Alec put his cloak back on so he could go back outside and collect an armful of sticks for his wood burning stove. His mind kept going back to the human he had saved. He really hoped they wouldn't chop his head off. He poked at the fire with his fire poker before adding sticks. Then he wrapped the cloak around him tightly and laid down in front of the fire. His eyes slid shut and he slept soundly. He didn't wake up until he heard a soft thud. At first, he was just going to write it off as something of his sliding out of place. Then he heard footsteps, so he sat up, still half awake and not quite remembering all that happened last night yet.

This didn't look like his cottage. It was too clean and organized. So if it wasn't home then where was he? As he turned the corner though it seemed to all come back to him. The three large men in the woods, them beating him and tying him up only for the elf to then save him. As it came back to him he smirked as well as he could with the swelling and bruising about his left eye. "Good Morning." He said not daring venture any farther into the room. Was this what they were calling a witch? He didn't look like much of a witch. One this was for sure though, he was attractive. That was probably some witch spell or elven trick they played on the mind though. "I guess I need to thank you for saving me last night. So I'm Thank you." Well this was awkward. Was it hot in here suddenly or was it just him. "And thanks for letting me use your bed. Sorry about the blood I got on the sheets, I swear I'll pay you back."

Alec's body protested loudly, perhaps from sleeping on the floor. He was still rubbing the sleep from his eyes as his brain had time to catch up to him. He gave a light nod in response to whomever's morning greeting had come to his ears. That's when his eyes snapped open and he jumped to his feet. The human, that was right! He looked on the figure in the doorway leading into his room with a slight panic making his hands tremble. In the light of day he was able to see the extent of the human's appearance, noting it was definitely male. And his one good eye was practically swelled shut. He didn't dare make any moves in the man's direction, afraid of any sudden moves to cause him bodily harm. The elven mage shifted awkwardly as he realized he had no idea how to handle this situation. He hadn't talked to another person in a long time. "Uh.... it is fine. I can very easily get the stains out. I have no need for money or anything." And it was true. He had no money; he just relied off the land and his magic and his home. He looked hesitant to say more.

Man this guy was awkward. Maybe that's what growing up in the woods got you, or was that what happened when you got turned into a witch? His lack of confidence made Gale smile warmly. It didn't help the fact that it made the elf even more attractive. Though at this point he tended to find lots of people attractive (that was a lie). "You sure? I mean the least I could do is get you a replacement sheet." Gale answered leaning on the door frame. There were still moments when he got dizzy, and moments that he felt faint but for now it was at least manageable.

Alec took off his cloak he'd been sleeping in to keep himself warm and hung it on its respective hook. He smoothed out his rumpled robes before looking back at the human. "I mean, if you feel a dire need, be my guest." He walked across the room to a shelf with an array of jars. He scanned there labels before grabbing one and walking, slowly, in the human's direction. He couldn't stand to watch the other struggle with balance and that swollen eye much longer. "Do let me tend to your injuries, at least." He held up the jar for the other to see. Just a worn jar of bluish glass, a black lid, and a silvery substance inside. The label said "Healing Ointment" in neat handwriting.

The man looked at the bottle a second. Was that really safe? But then why go through the trouble of helping him just to kill him now? He could have done that while he slept. Gale looked to the elf a moment meeting his eyes before making his way to the fire and pulling up a chair. He limped a bit, ankles sore from the night. Carefully he slipped the patch off of his glassy eye. There wasn't any deformities around the eye just that the eye itself couldn't see. "Could always go for coffee, just as a you know a thank you." Totally not a date.

Alec watched the man get himself settled in a chair by the fire before making his way over to him. He picked up a cloth to dab the ointment onto the man's swollen face. He couldn't help but take in the man's well built figure, and stare with amazement at the eye that had been covered by a patch. He felt himself flush as he realized he was staring.... at a human. Who was probably on his way to kill him anyways. Why else would he be so far into the woods? "Do not go to far out of your way to show your gratitude. Why were you even out here last night?" He said as he put some ointment on the cloth and began working at the swollen eye first.

The question caught him a bit off guard. Why had he been here last night? He honestly couldn't recall. "I-I don't remember to be honest. Must have been some form of curiosity about the lights. Might even have been a hope to see the lights myself, you know as like a memories of good times thing." Better times, before mom and dad...no not now with that. "Three guys jumped me going on about me being the witch since I was near the trees. Didn't help that my weapon is magical. Got the first of the lot pretty well but missed his buddies. They beat me up and strung me up for later I guess. Then you found me and brought me here rest is history." He leaned back in the chair wincing a bit at the touch. "So I take it you live here alone?" He said looking up at the elf. Was he blushing? Why? Had he said something wrong or embarrassing? Or was he blushing over his looks? That would be a first, from a guy anyways. Woman seemed to always fall head over heels for him, until he started talking then they all scattered. But he hadn't gotten much attention from men. To tell the truth it felt a bit special to have someone like the elf blushing over you. Then again how long had he been alone out here? If he hadn't seen anyone else in a while then the blushing could be seen as nothing more than a surprised look. And who would turn down free coffee? Man elves were strange.

Alec paused for a moment to frown lightly at the man. He couldn't remember why he was in the forest in the first place? He huffed lightly, but not in frustration. He listened to the ramblings of the human as he finished applying the ointment to the swollen face. He turned to poke at the dying fire and to throw in the last of the sticks he'd collected in the night. "You like my lights?" He asked, slightly surprised. He hadn't received a compliment like that since his mentor left him in solitude. "Yes, I live alone. I have loved alone for about four years now. Before that I loved with my mentor." He went back to dabbling at bruises and scratches with the ointment. He pushed a small tendril of hair out of his face as he finished, his green eyes flashing with satisfaction. He put the cap back on the jar and put it back on the shelf. He shuffled awkwardly again. Now what was he to do? He decided to let the human sit by the fire awhile longer wander the ointment do its job. Meanwhile, he untied his hair and let it fall down his back as he went to pick up a brush off one of the tables in the room. Most of the surfaces were crammed with books and ingredients food who knows what. Alec started to brush his hair as he studied the human from a far, where he wasn't likely to get caught staring again.

"Despite what people seemed to say lots of them like the lights. Sure back in town they have those artificial lights but that's nothing compared to-wait did you say your lights? Like you made them?" He turned around in the chair to face the elf. So he was a witch! Yet he didn't seem near as dangerous as everyone seemed to think. In fact he seemed to be shy and reclusive over dangerous. Could there be more than one witch here? The elf just seemed lonely. Just like himself. In fact this was the first time he had actually talked to anyone for this long in...years now! And he hadn't said anything rude. Well not out loud anyways. What a time of year to be alone too. Christmas was meant to be spent with family, not alone. Sure he didn't have family or friends to spend time with himself but that was different. He chose to be alone, the elf didn't seem to not with everyone accusing him of being a witch. This couldn't stand! By the merry spirit of the holidays he was determined not to let this go on any farther! This would be the best Christmas This elf had ever seen! Even if it meant breaking into his home and kidnapping him!