The Kingdom of Layfette

Archive Six







When the DreamCatcher finally landed in Aarin's home kingdom, it was an entirely different place. Flying over it, neither Aarin, or any of the sprites recognized it anymore. The grass and crops were all dead. Trees looked like skeletons. Black clouds shadowed the entire area for miles upon miles, making the land below look like ashen snow. There was nothing green or alive in sight. Aarin went pale at the sight. Idre gripped to his hand, and Iswe kept a firm hand on his shoulder.

What was worse was the state his home was in. The castle was in ruins. The ceiling had crumbled in several places, walls broken and missing, the horse stalls and army barracks burned to cinders. He was trembling. All of those people... all those animals. His heart was breaking. At the forefront of his thoughts were his parents. They have to be here. They have to be. he pleaded the gods, watching as the castle drew nearer, then the ship began to lower until it was hovering just over the front courtyard. The ladder was thrown over the side and Aarin was one of the first ones in line to climb down. The instant that his feet touched the dirt, he broke into a run into the castle, his hand on his grandmother's sword, just in case.

"Aarin!" Aveda called in dismay as she quickly climbed down the ladder after him, her cloak now draped over her shoulders. She drew her sword when she reached the ground then turned to look at Hook. "His family is inside.." She told him then turned and ran after the prince. Sein frowned as she watched Aarin disappear then looked at the others before motioning for them to follow as she took off running inside the castle as well.

"And they wonder why they get themselves into trouble, running into a building like that" Hook said with a frown, climbing down the ladder and pulling his sword from his hip. He walked after them, watching Aveda closely, but he refused to run in like an idiot. He paused at the door, looking around cautiously and then continuing on.

Aarin didn't hear Aveda or the sprites yelling after him. He ran the well-memorized path through his home straight up the stairs and to his parents' tower room. There was a massive hole in the ceiling, and the room itself was in ruins, but standing where he'd left them were his frozen family. He let out a relieved sound and smiled, tears filling his eyes. He ran to them, putting his hands against the crystal. "Don't worry, mom and dad! Grandmother! I'm here... We're going to get you out of here!" he called, then turned back where he heard footsteps following him. "They're okay!" he said to Aveda, keeping his hands on the glass.

"I wish you would stop running off like that." Aveda grumbled once she made it to the room Aarin was standing in. "It's incredibly dangerous. Your uncle could have been in here and you would have run straight to him." She scolded him then finally looked at his crystallized family. "That being said, I'm glad they're safe and hopefully my brother can free them, and quickly." She fell silent then as she waited for Hook to join them, hoping he would be able to free the family.

Hook frowned as he walked into the room, putting his sword back and folding his arms, raising his brow at Aarin, "You are going to get your stomach gutted by doing that someday, boy" he said, walking to the crystal and peering in at it, "Hmm, curious. He must be very powerful, this guy" he said with a small pout, "I am impressed"

Aarin turned to look at Hook, finally stepping away from his parents. "But can you undo it? Can you set them free? Please... please help them." he begged, already working to unlace the sword from his belt, holding it out to Hook. "Set them free, and it's yours!"

Hook chuckled a little before he nodded and took it, placing it onto his own, "I will try. If I fail you can have it back" he said, going back to studying the crystal, "Take my sister and stand back, would you?" he asked absentmindedly and he studied the, grinning a little to himself.

Aveda quickly grabbed Aarin's hand and pulled him backwards away from the crystal. "Be careful." She warned Hook as she kept her hand clamped round Aarin's to try and stop him rushing forward if anything were suddenly to go wrong.

Hook hummed to himself and walked to the first one, the younger woman. He watched her, tilting his head and then taking the long gold chain from his neck. He held it up, watching the gold amulet with the sapphire diamond in the middle and he grinned, kissing it and then pressed it to the crystal. He closed his eyes, and after a long while, white wisps of energy left the middle of the amulet, spreading out and encasing himself and the whole crystal until it was too bring to see. It got brighter and the wisps spun with such force that some of the rubble around them began to move and lift into the air until finally the crystal exploded.

the wisps stopped, drawing back into the amulet and hook, who was panting tiredly, kneeled quickly to catch the woman before she fell.

