Thanks to Lien for betaing
I am going to do my best to keep this a mini series. I really hope I don't end up rambling long.
Note: This is NOT the sequel, but a side story.
Also if you have never read "Cursed Hearts" I think you can follow this pretty well without reading the source material. So just enjoy
Cheer, warm fires, and spells filled the ever busy castle as the preparations for the Winter Festival began. And hardly a soul was as happy for the Winter Festival as the Queen herself.
"Your Majesty, we all adore your help, but it is hardly proper for the queen to do the decorating." Came the sigh of the ever worried head of the household. Gabrielle gave a little giggle.
"Oh, please let me indulge a little. When I was a servant under my stepmother this is the chore I looked forward to all year! I love the Winter Festival. I love the candles, the songs, beautiful banners, candy, cakes, and smiling children." She placed another handle on the window sill, as she sat the display around the wreaths.
"But your majesty if the other nobles saw this...it would be scandalous." The servant pleaded with her. Before the young monarch could answer a familiar voice came.
"The nobles love scandals anyway. I say lets give them an even bigger one." Gabrielle smiled and looked up to see her white haired husband, dressed in red winter finer, coming up and graving a candle to place on the sill.
The servant turned pale white as he saw that now the king had joined in.
"Warm Winters, my queen." He kissed her on the lips, which she return.
"And Warm Winters to you, my Lord." She hugged him tightly, laying her head on his chest. She felt his arms wrapped around her. Gabrielle basked in the affection that had been denied to her for so many years, and all it took was her near death to get it. Who knew?
He let her go a bit, but still held her close.
"The Winter Ball is tomorrow night. It will be time to light our family candles." The family candles were a great tradition in the land. A family either brought or made a candle to represent each of the household and for those deceased to light. It was a symbol that the family would be warmth by the light and love of each other during the coming cold season of Winter. It was an event for the Royal Family to light their candles in front of the nobles and gentry of the Kingdom.
Gabrielle's green eyes sparkled at that.
"Of course! It is my favorite part of the Winter Festival! You know that very well."
"I like that part, but my favorite part is what comes after it." Gabrielle blinked in confusion at her husband.
"But after the Candle Lighting is over the ball is over, and we go back to-" She then turned crimson.
"Adrian!" She cried. He gave a howl of laughter. "Well what else do you expect of a man, really?" The blonde gave a little pout.
"We can do that anytime. The Winter Festival is something special we only do once a year." She saw a mischievous gleam in Adrian's eyes, and before she could do anything he suddenly lifted her into his arms.
"Well, since we can do it anytime." Gabrielle gave him a playful slap on the shoulder.
"We have decorations. Work first, and then play."
"Is that an order? I am king here. I don't see why I have to follow orders."
"Ah, but I am your wife. You might be the head, but I am the neck, and the neck can turn the head in any direction she wants. And this neck is telling the head to get to work with decorations." Adrian gave a chuckle, and sat her down.
"As you wish, my queen."
And they went back to work.
Unknown to the happy couple there was someone else, besides the mortified servant, watching their display of affection.
Someone with a heart as cold as Winter.
"Sickening." Muttered the Queen of the Snow Fae, as she spied Adrian and his queen through her magic mirror. "So this is the happiest woman in the entire kingdom." Her icy heart burned with the mixed emotions of hate, disgust, and, what she would deny, jealousy." The mirror switched from the display of the Royal couple to reveal an image of a girl with skin as white as snow, hair as black as ebony, and lips red as blood. She wore a blue and white winter gown.
"Yes, my Queen, it is as you asked, the happiest woman in all the land." There was a notable sign of tremble in her voice, as she spoke to the Fae Queen.
Skadi narrowed her eyes, "And it is a human at that. All these humans celebrating the coming of Winter. Ha!" She gave a bitter laugh, "Back during my grandmother's time no human would have celebrated winter when the Snow Fae were free to roam." The girl in the mirror gave a wince at this, clearly having a memory of this.
