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Chapter Text

Castiel left the forest and looked up to the sun that was shining down onto his face. The fairy prince closed his eyes and sighed contently with a small smile on his lips. It was good to feel the light tickle of sunrays again. Fairies are dependent on the sunlight to charge their life source and energy, so the long walks through the thick forest in the middle of winter weren’t to his delight. 

“Are you sure, this is the way to the human kingdom?”, he turned his head and looked at the elf next to him. Her shorter red hair seemed a little roughed up, little strains hidden behind her pointy ears that perked up to his question. Her once beautiful clothes were now covered in muddy snow and wet leafs, the bright green and white colors nowhere to be seen. Charlie’s eyes were fixed on an old book page in her hands, her ears, nose and fingers turning red from the cold. 

She hummed. 

“Seems so. I don’t think that mom would have given me the wrong description. She visits the kingdom every three months”, she said a little irritated herself, shivered and let her finger glide over the rough surface of the page. 

They have been on the road for nearly three weeks now, still no sight of their neighbor kingdom. With the poorly choices of food in a winter forest, they had eaten what they could. Without the ability to hunt and no chances to collect any wild berries, their tummies grumbled. Castiel grimaced. 

“We should be there soon”, an annoyed looking female demon appeared next to them and gazed at the cliff ahead. Her grey clothes made a big contrast to her sister’s as well as her bright blond hair. Jo wasn’t very fond of the idea to travel so far away from home, especially in the winter season. She had never been outside their village, totally comfortable and peaceful with the few people that lived there. But when the siblings met Castiel, a fairy prince on his mission to bring a letter to the human king without any knowledge regarding the way, Charlie was on board immediately. 

Their mother, Ellen, had given them a map that she uses every time she went there and wished them farewell. After agreeing with Charlie’s request to accompany the foreigner and therefore allowing it, Jo stayed sceptical. She knew, that her sister can be rather clumsy and had absolutely no idea of geography, let alone leading the way to the human kingdom. 

And what kind of a sister would Jo be, if she wouldn’t accompany them to protect her?

Their mother had told them many tales about the fairies, when they were young. Little beings with sensitive see-through wings that protect the forest and its inhabitants. It always sounded magical and pure, too mythical to be true. But when Castiel walked into their village that day, it all became reality. Fairies existed. And their prince needed help. 

Castiel wasn’t a fairy though. He was a fae, a royal and normal-size version of the fairies his father ruled over. With an approximately height of 5'11 feet, he was slightly taller than the sisters. Hadn’t he showed them his wings and his ability to perform magic that controlled the air and earth, they wouldn’t have believed him. 

Jo looked at the present Castiel, whom she got to know over the last weeks. “If mom’s tales of adventures are true, the capital city should lay right below”. 

Castiel nodded at her statement and continued his stride towards the end of the cliff. Not used to the constant walking, he was glad for any chance including a warm meal, a comfy bed and a soothing hot bath at the next town or village. His wings, safely hidden under his clothing, were slowly getting restless with the wish to spread. 

The last three weeks were tough. He was thankful for meeting Charlie, Jo and their mother Ellen, who welcomed him in their home, when he met them. He had never been outside the fairy kingdom and their forest. With enough to live, the kingdom was never dependent on the others, always staying on neutral ground and keeping its distance. But current developments in the magic kingdom, the third kingdom, left everyone agitated. 

The magician king, Crowley, claimed to possess a deadly weapon. An ancient being that was able to destroy whatever stands between the king and his demands. And that was troublesome. As a little fae, his father often told him about the stories of this being, the ancient guardian Cerberus, who protected the kingdoms from dangers outside of their world. Legend told, that Cerberus vanished after the last Great War, destined to never be found. But apparently, those times were over. 

Castiel’s father, the fairy king Chuck, sent his youngest fledgling as an ambassador to the human kingdom to inform the human king of Crowleys threats and to suggest an alliance. At first, Castiel wasn’t sure he was the right choice of prince for this mission. His older siblings — Michael, Luzifer and Gabriel — would have made a better choice in his eyes. Michael was the born leader. As the crown prince though, he was not allowed to leave the kingdom. Luzifer was the politician. With his gift of negotiating and manipulation, he would have made a great ambassador. Or Gabriel, who studied the other species all his life to know their cultures, he would have adapted to everyone in the blink of an eye. 

But Castiel? 

He was the youngest fledgling, not even a century old and without any knowledge of the outside world. While his older brothers were teached in divers subjects, he wasn’t bound to do anything. His only classes were led by an elder to teach him different spells, languages and how to control his magic. He was rather quiet, never complaining or asking about the outside world, other species or history. He loved nature, all the animals and liked to listen to the plants grow. The only things getting on his nerves was his brother Gabriel and his arranged marriage to his betrothed from the fairy tribe up in the unknown hills. Even though his brother could be rather annoying, always playing pranks on his younger brother, Castiel was thinking about his arranged marriage that should take place when he comes of age in fairy years. 

“There it is!”, Castiel snapped out of thoughts by hearing Charlie’s excited voice. He followed her gaze with his own, down the cliff and ahead. And indeed, there it laid under their feet, covered in snow — the human kingdom. There was a little town right under them, the shadows of the cliff blanketing it. Following the way through town, it led to a tall dark grey stone wall. The wall protecting the capital city was huge. Old houses of stone covered the kingdom ground, little paths between them like a labyrinth. 

He could make out people of different species. He wasn’t aware of many species but before he left home, Gabriel made sure to teach him a few. From this afar though, he couldn’t specify them. His eyes followed some citizen that entered their home made of stone. He drew his brows together.

Castiel didn’t understand human houses. At home, fairies lived in trees, formed to make life comfortable. Beds were made of moss and feathers gifted by birds, warm meals consisted of delicious vegetables and he could take a fresh shower under a broad waterfall — that was Castiel’s understanding of home. 

How could humans and other creatures sleep inside stone houses? Wasn’t it cold? And uncomfortable? 

He was confused.

To reach the capital city, the three found a way down on the left side of the cliff. When they reached the ground, the sun was ready to set. Castiel looked around curiously. Even outside the broad city wall were houses in a small town with many humans and creatures walking around. He saw how a few elves were mingling next to a lovely candle shop, bickering which ones they should buy. On the other side of the road were two citizen of the birdfolk looking at potions a wizard was selling in front of his store. Meanwhile, a little angel child ran past them, playing tag with other children, screaming and laughing in the snow. Castiel’s heart swelled. The outside world truly was as beautiful as Gabriel said. 

