Written for Klarowinter Bingo using the prompt, "Snegurochka, the Russian snow maiden," this is a gift for my biggest supporter and collaborator, Uppity Bitch. An amazing writer, fantastic creator of t-shirt slogans, lover of wine and cheesecake connoisseur, I am honored to call you my friend. Be sure to check out her incredible collection of Klaroline stories and look for the event on tumblr at klarowinterbingo. Enjoy!
"Love is our true destiny. We do not find the meaning of life by ourselves alone - we find it with another." – Thomas Merton
December 1917
Emotions were the strangest things. The red fire of passion. The black grief of loss. The blue tranquility of peace. Such odd little creations of human imagination. Caroline had no use for them. The immortal snow maiden wasn't like the sleeping children eagerly awaiting the surprise that may or may not be waiting for them the next morning. She didn't know what it was to feel excitement or disappointment. She'd never been happy or sad. She'd never felt anything at all for she was made of snow by parents cursed to bear no children. They had long since died, and when they did, she felt nothing. Her father left her an eternity to wander, and her mother gifted her a curse too terrifying to break.
"Snegurochka, make haste of your work," an old man's voice whispered into the night as the pair silently placed gifts above the hearth.
"Yes, Grandpa Frost," she sighed as she filled the last stocking. "Let all the children of Veliky Ustyug know Ded Moroz came to bless their homes." Sarcasm bled into her tone as she rolled her crystal blue eyes. "Whatever would they do without you?"
The old man looked over at her with a tut of disapproval, his mouth hidden beneath a long gray beard that stopped halfway down his ice blue robes, shimmering silver swirls spinning along the silk. "All the magic of winter cannot bring an end to your insolence."
Ignoring him, she placed a red and white candy cane at the very top of the stocking and turned to him. "Exhaustion shrouds my insolence and shall be tamed only by rest. Surely, night's retirement is upon us."
"Not yet, granddaughter. There is much work to be done." Shaking his head, he strolled out into the snow, beckoning her to follow. "We must finish with the children of Vologda Oblast by morn if we are to begin Petrograd on the morrow."
Caroline flopped into their sleigh, long silvery blue robes enveloping her beneath her snowflake crown atop long, blonde curls. "I needn't see why we bother with Petrograd. The Romanovs have fallen, and the peasants are in rebellion. Many will die by year's end should the Bolsheviks be granted their holiday wish. What good will wooden dolls and useless toys do the children when they are but orphans of the slain?"
"Oh, surely not all of Petrograd will fall." Caroline's head whipped around just in time to see a young man in shepherd's clothing smirking at her, arrogance painting his chiseled cheekbones. His arms were crossed as he leaned against the doorframe, one ankle resting over the other, golden curls licking the top of his forehead as he watched her with interest. "Or do bandits have so little faith in the Russian people that you see fit to both underestimate and rob them?"
The young blonde gaped at him in shock; the townspeople weren't supposed to be able to see them. Her grandfather rolled his eyes and effortlessly waved his hand in the young man's direction. His eyes glazed over for a brief moment before he blinked away his stupor, looking out into the snow as though they weren't even there. Frowning, he turned and went back inside his home. "Snegurochka," Ded Moroz tsked, shaking his head as their sleigh began to fly, "should you continue to spare drool over the peasants, surely your mouth will dry forever." His laugh was jolly as they soared higher and higher, her face a red mask of embarrassment. Her fingertips rose to her cheeks and she felt a warmth there. Is that what humans meant by feelings? Did it mean for the skin to warm under a penetrating stare? To wonder what else he could make heat with those eyes? She wasn't sure, but as they disappeared into the night, there was one thing of which she was certain.
Feelings were definitely strange.
Caroline buried herself in her work and complained no more of her burden, eager to erase the memory of the handsome peasant smirking at her so arrogantly. It unnerved her the way he hadn't run from their elusive view, instead ignoring her grandfather like he wasn't even there, focused solely on her sapphire eyes. So thoroughly had his raspberry lips ensnared her that on New Year's Day, her final gift delivered, she found herself wandering aimlessly through the snow-covered mountains of Veliky Ustyug. She didn't know what she was looking for exactly, but she knew it was not to be found in her frozen palace of silver and ice. Her pale blue robes shone brightly in the setting sun, strands of silver woven through the silk as it flowed delicately across her porcelain skin. The winds wafting off the Sukhona river stung her cheeks, but she'd never known felt the chill of winter. She let her hood fall, revealing her golden curls as she lost herself in the frost.
