'There's lots of things that can go wrong with the flash-card plan, so don't stress if something does.'
Thunder rumbled in the distance, and the rain drove down in an ear-rattling torrent. Still, Elsa only managed to prop herself up on her forearms...and stare. Wet bangs slipping over her eyes didn't bother her, as the rain also pushed them to either side in moments.
The only thing that really bugged her was the pounding rain nearly drowning out Honeymaren's voice completely. Soaked, windswept hair kept curling over her face as she laughed and did a clumsy shuffle-around. One leg slung over the boulder's edge, and a spluttered shout. "You're almost swimming down there! I'm gonna get down, then…"
Forgetting all about her powers, Elsa scrabbled to her feet, then blushed as she realized the pooling water came up over her ankles. And, had pushed her several feet away. She splashed her way forward. "Wait!" She reached up and pressed her hands against Honeymaren's back, fingers tangling in dark hair and sinking into wet, fur-lined fabric.
Honeymaren waited until her right foot found purchase next to her left, before glancing back over a shoulder, through rain-plastered bangs. Warmth and trust.
Elsa nearly swallowed her tongue, and immediately stared down at her submerged feet. She barely heard her own wet croak. "Careful...slippy." Rosy cheeks then burned as she felt warm weight press against her hands.
You're warm. You're so warm.
Seconds later, Honeymaren stepped down again...and squealed gleefully as water rose to the top of her boots. "It's so deep!" She pocketed her soggy cap, swiped a hand over her wet face, and blushed as she realized Elsa's hands were still pressed against her back.
Keep standing around like this and we're both liable to get sick...but I don't know if I'm quite ready to leave this moment. This...whatever this is.
Suddenly, the rain stopped...directly overhead, at least. Honeymaren shook her head, breaking free of her own bashful thoughts, and realized Elsa's hands were now absent. A large, translucent ice saucer curled out over the pair, and rainwater rushed over the edge in a torrent.
Honeymaren whirled around, nearly tripped as her boots squelched in the mud...and bit back an immediate laugh.
Elsa's gaze was still locked on her submerged feet, even as one finger pointed up at the cover. Blue and white tendrils of magic still swirled from her fingertip. She shuffled from left to right, grimaced at the muddy squelches that followed, and finally glanced up with a sheepish little smile. "I forgot I could do this."
Now able to hear every word with stomach-twisting crystal clarity, Honeymaren flipped her soaked hair-mess over a shoulder, and didn't bat an eyelash when it wrapped right around her neck and slapped her cheek. "I thought you liked to let nature do its thing?"
Her eyes kept drifting to the faintly sparking magic swirls...and the fingertip below.
Elsa covered her mouth and snorted mirthfully. "I forgot about that, too."
Whistling happily, Gale whirled and darted through the rain, a soaked wad of flash-cards in tow.
Together, the pair did a slow, mud-caked turn. Elsa's left hand immediately warmed at the memory of touch, and she barely nudged it against Honeymaren's back again. "Shall we head back and...dry off?" Her words trailed off in a shy rasp, and she yanked her hand back to her side...immediately missing the contact again.
"Tea in my tent after this rain passes?" Gulping thickly, Honeymaren ducked her head and thanked the Spirits for wet hair covering rosy cheeks. "I mean...if there's anything you'd like to...talk about." Her murmur trailed off again when she remembered.
She's a spirit. She's Elsa. She makes me feel...this.
Elsa tried to nod, then couldn't be sure if she had actually nodded, so she wriggled a shoulder against Honeymaren's and croaked lowly. "I'll bring the tea." Her thoughts raced back and forth, between her stomach-churning warmth and the next item on Anna's list.
'Next, you can make her some tea. Use the two packages marked Chamomile and Peppermint. I figure you aren't quite ready for more...personal...warming...but this stuff is the next best thing. Got it as a bonus from my first trade agreement. Let me know what you think! And, what Maren thinks…'
The ice-cover stretched wide enough to serve five people. It wasn't absolutely necessary for Elsa and Honeymaren to stick side-by-side as they slogged back towards camp. They chose to stay close, shoulders pressed together and fingers occasionally brushing.
Once back in her tent, Elsa dried herself off in a matter of seconds, and immediately giggled as she felt the Nokk gently prod her subconscious. Elsa shook her head and replied with an amiable yet challenging thought.
Nokk, dear, not everyone thinks drying off is blasphemy.
A shiver ran down Elsa's back, and the telltale arm-hairs standing on end let her know her water Spirit friend dearly wished for tomorrow to arrive quickly.
Of course, we'll go for a long ride tomorrow.
Sensing the Nokk heading further away, Elsa prepared to bid it good-night, but a funny tickle at the back of her neck made her grumble bashfully instead.
I don't know what Gale told you, but it was a perfectly innocent study session!
Outside, the rain had slowed significantly, and Elsa turned her attention back to her attire. One simple phrase returned time and time again, though. It demanded all of her attention.
'Lubię cię.'