“Wow! This town is amazing!”, Charlie looked around in awe, a dreamy look in her eyes as she tried to capture as much as she can. Even though the snow turned worse, nobody seemed to care. Everyone was covered in thick coats, walking from store to store to warm up in between or look at things to buy. The town seemed to have a few stores, living houses, a tavern and a doctor. A little bookstore with a booth in front of it caught his attention. As he came closer, he recognized old folklore books. 

“Are people still using the ancient language here?”, Castiel asked and took an old book from the booth in front of him. With his chest puffed out, he turned back to the women. “I am fluent in 376 languages”, he revealed proudly. 

Charlie tried desperately to suppress her laugh at how cute Castiel was behaving while Jo just rolled her eyes, trying to find something interesting for herself. “Silly. The ancient languages don’t exist anymore. Most people are using the modern versions except for the magicians. They are still into this old stuff to form their spells”, Charlie said and put a hand on his shoulder. “But if you want, we could try to find someone still remembering them”, she suggested and looked around for the lady selling the books. 

Jo huffed and drew their attention. She frantically rubbed her hands together and blew some warm breath into them, trying to defrost them. 

“Can we please look for some warmer clothing or go to the tavern over there? I am done for today and if we walk one more mile, I might collapse or freeze”, she exaggerated but emphasized her words with a look at her worn soles and wet boots. Charlie nodded and glanced at Castiel. “You ready for some hot tea and a warm meal? We can come back tomorrow and buy some books when the storm is over”, Chalie asked and laughed when Castiel’s eyes shone at her words. He couldn’t wait to finally get something in his tummy again and quickly forgot about the books behind them. 

They trudged through the snow until they reached the tavern. It was another stone cold building with windows made of glass to take a look inside. When they entered, laugher and voices erupted from every corner. At least thirty different creatures were sitting at table groups, chatting about all kind of things. From humans, angels and demons to magicians, werewolves and elves. Every creature Gabriel told him about seemed to mingle in this tavern. A werewolf and a demon were arm wrestling with each other, their friends cheering and shouting encouraging words. In another corner sat a wizard with his family, showing his children some magic tricks for them to practice. It was adorable to look at. 

Someone shoved against Castiel. 

“Hey, stranger! Take a seat or get lost again! We can’t afford people to stand in the way”, a woman carrying two trays walked past him to deliver drinks and food to a table with a bunch of thirsty vampires. Charlie grabbed Castiel’s hand and dragged him to the last available table in the back. They quickly sat down and made themselves comfortable, the fireplace behind them sizzling with heat. 

Jo glanced back at the waitress and huffed annoyed. “We are hungry, exhausted, frozen and came such a long way. And now we even have to endure such a moody waitress. What a bit-“

“Excuse me, do you want to order something?”, a burly man interrupted her with a grin, showing off his vampire fangs. His beard looked a little bit scruffy, short hair covered by a strange looking hat. Jo shut her mouth and looked up to him. Hopefully, he didn’t heard her. 

“Don’t worry about Andrea. She can be quite impolite, when it’s getting this stressed”, he explained with a warning look and opened a little note book to take their orders. Of course he heard female demon. 

Jo murmured an apology. The man seemed to be married to the waitress werecat woman, given the golden rings on their hands. It was weird to see such an unusual couple. Normally, the creatures stayed in their circles and mated with each other to prevent any hybrids. Charlie mustered her sister, who still seemed quite embarrassed after getting caught, and ordered. 

“I would like some vegetable stew and tea please”, she requested, her cheeks still red from the chilly cold outside. After long time without real food, she couldn’t wait to finally taste something warm again. 

“I take some meat with potatoes and a beer. I don’t care what kind”, Jo added nonchalant as always, signaling Castiel to place an order as well. The fae looked around to find any dish he could like. Most of them had meat in it, which he didn’t eat. At a table with some birdfolks, he found some kind of soup. 

“A herby soup without meat and also tea please.”

The man scribbled everything down and nodded. “Alright, coming up in a few”, he said, turned around and went back into the kitchen. The candles and the big fireplace near them, helped to warm their freezing bodies in no time. Finally able to forget the winter, Castiel shedded out of his coat to stretch his filigran wings. The free space between him and the wall helped to reduce the soreness by allowing his wings to flap a little. Castiel sighed contently. 

“I am glad that we found the city”, he muttered, his sparkling wings reflecting bits of the light surrounding them. Charlie smiled at him, reaching over to remove the last pieces of snow from his head. His dark hair was still a little bit wet from it, not used to the winter conditions. 

“I suggest we stay put for the night. The gate to the castle seems to be closed, so we can’t wander in there anyway tonight”, Charlie said and rubbed her hands over her frozen ears to warm them up faster. 

Jo nodded approvingly. 

“I agree. We all need some sleep and a bath before we go to the king. I sure ain’t gonna step before him like this”, she looked down on herself and wrung some water out of her blond hair. After a few minutes, the man returned with trays carrying their food and drinks. “Alright, here you go. Do you need anything else?”, the man asked and Charlie spoke up. 

“Yeah. We need a place to sleep tonight. Do you have some free rooms?”, she asked nicely and got a smile in return. “Course, no problem. I can offer you two rooms for tonight for three gold coins. But the night after, the price goes up by one more gold coin”, he informed them and Castiel grabbed the coins from his coat. “One night will be enough. We will go into the capital tomorrow.”

The man lifted an eyebrow. 

“You guys wanna go into the city? You travelers?”, he asked and mustered them. He wasn’t used to travelers in winter. Usually, nobody was stupid enough to pass through in the snowfall season. 

Jo looked up from her meal. “We have to talk to the king. Special mission”, she grinned when the man furrowed his brows in confusion. “Well. I hope, you carry an inviting letter with you. Without that, nobody is allowed to see and speak to the king”, he clarifies and the three looked dumbfounded. 

“Damn it. And I knew, it sounded too good to be true”, Charlie pouted and took a sip of the hot tea. The man laughed wholeheartedly at that. “Sorry kid. It might be easy in the magic kingdom, but we got different rules”, he said and looked at the trio. “Tell you what — you pay me another gold coin and I arrange a meeting with the king”, he said and laughed again at the shocked facial expressions. 

