The Ice Princess

The

Ice

Princess

I dedicate this book to all the princesses of the world!

~

The Ice Princess has left her castle!

To another kingdom she will travel!

She wishes to find her grandmother!

To bring a cure for her father!

Kiltron

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Copyright © 2021 by Dan Harrington
 
All rights reserved.
 
No part of this publication may be produced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other non-commercial uses permitted by copyright law.
 
ISBN
(Paperback) 9798510151275
(eBook) 9781005704834

Princess Rona ran down the hallways of the castle. Her laughter echoed throughout the halls and the people within smiled at her joy.

           She was a special girl. Known as the Ice Princess. Her mother was queen of this castle and her father was an ice statue. That was where she ran off to now.

           She raised her little hand up and ice appeared on the floor and she began to skate to her parent’s bedchamber. She slid around a corner and stopped at the door. She burst in.

           “Mommy! Has daddy moved yet? Do you know when he will thaw?” she asked excitedly. This was a daily ritual of hers. Ever enthusiastic and optimistic.

           Felicia always gave the same reply.

           “Not yet my dear. But perhaps soon,” her tone had a sad quality to it.

           The little girl looked to her father brightly.

           “One day soon daddy. I will free you and we can be a family!” she asserted with a nod.

           She hugged her father’s legs.

           “I love you daddy. I am going to play with my friends, now. I will see you tomorrow morning as always,” she said with a twinkle in her eye.

           Then she ran out of room and hooted as she went sliding down the hallways.

           Felicia smiled warmly. She loved her daughter very much and wished Gavin could enjoy the time they spend together.

           She placed her hand upon his frozen cheek and kissed his slight smiling lips.

           “How much I miss you, my love,” she breathed out. She looked into his eyes and saw then life within. She looked deeper and gasped. A single tear streaked down her cheek. It froze upon her cheek.

           Felicia knew in that instant that her husband was aware of his surroundings. A certain kind of joy leaped into her heart. There was yet hope of him recovering. She wondered if he has been aware all this time.

           Rona was eight years old now, but how long until Gavin would be free? He has missed so much. They needed him. She needed him. If only to be held by him once again, would bring such joy to her heart.

~

Rona once again ran down the hallways of the castle. Only this time she was sixteen years of age and still she acted as she always did every morning on her way to her parent’s bedchamber.

           She used her magic to create a slide of ice on the floor. She skated to the door. She burst in like always.

           “Good morning mother,” Rona said in a chirper mood.

           “Morning, dear,” Felicia replied.

           “Has father moved yet?” she asked the same question everyday. Felicia never tired of it.

           Rona walked to her father’s frozen body.

           “Daddy. This is the year you wake. I can feel it,” she said with optimism.

           She hugged her father.

           “I love you daddy,” she said, then kissed his cheek.

           She gasped.

           “Mother, look. His mouth is smiling wider,” Rona said excitedly.

           Felicia came to investigate. Her daughter was correct. His smile had broadened. This was promising. Excitement fluttered deep within Felicia. Perhaps her daughter was right about her prediction. To be with her husband again would bring great joy to her and the rest of the kingdom.

           Felicia had been happy all these years for the most part in raising her daughter and teaching her to use her magic responsibly. But she did have bouts of melancholy where she felt the loss of all hope of ever getting him back. Those were dark nights for her. When the storms grew worse then normal.

           This was hope for a future. A future for their family.

           “Love you Mommy,” Rona said and gave her mom a kiss on the cheek. “I will be with Reese and Becca.”

           “Alright, dear,” Felicia said as her daughter ran out of the room.

           Rona made an ice slide down the stairs and slid to the main floor. She went outside the castle into the courtyard to meet with her friends.

           They were waiting near the fountain. Today, was an adventure around the castle grounds. Mainly to explore the gardens in the back. There was so much back there. It was like a tiny forest. It was neat, and they liked running about in it.

           Becca was a human girl with long dirty golden locks she kept tied back in a weave. She was a pretty girl with a sprinkle of freckles on her nose and a splatter of them on just one cheek of her face. Her eyes a light green that were bright with humour and joy. She wore a plain dress for outdoor use. Just as Rona wore a plain dress for the same reasoning.

           Becca had a crush on their friend Reese who happened to be a fae. He could transform into a hawk.

