Chapter One: Winter Moon

=Murtagh=

Murtagh was walking down to the dungeon when he heard it. A strange melodic voice was singing. He shook his head and tried to recall that voice but found he hadn't heard it before. The Rider hurried to find the source of the singing. It was a girl's voice that much he could tell but there was an edge to it that made him question whether this voice was human. All around, he could hear the prisoners whispering about the strange voice.

"The winter girl! It's the winter girl!"

"The winter girl is singing?"

"But how?"

"Why?"

Murtagh shook his head, ignoring that whispering of the prisoners and followed the voice. It was coming from a girl whose cell was constantly cold. He remembered the day that some of the soldiers dragged her in. She looked to pathetic, hanging limply like she did. He almost felt sorry for her. He remembered how she was dragged to the king where he assumed she was probed for information. Surprisingly, not long after going in, she'd been taken into the dungeons and locked up there. Murtagh was sure why but there were some whispers that the king couldn't get into her mind. This puzzled him but he soon dismissed it. The king would break the barrier in her mind. It was just a matter of time.

Since then, all Murtagh had ever seen of the girl was her sitting in her cell like a doll. She never spoke or gave an indication she was even awake. If it weren't for the fact he could see her breathing, he wonder if she was dead, frozen by her own spell. It seemed that was all she could do. Or maybe she was biding her time, waiting for the right moment to escape. Not that it would do her much good. Few ever managed to flee Uru'baen and they had to be extremely fortunate. The Rider twitched as he remembered his own escape, only to be brought back by the Twins. He shook his head and neared the girl's cell.

She gave no hint that she knew he was there. She just kept on singing her song. He listened, thinking her words may explain her reason for coming to life.

"…Snow falls softly 'neath the winter moon

Forest bare and white, she dwells there by night
Listen to her cry sorrow's song.
Tear fall softly 'neath the winter moon

Breathless, icy, bright. Daughter of the night.
Oh, who do you cry for?
Keening softly 'neath the winter moon…"

He continued to listen to her song. It seemed to be a story about a maiden who was alone for she froze everything she touched. It was oddly appropriate, since no one venture too close to her icy cage for that reason. The Rider watched as her song drifted to an end. Now she seemed finally notice his presence because she looked up and shrank back into her corner. He frowned at the girl. Even when she had looked up, her hair didn't fall away enough for him to properly see her face. He always wondered what she looked like but wasn't too keen at the idea of sticking his hand in her cell.

He shook his head and left the dungeon, heading up to his room.

Thorn, his dragon partner, was curled up in the large balcony that was made for him. The dragon looked up as Murtagh entered the room.

I heard the singing. Was it really the winter girl? Thorn asked.

Murtagh nodded.

Thorn dipped his head thoughtfully. She sounds lonely.

What do you expect? She's been cooped up in that cell of hers doing nothing but making it colder. I'm surprised she's still alive.

Maybe her magic doesn't affect her. She might be an elf.

Murtagh shook his head. I find that had to believe.

She certainly didn't sound human. And you didn't see her face so what makes you think she's human?

I don't know but she doesn't seem very elf-like to me.

Be that as it may. I'm going to sleep. Thorn yawned and curled up in the balcony

Murtagh nod and prepared for bed as well. He went to bed, still thinking about the girl and hearing her song in his mind.

The next morning, Murtagh awoke to a servant telling him the king wished to see him. What now? He thought as he dressed and made his way to the throne room. The king sat in his chair, examining the mark on his hand. Murtagh stood at ready, waiting for the king to speak.

"One of the guards told me one of the prisoners was singing last night. Do you know who it was?" The king asked.

Murtagh nodded. "Yes. It was the girl in the cell that's constantly cold,"

"I see. Go down to the dungeon and bring her to me,"

"My lord?" Murtagh grew a little confused.

The king looked up and smiled. "I want to hear her sing for me,"

Murtagh nodded and went down to the dungeon. He walked past each cell until he came to hers. There she sat, like always, in her corner. The cell was cold as ever.

"Get up," he said as he carefully unlocked the cell, trying not to touch the metal bars.

She shifted a little but didn't get up.

He frowned and uttered a spell that would warm the bars just enough for him to push the door open. He shivered slightly as he stepped into the cell and grabbed her arm, pulling her up so she was standing. The action cause some her hair to fall away from her face just enough for him to see a brown almond shaped eye.

"I said get up!" He snarled as he dragged her out of the cell.

"Why?" she asked. Her voice was so quiet he almost didn't hear her.

