The Ice Queen - "How It Ends" Ch. 1 (Patreon)

Cassian

1491 A.D.

When you open your history books and see the horrors that make up that past, it's easy to ask, "How could anyone do this?" And yet, it has already happened. It has happened over and over again, repeating itself as if learning isn't possible for the course of history. It is doomed to repeat itself in numerous ways as it did with me and Neytiri.

Generations of war beget strained relations, and the smallest of nudges toward the edge set off another repeat of history. Ikniri killing Dragonborn and Dragonborn killing Ikniri. Until there was barely any left.

I once had everything. I had a kingdom, a culture, a family... a home. But it was taken from me sending me into a spiral of destruction and hatred, hellbent on getting the revenge I believed I so rightfully deserved. I am the last of my line, and one of the few left of my people. I am the king of an endangered race, the legacy of the Dragonborn fading into the tattered pages of history. Now all that remains of us is my legacy. And it is a bloody one.

"Your majesty, they have arrived."

Ulric calls to me from the doorway but I can only keep my eyes focused on the distance. The mountains. It is the only place I did not take. It is the only place safe from my wrath. It is the mountainside that belongs to the race of people that wiped out my own. And yet, they live and breathe... because of her.

The world's "last hope". Now, her body rests there entombed in a bed of ice because of me.

"Your Majesty."

Ulric's insistent tone pulls me out of my trance and I turn away from the window to face him. It's been a year since Neytiri and I clashed swords. A year since my own men turned on me to follow her. With her out of the way, unleashing my wrath on the world has been easy. But I no longer feel as I once did; I feel empty. My wrath and vengeance have come with no satisfaction as they once did, her dying words plaguing me like a disease as of late, they are all I can think of, sucking every possibility of joy from me.

I turn away from the window to look where Ulric stands.

"Bring them in."

Ulric bows before moving toward the open archway signaling for my guests to enter. I silently take my seat, my gaze level as I watch the last leaders of their clans step in. Hynden and Xander. They both bow immediately.

"Greetings, Your Majesty."

Their voices ring out in unison as they speak. Uncertainty hangs in the air as I stand. I can see by their expressions and demeanor they are uncertain of my motives in summoning them here. My mood since the death of Neytiri has been anything but manageable. Even the castle I took over is empty and cold, fear hanging in the air.

"I'm leaving."

Silence hangs in the air, both of them still uneasy about speaking in my presence. Thankfully, Hynden is the first to step forward.

"What exactly do you mean by 'leaving'? You can't just disappear, you are our king, you are supposed to lead us. You have no heirs are you just going to leave us alone to die?"

I shake my head.

"I am leaving this part of me behind. I will go into hibernation for a few years and let the world heal without me. When I re-emerge, I shall find a new place for us... A new path."

Dragonborn can live to be thousands of years old. In the olden days, some dragonborn would never shift out of their dragon form, allowing them to hibernate for centuries. The idea of this is the only thing that can give me peace as of late.

Now it is Xander's turn to voice his anger.

"Is this because of the Ikniri?" he snaps. I whip my gaze to him, allowing my irritation to seep through and he immediately drops his head, silently showing his submission.

"I wiped out the Ikniri, I conquered the continent, I avenged our families several times over and I have been doing it for centuries. Is this the legacy you wish for our people to have? What have we brought to the world other than suffering?"

"They deserve it for what they did to us."

Xander is shaking from his anger but I only laugh.

"This is why I am king and you are not. I can see when my people are no longer benefitting from what I am doing."

Shock crosses Xander's features, replaced with shame as he comes to terms with my words. Hynden looks between us, and I can already see that she is accepting my decision.

"Cassian, what do you expect us to do without our king?"

I release a breath looking toward the mountains.

"I am no longer king. I will divide the lands among you and your people. Someone should benefit from my wrath. It is yours to do with as you please. Be fair to your own."

Concern crosses Hynden's features.

"What has gotten into you?" she asks. Snow is beginning to fall outside, the thick white blanket covering the kingdom.

"My time has finished is all. I trust both of you. All I want is for you to be happy. This way of life isn't one that will give you that," I say honestly.

My gaze shifts as Xander kneels placing his hand over his heart.

