A Savior from Glitterfjell

Civil action

Natalya saves a wood elf family Dimitri was ordered to kill. She runs into Fenneck who helps her take the family to Flottenheim. They begin a new phase in their relationship as Natalya tries to make things work with Dimitri and Fenneck keeps Natalia at length, fearful of being hurt again. Over the years Natalya and Fenneck become good companions as they learn to work together and not force theramin.

Natalya watched the sun disappear below the mountains as she waited for the wood elves Dimitri had hopefully sent her way. She had been thinking over the best routes to take to get into Glitterfjell. Glitterfjell. Fenneck. She felt nervous wondering how pathetic Fenneck would find her to be coming back to do the very thing they had originally been sent to do. The thing she had turned her back on. She felt confused by her resurgence of feelings for Dimitri and her lingering desires for Fenneck. Her feelings for Fenneck never seemed to go away, she never missed him though. Even on the coldest, hardest nights n the mountains she could still feel Fenneck's presence with her. She knew what it was like to miss someone. She had missed Dimitri a great deal these last couple years. She wished they were able to figure out a way to live happier lives together. Natalya waited a few more hours as it got dark. Soon she heard some noises and peaked out over the rocks. She saw a male and female wood elf hurriedly climbing through the mountains. The mother was clutching a very small child to her chest. Natalya kicked some rocks and came out from behind the rocks, trying not to scare them. They looked startled seeing her appear. "It's okay. I'm here to help you. The KAV soldier who sent you here is a friend." She said cautiously, "I'm Natalya, I can get you safely to Glitterfjell." She saw a wave of relief come over the couple. The male wood elf spoke, "My name is Pavel, this is my wife Svitlana and our child, Pyotr." "Come with me." Natalya said. She led them through the mountains. Natalya moved them quickly hoping to get to the cave before the next nightfall so the family could rest and Natalya could grab some supplies. About halfway through the day the child started to grow cold. Natalya cut a small string and strung her ring from Fenneck on it before setting it around the child's neck. She felt the cold wind hit her as she removed it. She hadn't realized how helpful it had been after wearing it for nearly a year. Pyotr thanked her gratefully and they kept pushing forward. Finally Natalya saw the peak of the cave and hurried them toward it. They had made good time. The sun started creeping below the mountains and the family was getting tired, cold, and hungry. They hadn't been able to take anything with them but a few cloaks. As they turned the corner Natalya saw the mouth of the cave, covered by pelt. Her heart stopped as she saw the familiar glow of Fenneck's magical dancing lights illuminating the cave. She decided to risk it. This family needed shelter. As they made their way up to the cave Fenneck came out from behind the pelts. "This family needs shelter." She said before he could speak, meeting his gaze. His eyes were cold but he looked at the family behind Natalya and waved them inside, "Come inside. I'll get a stew going." The family looked relieved and they came inside. They introduced themselves and explained their situation. Fenneck occasionally cast Natalya a look as if to ask what the hell was going on but he stayed professional in front of the wood elves. They finally settled in for the night and Fenneck beckoned Natalya outside. When they were out of earshot of the family he looked out over the mountains and asked her, "How did you find them?" "Dimitri was supposed to kill them." She said. She saw him flinch when she mentioned Dimitri. "You never told me what happened. The last time you saw him. I assumed it didn't go well. Have you been with him these last few months?" "It didn't go well. And no, just...just two nights ago. He caught me trying to sneak into Lenisily and nearly killed me. We talked and...and then he suggested I sneak his targets into Glitterfjell." She saw understanding flicker through Fenneck's cold eyes. "He said he'll think of a way to communicate with me so that he can coordinate when to send refugees into the mountains." She could feel Fenneck's frustration radiating off of him. "I didn't realize you would be here." She said. "Baegla sent me up here to patrol the border and to help any refugees I might come across. Now that we know the land better." He was very cold. Natalya didn't mind. She didn't want to be with him anymore, despite her hearts soft cooing. "I'm not back for you." She said coldly. "I should hope not. That door is firmly closed." He said, finally meeting her gaze. His defenses were up. Natalya wondered how they had ever been as close as they had. It felt like some weird crush compared to her love for Dimitri. "Do you want to help each other? I'm not asking to go back to Flottenheim, I know my place is out here. These people need help though. Pufuktin is ordering more kills than normal, Dimitri is willing to risk a lot but we'll have to meet him halfway." Fenneck thought for a moment. "Okay, but I'm done with you. I don't care about our connection, or theramin or how close we might have been before. You are done playing with my heart." He was sharp and cold. "Fine, good. I don't want it either. I'm happy with what I have with Dimitri." "Good." He said sharply before turning and going back inside the cave. Natalya followed him and rested as he kept watch. The next day they made their way to Glitterfjell. When they got to the border of Flottenheim. Natalya left them and told Fenneck she would go back to Lenisily and meet Dimitri to coordinate their next move. Pyotr came up to her and returned her ring before she left. Fenneck turned away without so much as a goodbye. She made her way back to Lenisily and met with Dimitri where they devised a plan. She went back to the bumblebear cave and waited for the next refugees. Eventually Fenneck returned and they ironed out the plans. He was still cold though and they kept their distance from each other. The next few years were busy with this new cycle of saving refugees. Dimitri was even able to get some additional families out besides his normal contracts. Fenneck and Natalya eventually developed a civil, working relationship. Natalya found comfort in Dimitri though. His familiar presence and their deep connection was rooted in more than some special feeling. She did find some sense of comradery in Fenneck however. They started to see their similarities more clearly than before. They were both running from demons and trying to clear themselves of their guilt. Some nights, Natalya would have her nightmares creep up on her meditations, visions of the Demogorgon or moments she regretted from her past and she would wake with a start to see Fenneck's worried eyes as he shook her awake. Some nights Fenneck would be hit with grief and Natalya would hold him as he cried. But they kept their distance. She didn't return to Flottenheim for seven years. Fenneck tried a couple of times to allow her to rest and bath in the warmth of the palace and to visit Jasna and Baegla but she refused. She was ashamed for how she had left. Flottenheim belonged to Fenneck and she found it better to keep her distance. She and Dimitri met less and less over the years, it became too risky for her to actually enter Lenisily. Natalya enjoyed her new sense of purpose though. She finally felt like she was doing something good and right with her life. She loved meeting the refugees and often Fenneck would return from Flottenheim with stories and updates on the families they had helped before. She was grateful to hear about the joy and happiness they were able to bring these people. She was starting to enjoy life.