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Pix didn't know what to expect when he entered the home of the Elvenking after three sessions of unanswered knocking. He certainly didn't expect to hear the echoing sound of heartfelt sobs.
Pix wasn't close with Scott. They rarely interacted with each other during meetings and talk was always civil or on the topic of trade. But he did know Scott always made an effort to be polite and proper and refusing to open the door seemed rather out of character.
Pix's brow furrowed with concern and he shut the door, quickly going up the stairs in the corner of the downstairs room. When he reached the top of the stairs, he was greeted with a wide room with a birch plank flooring and the King of Rivendell on his knees.
Scott was hunched over, his elbows pressing against his knees as he gripped his palms together as though in desperate prayer. His whole body shook as he cried, his hair hanging around his face in a stringy curtain. A ring of thin frost circled him, jutting out in points like a roughly drawn snowflake. If Pix looked closer, he could see intricate Elven patterns in the ice, hinting at its abnormal origins.
Pix's eyes widened, and he took a step toward Scott. The creak of the floorboard made Scott snap his head up to stare at Pix. With tears trickling down his gaunt, ghostly cheeks, and dark circles under his eyes, plus the helpless expression he wore (rather like a deer in headlights), Scott looked, to be blunt, horrendous. A wave of unease washed over Pix, used to the pristine appearance of the elf's snow white cloaks and bejewelled ears. He hastened over to the elf and, when Scott made no protest, held him close to his chest.
Pix felt Scott tense in his arms, and for a moment, he felt as though he crossed a line, but Scott quickly flung his arms around Pix's neck.
"Smajor? You okay, bud?" Pix asked warily, his arms firm against Scott's back.
The only response he got from Scott was a small shake of his head against his shoulder.
"Do you want to talk about it? You look like you need to," Pix dared a huff of laughter.
The quiet stretched on between them, the only sound the gentle whispering of the icy breeze outside and the occasional sob from Scott.
Pix thought Scott wasn't going to answer him until he felt the elf raise his head from his shoulder.
"Good times... for a change," Even his voice had changed. Once smooth like fresh honey, with a running eloquence as gentle as a stream, now scratchy and uncertain, fluctuating in strength.
Pix frowned. "Smajor, what's wrong?"
"The things I've seen can make a good man... bad," Scott said bitterly.
"What do you mean, Smajor, bad?" Scott's disjointed answers began to worry him a bit.
"I hurt people, Pixl. I nearly destroyed my empire... and Gem was nearly frozen..."
"But she's alright now, is she not? The Wizard GeminiTay is a powerful person. And your empire is thriving ,".
"Exactly! That's the point! I don't... I don't trust it,".
"You don't trust peace?".
Scott just shrugged.
"I feel like something is going to happen,".
Pix frowned. "Smajor, the empires are safe. The battle between the demon and your gods is over,".
Scott went silent. Pix took that as an opportunity to hold him even closer and rub circles on his back.
"I know you're worried, Smajor. But, listen to me. We're okay. The empires are all at peace. Isn't that what we've wanted for... years?".
"What if I ruin it? I ruined it before, I'm more than capable of ruining it again,".
"You ruined nothing," Pix insisted.
Scott exhaled and slowly stood up. Pix stood with him, putting an arm around his waist to support him. As Pix looked down at the elf, he noticed his eyes were faint and cloudy.
"Smajor, you need sleep, you don't look well," Pix said, becoming unsettled (not for the first time, mind) about the state of the Elvenking's mental health.
"No, I have things I need to do first. Sleep can wait. I've wasted enough time," Scott brushed him off, and weakly batted away the arm on his hips.
Pix stayed firm on this one. He shook his head and easily pulled the elf to his bed with very little resistance. "Are you sure on that one, Smajor?" He said jokingly.
The elf just rolled his eyes. "Ever the joker, Pixl," he said, although not unkindly.
Pix looked down at the elf curled up on the white sheets. "I'm coming back tomorrow. I want to make sure you're okay,". His tone left no room for argument. Scott saw this and didn't offer one.
Pix gave Scott one final nod before stepping away and walking to the stairwell.
"Pixl?".
"Yes, Smajor?".
"Diol'eh,".
Thank you .
Pix smiled. He always did find Elvish an amusing but intricate language.
"Dim pry'e,"
No problem .
As Pix left Scott's residence, and eventually his empire, a thought suddenly struck him.
He didn't even get his magenta wool.