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effiethebookworm · 3 years

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TSE Appreciation Week Day Four

Hey! I did today’s fanfiction for a scriptwriting class, so it’s not very good. Sorry, but I hope you like it anyway.

Walter’s Curse

Cast List

Bhatair: a ten year old prince in exile. His family has all been killed (except his father) in Queen Antigone's genocide

Aetius: a prison guard who loves his axe.

Melete: a 838 year old magical lady. She has been imprisoned for decades. Very fancy, but clumsy.

Dream Walter: a tortured man.

Dream Crisan: a man with a knife

Dream Antigone: an evil queen

Walter: a former king with a mutilated face. He has been tortured over the last 4(?) years

Crisan: a farmer. He was used by Antigone to torture Walter. Thoth: the son of Crisan. 20 years old.

Opens on a stone prison hallway. A young boy is sneaking through the hall.

Bhatair: (stage-whispering) Father? Father! Father, are you here?

Bhatair pulls a piece of paper out of his pocket, and consults it.

Bhatair: If I'm here, and Father's cell is probably here.... then.... he looks behind him and starts running. He reaches a door, and pulls something out of his pocket. He uses it to pick the lock of the door, and bursts into the cell. It is dark, and he slams the door behind him. The lights brighten so the audience can see, and there is no exit. There is a dead woman chained to the wall.

Bhatair: Father? Are you he- There's no one here. Just a body chained to the wall. I wonder who she was.

Suddenly the door bursts open, and Aetius walks in carrying an axe.

Aetius: (menacingly) Hello there, little prince Bhatair.

Bhatair rushes to the corner, where the woman is. He cuts her chains with the lockpick. Aetius advances, and Bhatair raises his fists. Suddenly, the woman grabs him.

Bhatair: What the-

Blue light flashes, and B and the woman are gone.

END SCENE ONE

Scene Two

The woman (Melete) and Bhatair are on a sunny beach. Melete is waking up. She pulls up her hair into a fancy updo as she speaks.

Melete: Thank you for saving me, boy.

Bhatair (stammering): You're welcome. Who-who are you?

Melete: My name is Melete Dolan. You may have heard of me?

Bhatair (shocked): The Melete Dolan? Matriarch of Cedulan? (a pause, Bhatair lowers his voice) The great great great great great grandmother of Queen Antigone?

Melete: Yes, that is all true, although I wish that the last one wasn't. I assume you are from the Lewis line of Bellingrath? I am very sorry for Antigone's genocide of your relatives. I tried to stop her, but she arrested me and kept me in Herarat prison for many years.

Bhatair: I am very sorry, Lady Melete, that that happened. If you had stopped her, my mother and siblings would still be alive and (chokes up) my father would still be free.

Melete: (thinking out loud) My, your father must be an important man for Antigone to keep him instead of just killing him. What is his name, boy?

Bhatair: My father was...is King Walter Hollingsworth, of Bellingrath, and I am Prince Bhatair: I believe that he is being tortured by Antigone. He, my mother, and my ten siblings were all captured. I was the only one who escaped. Honestly, it was quite an accident that I rescued you. I was looking for my father, and happened upon you instead.

Melete: Young Bhatair, I am very grateful that you rescued me. I will attempt at repaying you by giving you a curse.

Bhatair: (shocked) A-A curse? Like the terrible manipulation curse, Syllor's Curse?

Melete: (face darkening) Yes. Syllor was my husband. He was a horrible person, and used curses for evil. The curse I am offering you would, of course, be used for good.

Bhatair: Oh. Well, all I want is for my father to be happy, so I will give the curse to him.

Melete: But I offered the curse to you.

Bhatair: Yes, and I want my father to have it. Please, Lady Melete. Please.

Melete: All right, Bhatair. Hold my hand.

They grip hands. A blue light flashes, and they disappear.

Scene Three

Open on a prison cell. A mutilated man is lying on the floor, shivering. There is a sheet strung behind him. Behind it, you can see the shadow of a trembling man, and a man holding a knife, about to cut the first man. There is a blue flash, and Melete and Bhatair appear. The shadows disappear, the man sits up, and the sheet is gone.

Walter: Son? Am I dead, and in heaven?

Bhatair: (shocked): Father? Is that you? What has she done to you?

