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Autumn is a season of change, of reflection. The last long nights of summer leave time for reflection as the stars to shift their paths in the night sky. Like the trees shedding their leaves, each individual must shed their past and grow into their future.
The cool days and nights of autumn approach slowly, and then suddenly the world wakes to a golden hour where all is alive just before it dies to again be reborn.
After all, it is said nothing gold can stay.
“Elias did you hear something,” Chise asked, looking around.
“No, why did you?”
“It sounds almost like a whimpering,” Ruth chimed in, perking up.
The trio quieted down, listening intently for the source of the sound. Chise’s plaid skirt swirled in the cool autumn wind as she tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. The forest around them was in the middle of preparing for winter, the leaves a beautiful, fleeting golden orange. Beside her, Elias’ cloak billowed around him as he lifted up his veil to look around them, checking to see if he could find the source of the noise.
As summer came to a close and autumn blew in with cooler temperatures, they had taken to going for evening walks together enjoying the autumn evenings. For each of them, these evening walks were quickly becoming the highlights of their days.
“I’m not sure I hear anything,” he said.
“Well that’s because you only listened for a moment,” Chise explained, still looking around.
Silence fell over the trio and all that could be heard was the soft rustling of dry leaves in the wind. Above them the sun was beginning to set, casting a golden glow on the forest far below. Elias took this moment to steal a glance at his bride, whose gaze was fixed on a cluster of trees a few meters away. She looked beautiful, radiant, in the setting rays of the sun and he thought to himself that it was a fitting image. Cloaked in the loving last light of autumn she embodied the way she made him feel, enveloped in glowing, golden warmth.
“I think it’s coming from over here,” Ruth said, as he lifted his head up from sniffing the ground.
Chise turned to look at Elias, a blush creeping up her cheeks as she saw he was already looking at her. Neither of them said anything, both turning away in embarrassment as they headed over to a small cluster of low lying bushes.
Elias couldn’t help but wonder what caused her to blush so beautifully for had he known he certainly would have filed that information away for later.
“Oh,” Ruth said in shock as he came upon the source of the noise.
There, lying in between the bushes, was a small, wounded red fox.
Chise leaned over it, letting out a shocked gasp when she saw the small, injured animal. Elias, for his part, did not really have much of a reaction.
“Well it’s getting dark, we should head back soon,” he said, nonplused.
“We...we can’t leave it here,” Chise said, looking at Elias, green eyes filled with worry.
“Yes we can,” he said, “Let nature take its course, as it must,” he said taking a step towards her.
“But we could help it, just because it’s injured doesn’t mean it’s beyond saving,” Chise argued, bending down to get a closer look at the creature.
Red like the autumn leaves that floated down around them, the fox was small curled in on itself in pain. There was a large superficial gash across it’s back. It was such a dark crimson that it seemed almost black, a sign that it had been present for quite a bit.
It made another pained noise, it’s tail coming to wrap around itself attempting to hide from the prying eyes.
“Please? It’s just a little fox, I can help it without getting cursed or injured, I promise,” she pleaded, clutching a hand to her chest.
Elias crossed his arms, looking down at her with conviction.
“Can you?” he asked.
“I can, and more importantly, I want to. Think about it, it’s a fox how could it possibly curse me?” She tried to reason.
“Need I remind you of the time you were impaled? Last I checked, foxes still have teeth and you are certainly prone to being attacked. I can’t see how this could possibly be a good idea,” Elias said.
“Because it will die without us,” Chise said, a fierce, empathetic look in her eyes.
“I fail to see how that is our problem. It’s nature let it take its course,” he said, waving a gloved hand dismissively.
“If Seth hadn’t intervened I would have died,” Chise pointed out.
“We’ve been through this Chise, you don’t owe anyone, or anything, for existing,” Elias said.
“That’s not it though. It’s more than that, I want to pass on the kindness that has been afforded to me,” she explained.
“By rescuing a fox?”
She sighed, her green eyes clouding over for a brief moment before they caught fire shining with a warm brilliance as dusk began to break.
“Do you remember the time that Ashen Eye tricked me with the pelt?” Chise asked.
“Of course, it was bothersome for everyone,” Elias responded simply.
“It’s just..Well, I turned into a fox that day,” Chise said.
“So now you suddenly feel a kinship with foxes?” Elias asked, confused.
“No, and yes, but there’s something more important. That day, when the forest called to me it felt familiar yes, but that’s when I realized, that home was with you, that it wasn’t necessarily a place but a feeling, a place of understanding to return to. And I….” she trailed off as she looked up at him.
Elias was looking down at her, his expression unreadable as the veil was back in its usual place, obscuring his face. A thousand words seemed to shift between them, passing like the leaves around them floated in the breeze. Unsaid, they were simply swept away as quickly as they had come.
“Chise, I…” Elias began, uncrossing his arms and shifting to reach out to her, tentatively.
“Is it so bad that I want to help others?” She asked, looking away from him.
