He didn't know which way to go. He didn't know how much time had passed, but when the strange lights flaring from Silmeria's fiery fanfare had long stopped, so did he with the horses. They had reached a river bank, and both he and the two horses were exhausted. It had began to rain, a freezing rain that belted and began to coat the three of them in ice.
He lead the horses beneath a canopy of trees, shivering as he stood between the pair of them and tied them loosely to the trunk of a tree. As he was doing so, however, he noticed something off int he distance. The plumes of smoke.
He blinked, leaning forward and trying to get his eyes to register what he was seeing. Then it became clear. He had run to a nearby village. He wasn't sure what village or where, but it seemed this one was at least safe and housed people, because the smoke was puffing up from chimneys.
Gritting his teeth, he made the choice to enter the town. If he had to, he could sell one of the horses for lodging and food. After all he had been through, it would be worth it. He wanted to lay down in a bed, close his eyes and forget this winter. Forget this war. Forget the ashes left in the snow.
But as he approached the small town, he paused as he was leading the horses over a small bridge to pass the creek and shielded his eyes from the ice that continued to rain down upon him. Silmeria was no where in sight. He felt guilt grip at his heart as he panted out white puffs of breath.
She'd find him right? She had magic. She'd be okay.
His heart was drumming and he felt dizzy. Each step was clumsy and when he made it into town, he was shaking something fierce. He couldn't even get out all he wanted to say when a young woman hushed him and hurriedly guided the young man inside.
Her cottage home sat squat near the town's church, both of which had a nice sheet of ice at their door atop of a foot of snow. The woman cursed some as she moved to shovel away just enough so she could open her door. She held it open and gestured for Killian to go ahead inside. But he paused, teeth chattering and asked,
"What of the horses?"
Her blue eyes looked from him, then to the horses before she grabbed the reigns and gave a pull. Bring them inside too. They'll freeze outside like the other animals had.
He was about to protest if they could fit inside, and it seemed the horses were uncertain too, but after some coaxing, the woman got the pair of horses inside and settled them up near the hearth where the fire was crackling warmly. Her hood had come down, skewing her face and hair-
and Killian found himself staring at her for much longer than he ought to have.
She was beautiful, a red haired, blue eyed beauty of the North. But it was her gesture towards the fire that brought him back to reality.
"Please come in and sit. I can help you take off them clothes. You'll lose limbs if you keep 'em on."
Although he protested, the woman assured him she had three older brothers and there was nothing to be ashamed of. But as she moved to help him, it was only then she realized...
"Ansgar's beard..." Her eyes flashed to him. "You've done lost your arm."
Killian flinched and pulled away.
"I can manage on my own." He had his back to her as he went about, shuffling awkwardly to slip off his coat. The woman sighed and moved to his side again, and helped him.
"It's been a long winter, a long war," she told him, placing a hand on his shoulder to get him to look at her. "Just take this bit o' help, stranger. You deserve. NO matter what side yer on."
Eventually his clothin was removed, and he was layered up in three blankets wrapped tightly around his form. He was shivering, but less so,a nd by now the icicles in his white blonde hair were melting and the ones' on his hung clothing, too. He was lost in thought as he gazed into the fire, but when the red haired woman came into view and offered him a steaming cup, he looked at her then eagerly took it.
"It's tea of the forest. It'll sooth you and help you sleep, if you can."
"Thank you," he told her, sipping at it and beginning to cough.
"Hey there, no dying by choking on my tea now. It would make me a lousy hostess now wouldn't it?"
Killian smiled at her joke, and she smiled in return.
"There's a handsome smile if I ever saw one. Can't say I blame you for looking so grim when you came in here. The world out there... its' unforgiving. Ansgar's way to make his own mark on this war, I suppose."
Killian looked her over, and shivered again. It was tehn the woman moved forward and touched a hand to his forehead. She gasped and stepped back.
"By the storms, your with fever. Come.. let me fetch you another blanket and some cool clothes. Can't 'ave that killin' ya either. I don't intend to be hosting no ghost."