Chapter: 3 Flying Free

Night returns to Arendelle under calmer circumstances. Gone are the blustering, eastern winds as all rests under tranquil starlight. The village succumbs to a blissful silence as its inhabitants seal their doors for the night. Kindly farewells are exchanged as lights are dimmed throughout the streets. Each dwindling lantern traces a faded path across the bridge and back to Arendelle Castle. For while its gates remain tightly shut, there's a sliver of calmness within. A liveliness has returned to the castle's eerily vacant halls. The sound of a child's laughter is as surprising as it is welcome.

Mary Poppins' attentive gaze darts across Anna's bedroom along with the princess' spritely maneuvers. Anna is twirling about, giggling and pretending to swing an imaginary sword. "I can't believe we were knights!" the child rejoices.

"Dames," Mary corrects as Anna continues to scamper around.

Anna suddenly freezes and turns to her nanny with widened eyes. "What are we gonna be tomorrow?" she asks. Anna scoops up a woven helmet and plops it on her head. "Vikings?" She grabs a cloak and excitedly wraps it around her neck. "Sorcerers? What? What are we gonna do?"

Mary takes a moment and simply shrugs. "I don't know," she answers. Anna sulks as Mary ushers her into bed. "Now, Anna," she intones. "Don't slouch."

"But what do you mean you don't know?" Anna whines.

"Precisely that," Mary affirms. She removes Anna's 'viking helmet' and gently brushes her hair for bed. "And not knowing what you'll do next is the most exciting feeling there is. It's a mystery just waiting to be unraveled with the next day's sunrise." Anna thinks on Mary's words as she's tucked beneath the blankets.

"You know-" the princess begins. "-I'm really glad you're my nanny." Mary grins at Anna's remark until she asks, "Will you be Elsa's nanny too?" Mary pauses and her attentive gaze lists toward Anna's blonde doll.

She returns her focus to the princess and jests, "Now how exciting would tomorrow be if we already knew what was going to happen?" Anna is just as puzzled as Mary wants her to be. She strokes her auburn locks and says, "Good night, Anna. Sweet dreams."

As Anna slowly sinks into a deep slumber, Mary surveys the bedroom. She checks to make sure all belongings are in order and pauses at the sight of a toppled shelf. With a quick and subtle snap of Mary's fingers, the shelf magically shifts back into place against the wall. The fallen clothes beneath it suddenly fold themselves and hover back onto the shelf. Mary softly grins at her handiwork before leaving Anna to sleep.

A set of hurried footsteps rush over as Mary observes Anna's rushing parents. "We just missed her, didn't we?" Agnarr huffs. He and Iduna appear exhausted from the day's delegations.

"I'm afraid so," Mary answers. "I've just put her to bed."

Agnarr sighs while Iduna reassures him. "Let's let her rest," the queen says. "After today, we could all use some sleep." She turns to Mary and offers a gracious nod. "Thank you so much for your kindness. We'll see you tomorrow?"

"But of course," Mary concurs. "Have a good night."

Agnarr and Iduna bid her farewell and head up to their bedroom. Rather than make her way downstairs just yet, Mary watches the royal family walk until they're out of view. Once she's truly alone, Mary heads down the hall instead of back to the foyer. She examines each intricately-patterned door until she reaches a particularly pale one. Azure patterns line its polished frame as Mary dares to knock. While there isn't much of an answer, Mary faintly makes out a brief gasp from within. She tilts her head with intrigue and pauses, waiting to see if anyone will come to the door. Seconds seem to stretch on forever and the last thing Mary wants is to appear imposing. She slowly steps back and her unique silhouette departs from the crack in the door.

Elsa sits amidst the darkness of her bedroom. With nothing more than the moonlight to illuminate her cautious gaze, she clutches her stuffed animal tightly. The puffin's oblong head tilts in her embrace as Elsa pretends his one, button eye is looking at her. "Oh I'm alright, Sir Jorgenbjorgen," she whispers and pats his soft head. "I was just a little worried. Those boots didn't look like Papa's, but whoever it was is gone now. They're safe from me."

