Title: Snow

tth100 theme: Witches

Crossover fandom: The Chronicles of Narnia (it's been a while since I've read it, so be warned…)

Characters: Willow

Timeline: Between seasons 6 and 7 (whilst Willow's in 'rehab' with Giles)

Prompt: 013- Winter

Word Count: 534

Rating: G

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

--On with the story…--

Willow opened one door after the other of Giles' stately home. Home; mansion was more like it! The Watchers Council had certainly paid him well whilst he had been under their employment. Willow almost found herself enjoying the time spent with her mentor whilst she recovered from her dark magic addiction.

The next door she opened was to an empty room. Well, all except for a dusty old wardrobe. Willow started to leave the room, but something stopped her. She looked over to the wardrobe. That was what was stopping her.

She could sense the magic coming from it in waves. Great crashing waves that threatened to drown her. Hesitantly, Willow walked over to the wardrobe and reached out. She touched it.

Immediately, Willow was drawn into the wardrobe. The magic pulled her in, almost as if it were a portal. It was like she was falling forwards into the black, but not hitting the wood she expected. She felt air rushing around her in the dark, cold air, definitely not what you would expect from your everyday wardrobe. And then she landed.

The first thing Willow felt was cold which the simple t-shirt and jeans she'd been wearing offered her no protection from. It was wet too, and soft. Willow looked up and around. She was in woodland; the trees overhead blocked out most of the light but a lamppost offered enough to see by. Everywhere she looked there was snow, covering everything from the ground to the tree tops.

She moved her arms and legs experimentally, unwittingly making an angel in the snow. At least nothing was broken. Briefly Willow wondered if it was possible to break your legs by falling in a dream-type-thing.

There was a stone figure near the lamp post. As Willow looked at it, the grey stone seemed to melt away leaving the creature in all its coloured glory. It turned to her.

"It's cold in the winter."

Willow nodded. "Where are we? I mean, I just came from England. It's summer there."

"It's always winter here. The witch has seen to that."

"Witch?"

"She rid our world of summer; no more do we feel the warmth of the sun. Winter is a lonely place."

Willow eyed the creature warily. "Okay…"

"You would not do well here little one, your heart will freeze over leaving nothing but an empty shell without a friend in the world." It stopped for a moment and stepped closer. "Love can be our greatest weakness, but it is also our greatest strength. If you do not accept the love offered to you, then you cannot begin to heal."

With that, the creature slowly began to turn back to stone, starting with his four hooves and working all the way up to his head.

Willow felt herself being dragged back to reality before she could attempt to help the mystical creature. As she got closer, she was dimly aware of Giles calling her and a moment later she was back standing next to the wardrobe in Giles' spare room.

"No one's used that wardrobe for years." He said with a smile. "Come on, the horses are ready. You can tell me all about it."

--Finis--