The Boy in the Tower

by Sirenfox


Ch 9: In Which Aster is Very Cold

They couldn't reach the Winter Palace fast enough for Aster and he shot down any attempt North made to start up a conversation.

He wasn't in the mood.

It didn't take North very long to figure that out. Not when every attempt was met with sharp looks and even sharper answers. Short and to the point.

Very Bunny.

Small talk ceased completely and North wasn't stupid enough to try to start a round of caroling, and Aster knew just by looking at him that he was beyond tempted. Aster was glad that, for once, the man was showing some restraint. He was already on edge, knowing that Jack was waiting back at that horrid tower where Pitch could show up any minute and whisk him away again.

The sleigh ride traversing from the human realm into the vast frozen wastes of the Snow Queen's domain seemed to drag on for eternity. Time itself seemed to slow to a crawl.

When Aster spotted the first spiky hints of the snow queen's castle he had never felt more relieved in his life. He was sure of it.

The Winter Palace emerged from the snow and ice of the surroundings like a particularly icy flower, seeming to blossom from nothing. The palace itself was exactly as one would imagine, and far more fantastic than even Aster had anticipated. Long walls of beautiful blue ice arched up from the powdery ground, spiraling to delicate, sharp points before diving back towards the ground is grand sweeping displays.

It was beyond breathtaking, and Aster resented every frosty corner as he shivered uncontrollably next to North in the sleigh.

The reindeer landed loudly in front of the gate and Aster could see the ground beneath the sleigh was made up of stark white cobble, mixed with a beautiful green mint green marble.

North reigned his herd of unruly beasts to a stop and the two of them clambered out of the sleigh and back onto solid, if cold, ground. Aster could not prevent another violent shiver from shimmying through his fur when his feet touched the stone, but he shook it off stubbornly and eyed the large pearly gates suspiciously.

The place looked abandoned, if Aster was to be completely honest. But he hadn't heard of the Snow Queen relocating. The thought itself was a laughable one, most spirits were fiercely territorial once they set down roots and the older the spirit, the less inclined they were to wander. Aster was a prime example of this, as one of the most ancient beings currently residing on the planet with one of the most well established domains.

So, although the place looked to be abandoned, Aster knew it was anything but. It was only a matter of time before She allowed them entrance. But that could take hours, if not days. He was reluctant to just barge into the Snow Queen's Palace unannounced, but he also didn't have the time, nor patience, to wait for her to deign them with her acknowledgement.

Luckily, they did not have to wait long at all. As he and North stepped towards the Gates a sentry detached itself from the wall and stood at attention, awaiting their approach. Aster couldn't help but admire the artistry of the man, he had assumed the creature was just a decoration etched into the surface of the wall. It made him wonder how many other pieces of decor were really sleeping creatures or golems.

The guard was tall and spindly, his armor made of sharp edges and graceful curling designs. He was so pale, and blended so well with the surroundings that it took Aster an embarrassingly long time to realize that he was, in fact, completely translucent. Aster wasn't well versed enough in ice spirits to know if he was some sort of creature, or if he was a construct the Queen had created. He certainly wouldn't put it past her to have enchanted glass dolls decorating the corridors of her palace.

As they approached the creature turned glowing blue eyes on the two guardians. He appeared to be completely at ease, except for the hand resting on the crystal rapier strapped to his hip and the penetrating stare he pinned them with.

North did not appear at all bothered by the strange being, and perhaps he was not. Aster had no idea if he regularly visited the Snow Queen, he seemed familiar enough with the directions and he was a winter spirit, so to speak. "We seek an audience with the Snow Queen." North informed the man, his booming voice echoing off the walls of the castle. "Tell her is urgent. Is in best interest to not dally."

Aster, wisely, remained silent. He never got along well with the winter spirits, finding them all callous and cruel. North's cutting, almost threatening words were a perfect example. He knew that if he so much as opened his mouth right now he would insult someone.

Normally that wouldn't matter, he'd never cared for their opinions before, but he couldn't afford to alienate anyone or postpone this meeting in any way. He needed to return to Jack as soon as possible. If he insulted a long guard, much less the Snow Queen herself, he could lose any chance he might have to help Jack at all.

The truth was, Aster needed them. Loath as he was to admit it.

