I do apologize for the extreme tardiness, but I can explain. You see, my laptop is kaput now (something to do with the hard drive and bad areas or something. Now it wouldn't even turn on anymore.), and the only time I had to write was when I'd go online in net caffes. So you could understand my plight when it came to updating this story.
A~aaanywho, wow with the reviews huh! You know at times I think that this story ain't worth jack, and then everytime you guys would remind me that what I think of this story doesn't matter as long as someone is enjoying it.
Oh! And also, ha~aaappy birthday to this fic! Has it really been one year already? Oh mama, where does the time go?
So anyway, to those who are still reading this, and has stuck by me all this time, put up with all my BS, I'd just like to thank you from the deepest chambers of my heart. You make this author really and completely happy with writing Warm Frost & Cold Snow. ^^
Also, Kahnartis, thanks for the wonderful review! Visiting you're page and seeing that you yourself is quite the writer, that's just means 'thank you times two'! I'm glad you like it. And don't worry about Rapunzel; trust me, when I say that a lot of my readers share your sentiment. ^^
Do you know why there's the expression "calm before the storm"? – Gaia
Not really, no. – Jack
It's because storms take time to make, to build up. It's nature's way of getting angry, you see. Here, let me illustrate. Firstly, wind raises her usually gentle voice. After that, dark clouds heavy with unshed rain gather. Sounds of thunder begin to echo all across the sky, then finally, before you've even realized it - the wrath of the earth mother is upon you... The reason the calm exists, Jack, is because before you get angry, you have to breath first. – Gaia
So~ooo, morale of the story is "never get you angry", is that right? – Jack
*Chuckle* *Chuckle* You're a fast learner, young Frost. Good. – Gaia
He was more than just angry; Henry – he was…
Livid.
He might have been able to keep himself checked up until now, but no more. The king of Arendelle saw red, and right then Theodore was in his sights.
Hearing no immediate response, Henry repeated his question even louder than before. Thankfully the walls of the summit sanctuary were thick and no one from the outside could hear his angered yelling. "What is the meaning of this?! Theodore... what. have. you. done?"
"Before you come to things, Henry, there's more to this than what's in front of you." Theodore tried to reason, but there was no calming the king of Arendelle.
"Oh really?" Henry bit back sarcastically as he stepped up to Theodore with his nostrils flared. "And what is it exactly that is in front of me then? Because to me it looks a lot like betrayal!" Then voice dropping into a cold promise, he whispered, "And you know how I feel about traitors."
Theodore actually took a step back at that, not really because he'd been afraid of Henry, but more so because his long time comrade in arms had it in him to threaten. "Henry..." He said faintly, eyes wide with disbelief and no small inch of hurt. "Are you threatening me, Henry?" As Theodore saw no change in Henry's hardened expression it was then that it became clear to him that this was no longer his friend he was talking to. Theodore wipes clean his look of sadness, and straightened his back; the king in him emerging once more. "I will not be threatened in my own home, Henry, so I advise that you choose your words... wisely."
"Hah! You speak of wisdom while proof of your own stupidity stands right there! Don't you speak high and mighty to me, Theodore; your actions are to blame here not mine!"
"And now you mock me?! Why I never -" He was interrupted by the subject of Henry's ire when the smaller brunette wedged himself in between the two grown men, separating them with his arms outstretched on either side.
"Boys, boys!" Jack now entering the conversation as well, tone raised to rise above the two kings' enraged shouting, was the unexpected and tactful voice of reason in this chariot-wreck of a reunion, "Now I know that we're all feeling very manly today with all the yelling and the neck veins popping," (okay, so not so much on tact, but still the voice of reason), "but I think you guys are forgetting that you're not the only ones in here." Finished reprimanding, his eyes traverse over the vast expanse of luxurious rosewood table, towards a princess trying her darndest keeping her back straight as she sat, and not let her shoulders hunch over in fear of all the testosterone that bogged the air.
To remain calm though through the emotions and the almost electrical atmosphere, proved to be a task most tedious indeed. She tried to remember her lessons: what to do in dealing with situations such as this one. It was a lot harder said than done, however, when the source of your discomfort happened to be two very powerful kings, and even more so when one of said kings happened to be your own father. And also her lessons didn't exactly cover this particular happenstance.
Both Henry and Theodore follow Jack's meaningful gaze, and their eyes softened immediately at how tightly Elsa clutched at the front of her long skirt despite her efforts in pretending the situation hadn't bothered her. Theodore was the first one to back off, then Henry.
"Elsa, go to your room." Henry said monotonously, not quite ready to give up his anger just yet, but willing enough to put it to one side for the sake of his daughter.
"B-But -" Feeling and not wanting to be babied, Elsa tried to protest, but was cut short the moment Henry pointed his steely gaze at her, telltale that his words brokered no argument. All she could do was bow her head in submission. "Yes, father." She stood as regally as she could, and walked as regally as she could, but there was no denying the shaken, subtle trembling of her limbs. She stopped in front of the kings of Corona and Arendelle, and politely bid farewell; after all just because everyone felt the need to be barbarians at the moment didn't mean she had to be one as well. "I will take my leave then, thank you King Theodore for having me. It was an honor and a pleasure."
