Frozen Fire(Mxm)[UNEDITED]
Chapter 9

Solveig POV

It's been two months since our mother's passing, and things in the palace seemed to be back to normal.

Everyone went about their normal routines , though none of us stepped foot in her chambers. We didn't have the heart to.

As for my father, he didn't change one bit, he was still his happy self , that didn't care about anyone or anything but his throne..

When he wasn't engaged in the affairs of the crown he would spend his days and nights in the rooms of his concubines. He still drank the same way he did before and engaged in luxury ,nowhere near the way some would act when their wife just passed away.

I sat at the edge of the cliff looking at the sunset. My thoughts seemed to be all over the place these days.

I felt my cousin sit down next to me. We just sat in silence as we watched the horizon.

"Do you believe in soulmates Rainier?" I asked turning towards him. He looked at me for a brief second before turning back.

"I do.. I believe that when we're created.. only half of our soul is placed in our bodies"

"Then what happens to the other half?" I asked. He turned to me and smiled.

"Our soul mate has the other half. When we meet them, we become complete. I'm told it's the most beautiful and satisfying feeling you could ever imagine."

"Have you found yours yet?" I asked.

"Sadly, I haven't.. she's still waiting for me to replace her" he said as he chucked.

"What if we don't replace them? What happens to our soul then?"

"Well, I suppose you'd meet them in the afterlife then. One way or another, our souls are meant to join with our other half." He said as he got up and dusted himself off.

"When was the last time you shifted?" He asked as he helped me up.

"Not since before mother's death."

"You need to let your dragon stretch out every once in a while. Don't keep him cooped up in there. Come on.. let's fly together." He said as he began taking off his clothes and folding them neatly.

I really was not up for flying in this moment, but I had no energy to debate it with him. Instead I gave in and took off my clothes as well. I folded them and placed them next to his.

I watched as he effortlessly shifted into his huge dragon and took off. He must have developed a tolerance for the pain over the past few years.

I took a deep breathe and made connection with my dragon. Slowly I felt the burn start. It felt like I was being burnt alive.

My spine snapped as I dropped the ground on my knees and gritted my teeth. One by one my bones began snapping. My back split apart as my wings came out. I felt that searing pain as my skull shifted to that of a dragon's.

My teeth grew till they became like a beast's and my fingers turned into claws. I felt my scales slowly starting to cover my skin and my vision turned red. I let out one last breathe as I fully transformed into my dragon.

I let my clawed feet feel the earth below as I became one with nature. I stretched out my wings and flapped them a bit.

I walked towards the edge of the cliff and threw myself off. I felt the wind brush against my skin as I fell down.. when I was a few meters from the ground I opened my wings and flew up.

My throat burned and I knew my dragon was aching to release his fire, so I opened my mouth and breathed out fire..... it felt so good to be free and fly this high. It was like I could go wherever the wind took me.

I flew around for hours till my wings started to pain. I slowly came down and changed back. Normally the change back was not as painful as shifting. And it took seconds most of the time..

I got dressed in my clothes and bid Rainier farewell as I made my way back to the palace.

A week ago, mother's sister had come to take Anwyll and Anton to her home, as well as Theon ,claiming that a change of environment would be best for them..

So that just just left me and Gunner here at the palace. I wondered what he was up to these days. He always seemed busy whenever I saw him.

I'll pay him a visit...I thought..

As I rounded the corner,I heard his voice.. but also that of a female's.. I hid around the corner and peeped. I knew what I was doing was wrong.. but I couldn't help my curiosity..

I knew he was always in the good books with all the palace ladies.. but he would seldom take walks during the night with them... so who was this mystery woman that captured his eye??

"Thank you for tonight. I very much enjoyed your company.." she said.. and surprisingly enough.. that voice sounded so familiar.. but I just couldn't put my finger on it.

"I should be thanking you.. it was a very good distraction.. who would have thought .. that I would replace my equal in archery?" He said.

I peeped around and my eyes widened in surprise as she stood on her toes and pressed her lips to his. I was not the only one shocked since he had his eyes wide open like he'd seen the dead rise.

"Good night Gunner" she said as she turned around and entered her room. He still stood there dumbfounded, as he raised his finger tips to his lips and smiled. As he walked away , I turned around .. not being able to rid myself of the thoughts playing in my head.

He loved her.. and yet he was willing to give her up for me..

It all made sense now. How he knew every single detail about her. From her ruby-red hair to her blue sapphire eyes. Her love for sketching.. her sweet,delicate voice.. he knew everything about her.. he loved her that much...

I knocked on his door and waited. After a few brief seconds he opened it, the blush still evident on his cheeks..

"Where did you go today?? I looked for you" he said trying to hide it a bit.

"I went to fly with Rainier.. and you?"

Looking at him now, I didn't see him as the same little brother he was a few months ago.. no standing before now, was man in every sense of the word. And like our mother said.. a man with a kind heart.

"I uhh.. I" he began stuttering, probably because he didn't know how to tell me he was with her today.

"It's okay brother.. I know.. and I think she likes you too. " I said putting my hand on his shoulder as his cheeks became even more red.

I noticed the envelope on his table.

"What's that?" I asked indicating to it.

"Oh that.. didn't you get yours?? An envoy brought them this after noon"

"I haven't been to my room yet.. what is it for?" I asked.

"An invitation from the Ice Kingdom"