Eleanor was starting to worry. She had been looking everywhere for Cinderella, and the girl was nowhere to be found. She couldn't possibly have gone out, could she? In this weather?

Oh. Maybe she had gone to the stable. Sometimes she would go there for no particular reason, sitting in the hay for long stretches of time just talking to her old horse. And given how excited she had been about the idea of getting Eleanor up on a horse, it seemed likely she was there.

Eleanor put on a coat and went outside, into the whipping snow. It wasn't a blizzard, at least not yet, but it would still be dangerous to stay outside for too long. In the stable, the horses were quietly chewing their hay, but it took only one glance for Eleanor to notice something was wrong. Major wasn't in his stall, and his bridle and saddle were gone.

Where had Cinderella gone with the horse? Out? In this weather, was she out of her m…

"Oh, please, no…"

Eleanor was so used to keeping her own council she had forgotten that Cinderella did not only deserve to know what plans the older woman came up with that would affect her, but was also intelligent enough to follow her train of thought. And had the young woman overheard her and misunderstood? Yes, Eleanor thought that was it. But if she had gone outside now…

"If she doesn't get inside soon, she's going to die," Eleanor finished out loud. A voice in her head responded quickly what if she's already dead? She blocked the voice out because what it suggested was too horrible to consider. Cinderella might have acted on the spur of the moment, but she wasn't stupid. She would seek shelter.

But what if it's already too late?

She rubbed at her face with both hands, trying to rein in the panic and think.

She looked at the two horses left in the stable. The gelding, Blackie, was a good-tempered, calm horse, but the mare was more durable. Also, her name was Queen Luckyhearts. The name was flat out ridiculous, but it seemed like a good omen. Eleanor was more worried about her own riding skills than the horse's ability, but found that she really had no choice.

She hastily put on a saddle and attached a few extra blankets which she thought would come in handy, grabbed a lantern to have at least a fair chance to see where she went, and took the horse outside. The mare gave Eleanor a glare that seemed to say "are you absolutely sure of this?".

"I am," she replied and mounted. In spite of her worry, she felt a pang of that old feeling of happiness and freedom she always used to feel whenever she was on a horse's back. She felt younger, stronger… and she would need it tonight, she thought as she urged the horse on and disappeared into the snowfall.

Cinderella had reached the abandoned barn just before darkness fell, and took Major inside. She brushed the snow off of herself and the horse with her bare hands, and then tended to her animal companion. There was quite a lot of hay left inside, enough for Major to eat and for Cinderella to sleep in. She wouldn't be comfortable and it wasn't enough to keep her warm, especially since she didn't have a blanket but only her coat, which was stiff with snow and ice that would soon begin to melt into cold water. But it would still be a lot better than being outside.

She crawled up in the hay and curled into a ball, desperately trying to keep whatever warmth was still left inside of her. The wind was howling around the barn like a living person in agony. Cinderella felt like howling along with it. In her entire life, she had never felt so miserable, and that was saying something. Was this what a broken heart felt like? Then who cared about waking up the next day, at all? She pondered the possibility of dying during the night, and found that the thought wasn't so unappealing. She wouldn't have to freeze anymore, and she wouldn't have to feel the dull, pounding ache of her broken heart either.

She fell asleep, shivering.

I must be out of my mind, Eleanor thought and knew she wasn't. She knew Cinderella wouldn't survive the cold. She was unsure of how much help she could be; perhaps all she would succeed in would be to die next to her, but… so be it, then.

Queen raised her head and neighed into the dark. Eleanor couldn't see why, but the horse seemed to listen to something and then changed direction a little. Eleanor saw nothing but whirling snowflakes and darkness, but soon enough they reached an old barn. Queen neighed again and there was a response from inside, Eleanor could hear it even through the howling wind. But Queen was something of a snob and never spoke to animals she didn't know. It could either mean that the horse was desperate to find shelter… or that her friend was inside.

Eleanor had to use all her strength to pull the door open, as the snow had piled up against it, but the first thing she saw when she did get it open, was Major. She tugged gently at Queen's reins and the mare was more than willing to come inside with her. She looked around but could see very little in the dark, other than shadows dancing in the dull light of the lantern. As she pulled the door closed behind her, some dust whirled up into her face and made her sneeze.

Cinderella had been stirring slightly from the sound of the barn door opening, but at the sound of the sneeze, she awoke and sat up. Her teeth were shattering, but she was very much alive. Eleanor's knees suddenly felt weak and she had to lean against the horse for support.

"Oh thank you God," she exhaled.

"What are you doing here?" Cinderella managed to choke out, embarrassed and angry and confused at the same time.

"I could ask you the same thing."

Eleanor took the bridle and saddle off the horse and lead her up to Major. The two animals greeted each other and began to eat hay. Eleanor calmly brushed the snow off the blankets she had brought and approached Cinderella.

"Don't come any closer," the younger woman said, her teeth shattering so bad the words came out sounding hacked to pieces.

"I must, if I'm supposed to help you warm up."

"I don't want your help."

"I'm not wasting time discussing with you when your lips are turning blue," Eleanor snapped and climbed into the hay without further ado. She embraced the younger woman, not caring that she tried to pull loose. If Cinderella wanted to run away from her, she would be free to do so as soon as she had warmed up, but until then she would simply have to obey. Embracing Cinderella was like embracing a block of ice, but Eleanor did not retreat. Cinderella stopped fighting, possibly because she felt it was in vain, more likely because the warmth Eleanor's body offered was too much needed to be denied.

"I heard you. When you said you were looking for a new maid," Cinderella finally said. Eleanor closed her eyes and her arms tightened their grip around the younger woman.

"I am so sorry about that, darling," she mumbled into Cinderella's ear. "I really am. I should have explained to you first what I was planning to do."

Cinderella did not respond.

"Yes, I need a new maid. We need a new maid. Because I plan on giving you the proper education to be presented as a Lady, and my heiress. That way you can come with me everywhere I go as a… companion, if you will. Nothing can be more innocent than a young woman accompanying her mentor and stepmother, correct?"

Cinderella snorted laughter.

"Is that funny?"

"It's just so very you to come up with such a plan," Cinderella replied, but then snuggled closer to her lover. Eleanor felt her heart swell in her chest and silently thanked God all over again, in spite of not being religious.

"But I don't understand why you acted so disdainful towards me, you didn't even look at me. I felt like you hated me again. I thought you… had only used me."

"Oh, my darling, I'm so sorry! I couldn't look at you out of fear of revealing myself. I was worried I'd end up gawking at you with a ridiculous grin plastered all over my face. It never struck me that you would take it this way. Can you forgive me?"

"I guess I can… but don't do it again, please."

"I won't. How are you feeling now?"

"Better."

"There is no way we can make it back tonight, we have to sit this out."

"I don't care as long as you're with me."

Eleanor chuckled and unfolded two blankets. "Let's wrap these around us. It's still going to be a cold night, but we'll make it."

She swept the blankets around them and pulled Cinderella into her arms again. It felt more than right.

"Sorry I overreacted," Cinderella mumbled.

"Sorry I caused you to overreact," Eleanor replied and kissed Cinderella's cheek. And lying in each other's arms, it was finally warm enough for the two women to fall asleep.

A/N

Phew, they reunited! :D

There is one more chapter coming, and apparently a stand-alone epilogue as well (not in my plans, but what the muse demands, the muse gets). I am still stunned that so many people favourite, follow and review this story, thank you so much everyone! Your encouragement and support is amazing! :D