"Reindeer, can you help me?"
It's ears perked up and it pranced closer to her. It stared at her, seemingly willing her to get on its bag. She did so and it began to run. Gerda bent down on its back to make use of its body heat. Since they rode for quite a while, Gerda told the reindeer of her story of searching Kay, though she didn't know if it really understood her. After a time they got to a poor looking shack. The reindeer beat on the door with its humongous antlers.
A woman answered the door. "Oh!" she said upon opening it. "Come in, Darling," she said, not to Gerda, but to the reindeer. "And you too, Dear," she then said to Gerda.
They both came inside. "Sit down," the woman said to Gerda. Then she went to the reindeer. The reindeer brought its nose right up to the woman's ear as if it were telling her something. The woman kept nodding and glancing at Gerda.
"Well, Dear, the reindeer has told me your story. I'm afraid I can not do much for you, besides giving you some food, and pointing you to someone who can. You are in Sweden now, and the Snow Queen, yes, she is the one who has Kay, is in Finland. I know a woman in Finland who will help you."
"You do?" Gerda started. She was very excited at the prospect of finding Kay.
"Yes, I do, though it may not be as easy a task as you would think. But, none the less, the reindeer will take you to the woman. Just let me write you a note to give her. In the meantime, here is some fish for you to eat," the woman said, taking some out of the fryer.
When the woman was finished she gave the note to Gerda and turned to the reindeer.
Gerda heard her whisper, "I believe she can break it, but you must help her first. It's the only way to free you."
Gerda did not know what they were talking about and so decided to simply dismiss it. The reindeer brought her to the home of another woman.
This woman's house was underground and rather hot and stuffy. The woman looked at Gerda and the reindeer rather suspiciously. She did not like strangers. When Gerda handed her the note, she grabbed it quickly. She read it through and seemed to soften a bit.
"The Snow Queen has your friend, does she?" she sighed. "I should have known she would do something like this. But you will be able to save him."
"But how? Will you give me something, to strengthen me?"
The woman shook her head. "Nay, I cannot. The Snow Queen is very powerful, yes, but she lacks what you have."
Gerda was confused.
"And that is pure, childhood innocence, faith in all that is good and true. And truly, what is keeping your friend with her is not so much the Snow Queen, but the glass in his heart and eye. The Snow Queen is not overly cruel, she is just...changed by life," the woman sighed again.
"How do you know so much about her?" Gerda asked.
"I...I am her mother."
Gerda started. "But—well—then why is she the way she is?"
"That is her story to tell, not mine. And, I suppose, I am not truly her mother, but her step-mother. I am quite sure she does not think of me as her mother at all, I suppose she despises me. But I have paid the price for my sins, though I doubt even now she would forgive me, because she has paid a price as well, but one she did not deserve."
Gerda wondered what had gone on between the two women.
"But enough of reminiscing. Reindeer, follow the path marked by the two highest snow drifts. They will lead you to the Snow Queen's palace, but you cannot enter it. Only Gerda can go that far. I wish you the best of luck, my child." The woman said.
Gerda and the reindeer soon left to find the Snow Queen's palace.
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Just one more chapter left, woohoo!