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In contrast, the royal couple began to wan as if they were magically connected to the lands fate. The queen was the first to succumb to the forces at work in the realm and, as fall approached, she fell into a deep sleep. The king watched helplessly as the beauty that was his queen became wan, colorless, and frail. He constantly fed her cool water, which was all that the enemy had left them. Finally, with a cry of despair, the king saw her fall into an enchanted sleep.
One last horror remained for the king to witness for which he was glad of the queen's sleep. On a warm autumn morning, the enemy returned to savage the very slaves they had left behind. The tall being were shown no more mercy than his kin had been given. When it was over, quiet returned to the land. Unable to bear looking at the destruction of two civilizations, the king focused all of his attention on the only remaining hope in his life.
He stayed by the queen's side through the quiet fall evenings, sadness nearly breaking his heart. The loss of his love was the final blow to his remaining strength. She was his life and without her he was lost. She had made the endless days worth living. Slowly, he too was drawn into sleep by the powers of the earth that he served. The last waking memory the king had was lying next to his queen and hoping, maybe praying, they would be together again.
Cold winds blew over the devastated land as the long bitter winter settled upon the world. Snow fell heavily and soon the scars left by the enemy were glossed over by a sheet of pure white powder and once again the kingdom was beautiful. Sheltered in their ruined castle, the king and queen slept; protected from the harsh weather by the same magic that made them sleep, their bodies touching each other.
Somehow, the king managed to maintain an awareness of the world; he was neither awake, nor was he asleep. The monarch found this feeling to be surprisingly calming. His fears were replaced by a heart-felt belief that his queen would rise again and that her beauty would once more fill his life. His love for her drowned out any other feelings. Because he could not truly rest, his thoughts wandered to the calmer waters of his being and their soothing touch left peace in their wake. A childhood memory of rocking gently in the strong breezes of a brewing storm returned to him. The winds caressed his body and stirred his soul. His entire being had come alive with the power contained within the tempest and he almost felt that he was part of the storm. As he continued to dream, the king began to lose sight of the horrors he had witnessed.
Slowly, the long winter eased its grievous hold upon the devoted couple. Cradled in the loving embrace of the land they served, their bodies hummed with the promise of restoration.
Snow now fell softly on the kingdom, muffling the sounds of the world. The echoed clamor of steel became wrapped in gauze while the drifting pillows of ice misted the distant scars of war. Where biting winds had clawed the brittle ground, warmth now seeped between the white velvety snowflakes.