"You've either lost your way or find yourself in dire need of a winter coat." The snow maiden spun around, heels digging into the snow at the sound of a familiar voice. "And judging by your fine silks, wool from my modest flock is surely beneath your standards." The shepherd she'd been imagining ever since their brief encounter strolled up to her, half a dozen sheep following behind and a black and white dog on his heels. "So, what does bring such a fair maiden to this desolate land in the dead of winter?" He stopped a few feet in front of her to eye her quizzically, his frozen breath hovering visibly in the air between them. He was close enough that she could see dimples cut into his cheeks, dark blond curls peeking out from beneath his many layers that did little to guard against the cold she couldn't feel. He hummed thoughtfully as he studied her, but she had no words. He pulled off his heaviest cloak when she stared numbly at him, words escaping her. "Even a poor man's wool brings salvation in a cold such as this." He wrapped the heavy fabric around her and tied it just below her neck, the strings scratching her throat. "You must be half frozen. We should get you inside, love. Come. My home is but a short walk."
Caroline stared dumbly at his thickly gloved hand when he offered it to her, suddenly realizing he didn't know who she was. What she was. Shaking her head to clear the snowflakes from her hair, she took it willingly, enjoying the way the corner of his lips upturned when their palms met. She found herself smiling in spite of herself as they began to walk, his sharp whistle beckoning his sheep dog and flock to follow. This silly human believes himself my savior, she thought to herself, surprised at her own amusement. For centuries, she'd avoided the mortal world for she had no need of it. Humans lived short lives and then they died. Death was to fade into blissful nonexistence; she was cursed to forever remember what time forgot. There would be no bliss for the snow maiden. As the years marched on, she retreated further into her life with the jolly man of the mountain, but as she walked beside the shepherd, she could not help but be glad for his company.
The shepherd's farm house was indeed modest for it was little more than a hovel compared to her palace, but she supposed it was quite large for a mere peasant. There was a simple beauty to it that drew Caroline in as she followed him beyond the pasture where he left the sheep, his dog galloping happily ahead. He led her inside and to a stone fireplace, gesturing for her to sit on the hearth as he brought to life the flames still smoldering from his midday blaze. Before he even finished stoking the flames, she found the heat unbearable and retreated to a nearby chair. Looking at her over his shoulder, the shepherd smirked. "I'm not going to burn you, sweetheart. Do you think me so clumsy?"
"I do not think of you at all." As soon as the words past her lips, Caroline knew it was a lie. She felt that same strange warmth touch her cheeks from the inside at the way his brow quirked in amusement. "I mean because I do not know you," she quickly corrected herself, remembering the old man's spell to make him forget their encounter. "How can I think of you when we have never met?"
"Well, now that we have met, perhaps you will start to think of me," he teased as he set the iron poker down beside the hearth, turning to face her. "Your face is not one I will soon forget. Pray, tell me your name."
"Tell me yours," she replied swiftly, flustered by his attention. His eyes focused on her as though the rest of the world faded away.
The shepherd looked upon her curiously, unsure why she was so reluctant to share something as simple as her name. "My name is Niklaus, but my friends call me Klaus," he offered easily, eager to learn everything there was to know about the mysterious woman wandering in his backyard.
Caroline grinned impishly, the reflection of the fire dancing in her icy eyes. "Well, then I shall call you Niklaus."
Klaus' dimples cut into his cheeks at her taunt. "You don't want to be my friend?" he teased back lightly, his eyes never leaving her face. There was a heat between them that had nothing to do with the dancing fire. She hadn't felt the warmth of a man in over a century, but as she stared at him longingly, she couldn't remember why. This simple shepherd in his plain linen shirt and trousers made her forget her fears; she couldn't help but wonder what else he could make her forget.
Leaning forward, the snow maiden fluttered her eyelashes flirtatiously. "Is friendship why you brought me here, Niklaus?"
The shepherd flicked his topaz eyes up and down her pale blue robes hungrily. "Well, it was not to play guessing games." His eyes twinkled at the way her nose scrunched up when she giggled, the sound an otherworldly music that bounced off the walls. "And yet this is where we find ourselves. Tell me your name."
