A Crown of Ice

*A young princess of warm light*

*A frozen prince of icy night*

*A lady of ice searching for her self-claimed birthright*

*A friendship built upon lies, fated to die*

*A romance of ice and fire, sure to go haywire*

*A dark plot to tear people apart, sure to break hearts*

*Three young rulers in positions of power, will soon cower*

*A deadly game of treachery and love, betrayal and deceit*

*All fight for what their hearts wish, long for, and desire*

*An icy kiss below moonlight*

*Footsteps and stolen jewels in the night*

*Three young rulers all fight...*

***For a crown of frigid** **ice.***

## Prologue: Reminiscence

Her Royal Majesty, Queen Sapphira Midwinter of the Winter Kingdom was standing on the windswept battlements of the main Winter palace, watching an incoming blizzard draw near. She was silent and still, not feeling the harsh wind that stung her cheeks or the snowflakes that clung to her eyelashes.

*I remember another night, similar to this one. The night I secured my future as the Queen of Winter and North's bride. The night that all my hard-work and dedication finally paid off and I got the destiny I deserved.*She thought, her gloved hands clenching.

As she stood there, long-lost memories of her youth started to come back, when she and Peregrine were dear friends, when she was once a Lady Sapphira of House Borealis, and when North's heart belonged to the Princess Peregrine of the Summer Kingdom. Usually, she kept those memories at bay, keeping them banished them from her mind, locked out of her heart.

But tonight was different.

Sapphira was tired, more tired than she remembered being in a long time. She needed a distraction from the kidnapping of Leopard Seal, the conflict with Equinox, her troubles with North, and all her plotting and schemes. What better way than to remember the long-ago days of her youth, when she wasn't burdened by such problems. When she was a different person... When her heart had been lighter and she hadn't yet given herself to the darkness that whispered in the back of her mind and wrapped it's shadowy claws around her heart. Before she'd become cold and distant, driven and hell-bent on achieving her ultimate goal.

When she'd actually been... *happy.*

 So, with a heavy sigh, the queen let the memories come flooding back. She could almost feel the cold arctic sunshine on her face, hear the cacophony of whinnies and roars of mounts being prepped for a journey and the shouts and calls of people loading trunks, tightening saddlebags, saying their goodbyes to friends and loved ones. She remembered that day as if it had been yesterday.

It had been that one fateful day when the Winter Kingdom sent a delegation to the Summer Kingdom to broker an alliance.

## Chapter One: An Encounter Amongst the Evergreens

A light breeze swept the pine needles aside as the girl galloped through the snowy forest pathway. The black horse’s hooves hardly touched the ground;  they flew through the woods, the girl’s jet-black hair flowing in an ebony stream behind her. A snowflake fell onto the tip of her nose, and she laughed.

Suddenly, something white shot across the path. The horse was startled, and bolted, faster than the girl was prepared for.

The forest broke out into a snowy meadow, and the horse raced through the snow, with the girl clinging to the reins, screaming. Suddenly another horse burst out of the woods lining the meadow, with a rider on its back.

“Easy there, fella! Slow down!” He said, blocking the horse’s path, forcing it to stop before it ploughed right through him.

The girl regained her seat and blew out a gust of breath. “Sizzling sands, wow! Thank you so much!” The young man smiled.

”You’re welcome. What might be your name be, m’lady?”

”Oh, I’m Princess Peregrine Pyre. You are?”

”Oh, wow. A *Summer* princess... here, in the *Winter* Kingdom. I’m...” he scratched his head. “I’m Crown Prince North Midwinter.”

She let out a gasp. “*Crown Prince!?*”

He looked down. “Yes. Crown Prince.”

She stared and tried to bow, still atop her horse.

He laughed. “No need, m’lady.”

She continued staring, but then remembered her manners. “You must be really busy. I should get back to the Summer Kingdom, I’m not even really supposed to be here...” She trailed off, sobering. But she forced a bright smile and said, “It was a pleasure meeting you, Your Highness.”

He smiled. “A pleasure to meet you as well, Princess.” He paused, glancing over his shoulder before looking back at Peregrine. “Shall I accompany you to the border, Princess?”

The dark-haired girl shook her head and replied, “It’s not needed, Your Highness. But thank you for the kind offer.”

North smiled at her and inclined his head. “If that’s all, then I believe that we’ll part paths now. Until we see each other again, Princess Peregrine.”

Peregrine gave him one last warm smile, turned her horse, and headed back in the direction of the Summer Kingdom, her ebony hair whisking behind her. When she looked back one last time, she saw North and his horse still standing there in the clearing, watching them gallop away. Grinning, she turned her gaze back to the front.

