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The Snow Queen reigns

Kai is gone

Gerda is lost

And winter is feared

SOON TO COME

I want to read it now!

Haha! I can't wait to get started!

I can't wait to hear it

I mean read it

Chapter I

It was cold, it always was, but that was the least of his problems. Kai stood in front of two boys, older, meaner, and rougher than him. There was Erdmut the butcher’s boy and Jakob the woodsman’s son and Kai was one man outnumbered. Erdmut gave a slow grin as he reached down into the snow and shoveled it into his already red palms. He formed it into a ball and shoved a rock as big as his pinky finger inside. Kai felt a lump form in his throat, he would leave if it wasn’t for Jakob waiting eagerly for him to do so. Erdmut raised the snowball and Kai covered his face protectively. Erdmut was a good toss. Kai had no chance whatsoever. He was about to throw it when someone small gave him a hard shove. Erdmut relieved a mouthful of snow. The bundled figure gave a ‘huzzah!’ and then picked up the fallen snowball getting ready to hit Jakob. The woodsman’s son knowing what was inside the snowball wasted no time running away, Erdmut tripping behind him, his face beet red from the cold.

“You mongrels! You dogs!” shouted the bundled figure jumping and hooting and hollering, “What good you are! You cowards! You feins!” he threw the snowball when though the boys were much too far away to be hit. He raised his small fist in victory, “Huzzah! Huzzah!” he turned to Kai and unwrapped the scarf covering his mouth, but it wasn’t a he at all! But, a girl! “You shouldn’t let them bully you,” stated the girl clearly, “they’re obviously a bunch of half-wits.” Kai blinked, he blinked twice. He was rescued… by a girl? She skipped to him and then held out her cold hand, “My name’s Gerda by the way.”

He hesitated and then shook the cold hand, “Kai.” The little girl beamed and Kai looked awkwardly down at the ground. He was saved by a girl. A girl! The boys in the village would never let him live that down, he’d rather take Erdmut’s snowball than be saved by a girl! Silence lingered until Kai mumbled a thanks and traveled home, what he did not expect was the little girl trailing behind him.

*

Gerda truly did mean well, and whether or not she knew that she offended Kai was unknown to her. She had recently moved from her own little village with her three older brothers, and father. Why they had moved was simple, their little village couldn’t survive and failed under the brutal winter days that surpassed the years. She wasn’t sure she’d miss it though, this place seemed promising. The weather was still miserable, but it was still promising. Growing up with three brothers she was used to their taunts, teasings which was why she wasn’t afraid when she saw two naughty boys about to toss a snowball at a defenseless boy.

Although Kai was a bit cold to her at first, he did gradually warm up, eventually accepting her as his friend. She often went over to his house which was connected only by a board that allowed her to walk across the gap separating their two houses and although the two were almost polar opposites they really did had much in common, for example they both lost family members in the past. For Gerda it was her mother and baby sister Elsa. While for Kai it was both his parents. He lived with his großmutter, a sweet lady whom they both adored. She always told such amazing stories, of kings, and villains, and a beautiful icy queen who lived on a high mountain. Kai loved that particular one, but for Gerda all the stories were her favorite. Her father never told a lot of stories, and her brothers were always telling her to stop pestering them, with Kai she felt safe, and her curiosity settled.

Besides they had many adventures of their own, and would've had more if it wasn't for fleeting childhood.

"Gerda!" called Kai, "Ger-da!" she jumped as snow hit her window. Laughing, she went over to the window, opened it, and stuck her head out. "I got some news for you!" he said smiling.

"And it couldn't wait apparently?"

"Absolutely not! Get on your things and I'll meet you outside."

Instantly she shut the window to prevent the cold and put on her warm things. Before one of her brothers could ask where she was going she was out in frigid air running along the road with Kai until they collapsed underneath a tree. "So what is it?" asked Gerda her voice muffled from the scarf, her nose bright pink. Kai looked like he was about to burst,

"Well, I was consulting with Mr. Fenstermacher, you know the man who just moved here from Evany, and he offered to let me work in his shop."

"The glass maker?" repeated Gerda confused, "But it's such a hard buisness!"

Kai scoffed and waved her away, "Now you're just being silly. Every trade has it's cons here! But, I'm eager to be Fenstermacher's apprentice-"

"Apprentice?" repeated Gerda wide-eyed, "I thought you were just studying under him!"

Kai gave her his sly smile before explaining, "Well, it's more of a partnership too. You see, once I study under him for four years, and become a Master then I'll be able to work with Fenstermacher until he dies and take over his shop. I have a trade, he has an heir, everything falls into place."

"But being in an apprentice!" she said again trying to wrap her head around it, "You'll have to pay Fenstermacher, I thought you said you didn't have enough money for it."

"Of course I don't, but my grandmother has money my parents left me, and she's offered some of her money if it's needed. So financially it's all planned. And Mister Fenstermacher has offered to let me stay with him."

"You didn't say yes!" exclaimed Gerda mortified, as an apprentice he wouldn't have any time to see her, but at least she could walk home with him...

Kai readjusted his sitting position so he could see her better, "I thought it best," he said absentmindedly until he noticed Gerda's expression and rephrased, "Well, it's true! I wanted to give myself whole-heartedly to the task and I figured that if I stayed there I would have less distractions."

"Distractions like me?"

He looked appalled, "Of course not!"

"But what about your grandmother?"

"Mr. Fenstermacher will allow me to visit her during the weekend and of course I'll provide for her with the money I do make for rent and food. Gerda, don't look at me like that. I'm sixteen, I have to start somewhere. And Mrs. Kaster, the cabnit maker's wife, has gladly volunteered to help grandmother." Kai looked a bit frustrated, "I came here for your blessing not to be interrogated about my life decisions."

A smile crept on her face, "You wanted to ask my blessing?"

Kai looked irritated, "Of course! Why wouldn't I? Just because you're a girl doesn't mean I don't care what you think!"

Gerda pushed him on the shoulder, "Well after that speech how can I say no? Fine, you have my blessing."

"Really?"

"Really. Just don't get glass in your eye."

"Now what's the chance that'll happen?" he asked giving her a smile, but apparently he had every chance.

nice Em, you should continue this. I can't wait for more