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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.
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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"Of course. I meant no disrespect to the king of the mountain."
The eyes glowed brighter, hot behind the mask.
"It is just that...your majesty is sure to be sad when it expires. They are soft and fragile...and most likely not last very long."
Siebren raised his eyebrows.
"Sympathy? From you? That's a new one, I must say. State your business, wraith."
He was stern...direct. He did not think the wraith would harm Harold in his presence. The creature was miserable, but not stupid. It bothered him to know the wraith had made it inside the cave and he had not noticed until it was in his close vicinity. Sombra. That little trouble maker would get an earful the next time he saw her for sure.
The wraith eased up from his position, eyes locking on Harold and slowly moving to the fae.
"I thought it best to warn you, Sigma. Humans are dangerous. They might look soft and weak, but their potential for suffering is limitless."
Sigma nodded.
"Harold Winston is a healer. He is my guest and under my protection. He is not a danger to anyone."
The wraith's red eyes seared bright, but his tongue was seemingly held....for a moment at least.
Sigma nodded.
"Your distrust and concern has been noted. Should something happen, I shall be sure to let you get a good 'I told you so' in before anyone else. Otherwise, as the ruler of this mountain I expect my wishes will be respected."
He was not as harsh as he had been initially, but he was firm. The fae's blue eyes glowed and did not blink as he looked at the wraith.
The creature seemed to concede, bobbing his smokey form down and lowering his eyes.
"Of course...my king."
The creature then dissolved into a cloud of smoke and slunk away...out of sight and down the cavern and out the front. Siebren sighed and put a clawed hand on Harold's shoulder.
"I am sorry for that, Harold."
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Still, he keeps silent, letting Sigma handle it as he seems to have it under control. Yet Harold doesn't feel himself relax until the thing is gone, the smell dissipating at it's leave. He hadn't even realized how tense he was until the fae is resting a hand on his shoulder. The breath he'd been holding leaves him and he glances up at Sigma, hands rubbing at his arms before falling back into the warmth of the water.
"Don't apologize, please." It's not like he did this, that wraith came of it's own volition. "... I guess I can't blame it, humans are known to make a mess of things." Harold has to agree with that. He'll hug his knees to his chest still feeling a little uneasy about that thing coming in here. He trusts Sigma wouldn't let anything hurt him, but it's still unnerving.
"Thank you for trusting in me even though we barely known each other."
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The fae was glad that he had not had to use it.
Siebren kept his hand on Harold's shoulder.
"You have had ample opportunity to reveal yourself to me over the past day or so...and indeed you have. Not once have you disrespected anything...and you seek only knowledge that will heal and alleviate suffering. That is who you are and I respect that."
He sighed.
"Another fae king might have killed such an insolent subject but...but I pity him. I allow him to stay because he has nowhere else to go. A wraith....a wraith is born when a human is killed by those they trust most in the world...and that rage...that feeling of betrayal consumes their soul and it...is born again as something else...something magical...not quite a fae, but not human either. A human was made its way into my forests long ago. You must have been a child. I used my power to hide my people...to heal wounds inflicted on my mountain...but I did not become involved in the conflicts of the humans...but then I felt...him...burn into existence like fire consuming dry leaves and I went out to meet him. He was one of my subjects now, after all...and for better or worse...I welcomed him."
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It looks a bit silly really, his hand is much smaller than the larger clawed hand of Sigma.
"You truly have a soft heart, Sigma." He's probably right that most likely another fae king would have gotten rid of the wraith. "I guess I understand the concern it showed for you, such kindness can be exploited. Abused." Whether the wraith truly was concerned for Sigma or not, he had a point. His hand falls away, back into the water at least until he's coughing a bit, covering his mouth as he does.
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He blinked at the small hand that was placed over his own. It was soft and warm...with a few calluses from work. There was a small blossom of warmth and fondness in his heart at that that could not be accounted for given their conversation. He frowned at the cough, pushing the tea he had brought towards Harold.
"Here, my friend. Drink this."
He paused a moment before he asked the next question.
"Would you mind if I joined you? I warn you, fae are many things, but not modest."
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Er, besides rest.
"Hm?" Harold peers up at the fae and it's a good thing he's already in the spring and warm and flushed. It will hide any flushing from the question.
"Oh um, no I don't mind. I mean this is your home, Sigma." And it's not like Harold isn't naked as the day he was born as well right now. No big deal. Just two guys. Naked. In a hot spring. It's fine. Not like the fae's way of dressing wasn't already some what revealing if Harold stopped to really look at him.
