leaned backwards.
"I don't really know." His voice was quiet and contemplating. "There's a lot to think about." Ean remained silent, letting the ranger gather his thoughts. When he did, his voice was quieter still. "I think I feel for her, but it feels so out of place at the same time."
"What do you mean?"
"You and Iya… you're childhood friends. You grew up together. Your whole life has helped you create that connection with her. But Emma and I only met when this whole adventure started. And now it's…" He made an exploding gesture with his hands. "Huge."
"And so that leaves you in an awkward place." Ean finished, and the man nodded. "I can't offer much, but I would advise you to let things take their course. Things like this can't be rushed."
"I know." Rye said plainly. "I've thought much the same. Still, I've wondered if I shouldn't be doing something else."
"We all do that." The elf told him with a grin. "Just be yourself, and treat her like you would any other partner." Rye went to nod, then froze.
"How do you know about that?" Ean merely laughed, and Rye got up, collapsing onto his bunk.
"This stuff's going to be death of me."
"What are you guys talking about?" Jack muttered sleepily, rolling over in his bunk. "Just go to sleep."
"Women." Rye groaned, eliciting another laugh from his friend opposite him.
As it turned out, Hilda had beaten them to Happily Ever After by a full day. When the party came through the gates, nodding cheerfully to the guards on duty, they found her leaning against a nearby wall.
"Well?" She demanded as they approached, glaring at Gavin. "Where is he?"
"Didn't you find him? He's by the town square." The warlock responded, pointing south. "I guess we can show you." They led the witch through town, drawing several odd looks from the locals. Thankfully, nobody questioned the appearance of a witch so soon after one had disappeared.
When they reached the edge of the town square, Gavin pointed out across the plaza.
"There! You see him?" The warthog rose slowly as Hilda approached, her mouth slightly ajar.
"This is him?" Gavin nodded, and the witch turned back to the warthog.
"He's exactly who I dreamed of!"
"You really think so? The warthog said in what he evidently assumed was a suave tone. "And what's your name, fair lady?"
"Hilda, and I think I'd like you to become my husband."
"You… are you sure?" The warthog asked. "I know I'm hideous, and nothing good to look at."
"Well, you're perfect to me!" The witch exclaimed, and planted a kiss upon the warthog's snout.
The effect was immediate. With a flash of light, the pig transformed from a four-legged creature to a handsome man, dressed in robes of silk.
"It worked?" He said, brushing his brown hair out of his eyes and running his hands down his robes. "It worked!" The man smiled so widely that it looked painful, and spun on the spot, taking everything in. "I can see everything normally again! The town, the people… Oh, it feels heavenly to stand on two feet again!"
Hilda had retreated a step in horror, her face deathly pale.
"No..." She whispered, but the man had already turned back to her.
"And you, my darling Hilda. You saved me with your wedding kiss, pronouncing us husband and wife!"
"I didn't know…" Hilda stuttered, taking another step backwards. "You were a prince all along?"
"Well, of course! Prince Charming, at your service." The man said, reaching out to take her hands. "And now, your husband!"
"No!" Hilda shrieked, darting away as the prince tried to embrace her. "I don't want a handsome husband! Stay away from me!" She darted behind the large fountain in the middle of the square, and Charming chased after her.
"Darling! Come back!"
Gavin turned around slowly, a small smile touching the corners of his mouth. The rest of the party was agape, even Ava.
"Did I just see that?" Jack said slowly, rubbing his eyes. "Just when I thought things couldn't get weirder."
"Gavin, what…" Ava began, but the warlock cut her off.
"What Hilda doesn't know about these kinds of curses is that they are binding. Her marriage vow, sealed with a kiss, is now permanent, binding her to who she thought was her dream husband." They turned to look as Charming raced around the fountain, chasing the still frantic witch.
"So she's married, then? Permanently?" Ean asked slowly, and the warlock nodded.
"I guessed as much, but I'm not sure. The prince sure seems eager enough."
"Then I suppose…" Rye said slowly. "It's happily ever after?" There was silence, and Emma groaned.
"That was a terrible pun."
"Regardless, I do believe he promised us a reward." Nicholas pointed out, and Ean nodded.
"He did indeed." The elf approached the fountain, where the prince and witch were still running themselves ragged. "Prince Charming!" The man pulled up short, examining the elf as if for the first time.
"Yes?" Behind him, Hilda was lurking cautiously behind the fountain.
"You did promise a reward if we got you a wife." Ean said calmly. "Do we get one?"
"Oh, er… Yes, of course." The man rummaged through his pockets for a moment, brown hair waving every which way. "No… no, that's not it… ah!" He pulled out an item and handed it to Ean. The rest of the party came over, and Jack gestured at Ean's hand.
"Let's see it." The elf opened his fingers to reveal a small glass bottle, complete with a cork in the top.
"It's… great." Iya said.
"Did he rip us off?" Nicholas asked curiously.
