A/N: As usual, I would recommend putting the video on loop.

As they traveled to the cabin by the lake, (f/n) wished that she had kept her cloak and had asked the pixies to bring it back to their home before they left her on her own. At the time, though, she had been more focused on making a convincing story for this mage. Keeping her hands under her armpits, she tried to keep herself as warm as possible, but it didn't help that the sun was now blocked completely by storm clouds. To make matters worse, the smell of rain was becoming rather strong. Any moment, it would probably pour on them.

Her eyes pinned themselves to the pixies' wings. How she would give to have wings. Then, she could travel to Tergii's and Bimaa's home(s) without all this trouble. Unluckily for her, she wasn't born into the graceful and delicate, yet deadly fae race. So, she was reminded of the aching pain in her worn out legs. It had to be at least noon or later, but the cabin still couldn't be seen. Granted, it was near the lake. Realistically, they probably wouldn't reach the area until dusk.

Thankfully, she had brought some of the dried food with her. It was just enough for one meal that day as she had left her pack behind as well since it wouldn't have served her well to be carrying a fully supplied pack into the mage's home. If the mage were to see that, her story would most likely be thrown to the wind. In order to best avoid any unwanted interactions between the two of them, she couldn't let a piece in her story be questionable.

Plodding through the thick snow, she kept her gaze forward on the pixies. Around her was nothing of interest. There was the occasional sound of an animal, which would cause her gaze to turn in that direction, but it would always go out of sight before she could examine what it had been. For all she knew, it could be some strange creature like the haasna.

Since her surroundings gave her little distraction from the nipping cold, her mind turned to thoughts of the male kelremm back with the pixie royals. Come mid-afternoon, he would be up and most likely furious. In some respects, she was glad that she wouldn't have to face him then and there. She stood by her decision, but convincing him of it was another story.

Were she to be there when Tarhuinn awoke, he would most likely use the nickname on her until she wouldn't be able to walk for days and/or speak any other word but to agree with him. She hoped that he wouldn't act out and try to murder a pixie on site, but she understood that such a hope would probably fall flat the moment that he awoke.

A heavy sigh exited from her parted lips. Right now, she would be able to avoid his wrath, but she still had to return to the snow pixie royals. There was also the fact that this supposed mage would be in tow if he really was a mage. She would be lucky if Tarhuinn didn't try to rip him to pieces on site. If things didn't go as she planned them and she had to give more than she was comfortable with, there would be no possible way to persuade her husband to return to his senses. In reality, he would have to be left behind; she would have to entrust him to the pixies until she returned back from the journey. That brought up another issue. Would the pixies even agree to watch over him if things took that route?

Hands moving out from their warm shelter, she combed them through her locks. A frown plastered itself on her lips. (F/n) wished to scream out her frustrations and kick the snow up into the air. Why did desiring more years on her life come at such risk? She wasn't asking for immortality; she just wanted to live longer. Even if it was by a couple of years, that would be satisfactory. It wasn't only that but also she would get to spend more time with her child that she had promised Tarhuinn. The child wouldn't be left alone at the age of two.

Then again, this extended life might not even exist, but it was likely. To keep herself from crashing, she reassured herself that Tergii and Bimaa would answer her questions. They would show her to this life giving secret if it existed. There would be no other option. She was dealing with too many ridiculous things to go back empty handed.

Fingers parting from her (h/c) strands, she placed her hands back where there was more warmth. Her breath was clear before her eyes, and she tore her mind from the possible outcomes. There was one suitable result from this dealing. She would see to it that she received it.

~~~~~~~~~~

It was most likely around mid-afternoon when the pixies offered (f/n) a break for her feet. Agreeing to take a short rest, she cleared away some of the snow at her feet before the pixies joined in and caused the snow there to disappear. This prevented her bottom from getting any wetter, and the branches above her did aid a little against the present rain.

Taking out her meal, she ate the food somewhat slowly to savor the taste. She didn't know how generous this supposed mage would be with sustenance. There was also the issue of another woman already being in this man's home. If that were the case, the outcome would be unpredictable, and everything might go to ruin. "Do you five know if this man has brought in another woman already?" she asked to see if they would ease her mind on that potential problem.

One of the scouts turned to her and nodded. "The haasna that lives nearby mentioned to us that they haven't seen the latest woman moving around the home, but she confirmed that no new woman has been brought in."

"Has she been able to go into the house to learn what has become of the woman?"

"No, she said that it hasn't been necessary since she has enough hair at the moment to feed her hunger. She noted that the woman is probably dead, however, since she smelled fresh blood from within."

She bit into her dried cherry as a visible gulp went down her throat. Well, she most likely wouldn't have to encounter that issue, but she was worried about what she might end up eating that day. (F/n) forced her stomach to calm itself. Right now, she couldn't waste any food. This might be her last decent meal in awhile. For that swallow, she forced it down and took a minute to regain her appetite.

About to take another bite from the cheery, she stopped. It felt like something had pierced her head. At first, no pain was administered. Hesitantly, she ate the rest of her cherry and swallowed. After that swallow, though, the thing raced through her head again. If she had been standing, she would've been knocked to her feet. Her hands shot up to her ears as a third wave passed through.

Ringing echoed in her brain. She desperately sought to soothe the near numbing pain by means of covering her ears more, but this action did nothing. It felt like someone had shot multiple cannons near hers ears and in her head. The sound was excruciating. This pain was so agonizing that not even a scream could leave her lips. Her voice fell silent, but her lips were parted as though she was emitting an earsplitting cry.

All five pixies looked to her in worry, not knowing what was happening. Neither did her until she heard among the screeching her name being called. Tarhuinn was awake, and he was beyond inflamed. If only she could ask to him to stop. At any moment, it felt like crimson might run out her ears.

Tears threatened to fall from the corners of her eyes. She continued to hold her hands to her ears while she curled up into a small ball. It made sense that he could turn an alluring call of her name into something deadly if he wished. After all, the nickname possessed a temporary damaging effect on her legs. His voice really was a double-edged sword.

Waves of immense agony kept swimming over her. Her body was wracked under the shrieks of her name. She soon began to convulse. Any snow was shoved aside against her violent movements. The cold's fangs were but a mere gnat to the suffering inflicted by his call. (F/n) thought that she would die right there. How she desired for it to end. Tears were now cascading down her chilled cheeks.

Vicious sobs were even made mute by the torment. The pixies gathered around her but not too close, for fear of getting harmed in the process. They were clueless as to what was causing her distress. A few thought that she might have been possessed somehow by a wrathful spirit. In a way, they were correct. Tarhuinn's cry for her was equivalent to that of a fabled beast of one's greatest nightmares.

There was a pause in the calls. (F/n) finally was able to take a steady breath. Her body still shook, but she breathed in and out slowly. She glanced to the terrified pixies around her. All she could do was breathe out, "My husband..."

Exhausted, her eyelids closed against her will. She had to get to the cabin, but her body refused to get back up. Sleep's fingers grasped at her upper arms and pulled her backwards into an unwilling embrace. The fingers refused to relax. Arms began to wrap around her before absolute darkness overtook her.

Immediately, one of the scouts nodded to their companions before they dashed off towards their king and queen. The other pixies tended to the unconscious human before them. They formed a perimeter around her and made sure that if any snow fall occurred that it wouldn't cover her. None of them knew how long she would be out, and they would see to getting her to the cabin alive.