Trying my best to stop thinking about coffee or more sleep, I tiptoe out of the room to find Gerwyn. I don’t see him right away, so I continue out into the hall, assuming he’s on patrol. Emrick and Maddox are both snoring softly as I pass them.
Standing in the hallway, I start to feel uneasy. There’s no sign of him out here either, which doesn’t make sense. But just in case he needed to run and grab something, or someone needed help, I keep waiting. But as ten minutes pass, that feeling keeps growing until I’m anxiously bouncing in place, eyes darting up and down the silent hallways.
Relief fills me when I finally see him up ahead, long blond hair flashing in the torchlight as he walks into a room further down the hall. He wouldn’t just leave without me, which means something must be wrong. I hurry after him, hoping it’s not a big emergency. I’ve been worried how the previously frozen fae would fare as they regained proper use of their bodies.
When I reach the end of the hall, I finally get another glimpse of him as he darts into another room. I’m not an idiot, I know at this point it isn’t Gerwyn. He wouldn’t have left me, and the figure is almost all white. I’m just way too invested at this point to turn around and go back, though my guys would spank my ass for being reckless like this. Just in case the figure is sinister, I pull my magic to my fingertips.
As I turn into the room the figure disappeared into, I realize it’s the throne room. Unsurprisingly, the throne itself is gaudy and pompous, twice the size of a normal throne and seemingly carved from silver. Gems are inlaid along the arms and back, shimmering in
the dim torch light. The high back gives way to pointed metal spikes, making it appear both beautiful and deadly.
A large fireplace rests on one wall, though it’s currently cold and empty. The throne sits in the center of the room on a raised dais. A large rug encircles the bulk of the room, plush and gorgeous as it brings attention to the royalty who used to sit there.
Now that I’m in the throne room I no longer see the spirit. I groan internally as I turn in a slow circle, eyeing every corner and shadow in hopes of finding it again.
Why lead me here just to disappear?
“Hello? I saw you come in here, I only want to talk to you. I promise I won’t harm you unless you harm me first," I call out.
As if it was waiting for me to speak, a burst of icy air rushes through the room, circling around me before a spirit forms a few feet in front of me.
Of course, the spirit couldn’t just walk in, it just had to scare the shit out of me first.
It takes everything in me, but I manage to bite back the scream I want to let out. But screaming like a scared little girl doesn’t give me the badass queen vibes I’ve been striving for.
“Hello, little one,” the spirit gives a low bow before standing back up. Now that she’s close, I can see a long dark gown and long silver hair. Her skin and hair almost look like they’re made of light, but I can still make out her features. Her eyes are a pale lavender, and almost familiar. Her eyes seem kind and wise, which is unexpected from any spirit residing in Winter. Then again, she’s unlike any of the other spirits I have encountered here.
“Who are you?” I ask, studying her curiously. She doesn’t feel malicious, but I’ve learned long ago to stay vigilant.
“I am Elandria. I was the Queen of Winter,” she pauses, letting her words sink in for a moment. My breath catches at her admission.
“What happened to you?” I ask in little more than a whisper.
“I was murdered when my husband went mad," her voice echoes with sadness. “He was once such a good man but being born a royal he was conceited. It was his downfall, his greatest hurdle to being a great king. He tried to gain power however he could, but once he brought the stone to the castle it was over. He started to lose his mind, and as time went on it just got worse and worse. He was powerful, unstoppable, and stark raving mad.”
“I’m so sorry,” I offer, though it has little impact on what she went through. I can’t imagine watching the men I love slowly slip into madness.
She offers a kind smile before continuing. “We were told by the Spirits that the stone was for our land. It’s almost like they knew the end was coming and were trying everything they could to prevent it. But still my husband refused to listen. The council and I tried to make him see reason, to make him realize Winter would suffer without it, but he refused. It wasn’t long before talk of war was at every council meeting. He was obsessed with scheming, growing secretive and paranoid until most of us were seen as a threat.”
“Oh gods,” I say softly, knowing this isn’t about to end well for her.
“He said my words of protest were treasonous and locked me in the dungeon. I died down there without food or water. I don’t think he told anyone where I was, and no one came to save me. That’s why I made sure the same didn’t happen to your mother or you. The stronger spirits were able to use their magic to get you occasional food and water, it was the best we could manage.”
Tears run down my face and a shiver runs through my body. It could have been me. He could have thrown me down there and let the realm fall into ruins.
“I’m so sorry. That’s an awful way to die. But why are you still here, grandmother?” I ask, trying to rein in my emotions. Not only did he rob me of my parents, he robbed me of a grandmother who would have loved me as much as her people.
“I wanted to tell you how thankful the spirits are to be out from under his control. Once you killed him, they were all able to be set free. The king used the stone of Winter’s power to imprison their spirits. Each time someone dared to question his rule, he added another spirit to his army. You truly did a service to this land. I’m so proud of you. I love you and your father, and I wish it could have been different. Find the stone, Arabella. Balance the realm, it needs you,” she finishes speaking and gives me a loving smile. I blink back my tears as she fades away, the emptiness she leaves behind breaking my heart. I know she won’t be back now, but I’m glad she’ll finally be able to rest.
My name being called in the distance pulls me from my unexpected heartache. Heading back the way I came, I rush down the hallway toward him. He looks up at the sound of my footsteps echoing in the hall and I can see the panic on his face.
“Where did you go? I looked all over this hallway," he gasps out, his hand over his heart as he tries to calm himself. Not wanting him to worry, I quickly explain everything that happened. I’ve never really seen him lose control and I don’t want to see it now. They’ve worried enough about me to last a lifetime already.
Gerwyn listens attentively, a flicker of pain crossing his face at the mention of my grandmother.
“She wasn’t to blame for his actions. Your grandmother was a fine woman. She cared about the people," he says sadly. His words make me feel better, I’m glad the people of Winter knew at least one good ruler. “Come on, beautiful.”
Gerwyn pulls me through the maze of hallways. He still won’t tell me where we’re going, but I don’t pry. Excitement creeps back in as I watch his smile grow, his panic forgotten and replaced by happiness. I’m not sure what he’s found here to put that expression on his face, but I’m more than willing to find out.