In the middle of a work trip, Bedelia got caught in a snowstorm, her car started to give signs of malfunction just when she found herself in what seemed the middle of nowhere. Luckily, she found a village with a small hotel near the woods. The place looked desolate, the hall was empty. She thought to be alone until an old man came from the room at the end of the corridor, greeting her and apologizing explaining they are not used to having gusts nowadays. A little girl came down the stairs dragging a man she was calling uncle Hannibal, telling him to hurry up since they have visitors. The tall men told her they were not fully equipped to receive guests but it would have been rude sending her out in the storm so they managed to organize a room for her.
The night was cold, looking for another blanket, Bedelia ended up in a room where she found photos of a man who looked a lot like Hannibal but had something different in his eyes, he was with his niece and another woman who looked a lot like her. A sudden noise scared and she crashed into Hannibal. She apologized, she didn’t mean to poke in. He saw the honesty in her eyes, he invited her to the kitchen to make her something warm. It looked like the only alive room in the place. After the first moment of embarrassment, the ended up talking for hours. She told him about her disastrous journey, he opened up about his sister’s death, the chalet was her dream, and Kami, her daughter that is now living with him. “I don’t know why I’m telling you all of this.” “Sometimes is easier talking with a stranger.” He wishes her goodnight, accompanying her to her room and giving her another blanket.
The next day, the city was still blocked by the blizzard, Hannibal told her it would have been wise for her staying another couple of days. Wondering around, Bedelia thought it must have been a beautiful place in its full splendor. “I think he doesn’t want people to see him.” the butler told her answering her questions about the lack of guests. In the afternoon, Kami brought her a box full of Christmas’ ornaments. “I thought that maybe you’d like to decorate your room while you’re here, I can help you” Bedelia couldn’t say no to that cheerful smile. An hour later, Hannibal found them following their laughter. He should have been angry for the intrusion but he realized he really wasn’t and he was actually enjoying the view. That evening, at dinner, it felt so natural having her there.
The following morning, a couple arrived, asking for a room for the night. Bedelia noticed Hannibal wasn’t really expecting to take charge of it so she took the lead of the situations and with his permission, arranged a room for them. She had already discovered Hannibal was an awesome chef so food wouldn’t be a problem. He was impressed by her dedication, in the end she was just a stranger passing by who would probably leaving soon. “She’s not a stranger, she’s my friend, she’s your friend too, right?” Kami asked him that night making him wonder how few days with Bedelia had already shaken his world. He asked her if she could have stayed a little longer, to help him renewing the place, unless she had somewhere else important to be. She agreed to stay a bit longer, she was getting inexplicably attached to the place. They all agreed that bring back the old tradition of a Christmas party would have been a nice way to celebrate the re-opening. The place began to be full of colors and warm again, but under the lights, Bedelia felt there was something else still hiding in the shadow. Something linked to the past, to the present, something that made Hannibal what he was. That something that made the floorboard creak, that made her shiver walking by the underground pantry and that made dangerous the way his eyes observed her.
There was a shadow around the family and she realized to no longer be afraid to discover it. When the news reported the warning for a criminal on the run around the country, that may or may not be linked to the death of Hannibal’s sister, he became more mysterious than usual. Secrets began to unravel that night that she surprised him coming home with blood on his shirt and cuts on his chest. He told her he was hunting, she helped him with the injuries and realized the marks on his body weren’t ones an animal could have left. She asked him again what happened. She was trying to tell him that she was there, that he could trust her, she was not running away. “I take care of the problem”. He answered and Bedelia knew that he had just taken what he thought was right and justice for his family.
When she checked his bandage one last time before going to bed, Hannibal took her hand, silently asking her to stay. He enveloped her in his arms falling asleep while she realized that the arms that should have scared her actually made her feel safe.
The days of her sojourn became weeks and Hannibal and Bedelia’s lives became inextricably connected.
For @electric-couple winter prompt
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dailybridgerton
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