Over the next few weeks, people were panicked. Everyone was on guard, the soldiers patrolling every single space in their territory, their eyes and ears alert, their weapons always at the ready. Selina noticed that all they talked about was an attack from the frostguard. She wouldn't have minded at all, she herself was on alert as well, the only problem was Ashe. She tried her best not to show it, but Selina could tell that she was more alert and nervous, pacing around muttering to herself every time Selina checked on her. She barely ate or slept, always staring at the maps and making plans. She went to speak with the captain every hour every day and barely spoke to anyone except to reassure them or get reports. Selina stood outside her room, wondering if she should go talk to her.
"Will she even talk to me about this?" Selina thought. "She's been like this forever, she needs to eat and rest. Selina took a deep breath and went towards Ashe's room, hesitating as she raised her hand to knock. For some reason, she felt scared…although she didn't know why. She shook it away and gently knocked. No one answered and she gently spoke.
"Ashe? It's me," she called out. It went silent for a moment then she heard the door unlock and it opened, revealing Ashe, her eyes tired and her hair was unkempt.
"Ashe, are you ok?" Selina asked worried, pushing her inside and closing the door behind them. Ashe gazed at her, her voice breaking.
"I don't know, I have a plan, but it sounds so dangerous. I don't want to put anyone in danger, but I don't know what else we can do," she whispered. Selina led her over to the bed, sitting down beside her.
"Tell me what's wrong," she ordered. Ashe sighed.
"The plans that I came up with only led into danger and more death. I tried to think of a way that I could maybe talk to Lissandra, maybe deal with this peacefully. But her threat is real Selina. She won't stop until we are destroyed." she whispered. Selina stared at her.
"Well, then we fight." Ashe shook her head.
"That will cause death in my tribe and heartbreak to my people. I am not willing to risk that." Selina went silent. There was something, but she knew that Ashe would never agree to it, not after everything that had happened to her that night. Selina opened her mouth to tell her, but then closed it. No she would have to go alone, if she could go in the cover of the darkness, and gather the information without anyone knowing, then that would be the best plan. But she wasn't fast enough to hide her expression of determination from Ashe's sharp eyes.
"You have an idea don't you?" she said. Selina didn't answer and Ashe nudged her. "If it helps us then you must tell me." Selina sighed.
"It might help, but you won't be able to do anything."
"What are you planning to do?" Ashe asked firmly.
"I was thinking that if I went to where Lissandra is then-" Ashe shook her head.
"No." Selina glared at her.
"We finally have a plan and you don't like it?"
"No, you have a plan, one that is absurd!" Ashe snapped. Selina groaned.
"I don't know why I even try in life."
Ashe grabbed her and Selina jumped as the archer gripped her tightly, forcing her to look at the woman straight into her icy gaze.
"They almost killed you, and you heard Lissandra. She wants to kill you and everyone in the tribe including me! And you just want to walk right into her clutches are you insane?" Ashe snapped. Selina narrowed her eyes.
"I know how to avoid her, plus she's blind so-"
"She uses the ice and temperature to see, she can sense the most experienced assassin without her sight, you won't make it." Ashe said desperately. Selina gazed at her with a frown.
"But if I just-" She stopped as Ashe shook her head.
"Selina, I appreciate that you want to do something for the tribe, but it's alright. This is my problem, you relax and stay safe. There's no point in throwing yourself into danger right now." Selina sighed then nodded. "Alright, I'll stay safe." Ashe smiled.
"Thank you, now I'll be out in a second I just need to-" Selina shook her head.
"No, you haven't rested at all today and you look exhausted. Rest and let me take care of everything."
"But-" Ashe tried to say before Selina grabbed and pushed her towards the bed gently.
"Go and sleep, I'll take care of the patrols and hunting parties." Ashe looked at her with a worried look.
"Are you sure?" Selina nodded and she sighed. "Fine, but I'm not sleeping for very long," Ashe said, climbing into bed and pulling the blankets over her.
"I don't expect you to sadly," Selina murmured.
"What was that?" Ashe said lifting her head in Selina's direction. Selina turned away. "Nothing, go to sleep." As she lay down again Selina noticed that her breathing immediately became slower until she was asleep, her chest rising and falling gently. Selina quietly went over to the table with the map and blew the candle out darkening the room. She then slipped out of the room closing the door gently behind her.
