The Summer King and His Winter Bride-Chapter 22: Reacquainted

The sunlight crept up behind the towers of the Winter Palace, as daylight shone, Queen Caroline stood admiring a portrait of her father when he had just been crowned King of the Winter Court.

All was peaceful and quiet in the drawing room but her thoughts wreaked havoc within her, a soft creak of the door made her turn. Felix Gray stepped inside his face hidden beneath his hood but she recognized him under broad daylight.

"You dare to show yourself under broad daylight, Felix, where have you been hiding all this time?"

"You should not be alone, Your Highness the rebellion moves faster than you realize."

"If you have come here to urge me to flee, do not waste your breath."

Felix sighed and said "not to flee but to marry Casimir with haste, Your Highness."

Her breath hitched but she masked it adding, "why would you press me to that fate?"

"Because you have not realized that the Winter Court will not wholly be loyal to you as you think. Many oppose your marriage and if you wait much longer I am afraid a wedge will be driven between you and Casimir therefore forever preventing any form of a union."

Queen Caroline studied his features then and asked, "what do you seek to gain from this, Felix?"

"My freedom, from the curse that binds me to the land and the time will come when you will have no need of me," he replied confidently.

His green eyes softened then as he added. " I failed your mother once. I will not fail you."

Silence stretched between them heavy with unspoken things left unsaid.

Behind her Caroline felt a shadow shift.

King Casimir stepped out of his hiding place from behind a large thick curtain that hung in the drawing room.

His golden markings on his dark tunic catching the sunlight and sparkling, his expression tight and weary as he recognized his former general.

"You speak of loyalty, yet you were absent when my court was attacked, and her father killed. Where do your loyalties lie?"

"Your Majesty, I expected you would be listening in," Felix replied quickly.

"You were eavesdropping!" Caroline accused Casimir.

"Good thing I was, I am stunned to find one of my men pledging loyalty to you, with shifting loyalties going on at my court who knows what else is in store for us from the rebellion."

"Felix does not work for the rebellion," Caroline argued.

"Yet he often appears just before danger strikes, correct?" Casimir countered.

"That he does," she said slowly admitting it to herself.

Casimir amber gaze met hers then, "you have such devoted protectors," he added sarcastically.

"General where were you when my court was under attack?" Casimir shifted his attention to Felix then.

"I was tracking the true enemy, and was nearly discovered doing so."

"How convenient," mocked Casimir.

"The truth, Your Majesty." Felix expression did not waver.

"You trust this man?" Casimir asked turning to Caroline.

"I trust he has no reason to lie to us," Caroline answered slowly.

"You know who is in charge of the rebellion then?" Casimir questioned not believing him for a moment.

"I am afraid it is Queen Arabella, Your Majesty, though she does have helped from members of the Spring Court, I suspect King Cyrus may also be indirectly involved."

"We already know this, General. There was a prison break in the dungeons at the Summer Court. Miranda already spotted and sensed their magic, you have nothing new to offer." Casimir concluded curtly.

"Who else in my court would fight with the rebellion?" Casimir questioned aloud.

"I am inclined to believe anyone that is against a union with the Winter court particularly you marrying the queen, Your Majesty." Felix answered.

"You already suspect some, but in time you will need proof, that is all I can offer." Felix added.

"For your sake general that proof had better come quicker than I can find for it myself." Casimir remarked.

"I will find it, Your Majesty." Felix assured.

Caroline let out a breath she had been holding.

"Will you continue to hesitate, or decide now where you will stand?" Casimir asked turning to face her.

She lifted her chin meeting his piercing amber gaze with her cold blue ones.

"I already have decided."

"Very well," Casimir acknowledged.

Without another word, he walked past them and left the drawing room.

Felix then cautioned her. "You must prepare well, Your Highness, the moment you step back onto Summerland soil there will be no turning back."

Caroline swallowed. "I know, Felix" she whispered.

"I just hope I am making the right decision for all our sakes." She added quietly.

"You are, Your Highness, this time round I will be with you every step of the way."

"Thank you, Felix that means a lot." She answered.

"It is an honor, Your Highness," he replied before he too left the drawing room leaving her to sort out what she had just learned from them both.

So the Autumn Court and the Spring Court would unite against them, she concluded.

"Well that makes my guest list much shorter for the wedding," she murmured to herself.

Queen Caroline stared out the window then and sat on the sofa basking under the sunlight that streamed through the window.

"I must render my enemies powerless," she thought to herself.

Only then could she truly win this war.

The only way to do that would be to marry Casimir soon so that their union of opposing elements cancelled out powers across the four courts and the entire realm itself.

Now she only had to prepare to become a wife and a mother, convincing Casimir to make haste should not be a problem she thought wryly.

She would have to surrender to the flames eventually but she would not surrender without a fight.

No she would make Casimir earn her trust if he sought to break down all the walls to her heart.

As fragile as the heart yearned for love, so was the fragile spark that burned between them.

She could only hope, he would succeed.