The Journey

James Maris held Megan Maris' hand as the two sat on the couch across from their son. Megan seemed happy enough, but James' scowl was impressive to those who didn't know him. Ian hadn't known him, not really, until the moment his eyes found his fathers' for the first time since he'd come to this world.

It was that same shock he'd felt upon seeing Sunny for the first time, but it was different. He got more than names on seeing his father and, eventually, his mother... He had someone else's memories and they were both the happiest and the saddest memories he could ever hope for.

It was bad, he couldn't hide his immediate reaction no matter how hard he tried. How embarrassing. It was likely that everyone there assumed he was just happy to be home but... he had been prepared to face them. Now, Ian felt cheated of his big introduction to this world.

Well, not like his parents, and they really were his parents now, knew anything of the sort. With tears streaming down his face, the youth managed to keep his voice level as he made introductions. He indicated each person as he introduced them, beginning with 'my retainer' Ellea and ending with Rokal, leader of the dwarven faction from Deimos Hold.

"Father, mother, we should speak privately before you make any decisions on the matter we'll be bringing before you... however I am honor-bound to inform you that Holder Rokal and his people have certainly protected and guided me here. More, I might truly owe them my life, though I've little doubt they'll tell you I had a part in saving them in turn."

His introductions and that out of the way, Rokal stepped forward to give the details of the fall of his Hold to Orcs and Goblins, as well as how his people were taken captive. He spoke of his belief that these monsters seemed to be working under the direction of another power, then briefly details our encounter with that strange patrol in the woods.

He shook his head abruptly, remembering the journey itself. Rokal had informed them of all the important details of their trip, though it was largely just walking after that first day. Sure, Ian had picked up some herbs and fruits to help with their diet, but he kept his personal rations for himself and his retainer.

After all was said and done, though, it all ended up at that place at that time, with a son staring at his parents feeling so unsure of himself. It wasn't that he hadn't loved his original parents, yet there was a marked difference here. What was wrong with him?

"Ian?" Megan's rich contralto voice reached through to him after far too long, "Are you okay? It's alright now. You're home where you belong."

He shook himself, squaring his shoulders. "M-mom... No, that's... I..." He took several deep breaths, bringing himself back under control. "There are several things I need to tell you and they are all important. I'm having trouble finding where to start..."

"From the beginning is usually best, son," James' gruff voice cut in. Ah, he really looked intimidating.

"I'm not your son," the boy said, boldly facing his parents. He looked terrified, but he continued, "Ian of Maris was a name I made up for a LARP group, well... the SCA is more than just that, but it's also that. I was born in the town of Landing to Etienne and Carol, in the State of Arizona, part of the country known as the 'United States', a contradiction I know."

He met his father's eyes as he continued speaking, "I have memories, fourteen years of my life in that hot, annoying desert town just off of a freshwater river. I remember diving, swimming, my first girlfriend, all of it... I even have some of the items from my home."

"Then I saw you and... and m-mother for the first time and suddenly I have memories I shouldn't have. I remember things I've never done. I have the scars I had from my own world, yet the same scars I had from that I remember a different reason for having received them here!"

"I'm afraid that the Me I was will disappear and become the Me you all seem to know so well... but he's kind of an idiot. It's no wonder the Holder and his people are trying to pull one over on me."

The parents shared a look, then turned to their second son. Megan spoke up first, "Ian, dear... Your father and I are here for you. I know James is a little grumpy looking, but we both love you very much. If you need to take some time to recover from this experience, it's understandable."

"Oh god... they think I'm delusional." Ian's face was soon held in his hands for a moment, but then. "Ah! First, I can prove what I'm saying pretty definitively," the boy said, looking firmly at his parents. He reached into his pant pocket, then showed them the cell phone he had turned off.

"This is from my world," he said, slowly as if he was speaking to idiots. His parents weren't in the least amused by such a tone, but he continued speaking as he turned it on. "Among the abilities this device has is recording sound and images of events seen by it's camera."

He turned on the video camera, pressing the record button. "I'll demonstrate it now. You'll see you two sitting on the couch as I speak." He stopped the vid, then showed it to his parents, the words playing back. Then he loaded up another video.

