Have you ever seen mountains so tall they seem to tickle the clouds? Well, in a land full of such giant, snowy peaks, lived a brave boy named Rudy.

When Rudy was just a tiny baby, something amazing and a little scary happened. A huge eagle swooped down and carried him high into the air! Whoosh! But then, plop! The eagle dropped him. Luckily, he landed safely in a soft snowdrift, near a deep, icy crack in the mountain called a crevasse.

Sadly, Rudy's mother had once fallen into a crevasse just like that one. A cold, shimmery lady made of ice, called the Ice Maiden, had found her there and given her a frosty kiss. The Ice Maiden was the queen of the high, cold places, and she liked to keep interesting things for herself.

Rudy grew up with his kind uncle and a clever, playful cat. He became the best climber and hunter in the whole village. He wasn't afraid of the high peaks or the slippery ice. He loved the mountains!

One day, Rudy met Babette. She was the miller's daughter, with eyes as bright as summer flowers and a laugh like tinkling bells. Rudy thought she was the prettiest girl he had ever seen, and Babette thought Rudy was wonderfully brave.

There was a big shooting contest in the village, and guess who won? Rudy, of course! He hit the bullseye every time. Babette clapped her hands and smiled her brightest smile. Soon, Rudy and Babette decided they wanted to get married. They were so excited!

But the Ice Maiden, up in her icy palace among the snowy peaks, hadn't forgotten Rudy. She remembered the baby boy the eagle had dropped. She thought a brave mountain boy like Rudy belonged with her, in her cold, beautiful kingdom. She would whisper on the cold winds, trying to call him to the most dangerous, icy places.

Rudy and Babette traveled to a beautiful town by a big, blue lake to prepare for their wedding. They were so happy, planning their future together.

One sunny afternoon, they took a little boat to a tiny, green island in the middle of the lake. The water was clear and cool, and flowers grew by the shore. Babette playfully tossed a pretty wildflower into the water near the edge. "Oh Rudy, my brave hunter," she said with a giggle, "can you fetch it for me?"

Rudy, always ready for a challenge and wanting to please Babette, smiled and dived into the cool water. Splash! He swam towards the floating flower.

But as he reached for it, a shimmery, cold hand touched his. It was the Ice Maiden! She had followed him from her mountain peaks, down to the lake. She rose from the water, her eyes like chips of ice, and she gave Rudy a long, icy kiss. Suddenly, Rudy felt very, very sleepy and cold. He sank down, down, down into the quiet, green water, and the Ice Maiden held him close.

Babette waited on the island, calling his name. But Rudy didn't come back up. Her heart felt like it would break. The kind people of the town helped her, but she missed Rudy terribly.

Later on, Babette found happiness again with someone else, but she never, ever forgot brave Rudy, the boy from the mountains. And high up on the snowy peaks, the Ice Maiden kept Rudy with her, her very own brave boy, in her silent, icy world.

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