by K T Munson
As they approached, the Frost Knight quickly glanced toward them. Coor noticed him regard Darha with a new, interesting light, a softness that Coor hardly recognized from the Knight he had first met on the Frost Nation shore. Thea had softened him in their time together, had changed him. She had to be the reason. Before Coor could contemplate it further, Kirill suddenly stood and approached Darha with purpose, leaving his healer behind him.
Noticing him, Darha paused in her steps and stared, confused.
“Queen Darha,” he said when he was in front of her. He bowed at the waist and then straightened. “Traveling through your nation, I have seen the devastation.” He sighed as his expression became sympathetic. “I see what you have lost, and I am truly sorry.”
Coor saw Darha swallow heavily before she nodded in acknowledgement. “Thank you for such kind condolences, Sir Knight.” She smiled at him then, though it was a little forced. “I’m glad you have returned safely.”
Coor caught the concern on Kirill’s face as he looked past them toward the hut Thea was in. “I wish we both could have returned safely.”
Coor realized suddenly that Kirill cared about Thea. He cared very much about her, and he was blaming himself for the damage done, whatever the extent of it might turn out to be. The concept seemed impossible mere months ago, but it was undeniably clear on Kirill’s face.
“Thank you,” Coor said before he realized he even wanted to say anything. His voice cracked with emotion, but he hardly cared as he held his hand out to Kirill. “Thank you for bringing my wife back home to me.”
Kirill glanced down at his hand before meeting his eyes with slight surprise. He then took a step forward and firmly grasped Coor’s hand. “We got each other back home.”
Coor nodded once, even as his heart continued to strain against the walls of his chest, trying to reach out for Thea. He wanted to hold her and kiss her, forever if possible, but he had to be content that she was home for right now.
Aradel stepped up beside Kirill to join them and Coor resisted glaring at her. “What are you going to do?” he asked a little more harshly than he intended.
“Coor,” Darha said in gentle astonishment.
Coor didn’t take his eyes from Aradel though. She turned her head away from him slightly under his intense stare. “I don’t know.”
“What do you mean you don’t know?” Coor demanded. “She wants your moon pearls. Your heritage. Your power!”
“Coor!” Darha cried in a tone that would usually silence him, but he was too emotional to yield.
“You can’t seriously be considering handing them over to her!”
“Of course not!” Aradel cried with sudden conviction. “I would rather die first!”
Coor pressed his lips together and let out a breath before bowing his head, partly in shame for speaking so callously and out of turn, but also in relief that she wasn’t considering turning the pearls over. “I’m sorry, Queen Aradel,” he said gently. “I just…” He glanced back at the hut Thea was in before looking back at the ground in front of him. “I’m not in my right mind at the moment. Please forgive me.”
Coor shifted his eyes up to her and saw her face soften. “Of course, Prince Coor,” she said with just as much conviction as she did compassion.
“Aradel,” Kirill said gently. “Freya can wield both fire and frost.”
Every eye in the group snapped to Kirill’s face in astonishment.
“What?” Darha breathed.
“How is that possible?” Coor asked.
Kirill just shook his head. “I don’t know, but Thea and I together couldn’t take her. We only managed to escape by a hairsbreadth. She is undefeatable, resistant to both our nation’s magic, as well as incredibly powerful at wielding the two.” Kirill met Aradel’s eyes and shook his head. “You can’t take her alone.”
Queen Aradel shook her head as well. “I can’t let her have the moon pearls.”
“Aradel, no,” Kirill argued. “You need to trust me. She is too powerful for you, and you know I have never doubted your power before.”
“Then why are you doubting it now?” Aradel countered.
“Thea is right,” Coor said. “She can’t take both our armies.”
Kirill nodded at Aradel. “Thea and Coor are right.”
“We’ve lost too many people,” Aradel exclaimed unexpectedly, silencing everyone. “I’ll not let her take another person from either of our nations!” she said passionately. Coor couldn’t help admiring that kind of courage; it was his wife’s kind of courage. “I believe I can resolve this,” Aradel said more softly. “I have the moon pearls, and they have never failed us before.”
