A soft tickle threaded between his strands of white hair and in increments slowly drove him to wake up. To his surprise he was in the same position he slept in–still resting on his retainer who quickly pulled his hand away once he saw the long eye lashes flutter, though Haetia pretended not to notice.
“How long have you been awake? You could’ve just left me against a tree or something.”
“No more than an hour, and it’s fine, I didn’t mind.”
Haetia began to scowl but instead sighed before getting up and lending Linias a hand.
“Where’s Myrin?”
“I was going to ask you if you wouldn’t mind getting him. He should be by the river still and I’d like to get a bearing on our surroundings first before we go anywhere which will take me a minute, but if you don’t it’s fine-”
“Ah-ah! You can ask me to do things don’t backtrack, as in yes, I’ll go get Myrin.”
Playfully teasing Linias was tempting since he wanted to try and establish some friendly and casual ground between them, but it was completely possible that he’d misinterpret it as a reprimand so instead Haetia ended his statement with a smile and then left with a pep in his step.
Myrin was laid with his back against the river bank and his long siren tail wading in the water which Haetia realized he hadn’t seen until now. Then again there wasn’t much of an opportunity before considering they only stumbled across small streams for the most part in the past.
Upon hearing the incoming footsteps, the siren tilted his head back then smirked before fully turning around, though he remained in the river.
“Look what the shark dragged in! You must be taking after Linias sleepyhead. You’ve been out like a light, it's already noon! Missed him that much did you?”
Embarrassment seeped into Haetia’s cheeks in the form of a light pink tint and he partially hid behind a palm. “I mean…yeah…but you don’t have to say it out loud.”
“Oh wow, you admitted to it. Didn’t expect that. Now that makes it less fun.” Myrin pouts. “At least wash yourself up a bit and make yourself presentable then.”
Haetia opened his mouth to refuse but he splashed him with water.
“I’m not taking no for an answer. Come on, at least a little bit.”
Then Haetia sighed, yet reluctantly listened. He knelt beside Myrin, quietly cleaning the dried stains from his face and hands.
“Honestly you need a lot more than that but if you’re content like that I guess.”
“There’s better things for me to worry about than how tidy I am.”
The siren dropped agape. “Huh. You know…I may not have known you very long but compared to before you’ve…Nevermind.”
Haetia dried himself with his clothes then shifted to sit.
“Things happened is the short answer.”
“Yeah I know-I mean–Oops.”
“You were listening yesterday?”
“Just to the second half. I started to come back then heard you guys still talking and I was going to turn back but since it was about your escapades I figured you probably wouldn’t mind, plus it beats you repeating it twice – if you were planning on telling me that is.”
“I don’t see why I wouldn’t. Speaking of, on that first half…You’re perceptive, right Myrin?”
“I’d say so, why? Need my skill set?”
“In a sense, yeah. I feel like…you know Linias better than I do which I feel kind of shameful to admit since I’ve known him a lot longer than you, but getting to the point. Do you…have an idea of how I can get him to open up a bit more? I don’t have to tell you how formal he always is, especially to me, and I want him to be comfortable being himself because I know that proper side of him is just a really really thick outer layer.”
“Oh I thought you’d never ask!” Myrin beams and nearly laughs. “I thought about it as soon as I met him but thought it’d be better coming from you than from me anyways. For now just start with making him talk about his interests, kind of like an ice breaker as in you have to start small. And I hope you can carry it from there for now.”
“I can do that.” Haetia says almost like he’s reassuring himself.
Then came another set of footsteps with this time Linias appearing through the trees.
“I scouted ahead somewhat, the Forest Mist is up ahead. I think it’d be a good idea to go through it since we could make some distance between us and Drosera and possibly get some means of food and the like.”
For once, Haetia and Myrin both gave him an inquiring look in response.
