Stories from RhyDin & The Rings

July 2022

London was left in the rearview, the road ahead uncertain as the search for Alexia's parents began. Danny's mentor and a well-respected journalist/philanthropist, Ken Greene, was nearby on assignment in Cambridge, his investigations into the photo she'd found of her parents back in Texas having turned up some rather interesting results. A one hour drive in a rented car saw them arriving at the prestigious Cambridge University. Danny could see the excitement in her eyes at the mention of a visit to a library, especially one that held around nine million objects of historical significance and more books than she could pore over in a lifetime.

The building itself was massive, looming over them as they pulled into the carpark, an old structure dating back to the thirties, but its history actually began well before the 1400's. What stories it could tell were absolutely mind-boggling. Alexia drank in the sight of the historic building, suddenly feeling overwhelmed by the mere thought of the volume of the library’s contents. Hardly noticing, she had begun to tug and tease at the hem of her blouse, she began to prattle.

"I've o-only seen a f-few Terran books before. M-Most of what is available in the university are r-r-reprints and digital c-c-copies some of the s-s-staff were kind enough to p-print for me. I-I-I know that's n-not the r-r-reason we're here, I j-just... it's just... s-so exciting." She finished breathlessly. She may have been attempting to avoid the true nature of their visit, but that didn't take away from her appreciation of what was within those walls.

Danny couldn't suppress the grin that formed as he pulled into a spot. "Oh, love." He said with a chuckle. "Just you wait. The inside will blow your mind."

She was going to be like a kid in a candy store and he knew it going in. When Ken had suggested it as a meeting spot, he almost cackled. Danny led the way in through the front entrance. Students and faculty moved about the place in a steady crisscrossing flow, engrossed in the minutia of their own schedules and needs. The space was a living thing, vibrating with constant, focused activity of academia that set Alexia’s heart aflutter.

A pleasant-looking older woman with horn-rimmed glasses sat behind a desk. Alexia could smell the pungent, floral aroma of her perfume from the doorway, the scent only growing stronger as they approached. The woman turned her blue eyes up, an amiable, professional smile on her lips as she greeted them. It was a moment before she recognized the man beside the diminutive girl, her face lighting up.

"Oh!" She exclaimed. "Mister Dubek! Welcome back."

Danny flashed his trademark charming smile her way. "Hello, Maeve. Good to see you again."

"It's been a while!" Maeve said cheerfully. "What brings you here today?"

"Oh, just meeting up with a friend, showing this beautiful lady around." He placed a comforting hand upon Alexia's back. "Big book nut, this one."

"Oh, how lovely." Maeve said, "Welcome to Cambridge, my dear. If you have any questions, by all means, feel free to ask. We're happy to help."

Alexia smiled warmly and murmured a friendly word or two of gratitude. It was all her strength not to launch into a barrage of questions bordering on interrogation on the poor, unsuspecting woman. Instead, she leaned into restraint and Danny's touch.

"Good to see you, Maeve." Danny said, guiding Alexia toward one of the staircases, lest she unleash upon the woman. He leaned close to her as they walked. "I used to come here a lot when I was starting out with Ken. Maeve and I had many a conversation over tea and a stack of books. She seems sweet, but I swear...the woman's a cheeky old bird."

Danny smirked, leading the way into one of the halls. The scent of old paper and leather bound covers was heavy in the air, as they entered one of the reading rooms. Three floors of stacks encircled an expansive reading room, the long tables lined with studious people of all fashions, buried in their own tomes.

Alexia began to snicker, but was quickly cut off by the multi-faceted play on all her senses all at once. The intoxicating scent of very old books, the hushed tones of the few that spoke, the chill of well conditioned air, and of course, the sight of all those tomes, too many to count, made her reach for Danny's hand and gently squeeze.

"Oh..." She said, hardly above a whisper. She kept trying to say something, anything, but simply couldn't.

Danny glanced down at her, enjoying every bit of the look on her face. "Sometime, we'll make a trip back here and you can spend a couple weeks reading all you want. I might even be able to talk them into letting us tour the tower. That's where all the REALLY old and rare books are."

Her eyes cut to him, her expression deadly serious.

"Th-There's a tower?"

Danny pointed above them and spoke slowly and deliberately, punctuating every single word. "Seven. Teen. Floors."

Her eyes went a touch wider as she slowly followed his point. However momentarily, she had absolutely forgotten the main reason they were there. Her fingers twitched, itching to feel the leather bindings and turn page after page.

Danny spoke in the same seductive tone normal folk might use to entice their lover into bed as he elaborated on the tower’s contents. "First editions. Lost books. Some…the only ones in existence." Did he know his lady or what?

Her eyes began to unfocus as he spoke. The whispery sounds of pages being turned intensified as hushed voices faded into the background.

"Later." He promised in a whisper, ushering the spellbound little fae away. As they turned a corner, a familiar voice called out.

"Hey, kid!"

The Kentucky-twanged voice belonged to a man in his late 60's. He had rakish good looks that only seemed to have gotten more distinguished in his old age. Bright blue eyes were still alight with a youthful exuberance and an adventurous spirit. For a man his age, he was in impeccable shape, dressed much the same as Danny usually did. Suddenly, many things about her boyfriend were making sense, including where he’d gotten his fashion sense.

"Ken!" Danny tried to say in a hushed tone as his mentor ignored the shushes and approached the pair, wrapping his younger protege in a tight hug.

Danny had talked extensively regarding his adventures with Ken Greene. Seeing the easy chemistry and camaraderie between the two, it wasn't hard to imagine the pair braving the jungles of Colombia or the deserts of Egypt. Ken held him at arm’s length, hands planted on his protégés shoulders as he appraised the lanky Brit.

"Jesus, lookit you, kid! You're a twig! What, they ain’t feedin' you over there?"

"Me? Look at you!” Danny snickered and patted the man’s stomach. “Man isn’t meant to subsist on Cheeseburgers alone, sir."

Ken took it in stride, chuckling. “If the good lord didn’t want me eatin’ burgers, he wouldn’t have invented them.”

“Irrefutable logic, good sir.” Danny laughed, placing his hand on Alexia's shoulder. "Ken, this is Alexia."

Ken's blue eyes flicked to her, a lopsided grin on his face. "Ahhhh. So, this is who the fuss is all about? Pleased to meet you. Ken Greene." He said, offering a hand.

"L-Lovely to meet you, P-Professor Greene." She said as a charming smile touched her delicate features and, in a well rehearsed manner, held out a delicate little hand for a shake. "I've heard s-s-so much about you."

Ken gripped her hand gingerly and made a pained face, but that charming smile broke through. "Oh, no, Darlin'. Ain't no need for any honorific. Just Ken." he chuckled. "Danny here talks a lot about ya. You takin' good care of my young ward here?"

"'Ward?' Who are you, Batman?" Danny muttered with a crooked brow, Ken snickering in response.

"F-From what you've t-t-told me. love, the t-two of you have made quite the d-dynamic duo." An impish little glint sparkled in her eye and she smirked at her doting boyfriend.

Ken shot Danny a quick glance. "Oh. I like this one, kid. Wordplay like that? Oscar Wilde would blush."

He hooked an arm around Alexia's leading her away from Danny as the younger man shook his head. "Yeah, me and this ugly beanpole been through quite a bit together. Nothin' quite as crazy as what y'all got goin' over there, I imagine, but if you need a fella to share a foxhole with? Danny's your boy, am I right?"

"Indeed." She answered without missing a beat. She tossed an adorable wink over her shoulder before returning to the almost casual stroll with the distinguished Kenneth Greene.

"I'm eager to hear y-your version of things, actually. I'm s-s-sure you have m-much to add from y-your perspective." Although Danny couldn't see the mischievous smirk on her face, she was certain he could sense it.

"Ohhh, I could tell you such stories..." He said with a chuckle. He led her over to the small table he'd claimed for them. "But first...business."

Ken pulled a chair out for her and gestured for her to sit.

For a brief moment, a flicker of confusion clouded her features until she quickly remembered. They were not there to admire books, sadly, or even to spend quality time with likely the only other person not in the Finnegan clan to have incredible stories about her beloved. No, they were there for a much more serious task that she was feeling less and less sure about pursuing.

"Oh... ah... y-yes, of c-c-course. Th-Thank you." She murmured as she slipped quietly into the offered seat.

"I... I j-just wanted to t-t-tell you again how much I a-p-p-preciate your o-offer to help find my p-parents." She said, quickly remembering her manners. "I'm only s-sorry I don't have m-more information to help with the s-s-search."

Ken slid into the seat beside her, letting Danny sit on the other side of his diminutive girlfriend. "Oh, absolutely my pleasure. I like a challenge, and y’all definitely delivered. Danny sent me that picture. Suppose it would seem odd, if I hadn't heard half the stories he's told me about that place y'all live in...but I figured what the hell? You got parents alive in World War 1? Why not?" He grinned. "Well, I did a bit of diggin', called a few historian friends and I found somethin' pretty interestin'."

Ken slid over a thick manilla folder. "Seems like these faces...or more specifically, her face has popped up quite a bit over the years. Hair changes every now and again, but that glare? Pretty hard to miss." As Alexia flipped through the pictures, he Ken continued.

"Belgium in 1914. Netherlands in 1920. Paris in...I think '39. Disappeared for a while there before popping up again in Berlin in '63. And then here." Ken tapped the last picture.

"That's Ireland, back in ‘97. "

The woman in the picture blended into the crowd of protestors, but it was unmistakably Millie. She was undoubtedly NOT a part of the protest, more likely a bystander caught in the middle.

"Is that Lisburn?" Danny asked.

“The Troubles, yeah.” Ken confirmed. “Not long before the riots.”

As Alexia carefully turned through each photograph, the confusion returned to her pretty face. She kept expecting Ken to apologize and tell her each picture was the last and there were no more known sightings. Or for a death certificate or picture of a grave site to follow the last picture. But neither ever came.

"I... I d-don't understand. Th-They... H-How long have..." Dark pretty brows knitted as she tried and failed again and again to find the words. Finally, she simply turned a subtle but unmistakably pleading look to Danny.

Danny took her hand and gave a comforting squeeze. If anyone understood the conflicting emotions she was going through with regards to her parents, it was him. Ken rose his brows and gave a shake of his head.

"Dunno, kiddo. Long time. Very long time. I imagine they probably had to stay on the move 'fore people started wonderin' why their neighbors never aged. But, seein’ as it ain't been too long, I figure your best bet is gonna be there."

Comforted by Danny's touch, Alexia took a deep breath and nodded.

"L-Lisburn." She echoed belatedly. "L-Less than th-thirty years ago." It felt wrong somehow to say it out loud.

"I c-c-can't thank you enough, Ken." She said after a long pause. Sowly, a small but genuine smile found its way back onto her features.

"You're very welcome, darlin'." Ken smiled. "I hope ya find 'em. I'd get you an address if I could, but...what I can tell, they keep a pretty low profile."

"No, Ken." Danny said and looked him in the eye earnestly. "This is great. Thank you."

"Y-Yes, this is f-far more than I c-c-could have hoped for."

Alexia stole one last glance at the most recent picture, her lips pressing into a thin line.

Danny took a deep breath. "Well..." He sighed. "Looks like we're headed to Ireland."

After a brief few moments of catching up, the trio were ready to part ways. Ken relayed his pleasure at meeting the legendary Alexia and watched as she stepped away to peruse a stack that was just begging for her attention. Ken looked after her, standing beside his young friend.

“Helluva girl, kid.” He said.

Danny beamed with pride, eying the fae beauty as she “ooed” at a leather bound tome.

“Yeah, I did pretty good for myself, huh?” He agreed.

“You did, indeed.” Ken nodded, but his face then fell, his voice lowering so only Danny could hear,. “You sure you know what you’re getting into?”

Danny shot him an odd look. “Well, it’s been a few years now. Pretty sure I’ve got a handle on it.”

“Not her, ya dope.” Ken snickered. “Her parents.”

Danny looked confused.

“I ain’t gonna pretend to know everything going on there, but it seems like these folks went through a whole mess a’ trouble to stay hidden for a real long time. Might be they won’t take too kindly to being found.”

It finally dawned on the young journalist what he was talking about. But this was what Alexia wanted and he would see it through, no matter what.

“All I’m sayin’, kid, is be careful what stones you turn over.” Ken warned. “Some of them are there for a reason.”

Danny and Alexia traveled by car and by boat and by car once again to reach the small town of Lisburn. Much of the ride there was spent taking in the lush green scenery that was Ireland. Danny had visited the country a time or two in the past, though his stay was often brief. The sun had ascended to its apex as they arrived, greeted by small townhouses of varying shape and color. Calling it a "small town" was certainly not a misnomer. It wasn't difficult to imagine how her parents had managed to stay hidden for so long in such a place.

Danny stretched as he stepped out of the vehicle, parked in the heart of the city. Little shops dotted the winding, intersecting roadways. The locals moved through the streets, focused on their daily routines. Though they were strangers, he felt at home amongst its residents, a friendly smile and greeting offered to him as they passed. Of course, there were a few who seemed as if they recognized him but couldn't quite place why they did. Some, though, gave attention to his small companion. It was impossible not to at least take a peek at the diminutive beauty as they passed.

Alexia tried to dismiss it at first. Surely, people were simply putting the puzzle pieces together. They recognized Danny and thus guessed who she likely was. Except he hadn't included a picture of her in his book, per her own request. No, their reactions were odd. She found, as she tuned in to that incredibly sensitive hearing, that the little murmurs and whispers of 'She looks just like them' began to unnerve her.

She abruptly tuned them all out with a sharp intake of breath and a shake of her head. She watched for a moment as Danny worked out the kinks in his muscles and stiffness in his joints before she gave a soft clear of her throat.

"Ah... W-We might not find anything." Perhaps that was more wishful thinking than practical.

Danny pulled up the picture Ken had found. “WelI, I have a few ideas where we can start.”

The pair moved about the streets of Lisburn, seeking out the older buildings in the area. Especially the one in the photo. The old town hall. As they turned down Castle Street, they saw it. The intervening years had changed little about its facade. In fact, the only significant difference seemed to be a lack of impassioned protesters. Alexia could still see them all even without the photograph. Before she fully realized it, she began to drift toward the very spot where she had once stood. Her eyes hazed over and the light in them pulled far, far away. Watching her, Danny noted that Alexia most certainly inherited her father’s looks over her mother’s. He remained quiet, allowing her that moment. He’d had a similar feeling back in London and understood how powerful that connection was.

"I... c-can't feel her." She said, hardly above a whisper. "N-Not that I expected to... I don't th-think... I-I'm not sure... I'm not s-s-sure about a-anything..."

Alexia shook her head, hoping to clear the muddled cloud of confusion that enveloped her. It seemed to work. Her eyes cleared, although the light in them still struggled to shine through. But she was able to procure a feeble smile.

"M-My apologies, mo chroí."

Danny only smiled warmly, wrapping her tiny form in his strong arms. He sweetly placed a soft kiss upon the top of her head. "You don't need to apologize for anything, love." He whispered. "I know how that feels. To want some...significance. Some connection.”

"I d-don't even know wh-what that would mean. I hardly got to kn-know them before they left me with Uncle O-Owen. And then one day, he t-t-told me they were gone. Gave n-no details, w-wouldn't answer any questions except with sharp hands..." She closed her eyes and took a deep breath that shuddered ever so slightly at the end.

"I m-mourned their loss so l-long ago because... because I had to. They had to be d-dead because if they w-weren't then th-that would mean..." She let the thought die on her lips. She had long since admitted it to herself, but it was another more painful thing to admit out loud that they simply did not want her.

"But n-now... Sometimes I think p-perhaps... I can f-feel them, but I c-c-can't remember them. Or m-maybe I'm just deluding myself. Wh-what does any of it mean?" She ended, a faint touch of bitterness in her tiny voice.

Danny held her shoulders in his hands, dipping his head to look her in the eye. His voice was soft and gentle.

"It means that this is just a place. Just a building they once visited. It can't tell you who they were. Who they are. It can't give you the answers you seek."

“D-Deep down I know that, but… if not th-that, wh-what can?”

“We’ll just have to continue looking then, won’t we?”

Danny gingerly caressed her cheek, offering the best comforting smile he could.

She couldn't help but lean into his touch, turning to press a tiny kiss into his palm as her own little hand slipped over his, holding him to her cheek. Slowly but surely, a weak but unmistakable little smile returned. She could only nod in agreement for fear if she spoke the tears would tumble as quickly as her words. She was ready. Or, at least as ready as she could manage.

They moved on, wandering past the shops in Lisburn. Many taken over by newer establishments. Danny could feel the tension emanating off of her, the fear. They'd come looking for answers and if they didn't find them, he wasn't sure how the little fae would handle it. That was when he spotted an older looking building. Crowded by several others with more modern decor, it stood out. The investigative journalist in him felt inexplicably drawn to the place. If there was one thing Danny Dubek had figured out in his young life, it was that he should always trust his gut.

They passed through the glass doors of the small general store. As the door shut behind them, they were greeted with silence. The place looked like it hadn't been updated since the 1940's, aside from the products on its shelves. A quaint little shop, offering the bare essentials, he got the feeling that if someone were living in hiding, this would make for a good supplier.

"Hello?" He called out into the cramped, seemingly empty space.

An older male voice croaked out a startled cough before speaking, his voice heavy with the local accent. "Be right there!"

Clearly, they'd interrupted nap time. The approximate age of the man who came hobbling out from the back, Danny couldn't quite pin down. It could have been anywhere from late sixties to ninety. His face was round, his cheeks red. His white hair slightly messy upon his head. His wool knit waistcoat was snug upon a rotund belly, a size or two smaller than necessary as if he’d gradually grown out of the garment.

"Good afternoon." He greeted them cheerfully. "What can I do for you?"

Danny approached the man with that trademark dimpled smile of his. "Hello. I'm looking for someone."

At the sound of a British accent, the northern irishman's almost cherublike smile faltered just a bit. Danny understood why. He knew the tumultuous history between the Irish and British well enough to understand the man’s shift in demeanor. Still, the man remained polite. "Well, maybe I can help."

"We're looking for...friends." Danny said, hesitating to reveal who they were, just in case there was a chance the man didn't know the nature of the couple. "Erolith and Milisindiel. Do you know them?"

For a moment, the shopkeeper looked perplexed, mouthing the names to himself in barely a whisper. He'd met many folks in his long years, but the names didn't quite ring a bell. "No...no, I don't believe I've-"

His eyes finally locked on the tiny woman at the englishman's side, his lips parting. "Forgive me, dear." He said. "You look...familiar."

Alexia blinked in surprise. She softly cleared her throat a few times and straightened imaginary wrinkles from her clothes.

"Ah... I d-don't... P-Perhaps you m-m-may have heard of M-Millie, instead?" She desperately attempted to steer the conversation.

