Chapter 37 A Side Quest of Reunification and Apologies #2
“My wonderful Highness! You came back to me!” Polo cried. “I knew you wouldn’t leave me behind. I knew the others were wrong when they said that you’d betrayed us!”
Em’s guilt dried her mouth, but she fought to swallow it down. She nudged the weeping and sniffling imp off her, genuinely smiling at his comforting. All this time, and he never stopped believing in her. Even when she didn’t even believe in herself.
“It’s good to be back, Polo Took-Took,” she admitted.
Polo tugged on her arm, guiding her up the path through his yard toward his mother’s house. All the way, his tail flicked with excitement.
“Come inside!” he said. “We were just about to have some cheese, bread, and apples. I can put some tatters in the frying pans or get us something else to munch on if you want.”
“I don’t really have any time…” Em resisted, but the imp’s determination was stronger.
After all, bread, cheese, and apples were the most stereotypical meal a fantasy adventurer could consume.
Although—a whiff of freshly rising yeast and sharp cheddar hit her like a rock as soon as she ducked into the warm, brightly colored home—it didn’t sound like the worst thing to eat.
Damn. When’s the last time I had a proper meal?
If you want the time, you can have the time, Em.
She surveyed the small table with blue enamelware, the crackling hearth, and the silvery utensils Polo’s mother set out for them, and Em caved in.
Together, she, Polo, and Mrs. Took-Took had a sunny afternoon lunch.
They laughed, shared stories of Polo’s charming childhood and of all the troubles he used to get into pranking their neighbors, while enjoying a satisfyingly stereotypical meal.
And for the first time in what felt like ages, Em didn’t worry about what she felt, ate, wore, or who she associated with.
It was homey and nurturing. Deep down, she knew she needed it more than anything else.
At the end of their lunch, Mrs. Took-Took packed them each a travel knapsack, offered them freshly polished walking sticks, and kissed Polo on his forehead. One of which had been Em’s original when she first set out on the quest.
“Now, you darlings be safe as you go kill that necromancer,” the elderly imp said. “And son, you be sure to write me, you hear?”
Polo rolled his eyes, wiping her lipstick off his brow, blushing. “Yes, Ma.”
“Thank you for the hospitality, ma’am.” Em giggled.
“Oh, you’re welcome anytime, deary. Just keep an eye on my Polo and be sure he stays out of trouble,” Mrs. Took-Took said.
As they stepped back out into Tolk-Town, twilight hung across the region, casting everything in a periwinkle glow.
Polo adjusted his travel bag on his shoulder, planting his walking stick into the grass beside hers. “Where are we off to, Highness? You going to use that pen of yours to teleport us to some other awesome place?”
“Actually,” Em took in the rolling hills and purple skies. “Let’s walk.”
“Walk?” Polo’s eyes widened.
“Yeah. Let’s walk.” She laughed and began her hike downhill toward the main path running through the imp town. Behind her, her sidekick let out a whoop as she mused. “We’re on a quest after all. What better way to enjoy it than to take the longer path to really experience every moment?”
“Fine by me!” Polo skipped alongside her.
So—for the sake of avoiding a scene jump or going into too much detail on a filler travel sequence—they walked onward towards the Glorious Musclewood Covert.
The first time Em set foot in the Wood Elf realm, she’d been nothing but a naive, angry girl.
She struggled past the stereotypical assumptions building in her mind.
Instead, she focused on enjoying the crispness in the air, the soft sunlight, and the sweet incense from within the arched corridors of the Wood Elf palace.
Now, the soothing rush of waterfalls and quiet rustle of falling leaves filled her with a sense of stable peace.
Compared to the rest of the chaos she’d survived so far, this was a sanctuary.
She found herself lingering, not to delay the inevitable reunion with Roden, but to truly take in the beauty.
Plus, it was relieving to see that not all of Novella had been conquered by Kriqir yet.
No wonder somewhere like this is cliché. She felt the smile tug at her cheeks. It’s relaxing.
“So how hard are you gonna kiss Roden when you see him again?” Polo asked, skipping alongside her.
Em’s serenity was ripped away, and she cringed. “I’m not.”
“Well, that’s boring.” The imp paused in his tracks, pouting.
“Roden and I are just… friends. Or we were. I’m not sure what we are anymore. But hopefully he can be as forgiving as you were,” Em said, willing herself forward. The floodgate of worries drowned her from the inside out.
“I figured you were going to him cause you wanted a bit of private time, if you know what I mean.” Polo bobbed his eyebrows.
