Prince of Pleistocene

As the first snowflake settled, it whispered secrets of a winter tale waiting to unfold, that of which not even history could hold, the story of Elson Frost.

The winter wind blew strongly through the mountains of what is now Poland, snow covered the land like a sparkling blanket that held many stories. On this former field surrounded by trees and the faint smell of wood and leaves stood a boy with a staff, hair white like frosting, eyes blue like the ocean, freckles like the snowflakes in the sky and skin as pale as the snow itself. He stared at the mountains as the winter wind danced around his form and wondered further away across the mountains of which the boy believed no one could go beyond. The name of this lad was Elson, and he was like no other.

"If only" Elson murmured

"If only, what?"

Elson jumped and held his staff in the most intimidating pose he could, which in fact was quite amusing with his small frame at thirteen years old. He was met with a young man, no more than three years older than him with brown hair but same blue eyes and an amused smirk, his brother-- Aster and a wizard with the blade.

"Don't scare me like that" Elson spat

"Come on, it wasn't like I INTENDED to scare you" Aster said back casually leaning on a tree.

"But you know me well enough" Elson looked down visibly annoyed.

"Fine I'm sorry, but your reaction was hilarious" Aster tilted his head with a wide  teasing smile.

This caused Elson's face to turn an unnatural shade of red, and an expression that made it seem like he was ready to lunge at his brother.

Aster noticed quickly.

"I was joking!!!!"

Elson whacked him with his staff

"Ow!"

"Let's go home" Elson proceeded stomping back in the direction to the palace through the forest.

"Why, now?" Aster questioned.

"Mother and father will want to bid farewell before their departure"

"I suppose"

"Exactly Aster, exactly as you suppose"

Yes in indeed the King and Queen will leave the kingdom for an unknown venture to a land of which is as secretive as the trip itself.

Aster and Elson walk through the forest with snow coated trees and frozen rivers, few animals are spotted in these areas and getting lost is aa easy as stepping into the forest.

"Do you think they even know where they are going" Elson asks while avoid stepping on large rocks covered in snow.

"No longer mad at me?" Aster asks with a smile.

"I'm serious" Elson retorts

"Well, why wouldn't they"

"Because since the day we could process words we've been taught that nothing but wind and birds can go beyond the mountains of our land"

"Well, we never really got to know if it's actually a hundred percent true" Aster said looking at the sky as sunlight settled on the snow creating a beautiful scene.

"But what about the vikings? They couldn't make it across and they tried everything"

"That was ten years ago"

"And the mountains have been here for thousands!" Elson exclaimed dramatically with his hands up in the air.

"So what are you worried about?" Aster's tone had softened, and Elson paused in his tracks and smooth breeze swept through his hair and he stared at the ground.

"What if.... What if they never make it"

Aster's eyes widened, because it sounded like more of a statement and not a question.

"They will" Aster himself was not even sure if he was lying or not.

"How do you know? Maybe there's a reason no one has come in or gone out alive" Elson looked at his brother, with his eyes looking like a dam about to burst.

"Elson, I have no answer to your question and I doubt that mother or father will answer either let alone Orion, or even Evelyn, but all we can do is hope"

"Hope, what a fine word"

The two proceed their journey in silence.

Not to long to sunset they arrive at the palace. The structure is a beautiful as it's history, standing tall with icy patterns scattered across it's frame, and shimmering as sunlight dives in and reflects off it's frost walls no Royal could compare.

Around the palace, lies a kingdom of wonder and a civilisation built on the tale of the spirits which kept the kingdom alive, but a story without a happy ending. Each spirit held an element of different kinds; air, water and all the others, Pleistocene which was kept by the spirit of winter was the only one that remained standing ever since the covenant was broken, and all other civilisations were locked away as cities frozen in time and the mountains built up them selves as the spirits agreed that to keep trouble from getting out, it must be kept in.

In the palace stands an old woman with hair as green as summer leaves held in a large bun stands by the door welcoming the princes, her name is Evelyn descendant to the only survivor her kingdom and chief advisor of this one.

"Welcome, my lords, you are quite early today" she bows patiently

"Hey Evelyn" Aster says quite upbeat

"Greetings, Miss" Elson hits his brother with his elbow whispering

"She's 5 times my age you idiot"

"I take no offence Elson, though my gratitude for respect, please follow me"

Evelyn takes the boys through the palace halls to meet the rest of the family, as they proceed Evelyn takes on conversation.

"I suppose you want to spend time with your parents befor their trip?"

"Indeed" Elson answers looking at the painted walls of many designs, old and new.

"How long do think they will be gone?" Aster asks curiously.

"Their trip is an expirement so it could be months"

Elson tenses up at this.

"Oh" Aster's head drops

"Do you know what their going for? Or even where?" Elson asks with some desperation in his voice.

"I'm sorry Elson, but I do not bare that knowledge, we'll have to just hope for the best" Evelyin replies courtly.

"Hmmm"

Eventually Evelyn opens the door to the family room and ushering the boys inside, the wall is covered in embroidery with each representing a fallen kingdom or mythic legend, the curtains a deep wine red with gold lace shimmering down the edges, taking up empty space in the room are two wooden tables with maps and compass' and a candle lit filling the air with the fragrance of honey and milk.

The rest of the family had dominated the sofas, Orion --The oldest child by two years stood by the curtains staring at the floor grimly, while Emmaline, about eight years old sat on her father's lap and Cory the youngest laid beside her mother.

"Aster. Elson."

"Father" the two say in unison

"You can sit, this isn't a court case"

"I'm good" Aster leans on the door

Elson silently sits on the floor, their mother looks at their father like she's trying to beg him for something. He pretends to not notice.

"Children" Their father looks at them one by one.

"I am sure you are aware of the situation"

The all nod in robotic motion avoiding eye contact.

"I understand that you may not like the idea and probably have every debate to tell us not go-"

"Father-" Orion perks up in an agitated tone.

"But! It is an action that must be made"

Their mother calmly strokes Cory's silky blonde hair and speaks.

"For so long, we lived in a fixed society controlled by the spirits. It's been two hundred years living as an Isolated kingdom. Don't you think there has to be way to break free like the birds of the sky and wind of the heavens?"

Everyone falls silent.

Elson looks up to his mother's eyes

"But how do you break curse of which we know so little about?"

Aster takes on

"We only know how it got here but how do we know what will end it?"

Orion follows

"Do you reaow where you guys are going?"

Everyone remains silent in tension strong enough to snap an iron rod.

"Regardless of if we know where we are heading to or not. Your Mother and I will go, not for us but for you and the kingdom benefits"