A wave of realization washed over him, easily read even through his thick glasses. "What did you say your name was, deary?" he asked, knowing full-well she hadn't given it.

Danny glanced back at Alexia and nodded. Something told him this might be their best chance.

She met his gaze, even gave a tiny nod of agreement. With one more deep breath, she turned her intense gaze back to the shopkeeper.

"A-l-l-lexia. Alexia L-Longbow."

His voice dropped to a hush, a small smile forming on his face. "Ah. Ah yes. Well, isn't that a funny thing. Millie and Roland Longbow. That's why I recognized you. Not so much the dear lady, but...him. You look just like him."

Roland. Clearly a pseudonym. Danny could understand why. A name like Erolith wouldn't fly, especially not in a place like this. "You know them?" Danny asked.

"Oh." The shopkeeper seemed to shake out of a daze, chuckling. "Oh my, yes."

"Have you s-seen them?" Despite her initial surprise, Alexia recovered quickly and now was foolishly letting her hopes rise against her better judgment.

That bright smile faded then. "Oh...I'm sorry, my dear." He said quietly. "I'm afraid not. Not for some time."

The slump in her shoulders before she gave a tiny nod of defeat was subtle. Only Danny would notice.

"Not for months."

Danny's eyes lit up then, but he wasn't the first to speak.

"I see. Th-Thank you, all the s-wait, what?" She glanced up quickly, her brows knitted in deep confusion.

For a moment, he seemed confused by how the pair suddenly perked up, stammering over his words. "I-they-no. They've not come by for six or seven months now."

"Th-They're... alive?" Her question came out in a breathless whisper.

The old man simply chuckled, glancing between the two strangers. "Oh. Oh, yes. Of course! Look incredible for their age, too, I'd say. Haven't seemed to age a day, come to think of it. Bit of grey in the temples, but, I suppose it comes to us all in time."

Danny stepped forward then, looking the man in the eye, his voice taking on an excited tone.

"Can you tell us how to find them?"

The shopkeep moved over to one side of his counter as quickly as he could. "Of course. Let me just..." He fussed about digging through a drawer. "They usually came by every month or so for supplies and the like. Sometimes we get one of the local lads to trek it out to them. I'm not exactly a young man anymore to do it myself, I'm afraid. Let's see..."

His thumb flicked through paper files. Of course this man didn't use a computer, Danny thought amusedly.

"Ah yes!" the man exclaimed, setting a folder down. "Here we are."

Danny peered down at the writing in the file, noting the address.

"Small farm a few miles outside of town." The shopkeeper explained. "Cozy little place, I'm told. Beautiful plot of land off Lough Neagh. But, uh...you should be able to find 'em there."

Anyone could see now how the emotions warred within Alexia. For every answer the shopkeeper provided, dozens more questions formed in her mind. Feeling a bit unsteady, she quietly reached for Danny's arm.

Danny pressed her hand between his arm and his side, using his free hand to clutch hers tightly. "Thank you." He said, a bright dimpled smile on his face. "Thank you for this."

"Of course." The man nodded his head, having to readjust his heavy glasses. “When you see 'em. Tell 'em Colm says hello, for me, willya?"

"Will do." Danny promised, smiling brightly to the man and copying down the address.

As the pair set out, the old man called out. "Good luck!"

Alexia murmured something, what she wasn't sure. All she could do was numbly follow Danny as they left. They walked for what seemed like hours, or maybe it was only a few moments, until she simply had to stop dead in her tracks, a deep frown marring her pretty face.

Danny felt the sudden cessation of movement and came to a halt, glancing back at her. "Alexia?" He asked curiously, before noting the expression on her face. "What is it?"

She could only mumble incoherently for a moment. Her face twisted into a devastating expression of pain and confusion.

Whatever excitement Danny had felt melted away as he saw the anguish etched upon her face. He turned to face her, clutching her hand as if hearing the words she wasn't speaking. Even with all he'd been through, he didn't have the words to help her through it. What could he say? All he could do was hold her hand, brush her wild hair behind her ear and rest his hand upon her cheek. She hardly felt his touch although it was what she needed to feel most in that moment.

"Th-They're still... alive." She said one last time, all the words finally fully formed.

"H-How are they s-still alive?" She sounded so small. Slowly, her gaze met his, her large, dark eyes pleading for something, anything to make sense.

A look of stern determination settled over his usually warm features as he stared into those big brown eyes. The pain in her voice was all too familiar for him. When they'd arrived in Ireland, he'd thought this would be a mission of catharsis and joyous reunion. Little did he understand what it actually meant to her. What it would make her feel. They needed answers. And they were going to get them.

"Let's find out."

She could only nod for a moment or two before she leaned into him, practically falling into his arms, and clung to him for dear life. Her face buried into his chest, sniffling softly. She stayed there for a long time, her breath shuddering as she tried to calm herself. Danny laid his hand upon the back of her head, holding her until she was ready to go on. The road ahead was long, and they were just getting started.

The further away from the city they got, the greener and more lush the country became. It really was a beautiful place, seemingly unmarred by the footprint of the modern world. Danny focused on the road ahead as they drove in silence. Following the curved road, the shores of Leogh Neagh eventually came into sight, the blue mid-day sky mirrored in a distorted reflection upon its shimmering surface. Far in the distance sat an island, shrouded in dense foliage. The lake seemed to stretch on into infinity from their vantage, as did the road ahead.

The GPS on Danny’s phone announced the imminent arrival at their destination, a sense of anticipation rising in the journalist with every second. But as the pleasant Irish voice (which Danny had affectionately named “Bonnie”) once again chimed, claiming they had reached their destination, he peered out the window to find…nothing. No farm. No house. Not even a driveway where such things might have once been. Only a wide open field stretched to cliffs overlooking the lake.

His brows creased in confusion. There must have been some mistake. Briefly, he considered that they’d been fed false information from the old shopkeeper.

“I don’t get it.” Danny said, turning back to his beloved Fae.

Dark pretty brows knotted intensely in shared confusion as she, too, stared out at the vast empty field. Only, it didn't feel empty. There was an undeniable pull. She just couldn't quite place it.

"I am c-c-confused as w-well, but... but I th-think, somehow... w-we are where we're m-meant to be..." Her voice softened and trailed off as she slowly reached for the buckle on her seatbelt, never once taking her eyes off the area before them.

Danny reached across his body, unclasping his seatbelt, and stepped out of the vehicle. A gust of wind rolled over the lush green scenery, tall grass waving in the breeze as the sound of waves crashed in the distance. While it was an absolutely beautiful vista, it was a far cry from what they had set out to find. Auburn curls tousled about on top of his head, green eyes sweeping the landscape, searching for any hint of the farmhouse they'd been told of.

Alexia quietly stepped up beside him, narrowing her eyes at the vacant field of tall grass. She drew a deep breath before glancing up at him, her expression just a touch skeptical.

"W-We've come this far. I s-s-suppose looking around couldn't hurt." After a brief moment of further thought, she added, "L-Let me see if I can manage a c-cloaking spell for the vehicle, j-just in case."

Without waiting for a response, she turned her back to the open space and concentrated on the mass of metal, plastic, and circuits, taking great care not to fry anything to oblivion. As she murmured a few simple words, a soft crackle flitted over the car and made it impossible to find unless someone already knew it was there. Little did she know that behind her the scenery would blur and refocus. Albeit only for a fraction of a second, it was unmistakable.

Danny wasn't certain he'd actually seen the world shift behind the little fae, but something definitely seemed off. He squinted, glancing over his shoulder as she continued her work. It was the briefest of shifts, but, with his experience living in such a mysterious place as Rhy’Din, something told him it wasn't something to be ignored. His curiosity piqued, he took a step forward. The landscape remained as it had when they arrived, lush and beautiful.

"Do that again?" he requested.

"Do you think it n-necessary? I doubt anyone f-followed us all the w-" Alexia turned as she spoke, cutting herself off when she saw the expression on his face.

Her brows knitting again, she turned gaze parallel to his once more. Nothing looked different, but there was still that odd feeling that something just didn't quite add up. Taking heed of his suggestion, she lifted a delicate little hand, her palm facing out, and murmured a few more words, this time directing what little energy she could draw from the air towards the tall, whispering grass.

Almost as soon as the words left her lips, it happened again. A definite blur, as though someone breathed warm air on a mirror and they watched as it rapidly faded. Her left eyebrow arched high and she stared for a moment before turning to Danny.

"D-D-Did you..."


"Yeah." He said quietly. "I did."

She gave a single nod. With renewed determination, she moved closer to where the blur had seemed the most intense and concentrated. Thinking she had only taken about a dozen steps or so, she frowned and turned back around, a question already on her lips. But when she looked up, she was more than thirty feet away from Danny and the car. Sheer shock registered on her delicate features.

Wide, dark brown eyes blinked rapidly as she tried to hurry back, only to find that every step she took seemed to only move her a few inches back. Before long, she was practically sprinting back toward where they began and hardly made any progress. Out of desperation, she stretched her hand out to him. Just when it seemed like their fingers were about to touch, he was gone. It was only her standing in front of the car once again. She whirled around in the beginnings of a panic when she saw him standing a few yards off to the side from where she had just been.

"D-Danny?" She called out, frustration creeping into her tiny voice.

Danny had already begun moving through the space, trailing behind. It was only a few steps when he swore he could hear a whisper behind him. What words were said, he couldn't be certain, but when he glanced back, there was nothing. He paused for just a second, but when he turned around, Alexia was gone. Panic began to rise in the pit of his stomach as he hurried forth through the tall grass. He could feel a pressure building just behind his eyes, forcing him to shut them for a moment before, once again taking stock of his location. When he could again see, he found himself surrounded in a thick mist. The vague outline of trees and tall grass were all that could be seen hidden within the fog.

"Alexia?" He called out, his fear beginning to take hold.

It felt almost like a dream, straddling the boundary between the real and imaginary, time and space suddenly beginning to feel like a jumbled, chaotic mess. Comprehension betrayed him and he found that he couldn't remember if he'd taken a thousand steps or five.


Hearing the rising panic in his voice struck something within her. Tossing her own fear aside, she set out in a determined march toward him.

"D-Danny! Don't worry, I'm c-coming to you, my love."

Taking great care to go in a straight line, she understandably grew increasingly vexed that she would suddenly end up veering to one side or the other every time she was about to close the gap between them. Sometimes she would forget where she was, why she was there, and who she had been searching for.

It went on for what seemed like hours, but every time she glanced up, the sun seemed to be in the same position it had been when they first arrived. Now unmistakably angry, she let out a small growl of frustration as her fingers just barely grazed Danny's arm before she suddenly found herself back at the edge of the clearing.

Danny’s feet felt almost heavy, as if trapped in a nightmare where he was being chased, but could never gain enough speed to elude his pursuer. Every step seemed to take several seconds to make, yet every time he was forced to blink, his progress was once again negated. He heard Alexia's voice, but it was distant and muffled, yet he knew it was her instantly. Desperate and confused, he did the only thing he could, turning towards what he considered to be the source of the sound.

Alexia panted, her little fists clenching. Anxiety itself seemed to be enveloping her, closing in more and more around her by the second. She clamped her eyes shut, trying to force it from her consciousness. Confusion pressed in, as if a thousand silent voices were screaming and crawling over each other for dominance. The pressure and noise filled Alexia’s mind. Finally, it became too much.

“ENOUGH!” She said with surprising sharpness, startling herself. She cleared her throat and tried to steady herself. "I've had j-just about enough!"

With a deep, exasperated breath, she held up her delicate hand once more. This time, there were no words to murmur or even shout. Instead, she focused all her frustration and anxiety and every other bottled up emotion she could draw from and poured it into one large blast. Although not nearly as large as the blast that had once freed Danny and the hapless denizens of Rhy'Din from the void, it bore some resemblance to it.

The grass bent and leaned as though a gust of wind rolled through to clear a foggy day and she could finally see her beloved clear as crystal.

"D-Danny!" She shouted, relief clear in her voice as she ran to him, hardly noticing what had suddenly appeared.

When that grey, sleep-like veil finally faded, he saw her, rushing toward him. Their bodies crashing together in a relieved and desperate embrace. Danny held her tight as he tried to process what had just happened. "Oh, god." He exhaled deeply. "I thought I'd lost you."

"Never." She spoke the breathless promise into his chest as she wrapped her arms around his torso.

"I-It was the s-s-strangest thing! I c-could..." But she would never finish telling whatever it was she could.

As soon as she glanced up at him, she saw it all in the periphery of her vision. No longer was the field empty. Now, all around them was a meticulously tilled and tended little farm. Really, just barely big enough to provide for one or two people with a bit left over to sell or trade. Nearby, an old but sturdy barn stood, next to it a charming little home. It was modest and old, but well kept, a few repairs visible here and there. What really snagged her attention was a lone figure tending a tiny patch of a garden, hardly bigger than her own. Thin arms urged Danny to turn and look with her as all other words suddenly refused to materialize for her.

Danny turned his head slowly, finally taking notice of the farm that had appeared from nothingness before them. But it was the man standing beside a large, brown mare that made his heart stop. He was tall, as tall as Danny. Long black hair waved in the breeze, a well groomed beard upon a slim face. Even from this distance, he could tell that the stranger was handsome. Something about him instantly reminded him of the fae at his side. And that was when he knew it could only be one person.

This was Alexia’s father.

It was a normal day for Erolith Longbow. A quick shower and then out to the horses and the fields. His wife, Milisindiel still lay in bed, slumbering peacefully as he dressed for the day. For years beyond his memory, the pair had been together, through good and bad times, always clinging to one another. Looking down at her, he was still taken by the woman’s beauty. Ero leaned down and pressed a kiss to the top of her short-cropped blonde hair, currently an untamed mess. A soft, sleepy smile crossed her lips, but otherwise, she didn’t stir.

The dark haired man moved through the house, fastening the buttons of his vest. For decades, Millie insisted they dress in the fashions of the time, but Ero found comfort in clothing more suited to the early 1900’s than those of the 21st century.

Ero took one last look in the mirror, running a hand through the main of dark hair atop his head. He couldn’t really say for sure why he did it. It wasn’t as if he was going to bump into anyone while tending fields, afterall. He just supposed it had become habit from the days before he and his wife had become such homebodies.

The door opened and he stepped outside. It was a cool, gray morning, clouds heavy in the sky. Though, despite the overcast sky, he couldn’t deny the beauty of the home he and Milisindiel had made. The farm was small, but cozy. Their one-story cottage made solid out of wood and stone, had required regular upkeep, showing signs of repairs made throughout the thirty years they’d called it home. But Erolith liked hard work. He loved building things with his hands and tending to their modest farm. It gave him a sense of purpose, and he was always a man in need of a mission.

He had innumerable chores to attend to, spending much of the morning invested in their completion. Finally, well into the afternoon, he had come to the task he enjoyed most. Gravel crunched beneath scuffed, black leather boots as Erolith made his way into the barn to the sound of two horses neighing in their pens. A warm smile spread across his face as he approached the larger of the two, his voice soft.

“Easui, hi, Nevithien. Easui. Suilad, nin iar mellon?” He spoke soothingly in the tongue of elves, stroking the massive beast’s neck with care and compassion.

Nevithien, a large brown mare, calmed and leaned into his touch, chuffing happily in the care of her best friend. She was his, purchased when she was just a foal. Ero devoted himself to the little horse, raising her to be big and strong. The bond between the two had become unbreakable over the years. Millie even often joked that he loved the old girl more than he loved her.

After guiding her from her pen and saddling the horse, he led her outside and onto the gravel front drive. Nevithien loved nothing more than a good run, and Ero was always happy to oblige. This morning, she was just itching to open up. Erolith could practically feel it emanating from the animal. He was just about to mount the saddle when everything would suddenly change. He wasn’t surprised at the loud crash that rang out in the air. The clouds did, after all, portend an oncoming storm. What did alarm him were the pair who had suddenly appeared at the entrance of his property. Nevithien reared and let out a sudden alarmed whinny, Ero immediately calming her.

“Easui…easui.” He whispered before stepping towards the strangers. They didn’t get many visitors and certainly none that were unannounced. Squinting as hard as he could provided no answers as to who the pair might be. He certainly couldn’t recognize them. In the depths of his heart, he feared an oncoming fight. A veteran of more than his fair share of wars, he’d seen enough violence in his long life.

“Can I help you?” He bellowed, putting as much strength as he could behind his voice.

Alexia had so many questions. None of which she was certain she even wanted answered. She had told herself for so long that if they were still alive they would have looked for her. They would have done anything to get her back. So they had to be dead. It was better if they were dead... right? As she warred internally, on the outside, all she could do was stare in complete shock.

She wanted to run away and hide. Pretend none of it ever happened. Somewhere, a tiny part of her cursed her feet that seemed to be rooted in the ground. Suddenly, she felt something bubble up within her. A scream, a sob, a myriad of different questions, a string of curse words, all competed to be the first to pass her lips. In the end, a single, whispered word won out.

"P-Papa?" A whisper so loud and damning and heart breaking she was sure the pieces of her heart were clattering to the ground.

The pain behind such a simple word pierced Danny's heart like a knife. Try as he might, he couldn't imagine how this felt for her. He wanted to take it all away, rescue her from these feelings. But something in his gut said to stay silent. This was not his moment.

Before she spoke, there was no hint of recognition in Erolith's eyes. She was a mere stranger, nothing more than a rare visitor to their private, little farm. But the moment her voice hit his ears and the realization of what it had communicated hit him, his lips parted. It was as if a fog was lifted from within his mind. Suddenly, everything seemed to clear. For longer than he could recall, Ero felt a vague, undefinable sadness, but could never really pinpoint what exactly it was. He took two steps forward, memories that were stolen rushing to the forefront of his mind. Holding his daughter in his arms the day of her birth. The two of them walking hand-in-hand through the grass back in Rhy'Din after she learned to walk. He could practically feel her tiny form, clinging to him, asleep on his chest. He remembered his daughter.

"Alexia?" He managed through his tightening throat. He let loose Nevithien's reins, quickly striding towards the tiny brunette in a desperate need to embrace her, his eyes already beginning to water.

She wasn't quite sure when she had stepped toward her father. Or when her arms suddenly fell slack from her embrace with Danny. All she could focus on was to keep moving forward, even when her tears temporarily obscured her vision before rolling down her lightly freckled face and the trembling in her tiny frame threatened to make her tumble to the ground.

"Papa..." She repeated, centuries of pain and longing choking her as her arms slowly lifted to reach out to him. For now, all doubts and fears of being unwanted blew away in the breeze.

Ero's arms wrapped around her as they crashed together, clutching his child to his chest as tightly as he could. Tears rolled freely down his cheeks, his eyes tightly closing as he pressed kiss after kiss to the top of her wild dark hair. His body heaved with uninhibited sobs.

