To Be A Parent and A Leader

"To Be A Parent and A Leader" is a BOTGD 2 thread written on June 9, 2019. 
== Summary ==
== Full Text ==
=== Part 1 ===
Grey Bergman: Morning finally came over Haligan Island, which couldn’t really be seen as a good thing for the Felman family. After Sven’s nightmare last night, the family agreed to stay together in kids’ room after all to help the Heir go back to sleep with Grey and Brandt sleeping on floor mats.
Nevertheless, morning came, and the Chief and her second-in-command needed to get to work. There needed to be a meeting with the council to discuss how the rescue for Sven went and what the next move was going to be regarding Rhenco. Grey and Brandt figured last night that Rhenco’s weakness was a positive, and they both knew that they needed to get to Rhenco first before he tried to go after their family.
“Let’s find Ander,” Grey said as she and Brandt left the house with Shadow in tow. “We need to gather the council.”
“Agreed,” Brandt said as they went to seek out their brother-in-law. 
Ander: Ander ran a hand through his hair as he shut the door to his house behind him.
Asha had been a fretful sleeper overnight, waking up at all hours worried about Sven and worrying for her daughters. Katryn had been worked up too, only settling when she crawled into their bed in the middle of the night.
Asha had woken up sleepy and melancholy, very unusual for her. He had been torm between staying home with her and finding Grey, but Siri had all but kicked him out of the house, promising to stay with her mom and sister so he could, in her words “go do council stuff because Aunt Grey will probably be looking for you anyway”.
So Ander left the house, and in his distracted state of mind did not realize he had crossed paths with the chief until he was quite literally nose to nose with her second-in-command and one of his good friends.
“Good morning Brandt. Good morning Grey.” Ander greeted them. “How funny, I was just looking for you. How’s Sven? We’ve been worried about him.”
Grey Bergman: Grey and Brandt both smiled at seeing Ander walking toward them. 
“Good morning, Ander,” Grey said as he walked up to them. “He’s okay. My mom checked on him last night. He just had some bruised ribs from a fall, but he…did have a nightmare last night.”
“I’m sorry you guys didn’t get to see him last night,” Brandt said. “He just wanted to get home and get some sleep and just unwind. Plus, Milae kind of wore him out a little.”
Ander: “That’s completely understandable. I’m glad he’s alright. Well. physically alright. When you see him, give him our love.”
Ander sighed.
“You both look exhausted. I can only imagine. If you or the kids need anything, please let Asha or I know.”
Grey Bergman: Grey gave a warm smile allowing Ander to see the bags under her eyes. The past few days had been difficult between Sven getting kidnapped and rescued and now experiencing nightmares. She quickly wrapped her arms around her brother-in-law hugging him tightly. 
“Thank you,” she said pulling away. “I know we can always count on you, Asha, Warren, and…well…our other special guest.” She thought about a certain 17-year-old girl. 
“Actually, with this meeting,” Brandt began, “we might take you up on that.”
Ander: Ander returned Grey’s hug warmly. “And as always, it would be a pleasure to help you. You do so much for all of us.”
Ander let go if Grey carefully and then turned his attention to Brandt. “What exactly do you mean?”
Grey Bergman: “Well, see, we need to have a meeting with the council about Rhenco,” Brandt explained. 
“Sven may learned some very important information…about Rhenco’s weakness,” Grey said turning back to Ander. “He wasn’t supposed to tell anyone, so we need to keep this quiet. But if this meeting with the council goes well, then we may have the means to defeat Rhenco and punish him for what he did to Sven.”
Ander: Ander nodded. “Anything I can do to help take Rhenco down, I’ll do. He can’t keep doing things like this. He deserves to be punished. I will do whatever you need.”
Ander was not sure what had happened to Sven, but he had a horrible feeling that whatever Rhenco did was cruel and sick. Sven was Ander’s nephew and he loved the boy very much. He knew Grey and Brandt would lead the charge to get revenge back for their son, but Ander would be close behind.
He could only imagine the rage the Felmans felt towards Rhenco. If someone had laid a finger on either of his girls, he would be seething. They remained so composed for the most part and Ander was impressed.
“I will help you stop him.” Ander said finally, with a set jaw. As a member of the council, as a fighter, whatever he had to do, he would do it.
Grey Bergman: “Thank you, Ander,” Grey smiled warmly. “We’ll have to fill everyone in on what happened in the meeting, but Brandt and I plan to lead a small group of us back to the hotel.” She gestured for the two men to follow her to the Great Hall. 
“Any chance Asha would be able to watch the kids while we do that?” Brandt asked as he began to follow his wife. “We don’t exactly want them to know what we’re doing, especially Sven.”
Ander: “I’m sure she would be more than willing. I’ll be sure to ask when I get home.” Ander followed the chief and her husband into the Great Hall.
“I doubt she’ll be against it. How are the girls holding up?”