“No, it’s not. I...I find it, moves me, makes me feel...complicated when you reach your hand out to others. It’s hard to explain because your compassion is inspiring, but towards others sometimes it is difficult. When you stretch your hand out to others, it makes me want to reach out and grasp it, refusing to let go,” he confessed.
Chise flushed, looking back to the injured fox.
“Maybe, this time, instead of me reaching out, we can reach out together? It can be our project, to help this fox feel better, something we can do together” she said.
She left out the words ‘as a couple’, but they still rang out clearly in her mind. Despite the years that had passed since she was his student, she still couldn’t bring herself to admit that she wanted so much more than titles. She wanted him, and all the wonderfully different facets of his personality, to be hers. But she filed those desires away for later as always, saving them for an indefinite time and place.
Elias seemed to think for a moment, the hand that had been outstretched to his bride still in the space between them. Momentarily trapped between the jealousy and admiration that came with her boundless kindness, he decided to choose the latter.
“Alright, it’ll be our project,” he agreed.
Elias was rewarded with a warm smile that lit up her features like the summer sun after a long winter. He let himself bask in its warmth, the feeling rushing over him as she reached up to take his hand.
It never amazed him how small her hand was in his, admiration for his bride blossomed within him. For no matter her stature she moved about the world with fearless determination. While in the beginning her determination to help others was born of trauma and her own negative self-image, now it had changed, morphed into something far more beautiful. Now her empathy was not at the cost of herself, but rather for herself as a way to express her gratitude towards a world that had finally accepted her. Like a butterfly emerging she had grown wings, and he realized now that indeed she had changed, for the better.
The Chise that stood in front of him now was no longer a self-destructive girl, but rather, a self-confident woman.
She used his hand to help her stand up from where she had been kneeling, coming to face him. So moved by his realization and the way she glowed both physically and metaphorically, he lifted up his veil with his free hand, desiring to truly see her at this moment.
Chise held his hand a little longer than she had to, lingering on to feel the warmth of his hand for just a moment. She then shrugged off her green jacket using it instead as a blanket to scoop the small fox up in.
It made another soft whimpering noise as she did so, causing her to try and pick the fox up from another angle. Once she had it safely wrapped in her jacket, she cradled it to her chest.
“What should we name it?” she asked, looking up at Elias.
“Hm, well judging by the size it’s a vixen,” he said.
“A what?”
“A female fox,” Ruth explained, as they began to walk back.
“Hm, well she’ll need a nice name then,” Chise said, looking at the fox fondly.
“You sound like Rahab insisting on naming her,” Elias remarked dryly.
Chise laughed, causing the fox to make a pained yelp that seemed to wheeze out of her. She paused, looking down at the fox in her arms with concern.
“It’s alright, she’ll make it until we get home. Come, Silky will have supper ready soon,” Elias said.
“Alright. She makes some odd noises, doesn’t she? I’ve never heard a fox make that sound.”
“It is a bit odd, it sounds wheezy almost like she’s trying to say something.”
“What do you think she said?” Chise asked.
“Hm, if I had to take a guess it sounded almost like ‘mess’,” Elias said.
“What do you think, Ruth?” she asked.
“Hmm, I would say it sounded the same like an ‘s’ almost,”
“Well, we can’t name her mess, that doesn’t sound like a good outcome. What about Mez?”
“I think that’s a good name, it suits her,” Elias said, looking down at his bride.
Chise smiled softly at his agreement, looking down at the little fox in her arms.
“Let’s get you home Mez. Don’t worry you’re in good hands, we’ll get you feeling better in no time.”
Mez opened her eyes briefly, looking up at the unusual pair before closing them again wearily. Around them, the wind picked up and Chise, now without a jacket, shivered.
Wordlessly, Elias shrugged off his outer robe.
“I’m fine really-” she began.
“No, you’re cold,” he said as he draped the thick material over her shoulders.
“But, then you’ll be cold,” she protested, her brows knit together in worry.
“I’ll be just fine, come let’s get home before the Silver Lady sends out a search team for us,” he said, putting his hands in his pockets for added warmth. Now less a coat and with the last light of day fading quickly, he was indeed cold. It was a different kind of cold, a better one. For he had known the coldness of her absence and now with her safely beside him, the physical cold was no real burden at all.
______
“Silky we’re home,” Elias announced, the bell she placed jingling as he opened the door.
The brownie appeared in the hallway, wiping her hands on her apron as she came to greet them. Her eyes widened in shock upon seeing Chise, the small fox cradled to her chest.
“Oh and we brought a guest, who will be staying with us for a while,” he added upon seeing her shock.
“Silky meet Mez. We’re going to help her feel better again,” Chise said excitedly, trying not to disturb the fox.
For her part, Silky didn’t seem to make much of a fuss, she simply got to it. Pulling out some old bedding and towels to use to make something of a small bed for the injured animal. After much discussion, they figured it would be best to put her in front of the hearth, and she was clearly malnourished. She also seemed to be extremely exhausted as she had put up no protest to being picked up, so it was likely she wouldn’t leave her little bed for a while.
