Come Winter's End: Fairy Fire Book #1

~ 𝑪𝒉. 3: 𝒀𝒖𝒍𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒅𝒆 𝑪𝒉𝒆𝒆𝒓 & 𝑩𝒆𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒚𝒂𝒍~

Place: Miri's room, Emberfrost
Castle, Timberest
Date: Nollaig 3, 1617, 10 a.m.

The air was cold, crisp, and crackled with electricity. Large amber lights fell from the sky. A strong smell of bitterroot filled the atmosphere and almost colored the horizon. There were bright purple flashes everywhere. Fire blasted from one side of the landscape to the other. It was met with ice, causing steam to billow towards the sky.

Time moved almost in slow motion, blurring shapes and forms. There was ice and darkness everywhere. The ground was frozen hard, blood and fallen weapons covered it. People were running, screaming, pushing, and shoving trying to flee, but from what?

Miri had no idea how she got there. Or even where she was. It felt so familiar like someplace she had spent many of her days. The figures in the distance looked like ones she knew but she couldn't make out their faces.

Then there was a loud explosion coming from behind her and she turned sharply and sees a crown of fire fall to the ground. A large ominous purple shadow lunges to attack the fallen man with a flame crown. Miri sees this and comes in between the man and the shadow.

Raising her hand, a shield appeared to protect them both. At that point, the fae lost all fear. The darkness tried to swallow her she felt it try to pull her under. Then a bright light broke through and a great warmth overtook the fairy. The light cleared and she realized that all the clouds all the darkness had been destroyed.

There was no remorse no sadness for all the destruction that fell at her hand. Miri was terrified not from the battle or fear for her own life. It was how easily killing, destruction came to her that terrified her.. How she was looking to destroy even more.

Miri awoke sharply sitting up straight in her bed. She was soaked in a cold sweat, her heart pounded.

"What have I done? Why did I destroy everything? Was the darkness using me or was I using it? Where was I?"

Her mind raced with a million questions.

"My lady, it's time for breakfast." A voice broke the silence and her train of thought.

It was Breena MacCleary one of her ladies in waiting.

"Lady Miri are you alright your hands are shaking."

She looked down and noticed the lady in waiting was correct. Her hands were shaking like leaves in an autumn breeze. The woman felt her forehead for fever.

"I'm alright, it was just an unsettling dream." At least half of what she was saying was true.

She got out of bed wrapping herself tightly in her pretty pink and grey plaid robe as the air that morning was still chilly.

Breena lit a fire as Miri slipped her feet into her warm slippers. She went to the table and set down for breakfast. Her lady in waiting joined her as she did most mornings. The two had a lovely conversation about the upcoming holidays and looking forward to the ball.

She was a sweet woman. Tall, thin, very polite, and delicate in her mannerisms. With her plans to be married in the coming year, the two discussed that as well. By the time Miri went to get dressed the awful nightmare was no longer on her mind.

Miss MacCleary had laid out a very nice dress for her. Burgundy plaid for the top with a matching skirt in a solid color. She picked a nice tan over sweater that matched the tan in the plaid. It was soft as fluffy made of cloud wool they called it.

Then Miri saw the corset. She hated that thing. It prevented her from moving freely and took ages to get in and out of. Always needing help to accomplish either.