Frith [Goblin!]

[nephero]

   It was remarkable, how much could happen in two days. What little peace Anastolyr had thought he might be able to enjoy was shattered in a matter of mere hours. By the time he had arrived back into the castle, his kin's temper tantrum was in full swing. Ana still did not understand what exactly had caused it, but if he was being honest, it need not have been much.

   Life was stressful enough, however, without having to resort to very firm words to keep the peace, especially since that peace was the least the elves could do for such hospitable hosts. It would have been a grave insult to let things carry on. Once it was done, however, Ana was left with the unenviable task of dealing with his own thoughts.

   Segari had thought him a lady. In retrospect, Ana should have realized it sooner. It had been a hard lesson to understand how humans treated one another and all their little customs, but still certain things had fallen through the cracks. Like how it was not terribly common for a man to talk about how pretty another man was, or be bashful around his bare skin, or offer his arm.

   Which was... more than a little embarrassing for Ana. He hadn't realized, and had incidentally allowed Segari to carry on behaving as if he were, in fact, a fine lady and not just a wordsmith from the north. The embarrassment was only underlined when Ana finally had a chance to sort through his belongings, to discover that Segari had not used any of the coins Ana had given him for the stew, but rather had returned it all in full to the elf without him realizing it.

   Which was, from what Ana understood of the culture, very gentlemanly. But Ana was not a fine lady. Unwittingly or not, he'd taken advantage of the giant's kindness, and that was not something that he could stand by and allow to remain unresolved.

   And so, two days later, Ana found himself headed back into the market district and to the bazaar. It had taken him a bit longer to decide on what to wear, as his robes had probably not assisted matters for the giant and been far to reminiscent of the... dresses? That was the word. The dresses that ladies wore.

   He had to borrow a tunic from one of his kin, leaving his own longer clothing behind save for another pair of trousers. The shirt itself was a bit overlong, still, but decidedly less dress-like than his robes had been. Lest he be robbed yet again, he also forewent his usual satchel, instead keeping the coins he intended to repay Segari with tucked inside of his shirt.

   He'd already purchased two of the crabapples from the stall, those similarly tucked away while he waited in the market for a much, much taller man with much, much brighter hair than anyone around. Assuming, of course, that Segari had not taken insult to the unintentional ruse and had decided against coming.

   Ana's stomach did a small roll at the idea and twisted into a knot for good measure. He hated the thought of leaving such a poor impression.

[GoblinFae]

Two days.

Two days to sit and stew over a mistake that hung heavy over his head. Two days working odd jobs around the city to try and drown out his own thoughts of humiliation and insult to a truthfully and genuinely very lovely and generous man. Anastolyr had been wrong though. Segari was no better with meanings than he was with words. And it was that very failure that may have caused grave insult.

Rumors spread quickly through the city and while his tongue was lame his ears were not. Segari had learned of the diplomacy between the elves and Adelans, that this was talks of peace and settlement, that Anastolyr was part of that party and might even be the one leading it.

Segari shuddered to think what horrors his transgressions may have created.

Despite them though, Ana had still wanted to meet, perhaps out of forced politeness or out of anger, Segari could not say. But, he would be there. He had given his word. Even if the other man did not show, the mountain giant would keep his word on that.

However, before heading to the crabapple stall where they had both met and departed, the giant had an important stop to make first. He stopped at another shop, making a weighty purchase (and with far less underhandedness than with the other vendors he had been to), before marching his way to the meeting point, parcel tucked carefully under his arm.

He'd be lying if he said he wasn't nervous. If he was unlucky, Anastolyr would ghost him. If he was very unlucky, then the elf would be waiting with the rest of his people to arrest or execute Segari. The giant had seen what those teeth were capable of, he could only imagine what they were like in action.

Such thoughts were shoved aside though as he caught sight of pearly white skin and hair surrounded by darker browns and beiges. Ana had not only come, but seemed to have come alone. Segari swallowed thickly before quietly making his way up to him, head bowed and shoulders hunched a bit as if to make himself smaller than he actually was.

"Errum, hello Master Rael. I hope you are uh well," he rumbled quietly from beside the elf.

[nephero]

   It was all Ana could do to sit still and not start tearing his tunic apart thread by thread. His fingers wanted to be doing something, anything, and they wanted to be destructive about it. His stomach was in knots, and while he had purchased a pair of crabapples, the idea of eating even a bite of them made his stomach twist painfully.

