Replacing her gown and then wrapping a fur cloak around her shoulders, Adair prepared for a cold and windy ride. She picked a large hat that covered her ears, and a pair of gloves. By the time she made it out to the courtyard, Silver was lounging against one of the statues and swinging a bundle.

"Ready?" she asked, and in reply he raised the bundle that contained their supplies.

The reindeer took a moment to call up, but finally they came trotting into view and stood idly by while Adair summoned ice from the ground into the shape of a sled. Silver tied up the reindeer with the leather straps, and then finally they climbed in and sat down.

The trip to the border took hours of hard riding. The wind made it impossible for them to speak, and they hunkered beneath their furs, waiting for the end. Adair kept her eyes on the path, constantly scanning and rescanning the horizon to make sure she still travelled in the right direction, but every once and a while she'd glance at Silver and catch his longing gaze directed forward. He was so anxious to get to the pass, and Adair knew with sinking surety that it was because a view of the grasslands beyond was accessible from there.

Sure enough, when they pulled to a stop just outside of a large and cavernous rift between two mountain walls, Silver jumped out before the sled even stopped. While Adair secured the reindeer, he rushed to the entrance of the pass, looking down the decline toward where the border lay. It wasn't an easy pass, and it was not for the inexperienced to try and climb down or up, but the view was uninterrupted from their vantage point.

Adair walked to Silver's side, placing her hand on the back of his head and patting his curls. For once he didn't squirm away, but stood stock still. His gaze never wavered from the little patch of green so far down the pass.

"Well, we had better get this over with now," Adair said, pulling away and rolling up her sleeves. She didn't actually need to exert any physical strength, but she felt more prepared when she pretended that she did. Her knees hunkered down and she slowed her breathing. Bringing down a whole avalanche was a massive undertaking, and she hadn't tried something that gargantuan since building her ice castle.

Slowly, she called up the power into her hands. She was never quite sure where it came from, or even really how she seemed able to control it-- only that it generally did what she wanted merely by thinking it into being. Biting the inside of her cheek, she narrowed her eyes and imagined the snow on the mountain peaks shifting from its place. In her mind's eye she saw it tumbling, falling in sheets into the pass. And then it was. It came down just as she'd imagined, making a horrendous crunching noise like a thousand animals stampeding. It crashed in great chunks into the gap between the mountains, falling and falling until the sliver of green meadow beyond was completely hidden from view.

When all the snow had fallen, Adair released the power and sagged. Her mind buzzed and somehow her insides felt heavy. It was often the case when she overextended her powers too quickly. Her arm outstretched for Silver, but he wasn't at her side. Staggering around, she saw him standing a few feet away, still staring at the pass.

"They won't be coming through there any time soon," Adair said, trudging to him. "They wouldn't be able to take their horses or bring any supplies but what they could carry. I think we're safe for a few months yet."

She waited for his answer, for that smile that she found herself having to search for more and more often, but instead saw the glitter of his eyes and the tightness of his jaw. His hand moved from his side, fingers slightly extended, unconsciously reaching for something that was now hidden.

Of course, he had been looking at that meadow from the look-out bowl before she'd made sre they could no longer look at that particular section. In securing their border, he'd given up the only other way he'd see grass again. Her heart clenched for him, a mixture of pity for his hurting, and fear that he was yearning for something that she could not provide.

"Silver," she said, pulling his attention away from the pass. He looked on her with slightly unfocused eyes. "It's nearing dark. We should head back to that little cave we saw on the way here so we can set up camp."

He nodded absently, and slowly turned from the pass, his eyes lingering on it until the last second. Adair followed him to the sled, crawling up onto her seat while he made sure the reindeer were all in order.

"I'll make you something when we get home," she said, watching as he came around and stepped up to sit by her. "Anything you want."

Silver smiled, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "Thank you. Perhaps a stable to keep the reindeer in would be helpful."

She'd meant something a little more exciting to cheer him up, but she knew better than to press him. If he wanted a stable, then so be it.

Linking her arm with his, she snapped the reins and the reindeer jolted forward. The cave was near an hour behind them, but the sun had at least that long before it dipped behind the mountains and made it impossible to ride anymore. It would be a narrow margin to set up camp, but enough.

They'd been silently riding for near half of their journey time, when Silver spoke suddenly. "Do you ever miss your sisters?"

Adair nearly yanked on the reins, she jerked so badly. She whipped her head to look at Silver, but his eyes stayed fastened to the lead reindeer's back.

"What do you mean, asking that?" she said, careful to keep her voice neutral.

"Only what it sounds like. Do you ever miss them?"

The truth was, Adair did everything in her power to forget that she had ever even had sisters. Thinking on those times, when she'd been part of a family that hadn't really wanted her... she shivered. Though sometimes she'd remember Morna's sweet smile and Papa's gentle voice, she didn't miss Brenna's teasing or their mother's stern scolding. Added to that, she knew not a single one of them would understand or be happy about Adair's life now. What would they think of an ice palace and powers that came from the ancient Northern blood that no one else had coursing through their veins? It was far better that they had been separated. Morna and Brenna would not want to belong to such a sister.

"No, Silver, I do not think about them," she said. "Besides, I'm sure they forgot about me long ago."

"They're your family."

"I have you, and that's all that matters," she said. "We're singular creatures in this world, Silver. Who would love us but each other? We're the ones that were born to loneliness, and within each other we find a kindred heart."

Silver stared at the horizon, his chest rising and falling as he sighed heavily.

They went quiet for a few minutes, and then Silver broke the silence. "I miss the taste of apples and onions."

Adair didn't answer him.