In that instant, a sudden rattling has Elsa gasping all over again. She pulls the covers up to her eyes and nervously bites her lip. "What was that?" she worriedly whispers. "Oh...sorry," she says when she realizes her companion is buried beneath the sheets. Elsa pulls Sir Jorgenbjorgen out just enough so he can peek over the blankets with her. The rattling persists and has Elsa quivering with fear. Her eyes widen at the sight of a slender silhouette rising near her window. As she becomes more frightened, a thin layer of frost forms on the blanket she's clutching.

"No," Elsa yelps and tries to recall her powers. "No, no!" Her panicked efforts are futile as her magic spreads across the room. Icicles spiral from the foot of her bed and stretch towards the mysterious figure. It looms in her window like a shadowy specter, rising against the moonlight while Elsa tries to control her magic. "Conceal it...don't feel it," she tells herself. "Don't let it show. Conceal it don't-" The windows creak open as the mysterious, hovering figure enters. "Conceal!" Elsa whimpers while her magic spreads rampantly. "Conceal, conceal, con-"

"Princess Elsa," a soothing, tranquil voice beckons her into silence. Elsa slowly turns towards the figure. As the moonlight shines against Mary Poppins' face, the child finds herself even more mystified. "I mean you no harm," Mary assures. "I'd have come through the door if it wasn't locked."

Elsa swallows hard and keeps her fluffy companion close. "Wh-who are you?" she asks. "And how'd you get in?"

Mary smirks and glances under her arm. She mumbles something incoherent from Elsa's distance and it's as if she's talking to someone. Mary's peculiar conversation stokes Elsa's curiosity. The princess nervously crawls to the edge of her bed and listens in. "Now I warned you that flying in was likely to frighten the young lady, didn't I?" Mary intones. "Especially at a late hour such as this."

Elsa's brows furrow as she struggles to understand. "Who are you talking to?" the princess asks.

Mary chuckles as her eyes sway back to Elsa. "Apologies for startling you," she says. "My dear umbrella simply loves to take flight from time to time and I'm so quick to indulge those needs. After all, who am I to deny him freedom?"

"Him?" Elsa inquires. Curiosity fills her eyes as Mary reveals her umbrella's unique handle. Vibrantly carved, green feathers lead up towards a beautiful parrot's head. Its black eyes teem with life as a bold, pale plumage encircles them.

"I just love birds," Mary says and glances at her stuffed animal. "Don't you?" Elsa is hesitant to respond and Mary steps closer.

From the moment Mary's boot meets a fractured icicle, Elsa starts panicking again. "Stay back!" she warns as Mary freezes. "Please. I don't want to hurt you."

"I don't think you'd hurt me," Mary says.

Elsa backs up until she clunks against her wall. "Y-you don't know me," she says and hides her hands beneath the covers. "I can't control any of this. If you get any closer I'll...I'll-" Elsa shuts her eyes tightly as memories of striking Anna's head take hold. "Just stay back!" she cries.

Mary respects the princess' request and stays by the window. She focuses on Sir Jorgenbjorgen and asks, "What about him? He looks safe. Happy to be with you even."

"He is," Elsa answers concernedly.

"So you can control some of this," Mary says and gestures to the icy portions of her bed. "Because your little puffin feels comfortable enough to be around you. Because you'd never harm him."

"Never," Elsa asserts and hugs Sir Jorgenbjorgen even tighter.

"Perhaps you are more capable than you think you are," Mary says.

Elsa nervously strokes the yarns atop her stuffed animal's head. "I...like your parrot," she says timidly and eyes Mary's umbrella.

Mary smiles softly and taps the handle. "Perhaps he and your puffin can be friends," she jests.

Elsa nods subtly and says, "You can come closer if you want to. Just please be careful."