“You could do that?”, Castiel asked amazed and smiled excited. 

“Course I can. I know just the right guy to get you into the castle. He usually comes around at lunch, so enjoy a good potion of sleep and meet me tomorrow morning for breakfast, if you want”, he offers and the three smiled thankfully at him. 

“Thank you…?”

“Benny. The name’s Benny.” 

Chapter Text

The next morning, Castiel woke up from a cold breeze blowing through his room. The blanket covering his body rustled quietly from little movement while his wings were caught by the cold temperature in the room. A shiver went through his whole body. His gaze moved over to the only window in the room revealing a raging blizzard outside. No wonder the room was dark. Good thing he caught some sunrays yesterday, otherwise it would have been rather uncomfortable to get through the day. 

Castiel put the blanket aside and sat up to slowly stretch his sore muscles including his wings. After all these weeks, he was glad that he had a restful sleep again. Even though he was unsure at first, the human beds turned out to be rather comfortable. Not as soft as the fairy beds, but better than the forest ground. 

Castiel stood up in just his undergarments and walked over to the fireplace. Thankfully, the wood was still dry and didn’t turned moist over night. He carefully grabbed a match to light the fire up again as well as the candles in the room. The warm light and flicker of the candles softened his otherwise pale skin and made his cerulean blue eyes gleam. His gaze wandered to a large mirror leaning against the wall. In the fairy kingdom, there were only Mother Nature's mirrors like the water surface in which he could look at himself. Other creatures were using crafted mirrors like the one in front of him. 

His wild, untamed hair sat on his head. The black wavy curls fell playfully over his forehead, nearly reaching his eyes and tickling his pointy ears. His curls also concealed his royal birthmark, a silver diamond with the first letter of his name, on his forehead. The silver markings that gently covered his body from his throat and neck down to his calves were a symbol of his royal lineage among the fairies. While his brothers' markings tended to be more angular and broader, his were more delicate and flattering to his figure. With these silver lines and his 5’11ft slender build he was a rare treasure for his family and important for the union between the two fairy tribes. 

Castiel shook his head to clear his thoughts, eyes focusing on his wings in the mirror. The center of the wings were mostly transparent, fading into an arctic blue at the wingtips. In direct light, the blue covered the wings like a thin film, letting them shine slightly. They also were soft as petals and fluttered with a little breeze which was quiet useful when he has to dry himself after a shower or bath. 

He looks sideways at a chest of drawers with his jewelry on it. A silver bracelet in the form of several roses strung together gifted by his dear mother. A silver ring with the blue emblem of the royal fairy family and a necklace given by his tutor to strengthen his magical powers. He put on the jewelry and picked up the stack of clothes he borrowed from Benny yesterday. Since his clothes and those of Charlie and Jo were dirty and wet, each of them got a replacement for the night and the morning. He got dressed, freshened up with the bucket full of water next to the door and then left the room. 

Castiel walked down the hall and knocked on Charlie’s and Jo's room door. After there was no answer and the room remained silent, he cautiously opened the door and looked around. Jo's bed was neatly made while Charlie's bed had all sorts of things on it. Her bag, some jewellery, the map of kingdoms and her favorite book. Jo's things were all in her bag on the table by her bed, except for her dagger that laid next to it. He closed the door again and walked down the hall when suddenly there was laughter from below. He went down the stairs and saw Charlie and Jo at the table they were sitting at last night. However, the two sisters were not alone. Two angels, one female and one male, sat across from them with a citizen of the birdfolk and another woman who seemed like a witch given her aura. 

“Good morning, Castiel. I hope you were able to sleep peacefully despite the raging storm outside”, Andrea stood at the counter next to the stairs and smiled at him. Castiel smiled back softly and nodded. The werecat came to him with a bundle of clothes and put them in his hands. 

“Your things have all dried well at the fireplace overnight. Oh, and don't worry. I washed yours with care because he fabric felt very velvety and I didn't want to damage it”, he looked at her gratefully and thanked her before Charlie's voice rang out.

“Castiel, there you are!”, when Charlie noticed him, she cheerfully waved him over. He smiled at Andrea again before he went to the others and sat down between Charlie and Jo. 

“Everyone, this is Castiel. Castiel, this is Anna, Inias, Ash and Pamela”, Charlie introduced them all to each other and looked excitedly at Castiel. “Anna and Inias are also passing through and want to go to the garrison in the capital today”, she explained as Castiel mustered the two angels. Anna had soft features and beautiful light pink wings. She also wore a pink robe which flattered her red hair greatly. Inias, on the other hand, had dark hair and light brown wings. His robe was purple, symbolizing an official position among the angels. It sounded logical that they wanted to go to the garrison, probably because of important matters. 

“Ash comes from near the magic kingdom and works as a messenger. He must deliver a message to the Entity Council about the current status of his village”, Charlie continues and Castiel shifted his gaze to the man. He had a weird looking hair style, hair shorter in the front and long in the back. The necklace with the three feathers around his neck were proof that he belonged to the birdfolk. And his clothes were a little torn in places, but that didn't seem to bother him. 

“Nice to meet you all”, Castiel gave them a shy smile. The second woman, Pamela, let her gaze wander over him. Her gaze was soft, but also intense, making him a little restless. He knew Pamela was a witch. Her eyes shimmered slightly purple as she studied him, an indicator of her magical power. 

Castiel startled out of his thoughts when a plate was placed on the table. Benny grinned down at him.

“Here's your breakfast, cher”, he said and also put down a glass with milk. On the plate was a large potion of yoghurt, several fruits and a piece of honeycomb. At the sight of the honey, Castiel's eyes lit up. Benny leaned towards him slightly.

“Don’t mind Pamela. She is a good friend of mine and Andrea and lives a few houses away. She can be a bit insensitive but has a good soul”, he assured him and patted him gently on the shoulder before heading back to the kitchen. Castiel looked after him but decided to take his words to heart and started to eat. While Charlie was deep in conversation with Anna and Jo was talking to Ash, Castiel enjoyed his breakfast. As he took his first sip of milk, he thought back to his mother, who used to make milk for him when he was younger.

