Snow groaned as he awoke the following morning, gripping as he pinched the bridge of his nose. He grumbled and tossed about in his bed, slowly coming to. His arm reached across, only to sink into an unexpectedly vacant space, smacking the bedsheets. His eyes flickered open. The room was dim, lit only by a single lantern on the wall. It would be a moment or two before his eyes adjusted, but he didn't need to look about any further, remembering what had transpired the previous evening.
He was completely alone. Yet, by instinct, he had rolled over, still expecting to feel Ali's warmth.
A knock came at his door. "King Snow? Is everything alright?" a voice called out.
Snow groaned as he pulled himself up. "Yeah...I'm fine," he answered right before he swallowed. His voice sounded as though a stone was lodged in his throat. "Just," he paused, thinking his words over carefully. "...had a funny dream, was all." He gazed out his tower window, seeing the faintest golden slither of sun peeking over the tip of the mountains. The light reflected in his eyes as it slowly climbed over the horizon, glazing the sky in a soothing red and orange dream-like blanket.
His dream replayed in his head. It had been years since he truly thought about those events and yet now it was like he had relived it all so vividly. His father's words echoed like a distant whisper, kissing his ears. Snow threw his bedsheets aside and muttered to himself as a breeze intruded, flushing out the small flame on the only lantern.
"Maybe… I should start over."