Elsa took a deep breath, shaking a little as she twisted the knob to her bedroom door. She focused on keeping a level head as she stepped out, into the hall. It was hard, going downstairs, knowing her parents were about to leave. But her father said it was urgent. They said they may have found someone who could help her.
It was scary. Knowing they were leaving. Two weeks, they told her. That should be plenty long enough. But two weeks without her mother, especially… Was something she avoided thinking about. Her mother was the one person she had left. Sometimes she still feared hurting her, but even so, her mother never stopped being there.
Breathe in, breathe out, conceal, don't feel… The thoughts rotated in her head with each step. Down the hall, taking the steps one by one. She tugged at her gloves, being sure they were securely on her hands. She shuffled her feet, making sure her shoes were on snug.
After what seemed like forever, she reached the end of the stairs. She found herself standing right in front of the huge castle doors. She winced a little, remembering the last time she had been through those doors. The day she struck Anna…
Before she had time to overthink, she turned her attention to her parents as they approached. A tiny smile came over her face. Her father carried a small briefcase, and a servant behind them held the rest of their limited luggage. Elsa's heart ached a little seeing it.
"Do you have to go?" She asked softly.
"My dear Elsa." Her father smiled, leaning forward and kissing the top of her head. "Two weeks isn't very long. We'll be back before you know it."
"I know… but I'll miss you…" She bit her lip, looking down at her feet.
"You'll be fine, dear." Her mother wrapped her arms around her. "I know you will."
Elsa hesitated, then held onto her mother for a moment. "I'll do my best. See you in two weeks?"
"Just two weeks." Her mother smiled, nodding. "I love you, Elsa."
"I love you, too…" She bit her lip, watching them walk out the large castle doors. She stood there, crossing her arms as the fall air filled the room. "Be safe," She whispered. Turning around, she walked back up the stairs to her bedroom. But even though she was no longer watching her parents, Jack was. He perched in a tree in the courtyard. His ears perked up at the sound of the opening doors.
"Leaving?" He said to himself. "Well maybe… No." He sighed, cutting himself off. She wouldn't want him. Of course not. It had been nearly seven years since she told him she didn't need him. The pain never seemed any less terrible. He missed her. A lot. With every passing day of looking into her window, he grew more fond of her. He wanted her back more than anything. He was always there if she needed him, but she never did call.
He watched the king and queen as they went out through the gate and off to their ship. "A long trip, huh?" Jack reached up and grabbed a small branch above his head, pulling himself up. "Interesting…" He leaned forward, trying to see better, but in doing so his foot slipped. He lost his grip on the little branch and found himself falling.
"Woah woah woah woah woah!" He waved his arms and legs wildly, hoping to catch another branch or something, but all he seemed to find was more air. He was about to meet the brick ground when he caught a gust of Autumn wind, narrowly missing a painful landing.
"Too close for comfort." He shook his head, looking back down at the ground as he rode the wind upward. He leaned back, enjoying the ride as the wind took him back to his place of habit; Elsa's window.
By that time, Elsa had made it back to her room. She sat at the window seat, looking out at the water. Her parents, though far away, were not completely out of view. She watched as their things were loaded onto the ship. Before long, the gangplank was lifted, and the boat set on it's way.
She let out a long sigh, watching it slowly drift away. Jack got comfortable on the rooftop once again, watching Elsa. Time had only been kind to her. With each passing day her beauty seemed to surface. If only she would allow herself to step out of her little room, get out of her hiding hole, and just let it go…
He watched her finger her ever growing braid as she gazed off into space, watching the morning sun rise. She sat alone in silence, as Anna had finally given up. She never even knocked anymore. It was sad, but it made things easier.
Out of old habit, he gave his finger a twist, smiling fondly as he watched Elsa. Two little frost bunnies drifted about, frolicking and playing. They danced about together, getting closer and closer to Elsa's window.
She saw them. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw them. The little bunnies danced outside her window. "Oh, Jack…" She whispered. In spite of herself, she found a smile slipping across her face. She leaned against the wall of her window seat, watching the little bunnies. "Some things never change." After a few minutes, she sighed. "And some things can't." She got up on her knees, pulling the curtains shut once again.