The girl had been raised well, Theodore couldn't help but think. Always so graceful. Theodore's demeanor softened further, reminded of his own daughter. He was just sorry that she had to see what she did. If only the impending fight could have been avoided, Theodore would have been more than delighted to have praised her on how instrumental she had been in this year's summit, but alas, now was not the time. "It was an honor for me as well, princess. I do so hope to see you in next year's summit as well, Elsa."
Elsa frowned subtly, and diverted her gaze towards somewhere in front of her in a melancholic thousand yard stare. "A kind sentiment, your highness, but I don't think I'll be attending summits any time soon." She said with no hint of emotion.
Her words had Jack cringing because he was pretty sure that she had meant them exactly for him to hear, and he'd not failed to notice also how Elsa was absolutely ignoring him.
Honestly, Jack thought he'd be used to it by now, but seeing Elsa again, talking to her, spending time with her, and then having her walk out of his life, it was like the scar of dereliction had never healed. Jack resisted calling out to the blonde princess, to explain, but simply put... there was nothing to explain. For the first time in forever, this situation had been one of the most truthful there had ever been in his life. There were no shadows or hidden agendas, just the truth, and its truth was a simple one - Jack lied to her.
She walked past him, and he didn't even turn, having not the stomach to look her in the eyes.
The quiet click of heels, a curtsy, and the door closing, is what told of the blonde princess's departure. And with just the three of them now, Henry was quick to round on Theodore once more, ready to continue the theme from earlier on. "You have sixty seconds to explain why the man I have been looking for, for the past eleven years is in this room!"
"You dare raise your voice at me -"
"Fifty-eight seconds!"
Theodore opened his mouth to retort, but a halting hand on his shoulder had him paused. "Theodore, let me handle this. Just go... please." Jack pled with him in a soft voice.
"NO! I don't need you to do this for me, Jack. I am more than capable in handling this - this -" He was having trouble coming up with a good insult. "This pasty faced, weak mustachioed man. I -"
"And I can see that," Jack interrupted him again, unfazed by his screaming. "but I'm not doing this for you, I'm doing this for me. It has to be me, Theodore." He gave a short pause for emphasis. "Just me... and nobody else."
There had been hesitation at first, but eventually Theodore had relented whence he'd looked more closely into Jack's eyes and saw the deep pain within them. Jack was right; this was not his fight. So with one last glare at the other king, Theodore silently, but grudgingly, made his way out of the room.
"And my mustache is not weak! You could only wish you had a mustache as majestic as mine!" Henry had his voice chase after the brunette before silence took its rightful place in their midst again.
And so there were two...
Jack turned from the door where Theodore had left, and was met immediately with the deepest frown on anybody's face he had ever seen. "Don't you know, if you keep your face like that, it'd get stuck that way?"
Henry just kept on frowning at him, not amused in the slightest.
'Yeah, I don't know why I said that. Henry's already pissed off enough as it is. Good job, Jack!' He reprimanded himself. Oh, how he wished they could have met under better circumstances. Nope, that was a lie; if Jack had his way then he would have wished it more that he wasn't here at all. But that was not the case now. Oh well, the conversation had to start somewhere.
"How could you?"
The question had the carpenter looking up, and Jack didn't know what he should say.
"How could you?" Again Henry asked but sounding sadder this time than merely just angry. "We've searched for you for..." He breathed in deeply. "so long. Couldn't you have, at least, told us where you were, just to put us at ease?"
Jack quieted for a while as what Theodore had said to him before was beginning to sound more and more believable now that it was coming from Henry himself. 'They have been looking for me.' Guilt-ridden, Jack hesitated before speaking again. "I'm sorry, Henry, really I am. I'm sorry that I made you guys worry about me, but in my defense, I had no idea you've been looking for me for so long."
Henry's voice rose again to the point that it broke not unlike a pubescent teenager's would. "Theodore's work no doubt! I can't believe that man! Hiding you all this time - why I never! Of all the backstabbing, no good, little -" Henry was way past the point of furious now, and as the blame kept piling on, Henry couldn't see Jack looking guiltier and guiltier by the second, until -
"Henry. STOP!" Jack yelling at him had been something of a surprise, and Henry hadn't been the only one who thought so; Jack himself looked shocked at his own outburst and was swift to recoil, eyes down towards his boots. Then, more mindful of his tone, "Don't blame Theodore for what he did. He was only doing what I asked him to." he said.
Raising a kingly brow, The king of Arendelle didn't look at all believing, and asked with much sarcasm, "Wait, are you telling me that you actually asked Theodore to keep my search for you a secret from... yourself? So, wait then - you knew I was looking for you?"
