Eye of the Winter Wolf

Chapter 5

"How much trouble do you think you're in ladies?", Lucy asked in a quiet voice, though Sera and Vivi's terrified faces would've suggested she was shrieking at them.

"Uh, a lot?", Vivi responded, already knowing the answer.

Sera chewed on her bottom lip, as terrifying shouting was, this aggressive calm was ten times more intimidating. 

"That cave was supposed to be off limits to everybody, including you two!", Lucy whispered, "It contains secrets, secrets that even I don't know."

"Lucy I-", Serafina started, but she was cut off by the loud, firm knock on the Woodman's door.

Without waiting for an answer, a tall and stern-looking man stepped through the door, dressed in the Queen's colours, silver and cobalt blue. In a low gravelly voice, he said, "Queen Maron requests the presence of Serafina Blackwell at her palace, immediately."

"I have been expecting that.", she said, standing up, eager to get out of the house.

With a nod to Vivian, she rushed out the door and into the carriage awaiting her outside. It was, as expected, silver and cobalt blue. 

As she settled into the carriage, grander than any other than she's ever been in, a servant appeared next to her, offering her tea. Her family was the richest family in Allius save the Queen, but they couldn't afford this level of luxury.

She drew the rich golden curtains and gazed outside as the scenery flew past. The sun was peeking from behind the clouds, showering the trees with a soft golden light. She wondered how the sun could shine today, the day when her world was falling apart. 

~~~

Serafina navigated her way through the twists and turns of the grand halls of Queen Maron's palace with ease. Her mother brought her here at least once a week, she was familiar with the Lords and Ladies at court, the houses and their symbols. She knew her way around the palace, all the entrances, escape routes.

The Queen's private study was on the top floor of the tallest tower in the palace. It overlooks the palace gardens which was a maze of vines, leaves and roses, it receives just enough sunlight on a cold winter day, and just enough breeze on a hot summer afternoon. The study was always flanked by at least half a dozen guards, for it contains valuable information only the Queen can lay eyes on, and on some evenings, the queen herself.

She strode up the seemingly never-ending flights of stairs up to the Queen's study. up and up she went, up the fancy marble steps, up the final carpeted stairs, and was faced with the door to the Queen's study. The guards knew her face, and let her pass.

This palace was so grand even a simple door was a work of art. The wood was carved with the most intricate and beautiful designs, it was like an entire painting. The lock was golden and small, smaller than most would expect. Harder to pick, Serafina thought. The knocker was silver carved into the shape of a leopard's head, and with the eyes dotted with sapphires, the symbol of the Queen. She laid her hand on the knocker and knocked once, twice, three times. After just a moment of silence, the door screeched open.

~~~

Queen Maron herself was standing right in front of Serafina, and she looked just as beautiful and as graceful as Serafina remembered. Though Serafina was quite tall for her age, the Queen was just a tad taller. Her raven-black hair was tied in an elegant bun at the top of her head, fastened with pins of gold and pearls. Her sapphire eyes and dark long lashes clashed perfectly with her pale skin. She wore a silver gown covered in sequins and gems that shimmered every time she moved. Glittering eyeshadow and blush enhanced her exquisite face into something ethereal and otherworldly. She did not wear a crown, she didn't need to, everyone she passed would know that she was Queen.