Frost and Flame

Stella’s pov:

“As I stood in the grand ballroom Icouldn’t help but feel like an outsider as always. My father the king had remarriedwomen who didn’t share the same affection for me. Queen lirien’s cold demeanorand calculating gaze made me feel like a stranger in my own home. My fingers lingeredon the snowflake on my necklace, pressed it three times—it was a gift from mymother, she gave it to me before she passed away, on my 8thbirthday, the intricate design sparkled in the flickering candle light, areminder that she is always with me, she promised.

“For whenever u need me, or if you feelanxious, stressed, or sad—just press it three times, and I’ll come find you, mylittle snowflake” she’d promised me.

As the kingdom prepared for theannual ball, I felt like a pawn in a game I didn’t want to play, royalseverywhere, gossiping, sipping tea, my father didn’t even acknowledge we barelyshared 10 words tonight, that’s when I heard it, nobles—even servants  were whispering

“The royal family of valtania”

“Prince Aaron wry is here”

“Is he and princess Stella gonna argueagain?”

I couldn’t believe what Im hearing, orrather didn’t want to until I saw him, the person I least expected to  come—prince Aaron wry of valtania. He wasstanding across the room his piercing scarlet eyes scanning the crowd, when oureyes met, he smiled, but it was a cold calculated smile. I knew that smile alltoo well. It was a smile of a rival, a smile that said “ I’m going to take youdown.” But there was something maybe different about it? Maybe Imimagining it, I don’t even care.

Prince Aaron and I have never had a civilconversation without making it into an argument—it’s tiring, honestly, and he’snot helping—he’s both annoying and exhausting, way too cockyfor his own good.

  Later on,the ball was going great— I was wearing an off-the-shoulder ball gown inthe softest shade of icy blue, so pale it almost looked white beneath thechandeliers. The fitted satin corset was embroidered with delicate silverthreads that curled across it like frost on a palace window, while tinycrystals shimmered like frozen stars whenever they caught the light.

Layers of flowing tulle cascaded into a full skirtthat drifted gracefully around me, giving the illusion of fresh snowfall withevery step. Hidden iridescent threads reflected hints of silver and pearl,making the gown glow softly beneath the ballroom lights.

My blonde hair was gathered into a high bun thatlooked elegant without being overly perfect. Loose wavy strands framed my face,while delicate silver snowflake pins nestled between the twists, catching thelight with every movement.

Around my neck rested my mother’s snowflakenecklace, accompanied by matching earrings that sparkled like tiny drops ofice. My makeup was soft and natural, with a touch of silver shimmer on myeyelids and a rosy tint on my lips and cheeks.

Silver satin heels completed the look, and theonly ring I wore was a simple silver snowflake band I never took off.

Looking at myself at this mirror hung on the wall,surrounded my gold embroidery, I resembled every painting ever made of a eldridianprincess—graceful, untouchable, and almost unreal. It was beautiful… but itdidn’t feel like me, not for even one second.

while Aaron was  refilling his drink beside me after talking tonobles for way too long, why do I care, anyway?

but—he bumps into me and yells: “HEY! Watchit!”  while looking at me and shot aglance at Lucas,

“watch were you’re going, Aaron” Lucas saidwith a warning voice, but Aaron seemed unbothered by Lucas’ warning ”is thatsupposed to be a threat or a warning” Aaron teased mockingly,

 Lucas: “maybe both” lucas replied , glaring atAaron

 ”you’re still as arrogant as ever Aaron” Ishot back, no one talks back to my best friend like that and get awaywith it                                                                                                                  

Aaron: “and your still annoying and sassyas ever I presume, I guess some things never change” Aaron replied with a smirkon his face “seems like your still the same, even after you grew up.” Aaroncontinued while sizing me arrogantly

 “What are you even doing here?” I askedcuriously, annoyed by his presence

Aaron:” your father invited mine, it’ll berude not come and miss the opportunity to annoy you so I tagged along

 Andit looks like I’m annoying you with my presence” he continued “I’m glad I’mannoying you, princess because that’s the whole reason I came for, torile you up which is…….quiet easy” he sighed, smirking then walked away.

“Maybe you need a breather, wanna gooutside?”  Lucas suggested next to me.

“Gladly.” I murmured, but before I saidanything, he already held my hand, dragging me to the hallway.

“Were are we going?” I asked, I DIDN’Tchange out of my gown and despite it being easy to move in, Im not running inmud with THIS on!

“To the garden—maybe forest to see themother tree if we’re lucky” he answered casually

“I need to change” I Murmur—he suddenly Stoppedwalking turned to me and muttered

“What?”

