My Dearest Lady Cotton

Snow Locked Treasure

  Closing the blinds, the young wife sat upon a tense wooden stool, watching the whizzing ice clatter against the windows sharply. It's been hours since her Husband left, marching or patrolling along the city walls.

  Even though he was mostly an instructor to new recruits, it didn't mean that every once in a while he would be stationed away doing something else. Something else that was most definitely more dangerous. Especially in this storm.

  Dragging herself around their home, Cotton set the last container of jams into the shelf. The tips of her fingers nervously twitched at every ridiculous scenario in her head. 

  What if he gets hurt in the storm? What if the snow piled too high and pummeled into him?! Or what if-- The sudden sound of a knock pounding against the old door awoke the lavender haired woman from her paranoid stupor.

  Who could it possibly be? Especially during a snow storm! Oh dear, it wasn't her Husband's subordinates arriving to tell her he died, was it?? No, it will not. Everything will be alright, just open the door. Her conscious reassured into her head, leading her to the severely damaged entrance.

  Warily cracking the rickety thing open, her heart and soul crumbled at the worst case scenario, only to widen her blue eyes at the sight of her Husband's cousin, shuddering under the fierce winds of Icetonia's snowy howls.

  Shivering her way in, Rinny slumped against a chair nearest to the hearth. Blowing into her gloved hands, the dark haired lass rubbed them together while Cotton swiftly shut the wind impaired door. Adding more wood to the fire, she glanced solicitously to her Cousin-in-law every now and then.

  "C-Cotton, I-I'm s-sorry I c-came here without announcing m-myself, b-but it was freezing and I--Achoo!" Sniffling, the ice cold maiden rubbed her red nose and sighed heavily against the growing heat.

  "Oh Rinny, do not worry. You just focus on getting warm, I shall make you a little something in the meantime." Cotton brushed off the icy snow on top of Rinny's head as she passed before rummaging through her chests for thick blankets.

  Draping three layers over the girl's shaking shoulders, the lilac woman made her way towards the barrels with a perplexed mind. For Star's sakes, why had the teen come here in the middle of this storm? The snow was fierce, and for sure it would not stop for quite some time. Whatever it was, Cotton hoped her reasons for visiting was of no importance, or else the dark haired girl would be stuck here for a long while.

  Concentrating on chopping ingredients for a warm stew, the visitor loudly rummaged into her sack and produced a small brown parcel, neatly wrapped. Clearing her throat, Rinny wobbled towards Cotton and clumsily slammed the package onto the table, scaring the lavender haired woman.

  "Is something--"

  "'Tis for you. I found it t-this morning upon my kit-kitchen ta-table." The chocolate haired teen mumbled, huddled up into a giant ball within the thick fabrics as she sluggishly retreated back to the hearth, scooting closer to the fire. Her gloves and scarf long gone. "I'm not s-sure nor do I care w-why it was at my house, but please, t-take it."

  Puzzled, Cotton retrieved the parchment and examined it with scrunched brows. It seemed normal and safe. Her name was scrawled hastily onto the packaging in a strange yet familiar way. She had a little suspicion.

  Could this be another letter? Was this the reason why she had come to her home?

  Brushing the inspecting thoughts away, the young wife frowned in befuddlement at her Husband's cousin as she sneezed into the blanket.