Within a few minutes time, Eugene and Rapunzel were racing across the fjord on a horse borrowed from the inn's stables. Rapunzel's arms were tight around Eugene's middle, the frosty wind threatening to knock her off at any second. Eugene suddenly pulled back on the reins as the horse slid on the ice for the umpteenth time. It struggled to regain its balance, and then ran on.
"For once, I wish we would have brought Maximus," Eugene remarked.
"Pascal too," Rapunzel sighed, missing her little green friend.
"I don't know if I would go that far."
Rapunzel smiled and ducked behind Eugene further and burrowed her face into his pack of goods from the innkeeper, attempting to avoid ice being constantly pelted in her face. She felt sorry for her husband, who was receiving the brunt of the blows.
After what seemed like an eternity, they were on the other side of the fjord. Eugene sighed and flicked the reins. The horse slowed down and panted, its breaths coming out in white puffs from its nose.
"I'm glad we're out of there," Eugene commented as he pulled out the map. "I felt too exposed." He studied the aged parchment for a few moments and then looked around. "I think it's on that side of the mountain." He began to steer the horse left, though much slower.
Rapunzel shivered. Though the wind had died down due to the cover from the mountain, the air was still frigid, and all she had were her dress and two cloaks.
"We'll be there soon." Eugene turned to give Rapunzel an encouraging smile.
He prodded the horse into a canter as they reached the side of the mountain. They crested over a hill, and then...
Rapunzel sighed with relief. A small grey shack was in sight, its windows frosted over and its bottom half hidden by mounds of snow. It was just only yards away from the ocean, for the convenience of the ice miners of course.
The horse bent into a gallop down the hill and skidded to a stop in front of the hut. Eugene dismounted first and then helped Rapunzel down, keeping an arm around her waist.
"I'll clear away the snow. You stay right there." He began digging away at the snow in front of the door with his gloved hands while Rapunzel looked on, feeling helpless and wrapping her arms around herself. After a few minutes, however, Eugene was done and the door stood cleared away.
"Come on, blondie. Let's get inside." He put his arm around her shoulders and guided her inside where pickaxes, ropes, handkerchiefs, cloaks, clothes, lanterns, and other miscellaneous items were strewn all about. In fact, the only objects that were cleared away were the fireplace in the corner and the bed a few feet away from it.
"Ice miners aren't neat, then," Eugene observed as he kicked a pickaxe out of the way. He bent down and picked up a lantern, and it didn't take long to find a match to light it. He handed it to Rapunzel, who smiled as she warmed her hands by the small flame.
"Is there wood for the fireplace?" she asked eagerly, following Eugene as he began to rifle through a pile of random items.
"Maybe. We might never know, even if we look for hours through this mess. But if there isn't any in here, I could always go back to the village and get some."
"You mean we could. I'm not letting you go alone anywhere."
"Since when did you become so bossy?" he joked with a smile. "Fine, fine, I won't go anywhere on my own, so long as you don't."
"Me?" Rapunzel put on her best look of innocence. "I would never wander off without you."
Eugene snorted. "I've heard that one before."