Hey everyone! Here is the 4th chapter, but right now let me reply to some of your reviews and let me tell you. I love doing this fic.
Guest- Yes, I'm afraid it is a retelling because I just feel that Elsa should have a friend in the beginning before her coronation.
WolfDragon- So am I, but I am trying to not have all songs to be Beatles because I want it to be a 'what if all the popular bands and artists did not exist, but their hit songs from are written and played by a small local band that have a powerful gift?'. This chapter, Encountering Ice, is not a private performance, but the fifth chapter, Concert of a lifetime, is.
SpideyMoon- You're welcome! J
Okay here is the chapter, but need help to find songs for James's solo singing. Already have a couple of songs for the idea, but need help for more. I will not use all of them, so just give me the best you can think of (it can be other genres (Alternative, Grunge, BritPop, etc.)
Anyways…Enjoy!
Chapter 4- Encountering Ice
James is once again in a strange place as it is snowing. He doesn't recognize it, but it felt familiar. Without time to think, the snow falling began to pick up harshly. He walks through the blizzard finding a warm place and leave.
Continuing on, until a sound hits him. It was the piano melody again. He doesn't know why, but it is the only way for him to get away from the harsh storm. The Music began to grow louder as each step he takes keeps on helping him.
Making his way, he sees the girl in the shining dress again. However he finally gets a chance to see her face… he recognized the face before, but her face is in sadness and fear. He walks towards her to help, but she walks backwards in fear; clutching her hands to her chest.
As James reaches for the girl, she says, "Conceal! Don't feel! Don't let it show!" James knows those words before and the words of someone who's afraid of their gifts. He charges towards her, until…
"STOP!" He wakes up in the castle. He breathes heavy in a cold sweat, looking at his surroundings. "That melody…Why is it in my head!" without a moment he gets out of bed, takes his spiral and pad of music sheets, and goes directly to the ballroom. Luckily it is next to his room; two rooms up.
Meanwhile…
Elsa is moving in the hallways, with people asleep. It is a routine for her, just to get some fresh air and out of her room. The only places she would go to are the library and her room, or if she feels like it the gardens where it is limited for her to only have 1300 sq. ft. However, tonight she is scared. Scared of the news she's given, meeting the band and sitting right in front of them. She can play the memory again and again, every detail of the news!
Her mother and father knocked on the door, Elsa bowed and soon sees that her father had drank a little and had a wonderful time. She smiles as she never seen her father been this happy since giving her a gift of listening to music. They told her she and Anna will be having a VIP Performance in the ballroom and she must attend! Elsa refuses, but the parents encourage her, as it will help her to control her magic. All she has to do is be kind and not be close to anyone have a wonderful time.
She doesn't want to, but it is an honor and a privilege as she won't be in public to see them performing in a month later. The anxiety got to her as the ice and frost creeps up in her room. She walked, without feeling the sleep and anxiety coming to her. She tries to calm down, until a piano melody was playing from a distance.
It's melancholic, soothing her… in a moment made her feel warm. She follows the music as it grows louder, informing her body and ears that she's close. Her eyes widen when seeing the music leading to the ballroom, the room where the accident happened!
She stands in front of the room wanting to just leave until; a voice joins in the melody, "The Snow glows White on the mountain tonight, not a footprint to be seen. A kingdom of isolation and it looks like you're the queen!" Elsa stops for a moment hearing the voice, then recognizes the style and tone, 'James? What is he doing?'
For an hour she hears him playing and singing, stopping for a moment then singing and playing again. This does not stop the snow princess as the process of writing music began to intrigue her. As soon as James found his melody, he gave a big, "HA! I got it!"
With a stretch of his fingers, and a motion of his head tilting right and left, he began to play the melody fully; "The Snow glows white on the mountain tonight, not a footprint to be seen. A kingdom of isolation and it looks like you're the Queen! The wind is hollowing like this swirling storm inside. Couldn't keep it in heaven knows you've tried! Your pain is real, you tried to hide, let me help you girl so you can stride, don't hold it in and put on a show, for now they know!"
Elsa for a while feels as if this song is for her, with tears streaming down her cheeks as she continues to hear the melody. Pushing her face to the doors, "Let it go, Let it go, can't hold it back anymore! Let it go, Let it go, don't turn away and slam the door! I don't know care what they're going to say! Let the storm rage on, the cold never bothered you anyway!" Elsa undoubtedly, put her face on the door too much that the doors open.
