VI - A Heart of Ice

Gerda found herself in front of an old castle. She had been travelling north for weeks after her time at Thea's garden. Night was falling, and Gerda was cold and tired. Perhaps there would be a candle or two in the old ruins to dispel the darkness.

She strode into the gloomy courtyard, the wind whistling through the dead branches and withered leaves. The castle was dilapidated, the walls covered with dust and dirt, the once white floors streaked with black stains.

A flash of light illuminated the dim courtyard. Gerda whirled around, only to feel something sharp against her neck and an arm wrap around her waist.

"Got any gold? A lovely girl like you should have something of value on you." It was a woman who spoke.

"N-no, I don't," Gerda managed to say. "I have only some dried meat, and even that is dwindling."

"Don't lie to me," the woman hissed. "I see that locket around your neck. Give me your-" She broke off, screaming as she let go of Gerda.

Gerda turned to see a young girl straddling a woman's waist and biting her ear. The older woman dropped a dagger onto the floor, panting.

"I want to play with her," the girl commanded. "She must give me her pretty shoes and sleep with me in my bed." Then she bit her mother again, the older woman shrieking and hopping in pain. Around the three of them, robbers emerged from the shadows of the trees, laughing at the old woman.

Gerda estimated that there were close to fifty robbers. They ranged from short to tall, young to old, of all shapes and sizes. One of the men leered at Gerda, and she shuddered, focusing on the robber girl in front of her.

The girl had hopped down from the woman's back and was smiling devilishly at Gerda. She could not have been much younger than Gerda, but she held her head high, shoulders thrown back. She was a vision of strength and inspiration, and Gerda noticed that none of the robbers dared look the girl in the eye. She had chocolate-coloured skin and hazel eyes that looked sad. Her short hair brushed over her shoulders as she held out a hand to Gerda.

"They will not kill you unless I ask them to," she said, noticing Gerda's hesitation. "I'm Ieda, by the way."

"That's... nice to know." Gerda shook Ieda's hand, and the girl latched on and dragged Gerda into the castle.

After many loops and turns, they arrived in a large room that could have been a ballroom. Once elegant and polished, the walls were now filthy, and the floor was smeared with soot. A large fire burned in the centre of the room, smoke drifting from the holey ceiling. Soup boiled in a large cauldron, and chickens sizzled on spits.

"Tonight, you shall keep me company with my animals. After that," Ieda slid a glance over Gerda's body, "we'll see."

They ate and drank, and Ieda led Gerda to a corner strewn with rags and straw. Animals of all kinds were gathered around the corner, apparently asleep, but they moved a little as the girls approached. Gerda could hear the other robbers lingering outside the room, and glanced furtively at the door.

"They won't come in unless permitted," Ieda said.

"Why do they listen to you?"

"Because they know full well that if they do not, they're dead." Ieda said this as if it was a given and not proof that she was deadly. "I also own the most animals, which means I have a better chance of starting a stampede."

"Speaking of which," she continued, "look at my Bae. Isn't he the finest reindeer you've ever seen?"

As she spoke, she beckoned a large reindeer with copper-coloured fur to come closer. The animal obeyed and lowered its head so Ieda could stroke it. "Tell me, how did you get here?" the girl asked.

Gerda told her what had happened, and how much she cared for Kai. Ieda nodded as Gerda told her tale, occasionally asking questions as she stroked Bae's antlers. When Gerda finished, Ieda's face was serious.

"A month or so ago, I saw a white sleigh flying over the castle, heading north. I did not think much of it at the time, because magic is not uncommon here, but I wondered about the boy riding it." Ieda turned to Gerda. "He had dark hair and eyes the colour of an ocean storm. About your age. Is that whom you're looking for?"

Gerda hadn't felt this excited in months. "Yes, that's him." She was about to hug the robber girl when Bae interjected.

"I once lived near the Snow Queen's palace, on an island called Spitzbergen. It's a land of eternal ice and snow, near the North Pole," the reindeer said, shaking its head. "Only those who have lived there can find it easily."

"Please, take me there!" Gerda cried, turning her pleading eyes to Ieda. "Please, Ieda, let him go."

The robber girl pondered the request. "Tell me about Kai again."

Gerda told her tale once more.

"I'll miss you," Ieda finally said. "Here, take your gloves, or you'll freeze to death." Ieda pressed the gloves into Gerda's hand.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, now go!" Ieda helped Gerda onto Bae's back and gave her a bundle of rags to use as a pillow.

Just before they left, Ieda looked up at Gerda and smiled. "Give the queen hell."

"I can only hope she accepts my offer of redemption in heaven," she replied.

Ieda smiled sadly. "Your virtue is a blessing. Don't you see how powerful that is? If you cannot access the Snow Queen's palace and save Kai, then nothing can help you."

"You are wise for your years," Gerda said, leaning down to hug the robber girl. "After I get Kai, I'll come back here and take you to my village."

The robber girl just smiled as she slapped Bae's rump and sent him galloping out of the castle.

They travelled as swiftly, only taking short breaks every few hours. Gerda would fall asleep on Bae's back, and the reindeer made sure she did not fall off.

When they reached the Queen's palace, Bae stopped and let Gerda slide off his back. Her limbs were stiff and aching from the constant riding, but she managed to dismount and thank the reindeer. He nodded appreciatively and trotted off, telling her that all she had to do was call out and he would come.

As she walked into the gardens of the palace, the snowflakes swarmed around her like bees, and the cold stung every exposed part of her skin. As if sensing her excitement, her locket warmed beneath her fingers before it lifted.

Gerda gasped as it opened and warm angels flew out. They blew away the snowflakes that had formed into animals, ready to attack. With their bodies, they shielded Gerda as she ran through the warm tunnel into the palace.