Solstice: A Dark Faerie Tale, #0

By Paula M. Hunter

Solstice is the partial retelling of Kingdom of Ice, Book 1 of A Dark Faerie Tale Trilogy, told from Khione's (the Snow White character) POV. It can be read by those who haven't read Kingdom of Ice and for those who have, it adds another dimension to the story. Also included are two additional chapters.

 

The peaceful Kingdom of Turia awaits the birth of their king and queen's first child, but a cruel twist of fate and a demon's intervention destroys their lives forever. Years later, events orchestrated by Queen Eleanor, Princess Khione's heartless and jealous mother, takes away her freedom and almost her life. She is forced to flee into a nearby forest inhabited by fae.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dark Faerie Press
• Release date: Apr 28, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224023134

Book preview

The book author retains sole copyright to her contributions to this book. Text and or any illustrations remain the property of the author.

No part of this publication may be copied and distributed in any form, without prior written permission from the publisher.

References to people, places, institutions, and events, in the public domain are used fictitiously. Characters, dialogue, and incidents are a product of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to persons living or dead is purely coincidental.

Solstice © 2019 Paula M. Hunter

All rights reserved.

ISBN: 9798224023134

Licence Note

Thank you for downloading this book.

Please note this eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook may not be sold and given away to other people. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Please note UK English spellings are used throughout the book.

Dedicated to my literary soul sisters

Foreword

Solstice is a partial retelling of Kingdom of Ice told from Khione’s (my Snow White character) POV. I believe this will add a new dimension to the story, even for those who have read Kingdom of Ice. It also includes two chapters not included in the original story.

Chapter One

They say that having a child changes your life, or in my mother’s case, her life— and those around her— changed long before I drew my first breath. I heard it said that Queen Eleanor’s kind and compassionate nature altered so abruptly, her subjects thought illness or madness had overcome her. The respect she had for the people of Turia and her servants vanished, along with her love for my father King Eldwin.

Just like lambs and calves, I was born in springtime, but unlike the love and protection ewes and cows show to their offspring, my mother rejected me like the runt of a litter. Her heart had grown cold. She no longer knew how to love, nor wished for that sentiment in return. My father loved me dearly and I him, he more than compensated for the lack of affection shown to me by my mother, we had an unbreakable bond. I rarely saw Mother. She spent her days in her rooms avoiding Father and me. Yet in my innocence, I still loved her unconditionally and I wished she would return my embrace and kisses, even though she relished it no more than a lick on the face from her hunting dogs.

I have a vivid recollection of one day when I was five years old. She entered her bedchamber and I followed behind her. I longed for Mother to show me some affection and asked her, Do you love me?

She paused for a time before giving her answer, All mothers love their child.

I searched her face long and hard in the hope of seeing a softening of her features and a sign of affection in her eyes, but I found nothing but her cold, hard grey-eyed gaze. You do not love me, Mother. Father loves me and says I should love both my parents. I wish you would love me, I will try to make you. I slid my hand into hers and gave her my best smile.

The queen looked down and stared at my face for a moment, before pushing my hand away. She made for the bedchamber door and left without speaking a word. I am certain that was the day I knew in my heart that she would never return my love and tears fell from my eyes that day, but none so bitter as those I would shed in the two years that followed.

I would often hear my parents raising their voices to one another or arguing. After a particularly vicious argument I witnessed Father leaving Mother’s chambers, as he crossed the threshold, he leaned against the door and gripped the door latch. His face looked ashen as the colour drained. I will never forget his look of pain as he fell to the floor, one hand clutching at his chest. I let out a yell. My stomach lurched as I ran towards him. I sobbed with fear as I clutched at his hands. Father! Father! Stand up, I screamed.

Servants rushed to his side and carried him to his bed. I ran after them and continued to sob. They tried to prevent me from entering the room, but I kicked and screamed at them until they let me pass through. I threw myself onto the chair next to his bed. My mother arrived at his bedchamber at the same time as the physician. When he gave his prognosis, her face showed not one bit of emotion, me on the other hands did not take the news well. I continued to sob as I took Father’s hand in mine and refused to leave his bedside

. He took my hand in both of his and spoke, If the child wishes to stay by my side I cannot prevent it. Her presence gives me comfort.

A little colour had returned to his face. However, the pain remained etched into his features. I made silent prayers for his recovery. I also feared what my life would become without him. My father was my compass, I would truly be lost without him to love and guide me.

My fears came to pass after five days, as his condition had deteriorated. They did not expect him to last the night. His officials gathered in the bedchamber. Father requested the queen to come to his bedside. I kept my eyes fixed on my father who lay in his rosewood bed, hidden amongst white cotton pillows and grey woollen blankets. All was quiet in the room apart from the sound of my father’s laboured breathing and the rustling of Mother’s skirts as she approached him. I did not avert my gaze from his ashen face. Dark circles encompassed his eyes and grey streaked his once chestnut-brown hair.

He stared at her and gasped,