4 Funeral

She biting on her lips as she pressed her face against the sheets feeling the weight of the universe pressing on her back. Winter mumbled into the sheets crying why this feeling the numbing pain keeps echoing in her heart.

The pain that had been growing even more slowly eating away at her heart. She grabbed hold of the sheets and pressed her head into the pillow and screamed out loud so that the entire universe could hear her cries and feel the pain she felt because of losing her mother.

She wanted to ignore everything and wait for death itself to come take her away as well, but deep down inside she knew it will never happen. A light whisper escaped her lips, "Mommy please come back." As she closed her eyes, her body slowly lost the tension against the sheet and she could no longer feel her weight against the bed. A soft touch of wind blew against Winter's skin.

As the wind twisted it's web clinging onto her body it whispered her name softly in her ears "Winter… Winter… Winter…" She ignored the calls of her name and the whispers grew louder. "winter… Winter!... WINTER!..." She yelled out WHAT! and she fell off her bed crashing on the floor screaming in pain.

She opened her eyes and stared around in her room. Winter lay on the floor for a moment with closed eyes. She waited for the pain to fade away from her aching body as the wind blows through her open window sending shivers down her spine.

Winter slowly got up as her eyes wide as stared out of the window. Sun rays peeked through the cracks of her room turning darkness into light. Winter slowly stood up and approached the window and stared down from there watching several races past by the castle walls. She heard the whispers of her people.

She leaned against the wall watching their faces as the news have spread across the country. Winter looked up at the sky and put her hands up as the sunray slips throw the space. "I will miss you mom." She turns away from the window as she heard a knock at her room door.

"Lady Winter. Lady Winter. You must wake up!" Winter thought for a moment and remembered the voice as she opened the door and smiled gently.

"MARIAH! How have you been?" Winter stepped back letting Mariah enter her room. She felt a bit better to see her favorite servant.

Mariah walked into Winter's room smiling softly at her as she grabbed her and held her, "Am sorry Winter about Queen Amare" Winter stared at the wall for a moment and gently pushed Mariah away from her. "Why are you here Mariah" she brushed Mariah's concern away.

Mariah looked out of the window for a moment and said, "Your father has sent me here to tell you that he is holding your mother, the Queen Amare's Funeral Later today and wants you to be ready and awake before they cremate her body at midnight."

After saying this.

She came to say Mariah walked away from the window turned tours the door, stepped out and closed the door behind her. Winter stood there for a moment holding her breath. "She hasn't changed much. She still has that short brown hair and soft caramel skin.

"Sadly she wasted her time here" Winter grabbed a few papers from her desk and went to the window, stand on the window sill. stretching out her pure white wings as they spread open, freely across the air and she jumped out of the window flying to the library rooftop. She found a set in the library and began to write away putting her heart into every word.

She bit her bottom lip looking up at the ceiling feeling proud of her masterpiece as she heard the sound of the sermon bells began to ring and everyone inside the library left expect Winter, as she added more to her writing.

She finished her writing and stared at the paper for a brief moment then she bent her head a little, kissed the paper and softly whispered, "I love you mommy". She got up from the chair walked out of the library she walked back to the castle reading every line carefully.

Winter walked into her room putting down the paper and quickly changed into a black rose dress and let her hair fall down onto to her back. Winter left without any shoes on her feet. She jumped out of her window and her wings expanded pressing against the thread of the wind she flew towards the church.

She remembered she left her paper on the bed. Winter slowly inhaled remembering every word whispering softly to herself as she landed, standing in front of the church. She again inhaled softly feeling the air wrapping around her body. As she whispered those lines over and over in her mind, she closed her eyes as she could feel her heart began to race making her nervous and her hands and legs numb.

She opened her eyes and gently put her hand on the door. She notice the skin of her hand is no longer tanned, but once again pale cream. She quickly removed her hand away from the door. As she presses her body against the door pushing her way into the church she noticed everyone staring at her as she walks into the church she felt as if she had broken a spell as low whispering sounds of everyone present was heard throughout the building.

Winter turned her direction to the bathroom running to the mirror as she stared at herself, she noticed her change to hair changed dark jet black and her skin was pale cream, but her deep blue eyes were the same. She softly laughed at her new look and took a moment to accept her changes. She glanced at herself once more and walked out of the bathroom.

She slowly walked down the aisle feeling piercing stares on her back and all the voices fell silent as they all stare at Winter.

Winter walked and turned towards the altar staring at her father and smiled at him, "Well hello father" she said to him. He looked at her sternly. barely hint of emotion on his face, but the only emotion clear on his face was hatred. burning bright within his eyes.

He turned away from her and began to speak, "So you're awake Winter" but she ignored what he said. Winter said, "It is time father or is it too early" he looks at her for a moment and said, "you're on time Winter" he stand up and walk to the altar and being to speak "My people of Ulirenia.

I introduce our last closing speech to say farewell to our beloved Queen Amare. Here is our Princess Winter and soon to be the Queen in the years to come."

There was silence in the church as Winter walked to the altar and smiled at her people. She took a slight break and started to speak "Good evening everyone I thank you for coming to my mother's funeral. I know she pass away a few months ago. I chose to write

this speech from the bottom of my heart and I hope this will leave memories of my mother in everyone's heart tonight. What she meant to you and how much love she had for her people and her king."

