Daggers of Ice

Chapter 10

Cair Paravel.

Susan.

Susan rounded the corner, a startled gasp leaving her mouth at the sight of her younger sister. The Valiant Queen was lying across the floor, books sprawled about her with no light but that cast by the single lantern at her side.

"Lu, what are you doing out of bed?"

The young queen started, before she turned her head slightly to view her sister. "I could ask the same of you."

With a drawn out sigh, Susan sunk to the floor, leaning her back against one of the library's many bookshelves. The air of the library was musty with the smell of dust and old parchment; rows upon rows of leather-bound books reached almost to the top of the dome-shaped roof. Books stacked precariously upon old oak shelves.

And it was one of the oldest books that Lucy was looking at, Susan could tell by the colour of the pages, the neat writing that scrawled across the page. "What are you reading?"

The same weariness that marked Lucy's face was on her own, she was sure. She would have to use creams in the morning. But they would not erase the worry that gnawed inside of her; their country on the brink of war and no word of their brother who was behind enemy lines.

Ensnared in the lair of a witch.

A false queen.

"I'm trying to figure out how the witch is within Arianna's mind," Lucy said with a sigh. She had been forced to grow up far too early. "I don't think it's a simple possession. Somehow the witch is alive within her, the White Witch's essence."

Of course Lucy would go straight to the heart of the problem. Anything to avoid the war that Peter believed unavoidable.

"But I can't make any sense of this!" With a frustrated growl Lucy threw the book.

...

The Northern Lands.

Edmund.

Even with his brain buzzing pleasantly from the wine, he watched her carefully; unable to miss how she inched ever-closer. He could count the small dusting of freckles across her delicate nose, the way her long lashes cast shadows across her prominent cheekbones. Whether it was the wine or something else he found himself drawing closer to her.

And that was how they sat, with the table between them in their plush chairs, the fire crackling to mere embers as the pitcher of wine grew lower and lower. The chill of winter seemed so far away, though the snow-storm raged just outside the icy walls.

"Why don't you fight the witch?" he breathed.

He cursed as she drew back slightly, her eyes hardening. "I have tried. The only way to keep her from taking over is to feel nothing, as she taught me. Either way I become who she wants. Yet I serve her of my own free will."

Her admission surprised him; for she had answered far more than his original question.

"I owe her my life," she said softly, throwing caution to the wind as she downed the rest of her goblet.

...

Arianna.

Her world was a hazy blur of smoke, ice and Edmund.

She had tried to leave once, but had gotten only as far as the frozen lake before she'd felt the tugging. She'd tried to ignore it at first. Until she had taken that step too far.

Pain had sliced through her small framed. A crippling never ending agony that seared through her very being. She had collapsed, her small nails digging into her palms. Red, red blood dropped onto the snow. Splattering across as whimpers left her lips.

Then she remembered nothing but a soothing hand on her forehead, soft voices floating around her.

"What were you doing, child?" It was the closest Jadis's voice had ever come to caring, though it still contained a cold edge of fury. But even at seven years old Ari had known Jadis cared for her in her own way, even if it was just as a tool. She was at least a useful tool.

A weapon.

She had not answered; instead tears had poured from her wide emerald eyes. She had been asking for forgiveness. And Jadis seemed to have known, for she drew her into a tentative hug.

"Now you know not to disobey me."

Never had she forgotten that pain.

Whilst Jadis had been the cause of her pain she had saved her. The sorceress could have left her to die.

"You know you really shouldn't drink."

She could feel Edmund by the goosebumps that erupted over her skin when he neared, and when he touched her arm she had to supress a shudder as lightning shot down her spine. She turned and offered the human a smirk, to see he was kneeling beside her chair. She fluttered her eyelashes demurely, looking the very picture of maidenly innocence. "Why ever not?"

He snorted, a slight blush covering his cheeks as he set down the goblet on the table. "You're as weak as a faun!"

She laughed, enjoying the free feeling that always eluded her, gazing into his dark eyes, her breath caught in her throat. It seemed inevitable that their lips should meet; warmth spread through her body like wildfire as her goblet fell to the floor, forgotten. Almost hesitantly she brushed her lips against his; a delicious shiver running up her spine, her fingers playing in his short, dark locks. She tugged and he was beside her in the chair, limbs entangled with hers. Mahogany eyes were dark with desire, looking into her own when he pulled back slightly, his mouth opened slightly.

Inviting.

She pulled him towards her once more, feeling his larger hands on her upper arms, his mouth willing against her own and she could taste the mead he had consumed earlier. Edmund...A sigh left her lips when he pressed his lips in hot open-mouthed kisses along her neck and collarbone.

Like liquid flame his lips left a trail of heat in their wake, his hands finding their way to her waist, pulling her atop him.

She felt his warrior's hands, surprisingly tender, run along her sides, her thighs that were encased in breeches rather than smothered by a gown. She moaned softly as teeth nipped lightly, as his hands brushed against the curve of her breasts.

Tantalising.

Teasing.

Arianna's hands wove through those short luscious locks, as soft as silk. Perhaps he too had consumed too much mead. In that moment she did not care. For Jadis could not interfere. With a smirk she pulled him closer, her hands finding the ties to his shirt easily.

Mine.