What an adventure

Chapter twelve: New beginnings

After hours of rest for everyone, it was time to officially meet Alvaro...again.

Nick walked out of his room, he was covered in bandages and sore all over. He walked into the kitchen to see Ophelia making some soup, she had a new outfit on. She turned around and jumped a bit when she spotted Nick.

"Oh, did you rest well?"

Nick nodded his head, "Where's Eli?"

"Still resting in the guest room, his marks on his neck, wrists, and ankles are healing slowly. Without Althea's healing magic, healing will take much longer."

Nick sighed and leaned against one of the chairs, "I think it's time we go see Alvaro."

Ophelia turned back to the kitchen counter but nodded her head. "All right, I'll inform Iris and Argus. They've gained full consciousness and they're looking around outside already. Let me get Finn this soup and I'll meet all three of you in front of the greenhouse."

"Got it."

Ophelia walked past Nick with the soup in her hands and walked to Finn's room.

Nick stood up straight and walked out of the cottage. He turned to the right of the house to see Iris and Argus looking at the flowers that were blooming. They were in new outfits as well. Argus was the first to sense Nick's presence, he patted Iris on the shoulder. She looked up and smiled when she spotted Nick. She ran over to him and embraced him in a hug. "It's so great to have you back."

Nick hesitantly hugged back, he looked over to Argus who just stood there and nodded.

Iris pulled away and that's when Nick realized that Iris was missing her left arm. "Iris, is your arm ok?"

Iris nodded her head, "Perfectly fine, will take a bit to fully heal but luckily, I can write with both hands." She grinned. Ophelia walked out of the cottage and slipped on her leather jacket. "Let's go." She walked to the left side of the house, the other three caught up to her.

They made their way to the greenhouse, stopping a few feet away to see Alvaro walking out of the greenhouse, squinting at the light. He looked far ahead and spotted all of them.

Iris was waving dramatically while Argus stood behind her, smiling, Nick had his hands on his hips, and Ophelia was leaning against a tree.

Once Alvaro's eyes landed on Nick, his shock turned into a scowl like Ophelia when she first saw Nick. Alvaro stomped up to Nick and glared up at him.

"What in the hell are you doing here?"

Nick looked down at Alvaro, "huh?"

"I. said. What in the hell are you doing here?"

Everyone looked very confused and shocked at Alvaro's reaction to Nick. Iris got in the middle of them, she was a few inches smaller than Nick but was definitely taller than Alvaro.

"No bickering right now, let us settle this later. I think Beatrice may want to see you after all of this time."

Alvaro nodded his head and began walking down the path, following the mushrooms back. When he made it back to the cottage, his scowl became a smile. "Hasn't changed one bit."

He walked inside and walked down the hall. "Which room?" He turned to Iris.

"Finn's."

Alvaro's eyes widened slightly, he started to remember why he had been frozen in the first place. "Oh...ok, thank you." He smiled softly and walking to Finn's room which was at the end of the hall. He knocked on the door and heard a soft come in. He opened the room and entered to see Finn still resting in bed and Beatrice sitting neck to the bed on a stool. Once she spotted Alvaro, she stood up and ran over to him, embracing him in a huge. After some seconds she pulled away and examined his face. "Oh my, you look so much like your sister."

Alvaro's ears perked up, "Speaking of my sister, where is she? Still resting?"

The cheery atmosphere was replaced with a stiff one.

Alvaro looked around at everyone but frowned when no one responded. "Guys?"

Iris chose to step forward. "I'm so sorry Alvaro, we couldn't...I...She had gone to Darian's side to strengthen her magic and bring you back. But...she had to make a sacrifice to be able to do any of that. She died from a stab wound to the stomach and after dying, she moved into...this"

She turned to Nick who pulled out the Rainbow Moonstone that had come from Althea.

Alvaro slowly grabbed the crystal, he felt a gust of wind when he held it. His hair flew up to show a mark that began glowing, the same thing that happened to Althea. It soon stopped glowing and his hair fell limp again. "I see...I feel her in this crystal. She explained some things to me. Though I do not forget, I will forgive Nick just as Althea would want. Please excuse me, I must go to my room." He walked past all of them and walked into his room, closing the door behind him. They all looked at Beatrice, she was smiling.

"He will grow to understand so much more."

Just then, Finn shot up from his bed, his eyes wide. Beatrice ran to his side, "Sweetheart, are you alright?"

Finn looked at her and began yelling, "What!? I can't hear you! Why can't I hear!?"

Beatrice's eyes widened, "He's gone deaf from the curse."

Iris ran to Finn's side, he looked at her and smiled so brightly, "Iris!" He looked scared. She sighed and began using sign language. He looked confused but signed back. Iris looked around at everyone with a face that showed just a bit of pain.

"He doesn't remember most of what happened but he knows he's deaf now."

Ophelia stepped forward, "How do you and he know how to sign?"

"I taught him as a kid when we were still living in some town. They had books there to teach us. Maybe I could sail out to see to get some more books."

Beatrice smiled at her, "I think that would be best but for now, how about we all enjoy the time we have together. For the time being, we'll use a notepad to communicate with Finn."

Finally, everything was back to normal.