   It should have been a relief when Segari arrived, but at the sound of the giant's voice, the twist in his stomach shot up and down to both of his hearts, and Ana shot to his feet to face the other man.

   "Segari!" Ana cleared his throat, and worked to keep his tone more even, and not nearly so high and strained. His eyes remained wide, however, and he dug into his shirt to pull out the crabapples and hold them out to Segari.

   "I bought these for us. As... a gift." Ana took in the giant's posture, at how low his head was as if Segari were attempting to hide in his own shoulders. Ana's heartbeats quickened even further, and he rushed ahead to try and explain himself as if he only had a few minutes to justify his behavior from the other day.

   Which, for all Ana knew, he did.

   "I... wanted to say that I apologize most profusely for what happened yesterday. It must have been such a shock— I forget that it's not obvious to humans, and I failed to introduce myself properly to avoid any misconceptions. I in no way wished to trick you, or take advantage of your kindness. I'm sincerely sorry and hope that my behavior does not leave you with a poor impression of myself or my people."

   Ana could feel himself beginning to sweat, and mentally cursed the Adelan sun, entirely blaming the summer heat for the dark flush creeping up his neck and over his ears and cheeks.

   "Oh. I... I also have the coins, for yesterday's stew. It would be terrible of me to rob you of money you had intended for a lady." He scrambled for the coins, holding those out as well as the crabapples.

[GoblinFae]

He was surprised at the offered food and money and for perhaps a moment too long he stood there dumbfounded. Segari cleared his throat with a slow shake of his head. One hand reached out to accept the crabapple while the other offered his own carefully wrapped parcel back in return.

"Thank...you. This...is um for you," he emphasised, waving the package more at Ana to take. "Appends for err mistaking and insulting you. Apologies." His cheeks flushed but he kept strong and in place while continuing. "The coins are yours. The um attention was uh not because of your gender. The fault is mine. I err understand if you uh...I was not tricked. It was my mistake."

He shifted staring down at the fruit in his hand and rubbing his thumb over the smooth skin. "Thank you for the gift," he pressed the first two fingers of his hand to his forehead in thanks. "We can part waves if you wish. I have umm done enough hurt. I'm sorry."

[nephero]

Ana took hold of the parcel, confused enough by the weight and texture of it that he didn't quite register Segari hadn't taken the coins. Both hands changed to cradling it, the size just beyond what might have fit in Ana's cupped hand.

"You did not insult me, Segari." Ana said after a moment, taking time to look up and into the giant's face. "I was worried that you would think I purposely lied to you."

Ana's mouth was dry. He felt parched, the burn all the way down his throat as his flush only deepened. This was all so embarrassing, and even worse still, the kind soul thought Ana had been upset! It couldn't go on that way-- it had to be mended, not only because to let Segari think there had been injury was a gross misconduct, but because Ana had found his company such a balm in this strange and foreign land.

It was nice to be able to have a calm moment, where nothing needed fixing or mediating, and Ana could just talk to someone without feeling like either one of them would die at any moment.

"I accept no apologies, for no hurt was done to me." Ana tried for a small smile. "I said I would like to visit the river with you again, and I truly meant it."

Ana tucked his rejected coins away, leaving him free to investigate the gift. He looked up at Segari to make sure doing so was permissible by custom, and carefully unwrapped the parcel to peak inside.

His eyes widened, and suddenly he didn't feel so parched, his stomach unknotting in considerable interest for the thick slab of soft beef in his grasp.

"This is... a grand gift. Thank you, thank you."

[GoblinFae]

Segari shook his head quickly. "You're not a liar, I am just stupid," he protested emphatically. His heart sank to hear his apology was being rejected. But that disappointment turned to confusion. His thick brows furrowed tightly as he tried to muddle through it all. Eventually though he did manage to get through the meaning just in time to see Anastolyr's eyes light up in interest.

"I...you're welcome. I hope you um like it. And...I would like to still walk with you. If you are sure." He pauses for a moment, hands rolling the crabapple back and forth between his palms. "You are truly not cross?"

[nephero]

"I like it, I truly do." Ana looked up at him again, smiling wider. "I swear I am not upset. I enjoy your company. It's... peaceful."

