<div style="text-align: center"><span style="font-family: 'Didact Gothic', 'sans-serif'"><span style="font-size: 18px"><br/>
"If they get their way they will set our whole realm in a roar."</span></span>​</div><span style="font-family: 'Didact Gothic', 'sans-serif'"><br/>
The Kingdom of Winter was one with a rocky history. There had been many Kings and Queens that had desired more power. More land – some had even dreamt of ruling the entire realm. Never had a single greedy ruler managed to succeed. All of them had died in battle, poisoned by traitors in the kitchen or worse; strangled in their sleep by their very own wife. No – Winter's past was not as stainless as the snow white blanket that covered the entire country. It was known to be a tough place, the circumstances as icy and cold as the temperatures. The kingdom, or in fact the ruler of the kingdom, had always appeared to be too stubborn or too hostile to be willing to rely on the other nations and their trading markets. This was most likely one of the very few things that had changed a couple of years ago. Ten years ago, to be more specific. When a new Queen had been crowned and when she had made very little adjustments to what she called her territory. Of course there had been changes – obviously, she had learned from a few of her ancestors' mistakes. But this lady came from a very long and noble bloodline that had been occupying the throne for centuries and nobody truly expected a great difference. She lived up to these expectations; she was different and yet the same.<br/>
<br/>
Shalin Yurdill, Queen of Winter and better known as the Ice Queen, was currently seated at the large dining table of the castle in Winter's Hold, her head bent over a stew made out of beef, carrots, and onions. Three slices of dark brown bread had been put on her left as a side dish, while a cup of red wine stood within reach of her right hand. The entire room was filled with a tense kind of silence. No one dared to speak, let alone walk around while the Lady of the castle was dining – especially not if she was in a terrible mood.<br/>
<br/>
Conclaves weren't obligations she was fond of, mostly not because of the different opinions that came with them. Decisions were never made quickly, a lot of unnecessary conversations and courtesies were required and therefore it was simply a waste of her precious time. And while Shalin was not an impatient woman, she was a woman that wanted to see progress and make choices within the blink of an eye. There was a reason why she had abandoned the counsel of her dear father and why she led this nation all by herself. There was a reason why her father was a dead man and why she was still alive. Discipline and decisiveness were what she called the keys to the Frozen Throne of Winter.<br/>
<br/>
"Your Grace, we are to depart soon. The Island of Pasture requires a long travel and we should have left last morning already." The voice of Drodas suddenly echoed through the room, even carried a hint of sarcastic pedantry. The older man had served the Yurdills for ages and managed to remain on Shalin's good side when she had fired her entire council – but she had kept him. He was the Admiral of her army and served the Queen during her travels. When he was lucky he could even manage to brighten her day with his straightforward sense of humour. "Your Majesty, mind being faster than you wield your sword for once?"<br/>
<br/>
"Do you wish to meet the steel, Drodas?" At first sight, it would have been a threat, but the very frugal smile that started to curl around her pale lips stated otherwise. A soft sigh escaped from her mouth before she took the last bite from her stew. The leftovers were passed over to the other side of the wooden table – to Drodas, who devoured the meat and soaked the bread in the gravy as if he had not had a good meal in days. Only the carrots and the onions were not being eaten. Of course.<br/>
<br/>
Shalin rose from her seat and walked out of the dining room with the Admiral on her heels. It was as if the servants of the castle were able to read the monarch's mind as they prepared for her leaving. While one draped her cloak made out of white fur around her shoulders, another brought her –her sword. Her gloves, made out of the same material as the cloak, were carefully being slipped over her fingers and hands. And most importantly; a silver crown was carefully put on her head. Did this make her flamboyant? Perhaps. But Shalin wanted to make it crystal clear where she stood for and how the strings were being pulled by her and herself only. This was not a weak attempt to become the center of attention. This was a sign of pushing the boundaries of dominance.<br/>
<br/>
"Avalon." As soon as the cold wind of the outsides clawed at their bare faces, her blue eyes found the purple ones of her companion. A giant black beast that roamed the skies of the nation. Although independent and to be called free (ironically, the only free creature of Winter), he was loyal to the Lady Shalin. He was most likely one of her true allies, one that did not follow her because he feared her wrath or a worse sovereign. Avalon was a snow dragon, one that breathed ice instead of fire – and incredibly useful as the protector of the country whenever Shalin was unable to do so.<br/>
<br/>
She mounted the creature, hands seeking for grip as her covered fingertips brushed over the scales that felt as if they had been made out of cold stone. Drodas found his spot behind her and remained at an appropriate distance from Shalin. With both travelers safe and sound on his back, Avalon spread his wings and prepared to fly away from the castle of Winter's Hold.<br/>
<br/>
