Page 65 of The Elves and the Shoemaker
It was a welcome distraction, though, as the closer they got, the more Elias’ palms began to sweat at the reaction he was likely to face.
He was sure that Johan would once again interpret this act as a lack of trust on Elias’ part and maybe there was some truth to that. He only hoped that Johan had understood his message with the kingfisher feather. That he understood Elias had every intention of returning home and had never planned to abandon them.
All the same, Elias dreaded Johan’s quiet but devastating reaction more than the wrath he was sure to receive from Henrik. Henrik’s anger would burn wild and bright but abate quickly—he hoped.
When the section of forest they were in became increasingly familiar, Elias wasn’t sure which was worse, the dread or the anticipation.
He clutched the rock tightly, pressing it into his stomach when he spotted the overgrown track which led home. “Over there,that is the path to our meadow,” Elias said, pointing to it. Elias gulped as Wim turned in that direction and continued on.
“I feel like a horse,” Wim grumbled.
“You are much more handsome than a horse,” Elias complimented, and he liked to believe the wolf was blushing at his words.
Over the course of their journey, he’d grown quite attached to Wim and Red. While he’d prefer never to cross paths with Hansel and Gerhardt again, he’d decided that he’d quite like it if Wim and Red came to visit sometimes. Elias had always been sociable in nature, and he knew that even with the company of Henrik and Johan, he would likely get lonely sometimes.
Elias had all but given up on the existence of his Gods, but he couldn’t help but wonder if they’d tried to repay him with this gift. Delivered him safely home to his loves with his rock in hand by the two people who’d rescued him and Henrik in the first place.
Turning another corner, the clearing came into view down the path. It was like a beacon of daylight in the Dark Forest, marking the end of Elias’ journey, and his stomach was a tangled web of conflicting emotions with every step that Wim brought them closer.
What if they were happier without you?the cruellest part of Elias’ brain suggested.
Johan came into view first, perched atop the house, which had come a long way in such a short amount of time. Hammer in hand, he didn’t notice Elias right away, too focused on his task.
Elias’ fingertips bit into the rock nervously. “Can you wait here?” he asked Wim and Red.
They paused so that Elias could climb down from the wolf’s back, and he continued on foot. When he’d pictured this moment, he’d imagined himself running towards the cabinwithout a moment’s hesitation, but nerves had got the better of him, and he truly feared the reception he might receive.
When he was close enough, he called out, “Johan?”
The shoemaker’s head shot round so fast it looked painful, and for an awful moment, Elias feared he might fall from the house in shock.
Johan scrambled down and ran towards Elias, scooping him up from the ground and crushing him. No words spilled from Johan’s lips but he didn’t let go, he held Elias like he might disappear if he lost his grip.
“Johan, lun—” Henrik called from the doorway of the cabin, his sentence cut short when he spotted Elias and Johan in the centre of the meadow.
Henrik stormed over to them and Johan put Elias down to face him.
“How could you!” Henrik shoved Elias and he stumbled back a few steps. “You bastard. How could you!” Tears streaked down Henrik’s cheeks, and his hands trembled in anger.
“I’m not sorry,” Elias said defiantly.
“You never are!” Henrik yelled.
Next it was Henrik’s turn to stumble back, screaming as Wim approached from Elias’ side, growling at the other elf.
“It’s fine,” Elias said. “He is right to be angry with me.”
Wim huffed.
“W-w-w-wolf.” Henrik pointed at Wim, his face whiter than parchment.
“He’s not like the wolves in Varinien, Rik. He can talk and turn into a man.”
Henrik and Johan stared at Wim with their mouths gaped open.
Embarrassed by the audience, Elias suddenly very much wanted to face the consequences of his actions in private.
“There is a freshwater spring around half an hour in that direction.” Elias pointed.
