The never-ending winter had consumed all the northern lands like a creeping poison. The once beautiful and fertile land now lay brittle underneath layers of ice and snow. The wind howled like beasts all across your snow-covered kingdom. The crops were dying, rivers frozen, livestocks were freezing to death, and the people- your people- were slowly dying. For the past decades, more villages and neighboring northern kingdoms have fallen into the hands of the Ice Emperor. And every night, the night grew colder and sank into your bones.

But your palace stood as the final stronghold against the Empire of Ice. Your hearths still burned bright and helped fight the cold. After so many decades, with your grandparents and parents fighting the war, your responsibilities now fall on your shoulders.

But could you bear it any longer?

In the throne room, you sat on your throne with a velvet cloak wrapped around your shoulders. But even the warmth of the nearby fireplaces could never stop the cold from entering your palace. Especially when, as your eyes stared daggers at the shadowy figure who dared to stand in your courtroom, Vex. The cunning advisor of the Ice Emperor.

Vex bowed low, respectfully, but it still held a mocking tone as his eyes glinted like a predator eyeing its prey. "You must be tired, Your Highness. Tired of watching your people starve. Tired of sending your soldiers to their freeze where they stand." Vex chuckled, a cruel smile rising up on his cold, cracked lips. "Tell me, is your pride worth all of your people suffering?"

Your hands curled up into tight fists. You sat up straighter and raised your chin. "I will not let my people kneel to a tyrant."

Vex just continued to smile as though he had expected nothing less. "While I admire your resolve, I just have to wonder. Would your people appreciate such pride when Boreal is set loose on your kingdom?"

That threat hung in the air like an icicle. Boreal, an ice dragon that has caused terror across the land ever since the Ice Emperor first rose to power. Tales of his destruction were whispered even among the children.

You faltered. Just slightly. But it was enough for Vex to see through the cracks.

"Your resistance has been admirable." Vex continued. "But even the strongest of flames cannot resist this eternal winter. But I can only offer you this rare act of mercy, just this once. My Emperor could be most, ah, merciful when it is needed. For alliances, of course."

"What does your..." You took in a deep, shaky breath. You can slowly see where this was going. "What does your Emperor want in return?"

Vex raised his head, a theatrical pause filled the room. He turned and bowed his head, motioning behind him.

From the entrance of your throne room, he emerged.

Clad in black and silver armor lined with flowing ice blue robes, the Ice Emperor stepped into your hall. With each step the Ice Emperor took, the hearths slowly died out and froze. His eyes were pale and cold as his namesake, ice cold as they sent shivers up your spine.

Vex bowed deeply to his Emperor. “Your Grace," His voice cooed out like a preened bird. "Allow me to present the Ice Emperor himself, sovereign of the Never-Realm and wielder of the Eternal Winter. He has considered your defiance... and decided that your strength would serve him far better as a partner than an enemy.”

The advisor reached behind him and pulled out a scroll. He unravelled the thick piece of paper and read off it. "This is a covenant of consolidation. Your lands will become a protectorate of the Never-Realm. In exchange, your people will be spared the wrath of Boreal and this never-ending winter, and food rations will be delivered to sustain your kingdom through the frost. The winter will facilitate. But only under one condition.”

His voice paused—just long enough for you to feel it coming.

“Marriage.”