He sighed loudly. Many things reminded him of his parents and brothers. He really missed them. Charlie gave him a look but he just smiled at her dismissively. 

“Castiel?”, he looked at Anna, who gave him a shy look. “I know this might be a bit blunt. But you're a fairy, aren't you? Your wings...and your looks. I've never met anyone like you, and I've only heard stories about the your kind”, her look told him she didn't mean to be rude. She was just curious. His wings twitched briefly at the unwanted attention he was receiving. 

“Well, I'm one of the fairies, but I'm not one myself”, he explained and Anna seemed to understand. “Right. Fairies are actually a lot smaller than us, aren't they?”, she said and Castiel nodded. I belong to the royal family of fairies. We're called faes because we're human-sized and don't actually have nature spirit magic”, he continued, brushing his hair back from his face to show them his birthmark. 

“I'm the only one in the royal family who can also cast magic.”

At the mention of his magic, his wings flapped briefly. Anna and Inias looked at him in awe. “I wish I had such beautiful wings too”, she glanced up at her own wings and grumbled, “these things take so much time to groom and feathers fall out all the time.”

Castiel blushed slightly at her words. He never knew how to handle compliments. Gabriel always teased him about how feminine and pretty his wings looked, perfect for wooing others and attracting potential mates. But since he was already betrothed, that didn't matter anyway.

“Thank you, Anna”, he thanked her and Inias stood up slowly. “We should get ready soon. The storm will continue for a while, but I have a few more letters to write before we go”, the two angels got up, Anna smiling at them. “It was nice to meet you!”, she said with a last glance at Castiel before they said goodbye and disappeared upstairs. Castiel took a deep breath, his wings calming down. Jo noticed it and snickered. 

“Thank Satan the fowls are gone. I was about to puke holy water”, she laughed and got a scolding look from Charlie. “Don't be so rude, Jo! I know your species don't like each other, but you always have to exaggerate!”, Charlie snapped at her sister and grumbled as she took a sip of her tea. Ash looked back and forth between the two sisters.

“You two are sisters? Is that meant metaphorically or...? I mean, you guys don't look alike and you're different species so…”, Ash looked confused but Charlie smiled at him. “We have the same mother but different fathers. Jo is more like mom and five years older than me”, Charlie explained and Jo continued. 

“My father left us shortly after I was born, that bastard. A few years later our mother met Charlie's father, fell in love and had my little sister”, Jo grinned and Charlie stuck his tongue out at her before her eyes turned sad. “Dad died about 10 years ago and since then it's just us and mom.”

Castiel looked at her pitifully and grabbed her hand. She gave him a grateful smile and saw Ash nodding. “So your mom is a demon right? I heard of matings between demons and elves. Elf genes are very dominant, so it makes sense that Charlie comes more after her father”, he concluded, proud of his calculations. Pamela smiled and rolled her eyes at him. 

Castiel let his gaze wander to a window. The blizzard was still in full swing, but suddenly he remembered something. “Do you know who owns the bookstore a few doors down? I saw some old books there yesterday and I would like to buy one”, he asked Pamela, who then looked at him again. 

“Missouri runs the store. She is a good friend of mine, also a witch, originally from the magical kingdom”, she said and Castiel felt the excitement rise in him. “She is considerably older than me, about 350 years, and is an expert when it comes to languages”, she continued. Castiel could hardly believe his luck. But before he could reply, it happened.

The heavy, solid wooden door to the tavern swung open and slammed loudly against the wall.  The freezing breath of the blizzard seeped into the room, suffocating every light with a fearful screech. Without the light of the candles or the fireplace, the room went pitch black and Castiel could hear his heart pounding loudly in his ears. Frightened, his wings flapped frantically and his body went into flight mode. He got up from the table and jumped back where his back made contact with the wall. A loud thunder sounded and brought a soft whimper out of Castiel. 

Then a bright flash followed the thunder and illuminated the doorway, revealing a mysterious and massive silhouette. The silhouette took the form of a monstrous male body, the head of the door barely reaching the man's chest. 

The man, if that beast could even be called that, tilted his torso slightly forward and to the side before the whole body could fit through the door. Castiel's wings and body trembled in fear as he had never encountered anything quite like it. Charlie and Jo also jumped up from the table at the sight of the man and stood pressed to his sides now. When another flash briefly lit up the tavern, Castiel could make out the stranger's facial features. A shudder ran down his back. 

Striking green eyes with a dark expression fixed on the group at the table. The man's dark blond hair was short and a little wet from all the snow. The slight stubble on his chin covered a strong jaw line and the top of his thick neck. But what scared Castiel the most was a long nasty scar that ran from the hairline, over the stranger's eye, down his cheek and jaw before it disappeared into his clothing below his throat. Castiel was surprised that the man even fit into the tavern. He was definitely at least 10ft, towering over them like a god. 

The stranger wore a long black coat with a fur collar that encased his bulking body. His clothes appeared to be a mix of fabric and leather with a noose running across his broad chest, securing a massive sword to his back. 

“Hey! What are you thinking? Shut the damn door!”, an angry voice freed Castiel from his trance. The man's menacing gaze focused on Benny, who had snapped at him, before he finally closed the door. Castiel's body was still trembling, mainly from the freezing cold that took over the tavern in the few minutes. Andrea came out of the kitchen with matches and quickly relit all the candles while Benny tended the fireplaces. When Andrea turned back to the others, she looked surprised at the intruder.

“Oh, Dean! We didn't think you'd show up here so soon”, she smiled warmly at the man, but Castiel could hardly believe his eyes. 

Benny walked over to the last fireplace and eyed him from there. “Didn't think you'd dare to go down the pass in this weather”, the giant looked at him and then reached under his cloak, where he pulled out seven dead hares tied by their hind legs. Andrea gasped enthusiastically and waved him over to the counter. Dean's heavy steps made the floor vibrate, his mysterious presence thickening the air. He put the hares on the counter and shook his head when Andrea wanted to give him five gold coins.

“Keep two. Impala takes the barn”, Castiel's whole body shuddered at the man's deep, husky voice. With a voice intensity of roaring thunder, he seemed to be speaking extra softly, the actual tone of his voice too loud for normal ears. While Benny tried to push a chair as tall as himself to the table, Pamela looked amused at the three travelers who were still standing rigidly against the wall.

