The Rebel and the Icequeen

Visitor at night

Liams POV

Both my arms are chained again and I kneel on the floor in my cell. I don't quite understand why I'm even chained up, I wouldn't get through the barred door without the shackles anyway. At least I'm not hungry today. I ate so much that I felt sick. But anything is better than starving. Of course those nasty guards gagged me again and blindfolded me, but apparently they didn't do it on the Queen's orders, but for their own amusement. It doesn't really bother me because it's dark anyway and I don't have anyone to talk to. I already feel a little guilty about this afternoon, when I think back on how I gave myself to her and even enjoyed it. I had actually decided to oppose her. However, I couldn't have told her that a nice healer had taken pity on me that night and came to me to give me something to eat. So I had to play her game and do what she asked me to do. To my chagrin, I couldn't see anything of her naked body. Even though the images in my head were quite vivid and beautiful, I would have loved to see her in all her naked glory.

Soft steps approach my cell and I listen intently. Who or what is that?

Loud, dragging steps follow and a key is inserted into the lock and turned. Then I hear the squeak of the cell door.

“The healer,” says a man's voice monotonously and the loud steps fade away.

“Hello Liam,” says a soft voice. It's quiet and the timbre reminds me of something I've heard before, but I can't quite grasp it. I would like to say hello, but the gag prevents it.

“I brought you something to eat again. I thought the guards might not give you anything,” she says in a sad voice. I want to thank her, but I only makes an indistinct noise. I pull on the chains, but of course they don't just come off, the only thing I achieve with the action is a loud clang of the iron shackles. Somehow it is strange that I kneel here so unable to move and can neither see nor speak. There could be someone else standing in front of me and I couldn't do anything about it. Goosebumps ripple on my bare torso and my arms. Again I hear footsteps and gentle hands on the back of my neck untying the knot of the gag. She pulls the cloth out of my mouth, but doesn't undo my blindfold. It's a little strange, why doesn't she want to be seen by me. On the other hand, it might be better that way, because if the queen asked me who the person was, that came to see me at night, then I wouldn't be able to give her an answer.

"You shouldn't have come," I say in a hoarse voice.

“I can leave again,” she replies, hurt.

“No, I didn't mean it like that, it's not that I don't enjoy your company. It's just that I'm afraid the queen could find out that you take care of me and have you killed for it."

"I think you have a completely wrong idea of ​​the queen," she says quietly.

"I really doubt that."

A soft laugh can be heard and it sounds kind of heavenly. It's so contagious that I have to smile too.

"Why? I think I've known her longer than you."

"That may be true, but since I've been here I've only seen her as everyone describes her, as the ice queen."

“What do you mean?”, she asks and sounds like I insulted her mother.

“Well, she's always so cold and aloof. As if she were something better."

“Have you ever thought about why she is like that?”, she asks, confusing me, “maybe you should ask her about it when you get the opportunity to.”

There is a pause in which I can only hear her breath.

"By the way, what's your name? Since you know mine, it's only fair that you tell me yours too, ”I try to convince her.

"I´ll better not say it," she replies almost flatly. So she really doesn't want to reveal herself to me.

"What are you afraid of, if not the queen?" I ask.

"I don't want to tell you that," she replies, sounding shy.

"Is that also the reason why I am not allowed to see you?"

There is a long pause. I try to shift my weight a little to take some pressure off my knees, but I can move so little that I achieve nothing.

"My name is Lou," she then says softly into the silence.

“That's a really nice name,” I answer her without thinking, and I would love to slap myself for such a stupid reply. Again I hear her soft, wonderful laugh.

"First of all," says Lou and I hear noises that sound like something I know, but can´t identify. Then I smell fresh bread under my nose and open my mouth. She hands me the bread so that I can bite off a piece and then gives me something to drink. Silently she hands me some more bread and water. She doesn´t speak and since my mouth is occupied, I can´t start a conversation. I want to know more about her, but for the time being I have to wait for her to trust me enough to speak to me. When I finished the bread, I thank her for both the water and the food, but before I can even think of a question to ask her she stands up in front of me and I can hear her move away.

"I have to go Liam," she says apologetically and I hear her footsteps slowly receding.

"No, please don't go yet Lou," I call after her, but I don't get an answer. The heavy iron door slams back into the lock and everything is as quiet as before.