Cursed By Thorns

Whispers in The Dark

Evelyn awoke the next morning with the remnants of troubled dreams clinging to her mind. The visions had been vague, shifting shadows, half-formed faces, and a voice—haunting and persistent—calling her name. It was the same voice she had heard in the forest, during her training with Kael. But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t remember what it had said. The details slipped through her fingers like grains of sand.

Pushing the unsettling thoughts aside, Evelyn dressed and prepared for another day in the Winter Court. The palace, as always, was both beautiful and daunting, its cold grandeur a constant reminder of the power and mystery that permeated every corner of the fae world. Today, however, the sense of foreboding was stronger than usual, and Evelyn couldn’t shake the feeling that something was terribly wrong.

When she reached the grand hall for breakfast, she found the atmosphere thick with tension. The nobles, who usually engaged in quiet conversation, were now speaking in hushed tones, their expressions grim. Evelyn noticed that many of them glanced at her as she entered, their eyes sharp with suspicion—or was it fear?

Queen Elara was seated at the head of the table, her serene demeanor unshaken, though Evelyn could see the tightness around her eyes. Kael stood behind the Queen, his usual calm countenance shadowed by a flicker of concern.

“Good morning, Lady Evelyn,” Queen Elara greeted her, her voice smooth but lacking its usual warmth.

“Good morning, Your Majesty,” Evelyn replied, taking her seat. The unease in the room was almost palpable, and she could feel the weight of the nobles' stares pressing down on her.

The Queen’s silver eyes bore into her, as if searching for something. “I trust you slept well?”

“As well as can be expected,” Evelyn answered, trying to match the Queen’s composed tone. She hesitated, then asked, “Has something happened?”

Queen Elara exchanged a brief look with Kael before turning back to Evelyn. “There have been... disturbances in the realm,” she said carefully. “A shift in the balance of magic. Our scouts have reported strange occurrences in the outer reaches of the Winter Court—places where the natural order is being disrupted.”

Evelyn’s heart sank. She remembered the resistance she had felt in the forest the day before, the way the magic had seemed to recoil from her. “Do you think it’s connected to... Morvan?” she asked.

The Queen’s expression remained neutral, but Evelyn could see the faintest hint of concern in her eyes. “It is possible,” she said. “Morvan has grown bolder, as I’m sure you’ve noticed. But there is something more at play here. The disturbances began shortly after your arrival, Evelyn. We must consider the possibility that these events are somehow tied to you.”

A cold chill ran down Evelyn’s spine. “What do you mean?” she asked, trying to keep her voice steady.

Kael stepped forward, his gaze steady and reassuring. “The magic you possess is unlike any we have seen before, Evelyn,” he said. “It is powerful, but it is also unpredictable. It may be that your presence here is causing the balance of magic to shift, triggering these disturbances.”

Evelyn felt a wave of guilt wash over her. She hadn’t asked for this power, hadn’t wanted to be a catalyst for chaos. “I never meant to cause harm,” she said quietly.

“We know that,” Queen Elara said, her voice softening. “But intentions do not always align with outcomes. We must be vigilant, and we must understand the true nature of your magic if we are to protect our realm.”

The conversation left Evelyn feeling more isolated than ever. The Queen’s words had been measured, but the underlying message was clear—Evelyn was both a potential savior and a potential threat. She could no longer be sure of her place in the Winter Court, or whether she could trust those around her.