“Now sit down again. One might think that you have met God personally”, she chuckled and the three of them slowly sat back down. “You don't have to be afraid of him. Dean may look like a devil, but he's an honorable man”, she assured them, but everyone gave her an incredulous look. 

“What exactly is he?”, asked Charlie in a whisper. Pamela laughed heartily when Dean's menacing gaze turned to Charlie at the question. Charlie swallowed audibly and hid behind Castiel, who didn't like it at all. 

“He can hear you either way, whether you're whispering or not”, she explained and Dean's gaze turned back to Andrea, who seemed to be preparing a meal for him. 

“Dean belongs to a very ancient lineage of giants. His kind has always served the Guardians, the dragon race. During the Great War, all giants are said to have been killed and Cerberus, the last dragon, disappeared without a trace after successfully defending the world. As far as I know, Dean is the last of his kind”, Pamela's eyes turned dark and sad at the most gruesome event in world history. 

“In my family, the stories of the Great War were passed down for decades, so that the kingdoms would always remember the sacrifice of the last dragon for world peace. And that it should never happen again”, her dark eyes cleared and she looked at the travelers. All three had sad expressions on their faces. Castiel knew about the legend of the last dragon. After all, it was the reason why his father had sent him to the human kingdom. However, he did not know what role the giants played back then. 

Dean approached them and took a seat in the oversized chair that was at the head of the table at Jo's and Ash's side. He had leaned his enormous sword against the wall next to the counter, the length of the sword equal to Castiel's height. Benny came over to them with a huge board, it’s extent the size of four regular dinner plates, and set it down in front of Dean. It was covered with all different kinds of meat: beef, pork, hare, elk, fish and chicken. As far as Castiel opened his eyes at the sight, they almost seemed to pop out of his skull. Reaching out with his right hand, Dean took a venison haunch the size of Castiel's head and ripped a meaty chunk off the bone with his teeth. The fae blinked rapidly, trying not to faint at the thought.

“Glad you came despite the storm, brother. The three of them want an audience with the king and I thought you could make it happen”, Benny grinned at Dean's nonexistent table manners. As the giant munched on his meat, he raised an eyebrow. He swallowed the first bite and looked straight at Castiel. 

“What would a fairy prince want to discuss with the human king?”, he asked emotionlessly and stared at Castiel’s wings, while the fae had to fight not to start shaking again at the deep voice. He didn't like the way the giant scanned his wings with an animalistic gaze. He felt like prey. That's exactly how the now dead rabbits must have felt before Dean had killed them. 

Benny cleared his throat. “Well, whatever it is, it seems urgent. Otherwise a fairy prince would hardly show up here”, he clarified and Dean growled reluctantly before deciding to drop the subject for now. 

“Indeed.”

“Since Pamela already briefly introduced you, it's probably our turn now”, Charlie said nervously, pointing first at herself and then at her sister. “My name is Charlie and this is my sister Jo. We are from Noire, a village near the Fairy Woods, and we accompany Castiel on his journey.”

Dean continued eating, acknowledging her introduction with a short nod. Then he turned his dark green eyes back to Castiel. “And you, little fae?”, he asked impertinently, making Castiel's wings flap in embarrassment. He lifted his eyes and tried hard to hold the giant's frightening stare. 

“My name is Castiel, fourth prince of the fairy kingdom”, his voice trembled slightly, but he was able to keep his gaze upright. Dean stared a little longer into his eyes before he grabbed the last piece of meat from the board. “I expect suitable payment”, he clarified and wolfed down the steak. Jo nodded and put a small sack of gold on the table.

“You'll get 10 gold coins, if everything works out and we've talked to the king”, she offered, making Dean show his teeth devilishly, meat hanging between them. 

“I want half now”, he demanded and looked down at her dangerously. 

Jo glared up at him angrily but swallowed her pride and gave in eventually. “All right, that's a deal”, she said and Dean nodded, face emotionless again before standing up. “We're leaving in two hours”, he grabbed his sword and thanked Andrea for the food with a short nod. 

Without further words, his muscular body moved to the front door and disappeared back into the blizzard as if he had never been there.

Chapter Text

Castiel pulled the shirt over his head and let it slide from his hand to the floor. He was glad to finally replace the rough piece of cloth with his clean linen shirt. The borrowed shirt had irritated his sensitive nipples and chafed them slightly, causing them to hurt a little. Relieved, he put on the familiar white shirt and sighed contentedly when the fabric gave only the feel of a feather on his skin. Next, he removed the borrowed pants and shoes and replaced them with his dark blue pants and black leather boots. The cloak thrown around his shoulders was also blue, emphasizing the bright eyes of the fairy prince. He gathered his last things and looked at the window. The storm that had been raging before had finally died down, leaving only a few falling snowflakes.

He looked around the room again to make sure he hadn't forgotten anything and then left the room. He walked over to Charlie and Jo's room door and knocked politely to announce his presence.

“Come in.”

Castiel opened the door and entered the room. Both sisters looked up momentarily as he walked in. Jo sat on her bed and appeared to be sharpening the blade of her dagger while Charlie was across the room mending a hole in her clothing. Since both apparently still needed time, Castiel sat down on Charlie's bed. Silence fell upon them again. Only the rustle of cloth and the clink of metal could be heard, but all heads remained bowed. The fairy prince began to tug at his bracelet.

"Dean scares me", his voice cracked slightly at the mention of the name that seemed to haunt him since they met. The previous noises stopped. Jo sighed softly and lifted her head to look at him. 

"Me too. I have a really bad feeling about this…we can't trust him”, she said, running a hand through her tousled blond hair. "If he wanted to, he could kill us with his bare hands. That alone should make us think."

Charlie also looked up at her sister's comment and swallowed loudly. Finished working on her clothes, she looked back and forth between the other two. "When I first felt his aura, I felt like I was trapped in an ice palace with no light. It was just so cold and dark...", her body shuddered at the memory and she crossed her arms as if to protect herself from the cold that wasn't there. Castiel nodded in agreement and felt his wings tremble under his clothes at the thought. 

"We should get the message to the king as soon as possible and then get the hell out of this kingdom", Jo said firmly and sheathed her dagger. Charlie and Castiel indicated their agreement with another nod before the sisters got up to pack their things as well. Meanwhile, the fairy prince fell back into thought. Whether they could trust Dean or not, he had to break the news to the king and coordinate further action. That was top priority and had to be done.

