East Kingdom, 1 year earlier
Silence filled the grounds behind the great ice castle. The three people stared at each other without saying a word, everyone there knew it was a very complicated situation, and if it escalated, no one would come out unscathed.
— I can't believe it — Camilly whispered, pacing back and forth — How could you hide this from me? Right under my nose, for heaven's sake... — the girl murmured, indignant, feeling her temples throb with a fierce headache.
— Camilly, we were going to tell you, I swear, we were just waiting for the right moment... — Madson was cut off.
— Waiting for what, Madson? For the moment someone else discovered you two and condemned you both to death? — shouted Camilly, angry at her friend's carelessness.
Madson shrank back, intimidated and guilty about the situation they found themselves in, she hadn't expected Camilly to follow her to talk that night. Since the incident last year, when Camilly caught the queen and the general in a romantic moment, she had kept her distance and closed herself off from everyone, Madson was one of the few people she still talked to, though not as much as before. Camilly had become more serious and focused, she was now one of, if not the best, soldiers in that place, having won dozens of wars, all the other kingdoms knew about the East Queen's "red lioness". Everyone feared her and, at the same time, wanted to meet her to confirm the existence of the East Kingdom's prodigy girl was true, Camilly's humor had also changed, becoming sarcastic and even offensive. Since they didn't talk as much as before, Madson thought that night would be perfect for one of her secret escapes, but what she hadn't counted on was her best friend following her to the castle's rear grounds and discovering her little secret.
— Don't be so hard on her, okay? — the boy spoke up, stepping in front of Madson — I asked her not to tell you, I was afraid that if she did, you'd tell the queen about us. — said Sam, sincerely.
— You must be joking with me — she laughed, sarcastic — You think I'm some kind of loyal little dog to the queen? That I'd turn in my best friend knowing she could be killed? — asked Camilly, upset, staring at the boy with anger.
The girl felt her blood boil with rage, besides discovering that her first crush was sleeping with one of the people she hated most in the world, less than a year later, she caught her best friend kissing a boy she hadn't even told her about.
— That's not what he meant — Madson stepped between them, standing face to face with her friend — Sam was just worried, the fact that we're together and in love is something that can be very dangerous for us, we didn't want to involve you in this, you already had too much on your mind since... you know. — said Madson, looking down at the ground.
— I'm your best friend, Madson, I thought you trusted me, just like I trust you. What makes me furious is that you thought I'd throw you to the wolves just to be a loyal soldier to the queen — Camilly felt tears sting her eyes — you're my only family.
— Please, Camilly, forgive me — Madson approached, trying to hold her hand.
The warrior took a few steps back, avoiding Madson's touch. Camilly shook her head while rubbing the back of her hands under her eyes, drying a few tears that threatened to fall, she looked at Sam and Madson one last time before turning her back on them. Camilly knew she wouldn't stay angry at them forever, but at that moment, she needed to be alone for a while.
— Do you think she'll say anything? — asked Sam, hugging his girlfriend from behind.
— No — Madson sighed —, she would never do that, it was stupid of me to believe for a second that my best friend was capable of something like that. — she said, disappointed with herself.
Sam, noticing the sadness in Madson's tone, turned her to face him, he held her face with both hands and stroked it gently.
— Don't punish yourself so much, fear and insecurity make us make mistakes, that doesn't mean you don't trust her. Camilly is just angry now, but it'll pass soon, we all know you two are inseparable, that won't change now, huh? — said Sam, looking deep into those blue eyes that hypnotized him.
— Okay — she sighed — You know you're one of the only things in the world that can calm me down? — asked Madson, hugging him around the neck.
— Me and chocolate cake.
Sam smiled, amused, when Madson gave him a weak slap on the shoulder.
— Silly — the girl whispered, while staring into his green eyes.
The two looked at each other in silence for a few seconds, their faces drawing closer almost automatically, it didn't take long before they took each other's lips in a passionate kiss. It was for moments like this that they decided to carry on, and for moments like that, they believed it was worth fighting for.
_
On the other side of the castle, Camilly walked hurriedly, all she wanted at that moment was to go to her dormitory and think about everything that was happening, or maybe just lie down and sleep so she wouldn't have to think about anything. Certainly, the second option appealed to her the most.