"Now that that's settled, I need to make sure that the hunting parties are ready and everyone isn't in a full-blown panic." she thought. She quickly headed outside and looked around, noticing that a group of villagers was gathered at the front door, murmuring with concern.
"What's wrong?" she asked. They glanced up and one of them stepped forward.
"How is Warmother Ashe?" he asked. Selina twitched her ear, feeling slightly taken back by his tone. "She's fine, she's sleeping." Some of them nodded, but the one who spoke only gave her a cold look.
"We would like to see her," he said coldly. She narrowed her eyes.
"I told you, she's sleeping." He glared at her.
"And we are supposed to trust you?" he said.
"...yes?" He didn't back down.
"No offense, but ever since you came into our village, strange things have been happening. First a frostguard attack, then Ashe's disappearance in the blizzard and now a threat from the ice witch herself?" Selina let out an impatient growl. "We got through that didn't we?"
"Yes, the village did." She stared at him. "Wait do you blame me for all of this?" He rolled his eyes. "Yes, that's what I've been implying." The sad part about all of this was that she wasn't at all surprised at his attitude or his tone. So many people hated her or at least held some sort of grudge that she was fully aware of.
"I didn't cause any of it!" she hissed.
"Then it's a huge coincidence that our lives were perfect! Then when you come they're thrown off balance?" he retorted. She didn't want to deal with this. She turned away from him and as she walked away she heard him say something to one of the other people. "She can't be trusted, who knows what will happen now? For all, we know she can be a spy for Lissandra herself." She tried to block out the words but the tone was the one that hurt her the most. She sighed and went to the edge of the village hearing whispers from people she passed, looks of suspicion from everyone. She ignored them and went straight to Amir who was organizing the hunting parties.
"Hi Amir," she said walking up.
"Hello, Selina! How is Ashe?" he asked. She tensed as he asked that, slightly sad that that was the first question everyone asked. "She's fine, she's sleeping." Amir nodded a look of relief in his gaze.
"That's good, the poor girl hasn't slept or ate in a long time," he said. She nodded.
"Listen, she made me in charge while she slept so I'm just here to make sure everything is going ok with the hunters." He nodded.
"Yes, I have organized them and we are ready to go out, we should be back by sunset," he said.
"Ok, safe hunt," she murmured as he turned, mounting his horse and riding off into the pass, the others following close behind. She glanced around seeing the people talking to each other in hushed voices, they didn't seem to need much. But she did notice that they seemed uneasy, and she saw some of them glance in her direction. Feeling isolated she turned going out of the village and turning heading west a little heading towards a huge hill that overlooked it. As she climbed up she felt the wind bite her as well as the warm air run along her body. As she made it to the top she lay down with a sigh, watching the village from afar. The grass felt so good, it's green sprouts shining in the sun.
"I wish that there was a better way to do this." she thought. "But I don't know what I have to do to earn their trust. They may never trust me." she sighed and just lay there thinking of a similar situation she had been in when she was younger. She had been attending an academy, one that taught you how to fight in various ways. She had always had an uncanny interest in magic and had always worked hard to study it, but her father never understood her love of the art. He called it witchery and had refused to let her study it in school and had encouraged her to learn the way of the dagger. Although she abided by his wishes she had always snuck into the academy and practiced magic in secret every night, which as she thought about it wondered if that was why she was always active at night. But the problem had happened one night when she was sneaking in. One of the girls that trained at the academy was a popular girl, who had a knack for magic and she was jealous that Selina had always seemed to master it faster than her. When she had started using knives she had been teased by her and her group, as they had usually called her royals pet. She remembered one day where she had actually gotten in trouble with the annoying girl. She was practicing throwing the knives when Relena and the group walked up a smirk on her face.
"Look who it is, the royal pet of the school." she sneered. The boys chuckled and Selina paused in her throwing to turn to her with an annoyed look.
"Do you have to do this now?" she asked irritated. Relena smirked.
