Winter's Child

Chapter Twenty-Seven~A Broken Heart

Elodie walked along the massive room, her boots clicking against the stone floor as she looked around. It was the darkest, coldest room in the palace. The walls were lined with stone, as well as the floor and ceiling, and the only light was that which came through the massive openings between each pillar along the wall. It was like a courtyard, in a way.

Elodie looked at the massive ice sculpture before her. It was intricately carved from the frozen water that made up a big part of the culture of Talvimora. Elodie recognized everything about it. The long, straight hair, the regal, calm eyes, the tall stature, the beautiful, refined features and the kingly aura that had been carried through even in the sculpture. It was a statue of North, through and through.

Elodie focused in on it with empty eyes. Even though its appearance was made in his exact likeness, it wasn't him. There was a feeling that Elodie had when North was in the room. A warm feeling. This statue just brought coldness, reminding her that he wasn't really there.

Elodie slowly approached the statue, lifting her gaze as she studied each part of it. Its deftly carved fingers were wrapped tightly around the handle of a sword, which it held to its chest. The eyes were downcast, giving it a pure, hallowed feel. The head was hooded, symbolizing death. Under the ice hood, there was a crown worn on its head that was identical to how North's had been. The solid robes billowed out behind it, frozen in the air.

They had built it after the day of North's death. Ever since, the sun hadn't shone, the sky had clouded over. It was always dim and grey across the kingdom of Talvimora. No one knew what would happen. North had no heirs. There was no king to take his place. They would have to choose a new king. No one wanted to. One with the same leadership skills that North had possessed was impossible to find. The Winter had chosen North. It had selected him specifically. Every leader (who wasn't an heir) had been a normal, mortal human once. Then, their seasons chose them and they became rulers of those seasons.

Elodie sat down at the feet of the statue, leaning her head against the bottom of it. They had left North's body where it was. It was the way of the people to let their leaders rest with the seasons. North rested with Winter. Elodie's eyes fluttered closed, allowing the tear that had been forming to escape. This was all the memory of North that she had left. This lifeless, frozen statue.

"Well, since I can't talk to you anymore, I guess I'll talk to this." Elodie sighed and opened her eyes. "Why'd you do that? You didn't need to. I could've done it on my own." Elodie was silent for a moment as she listened to the wind howling beyond the great stone pillars. "Why does everyone I love leave? First dad, then Adele...then you. I'm scared. Scared that they'll just go one by one. I know that it's not only me. This has probably happened to countless other people but...just when I realize how much I care about someone, they leave. For good."

Elodie started a bit when she felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned and saw the last person she expected to see. Augusto.

The plump man gave her a warm smile but his eyes were full of pity. Elodie sniffed and quickly wiped her tears from her face with her sweater's sleeve.

"You were very brave," he said gently. "To be honest, I didn't believe you could do it at first. You proved myself and many others very wrong." Elodie dropped her gaze from his.

"I don't feel like I've done anything." Elodie lifted her eyes to the statue. "Without him, I wouldn't have." Augusto smiled and sat down beside her at the feet of the ice sculpture.

"North may have encouraged you, boosted your confidence but, in the end, it was you who completed the task." Elodie turned her head, her light eyes meeting the dark, chocolate-brown ones of the man beside her. "You were the one who believed in yourself." Elodie sighed and dropped her weary gaze.