Kapitel 96: Gathering

Gwen was amenable to Finn's idea, but went to discuss it with the other Fae to decide exactly how to go about formulating a recipe for her desired outcome, if such a thing were both possible and permissible. The three humans sat in the sun, two particularly enjoying its warmth, one desperately appreciating its light.

Finn hugged Gabe again, still unable to believe how he'd come back to her so unexpectedly. She felt some guilt for not even asking if the Fae could find him, but she'd had no idea he was in the Dark world that the wolves had dragged Roland to.

"I'm glad to have you here, Gabe," She said, "I'm sorry you had to worry about me so long. I was there that night when the village burned, hiding with Riley in the bushes... and there was nothing I could do to help."

The little boy squeezed her back, "It's ok, Finn. Roland told me you were ok so I didn't have to worry anymore."

Finn flushed at the mention of his name. She still couldn't believe he was really alive! The burden of her grief was lifted, transformed into a longing which gripped her in a way she hadn't known when he was merely away. Now that, in her view, he was back from the dead, she wouldn't be completely happy until she saw him with her own eyes again.

"He's good. I like him. Are you gonna marry him and be a princess?" Gabe asked.

Mayra slapped her hand over her mouth to smother her uncontrollable laughter. Finn shot her a dark look, which only made the younger woman laugh that much harder.

"That's a very impertinent question for a child to ask," Finn scolded Gabe.

"Would that make me a prince if you did?" Gabe continued, unfazed by his sister's scolding.

"I'm not--that's not relevant and I'm not answering any more questions on this topic. Roland is wonderful, and I'll be forever grateful to him for helping to save you, and that's all you need to know right now, Gabe." Finn put her best mothering tone into her words.

Mayra, encountering increasing difficulty hiding her laughter, burst out in a coughing fit to hide it from the boy. Finn reached over and smacked her back twice for good measure, presumably to help with whatever was making her cough.

"I still want to know more," Gabe pouted.

"Don't we all?" Mayra phrased the question as a rhetorical reflection on life in general, though she also wanted more information specifically on this topic. She earned another sharp glare from Finn just as Gwen came back to them.

The Fae smiled and nodded at Mayra, apparently in response to some unspoken question, and Mayra grinned. Finn sighed, and Gwen turned to her, ignoring her mild irritation.

"We believe we can help with your request, but will need some time to gather the ingredients. It's an effect we have not attempted since the early days when our magic was more experimental and less controlled. There has been no need for us to have this sort of thing." Gwen explained.

"How long do you think it will take?" Finn asked, grateful they were willing to help.

"A few days, we think, to gather enough for your purposes." Gwen replied. "You may head back to your city, and I will meet you there with the result."

"You can't just... take us there like you brought Gabe here?" Mayra grimaced. "It's freezing cold and took us weeks to climb this high into the mountains."

"There are two of you, and larger. There are limits to what I can do. I will take you partway and ease your journey how I can. You will not die of cold or hunger." She smiled at Mayra's continued foul mood.

"Well, that's something," The young woman conceded. She did not relish the memory of cold food and colder nights as she and Finn had climbed perilously into the mountains. "I suppose we'd better get started then, who knows how things are going in Klain right now?" She paused and glanced at Gwen, who smiled again.

If anyone knew, the Fae did. They seemed to know a lot of unexpected things.

"We do know, but I won't tell you all. I will say that things are going as expected for now." The grey-haired woman said.

"Is that good or bad?" Finn asked with a sigh.

"I suppose that depends on your point of view. Events in themselves are usually not entirely good nor bad. For every good that happens, someone often lets jealousy take root in their heart, or a person becomes temporarily blind to the struggles of others. Every bad is an opportunity for growth, heroism, and bravery. Until the end of your world, when creation is made new, all things will be mixed." Gwen's face reflected a longsuffering acceptance of the plight of mankind.

"The end of our world? That's... is that coming soon?" Finn felt like every time Gwen explained something, she was left with even more questions than she started with.

Gwen stared evenly at Finn, "It is not for the likes of us to question the timing, nor do we desire to know. We must act in the best way regardless."

"Maybe YOU don't desire to know," Mayra huffed. "Some of us have much more curiosity."

"Your curiosity makes you great, and to satisfy it fully would be a tragic thing indeed," Gwen smiled at her, aware the statement would likely serve to aggravate the impatient girl further. She laughed as the girl sighed.

"Fine. keep your secrets to yourself." Mayra rolled her eyes. Finn clucked her tongue at the younger girl. Though magical Jimmy tolerated the girl's impertinence a fair amount, the Fae were clearly far more powerful than the strange little man.

Although, when she considered it, Gwen regularly responded to Finn's thoughts. Even if Mayra kept her words respectful, her musings and sarcastic thoughts would betray her. Hopefully the Fae maintained their difficult-to-offend attitude.

"Let me know when you are ready to depart," Gwen's eyes moved between the two girls.

"A night of rest might be in order before we go," Finn said, looking as the sun hung low in the sky. "It's lovely here, and we'll need some time to gather a bit of food for the journey back."

"I will prepare a place for you to sleep," Gwen disappeared.

"She's more polite than Jimmy about when she disappears," Finn commented. A laugh drifted to her on the breeze, letting her know that her words were heard.

The night in Faeland turned out to be even more dazzling than the daytime. When the sun had set, the light dimmed only marginally, with the sky full of bright stars and a full, glorious moon. Gwen had prepared hammocks for them to enjoy the beauty, which Gabe in particular appreciated.

Though he had found the mental fortitude to survive the dark, he never wanted to experience total blackness ever again. His little heart had been far more anxious about the setting sun than he let on. When the giant moon did not let the sky darken too much, it was like a huge burden was lifted from him, one which his small soul should never have had to bear.

This wasn't lost on Finn, who had scarcely had time to imagine the impact of being in total blackness almost constantly for months. Her poor little brother would have much to heal from in the coming days, and she was relieved beyond measure that he had such a beautiful place to reside in until the bulk of the danger had passed. He had endured much, and she hoped he wouldn't bear any more.

She tucked him into his hammock, and he yawned. Finn told him about Klain, and the wonders of the large city, until he fell asleep. She kissed his forehead and let tears roll down her cheeks.

"I love you," She whispered, pushing a lock of hair from his forehead. It had grown long in their time apart. She usually trimmed it for him regularly. Though not harmful in the least, it was a marker of how long he'd been without her care, and she swallowed around the lump in her throat.

"Please be all right. You're strong, you're safe, and you are loved." She said softly.

She stood and turned away as a fresh flood of tears poured down her face. She could watch her little brother sleep all night, reveling in the fact that he was not harmed, but she needed her rest for the coming struggles.

The journey to Klain would be easier than their exile from it, but not completely without challenge.

More difficult still would be the fact that the Provider could have them arrested as soon as they arrived. Though their exile was not official under the purview of the peacekeeping forces, as there had been no trial, the Provider had more than likely given their names and descriptions to the Peacekeeper as troublemakers in need of arrest as an insurance policy in the event that they returned.

Finn hoped the risk would be worth it.