He growled. "The king wishes to see you,"

She was quiet as they walked to the throne room. Murtagh still gripped her arm but didn't have to drag her. He looked over and watched her, still walked. From what he could tell, she was fair skinned and her hair was a deep shade of brown. Her hair had fallen back in front of her face but now he knew she had brown eyes. Even from what little he had seen, her face didn't look like an elf's. It was too round, too human. I was right. HE thought to himself as they entered the throne room.

The king smiled warmly at them as Murtagh brought the girl up to him. "Hello, my dear. I heard that you sang last night. From what the guards told me, it was exquisite. Would you be kind enough to sing for me?"

The girl stood still and quiet. Murtagh could see the irritation appearing in the king's eyes.

The king forced a smile. "Don't be shy, my dear. Please sing for me,"

The girl stayed silent. Murtagh knew the king could only play nice for so long. If this girl didn't start singing soon, she'd have to deal with his wrath.

The Rider leaned towards the girl and whispered into her ear. "You'd better sing if you want to live," He could have sworn he heard her gulp. She stayed silent for a minute longer. The king frowned and looked like he was going to snarl an order when she sang.

"In the woodlands low, born of ice and snow,
there's a maiden weeping tonight.
Snow falls softly 'neath the winter moon

Forest bare and white, she dwells there by night
Listen to her cry sorrow's song.
Snow falls softly 'neath the winter moon

Breathless, icy, bright. Daughter of the night.
Oh, who do you cry for?
Keening softly 'neath the winter moon,"

She sang a bit in a strange language that neither Murtagh nor the king understood before returning to their language.

"Traveler passing through, feet all bare, his smile was true
His eyes shone with starlight
he walked softly 'neath the winter moon

Love made my heart soar, you're the one I've waited for
Stay with me forever
she cried softly 'neath the winter moon

In the snow he stayed, from my side he did not stray
My hands could not warm him
He died softly 'neath the winter moon,"

She sang the foreign words again before returning to the rest of the song.

"In the woodlands low, born of ice and snow,
there's a maiden weeping tonight.
Snow falls softly 'neath the winter moon

Breathless, icy, bright. Daughter of the night.
Oh, who do you cry for?
Keening softly 'neath the winter moon,"

It was the same song she sang last night. The king grinned and clapped at the girl's song. "Wonderful! Just wonderful!" He beamed. Murtagh noted the slight gleam in the king's eyes. What could he be thinking?

"My dear, I would like for you to sing for me from now on. Only a king would be worthy of such a sweet voice. Murtagh, take her to one of the guest rooms. I'll have a servant come and take care of her,"

Murtagh nodded and lead to girl away from the throne room. He watched her as they walked. She hung her head as she walked, almost like she was deep in thought. The Rider stared at her, puzzled at the situation. Why, after all this time, had she finally chosen to break her silence? What could possibly have happened last night that made her sing? He shook his head to clear away the thought that threatened to be said. They came to a guest that would soon be hers. He led her inside and closed the door behind him.

"This is where you'll be staying. A servant will be here soon to take care of anything you need,"

She merely walked into the room. She stopped in front of the vanity and seemed to be staring at it. It was hard to tell with all that hair in her face.

"The king will send for you when he needs you," Murtagh said, wishing she would say something.

She slightly lowered her head and then brought it back up. He assumed that was a nod. He turned and was about to open the door and leave when one of his questions was brought back into his mind. He couldn't bear the quiet any longer.

"Why?" He asked, turning to her.

She turned her head slightly in his direction then tilted it slightly in question.

"Why, after all this time of silence, did you sing? What made you sing?" He waited impatiently as she stood there.

She tilted her head back up and turned back to the vanity. "I was tired," She said quietly. Her voice was low, probably from the lack of usage.

"Of what? The silence?" He asked with a slightly scoff. How could anyone not get tired of silence? But if that's the case, then why still stay quiet like she was.

Her shoulders lifted just a little. "Maybe,"

He shook his head and left the room. He would never understand that girl.

Author's Note: Hello! Hope you guys like this! I'd been kicking around this story and only recently got inspired to actually write it. The song the girl sings is called "Winter Moon" by Erutan (most YouTubers would know her as katethegreat19). For those of you who haven't heard the song, the "foreign" parts she sings are in Japanese. Since Japanese doesn't really exist in Alagaesia, I figured it would be best not to write out the proper lyrics :P Just imagine shes singing it a language similar to the Ancient Language. Please review this story. It's really hard for me to write when I don't know what people think of my work xP My last Inheritance story, Day and Night, basically died from lack of inspiration because people didn't review it. If you want me to continue this story, please just take a minute or two to tell what what you thought of it.

Side Note - The title is subject to change. I just needed some other than "Untitled" to fill in the blank :P If you guys have any ideas for a good name or you like it just the way it is, let me know!

TTFN, Ta Ta For Now!