"You will always be our king, Cassian. We will be here when you emerge to follow your rule. And we will continue to serve you."

Hynden follows his lead kneeling as well.

"We will never forget all that you

"I think my time here is done is all. I trust both of you. I want you to be happy," I say honestly. Xander kneels, placing his hand over his heart.

"You will always be our King, Cassian. Whenever you are ready to come back and join us, we will be ready. And, we will serve you," he says. Hynden follows his lead, kneeling as well.

"What you have done for our families and our race, we shall never forget."

I watch them in shock and for the first time in almost a year, I smile.

"Rise up. Ulric will share the details of the lands with you," I say standing. I watch in silence as they stand, bowing once again before exiting the room. Hynden, however, stays. She comes toward me, hesitantly placing her hand on my chest. Her gaze is steady as she eyes the place my heart sits before her eyes lift to meet mine.

"What is this about, Cassian?" she whispers. Her expression is the same as when we were children. It once made me melt when she would look at me that way. Now, I feel nothing. I take a deep breath pulling her hands away from my chest.

"I'm tired, Hynden. The world no longer holds interest to me. I feel... nothing," I say. Now that my rage has subsided, I have nothing left to fuel me. Nothing to give me purpose.

Hynden's voice is hesitant but she voices her question.

"It's her, isn't it?" I don't have to ask her to clarify. Everyone knows. I release a breath nodding my head.

"Do you regret it? Killing her?" she asks.

When I look into Hynden's gaze, I hate the pity I see there.

"How can I make something right that I have destroyed?" I ask. My gaze once again shifts to the mountains as the snow begins to pick up.

"She haunts me."

Her last words repeat themselves to me over and over.

"Don't let the world suffer. Start a new era."

Hynden seems to be thinking and looks back at me.

"I don't know what to say. Just... come back to us, ok? Don't leave us. We're your family too. We care about you. Don't punish yourself over this forever..."

Her hand gently cups my jaw to pull my gaze to hers.

"...please," she whispers.

I suddenly realize just how close she is to me, her eyes shift to my lips just as her breathing grows slightly heavy. She steps closer to me, her breasts coming flush with my chest as she places her lips over mine. She kisses me with a deep intensity and need, and I find myself kissing her back, wanting nothing more than to get rid of this aching emptiness I feel in my chest.

I deepen the kiss, lifting her so that she is sitting on the desk, my lips traveling down her throat. A soft moan fills the room hitting me in the chest with a fury. I close my eyes, fighting for control and she senses it.

"Hynden..."

She places her fingers over my lips looking me in the eyes. Her hand travels to my jaw as a sad smile spreads on her lips.

"I know... it's ok," she murmurs. She leans into me, kissing me gently before repeating herself.

"It's ok."

* * * * *

I hate the cold. I've always hated it. It is naturally the complete opposite of what I am. Luckily I learned to internalize my body heat long ago so keeping it at a comfortable temperature comes as second nature. But it does take a lot of my energy the lower the temperature drops as I ascend the mountain.

I could have flown up the mountain, but I have not seen the Ikniri since our battle, nor have I disturbed them even though where they live is the final resting place of my bride. According to ancient rules and customs, her resting place should be determined by me. But I felt she would have liked to go home to her own instead of the resting place of my ancestors. So I allowed her people to take her body back. I only want to visit her one last time before I succumb to hibernation. It may be the last opportunity for me to see her. The world changes all the time, there's no telling how much it will shift when I sleep for hundreds of years.

"How much further?"

Ulric's pained voice comes from behind me. I know he hates the current situation more than anyone. I gave my men a choice when I left. They could join them, or come with me into hibernation. Of course, Ulric chose to accompany me as did a handful of my men who are now waiting at the bottom of the mountain. Ulric, however, would not send me into the lion's den alone.

I stand tall looking up at the mountainside. It's difficult to sense the Ikniri's magic this high up the mountainside. The excessive use of my own to regulate my body temperature combined with the physical trek is making it difficult. But I slightly sense something that isn't much further. My muscles tense already in battle mode as I pull my blade out.

Another blade collides with my own, vibrations shooting through me giving me the indication that my opponent is strong. He immediately breaks the contact swinging his blade and aims for my throat. I dodge easily using his momentum against him. Our blades collide, my strength overpowering his own to force my attacker immobile. My vision sharpens as I take him in.

