Gleann na Dùin ~ 3 ~
Fairy AU - Dimileth
Co-written with @hiddenfangirling
Part 2
Now on AO3
Jeralt stopped at the entrance of the barn and turned on his heel, "You need to leave tonight."
The young King stopped, staring at the older man. "What?"
"The longer you stay here, the more chances there will be to trap you. You said you have things to do, so you have to leave tonight."
Jeralt paused as he lead his horse from the barn, gear in his other hand. "That was likely Claude. I'll distract him. Go back the way you came, don't stop for anything."
"Why are you doing this?" Dimitri took the saddle from Jeralt and threw it on top of the horse.
The old man sighed. "I don't want you to be stuck here like me."
Dimitri took a moment to study the man, noting he looked less fuzzy then his daughter, less...magical. In fact, the male looked grizzled and more human than anything he'd seen all day. Crows feet lined his narrowed eyes, and his hair was windswept with a bit of dust and braided back in a normal style.
It was a vast difference from Byleth. Though he could see the similarities between them with their blunt way of things, she held a more grace, her steps were light and her skin unblemished and hair wild, yet beautiful and silky-No No No NO!
He shook his head and looked to Jeralt, "Is it her that keeps you here?"
That made the man snort, "Don't ask too many questions or you'll end up with answers that just weigh you down. If you really are trapped here too you'll have plenty of time to grill me later. Get going."
Dimitri reluctantly mounted the horse. He didn't like leaving this man here if he really was trapped, but he didn't even know how to save himself. Perhaps once he was free, Dimitri could come back with a rescue party. He nodded at Jeralt, and kicked the horse into a trot facing the way they had entered the clearing.
Jeralt waited until the young man disappeared into the trees, then walked into the forest on the other side. As he disappeared into the shadows, he could already feel the angry scowl on his face. He crossed his arms and yelled into the dark. "Claude!"
"No need to shout."
Jeralt tapped his arm impatiently as the faun practically de-materialized from the shadows of the trees. He was leaning back against one of the trunks, his horns looking slightly smaller than the last time the human had seen him. The man didn't care enough to ask, but he was positive the fae used his horns as carvings for flutes, talismans and sometimes odd gifts for his daughter.
He didn't really care for the latter.
"You can quit playing with the kid now - he won't be coming back."
A toothy smirk crept onto Claude's face. Bright green eyes sparkled with mischief. "Won't he? That seems rude, after you and the Lady welcomed him into your home. Did he at least stay for dinner?"
"No, he's smarter than that."
"Smarter than you?"
Jeralt grit his teeth. "He's important, Claude. I'm not sure how. He can't be stuck here."
The faun just shrugs with a chuckle. "What do I care if you think a human is important? Weren't you also supposed to have been great? And yet here you are, and thanks to that so is the Lady.“
He crossed his arms, mirroring Jeralt's stance. "She likes him. I saw it the moment they laid eyes on each other. So long as that's true, he stays."
"You don't like him," Jeralt challenged, noting the annoyance that crossed the faun's face.
But Claude took it in stride as he pulled out his flute, idly puffing into the holes for wayward notes. "It doesn't matter if I like him or not. My Lady Byleth does and that's all that matters."
The father scowled, knowing it would be useless to deny such a thing. Not after the way Byleth had been staring with keen interest at the boy, more so than anything him or Claude had ever shown her. Even more so than when he'd first pulled out his sword when she was a wee child and told her they'd be learning how to use it.
No, this curiosity of hers was dangerous. A dangerously human thing that Jeralt was sad he was trying to have to rip away from her.
"Don't worry so much. She'll tire of him soon," Claude chuckled good-naturedly.
Jeralt wasn't so sure. He had felt the sparks when Dimitri and Byleth had been in the room together. It had made him want to throw the boy back into the pond. "You'll regret it if he stays. He'll take her from you."
Claude's smile is thoughtful. "Even if she doesn't tire of the human, she and I are connected. I will always be with her regardless of anyone's feelings but my Lady's own. I don't believe that will be the case though. Byleth is fae! The boy is nothing more than a toy to be played with until he is broken or she becomes bored. Then I will quietly remove him." He motions as if sweeping something away.
Jeralt only sighed, and hoped that the kid has somehow found himself able to break through the cage. The sinking feeling in his gut said that he would fail, though. And so Jeralt started to plan for a future with one more person in it.
"She's human too, y'know." Jeralt growled, but his glare was as half-hearted as his words.
Byleth is half human, half of him, yet she appeared more fae than anything. It scared Jeralt and he sometimes wondered if his teachings meant anything. If he meant anything to her...
Claude huffed and stretched, "Yes, well, we don't talk about that part."
At the sound of hooves, the faun winked at Jeralt, who groaned. "Don't worry so much. You'll make yourself sick. Let Milady have her fun, and the human will be gone before you know it."
Jeralt turned to greet the confused and upset young man atop the horse as it rode back into the clearing. He knew that Claude had already vanished.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
His nightly escape had been a total failure. A complete and utter disappointment.
Well...almost.
Dimitri should have felt more upset (who wouldn't be?). He should be cutting down the very forest itself, rushing through like an unstoppable force ready to take down an unmovable wall. But how could he?
How could he be sad when Byleth gave him that smile.
Her pert, pink lips had only turned up slightly - a sight Dimitri felt is quite rare from the way Jeralt was staring. It wasn't just her smile that lit up, but her eyes. Dimitri could have sworn they glowed as beautifully as her hair.
Perhaps this failure wasn't so bad...
