Disclaimer: If I were one of the Brothers Grimm, would I be using a pen name like "greenmaiden"?

The man looked desperately through the thick waves of snow falling through the sky and then down at the woman curled into a ball below him. He was no doctor but he knew it was bad. He could tell from the thin sheen of sweat that covered her face, even though it had to be at least 40 degrees below. He could tell from the way she was shivering- and even though her body was overheating with fever, her fingers were starting to turn blue. He could also tell because she wasn't even trying to move- or to save herself. That scared him more than anything else. She was not the type of person to give up without a fight. She was a fighter through and through, and the fact that she was lying in the middle of the forest in the worst snow storm he had ever seen and was not even trying to save herself, that scared him more then anything else did-and that was saying something. It was pneumonia. He knew because he had seen one other person with it. They had not been nearly as bad as the woman at his feet, but they had died. But that man was not like her. He assured himself. She's a fighter. She'll make it…she's got to

Desperately, he pulled off his coat and gently covered her body with it. He looked around him once more- still hoping to see some sign of shelter- but all he could see was snow and occasionally a glimpse of the trees. But he had to try. He was about to pick her up and head in a random direction when he heard a sound which made his heart stop. A wolf howled in the distance. It was not just any wolf…it was his

"No." He whispered, a hint of hysteria in his voice. Had it not already been so cold he would have noticed a gust of cold air rush over himself and more importantly the woman in his arms. And suddenly he could see through the trees the dark shape every living creature fears above all else: Death.

"Good evening." Said Death casually. "Don't worry, I'm not here to see you, it's the girl I want." He pulled some papers out of his cloak and looked them over approvingly. He then pulled out a pen and signed the bottom page. He then folded them back up and put them back into his cloak.

The man clutched the woman to his face, as if his strength could prevent Death from doing what he knew he would next.

"Move aside please Mr…Durnley- I believe."

"No." Mr.Durnley whispered again, this time a little louder.

"Listen Mr.Durnley, there are a lot of people I need to-ah- see because of this storm. I can't afford to be held up. Just move aside and I'll be on my way."

"No! Please! I'll do anything!!!"

"That's quite touching Mr.Durnley but it will not save her. Nothing will."

"T-t-take me i-in-instead." he stuttered out- he really was very cold without his coat on.

"There seems to be a rumor going around that I can do exchanges." Said Death thoughtfully. "You're not the first one to suggest that today…but no. It has to be her."

"Why?" He gasped out. He wasn't really expecting an answer- he had just wanted to stall Death from doing the inevitable.

"Well, we don't just kill people off for fun you know. We only kill them if there's a reason."

"What's the reason for killing her?" Death sighed.

"I hate when people ask me that…if you ask, by law I have to tell you." He dug back into his robes and pulled out the piece of paper he had recently signed. "Ah yes! I remember now! I've been meaning to kill her for I while, finally got around to it…yes, she severely disrupted the balance of good and evil."

"When?"

"A long time ago actually. When she was not more then a girl it says here she killed another being who was working with the forces of evil. When this being died the balance was completely thrown off and we've only just managed to right it."

"And for that she must die?"

"Yes, yes." Said Death impatiently. "We can't let people get away with disturbing the balance-not to mention the fact that now she seems be working with the forces of good when thanks to her we are short so much evil- now step aside."

"You'll have to kill me first!"

"No, I really can't- you've become very important to the balance, if I were to kill you I would have to kill many others to bring the world to order." The man stared at Death for a long moment.

"I'll make a deal with you. If you say you want to kill her because she's made the forces of good too strong, why don't you…make the forces of evil that already possess me s-st-stronger." It had cost him to say that. There was no doubt about that. The curse on him was a strong one but he had finally learned to control it- to stop doing evil…but now…

Death looked at him, considering.

"You will make this sacrifice…just to save her?"

"Yes." Death looked taken aback.

"You're sure?" The man nodded, not trusting himself to speak.

"Then, Mr.Durnley, we have a deal."

A/N: Just so you know this has nothing to do with the sub story of Rapunzel/Cinderella. This is a moment which will make sense latter on in the overall story. Well, I hope you liked it! I will update soon!