Two days. That's how long it took me to calm down and realize that I shouldn't have ran away from Quas; I had given the Helmingur a name. 

For two days I spent running through the forest, crying, cursing, and throwing things. I knew I was acting like a child throwing a temper tantrum, but it was how I work off my negative energy. I learned the hard way people died when I got too hot headed. Even now the forest was suffering from my wrath. The ground beneath my feet died and anything I touched with my bare hands froze almost instantly.

Once my head was on straight I realized I was utterly lost. I didn't know where I was, where I had been, or even where I was going. My stomach growled loudly; a reminder that I couldn't remember the last time I ate.

I continued to stumble around for hours until I discovered a field. I ran into the open pasture as I searched for something that looked edible. Despite the fact that it appeared to be a farmer's field, there was nothing remotely close to food. I was about to lose hope once more before I noticed a tree in the middle of the field. It had blood red leaves and my mouth water as I was reminded of a juicy apple.

Upon closer inspection I realize it there was nothing edible from the tree, but it held something of greater value. Things were slowly starting to piece together. I shook my head and ran my fingers through my hair, "I'm such a fucking idiot." The scene in front of me was like one out of a storybook with the tree branches perfectly divided in half. Half of the branches were covered in stunning red leaves with the field coming up to the trunk. The other half completely dead and the once lively field was covered in nothing but snow.

A line had been drawn in the earth between the two seasons of autumn and winter. There was no balance, no harmony, just a rough line of segregation. "You can come out now!" I shouted, seemingly into thin air. A gust of wind blew my hair in every which way, but the bitterness of the winter breeze was a welcome one; it reminded me to stay calm. Behind me there was the sound of the plants being trampled as people approached. "I must look majestic as fuck right now." I said with a small chuckle as I shook my head and my hair was pulled completely behind me, blowing like a flag in the wind.

"M'Lady that is no way that you should be speaking. Where did you even hear language like that?" An appalled Roman protested and I laughed harder; he obviously didn't get out much.

I glanced backwards and saw all four of them standing there: Roman, Kieran, Quas, and Someone. I didn't know how I could have been so stupid to believe they had left me alone, but it did make sense as to why I was never bothered in the woods. I didn't see as much as a squirrel when walking and my nights were completely undisturbed as I slept. I should have known no one was that lucky. "That's seriously what you're going to say to me right now? You've followed me for days and kept the truth since I have been here. You finally going to get some balls and tell me what's going on or should I just tell you?"

Kieran stepped forward and sighed, "Tasnia we were going to tell you, but you ran away before that could happen." He explained, he sounded more annoyed than anything. "Let's bring you back to Haust and we can talk about it there."

I didn't want to wait to have this discussion. I refused to give them another way to avoid telling me the truth, "I'm Queen Elsa aren't I?"

My question was directed at Kieran, but Roman replied first as Kieran laughed. "Elsa? No M'Lady, you are royal, but if anything you would be a Princess. I believe your full title would be Princess Ia or Tasnia, whichever you prefer."

Kieran stopped laughing long enough to reply, "That isn't what she meant Rome." He chuckled at his friends failed attempted to understand my reference. "Queen Elsa is a character from a movie; she's an ice queen." He explained before glancing back to me. "But to answer your question, yes that's kind of the situation you're in right now. You even have the dead family to go along with her story." I didn't think Kieran realized what he had said until it was too late. His eyes widened and he raised his hands above his head, "I didn't me-" I cut him off as I created a snowball in my hand and threw it at him as hard as possible. "Tasnia I didn't mean it like that! The Kaldur nation hasn't had a ruler for almost three centuries now, they all died!"

I closed my eyes and it felt like someone had just punched me in the stomach. My world was being flipped over once again and it was my fault. I had been so stupid. I should have realized it the moment he said Haust; it literally translated into Autumn and Kaldur meant cold. "That's why it's the three royal families, isn't it? It used to be four, one for each season until Kaldur died out." At this point it wasn't really a question.

"M'Lady it can go back to four once again, now that you have returned." Roman pointed out in a soft voice. It was the last thing I wanted to hear.

I shook my head and looked down, "I want to go home." I whispered as I wrapped my arms around myself.

Kieran sighed, "We can take you back to the castle."

"No, I want to go back to my home, the human world!" I raised my voice as I became defensive.

Kieran slowly nodded as if he understood, "I know, but I can't let you go. You're too vulnerable in the human world. Come to castle, we'll get you some food, clothes that aren't stained in your blood, and we will tell you everything we know about you." He attempted bribe me and it worked. I would do anything for answers and he knew it.

I caved and nodded in agreement, "Fine, but I won't stay and you can't keep me here forever." I objected and no one argued with me. Kieran waved his hand and a portal opened, on the other side was the Haust castle. I clenched my hands into a fist as I walked through the portal and back to the one place I had been running from for days.  

Everything is slowly falling into place. We're getting more information and I hope you are all realizing why this book is called "Winter's Return" XD 

Anyways, if you liked the chapter, please vote and/or comment!