Sometimes they would run out of conversation topics, and while they didn't speak every day, the Snow Queen would usually write on the window. Sometimes there would be nothing more than small hearts which Yeva would trace.
One day, as she was working in the shed, a snowy breeze wove its way through her hair. Into her ear it whispered, 'Yeva.'
"Yes, My Queen?"
The breeze afflicted her like a playful slap, and the Snow Queen wrote her message. 'I hope I haven't been intrusive.' She made the letters large enough so Yeva could read them from the bench.
"Not at all," she continued smoothing out a piece of wood. "You've been fine." The breeze blew over a hesitation. Yeva asked of the silence, "Is there something you're worried about?"
'I wonder,' she answered, 'if we can see one another again.'
Yeva considered the window and before she could speak, the Snow Queen made more letters.
'Perhaps you don't want to.'
"I do want to."
'I won't keep you a moment longer than you'd like to visit.'
"I know you won't." Yeva continued smoothing. "What did you have in mind?"
'Dinner,' she answered. 'Rozie may come.'
"Ha! I'm sure she'll be delighted. She's wants so badly to see you."
'I want to see her too.'
Rozie was sitting in her room with Dr. Spots and Lady Felicity. In a strange turn of events, Dr. Spots was lying in a puddle of blood—one Rozie had made by scribbling over a piece of paper and cutting it out, placed lovingly beneath him. She had also drawn a dagger, set on the doctor's stomach. Lady Felicity mourned over him with her magic wand in hand (which had fallen momentarily onto the floor).
"What a twist of fate," Yeva said. "The doctor is the one with stab wounds."
"He was murdered in jealousy," Rozie's cheeks were still bright and chubby despite her dour expression.
"By Lady Felicity?"
"No! By one of Lady Felicity's admirers! His name is Count Ice Cream, and he's handsome, but Lady Felicity isn't interested because she loves Dr. Spots. But she's going to bring him back to life because she's been studying magic at the university, even though she doesn't have her doctorate yet. Once she graduates, Dr. Spots is going to marry her."
"Where is Count Ice Cream now?"
"The Dark Forest," holding her arm out, Rozie indicated the closet. "He lives in a mansion and plays the organ."
"I hope he's brought to justice."
"One can only hope." Rozie picked up the dagger and crinkled its paper handle.
Yeva laughed. "I have good news."
"What is it?" She answered as if she were playing an organ.
"The Snow Queen had invited us to dinner on Saturday night."
"What?!" Rozie stood up and, to keep from falling, grasped Yeva's left leg. With sparkly eyes, she said quietly, "Is that true, Yeva? Did she really invite us?"
"She did."
"I'm going to meet her?"
"You will."
Rozie took the wand from Lady Felicity and showered glitter. Like an explosion of confetti, it got onto the floor, the bedspread, Yeva's shoes, Dr. Spots's corpse, but disappeared before fusing itself with the room.
"But Rozie," Yeva interrupted her sister's twirling. "You have to be on your best behavior. We've been invited to a Queen's home."
"Yes, Ma'am!" She grasped her wand and stood at attention. "I promise I'll be good!"
"Thank you. As you were."
During the week leading to that Saturday, the Snow Queen suggested picking them up at the edge of town, promising that no one would witness them climbing into her carriage. Yeva agreed, and after deciding to meet in the south, The Queen wrote, 'Please don't be alarmed when you see that my carriage is drawn by two wolves. They're neither aggressive nor dangerous; merely large.'
"Thank you for telling me," Yeva answered. "I'll let Rozie know."
Rozie, who was already bouncing around the house, jumped even higher at the news.
"The Snow Queen has Magical Wolves?!" She yelled in her tiara, again polluting the air with glitter. "What other amazing things does she have?"
"I don't know, Rozie. You'll have to wait and see."
If the glitter had stuck, the inside of the house would have looked like a chintzy Christmas card—coating the recipient's fingers in sparkles. Rozie's waiting and seeing left the house in a perpetual state of noise and questions, most of which Yeva couldn't answer.
So, she asked the Snow Queen.
"What are your wolves' names?"
'Anna, and the other, Katya.'
"She wants to know your favorite flavor of cake."
'Cake? It's been such a long time.' Eventually she wrote. 'I suppose I liked chocolate.'
"And she wants to know your favorite color."
'I've always been partial to pastels.'
When Yeva reported these answers, Rozie grew bouncier, combusting with excitement, until Saturday night had finally come, and Yeva was trying to brush her sister's hair. Rozie vibrated, causing her freshly brushed locks to tangle anew.
She wore the dress the Snow Queen had gifted her, and insisted upon the tiara.
"Well, I can't get it onto your head if you don't sit still."
Rozie managed to remain rigid for a short period, and Yeva thanked her and brushed her short straw hair. Rozie breathed loudly throughout the process, like an animal on the run who suddenly stopped. Inflating, she released a question.
"What are you going to wear, Yeva?"
"My new pants and shirt."
