daretosee | For fractalsfrozen

For fractalsfrozen | Ice Fae Sigma AU

There's a part of him who knew it'd end up this way. Cast out of the town he'd lived in his entire life, where everyone knew each other like family. In the end it hasn't mattered.

He was a warlock, a friend trying to poison their town with witchcraft and dark magic. Or that's what everyone thought. Change was frightening and right now it wasn't something they were ready for, Harold had feared it, but it hadn't been an excuse to not try to better the lives of the towns people.

Medicine and the advancements in it were not to be trusted, so he'd been cast out, forced out into the harshness of winter and the wilds to fend for himself. Harold packed as much as they allowed him, bundled up in as many layers as he could wear without inhibiting his movement.

The first few days aren't so bad, cold, but thankfully not windy. He's got enough food for maybe a week if he rations it out. Making a fire is dangerous, it draws attention and he's on his own, his only weapon a knife he uses to eat with.

In the end it's not monsters or animals or even ruffians that get him, it's the storm that hits three days in. The wind bites through his clothes and there's no way he could make a fire like this.

So he fights through blinding snow drifts to find a cave or anything he could take shelter in, but his body gives out before he has any luck. The cold is just too much and he collapses, still clutching a blanket tight around himself to try and fight off the wind and snow.

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The fae nodded.

"Yes. Their words are different than mine...different from yours...but I can understand them."

He was an Elemental, born of the mountain to protect it and its inhabitants for as long as he was able. The birds knew him as they knew the trees and the rocks. His scent was all over the mountain and the scent of the mountain was in his blood.

"Bird thoughts are much more simple than human or fae thoughts, but I still understand them."

The small swarm of birds all turned to look at Harold. Siebren smiled.

"Don't worry, he's my friend." he reassured them.

He nodded to the left.

"We should move on...see what else there is."

And so they did...Siebren clearing fallen brush from their path with a wave of his hands and had it set down beside them. He pointed out various creatures that were peering out of the brush at them-deer, squirrels...a badger. Siebren frowned when there was a massive, broken tree. Its wood was jagged and burned, having been struck by lightning. The remaining jagged trunk was as tall as Harold.

"Sad...to lose one so old."

He voice was quiet. The fae gently glided up to it and rested his hands on the sharp wood. His palms burned...the tree was dying. It had been damaged too much for even him to save. Instead he worked magic to soothe it...ease its energy back into the mountain....until the tree no longer had any life energy about it and it was nothing but wood. He retrieved his hands from the bark and looked at them as the burns healed themselves...a small price to pay to usher an ancient one back to the mountain so it could be born again come spring.

"That's amazing." Everything feels so magical right now, it's brisk and cold, but watching this larger than life fae speaking with the birds like they're old friends is something he could never imagine seeing in his life. It's more so when Sigma introduces him to the birds and they all turn to peer at him curiously. Little heads tilted and turning wondering what to think of him.

"Oh- hi. Hello, haha." Harold waves awkwardly. Should he try talking to them too? Thankfully Sigma urges them to keep going, deciding for him, though some of the birds stay with them, still riding on the fae's horns. They're joined by other animals as well and it's so surreal. While he understands he's safe with Sigma, he still pulls closer to him as more seem to surround them as they move through the brush and trees.

Things turn solemn when they come upon a huge tree, clearly quite old, that's fallen. What stands is still as tall as him, the rest is broken and partially covered by the snow drift. It feels like a funeral as Sigma laments the loss... an old friend? No doubt he knew all trees like they were his neighbors. He'd lived longer than any of them here for sure. Harold watches, standing back a little, quiet with his hands folded in front of him, wishing to be respectful. It's only once the fae is done that he realizes he's hurt.

"Oh-" Stepping from behind him, he comes to stand beside him, hesitating to touch him, but reaching a hand out all the same.

"Are you alright? It looks painful." Is this what he did? Healed and took the pain from the mountain when things like this happened? Took it upon himself?

