Fic: The Wild Hunt (2/10)
Fic: The Wild Hunt (2/10)
Author: pen37
Beta: strangevisitor7
Fandoms: Supernatural, Smallville
Pairing: Chloe/Dean (If you squint)
Rating: Pg
Timeline: For Supernatural: Assumes that everything up to Lazarus Rizing occured. For Smallville: Assumes that Chloe and Jimmy broke it off just before Bride, but that events in Legion occured. Also assumes that Chloe shied away from any relationship with Davis.
Written for the Supernatural Crossover Big Bang at sncross_bigbang
Summary: When an old high school friend contacts Chloe Sullivan about some odd happenings at his job, Chloe agrees to help out -- never realizing that "helping" means wearing a corset. When Sam and Dean check out a disappearance at a Renaissance festival, they don't count on the help of a blonde who knows everything there is to know about paranormal -- but not so much about supernatural. All Renaissance fairs ahve a little magic of their own. But when the magic at this fair goes terribly wrong, it's going to take the three of them combined to solve this case.
Ch. 1, Ch. 2, Ch.3, Ch.4, Ch.5, Ch. 6, Ch.7, Ch.8, Ch.9, Ch.10
"Dude!” Dean Winchester grinned like a kid at Christmas as he lowered his binoculars and looked across the impala at Sam. “Would you check out those peasant wenches? This gig is going to be the best ever!”
"Really?” Sam raised a skeptical eyebrow. “Because that's not what you said for the past 500 miles.”
"That's only because I thought I was going to have to wear tights for this hunt,” Dean said.
Sam chuckled at that. “Like that time that dad thought Mrs. Rosenblume was possessed, and he made you try out as peter pan for the school variety show?”
"We don't talk about that, Sam,” Dean said flatly. “Ever.”
Sam grinned in response.
Dean leaned forward in his seat, shifting his focus from the performers to the sign that hung over the gate. Beltane Renassance Festival was written out in big, Gothic red lettering. “Four kids taken in six months. All from Renaissance festivals. You think it's a changeling?”
Sam shook his head. “In the lore, Changelings were usually what was left behind in place of a kidnapped child,” Sam said. “These kids were just gone.”
"It could be a rawhead.”
"Except that rawheads live near water. They don't migrate.”
"That's true,” Dean nodded. A sly smile spread over his face. “Only one thing for it, little brother. We've got to go talk to the wenches.”
Sam rolled his eyes. “Try to remember to look at their eyes while you speak to them, Dean.”
* * *
Chloe's initial plan had been to check out the faerie grotto that she'd passed earlier. But as she crossed the gypsy encampment, the sound of zills drew her attention.
Chloe turned, and watched in fascination as a dancer practiced her routine at the edge of a stage that looked like an elaborate vardo. As the dancer moved, she seemed to be grace personified. Just watching her in her flowing veils of turquoise, peacock and black made Chloe feel frumpy.
She was so entranced by the performance, that she failed to notice when a second Gypsy walked up to stand next to her.
"Beautiful, isn't it?”
Chloe started, turned and then did a double take as she recognized the Gypsy. It was Star, the girl from the Valentine's day party at the Talon. The one who sold Lois that bogus meteor rock lipstick.
"You!” her eyes narrowed.
The girl lifted one eyebrow. “Do I know you?”
"You're lucky you don't,” Chloe shook her head. “You slipped my cousin a love potion.”
"Lois. Which would make you her cousin, Chloe.”
Chloe jumped at that. “You know my name?”
"I remember your boyfriend.”
"Ex boyfriend,” Chloe said flatly.
Star smiled faintly. “I expected that much.”
"Oh did you?” Chloe crossed her arms.
"Jimmy is not your true love, Chloe. The two of you weren't destined.”
"Like Lois and Clark are destined.” Chloe snorted at that, thinking of the way that the two of them fought like siblings.
"We don't always recognize destiny, Chloe.” Star reached into her pocket, and pulled out a necklace on a long chain. Before Chloe could say anything, the Gypsy girl slipped it over her head. Chloe flinched back, but not before the chain settled around her neck.
