The Summer King's Winter Bride

The walls of her chamber seemed to close in around her as time went by. 

Princess Caroline lay in bed her body wracked with sobs as her mother's portrait hung just above her head offereing little comfort considering the predicament she was currently in.

Queen Evelyne's painted eyes stared back at her with wisdom and full of warmth. A warmth that had long been missing within the walls of Frostmere Palace. Her mother's silver-blonde hair cascaded down her shoulders like a waterfall of moonlight, her gown the deepest shade of blue. She had not been just beautiful but she had been kind, the beloved of King Allan.

The only one who had calmed the princess, whispering stories to her in the darkest night and holding her close shielding her from the harshness of life. However, now she was gone. Caroline's pounded her pillow with fists as she thought how could her father agree to such a contract?

She was merely a pawn in a political court, a piece to be moved around at will of its players across a board with the threat of war spelled on it. Queen Lysandra had willingly agreed to such an edict. She had tossed her aside as though the years of raising her as her own had meant nothing at all.

A knock sounded at her door but Princess Caroline refused to answer instead she chose to curl up and squeeze her eyes shut, willing this world to completely disappear. As the door creaked open, the scent of roses and frankincense filled the room and Princess Caroline knew her stepmother had come in to check on her. She stiffened in bed as it dipped under the queen's weight.A cool hand brushed her tangled hair with a gentleness that Caroline used to find comforting.

"I know this is hard for you to accept," Lysandra murmured.

She let out a bitter laugh, "Do you?"

Lysandra sighed. "I do".

"You sat there and heard everything! As my father agreed to sell me off to an evil man and said nothing?"

Princess Caroline pushed herself, up her eyes red from crying and filled with fury.

"I did say something." Lysandra replied calmly her green eyes calculating what to say next.

"Oh and what did you say?"

"Did you even beg him to reconsider?"

"No!" Caroline snapped.

A pause.

Before Lysandra replied, "I ensured you would have safe passage to the Summerlands, that you would have attendants, that you would be treated with the dignity of a queen willing to lay her life down for the sake of her people, a savior not a captive."

"It is not the same as preventing it entirely." Caroline argued weakly.

"No, it is not. It was the best I could do. I am sorry if it is not enough." Lysandra replied dejected.

Silence stretched between them.

As Princess Caroline gazed at her mother's portrait with fresh tears pouring down her face.

"You would not have allowed this if you were still here mother. You would have stopped it."

Something flickered in Lysandra's eyes too fast for Princess Caroline to catch while she said "Perhaps, she would have or understood and allowed it, knowing that duty demands what the heart cannot bear."

"You are not her! You will never be her!" Caroline shook her head her voice trembling.

"No I never will" Lysandra answered. Her lips pressed into a thin line.

She reached out to clasp Caroline's hands between her own, Caroline almost pulled away but stopped herself when her stepmother said,

"You believe I have betrayed you and perhaps I have but I have always kept you safe all these years, especially after your mother died. I swore you would not wither beneath the frost of this court. That promise has not changed.

"Then why did you let him do this?" Caroline asked.

Queen Lysandra hesitated then said after a sigh, "it was the only way to protect you."

"Protect me from what?" Caroline demanded to know.

Queen Lysandra exhaled and after ensuring they were alone, whispered "the Winter Court is not safe for you anymore. Your father may sit on the throne but his enemies grow bolder. His hold on his kingdom is not as strong as you think. There are those who would rather see you dead than wed to the Summer King.

"That is absurd." Caroline whispered as a chill ran through her spine.

"Is it? How many noble houses have lost sons and brothers to this war? How many look at you 

and see a symbol of their suffering? They believe this marriage is a disgrace and that our court should never bow to the Summerlands, not even for peace. If you choose to remain here they make sure you never take another breath."

The blood seemed to drain from Princess Caroline's face as she began to look pale.

She wanted to argue and deny it but deep down she knew Lysandra spoke the truth. The Winter Court was already divided long before and each house had hidden daggers cloaked in silks and smiles. She always knew the dangers of palace life but never did she realize she would end up in the heart of it. 

"So being the problem, my father sends me away and to save himself from backlash." she said with a bitter laugh.

Queen Lysandra's expression showed pity as she said, I think he truly believes this is the only way you will survive, my dear."

A heavy silence filled the room.

Queen Lysandra then stood up smoothening her emerald gown.

"You leave at dawn, your father expects you to uphold the dignity of this court."

Princess Caroline chose not reply.

Queen Lysandra lingered a moment longer than necessary as though weighing her options to say something more but seemed to think better of it as she turned on her heel and walked out of her chambers.

The doors slammed shut behind her.

Princess Caroline let out a breath she had been holding.

She wanted to believe that her parents loved her and knew they had no choice.

But love should not feel like a death sentence. She buried her face in her hands once more, praying her mother watched her from above.

By dawn, she would be gone.

The sinking reality settling in that she would never return.