When he put me down, I clung to him, wanting to soak the moment in. I had been thinking of many things as we walked, and not all of them had been pleasant.
In the frozen throne room, back on the mountain, it had been easy to focus on my anger and on the evil the Snow Queen had wrought. But I couldn’t forget her story, and I couldn’t help a small twinge of sympathy. After all, were we so very dissimilar? I, too, had been arrogant and foolish and had attempted to take a magical object that didn’t belong to me. And it had nearly destroyed a person I loved. If things had turned out differently, could I have ended up like the Snow Queen?
After much thought, I had rejected the idea. We might be the same in some ways, but we were different in others. None of us were perfect, all of us made mistakes. It was how we responded to those mistakes that mattered the most, surely. Whether we took responsibility and did our best to make restitution. Whether we recognized our faults and sought to correct them.
I had learned my lesson—or I hoped so, anyway—and tried to turn away from the selfishness and pride that had driven me. Whereas she had only compounded her wrongs, destroying herself and others in the process. I could not regret what I had done to her. It had been done in defense—of both me and the people I loved.
But neither would I forget. Darkness lingered all too close, and far too often in our own hearts. I never wanted to forget my capacity for making bad decisions. Because one day I would be a true queen, and I would have a responsibility to my people. I didn’t want to let them down again.
While I had been thinking, Oliver had been gazing down at me, his hold slowly tightening. When I squeezed him back, he smiled and strengthened his own embrace.
“Have I told you today how much I like having you around?”
I grinned back at him. “I can’t remember. I guess you’ll just have to say it again.”
“Um, really?” Giselle said. “You know I’m still here, right? Honestly, this is all a bit much.”
I laughed guiltily. I had forgotten her presence. Disentangling myself from Oliver, I saluted his sister and adopted a formal tone. “Noted. I will attempt to keep all conversations of a serious nature and expressions of physical affection for private from now on.”
Giselle rolled her eyes. “I’ll believe that when I see it. Traveling with the two of you gets worse by the day. We can’t reach the palace soon enough.”
“Well, the sooner we get back to walking, the sooner we’ll get there,” I said cheerfully, knowing she was probably right, but somehow unable to regret it.
Chapter 33
The next day we reached the capital. I had expected Oliver and Giselle to almost fly down the last part of the trail, but instead they seemed to slow. I could read the reason in their eyes. For all their hope, there was fear as well. Had the invaders retained enough willpower to complete the coup? Would we find a capital ruled by Lord Treestone as a tool of Eliam? Or, much worse, would we find a capital full of people who had wasted away, stripped of the will even to live? Had we destroyed the enchantment in time?
But the bustle of the mountain city itself as we moved through it was enough to reassure me, if not them. People seemed to fill the external roads, drinking up the bright sun and newfound warmth in the air. And none of them seemed bowed down with the weight of an invasion.
A rustle of voices followed behind us, our presence clearly causing a stir, so I wasn’t surprised when we reached the gate into the palace and found a group gathered to meet us. My eyes latched first on Lord Treestone and Cassandra, with Alexander close beside, flanked by several guards in the colors of Eliam. My heart seized. Perhaps the coup had happened, after all. But a scream from behind me told a different story.
“Emmeline!” Giselle almost tripped in her hurry to fling herself into her sister’s arms.
“Giselle!”
Both girls cried, happily ignoring their tears as they talked over the top of each other.
King Leopold gestured several Eldonian guards forward to take charge of Sterling so that nothing would hamper Queen Camille as she pressed her son into a warm hug. She seemed to be crying as freely as her daughters.
I met Cassandra’s eyes, and she smiled. Relief filled me. Whatever had happened here, it appeared to have happened peacefully.
I stood back a little, watching the family reunion, feeling out of place and tingling with nerves I hadn’t expected. But this was my future father- and mother-in-law, and I hadn’t truly met them before. What sort of impression of me would have lingered in their dream-like memories? I hadn’t exactly put out much of an effort to please or impress when I had stayed here before.
But Oliver quickly detached himself from his mother, pulling me forward and tucking me under his arm. His mother’s eyes flew quickly between us, and then she broke into an enormous smile and fell upon my neck, crying all over me.
“Sorry,” mouthed Oliver over her head, but I just smiled and shook my head. Who could resist such a welcome?
Everyone on every side wanted answers, of course, but when the queen eventually stopped crying, she insisted that we all get inside and comfortable first. And given the length of the story, I could only be grateful.
We were made to talk first, when the time for stories finally came, although our explanation was peppered with questions and exclamations from the others. Everyone wanted to remember what it had been like from their own perspective, and no one had imagined anything like the Snow Queen or her Palace of Ice.
But we made it through the story eventually and finally were able to demand a more cohesive version of events from their side. It turned out that the weather had turned so bad that Lord Treestone had been forced to lead the Elamese contingent to the palace not long after we left.
“We would have frozen otherwise, camped out in the open like we were,” he said with an apologetic look at Oliver.
“And it’s a good thing we did,” said Cassandra, who had somehow wormed her way into the meeting.