The guard regarded them with suspicion for so long that Aster had to curl his paws into fists to stop himself from doing something he would regret.

Like punching someone in the face.

...on second thought, fists weren't his best idea ever. He spent the next few moments making a conscious effort to relax his paws back out of their tense fists.

While Aster was focusing his attention onto his own person, the guard closed his glowing eyes, magic rolling off him where before it had draped about him like a frosty mantle.

It was enough to snap Aster out of his irritated state and return his attention where it belonged. And just in time, too, it would seem since North chose that moment to open his big mouth, probably to say something that was likely to get the both of them thrown in the dungeon for the foreseeable future.

Aster lashed out one hand to wrap around his friend's meaty arm. The human shot him a curious look over his shoulder, and Aster's sharp jerk of his head kept the man's words from leaving his mouth.

A feat in and of itself, Aster knew.

Aster turned his eyes back to the winter creature in front of them. The guard was literally talking to the Snow Queen, Aster could almost hear it -the unintelligible whisper of wind as it wrapped around the guard, the slick high hissing of something sharp scraping against ice- The last thing they needed right now was for North to screw it all up by interrupting them.

Being an experienced wizard himself, North should have recognized the magic, if not the spell, without Aster's prompting. Not that Aster was very surprised, North was all brawn and no brain: an act first, think later type of guy.

Aster could not afford to talk their way out of whatever mess North would inevitably get them into; he didn't have the time.

Those glowing blue eyes opened, eerie and ethereal all at once, and the guard bowed respectfully before them. "The Queen will see you now." The creature's voice was thin and clear as a bell with an ever so slight echo of magic.

The being didn't say anything else, just turned on his heel and started to walk away, into the castle, the massive pearly gates sweeping inward of their own accord. The two Guardians could do nothing but follow after him.

Up close the palace was devastatingly beautiful, and if it hadn't been so bloody cold, Aster might have been able to appreciate it properly.

As things stood, however, Aster was spending all his energy on not freezing to death, his shivering became so strong it was making his fur stand on end. Not the most comfortable thing in the world, and just another reason not to spend time in the colder climates.

Aster was fully expecting to be led to a throne room or some other, similar, receiving area where the queen would be waiting; a cold, detached woman too high and mighty to meet them on even ground.

What he was not expecting, was to be guided to a small dining area where a few more of the icy beings were finishing up preparing a table for what promised to be a substantial meal.

The servants left quickly and quietly and North and Bunny were left standing awkwardly in the entrance to the room, unsure of what to do with this unexpected turn of events.

Movement by the window drew their attention to the slender for standing with their back to them, staring out at the icy landscape. The figure turned, revealing a sharp pale face, almost unearthly beautiful with large blue eyes. Her long white hair was pulled away from her face and kept in place with a collection of diamond combs and glittering pins.

Her long flowing dress was edged in soft white fur and clung to her body in a way meant to draw a man's attention. "Nicholas, it has been a while." She greeted, confirming Aster's suspicions. "And you must be Aster, North speaks of you fondly." She gestured towards the long table with one graceful sweep of her arm, "Please, sit." She commanded, more then asked, and her voice was a low, sultry purr.

Aster shared a quick look with North, but they both moved to obey without protest. "Gael, you look as lovely as ever." North spoke, his heavy Russian accent rolling over the words smoothly. The Snow Queen, Gael, cast him a brief side glance in acknowledgement, but said nothing.

Unlike North, Aster had never met the Snow Queen before, but this was not what he had been expecting. She was far more graceful and less pointy then he had pictured. The woman sank smoothly into her own seat just as a line of servants trailed back into the room, pouring drinks and setting down plates of food.

Aster was momentarily distracted from his original purpose there by the fresh, crisp salad that had been placed before him.

Much like North himself, the Snow Queen had set up shop in a frozen wasteland. Yes, it was in the spirit world, but frozen was frozen and they were so far from any other civilization, so supplies would be hard to come by, especially since they would need to be imported from a warmer climate.

So how was this possible?

The salad before him was so green it could have only been cut minutes ago. Eyes as green as the leaves on his plate looked up to find the queen watching him silently.

"I apologize for my rudeness, but how do you have such fresh greens...here?" He knew it was rude and could very easily ignite the woman's wrath, but something about this felt off. He didn't know what it was, but it set off some small spark inside him.

