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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Is... is the fae preening at that? Harold would chuckle if he wasn't too busy sniffling again, his nose is going to run away on him.

"I think you've got it in a nutshell. Honestly I think us humans make things needlessly complicated on purpose." And then he's shaking his head a little, tugging the blanket tighter around himself.

"No I think it's just-" A harsh sneeze interrupts him, and he'll look sheepish as he excuses himself, "I've already been a nuisance today, I suppose I should just relent and be a good patient." Harold tries to laugh a little, but it devolves into a bit of coughing.

"Oof, I have to say it's no fun having the tables turned on me like this." Being the patient instead of the healer. He'll be good though, no fussing.

He was. It was silly, especially for a fae of his age. He was still quite proud of his horns. He kept them looking as good as he could. He'd broken one of them when he was younger and since then had been careful to keep them in better condition. To his relief, it had grown back after a few seasons.

He nodded to his right.

"Come this way. We shall see if my medicine works on you."

The two of them made their way through the mountain cavern, passing many glowing crystals in several different colors. They illuminated the space, revealing it to not be a tight cave, but a large open cavern. Hot springs steamed and occasionally geysers would spray. They passed pools with glowing fish and aquatic lizards. They seemed to pay the fae and his guest no mind.

They finally reached a side cavern with a square of ice on the wall. With a wave of his hand, Siebren caused the ice to move away. Beneath its surface were shelves filled with bottles, vials and bowls made from ice. Each contained a different herb or flower.

They were impressive horns and there's no age on beauty or appreciating it. Harold wonders of they're made of ice some how, they're truly fascinating.

Nodding he follows the fae, careful as he walks, he's barefoot now, still wrapped up in the blanket as he trails behind Sigma. It's hard to not gape, to stare, it's magnificent in here. Expansive and some how dark yet filled with light and life.

Harold most definitely stumbles a few times caught up in it all, at least until they arrive where Sigma meant to bring him. When he shows him his expansive collection of herbs and flowers... it's like what he did before he was exiled. Had this sort of practice of mixing herbs and things from the earth come from the fae? He had to wonder.

"This is amazing, Sigma... this is what I did back home, before-" Another coughing fit interrupts him, once it passes he fixes his glasses clearing his throat.

"It seems I could learn a thing or two from you." Or more. Paddding over to the display he carefully reaches out, before thinking again and stops, looking to the fae.

"May I?" He'd just like to peek at your ingredients. He has so much he's never seen before. So much that he didn't know what it could be used for.

Siebren put a clawed hand on Harold's back to offer him a bit of support in the coughing fit. Yes, they would need thyme for that...and honey. He had that in the pantry. They would have to made some herbal tea.. He smiled a little at Harold's enthusiasm. He nodded and gestured towards his collection.

"Of course. Be my guest."

He can gather what he needs when the human is done.

"Thank you." He's careful as he looks at things, gingerly holding bowls and containers to have a peek. Sniffing lightly to try and guess what some of the dried ingredients are. Many are dried to prolong their use, he knows that much.

He'll happily look around while Sigma does what he needs to, trying to stay out of the way. Mostly just low-key jealous of the fae's supplies. Not like it mattered right now, no one wanted his healing services or help.

"You have a great amount of knowledge and healing here, I know only a drop of it." A lamentful statement, he could only dream of knowing so much.

Watching Harold look through his collection of medicinal herbs. It was like watching a proverbial kid in a candy store.Sigma flexed his fingers, freezing some of the moisture in the air into a bowl. He fished around the cabinet and retrieved the herbs he needed, placing them in the bowl for later use.

"If you see anything you want, help yourself, just tell me if it is the last of anything so that I can replenish it in the Spring."

He smiled.

"It was not gathered overnight...it was over many years and collected from others. If you have questions, I would be happy to tell you. I have scrolls and some books detailing recipes. As a healer, I think you would find them useful."

Harold only notices Sigma making a bowl seemingly out of thin air by chance. A flicker at the corner of his eye. His gaze turns to try and see more, but by then it's all done.

"Oh no I wouldn't- I couldn't take from you." This wasn't for him to take, this was hard work for years and years. He'll perk a little at the mention of scrolls and books though.

"I would love to read anything you'd allow, I'd be lucky to learn an ounce of what you know." He's lucky to even be alive on the presence of the fae.

Sigma finished his gathering-putting all the bits of herbs that he needed into his ice bowl. He put everything back carefully.

"My offer stands. If you need anything, let me know. Now come, we shall brew you some honey tea and get you to bed to rest."

With a wave of his hand, the ice froze over the cabinet, effectively closing it. He motioned with his head.

"We need to get honey and a mug from the pantry. The hot water would surely melt my ice before you could finish your tea."

They made their way a little further down to another enclave with a boiling spring and a much larger ice cabinet. Sigma waved his hand over it and the layer of ice melted away revealing ice containers of food and wooden mugs and plates. He picked up a mug and dumped the contents of his bowl into a mug and in a swift motion, scooped the mug through the boiling water, filling it. Satisfied, he reached back into the food cabinet for the honey which he poured into the mug. He offered the concoction to Harold.

