Chapter (29): Chill

Getting back to sleep, the world rounded as it was doing before, calm, ruling in order. The night and storm continued passing, watching everyone's story and the Winter began again.

Early in the morning, Elizabeth slowly opened her eyes as she felt the light on her face. She pushed back the blanket and flashed to the window.

"Wow, Luna! Luna, wake up." She shouted, her joy and cries echoed in the whole mansion.

Luna opened her eyes, wiping her eyes with her fingers. She saw Elizabeth with a wide mouth, stopping near the window, the white light of the outdoor splashing on her pale face.

"The world had suppressed by the snow."

Elizabeth surged to aid Luna. Gripping her arm, she assisted her not to hit the chair, their wavy hair was dancing down, ran wide and loose.

"Wow, Luna! Bring me my coat, I can't wait to touch the first snow."

Elizabeth eagerly obeyed and went to the dresser, picking their coats, she ran back to Luna, helping her to wear the coat, then she wore hers, she couldn't stand on her feet out of eagerness, her soul was flying out of her body before she would step out.

"Why are you so joyful! We will see it every year." Luna asked, yet the roars of the sky were in her head and carved on her nerves since last night.

"I don't know, I just love Winter! It always brings changes and I will make sure this Winter you can see everything again."

Elizabeth wrapped the shawl over Luna's head and assisted her to go out.

Opening the door, she saw the smiling Barbara who was standing behind the door, ready to knock.

"Don't attempt to scrap me behind, lady Elizabeth."

Barbara growled.

"Alright, let's go! This is the only week that you remain as a happy lady! We must enjoy it together."

Luna said, felt the other hand that fastened over her right arm.

"Did I wake you up?" Elizabeth asked her, thinking how loud she revealed her enthusiasm.

"No, I was awake in the early morning."

Luna archly grinned, "of course, the reason is visible."

They laughed loudly but Barbara hushed them hastily, looking around, she was being shy as always.

They got out of the mansion before stepping down on the cold snow, they sniffed the cold air and sneezed.

"Ah, my cheeks are burning!" Barbara placed her numb palms on her cheeks.

"Are you ready?" Elizabeth gazed at either of them blankly then her eyes grew mysterious, watching the fluffy snow.

"We are, sister."

Luna answered, wearing a serious complexion.

They jumped to the snow, and a moment later the earth shaped with their figure. They screamed as the cold skittered through their skin and traveled deeper reaching their blood.

"Ah, you are crazy!" Margaret shouted through the window, watching how they dropped themselves down but that stern face turned to a smooth smile.

"Join us, Margaret!" Elizabeth yelled while sweeping the snow with her hands and legs, laughing from the bottom of her existence.

"I am too old, for these games." She laughed.

Luna sensed the shudder underneath. She sat straight, looking back at the point that the quakes were leading her.

"Margaret, where is Charles?" She asked.

"I sent him to bring a physician ten minutes ago."

It wasn't possible that he could have returned this soon.

"I hear horses!"

Luna notified, thrusting up on her feet.

"You have sharp ears." Elizabeth stood up beside her, she trusted Luna's senses.

The snowflake dangled to their puffed hairs, Barbara pointed to the dark dots that were getting close from the road, visible in that white area.

"I am going to inform the Lord."

Margaret didn't wait to close the window, she sneaked up the stairs.

Crossing two corridors, she saw Lord James who came out of his room, already wearing formal clothes.

"What is going on? Who are they, Margaret?"

It seemed they heard the horses, Lord James had a strong sensation that never have sounded weird to her, he could hear noises from the thicket and would go to see what they were.

"I don't know, my eyes are not able to reach the distance."

"Go stay with, Lisa." He ordered while passing by her.

The noises were getting closer, the door slammed back and Ryan came out. Now, the riders were visible.

"They are the knights of Bolington!" He informed, his hand rested on Luna's shoulder.

"Go inside, girls!" He charged, frowning and looking at the left side where Jason emerged.

Elizabeth nodded and with Barbara led her sister up the stairs, returning to the mansion but they stood behind the window as their curiosity fluxed. They weren't happy that those strangers just ruined their joy.

The riders came to view, they were galloping ahead hastily. What hastened that pace? Ryan wished that wasn't from Princess Livia for taking his father to the court with rush and force. But it couldn't be that because to that snobby princess ethics and rituals were the priority.

"What do they want in this hour?"

Jason asked, he disliked it too.

"Surely, not a good cause brought them here!"

He heard footsteps at the doorway that ceased there, he didn't look back because he knew who that was.

The horses stopped, neighed. The riders calmed them down. Ryan raised an eyebrow, as the hood flew back and the girl's face was uncovered.

"A girl, in knight's troop!" Jason murmured. They must be Nobel folk that had gotten the privilege to become knights.

They dismounted and Jason walked forward, to keep the horses.

"What an unexpected meeting! Prince Wilmore."

A crooked rage tugged at the corner of Ryan's lips as he heard the name his father shout out. What did he want here? The crown prince of Bolingtone dared to travel a very long way to come to these faraway borders.

He removed his hood, and his handsome but cold face came to view. For a moment, Ryan thought that was a walking dead, he wasn't the kind that Ryan could make deal with.

"Lord James, to be honest, I am astounded too. The case that I am working on had to have a manner from your house."

He notified the reason he was there, without making words in a row to praise the Lord.

"Welcome, you might want to get rid of the road's chill."

He extended his hand, welcoming them to the widened door.