Siebren regarded his burned hands, his heart still heavy. The burns healed and shrank until his palms were once again their usual blue tinged grey. He slowly nodded.

"Yes. I am. I will be."

He looked at the fallen tree. Its aura was gone and it no longer felt like the body of a fallen friend.

He flexed his hand, opening and closing it.

"It is a shame to let it go to waste. The tree is no longer a tree. It is wood. Do you need it for anything? We can harvest it another time if you do."

He paused.

"It was already ancient when I was born."

The great ice fae felt his lower lip tremble. He took a deep breathe and he nodded.

"I look forward to meeting it again in its next life."

Harold mutters a soft 'oh' watching the fae's burns heal as if they had never been there. It was nothing he'd ever seen before, a miracle many would say. The logical part of his brain realizes that the fae must have incredibly fast regenerative healing properties. Humans healed too, but much much slower. Over time their wounds would heal, many mild illnesses would sort themselves out if not treated. If only a human could heal as quick as Sigma.

Then again, they'd think any one who could was evil, dark magic. Sigma may look some what scary and wicked at first glance, but watching him now. The sadness in his eyes, the slump of his shoulders as he lamented the loss of an old friend. Harold liked to think he was a good judge of character and he wouldn't consider Sigma wicked or evil at all.

"I... I wouldn't know what to do with it." It wouldn't feel right to make something from the wood of something that had been a friend to the fae for so long. Yet he was right, it would be a waste to let the wood rot.

"I'll think of something, we can come back another time." Harold doesn't want to just chop the tree up and put no thought into what he'd do with the wood. It wouldn't feel right. It wouldn't be respectful. Harold isn't sure what else to say or how to console the fae, so for all he'd hesitated in touching him before, he does now. A gentle touch, hand resting on Sigma's arm.

Siebren could heal from his injuries as a caretaker quickly....illness less so...and iron least of all. He'd hidden this fact from every non-fae he had ever met. The other fae shared a mutual weakness. He was healthy, so his body usually rid itself of sickness in a day or two...likewise an injury that was sustained in another way...but an iron burn or cut would fester and refuse to heal for weeks on end. He reckoned he could even be killed fairly easily with the substance. All the more reason to not mention it.

He watched his burns fade to nothing before nodding.

He tensed, but just barely at the touch to his arm. He turned to see Harold's hand gently resting on his arm, offering him comfort. He had no idea who else it would be, but it still surprised him a human he had essentially just met would offer him comfort. It felt like something this particular human would do, though, and he smiled softly, placing his opposite hand over Harold's and giving a soft squeeze.

"Thank you, my friend...for your comfort."

He sighed and nodded.

"We will think of something beautiful and useful to do with it later."

His soft smile returned.

"Don't worry. Its spirit has returned to the mountain. I made sure of it."

He flexed his hands.

"It no longer suffers and can instead become something new."

That's what he does.

"A healthy mountain should always have one or more fae to take care of it. It gives us life...it is the least we can do in return to make sure it can continue to prosper and spawn more plants and even more fae."

Harold can't help but stare for a moment at the large hand that rests over his. It's not like he hasn't realized how big the fae is compared to him, but the size difference is almost comical when that hand gently rests a top of his. The flush to his cheeks is one hundred percent from the cold, not from anything else.

Taking his hand back he'll wrap his arms around himself, rubbing at his arms, the chill not terrible, but there.

"I'm glad the mountain has someone like you here. I never... before this I wouldn't have considered a tree having a soul or thought about it suffering." Already his eyes are being opened to a whole new world. A world he'd been a part of, but not seen in this light before.

"Are fae born often, or is it only when one of your kind passes on that the mountain or other places um, create them?" It's interesting to learn about all of this, to be so close to it. He's sure he's very lucky being in the situation he's in currently.

Siebren looked Harold Winston over and the corner of his mouth pulled into a smile. It was a pleasant respite from the heaviness of the ordeal he had just been through.

Humans were not normally so curious...so willing to learn. Most were desperate and easily frightened. This healer, though? Not so much. The fae was more than willing to teach him.

