Chapter Text
Rue glanced up at the towering castle spires and walls. He was not looking forward to this.
He had to admit, the biting cold of the air here was easier on his lungs, but he didn't appreciate being taken away from his home. Taking a deep breath, he followed his guide into the castle.
He had been informed of the situation - The king and queen were searching among the Fire Given for a suitable battery pack for their beloved little boy.
For the pitious little ice prince was Gali.
He gets it.
He does, really, more than anyone else.
But he doesn't want to be a part of this.
And of course he had to be chosen, out of everyone. He was entering the palace to meet the boy for the first time. Lucky him.
“Now the prince may be slightly disagreeable when you first meet him, b-but don’t let that discourage you.” The guide stammered, pressing their hands together anxiously as they led Rue through the halls to their inevitable destination.
Oh joy. He gets to deal with a grouchy prince.
He said nothing as he followed the guide to what looked to be the entrance to the throne room, the arching doorway nearly reaching the ceiling.
Inside the large room ahead Rue caught sight of three figures, but only paid attention to one.
Strange and unwelcoming as the palace was, it was easy to ignore it once he saw the man sitting on the throne before him, an aura of authority spilling around him.
And perhaps even stranger, he wore a smile filled with warmth, directly contrasting the royal blues of his coat and icy crown on his head.
Rue immediately took a liking to the royal as he walked into the room, and knelt before his ruler.
King Sendal.
“Please, rise.” The King said, standing from his throne. “What have you brought me this time, Soto?”
“Ah! Y-your highness, I have brought you something truly extraordinary!” Soto said, putting their hands on Rue’s shoulders.
“A bold claim.” The royal murmured as he took Rue’s chin in hand, examining him.
As the Fire Given’s head was lifted to meet King Sendal’s gaze, he could feel all of his imperfections on display, too exposed.
The charred edges of his sweater declared inexperience, the dark circles under his eyes telling of many nights without rest.
As Sendal’s eyes searched him, he held still and silent.
“What is your name, boy?” He asked, addressing the child directly as he let go of his face.
Rue’s throat felt unnaturally dry as he spoke.
“Rue Nirisa.” He said, meeting the King’s eyes once more, who nodded in approval.
“Where did you find this Nirisa, Soto?” Sendal asked the attendant, finally removing his chilling eyes from Rue.
“From the Galden boarding school at the east coast, belonging to a family of bakers. But that’s not the best part,” Soto added quickly, at the ruler’s cocked eyebrow.
Soto lowered their voice, “This boy is just like our own prince. He is the Engali.”
Rue tried not to cringe. He hated that name. The name of a Gali, the name of a demigod.
The name of the damned.
“Engali, you say?” His Majesty said with a hum, looking at Rue a little bit differently now. “Impressive.”
Rue lowered his gaze. He didn’t want to be recognized under that title.
“Do you hear that, Sen? Your fellow Gali is here to join you.” King Sendal called out, turning his attention to the thrones behind him.
Rue’s gaze was finally drawn to the figure sitting in the smaller throne next to the King’s towering chair.
The prince, Rue realized.
He looked miserable, he thought, clad in his coat with it’s overly-fluffy hood.
Frost had settled across the boy’s nose and cheeks, turning the skin there a ripe apple red, contrasting his faded blue hair that seemed to be turning white in places, even though he couldn’t be much older than Rue.
What surprised Rue most however, were the spiralling horns of ice that towered over head, and the slender pieces of the glassy crystal arching over him in wings.
He locked eyes with the prince, and felt a shiver run down his back at the cold blue irises, even though he felt like his insides were on fire.
The prince held his gaze for a moment longer, before he simply returned to staring forward, somewhere off in the distance.
Rue waited for him to say something, but the Ice Given was as silent as Rue was.
With a sigh, King Sendal turned his smile back to Rue, his ears flicking in displeasure.
The pointed ears were a staple of the Senre, Rue remembered, along with their long tails.
It made him self-conscious of his own rounded ears, marking him a lowly Enre.
“He’ll come around, don’t worry. The ice is just tough to get through at first.” The king told him. “For now Soto will manage your arrangements with your personal effects and your Ento chamber, should you choose to use it.”
Soto gave a curt bow, and Rue was about to do the same when a hand fell on his shoulder.
He looked up to King Sendal’s softened gaze.
“I hope you’ll enjoy your stay here, Nirisa.” He said, and gave him a nod, removing his hand to allow Rue to bow.
All this was so strange and new to Rue.
But he supposed there was no choice for him but to move forward.
With a final glance to the distant prince, Rue turned to follow Soto out of the throne room.
----
“We will have your Ento chamber installed in the n-next week, if you can wait patiently until then.” Soto said in an important voice, all business.
Rue awkwardly sidestepped the serving boy that took care of his luggage for him.
“Until then, if you could keep our dear, dear prince warm during the nights.” Soto said, emphasis on dear.
Rue thought they sounded sarcastic.
“Of course.” He agreed.
Soto took a moment to look at the Fire-Given.
“I suppose you ought to find your Prince, then. You do understand your purpose here, yes?” They asked.
“To be the personal heater for the Prince? Yes, I understand.” Rue said bitterly.
Soto’s gaze softened with - what was that, pity? But it was gone a moment later.
“Now, come along, let’s go find the prince.” Soto said, leaving the servant boy to Rue’s luggage.
Rue could only follow and do the same.
“As you are already aware, the prince will be quite disagreeable. You are not the first Fire-Given we’ve brought to him, but let us all hope you will be the last.” Soto said as they walked.
They brought Rue to a room that had a large arching doorway, much like the throne rooms, only much smaller.
The walls were lined with books, several tables scattered around, books of various sizes piled carelessly on top of them.
They had taken him to the library.
Rue followed Soto further in, to where he spotted what must be the prince seated at a table. It couldn’t be anyone else with the ice crystals that towered over the boy’s head.
The prince didn’t look at them, even when Soto and Rue paused right beside him.
“Just in time Soto, we just finished lessons for today.” The lady, the prince’s tutor, informed.
“Very good. Prince Sen, you remember Nirisa, don’t you?” Soto addressed.
A moment of silence passed.
“R-rue?” They tried.
The tutor stood up and excused herself, and the prince stared forward.
Rue wondered if something was wrong with him.
Soto cleared their throat. “Anyway, Nirisa’s here to attend to you, should you need any warmth, give the word and he can help.” They said, and paused one moment more.
“I’ll leave you two to acquaint properly.” Soto said and left quickly, leaving Rue alone with the prince.
Rue stood there quietly for a while longer, unsure of what to say.
He opened his mouth to speak.
“Don’t bother.” Rue was interrupted.
He looked down at the prince, only to meet the gleaming blue irises of his eyes.
A drop of sweat dripped down his back.
“I’m not interested in familiarizing myself with the likes of you.” He said coldly. “Just stay back and don’t get so close to me.”
Rue stared dumbly at him. But that was his job!
Prince Sen stood up, and Rue finally backed up.
He decided that he didn’t like the prince very much, as he followed him out of the library.
Rue wrinkled his nose at the thought of sleeping in this boy’s room, and found himself wondering when they’d install the Ento chamber.
No matter how much he hated it inside there.
He didn’t realize the prince had stopped ahead of him, and nearly stumbled headfirst into the prince’s wings.
He felt the chill from the ice meet his skin, and felt himself drawn towards it.
Before he could touch the cold surface, he remembered himself and backed up hastily.
He looked up at Prince Sen in confusion, he’d just stopped in the middle of the hallway.
The Prince turned to look at him with those chilling eyes.
“How good are you at sneaking around?”