Part I Finale
Several weeks had passed since the morning villagers awoke
to the bloodless lamb cadaver and the broken branch from the ancient tree. The
same morning Sanzher was visited by the Snow Queen in his slumber. The village
had managed to restore itself to the normalcy of day to day life that had once
fallen under the terror of wolves and ancient lore.
The trio had returned to their normal routine of hunting;
Aleksandr enlisted the help of Artem at his ironwork station where they’d spend
time forging and reinforcing weapons for some of the hunters and warriors in
their village. Aleksandr saw war as another way to enlarge his purse of coin, as far as going under the employ of warriors from neighbouring villages.
Artem, though conflicted said nothing.
Diana had been with child for several months now. Her skin
had a new radiance. Or maybe it was the luminosity of her hair or the filling
of her breasts. Either way, she kept Sanzher on his toes ensuring she and her
protruding bump was catered for. He found himself doting on his wife after
tending to her every beck and call and he loved it and her even more.
Diana had been over the moon with the progress she had been
making with her pregnancy. After all the times the couple had attempted to fall
pregnant, constantly falling in despair, this came as a winter miracle!
One night, when the air was still with only the melody of
slumber was the only sound; Sanzher lay fast asleep with his wife coiled next
to him. Suddenly a warmth enveloped the room; encompassing itself around
Sanzher. The Snow Queen had returned to pay him another visit.
Sanzher sat at the top
end of long and bountiful banqueting table. His eyes sparkled at the sight of
the grandiosity of the platters. Large trays of hunks of beef, succulent
roasted fowl and copious amounts of vegetables adorned the large table whilst
barrels of fresh and cold kumis lined the table. As Sanzher reached to fill his
equally large goblet with kumis, the Snow Queen seamlessly appeared at the
other far end of the banqueting table.
‘’My love, let us
feast! We must celebrate!’’
Sanzher lifted the
goblet to his mouth and took a long and earnest gulp of his beverage.
‘’How do you like the
kumis? It’s fresh! I brew it myself.’’ She said smiling with pride.
‘’What are we
celebrating?’’ Sanzher asked.
‘’You are farcical!’’
She said finally revealing her captivating smile.
Sanzher twitched in
his seat. He was sure he had never seen such a beautiful sight!
‘’Why are we here?’’
‘’This is my home.
This can be your home too, if you so wish, my love?’’
Sanzher was confused
but he had to get to the bottom of this. ‘’You must know I already have a
wife?’’
‘’Yes, sweet Diana.
She is a darling. I cannot wait to hold my babe!’’
‘’Your babe?!?’’
Sanzher snapped.
‘’Yes, my love. You
don’t think – oh no, you actually think Diana – ‘’
‘’What are you talking
about?’’
‘’Diana is merely a
vessel to bring our child into this world, my love. After our heir is born, we will live
together. You as my King and I as your Queen.’’ She said levitating out of her
seat.
‘’You are crazed! That
child is the heir to Great Kirill’s lineage. The last and true ancestor of the
first settlers at the foot of the mount!’’
The Snow Queen seemed
to grow large with rage. A sceptre emerged from thin air to which she clasped
it and struck it on the long banqueting table. Instantly, a jagged stream of
ice-water cut through the middle of the table – splitting it in half, letting
the platters and trays spill at both sides of Sanzher’s throne-like chair.
‘’You cannot be this
vacuous son of Kirill? You of all people should know that this is fortold!’’
‘’You are not going to
come near Diana!’’ Sanzher said defiantly.
Fuming, the Snow Queen
split the very floor Sanzher stood on, flinging her hands forward causing him
to fly through the air down the edge of the mountain. As Sanzher fell, the Snow
Queen erupted at him.
‘’Who do you think helped your ancestors settle here? Who do you think
protected them through the coldest winters and the immense battles? You are what
I’ve been waiting for hundreds of years. You are my prize and OUR little one
will serve as testament to our union!’’
Sanzher hurled out of the bed with beads of icy sweat
trickling down his temple. This was one lucid dream he had just experienced.
The wind blew harshly against the panes as he got up to pour himself a glass of
water. After gazing at his wife who slept peacefully, he shimmied next to her;
putting an arm over her and tried to fall back to sleep.
The next morning couldn’t have come any sooner. Sanzher
surprisingly slept well albeit being interrupted by his late-night visitor. He
was quick to leave his home in search of his best friend and his cousin, even
if Artem didn’t want to get involved in what Sanzher had in mind. He knew
precisely where they would be; at Aleksandr’s ironworks.
‘’Aleks, We need to talk,’’
‘’Wow, you are up early! What has gotten into you?’’
‘’It’s happened again,’’ Sanzher said plainly. A trait he
had picked up from his father. Even though he didn’t know with certainty the
outcome of what he was about to say next, he carried the resolve of a man who
had all the time in the world.
‘’What has happened again?’’ Artem interjected.
‘’You didn’t tell him?’’
‘’Artem wouldn’t know what to do with that kind of
information. He would’ve told Father. I know it. But I may not have a choice.’’
Sanzher said. ‘’Artem, my dear cousin, I have met the Snow Queen but we don’t
have time – ‘’
‘’What?! You expect me to remain calm after telling me
that?! I need more information!’’ he said letting his eyes wear all of his
intensity.
Sanzher spent a moment bringing his friends up to speed
before dropping yet another bombshell, ‘’I think I may have to run away with
Diana. It’s too dangerous here,’’
‘’You won’t make it far! The wolves!’’ Artem chimed in.
‘’He’s right, and Diana IS with child. She will only slow
you both down. Stand and fight!’’
‘’You cannot win against her. You don’t know how powerful
she is, Aleks,’’ Sanzher said.
He hadn’t shared in detail the fear and helplessness he had
felt when was plummeting down the mountain cliff in his last encounter,
masterfully manipulated by the ethereal Snow Queen.
As the trio deliberated on their plot, their progress was
halted by a high shrill coming from somewhere outside. As they left the ironworks,
Aleksandr’s younger brother was running toward them.
‘’Sanzher! Hurry, come! Diana!’’
The young men ran through the village toward Sanzher’s home. When
they turned the corner of his house, Sanzher opened the door to see his wife
sprawled on the floor. Diana was still in her white sleeping gown but the
colour had a more vermillion hue as she lay bloodied all the way to her knees.
Sanzher rushed to his wife and held her.
‘’Diana! I’m here, my love! I’m not going anywhere!’’
‘’Why did she do this to me’’ she groaned weakly. ‘’Why did
you do this to me, Sanzher, why, why, WHY!’’
Diana began flinging her arms in a wild frenzy whilst
continuing her accusatory tirade. Aleksandr and Artem re-emerged at the
couple’s door but this time, Aleksandr had important information to share.
‘’Brother, there’s a trail of blood. It’s fresh. It leads
into the forest. We must mobilise the others and go after her!’’
‘’She snatched my
baby!’’ cried Diana.
‘’Get the others ready to track and find her!’’ said
Sanzher. ‘’I have to see my Father.’’
Aleksandr nodded, tapped Artem on the shoulder, ‘’I’ll meet
you at the ironworks. Get some weapons ready for the men.’’
Artem nodded and set off.
Epilogue:
We hope to learn what happens to Sanzher and his trusted friends but with the
quick thinking Snow Queen as his adversary, how do you think they will fare?