"I believe I still need to answer your first question," Mary responds while stepping towards Elsa's bedside. "I am Mary Poppins."

"Poppins?" Elsa realizes. "Kai and Gerda were talking about you through the door this evening. You're my sister's new nanny, right?"

"You're quite clever," Mary lauds and sits at Elsa's bedside.

"I'm glad she has someone else," Elsa sighs. "Mama and Papa are always so busy. Especially with trying to help me conceal my powers. Anna deserves all the attention she can get."

"Why don't you spend time with her?" Mary asks.

"Me?" Elsa blurts and immediately hugs herself for comfort. "Oh no, no. I could never even leave this room. If I ever hurt Anna again-" Elsa stops herself and inches away from Mary. "I just can't see her."

Mary squints at Elsa and hums deeply in thought. "My dear," she proposes while withdrawing a tape measure. "Do you mind if I take a simple measurement?"

"What for?" Elsa asks and raises a brow.

"It'll help me better understand you," Mary replies. "I'll even let you hold it."

Elsa cautiously obliges and slides off her bed. She holds a portion of the measuring tape in place while Mary pulls it down. With her measurement marked, Mary withdraws and reads over the tape. "I had a feeling," she says and turns it over to Elsa.

Lonely and Afraid.

Mystified by the text on a tape measure of all things, Elsa squints at Mary. "Just what kind of nanny are you exactly?" she asks.

"That's for you to decide," Mary says as she rises from the floor.

"But I'm confused," Elsa says and gestures to her tape measure. "I see Mama and Papa plenty of times. So how can I be lonely?"

Mary sighs and answers, "Loneliness comes in many forms, princess. A lady can stand amidst a crowd of a hundred and still feel alone. Plus, there's a difference between merely seeing someone and spending quality time with them. For example-" Mary looks to Elsa's button-eyed companion. "I'm sure your little friend gets to spend time with the other puffins in the colony."

Mary's last remark coaxes a nervous snicker out of Elsa. "Oh," the child mumbles. "Sir Jorgenbjorgen's not a real puffin. He's just a toy."

"Is he?" Mary murmurs and leans in for a closer look. She purposefully dips her hat, allowing the daisies atop it to tickle Elsa's nose. "Let's see here," Mary mutters. "Sleek and fluffy...black and white plumage...a seabird's beak." Mary raises her head to state her claim. "While the rather stylish cape is a surprise, Sir Jorgenbjorgen is as real as any other puffin."

Elsa humors Mary with a chuckle. "But he's just made of-"

"Do you love him?" Mary asks.

The child squeezes her stuffed puffin and doubles down with an actual response. "With all of my heart," Elsa affirms.

"That's the key," Mary tells her. "He's special to you because you love him so much. And that's what makes him real." Elsa thinks over Mary's words as the nanny steps towards the window.

"Wait," Elsa beckons. "Where are you going?"

"To the puffin colony, of course," she says. "We've got a family reunion to get to!"

"You're...actually going?" Elsa frets.

"Technically, I said we." Mary corrects.

"But how?"

"The same way I arrived," Mary says and flourishes her umbrella.

While Elsa had indulged Mary's outlandish concept of flight, she's now bewildered at actually partaking. "Even if we could fly-" the princess begins. "-I'm not allowed to leave the castle!"

"Princess Elsa," Mary says. "You've trusted that puffin to be your confidant betwixt these uncertain times. Do you think you can muster the courage I know you have to trust me tonight?" Mary stands at the window sill and extends her white-gloved hand.

Elsa's heartbeat races with her hastening breaths. "You won't tell anyone about this?"

"I'll even have you back in time to still get plenty of sleep," Mary assures.

Elsa gulps and looks down at her puffin. "What should I do, Sir Jorgenbjorgen?" she asks and there's a brief pause. Mary waits patiently as only Elsa seems to hear his thoughtful words. A gentle smile emerges on the child's lips as she says. "Okay then. Let's go see your friends."

