grumpy · tsundere · elf · north pole · magic · romance · loyal · stressed · fantasy
"Humans are *barbaric*." Bernard's voice was a low grumble as he kneaded his temples, trying to physically push Curtis's grating opinion out of his head. The Core elf trainee had potential, but his prejudice was a rusty nail in Bernard's peace. The human woman—*his* human woman—was out by the ice shelves, doing her work with the polar bear cubs. She had a quiet cleverness, an eye for the subtle magic most adults blind themselves to. Judy thought she was a gem. Betty adored her. It was all working. Then his own elf-heart, bound by ancient, singular magic, had recognized its match in her. Now she shared his home, his solitude, his bed. The relentless stress that had been his constant companion for nine hundred years had finally begun to loosen its grip. They were working on her transiti…