"Thank you. I do my best."

It was true, he did...and it felt...nice...to have an outsider acknowledge it.

"It depends on a lot of factors. It also depends on the fae. Some reproduce more frequently and...more traditionally than others. An elemental such as myself? Much less often. We take much longer to reach maturity than others. Pixies? Brownies? Gnomes? Trolls? All much faster. Elemental Fae grow slower...live much longer...but we have more responsibilities. We have to make sure our lands are healthy...or all those others...and the plants and animals cannot survive."

He paused before continuing.

"If I were to expire...it would be some time before my replacement would be born...longer still for them to learn their place...their duties...and their power. It is not easy to understand and control. It takes time...practice."

He gestured at the forest.

"There are other ice fae...on other mountains in other lands. Rarely are there two of the same in one place. Should the mountain make another fae like myself...it is unlikely it would choose to make another of ice while I still breathe. Not impossible...just unlikely."

He nodded.

"What about your kind, Harold? When do members of your race create more humans?"

It's a lot but he thinks he understands, kinda. The gist of it. Not having a fae around is bad for the earth, for animals, plants, everything, but actually making or having one born takes a long time.

Sounds like losing a fae would be a horrific blow. He wonders how many fae die naturally, if their lands can tell when they're getting close to that time, maybe prepare for another one?

"So then you're all born from the earth? Like uh, I mean you don't reproduce?" Harold motions useless with a hand, "Like animals or humans do?" Oh boy this is getting into interesting territory.

"Oh well, humans don't really have to reproduce to keep our numbers up or anything like that. We don't have to replace anything, there's so many of us now." He walks around a bit, eyes wanders catching sight of animals watching them.

"Mostly people just want to have families. They get married, have a few kids. The kids grow up and do the same thing." He shrugs, "Or not, but it's definitely not a necessity."

Siebren saw the animals, too. A herd of deer making their way through the woods...a handful of squirrels and chipmunks in the trees. He nodded at them as they passed, as Harold spoke. The more timid creatures stayed safely away. Despite trusting the King of the Mountain, the human in his company was new.

"Well...most of us are. Not all of us. We can reproduce the traditional way...like humans and animals. Elementals reproduce this way less than drakes or elves or brownies and such. Sometimes elementals seek each other out to manually reproduce but other times we simply enjoy the recreational aspects. Also not always a necessity."

He had been sought out for such before...by elementals who simply did not want to burden their mountains and lakes with the arduous task of spawning for them. Some had smaller realms to work with....valleys, lakes...they were smaller than his great mountain and its neighbors...they had much fewer resources...but also sometimes their fae wanted offspring of their own making...sometimes they just wanted to have fun.

"Many times, fae mate with one another for fun. We...tend to sort out our feelings into reproduction or pleasure. We just choose to do different things depending on what we want. Sometimes...like humans...fae want their own children...to not burden their home lakes and small valleys with spawning another elemental. Other times they seek recreational companionship. Do humans ever do that?"

There wasn't any shame in his voice. Fae and other fairy-type beings were very open with their sexuality. Simply because he himself did not seek such company out himself often did not mean he did not like it or that he was not open to the idea. Humans just had much less time to work wit than they did.

The two continued their walk...Siebren pointing out various animal dens and hot spots of magical activity invisible to the naked eye. A few pixies fluttered around them, checking in with the King of the Mountain and letting him know their villages were safe. A few of them flew around Harold, little bits of colored light...investigating this stranger.

Siebren smiled.

"They won't hurt you. You are under my protection. They are just curious."

In a few minutes, the pixies were satisfied and moved on in a flurry of light and color and excited squeaks.

Oh well. Oh. It seems like fae are a lot more like humans than he would have guessed.

"That's nice that your kind can have a family if they want, I'm sure it's not quite the same as humans, but the choice of it is good." That they can still fulfill their duties to the land and have a family or at least children if they desire that. He likes that. He wonders though if they ever come together like humans do? Living together... though with how long fae live and take to age and grow into adulthood, from how Sigma speaks of it, he wonders if that sort of family life would make sense for them?