"You're not going to wear a dress?"
"I don't really have any."
Rozie turned to her.
"You never noticed?"
"I guess not…"
After Yeva had set the tiara upon her head, and wrapped her in her winter coat, she became dapper in her fresh pants and crisp shirt, lingering near the top drawer of her nightstand. She searched the scant and nearly random items inside—a fountain pen her father used to own, a collection of extremely old coins. Towards the back was her mother's old compact mirror with ancient rouge. Opening it, she observed herself, her honey brown eyes and short, golden hair, applying powder to her face.
Yeva left her room with cheeks as bright as Rozie's and exited the house holding her sister's hand.
Outside, the weather remained cold and still. Despite being relatively early, none of the neighbors were out. They may have gone to the city to drink or dance.
Yeva and Rozie walked together through the silent snow, crunching boots the only sound between them and the incoming night sky. The sunlight was fading, but had painted the horizon a majestic purple, through which the stars shimmered like tinsel.
Yeva felt Rozie's feet drag as she observed them, accidentally tugging her out of place on a few instances. Yeva would apologize and Rozie would catch up, until the royal colors faded for a consistent black. They had distanced themselves from their cluster of houses and occupied an evenly spaced grove of leafless trees. Without interruption, the constellations shined loudly into it, and the once peaceful wind hollered with something coming.
"Do we just wait?" Rozie had asked, but what sounded like an avalanche drowned her out, and the ground shook.
Rozie screamed, but Yeva could hardly hear her, and from the distance inbounded two enormous wolves.
They grasped one another through the kicked-up blizzard, and after a sudden wave of frost, a carriage appeared. Its wolves were titans at about seven feet, with fur as white as the snow settled onto the ground.
They were blind. Where perhaps two golden eyes should have resided was only more fur, but another pair of eyes drew Yeva's attention. She found herself in a mirror-like gaze.
The Snow Queen, elegantly poised with the reins in her hands, fogged over like clouded glass. As she moved to speak, Rozie released a long, "wow."
"Hello, Rozie. It's nice to see you in person."
Rozie gasped.
After long seconds, the Snow Queen laughed. "You're not just going to stand there, are you?"
Rozie just stood there.
"I think she's a little star struck," Yeva said. "She's been excited to meet you."
"I've been looking forward to meeting her too." The carriage opened. "Come. Dinner should be done any moment."
Yeva scooped Rozie up and entered, standing behind the Queen, who checked on her guests. Eventually, she bade the wolves to move. They took off with alarming speed, silent as they ploughed through the snow. They passed balding trees huddled together and left paw prints over the course of their long strides, as the carriage sleighed straight through.
The three remained quiet. Rozie still gaped as Yeva held her, and the Snow Queen kept her eyes on the path ahead, until reaching the palace contained within a mountain shadow.
That day, it didn't sit upon the same mountain top, but another nearby. The wolves stopped out front as Rozie let out another long, "wooow." While she and Yeva took their time exiting the carriage, the Snow Queen waited by patting one of her wolves.
Once Yeva and Rozie deboarded, the Queen sent the carriage to the back and opened the enormous doors. They creaked to reveal the throne room, where a few ballerinas stood to greet them.
The Snow Queen turned to her guests. "To prevent you from feeling cold," she began, but Yeva stepped forward, pulling her sister along.
"Rozie, the Snow Queen is going to kiss you."
"May I, Rozie?"
As soon as she nodded Yeva presented her, and the Snow Queen leaned over. Considering Rozie, she placed a hand upon her shoulder and kissed her left cheek, causing her face to redden.
She moved onto Yeva.
"May I kiss you?"
"Please," Yeva answered.
A few fingers on her right cheek, the Snow Queen planted a kiss upon Yeva's left. The fur from her riding coat surrounded her as she closed her eyes and only reopened them when the Snow Queen had drawn away, the whole of her face a cloudy mirror.
Together, they went inside while Rozie released another long, "Wooooow."
"After dinner I thought you could play in the throne room, Rozie."
"I would love to!" Rozie answered.
The throne had a large wooden chair next to it, decorated by carved flowers.
They were in the hallway when the Snow Queen looked at Yeva.
"Thank you, again," she said. "I wasn't sure where to put it but next to me. I can't help but admire it."
"I'm glad it's worthy enough, Snow Queen. I'm honored."
The Snow Queen grinned and turned away, as they finally made it to her dining room, where a feast awaited them, spread across the elegantly set table. There waited bowls of soup, fresh loaves of bread, silver pitchers of tea and water, roast duck and vegetables, and in the middle of the table, a chocolate cake beneath whipped cream and strawberries arranged like crown jewels.
Rozie, picked up anew by Yeva, nearly fell from her arms trying to take in the feast, clinging especially to the cake posed like a queen in the center. She emitted her fourth long, "Wooooooow," as Yeva set her down.
The Snow Queen took her place at the head of the table and the ballerinas began serving.
