1 Chapter One: The 100-year War

Ruins are covered in white with dried black blood splattered on the wet and icy ground. Piled up like a mountain, countless dead bodies and skeletons of humans and horses on the white soil served as the marks of the unending 100 years of war.

In the midst, two battalions faced each other. Their colors seemed to represent light and darkness.

On the white side, with their cavalries holding high golden flags with a white winged-dragon imprint on them, as if it would take a flight anytime, is the kingdom of Atarah.

On the black side is the kingdom of Elvira. Their black flag with an insignia of a burning phoenix gracefully fluttered in the wind.

The two rulers were facing each other at the front line, the descendants of the great war leaders of the seemingly eternal winter war that had reached its 100th year.

''Give him back to me!'' Queen Vernon of Elvira demanded, her loud, clear, sharp voice resounded in the dead silent battlefield. Her crimson lips breathe smoke in coldness as she spoke.

''I'll give you everything you want just give the jester back to me.''

The queen was always proudly riding her dark warhorse. However, holding her spear, her hands trembled as the Queen of Atarah, sitting as proud as her on her white warhorse, held hostage a young man, wearing eccentric, bright, and colorful clothes. His cap with dangling bells made him even look odder.

''Oh, he was surely familiar to you?'' She was supposed to sound amused yet her voice came out dead, as always. Queen Natalia coughed uncomfortably, as she made the dagger she pointed on the young man - which the dark queen called 'the jester' - cut deeper enough to make him bleed.

''Yes, he is my court jester!'' Queen Vernon was obviously getting impatient.

''So he is a fool,'' Queen Natalia commented.

''And you are an old hag, ice queen!'' The jester said and laughed but when he felt a burning cold gaze coming from his back, he nervously stopped.

''Natalia, give him back to me. He is one of my people.''

Queen Natalia looked in her direction and in her eyes, she could sense the desperation of Queen Vernon to save him from her hands.

She attempted a sinister smile, but it ended up a stiff and eerie smile. ''You'll give me everything I want?''

Queen Vernon saw her expression, ''You look ridiculous Natalia!'' She said as she obnoxiously laughed. ''No wonder, no one in the whole world would pursue you.''

''Annoying,'' Queen Natalia sent a cold and sharp glare in her direction.

''Everything about you speaks 'coldness'! No one wants an ice queen,'' Queen Vernon started to run her sharp tongue. ''The people are cursing you. Do you know why? Because they thought the ice queen is the reason why there's a winter war.''

The jester laughed at what his queen said, however, he earned a harsh and tight grip on his neck, choking him.

''Natalia stopped what you are doing or I'll kill you!'' Queen Vernon threatened.

''You can't.''

''I can!''

''Lie. If you can, why I'm still standing here? We're at war on each other for over 10 years already.''

Queen Natalia said.

She then covered the jester's eyes and mouth with a cloth. He attempted to speak but only a muffled sound came out. His movement became even more limited. His hands and feet were shackled by big cold iron chains and now his sight and mouth became restricted as well. What was left from his freedom is his sense of smell yet the scent of war in the air made him sick.

''Natalia I would say this again, give him back to me! Say what you want, I'll give it to you.''

For Queen Natalia, this is an opportunity. She had always wanted for Elvira to gave back the land of Titania, a territory that once belong to Atarah. It was her grandmother's homeland. This is one of the reasons why she joined the 100th year winter war against Elvira. If not for those reasons, she would only settle to defend Atarah from invaders.

However, when she closely looked at the young man she captured from Elvira and her gaze landed on Queen Vernon.

She got curious. Wondered why the cold-blooded dark queen is ready to give everything just to save this man.

To test the Queen of Elvira, the ice queen made her dagger cut deeper on his neck to the point blood flowed richly from his flesh, drenching his collar. But she made sure he would still live.

''No! Please...''

Queen Natalia feigned to kill him but when the dark queen put down her spear, ''Natalia, stop!''

Queen Natalia stopped.

''So, he is your...weakness,'' straight-forward, the ice queen said. Queen Vernon's eyes widened and became stunned. She was also not well aware but now when it came out from her enemy's mouth everything about her feelings made sense.

Finally, this time the war between them had a winner and a loser. And the losing side was none other than, Queen Vernon.

But Queen Natalia asked something unexpected but precious to her.

''You'll give everything I want, Vernon?''

''Yes...I will. Give him ba--''

''Many thanks. I'll be leaving then.''

The ice queen and Atarah's troops are ready to leave the battlefield, but -

''Hey, Natalia. Aren't you giving him back to me? I have already lost to you.'' Queen Vernon attempted to catch up to her but Atarah's troops were quick to respond and read the situation. They immediately pointed their weapons at Elvira's queen and protected their own queen.

''But you said, you'll give everything I want,'' Queen Natalia argued. She put away the dagger on the jester's neck but she knocked him down to make sure he had no chance of escape.

''Yes, that's what I said but -- ''

She cut off Queen Vernon, ''Thank you. You already gave me what I ask for.''

Realization dawned upon her, the Queen of Elvira burst in anger, ''You! So, what is that something you want, huh?''

Queen Natalia, caressed the cheeks of the sleeping young man on her shoulders while looking at her, ''I want him.''