Was that what Edie had been? Perhaps the girl had been fueled by more than just killing Heidi’s parents. Maybe she was one of these beings….
Despite how gloomy the palace seemed, it was beautiful. The large crystal chandeliers hanging from the high ceiling were quite similar to the golden ones in the dining hall back home. The blue velvet carpet leading into the throne room came from the same place Heidi’s father had purchased their crimson rug. Maybe the only differences between their people were colors and temperatures.
But I’m not so different after all, Heidi thought as she walked alongside the tall, slim female. She’d introduced herself as Jacqueline; she was one of the Queen’s maids. Heidi struggled not to think about her grandmother as the woman led her to a guest bedroom to change. Heidi did want to get out of the dirty clothes she’d been sporting for five hours too long.
Once inside the large room, Heidi waited until she heard the small click of the door closing before she allowed herself to unravel. No one was there to see the flood gates open as she buried her face into her hands, allowing them to catch the hot tears falling from her tired eyes. How in the name of Gaia was anyone supposed to deal with this much weight upon their shoulders? What had she done in her lifetime to deserve everything that had happened in the last few months? And more so, why wouldn’t King Fryse tell her where her father was?
“Something’s wrong,” she said aloud. She moved over to the large window, peering out at the quiet courtyard. A few of the guardsman were stationed at their quarters, but other than that, Heidi saw no signs of life. This place was so very different from hers. From her bedroom window she could see the children playing. She could hear their laughter and it always put her into a happy mood; yet she didn’t know if she’d ever feel happy again.
After a quick but thorough bath, Heidi stepped out of the tub and wrapped a towel around her tired body. The bathroom was surprisingly warm considering the walls were lined with ice and the tub itself was layered in frost. Steam rose from her damp skin as she grabbed another towel to dry her hair.
Her hand moved over the mirror, removing the condensation as she caught sight of her reflection. Sweet Gaia, did she really look that terrible?
Heidi’s brows knitted together as she stared at her dark brown eyes. That was new. She turned her head slowly, examining herself as she fought off the sleepiness. She couldn’t give in to it just yet. She still had to meet with King Fryse and hopefully her father would arrive soon. He would come. He had to.
Walking lazily out of the bathroom, Heidi made her way to the wardrobe. Hopefully there would be something suitable for her to wear inside of the azure colored mahogany. She pulled open the double doors and peered inside.
Of course she shouldn’t have been surprised to find everything inside was blue! Rich sapphire, flattering navy, and fierce cerulean colors greeted her as she clenched her teeth in aggravation. Would have killed them to add a pinch of red to their ensemble?
With a small sigh, she pulled a few dresses from the rack and moved towards the bed. Laying each one out to inspect, Heidi let the towel fall from her body.
“The sooner you go talk to the king, the sooner you can go home.”
She moved to the dresser then, hoping to find some proper undergarments to wear beneath her dress. Unlike some girls she’d met in the past, Heidi couldn’t bear the thought of walking around with nothing under her clothing. It just seemed uncomfortable and inappropriate. It was not how a lady was meant to act.
Much to her disappointment, a brassiere was nowhere in sight, but at least she found some knickers that were just her size. The soft white color was nice, and the sheer look about them made Heidi wonder if these sorts of undergarments were meant for every day wear or for a honeymoon. Heavens, was this the hope room for young Savana? Heidi had a hope room of her own, full of beautiful clothing and items for her wedding day.
Her cheeks heated up at the idea of a man seeing her in such scantily themed clothing. She couldn’t help if her mind wandered to Brison. Oh, Brison! What had happened to him?
“If he’s smart, he ran back home and he’ll stay there with his family,” she thought aloud as she moved back to the bed once she’d pulled the knickers up into place. She let out a low breath and tilted her head to the side. “No time to think about him right now. I need to get this over with.”
Grabbing the simplest dress first, Heidi lifted it over her head and stuck her arms through first. Wait. Gaia, what was wrong with this stupid thing? She wriggled her arms through the arm holes again, the majority of the dress covering her face as she muttered in frustration. What was keeping the thing from going down?
