Lila couldn't feel her fingers or her feet by the time she saw the little glimmer of light in the dark. The little house appeared almost out of nowhere and nothing looked as warm and inviting in her entire life. She stumbled for the door and knocked. The person on the other side of the door would be an absolute stranger, yes, but she had to hope that she could trust them long enough to get warm and go back out again.
The door opened and a gnarled little old woman looked up, up, up at Lila. Lila wasn't a particularly tall girl, but she wasn't a small girl. But this woman, with her beetle black eyes made Lila feel like a giant. But she had a kindly smile in her apple-doll face. "You poor child! Come in out of the cold."
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| "Hello, my dear. It isn't often that I have visitors...." (1) |
Lila was ushered inside and stripped of her coat and boots and parked on a chair by the fire. The old woman fussed over her, brought her warm broth and tea, and tucked her in under a pile of blankets.
"Now, Child, tell me why it is that you're out wandering on a night like this," the woman said settling in to a chair across the fire from her.
Lila looked at the old woman over her mug of tea and admitted, "A friend of mine and I played a prank on the Snow Queen and she took him. I knew it was a bad idea, but I didn't stop him. I'm just trying to get him back."
The old woman clucked her tongue. "Have you any idea where to go?" Lila shook her head. "So, you just walked out on a night like this one with the idea of getting your friend back. You're couragous and loyal, but that only gets you so far, my dear. If it isn't paired with wisdom it can get you killed. Stay with me tonight, do some chores for me in the morning, and I will set you on the right path. And a little friendly advice: If you know something is a bad idea, don't do it. Don't borrow trouble where it isn't needed." She stood and patted Lila on the shoulder. "I'll make a pallet for you here by the fire. I'm afraid I don't have much, but I'm happy to share."
As Lila laid down her head, she wondered what had happened to Mark and if he had someplace warm to sleep tonight.
She woke the next morning feeling rested and cozy, but for the life of her, she couldn't figure out why she was here, on the floor of the old woman's cottage. The old woman -- Flora -- as she came to find out, was very kind. She gave her breakfast and in return for the warm night out of the wind and the food she'd been given, Lila happily helped Flora by taking care of chores around the cottage. She swept and cleaned out the ashes from the night's fire before building a fresh one. She went out into the cold to gather firewood to bring inside.
It was a brilliant day, inspite of the cold and Lila gathered and chopped wood for the fire. Flora called her in for lunch, and when she did, Lila spotted her reflection in an old iced over rainbarrel. Something about her hat sparked a memory and she peered down at the ice trying to figure out why. Someone had given her this hat. It wasn't her mother or her father... It was another face, one full of mischief and pride. A boy's face. He'd bought it himself with saved allowance from a woman in town who made strange and fantastical hats.
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| And hats with a sense of humor.... Mush, Lila, mush. (2) |
Mark. She was supposed to be finding Mark.
When she entered Flora's cabin, Flora knew immediately that Lila remembered. She looked sad, but did as she promised. "The home you seek is many, many miles north of here. Your trip will be long and cold. I'll give you what I can to help get you there. But, remember, a kind heart will find help everywhere."
Flora gave her a hand drawn map, a thermos full of hot soup, some fresh bread, and a few odds and ends in a packet. "It won't be easy," Flora told her, "Winter is a hard time and the Snow Queen is as hard and cold as her gransire. But, I hope my gifts will help you. Be careful, Dear."
Lila gave Flora a hug and started on the path she'd been pointed towards, turning to say good-bye, only to find the warm little cabin and it's occupant had disappeared. All she could see behind her were her own tracks in the snow.
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(1) borrowed from celebrationgoddes.wordpress.com
(2) found on ecrater.com
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