The Lion and The Rose

When The Temperature Falls

In the Winter, Leyan was sent over to a foreign kingdom on a four horses carriage, with the companionship of a nanny, a maid, a eunuch, and seventeen loyal guards that all but two died on the rough journey.

Winter in Galanthus could be very brutal due to sub zero temperature and high level of snow that covered the lands. Everywhere that Leyan's eyes land on it was just glistening white. Even the sky was frosted white.

While her entourage was setting up camp, Leyan sat in front of the camp fire with a thick wool cloak draped over her small body. With her delicate hands cupping her face, she gazed lazily at the fire. "How can anyone live in this place? The weather is unfriendly, and the lands looks desolated."

The Nanny who was fluffing out the pillows and bedding in the carriage came out with a few buns to pass around. "Princess, have some warm buns. Look at your pale thin face, it's drained of life due to this wicked weather. Poor girl, eat some more."

Leyan did not feel the bone chilling air. She was well protected by the wool cloak given to her by the House of Leon. When she first received it she thought it was an invaluable thing. They could have sent something else instead of a thick cloak. She tried it on and hated it because it was ridiculously hot. Now it became the most valuable, one that she could not part with. Without it she feared she would not survive even a minute in this weather.

"Nanny, how much longer will our journey takes?"

Nanny warmed her own hands by the fire before starting her needle works. "The guards said not much more than three days."

Leyan pouted before looking around to scope the area. The forest seemed a bit sinister, but the chirping of birds gave a joyful atmosphere. "Will I fit in? I'm a bit scared. What if they don't like me?"

—

Leo took fifty guards with him out to the Fairy Abode upon request from the Queen Fairy to help take care of the goblins and ghouls that invaded their lands. He set out from dawn and by noon have dismantled almost all the encampments, sending them running amok, hiding away in the forest. The team chased after each and individual scrambling fiends.

Leo rounded up a few goblins but they escaped when he chased after another. "Great, now they're just making me mad."

"Your Highness, if it's like this it would take days for us to finish the job!" Henri shouted in frustration.

He agreed that something is needed to be done quickly. Chasing after each one in this forest could take days. The goblins planned to take over the Fairy Abode and they would not give up easily.

"What if I burn this forest? Would that not be quicker?"

Henri stopped in his track, once again he was left speechless and stunned by his Prince. Although he was to be his right hand's man, sometimes he wished to go on a perpetual vacation. "Your Highness, the Fairy Queen lives here."

"We can move her and the fairfolks elsewhere."

"Your Highness, there are 800,000 fairfolks living and working in this forest."

"Ah." And he said nothing more after.

—

Leyan eyed a cute little fawn not far from her seat. It was limping with blood dripping on its hind leg. Her soft heart ached for the little thing that she ran over to oversee its wound. The little thing got startled and pranced away from her. Without any other thoughts she chased after. She rushed after despite losing her breath against the dry cold air. The fawn didn't stop and led her straight into the frozen lake where it collapsed due to the slippery ice. Leyan yelped when she too slipped and slid toward the fawn. The fawn bleated with watery eyes. She took a deep breath before she could collect herself and then hugged it gently to calm it down.