Winter's Heart

by pleaseneversearchthisup

The Winter Solstice. That was when my life became hell. Mysty is one of the High Fae of the Autumn Court: fiery, arrogant, and fierce. A respected messenger of the High Lord Beron, she is allowed out once to the Winter territory to celebrate the Solstice. But when she is sent on a suicide mission, she must utilise her strength, use her talents, and save the one she loves. AU

3. Winter

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A chill ran down my spine as I approached the gigantic palace. I didn't know whether it was from the cold, or something else. Tall, icy gates swung open as I neared them, providing full view of the stunning Winter Court.

Snowflakes drifted to the ground as I admired the smooth, white path, made of a material I couldn't quite place that twisted down the garden, towards the palace doors. Abstract ice sculptures decorated the area, in between beautiful, tall trees, with rich brown trunks and magic coating the branches and their leaves. A small pond sat a little away from me, the edge frozen over, slowly crawling its way towards the centre. The grass was of the palest shade of green you could find, and glittering frost adorned every single thing.

My eyes drifted back to the palace doors, which were made of deep mahogany, so beautifully contrasted against the pale ice. I touched my boot to the path, which felt sturdy, but slippery, due to the large amounts of ice covering it. Slowly, but carefully, I walked down the path, my eyes fixed on the doors. Two High Fae stood guard at either side, cleaved in thick fighting leathers, mace in hand. I felt their eyes on me as I approached them, but I kept my eyes straight ahead, my mask of Autumn fire falling over my face. The enormous doors were engraved with swirls and markings, beautifully decorated the once simple wood. I had barely opened my mouth before the two nodded at me, swinging the huge doors open to reveal me to the entire Winter Court.

I had to admit, the throne room was jaw-dropping. Most of the room was indeed made of ice, reflecting cool light around the room, causing hundreds of tiny rainbows to dance about. The floor was a polished pale blue, with small patterns of aquamarine gemstones engraved. The doors thumped shut behind me, and I tried not to flinch as I felt hundreds of eyes flick to settle on me. Though the sheer amount of Winter High Fae in my presence made me feel uneasy, I lifted my eyes from the floor to meet the ones of the High Lord of the Winter Court. As his piercing blue eyes snapped onto mine, my stomach dropped. There was something in those eyes that wasn't kind, nor merciless. Something I had seen in the souls of ruthless Lower faeries I had met a long, long time ago. Something that I should be staying well away from.

"Mysty." An even, cold voice sent shivers up my spine, the hairs on the back of my neck bristling. But I never took my eyes off the pair that were staring just as intently back at me. "That is your name, correct?" Still, I showed no emotion or change of stature as he spoke from the opposite side of the room, still seated in his magnificent icy throne. He waited for a response. I gave him nothing. You're going to have to try harder than that, I spat at him in my mind. He resumed speaking, showing no reaction of the fact I didn't reply, probably thinking that I was either terrified of him, or just an arrogant Autumn fae. I didn't think about either. "Are you not cold?" He inquired, gesturing to my bare arms. I only shrugged in response. Somehow, in this hellish cold, I wasn't freezing to death. Strange, but I didn't dwell on it. "Come closer." He commanded, beckoning me to him. I still didn't move a muscle. I'm not a stupid canine, Kallias. A flick of a finger and I was shoved forwards by two High Fae, whose faces I didn't dare to look, keeping my glowing amber irises locked onto the freezing blue ones. The faeries halted as I reached the throne, standing behind me, blocking the exit. I took no notice though, for something in the High Lord's expression shifted. Suddenly, a searing pain shot down my leg, and I cried out, breaking eye contact, and falling onto my knees. A deep gash dug into my right calf, from the knee down to the ankle. I looked back at the High Fae who stood behind me, and noted that the one to my right's icy sword was smothered in crimson blood. My blood, I realised. I looked up at Kallias in shock, and one more click of his slender fingers sent me tumbling into the dungeon.