“I said, I need to change, are u deaf?”

“No, I just mean u take a lot time tochange, stel” he shot back instantly

“Oh, I take along time to change? Last weeku took 2 hours and kept changing between outfits! U left me talking with noblesfor hours while j was waiting for you!”

“In my defence, it wasn’t that bad—“ hetried defending himself—which wasn’t working,  as if it could fix anything.

It didn’t.

Not in the slightest.

“Fine! I promise I won’t take long, ok?”I replied, giving up this fight.

Lucas came forward, pecks my cheek andwhispered—voice soft.

“Take your time, snow—you know I’ll alwayswait for you” he finally turns and leaves, making me wonder how I ever madefriends wit this idiot—my kind, funny idiot.

As I finished

I quickly changed into a lighter dress. It had asoft cream-colored skirt patterned with tiny blush-pink flowers that swayedgently around my ankles with every step. The fitted blush corset was lacedneatly down the front with pale pink ribbons, while the long ivory sleeves werelight and airy, gathered at the wrists with delicate ruffles. It was simpleenough to move freely in, yet elegant enough that no one could say a princesshad dressed beneath her station. I slipped my bow over my shoulder, took one lastlook in the mirror, and hurried out before Lucas started complaining that I wastaking forever.

As I was walking in the halls leading to thegarden, I heard another voice suddenly speak up

“So your escaping, huh—shouldn’t have underestimatedyou then”

I turned to find Aaron leaning lazily against thestone wall, his hands tucked into his pockets, wearing that same infuriatingsmirk.

“So what?” I ask, already annoyed.

He just looks up casually, hands in his pantpockets, head leaning back and added

“U really enjoyed it in there, huh”

“So what do you-“

“U don’t belong with them” he suddenly interruptedme.

“Whats that supposed to mean?” I ask,confused, slightly offended and approached him.

“The nobles inside are cold, emotionless, and booooring,but you on the other hand are…Weirdly interesting tonight”

He added while walking till we were standing infront of each other

A bit too close for comfort, and our heightdifference was a bit more obvious than before.

“Well maybe keep that to yourself next time” I shotback.

“Still stubborn ad ever, aren’t ya, do yoy everjust..i don’t know, stop?” He teased me

“Well ur annoying so it comes out naturally”

“Good” he added quietly,

It suddenly got quite, only our gazed locked on toeach other, till he broke the silence

“You look….” He almost whispered, but His wordsdied on his tongue.

For the first time that night, his usualconfidence faltered.

“I look what?” I asked, curious despite myself

“Nothing, forget it” he answered and walked away,leaving me standing, confused.

What was he gonna say?

The thought kept lingering in my mind till Ireached outside, the cold night gentle breeze air hits me with its calmness andpeacefulness, the garden was stunning.

Flowers everywhere

Birds chirping on the trees

It felt…much better than inside, Lucasfinally noticed me and waved.

“Finally” I sighed and Sat on the bench nextto him.

“You took your time” he teased, glancing atme curiously

“Just an encounter with…someone” Ianswered quietly, same question lingering in my head way too long for me tocare

“Sure, and is that someone..i don’tknow—him?” He added, still curious.

He didn’t even need to say his name to knowwho it is—Aaron

“Yeah, but it was nothing, and it’s notimportant—the most important thing right now is nature, the peaceand quite from all that gossip from inside” I replied instantly, alreadypress my necklace

Once

Twice

Thrice

Lucas noticed the movement, he soften butdidn’t comment, he leans back and adds

“Way too much gossip—I heard a lady say toanother that her son had an affair or something, and others talking aboutmoney, grandkids—too much”

“Yeah, too much” I agreed, silencefell around us, but comfortable silence till he broke it.

Lucas: “you love being outside in nature,don’t you?” he asked, turning his head to me

‘Yeah” I say looking at him but he wasalready looking at me and smiling “the only thing that……makes me feel free,from everything not to remind me that-

I suddenly speak in queen lirien’s voice"a princess doesn’t play outside in the woods like ani-mals"

“Oh wow, you did her voice exactly” Lucassaid, laughing at my impression and added “if Marcus was here he would havecopied her posture and made us laugh” he stopped laughing and leaned his elbowson his knees  ”I really miss him though,he’s always been busy because dad said-“

“A royal heir soon to be king  in a few months shouldn’t play around in thewoods with his friends like a lost child” we both said in sync and looking ateach other                                                                                                                       I put a hand on his shoulder and softly say “you know he’s alreadywhishing he’d be here, laughing with us and using his stupid water power  to drench us in water and running after us” Isay putting my hand back down next to me

