SWNOVELS Chapter 17: Rest
The three of us travel through the corridors. I smile as each twin holds tightly to my hands, feeling happier with each step I take. I peer down to them seeing their little faces light up brightly as their tails wag behind them. I can’t help but wonder how worried they’ve been about me, despite already telling me they were.
As we’ve been walking, the twins each tell me stories of their time in France, living all this time with their family there. Micha mentions how they arrived in France, feeling disoriented from the journey through their portal. He goes on by saying they cried for days, wanting to come home badly, how they barely ate at first.
Now, the portals they used to escape were put into place for everyone to use. The only one I really know of is the one the gossip uses when they want to travel to Nerazon. However in all honesty, I never really thought of trying to track any of them down. There wasn’t a reason to.
Something I did learn was their family lives roughly a couple hundred miles to the north of where the Court of Mele’vari’o is. If that’s true, then did Arcturus and the others look in on them from time to time? I mean, Regulus would use anything in order to draw me out.
Luna talks about how they strolled through the countryside with their aunts and uncles, trying to keep them occupied while still worrying about me. She talks about how their older siblings found jobs in France, often being away for weeks at a time. So she and Micha were lonely without them. Not once did her smile drop as she looks up to me, because somehow again, the Court must’ve quietly intervened to make sure they were safe. I have a lot of people to thank when I see them.
I smile as I listen, loving each of their near endless stories. They did cop up to causing mischief with their uncle’s herds and flocks, chasing them through the fields. I grin, squeezing their hands.
The lights in the hallways slowly light up, yet remain somewhat dim. I scan around me, feeling like I did when I decided to permanently live here. It feels real, my home, where my heart truly lies. As we pass by the one of the many large windows lining the hallways, I peer out onto the rest of the Estate. It’s a view I will never get tired of.
I smirk to myself, again recalling that day. Then I had Fenris with me and was met by Xiphos along the way to my room. It’s not quite the anniversary of that day, but it's close enough.
It was also Mom who came and got me that day. She and I rode together from my old apartment to here. That made the trip all the more real and final. Yet, I wonder why Mom isn’t the one I’m spending the night with. I really, really want to. I have so many questions and other little things I want to tell her in private. Hell, there’s so much I want to do now that I’m back.
We finally reach my room. I smile softly as I stare at the wooden double doors. I pan around, wondering if Fenris and Athena decided to go out onto the Estate for the evening. I smile, guessing they want their little girl to have some time to without them. I do know that three of us will at some point.
I briefly let go of Luna’s hand to reach up and twist the knob and then push open my door. A rush of cool wind blows past us, thinking they didn’t need to turn the heater on in here since I wasn’t home.
“When we got home,” says Micha, “we wanted to spend the night in your room, Big Sister.”
I smile to him. The twins would often spend the night with me whenever they wanted to be away from their parents. I never really minded, in fact loving it. They’d work on schoolwork or watch TV while I was working on something, be it a model or my own schoolwork from Mom.
“But when we asked,” adds Luna, “Papa said we couldn’t since you weren’t here.” I smile to her. I know they would’ve loved being in here, just wanting to have some connection to me in my absence. I don’t blame them.
I smile to them, “Well, I’m here now.” They grin happily, wagging their tails.
I smile softly, not able to help but compare them to Leto and Nelly. They too used to spend the nights with me, lying curled tightly to me on my bed. I chuckle to myself, I really do have a knack for kids.
We step inside, with me scanning my room. It nearly exactly as I left it all those months ago. A few of my wall scrolls rest hanging up along with numerous pictures on the walls. I pan over to my shelves, seeing the all my models are standing and none are broken. That or they were during the attack and someone repaired them. My bookcases are still filled with all my books and notebooks. I smile, knowing I have a few more to add to them.
I look down to “Study”, seeing that it’s an absolute mess. I sigh, and then peer to “Model”, which is in pristine condition. Makes me think someone’s been using “Study” while I’ve been away.
