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Chapter Eleven

T here was an old wisewoman, Mor said, who lived at the edge of the woods; the woman would be able to tell Serena exactly where the Snow Palace was and whether she could find Grim there.

“She’s not all present up there,” said Mor. “But don’t let it bother you. She’s harmless. Mostly.”

The ‘mostly’ part bothered Rina immensely, but she wisely kept her mouth shut and let Mor lead her through what she claimed was a short cut.

A few hours later, they found themselves in front of a ramshackle cottage that looked like it had been abandoned years ago. Mor assured Serena the wise woman still lived here, and marched up to the cottage.

“Finnla!” Mor hollered, banging on the door. “Hey, Finnla! You in there?”

There was no answer. But then:

“She’s here again, beastly little robber girl.”

“No manners! No manners!”

Serena turned to look at Mor. “I thought you said she lived alone?”

“She does.”

Serena was about to question her again when the door opened and a wizened old woman stood there, her white hair sticking out in every direction.

“Back again?” she squawked at Mor. “I thought I told you I’d set the dogs on you the next time you showed up here. But we don’t have dogs! We would if you had listened to me two years ago!”

Serena stared, realizing what Mor had meant. Finnla apparently talked to herself like she was two different people.

It was also evident that Mor was not a favorite of Finnla’s, so Serena stepped forward hastily.

“Hello,” she said politely, in the same soothing tones she used on Mrs. Claymore and her imaginary illnesses. “Mor brought me here because I have heard you are a wise woman with great power and are the only one who could help me on my quest.”

Finnla focused on Serena.

“This one has manners!” she cried, “Pretty, as well—just look at that hair. And intelligent. Did you hear how she said we’re the only ones that can help her? Come in, come in, of course we can help you. ”

They stepped inside and Serena looked around with a mix of fascination and horror.

The cottage was an absolute mess, with dishes piled up in the sink and dust on every surface.

Potion bottles of every size and color littered the shelves.

A bird with rainbow feathers sat on the dining table and a small fox with nine tails napped on the stairs.

Finnla bustled around while Mor threw herself in a chair and stretched, yawning in exaggeration. Serena rolled her eyes at her theatrics, having gotten over her fear of the girl fast.

A minute later, Finnla reappeared in front of her, waving what looked and smelled like the skin of a fish.

Bile rose up her throat, but she tamped down her disgust.

“Give us your hand,” she demanded to Serena, who did so reluctantly.

“Well! Isn’t that an interesting fate. The oddest one I’ve seen. I’ve seen odder!”

Serena suddenly realized that Finnla’s voice changed slightly when she was having these conversations.

“You’re not talking to yourself,” she blurted out. “You are two people. But…how?”

Finnla smiled widely, the sight slightly disturbing to witness.

“Clever child!” she cried. “That one”—she nodded to Mor who had dozed with her head on the table—“considers herself clever, oh so clever, but did not figure it out in all the times she’s slunk around here.

But you…you noticed right away, did you not? ”

Serena smiled.

“My name is Finn,” she said, “and this, is my sister”—her voice became slightly raspier—“Lapis.”

“We were once beautiful sorceresses, but were cursed by a powerful enchanter a long time ago,” said Finn.

“We tried to curse him first, if we’re being honest,” said Lapis .

“He trapped us in the body of this old crone, together.”

“Isn’t there anything that could help?” asked Serena. “I mean, could I be of assistance?”

Finn laughed. “Oh, bless you, what a sweet child! Don’t worry your head about us.”

“We’ve already figured out a way to break the curse, we’re just having a bit more fun with this for a while,” said Lapis.

“Oh,” Serena replied, feeling a bit silly.

“Back to your fortune then,” said Finn, nodding at the skin. “Your friend, Grim, is indeed with the Ice Queen, and the palace is resting not so far from here.”

“Great!” said Serena, getting up from her chair. “So, I should go get him as soon as possible.”

“Not so fast,” said Lapis. “We’re not finished yet.”

“You will not find him how you left him,” said Finn, “for although he will look like the Grim you know, he is changed.”

“The queen cast a shard of ice, which embedded in his chest and made his heart grow cold.” said Lapis.

“You must remember that it is the spell making him so,” said Finn, “and stay true to your resolve of saving him.”

“Find him and warm his heart once more.”

“Only then can you save him.”

“But how do I warm his heart?” cried Serena. “I have no idea how to break spells.”