"Oh please, we all know that you won't even need to take the test. They'll just give you the pass to please daddy," she said snarkily. That's when Selina's hand shot out and smacked her in the face. Relena looked at her in shock, her hand where she had been slapped.
"Don't you dare disrespect my father!" Selina hissed. Relena laughed.
"Oh please, why do I have to disrespect him when I have his daughter here who disrespects her family every day?" That's when Selina leaped at her tackling the other girl and clawing at her face. She heard Relena screaming and felt hands grabbing her and dragging her away from the other girl, blood running down her face. Relena had to go to the healer and Selina was yelled at for the first time by her mother. Her mother screamed at her and had lectured her about tainting the family line with dishonor. She then sent Selina to her room without any dinner. That's when she had started hating her family life, and over time she had become rebellious, sneaking away and getting into fights. Selina smirked as she remembered how others would look at her in disgust and call her what her father used to refer to her as, a failure. She didn't care and her rebellious nature ended up betraying her as she tried to sneak in one night to practice magic, only to find Relena there with the group holding the book she had been using.
"Relena, what are you doing here?" Selina had asked shocked. Relena glared at her, scars visible on her face where Selina had clawed her.
"Giving you what you deserve, you were always their favorite student, no one could care any less about me. It was all about you and oh what a wonderful student she is! Well that's over, and now you will never be number one, not to me." she had snarled. She held out her hand under the book and Selina watched in horror as a flame engulfed the ancient totem.
"No!" she had cried, she tried to snatch it out of the other girl's hand, but the boys immediately grabbed her and held her there as she struggled. Relena smirked.
"Aw now who's the best student?" she sneered. Selina had never known what happened, but she had snapped. She couldn't even remember who she had hurt, only remembering that there was blood and screaming and when she had finally come to her senses she saw Relena on the ground bleeding and almost dead. That's when she ran, not looking back and not caring where she ran. Selina blinked as the memory faded and sighed. She didn't want to go back where everyone looked at her with resentment. She didn't want to hear their whispers or looks of suspicion. But she had made a promise to the archer, and she knew that she must abide by that. So she slowly rose to shake herself and gently walked down the hill heading back to the village.
In the middle of the afternoon when Selina was practicing with her dagger, stabbing it into the dummy she heard footsteps behind her and glanced over to see Ashe standing there watching her.
"Nice hit," she said. Selina paused and turned to her. The woman looked way better than she had earlier. Her hair was neat again, and her gaze was bright as she studied the dagger.
"Where did you learn how to use that?" she asked. Selina hesitated before answering.
"At a school that I wish to forget," she murmured. Ashe gave her a questioning look before going over and sitting down in the snow beckoning Selina over. As Selina sat down Ashe glanced at the dagger with a thoughtful gaze.
"When we first met, you said something about being a failure. I don't know if I'm allowed to ask this and stop me if it makes you uncomfortable, but I feel like it has something to do with your parents." Ashe said softly. Selina didn't answer her.
"You don't have to tell me anything about them, but I do want to ask you a question if that's ok?" Selina nodded.
"Selina, when we found you fighting the frostguard, I noticed that you didn't seem scared at all as you were dying. And that made me wonder. Were you trying to die?" Selina didn't answer her, only hearing the blood rushing through her ears and a low whine that was interrupted as she felt soft yet cold hands on hers. She looked up and saw Ashe gazing at her with a worried look. "Selina...are you ok?"
"I can't talk here, not now, I'm sorry" she murmured, moving her hands away and turning, feeling Ashe's gaze following her as she went back to the house lost in her thoughts.
When she made with to her room she quickly closed the door and threw herself down on her bed. She hated the feeling, the feeling of hate and sadness all put together. It just ate away at her like some sort of disease. She let out a groan of frustration and dug her head into her pillow, feeling the warmth of the fur. She couldn't keep doing this, she couldn't stand how they looked at her. How they reminded her of her father every time he looked at her. The same look of disgust. She heard a knock on the door, but when she didn't answer she heard it open letting light flood into the room. "Selina?" she heard Ashe ask. She cursed inwardly, but she didn't have the heart to tell Ashe to go away. She felt Ashe gently shake her and she sighed before looking up.
"Selina, sorry if I upset you earlier I just wanted-" Ashe began.
