Everything makes sense now.
It was a revelation that was equal parts maddening, terrifying and wondrous. The thought repeated itself everywhere she went. It all makes sense.
After the gryphon landed in Lakeshire, Vandrysse walked across the bridge, marvelling at its construction. Paused by the place where she and Ellister had their first kiss. Just a little further, facing the town, was where he’d gotten on one knee and proposed. After a few moments of contemplating this (with a silly grin), she shoved her hands in her dress pockets and continued on.
Lakeshire had never really felt like returning home after Wintergarde … and now that, too, made sense. In a strange manner of acceptance, that made it okay. She had always figured that she’d changed too much to return, and while that was most certainly still the case, the reason was entirely different now. It wasn’t her fault. She hadn’t done anything wrong. This time, when old faces greeted her, Vandrysse offered a heartfelt smile and wave in return.
But that wasn’t why she was here.
She took her time walking along the lakeside boardwalk, searching past the assortment of shops, looking for a particular one … and there it was! The signage declared it Ellery’s Toys alongside the image of a stuffed bear and rocking horse. She doubted the original Mrs. Ellery was still here, much less alive; more than likely, her daughter had inherited it.
The picture window remained the same, with a similar display she (fondly!) remembered as a young child - and the fact that she could recall such a thing made her nervous and excited at once. Many a time she’d stopped, placing a hand upon the sill or shading her eyes while she tried to peer inside. It was on one of those days, with her mother, Tynea, that she spotted the bear that would be known as “Mr. Chester.”
In fact, she was doing the same thing now: shielding her eyes, scanning the stock, fearful of feeling hope. Mr. Chester was long gone and would never be recovered, seeing as how he met his demise at the jaws of the Neighbor’s Dog. But surely there would be one just like him? Though with both button eyes and an ear that was firmly attached.
Vandrysse stepped inside.
The proprietor did indeed introduce herself as Mrs. Ellery’s daughter, Kennice. Within moments, Vandrysse found herself handling a stuffed bear that very much resembled Mr. Chester from old, right down to the weight in her hands. The texture was the same. Through her refined senses, she could smell dust and age and memories - this bear had, for the most part, sat on a shelf somewhere in good condition, hardly ever played with. It was a collector’s item, one that fetched a fairly large price for its kind.
Kennice would most likely be mortified if she knew that Vandrysse had no intention of following the care instructions. Things were different now, but it all made sense. A part of her had always had Mr. Chester around - at least, in her mind. He’d become the embodiment of the Light. The Little Girl and the stuffed one-eyed bear with the loose stitching around his ear that let part of the glorious light shine through.
And now she had him for real again.
There was a lot of time spent on the gryphon ride back home to Thelsamar for intermittent thinking and crying, and thinking some more. Everything makes sense now. Even monsters who had developed a silly love for baking, rabbits and stuffed animals.
Ellister would understand.
[ ellisterthorley ]
jacobvanloon
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