Winterfall

After everyone had left, I found myself walking up the marbled stairs and into my room. I had enough adventure and excitement for one day.

I shut my bedroom door behind me, locking the door with a simple click. I flicked on the magical lights and began to undress. I slipped off the starry themed dress and black heels to match and threw them in front of my wardrobe. For all I cared, I could burn that damn dress no matter how beautiful it looked. For me, that dress was a reminder of the events of the festival, the festival that almost cost Quinn’s life. The festival that played tricks in my mind.

Marcel, despising his best efforts to become a better man, had ruined a tradition for me. From here on out, I could care less if I went to another Summer Crest Festival again.

Once undressed, I walked slowly to my bed and sighed as I plopped down on it. “Thanks for nothing mom.” I grumbled. Part of me wondered how Marcel had ever tricked her. The other part of me wondered if my father had seen the events that happened behind closed doors and why he didn’t try to intervene.

However, I knew with his abilities he once told me things were not always set and stone. Things change as people’s minds change all the time. Nothing is ever concrete. Maybe my new life was one of those events that could have changed for the better. Instead, it changed for the worse.

I peeked through the stained glass window, and was able to figure out that it was one in the afternoon. I had all day to sulk in my bedroom, and that was what I planned to do.

I stood up once again and paced around my room. I was at a loss at this point in time. I had a kingdom to run. My parents were gone. I was supposed to marry another man. However my heart belonged to another.

All these thoughts raced through my mind. Perhaps I need to write them down. I thought as I stood in the middle of my room, perplexed

I grabbed one of the empty books off the book shelves along my wall, grabbed a quill and an ounce of black ink. I cracked open the fresh book, breaking the fresh leather as I stared at the blank page.

I began to pace around my room as I twirled the quill in my fingers. I thought about writing down my thoughts about the day's events, like Théoden does. However, I could force the words out.

In anger, I slammed the journal shut, leaving it empty. I threw the quill upon the desk. How do you do it? I questioned him.

It wasn’t easy at first, but writing them down helped. It meant I wasn’t holding on to them. Meant I had space to focus on other things.

Theoden responded to me. Damn, why does he have to be so wise. I glared back at the book and thought about it one more time but I decided against it and flopped back down in my bed.

With a loud sigh, I curled in a ball and stared out the stained glass window for what seemed like an eternity but was only six hours as the sun had soon begun to fall.

It was just before dark when Théoden's voice brought me back into reality. Maria, dear, Quinn will be coming up shortly. She’s in a bad place. Between the events of the festival and what happened to Jasper, she isn’t well.

I sat up in a wave of panic. What do you want me to do?

Comfort her. I tried, but I fear I may have made it worse. I seem to only be good at comforting you.

It couldn’t have been that bad.

I mentioned training tonight and she agreed but then started to talk about the events. I listened but I guess my facial expression spoke that of boredom and I quote “Thanks for listening I suppose.”

A small smile fell across my face. Théoden always tried to help people but sometimes that didn’t always work out the way he hoped. Alright, I will talk to her. When will she-

I stopped mid sentence as a soft knock jolted me out of the communication process. Quinn’s firm but gentle voice echoed through the door, “Hey, Maria. Are you in there?”

“Yeah, hang on.” I walked across the wooden floor of my bedroom, stepping softly to avoid the creaks in the floors. Forgetting that I had slipped off the dress and had yet to slip something else on, I opened the door, “You can come in.”

“Uh…” Quinn’s faced flushed brilliant red as heat rose in her cheeks, “Are you going to get dressed first?” She pointed to my body and then looked up in my eyes.

I glanced down and realized I hadn’t slipped anything on. “Shit.” I quickly placed a hand over my mouth and apologized for cussing, “Sorry.”

I quickly ran over to my wardrobe and slipped on one of Théoden's black shirts. “Are you just going to stand there or” I asked her as I pulled out a pair of his sweat pants and slipped those on too.

I walked to the edge of my bed and sat down and looked back at Quinn. She was still standing in the doorway, apparently stunned. “Quinn?” I asked again as I waved my hand at her.

“Of course.” She quickly entered and closed the door and moved to the edge of the bed and sat next to me. “Did he fill you in?” She questioned and I nodded. “There has just been a lot that has happened recently and I just want someone to talk to.”

I wrapped my arm around her and hugged her tightly, “I get it Quinn. You have been through a lot. What do you want to talk about first?”

“Can we talk about Jasper?” She asked in a quiet tone. Jasper and her were best friends, so it did not surprise me that she wanted to talk about it first.

“Sure.”

“Well, The thought of him being dead even if it was for a few minutes….He's just a young man.” I just remained quiet and let her talk. “You know, I was the first one he told that his wife was expecting. He was afraid to tell Captain as he knew that children are a bit of a sore subject with him. He was also afraid that, Captain would make him take leave. Something he did not want as he was trying to earn his respect.”

“I get that,” I held her close.

“Thank you. Thank you for allowing him to bring Jasper back. He’s like a brother to me, you know?"

“I know…” I said, which was true for the matter. Quinn and Jasper started training around the same time. Quinn obviously surpassed him in skills as his childlike behavior held him back, but I knew Quinn trained him when they were not on duty.

“Just the thought of the possibility of him not coming back, just doesn’t sit well with me.”

“Which is why I am going to try to change that stupid rule.”

Quinn looked at me confused, as it was not public knowledge yet that I was head of the Council now. “What do you mean?”

Shit. I hadn’t told too many people yet, well what was one more knowing. “I am taking my place as the Royal Head of the Council.”

Her face lit up with excitement, “Bout damn time. Now things can start changing for the better.”

“Glad you think so. I’m nervous about it to be honest. I won't be official for two weeks however.”

“You will do great with it Maria.”

“Théoden thinks so too. But I can’t help but think I will fuck it up.”

“Then listen to the both of us, you will do and be great.” Quinn piped up with excitement.

“Thanks. How did this go from me cheering you up, to you cheering me up?” I asked her with a grin.

“Because, that is what best friends do. We cheer each other up in our times of need.”

Best Friend? I never really had any female best friends. The only best friend I had was Théoden. Well, this is turning out to be interesting.

Quinn adores you. I think you two will be great friends. Théoden said. I could almost feel his smile fall on his face. He was happy that his number one guard and his girl were best friends.

“Thanks, I have never had a best friend outside of Théoden. I apologize in advance if I am bad at it.”

“Well, you are doing great right now.” Quinn said in a much happier voice. I could tell her mood had definitely shifted from depressed to happy. I don’t know how I managed it, but I made her feel better.

We talked a bit more as she still had a few things she wanted to discuss. She talked about the day's events with the festival and how she feared for her life.

“If it wasn’t for Théoden's quick call to action with that spell, I would have been a goner. I was losing the fight with Marcel’s mind manipulation.”

“You are still here.” I said and squeezed her tightly, “You fought it and you fought it marvelously. And I don’t know if I said this early, but I thank you for doing that. You saved me.”

“It was my duty and my honor. And I will do it again in a heartbeat.”

“Let’s just hope that won’t happen for a while. We all need a break from that.”

“But not from training right?” Quinn questioned me.

“Definitely not, if I am ever going to defend myself I need all the training I can get.”

“Well, if that is the case, I need to get going so I can grab something to eat and I will see you at the arena in an hour.” Quinn announced as it had seemed that Théoden had planned for training at 8 in the evening.

Quinn got up and I followed her to the door. I gave her one more hug before she left, “I’ll see you at eight.” I told her as I shut the door behind me.