I set my feet on the wooden floor, immediately shivering at the shock that runs up my spine. 

"You'd think," I complain to the cold air, "that being a member of the King's court would entitle one to some warmth during this freeze. What I wouldn't give to see the sun again, or even some snow. The brumous sky with all it's clouds and none of its light. All it's been is cold, cold, co--"

"Talking to yourself again, Merith?" Carena's voice rings out from the washroom, accompanied by the sound of creaking wood as she opens the door. "And now the serving girls are part of the court, are they?"

I glare at my sister as she crosses the room in slippered feet, her hair wet and starting to freeze from her wash. "Well, every other serving girl but you, Rena." She just laughs her musical laugh and flips her hair, spraying my face with frigid droplets water.

"Get dressed, little sister, we've got a lot to get ready for the feast tonight. Cook is for sure going to be livid if we're late." I wipe my face clean, then deliberately lay back down and close my eyes. 

"Nonsense, we don't have to be anywhere soon. You just want to watch that one page of yours in all his fancy tunics and silver lining." I turn my head and open one eye just a little bit to watch as red creeps all over my sister's cheeks. "You know," I say thoughtfully, fighting to keep the grin off my face, "maybe we should hurry, then I can finally introduce the two of you! It'll be perfect! We'll finish our chores early, you can waltz up to him in your egg-covered apron and say hello, and just like that, he'll fall in love!" I sit up and begin to change into my day outfit, laughing as Carena rushes over to my side, her face as red as the King's wine and her eyes sparkling with fear and just a little excitement. 

"You wouldn't, Merith, would you? Oh, I think I would actually die if that happened! Can you imagine? What if everything goes wrong? I'd probably trip and, and, and then he'd--"

"Have to catch you in his arms like the honorable gentleman he is?" I interject, winding my hair up into a tight knot. 

"No, I'd probably run into him and make him fall and then we'd bump into a noble and make him spill his wine all over his wife and then she'd shriek and then he'd blame it on me and then I'd get banished from the Woodland Realm and die alone in the cold!" She covers her face with her hands, laughing and crying at the same time. "Oh, who am I kidding? I'm setting myself up for failure. We'll probably never even have a conversation."

"Not with that attitude you won't!" I grin, tossing her a brush. "Now get your hair up so we can get a headstart on all those chores. I wasn't kidding about introducing you two! I just need his name, Rena, and then I can start you on your path to true love."

"I'm not telling you," she insists, just as always. "You are nothing but trouble, little sister, and I'd have to be dying before I tell you."

"Fine, I'll do it myself. I'm sure Cook has seen you making eyes at him before, and she's sure to tell me."

"No!" Carena shrieks, tugging on my arm. "Merith, please."

"What's his name, Rena?"

Silence.

"Alright, I'll find it myself." I stand up and brush the stray hairs off the tan apron, shivering as a stray breeze winds its way into the room. Carena sighs and finishes her hair quickly, shaking her head as I smirk at her. 

"You are incorrigible, Merith."

"I'll take that as a compliment. Now come on! I've got some sleuthing to do." I gather up my skirt and begin to run down the hallway laughing wildly as Carena hustles after me, begging me to halt. 

******O^O^O******

"Good morning, Merith. You certainly are early!" Cook waves at me from behind a simmering pot of a light broth. I wave back and snatch a spoon from a container on the wall, then stand across from the merry elf at the stove. 

"It was the cold, Cook! I could hardly even sit up this morning I was frozen so solid. Rena, of course was already up and washing, meaning she took all the hot water, so I can't have a real wash until after the feast tonight. But don't worry, I'm clean enough now, just so incredibly cold! I hope you've something warm on the menu tonight! Those nobles are sure to need it." I pause to slip my stolen spoon into the broth, smiling as the hot liquid slips down my throat and warms my stomach. "Oh, but this is delicious, Cook! I could eat this whole pot, for sure!" I reach down to scoop up another spoonful, but somebody raps me on the ear gently.

"No more of that, Merith. It's for tonight." I turn and stick my tongue out at Carena, then make my way over to the sink, ignoring Cook's laughter as she thanks my sister. 

"There wouldn't have been any left if you hadn't come along, dear. Your sister has a stomach like a bottomless pit!" I drop my spoon in the frothy water and grab a stray muffin from a nearby counter.

Carena smiles gently, amusement dancing in her eyes. "Frozen and bottomless. I'm not entirely sure how we're related, honestly."

"Hey!" I complain, but with my mouth full I'm not sure it sounds like anything, which sends Cook into a full bellow that quickly turns into a cough. I swallow my bite and rush over to her side, but my sister beats me to it. I stand uselessly to the side as Carena eases Cook to the ground. 

"Merith, go find a healer, please," Carena asks, her eyes worried.

"No, no, I'm fine," Cook wheezes between spurts of coughing. "Really," she says, forcing a smile and avoiding my sister's searching gaze. "It's just like your sister said, dear. This cold is getting to us all. I'll be alright as long as you two don't start me laughing like that again."