Queen Skadi continued.
"Back then we haunted humans like packs of wolves, they never knew when we would come into their house and freeze them and their young alone with them. We would cause early snow storms before they could finish gathering for Winter. My grandmother had this palace built by captured human slaves. It was a wonderful time." Then she gritted her teeth.
"But that damn Wotan and his Queen had to ruin it all, so now our power is limited. The humans sometimes face harsh storms of snow, but they do not fear it as much as their ancestors had."
"And now the humans are happy." She spat the last bit. "Show me the girl again!" Commanded Skadi. The mirror shifted from the girl back to the queen, who was still decorating happily with her husband and smiling.
If it were possible it would have made the hatred in heart grow.
"Oh, how I would love to snatch her by her hair and show her a reason to fear Winter. Just like my grandmother did with you, Eirwen." The queen's ice blue eyes widened, as a dark smirk came over her face.
"Just like you." A cackling came from her. "Eirwen." The girl reappeared in the mirror.
"Yes, your majesty." Skadi opened her palm and in it materialized a bright red apple. Eirwen's eyes widened in fear at the sight.
"Oh, you remember this well. What this did to your dear mother. Too bad she escaped my grandmother's curse, and we had to punish you instead." The black haired girl gulped.
"You intend to put the queen into eternal sleep?"
"Not quite...no a twice told tale grows stale, and why not a little change."
–
Back in the Kingdom, the Royal Couple was gravely unaware of the danger they would soon face.
Gabrielle examined the new weapon, mindful of the blade. It was a long pole with a blade attached.
"This is a weapon from the East?" She asked.
"Yes, Gabrielle, it is called a naginata. I feel it fits you better than a normal sword, considering how talented you are with a staff." Gabrielle carefully moved it.
"It is quite lovely for a weapon." She looked up at Kianda.
"You are still shivering." She asked, in a sympathetic voice. "I take it you are still not use to the cold here." Kianda shook her head.
"Such things were unknown to my people. I doubt many would believe it even if they saw it themselves."
"Well, I doubt many of us would last in your home country's heat." She offered. The warrior woman continued to shiver.
"Let's start practicing to warm you up, but I will leave early because I have to make rounds to deliver candy to the children. Go back to your rooms, and I'll send up the maids to give you warm spice milk." Kianda looked very grateful at that.
"Now, let's begin."
Gabrielle tightened her finely made cloak, as she rode her horse, beside the rest of her guard, as they carefully weaved between the excited children. Gabrielle happily handed out candy and treats to the little boys and girls of the kingdom. She wouldn't cover every section of the Capital, but she could do what she could. She had come to this district simply because it was the poorest. It was not just candy they were giving out. Gabrielle had decided to give out well made Winter cloaks, boots, and blankets for the children in the poorer sections.
She wanted to avoid as many little match girls as she could. Match girls were slang for the dreadful condition of poor children freezing to death in the snow, after the famous tale.
The Queen had to be polite to the children, but their excitement was causing the horses path to waver, and she was greatly worried about accidentally hitting one. She eventually decided it would be best to continue by foot.
She lowered herself off the saddle.
"Your majesty!" Said one of the guards.
"It isn't safe for this many children to be close to a horse." The Children had already crowded around their beloved Swan Queen, tugging at her winter dress, to get her attention. She lightly patted one brunette girl on the head.
The guard gave a sigh, but they had long grown use to their queen's familiarity with the common people and their ways. After all she had been little more than a scullery maid most of her life.
Gabrielle began to wonder, giving out candy, as her guards followed behind, handing winter supplies for the parents of the children.
The blonde listened the best she could to the many voices of the children as she made her way down the street, having to stop to refill her candy and treat bag several times from the other guards.
Gabrielle did not mind the children dirtying her royal robes or such things as that. She had plenty at home, after all.
But then she heard a scream, that was not from a child.
She looked up the rode to see the image of a hunchback old woman dressed in foreign clothes being pelted by snowballs by a group of teen boys.