Lucas laughed softly and murmured  “and he’d tease you and say ‘come on snow,put you powers to some good use’

He glanced at me  “He cares for you a lot you know, speaksabout you a lot, even though you  areannoying”

I smacked his shoulder playfully “ Excuseme! I’m not annoying I have a pretty great personality thank you, unlike yours,leaf boy “

“Leaf boy?” he asked grinning ”firstly yourexcused and secondly that’s rich coming from the ice queen herself, at leastI’m better at running than you are you couldn’t even ran fast if your lifedepended on it”

“At least I’m better at archery, looks likeI’m winning this argument, admit it leaf boy” I argued back

 Lucas: “sure sure you win… and lose” suddenlyLucas got up too fast I almost fell off the bench “give me a sec I’ll be rightback” he said while running and grinning like the idiot he is

“Where is he going?” I ask myself 

“I hope he doesn’t take too long as usualor I’d have to go drag him back myself”

After a while he comes back with bows andarrows “finally, your back” I say jogging towards him and I smacked his armplayfully “you took your time dude I thought you forgot I was waiting for youstill”

Lucas laughed and rubbed his arm: “ofcourse, but seriously did you think I was going to leave my best friend aloneby herself? Never you little idiot” he said while poking my forehead “ready tothrow some arrows?” Lucas asked playfully

“ Always” I reply taking a bow from him andcarrying it behind my back “let’s go, hurry up Lucas the forest is waiting forus! ’’I say eagerly

Lucas: “fine, fine let’s go” he saidthrowing his jacket on the bench carelessly and hung his bow behind him whilefollowing me,  smiling

we leave the palace going deeply into theenchanted forest  were the tree lived thesource of magic and life in the enchanted forest, the enchanted forest is  were the creatures lived and the flowersdanced and the fairies flew with their wings their pixie dust going everywhereas they flutter their wings in the sky

Mother tree: welcome, princess Stella ofEldrida and prince lucas of montania.” The forest seemed to quite down, birdsstopped chirping, thr wind seemed to ease.

“Hello mother tree” I reply while curtsyingto show respect while lucas bowed “it’s so nice to see you” I say rememberingthe memories I had in the enchanted forest with lucas it was our favorite spotto hang out we had lot’s  of memories inthe enchanted forest over the years as we grew up with marcus

“You’ve grown—and got a bit…wiser”she remarked, Lucas looked offended, hand in his chest and spoke, way tooloudly, some birds literally flew away.

“What’s that supposed to mean?! I got superwise thr past few…minutes, they still count!”

“No dude, no they don’t” I reply, sideeyeing him.

“Yeah, they do!”

“And who said that?”

“I did, I said it, so it’strue” he replied—way too confidently, I wonder were he gets all thatconfidence from—the forest went back to being magical as always.

Birds chirping and flying everywhere—kindaavoiding Lucas tonight, he’s way too loud, how many chocolate did heeat? Never mind that.

Fairies surrounded the while place withthey’re hopefulness and fairy dust.

The fairy dust.

I heard rumours that fairy dust canmake someone fly, who knows—maybe, maybe not.

Surprisingly, the same questionlingers in my head, but now it was more than one.

What was Aaron gonna say?

Why didn’t he say it?

What does he mean I don’t bel with thesenobles?

What if—?

Before my head could spiral, Lucas broke mythinking

Lucas: “hey!  remember when we used to climb the mothertree as kids with marcus, we used to challenge each  other to see who could climb the fastest, Youalways swore you’d beat me to the top one day." He brought up, smiling,that same smile that makes it feel like everything is gonna be alright.

I let out a soft laugh despite my mindbeing like a textbook full of questions and no answer. "And I stillwill."

"Doubt it," he grins. "Youwere always a sore loser."

stella: "Was not."

Lucas: "Were too."

"Was not!" I nudge him with myelbow, but he just smirks like he’s won something.

"Oh, please." He scoffs,dramatically rolling his eyes. "I still remember that time you refused totalk to me for an entire day because I won five races in a row."

"First of all, it was three," Icorrect, crossing my arms.

Lucas: "It was five."

Stella: "Three."

Lucas: "Five."

"Fine, four and a half." I smirk.

"Aha! So you admit it!....even thoughthey were five, not ‘four and a half’ your words, not mine"

"I admit nothing." I looked awaybut my smile gave me away

"Liar they were five I remember."He bumps my shoulder. "And don’t even get me started on that time youtried to push me off a branch just so you could win."

