Here's the final chapter! Enjoy. (:

Chapter 25

I had very little power left and would have fallen if Aiden didn't grab me and held me up. We went back to where the courts were protected by the ice wall. Aiden let the ice disappear and let go of me and went to Gwenevere. He knelt down next to her very still body. He seemed to really care about her...

I saw Erick was still unconscious and rushed over to him.

"Erick!" I cried out, but as I touched him a searing pain shot through me and I lost consciousness as well.

When I woke I was in the village. I learned from Ihela that Erick had eventually woken and left with the summer court. I was devastated that he didn't even say goodbye. The reason I had lost consciousness was because I touched Erick. I was now the Winter Queen, his exact opposite. We would never be able to physically touch each other ever again. This news was a big shock to me and I cried bitterly.

The winter court was waiting for me outside the village, but Aiden was not there. When I asked where he was I was told that he left with Gwenevere in his arms. I felt very cold. Did he really hate me that much now? I didn't want to feel anything anymore, I didn't want to hurt so much inside anymore. I told the winter court that they were free to move where they liked to.

"But...our queen will sometimes come to court to be with us?" one asked me uncertainly. They were not used to freedom and were uncertain about what to do.

"Of course I will! I am...still your queen, but I will not force you to follow me around. After all, winter has to come to all of Everness when it's our season."

Their faces lit up.

"That is right! We have much ground to cover! It is not time for spring yet!"

With that they set off into all directions. Winter was finally here.

Some time later I left the village to return to Everness. I missed Yolandi, Keenan and Danielle and had many new stories to tell them. They were overjoyed to see me. Of course once I told them that I was now the Winter Queen, Danielle ordered that I make it snow. We had fun playing outside in the snow, even though it was springtime now, almost summer.

I visited the winter court from time to time. I learned that Aiden also did, but he was never there when I came. It made me sad to think that he was perhaps avoiding me... One night when I was getting ready to go to bed I noticed someone hiding in the corner of my room.

"Who are you?" I asked. The person came out of the shadows. It was Rosalie.

"My...my queen," she said and bowed to me.

"Rosalie? What are you doing here?"

"I...I want to be with you wherever you go," she said still bowing. I pulled her up. She gasped and her eyes were wide.

"My queen!" she called out, surprised that I was touching her and that she wasn't freezing. I had learned how to control the ice within myself so I wouldn't automatically turn anything I touch to ice. This of course didn't apply to touching the regent of another court.

"Rosalie... it makes me very happy to know you are well and that you still care about me, but you are a summer court elf. It will be very difficult for you to survive in the winter court."

"I know...but I want to be...like you."

I looked at the young elf with new eyes. She was not only beautiful, but brave. Why would she want to be like me? The miserable Winter Queen?

"What about the summer court?" I asked. I actually wanted to ask how Erick was, but couldn't bring myself to. He must hate me now too. I noticed she was hesitating. Was that a blush?

"The summer king gave me permission to leave if I wanted to."

"He did?"

Did she...perhaps fall in love with the summer king? It made me happy thinking that perhaps Erick could find happiness with someone, he deserved happiness. But at the same time it hurt more than anything imaginable.

"Rosalie...it will not help if you run away. Don't make the same mistake I did. When you can, give all the love you can to the person you love. Else you'll just end up with much sorrow and regret..."

I felt like an old woman giving advice like this.

Rosalie stared at me with wide-eyed wonder.

"How did you know? Don't you hate me?" she started sobbing. I gently squeezed her shoulder.

"No, I do not hate you Rosalie. Please...take care of Erick for me."

There wasn't any whole parts left of my heart to break anyway.

She smiled through her tears at me and nodded gently before disappearing.

Aiden's POV

Several weeks had passed since the battle against Velmont and I was feeling restless. The way D'Artianelle called out to Erick and protected the summer court, I knew that she cared about him very much. I knew she did right from the start, but at first I didn't think too much of it. What they had was more that of good friends than lovers. But somewhere things changed...I remember. When they came to Everness after I summoned them there. I noticed a difference in the way D'Artianelle acted around Erick. It affected me much more than I thought it would. After all, I wanted her to stay far away from me so that she wouldn't get hurt. It was my own fault, I pushed her away. Now she couldn't be with the one she loved because she was the Winter Queen. Gwenevere survived because I healed her. Something had changed between us as well. Up to the point where she was willing to die for the sake of everyone else I wasn't sure how I felt about her and if I could trust anything she said. Seeing her fall to her knees was like a knife through my own heart. I then realised that I loved her...

