Before the Solstice

5 Years ago

Vanessa

All the northerners were locked inside hiding from the savage wind’s cold touch. The only lights throughout the entire city were the faint flickers of an oil lamp miles ahead in the direction of the King’s castle. Reluctantly, I made my way towards it. With each step I prayed that the King or his guards were in a hospitable mood. As an outcast, and given the King’s reputation, surely he’d leave me outside to die – but I had to try, for my own sanity at least, I couldn’t just give up now.

By the time I got to the castle gates; my hands were solid, and my eyes were frozen open. I tried my best to bang on the door, but my slams were weak. I even tried to scream for help, but my voice had lost all its power and came out dead. A part of me was deluded into thinking that they were simply ignoring me but in truth I am sure they couldn’t even hear me. Soon I fell to floor. I locked my head into the bed of my knees hoping to warm my face enough to blink, by the gods my eyes were no longer frozen but now I had another problem to contend with. I had to fight sleep. If I fell asleep in this weather I’d surely die. But this was a pointless battle that my body had already chosen to lose. When a spark of bright light came out of nowhere I had made my peace with my demise – however, as I closed my eyes to welcome death’s embrace I was greeted by a woman with perfect teeth, red eyes and red hair.

I woke up some time later in new clothes, wrapped in warm sheets and confused. The only thing that seemed familiar, in the corner of the room was that woman. She was looking over the city but though her back was turned away, her red hair was indistinguishable. I gasped and she turned to me for a moment before returning her focus to the black carriages riding through the streets and her tea. A few moments of silence stood between us and finally she spoke calmy; “I can’t have you dying just yet Venessa. The Northern Kingdom is a beautiful place. The large snow covered hills, the evergreen forest, even these little villages and cities with their quaint little buildings. Everything here is so picturesque. But, it is also a cold place. Literally and Figuratively. Only an idiot would dare wonder its streets at night without magic or the proper clothing.”

“Who are you, Where am I, How do you know my name?” she turned around and her red gaze chilled my spine. I did not see her move, but like magic, she was right in front of me. She grabbed me out of bed and tossed me before a mirror. I tried to resist her, but while her frame was slender, she seemed to have the strength of a small army. “Stop resisting or I’ll break your bones.” She whispered into my ear and I instantly stopped out of fear that she’d come through on her threat. She snapped her fingers and I was embraced by a purple mist, when it left I was wearing a dress as if some princess. She then mumbled to herself too pretty before snapping her fingers again, this time when the smoke cleared I was in a black leather like amor that covered my entire body and hugged my sides tightly. She then reached out into the air and a bright red scarf appeared which she then wrapped around my neck. She stepped back and smiled before mumbling yet again this will do nicely. I asked her again who she was and what was all this dressing up for and she angled her eyebrows as if annoyed by my questions.

“Your inquisitions irritate me child. All will be revealed shortly. I saved your life, all I am asking is that you trust me as do as I say. The King’s carriage has been here for some time now, he will be up shortly and I do not have the time to bring you up to speed on what is happening.”

“May I at least know your name?”

“I am Scarlet Archer, witch of the weeping woods, Princess of Creation. Now, the deal is you stand here, look pretty and say nothing while I speak to the King. Do we have an understanding?” I owe my life to the most powerful and infamous woman in the world, death would have been a better alternative.

“I can read minds child. And since you remember my reputation, you will know that I am only asking you to be silent as a courtesy. So, are you going to hush?”

“Yes.”

“Excellent Choice.” As we concluded our banter a small creature walked into the room and told scarlet that the King was on his way to the room. She pushed me to the corner and then stood at the center of the room.

I have never met King Frost. Most people in the kingdom fear him with all their hearts. He never leaves his castle which I suppose solves the mystery of where I am, I think. He enforces his rule through his soldiers and hidden spies throughout the lands - any talks of rebellion are quickly quenched, and some of his men and women use their power to abuse the people of the north locking us all in a cycle of never ending fear. Most citizens of the North are so afraid they comply with the King’s rules and the few fools that rise up to challenge them are executed publicly and gruesomely.

The doors opened and when he entered the room, the first thing I noticed was that his skin was sky blue with tiny ice shards like there were small pieces of broken glass projecting off it - around him was an aura of cold that stole the warmth of the room. I began to shiver but Scarlet was unphased. His iris was a perfect white like his hair, but the rest of his eye was blood red. He wore a mask covering his mouth and nose making his gaze even more chilling than Scarlet’s. He was dressed in a body suit, with big thick boots, gloves in hand he bowed to Scarlet first and she returned the pleasantry. When the King bowed I noticed that he carried a sword around his waist along with tiny metal daggers and a few potions. But, as imposing as he looked, a part of me felt like he wasn’t that frightening – especially since he bowed to Scarlet. I know that she is powerful, but this is his Kingdom after all.