They traveled for five days. The three of them would rest in the abandoned areas that were covered in ice and snow and sleep underneath the dark night skies. Their one and the only official stop was at the Cold Heart Hearth, a secluded area that was being hidden behind many mountains. The core of the place consisted of a rather large city where both Shalin and Drodas were able to eat, sleep, and refresh themselves while two pigs had been roasted and served to Avalon – who ravaged and consumed the meat as if he was a barbarian.<br/>
<br/>
The trio would continue their journey after a light sleep and a hearty meal, although it was not far from the Final Stand anymore. This was where the snow dragon would leave Queen Shalin and Admiral Drodas behind, for he did not cross the borders between the nations – especially not the borders of a warm-hearted and soft nation like Spring. He would only terrify the poor elves and humans, after all.<br/>
<br/>
"I despise ships." Shalin clenched her jaw as she gazed at the water. Only the very edges were still frozen. A small, but well-prepared ship floated in the sea. The port of the Last Stand was mostly empty. While the Queen had never liked the idea of a war on water, it was also almost impossible to maintain ships that did not get stuck in the slightly frozen water of the harbor.<br/>
<br/>
"Your Majesty shall not be concerned. It will be a short trip only. You should be looking forward to your temporary residence – the Lord of Spring ensures the best comfort. You know how kind the man is, Your Grace."<br/>
<br/>
"The man is as much of a fool as the fish that plays in the water of Summer." She shook her head but allowed Drodas to remove her gloves and cloak. "Has kindness ever been the key to success, Drodas?"<br/>
<br/>
"Not in Winter, Queen Shalin."<br/>
<br/>
They were only one day away from the Pasture, but it felt like an eternity to her. The feeling of being tossed around was far from enjoyable and it honestly made her feel vulnerable to be out in the open – far away from the solid ground where she was the strongest. Therefore it did not come as a surprise when Shalin was the first to set foot on Pasture as soon as they could. Unfortunately, she was immediately greeted by the pale and shocked face of her emissary – that had been sent with two other servants to prepare her soon-to-be accommodation. Drodas stood beside her and shared a suspicious glance with the silver-haired noblewoman.<br/>
<br/>
"Speak." She raised her eyebrows as she brushed a few strands of white hair away from her face. Her bright blue eyes stood sharp.<br/>
<br/>
"The Lord of Spring has been attacked, Your Grace. The conclave may not take place." The messenger did not dare to look up at her. He twisted nervously with his fingers and rocked back and forth on his heels.<br/>
<br/>
"Attacked by whom?"<br/>
<br/>
"Men in black, my Queen. They were experienced with the art of magic." He bowed his head. "I… I have been asked if you could choose if the meeting should still happen. You are the last one to cast a vote for your arrival has been delayed, and… -"<br/>
<br/>
Suddenly, the man's words were cut off by a flick of Shalin's dismissive hand. "Yes. Yes, the meeting shall go on. Hurry now." She watched the man leave and waited until she was sure that he was completely out of sight before she turned around and stared at Dodras. His chocolate brown eyes met hers – and she could see that he was concerned.<br/>
<br/>
"It does not have to be what you are thinking, Queen Shalin. It could have been a coincidence," he tried, but as he failed to convince himself, he also failed to convince the younger woman.<br/>
<br/>
"A coincidence, you say? We both know that this is not a coincidence, Dodras, and we also know that this will lead to great problems for Winter." She rested her right index finger on her lips upon noticing that the man opened his mouth to speak once again. "We shall not speak of it. It is not safe here, and I am to think about this. All you must know is that nobody can find out unless you wish for your nation and your Queen to go down. I cannot fight three nations at once, and neither can you, nor Avalon. We shall not bend until I have sorted this out. Do not, and I repeat, do not dare to say a word."<br/>
<br/>
And with those words Shalin walked away from him, her expression growing darker and darker with agitation as she strolled forward – towards the nearest tavern that Pasture provided. The last thing she had expected from this council with the Lords and Lady of the realm would be a planned attack on the Lord of Spring – a target that had obviously been carefully chosen. Was it because the gathering was being hosted by him? Were the other rulers too difficult to attack? She could not tell why, but she could tell who – and that was exactly the kind of information she wished she had not been aware of.<br/>
<br/>
Her residence was small but quiet. There were no other people but a couple of visitors that were sipping from ale and wine in the back of the Inn. The emissary was taking care of her vote and Dodras was most likely exploring the surroundings all by himself. Many would wonder why the two visitors of Winter dared to roam alone after hearing about the massacre on the island. Some would also question why they were taking another moment to pause the travels. It was not something usual for Shalin to be late, let alone to continue to wander.<br/>
<br/>
But if Dodras' and her own concerns turned out to be true, the last thing they would have to fear for was an attack. If the other leaders just knew – Winter would soon be erased from the realm's map. It was time to overthink her next steps carefully right now. Very carefully.<br/>
