The IRE of Winter

Chapter 22: DEFINING BETRAYAL

A huge white wolf came and circled round her like a gentle white furry beast longing for her gentle touch. I stood frozen cold and weak, hearing her words made no sense at first. 'Who are you? How did you know my mother?' I am bursting with emotions, gazing intently into her onyx eyes.

She ran her fingers through my hair, her eyes darted on every corner of my face as if searching for something, too close, her touch brought a trickle of both fear and uncertainty. She gasped, exhaling deep and long, her breath was warm mist stroking my cold cheeks. Then the woman wrapped her hands around me unsuspecting, pressing me tight against her body.

I didn't know what to do but I let her hug me anyway.

Tears cornered her eyes as she pulled back, staring happily into my eyes. 'She had lavender eyes just like yours, a perfect thin pointy nose, pale skin, you are just like my Lady Liera. Long have I waited for this day to come, my Lady had a daughter, and she brought you back to the North.'

I stepped away flinching.

I sauntered around her. 'Look, my Lady, I don't have time for this. I don't appreciate being fooled around. Your men almost killed me last night, left me freezing for hours. All because I came to ask you one question, why does your people nurture the serpents up in the North? I saw the heath, I saw the wolfmen with my very own eyes.'

'You did?' she was surprised following my movements with her gaze, her white wolf did the same.

'Why?' I asked, 'are you breeding them for war against the woodland Elves? Your people hated to hear that word, King Thranduil of the Woodland Realm, I hope that won't make you feel upset.'

'You've been there?' her eyes widened even more.

'Y-yes. I know him.'

'And I suppose he doesn't know you.'

'No, he would have me killed if he did. He swore he would kill everyone with the Northman's blood, and he would...' I paused upon realising what I have just said. No, this can't be. I was thinking about me being the black rider, but what came out of my lips suddenly caught me pondering. The woman's face brightened, she gave me a faint smile then made short graceful steps towards me.

She acted like she knew me, speaking of odd things about past.

Trust is something I've learned not to give so easily, I have suffered enough and I nearly died for it. Hesitant, I quickly distanced myself five paces away. 'Don't...come near me.'

'King Thranduil will never lay a finger on you, if he knows who you are and if you would stay in his realm.'

Her words stroke me like cold wind touching my skin. I recalled the king's voice whispering soft to my ears, I remembered the day he made a promise, that he wouldn't kill me if I stay within his realm. Her words inflected more confusion, images of him flashed vividly on my mind. 'What do you mean?'

'I couldn't possibly tell you everything in a day, Safirah. Why don't we go inside to tea?'

'Tell me,' and her wolf felt my anger rising, it displayed its fangs to warn me. The woman petted the wolf, hands resting on its nape, the wolf finally settled down sitting behind her.

She studied me for a moment then pressed her lips to show defeat. 'Very well, my name is Lady Selese, I look after this people like a mother,' she added. 'Alpha is what they all call me,' she began walking gracefully around the statue, her eyes fixed to mine. 'Look at him, Safirah, what do you see?'

I darted my eyes up and stared at the statue, still uncertain of what to say next. 'A statue?'

'He was the bravest Watcher we knew,' she whispered. 'Look again!'