Diamond pulled out the matches once again, a fickle human thing that she had brought down to size and striked the rough page and let the flame that escaped burn. Thrusting it into her torn up pages, they let the fire roar. They both flew to the far side of the cave to protect themselves from the flame and watched the fire burn, melting their way out.
Smoke and dust rose up and they both covered their faces. It wasn't long after that that they heard voices just in time for their fire to die out due to melting ice. Observing the damage, they were happy to find they had made headway. Just enough so that the others could get to them on time.
Chapter Eight
Hands held tightly, Diamond and Graupel were whisked away together out of the sacred tunnels and safe guarded.
When the security detail went to take Prince Graupel away, he reached out and grabbed his snowflakes hand. “She comes with me.” His voice brooked no argument as his hand curled around hers.
The royal guard zipped to Graupel’s side, not noticing the intimate gesture. “But your grace, she is not on the detail list. I'm sorry, but it is imperative we get you checked out by the royal physician. Ms. Dust will be taken to her family physician. You can-”
Graupel grabbed ahold of the Royal Guards shoulder with his free hand, yanked him in close and harshly whispered in his ear. A torrid of emotions ran across the guard's face until he glanced to Diamond who was biting her lip in worry.
The Royal Guard grasped the prince's shoulder and nodded. He turned to the rest of the guards who had surrounded them and announced that Diamond was going with and she was to be added to the guard list.
Diamond's gaze lifted to Graupel who was gazing at her fondly. He brought her in close to kiss her forehead and whispered against her skin words that had her purple heart tripping. “You’re mine, snowflake.”
The guards navigated them into the royal ice carriage and toward the castle walls. The whole time Graupel kept her close, as if he was afraid she’d disappear.
Not minding the attention, Diamond snuggled into his side, sighing in contentment. If today could have gone any better, she wouldn’t have wished it.
She had the sting of frostbite passion and Graupel was on his way to letting the Dashes in and had found his snowflake. Here, today, despite getting trapped and sacrificing her books, it was perfect.
***
After they arrived at the castle the Royal Guards left the two in Graupel’s old room from before he had moved out.
“I’ve sent for the Royal physician. Both of your parents have been notified. Please lie down and rest. They will be here soon.” With that the head Royal Guard left.
Being in the middle of his room, the room Diamond had once wondered about, she took in the light blue and green accents. There were shelves on the wall filled with trophies from nutcracker la-toss, snowball tag war, and icicle fencing. He had been very athletic in his younger years, she surmised. The hundred years apart in age would have never let her see him that way, but sometimes a fairie's life happens that way.
Hands met her shoulders, then curved around to her upper arm. Graupel’s head dipped and he whispered into her ear. “Is everything alright? You’re not hurt are you?”
Diamond curved her wings around his shoulders in a hug. Graupel brushed aside the neck of her gown and kissed the sensitive skin there. “My darling?” he prompted.
“No,” Diamond breathed, her body warming. “I’m not hurt.”
A strong hand cupped her hip and Diamond’s heart flared. “I’m glad.”
The doors flew open and in came the royal physician and their parents. From there on out questions were fired off by their mothers. “What happened? Is it true that you found your snowflake? Did you really burn your parchment books? We need to gather everyone up for a royal wedding! We’ll have it tomorrow night…”
And on and on they went while Graupel and Diamond were checked over and cleared of any injuries.
“Well,” Diamond’s mother eased as she came over to her daughter. She was smiling ear to ear. “Come on, Sweetheart. Let’s head back home and make plans for tomorrow.”
Excitement coursing through her every being, Diamond turned to her love and saw the fire that he held for her in the depths of his gaze. “I shall miss you, my love.”
His hand lifted to brush a strand of hair out of her eyes. “And I, you. After tomorrow, my beloved Snowflake, we shall never be apart.” he leaned in a kissed her lips sweetly.
“Oh, young love.” Graupel’s mother sighed. “I didn’t realize my son held such sweet words.”
“Wish this stage lasted longer,” Diamond’s mother added. “But, reality will sink in soon enough.”
The other mother agreed. “Time to go, Diamond.”
And they did.
E.
King Frost and Colder, Diamond’s father, stood off to the side at the great banquet hall after their children's vows had been said and the dancing and celebrating had started.
King Frost shifted his gaze off his son Graupel and to his other son, Sleet. “Well, it didn’t go quiet as we planned my friend, but nevertheless, the result was the same.”
Colder tensed, his hard eyes resting on his king. “I did not agree with the pixies way of doing things. They are finicky little creatures that like to create mischief.”
“But they got the job done.”
“But at what cost?” Colder gestured to his daughter. “If my daughter hadn’t had-”
“But she did. You know the rules when pixies are involved. Wise creatures. They caused your daughter to see that life-love -was far more worth saving than those parchment books. And my son, to realize that not all this can be measured, calculated. Though the pixies put them in a dangerous position, the pixies made sure they had what they needed to overcome their obstacle.”
Colder grunted and raised his glass to his kings. “May the Dash path return to it’s natural glory.”
The king clinked his glass against his. “And may my other son give me mercy once he realizes what I’ve done.”
Colder paused, taking a sip of his glass. “What have you done?”
“How is your niece Crystly doing these days?”
“My king, tell me you did not.”
King Frost held a gleam in his eyes. “Sometimes all they need is a little nudge.”
Then End