Her uncle gave her a repressive look but nodded. “We found no opposition whatsoever, and soon realized we would be needed in the role of caretakers if we wished to prevent a mass tragedy.”
“Basically, we had to cook all the food and keep all the fires burning,” said Cassandra. “For the entire city.”
“However did you manage that?” I asked.
“We had to cram as many as we could fit into the palace,” said Alexander, speaking for the first time. “And anyone who didn’t fit we sent to the biggest of the noble houses further up the mountain.” He shook his head. “My men had a time of it trying to round everyone up from those blasted tunnels, I can tell you.”
“And you might find some missing silver,” said Cassandra, although she didn’t look apologetic. “Some of those who were sheltering here looked less than honest to me, and I wouldn’t put it past them to have filched something on their way out. Once they all woke up, of course.”
King Leopold didn’t look too pleased, but Queen Camille merely shrugged.
“A small price indeed for all our lives.”
“Unfortunately, by then,” said Lord Treestone, continuing the original thread of the story, “it was clear that the evil was coming from the northern mountains. But the weather had grown so bad, no one could follow you. There was nothing for us to do but wait and hope we could keep everyone alive.”
I examined his face, glancing between him, Cassandra, and the Elamese colonel in charge of their troops. As they had approached the palace, they too would have been infected, as my own servants had been. How much had their slow descent into an enchanted state affected their decision to do nothing but stay alive? Somehow I suspected none of them would admit it had been anything but true helplessness and altruism that drove them. And we could all only be grateful they had maintained initiative long enough to gather together the locals and keep them alive as well. I, for one, had no desire to challenge their motives.
“And then one day everyone just woke up,” said Lord Treeston
e. “We had no explanation for it, although we understand now, of course.” He inclined his head toward where I sat on a small sofa with Oliver. “When the weather began to ease almost immediately, we realized that something had happened to break the enchantment. Naturally we ceded control back to Their Majesties, but we have lingered under their gracious hospitality in the hope of your return and an explanation such as we have just received.”
King Leopold inclined his head regally toward Lord Treestone, and I suppressed a smile. Clearly everyone had decided that the best approach was to ignore everything that had happened while under the enchantment. An approach of which I heartily approved.
The colonel thanked us for our efforts and said he would make plans to start the march back to Eliam the next day.
“My own monarchs will want to hear the news as soon as possible, I’m sure.” He glanced over at Alexander. “But we will leave a couple of representatives as a delegation of sorts, to lend all support possible for the upcoming royal wedding.”
He bowed toward my sofa, and I realized with a jolt that he meant my wedding. A giddy rush of excitement filled me, although I noticed that a fleeting look of annoyance crossed Alexander’s face at the clear implication that he was to stay. Still, his lack of desire to attend my wedding couldn’t damp my joy, and the mention of the event successfully derailed conversation on any other topic as Queen Camille immediately began to discuss the necessary preparations with great enthusiasm.
It was a long time before I left to find my way back to my old room, my stomach full and my mind still whirling with plans and possibilities.
“Do you know the way back on your own?” asked a familiar voice at my elbow, echoing the words from my first night so long ago.
I turned to regard my betrothed, looking up at him through my lashes just as I remembered doing on that distant-seeming occasion and echoing my own words. “I don’t suppose you would be willing to show me?”
When he bowed and offered me his arm, I laughed and threw myself against his chest for a stolen kiss. When the sound of an opening door made us spring apart, I took his arm and laughed up at him again.
“Could you have imagined back then that it would all end like this?”
“The details? No. But even in the half-haze of that night, I had already formed the strong impression that you were someone I didn’t want to let go.”
I bumped him with my shoulder. “You had not!”
“Of course I had.” He smiled down at me, glancing behind us before pressing his lips briefly down over mine. “Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten what kind of an entrance you make, Princess Celine? How could I not be captivated?”
I flushed, remembering now his expression when I appeared that night.
“And somehow,” I said, “despite everything, I knew you were the one I wanted to make an impression on. I think that’s why I managed to free you that night. Something in me was drawn to you from the moment the curse began to lose its grip.”
“One day I want to visit Lanover and see the kingdom that created a woman like you, Celine,” he murmured against my hair.
I gazed up at him. “One day I’ll take you. And I want to see more of your kingdom. I want to see all of it. There are so many things I want to do with you.”
“Then it’s a good thing we have the rest of our lives,” he said as he pulled me against his heart and kissed me again.
Epilogue
“Well, what do you think?” I asked, emerging from my dressing room and throwing my arms wide. The first of the guests coming in for the wedding were due to arrive at any moment, and I had put some effort into my dress. We would be welcoming them at a betrothal feast in my honor, after all.
I had worked with the palace seamstress on a new gown for the occasion and was more than satisfied with the result. The rich blue silk hugged my torso, held in shape with subtle boning, before sweeping out at my hips into the fullest skirt I had ever worn.
Emmeline regarded me with wrinkled brow, as if my question required serious thought. “It looks very suitable,” she pronounced at last.
“Suitable? Suitable?” I stared at her aghast. “You can’t be serious.” I turned beseeching eyes on Giselle who appeared to be smothering a laugh.
“Come on, Celine,” said a new voice from the doorway. “You know you look incredible.”
