Ah, so I'm not sure if it's just the translation I referenced to write this that said 'Finland woman' rather than 'Finish woman' or if that's typical. I went with it either way -laughs-
Desperate for supplies, Ba and Matthew stopped at a crude hut that had a sloped roof that nearly kissed the ground and a door so low it seemed one would have to crawl in and out on their hands and knees. This was even more shocking when they spotted the inhabitant, a very tall man with a stern face who was cooking fish by the light of a train-oil lamp.
The reindeer approached and the man looked from one to the other before grunting. Feeling a bit apprehensive, Ba told him first his own story which he thought to be most important, then that of Matthew. Matthew, whose teeth chattered so violently he could not utter a single word, merely listened.
"Unfort'nate," said Berwald, for that was his name. "St'll got a long way t' go. Gotta go a h'ndred miles 'r more t' Finl'nd. 'S where y' can find th' Snow King. I'll write s'methin' on this dried fish, don't got 'ny paper. Take it to the Finl'nd man. He can give y' more inf'rmation than me."
Once Matthew was thoroughly warmed up and had been given some very unusual food and drink, Berwald indeed wrote a few words on a dried fish and told Matthew he must take care of it in that clipped fashion of speech he had. With that he tied Matthew once more to the reindeer, telling Ba how to get to the Finland man. And with that Ba took off in a flash.
The northern lights flashed blues and greens the likes of which Matthew had never seen. He couldn't help but watch them, transfixed, as they traveled across the country. At length the two finally reached Finland and found the home of the man Berwald had directed them towards.
Matthew was forced to knock on the chimney of the Finland man's hut, for there was no door above ground. When there was no response Ba made his way in anyway. They were surprised to find it was almost intolerably hot within the hut. As they entered they encountered the Finland man, who wore almost no clothes due to the heat, was small, and had a youthful and innocent face.
Expressing pleasure rather than surprise or anger at the sudden invasion of his home, the Finland man, Tino, helped Matthew out of his fur boots and mittens so he could tolerate the heat. For the reindeer he placed some ice on his head to keep him cool. Then Tino took the fish and read over it, blushing at something the other man had written. Reading it three times until it was memorized, he finally threw the fish into a boiling pot of soup, for it would be a waste not to eat it.
The reindeer eagerly told Tino his own story and then Matthew's unprompted. While he was no longer cold, Matthew allowed Ba to speak as he would. Tino's eyes sparkled as he listened. Yet he did not say a word once Ba had finished.
This did not please Ba, who had heard of this man from Finland priorly. "It is said that you are quite clever. So much so that you can tie all the winds of the world with a piece of twine. If a sailor were to untie one knot he would have a fair wind. Untying a second knot would make the wind blow hard. Untying a third or fourth would create a storm. One that would have the capability to tear apart whole forests. Is there nothing you can give Matthew that will make him as strong as twelve men so that he may have a chance to defeat the Snow King? For he is truly an unfair opponent."
"Twelve men?" Tino tilted his head and smiled softly. "Matthew has no need of such things. But I suppose I shall see what I can do."
He went to a bookcase and pulled down a rolled up skin, which was inscribed with all sorts of things, and poured over it for a very long time. The reindeer had begged so hard and Matthew looked at him so beseechingly he felt it was the least he could do, for he was a sympathetic soul. Soon a twinkle came to Tino's eye and he brought Ba aside to a corner.
Placing more ice on Ba's head, Tino spoke softly and kindly, "Alfred is indeed with the Snow King, but he is not there against his will. He finds it a delightful place, perhaps the best place on Earth, but it is only because his eye and heart have been poisoned by fragments of evil glass. If these are not removed then Alfred will never be human again and the Snow King shall retain his power over him for however long he may live."
The reindeer found this very grim news indeed. "Is there nothing you can give Matthew to help him conquer the Snow King?"
