Chapter 3
It became so much worse than I feared.
The last log burned out in the castle’s hearth, everyone's eyes glued to the dying ember until even that turned to ash. The winter had won this battle, and we were all that was left.
Seven people sat inside the boarded-up dining room with me and Blamore. One remaining servant, a couple of nobles, and the last of the royal guard.
The last few bits of food were piled on a table at the center of the room, pieces fading away like the grains of sand in an hourglass that would mark the end of our time.
“We're all going to die here,” one of the guards muttered, his voice the first sound since the last crackle of the fire.
“Don't say such things,” Blamore said, his confidence the only thing still left burning in all of Averglas. “We’ve lost much, but there’s still time to save ourselves.”
He looked over at the last puffs of smoke spilling from the fireplace, his shoulders sinking as he turned his attention back toward me.
I was the only one sitting, my legs as useless as a rag doll’s as I leaned against the wall and stared hopelessly at the sad scene. Only my upper body still had the ability to move at this point, and even that was fading by the day.
Soon, my lungs would be paralyzed too, or my heart.
“As much as it pains me to say, we can't stay here any longer.” He tore his eyes away from me, the pain thick in his voice. “I believe the time has come to finally retreat with the other civilians.”
“Abandon the castle?” one of the nobles gasped. “But Your Highness, if there's no one left, then our enemy can officially lay claim to the land.”
We'll have lost so much for nothing…
Battles, wars, and victories hardly meant anything to me at this point. All I ever wanted was to protect my people through an advantageous marriage, yet here I was, too frozen to even stand with my betrothed.
“What other choice do we have?” Blamore’s voice cracked.
“We're out of wood, our food is nearly depleted, and the citizens who could still walk have already fled.
I'm sorry I have failed you as your prince, but please let me sacrifice my dignity to spare your lives. We can reclaim Averglas another day, but until then, I say we take refuge in Rothen.”
Home?
I never thought I'd get to return to my home kingdom, at least, not until I was a queen.
“Do…do you think we could make it?” I asked, my voice weak as my lungs struggled to retain air.
All eyes turned to me, their pity and guilt drowning me.
It was no secret that my days were numbered, but spending those last few days at home with my mother and sister seemed like the best hope I could hold onto.
“We have to,” Blamore said, kneeling down beside me to take my blackened hand. “You have to introduce me to your family, after all.”
My eyes teared up thinking of Emaline. She would never forgive me for dying like this, and Mother would never recover from the guilt. If I could just tell them that I loved them, maybe they would be okay.
“But Your Highness, our supplies are too thin to last such a journey.” one of the men pointed out, gesturing toward the last of the food. “At the most, we could stretch the supplies across five people, maybe six.”
I looked around at all seven of us, their fear percolating through the room.
Blamore inspected the pile of food, his face growing pale as he came to the same conclusion.
There wasn't enough.
“Someone will have to stay behind,” he said dismally, his words suffocating everyone more than my paralysis. He placed his hand on the edge of the frosty table, his fingers stiff. “Very well then. I understand what needs to be done. Any good royal would.”
He looked up at the mirror that had long since been covered up on the wall. There was no reflection to be seen, but I could swear he was still looking straight into his own soul.
No… you can't stay here.
“Blamore…” I squeaked. “You can't possibly mean…”
“Take care of my kingdom for me, will you?” Blamore asked, my heart shattering at the request. He knelt back down beside me, brushing a hair from my tearful eyes.
“I’m sorry I can't stay close to protect you like I promised, but I know I have been foolish for far too long.
It's time for me to make the sacrifice needed for my people.”
He's going to die here.
“I… I can't do this without you,” I cried softly, my hand struggling to reach for my betrothed’s face. “I need you, Blamore. I love you.”
He lowered his hand, his eyes drawing me in all while he severed his heart from mine.
“I love you too, but we don't need each other anymore, Safara,” he said in a calming voice that did little to ease my ache.
“It's time for us to fight this winter on our own.” He brushed his thumb against my blue lips, the touch sending the most feeling I'd felt in days rippling across my skin.
“Thank you for sharing your kingdom with my people when they needed it the most.”
He pressed his lips against mine, and I was heartbroken to find that I was too numb to feel any of it.
“Thank you, for everything,” he whispered, pulling my limp body into his arms. He wasn't warm anymore, but I still melted into him as he stroked my hair and let me listen to his heart. “Now rest, my princess. Everyone can leave in the morning when the temperature has risen.”
No one said a word as I sobbed softly into Blamore's chest, my heart colder than it had ever been. I didn't want to lose him, not after all he'd done to fight for his kingdom. Not after I showed up only to drop a mirror and curse the world with endless snow.
He shouldn't have to die here.
His soothing touch overtook me as my cries lulled me to sleep.
That was the last warmth I ever received in this wretched life.