DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN WINGS OF FIRE OR THE CHARACTERS IN THIS FANFICTION FROM THE WINGS OF FIRE SERIES; THEY BELONG TO THE WONDERFUL TUI T. SUTHERLAND. SNOWDROP IS AN OC, BUT YOU MAY USE HER. (just give credit and all dat good stuff :) PRINCESS NORTH IS ALSO AN OC, BUT I RETAIN RIGHTS TO HER.

Ch. 7

Winter came to in an empty cell, in a prison which was also devoid of other prisoners.

Where's Snowdrop?

He sat up and immediately fell back onto the floor. His head was throbbing. How long had he been out? What if Snowdrop had already been killed?

"Winter?" said a small voice.

Winter nearly passed out again from relief. "Snowdrop – Thank the moons!"

Snowdrop was in the corner of the next cell, pressed against the bars that separated her from Winter. She looked defeated, like she was going to die the next day. (She was, so it was pretty reasonable.)

"Snowdrop," whispered Winter, dragging himself towards the the bars. "Snowdrop, they're going to kill you tomorrow… I can't help you… I'm sorry I can't save you…" The tears ran down his cheeks and dripped onto the floor.

"Stop," said Snowdrop, sticking her claws through the bars to grasp his talons in hers. "Stop crying. It's not your job anyway. You were the nicest dragon I've ever met. I'm happy to have known you, even just for a little bit."

"I'm sorry," repeated Winter, still crying.

"I know," said Snowdrop forlornly.

Night came and went, Snowdrop's death getting closer and closer. They slept restlessly next to each other, separated by the bars in reality but not in spirit.

The guards shackled him and Snowdrop when they came the next morning. The light was blinding as they were dragged into Snowfall's arena.

"My fellow Icewings!" bellowed Snowfall. "I have brought to you today Snowdrop. She has committed crimes like terrorizing her tribe. She worked for a year and a half to bring a tapestry to me, with the intention of killing me while I admired it! She even said so yesterday," she added.

"Your Majesty?" said North.

The queen ignored her. "She has dropped bombs on your homes, has tried to kill your children, and today she will die at my talons!"

"Your Majesty?" repeated North.

"Wait, what?" said someone in the crowd.

"Nobody said anything about bombs yesterday…" said another.

"She didn't try to kill my child! Is this Snowdrop we're discussing?"

"Snowdrop helped me with my deliveries every day! Who are we talking about!"

"What bombs? Surely someone would've heard that!"

"This Snowdrop worked on a tapestry for a year and a half, and you want to kill her for it?"

"Who are you?"

"Is this queen Snowfall?"

"Snowdrop would never hurt a fly!"

The crowd began to murmur amongst themselves.

"SILENCE!" shrieked Snowfall. "She did all of those things! She tried to kill you – she – "

"YOUR MAJESTY." North yelled, frostbreath coming out of her nostrils.

The crowd of dragons silenced.

"Now is not a good time, North," said Snowfall idly. "As I was saying –"

"Let her speak!" said a single voice in the crowd.

"Yes, let the princess speak!"

"Let her speak!"

"Let her talk, please!"

"Shut up, all of you!" hollered Snowfall.

Amid all the hubbub, North's voice rang loud and clear. "Queen Snowfall of the Icewings, I would like to challenge you for the throne."