"A'maelamin..." He whispered in Elvish, his hands shaking as they ran over her long hair. "My sweet child. My beautiful, sweet, child..."

Danny watched, just then realizing how much of the man Alexia had inherited. It wasn't just the wild, dark hair. She had his eyes. When they'd set out for this place, he was ready to confront both parents for abandoning his beloved. He would tell them what an amazing woman they'd left behind. But now, watching him...something was off. This wasn't an absentee parent. This wasn't a careless man who'd chosen to forsake his child. Erolith had his daughter taken from him. He'd been robbed of his baby girl...and he didn't even seem to know it.

She didn't dare let go for fear if she did, he would disappear. But she had to look at him. She had to make sure it was really him. Barely pulling away, she craned her neck up to look him directly in the eyes, only to find her own staring back at her. Deep, rich, dark brown eyes, warm and kind, eternally patient, stared back at her. Eyes she had only occasionally seen in the mirror for longer than she could remember now mirrored back her pain and confusion, eclipsed only by his unconditional love for her. No words would come. All questions, demands for answers, suddenly caught in her throat and feebly sunk down to the pit of her stomach.

His hand cupped her cheek as he stared down at her, searching a face he'd only vaguely seen in the depths of his dreams. "Are you real?" He asked, his voice breaking and shaking. "Is this real?"

His thumb brushed a tear from her cheek as a smile overtook his features so intense it almost hurt. "I dreamed of you. For so long, I dreamed of you. Now that you're here, you're the most beautiful thing I've ever seen."

Her tiny form shook like a leaf within his arms as confusion and hurt returned to mar her sweet face. She wanted to enjoy the moment and soak every bit of it in, but one thought alone continued to plague her.

"Wh-Why?" She began unsteadily. "Why didn't you c-c-come back for me?"

Ero's bright, relieved smile faded then. She could see the confusion in his eyes as he searched for the answer. Little by little, he remembered everything. The grief, the raised voices, the horrible decision that was made despite his protests. He couldn't find the words to put it into context. What he did note was her stutter. This wasn't just the product of an emotional reunion. This was something deeper. Something inflicted upon her. What had they done? What horrors had been inflicted on his wonderful, sweet child? His lips parted to say something...anything. But their reunion was abruptly interrupted.

From the door of the humble cottage, another petite figure stood in the doorway, tension radiating from her every muscle. Her knuckles whitened as she balled her hands into fists out of sheer panic. For what seemed like a long time, she simply watched as all her carefully laid and executed plans rapidly unraveled. Her chest heaved with ragged breathing as her mind screamed what she could only whisper.

"No... No, no, no..." Finally, the words began to tumble past her lips, quickly gaining speed and strength until she finally found the strength to shout.


"No, no NO! ERO!"

That morning, Milisindiel Longbow lay awake in bed, her eyes shut tight, as she listened to her husband bustle about. She was certain he believed she was still sleeping, the kiss to her forehead strengthening that belief. In spite of herself, her lips curled into a tiny smile as soon as his lips touched her face. Eventually, the sounds of activity and movement went out the door and she finally sat up in bed, her legs swinging out over the side. Her cropped, blonde hair was unruly yet beautiful in its wild state. Sharp features hardened further as her intense blue eyes unfocused. For a moment, she simply sat there, silently cursing herself for not getting up with him, making his tea, wishing him a good day, or any of a dozen little moments they could have shared together. Instead, as she had for at least a couple of years now, she feigned sleep until he left, knowing his altruistic nature would convince him to let her rest.

It wasn’t for lack of warmth or affection. She was still madly in love with the quiet, mysterious man she met centuries ago in a different world. It was simply that she was finding it more difficult to face him, especially in the last year. Something that felt like bubbling up from deep within her core and bursting free. It was something intangible, something she couldn’t quite put her finger on, much less admit it to herself or anyone else. No, it would have to remain her burden to bear alone. It seemed she was becoming all too adept at it. Finally, she shook her head to clear it of the dangerous, spiraling thoughts that would inevitably develop if she continued to sit there a moment more. With a sharp intake of breath through her nostrils, she tossed the covers aside and began getting ready for the day and falling into her own morning routine.


Hours later , Millie was busy in the kitchen, taking stock of what supplies they needed, what repairs were most pressing, and setting out the kettle for afternoon tea. Amid all the chores and tasks, she managed to glance out the small window above the sink as she so often did, hoping to catch a glance of her husband riding his beloved horse. She smirked to herself, recalling the last little playful jab she made about the pair, insisting she wouldn’t be a bit surprised if he ran off with that “cranky nag” and left her behind. Yet before she could even lay eyes upon her husband a thunderous boom shook the very foundations of the house. But it wasn’t the rattling of pictures and dishes that made the hairs on the back of her neck stand up. It was something else, something deeper that she couldn’t see or touch, but felt nonetheless. Something was wrong.

Millie looked frantically out the window, fearing something horrible had happened to Ero. But what she saw was far from what she expected, yet somehow every bit as ominous. Both horse and man were staring off in the distance, tense and nervous about whatever had caused the intense, concussive sound. Ero had always been the more easily rattled of the two, but this was different. Even Nevithien was spooked.

She meant to call out, but Ero beat her to it. She could hear him ask the most infuriating question she could imagine. Instead of a gruff and intimidating ‘Who are you?’ or ‘What are you doing here?’ he offered to help. With a small sigh of frustration, Millie set down a pair of pliers and a small wooden pencil and moved to open the door. Before she could utter a word, she froze. Electric blue eyes went impossibly wide and all she could do was watch as everything she’d cultivated, the memory charms, the glamour spells, the flat out lies, were all turning to ash in the wind. Her mind was racing and it took a moment for her to realize she was no longer merely thinking it, she was repeating one word again and again.

"No, no NO! ERO!" She cried out, her desperation to regain control making her voice uncharacteristically frantic.

As Erolith's eyes turned toward her, she could see it. All her scheming, her deceptions, everything was in shambles. Those eyes that only ever looked upon her with warmth, love and admiration were now mired in a profound sense of grief. But more than that, there was something else. Something even more devastating. When those brown eyes settled upon her, she saw something she'd hoped never to behold. Betrayal.

For once in a very, very long time, Milisindiel Longbow flinched. The look on her husband's face was damning. Everything she'd worked so hard to protect was all for nothing. Desperate for some modicum of control, she glanced around nervously as though there were unseen eyes watching, before hurrying closer to where her daughter, her family, stood. But instead of an embrace, the only thing she sought was cover.

"Inside. All of ye." She said in a harsh whisper, leaving no room for argument. Her fierce gaze went back and forth from one set of rich, dark eyes to another before sparing Danny a quick glance, almost as an afterthought.

Milisindiel Longbow wrenched open the door to the quaint little cottage and held it as Alexia, Erolith, and Danny silently filed in. With one last glance around and a quickly uttered modification to her cloaking spell to doubly conceal their vehicle, she, too, slipped inside and quietly shut and locked the door behind her. Inside the cottage was an eclectic collection of expertly hand crafted furniture and hand sewn accoutrements to match. Every floorboard, every wall, every inch of the home was thoroughly woven with Ero and Millie's essence. It should have been a great comfort to the last Ontari. It should have felt like home. Sadly, all Alexia could do was stand in the middle of the cozy living room between her father and the love of her life and stare at the hand woven rug on the floor as she held herself in a feeble attempt to self soothe.

As soon as Millie joined them, she took turns glaring at each of them in turn. Unsure where to direct her misplaced anger, her expression grew darker by the moment. That is, until it stopped on the trembling, lost looking girl before her. Something inside her broke. The last fragile piece of her heart shattered for the daughter she had not seen in centuries, but instead of softening her demeanor, it only incensed her. In a deeply ingrained and poorly chosen coping mechanism, she pressed her lips into a hard thin line, and narrowed her eyes at Alexia.

"What've ye done?" She said in a harsh, angry whisper.

"Wh-What?" Alexia replied as she dared to meet that hardened gaze. Confusion contorted her lovely features and trembled her lip.

"Ye heard me." Millie said, her voice finding its way back as she took a menacing step toward her.

Despite the warm decor of the place, Danny felt none in the presence of Alexia’s mother. Those cold eyes and the venom in her tone made the ire in him rise to the surface. “What have we done?”

Before he could utter another word, he felt Ero’s hand gently clasp his shoulder. He half expected anger to be on the man’s face, but instead, found pain. Erolith shook his head, effectively silencing the younger man.

Millie flashed a biting look at Danny but said nothing. She merely seethed for a moment before turning back to Alexia.

"Answer me. What have ye done? Why are ye here? What is Owen thinking lettin' ye out of his sight?" She reached for Alexia's thin arm. There was a momentary shock, a fraction of a second, when she felt how skinny she was. But she pushed it aside for a moment and squeezed.

Alexia whimpered softly. She was in pain, yes, but not from her mother's grip. The stark contrast between her father's reaction to seeing her and this... was almost too much to bear. Large dark eyes slid closed and she drew a deep, shaky breath to try and collect herself. When she opened them again, she looked down at the fraying piece of cord around her neck that disappeared under her clothing. She reached with her free hand and slowly began to pull it free for Millie to see. As she did, she did her best to explain.

"S-So much has h-happened... a-and... I w-want to tell you. B-Both of you... but I w-want you to to t-t-tell me what I w-want to know, t-too." It was gentle, so gentle, but firm. She wasn't asking. She was telling her mother how things were going to proceed. Just as she felt her confidence grow just a touch, she finally finished pulling out the rest of the cord, revealing the claddagh ring she had found in Owen's office what seemed like a lifetime ago.

Ero’s eyes lit up the second he laid eyes upon the ring. In an instant, he knew what it was and its significance. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d seen it, but he definitely remembered the first. He remembered the day he’d placed it on Millie’s finger. It was almost unintentional as he took a step forward, a million emotions and memories rushing through him for the first time in over a century.

“Where…where did you get this?” He whispered

As Alexia cradled the little ring in her palm, she couldn't help the tiny smile that struggled to form at the awe in Ero's voice. She reflexively mirrored his step with a tiny one of her own, but soon confusion knit her brow as she found she couldn't move. She had nearly forgotten the vice-like grip Millie had on her arm. Until she felt it tighten. Her head whipped back to stare up at her mother, a pained look creeping into her confused expression. But before she could say anything, the look on Millie's face halted her in her tracks. Her eyes were wild with a mix of anger, confusion, and something akin to betrayal.

Her hands moved like lightning as she yanked Alexia back into place before her and snatched the ring from her hand. Her breathing quickened and she closed her rough and calloused hand around the claddagh and yanked it hard, snapping the cord at the back of Alexia's neck. With a tiny yelp, her hand flew to the back of her neck, her skin already stinging with a friction burn. Confused and hurt, she closed her eyes once more, large tears spilling out over her cheeks.

"I f-found it." she said softly, "I-In his office, under the f-f-floor boards."

"That's impossible." A great deal of anger sapped out of her voice and left mostly disbelief.

"The only way ye could have this is if Owen w-"

"Dead. Uncle Owen is d-dead." Alexia lifted a defiant gaze that almost made her mother take a step back. Almost. "He d-died protecting m-me."

At that last word, she reached out and, giving Millie a taste of her own, snatched the little ring back. With a tiny sniff, she retreated the few steps that remained between her and Danny, and sought out the snapped and frayed little ends, clinging to a feeble hope of repairing it.

Danny placed his hands on her shoulders, steadying his tiny love. If she looked up at him, she would see him glaring at her mother with a hatred she’d never imagined behind those gentle, green eyes. She’d experienced his pain with his own father, but this was entirely different, and a little bit terrifying.

Beside them, Ero stared at the woman he loved as if he no longer recognized her. Those gentle, dark eyes that mirrored Alexia’s turned back and forth between mother and daughter, his mind and emotions at war.

"Ye dinnae ken what ye've done." Millie's voice once again dropped to a dangerous whisper. "All my work, all I've sacrificed, and ye've thrown it all in my face by coming 'ere."

Alexia slowly tore her gaze away from her beloved, her rock, and cast a dangerous look of her own at her mother. Slowly, she turned back to face her, emboldened by Danny's presence, not just in the moment, but in her life.

"What I-I've done?" Alexia was incredulous. she could feel the heat burning in her face as she continued. "I'll t-t-tell you what I've done. I've carved out a l-life for myself. M-More beautiful than you could e-ever imagine. And I had to d-do it all w-without you. W-Without the t-t-two people who were s-supposed to love and support me, g-guide me, sh-sh-share in my joys and m-my sadness. Wh-Whatever it is you think you've s-sacrificed, it's n-nothing compared to wh-what you t-t-took from me."

Finally, she'd had enough. Enough pain and misery, enough loss, enough guilt and blame. She could take no more. Alexia looked down one last time at the ring in her palm before clutching it in her little fist. It no longer held the same meaning. It was no longer a token of lost memory or a beacon of hope. It was tarnished and she wanted nothing more than to be rid of it. And that was exactly what she did. She scowled uncharacteristically and threw it at Millie. She threw it hard enough to bounce off the floor in the space between Millie's feet and bounce a few more times, finally settling in a dark corner with a tiny metallic clatter.

Millie began to shake with anger. No words would come to her, only blinding rage. Before she could stop herself, she practically lunged at her daughter, her open palm drawn back and ready to slam down onto that delicate, beautiful little face. Her strike would never have a chance to land as the firm hand of Erolith gripped her by the wrist, for the first time in decades rising above its gentle tone. Danny hadn’t even the chance to make a move, the man was so quick.

“MILLIE!” His voice reverberated throughout the room, seeming to bring everything to a screeching halt.

When Milisindiel looked up at her husband, there were tears in his eyes, but along with them was a seething sense of betrayal. She’d wounded him. She’d summoned a side of her husband that he’d left behind after the Second World War. Erolith Longbow was a kind and gentle man, but he was far from weak. His hand trembled as he held her wrist at bay, those pain stricken brown eyes cutting deep into her soul.

Alexia stood with her eyes clamped shut. It would not have been the first time she'd been struck, nor the hundredth, and her natural instinct was to simply endure it. But it never came. Cautiously, she opened her eyes to see, not her mother, but her father standing partly between them. She dared to peek ever so slightly around Ero and what she saw arched her left eyebrow.

“That’s enough, Milisindiel.” Ero whispered, his voice shaking with the closest approximation to rage as Millie had ever heard from him.

All of Millie's ire and vitriol dissipated, leaving her deflated and confused. Shock widened her eyes and she stared up at her husband. Finally, she regained her senses and, although she'd never admit it, she felt an overwhelming sense of shame for what she had nearly done to her only daughter. Swallowing hard, wriggled free of Ero's grasp, with little difficulty, and dropped her gaze to the floor, her hands nervously smoothing non existent wrinkles from her clothing. Ero’s breath shuddered as he glanced over his shoulder to Alexia and her boyfriend.

“There’s a spare bedroom down the hall to the left. You both are more than welcome to stay.” Ero uttered, sounding on the verge of tears. He stood between them and Millie until they passed.

Alexia took a tentative step back. And then another. And when she was backed up against Danny, she reached behind her, seeking out his hand, and slipped in between his arm and his torso, desperate for the safety she felt only when she was with him. Not risking another moment, they slipped away from the tension between Ero and Millie, and took cover in the offered room.

Danny slipped a comforting arm around her shoulder, keeping her close and safe. As they passed, he gave Ero a glance. No words were said, but none were needed. Erolith saw the gratitude in the young man’s eyes and only nodded. He watched as the pair disappeared down the hall. His heart broke for Alexia. She’d come to find her parents, but she’d found a tyrant, little better than the violent man who’d raised her.

Despite its small, cozy feel, the cottage was surprisingly accommodating. The short hallway and distance from the rest of the rooms offered a decent amount of privacy. All things Alexia found difficult to appreciate at the moment. She walked through the door in a daze, hardly registering the soft click as Danny closed it behind them. For a long moment, she simply stood at the foot of the bed, staring with eyes unfocused, her thin arms wrapped around her. Finally, after a few sniffles, she took a deep, shuddering breath, and sighed. Feeling defeated, she simply turned toward him and buried her face in his chest.

Danny stepped up behind her, without a word and placed a hand on her shoulder, guiding her directly into his arms. His lips pressed a kiss to the top of her head as he held her tight.

“I’m sorry, love.” He whispered. “I’m so sorry.”

She wrapped her arms around his torso, squeezing him tight. It was as if she was afraid he would slip away if she didn't. For a long time, she simply sobbed into him, finding comfort in the safe harbor of his arms.

Erolith watched as Danny and Alexia trudged onward towards their room. He would remain, steadfastly planted between them and his wife until the door clicked shut. The sound seemed to take the tension out of his body like air from a balloon. His shoulders slumped, a deep breath finally released. When he again turned to Millie, she might have expected anger or some form of malice. But what she saw behind those kind eyes was pain. Pain and betrayal. Erolith moved past her without a word, stepping into the kitchen. His back to her, he began almost obsessively washing his hands.

Millie’s hardened features gave little away. Even her scowl didn't soften. She simply watched as he passed her and it was only until he began ritualistically washing his hands that she finally waivered, if only for a second. A subtle wince flitted across her face. She pressed her lips into an even harder line for a moment before finally speaking.

"Yer quiet." She said, her voice still as hard as before.

Ero’s cleaning halted for a moment, the tension once again taking his body. His face turned towards her, but his eyes refused to meet hers.

“There isn’t much to say.” He said, his voice flat and cold, but betraying the sharp pain she’d caused him. “Is there?”

"Isnae there?" Her hackles rose, her voice already defensive, despite its even tone. "Ye clearly want tae. Dinnae let me stop ye."

The sound of the faucet suddenly shutting off was practically a punctuation, strong hands gripping the knobs. Erolith contained the growing fire within his gut and finally turned to face her.

“How could you, Millie?” He asked in a hushed tone.

"I did what I had tae." She repeated. Her arms crossed at her chest. "Tae keep her alive. Tae keep her safe!"

She paused for a moment, her eyes lowering to a spot on the floor just in front of her feet.

"Tae keep you safe, as well."

He scoffed, his eyes narrowing. “To keep me safe? Milisindiel, you and I have been together for a very, very long time. You’ve seen me fight in more wars than I can bear to remember. I’ve survived brutality and violence time and again. Yet, you still think I need you to protect me? I am not a child. Nor am I weak, despite what you may think. Don’t you dare try to make this about me.”

"Ye think war is any comparison tae-" She cut herself short and drew a deep, steadying breath. "If ye had kept yer memories, you would have sought her out eventually and they would come lookin fer her again. I couldnae let that happen."

Ero shook his head slowly. “And you didn’t even consider asking me what I wanted. Did you?”

She knew damn well that she didn’t, and so did he. He took two steps forward.