Elsa's bare hand worriedly clasps Mary's as the nanny pulls her close. She can't help but wonder when the last time Elsa held a hand was. "Hang on," Mary says and those words briefly ensnare Elsa. She thinks back to telling Anna the very same thing as they played for the last time. Such a thought has Elsa frighteningly gripping Mary's waist. The nanny purses her lips and soothingly rubs Elsa's back before holding her. She then opens her umbrella and aims it towards the starry skies.

Given her powers, Elsa is no stranger to the supernatural. Still, nothing prepares her for her feet to suddenly leave the ground. The eastern winds elevate them out of the window and Elsa bites back a yelp. She buries her face in Mary's dress and is terrified to look down. Every sway of her legs and whistle of the wind has Elsa shivering against Mary.

"You and your good sir are missing quite a view," Mary talks over the winds. "It's safe to look, princess."

"That's alright!" she responds, her words muffled under Mary's coat. "Just let me know when we're back down!"

"Elsa," Mary speaks calmly. "Trust your flight. You're not going to fall."

"But what if I do?"

"If you must think about what could go wrong, at least leave some room to consider what may go right." Mary adds. "There's an entire world waiting for you to see it. And I promise that it's far more interesting than the fabric smeared against your face."

Elsa's heart sinks when she makes herself peek. As Mary keeps her secure, the child peers over alongside Sir Jorgenbjorgen. It merely takes one look to send Elsa's fears crumbling down. Her timidity melts under an awestruck wave of beauty. "Wow," is all she can bring herself to utter as she observes Arendelle's nighttime landscape. Clouds glide between snow-capped peaks and descend towards her kingdom. The dimmed lights of cozy dwellings flicker in the distance while moonlight glistens across the fjord. Arendelle Castle appears no bigger than her dollhouse as they soar to new heights. Elsa lets out an energetic giggle when Mary's umbrella catches a powerful gust. "This...this can't be happening," she blurts. "This has to be a dream."

"Because we're flying with an umbrella?" Mary jests.

"No," Elsa responds as the starlight brightens her eyes. "Because I'm happy."

Mary's smile fades at Elsa's words. She bites her tongue as if comprehending the magnitude of Elsa's isolation. For despite Mary's vast array of ventures...despite how many children she's visited over years she's earnestly lost count of...the princesses of Arendelle are particularly unique to her. As Mary holds Elsa tight and begins her descent, she urges her to look to the rocky shores ahead.

"Here's the welcoming committee now," Mary rejoices as several puffins poke their heads out from the rocks. Elsa gasps at the sight of so many seabirds. Their sleek bodies slide and waddle between watery crevasses as Mary makes her landing. "You have your kingdom-" she tells Elsa. "-and the puffins have theirs."

Elsa is beyond thrilled to witness puffins in the wild. While their growling calls are far from whimsical, the princess awes over them nevertheless. "Look, Bjorgen!" she shouts and holds up her friend. "We found your family." Elsa's thrilling nature is cut short when a puffin lands beside her. She yelps and worriedly shutters back. The puffin cranes its stout neck at her and hops forward. Its flapping wings only frighten her further and ice forms at her feet.

"Elsa," Mary whispers. "It means you no harm. Don't run...just breathe."

"Breathe?" she reiterates.

"Precisely," Mary says and kneels beside Elsa. "Breathe," she says once more and exhales with the child. The puffin clicks its beak with anticipation as Mary reaches into one of her mysterious pockets. "I do hope your chef won't notice if a few of his shrimp are missing." She pulls out a handful of the tiny crustaceans and offers one to the puffin. Elsa watches with wonder as it actually eats from her fingertips."

"Aw," Elsa giggles and blushes.

"Now you try," Mary says.

"What?" the child stammers. "I couldn't-"

"You could," Mary insists. "Rather...You can."