Winter looked at her father as her wings beings to unfold beating to the rhythm of the hummingbirds. She softly spoke as her voice echoed against the church walls humming into each individual's soul.

"Mother Oh Mother the wind blows sweet kisses upon your face, the memories of your loving voice hums into the winds. The heavens weep upon this day in your grace, shining it warm heavenly ray upon us.

Mother Oh Mother you leave your sweet memories behind leaving sorrows in the wind. Leaving behind pains in every soul's hearts.

Mother Oh Mother I will forever remember your smile and wisdom in my heart. Our people praise in your name shouting into the streets shouting into the sky showing their love for their beloved queen.

Mother Oh Mother we will never forget your dreams and hope. We join in grace on this day showing our love for you. As once, express your joy and caring smile for us all. Farewell mother; farewell our queen you will always be in our memories.

Mother, Queen we will love you forever."

The silence shattered into tears and cries echoing against the walls of the church. Winter's feet gently touched the floor as she stared at her father for a brief moment, "This is more fun than I thought it would be, but now I know who loved my mother and who doesn't. Father why your heart so cold. Will I see you around Father whenever that is?" The light in eyes extinguish. once joyous expression turn cold.

She saw anger in her father's eyes, it no longer bothered her anymore and that made her happy. Winter walked down the altar and ran out of the church doors crashing into Mariah and they both fell on the ground. Winter quickly stood up looking at Mariah saying sorry. She noticed a dark cold empty look on Mariah's face which quickly faded against the wind. Winter felt shiver within her heart.

"Winter it's okay, My lady." Winter breathed lightly getting ready to get away and hide out in the forest when Winter felt a tight grip on her wrist as she looked back staring at Mariah. "To where are you going, My Lady. Shouldn't you be waiting for your father?" Winter pulled her arms away from Mariah and said, "Don't you see my father is busy and what's the matter with you holding on to my wrist so tight." As she rubbed her wrist. Mariah stared at Winter for a moment and said, "Just worried for your safety my lady."

Winter began to walk away ignoring Mariah and feeling angered by her words. She knew she haven't since Mariah in long time, but Winter couldn't take being treated like a caged bird by her favorite servant. Winter turned around and looked at Mariah staring into her eyes, " You have changed for the worst Mariah. I wonder what happened with you for you to be so empty. Stay away from me and stop being my father's little watchdog." Winter turned around and ran deep into the forest hoping nobody could ever find her. Winter walked deeper into the forest until she could see the cliff edges, she took a step closer as she sat down letting her feet dangles. The wind brushed beneath her feet.

Winter closed her eyes as she felt a shiver run down her spine, she turned around and saw her father standing behind her. Her lips trembled and terror grew deeper into her soul as she felt light consuming her body. She watched as her world fell into darkness and her body slowly became numb against the wind. Winter's lifeless body fell onto the soil creating a gush of dust that slowly danced against the air as her body put imprints into the soil.

Mariah stood over Winter's lifeless body gentle kicking her arms., " King Garet I believe she is dead!"

King Garet walked towards his daughter's lifeless body grabbing hold of her arms. He shook her body repeatedly and laughed out loud. Proud in his deed, he didn't feel he had done something wrong, he slapped his daughter's lifeless body on her face for one last time and whispered into her ears, " What an ungrateful daughter I have."King Garet gripped tightly on Winters arm trying to take away her power. While Mariah watched in greed and joy.

Winters' dark black hair slowly faded to grey. Her pure white wings expanded slowly and turned into black. Winters' pale cream skin turned pale yellow against the wind. The wind compressing against her body pushing her father away from her.

Winters' grey hair fell against her back as she stared at her father with her blue eyes that faded into black as the speed of the winds turned around against her. Breach of wind fighting against the pull of the wind as the cloud fell into darkness. Winter began to open her mouth staring down at her father, Who are you to lay hands on me."

King Garet stood on his feet and said, "I am the King and I can put my hands on you for I am your father!"

A Dark laughter echoed throughout the forest shaking trees out of their roots. "My father? I have no father to speak of."

King Garet falls into silence noticing what is before him is not his daughter. He said, "Then who are you? You're not my daughter."

The dark laughter got even louder and standing on a side Mariah's spine shivered in panic. As the creature stared at Mariah before speaking to them in a cold dark voice "Who am I? I am the Creation. For I am Desecration, but Am nothing."

The dark laughter faded slowly as the creature lost it's control over Winter's body. Saying it's final words "You will never have my power in which you seek your greed will only being your death."

Winter's body began walking over to the cliff plunging to the earth. Her body cloaks into the clouds as her pure white wings wrapped around her protecting her from the gravity pressure dropping her down to earth as she hit the earth's atmosphere disappearing into the sky as a shooting star.

Lighting shattered the silence as rage and anger appeared on King Garet's face. "I will have that power. Mariah!''

Mariah simply nodded her head as she turned away from her king. "I understand my lord" as she disappears into the wind. Thunder began to escape from his lips as a harsh laughter of excitement. His smile was every creaked as he began to walk away towards the castle as if the universe was finally within his grasp as his laughter continued to echo.