“Listen,” Darha said, resting her hand on Coor’s chest as she looked at Aradel. “We have a day to consider what we should do. We can take some time to rest and reunite with our loved ones. Time I think all of us need.”
Kirill and Queen Aradel glanced at each other before looking back at her and Coor. “Agreed,” Aradel conceded. She gazed compassionately into Darha’s eyes. “Please give Thea my best wishes.”
Darha nodded as Coor’s heart started to pound at the notion of getting back to his wife.
“Kirill and I will come tomorrow so we can continue to discuss these matters further,” Queen Aradel added.
Darha nodded. “Very well.” She met Kirill’s eyes. “I wish you a peaceful rest, Sir Knight.”
Kirill nodded. “You as well, Queen Darha.”
Coor met Kirill’s eyes, and the two of them simply nodded at each other. Then Coor and Darha headed for the stone hut, while Aradel and Kirill headed for the guard tower north of The Wall. Everyone else in the vicinity dispersed.
Both Coor and Darha waited outside only a few moments before Meyer came out. Coor pounced on her immediately. “How is she?” he asked urgently.
Meyer met his eyes as she wiped her hands on a clean cloth. “The length of time her wound and lung were kept stone saved her life, but she will be damaged forever.” Coor swallowed heavily. “The damaged muscles in her left arm will render it almost completely useless, and she’ll likely have rapid breathing attacks every time she overexerts herself.”
Coor swallowed heavily. “But she’ll live?”
Meyer smiled brightly, Coor thought a little too brightly for such condemning news. “Yes, she will live.” She gazed over his shoulder at Darha. “However, she can no longer be a scout or a soldier. She can’t even lift a bow anymore with that left arm, and any excessive output in battle or heavy patrol will induce the breathing attacks.”
“Thank you, Meyer,” Darha said.
“Can I see her?” Coor asked, trying to keep the desperation from his voice.
“Of course,” she replied and stepped aside.
Coor glanced back at Darha who smiled. “Go ahead. I’ll wait my turn.” Flashing a brief smile of appreciation, Coor ducked into the hut.
Thea was lying on the bed with a beaming smile. “Hey,” she said as a tear slid across the bridge of her nose and dropped into her loose hair that fanned out against the pillow.
Coor quickly moved to the bed and crouched beside her, gathering one of her hands into both of his. “Hey yourself,” he said softly. He gazed into her light gray eyes for a long moment, savoring the sight of them. Then he swallowed heavily and glanced down at her left shoulder before meeting her eyes again. “Did Meyer tell you?”
Thea nodded. “My career as a badass is done,” she said.
As shocking as her acceptance was to Coor, the statement still caused them both to crack up quietly together. When the laughter died down, Thea gazed up at him with her eyes filled with the most light and adoration for him he’d ever seen—and Thea had never been shy when it came to looking at him with affection. Something was different, and Coor wondered if something was wrong.
He brought her hand up to his lips and kissed it several times. “How can you be so accepting of this? You have to leave the scouts—the soldiers, your men, Fitzu.”
Thea took in a breath, and slowly lowered his hand to rest on her stomach. Coor’s brows dropped in confusion, as another tear slid into her hair. “Because you’re going to be a father.”
Coor felt his heart squeeze, and then his wife’s smile registered, and his heart exploded. Hardly able to believe what he was hearing, he leaned down and gathered her in his arms. He couldn’t speak; he could only try to breathe as Thea chuckled gently over his shoulder.
He pulled away and looked down at her, stammering, “We…we’re…you’re…?”
Thea nodded. Coor looked down at her stomach, and then gently pressed his face into it. Thea laughed a little harder, though it was still weak. Coor thought about his child, right there, growing, living, forming. His baby. Thea’s baby. Their baby. He kissed her stomach a couple times before hovering over her again.
“I love you,” Coor said.
Thea smiled. “I know. I love you, too.”
Coor kissed his wife deeply. He was never letting her go again—not her, and not their child.
