The Winter kingdom

Version 2.0

The boys, their faces etched with confusion and frustration, took in Halvar's words. Though Brandon pressed on. "Why, Halvar, why could we not just stay a bit longer? We could have asked them more about what they wanted from us. We could have seen more of the magic of their forest and everything."

Halvar sighed before responding. "Yes, Brandon, we could have. But do you know what that means? The more you ask about something, the more you become interested in it, the easier it is to drag you around by it."

"Is that so wrong, Halvar? Why couldn't we have done it? What is so wrong with learning some magic and going on an adventure?" Brandon questioned, as his eyes fell back upon the forest.

"Because it is never that simple, Brandon!" Halvar explained. "If they are willing to teach us even a little bit of their magic, then whatever they are sending us to find out must either be incredibly important to them or incredibly dangerous to them. And seeing how they said that whatever this thing is can change the weather, I would say that it is dangerous, Brandon."

"But we are strong, aren't we, Halvar? I mean, my dad is strong, and so is Jon's and Edric's and most of the village" Brandon insisted.

Jon folded his arms. "Yeah, my dad is built like a bear; he can take on anything."

Halvar smiled. "That is adorably sweet of you boys, but we are talking about something much stronger than anything our small village can handle."

"Then we gather the other villages, and they can help us, can't they?" Brandon asked.

"It's not so easy to gather all those people, Brandon; they would need someone incredible to lead them," Halvar explained, as he let out another sigh. "Boys, go home and talk to your family. They deserve to know and understand what has happened. Only your family can help you with this. I am just a hunter, helping the village in the way that I can. Now scram, I need some peace and quiet."

Halvar walked away, and with each step away the boy's shoulders slumped, as their heads started to droop.

"I'm going home, I'll see you guys later," Edric stated as he trudged through the snow.

"Hey." Jon nudged Brandon. "Don't look so down there is still plenty of fun to be had." He only received a shrug of his shoulders from Brandon as he too started to trudge away.

The setting sun cast long shadows upon him as he trudged along the snowy path homeward, his exaggerated steps sunk deep whilst he continued to kick at the snow in his way. The winds nipping at his face only became worse the closer to home he got.

He passed muted and closed homes, his slumped shoulders and swinging arms moved him as his looming familiar door appeared. He straightened his back and flexed his shoulders before barging straight through, deciding to get on with it rather than wait around. Upon stepping inside, the warmth of the hearth enveloped him, in a happy greeting.

Alarra looked up from her preparations in the kitchen. "Brandon, there you are. Dinner is ready. You're later than usual," she said before her eyes settled on him. "What is wrong, Bran?" She asked as she put down her knife and she brought Brandon close.

"Hey, Bran, where've you been?" Torrhen asked. "You know we worry when you're out too long. Dinner is getting cold."

As the family gathered around the table for lunch, Brandon took a deep breath.

"Today in the forest it got a bit hectic." Brandon breathed. "Yesterday, when I went into the forest with Edric and Jon, we met the Children of the Forest, we went to meet them again today because we, I mean I, wanted to see magic, except instead, they told us they need our help."

Torrhen raised an eyebrow, exchanging a glance with Alarra, while Alys's eyes widened. "Really, Brandon? Children of the Forest, the ones who fought our ancestors for years, want our help, that incredibly reclusive people?" Torrhen asked.

"Yeah, Dad. They're worried about something happening beyond the woods, something powerful enough to affect nature and magic, they are getting concerned about it," Brandon explained. "Today, Elder Oak, the eldest of the Children, asked Edric, Jon, Halvar, and I to go beyond our lands and find out what's causing this disturbance in nature," Brandon continued.

Alys's eyes sparkled "You saw their grove; it is true that they live in massive trees and swing from tree to tree and that in the groves they have massive red trees that cry the blood of their Gods."

Torrhen's expression turned serious, ignoring his daughters' ramblings. "Beyond our lands? Brandon, that's a risky venture. What could be so important that they're sending children on such a quest?"

Alarra's eyes flared. "They want to send my baby boy out into the wilds, all on his lonesome." She said as she brought Brandon into a tight hug.

Brandon sighed, "They said something about the weather being wrong, colder and harsher than it should be. They believe it's tied to something threatening the balance of nature. And from what they said, it is less about sending children and more of a case that children can quickly learn from them. And I won't be alone; I know Jon and Edric will join me."

"They said that the weather is wrong? Does that also mean it is going to get worse?" Torrhen asked.

"They said it is the reason that this winter is longer, colder, and harsher, so I would assume so Dad," Brandon explained.

Alarra placed a comforting hand on Brandon's head, giving him head scratches. "Oh, Brandon, how your adventures always get you into trouble. I can feel you growing up already. Oh, what are we going to do with you, Bran?"

"Love me anyway?" he coyly asked. "Wait, you don't care about the adventure but that I am growing up?"

"Obviously, Brandon, we have known you your entire life, and we have always known that you were an adventurous boy. The day you learned to crawl was the day that our worries began. Boy, you could scamper around. But we loved you for it. We would want you no other way, so no, this adventure does not surprise us. We just want you to be our Brandon. If that means that you want to go on that adventure, then so be it," she said while wrapping Brandon even tighter. Brandon's shoulders finally fell as he leaned into his mother.

Torrhen smiled. "She speaks the truth, now less talking whilst food is not being consumed."

While they all sat down, Brandon recounted his encounter with the Children of the Forest, their plea for help, and the mysterious task they wished the village children to undertake.

Alarra's eyes fixed in concern. "Are you sure about this, Bran?"

Brandon nodded. "I want to help. I don't want to see you guys get hurt, or Granny Olga, or Tobias, or anyone from the village. Halvar said he won't go on the adventure because he has the power to help people now, but I don't have that. But if I do this, I can have the power to help them. See, easy solution to our problems."

Torrhen sighed. "Only you, Bran, would make something so dangerous seem so simple and easy. At least your heart is in the right place. Just promise us you'll be careful and come back to us in one piece, and always know that at any point you can come back to us."

"You've been very quiet, Alys. What do you think, honey?" Alarra asked.

"It's very you, Brandon," she said, tears welling up in the corners of her eyes. "Without my baby Brother, it won't be quite the same without you here."

"I won't disappear straight away. Well, I don't think so anyway. I mean, they said that I need to learn some of their magic. I assume that it's not quick."

"Oh, good, because I need someone to help me in the barn," she exclaimed, suddenly her tears disappearing, grinning at Brandon. "Kidding, Brandon. I'm happy you'll stay for longer. Our room can't live without you in it. The same with home."

"Thanks," Brandon said after a few moments while trying to squint his eyes and rubbing under his nose to cover the happy tears that started to form.

"Nothing wrong with happy tears, Brandon," Alys said.

"It's not tears, that's embarrassing," Brandon said quickly turning away.

She raised her eyebrows "Uh-huh."

And with the crackling of the fire and full bellies, a hearty family continued.