Setting her up on the blankets they get to work on creating a simple salve for the wound across her back. Elias helped to guide Chise on the different salves they could make and together they chose one that would help close the wound.
Working together into the evening they talked through a little treatment plan, with Chise writing down a list of daily tasks and meal times for their newest addition. For his part, Ruth kept watching over Mez making sure she was okay as the mages went about crafting her special salve.
When at last they were done they were done for the evening and the special salve had been made, applied, and food and water had been left out for Mez, they sat down to a very late dinner. While caring for her had been a fair amount of work, both Chise and Elias seemed tired but content as they hungrily dug in.
Not long after the pair retired to their separate bedrooms to sleep for the evening. By the fire, Mez slept in between nipping at the chicken left out for her by Silky.
When at last morning began to break over the rolling English countryside, the small fox was still asleep but the chicken was partly gone.
“Elias, look she ate some of it,” Chise pointed out, excitedly.
Still in her pajamas, she had woken up early and dragged Elias out of bed to check on the small fox, worried for her new friend. The mage in a similar state of dress but much more subdued simply nodded, eyeing up the stairs blearily.
“I don’t know what else you expected her to do,” he mumbled, “Play chess with it?”
Chise was too excited to pay much mind to his grumblings as she knelt down next to Mez, looking her over. The gash over her back looked better, the deep crimson had become a lighter scarlet, a sign that the healing process was beginning.
“I hope you’re starting to feel better Mez,” Chise said, scooting a bit closer to her.
“Is it really necessary for me to be present for this or can I go back to bed?” Elias asked, yawning.
She sighed, turning back to look at Elias. He was partially hunched over, looking slightly disoriented. Typically, he was rarely up this early but he had been a good sport when Chise had snuck in his room and prodded him out of bed.
“It’s alright you can go back to bed,” she said, a small smile playing at her lips.
It was comical to see her well dressed, impeccable, well-collected husband in such a sleepy, disorientated state. He seemed to mutter some kind of reply before wobbling back up the stairs all too happy to return to bed.
Looking back at the fox before her, Chise simply sat with her for a bit longer, enjoying watching the sun spread its cool warmth over the horizon. Simply enjoying the moment Chise sat a while longer enjoying the crackling of the fire and the cute little fox who twitched in her sleep.
“Perhaps I should have prepared you a bit better for your first encounter with him. He can be bit to the point at times,” Chise mused, reaching out tentatively to stroke the fox’s head. When Mez didn’t wake, she stroked her fur softly.
“But despite it all, he does care or is learning how to at least. It’s like we’re two parallel lines running in different directions sometimes. Mirroring each other, but each on our own path. He’s learning to care about other people, and I’m learning how to prioritize my own health. He’d say it’s a bit poetic,” Chise said.
It was nice, Chise thought, to talk freely like this. Normally, people would feel the need to give their own thoughts on the matter. Rarely, did people ever seem to simply listen. Stroking her soft fur was so soothing too, as it was warm from the fire.
“My fur is soft too you know,” Ruth piped up from where he was asleep on the couch.
“I know, it’s just a different kind of soft. Don’t worry you’re still my favorite,” Chise said fondly.
Ruth squinted at her, before returning to his slumber, as much of a morning person as Elias was.
“I suppose it’s a bit like having a captive audience since you’re stuck here until you get better and all. But that’s alright, we’re happy to have you. Sometimes life’s like that, you’re going about your business and then life strikes out, wounding us. But we’re all part of the same world, and we should all care for one another when that happens,” Chise said.
“I thought the world was so cruel, so unkind but all it took was Seth reaching out. I suppose life’s like that, just deciding to have the courage and reach out, to open ourselves up. I think about it, from time to time, about how lucky I am. Then Elias reached out and I took his hand and well here I am, at least in a physical state of being,” she explained.
Around her, the house was still quiet, and she turned to look over her shoulder at the door which she had originally entered through. She remembered how the house had looked when she first arrived, and how it had changed over time. Now not only was the physical appearance different, but each nook and cranny felt alive, memories floating through her mind as she went about her daily life.
By creating memories together, they had truly built themselves a home.
“I’m glad that our home could be a home to you as well, even if it’s just for a little bit.”
________
“Did you make sure to put the Hemlock in at the right time?” Elias asked, hands on his hips as he examined the potion.
“I know I did, and I triple check my portions too. I have no idea how it could have turned out like this,” Chise said.
The pair were looking at what had accidentally become a poisonous salve.
“I’m not sure what could have caused this to happen, perhaps it would be best to simply leave it for the night. We can revisit it tomorrow,” Elias explained.
Chise was inclined to agree.
She reached around to untie her apron, fumbling with the knot blindly.
“Here, I’ll get it,” Elias said, brushing her hands away gently.
