章 23: Chapter 23

"What happened boy? Are you hurt somewhere?" Alvars grandfather asked in a worried voice while surveying his grandson's condition who seemed to be physically alright, though Alvar's mental state worried the old man.

"Speak with us Alvar, please…" Alvars grandmother spoke while embracing her still crying grandson into her arms, trying to somehow console him but her administrations didn't seem to do much which brought Alvars grandfather up short, his mind beginning to comprehend.

"What do you think happened dear? What can we do?" The grandmother asked her husband, hoping he knew something that may help. As she looked over to her kneeling husband she saw how a glimmer of understanding began to surface on his face so she promptly asked what he had come upon.

"Do you remember the day when Hilda flowered into a woman for the first time and the same night established a connection with the mists? The night she began her path to become a Havroune? This reminds me eerily much of that night. Whatever Hilda had seen that night in the mists caused a similar, if a little more subdued, reaction. And just like our Alvar here she did not respond to anything we did. If I am correct in my assumption then Alvar needs the help of a Havroune to bring him back to us fully!" Alvars grandfather spoke after which he swiftly marched out of the small room and after donning his fur mantle and putting his axe into his belt stormed out of their home with a singular purpose in mind.

After 15 minutes of waiting, in which Alvars grandmother looked after Alvar with worried eyes, her husband along with the old story teller and former Havroune Isolde in tow, barged through the entrance of their home which caused the face of Alvars grandmother to light up in hope.

Under huffing and ragged breathing the old Havroune came walking into the room and before anybody could even begin to tell her what had happened, even though Alvars grandfather must have already spoken with her, she briskly walked over to Alvar and kneeled before him, gazing deeply into the teary-eyed eyes of Alvar.

"Oh my…I am so sorry that you had to see something like that dear boy…" She said with dimming light in her eyes as her face took on a sad expression. As her expression fell she moved her wrinkled hand upwards and softly laid her thumb onto Alvar's forehead where she began to draw symbols of sorts, followed by a few mumbled words incomprehensible to those inside the room. While she spoke softly with her eyes closed Alvar, after a few seconds under the old Havroune's care, slowly fell backwards while his eyelids dropped down.

Before Alvar hit his bed his grandmother came rushing over and softly caught her grandson in her arms after which she carefully laid him back onto the sheets, a worried expression on her face.

"What happened to him? Will he be alright? Please tell me nothing happened to him in the mists…" Alvars grandmother asked the old Havroune who with a sigh had come to her feet and walked over to a nearby chair where she sat down tiredly.

"Do not worry, your grandchild will be alright, though what he saw will not go past him without leaving its marks." The old Isolde spoke while she swiped her right hand down her face in a tired fashion.

"What did he see though? What could be so mortifying that he would break into tea-…Please, don't let it be Olaf…" Alvars grandfather spoke softly, all the while watching Isolde who nodded sadly, causing the old man to collapse against the doorframe where he slid down with water standing in his eyes.

Upon understanding what her husband meant Alvars grandmother broke down into tears as well. Now their last child had left them and there was nothing they could do about it now.

"I am sorry but take solace in the fact that your son did not suffer and will have joined your ancestors in the mists from where he will be watching over you…" The old Havroune Isolde spoke into the anguish filled silence that covered the room.

"If you need anything please do not hesitate to ask. May the spirits watch over you and lend you strength in your sorrow." Isolde spoke and with a sad sigh left the family to their grief stepping out into the cold night that seemed to be a lot darker than usual…