Herobrine gazed down at the hammer that he held in both hands, momentarily transfixed by the shimmering runes that ran down the elegantly crafted handle.
"Father," Stephen prompted, and he blinked, snapping out of it. Lifting his gaze from the weapon, he offered it forward, handing it back to its rightful owner.
Notch's posture straightened as he grasped the hammer, the pain in his stance melting away and his chestplate mending where the bolt had struck him. The little blue spirit hovered anxiously around his head as he straightened, and Notch looked up at it with a smile.
"Thank you, Herobrine." He said. He looked about to say more, but something else caught his attention, and Stephen turned to follow his gaze as Cafos and Alexis landed on the edge of the island.
"Stephen!" Alexis broke into a run towards him as soon as she was released, and Stephen threw up his good hand to stop her as she neared.
"I'm hurt!" He yelped. "Careful!" Obediently, she slowed, her green eyes concerned as she looked him over.
"Your arm?" She gathered. His right arm was still untreated, hanging limp at his side, and he shifted to hug it to his body again. "Oh, Nether, you look terrible. What happened?"
"I got hit." He shrugged. "You should've seen the other guy."
"Lucius?" Cafos asked as he neared. Stephen nodded.
"He's dead." He told them. Cafos heaved a quiet sigh of relief.
"As are the rest of the Sons of the Aether." Herobrine said quietly. "All that were here, anyway."
"Good." Notch said, releasing his hammer and letting it vanish in a flash of light. "I am relieved that you were able to take down their ringleader without any casualties… at least, more than have already fallen." He lifted his gaze to the spirit again, who trilled quietly. "While I am thankful that his plot is finished with, the damage that Lucius has caused is too great to ignore." His gold-rimmed eyes fell on Herobrine. "And yours, as well."
Herobrine straightened up, but Alexis cut in before he could speak. "Your majesty, he was tricked."
"And he was the one who killed Lucius." Stephen jumped in as well. "If not for him, you wouldn't have your power back."
"I understand that." Notch told them. "But the fact remains that he has killed dozens, if not hundreds of my valkyries. What happened to him- to both of you-" He added, glancing at Stephen. "-is tragic, but it does not excuse his actions."
"But-" Stephen tried.
"Stephen." Herobrine cut him off. "I understand." His blank, narrowed eyes turned back to Notch. "Whatever punishment you think is due, I will not defy it." There was a challenge in his voice, but the aggression that so often accompanied it was gone. He had gotten his revenge. There was no more hatred to be had.
Notch studied him quietly for a few moments before he spoke. "I want you to raise your son."
"What?" Herobrine's gaze flashed over to meet Stephen's, who was staring at him with just as much bewilderment.
"Raise your son." Notch repeated himself. "Make up for the missed years, however you can. Show him what it's like to have a proper father." When the two continued to stare in shock, he went on. "There is no punishment that I can give you that will undo what you've done." His dark eyes were kind. "But I can give you hope, and happiness, for the future." Herobrine remained silent for a few moments longer, his jaw working slightly, before he managed,
"Oh." He turned his stunned gaze back to his son, and Stephen lurched forward to throw his good arm around him again.
Herobrine clutched at him desperately, as if his son would disappear if he let go. Stephen winced as his arm was jarred a bit, but the pain in his shoulder was immaterial compared to being able to hold his father tight. A lump formed in his throat, and he squeezed his eyes shut, inhaling shakily.
He wrinkled up his nose a bit. When was the last time Herobrine had gotten a bath?
When they finally broke apart, Notch was addressing Alexis and Cafos. "Where will you two be going after this?"
"Oh." Alexis looked at Cafos, then to Stephen, who was holding his father's arm with his good hand. "I… kind of just wanted to stay with Stephen."
"Me too," Cafos said. "The Sons of the Aether are gone, so I can't go back there, and… Alexis never had anywhere."
"Well, I've been ordered to spend time with my son," Herobrine said, his voice slightly thick from emotion. "But, if you will have me, I will gladly bring you two along."
"Of course." Alexis exclaimed. Cafos looked a bit more apprehensive, but he hesitantly nodded along. Stephen broke into a shaky grin.
"Stephen," Notch said, drawing the young man's attention away from his friends. "May I speak to you for a moment?" Stephen blinked, then reluctantly released his father's arm, following his sovereign as he led him away from the others. "I've assumed that you want to stay with your father, but I wanted to ask." Notch murmured once they were out of earshot. "Are you happy with this?" Stephen hesitated only a moment before nodding earnestly.
"Yes." He confirmed. "I-I just want to stay with my friends and family."
"Good." Notch nodded, satisfied. "I wanted to say thank you," He went on. "I do not know the full story, but I know enough to know that you've been very brave." Stephen gave him a wobbly smile.
"Thank you, your majesty."
"Don't thank me." Notch reached out, giving his good shoulder a gentle pat. "Go on." He waved him back towards the others, and Stephen gladly went to rejoin his family.
"I'm afraid I have no home I can offer you," Herobrine was saying as he approached, glancing up as his son neared. "I've been a wanderer since I awoke from my sleep."
"That's okay," Alexis said. "I've been wandering my whole life, and Stephen and Cafos lived in a camp."
"It will be more difficult to survive without shelter during the winter." Herobrine eyed her for a moment, then turned back to his son. "We could find a place to settle, I know the basics of construction. What do you think?" Stephen hesitated, and Evie's face appeared in his mind's eye.
"I don't know," He said with a small smile. "I don't think being nomads would be all that bad."
hey. don't cry. epilogue coming soon :)
~p0tat0-g0ddess