Jack was about to reply when he stalled, mouth open looking like he had something to say but simply dropped the words. He stuttered with no quick answer. "W-Well, no, I didn't ask him to -"
"Well then, what?" His gaze was intense on the carpenter, and the pressure of his questions had Jack gripping the armrest of a nearby chair just so not to whither.
This was it, Jack guessed - the biggest nail on the coffin he was so intently trying to build for himself. Jack took in one final whiff of the stuffy air to help ready himself, and that same breath wheezed out of him, making his modest frame look a whole lot smaller.
Then finally after so long - the truth.
"I asked him... to hide me." And immediately the room felt like a few degrees just fell through the floor.
'No. No it can't be.' Henry kept telling himself. "You asked him to -..." He didn't finish as the revelation that it hadn't been Theodore, but Jack all along that didn't want him knowing his whereabouts, ripped the oxygen right out of his lungs. To describe the rattling in his rib cage, it was like Henry had been kicked in the chest by the one man he believed, beyond the shadow of a doubt, would stand by him no matter what. All this time, Jack wasn't lost; he was hiding.
Anger's long nails sunk deep.
"WHY?!" Henry demanded, yet was not favored with an answer in return. "WHY?!" He asked again even louder, and still Jack gave no answer, but to the man who would look closer would see the carpenter begin to falter. Sadly, Henry right then was not that man. "Answer me, damn it! Wh -"
The kettle that had been simmering for the past eleven years had finally come to a boil, and all the pressure that Jack had held on to for so long finally burst forth in a whistle, one long and loud."Why the hell does it even matter WHY?! I mean, why should you even care?! So what? I was hiding, but isn't that what you wanted? - for me not to come back? I thought you'd be happy by now; happy that I'm not there anymore to ruin everything. I thought you wanted me gone! I thought -" Something inside Jack just snapped, and with a violent heave through the nose he let out a loud roar and spun around, wildly swinging his arms in arcs, like thwarting an invisible foe. He cursed at Henry, at himself, at nothing, at everything, at everyone, and at no one, until his hands shook and had come to settle on his scalp, fingers running through his coppery brown hair in desperate attempts to calm his frayed self.
For once Henry was silent, stunned for words at the sheer display of anger from the normally calm as ice Jack Frost.
And quiet followed as it always had.
With the deafening silence that embraced them, Jack had cooled some; his fury nothing more than embers now. He situated his hands upon the wall to support himself, and the sound of his labored breathing filled the room. There had been a moment before Jack spoke again, his words quiet and sad this time, "You kicked me out, Henry" he said. "Can you really blame me for thinking what I did?"
"I -" Yes, that was right. He had been the one to kick him out. What power had he to ask Jack these questions? What right did he have to be angry? Yet still he tried to defend himself; to deny the truth, "I never asked you to leave." He reasoned when he knew he very well did.
Jack turned towards Henry with a sad smile on his face and eyes shiny with unshed tears. "No, Henry... you did; maybe not with words, but... you did."
Every affectation he had had all but crumbled when the truth of it began to settle. This... this was his fault. He drove him into this. There was no one left there to blame but himself. Henry's eyes had wondered towards his shoes, eyes wide and browse furrowed with the effort to not accept the reality of his actions. But it was no use.
"It was probably for the best though..."
The king of Arendelle's attention quickly snapped back towards Jack, surprised at what he just heard. 'For the best? what could he possibly mean by that?' Was he being sarcastic?, Henry thought. No, looking at Jack more closely, Henry could tell that he wasn't.
His smile was genuine this time, seeing the confused look on his friend's face, and in a voice with an undertone of happy, Jack tried t explain. "If you never kicked me out, I could have never rescued Rapunzel. She would still be stuck in that tower, Corona would still be miserable, and... I would have gone on living without ever knowing my fiancé."
"F-Fiance?" Henry's brain stuck for a bit at that little tidbit of information, but soon the dots became clear, and slowly began to connect. Henry was quickly reminded of his and the other kings talk earlier that day. 'Why that sneaky son of a -'
"Uh...Surprise!" Jack asked more than exclaimed. For the span of the entire conversation, to the brunette, this had been the first time he'd actually felt more embarrassed than anything.
"Surprise" didn't even cover it. It was only then that Henry began to realize how much Theodore had prepared for this moment. The devious bastard even made sure to cover all his bases way before the game began. But as frustrating as it was, Henry would give Theodore this - he knew how to play the game well. Henry still had to curse him though. "Bastard." He said under his breath as he sunk dejectedly into a nearby chair, far too tired than the young night actually entailed.
Jack chuckled, not mistaking who Henry was cussing at, at the moment, "Yeah-p." popping the "p" as he groaned sitting on a chair next to the other man. "That's what I said when I figured out what he was trying to do too. That and a, uh... couple of other less gentlemanly things. But he's just like you, you know? Only doing what he thinks is right."
Jack placed his hands between his knees, steepling them as the two men sat marinading in what felt like pots full of awkward. There was only the sound of a grandfather clock to fill in the stillness; it's ticking giving an audible measure of how long the silence stretched on. In that time Jack just observed Henry, and watched the myriad of emotions that flittered across his face until it settled on just one...