— Damn it! — the girl cursed as soon as she bumped into someone — Oh no — Camilly grumbled, rolling her eyes when she realized Megan was the person she had bumped into.
— Someone seems to be in a hurry — mocked Megan.
Camilly didn't answer, she just started walking again and tried to pass the general, who grabbed her arm, stopping her from continuing.
— Not going to give a rude answer? Oh come on, entertain me — said Megan, sarcastic, smiling maliciously.
Camilly pulled her arm from the general's grip and stared at her without saying a word, she turned her back on the woman and began to resume her path to the dormitory.
— I thought, after almost a year, you would have gotten over it by now.
The general's words made Camilly stop abruptly, she felt her blood boil as she digested the words spoken by the woman. Camilly turned to Megan, her eyes already turning reddish brown, she began to walk slowly towards the general, who had started to smile broadly.
— You know, when I saw you at the door of that room, staring at us with that pained expression, oh yes — she laughed, sarcastic — I couldn't miss the opportunity to rub it in your face even more, it's a pity you didn't stay there long, you missed the moment when I would grab the queen and...
Before Megan could finish the sentence, Camilly clenched her right hand into a fist and used it to hit the woman's face with all the strength she had at that moment. Blood spurted from Megan's nose and she fell sitting on the ground, grunting in pain. Camilly crouched in front of her and smiled.
— Sorry, I couldn't miss the opportunity to rub this — she raised her right hand which contained some traces of blood and shook it — in your face even more — said Camilly, sarcastic.
She stood up and walked calmly to her dormitory, leaving Megan agonizing on the ground.
_
There, in that same spot in the royal hall, perched on top of one of the large columns that supported the castle, was an owl white as snow. She watched, with her two white orbits, the scene that had just happened, but what no one knew was that, looking through the gaze of that beautiful bird, was a queen.
Freya watched everything that happened from her own room, she wore a white mask on her face, her eyes contained a white glow because of her magic. The white owl was used as a kind of informant, wherever it was, Freya could look through its eyes, staying informed of everything that happened, even from kilometers away. The queen had seen everything that happened since Camilly arrived in the royal hall, the girl had distanced herself abruptly from her in the last year, which left her confused, of course, Camilly still obeyed her faithfully, and still fought in wars for her, but just that, like all the other soldiers. There was no longer that boldness from before, nor the phrases that left Freya speechless, nor the intense exchange of glances between the two, and as much as she didn't admit it even to herself, Freya felt uncomfortable with the empty space the girl's distance had left.
Since then, Freya controlled the white owl to follow Camilly sometimes, especially after battles, for some reason, the queen needed to know how the girl reacted after each one. Freya sometimes caught herself watching Camilly while she slept or while concentrating on something, the icy woman told herself it was just an insignificant pastime due to the fact that the girl was very intriguing in her eyes. But today, after a long time, something different happened, finally Freya knew why the girl had distanced herself from her so suddenly, and she knew who was mainly to blame for it.
_
After bandaging her injured nose, Megan headed to the queen's room, a few minutes after the argument with Camilly, the general received the news that Freya wanted to talk to her. At first, she was confused by the queen's request, she didn't remember scheduling anything with her today, but, as always, she decided not to question it, after all, she would never pass up a few good hours of sex with Her Majesty. It didn't take long before she was in front of Freya's door, Megan grumbled a little as she touched her own nose, for sure, the queen would ask for an explanation for that injury, so she would have to come up with a convincing excuse. The general felt anger take over her body just remembering why her nose was like that, and worse, remembering that she couldn't lay a finger on that insolent girl, because she knew that if she did, Freya would kill her, the queen had made it very clear to everyone that only she had that right.
After concentrating, Megan turned the doorknob and opened it, the queen's room was still light, it wouldn't be long before nightfall. Megan scanned the room with her eyes, looking for the queen, she noticed that the doors leading to the balcony were open and walked there, she found Freya with her back to her while staring at the sky. It was the only thing you could see down there besides the large walls surrounding the castle.
