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The sound of birdsong floated through the trees, twirling around in the glade. Grass rustled against oak trees more ancient than any of the nearby kingdoms. Wild mustard stalks just poked into the open air, speckling the area with a bright yellow. Thistles stood to latch onto and send away any people who dared to cross into the clearing without permission and the guidance that granted.
An almost impossibly huge tree stump sat in the middle of the glade. The wood and bark dried and bleached, with large cracks running through it. Ferns, and flowers, and even a few saplings made their home growing out from around it, a few even climbing into each shallow crevice that would eventually catch water.
Scar slowly moved around the room that made up the center of the stump. The hollow that lead into it was hidden by ferns and grass. To an untrained eye it wouldn’t have looked to lead anywhere. A wooden table sat in the center of the room, with twisting carvings lining the otherwise smooth surface. Two spots were cleared, one with a similarly carved stool next to it. The rest of the table had drawings, and little jars of things from the other world, and even some arrows scattered on it. Jellie had made her home on a ledge coming from the tree, where the wood had jutted out enough to lay down a pillow.
Scar had called the glade home for centuries, rarely ever getting a visitor- or when he did they were a fool willing to give their name to him or dying. Either way they were laid down amongst the roots of the trunk.
But recently, as in two years ago, a newcomer had come in who was allowed to leave. When he’d asked for their name they’d refused to give it to him, then told him what they went by. With no hold over them, he could do nothing as they turned around and left. And then came back the next week.
When he’d tried taking them to the otherworld they brought their own food for the duration of the trip, making sure that he promised they’d be back within three days time both for them and in the regular world. That one was about a year ago. After that Scar only asked that no one else hears of him, so that no one else would be added to the glade.
His visitor still swung around about once a week, and today was to be one of those days. He had some soda bread- just plain without a raisin in sight just as it ought to be- on the counter along with a bread knife. The counter ran on much of the inside of the tree, working as storage mostly. One doorway cut into it, leading to his bedroom.
The cloven hooves of his chair clacked against the ground as he went over to his usual spot at the table.
After a few minutes wait a figure emerged from the outside world. His visitor, Grian- crown prince of the kingdom of Evolution.
“Hello, feel free to take a seat.” Scar said smiling, gesturing over to the stool.
“Morning Goodtimes.” Grian said, walking over. Even though Grian had told him his name, Scar had no way to return the favor without risking his very being. It made his heart ache to hear a different name come out of Grian’s mouth as if it were his own, but it was worth it to keep himself his. Grian took a seat next to him. He looked tired, the past few weeks he’d looked tired. As if he had the weight of the world pushing down on him.
“How are you? Do anything fun?” Grian asked.
“Well enough, I took a trip back to the otherworld to check in with my brother. Shockingly I don’t have another scar to add to my collection.” He said, resting his chin on his hand. Grian nodded.
“How’ve you been?” Scar added after a moment.
“Alright, I suppose.” Grian answered, shrugging and leaning forward.
“Oh no! You only suppose? What’s the matter then?” Scar asked.
“It’s… let’s go with politics. It would probably bore you to death, and it’s not like it would affect you out here.” Grian said.
“Oh, well your politics tend to include an awful lot of bloodshed don’t they? Who could ever bore of that?” Scar asked, tilting his head. Grian huffed a chuckle at that.
“You can tell me, I might have some good reference points!” Scar said.
“Alright, alright. But this isn’t particularly likely to end in bloodshed, I don’t think. But apparently I’m being sent off to Hermitcraft for some years, as a ‘showing of good will’. They’re sending someone over as well, pretty much just to make sure that no war can start. Because then the heir of the attacking kingdom will be killed.” Grian said, crossing his arms on the table and setting his head on them.
“Oh, how far away is that?” Scar asked after a moment, keeping his voice soft.
“About three weeks travel, two and a half if you’re moving well.” Grian huffed.
“When are you leaving?” Scar leaned towards him slightly.
“In three days.” Grian said. Scar frowned slightly, this was the last time Grian would be visiting his glade then. He’d taken to liking having his visitor.
“How long have you known about this?” Scar asked.
“It’s been talked about for almost a month now, but the final decision was made yesterday.” Grian laid his head on its side so he could run at his eye.
“Okay.” Scar said. He didn’t really know what else to say there.
“I made soda bread and could grab some lemonade? I even got some new berries while I was visiting so I can add those as well.” He offers.