Caius's eyes are filled with hatred as he studies me. I haven't see him since our battle. He even tried to fight me when Neytiri died, the only thing that spared him was his own men pulling him away. I could have killed him that day. I should have. But her words stopped me from doing so.

I wrench my blade back using my own magic to induce flames around me, forcing Caius to step back but he keeps his blade raised.

"You are not welcome here. You should know that," he hisses. I watch him steadily before sheathing my own blade.

"I'm not here to do any harm," I say calmly. Caius narrows his gaze just as Ulric steps in with his blade drawn.

"No. We're not here to fight," I say holding my hand up.

Ulric's expression shifts from one of shock to anger, his eyes slowly glossing back to where Caius stands before sheathing his blade. Caius, however, steps closer with his blade raised.

"You're not welcome here. Turn back."

His stance shifts to the offensive.

"Or I will make you turn back."

I close the distance between us letting my rage as blood king leak from my pores.

"I'm not going back until I see her."

Caius is having an inner battle with himself on whether or not to attack again and I can tell he is leaning toward attacking.

"You have no right to keep her from me, Caius. We swore a blood oath."

Caius already knows this. He was raised in the dragonborn among the ancients. He knows the rules and customs, yet for some reason, he is insistent on keeping me out of the Ikniri village. If I meant to harm anyone I would have brought my army and he knows this. He's hiding something.

Time seems to stand still between us as the wind and snow pick up in pace. Finally, Caius lowers his blade looking over his shoulder.

"I will escort you. But it will come down to the elder's decision."

I don't respond, making my way to where he stands. Just as I come next to him, his eyes meet mine and I feel a tinge of hatred in my gut as I take in the crystal blue color that reflects back at me.

"I'm only allowing you because I know the rules of the ancients. I doubt her people will be as understanding."

We follow Caius up the mountain in silence, the snowstorm becoming more ferocious the longer we travel. Even my internal heat is becoming weakened by the strength of the snow for this extended length of time. Just when I think it can't get any worse, the storm suddenly stops, our surroundings dying down to a light flurry.

My gaze travels to the intricately woven gate made from ice. It has a lantern that hangs from it, with a small flame that sits atop the archway.

We've reached the village.

Caius turns to watch me as I take in the gate. The home of Neytiri. I take a step closer to the gate, and in an instant Ikniri surround me with blades pointed, shouting in their language. I keep my hands down and my gaze steady as someone who is clearly a leader among them aims his blade beneath my throat, speaking to Caius.

Caius places his hand against his shoulder, bowing slightly before responding in the Ikniri's native tongue. I glare at him as the bitter taste of his betrayal seeps in even further. He has completely immersed himself in their culture going as far as learning their language, and acting as if he were one of them. The Ikniri he's speaking to looks between Ulric and me, his blade pressing to the tip of my skin. It takes all my willpower not to snap his neck for such a bold move as he shouts something to Caius.

Caius tenses from whatever it is the Ikniri says to him but responds nonetheless while motioning to me.

Silence fills the air, the Ikniri all watching me. The Ikniri in front of me lowers his weapon, growling in irritation and Caius speaks to me.

"Leave your weapons. Only Cassian will be permitted in the cavern."

Caius turns away as both Ulric and I drop our weapons.

"Do not do anything stupid. We are not here to fight no matter how angry you feel," I say to Ulric. He nods in understanding, his gaze shifting to Caius in disgust. Once I'm sure Ulric understands, I turn to face Caius, tamping down my anger.

"After you."

Caius silently leads us through the village allowing me to take in its crumbling state. I haven't been here since the day I decided to end the Ikniri legacy. Even so, I barely recall how it looked before my descent upon it. Some of the Ikniri are peaking out their windows and standing behind the trees as they watch me tread through the village. It's still a mystery to me how they survived my attack. There are enough here to build their race back up if they tried, but seeing the rundown state of the village and the loss of their leader, I don't think it's possible.

"If you're not here to finish what you started, why did you come? You ended her life, Cassian. Why do you need to see her again, in the state you put her in?" Caius's back is to me as he speaks but I can see clearly just how tense he is.