           His hair was a dark brown and his eyes were yellow. His canines would show when he smiled in his humanoid form. He was tall, handsome, and kissable. Becca had many times kissed him unawares. He would always ask why Becca did that and she would reply ‘for just being you’. Rona would roll her eyes. Those two should just get married already. They were both head over heels in love with each other.

           When Rona reached them. They all held hands and jumped around all giddy.

           So, off they went through the courtyard around to the back of the castle.

           “Are we ready to journey in the woods. They look so spooky inside,” Becca said in a dramatic voice.

           Reese grabbed Becca around the waist from behind and pretended to bite her on the shoulder.

           Becca screeched in laughter. Rona giggled.

           “Oh, you two,” Rona played at scalding them. She walked into the woods and her friends followed.

           Not far into the woods, Rona came upon a stone bench. She laid down on it to lounge.

           “I will lounge here while the two of you go exploring,” Rona used a deep exaggerated voice. “Tata, my pretties,” she then waved them away.

           Becca giggled and ran off down the path. Rona winked at Reese and he hurried after the other girl. Rona smiled. She would wait until they were done. Besides, she wanted to be alone with her thoughts for just a little while.

           She had to figure out a way to free her father. She knew and understood the story of her mother and father. How they met and fell in love. How their love melted the people of the castle and freed them. But this was different. Gavin was wounded and then frozen. So, would he be healed if thawed? That was the big question. Was there anyone else who would know of such things?

           She laid there spinning her hands around and creating snowflakes and spraying them in the air, as she always practiced when she was bored.

           Rona knew the story of how her grandfather and grandmother had…

           That had to be the answer. Her grandmother was a frost faerie. She must know what to do. Rona sat up quickly. She knew what had to be done.

           Rona looked down the path and saw Reese and Becca making their way back. Reese was fixing his shirt while Becca smoothed out her dress and picked leaves out of her hair.

           Rona smiled. Those two were being naughty. She stood up from the bench and made her way toward them.

           “You two took forever,” Rona said jokingly. Reese and Becca smiled shyly. They had a glow about them. Rona gaped. They did it.

           Rona grabbed Becca’s hands.

           “So?” Rona asked.

           “So, what?” Becca replied.

           “You know. How was it?” Rona was curious.

           Becca stole a glance to Reese. Then got all excited.

           “It was wonderful,” Becca shrieked joyfully. The two girls jumped up and down. Reese stood there dumb founded.

           “What did you expect? We are girls and we talk,” Rona said and stuck out her tongue. The girls giggled and Reese smiled.

           “So, Becca,” Reese called after her.

           “Yes, Reese,” she answered and turned toward him.

           “When would you like to get married?” he asked. Becca stood there stunned. Then she ran to him and they hugged.

           “Of course, I will marry you,” she said and kissed him. “Let us go tell my folks.” The three friends left and went to Becca’s home.

           They were soon sitting at the table talking with Becca’s parents.

           Becca’s father gave his approval and checked the collars of both older children. He chuckled.

           “Well, it seems by the bite marks you gave each other that you both are already married,” he observed. “Darling,” he called out to his wife.

           “Yes, love,” she replied.

           “We shall have Reese’s parents over for dinner to celebrate the union of our daughter with their son,” he said.

           So, there we have it. A grand supper was made. Reese’s parents came for dinner and the families were joined. The parents talked about how they were surprised the union did not happen sooner. It was a wonderful evening, and it was late when Rona returned home.

           She told her mother what had been going on during the day and that Becca and Reese were married. Rona had not known how fae marriages were done. So, that was how the young couples did things. There was so much about the world that Rona knew nothing about. She promised herself that would change, and she would explore that some day.

           Rona laid in bed that night wondering how to find her grandmother when she finally drifted off to sleep.

           The heather where they had first met. A man handsome man dozed underneath. A frost faerie hiding and watching him. How her heart sored at the sight of him. The cabin where he had lived with his family. There were faeries there.

           Rona awoke the next morning and did what she always did. Run the halls and use her magic to skate to her parent’s room.

           “Good morning Mommy,” she said. Her mood was bright and full of excitement.

           “Morning dear,” Felicia replied.

           “Good morning Daddy,” Rona said and kissed her frozen father on the cheek. “I have news. We just need to find Grandmother and maybe she could help cure you,” Rona said with enthusiasm.

           Felicia frowned. She could not even find her own mother. The frost faerie kept herself hidden from the world and there was no way to find her. She told her daughter this. But Rona would not give up easily. She was set in her ways and would find a way.

