Chapter 7: The Gathering Storm
The next few days passed in a tense, uneasy blur for Ilyana. The more she learned about the looming threats—Prince Kaelen's ambitions, the Heart of Winter, the mysterious Frost Wyrm—the more her sense of purpose grew. She was no longer simply a princess in a marriage of convenience; she was now part of something far greater, a dangerous game where the stakes were the survival of her kingdom, and possibly the entire realm.
Yet, despite her newfound resolve, the weight of the secrets she carried gnawed at her. She could see the worry in Draelen's eyes whenever they spoke of Kaelen, and though he had promised to share everything with her, she knew he was still holding back. There was more to his family's connection to the Frost Wyrm than he let on, and the shadow of that ancient creature loomed over every conversation they had.
It was during one of these silent, uneasy moments that a visitor arrived in the Kingdom of Fire.
Ilyana was sitting in the grand library, a massive chamber filled with ancient texts, when a servant came to summon her.
"Your Highness," the servant said, bowing low. "A guest has arrived from the Kingdom of Frost. He seeks an audience with you and Prince Draelen."
Ilyana's brow furrowed. "Who is it?"
"He claims to be a representative of your husband's court. He has important news to deliver, though he has not revealed what it is."
The mention of Draelen's court sent a chill through Ilyana. She had not expected any visitors, and Draelen had made no mention of anyone being sent from the Frost. Unease prickled at the back of her mind as she stood and followed the servant out of the library, her thoughts racing.
She found Draelen waiting for her in the main hall, standing stiffly by one of the towering windows that overlooked the fiery plains of her homeland. His gaze was distant, focused on something unseen, and for a moment, Ilyana wondered if he had already guessed what this visitor might bring.
"Draelen," she greeted as she approached. "Who is this guest?"
He turned to her, his expression guarded. "An emissary from my father's court, or so he says. I was not informed of his arrival, which makes me suspicious."
Ilyana's heart sank. "Could it be another ploy by Kaelen?"
"It's possible. We must be cautious."
Together, they entered the throne room, where the guest waited. The man was tall, his skin pale as frost, with sharp, calculating eyes that seemed to take in every detail of the room. His robes were the deep blue of Draelen's kingdom, trimmed with silver, and a thin layer of frost clung to his boots and gloves, as though he had walked straight through the heart of a snowstorm.
"Your Highnesses," the man greeted with a low, exaggerated bow. "It is an honor to stand before the future of both Fire and Frost."
"State your business," Draelen said, his tone as cold as the air around him.
The man rose slowly, his eyes flicking between Ilyana and Draelen. "I come bearing news from the Kingdom of Frost. There has been… unrest."
"Unrest?" Draelen's voice tightened. "What kind of unrest?"
The man's lips curled into a small smile, though there was no warmth in it. "There are whispers among the people. They speak of the Frost Wyrm—of its awakening. They say it stirs beneath the Ice Peaks, that its slumber is nearing its end. Some say they have seen strange lights in the sky, and others… well, they claim to have heard the Wyrm's roar echoing through the mountains."
Ilyana felt a shiver crawl up her spine. The Frost Wyrm, stirring? The mere idea of it made her blood run cold. She glanced at Draelen, whose face had become an unreadable mask.
"You're certain of this?" Draelen asked, his voice dangerously low.
"I am only the messenger," the man replied smoothly. "But these rumors have grown louder by the day. My king—your father—sends word that we must be prepared. The alliance between Fire and Frost was forged in haste, but it may be the only thing that stands between us and devastation."
Ilyana's heart raced. "Do you believe this is Kaelen's doing? Could he be trying to wake the Wyrm?"
The man's eyes flicked toward her, calculating. "Prince Kaelen is ambitious, yes. And it is no secret that he has sought the Heart of Winter for years. Whether or not he is capable of waking the Wyrm… that remains to be seen. But if he succeeds, the consequences would be dire."
Draelen stepped forward, his expression hardening. "And what of my father? What does he plan to do about these rumors?"
The man hesitated, then dipped his head slightly. "Your father believes that the Heart of Winter must be protected at all costs. He has ordered additional guards to the Ice Peaks, and he has begun to search for… other means of defense, should the worst come to pass."
"Other means?" Ilyana asked, her brow furrowing. "What does that mean?"
The man's lips twitched again into that same cold smile. "There are ancient magics in the world, Your Highness. Old, forgotten spells that even we, in the Kingdom of Frost, have only just begun to uncover. Your father-in-law believes that these magics may hold the key to controlling—or at least containing—the Wyrm."
A heavy silence fell over the room, the weight of the man's words settling around them like a thick fog. Ilyana's mind raced with questions. Could they really hope to control a creature as ancient and powerful as the Frost Wyrm? And if they did, what would that mean for the balance of power between the kingdoms?
Draelen was the first to break the silence. "Thank you for delivering this message. You will return to my father and tell him that we will be ready for whatever comes. And if Kaelen makes a move, we will stop him—no matter the cost."
The man bowed again, though this time there was a glint of something dangerous in his eyes. "As you command, Your Highness."
As the emissary left the room, Ilyana turned to Draelen, her heart pounding in her chest. "What are we going to do?"
Draelen's expression was grim. "We have no choice but to prepare for the worst. If Kaelen truly is trying to wake the Wyrm, then we need to act quickly. We'll have to travel to the Ice Peaks ourselves and see what's happening there."
Ilyana nodded, though the thought of confronting the Wyrm made her stomach churn. Still, she knew there was no turning back now. If they were going to protect their kingdoms—and each other—they would have to face whatever darkness was stirring in the frost.
"When do we leave?" she asked.
Draelen's eyes met hers, and in that moment, she saw a flicker of something like fear in his gaze. "Soon. But first… there's something we need to do."
"What is it?" Ilyana asked, her curiosity piqued.
Draelen hesitated for a moment, then spoke, his voice barely above a whisper. "We need to find the fire in your blood, Ilyana. If we're going to face what's coming, you'll need to awaken your power."