Long ago in Mother Russia, where the human kind were few,
Many of the woodland creatures spoke and lived as humans do.
Wisest of them knew Snow Magic, tigers, bears, and all the rest;
But among four-footed kindred white wolves knew it best.

In the forests of the North Land, where light curtains dance at night,
Lived a warrior named Alexi; he was young and fair and bright.
Many maidens sighed to see him, but Alexi dwelled alone.
Though they did their best to please him, to their charms he was as stone.

Then one day within the forest, young Alexi passing there,
Met a maiden like no other. She was tall and proud and fair.
Hair as pale as virgin snowdrifts, eyes like ice with hidden fire.
From the moment that he saw her, he was stricken with desire.

"Young Alexi, proud Alexi,
There is magic in the snow!
There is peril in the forest,
Hiding more than you can know!"

To Alexi's amaze and gladness his pale maid loved him in return.
He found she would deny him nothing, but her past he could not learn.
Nor would she once leave the forest, back to his own village go.
Said she feared the touch of strangers, could not leave the peaceful snow.

Nor would she let him stay past moonrise, no matter what her love would say,
But with tears and soft entreaties sent him homewards on his way.
Enemies had young Alexi, one of them a cunning foe.
Noted where he spent his hours, laid an ambush in the snow.

"Oh my love and life, Alexi,
Leave while light is in the sky!
There is danger in the forest;
Go and do not ask me why!"

Young Alexi, strong Alexi, laughed away his lover's fear.
And he did not leave till darkness, and behind him he could hear:
The sound of wolves that stalked his footsteps. Then before him he could see
Men who sprang out in an ambush and his mortal enemy.

He was one against too many, but ere they could raise a sword,
Wolves appeared and leapt upon them, like a great avenging horde.
Wolves lead by a silver bⅰtch-queen, fur as white and soft as snow.
And Alexi, much astonished, watched his enemies laid low.

"Oh Alexi, my Alexi,
Why were you so bold and proud?
Why did you not heed the warning
That I dared not speak aloud?"

And the wolf-bⅰtch faced Alexi, men's blood stained her white fur red.
And before he drew one breath, his lover stood in wolfling stead.
"Long I've loved you, with Snow Magic, to weave spell with just one ban:
In my woods I'd stay a maiden, while I never killed a man."

"Now the spell I wrought is ended," she vanished even as she spoke,
Then the witch-wolf turned and fled him, howling as her spirit broke.
Now though many maids pursue him, young Alexi dwells alone.
And his friends are heard to wonder at how sad and fey he's grown.

Young Alexi, proud no longer,
Each day to the forest goes,
Seeking something lost and hidden,
Prays for magic in the snow.

Snow Magic - Mercedes Lackey