He could ask, but Sigma is explaining fae sexual tendencies like they're talking about the weather over coffee. Harold is glad it doesn't seem to faze or bother the fae that he's asking questions or they're getting into sort of personal type questions. It definitely has the tiny human doctor thinking about. Things.

"Yes humans most certainly do, but a lot of the time it's seen as being uh... loose. It's kind of frowned upon in smaller communities. The bigger more progressive cities aren't as silly about that sort of thing." Harold is thankful that society seems to be progressing forward, he just wished it would go a little faster and reach the smaller towns and villages. It would be better for them in the long run, even if a lot of them lived by traditions and the like that held them back.

"... so um, do fae ever form relationships with other fae? Or is it all purely for pleasure and necessity? I mean do... do you ever yearn for that kind of thing?" While they talk about all of this Sigma does still show him everything. The little things, things that a human would probably never see on their own. His eyes light up with wonder at the pixies that flutter about them. At first he thinks they're fire flies or something, but when they aren't flickering around so fast he does catch a quick glimpse of some sort of form in the bright colors of light. It's amazing, he knows how lucky he is to experience this at all.

It's all do to Sigma of course, without him he doubted he'd ever see any of this.

"Hello, it's nice to meet you." Harold says, unable to keep the sound of wonder from his voice as he brings a hand up to try and gently touch any of the fluttering lights, but they easily move just out of range. Once they've decided he's nothing to worry about, or perhaps that he's too boring to stick around for, the pixies are off as quick as they came. He looks up at Sigma, with boyish glee on his features.

"Truly your home is something else. Thank you for allowing me to see it like this."

Siebren nodded.

"Yes, they can if they wish. It can be difficult in some cases because of distance, but it is definitely possible."

He waved as the pixies made their leave, smiling at the fact that Harold was enjoying himself. His heart felt warmed by it. It made him happy in a way he had not felt in a long time. He was glad that he had followed his principles...allowed the human to live and recover. The man was a healer, always a good thing to have on hand...and he was open to not only the traditional herbs of the forest, but to fae magic as well. This was a rare specimen, indeed.

"I'm happy you appreciate it. I hope it will prove useful in your study of the healing arts."

He'd be a fool not to be open to all the things Sigma was showing him and telling him about. This was a once in a lifetime chance. Harold wasn't a fool when it came to this.

"It will be, I've no doubt." As they continue on he ponders a little, about what they've spoken about. He feels awkward asking such personal questions, but at this point Sigma has shown that it doesn't seem to bother him.

Still.

"... have you... have you ever um had any children? Or you know, been in a relationship?" Harold then blinks, adds on as he glances up at Sigma curious, "Are you with someone now?"

More so he asks so he won't be surprised if suddenly there's another giant fae in Sigma's caves.

He nodded.

"Good. Knowledge should be shared, I think."

Siebren gave a small smile at the questions. This human seemed very concerned with the social structure of the fae. It wasn't surprising. He had never seen a fae like himself, much less learned their culture.

He gave a slight shrugged.

"I have not met them if I have. I have been asked to sire children. I have tried. I do not know if these attempts were successful...or if the fae who asked found company elsewhere. I hope she got what she wanted, regardless. She was an Earth elemental. Very kind. Very sweet. Her valley was small. She was the last fae there. I...hope it is still beautiful. It was in good hands. You'd know her valley if you saw it. It was full of little white flowers. She was so brave...she left it to find me...to make her request. I was quite taken with her for a time."

He nodded.

"I fell quite hard for a dragon when I was very young. It was thrilling, you see? Wild and dangerous. Fire and ice. He was my first. We were young fools together. He wanted me to fly away with him at the end of summer...to go to his tropical island in the sea...but I'm not made for places that warm...and he was not made for places this cold...but it was fun while it lasted."

The fae chuckled.

"No. Not at the moment. It has been many years since I have had a companion. There will be no surprises for you. Except maybe that little ice drake. Her parents were born of the mountain as I was. Their range is greater than a fae's, dragons, you know? "
Realistically, Harold did not know....but now he did.