"Out of here, hag!"
"We don't need foreign beggars like you on the streets." Before Gabrielle could say a word, a guard called out.
"Stop your actions in the presence of the Queen. How dare you disagree the kingdom by your actions." The boys froze, and when they saw that it really was the queen they were in front of they quickly ran off.
Gabrielle had to ignore the children, as she rushed towards the old woman's side.
"I am so sorry. I am Queen Gabrielle of this land. I am gravely saddened that you were welcomed to my kingdom in such a way." The old woman looked up at her, and Gabrielle was startled for a moment by the color of her eyes. A shade of blue so pale, like none she had seen.
She gave a little smile.
"And what lovely eyes you have." The old woman gave a light chuckle.
"My what a twist of luck! I am rescued by none other by the queen and flattered by her. My what an unusual queen you are to spare such kindness." Gabrielle gave the old woman a smile. What a sweet old lady, she thought
"Well, I am blessed to have such a wonderful life. It is only fitting I spare what I can." She answered.
"My what an idea." The woman reached into her robes and pulled out a bright red apple. "In my home country we have a tradition. The last fruit on the tree before Winter's Frost is a love fruit."
"A love fruit?" Questioned Gabrielle, curious at the idea of such a tradition.
"Yes, a love fruit. You give it to the one you love, and the love is guaranteed for another year." The old woman then pushed the apple into Gabrielle's hands. Bashfully, the blonde pushed the apple back.
"I am very honored, but I cannot take food from someone when I have so much." The old woman gave a hurt expression.
"But...but you see, I can't eat the apple. My husband is long gone from this world, and I have no children of my own. I want to think that my love apple would go to the queen for her use. It would be some honor in my life.
Gabrielle felt touched by the elder's words, along with sympathy for her plight. She then took the apple, and brought her hand to the old woman's shoulder.
"I will give the love apple to my husband, and how would you like to be a guest at the ball tonight?" The old woman's eyes widened in delight.
"This is too great an honor, my queen, and I have nothing, but rags, to wear."
"Nonsense, and besides I have plenty of gowns to spare. We do look like we have the same figure after all."
The old woman laugh.
"You are too good to tell such lies."
They both had a hearty laugh at this.
The Swan Queen practically squealed over her twins. She was dressed in a purple winter ball down with layers of warm fabric, and sewn wool at the hems.
"You two are the most adorable little ones in the entire kingdom." The seven year old, Helios gave a blush. Atropos looked bored, never having cared for fancy clothes.
Helios was dressed similar to a soldier, but with far more finery. He wore a red suit with gold threading throughout it. Atropos was dressed in a similar red colored dress with fine white embroidery of snow flakes. She had a white fur tuff over her shoulders and white gloves.
"Come on, you don't want the other children to eat the rest of the treats before you do, do you?" At this both her twins eyes lit up. After all who ever heard of a child who didn't love sweets? Taking one of their hands in each of hers, she lead them out to the ballroom.
The windows were covered in the last bits of greenery from the forest, candles were everywhere, and at the top balcony of the ballroom was a display of four giant candles: their family candles. Each one was easy to guess which one represented which Royal Family member. King Adrian's candle was red, Gabrielle's was a lilac purple, Helios had chosen a golden yellow. Atropos had requested for Black, but that was for the mourning candle, eventually she settled on white.
The twins went ahead to join the other children at the small treat table, that was also accompanied by a puppeteer telling Winter Stories. He showed puppets of Snow Fae and Wotan to tell the famous fairy tale. Gabrielle mingled with a few of the nobles.
Oh, how she loved the Winter Festival! It was such an amazing time...and she was happy.
She remembered Winters were she spent nothing, but time in the kitchen warming herself by the fireplace with no one but her cat. In her years as queen, she had luxury and her children, but Adrian had still been under the curse, so she could not share it the way she wanted it.
But now she felt she had it all. She had a loving husband and wonderful healthy children.