Frost: Chapter Forty-One
The morning light breeched the treetops as Aradel braided her hair, fingers over strands of slivery blond, again and again until the end. Her eyes were unfocused as her deft hands worked. At the end of the braid, she tied a pale blue ribbon into a bow.
Freya. She was the one thing on Aradel’s mind, the thing that had kept her tossing throughout the night. Sleep had been far off and unaccommodating. Her mind had raced as she considered all the angles, all the choices, and in the end, she knew she needed to go alone. Darha wouldn’t understand, and Aradel wasn’t ready to explain; so Aradel also made the decision not to tell her. Worse still was Kirill. He might understand, but he would stop her. He wouldn’t think her life was worth the risk—especially not now that she was Queen.
She wouldn’t risk either of them after they had been through so much already. The Fire Nation needed their Queen, and Kirill had already done enough for the Frost Nation. The numerous light blue scars on his skin would never disappear. They would always remind him of the journey he’d taken, and what he had endured. How could she look at him and those scars and ask him to face Freya again?
Her fingers absentmindedly played with the moon pearls at her throat. They would protect her if Aradel had misjudged her own memories. If Kirill was right, and Freya was too far gone, or wasn’t who Aradel suspected she was, then they would find a new queen if she failed.
Abruptly she stood with a fire in her eyes and went to the door. When she opened it, Cas turned to her with a startled expression. She froze instantly, and then smiled easily at him, hoping she could keep the strain from her expression.
“Commander Cas,” Aradel said, and he bowed his head respectfully. “How fortuitous that you should be here.”
“I was assigned for your protection,” Cas informed her and kept his head bowed. Likely to keep the smile hidden, but she could see it nonetheless.
“Kirill,” Aradel said, unable to keep the amused smile from her own lips. He had been home less than a day and was already protecting her. He must have been unnerved by their conversation the day before and decided she needed protection from herself. Perhaps he was right, but her mind was made up.
“Yes, Queen Aradel,” Cas confirmed before straightening, the soft smile still touching his lips.
“I need you to bear a message,” Aradel said, and his smile faded. She saw he was instantly suspicious.
“I cannot leave my post,” Cas insisted, though with some hesitation.
“I command you to bring Queen Darha here,” Aradel informed him and saw his jaw set at her words. He knew she was up to something but wouldn’t dare speak it aloud. She didn’t like to issue orders, but this time it was necessary. “I have urgent matters to discuss with her.”
“Your majesty, please,” Cas said clearly torn. “Kirill will not like this. Allow me get another guard to carry your message.”
Her face hardened as she replied carefully, “I am your Queen. Go and do as I command.”
He bowed again, this time from the waist, before hurrying down the hall. She watched him go, and let her eyes fall downcast. She was thoughtful a moment, wondering if Darha would understand why she had sent Cas to her. Would her newfound friend know that she wanted her to be happy, and that love always found a way?
With that thought, she closed the door to her chambers and rushed down the hall in the other direction. She lifted her skirts, hurrying down the steps of the guard tower. She knew exactly what Kirill had ordered Cas to do—guard her and make sure she didn’t do anything stupid. Yet here she was, hurrying to the temporary makeshift stables near Hurra.
It was early, and there were very few people around. The few who saw her bowed and called her “Queen Aradel” or “My Queen.” She smiled to them all and bid them a solemn good morning, but her feet never paused. Not until she entered the stables where some elk were kept with the Fire Nation’s horses.
At the far end, Tallus stood with his back to her as he brushed one of the elks. Her eyebrows furrowed together before she could help it, and a frown touched her lips. She hadn’t expected that seeing him would cause her resolve to waver. She walked carefully across the ground toward him. He glanced over his shoulder, and his face instantly lit up at seeing her. He set the brush on the edge of the stable before meeting her halfway.
“Good morning, Queen Aradel,” he told her with a smile that was as bright as the sun rise behind him.
“Good morning, Tallus,” Aradel replied. “I thought we agreed you’d call me Aradel?”
