Keep Reading!
I sat down by Winter's side, smoothing her hair and speaking calmly to her.
"It's okay." I told her, tears streaming down my cheeks.
She kept crying. I didn't know what to do, I kept talking, saying the same words, but I was lying. Lying to her, and lying to myself. It wasn't going to be okay.
I had woken up that morning happy and cheerful. It was going to be a perfect day, but now this. Why? I asked, to I don't know who, my parents I guess. Finally giving up my hopeless efforts, I stood up. I carefully un-did my hair, and took out a golden clip, It was curved, and studded with many shining emeralds the edges, in the center; a ruby bird, it's wings were stretched out, as if preparing to take flight. My parents gave it to me on my birthday, and it brought good memories, memories that sent tears down my cheeks once more. I slowly went to my mother, and folded her hand around the clip. She looked peaceful, like she was in a calm sleep. I closed my eyes and went back to Winter.
"Come on Winter, we need to go." I softly told her.
She looked up at me, her blue eyes filled with tears. She didn't answer, she just stood up, and looked at the ground. I put my arm around her, and we walked back to her room. I led her back to the mirror and brought up a chair for her to sit down in. I wiped the tears off of her cheeks and pushed her chin up.
It seems strange, I was acting like- well- her. It was different than my usual self, but when Winter was like this, I felt- responsible, for her. It's crazy, I know, I mean, we're the same age, but that's how it is, and I can't change that.
"Winter..." I started.
"I just can't believe they're gone." She whispered.
"Me neither." I replied, tears once again breaking through the surface and flooding my cheeks. I looked at her, and remembered Mother's favorite song, taught to her by our grandmother, Elsa. Winter must've too, because she started singing, her voice choked back with sobs.
"Let it go, let it go"
"Can't hold it back anymore" I continued.
We suddenly started a chorus, our voices twisted together, and I didn't feel so sad anymore. The song echoed through the room, a warmth seemed to engulf me, and a faint blue glow surrounded Winter. It brought back memories, of Elsa, of our parents, and our childhood; it was like all of the grief had faded from my body, and replaced with warmth and happiness. As the song ended, the warmth disappeared, and the glow around Winter had faded. We hugged, and looked into each other's eyes.
"Come on" I said "let's get ready.
I walked down the hall, my black, silk dress trailing behind me. My hair was let down, so it swam down my back and rested on my hip. Every memory of the song, had turned into clouds and grief overwhelmed me. My whole mind, was filled with dark clouds, it was cold and it seemed as though everything was dark. Even the flaming color of my hair, seemed dull.
When I got to the funeral, I stood next to Winter, her eyes were tensed closed, as if she was trying to hold something in, but I didn't know what. Every word that was said was muffled, I couldn't understand a word, and I didn't want to.
After the funeral I went up to Father's grave. As I looked at it, memories engulfed me, and they weren't good.
1 WEEK EARLIER
I had just gotten back from horseback riding, still wearing the stable boy garbs, I dashed into the castle. I ran like I hand never ran before, and accidentally bumped into Father. He seemed to glare at me.
"Oh, sorry, I didn't see you." I tried to explain, but he wasn't listening. He was busy looking at my clothes.
"What are you wearing?" he gasped.
"Oh," I said, looking down. "These are just my riding clothes." I explained.
"No, these are stable boy clothes. Your mother and I bought you gorgeous riding clothes, and these are not them." He said sternly.
"Yes, but you am hardly ride quick at all in those, and they're really stiff, I can't maneuver at all." I muttered.
"How are you ever going to become a proper queen, if you don't act, or even dress like one?"
"Queen? Who said anything about being a proper queen? I'm not even going to be a queen."
"What do you mean you're not going to be a queen? Of course you are!"
"No, I'm not." I said sternly. "I'm going to stay free, and not have to watch over a kingdom all of my life!" I yelled, determined to prove myself.
"A queen does not yell!" He said raising his voice. "And you are going to become a queen because it is in your blood."
"But I don't care about what's in my blood! I'm not going to have to stay locked away in a castle, with nothing to do but work! I'm going to live my life to the fullest, and there is nothing you can do to stop me!" I yelled, storming away. "I'm not going to be exactly what you want! I'm going to be myself!" I yelled, not looking back. He yelled at me to come back, and threatened me, but I didn't listen. I stormed out of the castle and sat in the forest until night engulfed the kingdom.
I was pushed out of my memories, realizing, that we never made up. I sat there, mixed feeling swelled up inside me. I ran away, not noticing the rain that had started to fall, and not caring about it when it splashed my face. I soon topped, my feelings all cluttered up inside me. Anger, sorrow, grief, and regret; all fought inside me. And I could not hold it in, anymore.
My face, arms, and legs grew hot, and I yelled. I yelled to the sky; my eyes shut tight. I yelled out of anger, out of grief, and out of sorrow. I collapsed; curling up into a tight ball, wishing for these intense feelings to go away. When they did, I opened my eyes, and looked around me.
I couldn't believe what I saw. The grass was dead, scorched, and smoking. I gasped, and stood up. My hands were red hot, and whenever a drop of rain touched them, it turned immediately; into steam. A faint glow engulfed my hair, as if it had turned into fire. As I looked at my dress, I could see scorch marks. The bottom was completely burned off. I stared in horror, and ran. I didn't know where I was going, but I was too afraid; afraid about what people would think, and afraid; of myself.