Charlie
In the afternoon, all their guests disappeared. Except for Ehlin and his little friend. Joris danced with the sylph on the riverbank. Charlie watched the two longingly. In the evening he would finally see Nanno again. He couldn't wait.
The little will-o’-the-wisp sat next to him. They leaned against a big tree.
"Do you think I can learn your language?", he asked the little creature.
His friend shook her head.
"And your name? Do you think I can pronounce it?", he asked, disappointed. "That would at least be something, wouldn't it?"
The tiny person thought about it for a moment, then she nodded.
"Yes? Do you think so? So... What's your name?"
"Fnips", she said in a low, chirping voice.
"Fnips?", Charlie repeated the name. The will-o’-the-wisp, Fnips, nodded happily and then pointed to Lucas.
Lucas was gathering firewood and walking past them. He sang one of his favorite songs and didn't hit a single note. Fnips covered her ears and scolded. Molly, who had collected flowers to weave a wreath, also grimaced. Charlie laughed. "Yes, I don't like his singing voice either." Joris and Ehlin, however, continued to dance laughing and humming. As if there were only the two of them in the world.
Smiling, Molly adorned her hair with the wreath of flowers and sat down next to Charlie and Fnips.
"I think we should ask Ehlin soon to show us the way out of this forest", she said. "I finally want to be among humans again."
Charlie looked at his brother with a sigh. Then he thought of Nanno. "I also want to be among humans again, but..."
"You like a siren", Molly finished his sentence. "And Joris is also in love. But, the two are not human. And you two can't stay in this forest. Where do you want to live? How?"
"I know", Charlie agreed. "There is no house we can live in. There is fresh water and fruit, but we have to collect food laboriously. And let’s not forget all the sirens in the river. I know that sirens are very dangerous. But Nanno... He is wonderful. I don't want to leave him."
"You can't follow him into the water."
"I guess I can't do that." Charlie leaned against the tree trunk and looked into the treetop. Purple and pink leaves. "But when I leave, I'll never see Nanno again. And Joris never sees Ehlin again. I know that it was only a few days..."
Fnips said something, but neither Molly nor Charlie understood her. She flew on Charlie's shoulder and hugged his neck.
"Looks like you’ll be missed”, Molly murmured. Fnips nodded sadly.
"What do I say to Nanno?", asked Charlie. "He certainly doesn't want me to leave."
"That you can't stay here. Humans don’t belong in this forest. I will ask Ehlin to show us the way out of here. I can't stay here any longer. It's too dangerous. I'm sure the sylph will help us."
Fnips pointed protestingly at Ehlin and Joris. Joris stroked the sylph's hair dreamily.
"I agree with Fnips", Charlie said. "I don't think Ehlin will like it if we want to leave. Even if they would help us. And what about Joris?"
"Joris? What about him? He’s in love. But even he will realize that this cannot be. He's not a teenager anymore." Smiling, she stroked Charlie's red hair.
Charlie laughed dryly. "You assume that he will leave the love of his life without grumbling? Look at them, Molly! And I? If I want to stay?"
"You can't stay, Charlie", Molly immediately objected. "It doesn't work."
"I know! But my heart has already decided! And my heart chooses Nanno. My mind chooses the steppe. I don't know, Molly. That's not something I can decide right now. Isn't it?"
Molly took him in her arms and kissed his cheek. She made sure that she did not squeeze the little light. Fnips said something quietly, pressing tightly against Charlie's neck. "I don't think there's anything to decide here, Charlie", Molly whispered to him.
"My head knows that, but my heart doesn't want to accept it. I need to discuss this with Nanno. And I think Joris will want to think about it too. Give us some time, okay? We survived a few days here. We can manage a few more days. Please."
"All right. If you insist. Even if I think it's unnecessary. Charlie. You can't live here!" Molly wiped a few tears from her eyes.
"And if I do?" Charlie's gaze wandered back to his brother and Ehlin.
And if I do?
Molly nodded. "I wish you two to be happy. You have become family. I cannot bear to see you in danger again. It’s a miracle that this one siren does not want to harm you. But what about all the other sirens?"
"Maybe I can make friends with them? The fairies and the nymphs were the same", Charlie reflected. But then he shook his head. "Nanno worries about this. About what could happen if the other sirens found out about us."
Molly nodded. "They eat humans. And they drown us for fun. Would you really want to risk your life for one single siren?"
Fnips sighed.
"Yes and no", Charlie replied as they watched Ehlin kiss Jori's cheeks.
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