NOBODY
You know what I think? He's probably the reason those things even attacked us!
Uri steels himself for a moment, he takes a deep breath. His jaw tightens, his eyes burning with unspoken fury as he stares him down.
NOBODY
He's the reason it got out again! This is all HIS fault!
URI
What were those things!!??
THE FIDDLER
Uh... How am I supposed to know?
The Fiddler gives a suspicious look in defense. Uri gets up in his face, closing the distance between them.
URI
Don't give me that!! You obviously knew what those were because you tried to run!
THE FIDDLER
(stammering)
Uhm...Well... you see... I don't...
NOBODY
Told you he couldn't be trusted!
URI
TELL ME THE TRUTH DAMN IT!!
The Fiddler locks eyes with him.
THE FIDDLER
Do you just assume that I had something to do with it because I'm a Demon!?
NOBODY
Yes!!!
URI
No!
(Beat)
Literally ever since you started “helping” us, we keep getting attacked by stuff!!
Uri lightly shoves him out of his face, The Fiddler stumbles back... He scowls as he re-closes the distance to get back in his face!
THE FIDDLER
Need I remind YOU, that YOU, were the one, who was lost and couldn't find his way through this forest!!?? And I so graciously offered my help, even though your a moody, angry little gremlin with a bad attitude!
The Fiddler pushes him back. That comment really hits him in the heart, there's something different in his eyes, something dark...
THE FIDDLER
I've been nothing but nice to you! Rewarding your “award-winning personality” With nothing but kindness! Which you don't seem to appreciate cause your so damn Demonist!
NOBODY
YES!! I fucking knew it! Finally, he shows his true colors!
URI
I KNEW you were full of shit! Running around here acting like Captain save a Witch! It's nice to know what you REALLY think of me, when you aren't being such a royal ass-kisser! I don't need you, or your help!
(Groans angrily loudly)
I KNEW having you come along would be a bad idea!!
THE FIDDLER
Oh get over yourself! I don't know what chip you have on your shoulder, but it's got nothing to do with me or my people for that matter!
NOBODY
Who the hell does he think he's talking to!!?? Who does he think he is!? Let this stupid Demon have it!
URI
If I have such a chip on my shoulder, then why even bother “helping” in the first place!?
THE FIDDLER
Well excuse me for giving a Damn! If I'm such a "royal ass-kisser", then you can kiss my royal ass! If you can't see that I'm just trying to help, you can do this on your own! I don't have to take this...
NOBODY
Fine!
URI
Fine!
From across the way, laying on the log, Wickston lifts his head up and speaks weakly.
WICKSTON
Please... stop fighting... It was my fault...
The two stop bickering for a moment, completely forgetting he was even there. They look over to him, he pulls himself up into a sitting position.
WICKSTON
It was my fault... The hounds were after me...
URI
What are you talking about, Wickston...?
WICKSTON
...I... had a vision... a memory... when it got close to me... Fire... Running... Howling...
He holds onto his head...
WICKSTON
...There's... a lot that I don't think I remember... and...
(Beat)
...and I'm scared...
Both of them walk over to Wickston and try to comfort him, they sit on both sides of the log and put their arms around his back. They look at each other while holding him, they look away from the other, ashamed of how they just acted. The Fiddler sighs heavily.
THE FIDDLER
I'm sorry!
URI
I'm sorry!
They turn away to stop looking at each other again.
URI
...I was out of line... and I'm sorry... I should have never said that. Just because you are a Demon doesn't mean every demonic thing that happens is your doing...
(Beat)
Not only that, but You were right... you've been nothing but nice to me... and I have been nothing but an angry little gremlin... with a bad attitude-
THE FIDDLER
No! I shouldn't have blown up at you like that...
(Beat)
I'm just so tired of people treating me different because of what I am! All my life people have acted this way... even other demons treat their own people like we're gonna do something if you don't watch us... I'm sick of it...
URI
That's... actually really ...sad.
(Beat)
...I feel like I'm not giving you a fair chance when you've more than earned one...
THE FIDDLER
Everyone deserves a chance Uri...
URI
I know... You're right. I'm sorry... I'm just a spaz... Who can't do anything right...
THE FIDDLER
Don't say that... Uri you're a good person... maybe a little misguided, but a good person nevertheless...
Uri looks over at the frozen Hellhounds.
URI
(Shallow and Heavy)
...I'm nothing but a monster...
The Fiddler's eyes widen for a moment, something about those words triggers a feeling in his chest.
