“Seren, are you hun- oh” Clark said as he opened the carriage door.

“What is it?” Eric asked as he looked through the lunch basket. He looked around to see Clark holding the door open wide so that he could see Seren curled up and asleep on the floor.

“I see,” He said. Clark sat down and moved Seren’s hair out of their face and he rested the back of his hand against their forehead. “Feverish?”

“No, they’re fine.” Clark said, trying to stretch the blanket over more of the sleeping child. He stood up and shut the door to keep the warmth in. “You say lunch but it’s closer to dinner.” Clark looked up into the sky where the sun was traveling down towards sunset.

“Huh, guess so.” Eric said. “After this we can head back then.”

“Great,” Clark sighed. Wondering what exactly was the point of the outing. They ate in silence, the meager warmth of the day drifted off after the sun and the cold night. Clark watched a wave of dark clouds creeping over the mountains.

“Looks like rain,” he said conversationally.

“In this cold?” Eric asked, “Snow for sure.”

“No way, the shape’s all wrong.” Clark pointed up at the clouds.

“You daft?” Eric scoffed, the conversation steering into weather phenomenon. Punctuated with personal anecdotes more than any real science or fact. Using the snow banks as a table while the pair stood at it. The clouds moved along unbothered by the discussion of what they were. Obscuring the falling sun and turning the evening darker than usual. Even the wind picked up and through the warmth of the ring, Clark felt the chill.

“We should probably head back before we freeze or get stuck out here.” He said, Eric looked up and grunted. He started packing up the basket again and Clark helped. Handing the basket to the driver to put back wherever it went. Clark opened the carriage again and checked on Seren, still sleeping soundly. He maneuvered them so that the child was sleeping in the middle of the floor. He tucked his coat under their head so the bumps on the way back wouldn’t wake them.

Eric entered while Clark was getting comfortable, he stared at Seren on the floor and spared a confused look at Clark before sitting down himself.

“I’ll wake them when we get back. No need to disturb them just yet.” Clark said softly. Eric shrugged and gave a signaling knock to say they were ready to go. With a lurch, the carriage started the journey home. Clark watched the world outside the windows get dark, and his eyes grew heavy. He covered his mouth as he yawned frequently.

“Quit that, you’re making me tired.” Eric said, rubbing his own eyes.

“Can’t help it, I am tired.” Clark said, holding back a yawn. “This is the most exercise I’ve gotten in a long time.”

“Yeah, I’m with you there.” Eric agreed with a sigh. “Watching Serenity run around like that got me winded.”

“Yeah, they got a ridiculous amount of energy. I hope they always do.” Clark leaned forward to look lovingly at Seren’s peaceful sleeping face.

“Proper energy comes with proper nutrition.” Eric said, “and you need to get them properly educated too. Kid can’t read and can barely write.”

“Oh? And how will I do that?” Clark asked innocently. “The Winters school has been neglected, in fact everything in the Winters district has been neglected. There’s not a chance I could get Seren into the Summers schools. Not a single tradesman is going to take on a fae-touched. They all believe the fae are cursed and bring bad luck.”

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

“I’ve been thinking of that,” Eric agreed. “I don’t know how this kid ended up being my responsibility.”

“You made them your responsibility.” Clark smiled, leaning back against the seat. “Maybe something about them reminds you of someone?” Eric glared off into the distance. Clark watched and tried to look deeper into his face.

“How did you meet Seren?” He asked.

“They ran into me, literally. They were strong and I needed that strength.” Eric shrugged. “Didn’t realize they were fae-touched but that’s really come through as a valuable asset.”

“Great,” Clark rolled his eyes. “Glad you consider their uniqueness valuable since it’s useful.”

“You’re misrepresenting me.” Eric said, leaning forward seriously. “I never said that being fae-touched was bad.”

“Oh I’m sure,” Clark said, rolling his eyes. “And the extra fees and higher interest rates you charge fae-touched was decided by a coin toss.”

“Well that’s not fair.” Eric snapped. The volume of his voice made Seren stir and the adults both paused to see if they were waking. He continued quieter; “everyone knows fae-touched aren’t likely to return what they owe. It’s not in their nature to return what they take. No fae-touched has consideration for others, everyone knows that.” Clark leveled a glare at Eric, he didn’t have to say anything. All he had to do was look down at Seren. Eric forced his glare to stay on his face, even as the realization dawned.

“Do I even need to say it?” Clark whispered, but in the thick atmosphere of the carriage he might as well have yelled.

“No. Now shut up.” Eric said and turned to look out the window, doing his best to turn away from Clark entirely. Clark shook his head and looked out his own window. The only sound between them was the rattle of the wheels.

“So what happens now?” Clark asked after a long silence. Trying to start a conversation to keep him awake. “You just keep bringing Seren in every morning?” Eric didn’t respond, he looked down at Seren and then back out the window. He hadn’t thought about it but now it was at the forefront of his mind.

Clark went back to the window, his eyes starting to fall closed and he began to nod off. Missing out on most of the ride back and only snapping awake again when the carriage lurched to a stop. He sat up and looked around in an attempt to figure out where he was.

“We’re back,” Eric said monotonously.

“Right,” Clark yawned and stretched. Outside the windows, the night had fully settled in. Accompanied by a heavy and thick flurry of snow. The only light came from the soft golden glow of the city around them.

“What are you doing?” Clark asked as Eric scooped Seren up.

“Taking them inside, it’s too cold and stormy to send you home.” Eric said, he covered up Seren with the blanket and took them out into the snow and up the stairs into the Asche manor. Clark hopped out of the carriage and looked up at the city as the driver led the horses around to the stable house and out of the snow. Becoming covered in snow after only a moment of standing outside. Clark carefully walked up the steps so as not to slip on any hidden ice and ducked into the house. The minute he entered the doorway he was slapped with warm air. Already hard at work, Mrs. Houper clapped out and shook Eric’s boots and coat.

“Evening dear, I’ve gotten the upstairs rooms ready and heated. Yours is the powder blue door on the left as you leave the staircase.” She said. “Just leave your coat and boots here. There’s some warm mulled wine in the kitchen, so go warm your bones.”

“Thanks,” Clark said and he shrugged off his jacket and boots. Hanging them neatly on the hook and brushing himself off on the mat. He passed Mrs. Houper and paused at the bottom of the stairs and then looked at the entryway to the kitchen. He climbed the stairs and looked at the rooms. The powder blue door was shut but another was open adjacent from it.

Clark peered in and found Eric unlacing Seren’s boots in the dark.

“Seren likes having a light on at night.” Clark whispered and turned on a little reading light on the desk. “They have night terrors and the light helps.”

“Right,” Eric said as he stood up with Seren’s muddy boots.

“I’ll get their jacket.” Clark walked to Seren’s side and pulled the coat off.

“Lift so I can get the blanket out from under them,” Eric whispered as he placed the boots on the floor outside the door. Returning to dig the blankets up. Clark tossed the coat to the armchair and struggled to hold Seren up long enough for Eric to slide the covers out from under the child. Clark helped tuck Seren in and the two exited the room. Clark sighed and headed for the room that he’d be staying in.

“Did Mrs. Houper tell you about the mulled wine in the kitchen?” Eric asked.

“She did, yes.” Clark nodded.

“I’m going down to grab a mug, care to join me?” Eric asked, avoiding eye contact.

“Uh, sure.” Clark nodded. Following Eric down the stairs again and into the kitchen.