A/N: Hey, guys! I know the update is early today, but I decided to stop with the late-at-night updates; they are a bit easier to forget than posting in the middle of the day. And I know that this story lacks magic, but I couldn't find a place to write it in. Sorry if you were expecting that.
Sherria sneaked behind the trees. She had fallen in the snow a few times - but every time she had stood up and brushed it off he face. With lots of luck, Sherry had not seen her; then her cousin would have run too fast for Sherria to follow. The lake lay very close; Sherria could see blinding light reflected on the ice - a bright spot in the soft gray of the woods.
Like a goddess of grace, Sherry was skating over the ice. She hummed some love song - Sherria remembered it; a lullaby from when she was younger - and danced. One arm next to her body, the other - sightly apart, as if she were holding someone's hand. She spun in place - a long pirouette - and hugged her unseen partner. Then she skated, hugging herself tightly. Alone. The long, straight lines seemed to never end. Slowly Sherry slid away, yet she turned and sneaked a glance every few seconds.
"It is lovely!" Sherria - having forgotten she was supposed to be hiding - applauded.
Sherry turned her head. Her eyes opened away when she saw her cousin. As if frozen by the winter air, she could not move.
"Oh, I'm sorry! I…" The girl tried to apologize, running to her older cousin as fast as possible. Her right foot slipped as soon she stepped on the ice. "I wanted to see you, but after you came back you have been avoiding me. I thought that the power of my love was not enough to keep you here and you were angry… But I wanted to see you again, at least!"
"No!" Sherry hugged her little cousin. "My love for you was not enough - the hate for Deliora overwhelmed it and I chose to leave in the name of vengeance. When I came back… I feared you are going to blame me - you had to blame me! I thought you would be better without the cousin that left you so…"
Sherria hugged back, her hands holding Sherry in a tight embrace. "But I said nothing after you come back - because my love was not enough. If I loved you more, I would have tried to talk to you and not hidden-"
"I also hid - I ran from you. I came here on my own to remember our time as kids together because I could not face you! Let's promise we will never let anything get in the way of our love!"
The younger girl nodded. "I swear!"
They stayed for a few seconds in silence, before Sherry let go. "Do you want to go home now? You must be cold."
As the two girls walked home, Sherria asked, "Will you teach me to skate? I want to express my love the way you can!"
Sherry ruffled her cousin's short hair. "I promise."
