Look! Look! I finished! About 6 months, and I FINALLY finished! I'm sorry this took so long... (Procrastination and ADD are against me...) But hey! I didn't abandon it! Still, have the rest of my cookies. (I don't feel like I deserve them... TT-TT) Enjoy the next...(One, two, three...)... FOUR chapters! That's right. I wasn't just NOT doing stuff. I was secretly writing ahead and researching for future chapters. That reminds me: This story actually has a plot device now! (Kind of...) Anyway, ignore me and read the story!
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Part 3: A bit of Frost
Morning came all too quickly, and before she knew it, Ather was nudging her awake. She mumbled a bit, but sat up none the less.
"Morning already?" she asked as she stretched. He just chuckled, which made her blush. She couldn't help but like the sound of his laugh.
"Afraid so. I would've let you sleep longer, but you need to decide now." he replied. She looked around and saw that he had already cleaned up their "camp" to where it seemed as if it had never even been there. It brought a smile to her drowsy face. He was so kind and caring. He had gone out of his way to help her, and she was thankful. She knew she had to decide now, and even though she was scared to, she knew what her answer was. Really, it's the only answer that would make sense at this point.
"I've decided." she says simply, though a bit hesitantly. Ather had been taking down the tarp when she spoke. Now, he was turned to her.
"And what is it?" he asked. It was now, or never. She inhaled deeply.
"I- I wish to go home, and to make a better life for myself." Ather smiled, which, had she been standing, would have made her weak in the knees. She had no idea why, but, like a switch being flipped, she suddenly found Father Frost a lot more attractive than she had the night before.
"Very well then. Wait here, I need to go get some things." And with that, he left. After he was out of sight, she sat down on the boulder her father had left her at. She wondered for a final time what would happen when she returned home. There were so many questions in her mind about what the outcome of this adventure would be. She hoped to God that it wouldn't be something she'd regret.
Ather soon returned, just like he said he would. He carried two satchels with him. As he reached her, Ather silently handed both bags to her. She carefully opened one, and gasped at what she saw: Gold, gems, priceless cloth, you name it. Both bags were filled to the brim with treasures. She quickly closed the bag she had opened and stared for a second at Ather with pure shock. He only smiled kindly. Quickly she thrust both bags forward; getting them away from herself and closer to Ather.
"I-I-I-I-I can't take this!" she exclaimed. It was much too generous for a girl like her. Even if she did have the gall to take it, what would her family and the villagers say? She couldn't possibly take them.
"Nonsense," Ather began. "This was a part of the deal. This will allow you to live comfortably for quite a long time. Even your children and your children's children will be able to live off this. As long as you use it wisely that is." She looked at Ather, to the bags still in her hands, then back to Ather. The shock was still very much on her face.
"B-but, this belongs to you. Don't you need it?" She asked, trying to find something that would allow her to give the satchels back.
"Actually, no. I don't need it. I have no use for money and gems, and even if I did I still have a lot more at home. Honestly, this is barely a crumb of what I still have." She was shocked. She hadn't thought of the possibility that the being that was so generously kind to her, was in fact, wealthy. It never once crossed her mind.
She wondered, 'Would it be rude to refuse a wealthy man's generous offer. He's been so kind, and I've accepted his help this whole time. Would it be rude to stop accepting it now?' He was right on one thing though: It had been a part of the deal. If she decided to return home he promised to help her find her way home and to help her gain a better life. What would he think if she refused that now? She sighed.
"Okay." she said meekly. She truly did believe it was too much, but refusing it felt like refusing his friendship. "However, I'm only going to use it to help me with my life. I'll buy a small house away from my father's home, then anything I'll need at the moment. After that, I'll get a job and live off the money that I earn. Deal?"
Ather smiled warmly. He had guessed that this would be her reaction. It was in her character, and honestly, he wouldn't have given these treasures to just anybody. Only someone he knew would use them wisely. "Deal." he replied. She smiled happily back at him, content with the fact that he wouldn't expect her to use his gifts for anything but what she needed in life.