...Regret.
Henry's entire figure just crumbled the way he placed his elbows on his knees hunched over while both hands covered his face. And to Jack, it never became more apparent just how old his friend had become. "Henry -"
"I'm so sorry, Jack. I am... so, so sorry."
Jack's eyebrows rose past his bangs, but not because of Henry's words, no, but more by the way he said them. As king, Henry was never one for apologies. Looking at him now though - so lost, Jack could barely recognize the man he'd met in that fateful quarry. And the figure he cut just then, dredged up something within Jack, an old loyalty that never did quite fade. "You did what you had to, Henry, and I can never blame you for being a good king."
"A good king." Henry chuckled humorlessly through his fingers before raising his head. "A good king would have never banished his own brother."
"Henry -" The brunette tried to stop him from cutting the old wound even deeper, but Henry needed to say it. After all, wounds could only truly heal once it's been cleansed.
"No, Jack, this..." He breathed in. "... this needs to be said."
So Jack waited, fretfully expectant.
"I... have made many mistakes in my life, but one I thought I would never do is to drive away a friend. And now... it's the greatest mistake I have ever made."
"But - But it's wasn't a mistake! If I'd stayed, it would have made things worse for Arendelle, for Elsa. Henry, you were right. You were right all along!" Jack tried again to spare his friend from the pain he was inflicting upon himself, unable to withstand the words himself, but -
Slowly, like what he had to say weighed heavier than the words could ever carry, he whispered. "No... No, I wasn't. I never was. And I realized that significant truth right the next day when you never returned to the castle." To prove his point, he shared with him an observation he's had but kept to himself for so long. Henry smiled sadly at the floor, reminiscing of a time where things were a lot less complicated. "You know... I remember a time when Elsa smiled more; how her dimples would show and her nose scrunch up in the most charming way." The smile he was wearing then fell all together, reminded once more of his folly. "Now the only smiles I've seen from her are either fake or forced..."
Henry's voice dropped an octave as guilt dragged his tongue down to the bottom of his mouth. Just forming the words proved to be no easy task, but his majesty carried on, determined in seeing things through.
"... and her smiles... have been fake for the past eleven years."
"Oh, Elsa..." Jack said, so full of sorrow as gravity felt like it had increased on him and threatened to pull him down onto the floor. "... eleven years..." Then he remembered something, "But - But the dust! The dust should have worked. She shouldn't," He corrected, "She can't remember me!" exclaiming as if forbidding Elsa to remember him.
"Oh, rest assured, she does not; her memories of you are all but forgotten, but what you fail to realize..." He stopped, thinking to rephrase. "What I failed to realize is that you left something with us, something more than just mere memories. And no matter how much the magic dust, it can never be erased. John Gibbs can never be erased."
It was just so that Jack hadn't been the only one who'd been holding in his emotions, and as the words poured out from the king's guts, so did a tear from his eye. Then the words he had been meaning to say an eternity ago fell from his lips.
"And I can never be sorry enough for ever even trying. Please, Jack... please come back to us." He begged, earnest to his very bones.
It was like the world had come to a stand still when what Jack had come to believe ever since he'd left Arendelle was just proven wrong by two simple words: come back. They wanted him back, to go home. He could go home... The feeling was indescribable...
But it was already too late.
"I... can't Henry, even if... even if I wanted to."
Henry was more than just crestfallen, devastated more like. "And you want to, don't you?" He asked but still fearful of the answer, especially with how Jack had not met him gaze for gaze.
Slowly, Jack shook his head - no.
Nerves settle, and the fear of not knowing finally subsides as Jack's minute gesture told him everything he needed to know. It calmed him, but not in a good way.
That was it, he guessed, the pinnacle of what he had started all those years ago, and Henry could do nothing about it, not for the lack of what's to be done, but because it looked like Jack didn't want him to do anything to get him back. This was his home now.
But that didn't mean he still had to lose his friend.
"Are you happy here?"
The question didn't sound sharp or accusing even though Jack thought it should've been, and the concern that hinted at the edges of his words took the ex-Arendellian aback. "W-What?"
"In Corona, here, are you happy?" Henry asked again in that same tone.
Jack wasn't too sure if he should answer that. Would Henry be mad if he said yes? Would he be glad if he said no? He sounded genuine when he'd asked whether or not he was happy though so maybe the question was only because he wanted to know? But even then, rarely did such simple questions have simple answers. 'No,' Jack thought resolutely. 'the truth this time. No more lies for today.'
So smiling that fond smile, Jack spoke, surety in his words clear as day. "Yes."
There were a million reactions that Jack had been expecting, an entire smorgasbord of negativity, but... when Henry smiled along with him, well that, that was one reaction he had not seen coming.
"Then that makes me glad, at least."
"Hu-wha-, wait, it does?"
