Previous chapters:
Ch1
Ch2
Ch3
Ch4
Ch5
Ch7
Ch8
Ch9
Ch10
Ch11
Ch12
Ch13
https://thethwaphouse.wixsite.com/thwap-house/forum/spoiler-fanfiction/hidw-alternate-ch-1
Ch14
Ch15
To Be a Kid
When Janner was younger, he had thought that all love was icky, but when he witnessed Nia’s reaction to Esben’s message, his own smile trembled and his cheeks became wet with silent, reverent tears. The affection between his parents was beautiful and wholesome and he grieved Nia’s loss as well as a thirteen-year-old boy knew how. With pity, he recalled poor Maraly’s uncaring strander father and unknown mother, and felt blessed to be a child in this family with his siblings. Though his father was away for a while, he had touched all of their lives with his care and his love lived on in Nia.
Janner glanced over at his siblings and found Leeli collecting a bouquet of wildflowers as she walked. The flowers, he realized, were for Sara, who admired and identified each one. Kalmar, however, was not where he expected him to be, and caused all of Janner’s senses to snap into panicked attention. As soon as the possible scenarios began to unfold themselves in his mind, he spotted his brother. Rather than leading the group with the gusto of a great explorer on an expedition as he had been at the start of the journey, Kal had slowly drifted to the back of the group and trudged along as if his pack weighed a thousand pounds. Oskar and Artham were deep in a discussion about poetry, so neither one had noticed that they were now leading the group.
Excusing himself from his mother, who had recovered and was now gazing up at the trees with a peaceful expression, Janner slipped back to join his drooping brother.
“Kal? You okay?” he asked.
“Huh? Oh, yeah, I’m fine.” Kalmar responded distantly, shaking himself out of his thoughts.
“You don’t look fine. You look like you thought you were eating a cookie but it turned out to be a bittershroom cap.”
“Well, it’s just that… This morning has been like it always used to be. Playing with you and Leeli, exploring the woods, laughing at Mr. Oskar’s weird sayings… I just got to be a kid. We all just got to be kids for once. When we get back to Anniera, I’m going to have way too many responsibilities to have any fun! I know it’s my job to be the king, but I’m not really looking forward to it. I don’t want to do boring grown-up stuff all the time- I want to just be a kid whose only thought is about if I’ll get to the field in time to watch and play games.” Kalmar wiped his nose, and looked very small. His clear blue eyes were sad and brimmed with what Janner could only assume to be dread.
Janner was silent for a while, the only sound being the dirt and leaves crunching beneath the two boys’ feet and the murmur of voices up ahead. He had often thought about Kalmar’s point himself and was a bit afraid of what his own role would involve in the revived kingdom of Anniera. “Kal,” he said finally, “remember the stories Mama told us about Papa and Uncle Artham when they were in charge of Anniera?”
“You mean like the one about how they had a boat race to determine who would get the last bowl of bean and batter stew?” inquired Kalmar with a hint of a smile.
“Yeah, those stories. Well, when I was in the Maker’s country before he sent me back, Papa said he wanted me to tell you something.”
Kalmar looked confused, then stunned, and then desperately curious. “What was it?”
“He said to tell you that being the High King of Anniera is not all work and no play, and that you should ask Mama and Uncle Artham for more of those stories so that you can see that it’s true. He said that there are plenty more of them! Besides, I’m sure Mama will help you with your duties, and I will too if I can.”
“I will!” exclaimed Kalmar, brightening. “Those stories are great!”
As they neared the fruit trees, Janner shot a mischievous look over his shoulder at his brother. “I’ve still got to wallop you at zibzy on the green too, remember?”
Next chapter! Hope in Deep Waters (an AtE story) Ch 17 | The Thwap House
mmm cookie😋
Haha, yes!!! I love it!
I've actually been meaning to write some stories about Artham and Esben's adventures as kids and in Anniera before it fell. As well as Janner and Kalmar's adventures as the Throne Warden and the High King after the Wingfeather War.