If the heart is a weakness, then the shadow-mare had found herself to be much more feeble that she had ever imagined. Her voluntary isolation - for it was indeed voluntary, she could see that now - had brought with it a clarity that she had not often possessed, and she found herself to be happier outside the confines of her mountain home and the role she had left behind than she ever could have been on the throne. Fragility had not been in her nature back then, and she had frowned on those who had given themselves over to their emotions, sneering at their decision to step away from strength and power. But was she weak now, after she had accepted warmth into her heart and happiness into her soul?

No. She was stronger than ever.

But with her strength came loneliness, and she found herself wandering ever closer to the frigid northlands and ever further from the comparatively balmy climate in which she had taken up residence. She tried to stay away, for she had no wish to come upon those subjects she had deserted, the ones who would look at her with disappointment in their eyes, as Lena had so recently. She had no desire to find those who had taken up the mantle of the new Lord and Lady of the Basin (though of course she wished Illynx no ill will - quite the opposite in fact) and had forgotten her, or simply never known her. No, that was a sorrow that she was not yet ready to face.

But Illynx. The shade had made her a promise, and it was one that she intended to keep. She had left the golden-laced fae behind once. She was not prepared to do so again, not after their last tear-streaked meeting, not after realizing how much the new Lady meant to her. She wanted nothing more than to return to Illynx's side, to walk alongside and support her, particularly in the viper's nest that was the Aurora Basin. But the jackal was no fool - she knew that she could not, would not return to the land of ice and stone. Her heart had thawed, had been left in the warmth for too long. It was too late to go back now. Besides, she didn't want to be who she had been. She didn't want to be who Illynx thought she was.

She wished she didn't want to be who Illynx wanted her to be.

And so she had come once more to the northern realm of Helovia, not sure exactly what she was looking for. She wasn't sure if she would ever be able to waltz over the border of the Basin - hell, she may not even make it to the mountains - but to the Frozen Arch she went, hiding herself deep within the bowels of the caverns there. The ice was hard and cold, not like it was during the summer when the walls wept teal tears. It was a comfort, somehow lending her strength. It even seemed to call her name.

Wait.

What?

"Illynx?"

"Talk talk talk."
515 words.

OUR GREATEST WEAKNESS LIES IN GIVING UP.

Image Credit