Her heart gave a flutter, and she disappeared into the woods.

## Chapter Two: The Journey Begins

*I wonder what one of the Summer princesses was doing in the Winter Kingdom. Didn't she know that a Winter guard might arrest her and bring her back to the palace for trespassing into our borders?*

*After all, the Summer Kingdom and Winter Kingdom haven't exactly been the best of friends lately.*Prince North's train of thoughts abruptly ended when his greyish-white mare, Silver Pearl, spotted a small group of riders far off in the distance and broke into a gallop towards them.

"Easy, girl, easy!" He yelled, reining in the young mare.

The prince's keen eyes quickly saw that it was a trio of guards, no doubt sent out by his father to find and bring him back. Today was the day that he and the other members of the diplomatic delegation were headed to the Summer Kingdom to try and negotiate an alliance and settle the disputes between the two kingdoms.

"Your Highness, we've been instructed by the king to escort you back to the palace. The caravan leaves within an hour." The lead guard called, bowing respectfully.

North sighed and nudged Silver Pearl into a brisk trot alongside the guard's towering black stallion. "Yes, I'm well aware of that. I just wanted to have one last ride around before we head out."

The guard nodded understandingly, but said nothing. The four of them rode in companionable silence until they reached the bustling main courtyard, which was a flurry of activity.

North was just dismounting from Silver Pearl when a silky-smooth, melodic voice came from behind him. "Prince North, there you are!"

He whirled around only to find himself staring into the striking sapphire eyes of Lady Sapphira Borealis.

She smiled coyly at him and exclaimed, “I was beginning to wonder where you’d went, Your Highness. Where were you?” She raised an elegantly arched brow.

A bead of cold sweat dripped down the back of North’s neck and he forced himself to remain calm, finding that he’d seemingly lost the power of speech when confronted with Sapphira’s beguiling sapphire eyes.

“I, uh, you know, was out for, uh… a ride. On my horse. In the forest. My new mare, Silver Pearl. She’s right over there, in case you, uh, want to look at her.” He did his best to avoid eye contact with Sapphira and silently screamed at himself for being reduced to a rambling, sweating nervous wreck around her. It wasn’t because he liked her or anything, even if she *was* probably the most beautiful woman in the royal court and was his parents’ first choice for a future bride for him.

No, it was because Lady Sapphira unnerved him, not only because every time he saw her he could hear his father’s voice nagging him in the back of his head to hurry up and get married so he’d have royal heirs and continue on the royal bloodline and *blah, blah, blah.*

It also wasn’t because Sapphira was the first Thystical to be born in all the Four Seasons Kingdoms in a generation.

No, it was just *something* about the young noblewoman that unnerved him. While she seemed decent enough, and he could almost let himself get lost in her bewitching eyes and envision a future with her as his wife and queen… he never *could* quite relax around her.

*Snap out of it, North! You’re the Crown Prince and future* KING *for crying out loud! This woman might become your wife someday! The least you can do is be polite!* Inhaling sharply, he plastered what he hoped was a polite smile, grabbed her hand to press a chaste kiss to it, and straightened.

“I really do wish I could talk, Lady Sapphira, but I really must get going. I have… *royal* duties to attend to. But I’d be delighted to talk with you more later. You have my utmost apologies.” Nodding curtly, he turned on his heel from a stunned, speechless Sapphira and hurriedly strode away through the crowd of bustling servants, guards, and courtiers.

His parents, King Jupiter and Queen Astrid Midwinter of the Winter Kingdom, were waiting next to their grand royal carriage. He only needed to glance at their faces to confirm that they’d seen the entire awkward exchange. His father’s face was dark and stormy, while his mother’s was calm and serene, although her eyes danced with an amused mischief.

He brushed by them, muttering, “Let’s just get in the carriage and get going.”

His father’s scowl deepened and he looked like he wanted to say something, but a gentle touch from his mother on his shoulder and a slight shake of her head was enough to keep him silent.

“Yes, let’s be on our way.” As she passed by North towards the carriage door, she winked at him. Furiously fighting back the redness seeping onto his face, he waited for his father to enter the carriage before stepping in after him.

As he settled himself on the cushioned velvet seat across from his parents, embarrassment and impatience washed over him. *The sooner we get to Summer and get this trip over, the better.*

But, as he looked out the window, a sudden thought struck him.

*Will Princess Peregrine be there at the summit?* A strange, unidentifiable feeling rose up inside him at the thought of seeing the raven-haired, bright-eyed Summer princess again.

