Chapter 12
"The outburst was small in comparison to what is expected to spring forth from the beast, but it was an eruption nonetheless. The volcano seemed to wait until our arrival. It happened all too fast. My father attempted to shield my brother and guide him to safety. That's when they noticed me. My father gave his life to save ours. He was unsuccessful. I don't remember much of the event. The guards sent on the trail claimed to have solely found me. Either they lied to protect our emotions, or it was that much of a lost cause."
Nikolas's fingers tightened slightly on Elsa's side. She was unsure exactly what course of action to take, but she followed her gut feeling and grasped his hand. His eyes flickered and he proceeded with his story.
"I was in terrible shape. It has burned a fair percentage of the left side of my torso and up along the side of my neck. My mother was informed that it was unlikely for me to make it through the night. She told my later on that the sole reason that I continue to live was a curse. He found a local shaman that laid a curse on my life giving me control of fire. He had to bind my molecules with the very thing that nearly destroyed me in order to save me. It was risky, but somehow it worked."
Nikolas lifted his hand, palm upward, and willed flames to flicker across his finger tips. He shot his hand forward relinquishing the fire to the hearth. A single line of smoke danced through the air from his appendage. Elsa looped her fingers through the ones placed on her side. Nikolas gave her a look of surprise. Elsa broke eye contact now discovering his prior fascination with the stones as a blush crept up onto her unnaturally pale face. It interlocked between the small amount of freckles sprinkled along her cheeks and the bridge of her nose.
"When I am angered or frightened, I become unable to control it. I begged my mother for years to attempt to formulate some sort of reversal. She claimed my only escape would be the death I cheated. As much as that option seemed appealing at times, I could not leave my mother alone."
A horrified look crossed Elsa's face as she too had experienced similar thoughts throughout her lifetime. She could never bring herself to leave Anna alone to the world, even though that this was how Elsa had to force Anna's existence to be at times.
Nikolas flipped the page of the album. The newest photo was revealed. It displayed a somewhat happy family. The man was jolly with blonde hair reaching his shoulders. The woman she recognized to be Nikolas's mother was standing arm and arm with the fellow. A blonde boy stood underneath his father's arm. A small blonde girl stood next to the boy. Elsa's heart melted at the sight due to the uncanny resemblance of the girl's expression to the one Anna often wore in the early years of her childhood, before the incident. Nikolas lurked off to the side of the family portrait. His face was exact to his father's in the previous portrait. He did not fit into the painting. His face showed that he had been aware of this even at the time.
"That is the current King of my nation. He became betrothed to my Mother four years post the death of my Father. He was and still is a kind man with his heart set on the perfect condition for our kingdom. Though his views are not similar to those of mine, he does try to get it going. His worst view in my mind is his wish for his son to rule instead of me." Elsa's grip tightened on Nikolas's. He peered into her eyes catching a glimpse of concern and worry for the welfare of her friend.
"Unlike what you are most likely expecting, he does not want my death on his hands. He wishes at most to exile me. He wished not for me to corrupt his son, his future heir. The boy, Oliver, is a kind soul. As much as he wants to please his father, he is no monarch. He has difficulty deciding what undergarments to wear." Elsa covered her mouth with her free hand to try to mute the giggle escaping her lips. Elsa was not one to giggle.
She straightened her stature not freeing her hand from Nikolas's, who had drifted lower down her side towards her hip.
"It would not be bad for Oliver to take the throne. I hope that he matures in my absence. Abigale on the other hand, the little girl in the picture, would be a most excellent ruler. She is constantly organizing her toys in a straight line fashion. She takes any tea party offer seriously. She would be ideal if it weren't for her being at the age of nine. I don't want to be a King." Nikolas finally uttered the last line. He breathed out a heavy sigh and let his shoulders droop low. His body folded slightly inward at an angle. It was moments before he finished his thought.
"Well, I take that back, not entirely, but partially. I have no desire to rule that unforgiving kingdom. My absence throughout my youth has left a bitter taste in some citizen's mouths, as I am sure so has yours." Elsa turned her head to face towards the northern window. She has often tried to listen and uncover the thoughts swirling around her identity. She always came back empty handed.
"You are not speaking much, Elsa." Elsa's mind broke back into reality as the room grew silent.
"I do not have much to say on the subject of your upbringing. I would like to know more if you have anything left to offer." Elsa replied back.
She felt Nikolas bring her closer to his side. Her leg was almost to the point of overlapping his own. Though normally she would protest, she found herself unwilling to. As foreign as it was, she found it comforting. He placed his head upon her shoulder embracing her to his body.
After a few minutes of silence, Nikolas spoke in a hush tone as though he did not want to unsettle the position they held, "I cannot do it. I have made you aware of my emotions towards you, and though I know you want me to dismiss them, it has grown impossible to tear them away from myself. You have entirely captivated me. I know you have little to no intentions of initiating a courtship any time soon, I can't help but wonder why not."
Nikolas felt Elsa stiffen in his arms, but she made no steps towards freeing herself from the embrace.
Continuing the whispers, Elsa finally let a sound emit from her mouth, "I don't know why I have shut myself down again. I made promises to my sister that I would remain as open to people as possible. I would be lying if I tried to say that I did not consider what the future could hold for the two of us, but I always let the fear slowly creep back into my thoughts."
Nikolas maneuvered his body without releasing his grip on Elsa to better position himself facing her.
"A thought of us is not a foreign thing? I cannot go without hours or minutes even without contemplating the outcome of you and I. Please consider it. I beg of you to let yourself know what scenarios could occur with you and I. My mind will never drift from you. You are endlessly perfect to me. I question why you would possible consider being my friend let alone a step beyond. Where you are flawless, I am riddled with imperfections. I don't know ho-"
Nikolas was cut off abruptly, not by an input put forth by the Queen, but instead her lips. They crashed into his jolting him into the current moment. He deepened the kiss and grasped Elsa's side with his other hand. Using all of his willpower, he did not let himself singe a single fiber of fabric on Elsa's dress. She moved her hands around his neck locking her fingers into his black coarse hair. He finally broke from her and pulled her onto his lap creating a tight embrace. He sensed Elsa's shoulders quivering slightly. He assumed it was due to crying but was taken aback when he heard laughter escaping from her mouth. He pulled back and grabbed onto her blushing bright red cheeks. He placed his forehead against hers joining in with her laughter. He and Elsa giggled continuously for what seemed as ages.
"I am completely and utterly serious, Elsa. Will you enter a relationship with me? I want nothing more than to be by your side as much as possible, to view you beautiful face for hours on end, to be the reason that you laugh and blush for that matter."
Elsa breathed deeply creating a large sigh. Nikolas bit his lip awaiting rejection.
Elsa finally muttered under her breath, "Are you certain that you would like to do this? I mean, I'm not the most open or stable person for that matter. I don't wish to cause you any harm or distress. But I do reciprocate your feelings. I would find it most agreeable to myself for us to begin a courtship, but…" Elsa began to trail off.
Nikolas had heard all that he could possible need. He initiated the second kiss of the night. Elsa finally answered the question he was so longing to ask. It contained the greatest three letters of the entire alphabet.
Hello. Thank you for reading and everything. Please tell me what you think by review or private message. More is to come possibly later tonight or tomorrow.