None of her ice-dress alterations pleased her. Pant-suit versions fared no better. Skin on skin warmth left her completely befuddled as to what she should wear.
I've never been inside her tent before. From what I understand of Northuldra culture, that invitation is...no small thing.
With one final, overwhelmed huff, Elsa summoned her ice dress...and immediately dismissed it in a snowy blast that flew out into the rain. She pouted hard, rolled onto her cot, and wrapped herself up in her purple bedsheet.
'Lubię cię.'
Elsa's gaze drifted around the back of the tent. Books, reams of paper, charcoal, Anna's care package crate...and a small, rolled-up set of fur garments. Tan, black, and dark grey. Wriggling to the edge of her cot, Elsa brushed a hand along the fur-lined fabric. A sweet tingle lit up her palm, and it struck her as nothing like her magic.
'Lubię cię.'
A half hour later, armed with her twin packages of tea leaves, a brass teapot, and two clay mugs, Elsa squelched her way to the nearest fire pit...and giggled affectionately. A small fire already flickered there, tinged with purple, and Bruni immediately hopped out to join Elsa on her damp stone slab.
"Gale put you up to this? Thank you, little one."
With Bruni's help, Elsa prepared the tea quickly, and just managed to shuffle her way over to Honeymaren's tent as the first stars blinked into the darkening evening sky. She paused by the tent flap, stared down at the two steaming mugs, and blushed at the bits of ice snaking out from underneath her boots.
Calm down, it's okay, it's fine, it's what it is and I'm just going to…
Wearing a simple grey top and leggings, Honeymaren pushed the tent flap back and poked her head out. "Oh! " Her face lit up immediately, but she schooled it into a playfully challenging stare. "Oh, thank goodness...it fits."
Elsa skipped right past the chiding and held out both steaming mugs of tea. "Was I supposed to knock? How do you knock on a tent?" She glanced down again, gulped at the fading yet still visible ice patch, and smiled tightly. "Sorry."
Honeymaren didn't even glance at the ice, instead taking both mugs and relishing the peppermint-chamomile scent. "That smells amazing." Her cheeks warmed against the steam, and she stared back up at Elsa through swooping bangs. Voice low and earnestly reassuring. "When you know somebody's expecting you...they're expecting you. Get in here, soggy spirit."
Only when Elsa managed to extract her feet from her new boots did she find they were, once again, soggy.
"Oh, wow." Sip. Lips licked. A longer sip. Seated cross-legged by her cot, Honeymaren wriggled happily and let out a worn-out sigh. Followed by a shiver. "I've never had tea like this. Sort of warm and fuzzy and...oh, just the thing after a cold rain."
Elsa knelt just inside the tent flap, on a thatched mat, and politeness dictated she look nowhere else but directly in front of her, or down at the mat's edge. She nodded slowly, then stilled...and distinctly heard chattering teeth. A low, concerned murmur. "Oh." She glanced left, spied a tan, folded quilt, and set her mug down. "May I blanket?"
Did that just come out of my mouth?
Honeymaren nodded slowly, still cradling the mug to her lips as though it was a precious resource. Her gaze slid down as a pleasant sleepiness seeped into her limbs...and she spied pale, wavy hair. Right in front of her. Swallowing thickly, Honeymaren blushed as tea dribbled from the corner of her mouth...and her warmth doubled. "Oh."
Draping the quilt over broad shoulders with care, Elsa drew the corners down over Honeymaren's arms...and smiled warmly. For a moment, she forgot how close she'd gotten, and wound the quilt corners into a gentle knot that rested against Honeymaren's bare feet.
"You were out there today...for me. I won't let you get sick."
It took several side to side glances before Honeymaren realized she wore the blanket. She licked her lips, rolled the now-empty mug back and forth in her hands, and looked back up...to find Elsa still only inches away. "You didn't really get to learn much. And I kind of ruined those nice...flash-cards."
Honeymaren's raspy croak tickled Elsa's ears, and it was only then that she felt toes curling in her hands. Elsa blubbered hotly and shuffled back onto the thatched mat. "Sorry!"
Finding herself oddly relaxed, Honeymaren set aside her mug and squeezed her bare feet. Warmth lingered. She cocked her head to one side and furrowed her brow. "For what?"
Caught staring dumbly at her own hands, Elsa swallowed thickly and flipped them front-to-back a few times. "Maren…" An uneasy shrug. "This is…" More hand-flipping. Chin tucked against collar, and pale hair swooping over rosy cheeks. "I don't really know…"
At that, Honeymaren giggled softly and rocked back and forth. "I don't really know either, Elsa." She extended her right leg and nudged Elsa's mug a bit closer to the flustered Spirit. "But...I think the tea helps."
Elsa nodded wordlessly, and reached for her mug. She paused, just for a moment, and pursed her lips thoughtfully. She then reached right past the mug and tapped Honeymaren's right big toe...then retreated back with her own mug, and sipped as though it would ease the blazing warmth on her face. The soft giggles Elsa received in response only made things worse...and immeasurably better.
Lubię cię. I don't know anything other than that...but I can learn.