Flushing at the brief contact, she let him undo her apron before motioning for him to turn away to return the favor. Hanging them on their pegs as they headed out of the greenhouse they walked in for dinner. Silky had been kind enough to prepare delicious homemade chicken noodle soup, as well as some freshly baked bread to accompany it.
After their meal, they settled down for the evening in their usual positions in front of the fire. Mez was resting comfortably on her little bed with Chise sitting on the couch across from her. Elias sat in his normal chair, one long leg crossed over the other one.
A quiet blanket laid over the house and the only noises that could be heard were the crackling of the fire and the gentle pitter-patter of rain against the windows. Occasionally, trees could be heard shaking in the wind outside, but inside they were safe, warm, and cozy.
“What are you reading,” Elias asked, his head resting in his hand as he looked up from his own book.
“Oh, a book Tory recommended to me some time ago. Apparently it’s written by a famous British author. He insisted everyone in England has read it before, it’s called ‘The Hobbit’,” she explained.
“I can’t say I have, it’s been years since I read for leisure.”
“Oh, taking up all your time now, am I?” Chise joked, looking at him fondly.
“I’m afraid so,” he replied, “Tell me then, What is a Hobbit?”
She laughed, a light and free sound that reminded him of a windcatcher being caught by the warm summer breeze.
“How should I know? I haven’t made it very far. I’m only on page thirteen after all. I’ll tell you what though since I take up all your time, I’ll read it to you if you’d like.”
There was a soft squeak from Mez who was rearranging herself on her bed in front of the roaring fire.
“And you too of course, Mez,” Chise said, smiling.
“I’d like that,” Elias said, putting his bookmark in to close it and set it aside. He patted his lap, inviting her to come over and sit with him.
A warm blush crept up her cheeks, she hadn’t intended to read so close to him. Secretly, she was quite pleased that he wanted her so close to him. Walking over to him she settled herself on his lap, legs dangling over the side. When she looked up, she found him looking at her with such devoted fondness that it took her breath away.
Tucked away in their small cottage at the edge of the woods, it was just the pair of them alone in the quiet night. It felt intimate being so close, and Elias felt that the warmth he felt wasn’t from the fire roaring in the hearth. The source of it was internal, radiating outward. As he watched Chise open the book he was struck by the desire to kiss her. Instead, he settled a gloved hand on her back, resting his head in his hand to watch her.
“In a hole in the ground, there lived a Hobbit,” she began.
Curled up by the fire, Mez fell back asleep to the sound of Chise’s voice and the tale of a Hobbit’s adventure.
_______
“When will you be back?”
“I hope by tonight, but there’s a chance I’ll have to stay there for a night or two,” he explained, putting on his outer robe.
“And you’re sure I can’t come with you?”
“I’m sorry Chise. This client, well, he’s inappropriate at best and malicious at worst. That’s why they’re making me go, no one else will put up with him. The women, and a fair majority of the men, flat out refuse too. I’d feel much better if you stayed here.”
Chise watched him getting ready to leave, the sight tugging at her heartstrings.
While she had certainly gotten less dependent on him over the years, she still found it difficult when he was away for a night or two. Without him the house was too quiet, too empty. The evil spirits from when she was younger didn’t haunt her anymore, but the unpleasant memories of them still lingered. Whenever he was gone for longer periods of time than usual, she made sure to check around each corner, overly cautious.
“Alright,” she agreed reluctantly, reaching over to grab his scarf from the corner coat rack.
She held onto it tightly, as she watched him summon his wand and check to make sure everything was in his bag.
He turned to look at her, his heart contracting in pain at the image. She was clutching his scarf quite tightly, ready to put it around his neck but almost unwilling to do so. Her green eyes shone with sadness as she looked up at him.
“It’s alright, I’ll come back to you,” he said, “I always do.”
“I know,” she agreed, sadly.
The moment dragged on between them, the silence a heavyweight on each of them. Elias wanted nothing more than to see her smile and to keep it with him while he was parted from her.
Chise didn’t want to see him go.
Wordlessly, he bent down so she could tie the scarf around him. She did so, making sure it was tight enough he wouldn’t catch a chill. After it was tied, her hands lingered and they seemed to drift of their own accord, smoothing down his chest.
“Chise…” he trailed off.
When she looked up, she could see him looking down at her and it seemed as if the sliver of self-control she had been holding onto disappeared.
She reached up to stroke over his jaw, her touch light and filled with unspoken longing and desire. As she reached his chin, she stood up on her tiptoes closing the distance between them and kissing him gently.
Chise wanted to stay in that moment forever, eyes closed and kissing him softly, tenderly, as she had dreamed of doing countless nights. Now, at long last, her dreams had become a reality.
She pulled back, eyes half-lidded to look up at him unsure of his reaction.
Elias was looking down at her, clearly taken aback by the unexpected kiss. About to pull away from him in disappointment, he reached up to cover her hand with his own before leaning back down to return her kiss.