*If she’s there, then perhaps this diplomatic meeting will be worthwhile.*

So when the royal carriage finally lurched into motion and the caravan of carriages, wagons, and mounted guards started out through the gates of the palace, North looked forward to the moment when they’d arrive at the Summer Negation Palace.

## Chapter Three: Sisters and Misters

Peregrine slipped on a summery orange dress. It shimmered it the sunlight that filtered through the gap between the curtains of her large bay window. She usually hated dressing fancy for an event; but this specific one made her excited and determined to look as good as possible. A week ago, she had gone riding her stallion, Windthief, past the official border of the Summer Kingdom, through the narrow strip of neutral land between Summer and Winter (the Winter-Summer Betweens), and into the edge of the Winter Kingdom.

Riding through a remote boreal forest, her horse had been spooked by a snowshoe hare darting across the forest path. Windthief had run wild and would have almost certainly thrown Peregrine from his back, possibly causing her severe injuries. If a young man riding a pale grey mare hadn’t galloped out and stopped her runaway horse… Peregrine shuddered to think what might’ve happened.

The young man (who, in her opinion, had been *quite* handsome) had then introduced himself as Crown Prince North Midwinter of the Winter Kingdom, and surprisingly didn’t report her to his guards or anything - as far as she knew. But she did know he was a part of the Winter diplomatic delegation that was to arrive at Summer’s Negotiation Palace sometime soon… *very* soon.

Shoving aside her thoughts, she finished putting her hair into an elegant style, and made her way down the steps from her room to the Main Hall.

The Negotiation Palace was designed for guests of all kingdoms. It was easily changeable and featured themes of the different seasons. Today, the temperature had gone lower than Peri thought comfortable. The windows were enchanted to show snow falling in an evergreen forest outside; it looked like they were in the Winter Kingdom.

“Peregrine! There you are!” A cheerful voice suddenly exclaimed.

She looked down to see an almost complete identical version of herself - besides the other girl being a few feet shorter.

“Hello, Kestrel. Aren’t you supposed to be decorating the bathroom or something?”

“Princesses don’t decorate bathrooms! I was supposed to be keeping an eye on July.”

“So why aren’t you?”

She smirked. “I got Fleet to do it.”

“If Mother says to keep an eye on your younger sister, you do it! You don’t get servants to do it!”

“Uh, isn’t that like the whole point of servants?”

“Hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh...” Peregrine sighed. Her sister was infuriating. Suddenly, a piercing cry echoed through the halls.

Kestrel’s face scrunched up with distaste and she covered her ears. “July’s at it again. Why do babies cry so much? Why did Mom decide to bring her here?”

”Because that’s what babies do, and because she’s part of the royal family.”

“Gosh. Well, are you tryin’ to impress that Winter prince dude again?”

“WHAT!? Who said I was trying to impress a Winter prince?” She said, worried.

“Mother wants you to marry him or whatever, right?”

“No!”

“Oh. Then why-“

“*Why*don’t you go play in the laundry chute again?”

“But Mother-“

“Just GO.”

“FINE, grumpy face.”

Kestrel waddled away, grumbling about how mean Peregrine was. Peregrine made her way outside, where it was much warmer and the sun was shining. Lifting her wings, she flew up to the top of one of the palace’s immense towers.

Abruptly, she heard a distant *clip-clop*and her head swivelled around in the direction of the sound. A party of horses, carriages, and wagons were traveling towards the palace. With mounting excitement, she recognized the wintry blues, whites, and silvers of the Winter Kingdom flag.

*The Winter delegation is here!*

## Chapter Four: The Journey Ends

*By all the stars in the sky, if I have to listen to Father talk about how amazing Lady Sapphira is for another second, I'm going to throw myself from the carriage and let the horses trample me to death.*North thought, biting back a groan of boredom as his father launched off into another long-winded lecture about how wealthy and powerful Sapphira's family was and how it would benefit the kingdom for a an alliance between the royal house of Midwinter and another powerful noble house like House Borealis and how it was his duty to marry a strong, capable young woman in order to continue on the royal line.

It was all very important, yes, but after hearing the same spiel for the millionth time, the meaning of it all was beginning to lose its importance.

The bored prince glanced out the window, soaking in the bright colours and breathtaking views of the Summer Kingdom. Sure, he adored the Winter Kingdom with every fibre of his being and considered it the most beautiful out of the Four Season Kingdoms, it was fascinating to see how vastly different the two realms were.