Gliding effortlessly to the stone floor, Caroline held his gaze as she crawled over to him and lifted herself up on her knees until they were nose to nose. "Earn it," she whispered before capturing his mouth with hers. His eyes briefly widened in surprise before his body sprang into action. His lips met hers as their tongues danced in time with the crackling flames. A brief moan escaped her as his fingers wound in her golden curls. Lifting her feet as he pulled her into his lap, she kicked off her silver slippers. His hand caressed her breast, tweaking her nipple playfully. Her hands explored his firm chest, wandering downwards until she felt his cock, already hard beneath his linen trousers.
Barely able to speak around their kiss, she mumbled, "Have you a bed, Niklaus?" His response was to nod his head as he lifted her effortlessly in his strong arms.
Tossing her down on the bed, the young shepherd crawled predatorily on top of her, his eyes never leaving her icy blue gaze. Caging her in with his arms, he brushed his nose against hers, voice a husky whisper. "You shall think of me when you scream my name."
Caroline giggled brightly at his foolish attempts to tame her. No sooner had he begun to let his weight press against her than she quickly rolled out from under him. He fell to the mattress in a heap, huffing under his breath. His annoyance was quickly put to rest when he saw her silvery blue robes slither up her body and land on the floor across the room. He eyed her nude body hungrily, surprised that she wasn't covered by the many layers typical of the women he bedded. Before he had time to think too closely about why a maiden would be wandering the tundra in nothing but a slip of silk, she was on top of him, kissing him once more.
"You are a fiery minx," Klaus growled against her mouth, his harsh stubble scratching her face. "I see why the cold affects you not." Her amused chuckle reverberated against his lips as he moved his kisses down her throat, peppering her breasts in kisses before taking one pert nipple between his teeth. Moaning, the snow maiden ground down on top of the peasant as her hands wound in his curls, tugging slightly when he sucked harder. Reaching down, she pulled his simple tunic over his head and cast it aside, eager to feel his firm flesh beneath her fingertips. It had been far too long since she'd indulged herself in human delights, but she could tell Klaus was well practiced as his hands explored her body. She had chosen well.
Caroline felt heat pool between her legs and groaned when his fingers expertly teased her breasts. Slithering back down his body, she kissed and nipped her way down his chest. She smiled wickedly as she pressed a light kiss to the bulge in his trousers, delighting in his strangled moan as he bucked his hips upwards. Slowly, she unbuckled his belt and deftly unlaced his pants. His cock sprang out, moisture dripping from the tip as he propped himself up on his elbows to watch. Holding his gaze, the maiden swirled her tongue around the tip, eyes fluttering at the taste of his arousal. Wrapping her hand around the base, she closed her lips around his head and sucked until his eyes left hers to roll back in his head. Chuckling, she moved up and down as his breathing became labored. She felt his imminent release and suddenly pulled away.
Klaus' eyes snapped open as the cold air hit his slicked flesh. Caroline didn't make him wait long before she was on top of him, her mouth pressed to his as she stroked him between their bodies. Lining him up with her entrance, she sank down just as he bucked his hips, making her cry out into their kiss. Their muscles rocked together as they chased their highs. His thumb parted her slippery folds to circle her clit as she rode him with a ferocity that both shocked and delighted him in equal measure. Her moans turned to shouts as she flew higher and higher. Sparkles danced behind her eyelids as the world exploded, her body doubled over in pleasure as he drilled up into her until he spilled his seed deep within her pulsing walls. Completely spent, her arms gave out as she collapsed on top of him.
Several minutes later, Caroline smiled up at him lazily as she rolled off his chest. Klaus rolled his neck around, satisfying cracks echoing throughout the room. When he gazed over at her beneath his tousled curls, she didn't think she'd ever seen a man look more pleased with himself. "Have I earned your name, sweetheart?"
Caroline smiled brightly, biting down on her lower lip impishly. "I'll give it to you on one condition."
The shepherd took her hand and kissed the back, trailing his lips down the back and tickling her palm with his hot breath. "Anything you ask of me, I shall gladly give and pray you accept."
The intensity of his gaze would have taken her breath away if she had one. Her smile faltered for a brief moment before she forced it back in place, her face a beautiful mask of lies. Crawling on top of him, she rubbed her nose to his as their lips touched effortlessly. "You must promise not to fall in love with me."