Fiddling with the wrappings and wanting nothing more than to tear off a chunk, Ana instead attempted to take a bite out of the crabapple. It was difficult doing, the smooth skin providing no purchase for his teeth, but eventually he was able to get a bite in.

It was not nearly as satisfying, but certainly more appropriate for the busy marketplace.

"Shall we?" Ana asked, tilting his head in the direction of the river.

[GoblinFae]

He grinned back. "You are peaceful too." Segari nodded in turn and moved to once more offer his arm before remembering and letting it drop back to his side. While among his people it was acceptable for members of the same gender to walk arm in arm he had been amongst humans long enough now to understand their viewpoints were quite varied on the matter especially for two males. He had already embarrassed them both enough despite how Ana protested the matter. The giant would not see the kind soul further insulted because of him and his actions. Especially when he did not know Ana's culture any better than he had known his gender.

"Is your friend in better spirits today?"

[nephero]

Ana stepped in close and immediately slid his arm into Segari's own. The beef he kept carefully cradled in his other arm, the mere knowledge of it being enough to make his stomach rumble. But unlike some of his friends, Ana could control his baser impulses. For the moment.

At Segari's question, Ana's smile tightened, and he took a long, deep breath in before letting it out once more.

"In a manner of speaking. I would be lying if I said this was the first time, and I sincerely doubt it would be the last."

At that moment, it seemed the 'baser impulse' Ana had to resist was not immediately launching into a fevered rant about Zhirai's most recent escapade. That hardly was something Segari wanted or needed to hear about, and also it wouldn't do for rumors of ill behavior to get out too far into the wide world. That could prove a danger to them all.

"But yes, he's better, thank you for asking. We're hoping to be able to settle a bit more permanently soon, so with any luck that will keep my kin from feeling too cooped up."

It didn't take long to reach the river, with Ana not battling feeling ill this time around. He pulled away from Segari only to take his hand and lead the giant down the bank to a patch of clear sand. Still cradling the beef in one arm, he pulled his shoes off with the other and gently tossed them to the side, before taking a seat on the sand and unwrapping his prize once more.

It was a pity he'd left his satchel behind today. He might have been able to use a knife to make the work more delicate. But the beef was so tender it didn't take much to peel the muscle fibers apart, and so Ana snapped up his first bite with a delighted hum.

"This is delicious."

[GoblinFae]

The sudden addition of an arm looped through his own nearly made the poor man jump in surprise. While he made no comment on the matter he didn't know what to think. Perhaps Ana thought it simply a friendly gesture between companions and nothing more. Or did the gesture have additional meaning to the elf? It was hard to say and far too embarrassing to ask.

Segari made sympathetic sounds and nodded along to the discussion of the friend but did not push for more as the lack of elaboration was loud enough. This while a polite topic was as far as that conversation was going. He was about to attempt a new line of questioning when Ana suddenly moved from holding his arm to his hand. How much small it felt in his own too! The giant instinctively gave his companion a gentle squeeze before he remembered that that might be proper.

He was saved from drowning in that new horror as Anastolyr suddenly cast aside his shoes once more baring his slender ankles. Segari instantly coughed, letting go of the man's hand and moving instead to sit down in the sand beside him. Knowing that it was customary for Ana's people to walk barefoot, he could not blame the other man for not knowing, but to Segari and his kin it was practically scandalous to bare one's ankles or legs in public or to someone who wasn't their spouse. Poor Segari once more found himself flushed as red as his hair and stone-faced focused on the running water.

The next words out of Ana's mouth though were the icing on the cake though. For as Segari turned to smile at him, it was not the apple but the raw steak that Ana was pleasantly chomping down on. Apparently elves were not only unaffected by the cold but also ate their meat raw. Today was just proving to be a whole fish barrel of discovery.

"Errum very glad it pleases you," he replied still trying to hide his personal shock and embarrassment. To keep himself busy he pulled his small knife from his belt and worked at very delicately skinning his apple in one long curly streamer.

[nephero]

Ana was so involved with his gift, he didn't even notice how Segari turned red as soon as his shoes were off. The meat was delicious-- perfectly cool and full of flavor, with only the barest tang of salt. It practically melted in Ana's mouth, and he nearly wept for the experience, because he genuinely could not remember a time when food tasted so good since...

