Thread: Winter's Kiss (Ursus Peregrinus & Candy_demon21)

Blinded to see The cruelty of the beast Here is the darkest side of me Forgive me my sins The veil of my dreams Deceived all I have seen Forgive me for what I have been Forgive me my sins The world was covered in white, it seemed an eternity that it had been that way. Cold and easily broken, bitter, like and unhealed wound. Though the world was not destined to remain this way, soon the sun would stay out longer and linger in the sky like a golden coin, and it would warm the cold snow. Soon the world that Odette had come to know would be painted in brilliant hues of orange, reds, pink and purple, signifying that spring, that life, would continue on after the frozen grasp of winter. Though the cold grasp of winter was still evident from the clouds of hot breath escaping Odette's parted lips. It was so early still, 'You should be beneath the warm wool blankets, lost in dreamless sleep. Yet you wake early and look out at the world.' An amused smile turned up the corners of her mouth, her long fingers playing mindlessly with the locket she had stolen from my mother's box. Though was it really stealing? Odette had reasoned that it wasn't, how could it be considered at thievery when her mother had hidden it away in a box beneath a few of the floor boards? Before Odette had found it, the beautiful trinket would have continued to lay in that little wooden box, collecting dust and becoming nothing more than a memory. There were so many questions Odette wanted to ask, mostly in regards to the locket. Who had it come from? Why did she hide it away as it was a blight on their family? And the most nagging question, had it come from her father? There had never been much mention of the man, even when the young woman was nothing more than a babe. Faster her fingers twirled the silver locket between her fingers, the thoughts in her head churning like an angry sea. When a bitter chill ran down the fitted wool dress she had taken from her mother's wardrobe, Odette shivered in its wake, snapping back to her snowy white reality. 'They will be arriving soon,' the young woman thought anxiously, her gaze flicking up the winding mud path, Livia and her family. And in that moment, Odette remembered why she loved yet hated that girl and her family. On so many occasions had the raven haired woman wished that her family was like that of Livia's perfect and unbroken. What was it like to have a father that would do anything for her, to be his 'little girl', and in that instant, the familiar pang of heartache rippled through her body. Turning on her booted feet, Odette made her way numbly into her hut to run the brush through her glossy locks at least a few more times, just until Livia arrived. Quiet minutes passed by, and Odette let her mind wander helplessly, a soft little lullaby slipping past her lips quietly, until she was started by the whinny of horses and the soft 'tap,tap, tap' against the door. There was only ever one person that would ever knock so softly, Livia. Pushing herself from where she sat on her bed, gathering up a long white cloak, another steal from her mother's things. When the cart began to pull away from her house, Odette could feel her heart beat wildly beneath her ribs. Why was she suddenly so nervous? Perhaps it was because this would be the first year that she would get to attend the festival without fear of her mother returning home early, or perhaps it was for other reasons, reasons she did not yet understand. All of which faded the moment that Livia began to speak. Her little nervous grin made Odette snicker beneath her breath, I am. Was all she replied, feeling that if she were to tell her friend that she too was nervous, the young woman would laugh. You speak as if your name is destined by the gods to be chosen. You know it is a great honor to be chosen, besides Livia, perhaps I will spare you and everyone else, perhaps I'll volunteer. The possibilities are endless. It was a tempting thought, to offer to go up to the castle and speak with the elusive prince that many had never seen. His presence had always been a mystery, even to the townsfolk. Was the man who lived high up in the mountains, locked away in an icy fortress, really truly alive there, or perhaps he was some evil deity. Odette had often inquired when she was younger, but she had always remembered that the questioners would garner a swift snap of a switch, 'Never speak of him Odette, to mention him is to bring misfortune.' Ha! What misfortune, it was question she wanted to ask many a time, but yet, never had the gall to find her voice and ask. Livia, Odette nibbled thoughtfully at her bottom lip, What do you suppose the Prince is like? Many of our townsfolk have ventured to the castle, many have come back, but many have also perished. What do you think he is life? If he even lives? These questions were more so thoughts that had found Odette's voice. When the cart was pulled to a stop at the entrance to the town square, Odette was the first one to jump off from the cart and make her way through the crowd of people. In passing she heard the harsh words and scoffs of those there were pushed aside as an over eager young woman made her way towards the square. This had been the most lively she had ever seen her home. When Odette had been younger, she had remembered shopping with her mother. All the odd sidelong glances and the whispers as they passed, 'Don't look at her child, she's a witch.' They would say about her Moriwin. As a youth, Odette had found it funny, but maybe it was true? Or so Odette had begun to believe. Why was it that she and her mother lived so far from the town, and a better question, why was it Odette was still without a husband? Surly she, by no means was ugly. Long raven hair that was always neatly brushed, full of body and volume. It gentle wavy tresses hanging down loosely around the small of her back. Flawless ivory skin and stark emerald eyes flecked with gold and blue. So why was it that she still without? Another reason why Odette envied Livia and her sisters. The crowd that was so thick seemed to spread and dissipate as she grew closer to the center of the square. That was when Odette looked up, gazing up in wonder, eyes aglow with it, as she started at the marvel parked in the square. Large black horses, four of them, with beautiful ivory manes and feather , snorted and whinnied impatiently for their driver to usher them away from the almost suffocating crowd. On either side of the coach were two large, terrify silver Timberwolves. The stood, growling at anyone that drew close, their eyes scanning the faces, as if taking them in like human's. Whoever sat in the carriage was sure to be someone of statue, but why come to the Midwinter festival? Yes someone was chosen, if not willingly volunteering to be the go between the town and the castle, but out of all the things to come and see, why this? And in that instant, Odette's inner voice told her to take a closer look at the carriage, see who sat within it. But what of the wolves? A logical worry, for any sane person, but the curiosity to peek inside and look at who sat within, was almost of tempting as taking an apple from a local vendor when their eyes were elsewhere. Taking a deep, steady breath, Odette walked around the wolves, giving them a wide berth, and making her way again towards the front. And in that instant, her attention was drawn towards the front of the crowd, where the Mayor of the town asked for volunteers. 'Should I disobey mother and offer my services? Mother would be so angry if she were to ever find out that I accepted this great honor, but perhaps it would show the people that we are common, just as they are.' Slowly, she began to raise a slender arm towards the sky, her heart racing as it gradually ascended towards the heavens. tag