Ice Castle
She travels up for a long time, until she begins to wonder if she is still moving. This always happens. She forgets how far away her Castle is from the rest of reality. Then, the elevator stops with a gentle bump. She waits for the doors to open and steps out into the Foyer. All is quiet, serene and safe. It is a small foyer room with a coat rack in the corner. All the walls are of the unmarred crystal. Cool and beautiful. The floor is covered in the white carpet. Opposite the elevator door is a long hallway that leads to a room at the other end. She touches one of the two padded, straight-backed chairs on either side of the elevator as she passes, drawing comfort from the familiar texture. She pauses at the entrance to the Hall of Tears, examining it as she always does. A long hallway with a vaulted ceiling. Chandeliers adorned with crystal teardrops light the way. One wall is completely mirrored and has white marble benches evenly placed along it's length. The other wall is made of the crystal ice. So cool, so beautiful. There are doors evenly placed along this wall. Each door is locked, barred and chained shut. She knows that they are cold to the touch. There is a name etched into each one. She notices how her steps make no noise as she moves down the Hall of Tears. There is a distant feeling of banished pain. She swallows hard as she pauses at the newest door. She moves closer to look into the small window. She cannot help but reach for it and gasps as she is burned again. She turns from the door, tears upon her face like liquid crystals and catches a glimpse of herself in one of the mirrors. The sunset color of her hair stands out against the cool whiteness of he world. She moves closer, a hand raising up to her fair face, touching one of the trails of tears. She brings her fingertip to her lips, tongue flicking out to delicately taste the salt. Blue-green eyes fasten upon red lips. She is transfixed by the color for a moment. Then she smiles a small smile and smoothes over the cool, white gown, watching the folds of silk lay picture perfect about her form and turns, walking with a silent elegance to the living room. She smiles softly when she stops at the entrance and lets herself re-acquaint herself with the familiar details. Her eyes travel the large, open room and vaulted ceiling, examining the chandelier adorned with crystal teardrops. The walls and ceiling are made of the opaque crystal. Cool, quiet and beautiful. The floor is covered in the soft white carpet. There are two over stuffed, comfortable chairs of white leather sitting across from a matching white leather couch. A low glass table with a silver tray of snacks and a clear pitcher of amber liquid sits between them. There are no pictures or designs to mar the perfect smoothness of the walls. She looks at the two doors in the room; one to the side, the other opposite the hallway. Gracefully, she turns to the door at the side and walks to it with the fluid steps of a dancer, opening the door to the small bedroom. The walls and ceiling are of the same cool crystal as the rest of the Ice Castle. The white carpet cushions her steps. The room is lighted by two white torch lamps on either side of the room. She smiles as she looks at the small dresser next to the mirrored vanity on the wall opposite the doorway. A double bed with a white comforter and two fluffy white pillows is against another wall, opposite the closet. The room is very, very quiet. She notices a single white rose lying on the bed, a forgotten detail from the past. She carefully touches the dream come to life and picks it up with a gentle reverence. Holding it to her breast, she turns in the small bedroom. This a room for one, as it must be. There is a sense of longing from within as she looks to the vanity mirror, stroking the rose to her cheek. She stands there, looking into her own blue-green eyes, lost to a captivating reverie. She does not know how long she stands there, entranced by the memory of the past. Something awakens her. Perhaps the quiet solitude of her Ice Castle. She carefully replaces the white rose to the bed, laying exactly as it was before and walks out back to the living room. She trails her hand lightly over the back of the leather couch, enjoying the soft, smooth texture as she moves to the door that leads out to the Crystal Garden. A clear, cool breeze greets her as she opens the silent door and walks out into the Garden. It is a new addition to her Ice Castle. A safe, enclosed courtyard. Tall, opaque, crystal stone walls surround this garden. The world sparkles and glimmers around her. A white stone pathway leads down through the crystal trees and flowers. So beautiful, so strong, so delicate. The sun shines with a gentle caress, lighting the way and the garden itself. Each perfect leaf, branch and flower open to the sun. There are several white marble benches to sit on to enjoy the quiet beauty of this secret garden. She smiles with joy. It is more than she remembered. She reaches out to touch the delicate flowers with tender fingertips. So new and yet, so familiar. She looks about the garden, knowing that she built it. Just as she built everything else in this place. Stone by stone. She knows each piece with a safe intimacy. She wanders through the garden, enjoying the peaceful serenity. A softly babbling brook with a gentle waterfall greets her as she turns down the path. Yes, it is a perfect place. Safe from all the outside turmoil and chaos. Safe from all the pain of past loves. Gone, but not forgotten. Nothing can reach her here. No heartache, no lie, no burden of truth. Then, nothing else can reach her here either. No love, no warmth, no hand in friendship. She pushes away that last thought and turns to enjoy her quiet solitude, watching the swirls of the stream. Perhaps one day, there will be a garden for two. But not yet. For now, she will hide from the pain of loves lost and hearts broken. She will heal, growing stronger. And then, when she is ready, she will venture forth again in to the chaos that is reality.
All stories, scenes, works and poetry owned by Eden Blackthorn
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