A knock sounded on the door and even though she tried to request a moment longer, she heard the creak of hinges as it swung open.
“Hey, Heidi, are you almost read-Holy Icicles.”
Heidi froze, her arms in the air and the dress covering her burning face as she recognized immediately that it was Isaiah.
Gaia, why? She asked as she shut her eyes tightly. Too much of her skin was exposed to him, and she had no doubt that he was looking at her.
Despite the fact she was embarrassed beyond belief, Heidi gathered what little, if any, of the dignity she had left and she struggled to pull the dress down once more.
It wouldn’t budge.
Seconds dragged by as she stood there, helpless and seething.
“You’re still looking at me, aren’t you?” she asked. Her voice was muffled by the fabric of the dress, but she was certain he heard her.
“..No?”
“You’re lying!”
“I swear to Gaia my eyes are closed. I’m not looking at you.”
“But you were.”
“It’s not like I did it on purpose, Heidi. I thought you would be ready by now. How long does it take for a person to bathe and get dressed?”
“How does one forget to gain permission before entering?”
“It’s my palace.”
Heidi scowled beneath the fabric as she squirmed again, attempting to tug the dress off to no avail. Blast it!
“Do you need help?”
“No!”
“It looks like you need help.”
“I do not need your help. Please fetch a maid for me.”
“I’d love to do that, but they’re all in the hall preparing the feast.”
Heidi nearly doubled over, clawing at the dress. She was beginning to feel claustrophobic and if that wasn’t bad enough, her body was reacting to the room temperature as well as the idea of Isaiah gazing at her.
“Let me help you,” Isaiah was closer. She felt the pressure of his fingers gripping the material and she froze. With a firm tug, the dress was pulled away from her arms and she regained circulation in her wrists.
Their eyes met and Heidi’s cheeks heated to dangerous levels. Isaiah’s gaze wasn’t one of amusement. In fact, his gaze was a little dangerous itself. There was a noticeable heat behind his blue hues and it stirred something in the pit of her stomach.
“Isaiah-” Heidi said quietly.
Isaiah swallowed hard as he turned, grabbing for another dress. He thrust it towards her as his eyes landed on the floor. “Here, try this one.”
Heidi accepted the dress, turning her back to him as she mentally kicked herself for allowing this to happen. What else was going to happen?
The second dress was an easier fit; a little loose, but it would suffice. She pulled her damp locks out from beneath it before she glanced over her shoulder at him. “Do you mind?” she asked quietly.
She bit her lower lip as she waited for Isaiah to zip up the back of the dress. Her heart was pounding so hard that it made her feel sick to her stomach. She was so tired of the nauseous feeling that kept creeping into her abdomen from every little thing happening. When would the madness end?
She felt the static energy of Isaiah’s close proximity and heat pooled in the lower part of her body. His cold fingers touched the flesh of her back and Heidi arche
d in response. Tiny jolts of ice shot through her heated veins as she stifled the strange noise rising in her throat.
“Sorry,” Isaiah whispered, carefully pulling the zipper upwards.
“It’s okay,” Heidi replied, turning to face him after he was finished. “Thank you.”
That same heat was still in his eyes as they gazed at one another.
“Happy to oblige,” Isaiah said in a husky tone. His eyes wandered over her face before traveling down to where the low cut dress barely concealed her bosom. Heidi suddenly felt very self-conscious as her bottom lip was caught between her teeth again.
Why is he looking at me like that? She wondered. Oh, Gaia. He’s not going to treat me like one of his earth girls, is he?
Her stomach churned again as her nostrils flared and then she cleared her throat. “We should get to dinner.”
Isaiah’s eyes snapped up to her face once more. “Yes,” he agreed. “My father will send the hunting party if we’re not there when he wants. He’s all about punctuality.”
Heidi gave a small smile as she moved to the wardrobe to grab a pair of slippers. Of course they were blue, but at least her feet would stay warm. It didn’t truly matter what color they were, right?