The pups soon let go of my hands and fling themselves onto my bed. I grin, watching them bounce on it.
I turn and face my sword rack. I sigh softly as I stare at its empty holders, remembering what used to rest there. So much, so much has been lost on this journey, yet their equal has been gained.
I undo my cloak and hang it on a hook next to my bookcases. I step back over to “Study” and place my bag into my chair. I smile, seeing the note from Kerrigan on my desk. I have thought of her over time, quietly thanking her for what she’s done for me. I really want to talk to her again, granted now everyone knows about her. It might get awkward when I see her next.
I gently thumb the ring over my necklace, summoning Astraea, gently placing it onto my sword rack.
“What is that, Big Sister?” asks Micha.
I smile to him, “It’s part of a grand story I’m going to tell everyone in the morning.”
They nod, still watching me. I know they too have tons of questions for me. Oh boy do I have things to tell. I gently tap my lips, thinking of someone very special to me, one who’s lips touched my own before we each took our own paths.
I smile and then sigh, looking to my closet. Even though I’m home, I still have something that must be protected. I turn to the pups, “Now, I want you to close your eyes and cover your ears.”
They look at me confused, their eyes filled with questions at my request. I smile, “Please, you two.” They stare at me for a moment before nodding. I smile, watching as they do so.
I nod, grabbing up my bag and head for my closest. Once inside, I close the door behind me and flip on the light. The heavy smell of coats and other clothing fills my nose. I kneel down and push away some shoes and dresses. I even eye the dress I wore for my first Winter Solstice Festival.
I grin, remembering that night vividly, with all my beloved friends there. I then giggle softly, knowing that a certain elder dragon was also in attendance. Love you, Grandpa.
I stroke my hands along the back wall. The spell on the wall dissolves, revealing the hidden door, and I pull it open. Resting inside is the Ze’creisch, the silver box that Titania spirited away from Regulus’ grasp. Although, I have to wonder if he got it, how was he going to even open it? I mean, it could’ve only be unlocked by someone descended from the house it was meant for, so without me, how?
I shake my head and open it. I pull my bag in front of me and dig into it, finding the Xur’canah. I roll it around in my hands. I smile, knowing how truly tied I am to it as I place it inside the box and close it. I place the Ze’creisch back into the hidden cubbyhole and close the door, recasting the seals and placing more of my tags onto it. The seals are heavy as always, not wanting to leave out anything, even if while at home.
However…I know what has to be done in the coming future. It’s who I am and a part of.
Once the final seals are in place, I turn and exit the closet.
I close the door behind me, finding both pups still on my bed with their ears covered and eyes closed. I grin, crawling onto the bed, kicking off my shoes, transforming into a kitsune and wrap my tails around them, pulling them close to me.
They giggle, snuggling into me. I nuzzle their heads, stroking their fur. I love these two so much, as if they really are my little brother and sister. They cling tightly to my shirt as they stare up at me. I smile; keeping them snuggled warmly within my tails.
“Oh, while in France, Papa sent us to school,” says Micha.
I grin, “Oh? Were you good while there? Or did you cause trouble for your teachers?”
He huffs, pouting as he looks away. “It was only a rabbit that got loose.”
“You let him get loose,” rebukes Luna. “That and then you got paint all over your fur.”
He glares at her, “You did it too, but you slipped on the floor and crashed into the easel, sending all the paints into the air.”
She looks away, “Not my fault.”
I grin as I listen. I run my fingers through their fur, even seeing a few tiny clumps of dried paint that hadn’t quite been washed out. I listen to them go on and on about school and being a little shy around their classmates. The school they attended was one with humans, however had to assume a disguise in order to go. I’m thinking Warwick had something in mind for that to happen.
The pair continues their stories of France, not wanting to leave a single detail out. I smile, swishing my tails as I listen. I periodically look to Luna, seeing if she still has any lingering guilt from July. I know kids often let go of certain things, but what happened then may never leave her. It really wasn’t her fault; she just has that ability to slip away from anyone. It was Irina who put her life in danger.