“No. You made the decision for me. Because Milisindiel always knows best. Am I correct?”

She could hear the pain in his voice as it began to tremble with every word.

"And what of it?" She spat back without thinking.

Immediately she regretted everything. Not just her response, but every last thing. The lies, the cover up, the centuries long charade of constant memory charms and glamour spells, giving up her only daughter and the chance to know her.

"Ye never would have agreed to it." She said, surprisingly softly.

The way he looked at her was as if he was seeing a stranger. Whoever this woman was, he didn’t recognize her as the one he’d married.

“You think that’s a justification for what you did? To someone you love?” He asked incredulously. “Do you have any idea what you’ve done?”

"Aye. Ah ken exactly what I did. Dinnae ye think I hated m'self for it? Of course, I wanted us all together. To be a family. But this was the only way I could think of so they wouldn't find her. I wanted tae tell ye everyday and everyday I made the decision again tae keep her hidden."

Ero tried to remember that, while he had lived the last 200 plus years oblivious to exactly what he had been longing for, Millie had been keenly aware. Yet, all of her excuses and rationalizations did little to nothing to ease his pain. She’d wounded him more deeply than any enemy ever could. She took from him something he’d held dearer to his heart than his own life. Finally, it hit the breaking point and, for the first time in over one hundred years, Erolith raised his voice to her.

“You stole her from me!”

The pain in his voice staggered her like a punch to the chest. Color drained from Millie’s face as he whirled around on her, his eyes shining with tears.

“You erased her from my mind. My child! All these years, I’ve felt a loss I couldn’t define. As if…As if there was a hole inside of my very soul and I didn’t know why! I bore this nameless pain for centuries with a smile on my face, even though it was eating me alive. And it was because of you.”

Millie might have been burdened with the truth of what she’d done, but she was, at the very least, granted time to cope and understand. Erolith, however, never got that chance. She opened her mouth to raise her voice right back. Only nothing came out. Try as she might, she couldn't deny he was right and had every right to be angry with her. Suddenly, her defensive stance sagged and her crossed arms weakened into a feeble self embrace that did nothing to soothe her growing shame. When she finally was able to speak, she said something that, in all likelihood, she had never said in her entire life. To anybody.

"Yer right." She said, barely above a whisper.

Defeat radiated from her slim frame as she lifted her gaze to squarely meet his. She was a lot of things, pigheaded and shortsighted safely among them, but she was no coward. She would face the consequences of her own misguided actions.

"Yer right, and... and I'm sorry."

Ero didn’t bother to wipe the tears from his eyes as he stared at his wife. The quiet meekness in her usually strong and confident voice softened him. She’d apologized, but he wasn’t ready to be done, saying his piece.

“I know you believed you were sparing me grief, but it was my grief.” He said, his voice again lowering to its usual calm timbre. “How was I supposed to heal…if I couldn’t grieve? You robbed me of that. That pain was mine to process as I chose and you just…wiped it away without so much as my consent. You had no right.”

Even now, he reached to her, taking her hands in his, seeking some semblance of civility and understanding between them.

“I don’t deny that you suffered. I can’t imagine how badly. But you got to choose when I did not. You didn’t trust me. Now, how am I supposed to trust that you won’t choose to do it again?”

"Because I can't. I cannae do it again, Ero." Now her eyes released wave after wave of tears. She held his hands in her own small, calloused ones and gently squeezed.

"I'm exhausted and I'm empty and I just cannae do it anymore. Not after seeing her." Her lower lip trembled and her tears renewed.

"Oh, Ero, she's beautiful! I cannae give her up again. But I dinnae ken how tae make things right."

He could certainly understand that. The second he laid eyes on his daughter, she was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen. All the love he’d held for her in the few short years they’d had together came rushing back in an instant, and it only made those intervening years of loss ache more keenly. Ero knew his wife better than he knew himself in some ways. He knew her stubborn nature and how difficult it was to get her to admit her faults. He wanted nothing more than for her to make amends with their child, but he also understood that it was easier said than done.

“I’m sorry, Erolith.” Millie whispered. “I am so sorry.”

“I appreciate that, Millie.” He said. “But, I’m not the only one you should be apologizing to.”

An odd look flickered briefly in her expression before it returned to its fairly neutral hardened state. She grunted an uncertain and somewhat irritated 'mm' and sought out that spot on the floor again.

"We'll have tae see about that, I s'pose." She muttered, exhaustion setting in. After a moment or two, she lifted her gaze again to meet his.

"Ah love ye. Ye know that, ae?" Her expression didn't soften, her eyes didn't go wide with affection, but there was a subtle shift only someone who had known her for centuries would pick up on.

“I do.” He nodded. “And I, you. But…I need some time to think. I’m going to tend to the eastern fences. You…just think about what you can do to mend your own.”

It certainly wasn't how she had hoped the conversation would go, but even she knew this was too big to work through in just so short a time. Her lips pressed into a hard line again and she gave a single, curt nod. She stood stone still as she watched him depart and for several moments after. It was only when she was certain he was far out of earshot that she allowed herself a tiny sniffle before heading to their bedroom and shutting the door.

The evening’s dinner passed with barely a word spoken. Hurt feelings hung above them all like a cloud. So, when the time came to turn in, it felt like a blessing. Danny and Alexia set off to bed a polite and curt goodnight bidding her parents adieu for the evening. With all that had occurred, sleep came surprisingly easy.

Danny woke to the sound of waves crashing faintly in the distance, the warmth of the cabin peaceful in contrast to the drama the night before. Alexia lay sleeping comfortably across from him, her wild brown hair in her face like a veil. Best to let her sleep, he thought. She must have been emotionally exhausted with everything she was going through.

Rolling off the bed, his bare feet touched down on the cool wooden floorboards. Keen green eyes swept across the room, taking in the little knick knacks upon the wall from the long life Millie and Ero had built in this world. He even caught the barest hint of a smile on her face in one picture. Judging from the style of clothing, he assumed it must have been the 1950’s. Even with the love of his life being over two hundred years old, he still had difficulty wrapping his mind around the concept of so vast a lifespan.

His gaze swept to the window and, in the distance, he saw a lone figure meandering toward the lake. It could only be Erolith. Danny had questions. Of the two parents, he was very obviously the warmer and more welcoming. If there was any hope of finding answers, Ero was it. Quickly dressing in a hoodie and jeans, he quietly exited the room.

The house was silent but for the bubbling kettle of tea upon the stovetop and the steady ticking of a clock. For a moment, he thought Erolith might have left the pot boiling, but the sight of cold blue eyes staring daggers from behind a book at the kitchen table disabused him of that notion.

“Good morning.” Danny greeted Millie, polite and cordial as ever. But Millie said nothing in response, just returned to her reading as if he wasn’t there. The silence between them was oppressive, giving him much the same feeling he’d once had in the presence of a pride of hunting lions. He shouldn’t have expected better, given the previous day’s events. If he sought cordiality, he wouldn’t find it with Millie.

“Right.” He sighed, taking his leave of the hostile matriarch, and heading out the side door in pursuit of Erolith.

Back in the room, Alexia slept soundly, mostly due to sheer exhaustion. She didn’t stir, didn’t dream. The only hint of the emotional stress and shock she endured the day before was an occasional hitch in her breathing, as though, even in deep sleep, she still softly sobbed. It was only after Danny had made his quiet exit, by a few minutes at most, that she finally roused herself from her heavy slumber. For a long time, she lay still, her eyes reluctantly cracking open. She replayed the previous day’s tumultuous events over and over in her mind until she could no longer deny the rumbling protest in her stomach. With a soft sigh, she pushed herself up to sit at the edge of the bed where she weighed her options. She could venture back out into the rest of the cabin in search of food, or she could wait until something to eat magically materialized in front of her. As tempting as the second option was, she had to admit its improbability, and rise.

It didn’t take long to dress despite her stalling. She, too, took in the little details of the room just as Danny had, touching each little bauble and trinket with featherlight fingertips. It seemed a bit odd that her seemingly reclusive parents would have a guest room in their tiny, hidden cabin. Everything was immaculately kept as if it was being preserved for someone. The only thing out of sorts was the bed, which she made as slowly as possible. Despite her best efforts, she soon stood at the door, her petite hand on the knob. Just as her resolve was beginning to waver, she heard the telltale whistle of a tea kettle, and the unmistakable timber of Danny’s voice. Against all reason, her hopes began to rise. Perhaps Danny had found the kitchen empty and started a pot. Before she could think more rationally, she quickly slipped through the door and took a few eager steps toward the tiny kitchen.

Alexia arrived just in time to see the back door gently close. Curiosity piqued and passed within seconds before she turned toward the metallic sound of the kettle being removed from the fire, expecting to see a tall, dimpled journalist. Millie turned just in time to see her daughter's face fall in disappointment. Her hardened expression softened for a fraction of a second. Just long enough to feel a tiny pang of… what? Jealousy? Shame? Guilt? Refusing to let herself linger on it for any longer, her face hardened once more while she wordlessly brought down a second mug from a carefully handcrafted cabinet.

Alexia took just a moment too long deciding which way to retreat, back to the spare bedroom or out the same door she was now certain Danny had just gone through. Before she could move in either direction, Millie set the mug down on the table, with more than just a small thud, and jutted her chin to the empty chair across from her own. Alexia didn’t know much about having a mother. She could hardly remember the short time spent with her. Even so, she was fairly certain she didn’t have much of a choice. It was these racing thoughts and dozens of others that urged her, albeit very slowly, to pull the chair out and perch lightly on the edge.

The brisk morning air sent a shiver along Danny’s skin. Stuffing his hands in his pockets, he set off on the same trail Ero had taken, following it’s winding path downward through tall grass and a small grove of trees toward the end. Finally, Danny could see the man, sitting upon the trunk of a fallen tree at the water’s edge. Clutched in his hand was a fishing pole.

Erolith heard him before he saw him, glancing back over his shoulder, likely due to his superior, elvish hearing. The smile on his face was small, but it was a damn sight better than the chilly reception he’d gotten from Millie.

“Hello.” The dark haired man greeted him amiably.

Danny removed a hand from his pocket, tossing off a lazy wave. “Morning. Mind if I join you?”

“Please. I suppose we didn’t have much of an opportunity to speak with all the hysterics last evening.” Ero nodded, making space for the young man. Danny stepped over the trunk, settling down beside Alexia’s father. The two men just sat in silence for what seemed like a half an hour. He’d thought all night about what to say to Alexia’s father, but now that he was here, the words refused to come. Luckily for him, it seemed Ero, too, had something on his mind.

“She’s not what she seems, you know?” Erolith said, his eyes on the water but for a tiny, almost furtive glance Danny’s way. “Millie. I know she can come off cold and callous, but that’s not the woman I married.”

“No offense, but I feel that’s an insult to the concepts of both cold and callous.” Danny joked.

Ero chuckled quietly, silent for another moment. “I suppose. But if you can break through that armor she so desperately clings to, there’s a warm and lovely woman there. It just…sometimes takes a lot of work.”

Danny couldn’t help but compare mother to daughter, and wonder exactly how she’d gotten that way.

“Any tips?” Danny asked.

“Patience.” Ero glanced over, considering him a moment before he sighed heavily. “A lot of patience. She’s a strong willed woman. Stubborn. Very…shall we say ‘self assured.’” He said with a knowing grin, being very charitable with his choice of words.

Back at the farmhouse, Millie gazed upon her daughter with a judgmental eye. Her clothes hung from her petite form, her limbs too thin for her liking. If she’d known the truth, she’d never have said what she did next.

“Yer skinny.” Millie declared suddenly, as she expertly filled a little metallic sphere with loose tea leaves before snapping it shut and dropping it into Alexia’s mug with a tiny clink.

“I was s-s-starved for m-most of my life… in m-more ways than one, so...” Alexia surprised herself with her quick response.

Millie’s eyes dropped a tick, focusing on the mug at her side for a moment before turning back up.

“Ye look like yer father. ‘Bout the eyes.” Millie continued as she repeated the process with a second steeper for her own mug. It was unclear if she had paid a compliment or hurled an insult. Either was just as likely as the other.

“Good.” Alexia shot back, finding it easier to fire back. Her voice remained even and soft as it often did when speaking with someone she didn’t fully know or trust.

“Yer obstinate.” Millie nearly growled, filling both mugs with scalding hot water. Try as she might, she couldn’t stop the rapid rise of her ire.

“Afraid you’ll l-lose your-r-reigning title?” Alexia’s left eyebrow arched high on her face, watching as the ire in her mother began to boil to the surface.

Back at the lake, things were more peaceful. Birds chirped and the gentle sound of the water played an infinite, soothing soundtrack around the two men. Danny turned to Ero with a sigh.

“How do you do it?” he asked. “I mean, you seem a reasonable, even-tempered sort. How do you deal with that? With the things she’s done?”

“Do you not know?” Erolith turned to him with a furrowed brow. “Because I love her. I know what her motives are, even if the methods are…”

“Cruel and selfish?” Danny butted in, incredulously

“Misguided.” Ero said, diplomatically.

“That’s…very charitable of you. I don’t think I could do that.” Danny responded. He wasn’t certain he’d be defending the actions of someone who’d intentionally manipulated him for years the way Millie had.

“You don’t?” Ero looked a little surprised. “Have you never been hurt by a loved one? Even by Alexia?

“Never.” Danny shook his head. “Not once. Not by her.”

Ero nodded slowly, a vague sense of pride filling him, despite the point he was making. “Do you think that will never happen?”

Danny scoffed, “No, no. Alexia isn’t like that. She’s-“

“Perfect?” Ero interrupted. “And what happens when she isn’t? What happens when she lets you down? What happens when you let her down? Because, if you want to stay together for the long haul, it will happen. Despite your best intentions, you will both make mistakes. You’ll do things that hurt each other…that disappoint each other.”

Danny knew from personal experience that was true. He’d already lived through it. While he’d processed it, and she’d reassured him over and over again, he still couldn’t shake the image of his hands around her neck.

“You aren’t a child, Daniel. I don’t presume to tell you how life works. Alexia isn’t perfect. Neither are you.” Ero nodded to the young man, his voice as civil and non-accusatory as ever. “When she does something you are vehemently opposed to, that hurts you…are you going to stop loving her?”

Danny didn’t have to think about it. He knew the answer. “Never.”

“Then, I imagine you understand how and why I can still love someone with all my heart, even when the things they do are disappointing or even painful.” Ero said. “Make no mistake, I hold her to account for the things she’s done. Don’t mistake my understanding for acceptance…but I gave my heart to Milisindiel, and she will have it forever.”

“I suppose I understand.” Danny said quietly. “It’s just…”

“She’s a lot to deal with?” Ero again sniffed a laugh. “Yes, I won’t argue that. It isn’t easy. I’m not certain I’ve even processed exactly how I feel about all of this. It’s likely it will take some time. I’m hurt, I’m angry, I’m confused…but I also know that she was not always this way.”

“Now, you listen here ye little gobshite-” Millie began, slamming the kettle down on the table with an angry thunk. But Alexia cut her off.

“No.” Her voice was calm and clear. “I w-won’t listen to you unless it’s to a-answer for leaving me for a-a-all those y-years.”

“I’ll answer to no one, least of all an insolent, ungrateful child!” Millie slammed her fist next to the kettle, hardly noticing the few errant drops of boiling hot water that dripped onto her hand. She was rapidly losing the battle with her raging temper. She couldn’t stop if she wanted to, and she so desperately did.

“I am n-not a child. Certainly not y-y-your child.” Alexia could feel the tears burning in her eyes, determined to fall. “You d-didn’t raise me, O-Owen did. If one can c-call it that. He did his b-best until his drinking t-t-took over his l-life… and mine. I’m s-still more his child than yours.”

As the fireworks continued inside, Danny and Ero continued their conversation in peace.

“What was she like?” Danny asked.

Ero weighed his words, reaching far back into his memories. It had been a very long life, after all.

“Unencumbered.” He said. “She, uh…smiled more easily. Laughed more, too. I knew from the moment I first laid eyes upon her that I would rather face all the ages of this or any earth with her than anyone else. She loved fiercely. She fought even more so. I suppose it didn’t hurt that she was painfully beautiful.”

Danny grinned, glancing over. He knew that look in the man’s eyes. He’d seen it time and again in the little fae who stared up at him in those wondrous quiet moments.

“May I ask what happened?” Danny asked, “What turned her so hard?”

“Well. It wasn’t just one thing, I suppose.” Ero sighed. “It never is. Our relationship was a bit… controversial at the time. Disapproval from outside parties and the like. She left much behind to be with me, though that’s not my story to tell.”

Danny knew so little about the history of Alexia’s family, and Ero was giving him only enough to make him want to know more. Erolith turned his eyes to Danny then, a cautious glint behind them.

“Has Alexia told you what she is?” The man asked, a hushed tone in his voice, despite their relative seclusion.

“Ontari?” Danny nodded. “Yes.”

“And do you know what that means?”

Again, he nodded slowly. “For the most part.”

“Then you know how important she is.” Ero said. “When we discovered our little girl’s true nature, Millie knew she’d be hunted by powerful forces. People who would mean to harm, possess, or otherwise use her to their own ends. She didn’t want that for our daughter. That fear clouded her heart. Little by little I saw that light and joy in her withering away until…I could no longer notice that it had gone.”

The pain in his voice was palpable. Danny truly felt for the guy. Much of what he said reminded him of his own mother, though her decline had been physical rather than emotional.

“It’s a funny thing, fear.” Ero said distantly. “At times, it protects us. Keeps us from foolishly harming ourselves. But if you let it consume you…it becomes more dangerous than any foe. It can leave you cold. And it can leave you very, very alone.”

Now, this man was the sort of person he pictured as Alexia’s parent. Eloquent, kind, emotionally intelligent. And it was impossible to miss his eyes. As soulful and deep brown as the girl he’d fallen in love with.

“She doesn’t much care for humans, does she?” Danny asked.

“She comes by it honestly.” Ero said calmly. “With what we’ve been through, I can understand. War. Famine. Unrest. We’ve seen tyrants rise and fall only to be replaced by other tyrants in our time in this world.”

If anyone was aware of the failings of humanity, it was Danny. He’d seen his fair share of horrors firsthand.

“We saw you were in France during World War II.”

Ero nodded, his eyes almost clouding as memories rushed to the forefront of his mind.

“Saint-Nazaire.” He confirmed. “In 1940. When the Germans invaded, we joined the resistance. Tried to save who we could. Didn’t always succeed, as I’m sure you’re well aware, if you know your history.”

“You were a soldier?” Danny asked, trying to picture anyone with Alexia’s blood in the battlefield.

