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āI put my arms around myself and I'm unbreakable.ā
ćÉĪ¹Ī±ĘĻgĻ Ń cĻĘĻŃ:#BDA0CB ā ŃŠ½ĻĻ gŠ½Ń cĻĘĻŃ #F7B3DAć
|| Dear Winter || AJR ||
ćÉĪ¹Ī±ĘĻgĻ Ń cĻĘĻŃ:#BDA0CB ā ŃŠ½ĻĻ gŠ½Ń cĻĘĻŃ #F7B3DAć
|| Dear Winter || AJR ||
"I understand your hesitations," after all, becoming an Heir was no simple task. It meant that there were now responsabilities on your shoulders that you may have expected. "Take your time in deciding," Winter's smile was gentle, her hands folded in her lap. "Elise, you would be the Heir of Luck," she looked at Carter, Mercedes, and Oliver. Winter had a feeling that they would turn it down. She would not be sad, after all, she would understand. They had fulfilling lives back on Earth. Since Winter had chosen to bring her physical body to the Boundary, she would not be able to return. Nothing had gone according to plan, but it rarely ever did. "Oliver, you would be the Heir of Truth. Carter, you would be the Heir of Sand, since your Retainer was loyal to Arke and passed during the battle. Mercedes, you would be the Heir of Arms."
There came a knock at the door, Winter rose, knowing who it was. "Well, that's all the time I have for now. The wedding will be in a week from now, you're all free to stay here until after it, regardless of whether or not you make your decision by then." Nemia poked her head inside. "Lady Winter, it's time." Winter nodded, "I'm coming." She turned to Elise then, "If you want to work on rebuilding the Portal Generator, that room is still open for you to use." She took her leave then, Carter running after her. "I'll go with you!" She nodded, "Alright." He fell into step alongside her. "You seem... different somehow," Carter mentioned as they walked. "What do you mean?" Winter blinked, slowing down.
"Lighter, I think. The first time we met, I thought, "Wow, I can see the weight sitting on that girl's shoulders. Now, it's almost like you're free." Winter shook her head, "I never got rid of that burden, I just found people I could share it with." He paused as she pushed open the tall doors to a room. There were several people waiting inside for her. The sun fell like a halo around her golden hair, she strode into the space as though she owned it. Carter could recall how shy Winter used to be, how she had avoided everyone, but they had insisted on gathering around her. Now, it seemed that much had changed. She was not afraid anymore and more people flocked around her for it. "Lady Winter, what color scheme would you like to go with for the coronation ceremony?"
"Purple and gold," she replied, taking a seat. "Excellent choice," Carter stood beside her. The others had always been smarter than him, he had been riding on life based on charm alone. His looks had gotten him everything, good standing, a modeling contract. He was not smart like Elise or Oliver. He had no battle instinct like Mercedes or Ezra. He was not afraid of change, like Serenity. They spent almost two hours in that room, Carter watching as Winter made decisions like flowers and music. She was planning this coronation on her own, as was expected of her. "How can you stand it?" Carter asked once it was over and Winter rose to leave. "Stand what?" Winter asked, uncertain as to what he meant. "Being called Lady, having to make all of these choices. How do you know you're going to make the right ones?"
Winter turned to face him, was it his imagination, or was there pity on her face? Footsteps sounded behind them. Winter was never alone, she was always surrounded by others. He grabbed her hand, pulling her out to the garden through one of the open doors. "Carter!" He ran, tugging her wrist, towards the large maze in the center. "Come on!" She stumbled after him, losing a shoe. He ran faster, diving into the bushes, taking her with him. She landed on top of him, breathing hard. "What is with you!" She rolled off of him, that's right, she was engaged. She would be married in a week to a man that Carter wasn't sure he liked. "You're different here."
"Of course I am!" She rose, flinging her other shoe. "And you're still the same child from two years ago!" He sat up, staring at her, the sun shining down on her. For two years, he had stood in the same place, trying to progress, but feeling stuck. "I waited for you," he said quietly and she stopped walking. "I waited for you until I couldn't wait any longer. That date... we were supposed to go to the movies together, remember?" She turned to face him. "Carter, I never said yes." He froze, the weight of her words striking him. "I never liked you the way you liked me." He laughed suddenly, "You were too good for me, anyway. Too good for Oliver too, that no good snake." He propped himself up on his elbows. "You've moved on and I'm still stuck."
"I was forced to move on," she hugged herself. "You could have taken us with you," he reached out, trying to take her hand, but she stepped away from him. "No, I couldn't have. It's been two years and you still don't understand," her eyes glowed. How could he be so stupid? "I'm not a human Carter. My Mother might be, but my Father is an Heir. I'm an Heir, I never belonged in the Chrysanthemum in the first place."
It was how Merlin and the Doc knew who she would be born to. They could detect the energy levels on earth. Zoku had spilled the beans to Merlin and Winter's Mother had been killed as a result. Her Grandparents had done their best to raise her, they had never met her Father, but they knew that from her eyes, she was not of earthly descent.
Purple was not a natural eye color.