The Winter Palace gates ahead of them with its towering iron bars with frost clinging to it like veins of glass, looked forbidden. The palace with its twisted spires piercing the sky like silver spears gleamed under the mid afternoon sun, giving the entire structure an ethereal glow.
King Casimir refused to shiver under the cold brunt of the Winterlands as the cold bit his skin which was covered in thick fur cloaks. He and his twenty men were all clad in crimson and gold which was a stark contrast against the white and silver of the Winter Palace.
The groan of the gates opening was deep and reluctant as row of guards in armor stood attentive, their expressions were unreadable and one of them stepped forward, an old man with sharp wolfish eyes.
"King Casimir of the Summerlands, Her Majesty, Queen Caroline, awaits your audience. You and your men will surrender all your weapons before entering, failure to do so will be seen as an act of war against the Winterlands," came the old man's stern response.
A test, he thought King Casimir as he felt his jaw tighten, but he kept his expression composed. He needed her as an ally not an enemy now so he had to comply.
Without hesitation, he unbuckled his sword belt, set down his daggers, bow and arrows. His men followed suit, placing their swords, daggers and bows into the chest that was beside the Winter guards.
The older man nodded approvingly. "Welcome to the Winter Court, Your Majesty, you and your men may reclaim the weapons upon leaving the Winter Palace."
King Casimir nodded in approval and thought the Queen was being strict but not unfair.
Snow crunched under his boots as he his breath misted and stepped forward past the gates and took the stairs to the grand doors of the palace.
Queen Caroline stood at the top of the stairs, dressed in a thick midnight blue dress, her pale blonde hair catching the light like moonlight spun threads. Even from a distance, her gaze was sharp, calm behind those Winter blue eyes. Her expression was solemn, without a hint of a smile. She did not step forward and greet him merely spun on her heel and walked past the open doors, expecting him to follow her.
This was not going to be easy, he thought.
King Casimir and his men followed her past the doors. The Winter Palace was cold within as it was outside, its high ceilings transparent allowing light to filter through, its walls pale stone shimmering with embedded frost and no fires burned. Absolute silence ruled within its walls.
Queen Caroline led him past the great hall, whispers of courtiers draped in furs and silver silks, their expressions he noted were restraint, polite and some weary. He felt the weight of judgement with each step he took.
Once they reached the carved double doors, flanked by two guards. She stopped and turned to face him at last.
"This will be your chamber," she said her voice even. No greeting just a simple statement.
"I hope it is suited to your needs."
He arched his brow, "suited to my needs, I doubt anything here will remind me of home," he replied a little to close to being sarcastic.
"No there isn't," she replied swiftly with an even look.
She pushed open the doors and inside the chamber was spacious as a massive bed of dark wood was against the farthest wall, draped in thick silver sheets and navy furs. A carved desk was near the window, the walls were of bare stone marble, pristine, untouched by paintings or tapestries. A fireplace sat at the far end of the room but it remained unlit.
Deliberately no fire, he thought.
Before he could comment, she lifted a gloved hand and a servant stepped forward carrying a velvet-lined tray.
On top of it, were silver stainless steel bracelets, thin, delicate but strong. They gleamed like polished moonlight.
She picked up one and held it between her fingers, examining it, she said.
"You and your men will wear these at all times while you still reside in the Winter Palace. They are enchanted to prevent fire from answering you."
Her eyes flickered sharp with meaning, "a necessary precaution since the Winter King paid the price of fire with his life."
"I'm sure it is a small price to pay since the one our king paid was with his life," she repeated trying hard not to be bitter and sarcastic herself.
King Casimir and his men shifted uncomfortably at the facts held by those words.
"It will also prevent my halls from ruin, I'm sure you understand," she added calmly.
King Casimir understood the sharp dig she was taking at him, in her world fire was destructive after all that was all she had ever grown to know. He understood the weight of this moment, to wear these would be a quiet surrender and a declaration trust, or a leash.
Very well he would comply he thought to himself.
His jaw tensed he could not blame her she had lost her father, wearing these bracelets was indeed was a small price to pay in exchange for it. He reached one of the bracelets and clasped it around his wrist, feeling the magic hum faintly against his skin. His men followed in suit one by one, fastening their own bands in silence.
She watched and commented, "good."
"Your men will each have their own chambers, they are prepared just close to your, she said indicating the double doors that lined the corridor they were in." She added cooly.
"Generous of you," King Casimir commented.
"Necessary," she countered. "The Winter palace does not host fire-wielders often, I trust they will respect the sanctity of my home."
King Casimir smirked, "do not worry, they will."
"A steward will guide you later on at night. You must all rest. Before the evening feast. Lunch will be served in your respective rooms." She informed him before she left him standing alone, feeling colder than ever.
The steward a young man stepped forward, he was pale with blonde hair and brown hair, a soft-spoken young man that gestured to the Summer warriors and assigned each room to them.
Casimir's men left him one by one as they retired to their respective chambers. The Winter Palace offered solitude and separation he thought as he turned and entered his own chambers.
As he traced the cold silver-steel against his wrist, it reminded of him of her.