Now that everyone was ready to go, the three made their way downstairs. Pamela and Ash were already gone and the tavern was filled with new guests. Since the storm was over, there was a lot of activity again. Andrea and Benny were busy serving all the guests, so the group went to the door and left the tavern. Castiel was amazed that despite the heavy snow, no roads were blocked when he spotted two mages clearing the paths with magic. The snow melted under their powers, quickly freeing the city. 

After the view cleared, Castiel saw the small bookstore from the day before. Since Dean was nowhere to be seen, he might have had time to look at some books. He turned to Charlie and Jo, who were also looking for the giant. 

"Since Dean doesn't seem to be here yet, I'll go to the bookstore. I really need to check out the book on the language of the nymphs”, he said, looking at the sisters pleadingly. "Can you get me if you see him?", he asked and got a slight grin from Charlie. 

"Go on, nerd. But hurry up or I will tell the big, bad giant that he's wasting time because you're shopping for books”, she warned with a grin and moved towards the city wall, Jo following her. Castiel walked cautiously to the bookstore, the street still slippery and covered in ice, and looked through the window. Several shelves crammed with books were lined up in the store, the wood already old and dusty. From outside he could already make out some books he had read before, but also new and exciting ones. He went to the door and opened it. A gentle ringing of the bell above the door announced his entry. 

He looked around, but at first couldn't see anyone.  Apparently he was the only customer in the store. His eyes settled on the shelf to the left, which bore a note with ornate writing that read "Languages”. His breath caught from the excitement he felt inside. Carefully he ran his fingers over the volumes and read one title after the other. There were many. From the histories of languages, to cultural explanations and language features related to different species. There were even some about the fairy kingdom and their languages. These were very rare and difficult to find, given that many still do not believe the existence of fairies to this day. His eyes swept over books dealing with specific languages and quickly found the one he wanted. The book of nymphs had a green cover with gold decorations and was older, some pages worn or moth-eaten. He was about to open it and rummage through it when a voice came from behind him.

"Are you looking for something specific?"

Castiel startled. The woman's presence was so sudden and unexpected that he reflexively waved his hand in her direction, emitting air magic from his palm. Several books and pages were thrown up by his magic and fell to the ground. Startled, he looked at the woman who, despite his reaction, didn't move a muscle as if she had expected it. The woman's eyes had a purple tinge, a stark contrast to her black hair and light-colored clothing. 

The witch raised an eyebrow and eyed him. "You must be Castiel”, she guessed, "I figured you'd come visit me sooner or later."

Castiel relaxed before he realized the situation. Shocked, he looked at the chaos he had caused. "I'm so sorry!", shame washed over him and he squatted down to quickly pick up some books. The woman chuckled and waved it off. 

"Don’t worry. It's not something that can't be made up for”, she said, putting both hands up in front of her and muttering a few words under her breath before the chaos reversed. The books floated off the floor back into their places on the shelves and the individual pages into their intended stacks. Castiel watched the whole thing with fascination and a thought came up.  

"You are Missouri." 

It all made sense now. The woman was the store owner and friend that Pamela had mentioned. Missouri smiled at him and confirmed his guess with a nod. She looked him up and down before her eyes fixed on the royal mark on his forehead.

"You are the image of your mother”, she said softly, running her fingers over the amulet around her neck. "But your eyes...they are indeed unique”, she continued, staring into his eyes a little longer. It was as if she could see deep into his soul. Castiel blinked in surprise at the mention of his mother. As far as he knew, outsiders were not welcome in his homeland. It was almost impossible for this woman to know what his mother looked like. Not to mention how she knew his identity.

“Your elemental energy is truly amazing. You must have a strong connection to the nature spirits — especially Sylph and Undine”, her eyes shone more purple as she spoke and Castiel felt his wings tense under his clothes. "How do you know...?", he started, but his voice trailed off. 

Missouri smiled at him again. "I'm a seer, sweetheart. Don't worry, I don't share any information I receive unless it's about the person themselves”, she explained, looking down at the book in his hands. "Ah, the language of the nymphs. A very great book. Would you like to buy it?", she asked and pointed at it. The fairy prince relaxed and nodded. He handed her the book and carefully followed her to a table. 

He was about to take some gold coins out of his coat when Missouri interrupted him. "Keep these. I'll give you the book for free”, she said, putting the book in a small bag to keep it dry. "Just promise me that you'll treat it with care”, she said lovingly, handing the wrapped book back to him. Castiel nodded eagerly and pressed it to his body. "I will”, he promised her and turned to leave the store.

“Castiel”, he turned to her again. 

"Be careful and stay away from the shadows that don't fade in the dark”, she said mysteriously. Castiel furrowed his eyebrows, not knowing what she meant by that, but nodded anyway before he left the store. 

Outside the store, he took a deep breath. This was one of the strangest encounters he has had so far. Although, if he thought about it carefully, all the encounters of the past few weeks have been strange. First the encounter with the unusual sisters, then Dean's appearance, and now Missouri's odd warning. Either that was normal in this outside world and he wasn't used to it or it was more than just coincidence.

Castiel sighed and looked up at the sky. Soft snowflakes still fell to the ground and got caught in his messy hair. He should start looking for Charlie and Jo. He turned to the city wall and slowly walked towards it. The village was now alive, several species walking around in everyday life. Since he couldn't see Charlie and Jo anywhere after some searching, he sat down on a larger tree stump and put the book on his lap. He read the first few pages and enjoyed the light sun in the sky, recharging his energy and magic.

After a few minutes it suddenly became quiet. Castiel didn't notice right away, too engrossed in reading the book. But when a deep growl suddenly sounded behind him, he jumped up. Startled, he backed onto the road and turned to face the source of the growl. In front of him a gigantic wolf almost 13ft tall towered over him. The wolf had shiny black fur and glowing silver eyes that fixed him. The underside of the muzzle, paws, and fur around its eyes were also silver. Castiel could just make out streaks of silver in the tail, but the length of the wolf was also enormous — maybe 20ft. The beast's lips raised in a menacing snarl and its ears flattened. The silver eyes studied him painfully slowly before the wolf took one of his paws a step closer. Castiel stood frozen and couldn't move a muscle. Even his survival instincts didn't kick in, his body seemed to automatically understand that he didn't stand a chance. The beast must have smelled his fear and panic because the creature's nose twitched, taking in his smell. His mind was blank as the wolf drew even closer, the ground vibrating under its weight. The heavy look on him made his legs buckle and he fell down. In his head he screamed for help, but not a word left his lips. He didn't want to die, he couldn't die. 