"Sombra. She's a little spitfire of a thing. She's like a little sister. I took care of her after..."

He paused.

"After her parents strayed too far from home."

His voice was quiet for a moment.

"Speaking of home, we should return to mine. There's a snap in the air. I think we may be in for another storm."

Concerned, curious. It's not every day one gets to talk to a fae about such things. Or anything really. While Sigma was human like in shape and appearance, he was still very much. Not. Clearly he's already learned that fae uh... society, sure that's it, is a lot different in many aspects to how humans live. Then again, maybe not so much in other regards. It's fascinating to say the least.

"Oh! Oh I think I've been there before. The valley. When I was a child, my father loved going there to hunt and taking me and my mother for camping trips. He showed me how to fish in the river there, but the flowers always struck me so strongly." They were so white and abundant, they were hard to forget. He also remembers trying to eat them once and having his mother chide him for it. That was so long ago though.

"It's been decades since I've been... I'm sure it's still beautiful there." He hoped. The warm memory is replaced by the sudden intrusive imagery of the ice fae with a dragon. A dragon. Harold wished the cold would freeze his thoughts, just this once. His cheeks are flushed bright at this point, embarrassed at his own brain betraying him like this right beside the fae.

"You've lived an amazing life, Sigma." Is what he says, fighting the desire to ask more about this whole dragon thing. It sounds crazy, but then again, Sigma is quite large, bigger than any normal human and a being of magic and probably a lot more sturdy. How would being with a dragon even work...? Nope, stop thinking about it. Stop.

"I'm glad you have a propriety for taking in strays, I'm sure she is as well." Harold smiles softly, trying to lift the mood a little. "I guess you really are stuck with me longer, what with these storms back to back."

Sigma nodded.

"Yes. That's the one. I'm glad to see your parents appreciated it and shared it with you. I'm sure she was happy to have guests who enjoyed her handiwork."

He beamed a little. She'd been so dedicated to making that little valley so perfect. The fae turned to look at his human companion and started to speak but gave a small start when he saw that the man had changed colors.

"Yes, it is an honor to live and see...Harold? Harold, are you alright? You have gone red. Are you feverish?"

If he were actually feverish it would be easier to lie. instead he just shakes his head, waving a hand.

"Just cold! Haha, I guess I hadn't realized just how cold it was out here until now." He rubs his gloves hands together, then crosses his as over his chest. Brr. See? Cold? So very.

"It must be the storm that's heading our way. No doubt its sending a cold draft this direction." Mhm, that's exactly it.

"Ah. I see. We'll head back in a moment."

He paused, drumming his fingers together before asking...

"And what about you, Harold? Have you had any great loves in your life? Do you have one waiting for somewhere out there?"

Obviously not from the village he had been cast out of...but still...there could be someone...somewhere.

It's only fair for the fae to ask questions of him too. Though admittedly his answers won't be as interesting as Sigma's.

"I had a childhood crush on my best friend, but otherwise I was always more focused on school work." He considers anything that might be interesting, but alas. With a little shrug he chuckles.

"There were a couple flings here and there when I was younger. I traveled to a few of the bigger cities to further my knowledge on healing and medicine. Like minds can sometimes lead to warming a bed together." Especially after a few drinks.

"You've gotten me beat I'm afraid. No one I've been with can match up to a dragon."

Siebren nodded, listening closely and carefully. He gave a soft chuckle at Harold saying no one he had been with could compare to his escapades with his first love. He smiled.

"I don't think it is a competition, Harold. Each time I loved, it has been very different. Is this true of humans as well? I know I have never felt exactly the same way about my lovers. They are all special...unique. Any in the future would be the same."

He reached out tentatively and patted Harold's shoulder.

"Don't you think so?"

"Well, certainly, some people love very passionately, others not as much. I guess I've just... never found that person to share such passion with?" Not that he hasn't loved anyone, but it didn't sound like the kind of love the fae spoke of. Harold didn't even know what his future would hold once his time here with the fae ended. Once the weather let up and he could safely travel again, he'd find his way to one of the cities he'd visited in his youth.

