The walk back to the castle was frosty, for many reasons, not the least of which being the confrontation between Alfred and Arthur and the lingering hostility and awkwardness. So much awkwardness. Have you ever had an argument with someone that made them cry, and then had to travel with that person, alone, in the middle of nowhere, for more than five seconds, to get to the same place?

Also it was cold, that didn't help.

When they finally exited the forest Alfred could've cried tears of joy. Then he remembered "magic castle in the middle of Scotland where you're staying the holidays with the guy you're in love with and who you've just pissed off and made cry" and he could've cried for a different reason. But the hero does not cry, unless they are magical healing regenerative tears, so Alfred sucked it up and tried to be mature.

"So, is there like a guest room or something, someplace where I won't get lost oH MY GOD WHEN DID JOHN CLEESE DIE?"

The last half of the statement went up in pitch and volume as Nearly Headless Nick floated into view, though thankfully his head was attached to both shoulders. Well, so much as it could be.

"I'm sorry?" Arthur asked, slightly bewildered. "John Cleese is still alive."

"But he's right there ," Alfred whispered harshly, totally not hiding behind Arthur so there was a barrier between him and the ghost.

Arthur rolled his eyes. "That's not John Cleese, you dolt. Sir Nicholas," he addressed the ghost.

"Sir Kirkland," the specter replied with a raised eyebrow.

"Sir-tainly looks and sounds like him," Alfred noted nervously.

"This is Alfred Jones, he was in the Forest," Arthur told the ghost, ignoring Alfred and the fact that the ghost hadn't corrected his terms of addressing him. "Throwing trees."

"I was protecting myself," Alfred protested.

"Nothing else afoot?" Sir Nicholas inquired.

Arthur shook his head. "Just going to find this one a room."

"Well then, good night Sir Kirkland, Mr. Jones." Sir Nicholas inclined his head and floated off.

"It's Professor!" Arthur called after him.

"Dude, was he filming here? Has there been a national day of mourning?"

Arthur groaned. "John Cleese is still alive, Alfred! Though I must admit, Sir Nicholas does bear a resemblance to him."

"You should get an exorcist," Alfred advised very seriously. "Ask one of the Italies to bring the Pope or something."

Arthur just stared at him. "That's really not how it works."

"I'm just saying-"

"Please, it has been a long night and I think we could both benefit from some rest and cool our heels."

"Yeah, that would probably be good," Alfred agreed, rubbing at the back of his neck.

"Come on, follow me," Arthur said with a sigh. "I'm sure the castle can provide a room by mine so you won't get lost."

"...Thanks," Alfred said softly.

Arthur smiled a little crookedly. "Don't mention it."

The Winter Solstice had called the Fae from Hogwarts to the Court for celebrations, and all three looked forward to going back to the wizarding school, though for varying reasons. Brigid enjoyed her sisters' company and terrorizing the small elves, Maeve loved the feel of Hogwarts' magick as well as the people residing in it, and Keira was just a little worried that England would collapse without someone to keep an eye on him (namely she and/or her sisters).

Upon returning to the castle, they went their separate but not too distant ways. As Keira flitted through the corridors towards England's room, she noticed an increase in magick signatures around her destination.

"Arthur-san, please wake up!" The call came from a short dark haired man in robes not too dissimilar to those the students wore.

"Apologies, he's given strict instructions not to let anyone in," said the portrait of a large lion wearing a starry indigo wizard hat in a deep gravelly tone full of gravitas.

The door across the hall opened. "Japan, what's all the fuss about?" Bulgaria asked. Romania trailed behind him, but aside from a raised eyebrow at Keira's presence took no other action.

"I came by to see Arthur-san but I can't get in," Japan explained.

"He came back rather late last night," the portrait informed them regally. "He and that young gentleman were absolutely tuckered out. They were arguing quite a bit," he added conspiratorially.

"Young gentleman?" the three nations chorused. Keira grinned as she finally managed to remember why one of the new signatures seemed familiar.

"Duuude, what is going on?" The portrait door opened up and a tousled blond head poked out, blue eyes blinking blearily.

"...Holy shit did you guys finally hook up?" Bulgaria blurted.

"Wh-aat?" America sputtered, his face flushed red. "What - I - we - what, no! No!"

"Damn," Romania sighed. "Would've been nice not to put up with you guys' UST anymore. Plus Kiril would've owed me-"

His sentence was cut off by an elbow from Bulgaria to the stomach. "That's confidential," he scolded.

"Alfred-san, when did you get here? And why are you in Arthur-san's room?" Japan asked.

"Tony dropped me off last night. The door of my room kinda… disappeared. Well, not really disappeared, it just led to a different place instead." He blushed, something much more visible without his glasses to obstruct it.

"Oh my God, even the castle wants them together," Bulgaria giggled.

By this time Keira felt that she had heard enough and darted past America's head and into the room. "England?" she called. There was a thump and several creative swears. Keira followed them to England's bedroom, where he had fallen out of bed. "Late night?" she asked mischievously.

"Don't you start," England retorted, pointing imperiously at her.

"Maybe I should leave more often if it means you'll do things like invite the one you're pining after to spend the night," Keira mused. The resultant blush and sputtering was fantastic. Hmm, she could see why Brigid antagonized others so often if it was this amusing.

"Ugh, don't… just don't," England muttered. He rose and patted at his hair, trying to make it look less like he'd just gotten out of bed. "Good to have you back though."

"Aww, did you miss us?" Keira teased. His eye roll was all the answer she needed. "You did!" Keira smushed his face between her hands. "You missed uuus~"

"Leggo a me!"

"Hey, can you tell these guys-" America stopped in the doorway, his eyebrows and mouth weirdly arranged. "Dude, what are you doing? Whistling?" His gaze darted up at the ceiling and back down again. "Uh, Japan wants to talk to you. Also, ignore anything Bulgaria or Romania says, they're lying liars who lie, the castle isn't alive , right?"

Arthur frowned. "How did you get in here?" he asked, ignoring everything else said.

"I really don't know, the door out of my room led to yours? Which, the castle isn't alive, right, because I don't want to get trapped in an endless maze or anything, that would really suck."

"Look, if you get lost just ask one of the portraits for directions; pretend it's a hologram or something."

"Huh." Alfred blinked. "That's actually not a bad idea."

"Yes, I do occasionally have good ones," Arthur snarked. "Now what was that about Japan wanting to talk with me?"

"I dunno, I just opened the door cause they woke me up. Also, why is your door a painting?"

"Rumbleroar is the best guardian portrait I could have."

"...That does not answer my question. Also, Rumbleroar? Why does that sound familiar…"

Arthur raised an eyebrow. "Well, you named him after all. Apparently he runs a wizarding school on Mars."

"A wha… wait a minute, I remember, Pigfarts!"

At this point Keira decided that she'd seen enough. Time to go see what her sisters were up to.

Wassup, I'm not dead!

Thanks to everyone for waiting so patiently (and not) for me to update, things have been a bit stressful but I'm back and I'm ready for all y'all to shout at me and the boys because feelings.

Reviews/concrit are appreciated as always, and if you want you can hit me up on Twitter at AseArtisan for shitposting and jewelry.

Also Rumbleroar is a fucking gossip. Him and Dumbledore as portrayed by the inestimable Dylan Saunders talk about cute boys and stuff aallll the time.