I still hadn't lost my powers which meant I was still the Winter King, but the court was not strong because of the division between me and the Queen. I tried to stay out of her path, not wanting to see the hate she must surely feel towards me now... I didn't know what to do. My new advisor told me that the only way the matter could be resolved was if either I or D'Artianelle gave up being a winter court regent. This meant I would have to ask her to release me. I wasn't ready to face her, to see the hurt I saw the night I met her at the bridge again. I knew she loved me then, but I broke her even further...

D'Artianelle POV...

I have spend two weeks in the winter court now and have not seen any sign of Aiden. We needed to talk, it was not fair to the court to keep avoiding each other like this... I felt extremely sad and unhappy and this affected the court. It was unpleasantly cold around me and the winter elves seemed scared of me...I missed the summer court, where there was so much joy. So much...warmth...

Just then someone walked up to me. I was surprised.

"Gwenevere!"

"D'Artianelle," she replied in greeting with a smile.

"You're alive! I'm so glad..."

"Thank you, your majesty," she said bowing.

"Please don't bow to me...tell me how are you? How is Aiden?"

"We are...well, I suppose..."

She seemed uncertain about how to talk to me.

"Aiden is unhappy. I can sense it."

"You can?" Gwenevere said in surprise, "of course...you are linked to each other after all."

"Why did you come to see me?"

"I...Aiden..."

I understood more than she said.

"You love each other?"

"Y...yes."

"I am so sorry that things turned out this way. I wish there was a way I could free him."

Gwenevere looked at me with a surprised expression.

"So, you don't know?"

"Don't know what?"

"There is a way to release him. You have to give him permission to abdicate his regency."

"What?"

Could it really be as simple as that? I thought about it for a while. If one could be released... it would be wonderful to be free from the burden of being the Winter Queen... I didn't feel right here.

"Gwenevere."

"Yes, your majesty?"

"If you had the chance, would you do things differently?"

"What do you mean?"

"I...I don't know how to be the Winter Queen and my unhappiness as much as Aiden's is affecting the court. Please...will you take my place?"

"What...?"

Gwenevere was at a loss for words.

"If you care about Aiden and about the court, that is."

"I do! I've have so much to make up for! I promise I will."

I could see the resolve on her face. This woman was so different from the Gwenevere I used to know.

"Then, let us go to Aiden."

Some weeks later.

"D'Artianelle! Look at how big the castle is!" Danielle was saying excitedly as the carriage drew close to my uncle's castle. After Aiden released me from being the Winter Queen I had returned to the estate. I could see Yolandi and Keenan have gotten older and Danielle was now a young lady. I didn't age as much because of my half-elven blood. It felt good to be surrounded by friendly familiar surroundings. My travels have worn me out and I needed rest and time to recover. My heart would take a long time to truly start feeling again. Sometimes I wondered if there wasn't still some ice stuck in there somewhere.

We had received an invitation from my Uncle, king William, to attend a ball at his castle. At first I didn't want to go, but Danielle got so excited about it that I gave in. Yolandi was almost just as excited as her daughter. This would be the first royal ball Yolandi attended and this time Keenan wasn't the coachman either. This was a masked ball and a very elaborate affair. I was dressed in shades of blue and white, and wore a headdress and mask suggesting a peacock while Danielle's was that of a black swan. It was on her insistence that I agreed to a themed outfit, which was optional. Yolandi and Keenan just dressed very smart and would wear masks when we entered the ball.

Danielle's excitement eventually ignited my own. When we arrived I was asked to see my uncle in his study. I was happy to see my uncle again after so many years. He had many questions and I told him about my travels.

"Well, it does seem like you had a lot of adventures!" my uncle finally said laughing and then his face became more serious.

"D'Artianelle, I have heard from Queen Elana that Fenthick has recovered...and that it goes well with her brothers." I saw that he was carefully studying my expression. I wonder how much he knew?

"Oh...that's good," I said without any emotion. I had heard about Fenthick and knew that Aiden found happiness with Gwenevere, but this was the first time I heard that it was going well with Erick too. I wonder if he and Rosaline...? I forced the though away. I didn't want to think about that! I want to enjoy the evening.

"Are you allright, D'Artianelle?" my uncle asked in concern.

"I am fine, thank you. Let's join the ball. I am planning to dance and drink the night away!"

My uncle laughed again.

"You have come to the right party then!"

We both secured our masks before going to the main hall.

Danielle came up to me as soon as she spotted me.

"D'Artianelle!" she whispered and I quickly told her not to use my name as it was supposed to be a masked ball. No one is supposed to know who the others are until midnight.

"Oh! Sorry! But I was just so excited! I had to tell you!"

"What?"

"King William has invited the elves here too."

"What?!"

"Yes! Queen Elana and Fenthick, Aiden, Erick and several other elves. They are SO handsome!"

I then started noticing that many people had elf ears. Why would my uncle do this? I got myself a glass of whiskey and downed it.

