Chapter Text
Eggsy was so fucking cold. Even with layers of warm winter clothing, he could feel the cold air slowly freezing his balls off. The magical winter Harry had triggered seemed more intense than any weather he had ever encountered.
"Why's Harry like this, Rox?" Eggsy asked softly as his horse trotted closer to his friend and hunting partner.
"He was born like this, Eggsy. Nobody knows why or how, but he was born with the ability to control ice and snow."
"Why's he so afraid of people?"
"He had an incident with my dad when they were kids. He almost killed him, so he locked himself away. After some time, he came back out, but he continued to keep his distance." Roxy sighed softly. "Sometimes, I wish he could just let his feelings show instead of trying to hide them all the time. He seems almost robotic because of that at times."
Eggsy gave a sympathetic smile and patted Roxy's shoulder.
"He'll open up eventually, I guess. Just give him time."
Roxy smiled wanly in return.
"Thanks, Eggsy."
***
It wasn't long before they cleared the treeline and exited the forest that encircled the foot of the mountain. A bright flash of light greeted them, and they squinted to get a better look.
Perched on the side of the mountain was a huge castle, made entirely out of ice. The sunlight glinted off the faceted walls, reflecting light an all directions while the castle itself glowed orange and gold together with the sunset.
It was one of the most beautiful things Eggsy had ever seen.
"Fuck me..." he gasped, his fingers reaching for the crystal around his neck. "Did Harry make that?"
Roxy nodded mutely, her mouth hanging open as she gaped at the castle.
"I had no idea he could do that."
"Me, neither, Eggsy. The most I've seen him do is make ice cubes."
Roxy chuckled at the skeptical look Eggsy gave her.
"Well, we still have to be careful. Don't forget what he did at the party. He could kill all of us with his abilities," Valentine commented solemnly.
"We'll be safe, Rich. I'm his niece."
"And he's the king of an entire kingdom who has the ability to freeze all of us with a single look. We have to be careful."
Eggsy rolled his eyes.
"Right, before you two start bickering, let's just set up camp here. I'm not going to be able to get anything done with you lot squabbling away."
Roxy sighed as she followed Eggsy to unpack their tents and epuipment.
***
Eggsy's eyes glittered gold and green in the light of the campfire as he sat watch over the sleeping forms of Roxy and Valentine.
Things had been crazy today. No, scratch that. Crazy was an understatement. He had almost been attacked by a King (a very fit king, his mind whispered) who could control and create ice and snow. He has then followed that king up the side of a mountain with his best friend and her fiance and discovered a castle made entirely out of ice on that mountainside, created by said king.
Eggsy sighed. At least things couldn't get any worse.
Grrrrrr...
Shit.
Eggsy nudged Roxy and Valentine awake.
"Wha-"
"Shush, Rox!" Eggsy hissed. "Wolves!"
Roxy's bow was drawn in an instant, her eyss sweeping the forest for signs of the predator that meant to make them its prey.
Valentine drew his sword, settling into a fencing stance.
Eggsy gripped his bow tightly, ready to let fly his arrow at the first sign of movement.
A pair of luminous eyes appeared in the inky blackness of the forest behind them.
And another.
And another.
And another.
"It's not just one, Eggsy," Roxy gulped. "It's a whole pack."
Suddenly, a dark streak shot out, heading right towards Eggsy.
Eggsy shot it right between the eyes, and the wolf's body scraped through the snow and stopped right at his feet, blood staining the snow ruby red.
That served as a signal for the rest of the pack to attack.
Roxy picked off the wolves one by one, but as they got too close to the campsite, she abandoned her bow and arrows in favor of her sword.
She and Valentine danced a deadly waltz, slicing and stabbing as they went. A trail of blood and gore followed in their wake.
Eggsy had grabbed a large log from the fire and was fending off a particularly large wolf. It leapt at him, snarling and snapping, but the burning wedge of wood in Eggsy's hand kept it at bay. One snap of its jaws came a bit too close to Eggsy's hand for comfort, and he dropped the log.
The wolf was slowly advancing, a low growl emanating from its throat.
Eggsy closed his eyes and prayed that it would be quick amd painless.
Steel met with flesh. Sharpness sliced through bone. Eggsy opened his eyes to see Valentine bent over the now-dead wolf, panting heavily.
"Well, fuck me," Eggsy gasped.
"I'll pass. I am engaged to Roxanne, after all."