Could there be any woman in the world as happy as she was?
She gave a silent prayer of thankfulness to the Gods for such a gift.
While in the spell of her prayer, she felt an arm wrap around her waist.
She was whirled around, and her lips were met with a kiss.
"Good evening, my Lord, enjoying the ball?"
"Of course, but it would be better with a beautiful woman to dance with." He suddenly touched a side of her waist, where the "love" apple was hidden. His brows furrowed. Gabrielle grinned and pulled out the apple.
"It is a Love Apple. The last fruit before Winter's chill. I was told that if you give it to someone you love that your love will preserve till next Winter." He gently took the apple from her.
"Oh, really? I will tell you now that we have no need for this silly little apple. I promised you long ago that I will love you till the end and beyond it." A blush crept against her cheeks at this.
"You are too much at times, you know that?" He gave a smirk at this. Gabrielle bashfully turned her head away.
"But I made a promise to a sweet old lady to give you the apple. So will you take it, at least, please." He gave a nod.
"In proof of my love for you." He took the apple and took a bite, chewed, and swallowed.
His eyes rolled back in his head.
The King collapsed to the ground.
Gabrielle screamed, and went to the ground, cradling her fallen husband.
"Adrian! Adrian, Adrian!" She screamed his name, over and over. She didn't have time to think, just panic. She could hear servants barking orders to the guards to get the doctors
Then a cackle broke out among the ballroom, overpowering all sounds of distress. Then Adrian vanished from Gabrielle's arms. She gave another cry, at the emptiness of her arms.
Then she heard the laughter again. The Queen turned to see a woman with a long white gown that looked like it was made of ice crystals. Her hair was solid white and all the way down to her ankles, and was arranged into elaborate braids. On her head dawned a white crown with diamonds.
It didn't take a great mind to realize this was a Fae.
Gabrielle got to her feet.
"Who are you?" She demanded, "And what have you done with my husband?"
"Mortal Queen, I am Skadi, Queen of the Snow Fae. Now don't look so angry when you were so kind to take my apple."
Her green eyes widened, the apple. The Snow Fae Queen had disguised herself as an old woman to trick her into giving Adrian the apple.
"Give me back Adrian!" She demanded. Her anger and her love of Adrian made her lose any caution of talking back to a Fae.
The Snow Fae gave a sickening laugh.
"Oh, you can have him back, Mortal, if you are willing to be brave. You see your dear husband was put under a sleeping spell by that little "love" apple. Only a kiss of true love can wake him. His sleeping body now rests in my castle. Come to my mountain, alone, and rescue him."
"Now, see here, fiend!" Came a guard beside her, "You will do no such thing. We will send the full might of our army against you unless you surrender our king back." The Snow Queen grinned at this.
She snapped her fingers, and suddenly the guard was covered in ice...and fell over.
"Oh, don't bother checking. He is defiantly dead." More and more people were moving back, but Gabrielle didn't. "That is the fate of anyone, but Queen Gabrielle, who comes to my mountain will suffer. It has to be her or you will all be frozen over."
Gabrielle heard someone come behind her.
"Your Majesty, I know this is difficult, but you must refuse. We need you in the kingdom; without the king someone must rule. And think of all your people."
She was thinking of her people, her children, her friends. But she only had one answer she could give.
"I will go, Snow Queen! I will meet every single challenge you throw in my way, and rescue my King. And I promise you, you will regret ever trying to hurt a single member of my family. I lost my pure heart, and I am capable of doing horrible things. I worked way too damn hard for the life I have. I will not let you destroy my family, my kingdom, or me!"
The Snow Queen howled at this.
"And what can a mortal do?"
"You will soon find out, Bitch." Gabrielle put special emphasize on the last word
Skadi gave a mocking bow.
"I look forward to seeing your frozen corpse on the mountain side when you fail."
The Swan Queen didn't even flinch, as the snow wrapped around the ballroom, making the Snow Queen vanish.
She didn't have time. She had to plan