"Here. Drink it once it is cool enough. It will help with your cough."

Sigma nodded toward the food cupboard.

"Do you need anything to eat?"

Sigma reached into a jar and retrieved a preserved fish from an ice jar and ate it in a single go.

There were other...non fish related foods-dried meat jerky, nuts and dried fruit.

"Thank you, you're very gracious." He bows his head to him slightly. With a bit more coughing he'll follow the fae, padding along while curios eyes try to take everything in.

"Honey...?" He tilts his head slightly, what would honey do? Yes it tasted lovely and sweet, great for baked goods, but helping with a cough?

When the tea is offered to him he holds the cup gingerly, it's quite hot after all. With a little 'thank you' he blows on his tea, sipping carefully to test it. Oh... it's still way to hot, but the honey added a very nice flavor, not that it was the point of it.

"I'm not hungry at the moment, but I appreciate it. I appreciate everything you've done for me." Truly. Without the fae's help he'd have been dead hours ago.

Siebren nodded.

"Yes. Honey has strong anti-bacterial properties."

The human was grateful...not a typical trait of the race as a whole...but present in individuals. While he avoided humans for the most part, he had crossed paths with a few that were notable exceptions. It seemed he had plucked another from the snow. He had done nothing but thank him since he arrived. The fae smiled and put a clawed hand on Harold's shoulder.

"I think you need to rest, my friend. Let the medicine work, let your body rest and your mind and heart heal."

"That's wonderful." He'll have to jot that down, he hoped his backpack was okay and that his things inside weren't soaked through. He had a few journals with all his studies and information in them in there, he'd hate to lose them.

"Mm, I have to agree. It will be nice to sleep in a proper bed after being out in the wilds for days now." Harold tries to ignore just how big that hand on his shoulder is, how big Sigma is compared to him. He should feel scared a part of him thinks, but he's not. It wouldn't matter how terrifying the fae could or did look, he didn't actually, Harold thought he looked quite neat, he'd been only kind to him. So he had no reason to fear him.

So with his advice he'll shuffle back to where he'd woken up, consider looking for his bag, or asking for it, but then decides to be a good patient, sitting in bed to finish his tea before curling up in bed under the covers. Only the top of his head peeks out, mused hair still drying from the hot spring. If he sleeps for far too long it's only because he'd been so worn down from being outside in that storm, in almost dying and the cold trying to cause havoc inside him.

Siebren had not had a human in his home since the old man. He found that caring for his guest was not difficult and was not unlike caring for any of the injured fae or other forest creatures he took in that were injured.

He periodically checked in on Harold, laying an extra blanket or two while the human slept. Outside the cave, the wind howled and snow whipped about...but as all things...it passed...and when it did it was time to venture out an assess the damage and see if there was anything he could do for any of the creatures that lived on the mountain.

He was about to leave...but then paused...perhaps the human would like to accompany him? If he was not indeed still ill. He made his way to Harold's cavern to see if he was awake yet.

"Harold? Are you awake?"

He doesn't know how long he's been asleep, does it really matter? Harold just knows he wakes up warm, snuggled in a nest if blankets and more comfortable than he's ever been. Someone is saying his name and he peeks out from the blankets to try and focus on... oh.

Oh that's a fae. That's still very much the very tall very large ice fae who'd saved his life. He'd dreamt that it had all been a misunderstanding, that he was let back into his town and things were fine.

But here was Sigma and Harold felt bad about the pang of disappointment. Not the fae's fault at all and he felt bad even feeling it. Wiping the sleep from his eyes he'll sit up finding his glasses and putting them on with a yawn. Excuse his messy hair.

"Yes, good morn- er... hello, Sigma." Was it morning? He couldn't tell in here. "Is everything okay?"

Siebren nodded.

"It is indeed morning, but you slept a full day...so it may not be the morning you expect."

The fae smiled, a little impishly. That human's messy morning hair was certainly more adorable than he had anticipated.

"The storm has passed and I would like to survey the mountain...to check for damage and injured fae and animals. Would you care to join me?"

He held up a smaller fur lined...and trimmed robe.

"This was mine when I was smaller. It should fit you a bit better for outside travel...not that you don't wear my shirts well."

Edited (he forgot to mention that cute bed head) 2019-12-19 05:47 (UTC)

Had it really been a full day? Guess his body needed it. He feels much better than when he'd gone to bed originally, though there's was still a lingering in the back of his throat. Pesky thing.

"Oh, I'd love to join you, but um... I'm rather hungry." All that sleeping had worked up an appetite! He'll take the offered robe and finds himself flushing at the fae's comment. Does he wear the shirt well? It just feels like he's wearing a large sleeping gown. Harold would have figured he looked childish and silly.

Well. He'll take well.

"I can't imagine you bring any smaller, especially my size." He says it good naturedly. "Thank you, it looks very warm."

Well, the damage wasn't going anywhere. They could stop for breakfast first.
"It was long ago. All fae start out as children...like humans."

