"My disposition revealed by soft whispers through the trees, or howls from the north, saddled on winter's cold, pale steed.
Old as God himself, being born of his first breath. I fill the lungs of eternity, forever evading death."
-Arlene Smith, "Wind"
The storm outside was picking up.
The walls groaned at the wind's increased pressure. Elsa felt the ice at her back shudder after a particularly strong gust. She was alone in the upper room, leaning against the balcony doors. She drew her knees to her chest and stared absently at the patterns etched into the ice floor.
Why do you always shut me out?
Her fingernails dug through the thin sleeves of her dress. She was free, in a glittering castle of her own creation on the most majestic of mountains.
Why do you shut the world out?
She shook her head, eyes closed, trying to erase the memory that refused to be forgotten. Up here she would be safe from the hate and the fear. Up here she could be herself...
What are you so afraid of?!
The wind howled. The sound echoed faintly through the rooms and hallways of the frozen structure. The empty rooms and hallways.
Elsa….
And there it was again. The memory of Anna's face, eyes full of fear, disbelief, and betrayal. A jagged hole had been torn in Elsa's soul, and the memory refused to remain buried in her subconscious. Instead it hovered like a shadow over her mind, creeping into the corners of her vision and playing over and over whenever she closed her eyes.
Elsa could feel her composure slipping, but stubbornly grit her teeth and stared at the folds of her dress. The material shimmered under the diffused blue light that emanated from the enchanted ice. It looked beautiful, and in a strange way familiar, like the barely remembered thread of a childhood wish, and yet it somehow...still felt foreign. Much like the stories she'd been told as a child, of how even the most experienced sailors tremble in both fear and awe when the dark swells of the ocean beyond the fjord threaten to overwhelm them. She pressed a hand over her mouth. Her breathing became uneven, and despite her best efforts, a muffled sob escaped through her fingers. A hot tear slid down her cheek and froze before it reached her chin.
Was this what she'd dreamed about? Elsa's breath hitched painfully. What was the difference between sitting alone in her room, and sitting alone in her tower?
"You can't hurt anyone here. You can't hurt anyone here. You can't…" But the words felt hollow. Deep down, she knew. She was still running, still scared...
Nothing had changed.
After wreaking (some much-needed) havoc on a few of Australia's popular ski resorts, Jack had rode the wind north, intending to maintain his tradition of spying on Santoff Clausen's occupants. He soared over land and sea at dizzying speeds, taking advantage of natural wind currents and calling on the wind when needed. He somersaulted and spun with staff in hand, smiling at the satisfying thrill that ran through his body whenever he used his powers. He was over Russia when the wind...shifted. Jack squinted and briefly glanced around, but didn't stop. The strange feeling ebbed and he promptly forgot about it. Several miles later he felt the impression again, and this time he drifted to a stop. The landscape beneath him was black, occasional clusters of golden light glittering like fallen fairy dust. The sky was nearly the same color as the earth, but the wind had never been a visible friend anyway. Jacke hovered in the darkness, absently tapping a soundless tune on the staff with his finger as he waited. His patience was eventually rewarded with a third mysterious whisper. Intrigued, Jack sent a wordless question to the wind. And...for once the wind didn't answer.
He twirled his staff, thinking. It was the wind's voice, no doubt, but its normally carefree lilt was laced with something else. Jack struggled to pinpoint the feeling. Warning? Confusion? The feeling blew strongest from the west. Jack sent one last glance north before heading in the new direction. The corner of his mouth tweaked into a smile as he flew westward.
Those darned Yetis could wait. This seemed much more interesting.
(ノ◕ヮ◕)ノ*:・゚✧ ✧゚・:
Aaaaaand here we go! Finally getting around to writing this fanfic that's been tumbling around in my head.
FYI this will be a Jack/Elsa friendship pairing story only.
Leave your comments/critique/predictions in a review! I'd love to read them! :D
