Those must have been the wards that were in place to keep the building safe. From what Arlan could gather, the fae where discussing the best method to pass through the magical symbols. They took turns making signs in the air, talking rapidly back and forth until Elwynn finally finally conceded to their brother, stepping to the side. They didn’t look all that pleased about it, mouth in a small frown as they watch Mies get closer still to the door. He closed his eyes, resting his palm flat against the wood grain. It was only a moment before the lights grew brighter, blinding as they left spots in Arlan’s vision. Even Corwin made a sound in surprise as if he too could see the magic taking place just outside the car. When the lights dimmed again Elwynn looked a little less annoyed, nodding as they ran their fingers along the door frame.
Arlan hadn’t even realized that they were waiting for permission to exit the car until Elwynn motioned for the human pair to come over, breaking the silent spell over them. Corwin was the last out of the vehicle, eyeing the cottage as if it might swallow him whole, window panes as jagged teeth, the rooms inside its belly. Still, he didn’t seem to want to be left behind, falling into step behind Arlan the moment he passed him. Elwynn reached out for his hand, squeezing it gently to comfort him though their eyes rested upon the human that had started all of this.
“Sorry Corwin, I should have warned you. We were just getting the wards to recognize us as friendly, I forgot they would get bright like that. Though I suppose we didn’t need to warn you Arlan. Keep that bit of rock in your pocket or I will lose it for you.” Elwynn had never liked the stone that granted Arlan his extra vision and they wasted no time reminding him of such even now. “The wards will let us in now, once we have everything inside we’ll reinforce them to be for us and us alone.”
“Come on.” Mies was impatient, a smile on his lips. Despite the nature of the trip he seemed excited about it, eager to get inside and out of the car for longer than just a pit stop. He had almost half the bags in hand before the rest of them reached the car again, leaving them with just a few things to carry between the lot of them. There was no key for the door, the prince just stood in front of it and asked it to open as if it was the most natural thing in the world. It almost wasn’t surprising when it did exactly that, swinging open without anyone laying a hand on it.
Inside the cottage was somehow exactly as Arlan had imagined it and yet at the same time was a complete surprise. There was not a speck of dust on any of the surfaces, the furniture a mishmash of patterns and styles as if pieced together by many different hands. It was cozy and warm, wood beams along the ceiling and walls giving it kind of a rustic charm. It was quiet, lacking even the faint hum of electronics or appliances though it was clear there was some sort of electricity here with the lights that hung overhead. If they weren't trying to escape the fae that wanted to take Arlan, this would have been a relaxing vacation spot. It was comforting in here, like an old memory of warmth. Even Corwin’s body relaxed when he stepped through the doorway, hint of a smile on his lips. It could have been magic, making this place feel almost like coming home but Arlan didn't care, he was grateful for a chance to finally breath.
Corwin put himself in charge of putting things away, he needed to keep his hands busy as the faerie siblings headed back outside to look over the wards again. Unlike his friend Arlan found himself at a window, curled up on a ratty, floral print chair that had the most comfortable arm to lean against. The quiet inside the cottage had to be from a spell, even with the twins barely a few feet away from the window their voices were inaudible until an ear was pressed directly to the glass and even then it was mostly muffled mumbling. They clearly argued over what they wanted to do first, that much was clear in their body language but this time it was Elwynn who won. Wards and charms were their specialty, even Mies had mentioned it before, but it became clear with how easily they brought the previous symbols back to life.
All around the door frame and window panes there were little markings made of light, shimmering for just a few moments before they started to twist and shift. They looked almost as if they were dancing moving as one to a rhythm that could only be set by the words Elwynn was speaking soundlessly. They flit about until they found themselves new homes and shapes to stay in, fading back into the wood grain as if they'd never been there at all. A gentle this behind Arlan reminded him he needed to breathe, glancing at the cause of the sound. Corwin had frozen in place in the middle of the room, a small bag that had once been in his hands sitting on the floor. He bent to pick it up, moving faster than before to hide what Arlan could only assume was discomfort. He wondered if it was bad memories of magic or a yearning for more that left him so unsettled. After his confession about the pull the hidden world still had over him, Arlan wondered if every trace of power made him miss the other side even more. Guilt over this whole situation crept back into his thoughts, stone in his pocket heavier than ever.
