Chapter Text
Both raven and bard shared each other's company the whole afternoon, even though the conversation was mostly one-sided. Bread, grapes, cheese and cured reindeer meat bits along with plenty of mead. Ville entertained himself by tossing grapes to his new friend and watching the bird catch them in mid air, not missing a single one. The weather during the day was warm for that time of year and Ville basked in the sunlight, laying back on his cloak that served as a blanket, he took off his knitted beanie, running a hand through the long wavy locks that were usually tucked up under his constantly worn hat.
His arms stretched out over his head he let out a deep contented sigh, his eyes closed for a calm moment of zen. Lintu took the opportunity and sidled over to his new friend as he took in the sight of this beautiful man with such strange and exotic tattoos. Ville turned his head, opened his eyes and smiled brightly at the way that seemed to be looking at him in a way one eyes a steak dinner. “You goofy bird, if that is what you really are.” He reached out his hand, long fingers ruffling the feathers under the beak of the raven.
“So soft. I never touched a raven. Or a bird for that matter. They always fly off.” His smile faded a bit, but Lintu didn’t notice and cooed softly, leaning into the delicious feeling of the contact.
“I miss them, Lintu.”
The bird's third eyelid blinked, it’s head cocked at him in question.
“My band mates. Best friends from my teenage years.” His smooth voice wavered, eyes looking into the past just beyond the raven's head. Lintu cawed softly, settling next to the side of the bard, cuddling as best as a raven could.
“They were so talented. We played so many shows in the far kingdoms, then one by one, they were murdered and I decided to go into hiding.” Ville laydown on his side, curling around his feathered friend, slowly stroking the feathers along the sleek body of the raven. “Lintu, did you know that a bard's blood has magical properties? We all knew, but never thought that it would lead to us being killed off for it. And now I am the only one left.” He reached for the bottle of mead while choking back tears, and drank deeply till the bottle was empty. “It's the curse for being a bard that can enchant with song and verse. That's why I leave after a performance so quickly, no need to draw more attention to myself than I already do with my music.”
Ville sighed, setting the bottle down, he then buried his face in the feathers of Lintu, holding the bird firmly against his chest. The raven relaxed and cooed what it could to comfort his friend, grateful for the chance to console Ville. “Again the burden of losing rests upon my shoulders, and its weight seems unbearable. Your tomb is where your heart is, I should have told them, but within me held a secret so terrible.” His rich voice poured into the earthy smelling feathers of Lintu’s bird form. “To cry to know that you're alive, but my river of tears has run dry, I never wanted to fool you, no, but a cold heart is a dead heart, and it feels like I've been buried alive by love.”
Lintu didn’t mind the wetness of the bard’s tears through his feathers as Ville cried his lyrics in a somber ode to his departed treasured friends. They both stayed like that, letting the silence of the afternoon settle on them.
Shanking with relife at venting his emotions, Ville sat up, looking into the raven's ever attentive eyes, “If I should die before I wake, I pray no one will take my soul to take, if I wake before I die, rescue me with your smile.” He looked into the raven's eyes, and saw his reflection in those all too human green eyes of Lintu and smiled, smoothing the tear soaked feathers. The bird blinked and bobbed his head wishing it could do something more to comfort Ville.
“Thank you Lintu, you are a good bird.” Ville wiped most of the tear stains off his face with his scarf and sitting up hugged his knees resting his chin in thought on them. The shadows were getting long around them and the sun was once more turning the sky from gold to orange.
“Where will you go tonight Lintu? Do you have a home? A tree? A bird house?” He chuckled at the last comment. The raven shook itself in reply and a feather fell from its body to the ground, it then picked up the feather and offered it to Ville. “Well, kittos kittos !' He took the feather in his long fingers and marveled at the blue and purple iridescent colors that shone in the setting sunlight.
“I guess I should get going, I have a gig tonight at a pub called The Rusty Hammer. Then I'll be on my way to the next town, Westchester. I hear there is a mad king there and that he throws some outlandish parties in his castle every week, and serves the finest drinks in any of the kingdoms. I've never been there so it ought to be good to play to a new crowd. Less chances of being found out. Someday I would like to just dissolve into the world and disappear.” Ville smiled down at Lintu and stood, picking up the blanket he stuffed it into his large travel bag along with the empty bottle of mead. He rolled a cigarette and lit it inhaling deeply as if to clear his mind.
“Well, I'm off before the sun sets, are you coming with or--” He was cut short by the raven suddenly taking flight with several loud caws that circled overhead and flew in the direction of the woods. In mere seconds the bird was out of sight and Ville was left standing alone, a little confused, his feelings somewhat hurt at the abrupt departure of the raven.
“Well then, moi moi Lintu, I hope we meet again you silly bird, thanks for killing loneliness with me.” He murmured to the empty lavender sky. With a heavier heart than usual he tucked Lintu's feather into his knitted beanie that was back in place on his head. Gathering up the rest of his belongings and wrapping his cloak around him he made his way down from the hill and into the town once more.