Klaus nearly laughed at her odd request, but he was too enraptured with her to do anything but swear to grant her every request. He wrapped his arms around her lower back and pulled her closer, tongue tasting her lower lip. "I promise."
"Good." She giggled again, soothed by his lovely lie as his strong, weathered hands caressed her bare flesh. "Caroline," she breathed into their kiss as he drew out a shiver. "My name is Caroline."
"Snegurochka, have you been cavorting with the vila again?" Ded Moroz asked sternly when Caroline came stumbling in the next morning.
"No, grandpa," she replied, somewhat confused by the question. "What led to such a false belief?"
The old man tutted as he shook his head, taking in her disheveled appearance. "Only a swim with those mischievous fairies would lead to such a glow, and your hair is positively barbarian." Eyes widening, the snow maiden's hand flew to her tousled curls in a vain attempt to tame them. Ded Moroz watched her carefully, studying the awkward flushing of her cheeks. A slow smile spread beneath his long, white beard as he realized his mistake. "Or, perhaps this is another kind of magic," he observed shrewdly, eyes twinkling merrily in the morning sun as it shown through the icy windows of their palace.
"I told you, grandpa, I've partaken in no magic," Caroline insisted, attempting to covertly straighten her robes without drawing too much attention to her shuffling.
"I'd say you've tasted the sweetest magic of all." His smile only widened at her confounded expression. "Love, sweet granddaughter."
"Love?!" she gasped, her face aghast. Love? She wondered briefly if he'd been swimming with the vila. Had their magic made him mad? He knew what such a thing would cost her, and it was unthinkable. She'd had her fun with the shepherd boy, but she'd protected herself from such a vile curse by obtaining his promise… hadn't she? "Do you believe me such a fool? You know the price of such dark magic. I am not so selfish as this."
A jolly laugh overtook the wise old man as he shook his head. "Love is anything but dark, Snegurochka, and it is never selfish. It is the purest magic of all, that which led to your birth. Love is, and has always been, your destiny." Taking her hand, he patted her forearm soothingly as he smiled. "Nothing would bring me greater joy than to see you embrace it at last"
"My destiny is to be by your side," Caroline vowed resolutely, squeezing his hand firmly. "And no magic, new or old, will take me from it."
Ded Moroz chuckled again. "We shall see, dorogoy. We shall see."
The snow maiden lay awake that night, the words of Grandpa Frost fresh in her mind. For the first time, fear of her curse seemed to fly away, chased into oblivion with thoughts of the handsome peasant, those intense eyes dancing in her mind. By the time the sun rose, she'd decided to take another walk down the mountain. As soon as she saw Klaus' dimples emerge when he caught sight of her in the snow, all thoughts of darkness were gone and there was only him. He greeted her with a gentle kiss before leaving his flock under the watchful eye of his sheepdog. Scooping her up, he smiled at her bright giggle as he led them to bed.
When Caroline arrived back at her ice palace late the next morning, Ded Moroz greeted her only with a knowing smile. She narrowed her eyes at him, but couldn't find it within her to be annoyed. She floated past him only to leave again the next evening. Upon her third return home, he merely chuckled. They continued this way through January and well into February. He never asked where she went, and she never volunteered any information. Every time she left, she stayed away longer and longer.
Klaus made it easy to forget that anyone else in the world existed. They talked about everything. He came from a large family of seven children, but he was only their half-brother. Driven from their home at 13, he'd moved in with his Aunt Dahlia to help tend the sheep. He revealed that she died tragically when one of her prize rams rammed her right off the mountain. His stepfather died not long after, thus allowing him to return home for holidays. Caroline came to learn the young child she and her grandfather delivered presents to when she first lay eyes on the shepherd was his youngest brother, Henrik.
Klaus was unlike any human the blonde had ever known. She found herself regaling him with tales of her life, omitting how long that life had been. They talked endlessly in between bouts of lovemaking that always left her glowing. She also learned that he had a dark side, but she merely laughed when he fell into one of his moods. His temper didn't scare her. After all, what could he possibly do to the immortal snow maiden?
It wasn't until they were nearing March that Caroline realized how dangerous her young lover could truly be.
"I... I think we could find happiness together," Klaus confessed, a boyish shyness about him as dirty blond tendrils curled down his forehead. "I think the fortunes would smile upon us should we be wed."
