"Mama Mama!" the little girl yelled, bouncing up and down softly on her bed. "Tell me a story, Mama!"
The woman kneeling behind her finished braiding her daughter's light blonde hair. "Alright, Darling," she replied, standing up.
"Yay!" the girl yelled, falling excitedly onto her pillow. Her mother walked to the shelf and picked out a green book with the print of an apple on the cover.
"What about Snow White and the Seven Dwarves?" she asked.
"You just read that last night, Mama!" the little one complained lovingly.
"Of course, Dear," she replied with a smile, putting the green book back on the shelf. She scanned the books for a story, her fingers lightly brushing the spines of the bound, delicate bindings. She stopped and pulled out a red book with golden engraving of a rose on the front.
"Not Beauty and the Beast, either." The girl crossed her arms over her chest.
"But I thought that one was your favorite?" the Queen asked, a look of puzzled bewilderment on her face.
"It IS, Mama," she replied, opening her arms with melodramatic abandon, "but I want something different."
Her mother sighed, placing the book back between The Little Mermaid and Winnie the Pooh. She combed through the books again and again, searching for the right book. Upon taking out The Lion King, she noticed something. She took the small, battered book carefully out of the back of the shelf and placed The Lion King in its correct spot. The book was bound in dark blue leather, she noticed upon blowing off a thick layer of dust. She traced her finger over the white snowflake stitched onto the cover, feeling a sort of magical presence. She gingerly opened the book, taking great care of the weathered parchment. She could barely make out the faded navy ink, but she knew exactly what it was.
"What's that, Mama?" the girl asked, craning her neck to get a better view.
"This is a very special book, Elsa," her mother replied, turning towards her daughter. "One that I had read to me when I was a little girl."
"What's it about?" Elsa asked.
She sat down at the foot of the bed, being careful about the bump forming at her middle. "Have you ever heard the legend of Jack Frost?"
"Who's Jack Frost?" Elsa asked, sitting up with her legs crossed.
"Well let's see, shall we?" The Queen read. "Once upon a time, there was a boy named Jack. He was normal, just like any person. He loved having fun, especially with his sister.
"Then, one day, he perished in an attempt to save his sister. Upon seeing his bravery, the Moon granted him eternal life and the power to control the snow and ice."
Elsa's mouth widened into a smile. "Just like me!" she exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
"That's right, Dear" She replied. "He could control any form of ice, from the most powerful blizzard to the softest flurry. Legend says that he can even bring his snow creations to life."
"Wow," Elsa exhaled, imagining what it would be like to feel the power of a blizzard under her control.
Her mother giggled quietly. "It's also said that he travels the globe, bringing winter fun to the children of the world."
"Do you think I'll see him this winter?" the child asked, lying back down under her blanket.
"I don't know, Darling," she replied, pulling the blanket up towards her child's chin. "Most people don't think he is real. Nobody has ever seen him before."
Elsa snuggled into the warmth of her bed. "Well, I believe in him," she said with a yawn.
The Queen stood up and kissed her daughter on the forehead. "Good night, Love," she whispered. She extinguished the candle on the nightstand and left the room, making sure to keep the door cracked open.
…
He looked into the room, the pale light of the moon shining faintly on the girl sleeping in the bed. The white snowflake stitched on the blue book sitting at the foot of the bed seemed to glow. He placed his hand on the window.
"She believes in me," he said, the glass under his palm instantly freezing, leaving a print of his hand on the pane. "She really believes in me." He took one last look, and flew away.