Since he left home. The thought gave him pause, and he chewed thoughtfully while looking down at the remainder of the beef still cradled in waxen cloth in his lap. Truly, it was the one thing he'd been given to eat that hadn't been so strange. The fish tasted wrong, bread was everywhere, and when there was game it came smoked or dried or dripping with gravy.

It hadn't been bad, really. But it tasted so foreign, and it just underlined how very on their own the elves were.

And Segari had brought him this present. Blinking rapidly to get himself under control, Ana set the bit of beef aside and walked to the water's edge where he rinsed the blood from his fingers and mouth. Satisfied he was clean, he returned to where Segari was still seated and sat down beside him.

"I don't have the words to explain how much that meant to me."

[GoblinFae]

Segari watched him quietly, observing with no judgement as Ana enjoyed his meal and then cleaned up from it. The snaking red-yellow skin finally fell into his own lap as he turned his efforts to cutting the fruit into thin crescent moon slices while Ana quietly day back down. The giant only paused in his efforts when the other man spoke. Even then though he heard more than just words. He heard the timber of the elf's voice tremble with emotion and he understood better than most people in the city what he suspected Ana was experiencing.

A warm smile lit up Segari's face as he gave Ana a single nod. "Your words are enough then. I am uh glad to have appeased you." He held out one slice to Ana then in offering. "It is less bitter without the skin." He smiled fondly then at a memory. "We did not have these where I am from but we had something similar and far more bitter. My sons used to hold slices on their tongues to see who could withstand it longer. I forgot about that..."

[nephero]

   Ana couldn't help but smile at Segari's 'appeasement'. It was just too amusing, especially considering the circumstances and how Segari just watched Ana tear beef apart with his teeth. The elf honestly couldn't help but be a little proud of that. Just a little bit.

   He was still smiling wide as he took the apple slice, able to bite into it much more easily than the whole one. Segari was right, it was far better without the skin, and took much less effort to chew. Something gave him pause, however, and he looked up at the giant's face.

   Segari had sons? But Ana could have sworn that he'd said he had no kin left for him in his mountain home. Slowly, Ana began to piece it together— the way Segari spoke of home, the longing in his voice, the way it sounded just as lonely as Ana felt, even surrounded by other people.

   'I have no kin to call my own and no reason left to stay.'

   Ana set a hand against Segari's arm, not holding him, but merely resting against him, giving the giant the option to move away if he so chose.

   "What were their names?" He asked, softly.

[GoblinFae]

The giant thumbed the edge of his knife feeling the sharpness graze the pad of his thumb without ever biting. He had not meant to speak of his family and yet the memory had arisen suddenly and clearly to tug sharply at his heartstrings. His beautiful boys, what little blessed terrors they had been. Tears prickled at the corners of his eyes as he reminisced.

Ana's touch was welcomed for its comforting, grounding presence but was not acknowledged beyond being permitted to remain. For several long minutes he simply sat there in silence. But, when he did finally speak, his voice was low and even-tempered. A sound that was tired and soul-weary but not broken. He had lost his loved ones years ago now, long enough for him to not shatter to pieces at the mere mention of them nowadays.

"Brandr and Egil."

[nephero]

Ana's hearts ached.

He watched as Segari sat there with his knife and the apple, though it was clear his mind was far, far away from that moment on the riverbank. There were tears in his eyes, and though they never fell, Ana's own eyes burned in sympathy pains for the giant seated next to him.

He didn't need to hear the words to understand them. The meaning was so clear, Ana could see it written across Segari's face, down into how he held the apple in his hands. An apple that had become so much more, it had become memory. An old and painful memory, robbed of its bite only by time spent feeling its sting. Segari did not behave like someone dying of heartache, but he still carried a limp.

"I would love to hear more about them, if you wish to talk."

[GoblinFae]

"Brandr was the older. Egil, the younger. Their names come from my speech, though their mother was not." Thoughts of Runa caused a second wave of pain, for her loss, for failing her, for missing her ever still. "Her name was Runa and she was of Connlaoth. A human.

"She died of cold when our boys were still very small. It brought sickness that drowned her breath. She did not live the winter. Our boys did," he smiled bittersweetly. "They grew quickly and got into everything constantly, especially Egil. He was a uh— when the mice away, the cats will play? Yes? So curious and..."

