One Bottle of Ice Wine - Ice Fantasy fanfiction - Chapter 1

  Snowflakes… I feel… snowflakes… The familiar touches make my heart beat again and again, and each and every heartbeat brings me closer to reality.

I feel that I lie in snow. The cool softness is so comforting, that I would rather sink into the timeless nothing where I came from. I don't feel like moving, however it would be unwise to keep on lounging in this carefree exposure. Someone might come this way.

As I try to open my eyes, light blinds me. Just as it was before. When I see the untouched snow, its shining bites into my soul, before it fills me up with serenity. I must endure this unpleasant moment for beauty. My fingers dig into the snow, and it ruins the perfection. My hand won't stay wet, nor cold. But I feel the power creeping through my skin even more.

Well, that's enough.

I jump up with my eyes wide open, and when I glance around, I find myself among the sky-high trees of Snow Fog Forest. Snowflakes dance all around with the wind in the morning sunlight, everywhere I look.

Why, is it morning?

Only a few moments pass by, until I admit the fact that my hair is white, and I have my own princely cloths on. Not far from me, at the other side of the clearing I see a figure unfolding from the blueish glimmer, and I cannot ignore him.

As he slowly turns to me, I already know who he is. I am not even surprised. Xian Xue, Snow Bird smiles at me, and he looks especially proud. I nod shortly to greet him, though it seems to be ridiculously unnecessary. We are old acquaintances after all, no such formalities should occur between us. When he moves towards me, laughter is on his face, explaining everything.

As just as I understand this, I start smiling too.

He arrives next to me, but he doesn't stop, and I follow. We stroll down along the path among the columns of the giant trees. But my steps are halted by something. I'm not quite sure what it is, but I'm forced to look back.

I know, which clearing is this. Want it or not, I remember exactly. There's nothing to be seen in the snow, of course, I shouldn't even try to look. I turn my back to the cruel whiteness, and rush after Snow Bird.

Snow Fog Forest is huge enough, we could walk around for hours without reaching its end. Notwithstanding nothing could hold us two back from flying, just to have some fun. However, he decided to walk, and I cannot do anything but follow his footsteps faithfully.

It would be impolite to ask questions, and honour requests to wait for him saying something. He is not that short-spoken, usually. And I would be happy, if he didn't leave me alone with my own thoughts. The morning air is so crispy, that I could even bite into the scent of the freshly fallen snow and the groves of Cherry Blossom Hill. As the woods begin to thin out, and I can see the needlepoint ice towers of the City, my head is already too clear. Thoughts and feelings are swirling inside me, and all I want is to be order in this chaos. As I sigh impatiently, he overtakes and talks at last:

- How are you feeling?

- I don't know. – I reply honestly. I have no idea, how I should fell now, after all what happened.

- Shame. I thought you would be happy.

I could start explaining, but there's no need. He knows exactly, what I think and what I feel, we talk only for my sake. All right. Let's have a chat.

- Thank you for bringing me back, Xian Xue.

- It wasn't me. Don't you remember?

Yes, I do remember. I'm staring at my empty hands.

- Where did the Blue Lotus go?

Snow Bird's laughter is ringing.

- I thought you would never ask this. I must confess I was worried a bit. You were too calm when you woke up.
 I don't reply. I'm not in the mood starting an argue already.

- You can forget about the Blue Lotus. It did what it was assigned to, and it would make a brash centrepiece.

- I can see Snow Blade City. – I mention, and I sit down on a fallen trunk right in front of the mountains.

- You should make haste. They're expecting you. – Snow Bird replies, but he doesn't sit beside me. Easy for him, never being tired, never having a heavy heart like mine at this moment.

- Expecting? Me? – I look at him surprised. – And who exactly?

- Are you interested? Good. I hoped the Ice Clan still means something to you.

- The Ice Clan has a king.

- Not any more.

- My brother is the King! – I strike back in fury.

Snow Bird smiles patiently and understandingly. Just do it, he will endure much more from me, if I have to pull each and every word out of him.

- Your brother made a different decision. He is not here. But the throne of the Ice Clan cannot remain empty.

It's really not so nice of him to remind me. I remain silent for now, as I do not wish to be impolite.

- You have him the freedom he always longed for. This time a new day came. And it will be followed by many others. You have things to do.

I am haunted by the laughter of children playing among the trees of Snow Fog Forest, and for a moment all I wish is to be a child once again.

- Is that really what you want? Whom do you plan to betray? Were you really so happy back then, so that you are ready to turn back time? – he's questioning me, though he's demanding a reply not for him. But for me.

I sigh in resignation. And he nods. He already hears the words I'm going to say.

- No. I am not a child any more. But I never belonged to the Ice Clan.

Snow Bird doesn't even grant me a reply. He waits, until I am ready to contradict myself. I guess he's especially amused by watching me fighting myself.

- Xian Xue… I sat on that throne only for Ka Suo. And I don't have to be worried about him any more. Then why would I go back there?

- Home is where your heart is. Just look at yourself.
No. I know already, what dress I have on, what crown I wear. I rather look at him, and argue a bit more.
- My mother is dead, and Ka Suo has chosen a new life. For whom should I go back there?

- You are stubborn. You always followed your own head. You never cared for what other people said. You always did what you thought would be right.

- You know this best. – I retort in a not so appropriate way.