— Did you want to see me, Your Majesty? — she asked.
Freya, who until then had a serene expression, hardened it before turning towards Megan, her gaze fell on the injury on the general's nose.
— I see you've been having problems — said Freya, sarcastic.
Megan swallowed dryly.
— I just had a disagreement with a rookie — she lied, praying with all her might that the queen would believe her story.
Freya took a few steps in her direction and stopped right in front of her, the queen looked at her with a serious expression.
— Don't try to deceive me, General. I know the cause of this damage to your face is Camilly — said Freya.
Megan felt her stomach turn to ice, her hands began to sweat coldly, she couldn't believe the queen had discovered that, she just wondered how. How did Freya know?
— Your Majesty, I...
Freya interrupted her before she could say anything else.
— I even know the reason why she did it — Freya moved even closer — You mean to say you saw her at the door of my chambers that day, and instead of warning me that someone saw us at such a personal moment, you decided to boast to her? — asked the queen, already knowing the answer.
— Your Majesty, I... — Freya interrupted her again.
— Silence! — she shouted, making Megan tremble — You knew that if the girl saw us at that moment, she would completely distance herself from me. You thought by doing that you would prevent me from having any kind of contact with her, didn't you? — asked Freya, serious.
— Forgive me, Queen, but it's just that I saw the way that girl looked at Your Majesty, she was about to kiss you that day. She is an insolent girl who doesn't deserve the honor of... — Freya cut her off before she finished.
— You are not the one who decides that! — she shouted, grabbing the general's neck and pushing her until she was pinned against one of the castle columns, she lifted her until only the tips of the woman's toes touched the ground — Only I have the right to decide if she is honorable or not, only I can decide if I will use her or not, she belongs only to me, so all decisions made regarding her are mine! — as Freya spoke, a thin layer of ice formed around Megan's neck — Remember one thing, Megan — she brought her mouth close to the general's ear — Here you are nothing — she said before releasing the woman, Megan fell to the ground, her breathing heavy.
Freya stared at her, she was still on the ground trying to regulate her own breathing, the queen looked at her with disgust, at that moment, in her eyes, Megan was pathetic.
— Due to your insolence in thinking you could make any decision for me, I declare any type of contact between us over, unless strictly limited to general and queen — said Freya.
Megan froze upon hearing such words spoken by the queen, she couldn't believe what she was hearing. Megan crawled to Freya's feet and bowed until her forehead almost touched the ground.
— Please, Majesty, don't do this, forgive me — she begged.
Freya looked at the woman bowed at her feet and almost felt like laughing, she had never imagined her general could be so pathetic like that.
— I have already decided, General, and unless you want to make me even angrier, I suggest you do not question my decision and leave here immediately — said Freya, coldly.
Megan felt her eyes well up with the anger consuming her at that moment, the woman thought about how the queen could dismiss her like that, as if she were nobody. The general got up from the ground and wiped away a few thick tears that had insisted on escaping her eyes, she looked at Freya one last time, feeling a dark hatred grow inside her. She turned her back on the queen and left the room, but with the thought that someday, no matter how many years it took, she would make Freya feel as low and dirty as she felt at that moment. Yes, certainly, she would do that.
As soon as Megan left the room, Freya let out a long sigh, she knew what that look on the general's face meant. Trouble, a lot of trouble. But she also knew the woman wouldn't dare try anything against her person so soon, so she would set it aside, at least for now. The queen closed her eyes intending to make the headache that argument caused her disappear, she massaged her own temples and sighed. Freya wondered when all those problems had started and how her life had become so complicated overnight.
Then, as if to clarify her doubts, the image of a beautiful young woman with brown hair and eyes invaded her mind. Freya remembered the girl who was responsible for most of the current chaos in her life and mind, now the queen knew the reason for the girl's sudden distance, it was all Megan's fault.
A strange sensation took over her chest as she remembered the day Camilly almost kissed her, Freya remembered every detail, the girl's warm breath hitting her face, the intensity within those intriguing brown eyes that drove her insane for brief seconds, the icy breeze that passed through the girl's hair and brought her sweet scent to her. There was no doubt, that girl attracted her like no other.
