This post is for the Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers (FFfAW) Challenge, run by Priceless Joy. This week’s photo prompt was provided by Sonya from Only 100 Words. The challenge is that you write a story of 75-175 words inspired by the photo prompt below. I hope you like it.
Melting Ice
Genre: fantasy
Seldren, High King of Ilreia, watched with a resentful gaze as the revellers danced and chatted carelessly in the evergreen festooned hall. His own enjoyment of the Midwinter celebrations was soured by churning suspicion. Any one of them might be plotting against him. Any one of them might be in league with the rebels tearing his kingdom apart.
He knew he should be mingling with his nobility, consolidating their support. He downed another drink. All he wanted to do was forget.
She glided through the gathering with effortless poise and elegance, as cold as the ice sculptures decorating the palace grounds, drawing his attention as she always did. His eyes traced the curves of her body and he imagined her sprawled naked beneath him. Surging lust drove him to her side.
“Sire.” She curtseyed.
“Lady Phaenel. Join me.” It wasn’t a request.
Tonight he’d melt her ice, forgetting his worries in her flesh. Later, when his spies found evidence of her treachery, proving his suspicions correct, then… then he’d enjoy making her ice shatter.
Word Count: 174
An Enchanted Place 
Oh, this is brilliant, Louise. Love what you’ve done with the prompt!
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Thank you, Sonya. I’m very glad you liked it. 🙂 I have to admit that a couple of bits were slightly outside my comfort zone!
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Sometimes it’s good to venture outside the comfort zone 🙂
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Very true. 🙂
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Great story..! You have got great vision, fantastic way on the prompt
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Thank you. 🙂 I like being able to twist a prompt to a fantasy setting whenever possible!
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Excellent story Louise! You did a magnificent job writing this.
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Thanks, PJ. 🙂 This was actually my fourth attempt at writing it! I tried it from several different viewpoints but nothing else worked in the word limit!
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This one worked beautifully!
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🙂
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Oh dear … the future isn’t looking too promising for Lady Phaenel. 😀
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It’s not! Though taking a woman to bed who you suspect of treachery is probably not the best of ideas…
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Wonderful story. Her treachery doesn’t even stop him from his lust for her body. Ha! She better be better than fantastic! Or, she dead meat! 🙂
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If she really is a traitor then he’d better not lower his guard – otherwise he might be the one becoming dead meat! Thanks for visiting. 🙂
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Great story Louise! Love the way you interpreted this prompt!
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Thank you, Aletta. I’m glad you enjoyed it. 🙂
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Mmmm I feel and see icy problems for the ice lady. She is going to melt in his hands or she is going to really cool him down! Well written
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Things are not looking particularly good for her! I’m glad you like it. 🙂
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Oh this was fun! What a wonderful take on the prompt.
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Thank you. 🙂 I’m glad you liked it.
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Very different and a unique take on the prompt. Lust hardly, if ever, lasts, so maybe in time his judgement will not be clouded.
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I like it when a prompt sends me to my Otherworld. 🙂 I’m wondering whether its better for Phaenel for his judgement to be clouded or not… Thanks for visiting.
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Ooo…that was hot! 🙂
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I went a bit outside my comfort zone writing that! Thanks for visiting. 🙂
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