She combed her fingers through her hair, glancing in the mirror to make sure she looked all right; and then she stopped.
“What’s wrong?” Isaiah asked from the doorway.
“Nothing,” Heidi responded with a small shake of her head. She couldn’t tear her eyes away from her reflection. For the first time in her entire life, she couldn’t help but to think she resembled her mother.
“Come on, Heidikin,” Isaiah urged gently. “You look fine. Let’s go.”
“Yeah,” she smiled a little. “I do.”
22
A feast in the Ice castle was extremely different than one thrown in the Fire palace. Instead of being met with joyful music and loud conversation, Heidi only heard silence except for the occasional clink of silverware against plates. She was paranoid to even breathe too loud, in fear of disturbing the peaceful atmosphere. She felt like she was in a library.
Isaiah was seated across from her, picking at his food like a little boy who despised greens and wished for the sweets. His father was at the head of the table respectively, and his wife, Queen Kolet was at the other end.
Isaiah’s mother was still as beautiful as the first time Heidi had met her so many years ago. Her hair was radiant silver and her face was very much the same. She sipped at a silver chalice filled with Mint Whiskey Cider. It wasn’t a drink that Heidi preferred, but it was the only refreshment available to her until she returned home. Speaking of which..
Putting her own chalice back upon the table, Heidi lifted her gaze to King Fryse. She was surprised to find him staring at her as well. As the mint burned down her throat, settling in her stomach, she blinked slowly.
That is a strong drink, she thought for a second. Perhaps I should have stopped after the third one.
“Do you wish to speak now, Princess?” King Fryse questioned.
“As a matter of fact,” Heidi hiccupped. “Oh, excuse me. As a matter of fact, I would, Your Majesty. I’d like to know where my father is.”
King Fryse straightened up in his seat, his eyes staying on Heidi as the faintest of smiles graced his lips. “Always the persistent,” he commented as he placed his fork on the table and lifted a napkin to dab at his mouth. He sighed and glanced at his wife. “My snowflake, would you go greet Savana at the gates when she arrives? She should be here momentarily.”
“Yes, my king,” Kolet replied as she stood from the table, giving a small bow of her head towards Heidi. “Excuse me, Princess.”
Heidi watched as the Queen exited the dining hall, leaving the young Fire princess alone with Isaiah and his father. Why was it that King Fryse didn’t want her to be present for the conversation? It only made Heidi feel more apprehensive than before.
“I know the last few months have been most difficult for both of you. I imagine it is not easy to live among the humans when you are used to such extravagance,” the kind spoke after a moment of awkward silence.
“It wasn’t entirely bad,” Heidi took another sip from her chalice. “I did make a friend.”
King Fryse’s bushy eyebrows rose on his forehead as he glanced towards Isaiah. “A friend?” He questioned with a small chuckle. “What about you, Son? Did you make friends with the humans as well?”
Isaiah nearly choked on the drink he was taking. He forced the mouthful of cider down his throat before he blinked, looking back and forth between Heidi and his father. “I suppose you could say that,” he nodded.
Heidi rolled her eyes. Yes, if sleeping with the lot of them counts.
“Very good,” King Fryse nodded. “The humans should be so lucky to know young people such as you two.”
Oh, please, Heidi thought as she stared at him. Was he purposefully avoiding the topic of her father? Did something bad happen and this was his attempt at postponing her grief? She felt that undesired sinking feeling in her stomach. It was mixing with the whiskey cider and that wasn’t a good feeling to have; at all.
“Heidi, you’re a young woman now and I feel that you’re old enough to be included in the politics of our kingdoms. I believe that your father would want you to know what is happening.”
Both Heidi and Isaiah listened intently as the king lifted a hand to stroke his solid white beard. It seemed like he was thinking about what he wanted to say, though if it was bad news, he needed to get it over with.
“Early yesterday morning, your father received disturbing news from Neptune. It would seem as though they are also being targeted by our new enemies; the enemies I now understand to be led by Edie.”