Grey Bergman: “Scared, confused, all of the above,” Brandt replied thinking about how terrified Dagny and Kari were throughout this whole ordeal. “We had to talk to them this morning. We had to explain to them that this whole thing with Rhenco probably messed with Sven and will probably be scared of some things for a while.”
Ander: Ander nodded. “I’d imagine I should mention something similar to my girls too. Katryn shouldn’t be a problem, but you know Siri. Sometimes she says things she shouldn’t.”
He loved Siri, adored her really. She was great fun, but also a little loud-mouthed and blunt at times.
“Not to pry, and you don’t have to tell me a thing more if you don’t want to, but do you happen to know of anything in specific that could upset him? I’d hate to do anything near him that could frighten him and not know it.”
The poor boy had already been through enough, he didn’t deserve any more, even on accident.
Grey Bergman: Grey and Brandt looked at each other, both of them wondering if either of them noticed anything that could have triggered Sven. 
“So far, we haven’t noticed anything,” Grey said turning back to Ander, “but he’s only been back for one night. We’ll be sure to inform you once we notice something. Although, I think it would be best to inform the girls…just so they know what to expect.”
Ander: Ander nodded. That made perfect sense to not have any ideas of triggers yet. “Yes, of course. I will let them know when I get back home.”
Katryn and Siri had been worried over their cousin the previous night, as their mother had. They should know that Sven was okay, but also would probably be a little more anxious than usual.
“Grey, is there anything specific you’d like me to do at the meeting?” He wanted to help as much as possible.
Grey Bergman: “We’re going to go over a few occurrences from the previous nights,” Grey said. “So, if you can think of anything, definitely give us your input. Plus, we will need your help later afterwards.”
“I’m sorry it’s a little cryptic right now,” Brandt explained as they walked into the Great Hall, “but I promise, we’ll explain everything when everyone gets here.”
Ander: “Alright,” Ander to them both. “And don’t worry about being cryptic. It’s easier to explain things once to everyone rather than many times over and over again. I understand.”
Grey Bergman: Within a few minutes, the entire council had arrived into the Great Hall, where Grey, Brandt, and Ander were waiting at the table. Grey watched as they all filed into the hall. Most of these men were on Hroar’s council before Grey took over, and they knew Grey ever since she was born. 
“Thank you for coming, everyone,” the Chief said as soon as they all sat down with Grey in her “throne” and Brandt and Ander on either side of her. “I know you must have a lot of questions, and I hope I can update you all on what has happened.”
“Yes, please, Chief,” one council member replied. “Let’s start with your son, please. How is the young lad?”
“Well, we did manage to get Sven home safe and sound,” Grey replied smiling grateful to see how loved her children were by the village. “We found where Rhenco was holding him yesterday.”
Ander: Ander took his place beside the chief, opposite her husband. Years ago, when he had first joined this mismatched family of Asha’s, he’d never expected to be asked by Grey to be part of her council, yet here he was.
He listened intently to Grey, as he always did. “Yes. And thank goodness for that.” Ander added, after being sure he wasn’t interrupting.
Grey Bergman: “How exactly did you manage to find this place, Chief?” another council member asked raising an eyebrow. 
“Well,” Grey said as she turned to Brandt, who looked at her in return, “I’m sure you saw me talking to the goat, Milae. I can’t exactly piece together how he did it because I’m still a little stunned myself. Milae explained to me and Brandt that he has…”
“Special abilities,” Brandt interjected. There was no need for details. “He managed to find Rhenco’s hotel, and told us where to go.”
Ander: “Special abilities?” Ander questioned Grey and Brandt. “What do you mean by that? Does Milae have some sort of magic?”
=== Part 2 ===
Grey Bergman: “It’s hard to explain,” Brandt started to say, “but…” he looked to his wife as if silently asking if they should explain.
Grey nodded and looked to the council. “He had abilities that have to do with…time,” the Chief explained.
“Time?” a council member asked. 
Ander: “This… man can… travel through time? Like go into the future and the past?” Ander questioned.
Grey Bergman: “In a…matter of speaking,” Grey began scratching the back of his neck. Oh Gods…they weren’t going to believe this. “When Sven was kidnapped, Milae came to us, and he said that he lived through the night of Sven’s kidnapping multiple times.”
It was not long before the council burst into a fit of laughter. 
Ander: Ander almost laughed, but he stopped himself. He had spent the last twenty or so tears of his life hearing stories about the people and things who had powers, who helped the Rebellion. He had seen some of these powers in person. Time travel sounded ridiculous, but he believed her.
“He can rewind time then?” Ander questioned the chief. “For himself?”
Grey Bergman: “Not necessarily,” Grey replied casting a sidelong glance at her husband. “The way he explained it to us is a little complicated, but basically each event in life has several different outcomes. So, as Milae put it, the night Sven was kidnapped had multiple outcomes where he interfered, and he claimed to have seen all of them.”
Ander: Ander was silent for a moment. This sounded ridiculous, but after all he knew about Demons and dungeons and Rhenco and the powers some other former Rebels and their children had, and heck, even Hel herself, this didn’t sound too outlandish.