*If only I could be riding Silver Pearl right now, with the wind in my wings and the sun on my face instead of being caged inside this stuffy carriage.* He thought longingly, the bright sunshine glowing tantalizingly off the guards's glittering silver armour and sharp swords.

"North, are you even listening to me?!" King Jupiter’s sharp voice snapped him back to reality, a scowl darkening his father's face.

North nearly jumped out of his skin at the shock of being caught not paying attention and whipped his head around to face his father. "Yes, Father?" He asked with a casual smile.

King Jupiter’s scowl deepened, and he muttered something under his breath about ignorance of youth.

“Jupiter, give the poor boy a break. We've been traveling for almost a week now and our last stop was three hours ago. Even I'm growing tired of hearing you talk nonstop. I love you more than life, my dearest, but even I must admit that you can be a tad long-winded at times." Queen Astrid’s soft, lyrical voice interjected, her pale lavender-blue eyes twinkling with merriment.

“I’m afraid that it’s true, Father.” North chimed in, grinning as he reached over and squeezed his mother’s hand.

Jupiter threw his hands up in defeat and exclaimed, “My own flesh and blood, united in allying against me and dragging my good name through.” He sighed, leaning back in his seat and massaging his temples. “It pains me greatly to admit this, but I suppose your mother is right. Go on and get out of my sight, you wretched boy.” He waved his hand dismissively at his son. His voice was resigned, but his eyes gleamed with amusement.

Grinning, North gave a mock salute to his parents. “A thousand thanks, Mother, for freeing me from Father’s long-windedness and lectures. I'll meet you both at the palace.”

Before an outraged Jupiter could stop North, the prince flung open the carriage door and threw himself into the air. Swiftly, he flared his powerful white wings and a beat later, he was aloft, soaring over the impressive caravan of the Winter delegation.

He rose higher and higher, until soon he could see vast swathes of the lush, vibrant Summer countryside. It was so *strange*, to see seemingly endless fields and forests all in a thousand different shades of grew, occasionally interrupted by a village or human dwellings. But the thing that captured his attention was the magnificent palace that soared upwards out of the sea of green forest.

*The Summer Kingdom’s Negotiation Palace!* North excitedly thought, doing a careless loop as he flew towards the sky-piercing towers and spires of the palace. It was carved from honey-golden stones, making the palace glow in the sunlight. The palace it’s self was a sprawling network of coloured-glass domes, lush gardens vibrant with flowers, and delicate breezeways connecting towers.

But as he approached, a lone figure perched on the edge of one of the palace’s towers caught his keen eyes. North could just make out the flashing ebony hair and feathery white wings.

*Is… Is that Princess Peregrine?!* A light, tingly spread through him, and he beat his wings faster.

“Princess Peregrine!”

## Chapter Five: The Lady of Ice

While Princess Peregrine was eagerly awaiting the arrival of the Winter delegation and Prince North was soaring towards Summer’s Negotiation Palace, the Lady Sapphira of House Borealis was sitting in her carriage with her parents, the three of them going over their plans.

Well, her *parents* were going over *their* plans.

While North might have the privilege to voice his boredom at his father’s lectures and advice and get away with it, Sapphira did not have the same good fortune.

She been taught at a very young age to respect her elders and listen to whatever advice or wisdom they were handing out... whether she wanted to or not.

*Of course, because no one wants to hear what I have to say or cares what I think.* She bitterly thought, shifting in her cushioned seat.

She was abruptly snapped out of her thoughts by her mother’s sharp, regal tone.

"Sapphira! Are you even *listening*?” Grand Duchess Aurora Borealis, or “Aurora the Beautiful,” hissed. Her sapphire eyes burned into Sapphira’s, her disapproval and displeasure woefully clear.

Sapphira carefully held her calm, collected expression as she replied in a polite, monotone voice, “Yes, Mother. I was listening. You just told me that wherever I go on this diplomatic visit, I must be the most beautiful lady in the room. You said that I had to make sure I always wear the latest styles, be dripping with the most expensive jewels, and be the envy of all wherever I go.”

Her mother’s eyes narrowed the tiniest bit, but she dipped her head in approval and went back to shifting through a pile of elaborate dress designs.

*I wonder what bejewelled monstrosities I’ll have to wear on this trip.* She sullenly wondered, her eyes darting down to the glittering tips of her insanely uncomfortable, solid crystal high heels. She still wasn’t convinced that the thrice-cursed torture devices wouldn’t give her some sort of foot problem later in life. *But what do my parents care? As long as I’m the centre of attention, they’ll do anything to foist me onto the throne.*

The noblewoman paused, rethinking her bitter thoughts. *Well, I guess I’m not being entirely fair. Skies above, I want to be queen. I* deserve *to be queen.* Her eyes flickered to the window, only for the curtains to be drawn shut with a sharp jerk of her father’s hand.

