"Elizabeth was taken," the merfolk said. "There was nothing I could do about it. I'm sorry."
"There must be another way to help her." I replied.
"I mean, you could go chase her into the underdark," Flaruv suggested.
"They will not fall into the same trap again."
"I cannot believe the indomitable Hydron is choosing to be defeated now of all times." Flaruv commented.
"What do you think I should do?" I demanded, probably a little to sharp.
"Listen to the wolves," Flaruv suggested.
I thought about it for a little. "My brother would like a visit."
"I didn't know you had a dark brother."
"My brother is from Drenvar."
"How is Drenvar in the underdark?"
It wasn't me who made the retort this time. "It isn't, you idiot, it is in Harvest Forest."
"Wow, Ella, I didn't know you could be so rude." Flaruv said. "Wait, where is Hydron?"
I had barely heard Flaruv's response because I had slipped away when Flaruv had turned to the merfolk. I had no armor, so I was practically silent compared to what Flaruv was used to. I traveled North with a little bit of East. I encountered monsters here and there, helping people out every so often.
"Fancy meeting you here, my friend, " I heard Aaron say off to my left.
"Eh, decided it was time to make a visit."
"You want to meet your family?"
"I thought now would be a good time."
"Struggles down there?"
"When are there not?"
"Fair enough."
There was a little bit of an awkward pause, but Aaron filled it in with telling me about my bloodborn family as we began to walk.
"So, Father was wounded beyond healing from the old battle, so its just Mother, me and our little sister, Emily."
"Wounded beyond magic? How?"
"I don't remember exactly, but he lived another ten years, then died about two years after Emily was born."
"Mother wants to see me I'm guessing."
"Emily more than Mother, but yes."
"Ah, wants to meet her older brother does she? Might be disappointed." I joked.
"We'll see about that."
"What about Mother?"
"Mother still cannot get that young child look from her mind. It would do her good to see you again."
"I'm sure."
We walked in silence for a short time, then Aaron announced, "We've arrived."
"It looks like a hill."
"That is only an illusion. Come this way."
He led me around the hill to a entrance of what looked like a mine a few yards away from the hill. He walked in confidently, and we took so many twists and turns, I lost count of even how many times we took a left path.
"How do you navigate this maze?"
"Oh, you know, you see the path once the elders bless you."
"Oh, okay."
We walked in silence other than the clumping of our boots against the stone floor and the echo it made in the tunnels. A twisting feeling I had not had yet entered my gut. It must have come from the nervousness inside me. We arrived at a large door, at least twenty feet in height.
"These doors just get bigger and bigger."
Aaron chuckled beside me as he pushed the door open. "Just wait and see."
"It looks even bigger on the inside!" I looked around in awe. Had I not just come from a tunnel, I would have thought I had entered the elvish village. There seemed to be a dome covering the village, letting light in, but not sight.
"Now for the best part. Meeting your family."
I felt doubt inside me, and coudn't stop the question from coming out. "What if they don't accept me?"
"Come on, Hydron, you are a brave unstoppable warrior, and you're worried about a family reunion?"
"I mean... yeah."
"You know that's just your scared consciousness impeding on your mind. Don't worry about it."
We walked to a small building with rough stone walls. The light coming from inside fought the rough look, and so far was winning. Aaron was about to knock on the door, but I whispered for him to hold on.
"However long you need, my friend."
I took a little bit of time calming my nerve, then gave the okay. He knocked on the door, then opened.
"You're home just..." Mother cut off her sentence when she saw me.
I was immediately caught in an embrace, I was surprised at how strong her hug was.
"Emily!" Aaron called.
Mother released me, then I heard three footfalls on the stairs, then saw a young girl, about ten years old, land with the grace of a cat on the landing at the bottom of the stairs. Tears filled my eyes as I knelt with my arms wide open. Emily ran over, and leapt into my arms. I felt a warmth at my hip, and I glanced, and saw my sword, glowing bright. My sword is a sunblade, so what does this mean?
"Ruhfeese, I'm so glad to see you," Emily whispered.
I looked at Aaron, hoping the question was in my eyes, and apparently it was, because he mouthed "Drenvish". She pulled away, and I felt like I was home. Maybe this is home now, I wondered.
"Well, dinner is nearly ready." Mother said.
We went to the dining room, where I noted a fresh bread scent, but a little different. There seemed to be a almond scent tagging along. In the middle of the room sat a table with three chairs, and one off to the side.
Mother pulled up the chair off to the side. "Come, sit."
We all sat at the table, and mother asked Emily if she could tell what dinner would be.
Emily sniffed the air. "I can tell it is a baked food, but not exactly what. Is it biscuits?"
"Not quite, Aaron, can you help your sister?"
"Why don't we give Hydron a try?" Aaron suggested.
"Hydron, you want to guess?" Mother asked.
"It's almond bread, and if I were to guess, it is either in a loaf or in rolls. I suspect the latter."
Mother stared at me in open awe.
"Good job, Hydron." Aaron cuffed my back.
"Uh, mother?" Emily asked.
Mother broke out of her dazed state, then asked, "How did you know?"
"When we walked in here, I smelled fresh bread, with a slight bit of almond scent, and it made sense that it would either be in a loaf or roll."
"You have a sharper sense than most. I'm trying to get Emily to have akin senses."
"Fresh air does wonders," I suggested.
Mother went to the kitchen, and came back with a loaf of almond bread. We ate, and talked, mostly a questionnaire about my experiences out of the city. I told them about the Northlands, about my sword, about my other family, and many other things.
It was getting late, and I could see Emily's eyes were drooping closed, so I suggested everyone gets to bed.
"Hydron can sleep in my room." Aaron suggested.
"Well, good night." Mother said, and stumbled off to her room.
We walked to Aaron's room in silence. Aaron snapped and the room lit up, a dresser off to one side of the room with a bed beside it. There appeared to be a small collection atop Aaron's dresser.
"You can take the bed." Aaron said, but I had already leaned against the wall. "Or not."
Aaron snapped to turn the light off. I slept, dreamless.