Elsa looks into the puffin's innocent eyes and fears what it would look like frozen solid. "I'll hurt it," she worries. "I even forgot my gloves in the castle and-"

"You trusted me," Mary whispers. "Now I need you to trust yourself. Feed the bird and show it you care. I promise you'll be glad if you do."

Elsa sighs and tensely takes a shrimp from Mary. She extends her hand and can't even look the puffin in the eye. She doesn't want to glimpse its pain when she inevitably freezes it forever. As she stands in fear, Elsa glances down at Sir Jorgenbjorgen. His button eye shines while she focuses on the love she holds for him. Her hand starts to relax and she feels a distinct tickle. Elsa snickers and observes the puffin eating from her hand.

"Nicely done, young princess." Mary remarks and rubs her back.

The puffin takes the rest of the shrimp and waddles over to its nest. There, it reunites with its mate and shares the meal. A pair of young puffins peep beneath them and join in on the banquet. "They're wonderful," Elsa says as the puffins snuggle up to one another.

"Together," Mary adds at a quieter tone. "As all families should be."

Elsa raises a brow as the puffins suddenly take off. "Wait...where are they going?" she asks.

"Their young have just grown into a new set of plumage," Mary explains. "It looks like they're off for a high-flying adventure."

"Can we join them?" Elsa eagerly asks.

Mary's grin widens as she nods happily. Raising her umbrella to the incoming winds, Mary holds Elsa close and glides after the puffins. The princess is anything but afraid this time and even cheers when they take off. As they glide across the night sky, Elsa extends a hand to touch the nearby clouds. She makes a game out of it until she realizes where the puffins are heading.

Mary and Elsa follow the puffins to the village and descend to a nearby rooftop. They land against its shingles while Arendelle Castle glows in the moonlight behind them. The seabird quartet shuffles about and gathers at Mary's boots. The adults flap their wings to get her attention and then rhythmically tap their webbed feet.

"I think they want to dance," Elsa infers.

"Is that so?" Mary teases. "Well, I know better than to deny a puffin a dance. Come on, Elsa."

"Oh I don't know how to dance," the princess insists.

Mary gives her a playful glare and sets her on the roof's flattened center. "Suit yourself," she says and steps up to the puffins. The feathered family forms a line and even its youth have a harmonic cadence. Mary smiles as their orange feet tap against the shingles. Once the puffins raise their wings with a stunning flourish, they await Mary's turn.

"Uhoh," Elsa chortles. "It looks like you're up." Mary dons a daring smirk, tilts her hat, and lifts the hem of her dress. Elsa and the puffins are beyond astonished as Mary taps away. Her heels click and clack against the shingles, producing a melodious tune. Elsa's jaw drops as Mary leaps and performs a mind-boggling amount of twirls in midair. "That's impossible," Elsa says.

Mary drops beside Elsa with the biggest grin across her rosy cheeks. "It's never impossible for those who believe. Now come on, princess..." She urges and takes Elsa's hand in hers. "It's time to try defying gravity."

"But I don't-" is all Elsa can get out before Mary launches them into the air. "-dance!" she yelps as they spin together. With each twirl, Elsa's smile only grows. Realizing this, Mary propels them from rooftop to rooftop while the puffins fly alongside them. Each leap propels the princess deeper into a joyous and euphoric state. "Look, Bjorgen!" Elsa cheers as a long-lost bliss returns to her. "I'm dancing!"

As they land on a roof, the puffin family flies to their side. All but one make it when a sharp clang sounds. Such an abrupt clamor is enough to shake Elsa out of her cheerful state as she turns to see what's happened. One of the younger puffins has struck a weather vane and is spiraling to the streets below. Time slows with Elsa's aching, wrenching heart as she watches it plummet. The puffin's parents caw helplessly and flap sporadically.