Acceptance was not easy to come by, but if Henry intended to recover what's left of their friendship, then he had to come to the reality that Jack was no longer Arendelle's to keep. He sighed, as all the tension finally left him, and his shoulders sagged. "Yes. After what I put you though, it's the least that I could ask for on your behalf... my friend." He smiled kindly at Jack.
'My friend?' Jack already had water in his eyes, but he'd be damned if he would let them fall. He was a man, and manly men did not cry! They still trailed down his cheeks though. Manly tears then, Jack rationalized. It was okay if they were manly tears. "Damn it, man! Now you got something in my eye!" Jack rubbed furiously at his tears, pretending that it was dust, and not... none manly things that got him all sappy.
"*A-Ahem* Yeah, *cough* me too." More discreetly, Henry mirrored Jack's actions. "But enough of that. So what have I been missing, eh, John? What have you been up to all this time? Nothing too bad I hope!" Henry laughed at his own joke, feeling lighter than ever before. He may not have been able to convince Jack to return, but now, at least, the closure he had sought after for so long was finally with him, and now all that's left was him and a dear friend.
They had some catching up to do.
"Well, if you count getting myself turned into a prince as 'not too bad', then no. Everything's pretty normal." Jack felt happier now as well, and slowly the two sunk into a familiar feeling of brotherhood as the conversation went on well into the eves of the night.
Elsa set a quick pace towards the guestrooms, not even looking where she was going because only one visit was all it took for her to know already the general lay of the castle. Her gaze, instead was glued on to the floor as an angered expression marred her beautiful face.
'I can't believe him! And all this time I thought that I... I - UGH! That-... that, man! I can't believe that man!' Elsa muttered in her head.
'Hey now, maybe he had reasons, you know? Maybe he -' Alter-Elsa tried to pacify, but Elsa was having none of it.
"NO! Don't even try. The man lied; plain and simple."
'Well, maybe he just-, just... Oh, who am I kidding?! The guy's a jerk, a fraud, a phony, the top of the class A-hole!' Alter-Elsa blew up all of a sudden, unable to forgo her own anger any longer. Then her voice coming out a hush sound, 'I should have known better.' she said almost dejectedly.
Elsa paused right outside her door once the words reached her and hung at the lapels of her thoughts like sad wind-chimes... and her heart all but sank. "...I should have known better." She repeated with a heavy heart before entering her chambers.
Feeling tired and betrayed, Elsa aimed straight for her bed and plopped down on its downy covers with a loud "Mmf" intent on sleeping the entire summit away locked in the guestroom, council be damned. Sleep, however, eluded her as time and again her thoughts continued to swirl around a certain herald, or was it carpenter? "Backstabber's more like it!" The princess mumbled into her pillow.
This wasn't really working. Elsa realized that she needed to calm down first if ever she'd want to get some shut eye. So taking a few short breaths through the nose, she did as best she could to still the ripples in her mind, and what remained of her anger was now but an empty feeling under her breast. Elsa curled herself around her fluffy pillow, hugging it firmly against her before letting out a sad, almost longing, sigh.
'Yeah, I know the feeling.' The none-person put in helpfully. 'He was perfect: handsome, smart, maybe a bit of a smart ass but... kind, in his own way.' Alter-Elsa sighed as well, truly forlorn. 'Why, oh, why, did he have to go and be such a dou-'
Sitting up on her bed as if to address her inner voice, Elsa quickly interrupted her before she'd had the chance to finish her rather crude question. 'What on earth are you babbling about?'
'Him - Bob, or John, or whatever; he would've been perfect for you.'
Though it be but a humble observation, for some reason the statement upset her. "A lying, conniving man such as him is not and will never be 'perfect'," She spat out the word like it was something bitter to the tongue. "for me, or is any other man for that matter. I've never needed anyone. I've never needed Bob before, and I don't need him now. I'm perfectly fine on my own."
Surprisingly, what all her imaginary ghost had to say to her more than haughty boast was a weak 'Yeah...', a long pause then a defeated 'Okay.'
It looked like Elsa hadn't been the only one affected by John's little ruse; Alter-Elsa didn't even have it in her anymore to argue. Elsa almost felt sorry for her. Almost. After all, this was her fault to begin with - putting all that nonsense in her head; making her want more than she was willing to ask for.
'It's still pretty sad though...'
Her words cut through the haze Elsa had worked herself in that she had to blink herself back into focus.
'I mean, he was so nice...' Alter-Elsa, a dazed tone to her voice, smiled, musing ever so wistfully of what could have been that if only she had a face, or a head for that matter, Elsa was willing enough to bet that she'd be looking out the window a might bit dramatically right then to add to the effect. 'I really thought that I...' Then her tone went empty and her smile had gone. 'I guess I was wrong.'
She didn't say anymore, not wanting to award it anymore thought than it deserved.
To reply - there was really nothing to say because even a princess as cold and unfeeling as she had to admit that it was sad, and he really was nice...
So nice.