"That was an accident!" Iprotest, but I can’t hold back my laugh. "Besides, you deserved it.You      cheated."

Lucas: "I did not!"

stella: "You distracted me!"

"By existing?" He grins."Can’t help that I’m just naturally superior.

"Ugh you mean naturallyannoying."  I roll my eyes  "One of these days, Lucas, I will win.And when I do, I’m never letting you forget it."

"looking forward to it,Princess." He winks "If that day ever comes."

"It will," I say, tossing my hairdramatically. "And when it does, I expect a formal declaration of my      victory. Preferably written in gold inkon the finest parchment."

"Oh, is that all?" Lucas laughs."Should I arrange for a royal parade in your honor too?"

"Now that you mention it, yes," Isay with a smirk. "Trumpets, banners with my name, maybe a speech whereyou publicly admit I’m the best."

Lucas: "You mean a speech where Irecount all the times you lost?"

Stella: "I hate you."

Lucas: "No, you don’t." He grins."You’d be bored without me."

Stella: "Debatable.”

Lucas: "Nope, undeniable fact."

I sigh dramatically. "Why must Isuffer?"

Lucas: "Because fate decided to blessyou with my presence."

"Curse, not bless," I correct."And if fate had any sense, it would have given me a best friend whodoesn't gloat every five seconds."

Lucas: "But then who would challengeyou? Keep you on your toes? Annoy you until you want to throw me off a treeagain?" He smirks.

"Don’t tempt me." I glare at himplayfully before laughing. "Fine. Maybe you make life… slightly moreinteresting."

"Slightly?" He clutches his chestin mock offense. "I am the reason your life has excitement."

Stella: "Oh, right, because constantlydealing with your giant ego is so thrilling."

"Exactly!" He grins. "Anddon’t forget, I also save you from yourself."

"Excuse me?!" I raise an eyebrow."I can handle myself just fine, thank you very much."

"Mhm. Sure." He nods slowly, asif humouring me. "Like that time you insisted you could jump acrossthe river and fell straight in instead?"

"That was one time!" I groan."And you pushed me!"

"No!, no!, I tried to stop you frommaking a terrible decision, but you were already mid-air," he says   barely holding back his laughter."Besides, you got a free bath out of it. You should’ve thanked me."

Stella: "Oh yes, I’m so grateful forfreezing half to death."

"You’re welcome," he says with agrin, earning himself another shove from me.

Stella: "One day, Lucas. One day, Iwill beat you at something, and I will never let you forget it."

Lucas: "I look forward to seeing youtry, Princess," he teases, stepping ahead of me. "But until then—raceyou to the tree."

Stella: "Lucas, no—!"

But he’s already sprinting, laughing as hedisappears into the trees. I roll my eyes, shaking my head before taking offafter him.

Stella: "You are soinsufferable!"

"And yet, here you are, chasing afterme!" He calls back with a laugh.

“Only because I have to!"

"You love it!"

"I tolerate it," I correct,dodging a low-hanging branch. "Barely!"

"Then why are you smiling?"

I clap my mouth shut, but it’s toolate—he’s seen it. His laugh echoes through the trees, and something about itis so familiar, so comforting. Like home.

The thought catches me off guard, and forjust a second, I slow down. That second is all Lucas needs to reach the treefirst. He stops, turning around with the smuggest expression possible.

"And once again, I win,”  he announces, folding his arms. "Thatmakes… what, the hundredth time?"

"A thousand, probably," I mutter,catching my breath.

"See? You admit it!" He grins."Want me to start drafting that formal declaration now?"

"Ugh." I throw my head backdramatically. "If you weren’t my best friend, I’d push you into thenearest river."

"And if you weren’t my best friend,I’d let you."

I blink at him, caught off guard by howsincere that sounded. For a second, there's no teasing, no       banter—just something real.

Lucas clears his throat, breaking themoment. "Anyway. Want to try beating me at climbing this time, or are yougoing to accept your eternal fate as second place?"

"Oh, it is on, but also after that weare still playing archery" I say, already reaching for a branch. "Andwhen I win, you’re never living it down."

"Fine but these are Big words forsomeone who's about to lose," he taunts, jumping up effortlessly."Try to keep up, Princess."

“Oh I will”I reply rolling my eyes “andwhen I do I’m beating you ass in archery mark my words Lucas!“ but there's agrin tugging at my lips as I climb after him. No matter how much I complain, Iwouldn't trade this moment  for anything.