The wind was brisk and cold as she stood outside, watching the clouds billow around her in the sky. The gusts of wind threatened to rip her dress, but she remained unmoving. She could feel the cold burning into her eyes, stinging her exposed flesh. She knew her lips were probably turning blue, and the clouds threatened to spill a fresh dusting of snow, but she did not care. This was all her fault, all the anguish and pain; she had caused him to feel it. As she reached up to wipe away the tears that the wind had caused, she felt the deep gash in her cheek, her ring inadvertently sliced deeper into her skin, causing the cut to bleed again. She looked down and gazed at the fresh dusting of white, watching as her red blood spilled onto the virgin snow. And just like everything else, it was her fault. Everything was spiraling out of control, and she felt so lost and confused about it all. What was she to do? The harder she tried to fix everything, the more twists and turns Q threw at them. The harder she struggled, the deeper she sank into her despair. It was all so entirely and utterly frustrating. She kicked the snow and walked further into the garden, no longer caring if she froze to death, some how she found that a more pleasant alternative at this point.
Three Days Ago:
How it happened she didn't quite know. They had been walking back to her room in the palace and she had tripped on the hem of her long gown. Not even realizing, she felt a hand grab her under the elbow, keeping her from falling. She remained unaware of his arm on hers, till it drifted slowly to her back. She leaned into his hand and slowed her pace just so he would leave his hand there a little longer. They could here the soft music emanating from the hall where the party was winding down and she watched as Chakotay kissed her hand and asked her to dance. A small smile spread across her face and as he twirled her she began to laugh like a little girl. Her dress swung around her in a brilliant swirl of color as her first officer continued to twirl her through the empty halls. The sound of their laughter echoed in the deserted area of the castle. As the dance became slower and the music more tender, their dance slowed to a stop. Chakotay placed her gently on the ground and she found herself lost in his handsome eyes. He gently lifted her chin, and as she titled her head, she felt his lips descend onto hers. The kiss was like nothing she had ever experienced before. Her knees went weak; her heart felt as if it was going to explode…and she leaned up to deepen the kiss. There they remained, lips locked, bodies entwined until they could breathe no longer. As she looked up at him, attempting to catch her breath, she could say nothing, she didn't have to. The look in her eyes was enough for him to know how she felt. And like that there was a bright flash of light, and Q appeared, enraged. "That was too easy! This is not fair! You idiots! I was enjoying watching you pine over one another, very much so. And now you have gone and ruined my fun. We'll I guess we'll just have to change the game, make it a bit harder…" He grinned an evil little smile, and with a devilish glint in his eyes Chakotay was gone, and all that remained was a letter that Kathryn held in her hand. With her hands shaking, she could barley break the scarlet colored seal that graced the letter. There before her was a death warrant for Robert Dudley, for Chakotay, with her signature on it. He would die; she could not save him… The sky clouded over, and as she stood screaming to the sky, cursing Q for eternity, it began to snow.