”Is there something you want to say, Sapphira? If so, out with it.” Her father, Grand Duke Zephyr Borealis and the famed "White Wolf of Belsyre,” asked in a low, stern voice.

Sapphira lazily turned to appraise her father’s dark scowl and her mother’s cold glare, feeling irritated and tired with everyone and everything.

Sarcasm dripping from her words, she drawled, “I was merely wondering why my most *honoured* lady mother and lord father felt that I needed to be subjected to the cruel torture of wearing solid. C*rystal.* Heels. They aren’t exactly the most practical or comfortable shoes to wear, in case you didn’t know.”

Her parents stared at her, Zephyr’s scowl deepening and Aurora’s lips pursing into a thin, displeased line. A tense silence filled the carriage, eventually broken by her father.

“When will it get through your *thick skull,* Sapphira Borealis, that there are *many* more important things at stake here than simply your *comfort*.” He practically spat the words out, his body trembling with barely restrained rage. Aurora reached over and rubbed soothing circles into his back, never taking her icy stare off her daughter.

“A queen will always turn pain into power, my daughter.” Grand Duchess Aurora softly said, leaning forward in her seat. “Take care to remember that.” With that, she settled back into her seat, folding her hands demurely in her lap.

Unsettled by her mother’s poised calm, Sapphira nodded. When her gaze drifted over to her father’s face, his expression was cold as ice and hard as stone. He said nothing to her, but his eyes said everything she needed to know.

*They will stop at nothing to get what they want.* Sapphira realized with a jolt. *If I resist, they will only tighten my chain and drag me on, thrashing and screaming and clawing. I am their pawn, to be used however they wish in their political chess games. And if I try to rebel or refuse, they will hurt me. That’s why they took* him *away from me…*

Pain spiked through her, her heart aching at the thought of the boy she’d fallen in love with and then had so cruelly been torn away from. But in the storm of pain and grief and fury that raged within her, something calm and soothing reached out, making everything melt away until she felt nothing but peace and blissful darkness. She could almost feel a phantom finger brush against her cheek, hear a soft voice crooning in the back of her mind.

***Calm yourself, my dearest. They torment you and use you now, but someday… someday soon… you will have your revenge.  I promise you, dear heart,* nothing *will stand in your way. All your desires shall be fulfilled, you will have everything you’ve ever wanted. I will give you the world, beloved. But for now, you must wait.***

*But I don’t* WANT *to wait any longer! It hurts me so, so much.* She silently sobbed back, her hands gripping the blue velvet of the cushioned seat tightly.

The dark, whispering voice merely crooned soothingly to her. ***Soon, my love, soon.***

Already, the voice and its feeling of cool, calming darkness was fading, ebbing away. Her heart and her soul cried out, desperately trying to cling to it. *Please, don’t leave me! Not now!*

The voice gave one last caress of her mind and murmured, ***Fear not, little one. I will* never *leave you. I will always be here with you.*** She relaxed, calmed by the reassurances of the voice. The voice was right, she must bide her time, wait until the time was right. But until then…

She bowed her head and through gritted teeth, said, “I apologize, my lady mother and lord father, for my impudent outburst. I humbly beg your forgiveness.”

Her mother glanced down at her and nodded imperiously to her daughter. “You are forgiven, but take care that it does not happen again.” With that final warning hanging in the air, she turned her attention away.

The three of them were silent as the carriage clattered along, with Sapphira silently fuming the whole way. But whenever she felt like she’d burst with frustration, she remembered the whispered promises of the voice. So, she forced her face into a mask of icy calm and hidden within the snowy white folds of her gown, her gloved fingers clenched into fists. And to keep herself from screaming her fury at her parents, she bit the inside of her cheek.

On the outside, she was ice. On the inside, she was *fire.*

*Someday, I’m going to break free of the chains you’ve wrapped around me. I’ll make you* pay. She thought, gazing at her parents. *Until then, I’ll be the perfect daughter. I’ll wear the dresses Mother tells me to wear and I’ll spend time with the people Father tells me to spend time with. I will be everything they ever wanted me to be and more. But one day, I will have my revenge.* She thought, silently vowing this to herself.

Finally, she broke the silence.

“My honoured parents, I believe we’re almost to Summer’s Negotiation Palace.” She said, folding her hands in her lap.