Walter: Antigone has been torturing me for her sadistic pleasure. She mutilated my face because of my vanity. Oh, my vanity. I can see now that I was so vain and conceited.

Bhatair: Oh father! (they embrace. Melete is inspecting her fingernails and humming “I'm Blue” in the corner.)

Walter: (notices Melete) Who are you?

Melete: I am Melete Dolan.

Walter: Ah, Lady Melete. I have heard a rumor that you tried to stop Antigone. Thank you for your efforts. I only wish that they could have been successful.

Melete: So do I. (long silence) But I'm not here to speak of the past. Your son has rescued me from Antigone's clutches, so I gave him a curse. He decided to give it to you.

Walter: A curse.... It has always been a dream of mine to have my own curse. I do though, wish to be free.

Melete: That can be arranged. (she grabs Bhatair's hand and Walters hand. There is a blue flash, and they disappear.)

Scene Four

Open on a throne room. There is a blue flash, and Bhatair, Walter, and Melete appear.

Melete: Wow, this place has changed in the last 800 years. I'm sorry that I couldn't drop you somewhere better, but this is the only part of the palace I've been to.

Walter: Thank you, Lady Melete.

Melete: This isn't the curse, you know.

Walter: Really?

Melete: Curses are far more powerful. They affect generations of people, and a simple teleportation would not.

Walter: Oh. Then my curse is that the St. Claires will forever feel the pain of the Hollingsworths. They will feel everything we feel, every stab of pain.

Melete: Who are the St. Claires?

Walter: Crisan St. Claire was one of the guards who tortured me. I want his family to pay.

Melete: Alright. (the lights dim until it is almost entirely dark. A throbbing blue spotlight is on Melete. Her eyes are closed, and her brow is creased in extreme concentration. The spotlight extends, and the throbbing becomes more violent. Bhatair and Walter fall to their knees and cover their eyes, but Melete is unfazed. She raises her arms. The spotlight stops throbbing, and it is on max brightness. As she brings her arms down, the light goes completely out, and there is complete darkness.

Melete: It is done.

Scene Five

Open on a farm. There are two men plowing, one around 50 and the other around 20. They are laughing and talking.

Thoth: So then she said no, all because of the duck wearing a skirt!

Crisan: (laughs, but stops abruptly. There is a very fast blue flash and Crisan collapses. Thoth kneels down next to him.

Thoth: Father! Father! (Thoth also collapses. At this point, they are both behind the plows, where the actors for Bhatair and Walter have been hiding. After a moment, Thoth, now played by Bhatair, stands up.)

Thoth: Father? What? My voice is high. (looks at himself) horrified I'm a kid! Father! Father, wake up! Wake up, Father! (Thoth drops to his knees and convulses into sobs.)

THE END

#tseweek2021 #tse appreciation week #bhatair hollingsworth #melete dolan #crisan st claire #thoth st claire #walter hollingsworth

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effiethebookworm · 3 years

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TSE Appreciation Week Day Two!

*tiny wave* Hi again! Just wanted to say thank you to all of the kind people who commented on/liked my fanfic for day one. Y’all are awesome. Anyhoo, on with the story! This one is called Tiny Hands, and I LOVED writing it. I hope you love reading it!!

Tiny Hands

“King Avidan! Where are you?” Avidan sighed. The reason that he had gone to hide in the head was so that people wouldn't notice that he was gone. They would see the door closed and think, Oh, the king is relieving himself. It sure worked for Eglon and Ehud in the Bible. Avidan stood up and opened the door. His manservant, Jer, stood in front of the door. His dark brown hair with a few traces of gray sat crisply on his head, and his uniform fit perfectly on his wiry frame.

“What is it, Jer?” Jer bowed deeply and said,

“I am so sorry, Your Majesty. I did not realize that you were...” Avidan blushed.

“I was done. What did you want to tell me?”

“We recently received a letter from your adviser. It requires an urgent response.”