Segari sighed, finding the words hard in this language when he struggled in his own tongue to speak of his lost family. He could not explain for the life of him why he was opening up so much to this kind and sweet gentleman. Ana just was very easy to talk to. Perhaps it was because he was so patient with Segari and not once had laughed at his difficulty with the language as so many others often did. Or maybe it was because Segari felt he owed the elf something for having been embarrassed by the giant's mistake and this was another way to make amends. Or still it could be that telling Ana, who did not know him enough to judge and was seemingly respectful, was just the right stranger to hear and forget a story from a fellow passing stranger. Mayhaps this was just a form of cathartic release for Segari.

Regardless he continued all the same after his small pause. "I had left them alone for the day to go to town. When I returned it was very late and quiet as the boys were sleeping. Raiders came while I was gone and killed my boys in their beds. I did not see until the morning.

"I'm sorry. It is not a happy story."

[nephero]

   Ana's brows were knit tight over wide eyes by the time Segari had finished his story. He was quiet for the longest moment, his hand still on Segari's arm, and it was another long moment before Ana took in a breath and let it out again.

   "I am sorry you've had to endure such pain. There is truly much to miss about your home." Ana gave his arm a gentle squeeze, everything else forgotten about that moment. "Thank you, for your trust, and sharing with me."

   Ana was quiet again for a long moment, debating on his next words. Again, he kept his tone soft and even, pouring every ounce of his will into keeping his voice as soothing as possible.

   "It sounds like you loved them all very, very much. It's very hard to remain as good of a man as you are, after so much loss."

[GoblinFae]

"Thank you," he replied softly. But his expression changed from deeply saddened to slightly perplexed and pained. Segari shook his head, turning to look at Ana. "It is easy to be good. It is hard to forget. I love them. I lost them and it is my fault. So I do better....for them to make appends."

He stared into Ana's eyes seeing compassion and understanding reflected back painfully bright. They for a moment understood each other and it was hard and it was raw. Perhaps it was even beautiful. But, it was present.

The moment was broken gently though as Segari looked away again. He patted Ana's hand on his arm before letting his larger, calloused one settle over the elf's and remain. "I am sorry. It is not a happy thing. I do not mean to ruin your walk."

[nephero]

   Segari's hand was massive and warm over Ana's own. But no matter the warmth, both from being so close and the summer's day, Ana didn't pull away. He looked out over the river water instead, watching the current move along without them or anyone else to stop it.

   "No, it's not a happy thing," Ana agreed, "but not everything in this world is happy."

   Ana smiled up at him then, and gave his arm another squeeze.

   "You haven't ruined my walk, Segari. It is good to know you, and by your stories, your family. You need not carry that shame, too."

   Rising to his feet, Ana stepped towards the water, wading in up to his shins. He considered the water closely, looking through the ripples of the current and moving slowly over the larger pebbles and rocks.

   "How did you and..." Ana searched for a word, "your... sons' mother? Runa, meet? If you wish to tell me, of course."

[GoblinFae]

Anastolyr was a comforting balm to Segari's emotional scars. He was not healed, nor would he be able to turn a cog and move on from the mood he was in as if nothing had happened. But, it was something, and it wasn't quite so horrible. It was a small candle flickering in the distant darkness of his hurt and grief that brought comfort and peace of mind when it felt like the waves were becoming too great again.

Segari dropped his gaze politely as Ana took to the water once more. If the elf had been anyone else, the giant might have thought him being intentionally and salaciously flirtatious. However, given how different the elven culture seemed to be not only from human culture, but Segari's as well, the larger man could only assume that Ana was completely unaware of how his carefree antics were being perceived. So with red cheeks, Segari quietly left Ana to his fun and kept his tongue while he composed himself.

"My wife was Connlaothian....a human. She lived in one of the uh villages at the root of the mountain. I sometimes would go to trade." Segari stared out to where the water rippled around Ana and smiled fondly in memory." She followed me up the mountain one day. I had forgotten something. And then she came again the next and the next and the next.

"I did not know she was umm....bird dancing to me?" He laughed, a low rumbling sound as he shook out his head. "Errum not a smart heart. I do not um see what is not seen clearly. Every few days for many seasons she came. Then it became something more. We married and made a family.

"Runa was," he paused clearing his throat, "stubborn and sweet. She earned better...than me."

Segari sighed and then smiled. "It was um a long uh time ago."