Lunar Flare Book 2: Midnight Eclipse

Chapter 9

When Maerwynn started calling out and waving, Beowulf quickly spotted Thedrick standing on the small stage in the town square, surrounded by what seemed to be a group of performers. Of course, Beowulf should have known that the jester would find his type of people rather quickly here. The guard quickly headed over to the group, awkwardly trying to weave his way through the crowd, Effie on his heels and the princess giggling from her perch on his shoulders.

"Thedrick! There you are, we were wondering where you had run off to," Beowulf said to the jester, who was looking up at him with an expression of anxiety. Beowulf glanced around the group of strange performers who were gathered around Thedrick. The soldier was slightly surprised that the strongman was nearly as tall as he was. "Who are your new friends?"

"H-Hey Beowulf, this is... my family," Thedrick stammered out, following up with an awkward smile.

Behind his visor, Beowulf's eye widened with surprise. "You... your family?" he asked in confusion.

Thedrick nodded, and started introducing each of the group to Beowulf, while the guard watched on silently while blinking in disbelief.

"Everyone, this is Beowulf and Maerwynn... oh, and Effie too..." Thedrick said, seeming to notice the nursemaid hanging just behind Beowulf, carrying the basket full of gifts for the princess. Beowulf plucked Maerwynn off his shoulders and held her in his arms again so everyone could see her better.

The woman, Joy, stared at the little princess in shock, and then looked between her and Thedrick a couple of times. Then she smiled widely. "Oh my goodness, look at you little one! Aren't you just precious! Wearing a cute little crown and everything, just like a princess!" she exclaimed in delight.

"I am a princess!" Maerwynn stated firmly, crossing her arms over her chest.

"Of course you are little dear," Joy said in a patronising tone as she reached out and pinched Maerwynn's cheeks.

Beowulf cleared his throat awkwardly. "She is the princess, actually. Daughter of the late Queen Vivienne, heir to the throne."

Joy froze in place for a moment, blinking, before she let go of a grumpy looking Maerwynn and pulled away, her eyes going wide. She looked between Thedrick and the princess again, and pursed her lips, narrowing her brows. "Please tell me you didn't, Thedrick," she said in a measured tone.

Thedrick raised his hands in surrender. "It... it wasn't my fault, I swear!" he claimed in defence, wincing slightly.

Joy shot him a look of disapproval. Then she sighed and turned back to Maerwynn. "My apologies, your highness," she offered, along with a small curtsy. Maerwynn looked rather pleased at this, a smile returning to her face.

"So Thedrick... is Joy your... mother?" Beowulf asked awkwardly, looking between the two of them. Thedrick had never been very forthcoming with information about his past, but Beowulf did remember the vampire mentioning he was a noble, and also the guard didn't see much family resemblance between the two of them.

"Not exactly," Joy answered before Thedrick could, as the jester still seemed to be battling with embarrassment. "We found little Thedrick huddled up by our campfire one evening, so we took him in and cared for him."

"And taught him everything he knows!" the man known as Jacques piped in with a grin, stepping up on the stage for a moment to clap Thedrick on the back jovially, which nearly made the jester fall forward from the impact. Thedrick stumbled a step forward but caught his balance, and then looked up at Beowulf with a sheepish grin.

"Though Thedrick... how come your friend doesn't know about us? Did you never mention us?" Jacques added, his smile now falling away.

Thedrick turned his gaze to the ground. "I thought you all probably hated me. I don't talk about my past much, unless it's funny, and remembering you guys... only made me sad... because I missed you..."