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. 9
An ear-splitting shriek came from the Icewing Queen as the snow fell down harder. A decisive move by North, and her flanks were stained with blue blood. It dripped onto the ground, a stark difference from the beautiful white snow.
Snowdrop moved in his arms, burying her head in his side. He had almost forgotten she was there, but held her closer and opened his wings a little to shield her, both from the cold and the fight. She shifted and made a small sad noise, and Winter couldn't help but notice how they were connected in their embrace, like her head fit perfectly in his chest.
The challenge had progressed while Winter was preoccupied, and North was also covered in a few scratches. Snowfall, however was a sight to behold. Winter turned away and pulled his wings closer.
There seemed to be blood everywhere. It was all over Snowfall, on her flanks, dripping down her legs, covering her wings. There was no way to tell where she was bleeding from; it seemed like the entirety of Snowfall was, like her spirit and her sanity were draining out of her. Every time she moved, drops splattered on the ground, melting into the pristine white snow. The snow was all over Snowfall too, and it too was stained blue. There was so much blood, too much blood. Winter felt a little sick.
North spun around to avoid Snowfall's claws, beat her wings twice, then pinned her mother to the ground. Snowfall's back legs scrabbled uselessly at North's stomach, but it was clear that North had overpowered her.
"Admit to your lies, mother," North yelled, her voice cutting through the snowstorm. "Put yourself in the claws of justice, and I'll let you live."
"Never," hissed Snowfall. She struggled a bit under North's talons and wriggled free, but North did not seem overly concerned. The Icewing queen could barely stand, and she was more blue than white.
And with that, North rose into the air, crashing down on Snowfall. The snow fell still harder now, but Winter could still watch as Snowfall buckled, her spine broken.
The Queen of the Icewings was dead.
There was deathly silence in the Ice Kingdom. There was only the whispers of snow falling steadily to the ground and North's raspy, labored breathing.
Winter's voice rang out loud and clear. "Queen North!"
"Queen North," whispered Snowdrop, peeking out from Winter's wings. Then a little louder, "Queen North!"
The rest of Winter's tribe joined in, a deafening roar of joy and exhilaration and relief. The sounds echoed across the ice and filled Winter's ears.
He smiled and held Snowdrop a little tighter.
The new queen stood over the body of her mother, stone cold expression on her face. She looked up as the cheers started, letting it begin, but then waving her claws to silence the crowd.
Slowly, she took the crown from Snowfall's and placed it on her own. "For justice!" she roared, and was met with an equally deafening one. "For peace! And for love!"
The cheers rose again as Winter smiled down at Snowdrop.
And for the first time in a long time, Snowdrop smiled back.