He spoke in a snake-like voice but it was still deeper than most wells in the East, “Good morning Scarlet, you have summoned me to your Northern Palace, why?” wait, we are not in his castle? How much power does Scarlet have that she can summon the King of the North?

Scarlet reached for his face and removed his mask, she ran her palm along his cheek, and then greeted him seductively before placing a kiss on his lips. While the two embraced the room felt warmer and the King’s skin shifted to a normal shade like mine and Scarlet’s. Scarlet stepped away from the King who looked on at her in shock. He then dashed to the mirror and his eyes, now normal lit up in joy. He spoke gleefully “How did you do that, Frost Giant DNA is unchangeable, my half-human side has been dormant since my second birthday.”

“Limitations mean nothing to me, they are just an added challenge. But, if you must know, during Clarissa and Guinevere’s fight the two Queens used ancient magical weapons. When you use an original ancient weapon it leaves behind a small amount of ancient magical dust. This is the dust my mother and grandfather used to create not only these beautiful weapons also the very world we live in – like this picturesque Kingdom you call home. According to the books of the grand library, this dust can be used to create anything you desire with the right ingredients and skill. Unfortunately my mother keeps all the dust locked up in her castle and I can’t remove any from her realm without her knowing. Nonetheless, I devised a plan. I gave that idiot Guinn an ancient weapon I had precured some time ago, and I manipulated Clarissa into using the Kane Breaker in her final battle. After the two monarchs finished their squabble I took some time to gather all the dust and other magical resideues I could find from the battlefield. With this dust I was able to create a most powerful shapeshifting potion, the one I just used on you through my lips-”

“This long exposition does not answer my question Scarlet. Shapeshifting potions or spells do not work on my DNA.”

“Do not interrupt me, Elijah. Most of my expositions are nonsense till the end. Where was I? yes, a most powerful shapeshifting potion, a new kind in fact. One that has few limits inclusive of your Frost Giant DNA. This is because this potion does not just attack vanity, it attacks the very DNA, the very life frequency that identifies us as who we are. Whereas before you’d shapeshift and maintain your deep red and white eyes and icy skin, now you can shapeshift into any species and look like them too instead of some frozen abomination. The best part, you maintain the strength and magic that comes with being a Frost Giant if you want. Its literarily a potion that can turn you into anything. And as a bonus, as long as the potion remains in your system, your DNA remains mailable to whatever you or a mage like me would desire. Let me demonstrate.” Scarlet snapped her fingers and turned him into a rabbit, then a frog, back into a Frost Giant and then to a human form. “With the snap of my fingers or the thoughts of your mind, you can become a human, with human strength, and human limits all without casting a single forbidden spell like you’ve been planning to for years now.” When Scarlet uttered her last words I could see the King’s face drop, he seemed anxious, but pretended to be calm for the soldiers behind him. Scarlet giggled as if a child and the King asked his entourage to leave the room. Once the men left the room Scarlet was the first to break the silence.

“I’ve known that you’ve been trying to make your skin normal like your mother’s for years now for that commoner you fell in love with and your complete disgust of your species. I also know that you want to make a deal with my mother to try that forbidden spell of rebirth. A spell that would allow you to start over at any age, however you please, without losing the knowledge and power you’ve already accumulated. This potion saves you all that trouble, and allows you to customize your attributes beyond your wildest dreams. You see Elijah, with my potion, you can be anything you want no one will know your true nature. No one will know you’re just like your Father, the real King Frost.”

Elijah’s body was covered in white smoke and his entire frame and face changed. He was still a giant, but smaller and his face was younger. “How did you know that I wasn’t my Father?” I stood in the corner shocked by the revelation. I had to clench my fists to hold in my gasp.

“I make it my business to know things, Prince Frost. I do not care about you or whatever your father Markus is searching for in the weeping woods. The state of the Northern Monarchy is not my business yet, my concern at the moment is the East. Anyway, all I care about is that while your father is off searching, you are sovereign over these lands and thus have the power to give me what I want.”

“Which is?”