THE FIDDLER
A... A Monster...?
(Beat)
...You're not a monster Uri... Please... Never say that about yourself...
His voice gets a little low... as he clutches Ol' Zephyr.
THE FIDDLER
Even though you were scared, you saved us... You're Braver than you give yourself credit for... I saw that look in your eyes... You were trying to protect... me...
They both look away from the other, then back at one another.
URI
...I... I want you to know, that I'm truly sorry... I'll be honest... I have a lot of things going on in my life right now... but that's no excuse to lash out at you...
(Beat)
Could you ever forgive me...? I promise I'll do better...
The Fiddler looks at him for a long moment, then a smile creeps onto his face.
THE FIDDLER
Only if you can forgive me for losing my cool... Demons have a hard time managing their emotions... It's one of the things I hate the most about myself...
He looks dejected thinking about it, then sighs.
THE FIDDLER
(Sighs)
I didn't mean those things... I was... just hurt by what you implied about me...
(Beat)
You're not a gremlin... your a kind person, with some baggage... And who doesn't have any of that...
(Beat)
I promise I'll do better as well to keep my emotional side under control...
URI
Friends...?
THE FIDDLER
Friends.
The Fiddler looks down at some of the Cherry Blossoms, and sighs heavy. There's clearly something on his mind, but just as he is about to speak, a Black Rose slowly falls directly in front of him. His face turns pale again. Uri looks at it, tries to pick it up. When The Fiddler grabs his wrist instinctually, slowly shaking his head "No".
THE FIDDLER
(Terror)
Don't touch that...
Uri looks at him wide-eyed.
THE FIDDLER
Could we... maybe leave now...?
Uri nods, then goes to pick up Wickston, carrying him on his back. The Fiddler follows him.
As they are walking away, the rose starts melting, turning into the same gross poison acid.
The group keeps along on their quest to get to Floralia in silence. Everyone seems to be lost in their own thoughts, as they walk along the path throughout the trees.
URI
(Thinking)
Well this all went to shit fast... I can't believe I acted like that. What the hell is wrong with me...?
NOBODY
I don't think we are focusing on the right thing right now. I'm just SURE he knows your dirty little secret now.
URI
(Thinking)
(Groans)
No seriously!! What the hell was that?! Something... came over me... and for a moment...
Uri thinks back to the moment right before he took action. The last thing he saw was the fear on The Fiddler's face. He shakes his head trying to knock the thoughts loose from his mind.
URI
Get it together Uri! We said no more magic...
(Beat)
I'm going to have to explain myself, aren't I...?
At the same time, The Fiddler is also thinking to himself.
THE FIDDLER
(Thinking)
I could've handled that better...
(Beat)
He has a right to know the full situation... I should tell him... but I... can't... I would be risking any chance of him ever trusting me...
(Beat)
Then again... There's something he's keeping from me...
The Fiddler has a quick flashback to Uri using that powerful spell.
THE FIDDLER
(Thinking)
...what even was that... I've never seen magic like that before...
Something tells me I shouldn't ask though... His reaction... I think he was having a panic attack... I can't lie I really wanna know.
Wickston is asleep, riding on Uri's back. He lets out a tiny snore, Uri smiles and lightly brushes his cheek softly. Wickston smiles in his sleep. The Fiddler, who has been keeping an eye on Uri after that event, smiles to himself.
THE FIDDLER
(Thinking)
He's not a “bad” guy, that much is for sure... but even I can tell something is amiss...
The Fiddler thinks back to his monster comment.
THE FIDDLER
(Thinking)
...Monster... he called himself a monster...
He clutches Ol' Zephyr again tightly in his hand.
THE FIDDLER
(Thinking)
I know he has a temper... but he seems harmless for the most part... Who would call such a sweet guy something so... heinous...
As Uri is walking, he keeps glancing back at Wickston on his back.
URI
(Thinking)
I sure hope Wickston's ok...
Uri sighs to himself, he turns his head back, looking forward.
URI
(Thinking)
I don't know what to make of this...
At least now I'm sure, he has definitely lost his memories... Who knows how long he was in the city for... I need to do everything in my power to get him home... Maybe even get some answers...
NOBODY
What you really need to be trying to figure out is The Fiddler's deal.
(Beat)
Like, what even was all that back there, huh? What's he got to hide?
URI
(Thinking)
No! I can't keep being weird around him!! He's trying so hard to help us!
NOBODY
You're a damn Fool, If you think he isn't hiding anything!
