Tale
Chapter 11 : The intruder
/!\ I do not own Rise of the Guardians, only my OC.
Jack Frost
He woke up in Lía's arms, her head against his, the both of them lying on the snowy shore of the lake. It took him a minute to realise where he was and why he was there. He then took another minute to try and remember why Lía was holding him as tight as she could in her sleep, shivering in the cold atmosphere of the Guardian's home. Then, it all came back to him. The promise, the memorial, the tears on his cheeks... and Lía's soothing voice whispering in his ear, telling him that everything would be okay. And then, they must've fell asleep, calmed by each other's presence.
The situation was a little awkward and he felt some heat running to his cheek before realising that Lía was still asleep. He raised his chest a bit, holding his head with one hand, and watched her sleep for an instant. Then, he noticed that her lips were slowly turning blue and began panicking. What was he thinking? She wasn't a winter spirit! She was resistant to cold, but not enough to be able to sleep in the snow without suffering from the cold.
"Lía", he whispered, trying to wake her up. He didn't want to startle her, but he didn't want her to be sick or to suffer from hypothermia - it could have grave consequences on someone's body-, so waking her up and getting her somewhere warm seemed like a good thing to do.
But the shape-shifter barely moved and stayed cuddled against him, holding him even tighter.
"Lía", he repeated. "Come on, you have to get up!"
The anguish in his voice woke Lía up.
"Jack?" she said as she slowly sat up, rubbing her face sleepily, still shivering. "Is everything okay?"
"I was getting worried, your lips are turning blue. We should go inside."
"Yeah, we... wait... aren't we inside? And what are you... what are we...?" she stammered, trying to understand what was going on.
She seemed to have forgotten where they had fallen asleep, just like Jack had. She looked around, noticed the lake, her left arm still around Jack and the shape of their two bodies impressed in the thin snow layer covering the ground.
"Oh." was all she said when everything came back to him. "Uh... did we sleep together?"
"I guess we did." Jack answered, a bit embarrassed, rubbing his neck.
"Okay, this could get awkward..." she whispered to herself, and he managed to hear it. He decided not to answer this and acted as if he hadn't heard her whisper.
They sat next to each other, staring at the lake as the morning sun rose up, trying to figure out what to do. Should they talk about it? Act as if nothing had happened? Finally, when Lía shivered once more, Jack got up and helped her to get up as well.
"We have to get you somewhere warm, okay? Come on, we're heading back to the tower."
"Alright, lead the way." Lía answered with a smile, gesturing toward the tower. She was still holding his hand after getting up and didn't let go as they began walking.
Lía Tale
They had both gone through emotionally hard times these past few days, and being able tu just be with each other without a care in the world was a relief. Lía couldn't help but keep her hand in Jack's, never letting go even if his skin was almost as cold as the air around them. They quickly reached the tower and headed to the kitchen, where they ate their breakfast. They didn't talk much, but neither of them minded the silence. It was comfortable. They both stood next to the window, leaning on the windowsill, admiring the cave that Jack called home.
"What now?" Lía asked after a while. "What should we do?"
Jack grinned.
"We could just stay here for a while, enjoy the peace and quiet. And when you're ready, you could take your memories back."
Lía smiled, but it was a bittersweet grin. She knew that they couldn't do this. As appealing as Jack's plan was, she knew that neither of them could sit idly by as Pandore continued spreading despair across the planet. The shape-shifter looked at Jack, trying to tell him this without words. He understood what was on her mind and sighed.
"You don't want to stay out of this, do you?" he asked.
"You know I can't", she answered. "We have to stop Pandore, we both know it."
"You do know that we'll have to forgive the Guardians to do so, right? We can't fight her on our own", the Guardian of Fun replied.
"I can't forgive them yet", Lía replied. "But I can put our... disagreements aside to do what has to be done."
Jack looked at her intensely, and the tale-teller couldn't help but blush slightly.