The man shook his head gently. "There is nothing I can do, no power I can give stronger than what he already possesses. Can't you see how much power resides within him? Men and beasts will serve him alike, and look how far he has come with such little information. His determination, innocence of heart, and the sheer purity of his love for Alfred are all greater strengths than you could imagine and have guided him this far. If he cannot get to the Snow King with these alone, and remove the fragments of glass from Alfred, there is nothing that can be done by any other. Alfred's fate lies in Matthew's hands and no one else's. Do you understand what I have said and why I have not given Matthew any grand gifts to help him?"
The reindeer bowed his head, for he could see the Finland man's reasoning. "I understand."
Tino ran a hand over Ba's thick fur, giving him a pat on the neck. "I am glad. Now listen carefully. Two miles up the way there can be found the garden of the Snow King, bushes all covered in red berries like droplets of blood." He shivered at his own description. "Take Matthew there then set him down by the first large bush covered in those berries you find. You shall not be able to accompany him any further. Once you have dropped him off come straight back here. Quickly now, mind you."
With that they left the corner and Tino took Matthew's hands. "It is time for you to go now. Stay strong and you can save your Alfred."
Matthew nodded and thanked him for his help and kindness. The Finland man assisted Matthew back onto the reindeer and secured him. With only a backwards glance and a quick farewell they were once again on their way. Ba bounded through the snow at an impressive speed.
"Oh no! My mittens, I've left them behind!" Matthew cried as they rushed through the biting cold. Ba dared not stop and turn around and so he continued to run until they had reached the bush with the red berries as Tino had described. Matthew loosened his ties and slid down from Ba's back. They said their farewells to one another, great tears falling down the reindeer's cheeks as Matthew stroked his noble head. And with no further business he ran back as fast as he could.
For a long moment Matthew watched him disappear into the world of snow, quite freezing in his dreary surroundings. But he had come so far and he was not about to give up. And so he began to run, breath coming out in heavy vapors as he stumbled across the snowy ground.
Just as he was getting close to the palace he reared back as a regiment of snow-flakes surrounded him. They did not fall from the sky, which was clear and flashing with the northern lights. Rather they came across the ground, larger than any snow-flake had a right being. It reminded him of when Alfred had shown them to him under the magnifying glass. But these were quite a bit larger even than that and quite a bit more fearsome. They were alive, the guards of the Snow King. They came in many shapes that were unnatural for a snow-flake to be in; Some had a sharp porcupine-like shape, others were twisted like serpents ready to strike, and still others seemed to be bears with bristling hair, yet all were a dazzling white and all were undoubtedly snow-flakes.
At first Matthew was frozen in fear. But as he stood trembling, determination filled him. He had traveled so very far, gone through so much. Mere snow-flakes, no matter how terrifying, would not turn him away when he was so close! Eyes hardening like the ice all around him, Matthew let out a slow breath that rose like steam into the air. And with one final pause to gather his courage Matthew suddenly began to press forward, all but running at the Snow King's guards.
Matthew hit one head on, using his shoulder to take the blow. A chill went all the way down to the bone but it shattered into a thousand pieces. Stumbling, Matthew continued forward, shattering and hitting and pushing his way through the delicate soldiers that burned when his skin made contact with them. Tears froze upon his cheeks from the pain, but even as the snow-flake soldiers left small ice burns upon his skin and small cuts Matthew would not give up, would not stop. Alfred...He would rescue Alfred no matter what!
With a final, almost beseeching cry, Matthew crashed through another soldier and just like that there were no more. The Winter Palace stood before him, the path clear. Almost collapsing with relief, Matthew hastened forward lest more soldiers appear. Alfred was almost within his grasp.
And what of Alfred? As Matthew valiantly fought his way through snow and pain and cold, Alfred thought of him not at all. That Matthew might be standing at the front of the palace for him never so much as crossed his mind. And of course why should it have? All memories of him had been erased.
And the Snow King listened to the wind and was not pleased in the least.