“They were being led by Edie,” Isaiah corrected as he shot a grin in Heidi’s direction. She didn’t share his humor.
“Of course,” his father nodded. “Though we have successfully defeated the Darskygg, I fear they have gone after the weaker kingdoms now,” he lowered his eyes to the table, a solemn expression upon his face. “King Muir is dead.”
“What?!” Both Heidi and Isaiah exclaimed at the same time. Heidi didn’t want to believe it. She’d known the Water King since before she could walk. He was always such a kind, bright man who never missed out on the opportunity to laugh.
Heidi lifted her hand to rest over her chest and felt her heart beat quickening. She should not have drunk so many chalices of cider!
“I don’t understand,” Isaiah said after a moment. “If King Muir is dead and his kingdom is now under attack, why in the hell did you allow Heidi’s father to go there on his own?”
Heidi and King Fryse were equally shocked from what Isaiah said. Had he ever spoken to his father like that before? King Fryse stood from his chair, his cold eyes resting on his son as he narrowed his gaze.
“I would like to speak to you alone, Isaiah.”
“No,” Isaiah shook his head, glancing briefly to Heidi before looking at his father again. “You have no bloody idea what we’ve been through for the past months. I almost died, Father. Heidi gave up a part of her innocence she will never get back in order to save me-and you are telling me you allowed her father to gallop off into the sunset, possibly going to his death? What is this truce you speak so highly of? Of our worlds uniting and standing together-”
“Enough!” King Fryse’s voice rumbled like thunder throughout the ice palace. Heidi gripped the edge of the frozen table, feeling as the ice cracked beneath her fingertips.
Isaiah immediately silenced, his gaze was anything but quiet. He was livid and Heidi could see it. Why was he so angry about her father’s departure? Why did Isaiah care? He had his family back now.
“I wanted to accompany King Sidius, but he wouldn’t let me. You know how stubborn Fire people are.”
Heidi could feel his gaze on her even though she was focused on the table now. Some dinner this turned out to be.
“He is missing,” he a
dded.
Heidi lifted her gaze then, her heart sinking into her stomach as her mouth fell open. “What?”
“He left with three thousand of his best men. They went to Neptune to help. It seems there was an ambush and nearly all but twenty Fire warriors were killed. Your father vanished and King Muir is dead. I am sorry, Princess.”
Oh no. No, this couldn’t be right. Heidi felt the panic clutching at her heart as she tried to fight off the dizziness in her head. Four chalices of Whiskey Cider were bad. She felt so sick, suddenly.
Pushing herself up from the table, Heidi made her best attempt at leaving the table. Her legs didn’t move the way she wanted and she crashed into another chair, reaching out to grasp it.
“Heidi.”
Isaiah’s voice was soft, full of concern as his strong arms wrapped around her. He tried to steady her, but she fell against him as tears filled her eyes.
“I need to find him,” she whispered. “I have to find my father.”
“You can’t very well accomplish that in your current state,” Isaiah replied as he guided her towards the hallway. “You need to rest first. Sleep it off, hm?”
“I can’t,” She sobbed, gripping his arm tightly as she staggered alongside him. “I need to go now. I have to go to Neptune and find out what happened. If someone’s got him…if they’re hurting him..”
“Shh, don’t worry,” Isaiah murmured as he led her down the seemingly never-ending hallway to her room. He pushed the door open and guided her inside. “Your father is a powerful man, Heidi. A person would be daft to mess with him. I’m sure he is fine.”
“But how do you know?” Heidi asked as she was eased down upon the surprisingly soft mattress. She gripped the sleeve of Isaiah’s shirt, staring up at him desperately. “How do you know he’s not already dead?” Her lower lip quivered as she shook her head. “I’ve already lost my mother…”
“Heidi,” Isaiah spoke firmly as he cupped her cheeks between his cool hands. “Listen to me now. Your father is all right. The sun shines brightly in the North.”
The Fire King's Daughter Page 15