Here’s my contribution to the @inkheartexchange for @tinuviel-tinuviel : ) I hope you like it <3 It was certainly fun to write
The snowflakes were bigger in the Inkworld, Meggie had noticed. It was her second winter in this world, and this time, she could actually enjoy it. The peace and quiet of bright winter days. The trees around the lonely farmhouse were covered in a thick, white blanket, slumbering and sometimes whispering in their sleep.
It was quiet most of the time, but today, voices and laughter sounded loudly through the trees. Dustfinger and his family had come to visit, Roxane, Brianna, Jehan and Farid were all there, and the Black Prince had come, too. Additionally, Elinor and Darius had decided to visit as well, and Fenoglio had also tagged along. Their house was pretty crowded right now, but Meggie did not mind. Their home was so full of life now, and she enjoyed the happy and relaxed atmosphere.
Elinor was cooing at Dante, Fenoglio was telling the Prince and Darius about the song he intended to write next, and everyone seemed lively and busy. Meggie slowly turned around, searching for someone, until she found Farid standing in a corner, watching the family he had found with a smile on his lips.
Farid held a steaming mug of tea in his hand, although he seemed to have forgotten about it. When he noticed Meggie’s gaze, he looked up and his smile grew even wider.
It had been a while since they had last seen each other. Farid travelled a lot, visited villages all over Lombrica and Argenta and sometimes even further away. But he always came back again. Back to Dustfinger, back to Gwin and Jink, and back to Meggie. Their relationship had changed, but they were still dear to each other.
Meggie was happy to see him. She went to Farid, who put down his mug, and drew him into a hug.
“Where have you been?” Meggie asked and listened as he told her about his latest journey. He had been in the south, at the coast, and even there the people had already heard of him. The fire-dancer’s apprentice, almost as good and as famous as his master, the boy who was loved by the flames he played with. Meggie smiled as she listened to him.
“I think you’d enjoy Luvarno,” Farid told her with bright eyes, “It’s such a beautiful city! And the small villages along the way, too. Maybe you could go there with your parents when Dante is a little older?”
“Maybe, yes. Although travelling is definitely easier in the other world!” Meggie laughed, “But you know what? Let’s take a little stroll outside. The forest is so beautiful in the snow,and I haven’t had the chance to show you yet. You’ll love it!”
Outside, the air was cold, and Meggie wrapped her cloak closer around herself. But the sun was shining, making everything glitter and sparkle. She breathed in and felt at peace.
It was so quiet. The songbirds huddled together between the bare twigs of ancient trees, the fairies were sleeping in their nests, but some creatures were still awake, despite the cold. A squirrel was scurrying through some branches. A crow watched them with wise eyes as the wind ruffled its feathers. Between the undergrowth, the bushy tip of a reddish tail disappeared. Meggie smiled. Sometimes, the Inkworld was so beautiful that she could barely believe that it was real.
They walked for a while, until Meggie began to shiver slightly. Farid noticed that she was cold, and rubbed his fingers together. A few whispered words later, and sparks were dancing on his palms. Carefully, he took Meggie’s hands in his and warmed them.
Meggie sighed as the warmth seeped into her chilly bones.
“I wish I could do that, too.”
Farid raised an eyebrow, and then slipped a hand into one of his pockets to take out a small packet. Meggie knew that this was where he kept a small amount of firehoney, and suddenly she felt a flutter of excitement rise in her chest, the same kind of excitement she felt when Resa told her about the years she had spend in the Inkworld, the same flutter she felt when she watched Mo save a poor mistreated book.
“I can teach you,” he offered, the smile dancing in his dark eyes, and Meggie all but grinned back at him.