With that they started off, walking side-by-side, and secretly watching the other when they weren't looking. They spoke contentedly about their lives. She would talk about all the things her father had taught her, and Ather would answer her never ending questions about who he is and what he does. He loved her childish curiosity. She was a young woman, maybe in her mid-twenties, and yet she still had a spark of belief in her. She would sometimes start talking about holidays she spent with her late mother. She would talk about how much she truly believed a fairy would leave a coin under her pillow or that a rabbit left eggs hidden for her to find. However, like all adults, she ended by reminding herself that they weren't real; that her parents had told her so when it was time for her to forget.
"Even so," she said. "Every now and then I still get the feeling that something is real. Whether it is a fairy, a mouse or even a toad, there has to be something that does all those things." Ather smiled at her. Even as a grown woman she was still filled with all the things that made the guardians great. Wonder, dreams, hope, happy memories, and best of all belief. They all coursed through her veins, even if just a little. It made him happy to know that there were some who kept their belief, no matter how old they got.
"Oh," she started. She was looking ahead, a plain expression slowly appearing on her face.
"What is it?" Ather asked as he looked in the direction she was staring. He went silent once the realization seeped in. They were back. Just a few more trees before the forest ended, and then a large meadow that lead to a small farmhouse. Some cows grazed in the morning fog and the hens were just starting to come out of their coop. The house itself looked deserted. It was obvious that no one was up. No one was doing chores or lying with the cows as they ate. No one was waiting for a girl that everyone thought was surely frozen to death by now. She couldn't possibly still be alive, so why stay up and wait. Why look into the forest for a girl that would never come out.
Ather looked to said girl. She was closing her eyes in sadness. It was obvious that she was thinking the same thing. Slowly, her eyes opened. She watched the house that she once called her home, and the animals that she once believed her friends. It was surprising, that all it took was a single night in a forest for her to realize just how lonely she had been most of her life. Her family didn't care that she was gone, and no one else seemed to notice. She truly was alone.
"Is it hard? To go back." Ather asked. She looked to him. She had forgotten that he was standing there, had forgotten that it was he who brought her back here. Maybe… maybe she had one friend. A friend that did care about what happened to her.
"I won't ever see it as my home again, and I'll never see the people inside as my family." she said calmly. "They never really were, were they?" she asked. Ather watched her, her eyes trained on the house ahead of them.
"I don't know. That's for you to decide." he said simply. He could not tell her what to think about people he had never met. Though, if he did ever meet them, he definitely had a few choice words to give them.
She looked back at him, but this time there were tears coming to her eyes. She was scared. She didn't want to go back. She didn't want to face the disappointed scowls, even if she didn't deserve them. She didn't want to see the man that she used to call her father.
A tear slid down her cheek, and as it did Ather smiled warmly. He opened his arms for her, and without a second thought, she ran into them. She cried silent tears into his robe as he encircled her with his arms. They were strong arms, she noticed. They were safe. She wished, at that moment, that she could stay hidden away in them for the rest of her life. Because arms like these only belonged to good people, and she desperately wanted a good person in her life. Her step-mother and half-sister were cruel and uncaring, and she was finally realizing that her father was just as cruel. She barely even knew the people from town, so she didn't know if they were good or kind. She would have to change that. She would have to change a lot of things in her life. She wanted to become the person she always dreamed of becoming: A good person, hard-working and loyal; someone everyone knew. Someone everyone looked up to, trusted and respected.
She knew that it was a big dream, especially for a recluse like her, but it was a dream none the less. And honestly, what would she even be without her dreams? Dreams are what keep you going; they're what give you wonder and hope. They help make a person happy, and she wants very badly to be that happy person.
Surprisingly, she was the first to pull away from Ather's comforting arms. He willingly let her go and waited. She lightly wiped away the remaining tear streaks that ran down the side of her face with her shirt's long sleeve, before looking up into Ather's waiting eyes. She loved these eyes. They were so unique and beautiful; she could easily watch them all day. And it was while she watched his eyes, so calm and patient, that she came to a realization: She had fallen in love. At some point between meeting Ather the night before and arriving back home, she had fallen in love with him.