No one came out and blamed him for the whole situation but how could they not? He most certainly blamed himself for the trouble. The feeling lingered for the rest of the day, even as the rest of his companions settled into a peaceful afternoon, just happy to be out of the car. Arlan couldn't even really taste the marshmallows they roasted over their small magicked fire, the sugar sticking to his fingers and lips but not his tongue. He pretended like he did, mimicked his friends but in the end he just felt like a mess of sticky guilt. This wasn't a vacation or a getaway, this was important, this was their lives at stake. His forearm itched as if the seal was right on the surface, trying to worm it's way out, trying to free itself like a beacon. He scratched at it as if that might pull the marking from his skin somehow. Eventually a gently hand placed itself on top of his, stopping nails from biting at already raw skin.
“It's okay. You can stop. Let's give changing it a go.”
Nothing ever got past Elwynn. Even when they seemed distracted they still saw what the human tried to hide. Their hands were cool as they pulled Arlan’s arm a little, just looking to straighten it, pale eyes looking over the skin, seeing exactly what Arlan wanted to be rid of.
“I was going to say we should wait for tomorrow and a good night’s sleep to tackle this but I think it would be more beneficial to try tonight instead. Has it been tingling?” Eventually Corwin and Mies noticed as their respective partners started to drift back inside, leaving the now dead embers and smoke to the wind.
“Itching actually. I think I’m fixated.” He let himself be guided to a chair, sitting when motioned to. Even with how soothing Elwynn could be, he was still on edge, worried now that his scratching had done something wrong.
“Well, that means our wards are working at least. They’re probably pouring more magic into trying to find you, I don’t want to give them the chance to break the spell.” Elwynn fished around one of the bags they’d picked up earlier in the day, pulling a few larger pieces of quartz and other stones from the back, along with a couple of candles that smelled lovely though Arlan couldn’t place the scent. By the time they’d finished gathering their items they’d accumulated an audience, both prince and friend hovering in the doorway, trying to stay still as they observed.
“If you’re going to watch, might as well come in and get comfortable.” Elwynn didn’t even need to look up from what they were doing, organizing everything on a low table they’d pulled out of the corner of the room. First a cloth went down, covered in fine embroidery that marked out more shapes that Arlan recognized but didn’t understand. Next came the candles, placed on opposite corners small glass dishes beneath to catch the wax. Last were the stones, set in a pattern that had to have some meaning though it was lost on the humans watching. “Mies, why don’t you sit near Arlan just in case?”
The faerie prince listened to their twin, pulling up a stool to perch on, arms taking over one of the armrests Arlan had been contemplating using. He could hear Corwin move behind him, taking a seat further away but still in the room. He was grateful for that, feeling safer once he knew he was surrounded by his friends. A bundle of nerves and hope gathered in his stomach, he'd not realized how much worry he'd been holding in because of his seal, wanting badly to have it removed entirely. He'd mostly stopped using his gifted stone because the glimmer of magic on his skin set his teeth in edge every time. Besides, with it gone he wouldn’t have to wonder when it would be used against him, against the people he was with.
When Elwynn started speaking in their faerie tongue the lights in the room flickered, lowering while the candle flame grew brighter. The light continued to shift and change until it was nothing but shadows in the corner of the room, all light cast by the gentle flame of the candles. The itch beneath his skin shifted to almost a dull ache the outline of his seal starting to almost raise within him. The fae ran a hand above the arm in question, moving through the air without touching skin. A silent hum started to make its way into the room, pressing in around Arlan, making the hair on the back of his neck stand up. While he couldn’t understand what it was that Elwynn was doing, he could tell they were doing something. The room was alive with magic, his air was light up with it now, the seal full and clear, almost as bright as the candles themselves.