Finally, all they had both secretly dreamed about had come to pass.
When he pulled back he took her hand and the back of it to his mouth in a gentle kiss.
“I will always return to you,” he said tenderly.
He meant it, every single word. While he had purchased the cottage to make it his home, it hadn’t ever really felt like that. Not until Chise had arrived at least. The warmth of the fire hardly mattered compared to the warmth he felt with her at his side. Her smile was far more luminous than any candle or light money could buy.
Elias had learned home was not in a place, but rather in a person.
Chise watched him turn to leave, her heart sinking at the sight. He glanced over his shoulder one last time on his way out the door and then he was gone into the quiet night.
She stood there, rooted to the spot overcome with a range of emotions. Brushing her fingertips against her lips, she felt conflicted. Had Elias known what a kiss represented? She wasn’t entirely sure thinking back to the mistletoe kiss they had shared a few years earlier. Her heart throbbed realizing she would have to wait for him to return to find out.
A small meep brought her out of her thoughts. She turned to find Mez sitting up on her bed, looking at her intently.
“I’m sorry Mez, there’s no storytime tonight,” she said.
They had been reading “The Hobbit” every night after dinner for the past two weeks. Now, without Elias, Chise wasn’t sure she felt up to it, too emotionally drained from his departure.
Walking over, she plopped down next to Mez and the warm fire.
“It’ll be ok though, he’ll come back. He did promise after all,” Chise said more to herself than to the small fox.
Looking at the fire crackling, casting warm shadows over the room, she wanted more than anything for him to emerge and take her in his arms once again and press her close. Unable to focus on anything but the feeling of the kiss they had shared, she let her mind drift as she watched the flames dance in the fireplace.
After all, she had best be prepared for his return. She was his human teacher and they were about to embark on an entirely new journey.
When he returned she would be ready to tell him everything she had been holding onto far too tightly for the past few years.
________
Morning came as it always did, chasing the shadows of the night away with its new light. In the time Chise had been living with Elias she had come to appreciate the night. Elias, after all, was born from the shadows and she had come to find the darkness comforting and familiar knowing he was always lurking nearby. Still, without him, the night had passed slowly and sleep had evaded her.
The majority of the night had been spent trying to get her mind to calm down enough to sleep. No matter how much she tried she couldn’t seem to move past the feeling of his mouth on hers, of the worry that consumed her.
The shadows that had once been comforting in their familiarity had taunted her, reminding her that their shared bed was missing the original owner. Chise had clung to his pillow, a poor substitute for her husband, in the hopes his scent would be enough to calm her.
Eventually, sleep had taken her and tormented her with such sweet dreams that waking seemed more of a curse than a blessing. She awoke clinging to the remnants of a dream filled with Elias’ touch and familiar baritone whispering in her ear.
She sighed, trying to find the motivation to go through the day alone.
Hearing a small sound from downstairs she remembered that her friend Mez would need her breakfast and her medicine. Chise couldn’t spend an entire day moping and worrying, her friend needed her after all.
“Good morning Mez,” Chise said, setting a clean water dish down in front of the fox.
She didn’t really stir, merely peeked at the woman before going back to sleep. Chise smiled and sat next to her, finding comfort in the easy companionship.
Elias had been gone the entirety of yesterday, and the house was eerily quiet without him. Part of her still expected, hoped, to come across him in the hallways. It was hard to keep herself from checking his study every few minutes, as she wanted him to be there sitting behind his desk.
Now she could understand how Elias felt when she was at the college or visiting Lindel.
“I hope he comes back tonight,” she told Mez.
Looking at the little fox, she was certainly looking better, though it would likely be at least another two weeks before she was ready to head back to her home in the woods. She was glad at least that Mez seemed better, healthier. There was something warm and wonderful about seeing the ones she cared for getting the help they needed and growing through the obstacles life seemed to throw their way.
“I...miss him,” she said, letting the words tumble out.
“It’s just that, he’s not the most emotional person. I mean he is, sometimes, without noticing it. But at the same time, it’s like...does he know what it all means...that I...”
Love him, she thought to herself silently, unable to say the words out loud.
Maybe that was the problem though.
She had certainly admitted to herself she was in love with him, but every time she thought of telling him, the words got all jumbled up. More times than not she simply shoved the feelings back down, afraid that he wouldn’t reciprocate them. He had always freely admitted he didn’t feel the same way humans felt, so it was entirely possible that romantic love simply wasn’t in the cards for him.
So she had buried her true feelings away, doing her best to hide them so as not to make him uncomfortable. Ruth and the others had told her to be more upfront, to put her own needs above his, but she found herself too fearful to do so.
Chise wasn’t sure she could stand being rejected by the only family she’d ever known.
Now, it was becoming difficult.
There was an ever-growing urge within her whenever she was near to him to simply close the space between them and kiss him. Naturally, she had only managed to gather up the courage and kiss him right before he left for a few days, leaving the state of their relationship in question and her mind a mess of anxiety.