Uri looks over at The Fiddler; he stops walking.
URI
Uhh... Hey... Is it ok if we talk about what happened back there...?
The Fiddler turns around to him.
THE FIDDLER
That would... maybe be a good idea.
They both look at each other for a moment.
THE FIDDLER
But... let's keep moving while we talk, ok... It'll be dark soon, and we'll need to find some kind of shelter.
Uri reluctantly starts up back walking again.
URI
Ok...
(Beat)
So... wanna tell me what that was all about?
THE FIDDLER
(Confused)
Me?? What about you?
URI
(Also confused)
Me!?!? What about you!?
THE FIDDLER
(Sighs)
I guess we both have some explaining to do...
(Beat)
I admit it... I do know something about the Hellhounds... BUT IT'S NOT WHAT YOU THINK!!
URI
(Saying to himself)
Ok one sec...
I am Giving the benefit of the doubt...
I am listening and not jumping to conclusions...
We listen... but we don't judge. Even-though-we-really-want-to!
Ok, I'm ready.
The Fiddler stops walking, and turns to Uri and sighs very heavy.
THE FIDDLER
There's a lot you don't know about me...
(Beat)
I'm not just your everyday run-of-the-mill Demon...
The Fiddler takes off his tunic, revealing his bare chest. Across his Décolletage is a black looking tattoo, of some kind of demonic Sigil, with some writing in the Demon language.
A sudden warmth bloomed across Uri’s face at the sight of him, so much that he barely noticed anything else.
URI
(Flustered)
Whoa! Hey man!
He turns his head away, embarrassed.
THE FIDDLER
Heh, Sorry, this was the easiest way to explain. To show you...
Uri turns back toward him but stops cold. His eyes land on the scars... dozens of them riddled, and carved deep all across his torso. Some fresh, some long-healed, all unmistakably painful... Uri forgets what he was going to say caught between the shock...
URI
I... goodness...
THE FIDDLER
...Oh those? That's a... another story...I was referring to this...
He points to his tattoo.
URI
(Little awkwardly and Confused)
...Uhm... Cool tattoo? My Mali isn't very good, so I can't quite make out what it says... I will say this is a pretty neat tattoo though, very regal, yet menacing. What does this have to do with anything?
THE FIDDLER
It just says my real name... and my title...
URI
Oh. Which is...?
The Fiddler's face turns redder than his red skin... then covers himself back up. Uri thinks to himself for a moment.
URI
(Thinking)
Wait... Is he being bashful? What happened to all the annoying bravado he had earlier? It's kinda nice to see him a little more real...
THE FIDDLER
It's a Magic Demon Marking... only for Demons... in high ranking royal families...
URI
Wait, wait, wait, are you some kind of King? Demon King?
THE FIDDLER
(Sighs)
...Only in my worst nightmares...
The Fiddler sits down on a nearby rock and hangs his head down.
THE FIDDLER
Before I was the cool, confident, masterful powerhouse of a Bard you know and love now-
URI
(Thinking)
(Groaning)
Well That didn't last long.
THE FIDDLER
-I come from one of the many noble Demon families from the In-between... I'm a Marquise.
URI
What's that?
THE FIDDLER
It just means son of a Duchess...
(Beat)
I never fit in with other Demons... let alone the nobles... and I could never be the person she wanted me to be...
He trails off, and stops for a moment.
THE FIDDLER
I wasn't mean, nasty, or cruel... That just wasn't who I was... I wasn't...
He stops...
THE FIDDLER
The truth is... I have no idea what Wickston is talking about... I'm sure those Hellhounds were after me...
(Beat)
...I didn't really leave home on good terms...
URI
Interesting...
He begins getting emotional; his eyes start welling up a little.
THE FIDDLER
I want you to know that I never meant to put you guys in danger!! If I had known, I-
URI
I believe you.
THE FIDDLER
What...?
URI
I said, I believe you.
THE FIDDLER
You... You do?
URI
As easy as it would be to blame you for this, I believe you.
(Beat)
Y-You are kind... brave... honest... selfless... You're not like the Demons I've heard about at all. You're different...
The Fiddler's face lights up a little.
THE FIDDLER
(Hopeful)
You... think I'm different?
URI
A Good different.
(Beat)
I will say one thing though. I don't think that you are to blame for this at all either.
Uri looks over at Wickston who is still asleep on his back.
URI
Wickston said he recognized those Hellhounds... I truly don't think this had anything to do with you.
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