Chapter 10 - The Eternal Winter
The coronation feast spilled out from the grand hall into the sprawling courtyards of Silverfall, where great bonfires crackled against the night sky and music echoed off the ancient stone walls.
High upon the royal balcony, away from the roaring crowds and the endless sea of flattering courtiers, Amelia stood wrapped in a heavy, fur-lined velvet cloak, looking out over the sprawling, snow-draped expanse of her new domain. The bitter wind blew cold against her cheeks, but she didn't shiver.
Beside her, leaning casually against the stone balustrade, stood Ash. He had shifted halfway, two silver-furred ears twitching softly at the night sounds, a faint, contented smile playing on his lips.
"Penny for your thoughts, my queen," he murmured, nudging her shoulder playfully with his own.
Amelia laughed—a bright, clear sound that carried away on the mountain breeze. "I was just thinking about my old cottage. The leaky roof, the broken latch, the lack of firewood."
Ash chuckled, wrapping a warm arm around her waist and pulling her securely against his side. "We can always burn down this palace and move back into the woods if you miss splitting logs."
Amelia leaned her head against his shoulder, breathing in the familiar scent of pine, snow, and old magic. "No," she whispered, smiling into the dark. "I think we've had quite enough adventure in the snow for one lifetime."
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He pressed a tender kiss to the top of her head, his golden eyes reflecting the brilliant dance of the northern lights overhead.
The winter was deep, and the mountains were vast, but the loneliness that had once defined their lives was gone forever. They had found each other in the dark, and together, they would rule the endless snows for a thousand years to come.
