Chapter Twenty Five: Glad Tidings

Father Hashio rocked from one foot to the other nervously, wondering why the archdeacon had sent for him. Eventually, a young boy peeked his beaming face out of the church-keeper's office and bowed respectfully.

"Please come in, Father Hashio."

The old priest bowed politely, and walked through the door. His old friend and superior was smiling comfortingly at the man, a hand gesture sending the boy out the door.

"Please sit down, Brother."

Hashio nodded, and settled himself comfortably into the chair. His old bones seemed to be getting heavier every day, but the man had never been one to complain about his difficulties.

"How have you been, Seigi?"

The archdeacon grinned bigger than ever.

"I'm better than most people you know, now that the thorn known as Friar Nashi is out of my side."

Despite how he was personally feeling, Father Hashio couldn't help but let a smile of relief cross his lips, now that the meddlesome friar had been banished to a mountainside monastery.

"It's been glorious, not having to check over my shoulder every two seconds, to see if he's counting the times I sneeze." The priest sighed again. "However… if I had to choose between losing my second son and dodging that overdramatic squirrel, I would gladly accept dodging the squirrel."

The archdeacon saddened.

"You've been missing Baron terribly."

"Yes. It just felt so good, Seigi! It was so wonderful to be needed like a role model again. I thought it would be for the best to allow him to see my little Haru, but… it's been three weeks, and her family won't talk to me."

The white-haired archdeacon smiled warmly, and withdrew a neat letter from his desk.

"This is why I called you in here, Hashio. It has the von Gikkingen seal on it."

The man's heart froze in fear, but he still reached across the table for the slim envelope. With a trembling hand, he broke the family seal, and unfolded the sheet of paper within.

His dark eyes, which had been feeling so weary just a few seconds before, became brighter and brighter as they traveled to the bottom of the letter.

"Praise the Lord," the old priest whispered, his voice close to tears. Seigi looked at him expectantly.

"Is it good?"

Father Hashio nodded happily, and refolded the letter in order to slip it back within the envelope.

"Her family will want to see this!" He began running for the door.

"Wait!" his friend tried to stop him. "Aren't you going to tell me what it says?!"

Hashio turned as he opened the door, beaming as he closed it behind him.

"Both of my treasures are getting their just rewards."

ooOoo

Naomi looked up with disgust as the old priest once again entered the family circle.

"I already told you, Old Man, you've done enough!"

The priest shook his head happily, tears of joy freely flowing over his cheeks as he extended a hand to her. A hand which contained an opened letter.

"It's from Haru and Baron."

The woman's expression changed to one of wonder as she snatched the letter away, and tore the letter from the envelope, in order to start reading as her daughter emerged from her tent, still sleepy-eyed.

ooOoo

Dear Father Hashio,

I assume that you will pass this letter to Haru's aunt when you are done reading this, and I hope you will, frankly. I am certain that her family must be frantic with worry by now, and I would be terribly disappointed in them if they weren't.

To cut to the chase, I am certain that you have figured out that I'm a human now. Haru's kiss worked like a charm, but to be honest, the curse wasn't what I was thinking of when she finally did it.

For some reason, the spell that changed me into a human also decided to deliver us to my ancestral home in Ulam. I met my father, as he was lying on his deathbed.

Would you believe that he's been punishing himself for what he did and tried to do to me and Mother almost since doing it? It wasn't illness or old age that killed him that day, but regret. And the only thing that he had been holding onto for all these years was the chance to personally tell me that he was sorry.

A part of me didn't want to forgive him, all things considered, but I knew if I didn't while he was still alive to hear it, I would probably regret it until I joined him in death. I let him die with a peaceful heart.

I'm now truly the Baron von Gikkingen, but the fact hasn't gone to my head, I assure you. The people I now preside over can't decide which one they like better; me, or the girl I fully intend to wed, as soon as I return to Omal and ask her aunt for permission to marry Haru. My beloved has made it clear that she intends to elope if her aunt doesn't give her permission, but I believe it's only fair to allow the woman a chance to speak for herself, as I am certain that she and Louise will wish to be present at the ceremony.

By the time this letter reaches you, we should be roughly two days outside the city limits, just in time for the Festival of Fools. Perhaps I'll get chased through the streets again for old time's sake… or perhaps not.

Dearest Father Hashio, give our kindest regards to everyone (except Friar Nashi. I'll deliver my regards to him personally), and may we find them all in good health (I'll deal with Friar Nashi if he is).

With love,

Baron

P.S. This is Haru! Aunt Naomi, I love you to bits, but if you say no to Baron's proposal, I'll never forgive you. I'll still love you, but I just won't talk to you anymore. Hug Louise for me.

And you were right. I did end up choosing a townsman over a gypsy, but I think I can handle being wrong this time.

ooOoo

"Who's that from?" Louise yawned while stretching. Naomi blew her nose and dried her eyes on a colorful handkerchief before answering her dear daughter, never imagining that she could be this happy for her niece.

"From your cousin. Apparently she's getting married before you are, Sweetheart."

xxXxx

Lots of love to; Nonimouse, gacktxx, Anonomous-Allstar-Fan, NinjaoftheDarkness, Chantal (also known as sesshoumarufan18), ArtsyChick, et cetera et cetera, Drifting One, Lunarobi Pride, swishfish, Bambi4ever, Lanari, EgyptLover4, QuickStar, Poet on the Run, Thundercat, kilala fae, EarthGurdian, Grassina3, chibiaries, cuteknight101, Archon Dragon, kittydemon18, Laura Schiller, and Rini's Ghost for the reviews and for bothering to go ahead and tell the world (and myself) just what they think. I'm hoping that the ending is to your liking.

Also, in keeping with my new tradition, a sneak peek into my next masterpiece! (Don't worry, it's a lot better than it sounds.)

Rules to accepting a job from a crazy monarch: 1. Keep him from getting assassinated. 2. Don't take everything he says seriously. 3. Don't fall in love with the queen, even or especially if she's extremely cool… 4. Rethink #1.