Prologue
It's never easy having to give up something you've worked hard for. An hundred long years spent forming my vision, my perfection, my Home. I loved my life. I loved so much of it. I can still remember the chill of the breeze, my sisters. The cool breeze that would cover me. Oh how I remember the patter of doting feet as they gave me their swords. The loyal Minotaur's, the hungry wolves, the wise hags and their counterparts. They were all mine, they swore their allegiance to me.
My empire, the greatest the world has ever seen, stretched from the icy north of Ettinsmoor, to the windy hills of Archenland. Even Anvard could not withstand me for long. Old King Felm fell as I tore his walls down with my bare hands, and I sent his people fleeing for their lives. I drew the lone islands under my grip, they knew in whom they could trust. And my followers ruled those provinces, my vast arctic. The winter that could never end, and keep my world preserved in its icy hands.
I lived, and I breathed, and I conquered. But never did I fall ungraciously. I knew when I saw him my time was up. That shivering boy in the snow, a pale face empty of anything. How did I know that he would be the one? I couldn't have. But I knew that look in his eye, that greed, he wanted it all…and I could give it him.
"Rooms filled with Turkish Delight." Petty but it was enough. He was the kind of boy that was easily seduced by rumours and hearsay. I never saw in him the courage that his brother portrayed. Dearest Peter. The "High" King. He was destined for greatness no doubt. Any fool could see that, from the stern gaze in his eyes. And even Edmund saw it. The fool who fell to lies. It still makes me laugh, the look on his eyes when he realised that he had been tricked.
But I never saw it coming, I never saw him fall from the sky and take my power away from me, the fool who broke my wand. He knew me, he saw me as the blood rans cold in those creatures bodies, their very essence becoming a carving in my castle. He knew… and he broke me.
But he has always been a fool, a fool who never saw me coming, the fool who heard the sleigh bells and thought of Father Christmas and Turkish delight, frivolities of the fools now gone. And now, he has let loose the one who willl break him, like he broke me. My kingdom will rise again, and I will make his blood run chill like the cold stars of winter.
He never did see me coming…