It took me a while to spot Yolandi and Keenan. They were sitting at a table, talking to some people. Danielle was busy dancing with an elf no less... I just finished another glass. I lost track of how many I'd already had. No matter how hard I looked I couldn't see Aiden, Gwenevere or Erick...

"Could I have the honour of this dance?"

I recognised my uncle.

"Now why would you want to dance with a peacock?" I asked, "a slightly drunk one at that too."

"Perhaps it's the beautiful blue feathers?" he replied, " besides, someone has to save you from drinking yourself under the table before midnight."

I let my uncle lead me to the dance floor and we started dancing. My movements were a bit sluggish thanks to the alcohol, but my uncle didn't seem to mind. I was finding it very funny for some reason when I stepped on his foot and started giggling.

"S...orry!" I managed to get out between my giggles. I was definitely drunk.

"Could I interrupt?" another masked man asked and my uncle nodded. This man wanted to dance with me for some reason.

"I don't mind sir, but please be warned that I most likely...will be stepping on your toes!" I said still giggling.

The music started and we danced. I did step on his toes several times, even though I tried not to. He didn't seem to notice. He was looking straight at me the whole time. When the song ended he asked if I minded going outside for some fresh air with him. Perhaps he thought it would sober me up a bit?

"Sir, you really don't have to worry about me," I said when we were outside, "go and enjoy yourself. The night is still young."

I had grabbed another glass on the way out, not sure what alcohol it contained and was about to swig it down as well, but the man grabbed my wrist and took it from me.

"A lady shouldn't be drinking this much."

"A lady perhaps, but I am no such thing," I retorted and tried to take back the glass from him. He stepped away and then neatly drank it out.

"Hey! That was mine!" I said, but my head was starting to spin now. Perhaps I did have one too many already. My half-elven blood didn't grant me the immunity the elves had to alcohol, something I was grateful for now. I didn't want to feel, to remember and regret. I stumbled forward and grabbed onto the man to hold myself upright.

"My apologies!" I said, but it didn't come out the way I intended because I started giggling again.

The man didn't push me away.

I managed to stand and went to sit on a nearby wall. I was definitely going to have a major hangover the next morning...

I noticed that man was still here.

"Do you like entertaining drunk ladies sir?" I asked.

"Well, I thought you just said you weren't a lady?"

"Huh... sharp wits, you must be an elf."

I already knew he was an elf, I saw his ears sticking out while we were dancing.

"Here," he said while handing me a flask.

"What...first you drink my...whatever it was, and then you give me more?" I asked, but drank it anyway. It tasted bitter, reminding me of the bitter berries Erick and I ate when we travelled to my kinsfolk. I didn't want to remember. What sort of alcohol was this anyway?

"I need more," I said as soon as the flask was finished and got up, but the man was blocking my way.

"Please, dance with me one more dance and I'll leave you to drinking however much you want."

"Okay, then let's go. The next song is about to start."

"No, here is fine."

Just like that we started dancing outside. I could hear the music softly, but soon realised we weren't dancing to it. His hand was gently resting on my back, guiding me while his other hand held my hand. What an odd fellow... I soon realised that my head was feeling much clearer now. It must be the stuff in the flask... it must have sobered me up somehow. Eventually the song ended, but he kept dancing with me. Why? I looked at the man, this time more carefully. He was looking straight at me like he did when we danced inside. He noticed his eyes were a familiar green...

"Erick!" I gasped with sudden realisation. He stopped dancing and released me.

"It took you a while," he said with a half-smile.

"Is it really you? No...I must be really drunk..."

"You can't be drunk after drinking purpleberry dew," he said taking off his mask. It was Erick. I felt all my strength leave me and would have crashed spectacularly if he hadn't pulled me against him.

"Oh!"

I was suddenly so close to him and felt my cheeks burn. Luckily I was still wearing my mask. What was the meaning of this?

"D'Artianelle..." he whispered and embraced me even tighter. I could smell summer rain.

After Aiden released me from being the Winter Queen I hadn't tried to reach Erick because I believed he hated me and besides, Rosaline...

"Why didn't you call to me?" he asked softly, his breath tickling me ear.

"I...I didn't know how you felt about me after..." I couldn't complete my sentence. When Ihela had told me Erick left I had been devastated.

"Do you know how hard it was for me to let you go?" Erick asked, "when you became the Winter Queen I was convinced you still loved my brother. I left because I couldn't bear it."

"You thought...oh Erick!" I returned his embrace, "I became the Winter Queen because it was the only way to save you. I've never stopped...loving you."

"I know that now. Rosaline told me...I've longed so much for holding you again like this..."

I felt my heartbeat quicken as he was kissing the top of my head. So Rosaline told him? I thought...