Caroline's face fell at his admission, the air she didn't need leaving her lungs that couldn't breathe. She couldn't bare to look at him and turned her gaze toward the roaring hearth. Her voice was hollow as she stared at the fire, a faraway look in her eyes. "I warned you not to fall in love with me."
The shepherd nearly laughed at her strange reaction. "Well, surely that was said in jest." The snow maiden shook her head and wrapped the blanket of fur tighter around her body. "Why ever not?" he asked, confusion evident in his tone as he watched her curiously. "Do you believe not that I would make a good husband?" She didn't answer right away; the weight of eternity was on her shoulders. He could only imagine the thoughts running through her mind as he waited patiently for her to speak.
Gulping hard, the blonde shook her head to regain her composure, forcing aside images of the life they could never have. "There are many things about me which you do not know, sweet Niklaus," she began slowly, piquing his interest.
"What is it, love?" he asked, concern lacing his husky accent. She'd never told a human her secret before... Then again, she'd never lay in the arms of one until dawn before, either. She inhaled a deep breath as she contemplated her next words. Taking her hand, he gave it a gentle squeeze. "No past sins could drive me from your side. You have my word. You can tell me anything, Caroline."
"My name isn't Caroline." His eyes widened in surprise at her sudden admission. "I mean, it is, but it isn't," she quickly tried to explain. "It isn't the name my parents gave me, but that which I chose for myself when they died and left me alone in this world so many years ago."
Klaus tilted his head to the side, clearly puzzled by her comment. "Many years? Were you but a child when your grandfather took you in?"
"He's not really my grandfather," she confessed sheepishly, shrugging lightly. "We met many years ago. He needed an assistant to aid in his work. I needed a place to call home. The rest of our story was borne of the peasant's imagination."
"Many years..." The shepherd looked over at his lover warily. "How many years?"
Sighing, she made the mistake of peering upon his concerned gaze and knew he deserved the truth. "I was born in the year 327." She sucked in a deep breath at the shock on his handsome visage. "And my name at birth was Snegurochka."
Klaus' eyes widened as his jaw slacked, raspberry lips parting. "The snow maiden."
"Yes," she confirmed with a nod. "Your people know that much, but most of my legend has been lost in time. Even I no longer speak of the curse that brought me here."
The shepherd shook his head dramatically. "I don't believe that. Your presence is a gift. Such a beautiful creature cannot be the product of a curse."
"Oh, but I am." Golden curls cascaded around her shoulders as she shook her head. "You speak of what you do not know."
"Then tell me," he implored her. "I want to know everything."
Caroline sighed, the earnestness on his face carving into her icy chest. "And know everything you shall, but you must swear never to tell."
Klaus grabbed her hand and kissed the back of her knuckles, his stubble scraping against her skin. "I swear it on my life."
Caroline nodded in acceptance and inhaled a shaky breath, pulling her hand away from his warm breath. "I pray you keep that promise. Should you speak of what you know, the peasants will think you mad." Or perhaps I'm the one gone mad. "Many centuries ago, there lived two childless peasants named Ivan and Marya in the town of Kostroma. They tried for many years, but their dreams of a family came to naught, and they began to grow old. Desperate for a child of their own, they made one out of snow and called upon the goddess Mokosh to breathe life into her. She warned them that such magic comes with a price, but they did not heed her warning, such was the depths of their despair. The peasants insisted, and thus, the snow became my flesh, blue beads became my eyes, and a red ribbon became my lips."
Leaning forward, he traced her lower lip with the tip of his finger before lightly kissing her. "And lovely lips they are indeed."
The snow maiden smiled sadly. "Your words are the sweetest honey I cannot taste."
"Why can you not taste them?" Sitting up, he took her hand earnestly and warmed her icy palm with his. "I care not from whence you came. All that matters is that you're here with me now. Be my wife. Your past means nothing; it is our future that fuels my dreams."
Caroline shook her head, swallowing hard as she moved to sit on the edge of his mattress, feet searching for her silver slippers. "There is no future for us, sweet shepherd. There is you and there is me and there is now, but now is not forever, and forever cannot be."
Klaus' voice was an angry bark as his eyes flashed in the firelight. "I would never leave you." He wrapped his arms around her possessively, but she would not move from the edge of the bed. "It is my wish never to be parted from your side. Why would I leave? Where would I go?"