"Us? Be serious?" I ask incredulously, but at my sister's glare I look down, abashed. "Of course we can, Cook. How else do you want us to help? We didn't wake up early just to eat muffins, you know."

That makes Cook smile, and she reaches her arms out to us. "Here, you can start by helping me. Then let's get started."

******O^O^O******

The rest of the day passes in a blur and with this morning's scare, I don't ever find the right time to push Cook about Carena's love interest. In fact, the evening gets so busy that it slips straight from my mind until about ten o'clock that night. The feasting has come to an end, the table is almost cleared, and soon it will be time for the dancing. 

I catch my sister at the sink, up to her arms in suds. "Hey, Rena," I whisper in her ear, making her jump.

"Goodness, Merith, I wish you wouldn't do that," she grumbles, but I just smile. "What do you need anyways?"

"I've come to take your spot," I grin, bouncing on my toes excitedly.

"Why? You hate washing dishes."

"True, but there's someone waiting for you..." I raise my eyebrows conspiratorially.

"Who? No, you don't mean--"

I laugh. "Yes, your knight in shining armor. No, I don't know who he is, but I figured with the dance just about to begin, you'll both have a few hours to go for a walk in the garden or around the lake before he's needed to escort the nobles out." 

"Outside? But it's much too cold, Merith, and my cloak is--"

"Right here in my arms."

"But the dishes--"

"I told you, I'll do them."

"But what am I supposed to say?"

"Something like: 'Hello, I'm Carena, the most beautiful serving maid in all of Middle Earth. You look bored and we have a few hours before we're needed again and I'm in desperate need of fresh air. Would you mind accompanying me outside for a moment?'"

"But what if he says no?" 

"He won't."

"But if he does?" 

"Then you can come back and help me with the dishes again. Don't be worried though. If he's a ellon with any brains he'll see what a beauty you are and sweep you outside in a heartbeat." I reach up and take the pin out of her hair, sending the brunette curls cascading down her back. "Go, Carena, my offer of doing the dishes has a limited time." I push the cloak into her arms and twirl her to face the door. 

"Are you sure?" 

"Absolutely. Besides, I think it's started to snow, and there's nothing more romantic than a walk in the dark while the snow falls around you."

Carena takes a step towards the door, then pauses and turns around. "How do I look?"

"Gorgeous." Carena sends me an exhilarated smile before running out the door.

I smile at the empty kitchen before turning back to the stack of dirty plates next to the sink. "I really do hate dishes, though. You owe me big time, sister."

******O^O^O******

I'm on plate 367 when Cook rushes through the door, all red in the face and tears filling her eyes. "Oh, Merith, thank goodness I've found you. When your sister--" She is cut off by a burst of coughing and I rush to her side, just like this morning. She waves me off and leans against the nearest counter. "Your sister--walking--fell in--" She manages to say between attacks, and my heart stops in my chest before starting again at twice the speed.

"Cook, where is she? Where is my sister right now?" I beg frantically. "Please!" I can feel tears spilling down my cheeks, but can't stop them. 

"Healing wing," she says, her breath heavy. "Go!" I flee the room, leaving a trail of bubbles in the air behind me. The halls and the torches in the walls pass in a blur, the shadows stretching out to grab me.

I trip on the hem of my dress and go sprawling down onto the floor, right in front of a couple. "So sorry, so sorry, so sorry, so sorry," I repeat as I push myself up. 

"Calm down, child," a deep voice says as a strong hand wraps around my forearm and hauls me up. "Now where were you headed in such a hurry, little serving girl? The feast is over, you know."

"My sister," I cry, "I've got to get to her. Please, let me go to her. I'm sorry, please, I need to go to her." I try to wipe away my tears, but they keep coming and the couple in front of me remains simply a blur of color.

"Oropher," the lady says, "let the girl go on her way. She is obviously distressed." 

"Alright, love. On your way now, child." The deep voice speaks again and sends more tears spiraling to the floor.

"Thank you," I manage to choke out before sprinting down the hallway again. 

"Should we go after her?" I hear the lady asking behind me. "Something seems to be quite wrong." 

The ellon replies, but his words blur into the sound of my beating heart. 

I don't remember how I end up in the healing wing, but somehow I am seated next to my sister's lifeless figure. "What happened to her? What happened? Is she okay? Will she be okay?" I ask the first healer who walks through the door. 

"She was out walking in the garden during the feast," the healer replies, "and somehow, in the dark and the snow she didn't realize she was walking over the lake. The ice got too thin and she fell through, but a page boy pulled her out. She still passed out from the cold, and I'm not sure if she'll recover." 

"Oh, no, this is all my fault," I whisper, picking up my sister's hand and holding it between mine. It is cold. So cold. "I am so so so so sorry, Carena," I breath, "I'm sorry. Please wake up, please wake up, please come back to me, please, I am so sorry, I need you, I need you, please wake up again, please please please please..." 