"It's ok, you didn't, it's just your tribe... whenever they look at me they remind me of my father." Ashe stared at her and Selina could tell she was trying to come up with the right words to say, but she also knew that there weren't any.
"Ashe you don't have to say anything, if they hate me they hate me. Just promise me that you won't do anything harsh to them." Selina said. Ashe didn't respond for a moment before she felt a hand on hers.
"I don't do many things that are harsh to my own people. But I do try and talk, so whenever you are ready I'll be here," she said firmly. Selina nodded.
"Thank you Ashe." The archer gently moved away and Selina watched as she turned to leave the room and closing the door behind her. Selina sighed and wondered about something she could do without anyone around. The only things were at night, but she was worried. If the frostguard really were a threat then she was wondering if it was safe to go alone. Then she had an idea. She quickly got up from her bed and headed out of her room and to Ashe's knocking on the door. As it opened she was met with a surprised look.
"Selina, what's going on are you ok?" Ashe asked, looking at her with narrowed eyes.
"I have an idea about something that I could do tonight and I was wondering if you'd like to join me? Ashe glanced at the window then back at her with a thoughtful gaze. "That depends, what's your idea?" Selina smiled
"You up for a little night run?"
"Are you sure this is safe?" Ashe whispered as they walked through the dark forest. The moon shone from above, and Selina could hear night creatures whistling and howling. They had gotten weird looks from the village as they went out without any weapons and we're even questioned by Amir who Ashe explained the situation too much to Selina's relief. It had taken a lot of effort to convince the archer to leave her bow, and she was glad that Ashe had agreed.
"I'm sure, come on!" Selina said. Of course, being able to see the branches and leaves gave her an advantage, but then she remembered that Ashe didn't have night vision so she gently reached out and grabbed her arm causing the other woman to jump. "Goodness."
"Scared of the dark?" Selina teased. She saw the woman frown.
"No, I just can't see anything," she said, frustrated as she almost tripped. Selina gently caught her and guided her over to a log, guiding her to sit down. As she did Selina sunk low to the ground listening intently for small footsteps in the grass.
"What are you doing?" Ashe asked, breaking the silence.
"Shh!" Selina said.
"What are you doing?" Ashe whispered.
"Listening for prey," Selina murmured. She held her breath as silence fell, and the town seemed to slow down.
"There!" Her ears perked up as she heard the skittering of a creature on the ground. She glanced in the direction of the noise and spotted the slight movement of something coming out of its burrow.
"Stay here," she murmured, moving silently towards it, ignoring the small sound of protest from the woman. She crouched low and slowly reached into her coat pocket and gently pulled out her dagger. The creature came closer and she tensed standing still as ice as it came closer and closer. She held the knife as it stopped right in front of her. As it lifted its head she struck. She lunged at it and dug the knife into the animal's body, wincing slightly as it let out a squeal before going silent. As she brought it back she saw Ashe was still sitting there staring up at the night sky lost in her thoughts. As Selina approached she turned her head towards her and even though Selina knew that she couldn't see that well, her eyes still seemed to recognize her.
"Thank goodness you're back, I was wondering where you crept off too." Selina shrugged and gently sat beside her with a grin.
"Did you think that I was going to leave you like last time?" Ashe frowned.
"No, but it's just weird to not be able to see anything," she murmured. Selina nodded.
"Well that's the scary part, but it's also the fun part, while you can't see much that means you have to be extra careful, but that also means that others can't see you which gives you a huge advantage." Ashe glanced at her.
"How do you know all of this?" Ashe asked. Selina flinched at the question. She didn't want to tell Ashe that she used to do all of her missions as an assassin in the dark. "I just like the night, it seems to bring something out in me," she replied carefully. Ashe nodded in understanding.
"It is a great time to be out, colder, but it's quiet and quite peaceful." Selina sighed in relief. "Ashe? Can I ask you something?" she whispered. The queen nodded.
"If I was from an enemy tribe, and still was like this, would you cast me out?" she heard the other woman pause, contemplating how to answer.
"If anyone came to us, and if they truly wanted to change, then I would give them that chance, I believe that everyone should have a chance," she said softly. Selina looked at her with doubt. "You don't mean that."