Elsa laid back down on the bed, not to sleep, not yet, but instead to simply stare mournfully at the ceiling. So many emotions, so many thoughts ran through her, too many to grasp and too slippy to get a firm grips on. 'How', 'whys', and 'whats', buzzed like busy bees in her head; questions like: who was Bob, how did her father know him, how could he have tricked her, kept the princess awake.
A loud yawn which she discovered was from herself broke the suffocating silence of the room.
"You're tired; you should sleep. Let's just... stop thinking about him, 'kay?"
That must've been the most sensible thing she had suggested ever since this morning, and all that talking to herself must have been exactly what Elsa had needed, because this time, the princess of Arendelle was fast asleep even before she could pull the covers over her.
The king and Jack were just coming down a round of raucous laughter. Henry had almost forgotten what a hoot his friend was. Oh the memories. But no more lamentations for today. Now was a time for new memories.
"You did that? Really?" Henry asked, the mirth in his voice making him sound younger.
"Mhm, you should have seen Theodore's face. I guess when he told me to go help Rapunzel out with some of her work, he didn't mean to go outside and play. What could I say? Fun is me being helpful, and helpful is me being fun." Jack smiled mischievously. "In the end, we weren't able to get anything done, and the next day we had to sit through double the stacks of paperwork." Breathing out tiredly, it was almost like he'd been talking about something that's happened just recently, and not something that's happened two months ago. "Man, who knew being a princess was so hard? All those documents to sign, people to manage, all that for one person? Are you kidding me?" He paused just leaning on the high back of his chair. "It was worth it though."
Henry could see, his friend's almost invisible smirk; no doubt thinking about his girl. He guessed that Jack really has moved on.
"Yes, ruling could be difficult at times." Henry agreed, ignoring the sad thought.
Sounding a bit hesitant, Henry couldn't really tell, Jack asked him as casually as he could, "Why? Is Elsa having trouble?"
A laugh, but not one that was amused, sounded in the room, tone almost exasperated. "No. In fact, she quite enjoys performing her princess duties - a little too much, if you ask me." Henry scratched at his brow; a soothing mechanism he'd developed over the years.
"But isn't that a good thing?"
"It is, but... Jack, it's all she does now. She doesn't take time to pause, she doesn't play, she doesn't go out of the castle, she doesn't talk to anyone besides me and Diana. She just -"
"Not even Anna?" Jack cut in, his voice already leaning towards unkempt.
Heaving his shoulders to breath past the lump in his throat, Henry was pained to admit it. "Not even Anna."
"Ever?"
A solemn shake of the head was his confirmation.
Jack sat stumped. He knew Elsa's changed, but... not this much that she could already deny her normally irresistible sister. Slow, and dawning, a heartbreaking acceptance, "Oh... Wow." was all he had to say. "She... She really isn't my Elsa anymore is she?"
To smile now would be odd and not what one would expect with the grim topic they so chose to tapper with, but Henry smiled anyway. "Now you see, that's where I think you're wrong. I believe that she still is very much your Elsa."
Jack scoffed and rolled his eyes at the suggestion, "Yeah right. I don't think I remember Elsa being such a bi -" Jack was thinking of saying something very inappropriate but swerved slightly at Henry's warning glare. "- bitter person. I meant to say 'a bitter person', Henry. I mean, did you see her? I may be Jack Frost , but even I'm not immune to the cold shoulder, and let me tell ya - Elsa's got a pretty mean cold shoulder."
"Oh, come now, Jack, that wasn't a cold shoulder, that was a, um, more of a, uh -" Henry actually had to pause to think of something even remotely believable, and though it was supposed to sound convincing, it ended up sounding questionable. "- friendly dusting off the shoulder."
In turn, the brunette just gave him a flat look.
"Okay so maybe not, but can you blame her? No one likes to play the fool, Jack, and as proud a woman as Elsa is, that goes double for her. No, no. Triple. However, that doesn't change the fact that under all that ice and cold, Elsa is still somewhere in there."
Despite trying not to, Jack turned his head to look at Henry, a glimmer of hope in his steely, cobalt blue eyes.
"And only you can find her." Henry finished.
Jack sighed for what must have been the umpteenth time their entire conversation, and he pointed his eyes towards the floor, not wanting to see the look of disappointment on his friend's face whence he'd deny him for what also must've been the umpteenth time.
It wasn't that he didn't want to help, it was just that he couldn't, just couldn't bring himself to return to Arendelle even for a reason as important as Elsa, not after so long.
"Henry, I already told you, I'm not going ba -"
"And I'm not asking you to. I'm not asking you to leave Corona, but would it kill you to come visit Arendelle from time to time?" Henry asked, clearly desperate.
Visit. Jack wouldn't say that the thought had never ever crossed his mind before, but every time that it did, Jack always made sure to dismiss it, believing that he was no longer needed, let alone wanted in Arendelle. To hear now from Henry himself speak the very suggestion, it left Jack in a state of limbo of whether or not it was a good idea.