Zephyr gazed directly into her eyes and asked as the carriage began to slow, “Are you ready, Sapphira?”

She flashed a calm, confident smile at her father and replied, “Always.”

So when a footman opened the door and the bright sunlight from outside flooded into the dim interior of the carriage, Sapphira took a deep breath and slide on a bright, charming smile and stepped out of the carriage with the help of the footman.

The Summers wouldn’t know what hit them.

## Chapter Six: Reunions and Revelations

Peregrine sat atop a tower on the palace, and watched the Agell fly out of the centre carriage as the Winter delegation approached the palace. She watched the Agell draw nearer and they weren’t too far away from her tower when she realized just who it was.

“Princess Peregrine!”

Her heart flew out of her chest and up into her throat when she heard Crown Prince North Midwinter of the Winter Kingdom call out her name.

The blue and white dot flying overhead took a sharp, banking turn and landed a few metres behind her, perching on the edge of the tower roof.

"Hello, Crown Prince North Midwinter."

"Greetings, Princess Peregrine Pyre."

She gulped, and stepped towards him. "What made you decide to go and stretch your wings?" she asked.

"My father. He is a wise and noble man, yet he has the unfortunate affliction of sometimes being long-winded and *extremely* boring*.*"

Peregrine let out a laugh. "I'm sorry... about the horse incident... I just wanted to explore the other kingdoms... I didn't expect you to be there. I am so, so sorry! I know your family might not want an alliance after this-"

"I didn't tell."

"Oh, excuse me - *what?*"

"I didn't tell. Your secret’s safe with me."

"Oh! Th-thank you!"

"No need. I know the alliance may not happen... but... would you maybe like to come see the rest of the Winter Kingdom with me? Um... just for alliance purposes and stuff... I-"

"I'd love to." She said.

He grinned. "Shall we go see what the others are up too?”

She laughed and nodded. Together, the two Agells flared their powerful, feathery white wings and launched off the tower, soaring down in graceful spirals towards the bustling courtyard below. They landed just in front of the massive doors that led into the entrance hall, and North, ever the gentleman, offered Peregrine his arm. With a smile, she took it and the pair strolled into the entrance hall.

The entrance hall was filled with royals and nobles of the two kingdoms alike, all glittering with precious jewels and adorned with expensive silks and satins. Suddenly, a young lady with brown hair strolled up to the pair.

"Peri! I mean, uh, Princess Peregrine! You're here! The queen was looking all over for you. There's like a dozen Winter nobles and stuff that she wants you to meet!" She glanced over at North. "Holy hot sand, *Crown Prince* *North Midwinter?!*” She gasped, bowing as quickly as she could. He nodded, smiling.

"Hi Harpy! Crown Prince North, this is Lady Harpy Blayze of the noble House Blayze, A.K.A. my best friend!" Peregrine grinned, forgetting who she was talking to for a moment. The happy moment lasted for about ten seconds before an obnoxious noise filled Peri's ears.

"Hey, Peregrine!" it said.

With a sigh, she said, “Hello Kestrel." She turned and introduced North. "This is Crown Prince North Midwinter of the Winter Kingdom. Your Royal Highness, meet my younger sister, Princess Kestrel. ”

Kestrel curtsied, but looked distracted. "Peri, there’s someone special Mom wants you to meet."

"Who?" she asked, fairly surprised. Before Kestrel could reply, a silky-smooth, melodious voice that slipped over their ears like rich honey said, “That, darlings, would be me.”

Peregrine turned to find herself staring into the striking sapphire eyes of the most breathtaking woman she’d ever seen.

## Chapter Seven: The Catalyst

All eyes flew to Sapphira, who stood behind them with an enchanting smile curving her lips.

The noblewoman was adorned in a breathtakingly beautiful ballgown of snowy-white silk, paired with an elegant ermine shrug and a pair of crystal high heels. Her silvery-white hair was piled atop her head in an elegant updo and dripping with diamonds, as were her ears, neck, and wrists. To complete her look, Sapphira had paired the outfit with delicate lace gloves and a silver ring set with tiny diamonds and sapphires.

“Allow me to introduce myself, Princess Peregrine.” She said with a flawless curtsy. “I am Lady Sapphira Borealis of the honoured House Borealis, daughter of Grand Duke Zephyr Borealis, the White Wolf of Belsyre, and Grand Duchess Aurora Borealis the Beautiful. I am the heiress of many lands, titles, and estates, and of course, the famed Borealis fortune.”