“If you both believe him,” Ander said finally. “I believe it too.”
Grey Bergman: “Chief, with all due respect,” another member finally says after they calmed down from laughing, “surely, you can’t believe this nonsense. For as long as most of us could remember, you’ve always been a smart child. This Milae sounds like he might’ve been messing with witchcraft.”
“I know it sounds crazy,” Grey replied, “but considering what I’ve seen in my lifetime, nothing sounds like nonsense to me anymore.”
Ander: “Regardless of what he did or how he did it,” Ander spoke up. “He did something that helped Chief Grey to get her son back. Surely that counts for something? But the chief is right, this is fairly believable compared to things I’ve heard of.”
Grey Bergman: “Thank you, Ander,” Brandt said smiling at his brother-in-law. “Milae was a big help to us, and Sven is back safe and sound. That should be what matters.”
“You’re right, Brandt,” a council member said. “Apologies to you and your husband, Chief.”
“Apology accepted,” Chief Grey replied. “But now that Sven is back, we have something else to discuss: Rhenco himself.”
Ander: Ander bristled at the mention of Rhenco. He hated him, despised him and he hardly knew of him. But taking a child was uncalled for and unnecessarily cruel. And he hated that.
“Do you have any plans for him?” Ander asked both Grey and Brandt suddenly. Usually he waited for Grey to explain things before asking, but something about Rhenco set him on edge. He wanted him gone.
Grey Bergman: “Of course,” Brandt replied. 
“Nala, the Warden told us that Rhenco is immortal and has this…aversion to death in a matter of speaking,” Grey explained. “However, while Sven was there, he accidentally found out that Rhenco has a weakness. From what he told us, Rhenco has an aversion to fire.”
Ander: “Not to sound rude, but doesn’t everyone have a bit of an aversion to fire?” Ander questioned.
Grey Bergman: Grey paused pursing her lips. Ander had a point, but she had to clarify this somehow. “Technically, yes,” she replied.
“However, what Grey meant is that Rhenco manages to heal when he is ‘killed,’” Brandt interjected to back up his wife, “but when burned, it causes pain. It could easily compromise him.”
Ander: “Ah,” Ander says. “Alright, that makes sense. Please continue.”
Grey Bergman: Grey smiled at Ander and nodded grateful that her brother-in-law was beginning to understand. “However, there is another thing,” Grey said turning back to the entire council. “Sven said that he used a lantern to burn Rhenco, and that happened before Brandt and I found him outside the building.”
“And after we found Sven,” Brandt added, “Rhenco came out and spoke to us, and he did not look like someone who was just burnt and crippled.”
“Which means that something happened in between the time Sven burnt him and the time he came out to talk to us,” Grey added. “That being said, I would like to bring him in for questioning.”
Ander: Ander nodded. That sounded like the best course of action to take. He knew some wouldn’t agree, but it made sense to him. He waited for Grey to continue.
Grey Bergman: “Yes, I agree, Chief,” a council member replied. 
“But how do we bring such a man in?” another council member asked. 
“Well, he told me that he wasn’t going anywhere because he was waiting for Milae,” Grey replied, “which means he will be waiting at the hotel. And if he shows any resistance, then we can use his weakness against him and cripple him.”
Ander: Ander nodded. “I will go with you to the hotel if you want me to, Chief.”
Grey Bergman: “Thank you, Ander, we would be glad to have you come along,” Grey said as she and Brandt smiled at their brother-in-law. The Chief then turned back to the rest of the council. “I will pass along the message to the villagers to gather volunteers, but if you all can decide amongst yourselves who will stay here and accompany us to the hotel, that would be great.”
Soon enough, all of the council members announced who was staying and was going with the Chief, her husband, and brother-in-law to Rhenco’s hotel.
Ander: Ander was glad that the members of the council were able to work that out amongst themselves with no issues. They were a good bunch to work with, he enjoyed it.
“When were you planning on going to the hotel?” Ander questioned.
Grey Bergman: “Immediately as soon as we gather our men and volunteers,” the Chief said as she stood up from her seat. Determination flooded through her body. This was it. They couldn’t afford to wait any longer. Rhenco needed to be dealt with. “Let’s saddle up, men. We have a long journey ahead of us.”
Ander: Ander immediately rose from his seat, joining his sister- and brother-in-law in standing. He would go with them, do anything to keep his family safe. And he would follow Grey anywhere.
“After you, Chief.”
Grey Bergman: With that said, the Chief led her husband, brother-in-law, and the council members out of the Great Hall to make the preparations. No matter what was going to happen, they were going to bring Rhenco in, and with this weakness in mind, she knew they would be able to incapacitate him. After everything he did to their son, he was finally going to pay.
As soon as they stepped outside, Grey and Brandt found Shadow waiting for them. “You ready to fly, girl?” Grey asked the Night Fury. 
Category:BOTGD 2
Category:Act I
Category:Events
Category:Grey Bergman
Category:Ander Haralson
Category:Brandt Felman