Don't mind if he just is suddenly very interested in his cup of tea, sipping quietly with his eyes down averted so he's not staring. As much as Sigma had said fae aren't modest it wasn't an invitation to watch him undress.
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Bit by bit, Siebren shrugged out of his armor and robes underneath, revealing pale blue skin dotted with blue freckles. He folded his clothes into a pile and sat them inside his shoulder armor. He was slighter than his armor made him look, but he was still broad shouldered.
He crossed to the edge of the spring and eased into the water. It was hot on his cool flesh and he gave a slight inhuman hiss as he lowered himself bit by bit into the water. He dipped below the surface for a moment before coming back up and giving his wet hair a shake the same way an animal would. Loose white hair hung over his horns and framed his face.
The fae gave a relieved sigh.
"Ahhh. Wonderful."
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Harold looks up to get caught in the line of fire for being sprinkled by Sigma shaking his head. He's already wet so it's no harm no foul. Holding his cup of tea with both hands he allows himself to take the fae in again now that he's um. Modest under the water.
"I have to say I'm jealous you have these lovely hot springs available to you so readily. It really is very relaxing." He sinks down a bit more, wiggling his toes under the water. He makes sure to keep his legs a little bit off to the side so they don't have any. Awkward leg collisions. Plenty of room for them both.
The more he regards the wet fae he does think the armor adds some bull to him, but really he's quite erm. Top heavy. The light dusting of... freckles? Yes, freckles over his skin is rather fetching as well. It's easier to notice without everything else.
"Do you indulge often or just when guests are around?"
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"Yes, I am rather spoiled, I must admit."
Siebren rolled his shoulders and sighed, stretching his own legs off, minding his own space as well.
"Quite often. The minerals in them are good for you. Very refreshing for human and fae alike. Their purification properties are strongest here. It is beneficial for me and many others. The spiders have their own, you know? Sombra sometimes uses the ones in the rear cave. I need to speak with her soon. I am sure she was behind our uninvited visitor."
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"Between this and your honey tea I'll have no excuses for being sick any more." Ah, Sombra. He's yet to meet her, but Sigma had made it seem like she was rather illusive. No doubt she'd kept an eye on him where he couldn't see her.
"Mischievous to a fault I take it? No harm was done thankfully, I wouldn't be too hard on her." While the wraith had been a bit of a scare, it hadn't seemed to come here to hurt anyone. Just generally be creepy and offer it's opinion.
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"To a fault, indeed. She is young. She does not understand the danger she sometimes puts herself or others in. No harm was done this time, but wraiths are dangerous and unpredictable. I am certain this particular specimen was only civil because I was there."
He sighed and sank down into the warm water again, stopping when his chin touched the water. His white hair floated on the surface and the king of the mountain shut his eyes for a moment before they blinked open and turned to Harold again.
"How would you handle an errant child, Harold?"
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Watching the fae just. Relax. Sunken down into the water like that was amusing, he looks a lot smaller this way. Strangely his hair looks so soft floating on the water.
"Hm?" Harold blinks, realizing he'd been just staring. How rude!
"I suppose... it depends on what they're doing wrong. Also how young they are." He rests his chin on his knees, hugging his legs to his chest.
"Don't just punish them, try to explain why what they've done is bad. That it's dangerous and could hurt them or someone else. Maybe try to turn it into something positive." It's not like Harold had ever had children, but he grew up in a town that was small. Everyone knew each other, he'd dealt with kids before.
"Reward them with something simple that they like. Positive reinforcement. Like with a sweet or maybe a cheap little toy." He smiles a little awkwardly looking over at the fae, "Obviously if they don't listen they don't deserve the reward. It might help, it might not. Some children are just stubborn."
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Siebren had not noticed the stare. His blue eyes flickered up to Harold, listening intently to his feedback.
"Hmmmph. Stubborn indeed."
He blew a few strands of wet hair out of his eyes.
"I shall have to try these methods. Thank you, Harold"
The fae smiled.
"I find it useful to hear perspectives outside my own....which though expansive, is ultimately limited."
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"Now I can't promise it'll work on your earrant one. I've only dealt with human children." So take his advice with a grain of salt. Don't be disappointed if it doesn't work. Lifting his hand from the water he'll wiggle with fingers and makes a little face.
"I'm turning into a prune, might be time for me to get out." Turning to look behind him he'll look for the robe Sigma had lent him. He'd left it on the bed, of course. Hrm. Predicament. He shouldn't be so concerned about it, clearly the far doesn't care about nudity.
