Enchanting Winter
CHAPTER THREE

“I really wish you had worn what I picked m’lady.” Annabelle says as the two are escorted to the dining room by Jonathan. “The Duke and Duchess will not be happy with your choice of attire at all.”

Willow scoffs. Whilst beautiful, the dress Annabelle had picked was not her and as such she had no interest in sitting through what was already going to be an uncomfortable dinner in an even more uncomfortable dress.

“Stop worrying Annabelle it will be fine.” Willow rolls her eyes.

“Duke, Duchess, Lords and Ladies it is an honour to introduce Lady Willow Winter.” Jonathan announces Willow to the room and with a gently shove Annabelle pushes Willow forward through the opening into the very full dining room. There are only two free seats at the enormously large table and Willow is left gaping at the guests who are all dressed in the same period clothing.

“Miss Day!” Duchess Elizabeth cries and a scared looking Annabelle enters the room.

“Yes Your Grace?”

“Why is my granddaughter not properly dressed? Honestly child you were given this position of great importance if you can not complete a simple task then maybe-”

“Leave her alone.” Willow says crossing her arms over her chest which is covered with a Rolling Stones t-shirt. “I’m quite capable of dressing myself and I did so from my own clothes.”

“Willow as I said before you need to have an open mind. Things are done a certain way here and-”

“No one wishes to fully explain that to me so until they do I will continue to be me.” Willow turns her back on the dinner party.

“Willow sit down!” Duke William’s voice booms almost unnaturally and several of the guests and servants cringe. Willow stares her grandfather down before taking the seat offered to her by one of the footman.

“Now we are only waiting on Lord Black.” Duchess Elizabeth says softly. “We will give him another few minutes.”

“I’m Nicholas Black.” The man beside her in a frilly collar offers her his hand.

“I’m guessing you are not the Lord Black we are waiting for.” Willow jokes placing her hand in his. He presses his lips to the back of her hand, his lips lingering longer than necessary on her knuckles. It gives Willow a chance to take in his appearance. Other than the Victorian garb which is apparently all the rage around here Nicholas Black lives up to his name with his jet black hair. He has dark brown eyes and an absolutely charming smile.

God Willow, down girl.

“You would be correct Lady Willow.”

“The Blacks are great friends to our family Willow. Nicholas will be in your class at the academy.”

“Oh, I didn’t realise Lady Willow would be in attendance.” One of the girls opposite Willow says with a slight scowl on her face. Willow recognises the type immediately, the mean girl.

“Of course, she is a Winter.” The Duchess says smiling proudly.

“Apparently.” The brunette girl mutters.

“And you are?” Willow asks pointedly across the table and the girl sneers at Willow.

“Lady Blair Carson. I am the Duchess’s niece.”

“Which basically means she is no one.” Cassius says in Willow’s head. Willow smiles to herself.

Well look who has returned. Are you finished sulking?

“I hope you aren’t all waiting for me!” A loud voice enters the room and Willow is unsure if it is the voice in her head or actually reality.

“Your Grace, may I present his Lordship Sir Cassius Black.” One of the footman announces and the Duke stands from his chair.

“Cassius old boy, you are late!”

“So sorry Your Grace. I got caught up.”

“Nothing pressing I hope.”

“We can discuss later sir.”

“Good, well sit, sit.” Duke William ushers Cassius into the empty seat next to Blair and calls for the footmen to bring out the first course.

Willow replaces herself mesmerised by the embodied Cassius.

Is it really him? She asks herself and of course Cassius replies instantly inside her head.

“In the flesh m’lady.”

Willow’s eyes snap up to meet Cassius’s and she can’t help but notice how blue his eyes are. Blue but empty, almost soulless. He has the same black hair as Nicholas but he is much more attractive. Whilst Nicholas could pass for an Abercrombie and Fitch model Cassius has been modelled by the gods themselves.

“Why such a celebration Your Grace?” Cassius asks as the second course is brought out.

“Oh Lord Black! You missed our news! Henry’s daughter has returned to us. This is Lady Willow Winter, our granddaughter.” Duchess Elizabeth announces happily.

Cassius is quick to stand and round the table towards Willow. Willow feels her breath catch in her throat.

“Lady Willow it is a pleasure.” Cassius takes his hand on hers peppering her knuckles with tiny delicate kisses.

“Nice shirt.” Cassius says inside Willow’s head and she smiles at him.

“It is nice to meet you Mr Black.” She says politely, before adding in her head. In person. You are not nearly as girly as your name.

Cassius is returning to his seat when he hears Willow’s thoughts and his foot freezes mid step at her comment before he continues on unfazed. Once he sits Willow feels his burning gaze penetrating her skull and shivers in anticipation.

“Are you cold?” Nicholas asks from beside her gently touching her arm.

“I’m fine.”

After getting through dinner Willow takes to exploring the estate with a chattering Annabelle by her side. Willow isn’t paying attention to Anna as she talks but replaces her presence comforting with the girl somewhat reminding her of her best friend Clare. The two pass the parlour where she earlier had tea with her grandparents and Willow stops hearing voices come from inside.

“I won’t stand for it Nicholas!” Willow hears Blair’s voice through the door.

“Blair that is enough. It is not our place.”

“Quinn won’t stand for it when she returns Winter Grove, it is our birth right. Who does she think she is waltzing in here?”

“She is Henry’s daughter and there is no one more powerful than that.”

“That is just a prophecy.” Blair scoffs.

“They always come true Blair and you know it.”