           “What about a fire faerie? They could thaw father,” Rona added.

           Felicia had a look of dread on her face.

           “Oh, dear no. Those faeries are too destructive and unpredictable. They are capable of burning down entire forests,” The ice queen said. Rona gave an exasperated breath.

           “But I will send some of the fae folk out to speak with the magical creatures in the world. See if something comes up, alright,” Felicia said and embraced her daughter.

           “Thank you, Mother,” Rona said gratefully.

           Then she was out the door and out of the castle to meet up with her friends.

           Again, they met by the fountain and were off behind the castle again in the small woods.

           They sat on the bench together.

           “I have to try and find my grandmother,” she was saying. Her friends looked concerned.

           “But you cannot go by yourself, Rona. It is dangerous out there,” Becca stressed.

           “I should be fine. I will use my magic if need be, for protection,” Rona assured.

           “Maybe, I should go with her,” Reese suggested.

           “No,” Rona said quickly. “You must stay here with Becca. The less you both know the better. I will leave tonight,” Rona revealed.

           She hugged both of her friends. Becca had tears in her eyes and Reese had this worried sad look he gave.

           They soon separated later that evening and Rona went to her room early to get some sleep before she would sneak away.

           First, she stopped off at her parent’s room and talked to her father and told him she was going to find the frost faerie, to free him from his slumber.

           She then went to her own room to doze and dreamt of rescuing her father from his sleep. They should have been a family all these years, but that was stolen from him by a rival kingdom.

           Rona awoke late into the night and it would be perfect to sneak away without being seen.

           She grabbed her pack full of food and other items that she may need. She quietly went out her door and down the hall to the stairs.

           She treaded down silently as possible. No one was about. She continued down. She traveled the halls until she came to a room with a secret postern. She opened it and went into the secret passage. Soon Rona found herself outside. She was in the woods in the back. She went through the woods until she came to the wall.

           She lowered her hands facing down and created ice. It pushed her up to the wall.

           There. Now, she was on top of the wall. She looked around and quickly went down a slide she made into the outer part of the castle grounds. Here too was a small forest. She stayed hidden in the brush. She did the same thing when she came to the other wall. Up she went then down a slide.

           She was finally outside the castle walls. All she had to do was cross the gorge. She had an idea as how to do that.

She traveled to the gorge. She was some ways down from the castle as not to be seen. She shot out her hands and formed ice across the gorge. She made her own bridge. She crossed.

           When she reached the other side, she collapsed the bridge. It crumbled away into the gorge.

           Here she was in the wilderness for the first time ever. Rona took a deep breath and took her first steps in the outside world.

           After a few hours she was deep in the woodlands. She used the pale moonlight to navigate. Her eyesight was exceptionally good at any rate.

           She traveled all night long and watched the sun come up. She had just got into the area of the forest without snow. This was a good sign that she was no longer in her own kingdom. She had to take care here. She had no idea what people were like out here. She thought maybe she should hide out during the day and then travel only at night. That would keep her from being seen by others.

           She needed to find some sort of shelter to get some sleep at some point. She moved onward into the woods. These parts were heavy with moss and moister.

           Sooner or later, she stumbled upon a trail. It was wide and well used by the looks of it. She found out soon enough as horses and riders came into view. They rode at a quick pace toward her and stopped just a few feet away.

           There were about ten soldiers in strange looking armour Rona had never seen before. They were a grim bunch of men.

           “If you will kindly come with us, princess,” the lead soldier said.

           Rona had a feeling of dread overcome her.

           “Our queen would like to have a word with you,” he said again.

           Rona nodded. She was unsure as what to do. There was no way she could fight her way out of this, even with her magic.

           She was helped up on a horse to sit behind a soldier and then they were off.

           They followed the path or road as it were right to a large village with a small castle. Rona had been taken to another kingdom. She did not foresee a good experience here for she suspected this kingdom was the rival to her own, that kept attacking her mother’s castle all those years ago.

           The soldiers helped her dismount the horse and she was marched into the castle. No time was wasted as she was led to the throne room.

           There, the queen, and her son the prince sat upon their thrones. The queen had a look of triumph upon her aged features. She did look younger than what her age was. There was no grey to her honey brown hair. Her hazel eyes were hard and unforgiving.

           Rona stood before the queen and bowed respectfully.

