Winterland was a large land in the northern part of the country of Fiore, a four weeks journey from the White Capitol of Wonderland. Scarlet and Alistair climbed the Pamola Mountains, which separated Winterland from the rest of Fiore. It was a tiring journey.

  Scarlet was ready to go home. She actually missed lazy days at home with her mother. Although she and Alistair had been tolerating each other better, he was not the best company. He didn’t talk much and was very broody. Scarlet didn’t converse with him either unless she had to.

  When they finally arrived at Winterland Castle, Scarlet felt a huge amount of stress lift from her shoulders. The Queen would have the mirror they needed and then she could claim her innocence and go back home.

  “Here’s the plan,” Alistair stopped his horse a little ways off from the castle.

  Scarlet pulled her horse up beside his, wondering what he was about to come off with.

  Alistair gestured at the castle, “Once we get inside, we will appeal to Queen Nira and ask to borrow the Mirror of Truth. I will handle all the talking. You just stand there and try to act normal.”

  Scarlet bit the inside of her cheek, wanting to come off with a snarky reply but she knew he was right. She needed to be on her best behavior, even if it went against her whole being.

  “Fine.” She agreed.

  Alistair patted his horse and they went to the gate. With Alistair’s letter with the Wonderland seal, the guards allowed them in. Scarlet and Alistair left their horses at the front of the castle and were escorted inside by guards.

  The tall doors opened and they were escorted into the foyer.

  An attend greeted them, “Please wait here, sir and lady. We will inform the Queen of your arrival.” He quickly spun on his heel and went through another large door, leaving them alone.

  Scarlet looked around the foyer. It resembled Wonderland Castle, but it was freezing inside. Ice-covered the walls in a slick sheet and icicles decorated the ceiling. Scarlet wrapped her arms around herself, shivering. She looked around, expecting a guard or two to be around but it was just her and Alistair.

  “Alistair,” She whispered, “Isn’t this a bit strange?”

  Alistair looked back at her, “What?”

  “There’s no one else here. Shouldn’t there at least be one guard to watch us?”

  Alistair stood straight, “Winterland has never been a threat to Wonderland. We are allies and they must not believe we are a threat.”

  Scarlet continued to scan the room, “Still. Seems strange to me.”

  “Sorry for the delay,” The attendant came back, “Queen Nira will see you now.”

  “Thank you.” Alistair nodded.

  They were escorted down a long hallway. Scarlet eyed the ice statues as they passed. Her chest felt heavy and the hair on the back of her neck stood up.

  “Alistair-”

  Alistair turned his head back, giving her a silent glare.

  Scarlet huffed.

  The attendant stopped at a large double door, “Queen Nira is awaiting you inside. I must get back to work. Good day.”

  “Alistair-“

  The knight turned to Scarlet in annoyance, “What did I tell you inside? Let me handle this and be quiet.”

  He turned toward the door and began opening it. Scarlet frowned. If he was going to act like that then she wouldn’t warn him about the magic that flowed through the halls of the castle. She took off before he even noticed she was gone.

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***

Queen Nira sat on a throne made completely of ice. Her long white hair settled at her waist, a glittering silver crown with various jewels adorned her head. She had her arms propped on the armrests and was leaning back into her throne.

  Alistair shivered as her icy blue eyes looked him up and down.

  The corner of her mouth turned upward into a smile, “To what do I owe the pleasure of meeting a handsome Wonderland knight such as yourself? And why would you come alone?”

  Alistair looked behind his shoulder, shocked Scarlet was not behind him. He bit the inside of his cheek, trying his best not to show the anger starting to boil inside.

  Queen Nira looked at him questioningly.

  Alistair faced her, clearing his throat and doing his best to calm down. He gave her a bow, “Thank you for giving me an audience with you this afternoon.”

  He stood back up straight, “I am Alistair, Knight Guard of Princess Aurora of Wonderland. Without getting too much into details, I am seeking the Mirror of Truth.”

  Queen Nira sprung up from her throne.

  Her heels clicked as she descended from where her throne was displayed.

   Alistair stood stiff as she approached him. His heart pounded rapidly in his chest. Queen Nira was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen, but she was also the most intimidating woman he had ever met as well. She looked down at him, her eyes narrowing.