Aarin had watched in awe. That was the most amazing thing he'd ever seen. He had to shake himself awake from his daze when he realized that Hook was catching his mother. "MOM!" he yelped, running forwards and moving to her side. "Careful, she's pregnant! Mom? Mom, can you hear me?" he asked in a splutter, grabbing her hand.

"I caught her, didnt I? I'm hardly going to injure her now" Hook said as he lifted her. He walked a little way away to somewhere that was clean of rumble and he laid her down, taking off his coat and rolling it up to put under her head, "There" he nodded, standing and walking back to the other crystals.

As the crystal exploded, Samiya fell forwards straight into Hook's arms gasping for breath as she did. She visibly shook as he carried her away but she couldn't help but give a happy yelp when she saw Aarin. "You're safe!" She said with tear-filled eyes as she gripped his hand then quickly pulled him to her for a hug. Her eyes widened when she caught sight of Dyllin and his mother still encased in crystal. "Please tell me Reise had been dealt with?" She asked her son as she looked at his face.

Aveda had watched in awe as her brother worked then quickly stepped back when the crystal erupted and he carried the queen free. "Maybe you should take a break.." She told him looking concerned when she noticed how tired he looked.

Aarin fell into his mother's arms, and couldn't stop the tears from flowing as he gripped to her, burying his face against her chest. "I-I'm so sorry, mommy, I'm so sorry... This is all my fault! This wouldn't have happened to you if I'd just stayed home!" he cried, gripping to her tightly, being careful of her belly. He then looked up at her, tears rolling down his cheeks. "N-no, mom, he's still out there... He's destroyed the entire kingdom, and the kingdom of Cuole..."

Hook took a breath and waved his hand at Aveda dismissively, "If I dont do this now, im not doing it again. Its not easy" he breathed. He had never had to work so hard to break a curse or grant a wish. Even the first time drained him pretty bad. He took a breath and rested against the crystal before he placed the amulet against it again, "The things I do for fancy swords" he said, panting and closing his eyes as it let out wisps again, encasing both him and the crystal with the man inside, going bright white and then exploding again.

This time, as the wisps disappeared, Hook had managed to catch the man, but he couldn't stay upright and he buckled under him, his brow sweating and breathing heavily. He felt dizzy. He stood, pulling him up in a firemans lift and walking him to the others, setting him down before having to walk away, putting his hand to his head.

Dyllin, who'd had his sword up above his head ready to strike Reise before he'd been frozen, dropped his sword and fell hard against Hook. He groaned as he was lifted and carried to be set beside Samiya. He was coughing and gasping for air, and he couldn't see right away. But he heard Aarin and Samiya. "A-Aarin? Samiya..?" he asked groggily.

"Dad!" Aarin yelped, shifting to hug him and grip to him too. "I'm so sorry, dad! I never meant for this to happen! Look, mom's right here! And grandmother will be next!" he said and laid between his parents, hugging them both tightly and crying happily as he felt his father's arms wrap around him.

"Hush now Aarin..you weren't to know this was going to happen." Samiya whispered trying to sooth her son's guilty concious. When Dyllin was placed next to her she reached a hand out and took hold of one of his, squeezing it tightly. "I'm here. We're safe for now. Butyour brother is up to his old tricks..our kingdom and Cuole..Aarin says they are both destroyed." She gulped lightly before wrapping her arms round both Dyllin and Aarin and hugging them tightly.

"Brother!" Aveda gasped when Hook buckled under the weight of the king. She watched as he moved him to his family then turned away, his head in his hand. "You're going to hurt yourself!" She said worriedly as she moved quickly to his side, placing a hand on his arm to allow him extra support. "Is it safe for you to carry on?"