"I've done what I originally set out to do. I've decided to leave the world for a while. I want to see her one last time before I go. I don't know what state the world will be in when I return or if the Ikniri will remain here."

Caius laughs bitterly pulling my attention.

"So that's it then, huh? Damn the world to hell and hide away while the rest of us pick up what's left of our lives from your aftermath?"

I laugh softly at his words. He's trying to get a reaction from me but he won't. Although I dislike him because of his betrayal, I won't kill him. I can't. Caius and I grew up together. His family swore fealty to mine generations before we were born and when we both came of age, Caius was my Xindrite. The loyalty he shows Neytiri even in death was meant for me. Irritation bubbles up within me just thinking of it.

"Why do you care do what I do, traitor?" I ask.

Caius stops in his tracks as we reach the entrance of the cavern turning to face me.

"Why'd you have to do it? Why did you kill her?"

My expression hardens.

"She was standing in the way of my victory."

"That's it? You never felt anything for her?" he asks.

"You know better than that, Caius."

"Do I?"

Caius steps toe to toe with me, his bright blue eyes a swirl of anger.

"I watched you manipulate and torture her right to the end."

His gaze darkens as he steps even closer lowering his tone.

"I know what you did to her at the bottom of the mountain that night."

I shove him away from me, heat seeping from my pores as my anger gets out of hand.

"I don't have to explain my actions to you," I growl.

"Caius."

Our attention is pulled to the new voice that enters. It's an elderly Ikniri, more than likely the village elder. This means she was here long before my attack, during the days of the Ancients. Caius steps away from me bowing to her but her gaze remains focused on me.

She silently approaches, her eyes roaming over me in familiarity.

"You are the one who took our Chief and his entire family's life. You are the son of the late king. The firstborn. And you are the one our chieftainess swore her blood oath to," she says studying me.

I narrow my gaze slightly, nodding.

"I did not come to shed more blood."

She scoffs lightly turning away.

"Come with me."

I take one last look at Caius before following her into the cavern. As the natural light from outside dissipates, the crystals embedded in the cave walls begin to light the way. I can tell from the paintings and carvings on the walls this is sacred to the Ikniri. But the elder, knowing who I am has allowed me to enter as if I'm not the one that ended the life of their last hope. No one has so much as put up a fight. And now, the elder who is in charge of protecting the customs and history of her people has walked me into their sacred cavern to the woman whose life I ended with my own hands.

A chill ripples over me the deeper into the cavern we get. It's strange because no matter how much I internalize my own heat, I can still feel it. I tense when a familiar presence is at the back of my mind. And the deeper we go, the stronger it manifests itself. It takes me a moment to realize something within the cavern is calling to me.

And suddenly the chill that plagues me makes sense as I try and make sense of what is happening. It's as if the tingling in the back of my mind that has plagued me for the last year is growing louder.

The elder stops in front of me just as we are about to round a corner. She looks at me with an unreadable expression.

"She awaits you."

She continues to watch me, her expression uncertain as I step past her. I round the corner, hiding my shock at the tomb that holds Ikniri past. Hundreds of crystal-like coffins encompass the bodies of the families that have passed away, their body's forever frozen in time. My chest aches as I take in the ones that are clearly older than the others. The crystal is no longer transparent on theirs.

I flinch as a powerful presence hits me. Out of instinct, I want to go on the defensive but I can't. Not in here. My eyes shift rapidly over the tomb, trying to find the source when I finally land on it. My eyes widen, my heart thundering in my chest as I take in the newest entombed Ikniri.

My fingers tremble as I look at Neytiri behind the Ice she froze herself in upon her death, her bloody armor still upon her skin. I didn't expect to be hit this hard with emotion. But I force my legs to move, one in front of the other as I study her. The presence that lingered in the back of my mind is a full-blown entity now as I approach her. It doesn't make sense. I place my trembling fingers upon the glass ignoring the burning pain that emits from her ice.

I slowly close my eyes reaching beyond the ice mentally. The roar in my ears grows unbearable the closer I inch to her.

Thump

My eyes fly open.

Silence falls over the cavern as I study her.

It can't be.

It's very faint, but I heard it. My knees grow weak as the weight of a new emotion hits me for the first time in a year. I collapse in front of her, my eyes wide with shock. She is alive.