"I do, and I would give you a chance no matter where you are from or who you are," Ashe murmured. Guilt rose up in the young girl as she heard those words.
"I want to tell her, but she won't take it well at all. She may not even trust me afterward." Selina felt tears run down her face and she started to cry.
"Why can't I just have a normal life? Why did I have to be raised to lie and sneak?" she thought.
"Could I just change like that? She has to be wrong, she would never take me in if I told her the truth."
"Oh gosh, Selina I didn't mean to upset you!" Ashe said, gently grabbing the young girls' hand. Selina sniffed and shook her head.
"No it's ok, I just...I just need to...to-."
"You need to relax," Ashe said. Selina sighed "I'm serious, you told me to relax, so I'm going to tell you. What do you do to help yourself relax?." Selina thought for a moment. "Well I usually like to go on night runs, they help me to clear my thoughts, but I don't know how that could possibly-." she was suddenly interrupted as Ashe grabbed her hand and pulled the girl to her feet.
What are we-" Ashe flashed her a smile.
"Well if running helps then run! Selina gazed at the dark forest, then closed her eyes letting the cold air fill her lungs.
"Our spirits...always free…" She felt her legs tense and she suddenly burst into a sprint hearing Ashe let out a yell of surprise as she was dragged off her feet. Selina sprinted out of the forest heading for the lake at the end of the snow-covered plain She let go of Ashe's hand and ran, feeling her long hair blow in the wind and her heart leap with exhilaration.. She heard footsteps and glanced behind her to see Ashe running too, her confused look tuning into a look of joy as she smiled, her hair blowing behind her as they ran. The moon shone lighting up the plains in a silver glow. Selina laughed as she ran through the snow and headed towards the lake, launching herself into the star reflecting water. As she did she felt the chill of the ice and she smiled. As she surfaced she saw that Ashe was looking at her in alarm. Selina grinned and swam towards her, The other woman backed up slightly and Selina launched herself upwards causing Ashe to yell out in surprise as water cascaded over her. Ashe shook herself and frowned. Selina laughed as Ashe rolled her eyes, but with a smile on her face. Selina beckoned her, but Ashe shook her head and backed away again.
"I don't think-" she tried to say before Selian cut her off.
Come one! Be free, have fun this is the perfect night!" Selina said swimming over to the shore and stood in front of her, holding her hand out. Ashe glanced at it then slowly took it, a look of uncertainty on her face. Selina then smiled wickedly as she suddenly pulled Ashe towards her and into the water. Ashe let out a yell of surprise as she was soaked, flailing in the water. Selina quickly grabbed her hand and led her to the surface where she let out a gasp. Selina giggled as Ashe stared at her in annoyance, which morphed into a grin. Selina fell silent as the frost archer suddenly splashed her with water. Selina coughed in surprise and retaliated, splashing her causing her to yelp. Selina quickly went under certain that Ashe couldn't get her until she felt a hand grab her wrist. Selina glanced back and saw Ashe gazing at her with a look of playfulness. She pulled Selina towards her and they swam in the water, smiling. They just stared at each other for a moment, their gazes locking. Selina held it, her heart beating with a feeling she had never felt. Ashe held it for a moment before she looked away and pulled Selina with her to the surface. As they gasped Ashe let go of her hand and swam towards the bank jerking her head. Selina followed her and they walked back into the forest, their legs tired. Ashe sighed and gently lay down shivering. Selina stared at her for a moment before gently walking over to her and settling next to her, letting her warmth seep through them. Ashe let out a sigh and slowly went still, her breathing slowing and soon she was fast asleep, a smile on her face. Selina watched her for a moment before sighing and closing her eyes, letting her dreams guide her to sleep.
When she woke she felt the sun shining on her face and she blinked in surprise. She glanced up and saw that it was morning.