"I dunno. I guess we are gunneh find out, arent we?" Hook said, nodding slowly. His head felt light, like he had ran too far too quickly. He leaned in to kiss her cheek and pet her head,"Dont you worry about me, little sparrow" he nodded. He walked over to the last crystal, taking a few deep breaths, "Id love it if you didnt kill me.." he mumbled, steadying himself and placing the amulet on it, gritting his teeth and closing his eyes as the wisps burst out and encased them, whirling fast and finally making it explode, disappearing again.

Hook collapsed this time, not having a chance to get under her to catch her. He groaned, giving a cough and sitting up. His nose was bleeding, as was his ears. He blinked, trying to get rid of his dizziness before he stumbled to his feet and dragged the woman up into his arms, stumbling with her back to the rest of them. He set her down and staggered back a little, shakily putting the amulet back around his neck, "If you will excuse me" he mumbled, walking a little way from them to the corner and collapsing to his hands and knees, emptying his stomach on the floor.

Anaita woke up faster than her son and daughter-in-law had recovered. She looked around, then sat up, before pulling herself to stand. Aarin stumbled to his feet and wrapped his arms around her in a tight hug, once again blurting apologies over and over again, but she merely untwisted herself from his grip and moved to Hook's side instead. She knelt beside him, putting a hand on his back. "Thank you." she whispered. With that, soothing and healing energies began to flow from her and into his body, trying to help him recover from his trials. "It was very brave of you to go against such a strong curse."

Aarin watched his grandmother help Hook, and he suddenly felt very guilty. He'd only been concerned about getting his parents back, not the effect it would have on the man. He trudged over to them and fidgeted a little hesitantly, not sure how to help, then he leaned down and helped Hook wrap an arm around his shoulders. He pulled him to his feet with a grunt and helped lead him to where his mother's broken and torn bed was. Helping him lay down on it, he let his grandmother continue to heal him before he returned to his parents, hugging them again on the floor.

Aveda had been first to Hook's side, dropping to her knees next to him, her hand rubbing his back to help rid him of his sickness while her heart raced with fear. He's bleeding.. She thought nervously then looked up as Anaita appeared, watching with wide eyes as she worked with him. "Careful.." She whispered to Aarin as he helped move Hook to the bed, following after him quickly. She sat on the edge of the bed and took hold of her brothers hand, watching him with a weak smile. "Please don't do that again."

Samiya stroked Aarin's hair then finally allowed herself to look around the rest of the room, looking at Hook, Aveda and the few pirates that had accompanied them in side. "Aarin..who are these people?" She asked quietly as she slowly sat up, pulling Hook's coat around her shoulders to try and stop herself shivering.

Hook had gone stiff when Anaita and Aarin had touched him. He wasn't used to being touched, he didn't like it, "I'm fine" he mumbled as he sat up on the bed, watching Anaita, "There is no need to thank me, I didn't do it out of the goodness of my own heart. There was no bravery in it" he said, taking his hand back from Aveda to place over his heart, wincing. He took a few breaths, then tried to wipe his nose and ears of blood. He felt so dizzy and drained but he wouldn't show it, "We should get out of here. Now." he said, moving to stand and stumbling a little, having to cling onto one of the posters of the bed to steady himself.

Anaita watched him a moment. She then finally sighed and shook her head. "If you say so, young man." She then turned and headed back to her own family as Aarin was starting to explain who all of these people were.

"W-well... you know that magical flying ship that dad always tells in his bedtime stories?" Aarin started, looking a little unsure. "It... actually exists." He looked between his parents, studying their faces. His father looked skeptical at best. His grandmother seemed passive, but understanding, and he couldn't read his mother. "They helped us. The captain is Aveda's brother." he explained, pointing at Aveda and Hook. "Captain Hook is the one who set you free."

Dyllin looked up at Captain Hook and Aveda, studying them both. He pulled himself wobbily to his feet, then moved to Hook and offered his hand for him to shake. "Thank you. We are indebted to you. You will always be welcome in my kingdom."