</span><br/><div style="text-align: center"><span style="font-family: 'Didact Gothic', 'sans-serif'"><span style="font-size: 18px">"It's all about finding the calm in the chaos."</span></span>​</div><span style="font-family: 'Didact Gothic', 'sans-serif'"><br/>
The oceans of Spring provided water that possessed the perfect temperature, but there were not as many waves as the citizens of Summer were used to – causing their tails to flow less gracefully than usually in the water. They did not appear to mind the lack of elegance, though. In fact, the Lady of Summer appeared to feel (as ironic as it may be) like a fish in the water. The few days she had been wandering around the island of Lord Vindra's nation had been peaceful. During the days, she roamed the seas and explored whatever could be possibly discovered, and during the nights she stayed at one of the few inns that Pasture had to offer. She was not afraid to be attacked by the people of Spring; they were the most tender people she had ever met. Friendly from the core, but clever where needed. The Lady liked to believe that she could get along with them, perhaps because she was a rather kind person as well. In one way or another; she did not mind her temporary visit to the different nation. It was her favourite out of the three that did not belong to her. Winter was way too cold for her own good, and Autumn gave her certain chills that reminded her of a dark death. Wasn't Autumn the season of Death? When the leaves fell and the animals started to flee? She shook her head as she returned to the surface.<br/>
<br/>
Nakaia was a woman with raven black hair, forest green eyes, and a slightly tanned skin. Although she was impossibly old when being compared to a human being, she was in her early thirties regarding her mermaid years. A ruler to be chosen through democracy – a direct democracy to be more specific. Officially, she ruled and controlled Summer. In real terms, the entire nation made the decisions. Men and women that were at least fifty years old had the opportunity to vote. The only reason why Nakaia was called the Lady of Summer, was because the meetings with the other seasons required a single individual that would participate in name of their country. And instead of sending someone else every time a gathering was necessary, Summer had decided to choose one citizen that would lead the nation. A citizen to be chosen by everyone. It did not come with many privileges, except living in a bigger home, being able to cross the borders to speak with the other leaders and in the most exceptional case; have the right to make a decision by herself when there was no time to call for a vote. Other than that, Nakaia could not be called a ruler – and she was not ashamed of admitting it. To be completely fair, she was proud of how their nation was organized and how it functioned. Of course, the system was not flawless, for a system without flaws did not exist, but most people were happy with it and so it remained. Why would they try to fix something that had never been broken?<br/>
<br/>
A pair of arms that wrapped themselves around her waist and dragged her back underwater caused Nakaia to be ripped away from her thoughts. But she did not make an attempt to struggle, for she recognised the gentle, yet playful touch immediately. As she turned around and stared into his dark brown orbs, a smile curled around her lips and a little twinkle in her eyes started to shine. She pressed her lips against his and shamelessly kissed him as they hid away in the depths of the water, where nobody would find them or even seek for them.<br/>
<br/>
Her betrothed was who she would call the love of her life. A warm-hearted, honest man that was free of worries and concerns. He was peaceful, managed to calm her down in the heat of the moment. He was wise, wiser than her, and probably more spiritual as well. He meditated a lot, even more now their engagement has been sealed. She never asked him why – probably because it did not truly worry her. He had taught her not to worry. Worries caused hasty and wrong choices; in his opinion.<br/>
<br/>
The two lovebirds swam further away. Her bright, blue tail and his deep purple one shimmered lightly due to the weak sun rays that managed to catch them as they moved closer and closer to the surface. They were coming closer the beautiful waterfall of Pasture, which debouched in the lake with sweet water and where Nakaia and Mellisio, Nakaia's betrothed, were swimming right now. But the sound of voices pierced through her ears and managed to distract her from the waterfall. Both curious and impulsive, the female managed to slip away from Mellisio and poked her head out above the surface of the lake – hiding carefully behind a couple of rocks as she floated ever so smoothly.<br/>
<br/>
She was able to overhear the conversation, and truth to be told, part of her wished she hadn't. The Lord of Autumn and the news-bringer were crystal clear about the news that had not reached her ears earlier; The Lord of Spring and his wife had been attacked and they were most likely dead. Nakaia knew she would have had to find out in one way or another, but it did not mean that it did not make her feel somehow saddened. Shocked even. Who in the Sun God's name would attack a peaceful man and the woman he loved so dearly? Why would someone harm Spring, the nation that had not harmed a fly in centuries?<br/>
<br/>
"Mellisio." Her whisper would be similar to the high tones of dolphins – tones that a human could not hear. To him, it would sound like a normal whisper. One of the softest whisper that could be called on the edge of silence. But he heard her, for she could feel his tail brush briefly against hers.<br/>