The snow maiden's voice was barely a whisper as she looked at his handsome face, so full of hope she knew it would be kinder to crush now. Vain hope died the most sorrowful of deaths. "You misunderstand. You will one day go where all humans go, and it is to a place I cannot follow. I cannot be what you are. I cannot feel as you feel."
"No?" he demanded angrily, forcefully pulling her hand to his chest. "You cannot feel this? You cannot feel that my heart beats only for you?" His skin was warm beneath her chilled fingers; she could feel the blood racing just beneath the surface as he held her still. "Look me in the eye and tell me you do not feel the same."
With a frustrated snarl that sounded more monster than maiden, Caroline ripped herself away and rose elegantly to her feet, her nude body towering over him. "No, Niklaus, I cannot feel my heart beat because it does not beat!" She watched the outrage leave his eyes, his face losing its color as understanding finally dawned. "That is my curse. Mokosh is a great goddess, but even the Gods cannot create life from nothing. My flesh may feel real, but it is an illusion, for no blood runs through my veins and my lungs breathe no air. The price my parents so eagerly paid for my life is that I am not truly alive, and yet I will live forever." His eyes swam with moisture as she patted his arm soothingly. "So, you see, I cannot feel the same."
Swallowing hard, Klaus pulled her closer, nuzzling her hair as she turned her head. "I do not believe that any God could be so cruel. Surely, there must be some way to breathe air into your lungs. There must be something we can do." When she turned to look at him, he felt the faintest spark of hope in his chest. "There is, isn't there?" She found herself unable to speak for the truth was too cruel, but this only seemed to spur him on. "Tell me what it is. I care not for the price; I will pay it gladly."
"It is not yours to pay," she replied simply, her face falling flat. She'd allowed him too much hope, and she knew it. The kindest thing she could do now was to kill it quickly and leave his farm, never to return. "And one too high for me."
"Why? Tell me what it is." When she tried to pull away, Klaus held her tighter, his voice both broken and firm. "At least grant me knowledge of what could be more precious than a lifetime of my love."
"A thousand lifetimes!" Caroline shouted, startling him into loosening his arms long enough for her to slip away. Reaching for her silvery blue gown, she pulled the delicate fabric over her head. "If I allow my heart to beat for you even once, it will mean I have come alive, and all life can end only in death. No love could ever be so strong as to warrant sacrificing an eternity. It is a price I will never pay."
Klaus was on his feet in an instant, pulling on his trousers as she moved towards the door. "An eternity alone is better than a life at my side?" he asked brokenly, his voice strained and cracked. "Surely, you cannot mean that. Are you so closed off to love that you will not even consider all that I can offer?"
Caroline's voice was full of regret as she pulled on her cap, unable to meet his gaze. "I should not have burdened you with the truth."
"And yet, you saw fit to share with me your story," he pointed out as she fled from his bedroom. "You yourself said you do not speak of it, but you did. You cannot tell me that meant nothing."
"All it means is that for one fleeting moment," the snow maiden denied vehemently as she opened the door to the winds of winter, "I lost my sense of reason." And I will lose so much more if I stay.
"That is what it means to love!" Klaus shouted into the night, the frozen air painful against his cheeks. Cursing his humanity, he tugged on his boots and simple linen shirt. Quickly pulling on his warmest cloak, he chased after her as she ventured out into the snow. "Love is the death of reason. Surely, in all your years, you must know that to lose oneself in love is the only way to truly live." Holding her head high, she glided across the white powder and refused to slow her pace, the sound of his boots clopping loudly against the cold, hard ground booming through the mountains. "Wait, please do not go!" he called after her, but she did not look back. "These cannot be the last words I say to you!"
"There are no more words to say," she yelled, hoping to be heard over the roaring winds. Or, perhaps she did not want to be heard. As the snow fell in flurries, she scarcely knew what she wanted anymore. Of all the men she'd known in her many centuries, none had meant more to her than the shepherd begging her to stay. Which is why she had to leave. Klaus was dangerous, the feelings he awoke within her a jagged blade threatening to cut her in two. "I fear I have already said too much. Go back to your sheep and forget all you know."
"I will never forget you." Ignoring his vow, she kept moving down the slope. She was halfway to the road before he finally caught up with her. "Caroline, stop!" Klaus reached for her hand, the ice of her skin briefly burning him before she ripped it away. The shepherd huffed in frustration, his voice a far louder demand than he intended. "What are you afraid of?"
