He was starving. Freezing and starving. Like a cornered animal he fought, tearing apart branches and bushes in search of something to eat. There was nothing there. Winter had taken hold of the world now, and frozen everything to death.
Snow fell around him as he searched, the wind dragging the snow across his face like razor blades, stinging but not drawing blood. The boy placed his hands over his face and took a deep breath. There had to be something.
Steeling himself, the boy reached into his coat pocket, and drew his knife. Though the blade was tarnished, he kept it sharp enough that the edge gleamed against the white hell.
There was a bush next to him, underneath a pine tree that was coated with snow and glimmering ice. It had been kept free of snow for the most part, and was at the very least somewhat sheltered from the snow and wind. What was more, the bush's leaves looked exactly like the berry bush he'd once had at home, triangular and pointed.
With stiff fingers, he began to peruse the bush's canopy, poking about to break through the leaves and twigs. He upturned the leaves, carefully digging through them to search for something, anything, using his knife to hold up the branches he'd already searched. Perhaps he could eat the roots? They provided nutrients for the plant, so could they not do the same for him?
Just like everything else he'd searched through, there was nothing. He'd been right at the very least, as he held a large frozen and shriveled berry between his thumb and forefinger.
He squeezed the berry between his fingers, and split it in half. The now jagged edge of the frozen stem and icy innards roughly tore his skin. He grunted and threw the berry away, flecks of blood blending with the blowing snow.
A look to his left led his mind to the one place it shouldn't have gone. There, in the corner of his eye was a tree, one coated in ice and snow, isolated from its peers. Where a thin dusting covered the forest, this tree was entirely caked in thick, fluffy snow and frosted with alluring pointed ice crystals.
He'd only ever heard stories of what lay beyond that tree. Even in summer, back when everything was alive, it looked the same as it did now. It was not natural, at least not in the sense that he understood. Winter was supposed to fade like all other seasons, but perhaps in the land beyond that tree, winter was never ending. Supposedly, Faeries lived there.
The boy sighed again, and turned towards the tree. If it truly was eternally winter beyond that tree, and Faeries truly did live beyond the tree, they must have found someway to survive. Which meant there just might be food on the other side.
He wouldn't take much, just enough to survive the night. Something may have wandered into his snares. There was no point in checking them while the creatures still roamed.
The tree seemed to grow larger as he neared it, his stiff fingers barely being able to hold his knife. In fact, moving became more difficult with every passing minute. He'd have to get home soon. This was all or nothing now.
He placed one hand on the tree after arriving. The bark was rough and cold, but he could only feel a fraction of it, as his hands were already virtually frozen. He pushed against the tree, struggling to support himself. His knees felt as though they were made of wood, and moving them felt like a far away dream.
Nevertheless, he found some strength deep in his core, and trudged onwards, past the tree and into the land beyond the tree. It felt as though he were a chick trying to break free of an eggshell, as invisible resistance met him and tried to hold him back.
The boy grunted, and struck out with his knife. The blade made contact with the wall, and a sound like the shattering of a hundred glass panes echoed through the forest.
He stepped back, looking around wildly. The snow was undisturbed. He put his knife back in his coat pocket. He had to be going mad with the cold. Hands shaking, he stepped past the tree, this time with no resistance.
The snow on the other side of the tree was heavier, but there was no wind. Rather, the snow fell at a lazy pace, unbothered by his intrusion. His breath came out in heavy waves of steam as he struggled through the snow, messy footprints the only mark on this white wonderland.
He immediately began his search, staggering over to the nearest bush and viciously prodding it, searching for fruit. He found none in the first bush, only round leaves. The boy took a deep breath, and began to search for a bush with triangular leaves, just like the one on the other side of the forest.
Suddenly, he stopped dead in his tracks. There was someone standing in his way, and indecipherable look on her face.
She was far taller than him, easily ten, perhaps twelve feet tall. Her skin was as white as the snow that floated down around her, her hair was shoulder length and so light that it was almost transparent. This woman was beautiful, in a terrifying way that was beyond natural. Her face was full and angular, her eyes and lips matching shades of pale icy blue, both sparkling against the snow.
Finally, she wore a form fitting white dress that was such a shade that the boy couldn't tell where the dress ended and her body began. The woman smiled down at him, but it was not a kind smile. It was the smile of a cruel royal, the smile one may afford an insect before crushing it.
"Far from home aren't we, little one?" She spoke to him, her voice soft as snow, directed at him and yet omnidirectional in origin. The boy tried to take a step back, but his feet would not move. He could only look up at the woman in frozen terror, awaiting her next action.
"Tell me your name." The woman commanded. The boy obeyed, speaking before he could fully process what she'd told him to do.
"Axel." He said, falling silent immediately after he finished speaking, entirely unable to add anything else, even if he'd wanted to.
"I am Queen Mab. I rule these lands, Axel. As ruler, I must ask, for what reason did you enter my realm so violently?" The Queen asked, and Axel could already feel the answer leaving his mouth, once more pulled out by a power he could not hope to comprehend.
"I was hungry. I have no food, and couldn't find any in the forest I could access. So I decided to try and find some beyond the tree." Axel said quietly, attempting to gesture to the tree behind him, but he found that he still couldn't command his own body.
"Oh, I see now. Child, you will find food here. As much as you could ever want. All you had to do was ask." The Queen said. She snapped her fingers as she spoke, and there was a flash of light. They were no longer outside in the forest, but were instead indoors. The room was warm, with a fire crackling on the hearth. Before him was a table of food. Meats, bread, stews, pastries. If he could think of it, it was there.
"Go on. Help yourself." The Queen offered, releasing Axel, allowing him to move once more.
The boy took her up on the offer without a so much as a second's hesitation.
As he ate, he failed to notice the Queen's smile.