“Good morning, Aradel,” he corrected as the corners of his eyes crinkled. “Where are you on your way to this morning?”
“I came to see you,” Aradel said, and his smile faltered in surprise.
Silence fell between them as his eyes searched her face. She could all but see the wheels working in his mind, and she let them go without encouragement. Instead, she stood completely still and waited.
Finally, a grin returned to his face and he said softly, “I’m glad.”
Aradel took a single stride forward. Her chest ached from the look on his face, and she knew the feeling in his eyes mirrored her own. She knew he would never take a step forward, not just because he wouldn’t rush her, but because of what she was—Queen. So, she took another step and closed the distance between them.
When she lifted her face, she could feel the heat from his breath on her forehead. She could feel the gentle rise and fall of his chest as he continued to stare at her, smoldering her with the heat of his gaze.
She averted her eyes before carefully lifting her right hand. Uncurling her fingers, she rested her palm on his chest. Tallus brought his hand up across her fingers, and wrapped them around hers, holding her hand. Lifting her eyes to his again, partly in hope, partly in agony, the breath she had been holding was suddenly released. She tipped her head back, and he bent his down. Closing her eyes, she felt his lips press against hers. It was tender and sweet, exactly how he was. She would forever treasure that feeling upon her lips and the way her heart raced.
Aradel slowly dropped back to her heels and opened her eyes. “I wondered if it would be that perfect,” she whispered.
His lips curved into a half smile. “You are a constant surprise, Aradel,” he told her, and her stomach flip-flopped at the way he uttered her name.
She averted her eyes a moment and swallowed. When she looked back, her expression was apologetic. “I have to go.”
He nodded understandingly. “The constant demands of being Queen.”
He let her hand go, and she reluctantly retracted it before walking around him to the elk he had been tending to, and climbed onto its back. Tallus seemed a little surprised at her abrupt departure. She knew it would seem strange for her leave the safety of the guard tower without at least one member of her personal guard in attendance.
Just before she reached the end of the stable, she paused and looked back at him. “Tallus?”
> “Yes?” he asked. He must have sensed something was off because he appeared to be a little worried, but he asked her nothing, for which she was thankful.
“I’m happy we met,” she told him before turning the elk and riding it hard toward the River Gora.
Tallus didn’t know about Freya or her demands. He was the part of her life she wanted to keep safe. She hoped he would know her like Kirill did one day, but for now, she would leave him safely in the dark.
The trees pressed in around her, enveloping her in shadows. The light of the early morning hadn’t penetrated there yet, and the dew on the grass was kicked up by the elk. Her skirts flapped in the wind, and her braided hair bounced against her back with the movement of the elk.
Traveling up river a ways, she urged the elk to stop when she came to a large frozen section that stretched far into the mist; something that would be impossible in this heat without magic.
“Freya?” she called across the ice.
The elk shied a little, dancing from side to side as it sensed what was coming. Suddenly the fog over the river began to lift. Tendrils of heat wafted against her face, and Aradel wrapped herself in a thicker ice shield.
When the fog had completely dissipated, Freya could be seen walking across the ice toward her. Aradel patted the side of the elk to calm him before dismounting. It hesitated only a moment before returning to the safety of the trees.
“Well, I can’t say I expected this.” Freya called.
“Who is your mother?” Aradel asked abruptly as she stepped onto the ice.
Freya looked both annoyed and curious. “What does that matter?” she snapped as a fireball formed in her hand. “I’m not here to talk, give me the moon pearls or everyone dies.”
“Mera,” Aradel said softly as she neared the young woman. Shock flickered across Freya’s features. “Her name was Mera wasn’t it?”
“How do you know that?” she demanded, the fire in her hand shrinking slightly.
Aradel pressed her lips together and bowed her head in relief, and joy, and some fear before meeting Freya’s eyes again. Her eyes washed over her face, and hair, and body, and her heart ached knowing who she was, knowing that a piece of Mera not only lived, but was standing a few feet in front of her. Aradel’s own flesh and blood, which she’d thought was lost to her so many years ago.