Queen Glaciana Frostborne Alpineglow's Arc

Chapter 8 of 33

The union was public now, but the wedding lived on paper. Glaciana sat in her chamber with two ledgers open. One held her plans. The other held Victor's letters, each sealed with the silver ring she had made him. His homeland had already begun packing his crates. Carts would carry his throne and his people up her mountain. It was happening. And still, alone with the cold light, she felt her chest tighten. Kira slipped in without knocking, her tail curling around a chair. She dropped a fresh letter on the desk and grinned. Then she saw Glaciana's face and stopped. "You look like the ledger bit you," Kira said. Glaciana pushed the letter away. "His words are all lists. Wagons. Guards. Which banners come first." She pressed her palm flat on the desk. "I write about our life together. He writes about logistics. Kira, I think I'm the only one glad about this." Kira crouched beside her, playful edge gone. "You saved him from doubt in your hall. You gave him a ring from your own hands." She touched Glaciana's wrist. "But you fear he's just moving furniture, not marrying you." Glaciana nodded. Saying it aloud made it heavier. Kira stood and flicked her tail. "Then I'll go find out. He can't hide a plain answer from me." Before Glaciana could argue, Kira was gone through the corridor she knew too well. Glaciana waited. She counted temperature marks in her ledger to keep her hands busy. An hour passed. Then Kira returned, slower, her ears low. "Well?" Glaciana asked. She stood. "I found him in the courtyard, checking crates," Kira said. "I asked him straight. I said you feared he didn't want this the way you do." "And?" "He went quiet. Set down the crate." Kira reached into her vest. "Then he gave me this and told me to bring it up myself." She held out a folded page. Glaciana broke the silver seal. The letter held no lists. Two lines only, in Victor's clipped hand. *I count wagons because I don't know how to count feelings. Everything I own is climbing that mountain because you are on it.* Glaciana read it twice. Her throat ached. The tightness in her chest broke open into something warm. "He came up right behind me," Kira said softly. "He's in the hall now, waiting to see if you'll let him in." Glaciana closed the ledger. She did not need to plan the wedding on paper anymore. She could plan it with him, face to face. She walked to the door. Victor stood there, snow still on his cloak, crown catching the pale light. He did not speak. He only watched her, the way he had across a ballroom. "You should have written that first," Glaciana said. "I know," he said. "I'm deeply sorry, my queen." He bowed with his hand on his chest.