The Snow Maiden

What is Evil?

The snow started up again. Link and Nani watched it from within their blankets, shivering with the rest of the family they had long ago joined. Now and then the fire gasped for air itself when cold winds billowed down its chimney. No one talked, because what was there to talk about? At some point Nani took down her book and started reading again. Kane and Jewels looked out morosely from their quilted hoods.

"What did we have for lunch today?" asked Kane. "I can't seem to remember."

"Those soup leftovers."

"That was today? All right then, what's for dinner?"

"You're hungry already?"

"Not really."

Link thought he heard something beneath the din of the storm. He perked up. Just on the edge of his hearing, someone was knocking. He hesitated. Opening the door could let out precious heat they couldn't afford, but what if it was someone caught in the storm? He got up.

Snowflakes tumbled in the moment he cracked open the door. The family protested behind him, asking who it was, and at first he saw nobody. Then he made out the Snow Maiden's outline, her whiteness blending in with the snow. Out of instinct he went to shut the door.

"No! Wait!" she cried, and he paused. "You're the only person I thought to come to, he told me you were a hero."

"Who told you that?"

"The guy who was with you-the dark man-he looks just like you."

Link could feel his skin tightening with the cold and closed the door even more. "I don't know how much I can help you, this storm could kill anyone that steps out."

The Snow Maiden fell silent, a look of devastation on her face. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Gradually the winds stopped moaning, the flurries slowed to a light trickle, and the air cleared. He could see the rest of the village, now, half buried in snow. He gaped and opened up the door a fraction more as she opened her eyes.

"I'm sorry," she said, "It's just really scary right now, and I'm not use to having to..." she bit her lip.

Even as he watched, the snow stopped falling completely and the air became just a little less biting. Though he found he could breathe again, the clouds remained, casting a gray pallor over the land.

"So you two weren't planning to..."

"Planning to what?" she asked.

Looking at her frightened face and the way her knuckles showed white as she clutched her arms, he changed his mind.

"What do you need?" he asked.

"Not me, him, and if we don't worry-I mean, hurry, he's going to die! I don't know how long the fire's going to last."

His stomach leapt. "Shadow?"

"Is that his name? The man who looks like you?"

"It's all he has right now, hold on, let me get my boots on."

Inside he was met by curious stares and a gaping Kane.

"Is that who I think it is?" he asked.

"Think who is?" asked Jewels.

"Who's at the door?" asked Carrol. "Are they in trouble? Invite them in already!"

"Uh, that'd be a bad idea." Link said as he stuffed on his boots.

Kane gave a gasp in-between unbelievably excited and nausea. "So it is her."

Nani watched Link bundle himself up like a mountain explorer with wide eyes. He knew that she knew as well.