- I didn't say I'm surprised.
- Can we please leave my heart out of this conversation, please? – I remark later a bit more silently.
He doesn't reply, and we remain silent for a very long time. He stands with folded hands, watching the City. I sit on the tree trunk, searching the sky instead. High in the mountains I can see small dots… Bird fly around the peaks, riding the wind, that raises them up high. So high, where you can see the distance, all the way until the Endless Sea. I know, I flew with them already that way.
I can hardly hear myself, when I speak up at last. But Xian Xue understands anyway.
- I am not ungrateful. I know you were the one who brought me here, and not the Blue Lotus. It's just… I simply have no idea what to do.
- And I won't tell you this. It's morning. You are awaken. Decide at last, what you're going to do today.
I stand up, but I avoid his glance. I look at the City. When I hear the horns, their voice touches me so unexpectedly, that I shake.

- The prince of the Ice Clan has arrived. – Snow Bird remarks.
- They know that I'm here?

- Ying Kong Shi… They waited for you. They waited for you for thousands of years. I wouldn't waste any more time, if I were you.

I would deny what I feel, if I could, but no use. It is exactly so, as he said. The Ice-Flame Clan is no more. The Fire Clan is no more. But the Ice Clan is still here, and their calling is so strong, that I don't even have to make a wish, everything goes on its way. As the spell starts working, and my body turns light as snowflakes, I see the figure of Snow Bird dissolving.

But he isn't smiling this time. He's flying away towards the distant mountains laughing out loud.

 

Snow Blade City, the gem of the Ice Clan was built upon one of the highest peaks. The whole country could be seen from its towers, one way with the valleys shining green, where the mortal realm was located, the other way with the Endless See. The last time I was here the City was empty and deserted. Now I know it was only how I saw it. I choose the tower, where my brother and me used to spend out time. I intentionally don’t look that way, where once red glowing clouds used to show the realm of the Fire Clan.

I lie to myself. I can, as no-one would scold me for that. For now I truly believe, that the Fire Clan is no more.

I take a deep breath, and at the very moment I step over the threshold of the Palace the world awakens around me.

I breathe deeply, because the noises, the scents, the lights confuse my senses after the silence of the Snow Fog Forest. I need more time to get used to them. The echo of my own steps haunt me, as I walk along the familiar corridor. I don’t know what I expected, and why am I so surprised, when a servant comes towards me. She doesn’t look me in the eye, she takes a bow, and persists in looking at the nose of my boot.

The girl doesn’t seem too much surprised. As if they had really waited for me. As if I had left only a day ago. Just as my hand moves, she bows again, then turns and walks on before me. She takes me to Mirage Hall. Just a minute, but eternity for me.

When we are there, she opens the doors for me, that stands out of my way.

The enormous doors open up in front of me, and I enter the place, where I’ve never been for thousands of years. There are ice lilies on the tables, their strong scent makes me dizzy. Next to them there are fruits in a bowl, and a drink in a jar. But I’m not hungry. I walk around the suite, where everything seems untouched. Even the cover on my bed is the same. The crystal chandelier is sparkling above my head, the picture of the Six Leaf Ice Crystal is on the walls and on the tapestry. Everything is shining clean. The members of the Clan have kept this all in order. They never gave upon me.

I step to the table, and we caress each other with the lilies. I turn my back to the servant. She doesn’t need to know, what I’m thinking.
- Get out.
She won’t get miserable. She replies in a brave and clear voice.
- I will inform the High Counsellor immediately, your Highness. Would you like me to to anything else, before I leave?
I shake my head, and wave once. As I hear the swish of her dress, I turn. Her long, dark brown hair falls down to her waist. It’s held together with small braids, and she has no jewellery. Her pale blue dress is simple, and it isn’t anything like the outfit of those living in the Palace. Of course. She is a mortal.

There were no mortal servants in the Palace before. Except from the Kingdom Guard of course. I am a fool. Who cares about what was before?

Mirage Hall became mine, when Ka Suo and I returned home at last to Snow Blade City, after our adventurous trip to the Mortal Realm. I was not a child any more, I deserved my own suite.

Still I don’t feel being at home. Snow Bird said this is my place. But he did say, home is where the heart is.

I turn so quickly, that my heels hardly touch the floor. Only a small move, and the door wings leading to the terrace shut close. The curtains don’t have enough time to flit back to their places, and I’ve already frozen the whole wall into solid ice. That door I don’t want to be open for a while. I must close my eyes to calm down.

Someone is knocking. I should reply, but I already forgot how to give orders. I clear my throat, and I only speak up after to enter.

The High Counsellor stands in front of me with tense and snapping steps. He is dressed in white, small gems twinkle around his wrist, his dress is held by a blue belt, wearing a short crystal blade in it. But his cape is light gold.

- The Prince of the Ice Clan is welcome. I am at your service, your Highness. My name is Liu Shu.

He raises his arms before him, he takes a bow with his palms laid in each other, then he sinks on his knees in front of me. I wait for those few moments of heartbeat according to the rules, then call on him:

- Raise, High Counsellor. Thank you for visiting so early.

His rank demands politeness even from me. Though I don’t know him, and I don’t know what to expect, I wave towards the table, and let him sit. I have nothing to fear of, but I am honestly interested.
- Drink with me one. Then report.

He finishes his drink with a gulp. He looks at me, but says nothing. I fill it up for both of us, then he waves and a few crystal rolls start to circle between us on the table. The reports.

I sigh with resignation. If I am correct, we will be here for very long.