At that point, Rozie inflated and released quietly, "Madame Snow Queen, did you get my letter?"
"I did," the Snow Queen's riding coat disappeared to reveal her gown. It engulfed her shoulders down to her wrists, opaque with flake-like embellishments that blinked as she shifted. "I would be happy to consider you for my court, but perhaps when you're a bit older. I'm sure your toast-making abilities will no doubt improve over time."
Rozie's eyes grew that snow-globe gloss to them as she inflated with more curiosities. Like a balloon pinched closed, she released another inquiry, quietly. "Snow Queen," Rozie started. "May I ask more questions?"
"Please," the Snow Queen replied.
To that, her air bled out. Yeva ate and Rozie didn't, gasping and glittering between answers. She asked if the Snow Queen only ate frozen food; was she going to have some cake; was everything in the castle made of ice; were her clothes made of ice; what does she usually watch in the mirror; when Rozie is ready to become part of her court, is there an application process; can she live forever?
"No," the Snow Queen answered patiently. "I don't think I can live forever."
"Oh," Rozie said. "Were you always a Snow Queen?"
Yeva cut in, "Rozie, enough."
"She's not bothering me," the Snow Queen went on. "No, Rozie. I wasn't always a Snow Queen. I transformed when my husband died."
Rozie remained silent a moment and asked quietly, "Were you sad?"
"Not at all."
"But…aren't married people supposed to love each other?"
"Rozie!"
The Snow Queen laughed. "I don't know what they're supposed to do, but I did what I had to, and tolerated him."
Rozie ran out of questions and began to eat, while Yeva regarded the Snow Queen.
"You've both endured worse. You don't need to pity me."
Rozie produced another question, "Are you happy now, Snow Queen?"
"I'm neither happy nor unhappy, Child. I'm merely…lonesome. Though, I am glad to have you here."
"Thank you, Snow Queen." Rozie said. After a few silent minutes, Rozie inflated with more inquiries, and her attention wandered back to the Queen and her beautiful dress, and the shimmering crown upon her head. They fell comfortably back into questions and answers.
When Rozie and Yeva finished dinner, the Snow Queen took them to the throne room. Summoning a flurry, she constructed statues of Dr. Spots and Lady Felicity, each a bit taller than Rozie herself. She shouted and thanked the Snow Queen, beginning a game of tag after embracing them.
The Snow Queen and Yeva, meanwhile, watched.
Before speaking, the Queen turned to look at Yeva, small upon her throne. Her sharp eyes caught against her golden hair. Where before this look might have been like a brutal wind, it was comparable to a light snow storm, landing delicately on Yeva's shoulders.
The Snow Queen shifted in her chair, sparkling, and set her arms upon its rests. "It's nice to have you back, Yeva."
"It's nice to be back, Snow Queen. I'm sorry Rozie had so many questions."
"It's natural she would be curious. She's quite young, and this is an odd experience."
Both looked to Rozie, as Dr. Spots spilled handfuls of snow onto her. Playfully, she shouted and tried to run.
"I've wanted to tell you that I admire your tenacity, Yeva."
"My tenacity?"
"Yes. Despite everything, you've taken good care of her. I doubt anything could stop you. It's as though I can feel your determination. You have such strength."
Rozie slid across the floor.
"When I was wed, I had given up. I truly felt nothing, other than bitterness. It wasn't as though I had a lover I would have preferred, but I was certain I would never be happy with the man my parents selected. As the years dragged on, I grew colder and colder, until he died and I couldn't muster any sadness, nor joy. For what my station required of me, I had buried any feelings away, until my heart froze." She turned to Yeva. "But you've never let bitterness get in your way."
Yeva swallowed the invisible words in her throat. Like ice in her mouth, they melted, and she recollected her memory of them. "I'm lucky to have Rozie," She said. "Life would have seemed purposeless, but when you have a baby who needs you, you do what you have to do."
Rozie launched a snowball that hit Dr. Spots in the stomach, laughing.
"True, but I think you still would have found a way." The Snow Queen paused. "We were about the same age, when you lost your father and when I married. I used to have light blonde hair, like Rozie's. It feels like such a long time ago."
"What color is your hair now, Snow Queen?"
"Silver," she answered.
"I hope I'll get to see it one day."
The Snow Queen grinned.
Yeva and Rozie stayed a while longer before needing to return home. Just as she had brought them, the Snow Queen returned them, stopping her carriage and her wolves closer to their home.
Rozie was first to plop onto the ground. Her tiara fell off of her head, but Yeva lingered in the carriage.
"Thank you for coming, Yeva."
"Thank you, Snow Queen. We appreciate everything you've done for us."
The Snow Queen kissed Yeva's right cheek, and took her chill away. "Not to worry. It was lovely to have guests."
Yeva's cheeks were as red as Rozie's despite her makeup having faded over the course of the evening. The Snow Queen left them in silence after driving away in her carriage, and holding hands, Yeva and Rozie returned home.