The end of autumn had come swiftly, and the damp chill had turned to biting cold practically overnight. It had not yet snowed, but a thick layer of spiky frost clung to every tree branch and covered the fallen leaves like a glimmering carpet. The sun shone bright overhead, and the frost sparkled and gleamed with blinding brilliance. Nestled within the fallen leaves lay Oskar Harju, a young soldier drafted mere months prior. He lay almost motionless, his rifle at the ready as he scanned the woods ahead of him for any sign of motion. His clothes were heavy and warm, but his hands were still numb with cold within the thick gloves and he secretly worried that he might not be able to pull the trigger if the enemy actually came. If he even noticed them coming through the blinding glimmer of the frost. Just as he was starting to seriously worry that he might lose a few fingers to the cold, he heard something in the distance. It was a woman’s voice, and it sounded like she was… Singing? He drew a deep breath, ignoring the way the cold air stung in his lungs, and called out to the voice. “Halt! Who goes there? Are you friend or foe?” There was a pause, then a beautiful voice called out to him in return, every syllable as clear as a bell. She spoke in bright, easy tones coloured by a touch of amusement. “Well I’m certainly not a foe. Can I approach?” Oskar thought about it for a moment before relenting. “Very well. Come closer.” A woman stepped out from behind the trees. Her skin was as white as snow and her blonde hair as pale as moonlight. Even her lips were deathly pale, and if she hadn’t been dressed in heavy furs from top to toe Oskar would have thought she was a hair’s breadth from freezing. The only part of her that didn’t seem pale and cold was her eyes. They were brilliant green, like leaves in spring, and seemed to shine with all the warmth and life the rest of her body lacked. “You can relax, you know.” The woman said. “There’s no-one here but us.” Oskar shook his head. “You never know when the enemy might come. I need to keep watch.” “Suit yourself.” She sat down in the snow beside him, the frozen leaves crunching beneath her. “Do you mind if I sing?” He hesitated. He knew he really should send her away, but… “Very well. But not too loud.” The pale woman nodded and started singing once more. Listening to her beautiful voice, Oskar didn’t feel quite so cold anymore.