Erolith nodded. “On horseback, with swords and the bow and arrow, and with guns and tanks. I saw many battles, but that war was enough. When I saw the brutality humanity could wreak upon one another, something inside me broke. When the Germans surrendered, I laid down my arms and swore to live the rest of my life in peace. Haven’t so much as touched a weapon since.”

Silence settled over them, the wind brushing their hair.

“Have you seen war, Danny?” Ero asked.

“In my own way.” Danny confirmed. “I was in Iraq. Kirkuk.”

“You don’t strike me as a soldier.” Ero said, looking the younger man over appraisingly.

“I wasn’t.” Danny confirmed. “I’m a journalist. A writer. I was sent to cover the actions of a unit. Puff piece for the folks back home. But things went…wrong. Many deaths and I…well. I survived.”

Erolith lowered his eyes. As a former soldier, he knew well enough not to press him on the details. For a long moment, he thought about exactly how to word his next question. Finally, he sighed.

“I need you to tell me something.” Ero said quietly.

“Of course.”

“Is my daughter safe?” Ero asked.

In the two years they’d been together, there had been danger multiple times. They’d barely defeated the Void with their lives intact. But, it seemed that had gone away. For now, things were almost normal.

“No less so than anyone in Rhy’Din, I suppose.” Danny said.

His response did little to comfort her father, it seemed. “But you’re looking out for her?”

“As well as I can.” Danny said. “But, to be honest, Mister Longbow, I…I don’t know how much use I am in that regard. Alexia has a power I can’t begin to understand. I’ve seen what she can do. The things she’s overcome. I’m nothing special. If I’m honest, she looks out for me far more than I can ever look out for her.”

Erolith turned his gaze upon the young man, his brow creased. “I think you give yourself far too little credit. Taking care of the ones we love isn’t about brute strength or…supernatural abilities. It’s about making their lives better. To be their strength when they’re at their breaking point. You don’t need to move mountains or fight a horde to stand by the person you love. You just have to love them. Let them know that they are loved and that they are not alone. Take it from someone in who has spent several of your lifetimes with an impossibly strong and powerful woman. They can still break. And sometimes, being by their side is more than enough.”

Danny turned and stared out at the water, Ero’s words weighing heavily on his mind. It was true, when it came to the dangers they had faced, Danny was of little use in combating them. Compared to her, he was frail. Weak. But he couldn’t help but wonder how she would have fared against these horrors without him to fight for. If Alexia needed a purpose to become who she was meant to be, he would gladly be it.

With one, last beleaguered sigh, Ero set down his pole. “Well, come along. We should probably head back before they murder each other.”

Danny grinned and followed him up the path.

Danny and Erolith arrived not a moment too soon as mother and daughter were shouting at each other. Angry voices filtered out from within the farmhouse, muffled by the heavy wooden door. It seemed all hell had broken loose in their absence. Exchanging a worried glance, Danny and Ero pushed into the farmhouse. To find Millie on her feet, pointing a finger in Alexia’s face.

“Yer an ungrateful little-” Millie began, no doubt ready to launch into a scathing tirade, only to be cut off once more.

“Mo chroí!” Ero’s stunned and bewildered voice called from the door. Millie looked up, surprised that she hadn’t noticed his and Danny’s return. Alexia did not turn around. If she had, she would have seen the dangerous look that darkened Danny’s face as he placed a hand on Ero’s shoulder, urging him to enter so that he might do the same.

Millie's gaze settled upon her husband, an old, familiar fire blazing to life in them. It was too easy to slip back into that intoxicating rage. It was how she had survived thus far. Or, at least that was what she told herself each time she lost her temper and knew she went too far after the fact.

"Ye hear the impertinence?!" She demanded before turning back to an almost stony-faced Alexia.

"Give me one good reason I shouldnae box yer ears!"

Something inside Danny was visibly triggered as his eyes snapped to fix upon Alexia’s mother, his jaw clenching tightly. Alexia held her gaze for a long moment before she finally crumbled. It was small at first. A crease between her dark eyebrows, a wince in those big brown eyes. Before long, her lip trembled and a single rolled down her lightly freckled face. She drew a soft, shuddering breath and spoke barely above a whisper.

"J-Just say it. Say you n-never w-w-wanted me."

Millie was stunned into uncharacteristic silence. But it didn't last long. After only a second of hurt and confusion, her face hardened once more.

"Dinnae be a prat." She said, her voice cold. “Of all the daft notions.”

As he gazed upon the pain behind Alexia’s eyes, Danny’s usually calm and gentle demeanor disappeared, a darkness forming in his eyes. Despite Ero’s hand gripping his arm, he stepped forward.

“What is she supposed to think?” He asked, staring daggers at the woman.

“Danny-“ Ero began, but he wasn’t hearing it.

“No.” Danny halted him. “I’m sorry, but no. I’ve seen firsthand the damage she has done. The pain and constant fear in her eyes. And it’s because of you.”

He pulled free and stepped towards Millie, completely without fear.

“So, you tell me, what the hell else is your daughter supposed to think of you?”

"Dinnae talk tae me about my own daughter." Millie shot at him, her words full of acid. "Ye think ye know her just because ye've held her and told her a few pretty things?"

Still sitting at the kitchen table, Alexia buried her face into her hands, the sleeves of her sweater falling just past her wrists. Just past the last remaining physical evidence of what she had endured just a few years ago. Erolith’s eyes clocked the scars at his little girl’s wrists. Instantly, he knew what must have caused them.

Danny’s voice was practically acidic.

“I know your daughter better than you ever will. I know how her pain, her fears, her longing for a life more than the scraps you left her with. I know about the man you threw her to. I know about the neglect, the yelling, the bullying. I know about the abuse. I know about the bruises, the scars and the broken bones. I know that it’s a bloody miracle she had the courage to even leave the hell he kept her in for me to even meet her. And I damn sure know that if I had seen it happen, your miserable drunken brother would’ve died far earlier than he did.” Danny’s fists clenched into tight balls of rage.

“I know the strength this woman has. The things she’s faced. And I will not let anyone make her feel bad about herself for another second. Especially you.”

Another wave of confusion washed over Millie's face. Although she was aware that leaving her only daughter to her brother with false promises of return was a less than ideal situation, it was clear she had no idea just how terrible it all had been for her. She stumbled and stammered over a false start or two. She began to shake with a mixture of rage and grief as she tried to regain her composure.

"How... dare ye..." She finally managed to utter in a hoarse voice. "I... I did what I had tae so she could survive. I made the decision what no mother should ever have tae face." Her eyes bore holes into Danny's face as she launched into the same tirade she'd undoubtedly unleashed on Ero many times before tweaking his memories.

Where Ero would cave and shy away, Danny stayed strong. In all her life, most people were somewhat fearful of her, but this man, this human gave her nothing. Only cold irreverence and disdain remained on his youthful face.

“How dare I?” He scoffed, angry amusement in his voice. “You made the choice no mother who loved her child would. What did you expect when she found out what you did? That she would come to you thankful? After all she’s endured because of you, was she supposed to praise your wonderful, ‘selfless’ parenting? Say ‘Thank you, mum, I love you so so much?’”

Ero remained quiet, stunned that the younger man had the gall to call her out so completely. Part of him wanted to intervene, but another understood his side. If he was honest, he felt much the same. Danny took another step toward her, towering over Alexia’s mother.

“How could she? What is there to love?” Those intense green eyes burned with incredulity. “What about you is there to love?”

"Nothing." Millie snapped at him. "Nae a damn thing. Ah ken exactly what all of ye think of me. And it was my own doing. Despite what ye think, I love her, more than my own life. It's because of that I did what I did. I tore pieces of my own heart out and became the villain. Tae save her from the real monsters. The ones who would kill her, rip her apart bit by bit. I didnae think my own brother would become one of them..."

Millie opened her mouth to continue, but no sound came out. Instead, she drew a shaky breath, desperately choking down a sob.

"I... I rather she hate me, because it means she's alive tae feel it."

Alexia's hands dropped from her tear streaked face. She looked at her mother with disbelief that bordered on something akin to disgust and it incensed her enough to stand abruptly. She wanted nothing more than to unleash centuries of pain and fear and grief and confusion onto the person directly responsible for it. But instead, she shut her eyes for a moment, dashing at the new tears forming with her knuckles, and stormed back into the guest bedroom.

Danny’s eyes narrowed as Millie rationalized her actions, but his attention was stolen the second Alexia walked away. He gave one last look at Millie that wordlessly said “Then, congratulations. At the very least, in that… you’ve succeeded.”

Before he could take more than two steps in pursuit of the little fae, Erolith placed his body in the young man’s path and shook his head. When Danny seemed like he was going to protest, Ero gripped him gently by the arm and looked him in the eye.

“Please.” He whispered, loud enough so that only Danny would hear.

Danny softened. Ero had been denied so many opportunities for so very long and all he wanted was to be there for his daughter. Danny simply nodded.

Ero offered as kind a smile as he could muster, giving Millie a look pleading for civility before taking his leave.

Millie's expression was a churning turmoil of pain and anger and a good deal of embarrassment, but she managed a reluctant nod. As soon as Ero was out of the kitchen, however, she all but crumpled back into the chair, two steaming cups of tea sitting before her. Feeling miserable, she planted her elbow on the surface of the table and slowly rested her forehead into her palm. With a heavy sigh, she closed her eyes for a moment, wondering when exactly she had lost total control.

Erolith moved down the hallway slowly letting out a breath he felt he’d been holding for years. He came to a halt outside of Alexia’s closed door, for a moment pausing as he worked through what he might say. This was a moment he’d dreamed of, even when he couldn’t remember who she was. The missing piece that ached and cried out from the recesses of his soul was here. And she was hurting. His fist hesitated over the door for a moment, but finally, he knocked.

“A-Alexia?” He stammered gently.

At first, the only sound from within was a tiny sniffle. After a moment or two, there was a deep sigh before her tiny voice, muffled by the thick wooden door, just barely called out.

"Y-Yes, Papa?"

The door creaked open, her father slipping in before letting it shut behind him. His heart broke for her as he took in the sight of her. He found himself walking over and calmly sitting on the edge of the bed.

“I’d ask if you’re alright, but it seems the answer is obvious.”

Her petite form rocked slightly toward him as he sat down. She was perched on the edge of the bed as well, her knees drawn up to her chest, the heels of her bare feet on the very edge. With her arms looped around her legs, all four of her scars, the two inch thick solid white band of scar tissue on each wrist and ankle, were in plain view. She didn't look up, opting to stare in the general direction of the window.

"Oh, meleth nîn." He sighed, placing a hand on her back. “I’m so sorry. I would never have wished this for you. You deserve so much better.”

His eyes moved about the room, eyes crossing over the pictures on the wall. “I wish we could have given you a happy, warm home to return to.”

Alexia was quiet for a long time. She didn't shrug him off, but she didn't lean into the comfort he offered either. Instead, her eyes unfocused and her expression went completely flat.

"I thought you two were d-dead." She said, finally, her tiny voice hollow. "It h-hurt at first. For a v-v-very l-long time. I w-wanted nothing more than..."

She let that particular thought go with a quick shut of her eyes and shake of her head. When she opened them again, there were fresh tears waiting to spill over.

"It was e-easier that way. It m-meant that only o-one thing could keep you from c-c-coming back for me. But i-it was her. A-All this time. And s-s-somehow she's angry with m-me." Her eyebrows furrowed in frustration and confusion.

Erolith peered down at her, gently rubbing her back as he had when she became upset as a child.

“She’s afraid.” He said simply. “All of this…the yelling, the harsh words, the fighting. It’s fear. As strong as your mother is, she is so filled with fear. And unfortunately, when she’s afraid…she becomes hard. Cold. She lashes out. I don’t even think she realizes why. Your mother loves you, Alexia. I know it doesn’t come off as it should, but what she said is true. We do so many foolish things because we’re confused or afraid. We hurt the people we cherish. We ruin our own chances at happiness. We make horrible mistakes. She wanted to protect you and…”

Ero sighed heavily. “In doing so, caused you more pain. More than she knew you’d endure. But the truth of the matter is, I don’t think she’s mad at you. Not really. She’s mad at herself.”

"You wouldn't have d-done that." She said calmly, finally looking up at him, her left eyebrow arched high.

For a long moment he just stared, pain behind those kind, brown eyes. “No. No, I wouldn’t. I dreamed of you. Even before you were born.”

A light chuckle passed his lips, but the smile faded. “Even…after.”

He didn’t need to elaborate on what “after” referred to. She could hear it in his voice.

“I’d have had you here. With us.” He looked up and around the room again. “This was supposed to be your room. I can’t tell you how many times I imagined it. Decorated in all your favorite things. Bookshelves bursting at the seams with every tome you could lay your hands upon. Smiling up at me from behind the pages of yet another story. Regaling me with tales of adventure or the history of some long lost civilization or the like…”

Erolith sighed. “I looked to your future and I saw hope. Your mother, on the other hand…she saw only pain and death. She saw devastation and it took hold. That’s the difference between she and I. She faces fear with hardness. I faced it with hope.”

For several moments, she simply stared at him in surprise, a myriad of thoughts warring with each other within those rich dark brown eyes. Finally, she spoke again, swinging her gaze back to the window.

"I d-don't think I can forgive her." She said, her voice soft, but her words firm.

He sat quietly for a moment, gently rubbing her back.

“I don’t think she will either.” He whispered. “Sometimes…that isn’t an option. Sometimes, you just sort of have to live with the things you’ve done. Your mother will have to contend with the consequences of her actions in her own time. But, I can tell you…the Milisindiel that I know will come to understand eventually. If and when that time comes, I hope she’ll have the same courage you do to make some sort of amends.”

He gently lifted her chin to look up at him. “I only ask you this…don’t let her fear and anger be a shadow upon your life. Don’t carry such darkness in your heart. If you can’t forgive…learn to let it go.”

It was still strange to see her own eyes staring back at her. All the same, she searched them intensely before breathing another heavy sigh. Her lips pressed into a thin line and she gave a single nod.

"A-Alright, Papa. I'll try." The sincerity in her voice brought it down to a whisper and she turned to lean her head on his shoulder.

A warm smile formed as he held her to him, his chin resting atop her head. “Besides.” He said. “You have quite a lot going for you. A home of your own. Friends. A man willing to face the fiercest woman I’ve ever known without an ounce of self-concern. And you have a father who loves you dearly. And, no matter what, you always will.”

She had to admit, he had a point. Their reunion was certainly not perfect, but she had undeniably regained her father. That put her one step closer to having everything she'd dared to hope for than she was before. The rest she would try to deal with later. For now, she cautiously let herself enjoy the fact that she had her Papa back.

Back in the kitchen, Danny stood with his back leaned against the wall, his arms crossed in front of him. Silence lingered between him and the hostile woman currently at the table. It would be a lie to say that he was no longer upset, but the fire had most certainly died down. He wanted nothing more than to go to Alexia and comfort her. For the first time in his life, he actually felt grateful for BOTH of his parents. At least his formerly-estranged father could admit when he was wrong without making excuses and laying down a severe guilt trip.

He couldn't say for sure why he found himself stepping toward the table, but soon Danny was sliding into the seat across from Millie. He eyed the mug that was supposed to be Alexia's, still steaming. The scent passed through his nostrils. He couldn't immediately place what it was. Green eyes turned up to her.

"What kind of tea is that?" He asked, his tone now calm and civil.

Millie looked up from her misery and narrowed her eyes at the young man now seated before her. But it wasn't disdain or vitriol with which she stared at him. Not entirely. It was exhaustion. It was the gaze of a woman carrying a heavy burden for over two hundred years. Finally, she spoke, her gaze as intense and unwavering as her daughter's.

"Irish breakfast tea." She said, matching his cool, even tone. While she didn't exactly offer him the second cup, she made no move to take it away.

He nodded slowly, once again undeterred by that miserable glare. He hooked a finger in the mug handle, bringing it closer for another sampling. Part of him thought it might be considered rude to drink tea that was not made for him, but it was unlikely Alexia would want it now, and it was always a shame to waste good tea. Besides, it wasn't as if Millie had gone out of her way to be cordial or polite to either of them. He was unprepared for the intense flavors that hit his tongue. His eyes went wide for a second before he adjusted to it, clearing his throat.

"That is...strong." He nodded slowly, grinning despite himself as he cleared his throat. "My mum wasn't much for tea. God love her, she tried, but I don't think she ever quite warmed up to it."

A rare snort of amusement escaped Millie. With a ghost of a smirk, she sat up straight and reached for her own mug.

"Aye, that'll put a fire in yer belly." she said before taking a prideful sip. She set her mug back down, she leaned back in her chair, her arms crossing in defensive habit.

That dimpled smirk made its appearance as he chuckled. "Put a full-on forest fire in your belly."

He took another sip, but this time he was prepared. Leaning back in his seat, he looked across the table at her. For a long moment, he tried to find the words that he wanted to say and how to best address what he thought.

"I'd like to apologize." He said, looking her in the eye. "You've allowed us into your home and I shouldn't have raised my voice to you. That was disrespectful and I'm sorry."

Another snort left her, this one far more barbed than amused.

"I'm nae such a delicate flower that a few hard words might offend me." She reached for her mug again and took a few healthy swigs. Her eyes narrowed in scrutiny as she finally took in his appearance in earnest.

"Mm." He nodded slowly. "Well, regardless. You're Alexia's mother. I owe you at least that much."

Danny's face betrayed absolutely nothing. One might think the man must be incredible at the poker table. He just sipped his tea in silence. If she didn't want to talk with him, he wouldn't force her. Two could play that game.

"And I suppose yer mam is perfect." She said with an indignant sniff. Her tough front only made it more acutely clear it was a sore topic for her.

Danny inhaled deeply, letting it out in a long sigh. His eyes remained on the mug in front of him, images of Melody Dubek flashed through his mind. At her piano. Sitting on the front steps. Finally, the last night when she sat beside him, withered and on the edge of death on a ferris wheel. His eyes returned to Millie, then.

"Actually?" He said. "She was. My mother was the most loving, gentle person I've ever known. She was my hero. I had a tough time growing up. I was...different. But with her, I never felt like I didn't belong or I was somehow 'wrong' or broken. Not a thing I wouldn't do to have one more day with her."

Irrationally, a strange resentment began to grow. Surely, the things he was saying were just more jabs at her terrible decisions and glaring mistakes. The acid on her tongue grew until he spoke the last sentence.

"You... lost yer mam, too." She said, all the blustering wind quickly blowing out of her sails. It wasn't a question, but an observation made by someone familiar with that very specific loss.

"Cancer." Danny nodded. "When she got sick, I took on the role of caregiver. I got her to doctor's appointments, cleaned her up when she got really sick, made sure she took her meds on time. It was difficult. I was sixteen when she died. But...I got to spend time with her. Know who she was as a person..."