I can't stop crying.

******O^O^O******

Three days later. Carena still hasn't woken up, but she hasn't stopped breathing either.

I haven't eaten anything, even though Cook has brought me lots of food. I just throw it in the fireplace as soon as she leaves.

A guard comes and asks me some questions, but I can't say anything. A healer has to tell him to story.

I can't tell him that this was all my fault. 

Everything. 

Rena was right. I am nothing but trouble.

Please wake up. Please.

******O^O^O******

A week passes. Then two. 

I'm asleep when she wakes up, sixteen days after she fell in the lake. 

"Merith," she calls, her voice raspy and tired, "you look terrible."

I try to smile, but I can't. I'm crying again. I haven't showered in any of those sixteen days, and Cook now stays until I eat at least something, so I haven't starved, but I haven't eaten much. 

"What, tears? You never cry."

Only for you, sister.

"How long has it been?" 

I swallow before speaking. "Over two weeks."

"Oh." Carena closes her eyes again, and I clutch at her hand, afraid to watch her fall asleep again. 

"His name is Gilion, by the way," she whispers. 

"Who?" I ask, afraid she's gone mad.

"The page boy. He did go walking with me, you know, and he was dreadfully funny, I had no idea. It was so dark out and we almost got lost in the garden and I was cold, but then we saw the lights across this open field, only it must not have been a field because the ground started to collapse beneath me when we got to the middle and it was so cold, Merith, so so so cold, and Gilion pulled me up and he made me run because the rest of the ice was falling in too, and I didn't want to but he said I must or we'd die and if I died we would never see eachother again and he really didn't want that to happen, but I wouldn't mind not seeing him as much as I couldn't bear never seeing you again, Merith, so I ran and ran but then everything was black and I was falling again and I was colder than I've ever been and I don't remember..."

"Oh, Carena, I am so sorry I had you go with him. I should have realized that it was dangerous, but it's okay now because you're awake and I won't ever make trouble for you again, I promise." I'm crying again, and my sister tries to reach up and brush the tears away for me, but her arm only rises an inch before collapsing back on the bed. 

"I'm so cold," she whispers, and I stand up to grab another blanket. I wrap it around the other covers before leaning into kiss her forehead. "I love you, little sister," she whispers, "and I just wanted to tell you his name like I promised before I left."

"What? Leaving? No, no, no, you and me are gonna be sisters forever because I love you and you love me and all we've got is each other and we gotta stick together, okay? So if you fall asleep again you gotta wake up because I need you. I love you. Please wake up again, please."

"Goodbye, Merith."

"No! It's just goodnight, because you're going to wake up, just like the spring after the winter and then, and then, and then we're never going to be cold again! You have to wake up! You have to! You have to promise me! I can't be Merith without you! Carena! Don't fall asleep unless you're gonna wake up again! Please! Please! Please. Please. Please, please, please..." Sometime in the middle of my shouting the healers entered the room and surrounded my sister. 

Her eyes flutter open and close.

"I love you," she mouths. 

Her eyes close.

They never open again.

The winter stole my sister. 

And she can never come back. 

There are clouds in the sky.

It is just winter. 

It is just me. 

Merith.

Alone. 

In the snow.

In the cold. 

I don't think I can ever be warm again. 

******O^O^O******

Three more winters pass, and each one seems more bitter than the last. Cook helps me find easy jobs in the kitchen, and no one ever asks me to do the dishes again. I don't let them change her sheets on her bed. I never go outside. 

I only wash in cold water.

The fourth winter, something different happens.

I'm sitting on my sister's bed, playing with the pin I pulled out of her hair on that horrid night when someone knocks on the door. 

"Come in," I say quietly. 

The door creaks open and in steps a strange page boy. 

"My name is Gilion," he says, "and I'm sorry it's taken me so long to talk to you, but I was with your sister when she--" he swallows, "--when she fell in, and um, I guess I just wanted to tell you I'm sorry. She was so lovely that night, and when she came up to ask me to walk with her I couldn't say no. I wish I would've, but, I just--" He stops, surprised, when I run and fling my arms around him, tears flowing down my cheeks for the first time in four years.

"I was the one who convinced her to do that, you know. She had been watching you for forever and was so nervous about meeting you, she was so smitten, and so I pushed her to go talk with you that night but I wish I would've just waited one more night. And no one else knows but I've felt so guilty because it's all my fault and no one understands because they didn't know her, not really." 

Gilion wraps his arms around me hesitantly. "I would've liked to gotten to know her better. Was she actually smitten with me?" 

I smile, surprised at how easily it comes. "Oh, just let me tell you."

Hi!

I literally have no words because all I can write are sad stories and I am making myself cry but I can't seem to stop.

(Okay, actually, I have those words, but you know what I mean.)

This is for @Stars_Alight 's contest and I hope you enjoyed!

Word Count: 3115