Suddenly, a huge desire to see her hit her, Freya took a deep breath, trying to think of what to do, she quickly gave up, realizing there was no choice but to kill her own desire. The queen composed herself and went inside the room, leaving her balcony, she looked at herself in the mirror on her dressing table and noticed she was impeccable, as always. That was one of her most striking characteristics, Freya smiled lasciviously at her reflection and then headed for the door to leave the room, it was time to see the cause of her insanity.
_
After spending a few hours in her dormitory, thinking about the burst of anger she had earlier with her friends, Camilly decided she was calm enough to talk to the two again and find out how that happened. She felt guilty for being so hard on her best friend, Madson had supported her so much when she told her about her feelings for Freya, and in return what does she do? She yells and curses her friend for being in love with someone and wanting to be with that person.
Camilly hadn't been irritated by the fact that she was in love with Sam and was with him, she had been furious because Madson hid it from her. The two usually told each other everything and, inevitably, Camilly felt betrayed by being left out of something so important in Madson's life. After the anger passed and the girl could think more clearly, she decided to go talk to her friends and try to resolve that situation somehow so no one would get hurt, physically or emotionally.
Camilly left her dormitory determined to make peace with her friend, but, as she walked down the hallway, the girl felt someone grab her arm.
— You? — the girl asked, confused — What do you want? — she said seriously, pulling her arm from the soldier's hands.
— I didn't want to bother you, Miss Camilly, but the queen is looking for you, she passed by here asking about you. I thought you were in the rear part of the castle, so I told her you would be there — said the soldier, respectfully.
Camilly was no longer just any recruit among the others, she had become the main weapon of the East Kingdom, and with that, gained the respect and terror of many.
— You don't need to call me miss, you know I don't... — Camilly interrupted her own sentence as her mind focused on the last phrases said by the soldier — You told her I was where? — she asked, nervous.
Before the soldier had the opportunity to repeat the information, desperation took over Camilly's interior, making her heart accelerate.
— Mads — she whispered, seeming to realize the gravity of that situation.
Camilly didn't wait long before turning her back on the soldier and running, as fast as she could, to the rear part of the castle. Her heart was racing, her breathing irregular because of the quick run to the castle's rear grounds, the girl nervously scanned every corner of that place, hoping to find Sam and Madson or even the queen. The poorly lit environment made her search difficult, Camilly then closed her eyes, trying to concentrate to use her 5 senses more usefully, the girl took a deep breath, letting her senses heighten, her heart beat so fast and strong she could swear she could hear it. That's when she managed to hear it, the sound almost went unnoticed among the others, but she had heard it so many times it would be impossible not to recognize it, it was a sound different from all the others, the sound of Freya's snow powers forming, it could easily be mistaken for the sound of the wind by anyone, but not by Camilly.
The girl opened her eyes and turned towards the small grove near the castle, Camilly felt the icy snowflakes fall and melt on her exposed skin, her body trembled slightly, but she didn't care, Freya was there. Camilly didn't think twice before running and plunging among the trees. The queen was there, hidden among the trees while staring at the young couple with hatred, the palm of her hand was directed at the two while a white and blue power slowly formed, she had discovered them, it was already too late. Freya was ready to kill Sam and Madson without any mercy when, seconds before the ice spikes were launched, Camilly appeared among the trees and pushed her arm to the side, making the spikes hit a nearby tree. Consequently, sparing the two young people from death.
— Get out of here, quick! — Camilly growled at the two, her gaze still fixed on Freya's.
Sam and Madson didn't need to hear it twice to start running away from there, Freya tried to walk, intending to follow the two, but Camilly stepped in front of her.
— No! Please! — the girl pleaded, looking directly at the queen.
— Get out of my way, Camilly! — Freya shouted in response, making the girl shrink back, but remain in front of her.
— Please, Your Majesty, don't kill them.
Camilly's eyes were welling up, desperation seemed to want to consume her from within. Freya finally looked at her, surprised, she had never seen her like that, so fragile, not even after her first war. For seconds, the queen forgot all the anger she felt over discovering Sam and Madson's affair, well, only for seconds.