And it wasn't the type of love that made her feel like a young giddy girl who had just met the butcher's son, and suddenly developed an undying crush. No, this was a different feeling. She didn't feel like she had just met a man that she wished to someday marry, but instead she felt like she was already connected to him, even without marriage. She felt that, if she asked him to kiss her, he would happily oblige. And if she were completely honest with herself, she would admit that she actually did want him to kiss her. She had, ever since looking into his hypnotizing, icy gaze.
Unbeknownst to her, Ather was thinking something very similar. Honestly, he too felt a connection to her. He had felt it ever since first seeing her as a child, many years before. It was a connection that convinced him to come back whenever he could just to make sure she was still doing well. He never went close enough to learn her name, or even the color of her eyes, but he was always watching over her. He watched over her for years, slowly realizing that it would end up being unbearable to come one day, only to find that she had died of old age. With each visit, the truth of the future weighed more heavily on his shoulders, and his grief grew.
It had gotten so bad that he finally decided to stop visiting. He had planned on making one last trip to see her, to say goodbye, and then to never come back. However, Fate loves playing games, and she happened to decide that his last trip would be the most important one.
This last trip forced him to go closer. It pulled him in and forced him to take part in her life. It was the trip that would force him to realize the truth of these uncontrollable feelings. The trip that showed him just how much he truly loved this woman.
"Thank you." she said, almost whispering. She was still staring up into his eyes, her hands resting against his chest.
"You're welcome." he replied. His arms were still holding onto her waist, and they were reluctant to let go.
"Ather?" she started, curious about something that had been said.
"Yes?" he replied.
"Before, in the woods, you said that you could help me get a new family."
"No, I said I could help you start a family. There is quite a difference there." Ather said matter-of-factly.
"Well, then… How do I start a family?" she asked. For a moment he was silent, wondering whether or not to go for it.
"Well…" he hesitated, "It will require a great amount of trust from you for me." She watched his serious expression, and knew what he meant immediately. And to his surprise, she smiled, but it wasn't as surprising as what she said next.
"I trust you more than I trust a full moon's light, while trying to find my way through the dark. More than a flame that keeps shadows away." She paused a moment, "I trust you more than I trust myself." she finished in a whisper. Ather lifted one of his hands to brush a strand of hair out her face. He was smiling that kind smile that made her knees weak, and his touch, which was soft and chilly, made her spine tremble. Slowly, so if she wanted to back away she could, he leaned in.
Inch by inch he came closer, and without realizing it, she was slowly reaching up towards him until finally their lips connected. It was soft, delicate and just all around perfect. They stayed like that for a few seconds before parting, dazed looks in their eyes. Ather gave an airy chuckle that could have been mistaken for a sigh.
"Well then," he said. "I guess that means I can help you start a family." She smiled, still love-struck by her first kiss.
Thus, in the early morning fog, just outside of town, and on the border of the Overland's Ranch and the snow filled forest, a young woman and a winter spirit made love to each other on the chilly, frosted grass. It was sweet, gentle, and full of happiness, and by the end of it neither of them wanted to leave each others side. However, they both had separate lives that they had to get back to. The winter spirit had to go back to his home made of ice, and the woman had to get her new life started.
Ather watched as she reached her old home. Before disappearing behind the door, she gave one last look towards him. He smiled to her and gave a short wave goodbye. She smiled back and gave a nod, then vanished into the cottage to wake her unsuspecting family.
On the flight back home, while he knew he'd be in deep trouble, Ather couldn't shake the feeling of pure joy that he had spreading throughout his entire body. He hoped that his joy would last forever…
Okay, here's the truth. I had NO idea how to write that, I'm-suddenly-in-love scene. It scared me and put me through a phase of Writer's Block. I've made it... better... thanks to my friend's advice, but I still feel like it should be written differently... Oh well. I AM NOT going to re-write it, AGAIN. I've posted it, and that's how it's going to stay. (Unless it really is bad, then I'll change it... Y_Y) Also, my Beta has been inactive for a while (you don't need to know the details), so this is based on the help of other friends and her advice whenever she could take a quick look. Anywho, (I don't care if that's not a word squiggly red line, I'm using it!) on to the next chapter!