Fablehaven: Journey to the Eternals' Pass (fanfiction) (HIATUS)

10: Round Table Meeting

Seth doubted he looked that good unconscious. He could tell Kendra was trying not to act like a flustered girlfriend, but she was all but holding up a sign declaring it.

When Bracken woke up and saw all of them clustered around him he frowned. "You all look like you're around my deathbed." He rubbed his forehead and got up. "I've only been out a few minutes."

"Question is, why were you out at all?" Warren offered Bracken a glass of water that was promptly downed.

"Sorry about ending your party prematurely." Bracken said to Seth. "You don't have to be here."

"Everyone left." Seth said, trying not to sound annoyed. It was true. Most of the people had gone off to give them space, but enough people had stayed to let Seth start wondering where they were suddenly getting so much room for sleepovers: besides Vanessa, Tanu and the usual occupants of Fablehaven, there was also Bracken, the twins, Evan and Jania. The astrid Eyoven was watching his prince like hawk.

"My liege," said the astrid in question, moving forward. Everyone else took the cue to leave. Kendra touched Seth's shoulder as they went up to their room.

"Are you really okay? You seem out of it."

"I'm fine. Just a lot of stuff happening. I just need to sleep it off." Seth couldn't figure out why he was still so tired after crashing on the plane, but he did know why he was 'out of it'. It wasn't like he was acting that way on purpose. He also couldn't tell Kendra about it. Sure, they'd been through a heck of a lot together, but they hadn't exactly had a lot of heart-to-heart talks at the time. They were still adjusting to not having to deal with demons and shadow plagues every other Tuesday.

Kendra didn't looked convinced but for once she didn't press. Their room had been completely repaired by brownies since Mendigo went nuts and the helpful homemakers had left a rug that looked suspiciously like the fur coat Grandma had thrown out.

"At least no school tomorrow." Kendra sighed. "It's a good thing Vanessa drives like a maniac or else we wouldn't even get to school in time. It's so far from Fablehaven."

"Everything is." Seth still couldn't believe Vanessa Santoro had actually agred to drive them to school everyday, although it came with the downside of more than one speeding ticket and more than one person askign who his hot driver was. Kendra and Seth had ended up passing her off as their aunt, although she looked nothing like them.

"You'd better sleep." Kendra said. "You've had a long night."

"Not as long as you'd think." Seth said under his breath. But the bed felt like home, and Seth had never had much problem falling asleep-he'd managed to sleep in a giant frog's stomach, for God's sake. The lights went out. Seth murmured a vague 'good night' and drifted off."

*

Grandma was making pancakes when they woke up. The blueberry smell was intoxicating.

"Morning." Grandma kissed the top of Seth's head. He was already taller than her by now and had to duck his head.

"Where's everyone else?" Kendra asked.

"The twins were up at six making their own breakfast." Grandma said. "Scared me to death. Warren and a few of the others went out into the preserve. Evan and Jania just took their breakfast out to the pool minutes before you two."

"The twins were up at six? Where are they now?"

"Out at the pool too, I think." Grandma shooed them away with a smile. "Go on, it'll be a nice change."

Everyone was at the pool. Elaine and Jania were doing the most gorgeous dives into the pool while their brothers watched. Or rather, Evan was sulking because he couldn't get the wound on his leg wet, and Darcy was thrashing up and down the pool doing furious laps.