Just when he thought the beast would attack him, it sat down. The wolf's eyes left Castiel's form and settled on something behind him. The whole road was blocked by the enormous body. Castiel tried to calm his fast beating heart, still wondering why the creature hadn't eaten him. However, his luck didn't seem to last long when a dark, raspy voice spoke from behind him. 

“Hey baby.”

Dean's voice sent a shudder down Castiel's body and his wings trembled at the intensity of the giant’s gaze on his neck. The nickname confused him and awoke a tingle inside him. Dean had already called him “little fae”, but from that to baby? Was that normal or meant it something to him? His cheeks and neck flushed at the thought. But surprisingly, the giant ignored and walked around him, stopping in front of the wolf. A soft look settled on the creature's eyes as it lowered its head, tail wagging slightly. Dean placed a hand lovingly under the wolf's chin and caressed it. The gentle gesture looked odd in contrast to their tough appearance but the beast let out a contented grunt, enjoying the giant's attention and the stroking of its muzzle. 

"Her name is Impala”, Dean's deep voice tore Castiel out of his thoughts. He looked relaxed, almost happy for a second before reverting to his menacing posture. His eyes flew to the fairy prince, a dark promise in them. 

"Hurt her.” 

For a moment the green irises in Dean's eyes seemed to flare up red. 

"And I'll kill you."

Castiel winced at the threat. As if he could harm her. She would probably eat him first. Despite the absurdity of the statement, he nodded slowly and tried to get up on shaky legs. After a few minutes he finally managed to stand and picked up his book from the floor. Still nervous in Impala's presence, he wrapped up the book and looked at Dean. The man whispered something in Impala's ear and gave it a few final strokes before the wolf turned and stalked towards the tavern. Then Dean came to Castiel and nodded over to the city wall. 

"Move”, he grumbled and trudged towards the capital. Castiel pulled himself together and followed him, careful not to get too close and keeping a healthy distance. Unconsciously, he kept turning around to make sure Impala wasn't stalking him. Dean noticed that too, one corner of his mouth twitching slightly upwards. When they reached the city wall, Castiel saw Charlie and Jo, who seemed to be arguing again. Relieved, he let out a sigh and quickened his steps to get away from Dean's personal space. 

“You okay?”, Jo asked him, but he waved her off. He had to survive the shock alone for the time being. The sisters exchanged a suspicious look, but didn't ask any more questions. Looking around, they noticed that Dean hadn't stopped when Castiel ran over to them. He had already passed the city wall and kept walking in the direction of the castle. Charlie's gaze fell on the small bag in Castiel's hands.

"Did you find something you like?", she asked smiling and Castiel looked at her enthusiastically, thoughts forgotten for the time being. "It's exactly the book I saw yesterday! The language of the nymphs, really interesting”, he said while the three of them walked through the capital behind Dean. Castiel also smiled and looked around. There were several small shops such as bakeries, tailors, carpenters, butchers, blacksmiths and more that the fairy prince would love to visit. Perhaps they could spend another night at the tavern and browse the shops in the morning before heading home. His parents and brothers would certainly appreciate some gifts. Castiel never thought that the world outside of the fairy kingdom could be so colorful and lively. 

A small marketplace in front of the castle gates caught his attention. The crowds of beings parted quickly at the sight of Dean, who fixed his eyes fiercely on the castle. However, since the three travelers kept a little distance from the giant, the crowd closed in between them again, blocking the way. Bodies pushed past each other and Castiel's sensitive pointed ears twitched at the loud screams of the merchants. A woman grabbed his wrist and tried to shove a purple cloak at him, but Jo was quicker and brushed the woman off with a warning look. Castiel noticed that nobody seemed to speak to Jo. The dealers' victims were clearly Charlie and himself, not the demon. After several tiring minutes and nearly forced offers, they finally made it to the castle gates. Dean gave them an impatient look. As if it was their fault that it took longer.

The guards outside the main gate looked up at Dean uncertainly. The giant eyed the two intently and crossed his muscular arms across his broad chest. If you looked closely, you could see the guards trembling slightly. They bravely tried to face the gaze, but failed when Dean bared his fangs menacingly and showed his sharp canine teeth that put a vampire to shame. Castiel shuddered at the sight.

"No entry without an invitation from the king", stuttered one of the security guards and swallowed loudly when Dean's muscles tensed visibly. The fairy prince was about to step in and explain their situation when an elderly man approached from the castle courtyard. When the giant laid his eyes on the stranger, his posture relaxed again. The man had dark skin and a zappa beard which, along with his hairline, had a silvery sheen due to his age. He held his hands behind his back, giving him an upright posture. His gaze shifted to Dean, who wore an almost annoyed expression on his face.

"Dean", the man's voice was a little hoarse as he addressed the giant, "I thought I made you understand last time that the king has better things to do than being constantly interrupted and disrespected by you", he continued and made a grim face. Dean remained silent and pushed Castiel, who was previously standing next to the giant, a little rough against the castle gate. The fairy prince let out a small cry of pain as the hard metal made contact with his chest and forehead. The two sisters gasped, staring at Dean in disbelief, and the guards jumped, too, tightening the grip on their weapons. However, before they could say anything, the stranger raised a hand and eyed the fae in front of him. Castiel soothingly rubbed the sore spot on his forehead and didn't notice the look the dark-skinned man gave Dean. The giant nodded to the unspoken question in his eyes. 

"Open the gate", the stranger ordered the guards, who looked at him in surprise but obeyed. Castiel also looked up in surprise when the gate opened slowly and the older man stepped in front of him. "Your Highness. Forgive me for denying you access at first", the man bowed and lowered his eyes respectfully, "My name is Rufus Turner, I am the king's highest advisor and right-hand man. Please follow me - I'll take you to him."