— I am ordering you! Get out of my way! — Freya shouted again, trying to pass by the girl.
— No!
Camilly threw herself to her knees on the snow-covered ground and grabbed the queen's dress tightly, making her knuckles turn white. She pressed her forehead against Freya's stomach, tears streaming incessantly down her face.
— Please, don't kill them, please — begged Camilly.
The queen felt paralyzed, she felt Camilly's tears wetting her dress and the girl's fingers pulling the fabric towards herself, Freya looked down, towards the girl. If it were anyone else, kneeling at her feet crying and begging for mercy, she would find it pathetic and certainly kill them without a second thought, but seeing Camilly in that situation, begging her, made her feel low, small, and dirty. She couldn't see that girl who had been so brave at their first meeting looking so... frightened.
— Camilly — Freya whispered, bringing one of her hands to the top of the girl's head — Get up. Don't cry, little lioness — the queen gently stroked the brown strands of her hair.
Camilly felt her heart warm at the queen's gentle tone, it was the same one Freya had used with her in the forest, after her first war. The girl detached her forehead from the queen's abdomen and looked up, staring directly into her eyes, Camilly stood up slowly, a few tears still streaming down her face.
— Please, Freya, don't do this — the girl pleaded with a faltering voice, not even realizing she had called the queen only by her name.
Freya felt a slight shiver upon hearing Camilly call her by name for the first time, she brought both hands to the girl's face and dried the tears with her thumbs.
— I have to.
was all the queen said before calmly releasing the girl's face and passing by her, starting to walk towards the castle. Camilly felt her heart break at the woman's coldness, anger took the place of pain for a few seconds, making her turn towards Freya.
— If you kill them, you'll have to kill me too! — she shouted, angrily.
Camilly's words made Freya's steps cease and the woman turn to her, looking at her confused.
— I am in love with you! I've been in love with you since I was 15! — Camilly shouted, no longer bothering to measure her words. Freya could kill her later, but first she would have to hear a lot.
The queen was hit head-on by the girl's words, her head was a complete mess about which decision to make, she couldn't believe it, Camilly was in love. In love with her. Freya was so lost in her thoughts and the shock that news caused her, that she didn't notice when Camilly quickly approached, the girl used the last remnants of her pre-death courage to hold the queen's face between her hands and look into her eyes for a few seconds. The entire world around the two seemed to disappear in Camilly's eyes, she stared into those blue eyes that caused a sensation of butterflies in her stomach, and then realized she couldn't die, not before doing what she had wanted to do for years.
Camilly didn't wait another second to join her lips with Freya's, a shiver ran down her entire spine as she felt the queen's icy lips against hers, butterflies seemed to dance in her stomach. In what seemed like a millisecond, the girl broke the contact and opened her eyes, she found the queen's eyes still closed, Freya seemed to feel her gaze on her and opened her eyes, revealing her blue orbits, now in a darker shade. Camilly was surprised to feel Freya's hands taking possession of her waist and pulling her closer, bringing their bodies even closer together, the queen didn't say a word, just took the girl's lips for herself intensely. It didn't take long for the woman to invade Camilly's mouth and deepen the kiss even more, their tongues seemed to dance in perfect synchrony, no matter how much they said Freya was an icy woman, at that moment, Camilly felt her make every part of her body burn.
— If you kill them for falling in love with each other — she began, still breathless from the kiss —, you'll also have to kill me for falling in love with you — said Camilly, staring deeply into the queen's eyes.
Freya stared at the girl intensely, every feature and mark on her face, all the queen could think at that moment was: damn girl. Freya released the warrior's waist and gently pushed her away, she turned her back on Camilly and began walking back to the castle, halfway there, she stopped for a few seconds and turned only her profile towards the girl.
— This night never happened — she said, seriously, then turned forward again — Everything about this night, never happened — was all Freya said before starting to walk again and disappearing among the trees.
Camilly stood still in the middle of the forest, alone and in the dark, she attempted a smile, relieved to know the queen wouldn't do anything to her friends. But, at the same time, there she was, alone and silent in the middle of that devastating forest while feeling tears roll down her face.
Freya had, once again, broken her heart.