He stared off for a long moment, clearly working through something in his head. "Y'know...when you're a kid, you think of your parents as this...nebulous sort of, I don't know...Monolith? That's their identity. They're more than simple, regular people like you and me. But I saw her at her physically weakest moments. But that was when I saw how strong she was. How funny. How...human. I was lucky to have that time with her."

Millie listened quietly, absorbing his words as a myriad of thoughts and memories sprung to her own mind. She could almost feel a connection being formed over their common loss. Almost. It was an involuntary reaction, the sneer that formed when he said the word 'human.' With an unmistakable 'hmph' she hid within her mug and downed the last of her tea.

He couldn't help but notice that sneer, but decided to let it go. Instead, he took another sip, keeping that civil tone between them. "What about yours? If you don't mind me asking."

"She died the night our home was attacked." She said a little too calmly. "The night they tried tae kill my daughter."

She glared at her empty mug as though it were the guilty party. Her eyes unfocused, taking her a world away.

"The night they killed my son." She looked up at last, her eyes hollow but for the insurmountable grief.

That poker face of his failed him in that moment. Alexia had never mentioned a brother in all their time together. He, of course knew about those who hunted Alexia, but most of the story he knew picked up after Alexia was with Owen. It was a rare occurrence, but Danny Dubek was speechless.

“She didnae tell ye?” Millie said, just a hint of maliciousness in her tone before taking another sip from her tea. “Hmph.”

Suddenly, it occurred to him why she hadn’t mentioned a word about her brother. Alexia didn’t know.

Danny met her gaze with measured sympathy. "I am so sorry. I can only imagine how painful that was. That’s something no parent ever should ever have to endure. And I won't tell her. She shouldn't hear that from me." He nodded slowly. “But I think you underestimate Alexia. She’s been out of your sight for a very long time. You have no idea what she’s capable of.”

“Ye think ye know her?” Millie’s voice dropped to a deadly whisper as she held Danny’s gaze hostage with her burning blue eyes.

“I know her. Ah know exactly who she is. She is Alexia Milisindiel Longbow, the first of her name. The last of her kind.” Her fist pounded on the table at the word ‘last,’ her diatribe only beginning.

“She is of noble blood on both sides. She is impossible and inevitable. She is Ontari. And she is… She is… MINE!” Suddenly, it was as if the dam broke. A deluge of hot tears seared twin paths down her unwavering face. Perhaps she didn’t notice, or, more likely, she didn’t care. At any rate, it was far too late now. The flood gates were open and she continued through the constant flow from her rapidly reddening eyes.

“She is the reason ah breathe. My every waking thought. She graces my dreams and haunts my nightmares! Ah see it every night. Her wee face full a tears, screamin as she held her twin brother’s lifeless wee body and ah couldnae dae aught.” She began to tremble and her eyes unfocused as she saw the horrifying images of that terrible night with vivid recollection. After what seemed like an eternity, she finally reeled herself back in, her gaze sharpening on Danny’s visage again.

“That’s when I vowed I’d dae anything tae protect her, tae keep her from ending up like her brother. And if that meant protecting her even from me, from her da, from herself, then so be it.”

Ero’s words echoed in Danny’s mind. He did his level best to keep his voice steady and measured without backing down from the woman across the table.

"Look, I get it. I understand your fears. However...The thing is, I know what the stakes were. I've *seen* what hunts her. I've seen what they do. I felt it take me, control me. It damn near killed me. If not for your daughter, it might have. You had good reason to be afraid. But the cost of that fear was too high. Not just for you and Erolith, but for her…and for Owen. Do you know how your brother died?"

Deflating again, Millie mulled his words over a long moment. The notion that Alexia might find out her terrible secret was not a reality she thought possible. Unwilling to deal with it in the foreseeable future, she instead pondered his question.

"Ah always thought It would either be that dark magic he was fool enough tae meddle with... or the drink."

Danny's face paled as he slowly shook his head. His voice was quiet and grave when he finally spoke. "They found her. They tortured her. Beat her. Chained her in iron. They carved the wings from her body...and worse. It's a wonder she survived it at all. When I met your daughter, her body was a frail, tiny roadmap of agony."

Millie could hear in his voice just how much anguish he felt, even thinking about it.

"Owen died saving her." Danny said. "For all the horrors he inflicted on that poor girl, he spent his last breath ensuring that you didn't lose her."

Slowly, her icy façade began to melt. With each detail shared, her eyes grew wider and wider still until she began to tremble with unimaginable fear.

"What was his name?" She whispered, more a demand than a question. There was no need to explain. If he knew as much as he seemed to know, he would understand perfectly.

"His name was Dommik." His words absolutely dripped with hatred.

Now it was Millie's turn to pale. Absolutely all manner of color drained from her face and she looked genuinely afraid.

"Was? Make no mistake, boy, he will never stop. Even death cannae slow him down fer long." Her eyes burned with intensity.

From the look on his face, she could tell he knew. "There was another.”

"Another?" Her tawny brows knitted. Something told her Danny wasn't speaking of another zealot or cult leader.

Danny nodded slowly, memories of what he’d done under the control of the Void playing in his mind’s eye.

“Something...worse. Greater, more terrifying. Darkness. The kind of darkness you can't even imagine. It came for her...for all of us. It nearly succeeded. But do you want to know what happened?"

"Tell me everything." Millie said, leaning forward, her eyes intense and, for once devoid of the disdain they’d held since their arrival.

Danny laid it all out for her. Alexia's detachment from her physical body, the Void, how it took over thousands, her ascension and the banishment of an entity born of shadow, fear, and malice. He told her how Alexia's body was nearly entirely renewed. He told Millie how her daughter had found her strength and even the great darkness of the universe could no longer stand against her. If Dommik ever returned, it would be his turn to be afraid.

Things were awkward around the Longbow home. Alexia hardly left the 'guest' room after the talk she and Ero had. It was only after nearly a full ten hours, and at Danny's gentle urging, that she finally ventured out, if only to ease the look of concern on his handsome face. When she finally left the bedroom, she was freshly showered and in clean clothes in the hopes that it would bolster the feeling of starting anew as she and Danny joined her parents at the dinner table.

But her attempts were in vain. The dinner itself, while delicious and hearty, was just as awkward and strained as she'd feared. Only now that the food was finished, she had no bite or drink to hide behind. With a small sigh, Alexia began to rise, every intention of clearing the plates. Before she could even push her chair back, Millie all but snatched it from her petite hands along with all the others and quickly deposited them into the sink. Alexia sat back in her seat with a small slump and leaned her head on Danny's shoulder.

Danny sat in his seat, taking Alexia’s hand in his as the uncomfortable silence hung over the table. The tension could be cut with a knife. Despite the talk between Millie and himself, she’d not shown much of an interest in toning things down. Part of him just decided to write it off as just someone having an abrasive personality. Nonetheless, the silence was driving him crazy.

“So…” he cleared his throat, “Erolith tells me you’ve done quite a lot of traveling over the years…”

From the sink, Millie shot a scrutinizing glance at Danny. She eventually responded with an ambiguous enough 'mm' and considered turning right back around to scrub the dishes. Loudly. But there was something about the look in Ero's eyes that gave her pause. Something pleading and heartbreaking. Then, she made the mistake of glancing at Alexia. She looked miserable. Not in a vexed, uncomfortable way, but truly broken. The guilt became overwhelming. With a heavy sigh of her own, she abandoned the dishes for now and reclaimed her seat next to her husband.

"Aye." She finally said after a moment. "We had tae keep moving. For safety." She added curtly at the last minute, her eyes resting on her daughter.

“Understandable.” Danny nodded. “Especially when you came here.”

He knew enough to parse out they’d lived through some of the biggest, most intense events in recent history.

“It was often a matter of necessity.” Ero said. “We couldn’t stay in most places for too long. Wouldn’t do to have folk questioning why the Longbows never aged.”

Alexia curled her fingers with Danny's, her eyes locked on their intertwined grasp. Still, she was listening intently. If she were completely honest with herself, she was dying to know more. She had dozens of questions, not even counting the more painful ones. But she didn't dare speak, even as she felt Millie turn her gaze onto her.

For a long time, Millie stared at her daughter. Fully at war with herself, she went from longing to wrap her in her arms to biting back barking orders to sit up straight and stop moping. Finally, it seemed too much to hold in. Millie fidgeted and it seemed as though she would finally say something. But instead, she stifled a sneer and reached for a fork she had missed before.

The movement was enough to elicit a response out of Alexia. It wasn't large or dramatic, but she flinched as Millie's hands moved. Millie froze and, for a moment it seemed as though she would explode into another tirade. Instead, she frowned and knitted her eyebrows. She wondered, at last, what her daughter had gone through in her life to make her recoil as she did. How many times had she received a hit that made her expect it now?

"Damn ye, Owen." Millie muttered softly under her breath, her heart shattering.

Erolith turned his gentle brown eyed gaze up to his wife. “Millie. Sit. Please.”

He knew she was busying herself to keep from facing the situation staring them all in the face. If they didn’t at least make an attempt at talking, this whole visit would be for nothing.

Millie didn't think about it this time. She sat back down and breathed a deep breath.

"O course I wanted ye." She began, straight to the point, picking up where they left off in their previous conversation. It made Alexia wonder which abilities she shared with which parent. "You were everything I wanted. Truly. A savage daughter of my own tae teach the things me own mam taught me. But everything changed when they started comin' for ye. Those like the man this one here says took ye."

She jutted her chin at Danny but held Alexia's gaze. She began to fidget with the fork she still held. Alexia's left eyebrow began to arch high as she listened. A slight look of confusion briefly clouded her face when she looked over to Danny for confirmation. It was strange to think they spoke without any bloodshed.

Danny quirked a brow at the tone in her voice as Millie referred to him, but decided to let it go. Now was not the moment to feel offended.

As she finished and Alexia shot him a glance, he simply shrugged as if to say “what can I say? I’m a charmer.”

"So I did what I thought was right. I tried tae hide ye and throw them off yer scent. Make them follow us instead." This was different from her usual old beat. This was more vulnerable. "Ah ken it doesnae mean anything now, but I never meant fer you tae suffer. I thought I was doing the right thing, fool that I was."


Before Alexia could think any further on the things her mother said, Millie continued, drawing her attention back.

"I'm... strong willed, ah ken. Sharp tongued, even. I make no apology fer any of it. But... I s'pose it's time to admit I was wrong. I shouldnae have kept us apart all this time."

"N-No, you shouldn't have." Alexia agreed, a little too quickly. It drew the ire from Millie's expression and she had to fight to resist flinching again. But Millie quickly calmed.

"No, and for that I... apologize. Tae both of ye." She added as she glanced over to Ero briefly.

Ero looked over to her with a furrowed brow, surprise behind his eyes as he processed this. In all their long years, he could probably count the amount of times he’d heard those words from her on one hand. Millie was always a proud, stubborn sort, and he knew what he was in for from the get-go. This was far from expected.

It was evident though, from the way his eyes lowered that there were still hurt feelings there. He loved her and forgave her, but it didn’t give back over a century of his life.

Danny cleared his throat again and glanced in Ero’s direction.

“If I may interject?” He started. “Erolith, I spoke to your wife about the things Alexia went through…but I have to ask. How much do you know about what she went through?”

The elven man’s eyes darted between the human and Millie in confusion and concern. “Not-not much, I’m afraid. I can guess some from the scars on her wrists…but nothing specific.”

He turned to his daughter, his voice gentle. “If you’re not feeling up to it, you don’t have to talk about it, meleth nîn.”

"P-Papa, I..." Now it was Alexia's turn for her gaze to shift uncomfortably.

It was one thing for strangers to have ready Danny's book. She could compartmentalize it enough to keep some level of distance from the Alexia on the pages and the Alexia she faced in the mirror every day. But even then, it was difficult opening up and being completely raw and vulnerable to tell her story to Danny, the only person she felt that comfortable with. It was also difficult to keep herself from feeling shame and guilt, as though she were solely responsible for all the terrible things that had happened to her and the ones she loved. Plagued by uncertainty, she glanced at Danny for some kind of reassurance or guidance, but he could only gesture that it was her decision if she wanted to. He could only be there for her in the end. Deep down she knew no one could make that choice for her. She drew a deep breath and let it out in one big puff that rounded her cheeks. But before she could utter another word, Millie stopped her.

"Haud yer wheesht, lass." Millie said in a low but firm whisper that came out harsher than she intended. Confused, Alexia looked at her mother and shook her head.

"Why? He has j-j-just as much right to kn-know as you do."

"Aye, I s'pose he does, but not now. It's too much, Ero, please understand." Her countenance still hard as ever, there was an uncharacteristic softness in her eyes. They were pleading.

"Ye dinnae wanna ken how right I was."

Ero visibly winced at Millie’s choice of words. He knew exactly the reaction they would elicit from his darling daughter. Millie couldn’t have picked a worse way to respond if she tried.

Alexia sat stock still, her breathing slowly becoming more shaky as her eyes grew wide with disbelief. She began to tremble with an unfamiliar feeling. One she didn't recognize at first until she began to feel as though she would burst into flames at any moment. She began to shake with silent, deadly rage. Her tiny frame shook and, for a moment, her fingertips dug into her bicep as she gripped it in self embrace.

"Is that a-all that m-matters to you? Being right? Does n-n-nothing about what you've done w-weigh on your soul? It doesn't m-matter how right or wrong you are, you c-c-c-can't k-k-keep trying to c-c-c-control everything a-and everyone." As her blinding anger grew, she began to lose the control she had since gained on her terrible stutter. But she didn't care. It was all pouring out of her a little too easily now. "You th-think you kn-know e-everything but you know n-nothing!" At the last word, Alexia slammed her own tiny fists on the table, surprising even herself.

"Now, wait jest a minute, that isnae what I meant…" Millie began, her tone stern but not unkind. Almost... motherly. But Alexia cut her off.

"N-No. It's t-t-time for y-you to listen... it's t-time for you to s-s-see!" At that, Alexia quickly stood and lifted her hand. To anyone who didn't truly know her, it looked as though she would strike Millie. Instead, she placed her thumb on the spot between her mother's eyebrows, resting her palm on the side of her face.

To say she was stunned would have been an understatement. Millie could hardly register Alexia standing up before she was already seeing fuzzy, but rapidly clearing images in her head. Images of loneliness and sorrow, fear and pain, and eventually, torture and despair at the hands of Dommik. Her eyes clouded over, as did Alexia's, as she watched her daughter dragged to the brink of death multiple times by the horrifying madman and again by Danny’s hands controlled by the void. Tears streamed silently, relentlessly down Millie's face as she struggled to breathe as though she had the wind kicked out of her.

Alexia wept as well. The terrible memories still haunted her at night. The terrible dreams and night terrors that plagued her had mostly subsided in large part because of Danny's unwavering support and love, but they were never really gone. Seeing them again now, her breathing grew ragged and the intensity of their connection made the single bare lightbulb above them flicker and brighten with an ominous hum. An errant wind blew through the closed and shuttered house, disturbing curtains and rattling pictures on the wall.

As images of torn flesh, endless beatings, and inescapable trauma filled Millie’s mind, Danny’s instinct to try and stop Alexia was set aside. He knew exactly what Alexia was showing her. Every ounce of agony she’d endured and fought to overcome was laid bare for her mother to behold. Finally, when it all seemed too much for either woman to deal with, he managed to get a grip on Alexia’s shoulder, wrapping her in his arms just as she released Millie from the union of their minds. He could feel the power vibrating within the diminutive fae’s body, fueled by pure anger and a deep and abiding pain.

Millie stepped in the kitchen, beads of sweat on her forehead, smeared tears drying on her face. With wide, terror filled eyes, she felt around for something. After a moment, she began pouring herself a very large glass of whiskey, aged at least a hundred years, her hands shaking so terribly it splattered little droplets onto the counter around the glass. In one swift movement, she downed the entire contents before shakily setting the glass back down in a brief rattle as her hands trembled. Although the lightbulb withstood and finally steadied, some of the curtains still fluttered gently.

Ero watched on in confusion and, if he was honest, a healthy amount of worry. Silence settled over the table before Millie suddenly and almost explosively stood and bolted for the kitchen. Slowly, he rose and moved after his wife. Ero approached her cautiously from behind, reaching out gently as if approaching a scared, panicked animal.

“Millie?”

As Ero reached for her, she startled and whirled about, her face briefly twisting into a terrible, fanged hiss before quickly retracting. She blinked several times as her vision finally cleared and she saw him. The one constant in her life.

Instinctively, Millie waved Ero off, a feeble scoff parting her lips, but she did, in fact, take his hand, her gratitude immeasurable. Surely he could feel it. She turned to make her sheepish way back to the table, desperately trying not to make it obvious that she could not look Alexia in the eyes.

"I'm fine. A've a skelpin sair heid, is all." She said, unable to shake the tightness in her voice.

Meanwhile, as Alexia glared at her mother, her chest still heaving, she could feel her caustic rage dissipate the longer Danny held her. But the anger, the hurt and betrayal, remained like a blemish on her soul. Still, despite all of it, her instinct to rid her mother of her searing headache was powerful and almost enough to soften her expression.

Ero placed his hands, as tenderly as he possibly could, upon her arms. Those impossibly warm and kind eyes looking past the strong facade she was forcing, and deep into her very soul.

“Millie.” He whispered.

Her progress halted with the simple utterance of her name, Danny truly understood just how much this man loved her. He would not allow her to return until he had unequivocally offered her some measure of comfort. She couldn’t lie to him. She couldn’t just dismiss him to play the stoic, strong one. He looked past the fierce warrior at the surface and to the woman he’d shared his life with for well-over two centuries.

She would have been angry with him for acting as though he knew her so well, but there was no denying it. And when she turned to him, she knew only he would understand and keep her secret safe. Her secret that she was just a scared, fragile soul behind that thickly calloused exterior. Safe within his gaze, her lower lip trembled for a half second and a final, tiny tear snuck its way down her cheek. She gave them both that moment. Despite its brevity, it was more than enough to steady her. Eternally grateful, she gave an almost imperceptible nod. She loved him, too, and she would be alright... eventually.

He had no way of knowing just what Alexia had shown Millie. He only knew that it must have been truly horrific. Ero offered her the faintest of smiles, and knowing her as well as he did, he reached up, wiping away her tears with a delicate brush of his thumb. That tiny nod returned, he joined her, accompanying his wife back to the table. Danny met the man’s gaze, a silent conversation exchanged in looks and the tiniest of nods.

It was tragic, really. Alexia, the eternal and powerful empath that she was, was blinded to it all. Her overwhelming anger and hurt clouded her perception and she saw none of it. No tender moment, no meaningful gazes. She only saw the person who betrayed her time and time again and the man who inexplicably stayed with her. She began to shudder within Danny's arms as she held back sobs.

"Th-That's it, then? I sh-sh-show you the w-worst moments of my l-life, and n-nothing changes."

