Chapter One, Part One: Joelle

It was time to leave. I knew I had to go, but still something was holding me back, like an invisible force attempting desperately to keep me in the place where so many of my memories were held. Ice had been packing all morning, he was excited about the new adventure we were about to embark on, but I still couldn't help thinking that I ought to remain where I felt safe. I knew that a journey could be dangerous, this world was a far cry from the old one, but I knew I had to go, if I didn't leave now then I never would.

"Joelle?" Ice asked, rather too sympathetically as he wandered into the room. I turned round to face him, and noticed at once the glimpse of excitement shining in his deep eyes. I wiped the tears from my eyes absentmindedly and stood up; glancing once more out of the window at the street I would most likely never set eyes on again.

"I'm ready," I said, mustering up as much enthusiasm as I could manage.

"Good," Ice smiled warmly at me, causing my heart to melt and some of the doubts in my mind to fade away. We wandered out of the room together, down the stairs and to the front door. I looked around all the way, capturing some last memories of the house before I left. Ice led me out of the door, his arm on my shoulder, and as I stepped through the door a crowd welcomed me. It appeared as though the entire estate had halted their usual routine, choosing instead to see me one last time. I smiled, and this time it was a real one. Knowing that people I had lived with for a couple of years cared enough to come and see me off made a warm feeling form in my heart, and I knew it wouldn't die away quickly. As I stood there, a huge grin on my face, the crowd parted on Ice's command, leaving a path for me to walk down in the centre. As I looked past the crowd, it was obvious why they had parted. Standing behind them, tall and majestic, was a white horse.

"Wow!" I exclaimed, not able to keep my pleasure in. Ice led me forward through the crowd and I smiled at them all as I walked past, feeling like a princess. Reaching the horse, he held my hand as I lifted myself slowly onto the animal, struggling to get my legs over; I'd never ridden on one before. Ice looked up at me and smiled warmly at me, and I realised now, as if I hadn't even noticed earlier, that I truly did love him. I knew from the look on his face and the glow in his eyes that he felt the same way, and I knew that the warm feeling that gave me in my heart would never go away. Ice helped me onto the horse, as I was struggling to get myself onto it, and I felt butterflies in my stomach as he touched me and gently lifted me from the ground. Ice leapt up on to the horse, sitting just in front of me, and pulling on the reins, the horse pulled away from the drive, and we rode away from the cheering crowds, and towards Jamie's house on the edge of the estate, where I had something to do before we left.