The Winter Court

(An excerpt from the novella A Queen's Lament written by J. Flessa circa. September 2022)

Sometime in the year 200

Memory is fickle.

As much as Guinevere knew she had memories of before she and her sister were placed in Tir Dan, she would never be able to recall them.

Instead the first memory she would recall was standing in a frozen garden at the heart of The Winter Court. Eyes turned to the misty cavern ceiling that shimmered with stars dancing amongst the moonlight. The red berries of the hawthorn trees were stark against the fallen snow, and the water ran warm from the streams into the pond despite the chill.

Guinevere curled her toes in the snow. The frosted grass poked through, tickling against her soles. Her breath left in clouds of smoke like a fire offering. She had her arms raised to the sky allowing snowflakes to kiss her skin.

“Do you like it?”

The quiet voice of Messorem chimed from the peristyle that led deeper into The Winter Court.

Her friend. Her mentor. Her creator.

Guinevere slowly turned. She caught as many snowflakes as she could before bringing her attention to the midnight tiefling standing in the entryway.

“I love it,” Guinevere said.

Messorem was quiet on cat like legs as he stepped foward. His fluffy white hair curled around his sweeping horns as his lion-like tail flicked back and forth behind him. His white feathered wings began to settle as if he had just landed from a long flight. His starlight eyes glowed along with the dusting of freckles across his cheeks and shoulders.

“I have visitors for you, Guin un bach,” Messorem announced.

Guinevere cocked her head, and only then did she notice Messorem holding the hands of two individuals almost as young as she was.

Two changelings, like herself, a boy and a girl, peeked out from behind Messorem’s legs. They both had snowy white hair similar to her own except theirs was much shorter. Dressed in simple sweaters and pants. The boy was the first to step out, his gray eyes meeting Guinevere’s before he took a small bow.

His hand never left Messorem’s, not yet.

Guinevere greeted him with a small curtsy, her chiffon dress glittering with snow that remained unmelted. Her gaze drifted over to the girl, who still hugged Messorem’s arm like a lifeline. Her soft violet eyes met Guinevere’s before she hid her face.

“Guin,” Messorem started as he stepped into the snow with the changelings. “I want you to meet Tanwyn and Xina. They are going to assist you in establishing your court.”

Messorem gently guided both of the young changelings forward. The girl went from clinging to him to grabbing at Tanwyn, who accepted his fate with a sigh. Guinevere stepped forward to meet them.

“But before you start worrying about all that,” Messorem continued. “I want you all to enjoy this place for it is yours to call home.”

Guinevere nodded, focus still on the other two changelings in front of her. She leaned in to get Xina’s attention as Tanwyn poked at his sister to look up. Xina peeked out. Saw Guinevere leaning closer to them, and hid her face in Tanwyn’s shoulder again.

“Xina,” Tanwyn whispered. “You’re being rude.”

“She is just shy,” Guinevere answered. “It is quite alright.”

Guinevere held out her hands to both of them.

“Would you like to see the rest of the court with me?”

Carefully, Tanwyn considered her. He nodded and took one of her hands. Xina looked up then, examining Guinevere’s other offered hand. She cautiously released her grip on Tanwyn and placed a trusting hand in Guinevere’s own.

Guinevere ran.

A gasp escaped Tanwyn and Xina yelped as they were yanked into a cackling sprint out of the garden. Guinevere’s laughter echoed through the hallowed halls as she raced down the corridors. It was almost contagious as Tanwyn chuckled quietly, and Xina could not help the smile threatening to crack through a mask of nerves.

The thrill of the chase continued into their curiosities as they barged into every room they could find in this palace of ice. Antechambers. Dining halls. Drawing rooms. And rooms upon rooms of bed chambers for guests.

Eventually they found the courtroom.

Guinevere pushed against the doors, out of breath and struggling against the weight. She flipped to push with her back, looking to the other two.

“A little help?” She chortled.

They both nodded with an exhaled laugh. Xina pushed with her hands as Tanwyn pressed a shoulder into the doors. It cracked open, and the trio tumbled inside. Guinevere rolled over onto her elbows, pupils blown wide.

An outstanding glacial cavern welcomed them with a dais opposite the doors and columns separating the peristyle from the main floor. Snow lilies and snow bells decorated the columns as frost touched wisteria hung down from the ceiling.

The trio stood, brushing themselves off as they stepped further inside. Their distorted reflections shimmered along the walls as they crossed to the dias. Climbing the short stairs, they stared into three sets of glowing eyes reflecting in shadowy figures.

Steely gray. Soft violet. Sky blue.

“This is it,” Tanwyn exhaled as he turned to face the room. “This is ours?”

“I like it,” Xina whispered. Guinevere’s attention jerked to the other girl at her first words all evening. “It feels like home already.”

Xina gave Guinevere a smile as their hands found each other. They turned back to the room, joining Tanwyn to look over it. Guinevere took a deep breath.

“This is ours,” she reassured. “This is our home.”