“It’s a massive forest that stretches for miles.” Linias elaborated. “Treants and fae folk occupy it so there’s magic cast on it that essentially turns the forest into a labyrinth, hence only other fae or forest folk can navigate it. The other option is whoever enters asks kindly for passage but they’re usually refused. Or, they could burn their way through. Dryads once tried to hide there but that gave rise to more people forcing their way in such a manner so they left so as to not burden the other inhabitants. Point being, I can navigate it so we can cut through and save a lot of time, unless the aforementioned happens.”
Myrin shrugged. “Sounds good to me, especially with little else options since going around would be-eugh.”
“And you don’t think they’ll resort to force?” Haetia speculated.
“From what I gauged about Drosera, I doubt it.”
“...Well, I trust you so if you think we should then I don’t mind.”
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
Even with that, he still maintained distrust towards the Seronites considering that he’d exclusively seen their violent tendencies, but he set aside his own beliefs for the time being in favor of his retainer’s.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The forest was true to its name with a dense fog visible before they even entered. Their visibility only reached a couple of feet forward though it was still enough to make out their immediate surroundings. Trees, shrubs, and soil scorched black that have all seemingly been wilted for years.
If it weren’t for Linias’s dryad origins, neither Haetia nor Myrin would’ve even contemplated trying to go through so neither could imagine how people in the past thought to do so. As such the pair remained attached to Linias’s hip for fear of getting lost if they looked away for even a moment.
With all of their focus they had completely lost track of how long they had been following the retainer, only noticing that they had reached their destination when the fog subsided and they walked through the leaves of a patch of willow trees.
It was as if they were transported to an entirely different area with the sudden vast difference in scenery. The sanctum was illuminated by flocks of fireflies and various small spheres of magic since the sky was blanketed by towering trees. Their branches were woven together so that makeshift paths were created, leading to separate buildings that were either a part of a trunk or made separately yet from bark nonetheless. Mixed among them were numerous fairies and pixies that for the most part were ogling the new arrivals.
All sorts of species of foliage and flowers decorated every inch and every corner and similarly, the lush grass stood ankle high while in the center was an unnaturally enormous oak tree that stretched even higher than the blanket of branches above and was wider than an average sized home. And from the oak did a crack emerge, widening until a tree-like body stepped through and closed on exit.
Haetia knew that treants were large, especially in comparison to average people, but seeing one for himself almost made him frightened and on edge if it weren’t for the reassurance of Linias’s presence.
The treant looked between the three of them before focusing on Linias and softly smiling.
“Welcome! It is even less than a rarity to see a dryad these days. My name is Willowsbeak, and please, to who and what do I owe the pleasure?”
“I’m Linias, and these are my..companions, Haetia and Myrin. We don’t want to stay long enough to intrude, we only ask to stay for the night and we’ll leave by morning.”
“Hohoho! A small thing. You’re much too humble, we’ll provide what we can and more for you and yours.”
Willowsbeak waved to a few of the fae folk which they understood to make arrangements for their guests.
“Though, may I ask about this?” The treant knelt down and tapped on Linias’s necklace. “You must know that it grows weak. If I may make a suggestion, leave what magic is left here so that it may grow anew. I understand its value to you, so keep a fraction with you as well if you wish.”
For a moment Linias contemplated his words, and to Haetia’s surprise he nodded. He unlatched the locket with ease and inside was only a small section of bark, charred black from what could only be from a fire. And just as easily he snapped it in two, handing off a segment to Willowsbeak while putting the other back inside the locket and closing it shut.
“Thank you. I assure you that we will raise it with utmost care.” The treant handed off the segment to a few fairies, who then carried it away to presumably be replanted. “Why don’t your friends get situated? I’m sure your travels have left you weary. I’d like to speak with you on a matter in the meantime.”
The ivory prince looked to his retainer in concern and was quickly reassured.
“You’ll be safe here, don’t worry.”
I was more worried about you. He mumbled to himself with a sigh. Questions raged through his mind but for the time being they’d have to wait.