“It is my immense pleasure to meet you, Your Highness. I hope we shall became close friends over these next few weeks.” Sapphira gave Peregrine another dazzling smile and squeezed her hand gently.

*I need to make the Summer princess like me. Being her close friend could be valuable later on.*She thought, her gracious mask not cracking once.

Sapphira released Peregrine’s hands and turned to North and Kestrel, dropping into another graceful curtsy. “Your Highness, it’s good to see that you’ve fared well after our long journey.” She gushed, looking at him from behind her thick lashes and flashing a small, sly smile that was gone as soon as it had come.

“It’s good to see you too, my lady. You look ravishing tonight.” He politely replied, taking her hand and kissing it. Sapphira laughed, the sound high and lyrical.

“You flatter me, Your Highness. Come, let’s go enjoy the welcoming party!” She exclaimed, looping her arm through Peregrine’s and leaning down to take Kestrel’s hand in her other, pulling them along through the crowd.

It was time to set her plans into motion.

## Chapter Eight: A Friendship Formed

Never in her life had Peregrine ever met anyone quite like this High Lady Sapphira Borealis. For starters, who in their right walked around in towering, high-heeled shoes that were crafted from *solid crystal?!*

*Solid crystal!!!*

Just the sight of those torture devices made her want to cry, but Lady Sapphira seemed to be perfectly at ease in them, gliding over the gold-veined marble floors so it appeared that she was floating rather than walking. When Peregrine had first seen her moving towards them, she’d actually wondered for a few seconds whether the young noblewoman’s crystal-clad feet even touched the marble floors.

And of course, trying to compare her breathtaking beauty to the loveliness of the other ladies in the room was like trying to compare mere stars to a bright, brilliant sun.

With her waves of lustrous silvery-white hair, her alabaster pale skin, and her huge, striking sapphire blue eyes that seemed to see blaze into you, she was a goddess in the flesh.

The rumours of this Thystical aristocrat’s beauty had not been exaggerated.

But what the rumours had failed to mention was the way her face seemed to simultaneously convey sharp, intense emotion and be completely unreadable at the same time. One moment there was a flash of coy amusement dancing in her eyes, the next her face was inscrutable.

*It’s like she’s constantly putting masks on or taking them off, or that she can’t decide between showing her true emotions or sporting a distant, icy persona*. Peregrine thought, studying Sapphira’s face intently. It really was quite fascinating.

But she was abruptly snapped out of her observations as Lady Sapphira remarked, “Your Royal Highness, am I really so captivating that you like everyone else within this room can’t take your eyes off me or do I have something on my face?”

Peregrine’s face burned and she quickly looked away, blushing furiously.

“Please, pardon my rudeness. And, uh, no, there’s nothing on your face.” She said quickly. She could already *hear* the lecture from Queen Rosalinda awaiting her later tonight…

Sapphira laughed again and replied, “Oh, I think I’m definitely going to like you, Princess Peregrine.”

Kestrel, looking up at the pair, frowned and whined, “What about me? Don’t you like *me,* Lady Sapphira?”

Before Sapphira could reply, Peregrine glared at her sister and snapped, “I don’t think distinguished noblewomen like Lady Sapphira would like princesses that act like crybabies.”

Kestrel’s eyes narrowed and she shot back, “Well, I don’t think princes like Crown Prince North would like to marry rude, unmannered, stuck up prudes like you!” With that, she turned and ran into the sea of nobles.

Peregrine sighed and ran a hand through her ebony hair, her mind racing.

*Kestrel will probably go complain to Mother and then I’ll be in trouble. But honestly, she’s almost thirteen and still throws tantrums to get her way!*

“I’m sorry you had to witness that, Lady Sapphira.” She said, giving her an apologetic smile.

Sapphira dismissed her apology and replied, “There’s no need to apologize, Your Highness. I know how fickle relationships with siblings can be, especially between sisters.” She smiled, but there was a strange glint in her eyes.

*Huh, that’s weird. I wonder if* *Lady Sapphira has any sisters back home.* Peregrine thought, noting the odd look that crossed Sapphira’s face for a second.

Sapphira shook herself and smiled brightly at Peregrine, flashing her blindingly white, perfect teeth.

“I’ll try and smooth things over with your younger sister later, Your Highness. But for now, I want to learn all about *you.*” She said, looping her arm through Peregrine’s and sweeping through the glittering crowd of bejewelled nobility and royalty.

Peregrine grinned, brushing a few loose strands of ebony hair out of her face, and replied, “What do you want to know?”

Sapphira’s sapphire eyes glittered slyly and she answered with a coy smile, “How do you know the Crown Prince of the Winter Kingdom, my dear Princess Peregrine?”

