Fall

"Your majesty, they have completely surrounded Astrae."

I looked at the general who had reported before turning to Baron Tariq and nodding my head, he cleared his throat to get the general's attention.

"Send the signal, make sure to not kill anyone, you can badly hurt them but you can't kill anyone, may it be a knight. Also, don't act hostile towards the villagers, especially the commoners unless they attack you first." He instructed

"Yes, Baron," the general said and left

It did not take long before the sight of a burning object racing through the sky came into our vision. I turned to Sir Charles and he sent the signal on the men to start barging through the gate of Astrae.

We stayed by the tent, in the base they've built in the newly reclaimed territory of Holland. The young prince did not wake up, he did not even show any signs of waking up before we left to march and surround Astrae and there's a part of me, a large part of me, that can't deny that it's been troubling me.

I must not be in distraught in a critical time like this, however, I could not help but feel worried of the young prince. He is acquitted of all those that had happened in the past, and disheartens me with how he is treated right now, he does not deserve to be lying in that tent, forlorn of recovery as his king had decided to forsake him.

"Is her majesty troubled?" I looked at Baron Tariq

"I am thinking of the young prince." I stated

"Then, does her majesty wish to go back and check on the young prince?" he asked again and I shook my head with a sad smile

"I must not delay any step as it could lead to outright putting the chances of convincing his king to grant him of resources beneficial to his recovery rejected." I replied

"I apologize for my impertinence, your majesty, if I may ask a question that has been playing in my mind." He slightly lowered his head after apologizing ahead

"I could not help but overhear his majesty's words, how is the young prince a product of deceit and greed?" he asked and I sighed

"He is not, the king Zachary has been blinded by his biased perception of the young prince's existence that he failed to recognize the other facts involving the young prince." I answered

Silence enveloped us, the cold breath of wind has raced pass us, sending cold chills upon contact to our skins. Weirdly, it seems to be matching my current state of mind to calm me.

We merely watched as the force exerted by the combined knights of Arcadia and Holland broke down the wooden and metal gates of Astrae.

Fire, explosions, and debris of destruction accompanied by the battle cry coming from the knights and the screams of the villagers as the houses burn, as the knights marched and fought with all their might to clear the way. I may not be able to perceive the current events occurring within the wall of Astrae, the loud sound coming echoing from inside the walls were enough to give me the current conditions within the walls.

"Must we start moving, your majesty?" Sir Charles asked

"Let us wait for the palace's retaliation." I replied and he nodded

The Palace's retaliation, the signal that the palace gates have been infiltrated.

Watching and waiting for a signal while my emotions are raging wilder as ever second pass, my mind is clouded with the chaos of worry and panic. I could not contain myself and began pacing back and forth until I exhausted my own feet, as if I could no longer stay put because of the tension I am feeling. This battle will conclude if I am worthy of taking back Astrae after everything I've prepared or if I were just putting a frivolous plan that could ultimately leady to failure into action. It was making me anxious.

"Your majesty, they have fired the signal." I looked at Sir Charles and took a deep breath

That was rather… fast.

"Are you ready, your majesty?" Knight Stephen asked and I sigh

"Yes, prepare the men, see to it everyone, I mean every single one, is prepared to walk in." I ordered and they bowed down

"Yes, your majesty, we will inform you once everyone is in place." He said and I nodded

I blew a harsh breath, the wind is blowing colder, it seems as if the temperature is dropping rapidly as the tension rises. I bit my lip and began breathing in and out to calm my nerves. I looked on the ground and sighed when I saw that I had unconsciously released my gift and end up spreading ice as I walked around earlier.

"Your majesty, Queen Patrice," Baron Tariq arrived and lowered his head

"The knights are ready." He informed and the confusion in his eyes did not escape my eyes

"I see," I walked out of the tent with him trailing behind me

"TO our victory!"

I heard they shouted before I arrived, I looked at all of them and I held my coat tightly, my hair is no longer dyed, hence, my golden streaks are revealed and acts like glittering river of pollens flowing from my head down to the tip of my hair.

"I hope your victory, your majesty." Baron Tariq said and I nodded

"See to it that no harm is to come to the queen," Sir Charles said when I arrived in the middle of the circle that the knights had created

A circle of protection; consists of four inner guards and eight outer guards.

We began marching towards Astrae, with them blocking and shielding all the arrows flying towards our direction to protect me, as we walk, I noticed that white particles began to rain from the sky, the first fall of snow has begun.

Upon entering the gates, the fall of snow seem to have gotten heavier, everywhere we look, debris of destruction is evident, the falling snow is putting out the fire, the flames of destruction, the flames of my retaliation for their rebellion, by turning back into water.

We continued marching our way to the palace gates, I allowed my magic to run wild, hence, every step I took, ice began to spread underneath the soles of my shoes.

I raised my hand and the side of mi lip rose when a wall of ice rose from the ground, like I've expected, my gift has gotten stronger now. It is the first fall of snow, the start of winter; the season of ice.

"We are close to the palace, your majesty," Knight Stephen informed me

"Raise your guards, we must not be shaken." I heard Sir Charles ordered the knights surrounding me

This is it… check.