(Aileen – POV)
Dorcha returns with his arms full—dried fruits, pomegranates, juicy apples, and handfuls of sweet berries.
I run to meet him.
"To be honest, this was the best I could find up here," he says. "Down in the valley it'll be easier, but for today… we'll have to make do. There's a little lake not far from here, but it's frozen. And besides…" he adds with a crooked smile, "for some reason fish doesn't appeal to me anymore."
Grogher bursts into a thunderous laugh.
The kind that could trigger an avalanche.
"Not to me eitherrr, I swearrr!"
"What you found is perfect," I say, taking part of the fruit from his arms. "After all those algae, this is going to feel like heaven."
Dorcha looks at me and smiles.
And I immediately feel my cheeks burn.
So I turn away quickly and start setting the fruit down. While he brings the rest over, I get to work.
Hmm… let's see… what could I make?
Of course.
Fresh apple juice.
And a huge fruit bowl—pomegranate seeds, apple chunks, almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts, and berries.
We eat until we're full.
Even Sidae licks his whiskers contentedly, while Hercules and Raertha happily devour apple after apple.
Ah… my stomach is full.
Dorcha and Grogher look satisfied too.
Good.
Now we can talk.
"Have I ever told you about my fairy babysitter?" I ask.
"No… why?" Grogher replies immediately, curiosity lighting his eyes.
Dorcha leans in as well.
And I begin my story.
(Dorcha – POV)
I can't stop watching her.
The little girl I met among the elves…
is gone.
In her place stands a young woman.
How much time has passed since the Sirens?
It feels like forever.
She must be eighteen now.
Her body is perfectly shaped… and that elven thermal suit fits her incredibly well.
I try to listen. I really do.
But…
The snowlight makes her eyes sparkle like tiny diamonds.
Her soft, rounded lips move quickly as she speaks… like a spell unfolding.
Her breath lifts her chest just slightly—
My heart starts racing.
I lower my gaze. Breathe.
Damn it, Dorcha. Focus.
I look up again.
Useless.
I can't.
"Dorcha? Are you still with us?" she asks.
Her voice reaches me like a bell cutting through a dream.
I'm pretty sure even the tip of my nose has turned red.
"Huh? Oh—yes! Yes, of course!" I reply quickly, hoping she didn't notice.
"Are you okay? You look tired. Do you want to rest for a bit?"
"Oh, no. No, I'm fine. Really."
(Grogher – POV)
I watch them with joy swelling in my chest.
Ah… love.
What a beautiful thing.
Well then… I'd say it's time for a long walk and to leave them alone for a while.
"Aileen, I think your idea is excellent. Call your frrriend whenever you like. As for me… I really feel the need to strrretch my legs. See you later."
I stand up and quietly slip away.
Up along the little paths that wind toward the mountains.
(Dorcha – POV)
I watch Grogher disappear into the distance.
I'm sure he left on purpose.
To give us space.
Thanks, my friend.
I really needed a moment alone with her.
Aileen shivers.
"It's really cold," she says, moving closer to the fire.
I take her hand.
"Shall we go inside the tent?" I suggest.
It'll be warmer in there.
She nods.
I can't help myself.
Laughing, I scoop her into my arms and start running.
She gasps, completely caught off guard, trying to squirm free.
"Hey! What are you doing? Put me down!" she shouts—laughing.
"Why? What will you do if I don't?"
I run even faster.
She laughs harder.
"Ouch!"
Damn that root.
I trip—and we both plunge face-first into the snow.
Aileen immediately wriggles free, slipping from my grasp like an eel.
"You'll never catch me now!" she teases, darting away.
Oh really?
We'll see about that.
I jump up and chase after her.
(Aileen – POV)
I'm so happy.
Playing like this with him feels wonderful.
We run wildly across the clearing.
Up and down, back and forth.
I can't outrun him.
Hmm… maybe if—
I slip quickly into the tent.
Perfect.
The best hiding place.
Grogher… why didn't he put any furniture in here?
Where am I supposed to hide?!
"Aha! Trapped!" Dorcha says, stepping inside.
Breathless, our faces so close I can feel his breath, I stop laughing.
He does too.
The world seems to stop.
And at its center…
there's only us.
Dorcha moves closer.
Slowly.
My heart pounds.
My defenses melt.
My throat tightens.
I close my eyes.
His warm, soft lips press gently against mine.
I can't even describe what I'm feeling.
Warmth… emotion… everything is so intense and confusing all at once.
I can't think at all.
When we pull apart, we stay there for a moment, just looking at each other.
His eyes travel slowly across my face.
His hands slide onto my shoulders.
