Work Text:
Ever since the strange lady took it to them Cole has been glued by the storyteller's side.
It rattled the storyteller's brain. They knew they weren't bad with children yet they could not comprehend why this child was following them around like a baby chick.
Then again it wasn't terrible to have the child.Quite the opposite in fact the two seemed to share a silent connection much like the one of a caregiver and their kin.There was just something special about cole and even if they didn’t know it at the moment they knew that this was their champion.
It didn’t help that they were just the sweetest.for instance once cole learned the storyteller was blind they would constantly fuss over them.Constantly trying to guide them and warning them for any big rocks or trucks so they wouldn't fall.And our darling storyteller would always respond to coles worries with;
"Oh there's no need to worry my dear leveret.i need not a guide,for I just simply hear.Yes I hear the rhythm of the rocks beneath me,the melody of the meadows and the hymns of the wind. If i simply just listen to their stories they shall tell me where to go."
Confidently stating this right before tripping on a rotten tree trunk.Causing cole to nearly have a heart attack.
And once Cole saw how the storyteller wouldn’t anything they would often try to give them bits of the little food they had but the storyteller would always decline.
"Oh don't be foolish! A young leveret needs nutrients in order to grow in a strong hare.Besides it doesn't matter, everything tastes like hay to me anyhow."
‘“Really?.. Everything?... That sounds quite terrible…” chirped cole sympathetically.
“Well…everything except flowers…the yarrows especially-” the storyteller mumbled that bit so much it was barely understandable.
And before cole even tried to question them about that last bit they got extremely flustered and quickly changed the subject.However the next day cole went to eat lunch with the story teller but it was carrying something with it.A whole bouquet of every type of flower this young leveret could get their hands on.Buttercups,Lavenders,Forget me nots,Lilies and yes..Yarrows,The Storyteller nearly wept with joy and the two had a very delightful lunch.
But the thing that Cole seemed to like the most of the storyteller was their songs.the way their calloused finger tips would effortlessly strum through the cords with even needing to see amazed Cole.It almost like it wasn’t just an instrument but a part of their being, so intertwined with each other one couldn’t exist without the other.Much like a pair of turtle doves if one dies the other will follow not knowing how to live without the other.
“I can feel you staring my bard.”
That cheeky comment quickly snapped Cole back to reality and they quickly tried to apologize but before they could they were cut off.
“Ah ah ah no need to apologize my dear bard.You saw skill and you sat and admired like a true artist…say take here let me teach you something.”
With that the storyteller shoved the guitar to the now confused and panicking Cole.The storyteller then went behind Cole,their calloused and dirty hands they gently guided the young ones hands to were they need to be.One at the neck of it and the other near the sound hole.
“Now your gonna want to press the strings down and then strum gently.Oh oh maybe move your hand here, Oh no no no that's to far here wait that's too far again maybe-”
It was becoming too much.Cole could hear their heart thumbing like earthquake in their ears,Their breathing started becoming ragged and shallow gasping for air much like a fish out of water and their hands began trembling like a wounded rabbit about to be eaten.Their mind was already dowsed in gasoline and the match was about to drop.
But as much as they loved playing the part the storyteller was no fool.Even if they couldn't see coles face they could sense they were one deep breath away from a breakdown.So they stopped, Growing quiet and stopping guiding coles hands all over the place.
Their rough hands still hovered over coles much smaller ones ever so gently,one might have thought cole was made of glass with how hesitant the storyteller was to touch them.Their breathing was much slower and calmer now mimicking the way their beloved yarrow carried themselves, wanting cole to mimic them as well.
Eventually cole ended up calming down, still incredibly nervous but their mind was no longer about to go a blaze.The storyteller began humming a soft forgotten lullaby, cole found this strangely nostalgic even if they couldn’t remember why.Then they began strumming at first the notes were all janky and uneven but the more they kept going the more and more cohesive and comfortable the melody became.It was almost like their fingers had a mind of their own.Meanwhile the storyteller had a smile of pure silent pride and joy much like the pride a mother fox's feels when her pup catches their first rabbit.
And that's how it was for a while.
Near the end of day, every day the two would play and even come up with new tales and songs.It would almost always last longer than it was intended due to the storyteller's side tangents ,causing them to often get chastised by both their beloved and the villagers.But it mattered to them as long as they could spend more time with their darling leveret.
One particular evening the two were sitting near the fields,the sun had long died and the moon shone her lovely beams down to the grass and millions of wildflowers.Its like the entire world was asleep,the winds hummed soft lullabies,Crickets chirped soothingly and the fireflies danced around making the night feel even more alive.
Cole was supposed to go back and be in bed by now yet they didn't wish to leave until they finished listening the storyteller's tale.It was recounting a tell with its beloved,The Bellringer.But their eyes were starting to grow to heavy and before they could do anything else they fell fast asleep.
“And they said my beloved rammed into them.Can you believe that?! My dear Yarrow who couldn't even hurt a fly even if they wanted to,Ramming int-”
The storyteller stopped mind rant after hearing something peculiar, light snoring? It quickly realized that Cole had fallen asleep head in it's lap, breathing soft and quiet, knells even asleep their so quiet.The Storyteller couldn't help but smile they were truly too precious.
“I don't understand how anyone could ever abandon you,dear leveret.”
The Storyteller mumbled as it ran it's fingers through Cole's hair lulling them into a deeper sleep.
“You know, someone brave like a Dearworth might be a champion for my dear Yarrow,But despite all you will be my champion,my Bard.”
They continued to gently caress Cole hair before stopping.
“No..no those aren't the right words…. You, Cole Seymour shall be mine.”
They said with a soft smile as a giggle escaped their lips.
Unaware of the fact it'd have to learn to make the same sacrifice their mother did oh so long ago