"What it it?" she asked, trying to look away, but unable to do so. His blue eyes were just so gorgeous...
"You are so strong and so brave, Lía..." he whispered. And that whisper made dozens of butterflies fly around in the tale-teller's stomach. She looked into his eyes, trying to think of an answer, anything to say, but couldn't. Her mind felt frozen, unable to think properly. All she could think about were his eyes, his kind, warm eyes.
Jack leaned forward, getting closer to her. He had one hand on her side and the other on her shoulder, fingers slowly reaching for her neck. Lía instinctively put a hand on his and hesitantly reached for his cheek with the other. Jack leaned into her touch, reassuring her. It was what he wanted. She felt good, excited, apprehensive, nervous... so many feelings were making her heart beat faster, but one was more powerful than all the others.
Love.
She loved Jack and had refused to admit it before. But now, standing in his kitchen, her hand on his cheek and his hand behind her neck, gently bringing her face closer to his, she could finally admit it. She loved him. Lía leaned forward, eyes closed, ready to feel his lips against hers...
Jack Frost
Jack felt ecstatic. Lía wasn't rejecting him! Instead, she was leaning into his touch, placing her hand on his cheek. Jack had been waiting for this moment for so long... he saw her close her beautiful eyes and closed his as well. He leaned forward... and reopened his eyes at the sound of wings furiously stirring the air.
They both turned around, startled, and saw Feather and Ow flying around, panicked, screeching and hooting, trying to attract the two immortals' attention. Lía immediately let go of Jack to take Feather in her arms.
"What's happening, Feather? Is everything alright?" she asked, worried, while soothingly stroking the crow's feathers. Jack tried to calm Ow down as well and turned to Lía as his owl friend settled on his wrist.
Feather was holding something in her beak. It seemed like some grey, almost blue fur that looked extremely fluffy. She spat it on the ground. Lía didn't notice it and instead focused on what Feather was saying.
"Apparently, there's an intruder in the cave", she told Jack.
"How did you..." he began asking, before remembering something. "Right, you can talk to birds."
She winked at him with a small smile and focused on Feather again.
"Ow and her saw the intruder enter the cave and rushed here to warn us. She says it's "the mean one". Maybe despairs?"
"They both look terrified", Jack said, worried.
"Well, they do get spooked easily." Lía countered. "But we should check the cave, just in case. Could be just a wolf, though."
"Just a wolf?" Jack repeated.
"It wouldn't be the only wolf", she reminded him, and he grinned.
He was worried, but Lía seemed so relaxed that it was hard not to relax as well. Maybe she was right, and this was all just a false alert. Or maybe it was bad and something awful was about to happen to them both.
"I'm going out, I'll see what I can find", the shape-shifter decided. "Maybe you should stay here with the birds and guard the Globe. You don't have anything that could potentially become a weapon for Pandore, right?"
"No, just my staff." he answered.
"Then don't let go of it", she said. "I'll be back soon. It's probably nothing anyway."
She opened the window, stood on the windowsill and jumped out the window. The next second, a crow was flying away.
Jack sighed. One second he was about to kiss Lía, and the next there was an intruder in his home. He turned to Ow and Feather, standing next to each other on the windowsill, looking worriedly outside.
"So, guys, who was this intruder exactly?" he asked. He knew that the birds wouldn't answer to him, but then he noticed that Feather was pointing to the small ball of fur she had dropped with her beak. Jack picked it up and examined it. However, his mind was elsewhere. He had been this close to kissing Lía!
"I just... I love her, you know?" he told Feather and Ow. "But... but don't tell her I told you that, okay? I just realised it. Actually, I've felt this way for quite a while now, but it's only yesterday that I managed to put a name on this feeling."
And he kept talking, talking and talking to the birds, who looked extremely bored. Feather finally lost patience and used her claws to poke Jack on the hand.
"Ow! What was that for?" he asked, annoyed.