“I made this potion for myself. To escape my magical timer, but it doesn’t work on pure celestials. Only mixed creatures like you or my son. If I really wanted to change my DNA I’d need to find my father, a man rumored to be a creature from the old world, a being of death and destruction. I can’t find him anywhere or anywhen. He is so elusive I am beginning to believe my mother’s lies that I just came to be randomly. I am rambling, but the point is, knowing of your predicament I decided to make more of the potion for you.” Scarlet turned to me in the corner and clapped her hands and in front of me appeared crates upon crates of potions. She then continued “This is all the potion I was able to make and the instructions on how to use them as well. I kissed you for the drama of it all, you can have the same effect from just drinking the potion in your morning tea. The effects last around three to six months, so you hae enough potions to last the rest of your life-”

“I am sorry to interrupt you again scarlet, but I am still confused as to what you want, I understand what you are offering. You are offering my dream, my freedom from this wicked curse. But what is the cost.”

“So impatient. I want full access to the Northern Kingdom, even those parts of your library reserved for the royal family. I want a section of the Evergreen Forest to be absorbed into the Weeping Woods as well as permission to build a portal between the evergreen forest and my hut that only I can use. And finally, I want this woman to be taken into your army and made into your best solider-”

“WOMEN HAVE NO PLACE IN MY FATHER’S ARMY! He would sooner allow me to marry the scum!” I was offended by his description of me and shocked that I was part of Scarlet’s deal, I would have responded but the room filled with a sweltering heat, that caused the Prince to fall to his knees, he was also transformed back to a frost Giant and it was like he was melting before my eyes. Scarlet’s red eyes were glowing and I stepped back in fear as with just the raise of her finger the room began to shake. “I am sorry for interrupting you a third time and yelling, please don’t kill me.” The prince begged in a dead voice, Scarlet shrugged her shoulders and all was back to normal.

“You are not worth the grains of sand in my timer to kill. Now, do we have a deal?”

“I cannot accept your deal, my father does not allow women in his army. He’d kill me.”

“Your father isn’t here, its your army now. As sovereign it is your deal to make. I am offering you the world Elijah, only a fool would pass up the world.”

“I need more Scarlet. The world isn’t worth death.”

“How about I give you something even more rare than this shapeshifting potion. The ability to create a pure Frost Giant on top of all these potions. Instead of only spending six months at a time with your lover, you can turn her into a Frost Giant and be with her forever.”

“How?”

Scarlet waved her hand and a portal appeared, she reached in and grabbed a flower that made Elijah step back in fear. She laughed as she crushed its contents into a bottle and placed it on top of the stack of crates beside her.

“The Sabrina has the ability to create Frost Giants. It is the only flower left that can do this. Queen Snow removed all the magic in the others and placed it in her body. I did not realize util I used her blood to create the Sabrinas. Its why your ancestors stopped fighting, they couldn’t make more of themselves to fight. Its why your ancestors like your father, despite hating them were forced to marry humans. In this vile is enough dust to turn someone into a pure frost giant. The conditions, however, is that this person you plan on converting must choose to become a frost giant. This wasn’t a limitation in the past but, because I believe in the rights of choice I have made it one. I warn you, your father may be evil, but pure frost giants are the worst of the worst. They lack souls. Your sweet Veronica may be beautiful now, but there is no telling how ugly a Frost Giant she may become. This is my final offer King Frost, do we have a deal?”

“Yes.” He must really love this Veronica.

“Excellent Choice my dear. Excellent choice. Just sign here with your royal seal. I will deliver her and the potions to your carriage shortly. For now, my King, have a nice day.” He signed the papers and left the room and Scarlet turned to me with joy in her eyes.

“Why would you sell me into the King’s army knowing he hates women?”

“You asked me to. You just don’t remember because of the cost of the spell you asked me to perform. Don’t worry, this is all part of your plan. When the three pieces become one your mind will be whole again.”

“Even if I am to believe you that I made this deal with you. Why would you help me? What do you gain in all this?”

“I want you to live a very long life Venessa. Your purpose is complicated. Just know that for now, the tapestry of the universe requires you to live like this. Under the care of the King. In the streets as a 21 year old girl they will treat you as a prostitute or worse leave you for dead. Under the care of the King, you will survive, and our plans will come to pass. Hopefully, the next time we see each other face to face you’ll be ready for the next steps of your plan as I will be.”

“You’re not making any sense Witch.”

“Take this necklace and guard it with your life. Its broken but when the three pieces become one, all your memories of our del will return. I saved your life, trust me child. I want you to live a very long life.”