Just then we could hear voices nearing. It would be embarrassing to be discovered like this... Just then the surroundings warped and changed. The next moment we were standing in the summer court, in Erick's room. The light was dimmed, like it was dusk. A warm breeze blew through the trees above us. He removed my mask and tossed it aside.

"Warm colours suit you better," he said. He had dropped his glamour, but was still controlling it so it wouldn't blind me. He was just so beautiful...why would he love me?

"Why do you look sad my love?" he asked.

"Um...please don't think me silly…" he waited expectantly for me to continue, "but I need to know something…"

He looked at me expectantly, touching me cheek.

"Anything."

I struggled for the right words. "I know you…love me…but why me? After all I've put you through and being half-elven and all. There are many elven maidens much fairer who would not cause you the misery I had."

He laughed his beautiful laugh that reminded me of refreshing summer rain.

"My dear D'Artianelle. None of those fair maidens would be able to speak to my heart the way you do. As for your beauty, where should I begin? Your hair reminds me of the bark of the trees of Greenleaf forest I love so much and your eyes… they mesmerised me, the way the colour changed from hazel to green like it is continuously autumn or spring. You mouth…" he traced my lips lightly before whispering in my ear, "is like the sweet nectar from goldflowers. Your skin.." he traced my neckline and shoulder with his finger, "like the finest silk…would you like me to continue?" he asked, his hands sliding further down my back. I realised I wasn't breathing.

"I think that answers my question," I said hoarsely.

"Now please answer mine."

"What is it?"

"Do you truly love me, D'Artianelle?"

Erik's face showed so much emotion. He has never been able to hide his feelings well. I felt my heart tighten. He deserved so much more, but I would give him everything I had and hopefully that would be enough...

"I do…"

My words were cut off when his lips met mine. He did not hold back, and neither did I. I could feel warmth spreading through my body. Around us flowers bloomed. The heat intensified until it felt like I was burning up from inside. Finally I felt the coldness that had been in my heart melt away. I was filled with so much happiness and warmth that I felt dizzy, and that was not just from Erick's kisses. He pushed me down on his bed.

"Finally, you are mine," he said while gently undoing the buttons on the side of my dress.

I woke to the sounds of birds singing and the sweet scent of roses assaulted my senses. The air was neither cold or warm, just perfect. It was so peaceful here, underneath the trees. It would have been nice if I could just lay like this forever. I found that Erick was sleeping next to me. I examined his sleeping face, which was inhumanly beautiful. I couldn't help but blush when I thought of what had happened between us the night before.

I got up quietly to scoop some water in a flower cup from the fountain and noticed my reflection in the water. I almost did not recognise the woman looking back at me. Her skin had a gold tinge, cheekbones more defined like all court elves. Her hair was swaying in the breeze, changing from dark brown to chestnut, at times glimmering crimson. Eyes bright gold and…elven ears. I felt my face to make sure I wasn't being tricked. The ears were definitely pointed. I couldn't keep myself from laughing in delight.

"Good morning," I heard Erick say. He was sitting up and smiling at me and I could see his lean toned chest. I hadn't covered myself when I got up and felt embarrassed that he was seeing me like this in the morning light.

"Um...good morning," I replied and quickly turned my back to him.

"What is wrong D'Artianelle?" he asked and I could hear him come closer. His arms surrounded me. He was still naked too.

"You know when you act shy like that it just makes me want to do things to you," he whispered seductively in my ear before kissing my neck.

"Erick!" I said in a shocked tone, but at the same time I didn't mind. I truly loved him. My voice was different now too, it had a musical ring like Erick's.

"I have ears like yours now!" I said happily, pointing at my reflection in the fountain. I could see Erick looking over my shoulder and realised that he could see most of my body in the reflection. I quickly turned around to face him. He laughed softly and traced my shoulder with his fingertips.

"Yes, when you became my queen you have given up your old form for a completely new one just like I did."

"Danielle will be so stoked! Oh...that reminds me, we left the ball quite abruptly last night...I will have to apologise to my uncle..."

"Don't worry, I have spoken to your uncle earlier in the evening. He knew I intended to steal you away."

"What?!"

My face was burning from embarrassment. Erick pulled me against him and kissed me. When he eventually pulled away I almost immediately felt lonely.

"I warned you about doing that," he said, smiling happily.

"I can't help it! I...am not used to this!"

I wanted to feel his lips on mine more.

"Another reason why I love you so much, my lovely queen. Now we need to get ready. Our court is waiting."

"Erick..." I said when he was turning away from me to get dressed.

"Yes?"

I let my arms encircle his neck and pulled him to me and kissed him.

"Our court will have to wait a bit longer," I whispered in his ear.