The Tale of the Winter King and the Spring Queen

Chapter 3

Implied content

Time was warped when you were surrounded by darkness and only had to contend with the crackling of fire. Every once in a while when it seemed as though the light was dimming, Douma would get up, exiting briefly before returning to the warm room with an armful of wood. He would then proceed to make a pile of wood. Kotoha would watch as he did, her position relaxing on the furs, the only protection along with the fire from the cold.

Once he was finished he would come back, settling next to her where they began their conversation anew. Talking about anything and everything.
—

No one took note of what was going on. The Winter King would sometimes do a blizzard late in his season, even if the snow hadn't been bad up to that point. Some humans believed it was a way for the god to exterminate the last of weak blood.

Some of the older animals that had tried hibernating that year passed in their sleep, their fat reserves finally used up. Weak infants that had been born in burrows have also perished, their mothers eating them for nutrients.

The gods of death and their servants work to make sure all souls pass on well.

Some only mildly took note after the third week that the time was almost here for the snow to melt away.
—
"It's so soft." Douma watches on, memorizing her movement as she runs her hand over the fur pelt of a bear. He was sitting off the furs, letting her enjoy them to her heart's desire.

It was a male bear that needed to be killed after slaughtering plenty during the cold months, its hibernation schedule having been disrupted when an arrow had been shot at his eye. The villagers that had been terrorized by the bear prayed to him, for winter to finally claim the bear.

He did, one of the first animals he had killed in order to make up the pile of furs the Spring Queen now sits upon.

He had watched from afar, his hair whipping in the wind observing as hunters skin their kill and then preparing the hide for use in the household.

It was easy to do after using rabbits as the test subjects.

Now watching her run her fingers through something he had gifted her only made his heart hum.

"It is.' His hand makes its way onto the fur, heat from the fire having made it warm. ' But I always think a touch of cold is better."

A layer of frost springs from his hand that is on the pelt and Douma waits. Kotoha's hand soon comes close and then it glides back over the path it had just been over.

"It's wonderful." The Spring Queen did think the winter coats of animals were softer than the summer. Only able to feel the furs when they have been shed on the bushes or caught in thorns.

Colorful eyes look up to her, lifting his hand to her cheek, catching her attention from the fur to him.

"I think you are wonderful, Kotoha. Kind and pure in mind, heart, and soul." He pulls back briefly, twirling his fingers and making a flower out of ice. Kotoha would tilt her head to catch a glimpse of his creation. Douma would tuck it behind her ear before pulling away.

Her next actions surprise him when she takes hold of both his cheeks, moving to the edge of the furs. He raises his brows when she comes to kiss his forehead.

"You, Douma, Winter King who makes this land white with snow, let the earth relax. To rest for a brief time to recover from what life takes from it."

A vine is wrapped around his head, a crown in which the only decoration is a lotus that forms by his ear, tucked in by the Spring Queen.

He waits, letting her make the final decision that would change how things have been since the start of time.

Her hand leaves the lotus, tracing his jawline, going down to his arm, tugging him.

—
The days were stretching on longer, yet the snow barely melted. Green was only seen on the evergreen trees. The ice of rivers was still thick.

The spirits of spring, that serve under the Spring Queen were concerned.

For life would struggle to start over.
—
He had joined her on the furs after putting many more logs on the fire. Letting it roar in the background as he allows Kotoha to lead.

Lying on his back, letting her have as much exposure to the heat generated by the flames.

He peels away her kimono which is too light for his cold environment. But he still enjoys the skin he's able to trail with his fingers. She mirrors his movements, having directed him to move his top and memorizing his form. His muscles are hard like the thickest of ice he makes. Though he relaxes under her touch, melting at her attention.

He sits up, her hands finding his thick hair, blond in the golden glow of the fire compared to the usual silver while outside in the snow. They kiss, his arms coming to be secure around her waist. They grind into each other, acting like animals in heat during summer and autumn.

They pull back, Kotoha coming to hug him as he nuzzles her chin, kissing her cheek and going down to her neck.

Finally, he lifts her off him for a moment, giving her one last chance but she doesn't stop.

They remove the last barrier that holds them back.

—

The bees were on the last of their honey, the spirits that work with the Kocho sisters crying out as they prayed for help.

"Where is spring? Won't it be here soon?" Sumi cried as she and her sisters were teary-eyed while in the heavenly realm.
—
The rumors of the seasons not transitioning properly were spreading.

Winter was staying too long and nothing could be done without the Spring Queen.

They needed to find her in the vast land that was still covered in ice and snow.

—

The fire was still roaring but it didn't hide her sweet moans as he hugged her to him. Kissing her and letting his cool hands bring goosebumps to the skin that face away from the fire.

It was slow at first like water that had just come from a thawed river. She sang like her songbirds, a lullaby he would remember in his soul as he continued to consummate their relationship.

When they do finish, he opens the box that holds his commission from the blacksmiths.

Two rings rest inside it, but they require one last touch.

He takes her hand, and Kotoha takes his. With a ring in each hand, they close it, kissing the other closed fist, and an exchange of power is done.

When they open their hands, it's to the rings each having a gem.

Douma had produced a diamond when caught in the light would be colorful like his eyes. Kotoha had produced a gem green, rich like the thickest of bushes.

Douma slips Kotoha's onto her finger first, kissing her knuckle as he pulls away. Kotoha is charmed and traces his chin for a moment.

She does the same for him, producing a vine that wraps around his hand and fingers with it's thin tendrils.

Their marriage was sealed.

Witness by the glow of flames.