Harold's face was red...was he still sick? The human was a grown man and he would tell him honestly if he was feeling well or not for this excursion. Oh. Food. He'd forgotten about that. He really must keep better track of that. The fae made a not to himself to keep on top of making sure that Harold had enough to eat.

"Of course. We can definitely stop by the pantry before heading out."

They made their way back to where they had stopped to make the medicinal tea. With a wave of his hand, the ice melted revealing Sigma's food storage.

"Please, Harold...help yourself...and please ask me if you have any questions."

He smiled, glad that his robe fit the human a bit better. It would keep him warm in the snow outside.

Yes. He's still sick. Mhm. Not totally untrue, some lingering sniffles and a small cough, but much better than before. Harold has the mind to put on his socks and boots that have dried while he slept.

The far, may be able to go out with no shoes, but he was human. Also Sigma could float over the snow. No doubt he had some natural resistance to the chill as well.

"It must take hundreds, thousands of years for your kind to grow old." He'd love to learn about them, know more. Most of what humans knew of the far were stories passed down, fairy tales basically.

None of it could be proven. Thanking Sigma first, he'll eat from the food provided, his stomach growling it's thanks too. He finishes it off with a cup of tea, with honey, to warm up real good before they head out.

"... so do you often have humans who travel your mountain? I mean, have any come up here to see if you're real?" It's not like there weren't tales of a great ice king on the mountain, but the mountain was dangerous so anyone smart wouldn't travel it anyway.

"Yes...it takes thousands of years for us to grow old. Some of us can even be immortal...though...once never knows until they live long enough."

He said immortal not invulnerable. He doesn't want to share that yet...and probably not for some time. Fae are entitled to their secrets. Merely letting a human know they had weaknesses-iron...control by name...anything of the sort was not to be discussed. He respected the old ways as much as he respected the mountain that bore him.

He waited for Harold to finish, though he answered his questions freely.

"Not terribly often. It is not hospitable for them...many of the others...do not fancy humans and make the going harder. You are the first human to make it this high up in years."

Hm. Live long enough? Does he mean if they die then obviously they know they're not immortal or do the fae have a standard age they live to and if they surpass that then they know they're immortal? It's interesting to consider.

"That must be hard, living forever." So much time, especially up here on his own. Sure Sigma had said that he wasn't alone, that there were the animals, the spiders, other things, but it seemed he was the only fae like himself up here and surely it must be lonely not having your own kind to talk to? Or perhaps that was just how the fae lived, maybe having that sort of company didn't fulfill them like it did most humans.

"And here I wasn't even trying!" Harold smiles behind the cup of tea, "I can understand wanting to keep us away from your mountain, many humans have little respect for the world beyond themselves." Many couldn't even have kindness towards their own kind.

Siebren nodded.

What Harold said was true. Most humans were destructive. He had been fortunate enough to encounter one years ago that was not...and it was that exception that had caused him to pause...to not abandon Harold in the snow when he very easily could have left him to freeze to death and be eaten.

"Our paths were meant to cross, Harold Winston."

It felt right...the way they could just sit and talk. Normally, he despised talking to humans...their...inability to see passed their own noses frequently made interactions with them tedious no matter how rare they were...but Harold was open to discussion...he wanted to make the world better...it was refreshing.

"I think we will be able to learn a great deal from one another."

That's a very strong statement. Maybe it was true too. Harold didn't believe in consequences or fate... but when Sigma said it, said they could learn from each other as well. It was hard not to believe it.

"I think you may be right." He smiles warmly. He hoped he could at least be good company if nothing else. If some how the fae learned something from him then even better.

"I'm interested to see the mountain now that the storm has passed and I'm not fighting off hypothermia." It will no doubt be beautiful, everything still and covered in thick fluffy white snow. The sun shining on it like diamonds.

Siebren nodded.

"So we shall."

He nodded to the right and led the way to what looked like a wall on the far side of the cave. With a wave of his hand, the wall melted away, revealing the side of the mountain. He turned to Harold.

"Do you need help in the snow?"

It was fairly deep and they would make better time if he helped the human. He whispered quietly and gestured with a clawed hand. Harold floated gently up over the snow.

"Just until we get a bit lower."

The sun was shining brightly on the snow, causing it to sparkle. There were some fallen trees...but otherwise, birds were singing. A few even flew down to perch on Siebren's horns. They fluffed themselves and tweeted loudly, telling him of the storm and where they had hidden to stay safe. The fae listened and nodded, their words as clear to him as Harold's.

"Ah...I see. I'm glad you have kept safe, little ones."

His hand extended and a few chickadees came from the trees to perch on his long fingers.

"You as well? Wonderful."

"Oh I think I'll be alri-!" There's a little gasp as he's lifted off his feet, carried in the air over the deep snow.

"Ah, thank you." Once he's set on his feet again he'll pull the robe tighter around himself and walk close by the fae, figuring that would be the safest.

It seems the animals know that Sigma won't do them any harm, birds resting his horns like tree branches, chirping happily. It's sweet really. He catches himself staring, smiling at how the fae speaks to them like anyone else.

"... so you can understand each other?"

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?

For fractalsfrozen | Ice Fae Sigma AU

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