It was cold.
The trio noted the encroaching ice crystals, branching and stemming like snowflakes. They followed the sharp, jagged patterns until they found the source.
The queen herself sits in a cocoon of ice.
You step deeper into the throne room on your own. It was meant for you and you alone.
Renee's legs moved as if they had a will of their own. Her boots connected with the ice, the pieces crunching beneath her weight. The air got thinner the closer she got. The frost burned her fingers. It hurt to hold her staff.
It's freezing. You want to turn away and run, but before you can move, you find your feet are enveloped by ice.
Renee stood in place. Movement was not an option.
You can make out the queen in the ice. She's beautiful. Frustratingly so. Her skin is white as snow. Her eyes are the morning frost. And her hair. Her hair. Perfectly frozen in place, the color of the night sky before the aurora sets in. She's—
"She's me."
What do you do, adventurer?
"I raise my staff."
You roll a four. The ice is so cold that you drop your weapon.
"Can she hear me?"
The dice say yes.
Renee kept still, her mind racing with what to say. Would words even work? What would she even say? The frost began to race up her ankles. She was losing time. The cold licked at her skin, threatening to devour her whole.
"Uh, hello, me.” Renee sighed. A puff of vapor escaped her lips.
The queen does not react. The ice reaches your shins.
“You’re hurting a lot of people,” she said, trying to reason with it. “Do you know that?”
The queen does not move. The ice eats your knees.
“Your people need you.”
The queen is still. You can’t feel your legs.
“You’ve lost a lot. Do you even care?” Renee forced herself forwards, breaking free for a few steps. The ice reclaimed her quickly. “Are you even capable of caring?”
Behind the crystal cage, the queen’s eyes meet yours. They’re still cold.
“You’re letting your kingdom succumb to ruin. You’re just letting it happen.” Renee’s hands were forced to her sides. “Don’t you see? Closing yourself off has always made it worse.”
The queen is unmoved. It seems nothing you say goes through to her. She is resolute. She is resigned. Ice wraps around your chest. Frost spreads throughout the kingdom.
“From what I hear, you were a good queen.” Renee gasped as the ice slipped around her neck. “Maybe not the best, but you tried. I’m sure Sweetie Belle would underst—”
The name escaped her lips. She tried to swallow it back.
The queen looks to you.
“Your sister loved you. Don’t blame yourself.” Renee's voice was a whisper. “You might have lost her, but you can save what’s left. You don’t have to lose it all.”
A freezing tear rolled down Renee's cheek.
A warm hand wiped it away.