The woman's lips curled upwards in a small cool smile, something vainglorious sparkling in her bright eyes. "We have a greenhouse." She stated, waving away his concern with one delicate, claw tipped hand. "If you like, you may tour it while you are here. Perhaps when our business has been concluded?" The queen offered generously, surprising Aster.

Most of his interactions with winter spirits had left him with a cold, aloof impression, so he hadn't expected their queen to be quite so...welcoming was a bit of a stretch but hospitable all the same. She was still frosty and withdrawn, but she felt more like a cool winter evening with a light dusting of snow, where most winter spirits, such as General Winter, were blizzards, sharp ice, and avalanches.

It threw Aster for a loop, and he wondered if this was some sort of trick. It wouldn't be the first time a winter spirit tired to get one over on him, but whether that was true or not, mattered little. She was correct, their business came first. Jack came first. It was the only reason he was even there.

"Thank you, Ah would like ta see it." Aster agreed, tipping his head in a brief not-bow. He glanced over at North, who looked like he wasn't sure what to do. Aster refrained from rolling his eyes, of course North was going to be useless. "Perhaps we could talk somewhere a little more private." He suggested, bringing his attention back to the queen.

The woman inclined her head regally, "Very well. But it is late, and you have most certainly been traveling for a while. Eat and refresh yourselves. The guards will escort you to your rooms and we will speak again come morning."

Aster wanted to protest. He needed to get this over with so he could go back, before something bad happened. But she was correct. It had been a long trip, and traveling between realms was never easy. Both North and Aster were, as the humans would say, jet-lagged.

They needed rest. A good night's sleep could only help, so Aster bit his tongue and tucked into his salad.

Dinner passed in relative silence, broken only by North's occasional attempts at small talk. Aster wasn't really paying attention, his thoughts straying back to Jack, as they were want to do as of late.

After they had all finished eating, the queen turned in for the night and the two guests were escorted through the palace to the guest wing. Aster's claws clicking against the frozen floor as they passed through the long cold corridors.

North was given a room adjacent to Aster, the doors sliding open silently and allowing them entry. Aster's room was lavish, as far a room made out of ice and cold stone could be lavish. Everything in the room seemed a perfect representation of winter, from the translucent curtains draped around the window to the large white bed. The quilt itself looked to be made of soft snow, glittering beautifully in the light from the open window.

Aster shivered as he ran his fingers over the blanket, the curtains fluttering in the unpleasant draft the glass-less window let in.

This was going to be a long cold night. He grumbled to himself as he climbed atop the blanket and curled up to try to get some sleep.

***Aster***

Early the following morning, Aster was pulled from his restless sleep by a light knock on the door. Sometime during the night a fine layer of snow-dust had drifted in from the window and coated the room, and consequently Aster, in a frosty blanket.

Grumbling under his breath as he forced himself from his resting place, snow tumbling from his fur as he moved, the pooka stomped towards the door, yanking it open to glare down at whoever had the nerve to disturb him when he'd finally managed to drift off. The servant outside his room stared back at him, nonplussed, holding a platter of fresh fruits and a pitcher of nectar for Aster's breakfast.

Aster snatched the tray from the servant's hands, and slammed the door shut in the creatures face, unconcerned with the possibility of insulting someone. He was too cold, and too tired to really care anymore.

He ate in the frigid silence of his designated room, before he dragged himself outside to meet North. The other man was leaning on the wall just outside Aster's door, and appeared to have been there for a considerable length of time. Waiting.

Aster barely spared him a glance, his fur bristling and ears flat to his head in a clear warning that he was not in any mood to be heckled.

Aster was just beginning to wonder if they would have to go looking for the queen themselves when one of the tall, spectral servants melted out of the ice in front of them and beckoned for them to follow.

The servant led them to a comfortable looking sitting room made up of soft blues and purples where the queen sat waiting for them. As they sat down another servant appeared, this one carrying a pot of what smelled like tea.

"I do hope you slept well." The queen said by way of greeting, gently taking an offered cup from the servant, gesturing for them to do the same. "Now that you have been fed and rested, we can see to your business. It must be a fairly serious matter if two of the Guardians are seeking my council, here in the frozen wastes of the Other realm." The Snow Queen began, taking a delicate sip of her tea.