Ow looked at him with curiosity and Feather rolled her one eye. Jack knew that she was only a bird, but sometimes, the crow seemed more human than animal, like sometimes Lía looked more animal than human. The crow pointed to the ball of fur with her beak again, and Jack nodded.
"Right. Intruder. Gotta focus."
He examined the fur again and, this time, the tale-teller that occupied his heart and mind wasn't enough to distract him from his inspection. And soon enough, he realised something.
"Oh no. I know whose fur this is. This... this is bad. This is really bad."
He grabbed his staff and jumped out the window. He knew who the intruder was, and Lía was not going to like it.
Lía Tale
She flew for a minute before landing and turning into a wolf. It would be easier to track the intruder in this form. She could look for a scent trail to track, or maybe some traces in the snow. She soon found some traces and a scent to follow. The scent as well as the shape of the traces looked oddly familiar, but wolf Lía didn't pay as much attention to the details as human Lía. In this form, she was more focused on her immediate surroundings, on the now and here and not on her thoughts and memories.
The black wolf followed the trail to the ice rink. The intruder had been walking around the tower, as if they were wondering how to break in. They had only reached half of their tour before Lía had began to track them. The shape-shifter turned into a cat, cursing her black fur that kept her from becoming completely invisible in the snow. She reached the edge of the ice rink and slowly approached it as silently as she could. She slightly raised her head and saw the intruder leaning on the wall of the cave, which bordered the ice rink. Ans when she saw who it was...
Lía turned back into her human form without thinking clearly. She pulled her dagger out and rushed to the intruder's side before putting the dagger on his throat. Bunny, surprised, didn't even move. He seemed frozen, too surprised to react.
"Why are you here?" Lía asked sharply, staring at the intruder with no warmth in her eyes.
"Hey, lass, d'you mind putting the dagger down?" the Guardian of Hope replied.
She took some time to look at him. He was still shaken because of her attack, but he also looked tired. He had some white bandages on his left arm and right leg. His moves were slow, his eyes reflecting his exhaustion. He was also shivering, which showed Lía that he was cold and tired. The tale-teller sighed before putting her dagger back into its scabbard. She took the Guardian by the wrist and pulled him after her as she made her way back to the tower.
"Where are we going?" Bunny asked. "Into your secret torture room where you can kill me?"
"Ha, ha, really funny, Fluffy. Just follow me and don't ask any question, alright? I might change my mind and kill you know."
He sighed, but didn't say another word. The two immortals both knew that Lía wouldn't hurt Bunny, but that they were still not in good terms. They needed to talk about their current situation, but it wasn't the time.
Lía led the intruder to the tower and climbed the stairs with him. They reached the ninth floor, where the kitchen was, and Lía made Bunny sit on one of the chairs. She sat on another one and looked at him. She had noticed Jack's absence, but the birds had told her that he had gone to look for her. He would probably come back soon. She took a deep breath before finally beginning to talk.
"Okay, Fluffy, tell me what it is. Why are you here?"
"First of all : why 'Fluffy'?" Bunny asked. "And second of all, I have important matters to discuss with the Guardian of Fun."
"It's you new nickname", Lía explained. "Because your fur looks ridiculously fluffy for a warrior and a Guardian. And could I please know what you have to discuss with Jack?"
"Well I don't like it. And no, you may not."
They continued arguing for a bit, acting like two siblings fighting over something ridiculous, trying to forget the talk that they had had a few days earlier, in the North Pole. Finally, Lía sighed and said:
"This, all of this, is ridiculous. We are centuries old, so why are we fighting like children?"
"Hey, you started it!" Bunny protested. "It's not my fault!"
"It's never your fault, is it?" Lía replied.
To her surprise, the Guardian of Hope didn't answer straight away. He sighed and looked down, avoiding the tale-teller's gaze.
"I... it was my fault." he declared.
Lía didn't have to ask him what exactly was his fault, because they both knew what he was talking about.
