by Amber Argyle
As Ilyenna spread her wings to fly away, she cast a final glance at the clan house. Her gaze met Rone’s. In the fading light from Leto’s departure, he could see her through the window. Ilyenna wondered if Leto had done that on purpose.
The extinguished candle in his hand clattered to the floor. “Ilyenna.”
At the sound of his voice, more memories stirred within her, and she realized that she, queen of all winter, was jealous of the girl she’d been before. Of the love she’d felt.
She nodded to her warrior fairies. “Summer is truly gone. Back to the border.”
The warriors exchanged glances before bowing. “My queen.”
Ilyenna looked back at the window, but it was empty now. She felt strangely hollow. But then the door cracked open.
Favoring his side, Rone ran toward her. His face was wan, his skin nearly as pale as hers in the moonlight. He stumbled to a halt before her, his breath hitching oddly. He shook his head, looking both amazed and afraid. “It’s you, but then again it isn’t.”
She knew what he meant. She’d seen her reflection. Her skin was paler, white with a silver undertone. Ice blue tinged her lips. Her hair was loose and a little wild, with colorful wildflowers frozen in the strands. Her dress was made of a snow and ice. On her head, she wore a headdress of ice and diamonds.
And that wasn’t all. An otherworldly aura of power shimmered around her.
He reached toward her but then stopped. “Is—is it really you?”
Ilyenna crossed the gap between them, pausing just before her skin touched his. “I will try to hold the cold back. You will tell me if it hurts you?”
Rone nodded. She brushed her fingers across his warm cheek. His breath caught.
Touching him tugged at something deep within her. “It didn’t hurt?”
He shook his head and dropped to his knees. “It is you!” His breath misted the air. “Please forgive me for failing to save you.”
He was shivering. With a touch, Ilyenna drew the cold away and helped him to his feet. “I saved myself.”
He nodded slowly. “I know, but it cost you so much.”
She glanced into the trees, watching her fairies dance. “I gained more than I lost.”
She brought her other hand out and ran her fingers carefully across the planes of his face. “It is strange. I remember you. I know you. At one time, the soul that is mine loved you.” She dropped her hand. “Now all I feel is regret. Regret because, though I live my life, the memories of the woman I was will not let me forget.”
Rone caught both her hands under his own. “Ilyenna?”
She closed her eyes. “Yes?” she breathed.
She was surprised when his lips met hers, and even more surprised when she responded. Gasping, she stepped back and pressed her fingertips to her mouth. Though her lips felt pleasantly warm, she felt a surge of disappointment. “It’s not there anymore. The love I had for you.”
It wasn’t entirely true. She felt something. A possibility, a chance for something to grow from the ashes of what had been their love. Perhaps even something stronger and more beautiful than before. But could she ask any man to give up everything for a mere possibility?
No. It wasn’t fair, especially not for one who’d already give up so much. “The Balance protect you, Rone Argon.” Ilyenna spread her magnificent wings.
He grabbed her hand. “I don’t care what you’ve become. You are mine, and I am yours. That will never change.”
“Rone—”
“Stay with me.”
She studied him. “I want what she had. I want to love again. But I’m not even sure I’m capable of love.” He took a step toward her. She backed away. “Do you think it is possible for you to love me as you once did her?”
He reached out tentatively. When Ilyenna didn’t pull back, he cradled her cheek in his palm. “You still have the same soul.”
Rone took her in his arms. She felt his warm body against hers. He kissed her with a longing and regret that made her hurt for him.
When she finally pulled away, the hard edges inside her seemed softer. “That I remember very well.”
He smiled and moved to kiss her again, but she shook her head. She tipped her head up to the sky. “Tell Chriel to bring Elice here.”
Rone’s happy expression changed to one of disbelief as their daughter came, born on the backs of a hundred creature fairies, Chriel in the lead. Elice was wrapped in white fur. Slate brown eyes were set in a round face with pink lips, soft brown hair, and creamy skin.
“This is your daughter,” Ilyenna said.
Rone simply stared. “She has your eyes and lips.”
“And your chin and cheeks.”