“Thank you, Jer.” Avidan didn't know what he'd do without Jer. He probably would have died from exhaustion if it hadn't been for Jer, who always made sure that he ate and slept and occasionally took breaks. Jer was sort of like a father to him now, and easily old enough to be his father, if not grandfather. Since Velvare had forfeited his position of regent five years ago so that he could go home to his family in Levant, Avidan had been ruling Gallitan. He had an adviser, of course, because he was still underage, but after hearing the tragic story of how Velvare had left his family fourteen years ago, the kingdom unanimously voted to let Avidan take the crown at only seventeen. It had been almost constant stress since then, so he had escaped on a vacation to Levant. Jer insisted that he come along too. Avidan told his adviser that he wanted to visit his friend Enel, but he was really going to visit his cousin Noah. He had heard that Noah was married now, and wanted to see if it was true. Also, he just missed Noah. After all, they had been very close when Avidan was a child, and he hadn't seen Noah since before he had taken the crown. Avidan was back to his cabin now, and saw two birds on his desk. One was his, a raven that one of Velvare's friends had given him at his coronation. He could carry letters in his beak, and Avidan had named him Postmaster. Next to Postmaster was a dove with a small slip of paper between her talons. Is that...

“Pigeondove?” Avidan said with amazement. The bird perked up her head at hearing her name, and jumped up onto Avidan's shoulder. She nestled up against his ear, and made a small cooing noise.

“Nice to see you too, girl. What's your message?” Avidan murmured. Pigeondove hopped off of his shoulder and flapped over his open hands. She dropped the paper onto his hands, and flew up to his other shoulder. Avidan opened the paper, trembling with excitement.

Letter from I said you were coming. True? -N

Avidan and Noah had developed their own kind of code for letters by bird. Since Pigeondove could only carry small slips of paper, and Postmaster was still being trained up until quite recently, a message had to be quite short. This one meant something like I got a letter from Idony that said that you were coming to visit. Is that true? Love, Noah. Avidan pulled a piece of note paper out of his bag, ripped off a tiny slip, and scrawled: Yes. OK? -A. He gave the paper to Pigeondove and threw her out of his porthole window. She quickly disappeared over the waves. Suddenly, Avidan had an idea. He wrote on the rest of the paper, This is my bird Postmaster. Let him inspect you, and say “Noah” while he does. He can carry more than Pig, and is new. -A.

He shoved the paper into an envelope, gave it to Postmaster, and told him,

“Follow that bird. Her name is Pigeondove. Give the letter to the man. His name is Noah. Go.” Avidan had managed to train Postmaster to understand around 75 words. He was a very smart bird, and he flew out of the window. Avidan watched him grow smaller and smaller on the horizon, there was a green flash, and he disappeared. By now, Avidan had figured out that both Pigeondove and Postmaster had been magically enchanted. They had to be, how else could they fly thousands of miles in a single day? Avidan suddenly realized that he had forgotten about the letter from his adviser. He broke the seal and opened it.

Your Majesty,

The kingdom has now realized that you are gone. I have made an official announcement that you have gone to visit your childhood friend Enel Lanum in Bellingrath. I hope your journey is going as planned. Please give King Bhatair my greetings.

King Bhatair? Avidan was confused for a moment, but then remembered that Velvare had revealed his real name to be Bhatair Hollingsworth.

I do hope that you remember what we talked about before you left. Remember, you are the KING now. You are no longer just a prince who may gallivant

ant around as he pleases. You still have responsibility, even though you are on “vacation.” You are now the face of Gallitan. Whatever you say or do reflects the character of the country, for better or worse. Oh, that reminds me, you should probably start looking for a candidate for queen. You are twenty-one years old, after all.

Sincerely,

Sir Kishon Fitzpeter

Avidan muttered an obscenity under his breath. Candidate for queen? Yes, Velvare got married when he was sixteen, but Velvare is not a good role model for life! Plus, I have a kingdom to rule, I don't have time for dating! Avidan slumped onto his bunk, internally screaming. He could not function. Life was too challenging. He checked his pocket watch. A quarter to ten. I could sleep now! He stood up and went to the door of his cabin.

“I AM TIRED! I AM GOING TO BED!” He yelled, to no one in particular. He laid on his bed, just bothering to change into his night-tunic, and fell asleep fairly quickly.

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He awoke with a start. He saw a black figure sitting on his chest, and almost screamed before he realized that it was Postmaster. He had a letter in his beak, and he dropped it onto Avidan's face. Avidan opened it.

Avidan,

Glad to hear that you have a bird now. Who did you get it from? I am really glad you're coming to visit!

Avidan was shocked. That sounds nothing like Noah.

