Fitz couldn't believe it. Zyfira was moving in with them? Why? He was annoyed at the thought of constant teasing, but oddly, not as annoyed as he thought he would be. Maybe Zyfira wasn't so bad? She had been nice yesterday. She was the first one to check upon him. Biana had been sobbing in her room, and he could hear his parents downstairs. Alden had been crying, and Della just sat in shocked silence. He didn't want to go to them at first, thinking he would just make it worse. He'd probably start yelling about Alvar being a horrible person or something like that. He always did. But...he wasn't angry at Alvar anymore. It just felt like there was a gaping hole in his heart where his brother had once been. Zyfira had helped him, and later Keefe hailed him. The sight of Mademoiselle Fancypants was enough to make him forget for a moment. And the fact that Keefe had remembered him. As hard as it was, he understood Keefe not really hanging out with him much. Keefe couldn't remember them being best friends. He couldn't remember Fitz at all. Besides, Keefe had his whole "your mother is Lady Gisela" thing to deal with. Fitz would have understood if Keefe hadn't hailed him. Well, he might have understood. What happened to Alvar was a pretty big deal. The silence from Sophie hurt pretty bad too. It was petty of her not to have said anything to him. Then again, she probably was scared of making it worse. She knew what a sensitive topic Alvar was. Fitz winced at the thought of what happened last time she tried to bring Alvar up. She was avoiding making everything worse, just like Fitz was doing by not having talked to his family for two days. Biana had come to his door a few times and asked to talk, but Fitz had just stayed silent. He wished that Alvar had asked for help. Maybe he could have been cured! He would have gone to Exile, but that was still better than death, right?
"Fitz?" Biana was back. "I know you're probably angry, and sad, but- I- I- really need you. Mom and Dad are dealing with their own stuff, and I don't want to bother them. Just please, let me in. Even if you're angry at me. I really need you." Biana's voice trembled. Fitz's desire to stay silent evaporated. She thought he was angry at her? Why would he be angry at her? Fitz opened the door. Biana smiled at him, her eyes bloodshot.
"Thank you. It's been horrible these past days...you were locked in here, and Mom won't talk either, she's in shock, and Dad...he can't say two words without crying. Zyfira has just been helping the gnomes, I don't think she knows what to say. My friends tried to help, but...it wasn't the same."
"Why would you think I was mad at you?" Fitz asked.
"You're not?"
"No! Why would I be?"
"I guess, cause I helped you trap Alvar, and didn't try and stop you, and sided with Mom and Dad a bit?" What kind of person was he of Biana thought he would be mad at her? He really needed to start controlling his anger.
"None of that's your fault. Honestly, I'm not mad at Alvar anymore. I just...I miss him. I'm mad at myself for being so angry at him, and angry at him for not trying to get help-" Biana cut him off with a hug and burst into tears.
"I- I- miss him too," she sobbed. "I jus wish-wish he could come back." Fitz hugged her back.
"Me too."