It's nothing to be embarrassed about, Harold. Just get out, grab the robe, put it on. Ta da! Sigma won't care that you're a tiny human with a dad bod. Before he can talk himself out of it, Harold pushes up and out of the hot spring, keeping his back to the fae. Now that he thinks if it mooning the king of the mountain might be rude... too late now.
He grabs the robe and pulls it on quick, not bothering to tie it. Just pull it closed as he turns back to regard Sigma.
"Please stay as long as you like, I do enjoy your company." And he sits on the edge of the bed nearby. Besides, this is Sigma's home. He's not going to make him leave. He did just get comfortable.
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"We can hope."
He smiled at those wagging fingers.
"Ah, so you are. You'd better do something about that. It would not be good if you withered away to nothing."
The fae was polite and averted his eyes. The human seemed...concerned about it. He certainly wasn't going to be judgemental at all. Once he had heard Harold pull on that robe and sit on the end of the bed, he opened his eyes and turned around. Siebren rested his arms on the side of the spring and set his chin on top of them.
"Thank you. I enjoy yours, as well. I must say you look comfortable."
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There's an awkward, "Sooo..." Before he goes with a terrible small talk sort of line.
"What does the king of the mountain do for fun around here? I mean- you have a lot of important duties, but beyond having a soak you must have hobbies you enjoy?" Mm. Good save, Harold.
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“Yes, indeed I do. I keep records of my findings-like a journal? Very detailed. For any future fae-so that if I am lost, my knowledge and experience won’t be.”
He thought a moment before continuing.
“I raise and breed special fish in these caverns..for food and..decoration. Certain ones breed specific patterns that glow differently. I collect plant specimens and study their properties-things like that. Different kinds of fae and who would be friendly and who would be dangerous-knowledge that would prove useful.”
He paused a moment, blue eyes darting back and forth a bit, as if thinking to himself.
“I would be happy to show you tomorrow, if you would like. All that and more. If..you would find it interesting or helpful.”
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Harold finds it oddly... cute to hear the fae breeds fish. He just imagines the giant fae feeding them and making sure they're all in good health. A fish farm. He wonders if they have names or if that's too personal for creatures he uses for food.
"Wait you've got glowing fish?" He cuts in sounding quite fascinated, but then closes his mouth and let's Sigma finish. He feels like a kid in a candy shop being here. Everything is a wonder and he knows he's lucky to have this chance.
"Of course, I couldn't say no to any of it. You're kind to share with me any of your home and knowledge."
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“Yes. Many, in fact. I keep them in one of the caverns a little ways down. Different pools for different color patterns and fish function. I tend to keep food fish separate form hobby fish. I try to make them all as comfortable as I can, though.”
The outside was cruel...but here in his own private lair, he, the King of the Mountain, did not have to be and he made sure that even creatures he intended to kill and eat had an otherwise painless life if he could help it.
“I am happy to have a guest to appreciate it. I enjoy your company...your enthusiasm.”
It was true.
He turned and nodded his head slowly in Harold’s direction.
“You are a welcome change of pace, Harold.”
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Harold is starting to think Sigma is some kind of angel. He'd probably laugh if he told him that. He'll flush slightly at the kind words, smiling.
"Well I'm glad I'm a welcome one and not a wrench in the cogs of your every day life." With some mild sense of humor he adds, "Otherwise I'm sure I'd still make a modest meal for one of your subjects out there." Or Sombra. Probably Sombra.
"You're not so shabby yourself. I could listen for hours, days, about the things you've experienced, your duties, all the knowledge you have. You must know you're amazing, Sigma." He's not trying to make the fae's head big, only telling the truth. He's so very lucky to make the acquaintance of a being so powerful and fascinating. One who's helped him and allowed him such free access to his home.
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“I’m sure one of them would have made an attempt if I wasn’t so fond of you.”
The fae was beginning to feel his heart have a familiar but different warmth in it. He knew the feeling...and as it always was...it was not the same as it had been in the past. He would keep it to himself in the meantime. He had no idea if the human would share in his affection or if he was just awestruck and overwhelmed, Time would tell, they had all winter.
“I simply do what I can, Harold...what I must. I am sure you as a healer do the same...just...with science instead of magic.”
The fae nodded in Harold’s direction.
“You must rest, Harold if you are to be fully healed by tomorrow. Then, I shall show you my fish...and whatever else you wish to see...even where the spiders are if you like, so you won’t accidentally find them.”