The teacup's that Aster and North plucked from the servant's hands were impossibly delicate, Aster felt like a bumbling giant trying to hold the thing without crushing it. If it weren't for all the Practice he got drinking cocoa at the Pole Aster was sure it would have shattered within moments. Teacups were not designed with a Pooka's paws in mind.

The pooka's ears twitched at the woman's words and he sighed heavily, "Yeah, ahm afraid Pitch is involved. We just 'ave a few questions fer ya." He informed her with the blunt care of a mutt digging in a rose garden, absently bringing his teacup in for a sip only to splutter in surprise.

Not tea. That was definitely not tea.

Whatever was in that cup was glacial in temperature, syrupy, and cloyingly sweet in a way Aster had never experienced before and made the fur on the back of his neck stand on end. The whole experience was extremely unpleasant.

A surreptitious glance at the other two beings in the room with him revealed that his reaction hadn't been noted so he schooled his features, forced his ears into a less disgusted tilt, and pretended nothing had happened.

The Snow Queen, Gael, didn't appear concerned with the prospect of being questioned by the Guardians, simply inclining her head regally. There was a knowing look in her eye, "How may I be of assistance? I'm afraid I haven't heard anything of the Nightmare King since your last altercation with him some years ago."

"It's not that." Aster took a deep breath, his ears drooping with what he was about to impart to this virtual stranger. "We think 'e's nabbed on 'a yers."

The queen frowned at that, "One of mine?" She asked, her voice lilting with incredulous offence.

Before Aster could try to sooth her ruffled feathers, North butted in and plowed ahead recklessly, "Have you noticed one of yer winter spirits going missing?" North demanded boldly, and Aster got the distinct impression he'd been watching more of those ridiculous crime shows lately.

Gael reacted just as Aster had hoped to avoid, bristling with defensiveness, "No." She snapped, "There is no one unaccounted for.' Her words were brisk and her tone sharp as she glared daggers into North.

With the bull already loose in the china shop, Aster decided he might as well try to get his two cents in, "It wouldn't have been recent. We think Pitch's 'ad 'im fer a while. The boy thinks 'eh's his father." He growled that last part more to himself than her, watching as the snow queen's already pale complexion lost all trace of color.

"How long?" She hissed through clenched teeth. Aster didn't blame her for such a reaction, spirits, of any disposition, going missing wasn't anything new. Most faded from existence with the changing of the human world. But to have one stolen? Taken from beneath the ruler's nose? That was an offence that would not be taken lightly.

"Ahm not rightly sure, but he says 'es been there fer close ta three centuries." Aster admitted, his voice going quiet with the admission.

The woman took a moment to think it over before shaking her head, "None of my spirits are missing that I don't have an explanation for." She repeated, "But...there is something."She paused for a moment more, apparently deep in thought. "I thought I had just imagined it, but if what you say is true, then the time was correct." She looked up and locked eyes with Aster, a grave sort of seriousness tense in the air around them.

"There was a shift in the winter magic some three centuries back." She went on to explain, "The sort of shift that would usually herald the birth of a new winter spirit. I sent someone- I sent someone to meet them, as did General Winter, but there was nothing there, and there was no further tug on the magics.

"If you are right." She continued solemnly, "Then Pitch was there when that spirit was born and someone prevented him from fully bonding with his element." The stared into Aster's eyes, a hard look in her eyes, "His powers will be very unstable."

With Queen Gael's ominous words banging around in Aster's head, all he wanted to do was leave and return to Jack's tower. But there was one more thing he wanted to do before they left. "How about that tour 'a yer greenhouses?" He asked when their discussion came to a close.

"But of course." She concurred, regally climbing to her feet. "Will you be joining us as well, St. North?" She asked, turning her sharp blue eyes on the other man.

"North bounced to his feet with the enthusiasm and energy of a young child, "And miss adventure? Not likely!" He boomed, a beaming smile lighting up his ruddy face.

Aster heaved another sigh, of course North would come. It wasn't like the man delighted in badgering him or anything.

They followed Snow Queen Gael down to the courtyard where she led them through an icy tunnel into a small, iced off room that could only be the gardens.

Aster hopped deeper among the prosperous plants, staring around him in awe, "How?"

The woman gestured towards the ceiling, directing his eyes upward. "Are those sunstones?" He asked dubiously. To his knowledge there was no innate magical ability within the gems that would cause them to glow like that.