“I don’t care. I won’t let it happen. I’m not going to let that peasant walk in and steal what is mine.”

“Blair-”

“Enough! I saw the way you were looking at her. Cassius was the same. Cassius ‘the empty’ was suddenly the life of the party when it came to little Willow Winter. Did you see how she was dressed? It is clear she doesn’t belong here.”

“She grew up in the natural realm Blair what do you expect?”

“I don’t think we should be listening m’lady.” Annabelle whispers from beside her.

“They are talking about me! And what is the natural realm? What does that mean?”

Annabelle gives Willow the same look she has been giving her all afternoon saying she can not reveal anything.

Willow groans and presses her ear back up against the door.

“She is who they say Blair. You have seen pictures of Henry’s wife. Willow is the spitting image of Lady Nora.”

At the mention of her mother’s name Willow squeezes her eyes shut holding the grief at bay.

“Yes, she looks like Nora but that doesn’t mean she is Henry’s daughter. You know the story, as soon as Henry died she left Winter Grove. She left for natural realm she turned rogue is that what you want to see our kingdom turn into Nicholas? A semblance of Winter Grove run by rogues?”

“You don’t know anything Blair, all we have heard is stories. Who are we to judge Lady Willow?”

“We are her peers and if this madness continues her future court. I want proof that she is Henry’s daughter, proof that Nora wasn’t sleeping with every male in Winter Grove…”

Willow hear nothing more of Blair’s words as she clenches her fists and releases a shaky breath. Without thinking or even watching where she is going Willow stalks towards the foyer of the mansion desperate to escape.

“Willow?” Cassius’s voice is tentative in her ears.

Willow ignores him and continues until she replaces herself standing in the open field next to the main house. Her fists still clenched and her breathing shallow she doesn’t even notice Annabelle beside her trying to calm her. Blair’s words echo through her head. ‘Nora…sleeping with every man in Winter Grove’ ‘Proof she is Henry’s daughter’.

The flashback starts and Willow replaces herself sitting in the passenger seat next to her mother.

The deep gash on her mother’s head oozes with blood and Willow sits paralysed.

“Willow, you need to go!” Nora says sternly to her daughter but Willow sits shaking her head.

“No. I won’t leave you.”

“It is my time honey. It is my time to go.”

“No mum. I can get us both out.” Willow searches for an opening. She begins to panic and feels the air around her get colder. Nora smiles at her daughter as she sees the magic surround her. With her last bit of energy Nora reaches out to take her daughters hand. Nora hasn’t felt magic in years but it is just like riding a bike.

“Listen to me Willow. I love you. I-”

“No mum!”

“Listen! I love you but I was never going to be around forever. Promise to stay true to yourself and trust the magic Willow. It will always replace you when you need it. Trust it and let it guide you.”

Willow looks at her mother as though she had lost her mind and Nora chuckles.

“Trust the magic Willow.”

Nora Winter closes her eyes and squeezes Willow’s hand. Before Willow can say anything else she is on the opposite side of the road to the car and Nora’s car is engulfed by flames. Willow drops to her knees as she hears the sirens coming. Her mother is gone.

“Willow!”

Willow hugs her body as someone shakes her roughly.

“Willow!” They continue to shout her name but Willow is lost in her mind.

“Willow!” Cassius appears in her thoughts and Willow slowly begins to open her eyes. “Trust the magic Willow.”

Willow stares at Cassius in confusion unsure whether they were his words or her mother’s. Cassius helps Willow to her feet keeping an arm around her waist for support and Willow looks out at the once open field to now replace it completely covered with snow.

“How did…?”

Willow lifts her eye line to see a whirlwind of snowflakes circling above her and Cassius.

“Did you do that?” Willow asks in a tiny voice.

“That was all you m’lady.” Cassius says with a smile tugging at his lips. “You truly are Henry’s daughter, the heir of Winter Grove.”

Willow’s eyes widen as she takes in Cassius’s words and she opens her mouth to speak but instead her grandfather’s voice booms across the snowy field.

“Who did this?” The Duke asks angrily his eyes searching Cassius, Annabelle and Jonathan, Blair and Nicholas who have now joined the commotion. “I specifically said no one was to practice until Willow discovered her own-”

“This was Lady Willow Your Grace.” Cassius says and Annabelle nods in agreement.

“I saw the whole thing Your Grace. The magic over took her like it has been trying to surface for years.” Annabelle offers.

“This is nuts.” Willow pulls away from Cassius. “I didn’t do anything. I just…I was…” Images of Nora’s car take over Willow’s mind and she shakes her head desperate to extinguish them. Willow gasps when she feels the whirlwind engulf her. Flurries of snowflakes surround her. She should feel cold but she feels almost warm instead. The snow spins around her faster and Willow panics unsure how to escape.

“Trust it Willow.” Cassius says inside her head and Willow looks for him to ask for help.

I can’t. She sighs.

“You can Willow.” Unfamiliar images take over her mind and Willow sees herself standing in the middle of the field snowflakes following the direction of her hands. “See what I see Willow. You belong here.”

Willow slowly raises her arms above her head before quickly pulling them down to her sides and the flurry of snow drops lifeless to the ground. The crowd that has formed outside the mansion begin to cheer and the Duke and Duchess beam proudly at their granddaughter.

“Is that enough proof?” Willow hears Nicholas ask and she hears Blair scoff.

“You have Henry’s magic in you.” Elizabeth says with tears welling.

“Can someone explain what the hell just happened?”