“It’s just he’s well….Elias,” she told Mez, bringing her knees up to her chest.
“He’s so oblivious to human emotions. Sure, he’s gotten so much better, but at the same time, I don’t want to kiss him if that’s not what he wants. That’s unfair to him. I mean does he even know the difference between romantic and platonic relationships?”
There were contradicting pieces of evidence. Sure he had balked when she asked if he and Angelica had been together, but at the same point, he thought a bride was the equivalent to a permanent roommate.
“Sometimes I think he confuses me on purpose,” she said, letting her eyes drift over to his empty chair.
Mez peeked up at her before yawning, snuggling back into her cozy bed by the warm fire.
“I know, I should be more selfish. I think I’m going to...to tell him when he gets back. Only I just don’t know what to say. He’s come so far from when I met him, and discovered so many new emotions. But how do I even begin describing what I feel for him, that it’s romantic and that...that I when I wake up in the morning I want more than just a pat on the head, that I want to kiss him in the morning, the afternoon...always,” Chise said, letting words she had been holding onto for so long fall freely.
“I want him in each and every way and I want him to want me too. I want to hold his hand, to shower him with kisses, to curl up together at night. I want all of it, the good and the bad and I’m tired of not knowing if he wants that too,” she said, leaning over to pet Mez.
The fox made a noise, almost as if rebuking her.
Chise laughed, “I know now I understand that old saying about men, it’s true you can’t live with them and you can’t seem to live without them either. I suppose that’s why it’s so nice having girl friends.”
Mez seemed pleased with this and reached out to nuzzle Chise’s hand affectionately.
Chise smiled, “Thanks Mez, you're a good friend.”
________
It was late when Elias returned home, exhausted from a long day.
Entering the house, he shrugged off his outer robe, which had become wet with rain. The house was dark save for the glow of the fire burning in the living room. He could hear the crackling of the fire and peeked in, expecting to see the Silver Lady, instead he found Chise.
Sitting up facing the door she was fast asleep, a book propped up on her chest made it appear as though she had tried to stay awake to welcome him home.
No one had ever been excited to see him, had ever looked forward to his arrival, before.
Elias lingered in the entryway, trying to memorize the way her skin glowed, and how soft she looked in the moment. She had tried to stay awake to greet him, and it moved him deeply. That she had cared enough, missed him enough, to essentially camp out on the sofa waiting for him was enough to make the long day disappear.
He walked over to her, trying to be quiet as she didn’t want to wake her. Admiring her in the warm light he reached out a gloved hand to stroke a few stray hairs. Kneeling down beside her he fell into a trance, mesmerized by the warm glow of her skin. He couldn’t help but remember how pallid she had looked when she first arrived. All skin and bones; she had looked like a walking corpse, the light in her eyes had long since gone out.
But she had fought her way out of the darkness and returned to the light, to him.
Despite the dragon curse, the frailness of being a Sleigh Beggy, she still fought to live each and every day. As such moments like these, where he could simply feel her warmth and watch her breath were special, for they meant that after all of their hard work she was still alive.
Elias was grateful that she had remained by his side.
But his feelings towards her had shifted, grown into something new and entirely unknown.
When she had kissed him, it had been the most wonderful, freeing feeling he had ever felt before. He had never known such profound happiness, and he had longed to see her again, to kiss her once more.
In fact the scene before him reminded him of those fairy tales, of the prince waking the princess with a kiss. While he was hardly a prince, he believed that Chise was far fairer than any of the princesses he had seen paraded around. She was an otherworldly, fiery beauty that captivated him and seemed to change moment by moment like the flickering of a flame.
She was more than beautiful.
Chise was kind, compassionate, understanding, empathetic, intelligent, hard-working, the list could go on and on. The fact she had chosen him and continued to choose him was one that never failed to astound him.
Afterall all these years she was still his, and he was still hers.
He traced a finger lightly over her lips, letting his gaze fall to them. Remembering the feeling of her lips on his mouth there was nothing more he desired than to feel that rush again. To express his profound love and admiration for her in the only way he knew how.
Closing the distance between them he gently kissed her.
He felt her small hand come up to cradle his jaw, and she returned the kiss as she awoke.
“I missed you,” she whispered as she pulled back, looking up at him.
The fire in the hearth was reflected in her eyes, and how could he not fall for her? Truly he was powerless against the swell of emotions that overcame him.
“I missed you too, every minute of every day I was away. All I could think of was returning to you,” he said, stroking a hand down her face.
Gently, she took his hand, taking the white glove off to reveal the purple hand underneath. His wedding ring glimmered as it normally did in the light, only now it seemed to have a slightly different meaning.
“Elias, I….” she began, trying to find the courage.
The moment seemed to drag on as she tried to get the words out, but they seemed stuck as if she could not bear to hear his response. She reached up, gently pulling him closer so she could whisper to him, barely able to get it out.
“I love you.”