Now that he had noticed the stones, he could see them placed strategically amongst the vegetation. He reached out curiously for the closest one and realized that it was radiating a gentle heat. Even through the protection of his fur and the rough pads of his paws, he could tell the stones were not hot enough to burn.

He turned an inquiring look back to their host. "They have been enchanted." She admitted easily, "Without them this realm would be far more bleak.

"North?" Aster asked, turning to address his fellow guardian, "Ya think ya could manage somethin' similar?"

North plucked the stone from Aster's fingers, turning it over in his hand as he examined the spell work. "I think so?"

Aster nodded to himself, a plan solidifying in his brain. And with nothing else keeping them in this realm Aster was itching to get going.

The queen escorted them to the courtyard once again to see them off, although she insisted that they not leave for a little while longer. It turned out she had sent word to the General, wanting to check with him before sending them on their way. He had a closer relationship with the spirits than she did, and she had just wanted to be sure.

Aster already knew they would not find anything, and he was anxious to leave. Unfortunately, North wasn't as eager, insisting that they needed to be sure. For Jack.

Aster thought he just wanted to flirt with Gael a bit longer, but didn't argue.

The queen provided one last meal for them while they awaited the news. Aster didn't have much of an appetite, but he forced it down anyway.

The General's report was the same as the Queen's had been, just as Aster had known it would be, and they were finally allowed to leave.

Aster wanted nothing more than to head straight for Jack's tower, make sure he was still alright. But he couldn't -wouldn't- return empty handed.

It was dark by the time they returned to the human realm. Again, the jet-lag hit him hard and he reluctantly turned to North, "We need ta stop off at the Warren quick." North, just as exhausted as Aster, grumbled, but obeyed.

Aster didn't waste a minute more as he darted through the fields to the seldom used caverns to the back of his warren. He'd started quite a few tunnels that had never ended up within the system, many of them coming to an abrupt end. A surprising number of these tunnels were decorated with a startling number of shiny gems. His magic had strange effects on the mineral deposits creating gemstones that should not be found in close proximity to each other.

Sure enough, the first tunnel he searched through provided him with exactly what he was looking for. A bit of coaxing and he was able to convince the earth to give up the sunstones to him with no struggle whatsoever.

The pooka returned to North's sleigh and they headed back to the Pole. "Ya said ya could enchant these?" Aster asked once they were safely within the Workshop.

North squinted down at the gems, his bros attempting to swallow his eyes with the intensity of his frown, "Why? You have no need in Warren. You are spring spirit." North said as though he thought Aster might have forgotten.

"It's not fer me." Aster answered gruffly, crossing his arms defensively in front of him. With the look North was giving him he felt as if he was being attacked. Of course he didn't need the sunstones power, he was the Easter Bunny.

North's look turned calculating quickly, "For boy?" He asked, even as he took the stones from Aster's palm.

Aster deflated, the fight sucked right out of him as Jack's heartbroken expression flashed through his mind once again, "Yeah." He admitted, "He's trying ta start a garden. But e's got no sunlight. Ah don't want ta see 'im lose that."

He wasn't sure how Jack would handle losing those flowers that he had tried so hard to keep safe. He reckoned it wouldn't be pretty.

"North nodded his head, "For boy." He repeated decisively before retreating to his study to, presumably, start the enchantments.

Aster was taken aback by this, he had expected North to wait until he had at least had a bit of sleep before he started his experimenting. Aster shook his head, a slight smile tugging at the corner of his lips. It was good to know someone else was just as invested in the boy's happiness as he was.

The pooka was itching to leave, but he forced himself to retreat to his room, the one North had set aside for him such a long time ago and he never used, to get some sleep.

Patience wasn't a virtue he practiced regularly, but for Jack, he'd try.

It was going to be another long night.


AN: Sorry, no Jack this chapter, but he'll be back next time, promise. I'm sorry about the long wait, but I hope it was worth it.

I would like to issue a thanks to everyone who leaves a review, I love an appreciate all of you and listen to your advice. Multiple people let me know I was laying on the accents a bit thick so I toned it back quite a bit and went back to adjust the last chapters as well.

I hope it's an easier read now. Please feel free to tell me what you think, I love getting your feedback.

Review!