“As always,” agreed a second, nearly identical, voice.
“I do, don’t I?” I laughed, almost tripping in my haste as I rushed over to throw my arms around both of the new arrivals. “You came! You made it!”
“Of course we did.” Sophie laughed as well. “Were you worried we would be lost at sea?”
“I’m just so glad you’re here.” I lifted onto my toes and spun in a circle, blue material billowing around me. “I’m getting married!”
Lily threw Sophie a concerned look. “I don’t think we’ve ever seen her like this. Should we be worried?”
Sophie elbowed her in the side. “Don’t be mean. It’s beautiful.”
“Well, I want to meet the new Prince Oliver,” said Lily. “Because he must have changed a lot. I nearly fell off my chair when I read your letter saying you were betrothed to marry him and madly in love.”
“You will soon enough,” I said, pulling them both around. “But first let me re-introduce you to two of our fellow Princess Tourney contestants. You might not recognize Princesses Emmeline and Giselle now.”
Giselle grinned and came forward to greet the twins. “We weren’t exactly good company back then, I’m afraid.”
Emmeline joined her, shaking her head. “Although perhaps we should be glad of it. I can’t imagine going through such an ordeal with my emotions intact.”
“It wasn’t the most fun we’ve ever had,” I said, remembering the unpleasant months after we first arrived from the Four Kingdoms. “But that’s all in the distant past now.” I glanced at Sophie who glowed with happiness. Marriage seemed to suit her. “And it all worked out for the best in the end.”
I left them all to chat while I wandered away to pick jewelry to match my gown. What would the twins make of my soon-to-be sisters-in-law? I had been making an effort to get to know Emmeline, although it still caught me by surprise when she said things Giselle would never say.
“They’re so different from each other!” whispered Lily, sidling up to me while Sophie engaged Emmeline in polite conversation. “I mean, I figured they’d be different from how they used to be now the curse is lifted, but I really didn’t see that coming.”
I shook my head. “Eldon has been full of surprises.”
“Oh yes,” said Sophie, breaking off her conversation to join us. “I want to hear all about it.”
“About what?” I asked, all innocence.
“About everything, of course.” Lily rolled her eyes. “You said there was a Snow Queen in your letters which seems to me like a horrible thing to include if you didn’t intend to spill the whole story. We’ve been dying of impatience ever since.”
“Very well, then,” I said, relenting. “But you’d better let me ring for some refreshments because you’ve only just arrived, and this isn’t going to be quick.”
“And so we became officially betrothed,” I finished, beaming at them both. “I want you both to be my attendants, of course. Alongside Emmeline and Giselle. I hope you’ll agree, even though you’re already married yourselves.”
“Of course we’d love to,” said Sophie. “But what about all your sisters? Aren’t they coming?”
“Well, Cassian and Tillie were just here for your wedding, so they won’t be trekking back. They’ll keep things running at home so Frederic and Evie can come with my parents.” I grinned at the thought. I’d always liked Tillie, but Evie was a closer friend. Maybe because of everything we’d been through together. A little like it was with Giselle and Emmeline, I supposed.
“William and Celeste can’t come either.” I winked at the twins. “No doubt they’re far too important to be gone whe
n so many other royals are already traveling. But Cordelia and Ferdy are coming, and hopefully Rafe and Marie as well. I can’t wait to see them all again.”
I smiled. I was always smiling these days. “Celeste is absolutely green at being left behind. At least from the sound of her letters. She’s dying to come sniffing around all these new kingdoms. I figure once everyone else gets back, she’ll come up with an excuse to visit.”
My eyes fell on the material draped over one corner of the room, still waiting for my final approval before work began on the attendants’ gowns, and I remembered the original question. “So I’ll have Evie and Cordelia as well, and that will make a nice even six.” I beamed at the twins.
“You’re clearly enjoying planning this wedding far too much,” said Lily, mock fear in her voice. “I’m not sure what we’re getting ourselves into.”
“Can you enjoy your own wedding too much?” I asked. “I don’t think so. And I plan to wrest every ounce of enjoyment out of it that I can.”
“Celine,” said Sophie, her voice clearly conveying that her mind was on neither weddings nor enjoyment. “I don’t think you said what happened to that Sterling fellow.”
“Oh, nothing in particular,” I said, surprised at the turn of her thoughts. “I was actually going to suggest you all go down to the holding cells at some point and check if he’s the man Jon and Dominic were after. The one from Palinar.”
“But you searched him thoroughly, right? And you have him under extra security?” Lily had instantly picked up on her sister’s concern.
“Umm…” I regarded them uneasily. “I think it’s just the usual security?”
“Because if he is the man from Palinar,” Sophie said, “then the godmother object he took with him when he fled is the one that allowed Cole to escape from two different prisons.”
My eyes widened, and I swallowed. “He would have been collecting it for the Snow Queen, I’m sure. In fact, he was probably only ever helping Cole so he could get his hands on it. But all the objects were destroyed with the Ice Palace.”
A Crown of Snow and Ice: A Retelling of The Snow Queen (Beyond the Four Kingdoms Book 3) Page 27
