Sleep wrapped Xandria in its heavy embrace,and in the silence of her own, a memory, not hers, began to unfold. A forgotten tale of ice and flame.
But this one seemed different. It didn't seem like a vision or a prophesy.
She looked around her surrounding and saw that she was in the palace courtyard. It seemed like no one had noticed her, but no one could see her.
She heard noises coming from the courtyard and so she looked, and she saw two boys playing.
Two little boys not older than ten, are seen in the palace courtyard, playing together, their laughter bouncing through the walls of the palace.
One's hair was dark like midnight, with eyes that reflected the sun, while the other had white hair, with eyes that reflected ice.
"Maltherion, catch." The little boy said, enveloping the disc in cold ice and throwing it to the boy at the other side of the courtyard.
Xandria stared at the little boy who was called Maltherion, she could see the striking resemblance between her husband and the little boy. She couldn't help but smile faintly as she watched him from the sides.
The little boy quickly enveloped the disc in flames, sending the ashes to fly away.
"Nice move,"
"Thanks Thalvorian," Maltherion said, as they continued playing together, laughing.
"MALTHERION!"
The both of them froze as they heard the thundering voice of the king, their father.
They both turned around and bowed down, Thalvorian's face, slightly pale.
"Good evening Father," Maltherion greeted, his eyes glancing at Thalvorian, who had kept quiet.
"Maltherion. You are the future king of Alderyn. You aren't suppose to be seen playing around the palace. The court won't respect you that way." King Reginald said, his eyes sharply moving to Thalvorian, who stood at the side, quietly.
"But Father, Thalvorian wasn't allowed to join the court session. He is never allowed in there. I felt sad, not having my brother with me, that was why I decided to come out and play with him."
" Thalvorian cannot be allowed in the court sessions."
" But Father why?"
" Because he is not the heir, outsiders are not allowed in the King's court."
" Thalvorian is not an outsider. He is my brother."
" He doesn't carry the fire that resides in the Duskthrone blood."
" What do you mean Father? I carry the fire of mother. And Thalvorian carry the ice of his mother."
" Maltherion, my son. Every King of Alderyn is blessed with a king's grand Gias. This is a power given to every king to help find his rightful Queen. Your Mother is my rightful Queen. Thalvorian's mother, isn't." Reginald said as he glared at Thalvorian who's head was still bowed down.
" But Thalvorian is your son," Maltherion interjected as he held Thalvorian's hand in his.
" But you, Maltherion, you are my rightful heir." Reginald said as he grabbed Maltherion's hand, and seperated him from Thalvorian.
" I don't want to see you around him again. He is going to hurt you one day."
" But Father..." Maltherion tried to pry his father's hands off his own, but his father dragged him away.
Maltherion looked back to see Thalvorian's head up, his eyes had completely turned white. His tight fists were covered in ice. He looked like a monster. That was the last thing Maltherion saw of Thalvorian, before he entered through the door and it was closed shut.
The lights around Xandria began to fade, and she was suddenly transported inside the bedchambers of Selene and Thalvorian.
She looked through the window and she saw that the day that was bright and sunny had suddenly become dark, the room was freezing cold, and she knew who the ice was coming from.
Thalvorian is sitting on Selene's bed, his mother's bed, while she is trying to unfreeze his hands, which has frozen from the sudden burst of his emotions earlier in the day.
"Thalvorian, you still haven't told me all that had happened." Selene said as she pressed a warm water compress on his iced fingers
Thalvorian stared at the empty space, his eyes unfocused.
"Nothing, mother." His eyes stayed glued to the wall.
"There has to be something. I heard the servants talking." Selene pressed on, determined to get an answer.
"The servants always talk mother, why does it bother you now." Thalvorian sounded unbothered. The weight of all that had happened had taken away his youthful joy and vigor.
"They talked about you Thalvy. That's why I'm concerned."
"I'm the rejected child of the king, mother.
Of course they will talk about me. Every living soul in this kingdom talks about me." Thalvorian finally lashes out, his throat tightened, his fists freezing up again.
" I want you to calm down Thalvy, don't let your emotions rile you up." Selene tried to calm him down. Her hands were placed on his iced cold hands.
Thalvorian seemed to be lost. His eyes had turned completely white. His fists froze with ice surrounding it.
"Why am I rejected." Thalvorian mumbled as he shook his mother's hands away. It seemed like he couldn't recognize her anymore.
"Thalvy, I need you to calm down." Selene said as she held his hands once again, trying to calm him down.
But Thalvorian got too agitated and he flung his hands, sending shards of ice flying into her chest and piercing straight into her heart.
Xandria quickly rushed towards were they both stood, trying to stop the shards, but she could not. She stared at both Thalvorian and his mother in shock, tears silently falling from her eyes.
The moment Thalvorian heard his mother yelp in pain, his eyes became normal, and the ice on his hands melted away. He stared at his mother in shock as her face turned awfully pale.
"Mother?" Thalvorian cried loudly as he quickly held her in his arms, trying to keep her awake and warm.
"I'm fine Thalvy..," she coughed slightly, blood sipping out from her mouth. "I'm really fine." She smiled faintly. The light in her eyes slowly dimming. Her whole body was now ice cold, nearly freezing up.
" Mother please. Stay with me." Thalvorian cried softly as he heard the knock on the door.
Both Xandria and Thalvorian turned towards the door.
Maltherion stepped in quietly, closing the door behind him softly.
"What are you doing here." Thalvorian gritted his teeth, as he still held his mother up close, she was still breathing, but faintly now.
"I came to see you. I just couldn't stop thinking about you." Maltherion said as he stepped closer.
" Stay away from me." Thalvorian quickly stopped him.
Maltherion's eyes shifted to Selene who was lying in Thalvorian's hands, her breath seemed to be fading away.
" What happened to her? " Maltherion quickly rushed towards Selene, ignoring the cold gaze from Thalvorian.
" We will take care of ourselves, Maltherion. Leave us alone." Thalvorian snapped out. His voice was getting colder by the minute.
" Her heart is freezing up Thalvorian. Let me help." Maltherion stared at Thalvorian's face, his eyes hopeful that Thalvorian will let him heal Selene.
When Thalvorian refused to give a reaction, he quickly placed his right hand above Selene's heart, a warm glow emitting from his hands.
The atmosphere became warmer, and the warm glow enveloped Selene like a shield, keeping her warm.
Fire surged out of Maltherion's hands,going straight into Selene's heart, but it was only for a few seconds before it disappeared and the warm glow gradually faded away.
Selene suddenly gasped for air, her face returning back to a healthy glow, it was no longer pale.
Xandria stared at him in amazement, her eyes feeling up with tears of relief.
Selene stared at both Thalvorian and Maltherion, her eyes filled with relief as she held both of their hands.