When Elsa sees the falling seabird, she's experiencing that night in the ballroom all over again. As memories of Anna falling from the snowy peak return, Elsa impulsively throws her hands downward. There's a steadiness to her hands as she shouts "No!" and sends an icy beam pulsing from her hands. Her powerful essence darts beneath the falling puffin and creates a snowy mound on the street, catching it just in time. As the youthful bird recovers from its daze, the rest of its family swoops down and snuggles up to it.

Elsa feels like her legs could give out at any second. Her knees wobble as she stares at her shaking hands. "What have I done?" she murmurs.

"Elsa," Mary says.

"I used magic," the child laments. "I used my powers!" she whimpers. "Out in the open. I shouldn't be here. I shouldn't have-...Shouldn't-"

"Elsa," Mary intones and drops to the princess' level. She places her hands on Elsa's shoulders and looks her straight in the eye. "Yes, you used your powers...and they are nothing to be ashamed of."

"I could've hurt that puffin. Just like Anna..."

"But you didn't," Mary corrects. She guides Elsa to the edge and points at the reunited seabirds. "That young puffin is alive because of you. You were in control of your powers." The birds emerge from the snow mound and fly off to return to their nest. "Your past is not your future," Mary says. "And your present just showed that."

"I...saved that puffin," Elsa realizes while retrieving Sir Jorgenbjorgen.

"That you did," Mary says.

"I controlled my powers," the princess rejoices and looks at her steady hands. "I don't understand. How?"

"The same way you were able to keep him safe," Mary explains and taps on Sir Jorgenbjorgen's head. "Love."

After another tedious changing of the guard, Lars makes his way to the castle wall. As he ascends the stairs, he observes the silhouette of an umbrella-wielding woman gliding past the moon. "Holy fjords," the guard blurts and rubs his groggy eyes. "Ruth! RUTH!" he hollers like a madman and descends back into the guards' lounge.

"Huh?" his partner queries.

"W-w-woman," he babbles, looking like he's seen a ghost. "In the sky. F-flying woman! Umbrella! Just come see!"

"What the?" Ruth mutters and follows him up to the wall. By the time they ascend, there's nothing but a starry sky. "Lars..." she scolds and places her hands on her hips.

"Ruth," he asserts. "I swear there was a flying woman right here!"

She playfully places a hand on his shoulder and says, "No more chocolate truffles for you after midnight."

"But...but but but-" Lars stutters as he hunches forward.

"And weren't you told to stop slouching?" Ruth teases as he groans.

Mary hovers back to Elsa's window and gently sets her down. The princess' timidity is nearly gone as she pounces into bed and yawns. Mary takes it upon herself to tuck Elsa in, sliding the covers right up to her and Sir Jorgenbjorgen's necks. "How are you feeling?" Mary asks.

Elsa ponders over Mary's question for a moment. "I'm not really sure," she confesses. "I had so much fun flying with you. The puffins were beautiful and I never thought I'd actually feed one." As Elsa recounts the feeding, another thought dawns upon her. "Hold on. You just had shrimp in your pocket? Did you know we were going to feed the birds?"

"I...had a feeling," Mary answers. "And my feelings are almost never wrong."

"Did you have a feeling about my powers?" Elsa asks.

Mary simply smiles and says, "You've always had something special to you. I just wanted you to see it too."

Elsa grins back and hugs her puffin tight. "I can't believe I saved that bird," she whispers. "It just makes me feel all warm and cheery inside. I'm not feeling scared. I'm actually excited about tomorrow. As these wonderful feelings swirl around in me, I don't know if there's a word to really describe it all."

"Believe it or not...there is," Mary chuckles.

Elsa battles off tiredness and leans in with curiosity. "Won't you tell me it?" she asks. "Please?"

"Oh alright," Mary huffs. "But I must warn you. The sound of this word is something quite atrocious."

Author's Note: Thank you so very much for reading this week's chapter! It is my honor and pleasure to entertain you. I hope you're enjoying the story and I'll see you next Saturday for Chapter: 4!

Long Live Imagination,

~ Michael