Caroline rounded on him, the long silk of her robes swirling a pattern in the snow. "You!" she shouted, her tone an accusation as she finally stopped running. "I'm afraid of you." I'm afraid of what you make me want. She couldn't bring herself to confess to him what she didn't want to admit to herself, for to do so would ensure her own end. Instead, she pushed the thought away and squared her shoulders, piercing him with a menacing stare.
Klaus narrowed his eyes, his heart rate accelerating as he slowly stalked over to her. She may have been immortal, but she had no idea what it meant to be human. No idea what it meant to feel, to love, to lose. As he stepped closer and closer, he knew he would have to show her all that she was so eager to give up before even trying. "Wouldn't it be more accurate to say you're afraid of yourself, your darkest desires?" His topaz eyes bore into hers; she could feel his hot breath on her cheek. "Deep down, you long to feel that frozen heart beating. You're just too damn scared to admit it." The snow maiden held up her chin defiantly, refusing to allow herself to acknowledge the way her limbs began to tingle. The tension between them was thicker than the snowy tundra surrounding them. Neither said a word as she carefully avoided making eye contact. Long moments past before he finally scoffed and shook his head sadly. "Snegurochka, the Russian snow maiden, the granddaughter of Ded Moroz, beloved by millions, the crown princess of Vologda Oblast... and the world's greatest coward." The light of love left his eyes and was replaced with grim resignation. Those broken eyes were the last thing Caroline saw before Klaus turned his back on her.
As the snow maiden watched him walk slowly up the snow-covered mountain, the tingling began to spread from her fingers to her hands and from her toes to her feet. It wasn't long before she felt a strange moisture begin to burn her own eyes. Stunned, she lifted her hand to her cheek and felt them stick to her rosy skin as her first tears froze beneath her fingers. The words of Ded Moroz came back to her, an echo of wisdom ringing so loudly it was deafening. Love is, and has always been, your destiny.
Blinking a few times as she stared down at the frost on her fingertips, Caroline felt something move deep within her chest, a sensation too beautifully painful to ignore. Was that a heartbeat? Her hand flew to the source of the movement and the rhythm was undeniable. She looked at the shepherd about to vanish in the night, and it all suddenly became clear. He is my destiny. The snow maiden tried to call out his name, but her first breath caught in her throat. Almost of their own accord, her feet began to move. Heart racing in her chest, the wind whipped through her hair as she ran through the snow so fast that when she finally reached Klaus, she crashed right into him.
"Don't go!" Caroline shouted, holding the edges of his thick fur coat for support as her slippers sank deeply into the snow. "Niklaus, don't go. Stay with me," she panted heavily, the strange sensation of blood slowly beginning to pump through her veins taking her breath away. She was breathing. "Be with me."
"You didn't want to be with me," the shepherd replied coldly, prying her curled fingers from his coat. His tone was ice as he stared at her, a muscle twitching his jaw. "You swore no love could ever be so strong as to warrant sacrificing an eternity. You'd rather cling to your immortality alone than be my beloved wife and die a human death."
Caroline's mouth fell open, but no sound came out. Snorting through his nostrils, Klaus slowly turned away. Quickly, she ran ahead and held out her palms to stop him as she shook her head. "I don't want to die. I want to live!" That strange warm sensation filled her eyes again, but this time she did nothing to stop her tears from falling. "Love is what's worth living for." His topaz eyes widened in shock, but before he could reply, her mouth crashed down on top of his in a fiery kiss. Mindlessly, he picked her up and brought her inside. They made love all through the night and well into the next morning.
By the time the snow melted on the ground in the spring, they were wed.
And so it was that Snegurochka, the Russian snow maiden, traded her frozen immortality for love. Caroline gave birth to their first child, a daughter named Marya, the following winter. Less than a year later, they had a son named Ansel. They were blessed with five children, all of whom were born of flesh and raised with love. They eagerly awaited the arrival of Ded Moroz every year, always hoping to catch a glimpse of the legendary old man and his granddaughter. Their parents chuckled each time they were disappointed. Caroline alone greeted him once a year, when all had gone to bed. He met her with a knowing smile and a twinkle in his eye, his heart glad she had finally embraced her destiny and sacrificed the solitude of eternal youth for something far greater.
In the end, she found it wasn't a sacrifice at all.
A/N Please let me know what you think!