"I was stressed and anxious and worried, and I didn't know what to do... but it's no excuse." he continued. "What I said back then was unfair and mean and... and just horrible to you. You did not deserve to hear those words, because they weren't true. When you left with Jack... all of the Guardians, we all realised that we needed you as much as we needed him. You saved him, all of us, more than once, and you do not deserve to be insulted and hated. You are a kind, creative, incredible immortal. Ignoring you, all those decades ago, was wrong. I should've taken the time. I didn't, and you have every reason to hate me, but it doesn't change the fact that I need to say what I'm about to say. I'm sorry, Lía Tale."
He stopped talking for a second, letting the words sink in, before continuing to talk.
"I don't hope that you will forgive me. I don't deserve your forgiveness. But I still have to tell you this. I'm sorry."
Lía didn't move for a bit. She just couldn't. Bunny... had apologised. She took a second to take it all in before answering.
"I can't forget what happened", she said. She saw the Guardian of Hope's shoulders drop at those words. He kept on looking down, disappointed and ashamed.
"All those years spent alone, they left a wound that those simple words cannot heal. Maybe this wound will never completely heal. I don't have what it takes to forgive you entirely, Bunny. But... I can try. It will take time, but I do want to forgive you. I already did a bit. I just can't forgive you entirely, act as if nothing happened. However, together, we can still move on. Accept that this, all of this, happened, but still be able to be with each other, fight side by side, talk to each other, enjoy each other's company, without our past being an obstacle."
The Guardians raised his head, looked at her in the eye and nodded.
"I want to move on as well, Lía."
"Then we'll do so, Fluffy."
Bunny laughed softly. They both smiled and Lía asked:
"So, what do you have to tell Jack?"
The Guardian was immediately more serious.
"I'd rather wait for him", he said. "I don't want to repeat myself and it's important."
"Oh, you don't need to wait!" Jack exclaimed, entering the room.
Bunny and Lía both turned around, startled. They didn't expect him to suddenly appear in the room, a smile on his lips, looking happy and relieved. He leaned on the door frame, still grinning, and asked:
"What did you want to tell me, Kangaroo?"
The Guardian of Hope sighed.
"It's no good news, mate. The... the North Pole was attacked."
Jack Frost
He couldn't believe it. The North Pole? Attacked? How could it be?! North's workshop was the main headquarters of the Guardians. It couldn't be attacked. It just... couldn't.
"What happened?" Lía asked.
She seemed just as shocked as Jack, but was still focused on the present and didn't allow herself to lose her composure.
"Some despairs came and tried to destroy the Globe." explained Bunny. "We defended it, but others came to break into North's office and destroyed all of the toys he was working on. He lost weeks worth of work in the blink of an eye."
"Are the despairs still there?" asked Jack. "Is everyone okay?"
Bunnz sighed again.
"Well, Sandy's cocoon was damaged, so now it'll take even more time for him to get better. North is in shock and Tooth is busy trying to restore order in the workshop. There are still a few despairs wrecking havoc, and I think that Tooth is taking care of them."
"Really?" Lía said. "You left Tooth alone to take care of the despairs? You really think that Colibri is the Guardian fitted for the job?"
Bunny winced and bit his lip.
"Look, I know I should've stayed in the North Pole to help her, or send her to get you two, but I just had to be the one to find you guys. I had to talk to you, Lía. I just couldn't postpone this talk."
The shapeshifter nodded. She understood.
"Well, this is nice, but maybe we should rush over there and help Tooth out, shouldn't we?" Jack interrupted. "I mean, it's just an idea, but..."
Lía smiled. "Frosthead's right, Fluffy. We should go."
"Okay, Kitty" the Guardian of Hope replied. "Let's go."
They all headed to the stairs while continuing their discussion.
"I'm sorry, how did you just call me? Kitty?" Lía exclaimed, acting offended. "I am not okay with this!"