   “Why do you desire the mirror?”

***

Scarlet ducked around a corner, avoiding being spotted by servants cleaning one of the halls of the castle. She continued on her way, rushing through the halls without being spotted. She knew something was off as soon as she got inside the castle and had realized powerful magic was coursing through the castle. She felt a pull toward the top of the castle and didn’t know why but knew she should take a look at whatever it was.

  She stopped in front of a small door in the corner of a hallway. She quickly went through and sighed. More stairs. Her calves burned as she ascended the tower. It made her dizzy as she ran up the spiraling staircase. The pull was getting stronger.

  Scarlet found another door at the top of the staircase. A small window was in the door and bars covered it. She peeked through the window but didn’t see anything. She jiggled the doorknob but it was locked.

   “Hello? Is someone there?” A voice came from inside the room.

  Scarlet placed her hand on the doorknob and concentrated. The doorknob and lock slowly started to melt until it was weak enough she could kick the door open.

  Scarlet looked around the room. She was shocked to find a young woman sitting in the corner of the room behind a wall of bars.

  The girl looked younger than her, maybe 15 years of age. The girl looked at her with large doe-like brown eyes. Her black hair was covered in dirt and pieces of hay stuck out. Her skin was pale, but her lips were as red as cherries.

   “Can you see me?” The girl asked, her voice cracking.

   “Uh, yeah.” Scarlet looked at the bars, not finding a lock, “How did you get in here?”

  “My stepmother put me here,” The girl said, standing up. The dull brown dress she wore was covered in dirt and her feet were bare. She watched as Scarlet looked for a way to open the prison cell. “No one has ever been able to see me before. How can you see me?”

  Scarlet bit her bottom lip and narrowed her eyes, staring at the bars. She could barely see a purple and blue shine over the bars.

  “It looks like a magic barrier has been placed over the cell,” Scarlet said, “If I can break it, I could probably get you out.”

  The girl nodded, backing away from the bars as Scarlet put her arms out, palms outstretched and facing the barrier.

  Scarlet took a deep breath and closed her eyes. She tried to remember what her mother had taught her over the years. Illusion magic was difficult and only a few could perform it. It was nearly impossible to see through, especially from a powerful user. This magic barrier was powerful enough that a human with no magic ability wouldn’t be able to break but weak enough that someone with magic could see through it. Scarlet could see that the caster wasn’t well versed in illusion magic, but neither was she.

  She allowed the magic in the area to seep into her, feeling it out. Magic was intimate, coming from within oneself. She could feel that whoever did this spell was nearby and frequented this area often. The spell had to be cast often in order for it to stay up. It was weak and could be broken. Scarlet looked for the weakest spot in the barrier. When she found it, she blasted it with her own magic and it shattered.

   She opened her eyes to find the lock to the bars. She melted the lock and opened the door for the girl.

  The girl stumbled out of the cage, shocking Scarlet when she enveloped her in a hug.

   “Thank you! Thank you so much! It’s been years since I’ve been out! Thank you!”

   “Okay, get off me,” Scarlet coiled back.

  The girl got off her but was beaming at her, “My name is Snow.”

   “Snow?” Scarlet raised an eyebrow, “Seriously? You were named after snow? In a Kingdom called Winterland? Not very original.”

  The smile didn’t leave Snow’s face, surprising Scarlet, “My parents liked snow. What’s your name?”  

   “Scarlet.”

  Snow’s eyes drifted to Scarlet’s bright red hair. A mischievous grin crept onto her face.

  Scarlet changed the conversation before Snow could comment, “Who put you in here?”

  Snow’s face fell, “My stepmother, Queen Nira.”

  Scarlet’s eyes got wide. Queen Nira was a magic user and she had left Alistair alone with her.

  “Alright, let’s get out of here,” Scarlet said, leading Snow through the door and down the staircase.

  “By the way,” Scarlet asked, “Where is the Mirror of Truth?”

  “Queen Nira always has it with her. It never leaves her side.” Snow said.

  Scarlet groaned, “Great. Listen, my horse is outside the castle. Take it and run into a nearby forest.”

  “What about you? What are you going to do?” Snow asked with wide eyes.

  Scarlet sighed, “Get the mirror and save a stupid knight.”