           “Oh, how delightful. The Ice Princess is showing respect to her enemy,” the queen jilted. She let out a mirthless laugh. She stood and eyed Rona like she would an insect that was about to be crushed under foot.

           “I have a room for you Princess. Why are you here Princess? What brings you into ‘My Kingdom’?” the queen grated with emphasis.

           “I am in search of my Grandmother. She is a healer,” Rona said coolly. She was not about to be baited into a conflict.

           “You mean a witch, do you not!” the queen made more of a statement than a question.

           “Nay lady Queen. A healer,” Rona explained, but by the look on the queen’s face, there would be no reasoning with her.

           The queen looked at her son then back to the ice princess. Something was brewing in that mind of hers. She grinned viciously.

           “There shall be a wedding. A wedding between my son and this girl,” the queen announced.

           There were mutters of shock that circled the room. Rona gasped.

           “I will not!” Rona stated flatly.

           “Agreed mother. This is no way to do things. She cannot be forced into something against her will,” the prince said. “It is wrong to do so.”

           “I can and will make this marriage happen or she will be burned at the stake,” the queen revealed. “We are done here. Take her away,” the queen finished. Her plan was to have a grandchild with the girl’s fae power. The kingdom would become strong once again. The queen smirked. She was going to enjoy the girl’s suffering.

           Rona was removed from the throne room and taken down into the dungeons. She was locked into a cell with nothing but straw and a pail.

           Rona was scared. When her mother found out about this. She would turn this kingdom into ice. Everyone would die. This frightened her more than marrying the prince and having a sadistic mother-in-law.

           She had to find a way out of here. She sat in the straw and waited. There would be a visit to her cell before nightfall. Then afterward she may have an idea about how to escape. Without violence of course.

           The queen never came to visit, but her son the prince did. He was kind of cute in Rona’s eyes.

           His long brown hair was tied back. His dark eyes glittered bright with life. He was well mannered and polite. He had no hatred in him.

           “I apologize for my mother’s behavior. If my father were not a mad king like he had been, then all this would not be happening,” he paused a moment. He took a deep breath. “I am going to journey to your kingdom and ask your mother for help with this. There must be a way to get you out of here without my mother knowing,” he stressed.

           “Dear prince, fret not about me. Who knows what may happen between now and our marriage? I may very well be whisked away by then,” Rona said with a shrug of her shoulder. The prince hoped so.

           “In the meantime, I shall see what can be done to make your stay more comfortable. Tomorrow I will speak with my mother the queen and convince her of it,” he assured the princess.

           Rona thanked him and he left.

           At last, night came, and she could try out her plan. She looked to her jailer who sat in a chair at a table.

           She brought the palm of her hand up and blew snowflakes in his direction. They landed on his face and he wiped them away.

           It did not take long for him to fall asleep. Rona smiled. She touched the lock of her cell with a finger and froze it. Then the force of her magic pressing against it broke the lock and the door swung open.

           Rona stepped out and then looked about. Her cell was near the end of the hall, but the hall went farther then it should have it seemed. She walked down there and wondered why there was only a single cell down here. It had a full wooden door, not like the other cells at all. There was a lock on the inside of the door. That was strange for a prison cell. This cell was clean and had nothing in it.

           Then she felt it. A draft. She went toward it, knowing very well what lie ahead. It was a secret passage. An escape passage, no doubt.

           She smiled as she looked at the torch sconce. She pulled it and the wall opened. She went and closed the cell door then went inside the passage. The wall closed behind her.

           She walked a short distance until there was a stairwell. Rona blew on her palm again and the snowflakes became lights. She followed them down. They moved through and led her to the exit. It was a long enough walk.

           She was led to a cave like room and the opening was covered in brambles. She carefully navigated through them as not to leave a trace of her passage. It was thick brush. She made it through and there were trees she had to squeeze through.

           When she turned around to look, it was a rock face covered in bushes and trees. There was no way one could tell there was a passage here. She looked about and she was in the forest and it seemed some distance from the castle. Who ever built this passage was smart!

           Rona went into the woods once again on her mission to find her grandmother. She had an idea as to where the small cottage was.

           All through the night she traveled and so far, no one had picked up her trail.

           Two days later she had found the cottage. There were faeries everywhere. And the flowers were unbelievable. So many different kinds.

           The faeries greeted Rona. They knew who she was. Faerie folk and fae know their own.