Five older kids were approaching the camera with murder in their eyes. "We're going to hurt y-" it was cut off, the blushing youth changing it almost immediately.

"Sorry, wrong video. Ahem. Here we go." Thus saying, he played a new video. A number of his classmates were playing baseball against another school. There were some rather obvious signs of an alternate world. The wide use of cell phones, the various electronics on display, the clothing, the way people treated each other...

"Interesting... scrying magic, perhaps?"

"It's possible, but notice how he can stop it and restart, or adjust the time... Our son has awakened to a new magic, perhaps?"

"Hmm... Well, this aside, son, tell us about the rest of your journey. Was there anything else you wanted to share?"

"I've got more proof... a lot more proof! Why are you looking at me like I'm the idiot here..."

"Would you like a hug, sweetie?" Megan asked, opening her arms wide.

In fairness to Ian, he resisted for two, almost three seconds before speaking. "Y-yes, mommy," and practically leaping up from his seat, running round the little table and into her arms.

"Has my poor boy had a hard time? It's okay honey, mommy's here for you. Sh.... it's all okay now, I've got you."

"It's been really hard," he sobbed. "I'm trying so hard... I just wanted to run home and hide! But I can't do that, I really can't..."

"I know, baby," she comforted, holding the boy close, rocking him back and forth. "Mommy's really proud of you for being so brave."

To be fair to James, he allowed this situation to continue for a number of minutes, but at last he felt the need to interject. "Ah, son... The journey, anything else you wanted to add?"

"My retainer believes me," he said, pouting, "What else... Hmm... I might be elf-married to my retainer, I promised Sunny I'd court her if you all approved, I killed a goblin..."

"Elf-married? That's not a thing, so forget it. As for Sunny, well... Your mother and I will keep her in mind, however, your marriage isn't set in stone yet."

"I see... From that ruined house, we journeyed upriver for about a day, then turned westward again toward evening. It was two days from there before we found the old Imperial Highway and from there on we spent each night at one of the hostels along the way."

"Then there was the gates... Hey, I was dressed up, I had my colors on and everything, so why in Gifnu's Nine Hells did they not only fail to recognize me, but also sought to abduct Lady Sunny and my Retainer? I seriously want to hurt them for trying to take my toys."

"What was that last part?" his mother asked innocently, "I didn't quite catch it."

"I said I want to hurt them for disrespecting the lovely ladies accompanying me on my way home," Ian corrected himself real fast and in a hurry, anxious not to disappoint his dear mother.

"Ah, I thought that's what I heard." Megan patted his head, happy to show her support of her boy's correction.

"I can't think of anything else off hand, though... I didn't, not once, feel like those dwarves needed my help to escape. For being 'overrun' I saw one goblin in the entire time we were in Deimos Hold. My 'gear' was conveniently located, everything from when I came to my senses outside of that cave to the time I got here. Not once did I feel like I was anything other than a nuisance, a tool to be used."

"I see... Still, we have to send a response."

"I'd like to suggest the obvious, then. There's no point in sending archers into a cave, can I borrow some men and maybe a few artisans and fletchers for an experiment?"

"Ah... I don't see the problem with it, what are you planning?"

"I saw some interesting dwarven weaponry, so I'd like to see if I can't work out how to make them and perhaps we can test them as well?"

"If that's the idea... We do have an older fort near the Lunarian border, how about I send you out there with a few hundred men, some supplies, those artisans you are so interested in, and the tools you'll need to work out the new weapons?"

Megan held him close, glaring, "James! He just got home!"

"He doesn't have to leave right now..."

"It's okay, mom. It surely won't take more than a few weeks and I'll be protected the whole way, right? This could be an adventure!"

"Then maybe I should come with you..."

Was this Ian a mommy's boy? Seriously? He frowned, then shook his head. "Dad would be lonely without the most beautiful woman in all the lands at his side, right? It'll be fine. Ah... but I won't go right away. Maybe after the army leaves, okay?"

"Sure... Yeah, that'll be fine."

"Was there anything else you wanted to say?" James asked, showing a small smile for the first time that night. "No? Then how about we go to dinner, hmm? I'd like a proper introduction to this retainer of yours."