'I wonder if the snow loves the trees and fields, that it kisses them so gently? And then covers them up snug, you know, with a white quilt; and perhaps it says, "Go to sleep, my darlings, till the summer comes again."

- Lewis Carroll

Alice Through the Looking Glass

******

The town was a crowded one yet its streets were empty. Silence dwelt everywhere and the people slept sweetly under the blanket of snow.

But there was one window, brightly illuminated in the dull of the night; embellished by a mesh of the greenest vines.

The hoar had kissed it, casting many a pattern on the glass, yet the most beautiful flowers were the ones that had blossomed on the vines with the joy and love of spring.

Two children sat by the window. It was a little girl and a little boy.

"Kay, Gerda! Now what are you both doing there?" Kay's grandmother called out, "You will catch a cold. Get inside the blanket."

The children ran up to her, taking their place underneath the huge blanket that covered the three of them quite sufficiently.

"Are the white snow bees coming today too, grandma?" asked Gerda.

The old lady replied, "Yes, looks like it."

"Have they a queen like all other bees?" Kay ventured.

"Indeed they do and know what? If you ever bother to look closely, you will notice a snowflake bigger than the rest. That's her, the Snow Queen."

"I wonder if she covers up the windows with ice because she doesn't want to be seen." Gerda said.

Grandmother smiled. "Maybe."

"Have you seen her, grandma?" Kay enquired.

Grandmother laughed. "No."

"Can she come in here, grandma?" Gerda asked, nervously.

"Are you scared of the Snow Queen?" Kay asked, a mischievous smile playing on his lips.

"No!" Gerda said, indignantly, "I just don't wanna see her, that's it."

"Now, now. You mustn't tease Gerda like that, Kay." Grandmother said.

"Well, don't worry, Gerda. Just let her come." Kay said, "And I will heat her up on the stove, where she will melt."

Gerda smiled, convinced of her friend's assurance.

"Now, both of you, off to sleep." said Grandmother.

"No. Tell us another story." Gerda pleaded.

"Well then." Grandma began.

However, Kay's attention had drifted away from the narrative. He looked out of the window, his interest taken up by a lone snowflake which danced on the wind. The other snowflakes were so small in comparison that they became completely insignificant.

The dazzling winter star grew bigger and bigger. Then, it took to the skies.

******

"We are not capable enough to fight off the royal guard and the Council." Snowflake said, "So, the only way we can rescue Cindy is by stealth."

"By which you mean sneaking into the palace." Hazel said.

"Easy peasy pumpkin squeazy." said Ced.

Hazel put her hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry ,we will find a way, Ced."

"What if it's too late, now?" he asked.

"For a descendant of Cinderella, you surprise me by your lack of hope." said Snowflake.

Ced rolled his eyes.

"Come on. It isn't like we haven't snuck into the palace before." said Hazel, "Besides, now that Amber is back, she can help us put on a disguise."

Amber gave her an affirmative nod.

"Trust me, it isn't too late. What I saw was Cindy's future." Hazel said.

"Aye. She is right." Adalbern said, "Thy sister has time."

"If all goes well, we will reach the palace by dawn." Snowflake said.

That is, if all goes well... A premonitory chill went up Hazel's spine. Her thoughts seemed to agree with Ced.

All of a sudden, she heard a rustle. She turned to the direction of the sound, instinctively.

"I don't like this." she stated.

"Neither do I." said Snowflake, arming herself. There was another sound, followed by the clip clop of horses' hooves.

"Don't move." Snowflake instructed.

"Me thinks that there is someone in the shadows." Ursula whispered, nervously.

A sweet humming voice reached Hazel's ears.

"When Goldilocks went to the house of the bears." the voice sang, "Oh, what did her two eyes see?"

The girl paused. "Well, what did she see then?" There was the sound of roaring laughter.

She came out of the shadows. The girl had golden hair that was curled into ringlets. Her eyes were grey, shining with malice and her skin was tawny.

"Now I remember!" she said, staring at Ursula and Adalbern.

"A bear that was huge. A bear that was small." she sang, "A bear that was..."

Ursula burst into tears.

"A bear that was tiny and that was all. They growled at her - grrr, grrr, grrr."

The girl chuckled.

"Who are you?" Snowflake demanded.

"Did you not listen to the rhyme, hon?" said the girl, "I am Goldilocks."

Ursula moved ahead as if to attack the girl but she was stopped by Adalbern.

"But she destroyed me home! Robbed me pack like a theif. Betrayed me trust." Ursula protested, tear eyed, "And she killed him. Me son, she killed him! Left nothing of him. Killed all of him. Me son! Thy son, Adalbern!"

"Goldilocks." Adalbern said, grimly, "You have taken everything of mine. Me has nothing to give you. Why do thee follow me and me family?"

"Follow you? You are in my woods, Teddy." Goldilocks said, "You are in my territory."

"Let me friends go, Goldilocks or..."

"Or what?" Goldilocks challenged, "Nothing good ever happens to people who roam about in the woods after the dark."

"Then why do people do so repeatedly?" another voice ventured.

"Well Jess, I guess that they are desperate enough."

"The bear folk are tolerant. Me kin has kept calm for long. Do not try me patience, Goldilocks. You'll be ripped to pieces under me wrath." Beowulf growled.

"Try that Gummy. Do try that. But you haven't met my friends yet, have you?"

A group of people stepped forward. Hazel gasped as recognition came over her. She turned to Ced and they exchanged nervous looks.

"This is my brigand." said Goldilocks, "Meet the Big Bad Wolf."

*****

AUTHOR'S NOTE

The Big Bad Wolf is back! So how many of you have read or know the story 'The Snow Queen' by Hans Christian Andersen?