           Rona was in awe of what she saw. It was wonderous.

           Then an elderly lady came outside to greet her.

           “Well, hello dear,” the old woman said.

           Rona looked at the old woman.

           Could it be her? Rona thought.

           “Are you Holly, by chance?” Rona asked.

           The old woman smiled.

           “No dear,” the old woman revealed.

           “You are not my grandfather’s sister,” the princess said with disappointment.

           The old woman gasped and moved closer.

           “You are of our family then?” the old woman asked. “Holly was my great grandmother,” the old woman revealed.

           “Do you know where the heather is. My grandmother is there. That is where my grandfather is buried,” Rona asked.

           The old woman smiled and nodded.

           “It is down this path. It leads to the heather,” the old woman said kindly.

           “Thank you so much,” the ice princes said and hugged the old woman.

           Rona left hurriedly down the path. She waved goodbye to the faeries.

           Rona rushed to get to her destination. She hoped her grandmother would help.

           Rona felt bad for just rushing off like that and she did plan on coming back to get reacquainted.

           She made it to the heather, and it was enormous. It had grown so much since the stories were told. It was remarkable.

           Rona crawled within and laid there just as her grandfather would have. It was peaceful here. She understood why he would come here to doze during the day.

           The princess touched the leaves and branches. She tried to look within but there was not much to see but leaves and breaks of light.

           Rona was not alone in the heather. Someone watched her.

           The frost faerie wondered who the girl was that had invaded her home. The home of where she had met the love of her life, who was no longer around.

           Tyra watched the girl. The girl had hair that looked like fresh baked gingerbread. She had icy blue eyes like someone she knew come to think of it. She was a pretty thing and seemed familiar in some way. Tyra was sure they had never met though. What was this girl doing here? Well, she just had to find out.

           She zoomed down and then stopped just in front of the girl’s startled face.

           Tyra put her hands on her hips and gave her best pouty lipped mean face.

           “Why are you in my home?” the frost faerie demanded.

           “I am looking for you grandmother,” the girl stuttered.

           Tyra blinked.

           Grandmother?

           Tyra looked into the girl’s eyes and gasped. Then got right in the girl’s face.

           “Who are you?” Tyra asked. “You have eyes like Hadden’s,” the frost faerie blurted.

           “My name is Rona. My Mommy’s name is Felicia,” Rona revealed.

           “That is my daughter’s name,” Tyra said quickly. The faerie sniffed the girl. She smelled of magic. Faerie magic. She was her granddaughter.

           Suddenly Tyra grew larger in a blink and was hugging Rona.

           “So, happy to meet you, Rona,” Tyra said excitedly.

           “Grandmother,” Rona said as she began to tear up. “I need you. Mommy needs you. My Daddy needs you,” Rona said through sobs that suddenly came.

           Rona told Tyra her story up to the point they had met.

           The frost faerie listened.

           Her family needed her. They have needed her all along, she thought.

           Something closed within her and then something opened. After such a long time she could let go of Hadden. She could move on and be with her daughter and granddaughter. They needed her help.

           “Alright dear. But every year you must come here with me so we can hang under the heather,” Tyra said.

           “Of course,” Rona agreed.

           Then they were off into the woods. They were going home. At last, she might be able to free her father.

           Rona could not wait to get home and see her mother. She was so excited. Wait until her friends got to meet a real faerie.

           They came to a road and Tyra stopped in mid flight. She hovered and watched down the roadway. There were horse and riders coming their way.

           Not again, Rona groaned.

           “Hey, I know her. That is Regina. Come on,” Tyra said spiritedly. She flew up to her friend riding horse back.

           Rona slapped her forehead. It was the queen and her son with an armed guard.

           “Hello,” Tyra greeted and waved. The queen sat on her horse and tried her best to ignore the faerie.

           “Mother? Are you not going to speak to the faerie?” her son asked. The queen looked at him perplexed.

           “You can see the faerie too?” she asked.

           Her son nodded.

           “It is me Regina, Tyra. Your best friend,” the frost faerie said annoyed.

           The queen was confused. She did not know her.

           “Ah!” the faerie shouted. “Evil priest man!” Tyra freaked out and shot icy spears into him. The priest fell dead on the ground.

           Suddenly Regina put her hand to her head and her eyes became a solid icy blue and frosted glittering wings began to form on her back. Her hair changed back to the blue colour it once had been. Her pale blue skin returned to its glittering lustre. She was free!