He pulled her into an embrace, unsure of how else to communicate what it was he felt. The words were all jumbled up, he couldn’t seem to make heads or tails of them, but regardless of his shortcomings he wanted to know that she was loved, even if he didn’t have the words to verbally express it.
Elias nuzzled her fondly, trying to convey that he felt the same. That it was her alone that he held in his heart. Chise still held his face, stroking it gently as if she understood what he was trying to say.
“Come, my wife, let us go to bed,” he said.
A smile graced her delicate features and she looked moved as if he had said something he didn’t quite realize.
For there was a rather large difference between a bride and a wife. A bride was someone on the cusp of marriage, of binding and being bound to another. But a wife, a wife was someone who had taken and grown with that oath. The difference was a bride had yet to say ‘I do’ while a wife had said it once and every day since.
Gathering her up in his arms, he carried her to bed excited to hold her close and sleep beside her again. The only difference was this time, he could wake her with a kiss.
In her usual spot Mez watched them leave, before falling back into a blissful sleep.
________
It was late when the little fox awoke, yawning and opening her eyes.
Night had settled over the land some time ago, as the house was bathed in darkness save for the warm glow of the fireplace and one solitary lamp. It was quiet with only breathy moans to be heard, shifting the small fox turned around to find the mages locked in a rather passionate embrace.
Chise sat straddled over Elias' lap, her back to the fireplace. Elias was sitting on the couch, his hands low on her hips, gripping her them as she ground into him. Her soft moans escaped into the otherwise silent night.
“Ah, Elias,” she mewled into his mouth as they traded hot, open-mouthed kisses.
His grip seemed to tighten on her waist with her moan and he rocked up into her.
“Chise,” he answered in a deep, rumbling, growl.
Their pace seemed to pick up, both panting as they ground against each other. The rusting of fabric could be heard as their paces increased, kissing fervently.
“I...Elias please, I need more,” Chise whispered as he laved at her throat.
He rested both of his hands on her lower back and began to shift them so he was laying on top of her when he noticed a strange gleam in the dark. Too consumed with lust he paid it no mind as he began to work one of his hands up under the hem of her shirt, intent on continuing his ministrations.
“Um, Elias I think we have an audience,” she said, attempting to stay the hand that was moving up under her blouse.
“What?” He said slowly, drugged with lust.
His gaze followed hers to right in front of the fireplace where Mez was sitting, simply staring at the pair as if she were simply reading the Sunday paper.
“Oh, it’s just Mez watching,” he said before attempting to resume their frottage.
Chise held his hand still, shifting to sit up as well.
“No, Elias, we can’t,” she said, still staring at the little fox looking up at them innocently.
“What? It’s nothing she hasn’t seen before. Besides, it’s not as if she’s going to gossip to all of her friends,” he said, licking at her throat.
“It’s weird though, and I don’t know that I can...,” she trailed off, not really knowing how to finish her sentence.
Elias sighed pulling back, “Why? It’s not as though she knows what’s happening.”
“I just don’t want to um 'perform in front of an audience’. But if we go upstairs I’ll do that thing that you like with-”
“Alright, let’s go,” Elias said, already convinced.
He scooped up his bride, throwing her over his shoulder as he took the stairs two at a time, causing her laughter to ring throughout the house at his antics. He followed up her laughter with a playful spank to her rear end.
“Elias,” she giggled, surprised.
“What is the saying,” he began “There’s more where that came from?”
It was followed by the rather audible slamming of a door and the pitter patter of a large dog making its way down the stairs.
Ruth made himself comfortable on the couch, basking in the warmth of the fire. Closing his eyes, he drifted off to sleep wishing he was blissfully aware of what was happening upstairs.
________________________
As Chise made her way downstairs the next morning, wearing Elias’ oversized night shirt, she was shocked to find Mez up and about. Sniffing around in the kitchen, Mez saw her friend and came over to her, rubbing against her legs affectionately.
It had been several weeks since they had come across her alone and wounded in the forest, and it seemed their hard work was finally paying off. The gash along her back was now mostly healed, and she was no longer just skin and bones.
“Good morning Mez. Are you feeling better then?” She asked, going about her morning routine.
As she made her morning tea, Mez waited patiently by her, ready for her breakfast. Once her tea was stepping she went to get the raw chicken out of the fridge, setting some out on a plate for the hungry fox.
She watched Mez eating her breakfast as she added the milk and sugar to her tea. Leaning against the cabinets and taking in the morning light streaming in through the windows. It was a beautiful cool autumn morning, and although Silky had alright started a fire there was still a slight chill to the house.
Chise wrapped her fingers around the warm mug, taking a long sip of the tea to warm up. Hearing footsteps making their way down the stairs, she assumed Ruth must be up. However, when Elias peeked in the kitchen she found herself surprised.
“Oh, you’re up early,” she remarked, smiling fondly at him.
