A Winter Story: Evergreen by Anna Baber

Merry Christmas, everyone! Launching the winter stories entered in the short story contest, is the winner of the drawing, Evergreen by Anna Baber! Enjoy this sweet story and be sure to watch for the rest of the tales in the following days!

Evergreen 

by 

Anna Baber

“Run!” I cried, grabbing my younger sister’s hand. Her feet faltered beneath her. She clutched me and looked up with frightened eyes. I dragged her through the snow. “Rose! Hurry!”

Armor and swords clashed behind me. Winter wind assaulted me. I gasped for breath, my cloak flying behind me, barely held down by a thin drawstring.

Rose fell again. I gripped her arm and tried to pull her up—but saw a flash behind me.

A warrior!

I screamed, frantically dragging Rose. I knew we couldn’t make it. I pounced on top of her, sinking into the snow. I clutched her close, waiting for the deathblow.

Another cry—a familiar cry—echoed through my ears. I looked up to see Nathaniel, my betrothed, fighting viciously against the warrior.

With a swing of Nathaniel’s sword, the warrior fell. Nathaniel ran to Rose and me. He picked up Rose and grasped my hand. “Come, Lillian.”

We ran through the snow, away from the screams, the sword clashes, and my childhood memories. A tear froze on my cheek. Why did this have to happen?

My legs tired beneath me. Nathaniel gripped my hand tighter, pulling me along.

Finally, he stopped. I collapsed in the snow. His hand rested on my shoulder as he set Rose down. “Lillian, I have to go back. You must take Rose and flee south. Once you find civilization, get directions to Liyrn. Go there. My brother lives there. He will take you and Rose in until I can join you. Stay there until I come for you. Lillian? You hear me?”

He lifted my chin. I wept.

“Nathaniel! I can’t do this! Don’t leave us! We’ll die!”

Nathaniel smoothed the hair away from my face with his frozen hands. “Go, Lillian. It’s your only hope. I have no choice but to return to our village and defend it. Now go.” He lifted me up, embracing me. I drew slight warmth from him—but it was gone as soon as he let go.

Saying goodbye to Rose, he waved, and then broke into a run back to the village. I took Rose’s hand and began walking the direction I knew was south.

I knew I might never see Nathaniel again. I knew I might not get Rose to safety. I knew we all could die.

Hours went by, slugging through the snow. When I couldn’t go any farther, I fell. Rose held my hand as she sat next to me. She kissed my face gently. “We’re going to be alright, Lillian.”

I smiled at her, but the cold bit into my skin and I grew more tired with each breath.

“Just let me close my eyes for a moment.” I said softly. Forgetting all else, I drifted into slumber.

~O~

Father ran into my room in the middle of the night. “Lillian! Wake up and dress! Warriors from Roulin are here!”

In a flash I was up. I remembered people saying that Rouling might start war with our country, Tyse, but no one had ever thought them a true threat. “Warriors?”

“Yes! Take Rose and run! I’m so glad your mother is no longer alive to witness this. Run!” He ran out the door.

I dressed in seconds, ripped Rose out of bed, and threw a cloak around her. The sounds of screams and swords filled the air. I yanked Rose out the backdoor, glad as well that Mother had passed away only a year ago. She would have fainted dead away at the sound of the wretched cries.

I pulled Rose into the cold snow. She cried, and begged me to tell her what was happening. I couldn’t think. All I could do was run.

“Take Rose and run!” Father’s voice echoed in my mind.

“Run!”

I charged through the forest, snow slowing us down.

Run.

~O~

Suddenly, I woke up.

It was near dark.

I jumped up, and a cold gust of wind beat against me. I gasped and pulled my cloak tighter.

My eyes roamed the clearing.

Empty.

My heart quickened.

The wind howled.

“Rose!” I screamed.

No answer.

“Rose! Rose! Rosie!”

Silence.

I ran out of the clearing. Panic consumed me.

“Rosie!” I cried frantically, clawing away branches. “Rosie!”

My cloak caught on a tree. I yanked free, hearing a loud rip. “Rose!” I screamed.

I burst into a clearing and saw a bridge over a frozen creek.

And a little girl.

“Rose!” I screamed, running across the bridge.

She looked up when she saw me. She held a finger to her lips.

I stopped, resisting the urge to sweep her into my arms and kiss her face.

Then, I noticed what caught Rose’s attention.

A little orange kitten stepped out of the evergreen trees and sniffed her mitten.  

I felt my entire body relax. Rose was safe. She was well.

I felt a smile tug my lips as I watched my innocent little sister, smiling at the tiny kitten. Even though her world had turned upside-down, she remained happy.

That is innocence, I thought. She is evergreen, even in the hardest, coldest times in her life.

Bright, alive, evergreen.