"Last night was so…peaceful. If the only morning never came." she thought sadly. She sighed then froze as she felt movement from beside her and glanced over in surprise. Ashe was laying on the ground next to her, sound asleep. "Oh my gosh, I didn't realize that she was that tired." Selina thought in shock. Selina blinked then slowly moved away, careful not to disturb her. Selina shook herself then turned heading into the forest looking for something to eat. As she walked her ears perked, and she fell silent as she heard the pounding of feet against the snow-covered ground. She glanced over and quickly sunk low to the ground holding her breath as a pair of snow-white ears popped up from the lump of snow. She tensed as the hare came out, glancing around before hopping along the ground, heading for a berry bush, as it came closer she gently drew her knife as it stopped in front of her, oblivious as it began to nibble at the leaves. She quickly leaped up and pinned the hard down as it squealed in surprise that quickly cut off as she stabbed it, causing blood to seep into its snow pelt. As she glanced around she suddenly noticed that strangely the birds had stopped chirping. She paused and listened. The forest had gone silent and she felt the hair on the back of her neck go up. She suddenly heard footsteps, metal against metal and she whirled around seeing in horror frostguard soldiers coming towards her. They each carried weapons and wore the helmet that marked their symbol, an eye that seemed to stare into her soul. She saw that one of them was carrying something that looked like a staff, its purple crystal shining, reflecting its colors into the snow "How in the world did they find us? she thought in shock. The one with a bow raised it and she saw his hand curl around the metal as he released the arrow. She snapped back to reality and quickly ducked as it embedded itself into the tree next to her. She grabbed the lifeless hare and bolted for the lake, she knew that they wouldn't follow her too deep into Averosan territory, she just hoped that they wouldn't notice that she didn't have back up and keep chasing. She ran heading for the site where they had slept before a thought went through her head, a thought that halted her in her tracks.
"I'm going to lead them straight to Ashe. She doesn't know that they're coming." Selina realized. She quickly took a sharp left turn heading deeper into the forest in the opposite direction. She heard them following close behind and fear gave her a burst of speed as she ran as fast as she could, her heart beating and her lungs crying. She didn't know this part of the territory, and she became nervous as the trees began to thin, she stopped and glanced back only to see that they had caught up with her, their faces unseen. As they slowly advanced towards her she tensed and readied herself, pulling out her dagger. If she was going to go down, then she would go down fighting. As she stared at them she sensed something in the wind, it seemed to get slightly colder and they seemed to feel it too, stopping. One of them looked around and as he turned something blue shot out from the forest and impaled him right through the chest. As he fell the others turned, only for more arrows to appear and quickly take them out, each of the arrows freezing the bodies. Selina blinked and glanced into the forest and saw that Ashe was standing there, bow in hand, a cold look on her face as the leader stood grasping his side. He let out a yell and charged towards her for her only to fire an arrow, hitting him through the visor of the helmet. As he fell, Ashe walked over, stepping around them as she stopped in front of Selina with a grim but worried look. "Are you ok?" Selina nodded and Ashe sighed.
"Why are they so close to the village?" Selina asked. Ashe glanced at the bodies.
"I don't know, but if they're close then they might launch an attack on the village, we have to get back, come on!" The young queen ran in the direction of her village. Selina went to follow her when she spotted something in white in the guard's coat pocket. Curious, she went over gently moving the frozen hand away and pulling the object out. It was a piece of paper with one name written on it, "Herled" caused her to hesitate as she went to unroll it. Why did the name seem so strange? Like it was more important than it seemed? She went to open it, then stopped. "Shouldn't I share this with Ashe? It looks important, but why do I feel like it was meant for me?" she thought. Hearing no answer she quickly put the piece of paper in her coat pocket.
"Selina, come on!" she heard Ashe call. "Coming!" She quickly turned and ran after the archer, feeling a shiver as if she was being watched, but never seeing anyone when she looked back.
"Whatever they were doing in this part of the territory, there's more to it and I'm going to find out what."
As they made it back Selina was relieved to see the village still intact, the only problem seemed to be that there were so many people out.
"We made it!" she thought. Even though it looked fine, Ashe didn't slow down or stop heading straight into it with a worried look on her face.
"Amir!" she called finally stopping. Amir immediately appeared, and Selina's heart froze as she realized that he had a cold look on his face.
"Warmother, thank goodness your back, we have a major problem." Ashe paused.
"What is it?" Selina could see the tension as he spoke, his voice was cold, yet fearful at the same time.
"Sejuani had declared war on us."