Shock jolted through Peregrine and she turned pale, her eyes widening.

“How... How do you know about that?” She asked in a shocked whisper, leaning in close so only Sapphira could hear her.

Sapphira gave Peregrine a sly, lazy smile and replied, “I have my ways, Princess. And I mean, it was rather obvious from the way you two were interacting that you weren’t meeting for the first time.”

Peregrine flushes, recalling the familiarity that she and the prince had used when they first saw each other, only a few minutes ago.

“Was it really that obvious? And wait, you *saw* us? I thought North flew ahead of the others.” Peregrine said, her brow creasing as she spoke.

Sapphira’s brows raised and her eyes sparkled mischievously as she remarked, “So you two are already on a first name basis, then.”

At her remark, Peregrine’s eyes widened and she quickly exclaimed, “Oh, no, no! I wasn’t thinking, I meant to say that I thought *Crown Prince* North had flown ahead of the caravan.” She blushed furiously and mentally cursed herself for her mindless mistake.

Sapphira giggled, hiding her mouth behind her gloved hand as she tried in vain to stifle her giggles.

“I was only jesting, Your Highness! My, you certainly get flustered easily. I can see why His Highness likes you so much.” She softly said, smiling mischievously.

“Hey! I’m sure *Crown Prince* North doesn’t feel any different about me than any other princess!” Peregrine protested, the red in her cheeks only intensifying.

Gods, since when had she *blushed* so much? And especially about one stupid *boy,* even if he *was* a prince.

Sapphira’s eyes glittered wickedly and she said, “If you say so, princess.” She paused, glancing around before leaning towards Peregrine with a conspiratorial whisper.

“But to be honest, I don’t blame you. His Highness is *quite* handsome, if I do say so myself. He’s quite a charming, chivalrous, and *irresistible* young man. Why, just look at him right now.” She glanced across the Great Hall at the prince.

He was with his parents, King Jupiter and Queen Astrid Midwinter of the Winter Kingdom, talking to Peregrine’s parents, King Hawkeye and Queen Rosalinda Pyre of the Summer Kingdom. He snatched the last glass of honey mead from a passing server’s tray and stared into it gloomily. A bored, exasperated expression was on his face before it quickly switched to smiling and charming as he raised his head when Queen Rosalinda said something to him.

“Just look at him, the perfect image of majestic splendour.” Sapphira sarcastically observed, shaking her head as she watched the prince.

Peregrine couldn’t help it, she let out a loud snort of laughter.

She clapped her hands over her mouth, but several people turned to frown at the pair.

Once she got control of her snorting laughter and people weren’t paying attention to them anymore, she exclaimed in a low voice, “Great skies, there’s certainly dark, deep depths below your ice, isn’t there?”

Sapphira merely shrugged and with a drawling smile replied, “Perhaps, my dear princess, you will get to know those depths.”

Peregrine suddenly realized that she *did* want to know more about this beautiful, mysterious noblewoman who came from the far lands to the north. She realized that she desperately wanted to know more about this Lady Sapphira, to become her close friend and confidante.

*Is she the friend that I’ve always dreamed of and yet never had? The friend who I could tell all my secrets to and laugh with over the strangest things? The friend... who I could share my deepest, most intimate thoughts and dreams, hopes and desires with? Could I possibly ever become close enough friends with Lady Sapphira to tell her about the strange way I feel about Crown Prince North? Could she be the best friend I never had?* She wondered, staring into Sapphira’s striking, confusing sapphire eyes.

She reached out and gripped Sapphira’s hand, squeezing it tightly.

“I would very much like to know those depths, Lady Sapphira. And I hope that you’ll get to know *my* depths someday. I think... I think that we could become good friends, if given enough time.” She slowly said, gazing at her face.

Sapphira gripped Peregrine’s other hand and smiled, a wide, warm smile that seemed much more genuine than any of her previous smiles.

“I think you’re right, Princess Peregrine. We *will* become good friends, the *best* of friends.” She squeezed Peregrine’s hands back, sending a tingle of excitement down her spine.

“Call me Peregrine,” she said, grinning.

Eyes sparkling and lips twitching with a smile, her new friend replied, “Call me Sapphira.”

A thrill of delight coursed through Peregrine as the two girls stood in a secluded corner of the welcoming party, never once realizing the enormity of their blooming friendship or the horrible way this friendship would be shattered in the misty, far-flung future.

Nor did they ever suspect that this fast-forming friendship was mired in deception and false feelings from the very start.