A Wolf's Howl, A Fairy's Wing

When Erik was done, the only thing he left out was the white void and his vision back in London. Simply because Elora and him still had no idea what that was about.

Viljar shook his head in amazement. "Had anyone else told me that story, I would have written them off as insane." He sighed, "But since it's you, and Elora herself is pretty irrefutable evidence, I really have no choice but to believe it."

He turned to Elora with a grateful expression. "I know you had your own reasons for doing it, but regardless, you have my sincerest thanks for saving him and keeping him safe all these years."

Elora suddenly looked a little thoughtful, "I did have my own reasons. Two of them, in fact. And while those reasons are still valid for me, I'm glad to now have a third, far more important reason."

She turned her head and kissed Erik with a loving smile.

Viljar smiled and sighed. "Ah, young love." Then grimaced. "Well, young love in a weird and complicated relationship."

Yet, as he watched Erik and Elora, a shadow seemed to pass over his features. His usual warmth dimmed, replaced by a subtle, introspective expression that hinted at deeper, unspoken thoughts.

Thinking of Erik and young love had suddenly sent his mind in a direction he always tried desperately to avoid—Erik's previous young love.

His expression turned to that of a depressed and slightly broken old man as he sagged back into the sofa and turned quiet, his mind drifting to dark and lonely places.

Erik separated from Elora and looked at his uncle with concern. "Uncle? What's wrong?"

Viljar's gaze lifted to meet Erik's, his eyes shadowed with a mix of sorrow and resignation. "You haven't said it outright... maybe to protect me," he began, his voice faltering, "but you're planning to confront Edda, aren't you? Assuming she is still alive…"

Erik turned somber. After seeing his uncle's expression when he mentioned Edda's name earlier, he had been trying to avoid this topic, yet it seemed it was inevitable.

He could only imagine his uncle felt even worse than he did about what had happened.

Erik had been betrayed by a childhood friend and crush, causing him to lose his father, which hurt worse than anything else he had ever felt.

Viljar, on the other hand, was betrayed by the cute, kind, and loving daughter he had raised from birth, causing him to lose his wife. Viljar had no one left anymore, especially not now that Runa had apparently gone somewhere.

Meanwhile, Erik had Elora and, with some luck, also his mother in the future.

All in all, if grief could be measured on a scale, Viljar's was probably a little heavier.

He sighed and nodded in response to his uncle's question. "Yeah. I will."

A mixture of pain and understanding drifted across Viljar's face. "I understand… You really are like your mother now. She, too, left in search of that girl." His voice trembled a little. "I thought about coming with her, but I couldn't. I… I can't kill her, Erik. Not even after all she's done."

Erik felt the urge to stand up and at least put his hand on Viljar's shoulder to show support to a family member in pain, but he knew his uncle wouldn't want to be shown any pity.

So he just nodded with an understanding expression. "I understand, Uncle."

That wasn't entirely true. While Erik's own feelings towards Edda were a complicated mix of fury, betrayal, and a shared past, the idea that any Frostvik survivor would want anything but her death was alien to him.

That said, he had enough presence of mind to realize his uncle's unique circumstances, allowing him to at least act in an understanding manner rather than become angry and condemn his uncle for his apparent weakness.

"Thank you," Viljar said in a slightly hoarse voice before asking a favor. "Just… if you find her." His voice was heavy with emotion, and Erik knew his uncle was resisting the urge to cry, "Do it quickly, okay?"

Erik once again nodded. "Of course."

This time, he meant what he said. While there had been a time in the past when he would have gladly made Edda suffer for a long time before granting her the sweet release of death, such feelings had long since disappeared.

All he wanted now was to get his revenge and then put it behind him so he could move on with his life together with Elora. Although, whether that belief would change when he lay eyes on her was another thing altogether.

After Erik's last words sounded, Erik gave Viljar the time he needed to gather himself. Elora, too, remained quiet. She knew she had no input in this and, despite her nature, had no desire to act playful or mischievous right now.

Viljar took a deep, steadying breath, his hands unconsciously smoothing the fabric of the couch. He blinked slowly, clearing the mist of past pain from his eyes before nodding slightly, an unspoken signal that he was doing better now.

It remained quiet for a moment longer as the room settled into a reflective silence. Viljar absentmindedly traced the patterns on the sofa, lost in thought. Sensing the emotional weight in the air, Erik finally decided it was time for a lighter subject.

He cleared his throat gently and turned towards Viljar with a raised eyebrow. "So, why were you interested in the council, Uncle?"

A small smile appeared on the ginger-haired Viking's head, thankful for Erik's attempt at changing the topic.

He leaned back on the sofa and sighed. "This is supposed to be a big secret, but I don't suppose telling you would make any difference. For the last week or two, we've been in talks with a shapeshifter who came up from Sweden, offering us aid against Sigurd in exchange for becoming a part of their council."

He scratched his head in part confusion, part exasperation. "The problem is, he talked about the council as if shapeshifters ruled it. Yet, assuming it is the same council, now you're telling me it has equal ruler-ship between all three races."

As Viljar expressed his confusion about the council, Elora leaned in, her eyes sparkling with the experience regarding politics and schemes that her original home, the Obsidian Enclave, was so well known for. "The dynamics of power are rarely straightforward," she interjected smoothly. "Consider the possibility of hidden agendas at play here."

She giggled, "I mean, you people would clearly never accept a mixed council considering your feelings towards humans and, to a lesser extent, perhaps, vampires."

Viljar looked confused and irritated at Elora's words. "So, what? They just lie to us and then expect us to lay down and accept the truth when we find out? Do they think so little of us?"

Erik had some idea of what was going on, but he just leaned back and let Elora handle it, as she was still far better at this than him. Luckily, the fairy didn't mind enlightening her beloved's uncle a little.

The fairy responded with a sly grin. "Oh, I doubt they spend much time thinking about this tiny little frozen corner of Europe at all, but regardless, that is only part of it. Let me ask you this. Considering this council is mixed, how much would you like to bet there is a vampire representative over at the Dominion pitching the exact same thing?"

Viljar blinked as this new information and possibility settled in his mind. It didn't take him long to realize the high probability of what Elora was saying.

Immediately, Viljar jumped up with wide eyes, all sadness and depression from earlier forgotten. His expression conveyed a combination of fear and sudden realization. "That…! If that is true, then I need to go warn Frostfang right now!" he said in a rare moment of impulsiveness.

Unfortunately for him, the moment he tried to move towards the door, the covenant mark on his hand flashed, and he found himself unable to move.

Erik scratched his head in slight embarrassment. "You can't leave, uncle; the covenant prevents you."

Viljar turned his head towards Erik with some grief and sadness, "Are you… keeping me here?"

But Erik shook his head. "Of course not. I trust you not to say anything that could put me and mine in danger, which is why I never asked you to agree to the covenant in the first place. If you like, I will release you of it right here and now, but…"

Viljar frowned. "But…?"

Yet, instead of Erik, it was Elora who answered with a mischievous grin. "But if you leave now, I won't give you a method of dealing with the ghouls."

An excited glint flashed across Viljar's eyes. "So you do have a way to help against the ghouls!" But the excitement died down when the full breadth of her words sank in. "But… why only help us if I stay?"

He looked at Elora with apprehension, wondering why she would do this.