“That’d be nice.” Grian said, starting to sit up properly and nodding his thanks.
“I’ll be back in just a second! I just have to grab some water.” Scar said, resting his hand on Grian’s shoulder before moving back and around the table to go through the hollow, grabbing a wooden pitcher kept right by the entrance.
He went around to the other side of the trunk, where a stream rushed by. He held the pitcher into it, watching the water splash up and by it. After some seconds he lifted the pitcher up, twirled it, and satisfied with the amount of water in it turned around to go back inside.
Grian was staring up at the lights the floated and bounced around near the ceiling of the room, sending slightly different shades of yellow and orange down on him. No matter how many times Grian came to visit he was always entranced by the lights. Though Scar supposed it came with spending the first twenty three odd years of his life with people only, never getting a glance at magic. The same way Scar always stared in wonder at the fancy trinkets they made from iron.
He placed the pitcher on the counter, and grabbed sugar from further down it. Adding some to the water, he closed his eyes and tugged on one of the lights to come down and rest next to the pitcher. As he reached for a spoon to stir it with, Grian spoke.
“Can I help with anything?” He said, already standing from his stool.
“Sure! Why don’t you cut the soda bread? Don’t worry about scratching anything, I don’t mind.” Scar said. He stirred the water and sugar together, he could feel the heat from the light as he did so. The sound of a knife sawing through bread came from his right. Once the sugar was gone he went over to where he kept his fruits, grabbed a lemon and some glow berries and returned. He reached over to grab a small knife, and cut the lemon and one berry.
“You want to taste this to make sure you can eat it?” Scar asked, lifting one side of the berry. Grian nodded.
“Sure.” He said, setting the knife down and holding his hand out. Scar passed him the berry. He watched as Grian placed the berry in his mouth, chewed, and then his face lit up.
“This is delicious! These are good.” He said, nodding vigorously. Scar smiled.
“Fantastic!” He said, returning to cutting the rest of the berries. Soon the sound of bread being cut returned. He sent the light back up to the ceiling to chase the other ones, and squeezed the lemon into the pitcher. He then pressed each berry half against the side of the pitcher to get the juice out. He looked over to where Grian was finishing cutting the last bit of bread. He didn’t even get a chance to ask Grian to grab some plates and cups before he was already moving the fabric from where it covered the shelf and bringing two of each down. With a snap and what felt like a slight pull on his insides, the lemonade cooled and a small amount formed into ice cubes.
They split the lemonade and soda bread between the glasses and plates and brought those to the table. About half the loaf and two thirds of the lemonade in the pitcher remained on the counter.
They took their regular spots at the table.
“Y’know… I probably won’t get to do this again.” Grian said, he looked so reserved and his voice was unusually soft. Typically he’d be almost bouncing off the walls with energy, voice swinging into the occasional louder burst when he got invested in something. Scar couldn’t help that a dragging sense of loneliness was already beginning to see its way into his mind.
“Why not?” Scar asked. He knew why, it wouldn’t be becoming of a prince to be helping cut bread or set a table, even in a different kingdom from his own. Grian huffed.
“This is the only place I’m allowed to, and it’s not like I’ll get to over there. Or sneak off as easily.” He says. Scar nods, tapping his fingers on the table. Jellie perks up at that, and jumps over. Scar takes a sip of his drink, relishing the sparkling-sweet taste the glow berries add, before Jellie’s on the table asking for pets.
“Think I could hide away in the otherworld?” Grian said, running a hand over Jellie’s back as she circled towards him. Scar laughed.
“You’d be eaten alive.”
They both knew that that wasn’t any sort of warning or threat or metaphor, it was simply a fact. A rare thing from a fae, not a rare thing for Scar to lend him though. Grian looked down, and bit a slice of soda bread. Scar stared at him, he didn’t want to lose his visitor. He’d gotten used to interacting with people, or well a person, and he didn’t feel like being lonely in his time amongst them.
“I could come with you if you want?” Scar says, it’s a half thought out offer but made with more heart than such a thing should be able to hold. Grian smiles at him.
“I think I’d like that, but that would mean leaving your home. Not to mention they’re only asking for me.” Grian says.
“No one would turn down a fae coming to their kingdom, be it out of a desire for power or fear of upsetting them. I’d be able to come along. Plus you could just say you refuse to go if I don’t come with you.” Scar notes. Grian nods, and takes another bite of his bread.