Remembering the way Lois got suckered into the meteor rock lipstick, Chloe pulled at the chain frantically. But the necklace seemed to have shrunk so that it wouldn't come out from around her neck.
"Get it off!”
Star touched the amulet at the end of the chain. Then she held it where Chloe could see it. “You are familiar with Celtic Knotwork, aren't you? The true purpose and meaning has been lost to the ages, but the theory is that the artwork signifies eternity, interconnectedness. Two lives entwined.”
"I don't care!” Chloe yanked at the chain again. “Just get it off.”
"I can't do that, Chloe.” Star shook her head. “It's meant for you. To lead you to the one you were destined for.”
"The one I was destined for?” Chloe shook her head. “You're crazy!”
Star smiled at her. “You'll see.”
Chloe looked down again at the amulet. A silver-worked shield knot looped and twisted in a complicated pattern that threatened to draw her in if she dwelt on it. In frustration she dropped the token, ready for another round of arguing with Star. But the Gypsy was no-where to be seen.
Chloe glanced around frantically. The dancer on the stage was just finishing her practice. Chloe moved to the edge of the stage and called out to her.
"Did you see where the woman I was talking to went?”
The dancer looked confused for a moment, and then shrugged.
"Great,” Chloe muttered to herself. Her fingers traced the looping pattern of the amulet as she thought. She'd been planning to eventually see the blacksmith, and ask if she could get any more of the nails that he was making. But maybe he could cut the stupid necklace off.
Guess she would be visiting him sooner, rather than later.
** *
Someone set off a canon as Dean and Sam walked through the gate. They instinctively ducked, which brought earned a mirthful laugh from a gypsy girl.
"No need to fear, good Sirs.” She said. “Tis only the cannon fire. We mark the hours thusly.” Sam looked her over, and gulped. She wore a flowing skirt low on her hips. A scarf that was heavily beaded, with circular coins sewn onto the fringe, accentuated her figure. Her torso was bare - save for a similarly beaded brassiere and a jewel that she'd stuck into her navel.
Dean gave the girl a hungry look. She grinned,, and shimmied away before he could respond.
To Sam's amusement, Dean did a double take. Turning, the younger Winchester saw that the gypsy girl had attached a large fox tail to the back of her skirt.
Dean started after her, but Sam stopped him with a hand on his shoulder.
"Dude!”
"Not now,” Sam said.
"But Dude! There goes one of the best-lookin' tails that I've ever seen.”
Sam rolled his eyes. “Come on.” He put one hand between Dean's shoulder blades, and steered him past the crowd that had gathered for the opening ceremonies, and out into the festival grounds.
The crowd thinned out past the castle grounds. Here, there were only patrons rushing to their booths to set out their wares. All of the actors were back at the main gate, watching the opening ceremonies as well.
Well, almost all the actors, Sam amended as a pretty blonde in a red dress marched past them and up to the Blacksmith's encampment. Her eyes were hard with determination, and it looked like she just might be willing to march right over the top of them to get where she was going. Sam frowned as he noticed an iron spike on a leather strap around her neck.
"Dean,” he nodded in her direction.
Dean's eyes narrowed appreciatively. Sam frowned, and thumped him on the shoulder. Dean shot him an annoyed look. Once the blonde had stepped into the blacksmith's shop, Dean returned Sam’s blow. “If you don't want me to look, why'd you point her out?”
"I was pointing at her necklace,” Sam rolled his eyes.
"The Irish thing? What about it?”
"I'm talking about the iron nail.”
Dean looked thoughtful for a moment. Then, his eyes swept the area. “Horseshoes,” he nodded to the doorway of the shop across the street.
Sam followed his gaze to see an iron horseshoe hung over the doorway of the shop. His gaze swept the street - and he noted horseshoes hung over every doorway down the street. “I think the rennies know that something is up.”
Dean nodded to the blacksmith's shop, where the blonde with the iron necklace had gone. Sam nodded in agreement, and turned to follow him.