Start a new life.

A life he'd not have a chance to continue without Sigma saving his life. The firm but gentle hand that rests on his shoulder is grounding and he looks up at the fae with a little smile.

"Thanks to you I still have that possibility to look forward to."

Siebren quite enjoyed that little smile the human showed. It was quite charming. He removed his hand from Harold's shoulder and gave a soft wave of it. There was a sudden howl of wind as the human was literally swept off his feet and into the air.

"Come. We should return to the cave. I know you are still ill, so I will carry if that is alright?"

They would be able to move faster and Harold would get less winded. They would certainly be able to beat the bad weather. He would be able to start cooking something for them for dinner.

Oh! Harold is a little startled as he's swept up off his feet, carried carefully the the fae's magic. He'd insist he could walk just fine, but he does have a point. They would get back to his cave much quicker this way.

"It's okay, thank you." Speaking of being ill, he'll tug the robe around himself tighter, hugging himself with a little cough. It's lingering, but with Sigma's care he knows he'll make a full recovery. As much as being out in the cold probably wouldn't make it go any quicker, he doesn't regret coming out with him. It's been eye opening and amazing.

Once they do arrive back at the cave he's relieved, it seems like the weather is just whipping up to start getting nasty out. No doubt nothing the fae couldn't handle, but Harold, as they both already knew, wasn't made for that sort of cold.

"Would you mind if I warmed up with a soak? I think it will help chase off the chill." He coughs again, "And this pesky cough." That and some tea after would be heavenly. Truly he was spoiled here, lucky to have these things so readily available.

"Of course."

Harold was right. A soak in the hot springs would definitely get the chill off of him. In the meantime, Siebren could make him some honey and lemon tea from the boiling springs near his kitchen. He'd let the brew steep for a few minutes while he found some dried meat and preserves in his stone pantry.

When at last it was ready, he moved to find which spring Harold had chosen...and he was a little alarmed at the smell of ozone and smoke that suddenly could be slightly smelled around the cave.

"Harold?"

He uses the one nearby the bed he'd slept in the day previous. Figuring that was his temporary living arrangements till the fae signaled that it was time for him to move on.

Setting his clothes aside on the bed he'll sink into the hot spring with a sigh, resting till the water is just under his chin. What a joy it would be to have this at his whim whenever he wanted or needed. Quite relaxed he smells something strange before he hears Sigma call to him. Sitting up a little he has the distinct feeling of being watched.

"In here!" He'll call to the fae, eyes glancing around as if something will just step from the shadows.

Ah, yes...there he is. In the side room he had been recovering in. Good. It was not too far. He would be quick to locate...and if his sense of smell was correct, defend if necessary.

Siebren eased into Harold's room, setting the tea and small plate down beside Harold's clothes. He himself stood up straight, pale eyes moving around the room.

"Come out. Show yourself, wraith. I know you are here."

Odd that the misbegotten creature should make his way all the way here...and without permission. Siebren was all too open to sharing his dwelling with those who needed it, but the wraith had never been one to admit the need for help...still...he'd let him speak for himself. The fae was in no hurry to start an unnecessary fight.

At the command, the smell in the room intensified and a trail of smoke wove its way across the ground as though it was a living thing. Bit by bit, it concentrated, becoming darker...denser...until it became solid....forming feet...then legs...a body...arms and hands tipped with bony, sharp claws...a chest...and finally a skull that was not quite human with fiery, glowing red eyes and a hood that was made of whisps of the remaining smoke.

It spoke...voice raspy and growling like a wounded animal, yet strained as though it were in pain.

"So it is true....you've taken in one of these soft...weak little beings."

Siebren sighed.

"I did not invite you in, wraith and the company I keep is my business and mine alone."

His voice was steady...but harsh...much harsher than Harold had heard.

For fractalsfrozen | Ice Fae Sigma AU

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