"No, no! I assure you, the bottle is magic!" Charming said, looking rather uncomfortable. "It can catch anything!"
"Right…" Rye said slowly, examining the item. "We'll let you two get back to it then." And with a determined air, the group left the square, leaving Charming to chase his wife around the fountain once more.
"Unbelievable." Jack said when they were out of earshot.
"Indeed." Iya smiled. "You have hidden depths, Gavin."
"Can't say she didn't deserve it." The warlock said, his face conspicuously blank. "And besides, she's chased me long enough that I'm happy to see her being pursued for a change." Rye chuckled at the statement as Jack examined the bottle they had been given.
"It seems normal. Feels normal, too. You think he cheated us?"
"I guess we'll have to see." Ean responded. "I guess a dubiously magical bottle is better than none. I'm trusting you to find a use for it, Jack."
"Thanks for the honor." The boy responded sarcastically, causing the group to laugh. "I guess there's lots of things that I can put in here. For example, if we need light…" He trailed off slowly, and his feet stopped on the edge of the road.
"Jack?" Iya said curiously, turning to look at him. "Are you okay?"
"Light." The boy exclaimed. "Fireflies! We can catch the fireflies from the forest and put them in here! It's supposedly magic, so it should hold them." Ean's eyebrows shot up, and he clapped the boy on the shoulder.
"Leave it to you to remember something like that. Well done!"
"Quite intelligent." Ava put in, a smirk lurking at the corners of her mouth. "Shall we go?"
"I don't know about you," Rye said. "but I'm still pretty tired after everything we've been doing the past week. I think I'll go back to the inn, sort through some stuff, and hit the hay."
"What does that mean?" Nicholas asked, one eyebrow arched.
"It means go to sleep." Emma said amusedly, staring at the prince. "You've never done that?"
"I… Not exactly." Nicholas said, his cheeks turning slightly pink. "But I agree with the sentiment."
"Me too."
"And me."
And so, Jack left with Ava and Gavin, leaving the others to head back to the inn to plan the next part of their journey.
Ean and Iya were sitting at a table near the counter, poring over a book about geography and climates of the region. One was writing in the notebook with a borrowed quill, while the other was flipping through the old manuscript, reading intently for any mention of the volcano to the north.
"Need a hand?" The elves glanced up to see Nicholas drop into a chair opposite them, looking vaguely amused. "Rye and Emma are double checking our equipment and the like. I've already refilled my stock of curatives."
"Offering to help?" Ean asked with an easy grin. "What a changed man you are." The prince rolled his eyes as he leaned forward, not quite hiding the excitement in the dark orbs. Ean knew that he enjoyed reading, as it was an activity that allowed him to keep to yourself.
"Volcano, hm? The one the Goddess mentioned?"
"Yeah, but we can't find any mention of what it's going to be like when we get there."
"Well," Nicholas murmured, leaning back and surveying the ceiling casually. "I don't know a lot, but maybe this can help. Volcanoes are essentially mounds of molten rock, which cooled and solidified over time. They're incredibly hot and hard to navigate, since they're also full of lava."
"Which is the rock that hasn't cooled yet." Iya put in.
"Correct. So, we'll probably need magic of some kind to keep us cooled down in there. As for enemies…" Nichola shrugged. "I'm not sure what creatures could live in a volcano, especially one this big. Fire elementals, maybe?"
"That's what I guessed." Ean said, looking at the man with faint admiration in his eyes. "How do you know this stuff?"
"Part of my upbringing, I suppose. My tutors were always more fond of Uthar, though." As he said his brother's name, a frown crossed the prince's face. "I've thought sometimes that he belongs here more than I do. Adventure, fighting… those are his passions and skills. Not mine."
"And yet, you've fared well so far." Iya pointed out softly. "Perhaps it runs in the family."
"Maybe." Nicholas admitted, his lips curving upward. "Still, he'd likely give me a lashing for all the foolish things I've done so far."
The door burst open, revealing a sky that had turned dark as night approached. A moment later, Jack appeared, holding what appeared to be a giant bunch of some white material.
"It worked!" He said triumphantly, as Gavin and Ava appeared behind him. "One bundle of silk, ready to be delivered."
"Excellent." Ean said, rising from his chair. "So the bottle worked, then?"
"It did, indeed. The spider was happy to have light back in her cave." Gavin confirmed, sitting down in a nearby chair and removing his boots. "At least I didn't have to carry it back."
"It's not even heavy." The boy scoffed as he sat the silk down. "You're just old." He bent down just in time to avoid that spark Gavin flicked at him, laughing.
"Old age notwithstanding, I think that concludes our business here for the time being." Ean said, and the others looked at him. Rye and Emma appeared from upstairs.
"We're good to go. Sorry, Ean." Rye said, nodding at the elf.
"So we leave tomorrow?" Ava asked.
"That's right. Prepare yourselves for intense heat. We're going to an active volcano."