He cleared his throat and said thickly, “But how? The time couldn’t have come yet.”
Ilyenna cocked her head to the side. “Qari says we are never with child longer than a season.”
He shook his head. “Can I hold her?”
Ilyenna took her daughter in her arms. The fur blanket fell back, revealing soft, delicate skin. Ilyenna handed her over.
Rone held her carefully, as if afraid she might break. “Elice?”
The girl reached up and patted his face. He flinched in pain.
Ilyenna tisked and touched his cheek, instantly drawing away the cold of Elice’s touch. “We must teach her to keep her cold inside. Until then, you must be very careful.”
His eyes wide, Rone rubbed his cheek. “What did she do?”
Ilyenna grinned and took Elice from his arms. Bending down, she let her child’s chubby fingers skim the top of the nearby lake. Intricate, swirling patterns of ice fanned out. Quickly, Ilyenna withdrew Elice and wrapped her in the furs.
“Summer wouldn’t approve,” she said with a hint of pride.
Rone hesitated before tentatively taking Ilyenna’s hand. “You can’t stay here?”
She shook her head. “I am a queen. I live with my fairies.”
“Then I will go with you.”
Ilyenna watched Elice. “And what of your people?”
He looked sadly back at the clan house. “I never really came back to them.” He touched her face again. “You’re not the only one who has changed. I don’t belong here anymore. I belong with you.”
Ilyenna searched Rone’s gaze for signs of doubt. All she saw was relief, as if a great pain inside him had eased.
“The transformation will make you impervious to the cold, but you shall never again feel the warmth of the summer sun on your face. Never smell a freshly mowed field. Never taste the sweetness of a juneberry. And you will never see your family again.”
Rone didn’t hesitate. “Since you left, I have felt none of those things. I have been empty.”
“Chriel,” Ilyenna called. The fairy with rabbit fur wings moved to take Elice. “I have chosen Rone Argon as my consort. Make him a friend of winter.”
“Wonderful, my queen!” Chriel changed direction, fluttering forward and pressing her lips to Rone’s.
He stopped shivering as golden sun spilled over the valley. “I—I’m not cold anymore.”
Ilyenna smiled. For the first time since she’d been reborn as the winter queen, she felt whole.
Rone took her hand in his. He was smiling and splitting his gaze between Ilyenna and their daughter. “I love you,” he said.
In response, she called an aurora to dance before the stars. Spreading her great wings, she drew him to her and took to the skies.
The End
# # #
Acknowledgements
I first began Winter Queen in 2008. It would be nearly impossible to name every person who had a hand in the direction of the book during that seemingly interminable time span, but I would like to mention a notable few.
Thank you:
God—for letting me borrow Tolkien (literally) every once in a while.
JoLynne Lyon, Cami Checketts, Steve Diamond, Michelle Argyle, Chris Loke, and Julie Slezak—for always pushing me to create something more powe
rful than I thought possible.
Andrea Winkler, Cathy Nielson, Tiffany Farnsworth, Stephanie Jensen, and Rachel Newswander—for making my prose as transparent as Ursella’s wings.
Kathy Beutler, Laura Sava, Robert Defendi, and Linda Prince—without your artistic talents, my readers would be forced to endure drawings of stick figures and read novels with pregnant sentences (inside joke—you’ll have to ask me sometime).
My family and friends—for seeing “author” as only a small part of me (because in reality, it is).
About the Author
Amber Argyle grew up with three brothers on a cattle ranch in the Rocky Mountains. She spent hours riding horses, roaming the mountains, and playing in her family’s creepy barn. This environment fueled her imagination for writing high fantasy.
She has worked as a short order cook, janitor, and staff member in a mental institution. All of which have given her great insight into the human condition and have made for some unique characters.
She received her bachelor’s degree in English and Physical Education from Utah State University.
She currently resides in Utah with her husband and three small children.
Connect with Amber Online:
Twitter: http://twitter.com/amberargyle
Facebook: http://facebook.com/amberargylesmith
Blog: http://amberargyle.blogspot.com
Web site: http://www.amberargyle.com