The Winter King roused his prince, shaking the boy roughly until he awoke.
"Come, my prince. It's time to say goodbye."
Jamie nodded. He wasn't sure he wanted this...but it was clear that this dangerous side of Jack was not going to yield. Plus the fact that he was being allowed to say goodbye at all soothed the boy's nerves.
"Ok." He said tiredly, following the ruler into the snow.
Jack smiled at him, the glacier eyes once again shining in glee as he expertly taught the boy how to ride the Wind. Jamie squealed happily as he was tossed about in the chilling embrace of the King's oldest and dearest friend. After a time, the young prince got control, and the two headed for Burgess.
As they went, Jamie noted Jack's moods as they passed through different towns on their way home. Some towns were places where it rarely snowed, and the Winter King growled and shocked the place with a wind-chill that dropped temperatures below freezing. Some towns got a light dusting and a smile from the King, and some towns he ignored altogether.
The two arrived at Jamie's home and Jack shoved him forward. "Well...go on then."
The child took a deep breath and said timidly to the sleeping form of his mother. "Hi Mom...Look I know you must be worried sick...but well...Don't worry. I'm ok. In fact...I'm in the safest place I could be. I'm going to be gone for a while, and I needed to say...I love you. I'll be back eventually, I think. Maybe next winter." He choked. It seemed this was not as easy as he thought it was going to be!
"Well...Goodbye. I love you...so much." He sniffed, then was pulled away and dropped in Sophie's room.
The little tyke leaped in his arms, and he broke down. "Hey Soph! Look, I gotta leave for a while. You can't come. I'll be back, hopefully...but I need you to do me a favor ok? Take care of Mom while I'm gone."
His sister seemed to understand, and nodded, a lopsided smile on her face as she hugged him one final time. He snuggled her close, "I love you Sophie."
Jack tapped his foot impatiently, his icy heart not allowing him to feel the fuzzies he would have normally felt had he been in his right mind. This was an inconvenience, and he had much to teach his young ward before the season really got underway.
"Let's go, Jamie." The Ice sneered "We don't have all night. Wrap it up. Wind is restless and I don't blame him."
Reluctantly, the Bennet boy replaced his sister in her bed, and hopped out the window, following the Winter King as he took off for the Palace. One glance back, and a whispered "I love you.", and the boy picked up the pace, eager for this new adventure.