<br/>
"You should not try to eavesdrop." His lips were pressed against her left ear and he made an attempt to pull her closer to his chest, but Nakaia was faster and escaped from his grip.<br/>
<br/>
"Lord Vindra is dead." She finally dared to speak at a normal volume again when the Lord of Autumn had started to leave. "He and his wife have been attacked. Do you hear me? He is dead."<br/>
<br/>
"Is he?" He raised his dark eyebrows and slowly but surely, started to climb out of the lake. He sat down on the edge of it – his purple tail morphing back to a pair of legs – which he covered appropriately with the clothing that he had tied around his waist. They were soaking wet, but he was used to it.<br/>
<br/>
Fluttering his eyes shut, it seemed as if he drifted off to a different place in the back of his own mind.<br/>
<br/>
"There is no time to meditate right now. They may cancel the meeting. I need you to go ahead and make sure that everyone is aware of the fact that I am against continuing the gathering."<br/>
<br/>
"But is that what you want, or is that what Summer wants?" Mellisio suddenly gazed down upon her. His glance was sharp.<br/>
<br/>
Nakaia clenched her jaw. "The people of Summer do not wish to interrupt a country in mourning. We are a respectful nation, Mellisio. To continue a council at the lands of a deceased host is a disgrace!" And although she could see that he wanted to say something else, she ignored him. She ignored her betrothed and started to swim. Not away from him, nor away from Spring – but towards the temple. Little did she know that she would be swimming against the clock, for the one that was most dear to her would manage to betray her the very next day.<br/>
<br/>
As she rested that night at the second floor of a small tavern, Mellisio walked. He walked and walked until he finally reached the temple, hungry and exhausted – but once he had announced himself as Nakaia's messenger, he had achieved the one and only thing that he wanted to achieve. He slept at the feet of the temple and ate the fruit that was eventually offered to him after his rumbling stomach started to grow louder and louder.<br/>
<br/>
The following morning, Nakaia awoke to continue her travels. Bound to her feet for the last couple of miles towards to what she would call the holy place of Pasture, it was obvious that she did not rush. She even paused once to pluck and eat a blood red apple that had been growing on one of the many trees that the island had to offer. The flesh was both sweet and sour, and the juices trickled down her chin as she took bites of the fruit.<br/>
<br/>
But upon arriving at the temple that afternoon, that delicious apple had suddenly turned into a poisoned apple of Eden.<br/>
<br/>
She found Mellisio, waiting at the entrance of the temple, and she could see that he had been waiting especially for her arrival. Nakaia's blood started to turn to ice. Her ever so cheerful gaze and bright smile had faded into a flash of deep anger. Fury even.<br/>
<br/>
Nakaia stormed forward.<br/>
<br/>
"How dare you? How dare you make decisions in name of me? In name of Summer?" She did not appear to mind that everyone could hear her. That she was calling a possible scandal upon herself by behaving like this in public – in a whole different country that in no way belonged to her. Mellisio tried to take her hands in his, made a hopeless attempt to silence her by muttering a couple of soothing words, but she did not bow. She could not bend.<br/>
<br/>
"You were concerned. We make the wrong choices when we are concerned. I made the decision with a clear head. A meeting is beneficial to Summer and her people and the loss of a single Lord cannot compete with the positive outcome that may be possible if we continue. The gathering shall go on."<br/>
<br/>
"They chose me as their representative. This was not your place and nor has it ever been." Nakaia stared at him for a moment, before she pushed him carefully aside and walked past him.<br/>
<br/>
Mellisio stopped her and grabbed her wrist. His grip was tight, but far from painful. He was still tender. "Nakaia, I am your betrothed."<br/>
<br/>
"You are my betrothed. You are the man that I love and the man that I wish to share my entire life with. But you are not the man that gets to make the choices that I am supposed to make. If you desire to be that man, I suggest you return home and tell my dear father that our seal has been broken, for a man like that does not exist."<br/>
<br/>
A most uncomfortable silence followed before he released her. She made her escape into the temple. The disappointed betrothed was to wait outside, and he sat down on the stairs of the building – where he slowly started to regret the action that he had believed to be just.<br/>
<br/>
The first thing Nakaia saw when she was allowed to enter the great room where the gathering would be held, was the amount of food on the table. Different types of cheese and all kinds of meat. Loafs of brown and white bread that smelled as if they had been freshly baked. It looked like a luxurious breakfast – almost like a feast in the late morning.<br/>
<br/>
"What is this?" She glanced over her shoulder, eyeing the monk at the door unsurely.<br/>
<br/>
"The Lord of Autumn wished to eat something, my Lady."<br/>
<br/>
"I see." Eventually, she took place at the table but ignored the food that was scattered around. "What about the Lady of Winter?"<br/>
<br/>
"The /Queen/ of Winter has arrived only a few hours ago, Milady. Her companion has stated that she may want to eat."<br/>
<br/>
"Of course." A soft sigh rolled over Nakaia's lips. "Well, of course." </span>