Chapter Text
The tournament had been nothing out of the ordinary. Though Sindel had noticed the Earthrealmers had developed a lot since she had last been in Earthrealm for the tournament. Their clothes changed drastically while theirs had remained relatively the same. They had developed something called 'technology' and when it was explained to her, it all sounded like magic unknown to her.
The general had been bickering with her back and forth about their newest military gear and how it didn't stand a chance against that of Earthrealm, fearing sheer will wouldn't be enough for their soldiers if a war did break out. There was tension looming, and it unnerved Sindel, rendering her unable to sleep.
Her room was all she could wish for, though the bed was oddly stiff, and with every toss and turn she felt her tiredness fading and changing into frustration. Earthrealm beds, she cursed in her mind, getting out and stepping into her boots. Her rich purple nightgown reflected the dim light from outside as she silently chased it. She knew she shouldn't go out to seek the wine gardens at such a time, but it was all she thought could calm her enough for sleep to hit.
She was glad she had bought barrels of Outworld wine, after the mistake of forgetting them once, she promised herself she'd never do that again.
With her boots managing to stay silent on the flat stones she snuck to the garden in the distance. She was lucky to find a clean glass nearby, walking across the barrels to find the one with the wooden engraving she was so familiar with.
The drunken man, surrounded by grapes and leaves. She ran her fingers over the sculpture, appreciating the craft, and to the tap, putting her glass under it and twisting. It was hard to see, but as soon as her glass felt heavy, she twisted the tap again, leaving a generous amount of wine in it.
There was rustling behind her, and she swore it was the night's paranoia. She was too bothered by it, more than she should. Taking a sip of her wine didn't seem to ease her. It was the cold shiver up her spine and the fact that if a woman with a status like hers was caught sneaking out of her room like a rebellious teenager, it would be Outworld's newest scandal. One that she wouldn't bother more than an eye roll at, but a scandal nonetheless.
The cold was overwhelming and bothering to turn around for it, she noticed a figure between the barrels, cramped up in between two, as if to hide.
She put her wine aside and investigated with a frown. Her gown proved not enough to keep her warm as the sheer frost in the air made her shiver and back away. Still, she was close enough to notice the figure. It was small, no larger than a child.
"Who are you?" her voice was soft given the size of the stranger, but stern and demanding given the situation. There was a soft stammer, and the sign of life motivated Sindel to take one step closer. The figure sunk down, back against a barrel while stuck between two and Sindel nearly lost her balance as the ice on the ground made her front foot slip.
Ice? It wasn't the season for frost, even if it was early.
Not risking a step further Sindel instead chose to level with the figure, feeling like a more kinder approach was the better choice. She bent down, trying to find a face.
"I'm not going to hurt you," She reached out a hand, feeling the air ease up at the words. She bent further down on her knees, trying not to let the cold bother her. Her getting too close was signaled by the sting in her fingertips, quickly retracting her hand.
"Are you here for the tournament?"
"What tournament." The figure snapped back, immediately seeming to regret it when Sindel frowned. She was much less concerned that the person was here for reasons other than the tournament, more focusing on the voice of the child. A child.
"Can you come into the light?" She asked, wishing to see the little girl's face, wondering if her condition was any better than the situation she was in. She heard shifting and noticed it was her head shaking.
"Can you tell me your name?" She tried to reason with the child, to no avail as she stayed silent. She sighed, maybe it was rude of her to make these demands so suddenly, she had probably scared her by getting so close. So putting her pride and status aside, for now, she was simply Sindel, and she would remain Sindel until it was no longer needed.
"My name is Sindel," She started her introduction, smiling softly as she sunk down and sat with her legs crossed. The floor was cold, but either she got used to the cold, or it slowly crept away as she was no longer focused on it. Softly, she started talking more. Making up a vague introduction, not wanting to lie.
"I'm Frost." The child interrupted once the confidence had been found.
Sindel risked it again and reached her hand closer as a means to greet the child. The air stayed the same as Frost seemed to trust her more. The child didn't reach back, but Sindel's fingertips were spared this time around, her arm only growing tired, not cold.
"I'm twelve." her voice was shaken, clearly affected by the situation, but strong enough to be understood by Sindel. She had no idea how Earthrealm ages worked, but a child couldn't be missed. She was a mother after all.
Sindel was nodding along as she spoke more about herself, and watched her, with all the confidence in her voice, admit she was scared. Her honesty surprised Sindel and the tone of her voice reminded her of Mileena. A slight rasp, speaking rapidly and occasionally stumbling over her own words, afraid and yet so confident. So young and unnecessarily scared.
She sighed, not wanting to dwell on her daughter, focusing on the scared girl in front of her, not the one on her mind.
"Sindel?" Frost stammered, fear increasing with every second the woman didn't give a response. Sindel smiled back, her mind blank and devoid of a response. Finding the way Frost so confidently said her name sweet, smiling knowing she had not a clue she was talking to Empress Sindel.
"There's no need to be scared," Sindel finally said, reflecting back on her promise from before. Still, surprised she was when Frost reached out a hand to her. She got up slowly so as to not scare her away, and the air slowly felt warmer again.
"By the gods," She exclaimed as soon as she had helped Frost up, feeling just how cold her hands and the rest of her arms were. "You are freezing, child"
She wished she had something to throw around the girl despite her not seeming too bothered by her shockingly low body temperature.
"Let's get you somewhere warm." She smiled as Frost went along with her. Sindel walked at her pace and accidentally came across Earthrealm guards, cursing softly, she backed away with Frost behind her.
From the other side came Outworld guards, and with at least one side doomed to follow her command, she got the confidence to keep walking, head high with Frost following close behind.
"Empress." one of the guards spoke and she turned around to him, facing him with confidence and the seriousness she was used to displaying.
"It's unusually early to be awake." As if it wasn't obvious to her. She rolled her eyes.
"Unimportant." She turned to Frost, facing her with a kind smile before turning back to the guards. "Escort her to the palace, give her a room, and make sure she has food, three meals a day."
Frost frowned but was comforted at the mention of a room and food. Sindel waved her hand to the guards, quickly turning around, seeing the Earthrealm Guards had missed the encounter, and softly pushed Frost towards hers. She was hesitant, but as he guard patiently waited oh her to shuffle over to him, she found trust. After all, she trusted Sindel, Sindel trusted the guards, they only wanted to help her. And she had been curious at the mention of a palace. Assuming Sindel was a mere rich woman, not royalty.
The tournament would be over the following day and Sindel would return to Outworld. Finding the little girl in her assigned room, thinking of what to do with her.