I'm sorry I couldn't make it to your coronation, but Idony and Marcus told me all about it. I hope you're doing well and the ruling the kingdom isn't too taxing. Where are you in the Deadwaters? If you don't know, ask a sailor how many outposts you are from Cedulan Port. Hope to see you soon.

-Noah

PS. I have a family now. Can't wait for you to meet Ruya!

So the rumor was true. Avidan rolled out of bed and quietly crept up to the deck. The stars were brilliant, brighter than they ever were in Greenway with all its streetlamps. He walked over to the man at the helm. He was quite rotund, and had blond curls that fell into his eyes.

“Excuse me, sir, how many outposts are we from Cedulan Port?”

“Yi're King Avidan, ain't ye?” The sailor asked. He had a strange accent. “Well, I'd reckin 'bout a half, Yer Majisty. That'il take us 'bout foir dais.

“Thank you. What's your name?”

“Me, sir? Erialc. Haon Erialc.”

“Thank you, Haon.”

Avidan returned to his cabin, and quickly wrote a response to Noah.

Noah-

I got Postmaster from a man at my coronation. He had green eyes and brown hair. He told me that the bird was trained to carry letters. Then he congratulated me, and disappeared into the crowd. The sailor said that we are half an outpost away, and it would be about four days.

-Avidan

He put the letter in the bird's beak, and went back to bed. About an hour and a half later, he was awakened by squawking. Postmaster was already back, and had a hastily folder paper in his beak. Avidan took it, and read.

Look for a windmill by the coast. That is ours. Stop the ship there. If you are about half an outpost away from the city, you are only a few hours away.

-Noah

Avidan jumped out of bed and quickly changed clothes into a simple tunic and linen pants. Jer made him pack mostly royal robes, but he hid more simple clothes under them. He ran out of the cabin and took the ladder two rungs at a time. On deck, a beautiful sunrise was starting.

“Haon?” Avidan yelled.

“Yessear?” Haon answered.

“Do you know if we've passed a large windmill yet?”

“Nosear. That'll come in abeaut twenty minits.”

“Will you stop the ship there?”

“Whatevear for, yer Highniss?”

“My cousin lives there. I wish to visit him.”

“Yer cousin is Noah St. Clar?” Avidan was surprised.

“Yes. How do you know him?”

“Nay, sir, I don't know heem, but 'is wife, Ruya Lewis. We used to be on a ship's crew together. She's a kind, kind woman. Very sweet, very gintle. You'll love'er, ever'one does. The capteen was a 'orrible man, but she made us all heppy.”

“That's good to hear.” Haon and Avidan stood on the deck in silence for a few minutes, watching the sun rise in a brilliant array of colors. Haon finally cleared his throat.

“Beggin' yer pardon, sir, but shouldn't ye get your bags ready to get off?” Avidan snapped out of his daze.

“Oh, yes. I suppose I should. Thank you, Haon.”

“Any time, sir.

Avidan rushed back down the ladder, and knocked on Jer's door.

“Come in.” Avidan walked in. Jer was writing in a small leather-bound book, but quickly turned around.

“Yes, King Avidan?”

“There's uh... been a small change of plans. We're getting off at a different port in a few minutes.”

“Oh dear.” Jer wrung his hands. “Has there been an assassination? An accident? A rebellion? Oh dear, maybe we should just turn back-”

“No, Jer. I just want to visit my cousin.”

“Oh. I suppose that's alright.” Jer's concern visibly diminished.

“Great. Get ready to land.” Avidan went back to his cabin, and threw everything into his bags. Postmaster flew up onto Avidan's shoulder, and he went up on deck. By the time he got up there, the windmill was in sight. He could see hills of farmland stretching on beyond the windmill. A few workers were in the fields, picking and planting and doing whatever farmers do. Avidan sure didn't know. He had only left Gallitan once, for Enel's wedding to a Gallitanian farmer's daughter. Enel would have become king, since his brother committed suicide when he was captured by Cedulanian forces and his father forfeited, he was next in line. However, he and King Apen Shephard of Cedulan decided to get rid of the law that kept women from ruling Levantine countries, and Enel let his sister Delaney become queen of Bellingrath. Avidan respected Enel for this decision. I don't think that I would have the self-control to step down like that, although self-control is certainly not the word that most describes Enel Alvarado. As an show of how Enel had no plans to retake the thrown from his sister, he took his wife's last name, an unheard-of practice in Levant, though quite common in Preble.

