Arenedelle. Perhaps one of the most beautiful places to be on the average Autumn morning. Watching the sun rise slowly over the picturesque village, reflecting against the chilly waters. The wind gently blew through the trees, tossing about golden and orange leaves. Though there was still warmth, one could feel the creeping chill of Winter.
There was one person, one who went unnoticed. One who loved the smell. One who enjoyed the chill. One who longed for Winter's return. That person's name? Jack frost.
On that day, Jack stood atop the castle roof, balancing on a corner with considerable focus.
"Deep breaths, deep breaths, you got it, you got it..." He frowned slightly, letting out a deep breath in attempt to move his messy white bangs out of his eyes. In one hand he held his staff in the air, and he was swiping the air with the other. He had finally found his center of balance when shouts cries from within the castle threw his attention. His one foot slipped off the rooftop corner, and with a stifled yelp, he found himself falling the air.
For a moment he enjoyed the thrill of the fall. But at the first opportunity, he stuck out his staff and caught the chain to the drawbridge, gracefully landing with both feet on the ground.
"Thank you, thank you very much." He grinned, bowing in praise of his own skill. But before he could continue his self admiration, he heard the sound of horses hooves galloping at top speed. He turned to look, and was just in time to see two royal horses thunder past. He frowned, getting the feeling that something was wrong.
"Is that... the king and queen?" He cocked his head to the side, watching them hit the ground at the end of the bridge. But something on the ground caught his attention. They were leaving a trail. Frown growing deeper, he stepped forward onto the bridge, bending down to inspect the ground. With a chill of recognition, he gently pressed his finger to the ground.
"No..." He quickly pulled his hand away. "But that... that's impossible. It... It's... Ice?" Without another thought, he took off running after the royal horses. He smiled a little as he felt the wind pick up. "Time to fly," he whispered to himself. In a split second, he was riding the wind at top speed. It didn't take long to catch the king and queen's trail.
Although it took a moment to find them through the trees in the woods, he finally did. They had entered into a mysterious green clearing. The king was carrying a small, red headed girl, and the queen ushered along an older looking girl with icy, light colored hair. "That's odd..." He frowned, making a less graceful return to the ground.
Mildly annoyed with himself, he quickly got up. He dusted himself off, then picked up his staff, which he had dropped in the process of tumbling. "Smooth, Jack. Very smooth." Once he had pulled himself together, he looked around. It was odd. Not exactly a hot spot for all the royals. It was the middle of the forest. The earthy, moss covered forest. "Why would they be here?..."
After a moment, he slipped along the edge of the clearing, then picked a tree to lean against. Before he got comfortable he slipped off the tree, gaping at the scene he saw in front of him. In the clearing, only fifteen feet away, there were trolls. Lots and lots of trolls.
"Born with the powers, or cursed?" He heard an elder voice speak above the low buzz of curious conversation occurring.
"Born," the king responded shakily.
Powers? Jack frowned, trying to understand what was going on. What did he mean, powers? Was that the explanation for the mysterious ice? He couldn't help but watch the little light headed girl as she clung to her mother, he guessed. She looked terrified. Guilty, even. Was she the one with the powers, or was it the red headed child? Seeing as the little one was injured, surely it wasn't her.
Snapping out of his thoughts, he again tried to focus. Upon studying the little girl, he said quietly, "I can help her. It is lucky she was not struck in the heart. The heart is not so easily changed. But the head can be persuaded."
Jack rolled his eyes, slightly amused by the troll's wise speech. He then thought hard, trying to connect the dots. Frozen? So the light headed girl must have ice powers. Perhaps she accidentally struck the other girl… her sister, probably. Her powers froze her head? Strange.. He thought to himself.
Through his train of thought, he had lost track of the events in front of him. His attention was again captured by the little girl, whom they called Elsa. She appeared to be captured by fear. She buried her face in her mother's skirt, doing her best not to cry. Surely it was an accident. Jack couldn't help but feel sorry for her.
Soon it seemed all was okay again, though Jack had paid little attention. The king sincerely thanked the trolls before the little family went back to their horses and prepared to leave.
"We must get her back home, safe and warm." The queen, though less upset, was still very concerned for her youngest daughter. She reached out and tenderly stroked one little strand of hair, which was oddly light, like her sister's.
"Mama, Papa, please... I didn't mean to..." For the first time, Elsa spoke. Her voice trembled and tears fell. We were playing! We were just playing… It won't ever happen again, I promise! I hurt Anna… I didn't mean to…" By that point, the poor child was sobbing.
"Elsa." Her father's voice was kind, but firm. "Until you can learn to control your powers, there just isn't another way. You don't know your own strength, or the danger of your powers. The last thing we need is for someone else to get hurt, or for the kingdom to turn against you. Trust us when we say, for now, this is the only way. To protect you, and everyone else."
With a sniffle, Elsa nodded. With a gentle hug from her mother, she was picked up and placed on the horse, prepared to make the trip home. With a slap of the horse's rump, the royal family galloped off, leaving behind a mysterious trail of ice once more.