Castiel blushed at the sudden attention and thanked him softly. Rufus straightened up and looked at Charlie and Jo. "They are my companions", Castiel explained quickly and motioned to the two sisters. Rufus nodded in agreement and turned to lead them to the castle entrance. Passing through the front door, they entered the reception hall. Castiel's eyes shone enthusiastically at the sight of the golden decorations and the magnificent ambience. The cold stone beneath her feet was covered with red carpets that acted as a guide within the castle. The throne room was the heart of the castle, with high ceilings and chandeliers hanging from long iron chains. Two guards closed the heavy door behind them to shield their conversation from unwanted guests. Rufus crossed the hall first and came to stand in front of the throne. A man his own age sat on the throne. His fair skin and short gray beard contrasted starkly with the rich colors of the room. The king's eyes narrowed at the sight of Dean and the others. 

"I thought I had made myself clear", the dissatisfaction was clearly written on the his face. Rufus bowed and then gestured to Castiel. "Your Majesty, I accompany a fairy prince to you. Your Highness, this is King Robert Singer of the human kingdom", he explained and took his place a little off the throne. While Charlie and Jo stayed behind, Castiel stepped forward and bowed with them. Dean stayed where he was and slowly Castiel understood what Rufus meant with the disrespectful behavior. No matter how close you were to royalty, you showed respect with bows and titles. Even the fairy prince has to behave like this to his older brothers and parents in front of others.

"I beg your pardon for entering unannounced, Your Majesty", Castiel straightened up and looked up at the king. "I took a long journey to bring you a message from my father, the Fairy King", he continued and gave the sisters and Dean an uncertain look, unsure whether the matter could already be conveyed to the people. The king widened his eyes and put his right hand to his chin, pondering. "I see", he grumbled thoughtfully, giving Rufus a quick look as if they already had a guess. Castiel closed his eyes briefly to recall his father's message before announcing the news.

"The fairy kingdom received a letter from the king of the magic kingdom, Crowley. He claims that he is in possession of an ancient weapon and is now threatening to use it to let the time of the Great War flourish again", Castiel reported and noticed how quiet everyone present had become. "My father suspects that the mentioned weapon is the ancient guardian Cerberus", he sighed, revealing the well-kept secret he'd been carrying around for weeks. Dean gave an incredulous grunt and Castiel was afraid that his father's words would not be taken seriously, but the king's face suddenly reflected concern. 

"Two days ago a patrol picked up a man who made a similar remark. At first, I thought it was ridiculous, but now that you're here”, King Robert frowned in concern and looked at Rufus. Dean took a step forward and stared into the king's eyes with a determined look. "Impossible", he said in a firm voice and clenched jaw, "Cerberus is dead."

"Both I and all beings in every kingdom are aware of that", unlike Dean, the king remained composed, "however, I've known Crowley for many years now. He's a sneaky coward. If he's threatening the other kingdoms then there must be some truth to that statement”, he said looking at Rufus who nodded in agreement. 

"Since we received the news, no air patrols have been able to cross the borders. It seems the magical kingdom has upped its defenses and won't let anyone through except for its own people”, Rufus reported, sighing. "We have no way of sending out troops without them being turned away or fought at the border. Even our messengers no longer have access”, he continued and looked at Dean. "You would probably be the only one who still enjoys this privilege due to your neutral attitude towards all kingdoms and because of the unique goods that you always bring there."

"And even if it were, our troops would trigger the announced war immediately. We have to confirm our theories first — before that I won't subject my people to a war", the king clarified and then looked at Castiel. "I know you only came to me to deliver the message. But now I ask you, in the name of your father and your people, to accompany a small scouting party and to speak to Crowley personally”, he rose from his throne and took a few steps in front of the fairy prince.

"With your help and mine, we can perhaps awaken some sense in Crowley and give our people clarity and peace", he explained and to his surprise Castiel nodded. "It is my duty as a prince to protect my people. If that's your take on the situation, I'm sure my father would want me to go”, he said, unconsciously stroking his bracelet.

Charlie and Jo stepped next to Castiel and looked at him encouragingly. "We'll come with you", Charlie said, gently nudging his shoulder. "We haven't known each other that long, but we won't let you travel alone!", she clarified and gave her sister a warning look. Jo smiled a bit and nodded in agreement. Castiel smiled gratefully at the two and decided to buy something for them later. Despite his resolve, he felt insecure and even dreaded what lay ahead.

King Robert clasped his hands and returned to his throne. "Then that would be decided", he said, ignoring the deadly look Dean gave him. The giant growled in dissatisfaction and ran his hands through his short blond hair. Castiel swallowed nervously and turned in his direction, blue and green eyes locked on each other. He suppressed the urge to turn away from him again and let his gaze wander from Dean's impressive eyes to the brutal scar. He didn't know the giant, but they could use his notoriety in the magical kingdom and his manpower on the journey.

The king dismissed the group. Rufus escorted them back to the castle gate wishing them luck. At Castiel's question, he promised to make sure his father was informed of his journey and then returned to the castle. The fairy prince hugged Charlie and Jo. "Thank you for coming with me. Are you sure that's okay?”, he asked the sisters, guilt heavy on his chest. The two hugged him tightly and Charlie laughed happily. "Is that okay? We're going on another adventure, this is the best day of my life!”, she laughed and jumped around excitedly. Jo rolled her eyes and tried to get her sister to stand still again.  

Meanwhile, Castiel risked a look at Dean. The giant was apparently deep in thought, rubbing one of his large hands across his chest. The fairy prince looked again at the sisters who were still bickering and went over to Dean. The size of the man up close gave him goosebumps again. He played nervously with his hands and cleared his throat when Dean didn't notice him right away. The other's dark gaze focused on his small figure. Castiel cleared his throat again as his voice seemed to give way on the first try.

"I owe you a debt if you come with us", he said softly, licking his lips with his pink tongue. Dean's eyes followed the movement before refocusing on his eyes. "My father could also reward you—gold, jewels, whatever you desire", he continued, blushing slightly under the intensity of his gaze. The giant remained silent for a few seconds before exhaling loudly. "Fine", his raspy voice sent a pleasant shiver over Castiel's body. Dean tilted his head to the side until his neck cracked and rolled his clearly tense broad shoulders. Then he turned away from Castiel and trudged back towards the city wall and Benny's tavern with heavy steps.

Seems like they'll have one more night before their journey begins.