KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!
Lego knocked on the door.
"I cometh, my child!" a woman's voice called from inside, followed by the thud of footsteps nearing the door.
The door opened to a female elf donning a pink dress with white flower patterns and a pink boater hat, its white ribbon tied to look like a rose.
"Welcome back, mine own little Leg—"
His mother's eyes widened, mouth agape as her eyes fell on Aelindor.
She swiftly embraced him, tears streaming down her face.
"My little Aeli… O, my little Aeli, 'tis been so long."
She stopped the embrace, holding Aelindor's face—his own eyes glistening.
"Hast thou eaten well? Are these thy companions? How fares thy uncle at the inn—"
"C'mon, doll. Youse makin' the kid who just showed up, scram…"
A man's voice came from behind her, interrupting the myriad of questions.
WAIT! HIS FATHER IS ACTUALLY A DON!
The mother stepped aside, wiping her eyes as his dad walked up to him. He lifted his hat and messed up his hair.
"Lissen heah, kid… dat hair'a yours? It ain't exactly outta my reach, eh? Hehehe." The dad chuckled, puffing out smoke with a sigh. "Eh, would ya look at you… all grown up, huh? Ya look just like me back in my prime, I swear it."
Oswald's eyes glistened, a quiet sniffle no one heard.
Really makes you… miss your own…
The father's gaze shifted to the group. "Who's dis colorful crew ya got standin' behind ya, huh?"
Percival stepped forward. "My name is Percival Montclair, a captain and nobleman, and a close friend of your son."
"The Montclairs, huh? Heh… I done business wit' yer grandfaddah, way back when. Good man, real good man… I miss 'im every day."
Man…
Oswald's gaze lowered. Can't this journey end early? I miss Mom's spaghetti…
"Eh, who's dis Mistah Fancy Pants over heah, showin' up wit' the servant?" He pointed his pipe at Oswald, smoke billowing from it.
Oswald sucked back the tears. "Ahem. M-My name is Oswald Jack. Beside me is my help." he said, bowing, the maid bowing after him. "A pleasure to make your acquaintance."
"Ahh, now I see what all da village folk been talkin' about. Hero's ceremony afta five centuries, huh... You gotta tell me all about it, kid."
Oswald nodded. "Yes sir."
His father turned around and tapped the mother's shoulder, entering the house.
"Ay, sweetheart, fire up da grub, huh? See 'em in nice 'n make 'em feel at home."
Smiling, the mother ushered them in.
They entered his parents' abode, the warm, familial chaos surrounding him.
His head began pounding from within, his vision blurring and clearing in and out.
Damn it! The exhaustion's caught up to me.
The maid's head tilted. "What is it?"
Her question turned everybody around.
"I'm sorry, I… I think I'll hit the bed early…"
"I do understand. The guest-chamber lieth yonder." She pointed at the door behind him.
"T-Thank you… I'll be heading right away…"
He took unsteady footsteps toward the guest room door, the maid walked ahead and opened it for him.
As he entered the room, the details blurred around him—the only focus was the bed ahead. She placed his arm around her neck.
"Thank you…" he said, his eyes drooping, "so much…"
He finally lay on the bed. He looked at her blurred form, eyes slowly closing.
"You helped me… a lot… tod… ay…"
He rested at last.
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ns216.73.216.247da2
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