"No, child. Everything has changed." Millie began, surprisingly softly. "I... shouldnae have lied. Shouldnae have left ye. I didnae ken what yer uncle would turn intae, but that's nae an excuse and I'm... I'm sorry. I'm sorry and a loue ye. More than ye could ever ken."

There weren’t many moments of vulnerability Danny had seen from Millie, but something deep down could feel the sincerity in her voice. Despite his personal feelings about her and the choices she made, he had to respect the effort. Whether Alexia was willing to accept was not up to him.

It certainly was not the response Alexia had expected. This feeling of righteous anger was intoxicating and she didn't want to let it go just yet, but her mother's words threatened to blow all the wind from her sails. She shook her head, slowly at first, but it quickly became almost frantic.

"It's n-not fair. Y-You can't just ap-p-pologize and then e-everything is a-alright. My wh-whole life... my... whole... L-LIFE! I... I-I..." And suddenly, she burst into tears and shook within Danny's arms. Distraught and overwhelmed, she could no longer form coherent words. The poor, tortured lightbulb began to flicker and intensify again.

It broke Erolith’s heart to see both of those dearest to him in such agony. He wanted nothing more than to have a happy home for Alexia to call her own, a family that she felt she could turn to. But the mere idea seemed impossible at this point. It seemed things would only get worse before they got better. He reached over and took Millie’s hand.

“Listen.” He sighed. “It’s been a difficult day. Perhaps it would be wise to turn in for the evening? Consider everything we’ve…dealt with.”

Danny nodded. “I agree.”

He turned his eyes down to Alexia, gently touching her cheek. “Come on, love. Let’s get a little rest.”

That one touch was all it took for Alexia to melt completely into Danny's embrace. With a deep, shuddering sigh, she buried her face into his chest and wrapped her arms tight around his torso. Slowly, the curtains finally settled and the lightbulb stopped rattling in its socket and steadied. Danny held her tight, offering a terse smile to the parents before ushering her off to their room.

Ero sat with Millie until they’d gone and the door clicked shut. Glancing down at his wife, he spoke softly.

“Are you alright?”

"Mm." She murmured noncommittally as she leaned into him ever so slightly. After a moment, she quirked a brow as she stared at the small hallway through which they had disappeared.

"Seems ah was right all those years ago." She said a bit cryptically.

Something within him tensed as she uttered the last sentence. When would she learn? He knew Millie was a stubborn woman, but was now the time?

“Were you?” He sighed.

"Aye." She replied as she glanced at the pictures that now hung crooked on the wall from Alexia's seemingly telepathic upheaval.

"Ye said she'd grow out of it," she nodded in their direction. "but it's still going strong."

It took a moment before he realized what she was talking about. Even as an infant, their daughter had a unique effect on the world around her, especially the ever-evolving world of technology. Millie, naturally, could do naught but fret over it. Erolith, on the other hand, always held out hope that it was something she would gain control over as she aged. However, despite his optimistic hopes, it seemed this was another thing she had managed to hold onto from childhood. It would have been easy to give into the abiding sense of dread and guilt, considering the reasons why. But, Ero felt that now was not a moment for more shame. The love of his life was hurting, and, as ever, he could only be the man he was. Finally, a small laugh escaped him.

“Well. She is your daughter.” He sighed, a playful smile gracing his gentle features. “It figures she’s every bit as stubborn.”

She flashed him an indignant look before rolling her eyes and shaking her head. A small huff left her lips as she breathed a mirthful scoff. Despite the blistering headache on top of the tense evening they'd had, she managed a small smirk.

"Arse." She muttered as she rested her head on his shoulder.

Alexia couldn't shake the feeling of déjà vu. For the second night in a row, Danny ushered her into what should have been her childhood bedroom after an explosive encounter with her mother. She wanted to scream and cry and tear the very shelves off the walls. But as she stepped away from him in the brief moment he released her to close the door, all of the turmoil that plagued and fueled her suddenly winked out of existence.

In less than five steps from the door to the edge of the bed, her shoulders slumped and her expression fell into one of defeat. She sank down to sit on the edge of the bed, wrapping her thin arms around herself, and stared vacantly at the shabby but clean area rug on the floor.

Danny stayed at the door, sliding it shut with a click. He stood there a moment as a sigh released what tension he'd been holding all night. Slowly, he turned to her, flashing a little smile.

"Well...that went better than last time." He offered.

"Did it?" She asked softly, exhaustion evident in her tiny voice.

It wasn't just the expenditure of large amounts of energy it took to project images of the worst times in her life into her mother's mind that had taken its toll. After a long moment, she sighed and slowly shook her head.

"I'm s-sorry." she whispered.

He swiftly moved over to the bed, sitting at her side before wrapping an arm around her. "Love, you have nothing to apologize for. You've done absolutely nothing wrong. All of this mess is not your doing. You understand that, right?"

"I d-don't know that I d-do." She admitted, trying her best to hide the little tremble in her voice. She was beginning to question everything.

She rested her head against him, snuggling deep into his side as her eyes slid closed for a moment. She held them shut as she gathered the courage to speak again.

"D-Danny?" She began, already afraid of the answer before she even asked the question.

His brows knit together in concern. How she could think that any of this could possibly be her fault was baffling to him. Frankly, it hurt him to hear her even suggest it. At her utterance of his name, he glanced down at her, listening.

Her eyes still tightly shut, almost wincing in advance, she felt him shift to look at her. Too late to turn back now, she drew another deep breath and tried to find the words to start.

"W-Would… you... still l-love me if n-nothing had changed? I-I mean, if I were still that sh-sh-shy weakling you ran into a-at the inn? No wings, n-no powers, just... I-I don’t know… I know n-not much has changed b-but... I s-s-suppose I just can't figure out wh-what you ever saw in me in the f-f-first place." By the time she finished speaking, her eyes had slowly slid open, still trained on the rug.

His head snapped suddenly to her as if she'd pricked him with a needle. For a long moment, he just stared at the absolute goddess at his side. Shifting his weight slightly, he reached into his pocket, fishing out his phone.

"Let me show you something." He said, pulling up his text messages. "I meant to show you this sooner, but just never found the moment..."

It seemed he found what he was looking for as he turned the screen to her. Upon it, she found a picture sent from Gerry, with the text "Look who I found." above it. In the photo were Gerry and a woman who looked VERY much like a grown-up Nasya, very clearly intoxicated and smiley. But in the background of the picture, sitting upon the couch in front of the fire, was a tiny, frightened looking girl with a wild mane of hair. Her brown eyes were wide and looking directly at the camera as if caught unaware. With his fingers, he zoomed in on her face.

"Do you know what I see when I look at the woman in this picture?"

Her eyes slowly, reluctantly shifted to the device in his hand. She knew it as a means of conveying messages and transmitting voices. To some extent, she even understood how it connected him to an enormous network of people and information. So when she glanced at the screen he held up, she was, to say the very least, shocked to see her own face expanding in front of her.

Dark pretty brows knitted in deep confusion. She stared at her own face, her eyes almost wild and intense with fear. It was like looking at a ghost. Slowly, she looked up to meet Danny's gaze, a confounded look still etched deep into her pretty face. She gave a small shake of her head.

"I see what I've always seen." He said quietly. "Someone brave. Someone strong. I see someone who faced horrors that would destroy anyone else and leave them a recluse, withering away alone. The woman in this picture persevered. Fought. And she never let anyone or anything define or conquer her. I see a woman with so much warmth and kindness to offer, out in the world in defiance of all the darkness and pain life had visited upon her. I don't know who this 'weakling' you're talking about is. I never met her. I met Alexia Longbow. The woman who gave my life purpose. Who lit up my world like nobody before. The woman who faced down gods and demons and brought them to their knees. The goddess who pulled me from an inescapable darkness. I see a fucking warrior. "

He glanced back down at that picture, a look of absolute admiration in his eyes. "It's incredible to me that you don't see it."

Once again, those brilliant green eyes turned back to her. "Alexia. You are my hero."

Hot tears quickly and relentlessly began to spill down her soft cheeks. With every loving word he spoke, her vision blurred further with tears. When he finally looked back at her, she began to turn away, dashing at her eyes with the heel of her palm. Overwhelmed with emotion, she drew a shuddering breath, unable to look at him for a long time.

"How do you d-do that?" She whispered to the small desk in the corner of the room.

"How do you m-make me feel like... like..." again, she struggled to find the right words, simply shaking her head as the words failed her.

"Like the woman you are?" He finished for her. "Because it's the truth. Even if your mother doesn't see it, even if the rest of the world doesn't...even if you don't...I do."

He reached out and took her hand, placing his lips upon her fingers for a quick peck. "I am lucky to have you, and so is your mother, especially after all she's done. Don't you dare let her point a finger in your face and make you feel as if any of this is your fault. You are a wonder. The only thing you've done is thrive, despite her."

As soon as his lips left her skin, she reached for him, her petite hand taking his scruffy cheek. Her tears poured mercilessly down her lightly freckled face. Her lip trembled even after she took a deep, steadying breath.

"I d-don't... feel like I d-deserve you. But I kn-know better than to argue." She said through a teary little laugh before he could respond.

A serious expression returned to her face. After a few sniffles, she looked deep into his emerald green eyes and spoke again.

"Th-Thank you, my love. You're a-always there for me and I d-don't know where I would be w-without you."

His fingers ran through her hair, a thumb grazing her eyebrow gently. "I don't know where I'd be either. All I know is that, when I'm with you, I am right where I need to be."

A teary smile spread on her face. With a deep sigh, she nuzzled deep into the crook of his neck, her palm still gently cupping his face, and closed her eyes. She might have marveled at how he always managed to make a seemingly hopeless situation better, but a small but powerful yawn overtook her.

That warm, loving, impossibly dimpled smile spread across his face as he crooked his head to the side. "C'mon, love. What say we grab a few winks...start fresh in the morning, yeah?"

She could only murmur a soft 'mmhmm' as the day's toll finally wiped her out. Nothing sounded better than falling asleep in the arms of the love of her life. Everything else could wait until tomorrow.

It was almost two-thirty in the morning when Danny’s eyes fluttered open. What it was that had disturbed his slumber, he couldn’t rightly say, but he sat up, his legs dangling over the bedside. Alexia remained at his side, peacefully snoozing away in silence.

Not wishing to disturb her, he stealthily slipped out of bed and into the hall. As he moved down the dimly lit path, he took a moment to study the pictures and decor adorning the walls. Since their arrival, it had been a cycle of arguments and comforting Alexia with brief, tense moments of peace. He’d not yet taken a second to appreciate the wealth of history within the humble abode. As his keen, green eyes swept from picture to picture, he realized just how many important moments in history they had been able to witness. Ken Greene would likely have killed to just sit and grill them for a few hours on all of it. Danny had to admit, the journalist and historian in him greatly desired to do the same. Maybe one day he would.

As he passed into the sitting room, he was hit by the unmistakable scent of pipe weed filtering in from the front porch. For a brief second, he tried to imagine Millie puffing away like an angry Sherlock Holmes. Try as he might, he just couldn’t picture it. No, there was only one person it could be.

Erolith sat in his rocking chair, relaxing in the cool night air beneath a vast expanse of starry sky. The distinguished elf exhaled a small plume of smoke, his silent vigil suddenly interrupted by the creak of the front door. His calm, brown-eyed gaze turned to the young human, a welcoming smile forming.

“Danny.” He greeted him with quiet cheer. “You’re up late.”

“Yeah, must have had a dream.” Danny said, “I hope I’m not intruding.”

“Not at all.” The elf gestured to the chair beside him. “Please. Sit.”

Danny settled into the rocking chair, leaning back and releasing a satisfied exhale. Erolith sat in silence, eyes on the expanse of green field sprawling out into the distance to touch the road ahead. Danny glanced over, noting the subtle smile that crossed his lips.

“You know,” Ero said, “I sat on this porch so many nights. Looking out to that road and hoping that, one day, I’d see…someone. I didn’t know who, but there was always this lingering desire that I couldn’t quite place. Just some…figure with a face I couldn’t quite make out, as if I was seeing them from the corner of my periphery. The second I saw the two of you, I just knew. That faceless someone I’d seen in my dreams had finally come.”

Danny felt for the man. He couldn’t imagine the confusion and heartache he must have felt, all the while unable to even understand why he felt it. And to finally begin to piece it all together, just to endure all they had in the past few days was even more of a tragedy. It wasn’t fair. He deserved better.

“I’m sorry it had to be under these circumstances.” Danny offered.

Erolith smiled through the touch of sadness that came into his eyes. “Life rarely affords us perfection. All things considered, though, I got my daughter back. And she’s strong and she’s healthy…”

Ero turned to him, his eyes so vividly reminding Danny of Alexia’s. There was a look of deep appreciation behind the smile on the elf’s face. “And she’s happy.”

“I hope she is.” Danny said quietly, just a hint of humble uncertainty in his voice.

Ero chuckled and shook his head. “Do you enjoy that?”

“What?”

“The…humble, self-deprecating act.” Erolith said with a grin. “Pretending like you don’t know the effect you have on her. Is that fun?”

Danny was taken aback, unable to respond.

“I see the look in her eyes when she sees you.” Erolith said. “You light her up. Now, don’t misunderstand me, my daughter is strong on her own, but with you? Daniel, you give her purpose. Because of you, she knows her value. Because you wandered into that girl’s life, she knows that she is loved and she is wanted and she is special. Never take that for granted…and never underestimate how much it means to her.”

Danny considered his words for a long moment. Of course he knew how much she loved him. He was so proud to see her grow in the time they had together. It was just not in his nature to take any sort of credit for it. He’d said it before and he meant it. Alexia was a goddess in his eyes. A superhero made flesh. He was just lucky enough to enter her orbit and be considered her’s.

“I just want to do right by her.” Danny said, finally. “She is honestly one of the most selfless, kind, and thoughtful people I’ve ever met. I haven’t always made the best of choices in my life. I don’t want to just make her smile, I want to be worthy of her.”

Ero’s brow furrowed as he listened. “Do you want my advice, Danny?”

The young man nodded. He’d like nothing more.

“Give yourself some credit.” Erolith said. “Cut yourself some slack, and allow yourself to just enjoy the fact that someone loves you as much as she does. You don’t need to question why or if it’s deserved. That’s her job. And, if I may say so, if Alexia had even a shred of her mother in her, she will let you know if you ever fall short.”

Danny couldn’t help but laugh, the smile on his dimpled face remaining long after. In his entire life, Danny had never once considered what it would be like to have a father-in-law. Marriage was always just some distant concept that he never took the time to fully contemplate. However, if he was to have a father-in-law, Ero was perfection.

“I’ll try.” He nodded to the elf, receiving a pat on his shoulder in response.

“Good lad.”

The tension seemed to have completely left the journalist’s mind and he was finally relaxed.

“We can’t stay any longer.” He finally said, offering an apologetic look to Erolith.

Ero puffed on his pipe, blowing a small plume of smoke. “I know.”

“I wish we could, but…we have things to attend to back in Rhy’Din and…well, I don’t think Alexia can take much more of this.”

Erolith understood, of course. The entire visit had been fraught with contention. There was progress, yes, but it was clearly weighing on all involved.

“No. No, I suppose not.” He whispered. “As much as I’d love to keep you both here all year, I think it would be best.”

“I wish it could have been better.” Danny said. “I wish she could come home and been able to embrace you both. Start over new.”

Erolith nodded, thinking back to the beginning of their conversation, turning to his new, young friend with a charming little smirk. “Life rarely-”

“-affords us perfection. No. No, it doesn’t.” Danny shook his head with a grin, but it soon fell. “But she still deserves it. You both do.”

Ero inhaled deeply before letting it out in a long sigh. “There will be other times. Now that I know where she is…who she is…believe me, there’s nothing in the universe that could stop me from coming to visit. Even if I must do it alone. This is only the beginning.”

The elven man had a way that just set Danny at ease. It must be a quality that ran in the genes, because Alexia had the same gift. He could only smile at him and admire the optimism in his words.

“You’re a good man, Ero.” Danny said.

“So are you, Danny.”

The pair would sit out front for another hour, chatting and laughing until the looming specter of sleep forced them to retire. In the morning they would be leaving. Perhaps not under the most ideal of circumstances, but they would certainly not be leaving empty-handed. After so many long years without him, Alexia was leaving, knowing that she had a father who loved her…and nothing could part them again.

Sleep came easily for the last Ontari. But it did not stay long. After scarcely a few hours of deep, dreamless sleep, Alexia’s eyes simply opened and refused to shut again. In the feeble hope that she could fall back asleep, she stayed motionless within Danny’s arms, and, although his embrace brought her much comfort as it usually did, sleep still did not return. It wasn’t long before her mind began to wander and she replayed the events of the last 36 hours again and again. When the misty grey light of the predawn hours began to creep through the window, she drew in a long, deep breath, and released it slowly. It felt heavy in her chest and she could feel a sob begin to creep up and threaten to take her over. She was loath to cry again. She had done nothing but cry since they had arrived. Tired and heartsick, she slipped quietly from Danny’s arms and quickly dressed. Certain he would wake from the squeaky door she painstakingly slipped through, she kept an eye on it as she shuffled step by careful step toward the kitchen. When she finally did turn away, she was startled by the sight of her mother staring at her.

“Oh!” The tiny gasp tore from her lips and her dark brown eyes went saucer wide.

“Easy, lass.” Millie said, her stony voice even, yet not without some warmth. Her left eyebrow arched high as she took in her daughter’s appearance.

“Ye look knackered.”

“D-Didn’t sleep well.” Alexia’s said in her usual soft airy voice, in stark contrast to Millie’s. She earned herself no more than a grunt of acknowledgement.

A long, awkward moment or two passed before she resolved to make a hasty exit without the decency of even a flimsy excuse. She was nearly to the front door, eager to breathe fresh air and feel the cool, damp grass under feet, when her mother’s voice halted her.

“Haud a wee, lass.” Millie’s voice was firm but had lost its jagged edge.

Alexia halted mid step, her fingertips not quite brushing the doorknob. So close. She let her arm fall loosely to her side and drew a deep breath before turning around.

“Y-Yes?” She tried her best not to sound mistrustful or impatient, but she was still weary, after all.

What she saw upon turning surprised her out of that weariness, if only for a while. Millie stood at the kitchen table, two large plates in her hand. Each one laden with hot, delicious smelling food. She placed them both on the table before wiping her hands on her apron. She silently beseeched her daughter to join her with a small jut of her chin to the empty chair. Alexia wanted nothing more than to be able to turn her nose up and walk away, walk right out the door and not stop until the little cottage was just a small dot on the horizon. Her empty stomach, however, reminded her that not only had it been several hours since her last meal, but she had spent the majority of those hours wide awake. Outnumbered by her own basic needs, she sighed softly and approached the table, the aroma of baked beans, sausages, bacon, fried mushrooms and tomatoes, fried eggs, and toast nearly causing her to drool.