He stretched before starting to step out of the spring, blue, freckled skin steaming and slick with water. He flicked his wrist and his folded robe came to him. He slipped into it gracefully and tied it shut.
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Fond of him.
Harold is sure he heard that right. He'd correct the fae, that he'd just been a near corpse when he saved him, but that's not his place. He'll be eternally thankful for it.
It doesn't stop his face from flushing more. This has nothing to do with modesty, though if Sigma wants to keep thinking that Harold can't stop him. Especially with the fae rising from the water in all his naked glory and magicking his robe over to cover himself.
He'll flop over on the bed and rub his hands over his face. Stop it, Harold.
"That sounds splendid, perfect. I've never been afraid of spiders, but I can't say it wouldn't hurt to know where the giant ones are."
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This human was so unique.
Siebren moves closer to the bed, clawed fingers gingerly picking up a folded blanket at is foot and flapped it open, pulling it over the man and softly tucking it around him.
“This blanket is made from the wool of a thunder sheep, great magical creatures who clash in the sky during storms. It is waterproof and very warm...but it breathes, so you will never feel stifled...just...watch out for the static.”
As he said it, there was the distinct snap of static electricity shocking the fae. Siebren smiled softly.
“Until the morrow, then, Harold Winston,”
Siebren nodded and excused himself, making his way back to his own room, very much enjoying the warmth thst remained from the hot spring as well as the little flutter of happiness in his heart. Mercy, he was getting sentimental.
He crawled into his own massive bed covered in furs and blankets and settled onto feather pillows and it was then that a weary King of the Mountain fell to sleep, but did so wearing a smile that did not go unnoticed by a camouflaged ice drake passing through the caverns that had stopped to check in on the fae before skittering off into the dark depths of the caves.
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He doesn't know how late or early it is when he wakes, but he feels rested. He feels great actually. It's tempting to stay curled up in bed, it's so warm and comforting, Harold is loath to leave it, but his stomach growls so he'll listen to it, slipping out of bed, peering around and listening for any sign of the fae king. When there's no sign of him he'll work on getting properly dressed and puts his glasses on. Then he's moving through the large cave, at least through the sections he's been in before. He doesn't want to trespass where he's not been shown around before.
It could be dangerous or it could something that was private and none of his concern. So he pads into where Sigma had shown him all his herbs and food, teas and he'll carefully see what he can get to without the fae's help. Everything is um. Well. Quite tall. The fae is quite tall and much larger than him as it is, so while Harold can reach things, he'd definitely need a stool or chair to reach most things properly. Which he ends up doing, all the while feeling like... he may be being watched, but any curious peek around doesn't catch any eyes on him. Hrm.
Perhaps it's the little drake Sigma keeps mentioning? With mild struggle, he manages to make himself some tea and enjoys a bit of dried meat for breakfast, sitting on the stool he'd used to acquire everything. He wonders where Sigma could be, but he doesn't feel like he should take up all his time. The fae could be handling his duties to the mountain or just enjoying his own personal time. He's here as a guest, not as a child that needs his hand held at every second. He doesn't want to be a bother while he's being allowed to stay here.
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He made his way to the pantry and when he entered he saw Harold enjoying breakfast. He was glad to see the human had taken his hospitality to heart.
“Good Morning, Harold...I”
He stopped mid sentence as his nose picked up just a hint of sulfur and he could sense just a pinch of magic. He turned to the seemingly empty stool beside Harold. The fae crosses his arms and tapped a large, bare foot on the floor.
“Well...how long were you planning on sitting there, watching him eat and not introduce yourself? Really, I thought I had taught you better manners, especially since Harold is a guest.”
Before their eyes, there was a flicker in the air as a blue skinned young woman with short, white hair materialized before them.
“Awww, Sigma, you’re no fun.”
She swung her legs playfully and turned toward Harold and waved in a way that included all her claw tipped fingers.
“Hey, there. I’m Sombra.”
The more one looked at her, it was clear that while at first glance she looked human, she was clearly not. Blue armored scales dotted her skin and a pair of wings was wrapped around her waist, making a skirt. Her sharps eyes had slit pupils that moved up and down Sigma’s form.
“Well, someone looks fancy.”
The fae pulled up a stool and sat beside them.
“I hope you can excuse my ward’s rudeness. She rarely gets to interact with humans.”
Sombra scoffed.
“Hey not true. I interact with Gabe all the time.”
Sigma raised an eyebrow.
“And he may not be the best influence in dealing with other humans. Sombra, this is Harold Winston. He is a human healer who is staying with us through the winter. He is my guest and is to be treated as such.”
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