A shiver runs through me.
Dorcha pulls my shirt over my head.
I'm standing naked in front of him.
I tremble…
though I'm not sure it's from the cold.
Dorcha removes his own shirt.
He's trembling too.
And suddenly—
I forget how to breathe.
(Dorcha – POV)
She looks at me as if spellbound.
And she's trembling.
Just like me.
I can't take my eyes off her body… she's beautiful.
I've never felt heat like this before, rushing through me, filling every part of me.
I pull her gently into my arms.
Then I take her hand, and—eyes locked—we walk toward the bed.
She lies down.
I slide her pants off.
And look at her.
It feels impossible that a creature this pure could exist in the world.
I remove my own clothes and lie beside her.
Our bare bodies touch.
My trembling grows stronger.
Gently…
I begin to caress her.
(Aileen – POV)
Dorcha's hands are warm.
Steady.
Tender.
Our breathing grows faster, merging into a single unstoppable rhythm.
Slowly… our bodies come together.
And begin to move.
Delicate.
Powerful.
Alive.
Our souls dancing with them.
I'm so happy.
(Dorcha – POV)
Our bodies move together, carried by waves of a warmth I've never known before.
We can't stop.
We don't want to.
Time dissolves around us as we move together again and again, until the night finally finds us exhausted.
We pull the blanket over ourselves and fall asleep tangled together.
Her face resting against my chest.
Myself buried in the long, soft curtain of her hair.
(Grogher – POV)
When I returrrn, the moon is already high.
I step into the tent… and see them.
Sleeping deeply.
Wrapped around each other like they're afrrraid of losing one another again.
I tuck the blanket more carefully around them and add another.
It's cold tonight.
I stand therrre watching them for a moment longer.
My heart swells with joy.
Yes… I think I'll leave them alone tonight.
I noticed a cave nearrrby earlier. Perfect for me.
And judging by the tracks, my good Sidae and his frrriends have already chosen it as well.
I'll be just fine there.
At the very least… warrrmer than here.
(Dorcha – POV)
I wake up… and Aileen is beside me.
The memory of last night comes rushing back.
And I can't help smiling.
"Good morning, little one," I whisper, kissing the tip of her nose.
She opens her eyes slowly, looks at me, then stretches lazily.
She's even more beautiful this morning.
"Good morning…" she murmurs.
Our lips meet again, sharing a long, unhurried kiss.
Then she glances around.
"Where's Grogher?"
Right. Grogher.
"No idea. Probably outside."
"Then let's make breakfast for him too. I'm starving!"
She jumps out of bed, splashes her face with the freezing water from the basin, dresses quickly, and steps outside.
I do the same and follow her.
Grogher is already there with Sidae, Raertha, and Hercules.
A lively fire crackles beside him, and a steaming pot of tubers and roots bubbles above the flames—probably something he found during yesterday's walk.
"Good morrrning! Come eat—you must be hungry!" he calls out.
…Is he winking?
I feel Aileen stiffen beside me.
I wrap an arm around her shoulders.
"Oh yes, Grog. We are. You have no idea how much."
I take her hand and we sit down together.
Grogher watches us, a warm smile spreading across his face.
"I'm trrruly happy for you."
We smile back.
We know he means it.
(Queen Urchoicha – POV)
Ugh…
We're sitting in the darkest, filthiest, most foul-smelling cavern in the entire Sliabh Mountain Range.
What a stench.
And these rocks are outrageously uncomfortable!
Couldn't they have at least put some moss on them? Honestly.
Badney has just brought us two enormous barrels filled with a steaming drink.
Brown. Thick.
Floating with large cinnamon sticks and soft, colorful marshmallow lumps.
I must admit… it smells surprisingly good.
She and Scrios stare at us.
Good heavens, they are hideous.
Truly repulsive.
They tower over us, nearly six meters tall.
Instead of teeth they have mammoth tusks. Their noses are as wide as frying pans… and their ears—worst of all—stick out from their heads like enormous wings.
And the fur!
Yes, Bàistec and I are covered in fur too, but at least ours is soft and smooth—not stiff and bristly like theirs.
I had forgotten that detail when I made the unfortunate mistake of shaking Badney's hand earlier.
My fingers still hurt.
Their arms are longer than ours, and instead of nails they have actual claws.
And they don't even have the decency to wear clothes!
"Oh, no, neverrr… ourrr furrr is alrrready farrr too warm," Badney told me when I asked.
Warm?
It reeks.
And that bow she wears on her head!
What dreadful taste.
Well… never mind.
Let's hear what they have to say.
I take a sip from the barrel.
Hmm.
Quite good, actually.
So I wait.