"Hey, it's not my fault if your cat form is so adorable. Am I right, Frostie?" Bunny replied with a wink
Jack nodded and grinned as he opened the main door of the tower, letting his friends exit the entrance hall before closing the door. Ow and Feather were flying above their head.
Lía waved her hand to attract the birds' attention and both landed on her shoulders.
"Guys, would you mind going to my house to see if everything is okay?" she asked the birds. "The North Pole really isn't for you, and I don't want you two to get caught by despairs there."
The two birds immediately took off and disappeared through the hole in the cave's ceiling.
"Hey, Frost, is it me or did Tale just speak to the birds?" Bunny exclaimed.
Jack just winked at him, amused, and Lía smiled.
"Guess that you don't know everything about me, Fluffy." she answered.
The Guardian of Hope crossed his arms as he hit the ground with his foot, opening a hole that led to the Warren.
"Hey, I'm sorry for calling you Kitty, can you please stop calling me Fluffy?" he told Lía, who just grinned.
"Too late, Fluff. It's your name now." the tale-teller replied.
She then hopped into the hole, followed by Bunny. Jack couldn't help but smile as he followed them.
Lía Tale
She couldn't see a thing. They were all sliding in some kind of tunnel. There was some light, but not a lot. She closed her eyes, trying to forget that she was in a small, enclosed space underground and focusing on the strong scent of flowers and wet soil of the tunnel. She managed to stay calm during the few minutes that their trip lasted. Then, the tunnel took a curve and went up, and suddenly they were out of the tunnel, in the North Pole. They were all standing near the Guardian of Wonder's workshop, surrounded by the white, frozen sceneries of the North Pole.
"Here we are!" Bunny proudly announced. "The North Pole. The Easter Tunnel company would like to thank you for travelling with us."
The Guardian of Hope looked at Jack and Lía, waiting for their reaction to his joke, but only saw two shocked face looking at him. Since he was turning his back to North's workshop, he couldn't see what they were truly looking at.
"Come one, mates, it wasn't that bad, was it? You don't have to laugh, but at least don't act so shocked! You..."
Lía interrupted him by putting a gentle hand on his shoulder. She then made Bunny turn around to face North's home.
"Oh Moon..." was all that Bunny managed to whisper.
Jack, next to him, covered his mouth with his hand to restrain a scream of terror, anguish and anger. Lía put her other hand in his in a comforting gesture. She inhaled deeply, gathering her courage.
"I'm going in", she told her friends.
They were both too shocked to move, refuse, or just say a word. Jack just held her hand tighter, as if he was recommanding her to be careful. The shape-shifter took one more look at the workshop, trying to take it all in.
The wooden structures were burning brightly, flames going high, thick black smoke hiding the nigth sky above the workshop. Flying despairs were going in circle around the fire, as if they were guarding the blaze. Keeping what was inside from escaping, and the people outside from going in. If Lía wanted to save the other Guardians, she would have to go through them, then into the fire. And, as crazy as it could sound, it wasn't so scary to her. She had faced despairs so many times already, and this time wouldn't be different. Plus, she couldn't let the Guardians die. The world needed them.
Slowly, she let go of Jack's hand and took one step forward.
"Don't" the Guardian of Fun whispered.
"You know I have to." she answered without turning around.
He sighed.
"Be careful, then."
She nodded. He was too shocked to accompany her in a dangerous mission like this one. He wouldn't be focused and would only put himself and the others in danger. Bunny was also shocked, but also, for some reason, terrified by the blaze. He wouldn't be able to follow her into the fire. She turned to him and whispered:
"Take care of Jack, okay? Keep the both of you alive while I'm gone. I won't be long."
Bunny managed to grin a bit.
"Okay, Kitty. I'll protect your little snowflake. Don't worry."
She smiled before facing the fire again. She had to hurry. Who knew if the Guardians were still alive? If she could still save them? Every second could be the last for them. So she took a step toward the blaze, opened her arms... the next second, a black crow was flying toward the fire.