Page 6 of Ice Bound

"Don't you get...lonely?" The flush in her cheeks felt even hotter in the cold. "That is, I mean—"

"I talk to many people," he replied. "Gather stories, tell some of my own."

"Don't you ever long for a place to call home?"

Neledrim paused in his work, and it was only in that moment that she realized just how much snow he'd moved. Her own contribution seemed lacking in comparison. He looked around the farm, the shafts of light that broke through the dark clouds making the unbroken snow sparkle like a god had scattered diamonds over its surface.

"It is not something I've considered."

"Have you always wandered?"

"Since I was young."

"The stories you've told me are wonderful, but what do you do the rest of the time? It sounds dull, simply wandering without direction." She tossed another heavy shovelful of snow to the side. "What do you do for entertainment? Besides telling stories?"

He crouched, putting his back to her.

Certain she was prying too much, she turned to scoop up more snow. When she looked back, he was facing her, his arm raised behind his head with something white in his hand. Anna straightened just in time for him to hit her in the chest with the snowball, powder sprinkling her face, her hair, creeping under her clothing to chill her skin.

Eyes wide, she stared at him. He stared back.

"I can't believe you did that."

He launched another snowball at her with his left hand. It hit her in the stomach with a softpfff, leaving a splotch of white on her dress.

Jaw hanging agape, she continued to stare at the man before her. There was alight in his eyes that could only be mirth, and seeing that laughter there stirred something to warm life within her. For the first time since she was a child, she crouched down and patted together a snowball of her own.

She threw it, leaving a bright spot on his otherwise dark cloak, and laughed. It felt wonderful. Before she could figure out how long it had been since last she laughed aloud, she was making a second ball.

A quick glance at her opponent had her up and running for cover. He already had a pile of ammunition ready to go. Her heart was racing in excitement like it hadn't in years. She let out an amused shriek when a snowball flew over her shoulder, narrowly missing her.

She hid behind a tree just in time to shield her from another pair of snowballs, which made dullthunksas they splattered on the bark. Peering around the trunk, she saw only the tail of his cloak as he ducked out of sight.

"Coward!" she called, unable to keep a grin from her face.

He responded with another throw. It hit the tree, but this time sprayed her face, the snow melting in her hair.

Anna crouched, packing more balls. She clutched them to her chest, staying low and moving to another tree. Holding a one at the ready, she peeked out again, searching for sign of him.

Everything was quiet, like the snow was dampening all sound. Even the wind seemed to have stilled for the first time in days.

"Surrender!"

Anna whipped around with a startled, giddy scream. How had he gotten so close, so fast, without making a sound? He was mere feet away! Reflexively, she threw all of her snowballs at once. He released the one he held, missing her, his view undoubtedly blocked by the volley that hit him in the face.

He fell onto his back, sending up a cloud of loose powder. Pressing her advantage, she stepped towards him. Her foot caught on the hem of her dress. Arms waving frantically, she pitched face-first atop him.

She caught herself, hands on his shoulders, her breath coming out in excited little puffs. Still grinning, she looked down into his eyes, then went utterly still.

His irises were icy blue with lines of pale gray—she had noticed it immediately when he came to her door last night—but now she could see more lines, some a softorange, some light amber. Like the colors of a winter sunrise. And his gaze rested on her lips. She could feel the firmness of his body beneath hers, and for the first time in years, something at her core heated.

Neledrim muttered in a strange, lilting tongue, unlike anything she'd ever heard, and then said, "You are lovely."

A gentle snow began to fall, large, fluffy flakes working their way lazily to the ground.

She scrambled off of him, and they both stood.

"I'm sorry." Tucking her hair behind her ears, she stepped away, unable to look him in the eye again. She brushed snow off her clothing, embarrassed.

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