They shook their heads.

“We can’t tell you that,” said Finn.

“It has to be your own journey.” put in Lapis.

“Which means, you can’t take her any further either,” said Finn, nodding at Mor who was still sleeping.

“Oh.” Serena’s gaze flickered to Mor, and she was surprised to feel an ache in her chest at the thought of never seeing her again. She had not expected to feel so attached to the other girl in such a short time.

“You must go now,” said Finn. “Head north, and you shall find a path of blue. It will lead you to the palace.”

“Thank you,” said Serena fervently. “Both of you. I appreciate it so very much.”

“You’re welcome,” came the reply, and for a minute, Serena could have sworn that Finnla’s form wavered, and she saw two beautiful women with olive skin and long dark hair smile at her.

And then it was gone, and Finnla with the crazy hair ushered her out the door.

She found the path Finnla had mentioned easily enough, the sapphire glinting in the sun from far away. Her heart in her throat, she set off toward the Ice Queen’s palace, wondering what exactly she was going to find there.

It took her only thirty minutes of walking to glimpse it.

The palace was made of ice and stretched up as far as the eye could see.

Icy towers surrounded the place, and the strangest thing was that it seemed to be snowing only in the area surrounding the castle.

She approached cautiously, wondering how exactly she was going to sneak in.

However, as she drew nearer, she realized her worries were unfounded.

The palace was completely unguarded, and she easily made it past the entrance into the cavernous hall inside.

It was cold, dreadfully so, and she was incredibly grateful for Gerda’s gown and thick heavy cloak.

Looking around, she was dazzled by the beauty of her surroundings despite herself.

There were beautiful ice sculptures everywhere and chandeliers of stalactite hung from the high ceilings.

There were rows and rows of halls leading from the entrance, and she had the dreadful feeling that if she got lost, she would never find her way out.

She shuffled in the middle of the hall nervously, wondering where exactly to go, when she felt a warm feeling in her chest, and then a ray of light emerged from that spot, leading into one of the many halls.

Recalling what the queen had said about the crystal aiding her, she cautiously followed the beam along the passages, until at last she came to a room that was empty except for a lone man sitting in the corner, staring out the window.

Relief flooded her.

“Grim!” she exclaimed, rushing toward him.

He looked much the same as she had last seen him, which was a relief. His clothes were a little rumpled, and his hair messier than usual, but otherwise he did not seem much worse for wear.

“Come on, we have to go before someone notices us.”

He ignored her and continued staring out the window.

“Grim?” she asked, an uneasy feeling sinking into her bones.

He finally looked at her, and she took a step back at the coldness of his gaze. “What do you want?” he sneered.

“I-I came to get you. So we can finish the tale and go back home.”

“I wish to stay,” he replied. “There’s no reason for me to come with you.”

“Stay? No, Grim, this is her spell that’s making you think so. This isn’t you; you have to come to your senses.”

“Isn’t me?” he asked. “And what do you even know about me, Serena Rose?”

She failed to answer, unable to reconcile this hateful stranger with the smart quiet man she had gotten to know.

“That’s right. Nothing,” he snarled. “A na?ve little princess like you could never understand me, could not bear a fraction of what my life is. So don’t stand there in front of me telling me what’s like me and what isn’t.”

Her eyes welled but she refused to let him see, Finn and Lapis had told her this would happen, and she would cling to the belief that Grim did not actually think of her like this.

“This isn’t you,” she said steadily. “It’s the spell making you talk like this.”

He let out a harsh laugh.

“Is it the spell making me say this? Or is this just how I truly feel, and the spell is just allowing me to tell you the truth without worrying about your feelings.”

“Stop it,” she said, hating how her voice wavered.

“Why do you care anyway?” he hissed. “Why won’t you just leave me alone.”

Her heart splintered. “Because you’re my friend,” she whispered.

“For the last time, I do not want your friendship.”

This time it was not hurt that welled up in her, it was anger. Anger at the Ice Queen, anger at her spell, at the curse that brought her here, anger at Lore.

And anger at Grim who was not fighting back hard enough against the spell that made him say such things.

She rushed at him and grabbed him by his collar, pulling him close. The movement caught him by surprise, and he did not move.

“I do not care,” she cried. “You have it whether you want it or not.”

The tears were flowing freely now, and she made no move to wipe them away, still glaring furiously at the man who refused to be rescued .