Rone’s happy expression changed to one of disbelief as their daughter came, born on the backs of a hundred creature fairies, Chriel in the lead. Elice was wrapped in white fur. Slate brown eyes were set in a round face with pink lips, soft brown hair, and creamy skin.
“This is your daughter,” Ilyenna said.
Rone simply stared. “She has your eyes and lips.”
“And your chin and cheeks.”
He cleared his throat and said thickly, “But how? The time couldn’t have come yet.”
Ilyenna cocked her head to the side. “Qari says we are never with child longer than a season.”
He shook his head. “Can I hold her?”
Ilyenna took her daughter in her arms. The fur blanket fell back, revealing soft, delicate skin. Ilyenna handed her over.
Rone held her carefully, as if afraid she might break. “Elice?”
The girl reached up and patted his face. He flinched in pain.
Ilyenna tisked and touched his cheek, instantly drawing away the cold of Elice’s touch. “We must teach her to keep her cold inside. Until then, you must be very careful.”
His eyes wide, Rone rubbed his cheek. “What did she do?”
Ilyenna grinned and took Elice from his arms. Bending down, she let her child’s chubby fingers skim the top of the nearby lake. Intricate, swirling patterns of ice fanned out. Quickly, Ilyenna withdrew Elice and wrapped her in the furs.
“Summer wouldn’t approve,” she said with a hint of pride.
Rone hesitated before tentatively taking Ilyenna’s hand. “You can’t stay here?”
She shook her head. “I am a queen. I live with my fairies.”
“Then I will go with you.”
Ilyenna watched Elice. “And what of your people?”
He looked sadly back at the clan house. “I never really came back to them.” He touched her face again. “You’re not the only one who has changed. I don’t belong here anymore. I belong with you.”
Ilyenna searched Rone’s gaze for signs of doubt. All she saw was relief, as if a great pain inside him had eased.
“The transformation will make you impervious to the cold, but you shall never again feel the warmth of the summer sun on your face. Never smell a freshly mowed field. Never taste the sweetness of a juneberry. And you will never see your family again.”
Rone didn’t hesitate. “Since you left, I have felt none of those things. I have been empty.”
“Chriel,” Ilyenna called. The fairy with rabbit fur wings moved to take Elice. “I have chosen Rone Argon as my consort. Make him a friend of winter.”
“Wonderful, my queen!” Chriel changed direction, fluttering forward and pressing her lips to Rone’s.
He stopped shivering as golden sun spilled over the valley. “I—I’m not cold anymore.”
Ilyenna smiled. For the first time since she’d been reborn as the winter queen, she felt whole.
Rone took her hand in his. He was smiling and splitting his gaze between Ilyenna and their daughter. “I love you,” he said.
In response, she called an aurora to dance before the stars. Spreading her great wings, she drew him to her and took to the skies.
The End