The Bride Rite: Sea of Trees

Don't Die

"Don't die, don't die!" I stammered, running my hands over his chest with anxiety as I realized I'd have to leave him to get the sled, there was no way I would be able to carry him through the snow, it was the only choice- the only way this was going to work or at this rate, we'd be as dead as if that guy came back. Honestly, the longer we lingered here the more that became a valid option. Scheiße

"Okay, okay, Adelaide you have this, totally normal, this is going to be fine." I was a horrible liar and could feel it slice its way across my tongue as I set back towards the sled at a painful pace, my body freezing as I stuck my hands deep into the apron, resting on the once warm bread. Well, at least we'd have something to eat if we didn't freeze to death first.

My breath came out in panicked puffs of pure white as I finally reached it a deadly shiver overtaking my body as I ran my arm across the back of the sled with as much force as I could sending wood flying and clearing off the surface before grabbing into the rope yanking on it hard. My hands would be blistered before this was over but I couldn't think of that now, not when my fingers were painfully cold.

My heart was racing out of my chest as I moved to push back to him thankful he wasn't spirited away or whatever happened to Fae in similar situations, with all my winter clothes in tow. The shadows clung to him in the light of day, swirling around his skin as if comforted by his touch even if he was out cold.

Would my village burn me for this like a Witch? Or slice my neck left to right as a sacrifice? More likely they'd leave me chained up somewhere at mercy to whatever was out here whether it was wolves or Fae with a little note that 'said take her back we don't want her anymore.'

If I wasn't freaking out this could almost be funny, the irony of the situation, only this would happen to me.

I bent down, pulling his large arm over my shoulders appreciating the moment of warmth as our bodies made contact doing my best not to jostle too much as I helped him into a seated position, then did my best to drag him gently onto the back of the sled. The noises he made while I did so were pretty clear that my bedside manner was less than stellar. A deep rumbling groan rattled his chest as he finally laid on his back on top of the sled. I was careful with his head as I lowered him, my fingers brushing across his cheeks not too unlike he had brushed mine with his large calloused hand in his only moment of consciousness. Dropping his sword and the axe next to him with a clunk.

"It's going to be okay," I whispered to him, my face close to his own, the lie burning at my tongue as I pulled back, my head snapping left and right, looking for any signs of Blondie coming back to skewer us. Satisfied that we were still alone I swallowed hard realizing the reality of things.

He wasn't dead yet, but if I brought him to the village we both would be. The moment someone saw those ears, he wouldn't have to worry about winter they'd throw this barely breathing man straight into a bonfire or confine him and force him to make bargains. Fae made bargains right? That was their thing?

So going home was a no. But we had to get warm, he needed treatment, I needed a fire... It wouldn't do us any good if I died before he woke up. I shoved my eyes closed breathing heavily as I pressed my palms to my face holding in a scream of frustration. We just needed somewhere more private, somewhere safe-

The hunting lodge!

I yanked on the rope hard pulling it over my shoulder, he was in fact heavier than the firewood, but the lodge wasn't far, not impossibly at least, I could handle it- I had to. My body burning in protest as I made my way back to the path, the hill between us a mountain as I climbed, almost snapping my snowshoes as I fell halfway up, and the sled flying back the rest of the way down, my fingers flinging the fistful of snow I had gotten when I'd landed on my stinging knees.

So I went again, what choice did I have? Even still he didn't move, his eyes never opening, but if I was quiet enough I could hear him murmuring. The sound of it deep and husky, that had to be a good sign. I allowed that to comfort me as I moved, my fingers going numb the cold so strong that it helped with the ripping pain of flesh tearing against the rope.

It took a little bit of stumbling but I wasn't horrible at directions, the forest had never been hard to map out, even in this brutal landscape. Which was hilarious because Ida had never been able to find her way out of a hat.

I felt remotely better as we finally made it onto the tree-lined path, familiarity taking hold deep in my chest as I felt the rattling in my body worsen. How cold was it? How long would I last? It would just have to be long enough.

It was only a quarter-mile further down, giving us more birth from Asura and the prying eyes of my family. Gods... Mama would kill me. This might actually be the final straw. I lost a whole sled of firewood and dabbled with Faeries instead. Explicitly against what she had told me to do. If it was up to her he'd be dead by now, maybe by my own axe. I couldn't help but look back at him as I rested a palm against the trunk of a tree, my fingers curling on the bark. Leaving a bloody handprint in my wake.

Fae were supposed to be this all-consuming evil, this thing that ate children and spirited away maidens. I'd have to check for fangs later, but for now, I was content he was breathing. It soothed me like the wood beneath my shaking palm.

"J-Just a little f-farther," I tried my teeth chattering, dizziness overtaking me as I pushed on, leaving the path now towards the east, the desire to climb onto the sled and seek warmth at Fenix's side almost overpowering but I knew if that happened we probably would not be getting back up from that nap.

My breath along with the rest of me was shakey, anxiety threatening to swallow me up as we moved my body pulling slower than it had minutes before, I was shutting down I could feel it, the cramping in my hands around the rope and the weakness at my knees the worst.

Pushing through the next set of trees, I felt some of the fear melt away the roof of the cabin sending hope soaring through me. We were here. It was going to be okay. We going to be okay.