Nick: A Winter's Tale

Chapter Ten: Hope is Found

Alice slowly rose her gaze back to where the spirit had been standing, and a sharp gasp escaped her lips. Nick looked back at her, confused at what she was seeing, until he realised she was staring into his eyes.

"Alice?" he asked. Her lip quivered for a moment, before she rushed to him and pulled him into a hug. She began to cry fully once more, but it was no longer in sorrow, but in happiness. As she pulled away, Nick looked back at her, a renewed sense of hope building within him.

"You... you can see me?" he asked. Alice's smile grew, and she nodded. Nick couldn't help but smile back as he hugged her again.

"What happened to you?" Alice asked weakly, "You looked so hurt. You... died..."

"I'm not sure exactly," said Nick, "Everything you'd ever told me, all the stories, the good and the bad, they're all real!"

"What do you mean?" Alice asked.

"The elves, the spirits, the... the dark creatures," Nick replied, "I tried to save someone, but one of the creatures attacked me. I woke up in an elf village and I thought they had healed me, I didn't know what truly happened until today."

The two of them went silent, before they embraced for a third time.

"But," said Nick, "How can you see me? You couldn't before."

"Well," said Alice, pondering for a moment, "It's often said that some things simply can't be seen unless a person is willing to see it."

"What do you mean?" Nick asked.

"I believed in you," said Alice, "Through my grief I knew it was you, I truly believed you were there with me, and then... you were."

Nick stayed silent. Was this how the elves, the shadorites, the demon, even Klaus had remained hidden for so long? The questions burned in his mind for a moment, before they were replaced by another.

"Alice," he said quietly, "Did you mean what you said? I heard you... from the other side of the lake, I heard you say..."

"I love you Nick," Alice replied, "I always have. I'm sorry I didn't say it sooner."

Nick smiled. A warmness filled his heart, which permeated his entire body.

"I love you too, Alice," said Nick, "and I'm sorry too, that I didn't realise it earlier."

The two came in close to embrace again, but this time, they shared a deep kiss, and for a shining moment, everything in the world was right again. When it broke, the two shared the largest, warmest smiles they ever had in their life. It was then that something caught Nick's eye; Klaus had reappeared, and was watching them with their own warm smile. Alice noticed Nick's gaze and followed it.

"Who is that?" she asked. She seemed afraid at first, but Klaus's calming energy soon washed over her as she stared at their inhuman beauty.

"Klaus," Nick answered, "The elven god."

Nick let go of Alice's hands and began to approach Klaus.

"Is this what you meant?" he asked, "Perchta said my heart was fractured. But it doesn't feel like it is any more. I feel whole."

Klaus smiled, and waved their hand. The surface of the lake began to crack loudly. Shards of ice were sent flying as something emerged from the lake. Nick watched in awe as rocks and chunks of ice emerged from the frigid water, and set into the top of the ever growing mound was something metallic.

Nick climbed onto the rubble, rising slowly to the summit of the small mound that had formed, and found the gleaming hilt of a sword protruding from it. He pulled it, and with surprising ease, extracted a huge, gleaming silver greatsword; the very same one he had seen in his dream. It shone like a beacon as it reflected the now bright light of the moon.