Winter Festival Pt. 4

"I want to view the ice sculptures," Vianna said. "I heard an award winning sculptor from Iceland is participating."

Cress's smile faltered, her eyes glancing toward a large frozen puddle of water swarming with people beyond the tents. "That sounds fun! I've never seen an ice sculpting competition before."

"You should be more honest, Crescent."

"I myself am quite curious about the gathering over there," Quelurillian said, pointing at the frozen water. Crescent's ears perked up at the suggestion bringing a smile to Quelurillian's face that she hid with her scarf.

"Then we should check it out! Is that alright, Vi? I know you're not a fan of skating."

"That seems fine. We can just meet again for the tree lighting ceremony in a couple of hours."

"Are you really sure?" Crescent asked. Her mittened gloves squeezed Vianna's, her brow heavy with worry.

"I'm sure, Croissant. Go have fun with your 'roommate'."

Quelurillian had heard Crescent's friends and mother emphasize the word "roommate" several times. There was a significance to the word she failed to understand the context of and it was one of the few subjects Crescent refused to enlighten Quelurillian on. All she knew was that, for the first time, Crescent refrained from arguing.

"Alright. Then we'll catch up with you later, Vi. Come on, Illia!"

Crescent's small hand latched onto Quelurillian's and she found herself being pulled by a paltry force she could hardly feel. She pulled her scarf down to let the cold air chill to cool the searing heat building under her cheeks. It was as if she was being seared from within by a scorching flame that comforted her as it burned her away.

It did not take them long to arrive at the large puddle and Quelurillian was surprised to find those on it were wearing special shoes with daggers mounted to them. Many stumbled and fell haphazardly, while others flitted across the ice like Wind Pixies dancing on the breeze.

"Fascinating."

"Is it? I've always enjoyed skating. It tires me out pretty quickly, but I love the feeling of gliding on the ice with the cold air on my cheeks."

"Then we should acquire a pair of dagger-shoes for you. They appear to be distributed by that portly fellow in that tent."

Quelurillian pointed at a heavyset man with a scraggly beard growing on his chin and neck. He was balding on the top of his head, though that did not deter him from pulling the rest of his black hair into a greasy ponytail.

"What about you?" Cress asked. "I don't want you to just watch me from the sidelines."

"Can I not join you with my current footwear?"

Crescent shook her head and stared up at Quelurillian with quivering eyes. "You can't! It's against the rules."

A shiver shook Quelurillian's fleshy interior, bile creeping in her throat. The dagger-shoes were communal. It was vexing enough to be forced to cover her feet and now she found herself pressured to don the most vile, uncomfortable looking boots she'd ever laid eyes upon.

"…If it is required, I suppose it cannot be avoided."

"It is easily avoidable! Have you gone mad Quelurillian Il Dansgrian?! What care do I have for this human's desires? She's like a disease devouring me from the inside, yet her smile is the only remedy. This is lunacy!"

Sharp teeth sank into Quelurillian's bottom lip, drawing thick black blood she sucked in. Had she ever valued another so much? It was one of a million other questions muddling her thoughts. While she was frolicking with a human, her soldiers were being hunted down. Time was a luxury, yet there she found herself sliding the stiff leather boots over her feet.

"Be careful standing. It's easy to slip standing up when you're new to this."

"I assure you I will be—"

The world flipped and Quelurillian felt the thick ice below her buckle against her back. Lines of white clouds crisscrossed in on the pale blue sky and she stared absently in confusion. When was the last time she'd been tossed on her back?

"Are you alright?!" Crescent yelled, kneeling next to Quelurillian to help sit her up. The human's efforts had little effect on the process, but Quelurillian appreciated it all the same.

"I am fine. I… merely slipped." Just admitting it left a sour taste in the Princess's mouth. "I will be on my feet presently."

So she claimed. Yet it took the renowned swordswoman four more attempts before she managed to remain upright on the ice.

"You're doing great!" Crescent said with a delighted smile while casually skating backwards. "Now take my hands and I'll guide you forward."

Lissome legs accustomed to treading the loose sands of the desert wobbled on the hard ice, buckling with every inch they slid forward. Quelurillian was mortified by her ineptitude; she was as clumsy as a new recruit fighting for their first time in their humanoid form.

"Cress…" Quelurillian said nervously as the human girl loosened her grip.

"You'll be fine. Just focus on your balance while you slide to me."

Quelurillian shot Crescent a doubtful look but did as she was instructed. She nearly slipped twice over the few feet she traversed though she somehow achieved her goal without embarrassing herself further.

"How does it feel?"

"It is a novel experience. I am more amazed at your grace upon the ice, though. You are normally rather… uncoordinated."

"Fair," Crescent laughed, her eyes smiling as she took Quelurillian's hand. She towed Quelurillian behind her as she skated around the edge of the ice, ensuring to maintain a slow pace. A woman to their left caught Quelurilian's eye as she spun in the air, landing on a single leg and gliding backwards, bringing a sullen look to Crescent's face.

"I used to skate a lot as a kid because of my dad. He would always remind me that 'no spider would want to freeze their butt off on the ice' with me."

"His assertion was correct. I cannot imagine any of my kin, in this world or any other, would desire to subject themselves to this suffering."

"Oh," Crescent's shoulders drooped. "We can head back if you're not enjoying yourself. I won't be upset." Her head hung low, her once glittering eyes darkened, and her steps slowed until the pair slid to a halt. "I'm really sorry for forcing you to—"

"You did not force me!" Quelurillian yelled louder than she intended. She grabbed Crescent's shoulders and spun her around to face her. Her actions surprised her as much as they did Crescent, who scrutinized her face. "You didn't… I agreed of my own volition. You need not apologize. I am enjoying myself and nothing would bring me more joy than to remain under your tutelage."

"You… You're dumb." Crescent leaned forward and rested her forehead on Quelurillian's firm chest. Her arms hung limply at her sides and all Quelurillian could see was the white poof on the top of her hat. "Can we just… stay like this for a second?"

Quelurillian raised her arms to embrace Crescent, but hesitated at the last moment. When had comforting the girl become so natural? It had irritated Quelurillian to no end several weeks prior. So why did she feel guilty hesitating?

"I have been fooling myself. These emotions are wrong, yet the thought of leaving such a precious soul rends my chest. If I do not draw a boundary between us to prevent further…"

It was rare for Quelurillian to feel doubt. As a general, she was proud of her ability to stand by her decisions free of uncertainty. She guided her troops with unwavering conviction, confident that her every decision was sound. But as her arms pulled Crescent to her, those foreign feelings shrouded her heart and strangled her thoughts. Every hot breath against her chest kindled her irrational desires and her heart swelled with unfounded confidence that a relationship with the pitiful girl wouldn't end in tragedy.

She didn't care.