Another set of fae swiftly arrived, leading Myrin and Haetia away while he kept his gaze darting back and forth from the steadily distant Linias.
----------------------------------------
Not long after they left Linias were Myrin and Haetia separated as well as they were led to separate bathing areas. To his dismay the water was hot enough to steam and despite knowing how painful it’d be to his fragile skin he still undressed and entered the bath. He didn’t need the residents to say anything for him to know that they were distrustful of him based on his abnormal appearance alone, hence keeping off their radar was the best thing he could do.
That is until a few fairies came flying through and he immediately pursed his lips. He mistakenly believed them to be pixies until they were much closer, recognizing the friendlier faces and rounder wings. To his memory fairies were supposed to be nearly human sized as opposed to their counterparts but maybe it was easier for their maneuverability to take on a smaller form.
“Your hair is so pretty!” “Please pleaaase let us brush it!!” “Pretty please!!” “Please please!!!”
The barrage of voices clamored in unison until finally he caved.
“Okay fine! Go ahead.”
“Yay!!” “Thank you!!”
Just as quickly as he gave them confirmation did they leap at the opportunity and he felt his head tug in a multitude of directions as they fought over sections of his hair. As slightly annoyed as he was, he also couldn’t complain. His hair was long overdue in terms of maintenance and desperately needed a brush and comb, not to mention a thorough wash.
Haetia gritted his teeth through the water’s boiling temperature (to him) and scrubbed himself down as thoroughly as he could to finally get rid of the who-knows-how-long worth of grime he accumulated since their initial separation. It wasn’t all too likely that he’d get another opportunity to do so anytime soon and it was about time he got around to it anyways. Maybe Myrin was right and he should make himself a little more presentable if he wanted to try and make things right with Linias…
“Are you lost in thought?” “Lost in thought are you?” “You were looking at the dryad!” “Ooohhh he was he was!!” “Do you like him??” “Ohhh he has to like him!”
“I don’t–I don’t like him!” Haetia stammered between the plethora of teases.
“You do you do!!” “Ahahaha! You like him~!” “Hehehe it’s alright to say so!”
“I don’t! Okay?! He just…worries me.”
“Why?” “Yeah, why?” “He looks really capable!” “So reliable!”
“That’s the problem, he does things on his own too much–Wait why am I telling you this?”
“Haha!” “Hehe!” “A lot on his mind!” “Ahh so much on your mind!” “Maybe you should try talking to him?” “Get it off your mind!” “Too much on your mind!”
He nearly groaned but it came out more like a hoarse sigh.
“Yeah, yeah…”
Even after he dried himself the fairies were still fiddling with his hair. He rummaged around for his heels, earrings, and clothing which he could’ve sworn he set not too far away but they were nowhere to be found.
“Those clothes were messy!” “Very VERY messy!” “And torn!” “Very VERY torn!” “We’ll make you new ones!” “Just like the old ones!” “Wear this for now, we’ll have it by the morning!”
With a little wave of their hands small lights formed and congealed, making a white open-shoulder spring dress with a humble slit on the side, paired with an actual set of wedges.
He doubted that they mistook him for a woman considering they had literally seen him naked, but he chalked it up to his prior choice of clothing, not that the dress bothered him anyway.
Only after throwing it on did he notice the arrangement of flowers in his hair, not to mention how much smoother did it feel compared to before. And for the first time in a while he felt…cute.
“...Thanks.”
The fairies unanimously clapped at their work.
“Hehehe of course!” “Just perfect!” “Always leave the glamor to us!” “Come with us!” “You need to eat and rest!”
They lightly dragged him along the path of branches, letting Haetia take in more of the forest’s secluded abode. Below he was able to see Linias and Willowsbeak conversing even now and if anything he seemed…upset.
Haetia grimaced yet ultimately restrained himself.
He’ll be fine. He’ll be fine…
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