Elias only grumbled, coming over to her and wrapping his arms around her resting his chin on her head. She imagined if he had hair he would have a rather bad case of bed head, as he looked tired and disheveled. Missing his pajama top, his bottoms sat low on his hips, slightly askew.
“What was that?” she asked, leaning into his touch.
“Mm cold. Come back to bed,” he mumbled, nuzzling her.
“There’s things I need to take care of,” she said softly.
“It’s Saturday, there’s nothing to take care of, but your grump of a husband,” he said.
“Alright,” she agreed “But let me at least finish my tea first.”
She turned partly to look up at him, and she felt a warm fondness rise within her. Elias was adorable like this, warm and still slightly groggy from sleep. It was such a departure from the collected, detached mage the wider world knew. But here in their quiet little cottage, she was the only one he shared his more vulnerable side with. For her had let down his walls, and here with her they had made their home one in which they could truly be themselves.
“Mm,” he hummed in agreement.
“You know, sometimes I wonder how you even made it to the auction in time with your sleep schedule,” she commented.
“I was very motivated,” he said, shivering from the cold.
Chise turned her head to give him a soft kiss on his arm.
“Go wait for me, I’ll return to you shortly; I promise,” she said.
Elias mumbled an agreement before stumbling his way back upstairs to their comfortable bed. She couldn’t ignore another kind of warmth that was beginning to grow, as she did so enjoy the sight of him clad only in pajama bottoms. As he walked away she admired the view, enjoying the way the jersey material clung to his hips and backside.
Finishing her tea, she returned her attention to the little fox, staring up at her expectedly.
“Alright then Mez, let’s put on some salve and get you some freshwater then,” Chise said, looking down at the happy little fox. She looked miles better than when they had first found her. Her wound was in the very last stage of healing and she seemed much happier and healthier. She had even taken on the habit of following them around throughout the day.
Elias might deny that he had come to care for the adorable little fox, but she had caught her husband sneaking pieces of lunchmeat to her when she wasn’t looking. Chise had even caught him showing her pictures of other foxes in a book once, which was simply too adorable. Naturally, he had denied the whole thing but later that evening she had spotted him kneeling down to give her scratches behind her ears.
She couldn’t help but smile at the warm memories.
When she returned from her morning tasks Elias was already fast asleep, and her plans for a different start to the morning were put on hold. Getting back in beside him, she cuddled herself next to him, breathing in his familiar scent.
The bed was warm compared to the cold autumn morning, and all was at peace as she drifted back to sleep in her husband’s arms.
____________
“Are you ready then Mez?” Chise asked.
It had been over a month since they had taken the little fox in, and now she seemed like an entirely different creature. Full of life and love, Mez had truly become a part of their household and everyone was sad to see her go.
Chise understood that this was life, an endless cycle of welcoming and letting go, but it still hurt. Goodbyes were never fun, and she would miss her friend.
Their friend.
For all his protests Elias was fond of the fox, after all they had cared for her together, had offered her their home and their help and he was sad to see her go. Still, he understood that her home laid in the woods beyond.
The husband and wife stood by their front door, ready to open it and let the fox out.
“It’s hard to believe, isn’t it? It feels like so much time has passed and no time at all,” Chise said.
That was the truth, really. In the month and a half that Elias and chise had been caring for Mez so much had happened, while others had stayed the same. Business had continued on, but the nature of their relationship had changed. Chise had gone from a bride to a wife, and Elias had become a husband instead of a master.
They had found their home in each other years ago, but it had taken them crossing paths with a little fox to realize it. The gravity of the moment wasn’t lost on either of them, and it was bittersweet. They’d miss her, but sometimes the right thing to do still caused pain. Life hardly ever had choices that were simple and painless.
As much as it hurt to say goodbye, their door was still open to her, and always would be. For doors rarely ever closed, instead, theirs would be open and welcoming, waiting to once again say hello and goodbye.
Elias reached forward opening the door to the crisp autumn morning and Mez’s eyes widened at the sight. It had only been the very beginning of fall when she had fallen ill, only now fall was quickly turning into winter.
She ventured outside a few steps before simply sitting down, taking in the scene around her. The leaves fell down around her, Chise and Elias following her outside. Mez sat there for a moment taking in the peaceful scene. The green rolling hills of Oxfordshire had turned a vibrant golden emerald green shade, the trees filled with golds and oranges. It seemed as if the world had been painted over with gold leaf, as everything seemed so alive, so beautiful.
But as they often said, nothing gold could stay.
Mez sat there, looking up at Chise and Elias before getting up and rubbing against each of their legs. With one look back she seemed to thank them before returning to the woods.
They watched her leave, and Chise reached out to grasp Elias’ hand for comfort.
Instead of letting herself dwell on the sadness and loss she felt, Chise shifted her thinking to focus on being grateful for the time they had spent together. It was always hard to say goodbye, but she felt as if this wasn’t a final goodbye; but rather a goodbye for now.
One could, after all, have many homes and their door would always be open to those who sought refuge.