An hour or so later we hear a knock on the door.
“Come in,” I call out.
The door then opens, revealing a pair of golem maids as they then wheel in a cart with several covered plates on it. I smile, knowing Mom must’ve had dinner sent up for us.
The maids then take the cart over to the table by the balcony, placing our meals onto it. I feel my heart fluttering, knowing this is my first meal at home in what seems like ages. The maids finish and look to me, smiling softly and bow before leaving. I smile and look to the pups, motioning them over to the couch. They grin and the three of us hop on over.
As we pull of the covers, steam billows up from the plates. I smile, taking in the smells of roasted meats and veggies. I look to it, thinking of the past week at the Outpost, of how it was Marron, Orga, Kateryna and I just sitting around the table and enjoying our meals together. I smirk, thinking of how far I’ve come since fleeing here. So many places, the many tables I’ve sat at, enjoying meals there.
After we eat, and tidying up our plates, the pups curl up into me. I smile, planting kisses on their heads as I hold them, again wrapping them up in my tails. I gently stroke their little bodies, feeling happier that they’re here with me.
“Are…are the bad people still looking for you?” asks Luna.
I peer down into her shimmering dark eyes, filled with worry. I know she’s worried that I might have to run away again after just making it back home. This is a fact I know is shared by her brother.
Nope, not this time, this time they don’t know where I am or that Mom’s back. Two things really in my favor.
I hold her closer to me. “You shouldn’t worry about that. Just know that Big Sister is home and that’s all that matters.”
She smiles, nuzzling my chest. I grin and blush as her nose moves around my chest. I look to them, seeing how much they’ve grown. They’re growing up, slowly leaving behind being little kids. I really hope to see them become adults. No, not hope I will, I know I will. Which means certain little habits may have to go.
I turn to Micha, watching as he tries to fluff one of my tails. I grin, feeling his tiny fingers rake through the fur. I reach over with another, tickling his nose with the tip of it. He giggles, then looks up to me. I lean over and press my head to his, rubbing our foreheads together. He grins, wagging his tail. I smile, holding of them close to me.
We lean back and just watch as the night skies turn darker. I stroke the pups, feeling them fade rather quickly as they rest against me. I smile as their little eyes grow heavier and heavier by the moment. They’ve had such an exciting day, seeing me for the first time in months.
Part of me really wants to leave and spend the night with Mom. For me, this is has been the longest we’ve ever been apart, and I’m not counting the first six months after I become who I am now. I have so many questions that need answers. But as Mom said, it’ll all have to wait until morning. Although I still question her reasoning behind it.
I feel the pups finally fade away, listening to their little breaths on my shirt. I smile, stroking their fur as the sleep.
Arms soon wrap around me, holding me. I look up seeing Marron standing behind me. I smile to her, happy she’s here. “They fell asleep,” I whisper.
She smiles and nods, and rounds the couch, gently pulling Micha from me and carries him over the bed, using levitation to pull back the covers and lays him onto it. I do the same with Luna, carrying her over while transforming back into a human. Once settled in, I crawl onto the bed with them.
Marron smiles, tucking the three of us in, making sure we’re warm and snug. I grin softly, feeling like a child alongside the twins.
I look to her, seeing her face not filled with same joy she had when we left the Outpost a few hours ago. “Are you okay?”
She smiles, sitting on the bed and leans over, caressing my face. “I’m fine sweetie, and you’re home as I promised.”
Her voice seems distant, or weighed down by something. This makes me worry for her more.
She smirks, flicking my nose. “I’m not going anywhere, so stop worrying.”
I stare at her more; trying to think of something to say, only find nothing coming to mind. I sigh, nodding.
She smiles, leaning over, and kissing my forehead. “Get some sleep sweetie.”
I nod, feeling my body finally relaxing as my bed snuggles me into it. My eyes too start to grow heavy as the tension and wariness from the day melt away. Sleep takes me as my mind wanders into the warmth of my sheets and pair little bodies curled up next to me.