“DROP ANCHOR!” Avidan heard from the helm.

Haon waddled over to him and announced, “We're 'ere, Yer 'ighness. You 'n yer sarvant will go out to share on a rowb't.”

“Thank you, Haon. You have been very helpful.”

Haon ducked his head and smiled bashfully.

“Well, Sir, 't's not evry dee y'get to help the Keeng.” A loud horn sounded, and Avidan and Jer were helped into a large rowboat by a sailor. He tossed their luggage in, and then climbed in himself. They dropped into the water, and the sailor started rowing them to the shore. They were silent, listening to the plop, whish, plop, whish of the oars. Soon, they reached land. The sailor threw all of the luggage onto the shore. He bowed to Avidan, and Avidan nodded in thanks. The sailor started rowing back to the ship, but turned around after a few rows.

“Your Highness, Captain Haon told me to let you know that when you are ready to go, send him a message by bird? He said you would know what that means.” Avidan nodded. “Yes, I do. Thank you.” The sailor rowed away. Avidan and Jer grabbed their bags and turned towards the fields and mill.

“So, King Avidan, this is where Noah lives.”

“It is. And Jer, please drop the 'King.' Just Avidan would suit me better.” Jer winked.

“Alright, Just Avidan.” Avidan almost chuckled.

“I suppose that your cousin is working in the fields.” Jer wiped his forehead with his sleeve. It was already warm out, even though it was still fairly early, about two hours after sunrise. Avidan took a deep breath of sea air and freshly turned dirt.

“No, he's a doctor. I doubt that he would become a farmhand.”

They started walking towards the mill. As they got close, they saw a large sign hanging over the doors.

ST. CLAIRE FAMILY FARM

Maybe he is a farmer. Avidan wondered. Suddenly, a little girl with small blonde curls hurtled out of the door of the house behind the mill.

“You will never catch me, Evil Dragon!” A man ran out after her, roaring. He was carrying a little boy on his back.

“Forward, Dragon!” the boy yelled. He was holding a small sword. The little girl noticed Avidan and jogged over to him.

“Hello. What's your name?” she said. The man noticed Avidan a second later.

“Hey! Are you looking for a job-” the man stopped abruptly. “Avidan? Is that you?” “Noah?” Avidan said incredulously. The man standing before him looked nothing like how he remembered his cousin. The angry, scruffy man had transformed into a happy, well-groomed, kind-looking man with children clinging to him. Instead of stubble, he had a small beard. Instead of a bloody bandage covering his right forearm, a few deep scars were visible. Noah put the boy down and enveloped Avidan in a sweaty hug. Avidan was shocked. It had been months since anyone had hugged him, maybe longer. He wasn't sure what to do with his hands. Noah pulled away, and looked over Avidan from head to foot.

“Man, it's been a long time. You're twenty now, right?”

“Twenty-one.” Avidan said.

“Twenty-one. Man, it's been forever. Listen, I'm so sorry that we couldn't come to your coronation, Dan. Ah, we have so much to catch up on!” The little girl asked,

“Daddy, who's he?” Noah swooped her up onto his hip.

“Olive, this is Avidan. He's my cousin, which means he's your cousin once-removed.” He turned to Avidan. “Avidan, this is my daughter Olive.” Olive smiled. She had three missing teeth.

“I'm six and a half!”

“Nice.” Avidan smiled. He didn't really know how to talk to kids. Sure, he had been a kid himself once, but he had been unusually mature. An “old soul,” people called it.

Noah turned to his son.

“Laban, this is your cousin Avidan.” Laban stood up and walked over to Avidan. He firmly shook Avidan's hand.

“Nice to meet you, Avidan.” He said in a small, quiet voice. Avidan could hardly keep himself from laughing. This boy was no more than five, and he already acted like a businessman.

“Nice to meet you too, Laban.”

Noah smiled again. Avidan had never seen Noah smile this much in the twenty-one years he had known him, combined.

“Laban here is the reason why we couldn't come to your coronation. He was a week old, and it would have been too long of a journey. Ru didn't want to leave him, and I didn't want to leave her.” A look of confusion settled on Olive's face.

“Da, what's coronation?” “It's when someone becomes king or queen.” Olive's eyes widened. She dropped into a low curtsy.

“Your Highness.” Noah chuckled and shook his head.

