It had been five days since she arrived at her parents' castle. Bel was well enough to walk around, but she had to be careful. The reddish, swollen veins on her neck had shrunk. They were still a bit red, but at least they didn't look like they would burst at any minute. The pain had also drastically subsided, but most of all, her strength was back.
Bel stretched out her hand as she sat in the courtyard shielded from the snow, and a little bit of snow landed on it. She pulled her hand closer to her face to get a proper look at the snowflake, but it melted. Her temperature was still high enough to melt snow at a touch.
"You shouldn't be out here," Hazel said as she walked up to her.
Bel turned her head to look at her sister. She hadn't heard Hazel approach until she spoke. "Hazel," she smiled.
"It's cold," her sister said and sat down next to her.
Bel adjusted the fur coat around her neck. "And I am dressed accordingly," she responded with a smile.