“Why?” Grian asks, glancing over at him.
“I like spending time with you. And the glade here would feel dead without a visitor, so why stay?” Scar huffs. Sure there were plenty of reasons to stay, be it safety or something as trivial as the views, but where was the fun in that? Besides, he’d been there for so long. He may as well take… a vacation. Grian nodded.
“Really?” Grian asks.
“Really,” Scar reaffirms before an idea strikes him and he continues, “Here, I’ll tell you my name.” Grian almost pales at that.
“Goodtimes! You don’t need to. It’s fine.” Grian argues.
“I want to.”
“…Alright.” Grian says quietly.
“My name's Scar, you may do with it what you will.” He says, looking Grian dead in the eyes. Every part of him screams not to. Not to give his name to someone who could use it to hurt him, especially not someone with high enough standing where it would be easy. The words still make it out of his mouth in the smooth tone they always do should he forget to add emotion.
Grian nods slowly. Scar can see the moment he decides something, the way his eyebrows raise slightly, his pupils shrink, and his lips pull for half a second. Scar knows what he’ll say before his mouth even opens.
“You can have my name.” Grian offers in turn. Scar’s mouth splits into a grin, showing off all his teeth.
“I’m coming with you, what time and where should we meet?” Scar asks.
“Just outside the castle, at noon. You’ll certainly catch us, but it may be a minute or two before we exit the gates. That way you also get to go through town, see if you want to buy anything for the trip.” Grian says.
“I don't think my currency would do, but I’ll take a peek.” Scar says.
“I could cover you.” Grian offers, and Scar can’t help but laugh at that.
“I’ll bring what I need, don’t worry about it.” Scar says.
“You’d probably be stuck in the castle in Hermitcraft.” Grian says, as if he’d only now realized it.
“I can come and go as I please. And if it ever gets too boring I can bring you with me.” Scar says, and he knows he’s smiling like he’s plotting a murder. Grian nods, and they both take a drink of the lemonade- clinking the wooden glasses together.
———
Scar pets Jellie as she purrs on his lap. Extra glow berries, bottles of honey, dried and salted strips of mooshroom, gummies made from magma cream, and a few other well filling snacks from the otherworld were all stored in a bag he hung off the back of his chair. He knew they’d likely stop in towns most nights, but if he could simply sustain himself on his own food he’d be all the better for it. Human food didn’t suit him too well if he had it each day.
He’d passed through the town, gathering stares. He had to say, the buildings were shockingly intricate. He committed as many to memory as possible. But the occasional cobbled roads sent small shivers through the legs of his chair, which could reach him. The hooves were clacking louder than they should on the overly smooth stone. It was made for the roots, dirt, mud, and grasses of the wild of softly packed trails that acted as veins through the otherworld.
The gates creaked open and Scar looked over. Three figures walked through, two in proper armor and one dressed with a partial set, bringing horses through. Grian looked over at him, and smiled. They were followed by two more imposing figures, hidden in cloaks decorated to look like wings with crowns covered in eyes sat on their heads. Grian walked over to him.
“Glad to see you, Scar.” He said, sounding the most excited he had in a while.
“Always a pleasure, Prince Grian.” Scar said, the ‘prince’ added in quickly with a glance over to the others stood just out the gates.
Scar gently took Grian’s hand and brought it to his lips, pressing a quick kiss to it since last he remembered that was polite. He set Grian’s hand down, the looked up grinning like a madman. He’d be getting to spend at least two and a half weeks straight with his visitor- or well. He wouldn’t be his visitor anymore. So two and a half weeks straight with his friend!
“Are you ready to go?” Grian asked.
“Of course!” Scar said.
“We could probably get you a horse if you want, to help keep up.” Grian offered quietly.
“Once we’re on dirt trails I’ll be faster, besides. I doubt you’ll be allowed to go faster than a slight trot.” Scar responded. Grian nodded and stepped back. He wished a goodbye to the figures behind him, who Scar was beginning to expect were the current rulers of the kingdom. One of the others with a horse, presumably a guard or a knight, was staring at him with a hand resting over the hilt of a sword. Grian turned around and gestured for Scar to join him between the two others.
Jellie shuffled slightly as the clicking of his chair sounded, and almost woke her with the odd way it moved when the ground refused to give way any. He watched as the two either side of them mounted their horses, and then Grian followed suit.
“Shall we go?” Grian asked, to nods on both sides. Like that, they set off.