“Olive, you've been reading too many fairy tales.” Olive rose, and asked,

“If you're a king, then where's your crown?”

“All my circlets are in my bags.” Just then, Avidan remembered Jer.

“Jer! This is my cousin Noah. Noah, this is my manservant Jer.”

They shook hands and exchanged pleasantries.

“C'mon, let's go inside so you can meet Ru.” Noah put his arm around Avidan's shoulders and led him inside a farmhouse next to the mill. As soon as Avidan stepped inside, he knew that it was a home. The smell of baking bread wafted through the air, along with the sound of laughter. There were messy drawings in wooden frames on the walls, along with beautiful paintings of the children, Noah and his wife in their wedding clothes, and a painting of Pigeondove that looked like it was done by the children. They went through a hall, and into the kitchen, where there was a woman singing softly to a baby while folding laundry. She turned around.

“Noah, where did you put the...” she noticed Avidan and stopped what she was doing.

“Hello. You must be Avidan. I'm Ruya.” She walked over and gave him a light embrace. “Please, have a seat. Would you like some bread?” Avidan realized that he was ravenously hungry.

“That would be very nice,” he replied. She walked over to the counter and started slicing a loaf. Avidan sat down at the kitchen table. Noah left the room and came back carrying a little girl.

“This is Ruth. She's three.” Her chocolate skin was in sharp contrast with the peach skin of her father and warm tan of her mother.

“Is she adopted?” Avidan asked, already knowing the answer. Ruya answered.

“Yes. Her mother was one of our patients, we're both doctors, you know, met in medical school. The mother died in childbirth, and we haven't been able to locate the father.” Ruth gurgled happily. Avidan noticed that her tongue stuck out a bit, and her eyes were a bit uneven. Practically reading his thoughts, Noah said,

“We think she has a brain disability. She can't speak yet, and she learned to walk, with help, only last month.” Almost defensively, Ruya said, “She learned to laugh at one and a half months, though. Babies usually laugh around four months, but Ruth does things on her own schedule.” Avidan walked over to Ruth. “Nice to meet you, Ruth. I'm Avidan.” Ruth smiled at him. He smiled back. That girl lives up to her name, Avidan thought. She can light up a room with joy. Noah sat Ruth down on a cushion, and picked up a baby from a blanket on the floor.

“This, Avidan, is your cousin Peter Avidan St. Claire.”

Avidan?

“You named him after me?”

“Yes.” Ruya said, while placing a plate with a small stack of bread before him. “Olive is Olive Idony, Laban is Laban Edwin, after my father, Ruth is Ruth Lorene, after my mother, and then there's little Peter Avidan.”

“But... why me?” Avidan was still shocked.

Ruya sat down next to him.

“I have no siblings, and Noah” she side-eyed Noah “refused to let his middle name be Thoth. So you were the next choice.”

“But I'm no-” Avidan started to choke on the lump in his throat, but quickly regained himself. “I'm not that important.” Suddenly all of the feelings that he had suppressed over the last five years, and his whole life, came flooding out. Shock, denial, anger, sadness, hurt, even hints of despair. He started crying and talking at the same time.

“Noah, I've always idolized you. You were my hero when I was little, always strong and brave, always helping me. I was so proud when you started telling me Velvare's secrets, and about the east. I felt like you and I were special secret-friends, and th-that we would always be best friends. Then Velvare had his accident, and he hugged Enel and ignored me, and I know that it was a trivial thing and he was sick, but it hurt so, so much. Then he started ignoring me and spending so much more time with Enel. Enel left, and then I learned that Velvare only adopted me for power, and that Enel was his real son. Then the war, and Velvare went back to his family, and I was king all of a sudden. Everyone trusted me so much, and I couldn't ever let them down, and it was too much and I just couldn't anymore but I kept going and going and- and I'm sorry I'm upset. I shouldn't be making such a big deal out of this.” Avidan put his head down on the counter, his body convulsing with silent sobs.

“Avidan, I am so sorry. I am sorry I put you through all that. If I hadn't told you about- If you hadn't known-” Noah stopped speaking, crying as well. Avidan raised his head.

“I'm sorry, Noah. I shouldn't have said anything.” Noah was sitting next to him now, with Ruya on Avidan's other side. They both had an arm on his back. Ruya's face was concerned, Noah's was twisted with guilt.

