Arys had been staring into the bowl holding her blood spell when Grexx came stumbling into the room.
"Pardon me your majesty! Please pardon me my Queen! I do not mean to disturb you but a group of refugees from Spring has arrived! A portal opened in the throne room!"

Arys' icy gaze darted to the goblin who cringed and yelped in fear, covering his head and cowering into a shivering ball. "Is the portal closed?" she demanded in a dangerous tone.
"Yes my Queen! It closed behind them my Queen!"
Arys closed her eyes and breathed deeply. The foolish empty-headed flower children had better not led those vile creatures to her domain. "Has there been any word from Fall?"
"Not that I know of my-"
"Then find out!" Arys snapped which caused Grexx to squawk in terror and scurry away like the tiny creature he was.

The door did not remain shut for long. Her Knight had returned with the mortal girl as she had commanded. She was appeased slightly to know that at least one member of her court could follow simple commands.
The human was all manners but Arys could see the falsity of it behind her eyes. But this was not the time to focus on the feelings of a human.
"I called you here for answers mortal," Arys said, not bothering to keep the icy chill from her words or her gaze. Gone was the warmth and friendliness she had offered in their last meeting. In its place was a calculating ruler. "Spring has been destroyed. Utterly wiped out by powerful creatures of shadow. We do not know what realm will be next."
She walked towards the girl, staring at her with a look that said the mortal was in grave danger if she held anything back. "Tell me what you know of this girl. It is no coincidence that your Lord has asked for my hand and sent you here just as we are attacked by these... beasts. It is-"

"My Queen!" Grexx burst into the room once again. "The survivors of Spring wish to speak to you urgently!"
"They can wait."
"But my Queen, they are-"
"They can wait!" Arys snapped, the air temperature dropping as her anger flared. "They are free to attempt to leave, but they will freeze solid once they touch my barrier. Otherwise they can wait for an audience with me. No doubt they beg for shelter. I do not know if I am of mind to give it. If they continue to pester me before I am ready to speak to them I shall give them no quarter at all. Now go."

Grexx hurried out as though he had been lit on fire.
Arys pressed a hand to her temple. Going to the bowl, she used the ceremonial dagger to once again slice her hand open. More glowing blood entered the bowl, the vessel seeming almost alive and feeding off of the royal blood.

Without taking her eyes from the bowl she addressed the human again. "I cannot keep the blood spell up forever. Soon I shall bleed to death and the barrier will fall, leaving no protection for Winter from the shadows creatures. So you either tell me what you know of them or you start praying to whatever deity you worship that Falk will offer help."

A ghost of smile appeared on the Queen's lips as she stared at the blood leaving her vein. "If there were another of royal blood this would be easier," she said. Her voice now didn't sound harsh or regal. It sounded gentle and sad. And maybe a little fearful...?
"I am the last of the royal bloodline of Winter. I am the only one the spell will feed from. And it grows hungrier by the hour. I am prepared to give my life for my Realm and those in it, but I will not give it for naught. If I am to die, it will be with the surety that my Realm shall continue to survive."

[@LadyRunic][@TemplarKnight07]