Chapter 35

Turn Away

"What are we going to do now?" Anna pants as we walk past fields of snow.

"We need to find a place that is trustworthy and safe and has valuable reinforcements," I say.

"Corona?" Anna says. "I'm sure Queen Rapunzel and King Eugene would help us."

"Oh, Corona!" Olaf says. "I've always loved the idea of a place like that . . . all that sun and all those flowers. . . ."

I consider the idea. I remember the messenger from Corona inviting us to his land. I'd forgotten about that. Would the king and queen still welcome us if we turned up on their doorstep? "It's possible. We'd need a ship, though."

"You're the Queen of Arendelle," Kristoff says. "Finding a ship can't be too hard."

My reputation has grown ever since it was revealed I have powers, that's for sure.

"All right," I say. "We'll travel to the border of Arendelle, find a ship, and sail to Corona, where we'll ask for reinforcements to take back Arendelle."

"Sounds like a plan," Jack says, floating beside me. "How far away is the border exactly?"

"Not far," Ash says. "Only about a day away."

I glance at Ash; he looks terrible, sick with worry about Asta. I, too, am wondering what they are doing to her. At least we got the others out all right.

We reach the border of Arendelle in less time than Ash estimated. I suppose we're all so eager to get reinforcements and get back to our home that we walk faster. That's one thing in our favor.

My mind has been whirling with all the things King Jarl had said last night. His crazy words. How he thought the trolls were evil. How he thought us magic-users were destined for something more.

I definitely don't believe what he says about the trolls . . . but about destiny? I'm not sure.

Kristoff was right. It's easy for us to find a boat. I promise the man who sells it to us that I'll pay him double what he was selling it for. He's seems ecstatic about it. I almost turn around to tell Kai to make a note of this transaction when I realize I'm not in the castle. Kai isn't here.

We board the ship, and soon we're moving fast across the water.

As I stare back at Arendelle, the shore quickly receding, a horrible thought comes to me: What if it's better this way? To just leave Arendelle in King Jarl's hands, to make a new life in Corona. To not have to worry about queenly pressures, or worry about taking back my kingdom, or worry about my people. Wouldn't that be nice?

Don't think that way, Elsa. You swore that you'd protect your people. You can't turn back now.

You can't turn back now.

"Elsa." There's a knock on my door, and I open my eyes to see it open, and Jack enter.

"Hi," I mumble, still sleepy. The rolling, rocking of the ship almost lulls me back to sleep.

He stares around at the small quarters I was given and says, "Hi."

"Is something wrong? Do you need something?"

"No," he says. "I just . . . wanted to talk."

"About what?" I sit up in my bed, and rub my eyes. Jack leans against the wall, holding his staff.

"About what . . . King Jarl said. Do you think it's true? Do you think we're gifted? That we're meant for something more?"

"Isn't everyone?" I say. "We all have our different talents . . . maybe what you have and what I have and what Ash has are just different variations of a talent."

"They're not natural, though," Jack says, "and that makes us different."

I frown. "Is it so wrong to be different?"

"I guess not," he says, "but sometimes it makes life more difficult." He sighs and rubs a hand through his hair. "Elsa . . . I just wish everything was normal for me. I love my powers, but I'd trade them out in a heartbeat if it meant people could see me, hear me, feel me."

"I know what it's like to be alone," I say.

"No, not like this," he says. "You've never felt like this. Can you imagine no one being able to see you? Can you imagine that, Elsa?"

"No, I can't," I say, "but I've been through hard things, too."

"You don't understand! You don't understand what this is like for me!"

"Is this what you came in here for?" I ask, standing up, a bit angry. "So you could spill all your stupid complaints out to me in hopes that I'll have a pity party for you?"

"No . . ." Jack swallows.

"Then why are you here, Jack?"

"Because — "

"No, I mean, why are you here? With me?"

"I love you, Elsa."

"Do you? Do you really?" I let out a hysterical laugh. "You don't even know me!"

Jack takes a step back, hurt flooding over his face. "I do know you," he says. "You're beautiful and smart and amazing."

"And lonely," I say, "and cold, and bitter, and angry."

"That's not the real you, though," Jack whispers. "I've seen you laugh, I've seen you smile."

"Get out of here," I say.

Jack straightens. "No."

"What did you say?"

"I said: no."

"How dare — "

"Yes, yes, yes, how dare I. I know what I'm doing, Elsa! I know this is probably some other lame attempt of yours to push me away, to keep me safe, blah, blah, blah! But it's not going to work on me! You can't get rid of me! I'm always going to be here . . . for you. I love you, and that will never change. I can't change it. I don't even want to try."

I bite the inside of my cheek until I taste blood. My hands curl into fists, I step forward, and I punch Jack in the jaw.

"Try changing that," I say.

Author's Note: I am so sorry for not updating sooner. Hopefully the updates will fall back into a more regular schedule again now. Anyway, thanks for reading.

- J. Dom