Beyond the Mist and Trees

Chapter 9

Chapter 9

It was a cottage. Not even a room in a castle. The stone walls were adorned with preserved animal busts, the lone door made of wood and metal. A fire was gently dancing in one corner, illuminating the cottage in gold.

And he was not wearing a fur coat or a robe. Not even a crown. His silver hair was long, stopping on his shoulder. His skin was dark, much to my surprise. Like the color of clay by the riverbed.

He did not sneer, nor did he glower. He smiled. And it was not even scary. He smiled and walked closer as if he had been eagerly waiting for me. And he gave me an embrace.

And it was warm, warmer than the fire that lit the room. And the sound that rolled out of his throat was a mixture of a chuckle and a whimper. The hug was long, but not long enough for me to recover from the confusion and surprise.

This could not be the him.

"My son," he said, voice happy. Genuinely happy.

His wintery blue eyes glimmered with tears as he pulled away and stared at me. "Otto, your brother, has raised you well."

I could not speak, my throat dry. My mind in a flurry of confusion and questions.

He broke into a cheerful laugh. "You all wear the same face the first time you see me," he said, shaking his head. "It never changes." He spun around and in a blink he was handing me a warm jug of... chocolate. A hug, a laugh, and a warm chocolate drink. This was not how I expected to be welcomed. "Now I'm curious about what my mischievous friends told you."

I blinked. "Friends?"

"The mischievous ones you passed by on your way here, of course!" he said. "They told Otto he would be beheaded. I wonder what they told you."

I swallowed. "That I made a mistake."

He nodded. "And?"

I moistened my lips. "And that I should have been more careful."

He looked at me for a while. Then he chuckled. "Were you afraid?"

I was frightened.

"You should be," the Snow King said, smiling at me warmly. "I'm about to smother you with a hearty dinner."

I tore my eyes from him to inspect the cottage a second time. It was still empty. And when I turned to face him again, his eyes had gentled. We both knew what I was looking for, but neither of us spoke of it. Was she here? Or was she gone? She must be, since he had chosen a new bride. For so long, I knew I would never meet her again. And so I mourned her in my own way. But somehow I did not do it right because the ache was still there, much to my surprise.

As if something snapped, the Snow King blinked and spun on his heels again, his simple black robe billowing as he moved to reveal a feast. All types of foods I had tasted and also ones I never saw before. "Eat!" he ordered with a laugh.

I swallowed. Was he going to poison me? Was that why he was laughing?

I moved slowly because he insisted. And I ate because he did. For some time, we sat around the small table; him eating with a smile and me chewing as I secretly waited for the poison to take effect.

Surprisingly, I was still alive when the contents of the table disappeared, replaced by cups filled with ale. "You're old enough to appreciate a drink with your father," he said, his smile never fading.

I finally spoke. And it was a question. "Why am I here?"

"Because I wanted to see you. Why else?"