Henry could see Jack's eyes shift a cautionary back-and-forth and then back again as he weighed his options, all the pros and cons to the simple proposition, and having a hard time about it. Though Henry had been compelling, the king new just by looking Jack in the eyes that 'compelling' was not going to be enough. Luckily for him though, through his years of handling peasants and nobles alike, he knew just the thing to tip the scales to his favor.
'A little bit of guilt never hurt anyone.' He thought, underhanded as it may be. "Your father misses you, you know?"
At that, Jack could not help but be more attentive; the very mention of his name's sake deepening the ache he felt in his heart. Jack looked at his friend, stricken.
"He misses his son." Henry decided to press his point further, feeling that Jack was just about to crack. Sensing victory so close at hand, it actually had Henry smiling, beaming even. Coining a little bit more flare for drama this time, Henry finished with a flourish that would've made Anna proud, "Now how could you deny an old man the sight of his boy, Jack. I mean, I know that you could be cruel at times, but you're not heartless."
"Oh, shaddup. Don't you even think that I don't know what you're trying to do here, Henry, because I do. Might I remind you that I know all your little tricks, 'cuz most of'em, yeah, most of them you learned from me, mister guilt-trip."
Henry just chuckled, not even denying it.
The disgruntled brunette tried to be mad, but he wasn't half as much as he wanted to be, because truth be told, he did indeed miss his father, all hundred and eighty pounds of him.
"Well?" Henry urged when Jack took too long to answer.
"I... I don't know, Henry. I don't think it's a good idea."
"'Not a good idea'? Well I guess that's good then, after all, you like not-good-ideas, don't you Jack?" Undeterred, Henry smiled because he could already hear in Jack's tone that he'd already made his decision and was just stalling now. And at how he was still making half-hearted excuses made Henry confident.
"Henry... what if... what if they hate me now? After I abandoned them, I just... I don't think they'd want to see me again." Barely just above a whisper, Jack confessed what really was stopping him from making a decision.
The king leaned back on his chair when the meaning of Jack's worries bore like heavy lead upon his conscience. Henry knew what Jack was talking about and could only sympathize. His friend used to be so loved; the most favored son of Arendelle; a paragon of justice, mercy and grace to the people. One could only imagine the guilt that ran through him that night he had to leave them all, his beloved Arendelle. There's no wonder why he was so hesitant.
But Henry had faith in Jack.
Heart going out to the carpenter, Henry's features softened. "Jack, I believe if there was ever anyone who is able to win the love of his people, lose it, and get it back again, it would be you. And don't you ever say that you abandoned us, because you know well enough that I know well enough that that... is not true." He said with such vindication. "So really, there's nothing for you to worry about."
Jack exhaled tiredly, and along with his breath did his shoulders sag. How he let out a breathy chuckle, it was clear that Henry already had him. "You're never going to stop bugging me about this, are you?" He asked almost amused.
An age old question indeed, and one the both of them know was unnecessary to ask but did anyway for old time's sake.
"I think you know me well enough to know the answer to that question, Jack." Henry replied in kind, playing along to the very old, unwritten script.
The king and the carpenter grinned at the familiarity of their conversation, and Jack had to shake his head free of the nostalgia that echoed back years. "So that's a - hell no! - right?"
"Naturally."
"Pfft, naturally, my ass." Unimpressed, Jack retorted with a good-natured rolling of the eyes at his friend's hackneyed old catch phrase.
They both laughed as loud as only best friends could.
As they were coming down from their high, Jack spoke again but more strictly this time. "One visit. That's all."
"Of course."
When Jack had said so suddenly that it was only going to be the one time, he was actually hoping to catch Henry off guard so that he'd perhaps be more agreeable. Based off how Henry replied so quickly, however, it sounded like he would've said yes either way. And that caught Jack off guard.
Jack went to repeat himself just in case Henry hadn't heard him clearly, and also to dissuade any plot, plan, or scheme he might have for him. Kings, after all, were really good at those, and Jack could never be too careful. "I'm serious, Henry. One - that's all your getting."
"I understand." Henry again said just as simply.
Jack's tone was as wary as they came when he spoke again. "Alright then... Just wanted to clear that up." He looked at Henry, doubtful that the man really did understand. "Okay, just to make sure, u~uuuh - you do know what 'one' means, right?"
"Yes, Jack, I know what 'one' means." The king laughed, amused at how bewildered his friend was. But truly the man had nothing to fear; Henry knew better than to negotiate right now, and honestly, he knew also that one visit was more than he could ever ask for from his friend. At the same time, however, he knew that though Jack tried to hide it, it was rather obvious that some part of his heart still beats for Arendelle; Henry knew that one visit wasn't going to be enough for him, or for Jack, and it was this fact that Henry was counting on to change the brunette's mind.
Either way, Henry was thankful. "Thank you for this, Jack. Thank you for giving me a chance."
Jack didn't know what was there left to say except, "You're welcome."
