12.26.13.

I ran as fast as I could, clambering through the thick white snow. But I was too slow. My small boot-clad feet simply wouldn't move fast enough. I couldn't catch up to the army of moving flames that scurried across the hills, driving forward towards the looming walls of the keep.

"Wait!" I screamed fruitlessly. I called out until I was hoarse. No one even glanced back. Their blood lust was too strong, sending them into a frenzy. My father was with them, I had no doubt. Still fighting to stop their manic killing before they destroyed themselves and us, and Dunleemar and everything beautiful that we loved. He was loyal, and that loyalty was going to get him slashed with a sword. I closed my eyes, wanting to block out the haunting image from my imagination.

Defeated and desperate, I sank to my knees, a rush of icy cold stabbing into my legs. "Wait." I murmured again, brokenly. "Wait for me. Maybe I could have helped." The stars in the sky were listening as I whispered the words. So was someone else.

"What did you say, my darling?" Behind the eerie silhouettes of the trees, a figure approached. Tall and slender, the woman seem wreathed in shadow.

"I said I wish I could have helped." I repeated, raising a curious brow. I didn't recognize her as any of the women from the village or around the countryside.

"Helped? Do you mean you would want to help them murder the king? It's what they are about, isn't it?" Her dulcet voice rang with shock and disapproval.

"Oh no," I said hastily, rising. "I meant that I wish I could have helped to stop them--to change there minds. I'm sure if they only tried, they could convince their king to remember his duty."

"Do you think so?"

"Yes. I used to hope that he would fall in love again. Then we would rejoice, and all the people would be happy. My brother would come home again." I added, ready tears filling my eyes. I gulped them back. "I knew this would happen eventually. I just wish I could have done something to stop it."

In the silence that followed I glanced over at the hill again, watching as the lights grew dimmer, farther and farther out of my reach.

"Child," Said the woman.

"Yes?"

"What would you give to be the one to make the king fall in love again?"

"Me?" I gaped. "How?" I squinted, wishing I could see her face.

"It would be easy." I could hear the smile in her voice.

"Who are you?"

"A ghost." She replied. I paled.

"Then if you wouldn't mind, find somebody else to haunt? I'm having a rather bad time of it already."

The ghost laughed.

"Not even a moment to spare for the Queen you've thought so much about?"