Time for another entry in Friday Fictioneers challenge, courtesy of Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. If you want to give it a try, check the info on her blog. 100 words more or less, inspired by a photo, here we go….
Copyright – The Reclining Gentleman
It was spring time when Gerda last saw Kai.
“You were my fairy-tale ending.”
His mocking laughter descended upon her heart like countless icicles, shattering all her childhood dreams.
“My silly Gerda, did you really think I became this way because some stupid splinters from a troll mirror got into my heart?”
***
On the first day of autumn, with a suitcase in her hand, Gerda stopped half way across the bridge. Copenhagen lights blinked in the distance, offering a farewell and the ice around her heart finally started to melt.
Sometimes it is best to walk away. Before the winter comes.
This week’s journey took me to the magical land of Hans Christian Andersen and his fairy-tale The Snow Queen, one of my favorite childhood stories.
*bron – danish for the bridge (my little homage to an excellent danish TV show)
I loved the tie ups in the metaphors – shattering dreams, splinters from a troll mirror the icicles and the winter and the ice arund her heart began to melt. Fairy tales have to end for all of us.
Oh, this brought back the HC Anderson tale immediately, I find his fairtytales to be more darkness than light, and few has happy endings.. the Snowqueen a good exception that is now shattered just like the queen’s mirror.
I love his fairy tales, even the darkest ones. I cried so many tears over Little Mermaid.
(I know it was a typo, but “fairtytales” made me laugh, how immature am I? 😛 )
I loved Hans Christian Andersen’s stories when I was growing up. The Snow Queen was particularly menacing. What a great ending…yay for her! And love that Joni Mitchell song too. 🙂
Loved loved this! One of the characters in my novel Dream Girl (and there only really two characters) wonders why Gerda even bothered with Kai (we call him Kay). He’d have liked her to stay with the Little Robber Girl and not bothered going onward to find Kai.
You had the lovely Gerda escape – how liberating!
Here’s a link to my novel – you might enjoy it.
I always wanted that too. For Gerda to stay with the Little Robber Girl. I never believed Kai was behaving that way just because those splinters logged into his heart.
I love that fairy tale, but oddly enough, I could never quite warm to Gerda who wanted Kai and herself to remain child-like. Your story has a wonderful twist, though. You allow Gerda to grow up and have a mind of her own.
The repetition in your uses of ‘ice’ in this really works. I like this take on the fairy tale…their endings are far to saccharine for my tastes. Personally I prefer yours.
Cheers
KT
Loré, this is beautifully woven. Nice job blending fairytale with an edge of reality. “Before the wintere comes…” leaves us with powerful imagery! Really loved this story, and this is by far one of my very favorite songs!
Snow's Fissures and Fractures 
Love the story but they drive to starboard in Copenhagen. 😉
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Details, details. 😀
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Dear Loré,
Best to leave before winter comes. Nicely ended. Well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Funny how we see the winter as an end, when it is all one big circle. Thank you, Rochelle.
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‘Before the winter comes’… brilliant ending to a great story.
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Thank you, Jessie! Much appreciated.
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I loved the tie ups in the metaphors – shattering dreams, splinters from a troll mirror the icicles and the winter and the ice arund her heart began to melt. Fairy tales have to end for all of us.
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Unfortunately, we all grow up eventually. Thank you!
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Oh, this brought back the HC Anderson tale immediately, I find his fairtytales to be more darkness than light, and few has happy endings.. the Snowqueen a good exception that is now shattered just like the queen’s mirror.
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I love his fairy tales, even the darkest ones. I cried so many tears over Little Mermaid.
(I know it was a typo, but “fairtytales” made me laugh, how immature am I? 😛 )
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🙂
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Beautifully done, Lore. Nicely linked – the photo with HCA. Inspired, in fact.
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Thank you, Sandra. The Snow Queen is one of my favorite fairy tales.
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I loved your use of the seasons in this piece. Nice writing.
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That is very nice, thank you.
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Nice metaphoric imagery. Great words; great story.
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Thank you.
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Today’s story matches well with your blog name!
