The winter was deep but with the kings birthday just around the corner everyone was busy with something. Alaera, the kings wife and now a crowned queen gazed out from her patio into the snow. She was dressed in red silks. Smiling to herself she slipped off her slippers and stepped out into the cold air. She walked into the snow feeling it melt between her toes until she reached a spot just out of view of the world and busy castle behind her. The snow was thin here and she could easily kick up dead leaves but she was careful not to. Then she lay out, stretching out her arms and gazing up and the sky. The sun was out today and only a few clouds dusted the sky. The cold felt so good against her skin, many thought her a witch to enjoy such a thing. She wasn't sure why herself, but she loved laying in the snow with little to protect her from the cold. It tightened her skin any ways, and she had to keep up her beauty, she was a queen after all.

She lay quietly, waiting for someone she knew would come. Someone that met with her often and she could speak her mind to. Someone that wouldn't give away her secrets even if it meant his death. She reached up brushing her fingers over a red and silver pendant, he had given it to her and not a day went by without her wearing it. She licked her lips and let out a tiny little sigh. She felt safe here, she felt right here in the snow, hidden from everything but those that knew her best. Her soft brown eyes moved to look to a rustle in the bushes. Was this him she wondered, he was always so quiet when he reached her in these private meetings it was hard to tell. She didn't realize she was holding her breath in anticipation.