“Tove, what is this nonsense of renouncing your birth?” Ingrid asked, Erica giving her an approving look before glaring Tove down. Her sisters were sitting in various types of chairs arranged about the room, all of them seated stiffly.

“It is not nonsense, it is my decision. If being a princess in my father’s kingdom requires me to be controlled for the rest of my life, then I do not wish to be a princess anymore.” Tove answered coolly, sitting down in front of the fire place and warming her feet. “It is quite simple really, and I would dearly love for all of you to try living this way. It is so freeing, and I feel as though a weight has been lifted from my shoulders.”

“You may have parted from your demon,” Erica spoke, a sour look on her face, “but that does not mean you are not still bound by blood to answer to your family.” The other girls nodded, though Asfir looked doubtful. This gave Tove hope.

“I share your blood, yes, but since I have broken the oath that bound me to my demon, so too have I broken the oath that bound me to serve my father’s every whim. He does not control me anymore.” Tove answered confidently.

“Tove, dear, do you not miss your home?” Freya asked, her face wrinkled in confusion. “Surely you are not happy staying here in this…place. Why, where are the servants to tend to your every wish? Where are all the trappings of a king? Where does he keep his exotic pets?”

Tove laughed. Asfir smiled tentatively, and the others merely stared. “My dear Freya, he does not own exotic pets, nor do I believe he ever intends to, and he has enough staff to get done what must be done. No, there are no excessive trappings of wealth, no banners or walls of gemstones, but this place is wonderful in its own way. I have truly come to love it here.”

“It is so cold though, do you not prefer the warmer weather of home?” Asfir asked quietly.

“Indeed I do not. The cold is refreshing, and I find the snow and scenery beautiful.”

“But look at your clothes Tove! Surely you miss the elegant gowns our father gave us?” Freya implored.

“Freya, I would trade every one of those gowns just for one of these fur dresses. They are far more comfortable and much less revealing.” Again Freya looked confused, Ingrid scowled, and Erica looked ready to burst from anger. Asfir gave a quiet giggle.

That was Erica's breaking point. She stood up violently, upsetting the chair she was seated in and making the other girls jump. “You have insulted your heritage, your family, and everything you once enjoyed alongside us. If this is the way you have decided to live, if you have truly renounced your family and your title, then we will no longer look upon you as a sister. Is this what you want, Tove? To throw away everything you have ever know for some- some man?” She towered above Tove, her eyes flashing dangerously. Tove stood and met her gaze, a familiar fear creeping up her spine, but she refused to let it control her.

“If I must be a commoner to stay with the man I have come to love than I will do so without hesitation. I would rather be the lowest and poorest of all peoples than to be a hollow queen who is controlled by a darkness that is destroying all the good left in the world.” Tove’s voice rose as she spoke, and she felt heat rise in her cheeks. I hope I have not overstepped, I do not believe they would hesitate to hurt me in some way, she thought, her fear growing as the silence in the room lengthened. She and her sister stood staring each other down until one of the other girls spoke up.

“Tove, if that is what you wish, then I will not stop you.” Asfir said, barely above a whisper.

“I will not stop you, but you must accept that I can no longer view you as my sister.” Ingrid announced, standing up and moving closer to the door.

“You are no longer my equal, and thus I suppose you cannot be my sister,” Freya said slowly, moving towards the door and standing beside Ingrid.

“I renounce you as my sister, Tove, and may your name never leave my lips again but to curse it,” Erica spat, turning her back on Tove and marching towards the door. The three sisters looked at Asfir, and she reluctantly stood as well. Each renouncement from her sisters was like a knife being pushed deeper into Tove’s heart. She fought to hold back tears as her sisters turned their backs on her, doing her best to stay calm. This is what they must do, I know this, but the pain in my heart urges me to beg for their forgiveness. She wiped a few stray tears off her face. I will not, I cannot. I can only hope I may save them from my father by showing them what it is like to be free.

After a long pause Tove went and opened the door, gesturing towards the rooms across the hall. Her sisters filed out, with only Asfir lingering behind for a moment.

“I am sorry Tove,” she whispered, then disappeared into another room. Once they had left Tove closed her own door, collapsing on the floor in tears, her body shaking with sobs.

* * *

Hrollief had just managed to fall asleep when there was a knock at his door. It didn’t sound very urgent, but he knew it was something he needed to attend to. His guards would not wake him if it wasn’t. Grumbling, he pulled himself out of bed and opened his bedroom door. Standing in the doorway was one of the guards he had assigned to watch Tove’s sisters, with such a mixture of emotions on his face that Hrollief had no idea what kind of news to expect.

“What is wrong?” He asked, trying not to think of something horrible happening to Tove.

“Well, sir, I was not sure if you would want me to wake you for this bit of, um, news, but I- or, we- felt you should know that Tove and the visitors were having quite an argument, though that is not the news worthy of waking you at this hour, but--”

“Stop rambling, please, and tell me what your news is.” Hrollief snapped, his worry and weariness getting the best of him.

“Well, sir, Tove requested-- or rather, we believe she may have need of-- you.” The guard spoke, looking ready to flee if Hrollief became angry, though there was something else in his look that made Hrollief’s cheeks warm.

“I will go see if she needs me then. Thank you.” Hrollief answered curtly, feeling somewhat embarrassed as he put on his over-shirt and boots, then headed towards Tove. It only took him a few minutes to reach her door, outside of which a small clump of soldiers, along with the maid, were huddled, whispering and looking nervous. As Hrollief approached the group they backed away from Tove’s door. He gave them a confused look, and in response the maid nodded towards the door, a concerned look on her face. Hrollief stepped closer to the door and pressed his ear to the wood, worry making his stomach churn. He heard muffled crying on the other side.

He knocked softly and cracked open the door, looking in on a heart wrenching scene.

Tove was curled up on the floor in front of the fireplace, her head resting in the cook’s lap, the older woman gently stroking Tove’s hair. Tove’s body was shaking, and her sobs were much louder with the door open.

* * *