It had been three months to date since Kieran brought me to Lyavil after Someone had attacked me. I had moved into the Kaldur castle almost two and a half months ago and refused to let anyone come with me except for Quas.

The castle was empty and quiet. Dust covered almost everything except for the few rooms which Quas and I used to survive. A week ago a dove came with a note from Roman; he had requested an audience with me. When I had left, I had left them all behind. I had been unable to look at Erik without feeling the guilty and having the constant reminder of my past. Roman and Kieran were also reminders of my past and what had to happen for me to get here.

I had managed to move on as much as one could given the circumstances. I even came to love my hair. The white was no longer a reminder of my parent's death, instead I chose to see it as the gift of live I had been given. With this more positive side of me, I decided it was time to open the Kaldur castle.

No answers had yet been found about Ankou and I was getting to the point where it no longer mattered. Quas had mentioned that he didn't even think that Ankou was dead, that he would return one day to take his throne; being a shape changer had its advantages when trying to hide. If he returned or not, I didn't care. While Ankou may have created me into what I was, he didn't know who I was. I was opening the gates and I wasn't going to fear whatever came inside.

Quas had dusted off a dress for me and I finished slipping on the black dress myself before walking towards the large window shutters. It would only be a matter of minutes now. I looked at the dark wood and with the layer of dust, I knew they hadn't been opened in centuries. I cast out whatever last thoughts of doubt I had as I tugged on the golden handles and forced the shutters open with a loud creek.

Winter air rushed into my room and I found it refreshing. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath of the crisp air and for the first time in three months, I enjoyed my new home. A part of me had been holding on to the human world. As I opened my eyes to the endless winter, I knew this was where I belonged. "Tasnia, Tasnia it is time!" Quas shouted from the other side of my bedroom door.

Sure enough, when I glanced to the castle gates I could see a line of horses waiting to be let in. As I stared out at the gates, I noticed shifting from the woods. Creatures of all sizes tumbled out onto the path, most covered in fur and snow; Kladurians, my people. "I'm coming Quas, let me just open the gate," I called back in a gentle voice.

With a simple thought, the ice gates opened for the first time in 300 years. With the gates open, the horses from Haust walked in, Roman leading them with Kieran at his side. The Kladurians waddled forward and paused where the gates once were.

I turned from the window to meet Roman and the others at the front door when I heard cheering. "Ankou! Ankou," was chanted over and over again by the Kladurians. A smile tugged at the corners of my lips and I walked back to the open window, assuming the chants were for me.

A skeleton horse rode up behind the Haust people and the man on it wore all black. Everyone moved out of his way as he rode to Roman and in front of him before he dismounted and stood still.

My smile fell as I stared at the hooded man that the people, my people cheered for as they filled the courtyard. He raised a hand and all went silent, the Haust people had shocked expressions on their faces.

The man reached back and let his hood fall and I could see red hair. "My people, I have returned after a long search and I am proud to say that I have found what we were looking for!" A familiar voice called out so all could hear him. The Kladurians cheered and I was left feeling like ice had replaced my heart.

"I met a human in my travels almost 300 years ago and today I am proud to announce that she is the one who has opened the gates. Let it be known that today is the day that the Queen of Kaldur takes her rightful place beside me and together she and I will make this nation as great as it once was."

I couldn't breathe until I knew the truth. Feelings of confusion and heartbreak which I hadn't felt for three months now crept back from the pit of my stomach. I turned and sprinted from the window needing to see for myself if it was true. I could still hear the chanting of Ankou's name over the sound of my heart banging in my ears.

I pushed open the large doors and stumbled down the stone steps and into the snow with my bare feet. The Kladurian's cheering became louder at my presence and Ankou slowly turned around. "Come here my Queen, I have waited years to show you the truth..." He whispered, blue eyes piercing directly into my soul and breaking my heart.

"Erik, you're..."

Words couldn't form as I stared at Erik who had a half smirk as he looked me over, the people still cheering his name "Ankou! Ankou! Ankou!"   

And that ends our journey. 

I would like to thank everyone who had read this far and I hope you loved reading this story as much as I have enjoyed writing it. As always, please vote and/or leave a comment with your thoughts and if you know someone who would love Tasnia's story, please share it! 

Thank you once again for taking this journey with me to the land of Lyavil.