Celeste-
Frost covered every inch of the forest that day that was the thing I remember the most. The cold biting at my cheeks, my cotton gloves against my cold fingertips and the snow crunching beneath my feet. I wish that's all there was to remember. The cold. The nail biting cold. But it wasn't just that, everything changed that day. Everything. She changed. Forever.
9 years ago..
I watched as as my breath exhaled steam in front of me as I painted trying to catch up to her. "Wait!" I smiled breathlessly as I tugged at her emerald cloak. "What?" She raised an eyebrow half turning around. "You said we could play a game if I got that firewood-" I sighed still out of breath. "Fine" she rolled her eyes smiling as she herself exhaled a vaporised breath. I smiled looking up into her eyes. For the first time in a while she was relaxed. I supposed it was because both our fathers were home.
For a while we ran around the forest, threw snow and giggled as we both fell into the snow lying down on our backs. I smiled as I turned to her as she smiled back. "You're not so bad you know" I smiled half joking. "Mhm." She rolled her eyes and looked up at the fading winter sun. "We should get back soon-". I watched as she dusted the snow off her cloak. "Ten more minutes-" I pleaded as I stayed stubbornly where I was closing my eyes tightly. "It's cold." "I know that" I snapped back still lying down. The truth was I just wanted to escape for a little longer, even if I couldn't feel my toes anymore. I ran my hands over my stinging cheeks in an effort to warm them. It was no use. Before I could put my hands back I was tugged up. "Hey-" I began. I watched with wide eyes as she covered my mouth with her hand. "Quiet." She whispered. Only then I noticed that her expression had faded and sudden alarm was etched across her face. I wanted to speak but I couldn't. I trusted her. I knew whatever was to happen, Aspen would protect me. Aspen was there.
Just as I turned my head slightly we both heard the sound of a twig break a few trees down. Aspen quickly hurried us behind a nearby tree as we both looked careful not to be visible. We both knew these parts of the forest weren't safe, but we knew it was unlikely that something would happen. After all it wasn't dark yet. I looked up at the sinking sun as my stomach dropped fervently. It would be dark soon. It was only a matter of minutes before the sun would be gone completely. A slight fear washed over me as I tugged at her hand quietly. "We have to go-" I whispered pointing to the fading sunset. "Just do what I say-" she whispered back taking a small step forwards as I held onto her. I nodded reluctantly as I followed behind. Before we could take another step there was the sound of crunching snow ahead as hooves pounded through the newly fallen snow. "Back now." I quickly sunk back to the tree as we both sat with our backs against it. I curled up to my knees picking at the lining of my gloves. Meanwhile Aspen kept careful watch of what was happening ahead.
"Give me what you took-" the man snapped. His voice was brittle, hostile. I didn't recognise it. He couldn't possibly be someone from the village. An outsider. My eyes widened as I looked up. I listened to the slight clamour as a voice I did recognise spoke up. "We took what was rightfully won, what is now rightfully ours." The soft voice, the stern tone, the deep edge. It was Aspens' father, Edward Blanchet. The Knight commander. I relaxed slightly as I let out a shaky vaporised breath. "Yours?! Yours- you have no idea what power that stone has- don't fool yourselves!" The shaky voice echoed through the forest. I gritted my teeth at the coarse tone. "Go back the castle Arthur. Now. I'll deal with this." I looked back at Aspen confused. "What stone-" I began quietly as she shook her head. I listened for the quiet hooves through the snow. Now it was just Edward and him. The coarse man. I looked down. Surely he was no threat. I looked at Aspen as her eyes widened. "What-" I began quietly. Before I could finish my sentence, a ragged whimper echoed through the forest. "May this serve as a reminder Commander Blanchet, this is only the beginning". I pulled aspen next to me as panic washed over her face. She fought against me as much as she possibly could as I struggled to hold her. Tears rolled down my cheeks, I knew what happened. I knew he was hurt. But I knew if that man found us he would hurt us too. "Please don't- if we don't protect ourselves we can't help your father- please aspen-" I whispered shakily. "He's not dead-" she looked at my blankly with slight anger in her voice. "I know that- just he's hurt-" I answered nervously. She nodded after a few seconds as we listened to the retreating footsteps of the stranger. My heart pounded against my rib cage as I struggled to keep up with my vaporised breath. Once we got him steady- we could take the horse and take him back to the castle. Surely Matron would know what to do, she always knew. Everything would be fine. It wasn't a scream, I assured myself the injury would be minor.
Before I could steady myself to get up Aspen had jolted up and struggled against the snow to her father. "Father! Father!" I listened to her ragged desperate voice nervously. There was no reply. My gut told me why but my heart didn't want to believe it. He was the commander. He couldn't possibly die. Not now. I quickly moved towards aspen as I stopped two steps in front of the tree. I froze as my eyes scanned across the blood stained snow. There was so much, so much blood. I reluctantly looked for Edward and as my gaze met his face I let out a scream. His throat was cut, his skin was pale and his garments were covered in Scarlett blood. I watched in horror as Aspen tugged at the garments as the blood droplets spread to her hands. "Help me get him up!" She replied calmly. Only there was nothing calm about her. Her once blue relaxes eyes were a shade of rage I had never seen. Her hands shook as she looked at the blood on her fingertips and her legs shook slightly as she stumbled up. I felt my body freeze. Did Aspen really know what to do? How could we possibly take him back to the castle?
"I said now Celeste!" Her voice shook as it tried to remain the calm tone. I nodded as I carefully took steps towards her. "I- Aspen I think-". "Don't speak just help me." "Aspen I-". Taking another step I covered my mouth with my hands as tears rolled down my cheeks and down my neck. "H-he's dead" my voice shook as I took a step back trembling. Before I could take another step back Aspen had grabbed my hand and pulled me back. "I can't do this alone." "So help or leave." I watched as her numb expression washed back over her face. That was one thing Aspen was great at, hiding everything she felt, pushing away everything she'd seen. I didn't know what to do. But I knew I couldn't leave her here. I unwillingly helped her hoist him onto the horse as she sat behind him holding him up. A sudden sick feeling hit my stomach as I watched his lifeless body sink back into her. "I don't think this is a good idea-" I began. Before I could finish Another set of hooves trudged up the snow from in front of us. I sighed in relief immediately recognising the horses. Knights. I quickly ran towards them my heart hammering against my chest as I pushed with all my might to get through the snow. "Help! Help!" I began breathlessly. Before I could finish the knights had already realised and rushed over. The rest of that night was hazy. But I remember that night I lost two things.
Edward Blanchet was dead. And Aspen Blanchet would forever hold me accountable. I had lost my person, my one friend.