"Would you just stop!" Aveda scolded as she hurried to Hook's side after he had stumbled. She grabbed his arm and wrapped it round her neck to allow him to lean on her. "Once we get back to the ship I want you to go and get some rest. Your crew need you fit and well..and so do Odi and I." She looked up as Dyllin approached then smiled at Hook when he heard the Kings words. "Thats two kingdoms you're welcome in now, you carry on like this and you'll lose your reputation as a cruel and infamous pirate." She joked.

"Flying ship?" Samiya replied looking a little unsure before sighing and kissing his forehead as Dyllin walked away. "And who exactly is Aveda?" She asked as she slowly stood up with his help, a hand supported under her bump. "How did you meet these people?"

"Perhaps when your kingdom isnt so worse for ware" Hook said as he shook his hand quickly, "We need to get out of here. I cant have my ship flying so close to the ground for too long, you need to move your family" he said before he turned to Aveda, "I am fine, ive had worse than this. Go and help get everyone to the ship, now" he said, leaning off her and walking slowly, his hand over his chest again, "The ship leaves in five minutes, anyone who isnt on board is going to get left behind." he said walking to the entrance and leaving the woman with his coat. He looked up to the ladder, holding it steady and waiting.

Dyllin watched Hook walk away, giving a small frown, then he looked down at Aveda. "And who are you?"

"Dad..." Aarin said, helping his mother walk to Aveda. "This is Aveda. She's been helping me find you all..." he explained, then moved to hold Aveda's hand bashfully, his cheeks slightly pinked.

Dyllin blinked and looked at their hands, then between them, before he smiled knowingly and moved to wrap his arm around Samiya's shoulders. "Then we are indebted to you as well for helping Aarin stay safe. Thank you, little miss." he smiled. He then looked at Aarin. "Aarin, help me find some weapons to take with us. Where are Eon and the sprites?"

Aarin nodded at his father, and peeled himself from Aveda and his mother to walk with his father towards the weapons room, explaining to him about how Eon was cursed to be evil and the sprites were somewhere with them in the castle. He tried to fill his father in on as much of the past events as he could, including that there was a fourth sprite who worked aboard Hook's ship.

Anaita watched the boys go, then she looked at Aveda and Samiya. "Well then... I need to go to my room and fetch a few things. You should both go ahead and get to the ship. I'll be along shortly." she said, kissing Samiya's cheek before she hurried off to her room to find her crystal ball.

Samiya smiled at Aveda who was standing looking round her awkwardly, feeling nervous at being left alone with Aarin's mother. "Thank you for taking care of my son." She said then moved forwards and suddenly embraced her, making Aveda freeze with surprise. "Now lets get to this flying ship of yours then." The Queen smiled again then turned and led the way outside. Her eyes widened at the sight of the grand ship, unable to believe that it was really there. "This is incredible!" She whispered then moved to the ladder and began to climb up as quickly as she could manage with Aveda following close behind to make sure she didn't fall.

Following close behind them was Anaita, her crystal ball tucked safely under her arm and wrapped in a thick scarf. She hoisted it over her shoulder and began to climb the ladder carefully, her old bones making it a little difficult. Right after them was Aarin and Dyllin, the two of them talking and laughing as they carried more weapons, along with help from the pirates who'd come down with them.

Once everyone was aboard the ship again, and reunited--the three sprites had been overwhelmed at the return of Anaita, Samiya and Dyllin, and Dyllin was very happy to see Ihara, even if he was a toad--Odi stepped outside and put wind back into the sails, taking them up and away from the ground. "Next stop... The Neverland." she announced. "It's a four-day trip from here... So get comfortable."

Hook was the last to climb up, making it onto his ship just as the ship was moving. He wiped his nose and ears of the small droplets of blood that was still leaking before he sat down on a crate, "If you all could move into the canteen room, that would be great, the deck is going to get busy now we are moving"




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