This makes me itch to know more of the original Anderson fairy tales!
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Oh my, that is one great catch that I completely missed! Thank you.
Go and explore the wonderful world of HC Andersen, you will not regret it.
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Wonderful story!
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As always, kind words. Thank you.
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Quite delightful.
Loved it.
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Thank you!
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Great piece of Scandi noir. You’ve created a real dickhead in Kai!
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Thank you, Patrick. I never really liked Kai, always suspected it had to be something not so nice inside.
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I like your use of ice throughout your story. Definitely time for her to walk away.
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Thank you, I agree.
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She’s not halfway across the bridge to jump, right? She’ll continue walking, right? Great story!
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No, no…she is walking away towards a brighter future. Tnx, Emilio. So glad you are reading my little stories. 😉
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Phew!
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Love this. Had to wait until the fabulous Joni MItchell song was over…
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One of my favorite song, the older I get the more I can relate. Thank you!
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I so hear you!!
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I’m glad she realized the truth before it was too late and made her escape. 🙂
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All in all, she is one tough girl.
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Loved the imagery! Great that she walked away.
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Than you!
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I loved Hans Christian Andersen’s stories when I was growing up. The Snow Queen was particularly menacing. What a great ending…yay for her! And love that Joni Mitchell song too. 🙂
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Thank you! I loved his stories, too. The Snow Queen was one of my favorite.
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I’m shivering. I like it Snow. Always leave before winter, I always say.
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Thank you, Tracy. Very kind words.
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I loved this. Sometimes it is just best to leave. Thanks for reminding me of Joni Mitchell. Brilliant song
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Thank you, Irene. I agree about the song.
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Lovely story and a lesson – walk away!
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Thank you, Liz.
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Loved loved this! One of the characters in my novel Dream Girl (and there only really two characters) wonders why Gerda even bothered with Kai (we call him Kay). He’d have liked her to stay with the Little Robber Girl and not bothered going onward to find Kai.
You had the lovely Gerda escape – how liberating!
Here’s a link to my novel – you might enjoy it.
PS And a fan of the bridge too – amazing series.
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I always wanted that too. For Gerda to stay with the Little Robber Girl. I never believed Kai was behaving that way just because those splinters logged into his heart.
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Lovely story, and yes always best to leave before the chills freezes you in place.
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Glad you liked it.
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I believe she’s on the right road now. Kai was a real jerk.
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I totaly agree, never could stand him.
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I love that fairy tale, but oddly enough, I could never quite warm to Gerda who wanted Kai and herself to remain child-like. Your story has a wonderful twist, though. You allow Gerda to grow up and have a mind of her own.
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I always liked Gerda, but thought Kai was a little brat. 😀
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a beautiful story…a nice take on the prompt….
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Thank you.
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The repetition in your uses of ‘ice’ in this really works. I like this take on the fairy tale…their endings are far to saccharine for my tastes. Personally I prefer yours.
Cheers
KT
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Thank you, will have that in mind for my collection of dark fairy tales. 😀
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Sometimes it’s beat to walk away. Before winter comes. So beautifully etched. Winter sets to freeze the emotions.
Learnt a new word, bron.
http://ideasolsi65.blogspot.in/2015/09/road-to-freedom.html?m=1
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Thank you, glad you liked it.
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What a great spark of the imagination! I don’t know ‘The Snow Queen.’ Now I must read it.
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I hope you like it, one of my favorite fairy tales.
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I enjoyed this.
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That is so nice to hear, thank you.
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Very well written and an excellent last line, good piece
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Thank you.
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Great story. Sad Gerda couldn’t find her happy ending but at least her heart was freed at last.
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The original fairy tales have always been dark and I like this updated version of it.
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Loré, this is beautifully woven. Nice job blending fairytale with an edge of reality. “Before the wintere comes…” leaves us with powerful imagery! Really loved this story, and this is by far one of my very favorite songs!
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Glad you liked both, I simply adore that song. Thank you,Dawn!
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Your story had a truly fairy tale quality about it. Lore. She left at the right time. Well done with great description. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Thank you so much, Suzanne!
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