Caspian - The Ice King

Before

"Please do it again!" The girl begged the boy.

They were in their secret grove behind the castle. Sunlight peeked through the thick leaves and cast bright, mottled patches on the grassy floor. The smell of citrus was still fresh in the air, and a kaleidoscope of birds perched upon the branches, giving the trees life and colour.

The boy glanced down at the young girl and his ice-blue eyes warmed with adoration and love. Clasping her hand, he led her to the small creek that ran through the little copse. Shiny, black pebbles were scattered along the riverbed, and schools of brilliantly coloured tropical fish darted to and fro. The boy and girl sat down and dangled their toes in the cool water. Squeezing the girl's hand, the boy skimmed his fingers along the surface of the stream, and in one quick motion, whipped the water into the air. He clenched his fist, and the streak of water was held airborne. Light reflected off the liquid and cast little shimmers everywhere. A few tiny fish were caught inside and were also immobile from moving. Giggling, the girl waded into the creek and jumped, trying to grab the fish that were still a few inches above her height. The boy chuckled and hoisted the girl so she could reach. Afterwards, he put her down and raised his arms and water rose from all sides, encircling the two of them in their own private bubble. The young girl squealed loudly and ran out.

"Catch me if you can!"

The boy grinned and released the water. He narrowed his eyes on the girl sprinting headlong toward the woods, before following her at a leisurely pace, overconfident that he would win. Not long after, she disappeared into the mass of trees, and the boy stopped, trying to locate the girl with his acute hearing. Except for the occasional rustle of the summer breeze, the forest was silent. With a frown, the boy's normally cool façade started to melt as fear gripped him. Suddenly, somewhere in the far distance, there was a crunch, and then a scream.

The girl's scream.

***

The boy flew in a flurry of fury towards the source of the cry, but by the time he reached the spot, the forest was silent again. He noticed a few drops of her blood on the moss-covered ground, and red clouded his vision. The infamous Fae Rage took over his senses, and he was out for blood.

The boy sniffed the air for any trace of the girl, but there was none. He quickly returned to the castle and sent out a search party. They returned empty handed but the boy, stubborn as he was, sent them out every day for the next several years.

Eventually he came to accept that his first love was gone. He spent those first years locked in his castle, and when he finally came out, the young, innocent boy was gone. In his place was a cruel, ruthless man who could no longer control water, but instead, ice.

For with the girl, went his heart.