Eclipse

Chapter 8

King Igor sat on the balcony over looking the garden. Birds tweeted in the trees and the warm summer breeze brought the scent of flowers. He held out his wine glass and a servant refilled it.

"It's beautiful, isn't it? Not like the rest of the kingdom. I could stop winter from returning if only they would accept me as their only king. But, alas, they would rather live in a bleak, cold world and cling to their old traditions. The Night King and his son are dead. There's no one left to take their places."

He smiled and toasted his garden before settling back in his chair. He looked at the rising sun and a frown appeared.

"That thief. She looked so familiar. Violet eyes. The eyes of the royal family. But it can't be. All of them are dead. King Bartok, Prince Levi, Lady Atlana. Everyone. They're all dead. So why did she have violet eyes?"

He looked at the reports on the table next to him and his frown deepened. He took the letter and re-read it.

"This doesn't make sense. Why would Rodney...? Guard!"

A guard dressed in red and gold appeared by his side.

"Ready the horses. We leave in two hours."

Alaska sat beside a small, half-frozen stream. The cloudy sky and cold weather did nothing to dampen her spirits. She had cleaned her clothes as best she could in the stream and her hair was dripping unto the rocks behind her.

"I though the world outside would be, greener," commented Levi from where he stood beneath the trees.

"It's winter. It always looks like this," retorted Alaska.

"It used to be warmer and greener in winter."

"You've been locked up to long, Levi. Winter has grown colder since the sun was eclipsed by the moon."

Levi looked at her and then around. The world was pale in comparison to the one he knew. The trees reached for the sky with bare branches. No birds twittered and the forest was silent. The stream trickled from the frozen pool over stones and icicles hung from the waterfall.

"It's still beautiful," noticed Alaska and looked at the ice.

"I suppose," sighed Levi, "We should be going."

"You're right. It's still a few hours walk to the Healing House and I'm starving."

"How do you know where we are?" asked the bewildered man.

"I know these streams, over there," she pointed across the stream, "used to grow some of the herbs my mom used. I knew about the tunnel to, but we never went in."

"We?" Levi fell in step with Alaska as they walked downhill beside the stream.

"Reid and I. He's friend who used to help me collect herbs for my Aya."

The trees grew closer together as they walked in silence. Levi looked at the world around him. His footprints and frosty breath was the only signs that he was there at all. Alaska quickly forgot about him as the minutes turned into hours.

It was early afternoon when they finally reached the Healing House. Snow had begun to fall and the world looked softer. The back of the house looked exactly like it always did and the shed stilled leaned against the oak tree. She entered the shed and exited a few minutes later dressed in cleaner clothes.

"You can wait in here," she told Levi, "I'll be difficult to explain you."

She left him standing in the snow and entered the house though the same door Reid used the day before.

No one was in the kitchen when she entered the house and she quietly made her way upstairs to Aya's room. A raven sat on the sill of the window opposite the stairs when she reached the first floor. It flew of over the small cemetery behind the shed. Alaska looked down at the graves before she mentally shook herself and continued on down the hall. She knocked softly on the door before opening it.

"Hey," she whispered as she closed the door behind her.

Aya looked away from the window and smiled when she saw Alaska.

"Where were you?" she asked weakly.

"I had to run an errand for a friend," she answered and seated herself bedside Aya on the bed.

Aya was thirteen but the sickness made her look younger. She was thin and pale. Her golden curls had lost their shine and were brittle. Her violet eyes were looked almost lifeless. Alaska looked down at her little sister and had to fight back tears.

"How are you feeling?" Alaska brushed a lock of hair from Aya's face and tapped her nose.

Aya smiled at the gesture but it turned into a hacking cough.

"Come here," Alaska hugged Aya close to her and didn't let go until she felt Aya's breathing slow as she fell asleep. She placed her gently back on the bed and covered her with a blanket.

She rose slowly and seated herself on the window seat and looked out the window. She leaned her head against the cold pane and ignored her growling stomach. She stared out the window but didn't see anything. All she could see was the laughing face of a five year old Aya sitting on their mother's lap beside the fire while she told them a bedtime story.

Alaska sighed and looked over at Aya. She looks so peaceful, though Alaska.

"Ally," whispered Aya.

"I'm here, little one," whispered Alaska back and joined Aya in the bed.

"Mom says hi."

"What?" Alaska stared down at her little sister in surprise.

Aya's eyes sparkled with life and she gave Alaska a dazzling" smile before she closed her eyes and hugged her older sister.

"Aya? Aya wake up," Alaska clutched her sister close as tears began to stream down her face.

"Come back, Aya. Please. You have to come back," she cried.

Alaska rocked with her sister on the bed and cried. She called over and over again for her sister to come back, but Aya's lifeless body gave no response.

A plump woman entered the room and saw Alaska holding Aya and mumbling.

"Alaska?" she asked as she came closer, "I'm so sorry," she said as she noticed what happened.

"Go away!" yelled Alaska.

Mrs. Baker ignored Alaska's cries and gave her and awkward hug before leaving.

Alaska sat alone in the room until night fell and the crescent moon rose and casted its light into the room.

Levi stood beside the shack for a while before deciding to go for a walk in the forest. After walking for a few minutes he found himself in a clearing ringed with black charred trees. He slowly walked into the centre and stopped.

"So much death," he sighed, "Why didn't I stay and fight?"

He wandered about the clearing, lost in his memories.