“No, Dan. It is not your fault. Velvare was a horrible person, and he hurt you. Not physically, but emotional hurt lasts longer. Trust me. I know.” Noah turned away. Ruya patted Avidan's back comfortingly.

“Avidan Leto, you are one of the most important people in my husband's life. He told me about you before he told me about his parents.” Avidan snorted.

“He won't tell you this, but he loves you. Almost as much as he loves Idony.” Avidan looked at Ruya. She was telling the truth. Noah turned back toward him.

“No, Ru's wrong. I will tell you. Avidan, I love you. You are, and always have been, like a brother to me. If you didn't know that yet, I am so sorry. Please forgive me.” Olive hopped up onto the table.

“Uncle Danny, you don't have to be sad. Mommy and Daddy and me and Laban and Ruth and Peter all love you and maybe Peter doesn't yet because he's too young but he will someday, I know it.” Olive scooted over to Avidan and wrapped her arms around his neck. (Author's note: I was listening to the Avidan Leto playlist while writing this, and Everybody Needs A Hug came on right as I started writing Olive's dialogue!)

Avidan was shocked. He had just met this child, and she already loved him? How was this possible? Practically answering his question, Ruya said,

“Avidan, you're family. We love you, and you are welcome to stay here as long as you want.”

Laban grabbed his leg from under the table, and Noah scooped up both Ruth and Peter and crouched next to Avidan.

“We're here for you, okay? Is there anything we can do for you?” Jer cleared his throat from the corner. Avidan had again forgotten about his presence.

“Avidan, I am also here to help you, whenever and wherever you need it.”

“Thank you, Noah, Jer, Ruya, Olive, Laban.” Avidan managed to choke out. “I think I'm a little better now.” They all stood there for a while, no one talking. Avidan felt like a huge hole had been filled in his soul. I have a family now. They are my family. Not Velvare, not Enel, not the country of Gallitan. The people in this house are my family. Two hands slipped into his, balled up on the table. He looked at them, and saw a tiny peach hand and a tiny chocolate hand in his large ones.

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The fields were beautiful, full of perfectly ripe black and red berries, small stalks of corn, huge onions ripe for the pulling, and almost every other fruit and vegetable imaginable. Avidan was having the time of his life working, actually working, at the farm. He was sweaty and tired and sore all over, but happy. Jer had protested when Avidan had first asked Noah, but in the evening when Avidan came back rosy-checked and hungry, Jer had bought some fabric to make him a set of laboring clothes. It turned out that Jer had been apprenticed to a tailor as a boy, and he was very good at sewing. Avidan had been working for eleven days now, and it was doing him a lot of good. His appetite was better, he slept more soundly, and he was more joyful. He had even made a few friends among the other workers. Sometimes Noah worked with him, although usually he was helping the kids. He home-schooled Olive and Laban while Ruya worked in town. She ran a small hospital with a few other doctors. They had inherited the farm from Ruya's parents when they died a few years ago. They used it as a sort of ministry, hiring beggars from all over the continent, paying them fare wages, and eventually, a small share in the farm. They sold much of the produce at the local market, and investing the extra money back into the farm instead of keeping it. In return, they had loyal workers, many friends, and an almost endless supply of fresh food.

BONG. The lunch gong sounded, and the workers started to the village. Avidan went the opposite direction, to the farmhouse, where the smell of stew beckoned him to the kitchen.

Noah stirred the stew, humming. He wore an apron with the word Da painted on it.

“Did Olive make you that apron?” Avidan said. Noah jumped.

“You startled me, Dan. Don't walk so quietly!” Noah chuckled.

Olive was sitting on the counter next to Noah.

“Hi Uncle Danny! Daddy's teaching me how to make stew. Do you wanna come help?”

“No thanks, Olive. I need to go wash up. Maybe next time, though.” Avidan headed for the stairs, and almost tripped over Laban, who was hurtling through the hallway, a tiny wooden wagon in each hand.

“Whoa, buddy! You're fast.” Laban smiled at him, but kept playing.

Avidan washed his hands and went back downstairs. Noah was serving the stew into bowls, and Olive was pouring iced tea into tin cups. Avidan watched them for a moment, taking in the beauty of the St. Claires' simple life.

The End.

#tse appreciation week #day two #avidan leto #noah st claire #ruya st claire #the silver eye #fanfiction

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