Elwynn murmured something and instead of light it was pain that flared up from where the mark had been branded. It made Arlan hiss through his teeth, his other hand grabbing Mies for some comfort. Elwynn wasn’t done, even after the pain subsided they called it to life again, using a different series of words. Three more times they tried, each one resulting in a pain that bit and stung at his arm for a few moments before it fades again. Even in the low candlelight Arlan could still see the beads of sweat that had started to form on the faerie’s forehead, concentration clear on their face. They were trying to keep their expression calm but in their eyes there was a hint of worry. Arlan swallowed hard, telling himself that it wasn’t that bad, that it was just a part of the process but a voice in the back of his head asked a question he was scared to. Did Elwynn even know how to really break this seal? Wouldn’t they have done it before if they knew what to do? When they cursed softly under their breath it was just a confirmation that there was nothing that could be done about it.
“Dammit. It won’t let me remove it. Not without removing skin which I’m not going to do.” Elwynn clucked their tongue, clearly annoyed with the symbol but it didn’t sound like they were giving up yet. “I didn’t want to do this but Mies? I can reassign the owner of the seal, to you instead.”
“Shit really? Is that the only option?” Mies didn’t sound as thrilled as Elwynn did, his voice too loud in the previously quiet space.
“Yes.” Elwynn didn’t sound apologetic about it, just matter of fact as they rearranged the stones on the cloth before them. “It is.”
“Sorry but what does that mean?”Arlan felt odd for asking, like a child speaking out of turn.
“It means I can’t get rid of this seal. What I can do is make it link to Mies instead of our uncle. It’s not going to be a pleasant experience for either of you.” At least Arlan could trust Elwynn to be straightforward about the process. The look on the prince’s face was twisted into one of annoyance or perhaps worry, squeezing his human’s hand when they met eyes. There was reluctance in his face, that was the one emotion that Arlan was sure of. It made him uneasy, light headed and scared about what was to come next. Elwynn could sense that, they could always sense what was happening even without words. “It’s really the only option now.”
“You didn’t tell him everything. If the seal is linked to me that gives me power over you. I could use it like a beacon to find you whenever I pleased. I could use it to make you come to me, to do my bidding. A seal over you is a dangerous bit of magic.” There was something in his tone that suggested this might not have been the first time he’d thought of that. Perhaps before they had truly met, when everything was still just a game of children Mies had contemplated sealing his human to take him away. Even just a few months ago the very idea would have made Arlan sick, would have made him run as far away as he could, as fast as his feet would let him. Now however, he just wanted the magic on his arm to change, to be anything but this homing signal for the deranged fae following them. He trusted Mies now, trusted him not to use it against him.
“It’s more dangerous to leave it linked to your uncle. Mies, I want to do this, painful or not. Even if it is dangerous, I trust you.” Now it was Arlan’s turn to tighten his hold on Mies, smiling with lips that trembled. If his prince refused this then they would be back at the beginning again, in need of a new plan, a new way to fight off their pursuer. This could be over and done with right now, if the faerie prince would just trust himself.
“Arlan… It can’t be undone, if he does this.” Mies offered more information, his voice carrying the weight of the decision in every syllable. The human didn’t blink, nodding quietly. He wasn’t backing down now.
Mies didn’t try again, he just shifted, facing away from his mortal love, placing his hand out, palm up, for his twin to take. Elwynn pulled what looked like a small, delicate knife from a bag, setting it in the centre of the stones and candles, letting Arlan take it in, giving him one last chance to turn back. He just offered them his hand as the prince had done, steeling himself when the knife was brought up. It bit into his palm, just for a moment, doing the same for Mies. Thin lines of red were pressed together, fingers lacing with one another. The human swallowed hard, trying not to wince at the sting of it, looking for comfort in Mies’ face but it wasn't there. Mies was focused on Elwynn, breathing slow and even. Arlan tried to channel that strength, reminding himself that if Mies wasn't scared then he shouldn't be either. He could be just as stoic and statuesque for this as his faerie prince.
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