The road to the Roale's mansion is treacherous at best, and life-threatening at worst. It sits at the top of a hill that's more cliff then slope, and to get there either takes an added two hours of journey or all your determination. Luckily for Ashe, she has a lot of determination.

Every year the Roale's host a year's end ball, set in the middle of winter, once the direct path to their house becomes slush and mud. Every year since she was fifteen Ashe has made that dangerous journey as the Roale's have without fail forgotten some important object that they only find out they don't have the morning of the ball. And then they need it asap. If Henrietta Roale wasn't such a sweet woman Ashe's family would have their store closed on holiday, Ashe thinks they should do it anyway.

"This year I'll put my foot down." Ashe chanted under her limited breath, the mantra being the only thing that kept her going despite the bag weighing on her back. "This is the last mission I'm going on on a winter day. This year I'll put my foot down."

Then it started snowing. "Oh come on!" She groaned, the flakes made up of icy prisms fluttering in her face, taunting her. Lights that shone distant above her were slowly being drowned out by the relentless snow. "This year I'll put my foot down."

She began trudging forward, determined to transport the goods ordered. At least they didn't order glassware this year.

Even in the falling snow the view from the path was breathtaking, not as breathtaking as the climb, but it was beautiful. The colours of sunset nearly demolished by the heavy clouds. Ashe heaved the bag up, halting it's slow slide down her shoulder, and began muttering. "Precognition, I see, I see," She hung her head, looking at her feet. "I see myself slipping and cracking my head open."

Fate would have her repeat the journey that took her father from her, wouldn't it? Fate is one cruel mistress, demanding more than we can give and taking it anyway. The glow of lights was steadily becoming closer, it's golden haze through the fog and dark of night seeming otherworldly to Ashe's tired eyes. "Almost there, and this year, I'll put my foot down." She emphasized this by putting her foot down.

A bit too harshly.

"Nerrg!" Came the strangled sound from her throat as she fell back onto her bottom, this time thankfully on level surface. Struggling to her feet she limped to the extraterrestrial vision before her, dark blotted shapes coming near her. She screamed, flailing a bit to get somewhat solid footing and her fists in front of her.

"Hold on there girl." the old stable master of the Roales said gruffly, holding back laughter. the hopelessness that had begun to weigh on her lifted. "Her ladyship sent me to find ya, ya been taking a while ya know?"

"Well ya took long enough!" She laughed, tears dissipating slowly as she mimicked his accent. "Thank you Mick."

He reached forward, taking the bag from her. "Yeh yeh, ya can thank me once we're all out of this cold." Mick looked at the tiny girl in front of him, barely leveling five feet  she limped beside him towards the mansion. Her blue eyes wide and always trusting. He laughed again, this time bitterly. It was a shame her father had passed away several years ago, it was a shame that her step-mother couldn't support the family enough that the girl couldn't stay home on such a cold night.

"I'm serious Mick." She nudged him slightly, smiling up at him. "I can't tell you how grateful I am you showed up."

He cleared his throat. "You would've been fine." He said gruffly, more for his own sake then hers.

"I'm still glad."

After that they began walking in silence, making their slow way to the mansion. It wasn't that far and they were quickly there. Henrietta Roale answered the door, taking the bag with a squeal before handing it off to the disgruntled doorman. Tossing her hair she extended her arms. "Anne! Darling!"

"Uh, it's As-" Ashe started.

"You know I need you to come and get warmed up, okay dear? In fact, we're a bit down on numbers-" Ashe found that hard to believe given the nigh international renown of this party. "-you get what I'm trying to infer. Don't you Anne?"

"Uh."

"Wonderful! It'll be a bit of a deviance." She mused. "But that will be charming, look at you after all! A bit cleaned up and you'll be the poster girl of a lady."

Henrietta began walking away before she suddenly halted. Turning back to Ashe she winked. "Just think of me as your very own fairy godmother."