And so the carpenter, the herald, the consort, the emissary... the exile smiled the purest he had ever had as finally years and years of closeted pains and hurts were buried and laid to rest through words of gratitude.
Exhausted beyond words yet relieved still, the two men sank back comfortably on their plushy chairs with their eyes closed, marveling at how clean the air they now breathed.
It was only when Henry started snoring loudly did Jack decide that they'd had a long day and was about time that they call it quits. Not so gently Jack kicked at the king's seat, effectively jostling the man out of his light slumber.
"Huh, what? No, no, of course not, duke, no one thinks your mustache is feminine at all."
Jack chuckled at the absurdity of his sleepy friend. "Well, I'm not the duke, but I'll make sure to tell him that you said so."
"*Yawn*, huh? Jack?"
"Yep, it's me buddy. Come on, get up; you need to get to your room and sleep some of this drama off you."
Henry yawned one more time, brain still lagging behind a bit. "Right, right." Henry gave in as he stood up and stretched both his arms to the side. The duo went for the exit, one destination in mind until Henry unexpectedly spoke up again. "Say, Jack, tomorrow, do you know what's left to talk about at the summit?"
The question was a little random and actually made Jack raise a brow at the king, but still he answered his question. "We'll still have to talk about trade relations tomorrow, and then after that we'll discuss exchanges in currency. When that's done all that's left is a little bit of schmoozing since most of the important stuff we already handled today. Why'd ya ask?"
"No reason. Well anyway, I'm this way." Henry pointed towards one of the corridors that led to his room.
"Yeah, and I'm that way." Jack replied, pointing the other way.
Farewells were never pleasant, but in this case it was fond. Henry put a hand on Jack's shoulder and gave it a firm squeeze. "Good talk today, Jack."
Jack just nodded. "So I guess I'll see you tomorrow?"
Henry was already walking away when he replied with a nonchalant, "Perhaps."
It was such a little word, and most people would have passed it off. Jack, however, couldn't help but feel... unsettled by his answer. In the end, the tired brunette just chalked it up to fatigue and paranoia. Switching focus to something else that concerned Jack more, he called out instead. "Henry."
"Yes?" Turning back to look at Jack, he asked.
There was a stutter of doubt before Jack dared speak again. "Can you tell Elsa..." Why was it so hard to talk all of a sudden? Jack couldn't help but ask himself.
Henry was greatly intrigued when his daughter's name came up all of a sudden and wanted to coax as to why that was. "Tell her what, Jack?"
His eyes might have been hidden under his bangs, but Henry could almost see a sort of sad desperation within them. "That I'm... sorry."
After the initial shock had gone, Henry smiled at him indulgently, "Of course, master Gibbs." and went back to walking. This time he didn't stop when Jack began yelling him instructions across the hall.
Hands on either side of his mouth, Jack didn't think at all of how loud he was being. "I'm not kidding! You've got to really sell it, okay? If you could throw in some tears in there, that would be great too! Henry? HEY HENRY, did you hear me okay? Henry!"
Henry just barked out a loud laugh before finally disappearing around the corner.
Hundreds of dark figures floated above the clouds making for a maelstrom unlike any other, but two stood out amongst the writhing mass of ebony; one tall and sallow, the other shrouded in a cloak so dark it almost looked empty.
"I am ready." The one in the cloak said. "Tell me, Pitch where are they now?"
"In Corona." was the tall man's curt reply.
"We need to draw them out. It was already difficult for me to gather all this power, and even harder to maintain it. Hurry, bring them here."
"A bit over the top, if you'd ask me." Pitch disenchantedly criticized. "Why must you do all this for only two people?"
Laughing one so haunting that it chilled even the Nightmare King to the bone, the cloaked shadow replied matter-of-factly. "If you want fear, my dear, there could never be such a thing as 'over the top'. Now, why don't you be a good boy and bring them to me?"
Far too afraid of the smaller person to test their patience, Pitch kept his tone just bellow respectful this time when he replied. "No need, they're already on their way."
From under the cloak's heavy hood, menacingly beautiful ivory teeth showed in the most devious of grins. "Outstanding."
A bright flash of lightning and soon a loud bang ripped its way through the sky.
*Bang!* *Bang!* *Bang!*
Elsa bolted upright from her bed, finding her bun had come undone in all her tossing and turning. A nightmare it would seem, the first one she's had the entire summit, woke her up. For the life of her, however, she couldn't seem to remember what it was, and Elsa felt that she should've been thankful that she didn't.
*Bang!* *Bang!* *Bang!*
Jumping at the sound, Elsa realized that someone was knocking on her door rather loudly, and she got up to answer it as quickly as she could, sensing its urgency. The last thing she expected to see once she opened the heavy piece of wood, however, was the smiling face of her father. "Da - Father, what's wrong? Did something happen?" She asked concerned.
"Yes. Something good. You didn't change into your pajamas, Excellent. Quickly, pack your bags; we're going home."
O~ooo conflict, don't you just love conflict?
Guess what happens next, I dare you!