           The prince stared in shock as he watched the transformation of his mother. The soldiers with them were surprised. They sat there awaiting orders.

           Regina shook her head as her memories sorted themselves out. It took some moments.

           Then she recognized her friend.

           “Tyra?” Regina questioned, barely remembering the faerie.

           “See! That evil priest man had you under a spell. So, I broke it. Like to know how he managed that. Us faeries are powerful after all and we have a knack for staying out of trouble,” Tyra bragged.

           Regina smiled. If she remembered correctly. Her friend has not changed any.

           Regina transformed to her faerie self and flew around in the smaller form. She felt free and her mind was no longer clouded.

           She flew toward Rona and apologized to the princess.

           Rona was shocked by these events. Too, much has happened in the past few days. Rona looked past the queen now turned faerie, to the prince and waved.

           Regina grinned.

           “So, perhaps there is a crush on my son after all, then?” the faerie said slyly.

           Rona went red in embarrassment.

           So, Rona guessed that everyone was friends now? To have peace between the kingdoms would be great.

           All that was left was to confront the frozen witch, Rona’s mother. Could be a happy ending or a dreadful confrontation.

           Snow began to fall. The wind picked up speed. A flurry was on its way and it was an angry Mommy!

           A wall of a blizzard formed. Felicia walked out to confront everyone.

           Rona cringed at the look on her mother’s face.

           “I want my daughter back,” Felicia was furious.

           “Hello, Mommy,” Rona waved.

           The frozen witch was taken aback by what she saw. She calmed and her blizzard went away.

           “What is happening here?” Felicia questioned.

           Tyra’s form became large, and she hugged her daughter.

           “Felicia. I have missed you.” Tyra said happily.

           “Mother,” Felicia said and hugged her mother back. “Oh, Mother. I have miss you also,” the ice queen replied.

           Tyra brightened.

           “Did you know that the queen of your rival kingdom is my best friend. She too is a frost faerie…” and so the story went on. Then some more and on… so it finally ended after an awfully long time.

           Rona told her mother of her adventure. Felicia smiled. She was impressed and proud.

           “This is the prince,” Felicia said with interest. “I have heard great things about you. You genuinely care for your people. You provide the sick with treatment. You serve your people. That is a quality worthy of my daughter,” the ice queen said.

           The prince was about to reply, then thought better of it. He looked at the princess and she was flushed. She seemed interested. Could there be a future, after everything that has happened? He hoped so… suddenly.

           “Now, I will take us home,” Felicia said, and snow and ice enveloped everyone.

           They were out in the woods one moment and then found themselves at Felicia’s castle the next.

           Grandmother, mother, and daughter went upstairs to the bedchamber. There, Rona showed her grandmother the frozen statue of her father.

           “Can you help him?” Rona asked.

           “Nope,” Tyra said abruptly. “But you can, and I will teach you, my dear,” Tyra finished.

           “How?” Rona asked with a frown.

           “Come child,” Tyra motioned.

           Rona came forward.

           “Embrace your father. Hold him and let your love for him flow through you. Embrace the magic you wield. Let it flow through you into him,” Tyra whispered gently.

           Rona did as she was told. She closed her eyes and imagined that her magic could thaw him. That she could remove the ice. She was the magic. The energy that brought change. She could feel it stir and flow into her father from her.

           “Daddy,” she whispered.

           Rona opened her eyes and watched as the ice melt from his body. Watched as his eyes opened and he took a breath.

           “Daddy,” Rona shouted in glee. They embraced.

           “Oh, Rona. My beautiful daughter. You freed me like you promised all those years ago,” Gavin praised, tears in his eyes.

           “You knew?” Rona asked.

           “I knew about everything. I saw you grow up. I saw and heard you every morning,” Gavin revealed. He kissed her forehead.

           Then Felicia was there in his embrace. She sobbed into him. Their lips met in a longing kiss, too long from each other.

           “My love, how I have missed you,” Felicia choked out.

           “I missed you, my love,” Gavin breathed.

           Felicia looked at him. Looked at where the wound should have been but was gone. Gavin smiled.

           “You healed me with you magic when you froze me. It took some time, but I just needed to be thawed after,” he said. “Thank you, Mother,” he said to Tyra. The frost faerie smiled.

           This was how it should be. A family! Full of love and support.