“Gross. Fuck no.” Em gagged. “It’s because I’m gathering everyone in order of my confidence and comfort in them.
I know Roden is loyal to this prophecy, so he can be swayed more easily.
The others will take more effort, but I’m hoping the more of you I have with me will help sway the more stubborn friends. ”
Sasha’s furious face flashed through her memory. She gulped.
“Is that why you came to me first?” Polo’s eyes brightened.
“Yeah.” Em somehow cracked a smile. “I knew you’d never betray me.”
Polo shrieked with glee, clapping his hands, then dive-bombed on her, hugging her legs. “Awwwww, Highness! You really do love me?!”
“I’m learning to,” Em admitted.
“I won’t let you down,” Polo saluted her, his tail flicking.
I know you won’t. Guilt rose in the back of her throat, pricking the corners of her eyes with heat. Even though I severely fucked up, and you have every right to hate me.
It’s okay, Em. You got this.
A few curious Wood Elves glanced their way as they passed, but no one asked questions.
Nor had any advice on where to find the brooding half-elf prince.
Em assumed he’d be brooding in a dark corner somewhere deep within the covert.
She cut across bridges and through vaulted terraces toward the Elven Council room, using what little she could remember of the place from her previous visit.
Polo whistled beside her. For once, she found herself grateful for his cheery companionship. His lack of tension helped ease her own.
Em bumped into someone. Stars cut across her vision, and she spit out a dozen apologies, rubbing her forehead. A whiff of leather and pine swelled through her senses. She made eye contact with a pair of violet irises, and her heart skipped a beat.
“Roden?!”
“Em?” The half-elf’s wry eyebrows shot upwards, his usually sullen expression spreading with shock. “What are you doing here?”
“We’re here to get you!” Polo dramatically threw out his arms. “And not in a romantic way whatsoever, despite my suggestions.”
“Is that so?” Roden’s gaze darted between them both, his mouth fighting to form words.
“I need you, Roden,” Em said. Her confession spilled out faster than she’d intended to. “I can’t do this shitty quest without you and…”
In a singular motion, Roden swept her into his arms. Her feet dangled above the ground, and her face pressed into his chest. His pulse throbbed against her cheek as the tightness of his strong frame enveloped her.
“I missed you, princess,” he whispered into her hair.
“I can’t breathe… dammit…” she squeaked.
“My bad.” Roden set her back down. His ears reddened, and he tugged at the collar of his cloak, clearing his throat. “I got a bit carried away. I thought you died.”
“Died?” Em exclaimed, smoothing herself off. She tried really hard to ignore Polo bobbing his eyebrows playfully at her from the half-elf’s shadow. “I didn’t die. Roden, I abandoned you all. I ran away like a bitch, failed at getting help from Kriqir, then fled back over the FOURTH WALL.”
“It’s been weeks,” Roden growled. “No sign or word from you. It was safe to assume the orcs got you.”
“I didn’t even realize how long I’d vanished until I came back to Novella,” she admitted.
“You went back to the Great Author?” he asked.
Em nodded, fidgeting with her knapsack.
“And?” Roden pushed.
“I gave her the story back, and I returned Inky.” Em let out a deep breath to steady herself. “You were right, I couldn’t change my fate. But Stephanie promised to help me finish this quest however I want to, and that I would get to determine the ending of my book.
Roden’s eyes narrowed. “And how do you want it to end, princess?”
“With a fucking slam-bang,” Em grinned.
“So, you’ll use the dragon relic to destroy Kriqir the Living?” Roden asked, a touch of hope catching in his voice. “You’ll fulfill the prophecy?”
“Yes.” Em nodded once, squaring her shoulders. “That’s what I was born to do.”
A relieved gasp escaped Roden. He turned away, running his hands through his dark hair, down his face, then glanced back at her as if he were trying to process whether anything she’d said was real.
“Are you lying to me again?”
“No.” Em shook her head.
“She means it this time,” Polo said.
Roden’s lashes fluttered, and his cheeks twitched, like he was fighting back tears. “Really?”
“Really, really,” Em swore as Stephanie had.
“How can I trust you?” the half-elf asked.
“I don’t know,” Em admitted. “But I came back to you, and I can only hope that might be enough. I’m going to go fetch the others, then we’ll begin preparations for laying siege on the Cursed-But-Once-Uncursed-Tower.
I’ve let Kriqir toy with Novella too long now, and I owe it to everyone to set things right. ”