"You're still here."
The blonde bulk of a man stared dumbly as the lithe woman walked over and placed a hand on his arm. Her eyes were downcast and Dimitri had to keep himself from catching her chin to stop her.
"Yes, I'm still here." Dimitri couldn’t stop the smile from growing on his face or the flushed feeling that spread throughout his chest.
"I was worried," Byleth glanced up at him briefly then back to the ground.
Oh, if he were to die here, he was sure he'd be deliriously happy.
She took his hand and tugged, "Help me with the garden."
"O-okay."
Jeralt watched the two walk to the back of the stone cabin with a deep frown.
When Byleth had said 'Garden', Dimitri had thought a quaint little area with pretty flowers and herbs, colorful and beautiful like the woman who had a strange hold on him. He had not been expecting an entire farm.
"Ah..." Dimitri stared at her in stunned silence as Byleth placed a hoe in his hands.
They stood there for a few moments, gazing at one another as if waiting for...something, anything.
Byleth's eyes screwed up a moment and she motioned her arms as if she is holding a tool and swung at the ground. "Like this."
What? Oh. OH! Dimitri blushed darkly, "Y-Yes! I'm sorry, I was just..."
But Byleth merely nodded and patted his arm, as if praising him for understanding. He felt his flush creep down his neck in embarrassment when she walks away to pick some tomatoes.
She must think him a fool.
Perhaps she was right, especially considering Jeralt had caught him staring at his daughter for much longer then what was proper. Damn it. He just wanted to go home.
“Byleth, go water the potatoes."
The fae girl paused, brows furrowed just slightly with confusion. Dimitri couldn't stop himself from focusing on the little spot between her eyebrows, wondering if the scrunch there was normal for her or not. She was so hard to read and the blonde briefly wondered if all fae were like her.
"But..."
Jeralt didn't give her a chance to reply as he pushed a watering can into her hands. She glanced down at the tin can, then at her father. Dimitri expected her to talk back, but she only turned to go to the end of the field to water a plot.
He would have found the sight cute, but she surely couldn't water so much with a tiny can.
Ever the gentleman, Dimitri moved to help. But he was stopped by a hand on his chest. The touch made Dimitri recoil slightly, not used to casual contact. Normally he'd never take off his armor, but tilling a field was hard work and this oddly warm weather was making him break a sweat.
"It looks like a lot of work-"
"She'll be a while regardless." Jeralt grunted while gesturing towards the front of the house.
"I can help, it's no problem." Dimitri wasn't sure if it was safe with this man, even if he tried to help him escape.
But he had failed and the young man wasn't sure what the man planned to do. At least he knew what Byleth was doing.
Farming was easy. Fathers were scary.
"Don't bother," Jeralt motioned him to follow again. "We don't have any potatoes."
Dimitri faltered but caught on. There was no escape from this, it seemed.
Well, he supposed he would take it like a man, whatever this talk was going to be. So he trailed after the older male, lump stuck in his throat as they make it to the edge of the woods. Jeralt stopped, eyes set on the forest in front of him. Dimitri waited for the man to find his words. The King can’t help but recognize the look in his eyes.
Desire
For freedom? Peace? Dimitri wasn’t sure he’d ever know.
“You do know what kind of shit you’re in, right?”
Dimitri swallowed, unsure if he would put it that way. He nods.
“I’m not sure you do,” Jeralt grunted while kicking at a cat tail plant. “Where are you from? How’d you get here?”
The blonde explained what had happened the best he could (even if he didn’t understand it). He wisely omitted his family name and their, *ahem*, responsibilities.
“So from that direction.” Jeralt pointed to what Dimitri believed is the west and nods. The man looked thoughtful before speaking again. “Right. I suppose you’ll be better prepared to leave tonight.”
“P-Pardon?”
“You want to leave, don’t you?” Jeralt was annoyed now.
“Y-Yes, of course!” Dimitri felt like a fool, again. What was with this place?!
“Then we’ll be better prepared for your escape tonight. It won’t be easy.”
“I’m sorry, but what is this place? What is going on?” He was growing weary of all this. Surely someone would tell him something!
Jeralt gave him a pitying look and clasped Dimitri’s shoulder, making the younger male jump in surprise. “I’m sure you know what’s happening here.”
No! No he doesn’t!! “Wait, I need answers-“
“Byleth!”
Dimitri jerked away and glanced in the direction of the house. His eyes widen as a figure steps outside in black armor, HIS BLACK ARMOR. Jeralt had seen it too, and was turning toward her with an exasperated groan.
“Byleth! You take that off right now!”
The little figure waddled away, the collar of the chest plate reaching high enough to cover her mouth. Her mint hair was bundled around the shoulders and Dimitri almost laughed when she almost fell over in her escape.
No, wait!
He shook his head and grabbed Jeralt’s arm before he could get away. “Tell me what’s going on! Where am I?!”
Jeralt stopped, glancing back at Dimitri with a tilted smile that looked…sad.
“Kid, do you know the old tales? Of the fae and the rules?”
“Yes.” Dimitri was getting impatient. “Don’t eat offered food, don’t follow them to their home. Don’t step into a fairy circle.”
Jeralt laughed. “You’ve done a good job to ignore those warnings.”
“But I didn’t…” Dimitri scowled, refusing to believe what he had already started to suspect. “That would mean I stepped into a realm, THIS REALM! I didn’t cross any circle!”
“Kid,” Jeralt sighed as the age lines under his eyes grew deeper, “This forest, Gleann na Duin, IS a Fairy Circle.”