“Tuck in, lass.” Millie said as she sat down and poured them each a piping hot cup of tea.

She watched her daughter quietly pull the chair out and perch lightly on the edge as if ready to flee at any moment. A small part of her broke, a part she’d long since tried to lock away and suppress. Her vivid blue eyes lingered on Alexia’s face a moment or two longer than she intended. Suddenly, feeling eyes upon her, Alexia looked up at Millie, who quickly turned to her own plate, lifting a fork. She stared at her mother for a moment, her face impassive, before letting out another small, soft sigh and turning her attention to the veritable feast in front of her.

“Yer so like yer father. Too tender-hearted for the cruelties of the real world.” The warmth and affection in Millie’s voice was enough to halt Alexia’s fork on its way up to her lips, a big, fluffy piece of egg hanging in the balance.

“Aye, ye heard right. Yer both always looking for the good in people. Someone’s got tae look oot fer the bad. But…” Millie glanced up awkwardly, looking her daughter directly in the eye. “That doesnae mean ye should haud yer lookin. It’s a gift I wish ah had sometimes.”

Alexia frowned down at her plate and finally brought her fork to her lips to nibble at the fried egg. Millie caught herself watching her again. A deep frown formed as she watched just how timidly her daughter ate. She forced her gaze to her own plate before lightly clearing her throat.

“Dinnae be shy. There’s plenty more where that came from and, if I’m honest, it’s always been something I like tae do. ‘Specially for the ones ah… love.”

Alexia stared at her mother for a long time.

“Dinnae look at me like that. Just because we got off tae a bad start doesnae mean ah dinnae loue ye.” Millie grumbled without looking up.

So accustomed to bottling in so many complex emotions, it was difficult to suddenly lay them all out in the open. It left her feeling vulnerable and she didn’t like it. But she felt she owed her daughter at least that much. The awkward silence grew quickly and the two defaulted into eating in silence and sneaking glances at each other. Alexia couldn’t help but notice how Millie sat at the edge of her seat as well, back straight, ready to leap into action should the need arise. And Millie watched her daughter as she carefully cut her food into tiny pieces, far smaller than should have been necessary, and ate them as delicately and as slowly as possible, savoring it as though she was never sure if another meal would ever come. Finally, after they both had finished most of their meal, Millie suddenly put her fork down.

“Dinnae tell yer Da.” She said without looking up.

“Wh-What?” Alexia held her fork aloft, a miniscule piece of fluffy egg carefully balanced on it.

“He cannae handle it.” Millie continued. “He thinks he can, but he isnae strong enough.”

“He d-deserves to know just as much as y-you. Possibly m-more.” Alexia shot back reflexively. In the short time they had been reunited, she began to feel protective over him.

“Easy, lass. Ah’m no asking ye tae keep him in the dark. All I ask… beg… is that you dinnae show him. Nae like ye did me. Please, child. He cannae take it. It would break him tae see you like that… It broke me.” She finished quietly, her eyes lowering.

Shame, guilt, a deep sadness over what her daughter had to experience, bringing hot stinging tears to her eyes that didn’t fall through sheer stubborn will. Alexia mulled it over for a long moment, her lips pressing into a thin line. Finally, she set her fork down as well, letting the egg fall back onto the nearly empty plate. She leaned back, her arms crossing just below her bust.


“I w-won’t lie to him.” She relented. “If he asks, I will a-answer. But… I w-won’t make him s-s-see my memories.”

It was all Millie could hope for. Despite the large, glaring mistakes she’d made, how she felt about protecting her loved ones rang true. She failed at protecting her children. The least she could do now was try to begin making amends by protecting their father. She nodded the gratitude that the lump in her throat wouldn’t allow her to speak and reached for her tea. After a few sips, it slowly subsided enough to tackle the next thing on her list.

“That… boy,” she began, disdain already clear in her voice. “He’s a human?”

She practically spat the word despite her best effort to keep a civil tone. She could feel Alexia’s hackles rise and she instantly regretted it. It was too late to take it back now. Alexia lifted her eyes and narrowed that intense, inescapable gaze.

“That ‘boy’ is the only reason I have any confidence whatsoever.” Alexia’s voice hardened uncharacteristically. “He gives me strength, he gives me joy. Danny’s given me back so much that was taken from me. He even gave me back my wings.”

Millie winced as visions of what Alexia had shown her flooded through her consciousness. She again saw and felt everything as if she were there. The anguished screams, the crunching of bones, a jagged blade dragging through her flesh. She then saw Alexia, much more recently, on the verge of death when the wings erupted majestically from within her back in a brilliant burst of light. What she felt emanating from her daughter in that moment wasn’t triumph or rage. It was hope.

Mille forced her way out of Alexia’s memory, swallowing hard as she gazed at her daughter. Alexia continued, undaunted.

“D-Danny is more than ‘some human.’” Alexia sat up straight in her chair, her arms still crossed. Her mother had struck a nerve and she wasn’t about to let this one slide.

“He’s kind and compassionate. He’s a-always been there for me through wonderful times and times of d-d-despair. He’s s-smart and honest and he makes me laugh and he m-m-makes me feel safe. And he l-loves me. And I am m-madly in love with him. The fact that he’s human d-doesn’t matter.” Surprising even herself, Alexia blew out a small puff of air before slowly leaning back once more, awaiting the repercussions.

But Millie simply listened. She let her daughter say everything she needed to say without interruption. Without huffing or puffing or making a face. And when Alexia was done speaking her piece, she drew a deep breath before speaking again.

“Stay.” She said, more imploring than demanding.

“Wh-What?” Alexia looked up, genuinely confused. Whatever response she had expected from her mother, that certainly was not it.

“Stay,” Millie repeated. “At least another night… please.”

“Wh-Why? To what p-purpose?” Dark, pretty brows knit in bemusement.

“Because yer Da misses ye. Because… because I miss ye. And maybe that boy…” she did her best not to snarl. Idly, she hoped she was somewhat successful. “Insae a complete prat. Smart enough tae pick you, ae? Please, lass. Just one more night.”

“Alright.” Alexia said with an exasperated sigh. “O-One more night. Nothing more.”

Millie so desperately wanted to reach for Alexia’s hand, but she wisely kept still, only nodding her thanks. Not only did she have to navigate their fragile relationship as carefully as possible, but she also was wary of touching her daughter again so soon, lest another painful and vivid memory be unleashed into her mind. For now, she was content that they had at least another twenty-four hours to try and foster some kind of connection.

In truth, not much had changed in that extra day, at least, not in any dramatic way. Instead, despite the lengthy awkward silences and even more awkward small talk, there was a very subtle, but noticeable shift. It came in the slow growing familiarity and fuzzy memories. It grew in the shared routines and common ground, however minor. It wasn’t a spectacular breakthrough, but by the end of the next day, all four could feel it. It was a start.

If there were any grand expectations of a complete one-eighty change between mother and daughter, the following day would do nothing to bolster such hopes. The day began much as Alexia expected. A hearty breakfast before Danny and Erolith took their leave to attend to the innumerable chores necessary to maintain their little slice of the earth while Millie and Alexia were left to each other's company, such as it was. It was a day filled with lengthy awkward silences and forced, stilted conversations.

Yet, even in these tense moments, Alexia couldn't help but notice a subtle, but noticeable shift. It came in the slow growing familiarity and fuzzy memories. It grew in the shared routines and common ground, however minor. It wasn’t a spectacular breakthrough, but by the end of the day, all four could feel it. It was a start. Much of the day, Alexia wondered why her mother had been so insistent on her staying if they weren't going to truly delve into the things they needed to say. But,as the little bursts of awkward conversation persisted, Alexia came to a realization. There was a reason Millie had asked: She didn't want her to leave.

The trip to Ireland had been fraught with tension and familial drama. To say it had not been the ideal reunion would be a massive understatement. Still, Erolith couldn't help but feel a strong sense of joy at the whole thing. His daughter had returned home. He got to see her all grown up, confident, strong and in love. For all the shouting and fighting between Millie and Alexia, this trip had ultimately turned out to be a wonderful thing.

But, as with everything good, it had to come to and end. Once again, he was to be parted from his amazing daughter, never knowing when he'd lay eyes upon her again. He understood why she needed to go, but thinking about it still made something inside begin to hurt.

Ero made his way to her opened door, silently regarding her with warm eyes before gently rapping his knuckles upon the wooden frame.

The sound drew a gasp from her lips and startled her out of her laser focus as she gathered a few remaining belongings into her knapsack. She had been so immersed in her task, she dropped the armful of items she had. A hairbrush, a small leather bound book, a polished wood carved pen, and a jeweled hairpin, seemingly out of place among her more humble and practical belongings. As her things clattered to the floor, she stood blinking sheepishly at her father.

"P-Papa..." She said softly as she knelt to retrieve her things. "I'm s-sorry, I didn't kn-know you were there."

"I'm sorry." He said softly, moving in to help her. "I didn't mean to startle you, A'maelamin..."

Crouching her side, he swept her book and a few smaller things, deft hands sneaking something else into the pile when she wouldn't notice. Those kind, brown eyes turned up to his daughter, a smile on his face.

"I-It's alright" she shook her head and smiled softly, trying not to stare intently at her book when he grabbed it. From the wear on the binding and way the flap had fallen open, it was clear this was a journal.

"Allow me." He said, packing the things into her bag, calling to mind a father about to send his child off to school for the first time. The book he'd snuck into her bag held a purpose he didn't dare discuss just yet. Instead, he didn't let her focus upon it, keeping the conversation going.

"Do you have everything you need?" he asked, "Clothes, snacks...anything you want to take from the house?"

A small chuckle escaped her and she began to shake her head once more, when suddenly she stopped. Her lips pressed together and sealed in the words she'd never say out loud. But her eyes told all as they briefly darted toward a small, ancient picture frame on the shelf.

It was a picture of Ero himself, old and faded, likely not more modern than a daguerreotype, but the image was clear. He sat, smiling, holding up a fiddle that must have been new. The sheer joy and excitement it must have taken to hold it up for so long, to hold that smile for so very long, had appealed to Alexia when she first saw it the day before.

For a long moment, he just stared, remembering every line, every curve. every detail of her beautiful little face. Though sadness crept into his eyes, his smile never faded.

"It isn't fair." He said softly. "I feel I've just gotten you back and now you're leaving again. I wish we had more time."

Her fingers twitched around the jeweled hairpin as she stared up into eyes she had, until recently, only seen in a mirror. Although their reunion wasn't perfect, part of it was exactly what she had hoped for. A loving father who didn't mean to lose her. Who had welcomed her back into his life with open arms, no questions asked.

"W-We will, Papa. I promise." Alexia fought back the sob that threatened to overcome her. "Now that... N-Now that we... Now that I kn-know... Nothing can k-k-keep us apart anymore. Y-You can come to R-Rhy'Din, or w-we can... we can c-c-come back. I p-p-promise, this isn't the end."

He knew there would be other times, of course, but it didn’t make it any easier. Despite the ache in his heart, though, as he looked at his child, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride. He reached up, a gentle hand resting upon her cheek.

“I’m so proud of you, Alexia.” He said quietly. “And, no matter what, you will always have a home here.”

"Th-Thank you, Papa." Alexia nodded as she blinked back tears and hid behind a wobbly smile. "I'll always have a p-place for you."

Ero smiled brightly, battling the tears that threatened to slide down his cheeks. Taking her bag, he stood with her for a moment, the silence between them drenched in all of the words unspoken over the years lost.

"Le melin, ionnathen." He said, his voice cracking slightly. The words, spoken in his native Sindarin, she would recognize as "I love you, my treasure.”

His loving words finally broke the dam and hot tears spilled onto her cheeks. With a tiny gasp, she pulled him into a fierce embrace, her thin arms circling his torso.

"I l-love you, too, Papa." She whispered.

Ero’s eyes clamped shut as his arms wrapped around her, clutching his beloved girl to his chest. There would be another goodbye outside, but this moment was for them and them alone. Pressing a kiss to her forehead, he held on as long as he could. He’d never have let go if he had his way.

But it was time. Releasing her, he held Alexia at arm’s length. “Well. That handsome young fellow’s waiting for you. Let’s not keep him waiting.”

With a tiny sniff and a small, teary chuckle, she reluctantly released her father and nodded. She reached for her knapsack in his hand, pausing briefly.

"I'm g-glad you two get along." she said, sounding genuinely relieved and happy.

“He’s a wonderful young man.” Erolith said. “I’m glad you found someone who truly treasures you the way you deserve.”

He slid the strap into her hands, keeping her there for a moment before a playfully stern expression took over his kind features. “But, if he ever stops, you tell me and I’ll come and beat him up.”

A surprised, but genuine giggle bubbled up. She laughed partially out of the absurdity, and partially out of nervousness, because she absolutely could envision Ero bursting into a room and wreaking havoc.

"Papa!" She mock chided as she moved toward the door.

Outside, Danny was loading the larger of their bags into the boot of their car, Millie in tow in a continuous stream of concerned lecturing. As nice as it had been meeting Erolith, and attempting to mend fences with Millie, he was 100% ready to go home.

"... and dinnae forget about that sharp turn. Even bone dry it's tricky. That's if ye dinnae miss it entirely. Mind the roads, dinnae drive too fast, and see tae it she fastens herself in." Millie charged on as she handed Danny a picnic basket that didn't quite close. As he reached for it, instead of releasing her hold on it, she pulled it toward her and leaned in, her gaze cutting.

He listened patiently, repeatedly acknowledging her orders. He had almost been ready to take the basket when she pulled it close, his perplexed green eyes turning toward her.

Locked in an intense stare, she narrowed her eyes as if searching for something within his.

"And dinnae think ahve forgotten about that wee book of yers. Ye might've changed her name, but et isnae that hard tae figure out who 'Arella' is." She nearly snarled at the name change. "Ye did her no favors exposing her like that. There are others just like Dommik, and worse and now it falls tae you tae protect her."

Slowly but surely, her eyes went from damning to pleading. Her panic as a mother who misguidedly sacrificed everything, for better or worse, to keep her daughter safe, filled her eyes with tears that defied gravity through sheer will power.

"Please..." she followed up, her voice a hoarse whisper.

Danny moved in closer, spotting the father-daughter duo making their way through the house. They wouldn’t have much more time. He lowered his voice so that only Millie could hear. Those earnest green eyes stared right into Millie’s with a confidence that was unquestionable.

“Ms. Longbow, as long as there is a breath in my body, nobody will ever harm your daughter.” He said. “If I have to die to protect her, I’ll do it gladly. You have my word.”

Her left eyebrow arched high. For what seemed like a long time, she stared, her eyes burning into his, until finally, she relinquished the picnic basket. It was subtle, but she was sure he would catch it. A small nod. One of satisfaction and even a touch of respect, nearly imperceptible. Then, with a small clear of her throat, she wiped her hands on her apron and reached for another, smaller, but equally stuffed basket.

"Is she allergic tae anything? Berries? Nuts? There's plenty 'o both so be vigilant." She said, her voice already back to normal as her world approached.

The microscopic twitch at the corner of his mouth was the closest he came to a satisfied, amused grin as he nodded, assuring her. “Food allergy free, I assure you.”

Ero approached, finally releasing his grip on Alexia’s hand, slipping in beside his wife.

“Everything packed?” He asked.

“All ready to go.” Danny said, offering his hand. Erolith took it firmly, giving a shake. “Mr. Longbow, it’s been a pleasure.”

Ero smiled up at the young man, offering a smile.

“The pleasure was mine. Take care of this one, yes?” He canted his head towards Alexia.

“I will.” Danny assured him. “We’ll have to visit soon.”

“I truly hope you do.”

Taking up her spot next to Danny, Alexia slung her knapsack on one shoulder and then the other. Something felt off as though it didn’t sit quite the same as before, but she chalked it up to the emotionally heavy visit making everything feel off. She drew a small but sharp breath through her nostrils and shook her head as if to clear the thought away. Thin arms rose to reach for Ero for another fierce embrace.

“G-Goodbye, Papa. I hope you’ll visit s-s-soon.” She withdrew from the embrace reluctantly only to smile warmly up at him. She tried to hold that smile steady, but it inevitably faltered.

Erolith nodded, that same loving look in his eyes. “Leave a light on for us.”

She beamed a warm smile at her father. Then, with a much more dutiful tone, she turned to Millie and gave her a curt, slightly awkward little nod.

“Goodbye, Mother. I… hope to s-see you as w-well.” Her voice faltered and she could barely finish her sentence. Millie flinched at how her daughter had addressed her and Alexia’s guilt bloomed rapidly in her chest, making it hard to breathe. After a moment or two of hesitation, she took a step toward her mother, her fingers twitching. She warred with herself, wanting to reach for her but nowhere near ready to. Instead, she locked eyes with her, holding her captive with those intense, inescapable dark brown eyes.

“I d-dreamed of you last night.” She began, her voice soft but clear. “W-W-We were at the old house. I can b-barely remember it now, but I saw it c-c-clear as day. And y-you held me while Papa p-played. You h-held me and danced and s-s-spun around with me. And then I w-wasn't l-l-little anymore. I was like I am n-now and you h-held my h-hands and we were still s-s-spinning. We s-spun and spun and I was afraid you'd l-let go.”

It was Millie’s turn to war internally. She clenched her fists as she tried not to grab Alexia’s hands. She was determined not to ruin this moment. For all she knew, it could very well be the last she’d have with her daughter if she didn’t do this just right.

“B-But you didn't. You held me s-s-so tightly our hands began to a-ache and we laughed and l-laughed. We couldn't b-breathe for laughing. I w-w-want that. I want us to kn-know each other again and laugh a-and laugh. I w-want that. T-Tell me you want that, t-t-too.” Those big brown eyes pleading, aching. Millie’s harsh countenance finally broke. Her deeply knitted tawny eyebrows softened and lifted in surprise, and her lower lip threatened to tremble as she tried to speak.

“I want et. I do, lass, ah swear et.” Her voice was harsh and strained through the rising lump in her throat.

“Th-That's all I need for now.” Through the hurt and uncertainty, a small, hopeful smile shone through for a brief moment. “It will take t-t-time, but I'm w-willing to try if y-you are.”

Danny took Alexia’s hand, exchanging a respectful nod to Millie. He may not have exactly held a ton of warm feelings for the woman, but he felt, at least they understood one another. Turning away from the parents, he led Alexia to the car.

Erolith slipped an arm around Millie’s shoulders, pulling her close. Together, they stood, watching the pair take their places in the car and slowly make their way down the driveway.

Things weren’t perfect. There was still a long road ahead for all of them. But, at least now, there was a chance. And sometimes, that was enough.