James jumps up in surprise, and sees Elsa standing there in her nightgown… frozen in fear. He recognizes the face and is wide eyed in seeing her here, "Hey, what're you doing up?" She steps back a bit as she notices frost begin to spread on the floor. James notices the ice and is shocked in what he's seeing! "Ice?" Elsa dashes out of the room, as James follows, "WAIT!" Luckily the frost leaves a trail as it leads to Elsa rooms.
Elsa closes her door and stands behind the door in fear, until a knock comes in. "Elsa? It's James." Elsa is scared stiff, not knowing what to say or do.
"I just wanna know, what dya think about the song?" Elsa blushes and stays silent to find the right answer. She found it and says, "It's…..beautiful."
James smiles with joy replying, "Thank you!" He yawns as he notices his eyes are about to close, "I should head to bed. Good night…Elsa."
Elsa replies warmly, "Good night."
For two months, the band rehearsed in the ballroom for their performance as well as meeting with Rick's helpers on their first live performance. Anna would sometimes come over and listen to them, if she promises to control her excitement. Ted enjoys having the young princess over, he and Anna begin to hang and talk to one another as if they've known each other for so long. James would tease him about being Anna's crush in which those two would banter like non-stop.
At first it was silence, until James sang a few verses from his songs that got her attention. He began to talk to her. She would respond and they got to know each other. They talked about their favorite foods, music, and their view on the world. Kai, Gerda, and the royal couple would notice James talking to Elsa (through the door). At first King Agdar wanted to stop this, but Idun and the head staff believe this is good for Elsa to have a friend. The King is hesitant, but soon as time went getting to know James at dinners (including drinking liquor)…he allowed it.
After three weeks of rehearsing and trying to talk to her, James went to Elsa's door and knocked in a sequence that she can know. "Elsa…I don't believe I have been honest with you."
Elsa is a little confused, "What do you mean?"
James sighs a bit, "I know you have the power over ice and snow!" Elsa is surprised on his conclusion; "It's really obvious when your door is cold to the touch! Also when we first met face to face, you left a stream of frost on the floor." Elsa feels a bit embarrassed and scared of what he's going to say next, "And I understand why you shut people out because of being special!"
She hears him intently, wondering what he's going to say, "I was born with Autism!" Elsa's eyes widen, "When I was a kid, I would go to these speech classes to help me benefit my reading and talking. Soon the kids begin to bully me because they thought I was dumb. So when I went to a new school, I was afraid if the kids would pick on me. So I became a bully! I picked on kids that didn't hurt me and by time went on… I began to shut people out because of my emotions that I just can't control. I was afraid of myself!" Elsa can hear his voice breaking as he continues on.
"That is until my parents bought me a guitar and piano lessons. They helped me and I slowly came out of my shell. So please Elsa let me help you and tell me your issues and we can fight this together! Cause you're not alone!" James turns and leaves after a deep breathe, then a sound of the door unlocking. James looks in surprise as Elsa comes over to him and soon the area around them that is cold, now warms up as she looks at him in his eyes, "I was born with these powers and one day, I accidentally hurt someone really close to me and from then on I shut people out! My powers are controlled over emotion and I tried to control them, but it's hard!"
James stands for a second and found a solution, "This is just my theory, but when you're happy. Does the ice and snow turn on?"
Elsa responds, "I-I don't think so!". In silence for a minute, James has a solution, "But when you listen to music, you feel happy right?"
Elsa stands there confusing in what he's planning. "What are you thinking?" Without explaining, James just rushes and gets to the King's office.
James knocks on Agdar's door who allows him to come in, "Ah… James! What a surprise!" James stands there to find the right words to say as he then takes a deep breath and says what is on his mind, "Sir, before you say anything I like you to know that I have been talking to your daughter Elsa."
Agdar just smiles with a cocked eye, "I know!" James is silent for a moment and goes back to his moment of serious, "Aaaand I know about Elsa's powers in magic!" Agdar just stood there with wide eyes, until James puts his hands up innocently as he continues, "But please hear me out! I believe I know a solution for both of your daughters to see us perform!"
"I'm listening."
James takes a chair and sits in front of Agdar as he explains his plan, "If I understand correctly, your people have televisions and the economy in this kingdom is booming like no other. But not a lot of people are going to get into the music hall." Agdar nods as he hears James' idea, "So what if we bring in a Camera crew to televise the concert and have a T.V. set up in Elsa's room, so she can see us perform!"
Agdar just stood there silent. He knows his daughters are tired of being cooped in the castle walls, especially Elsa who wants to once go outside! Agdar gets up and walks towards James, "If I understand correctly…" James just sits there nervous, "You want to bring a Camera Crew to televise your performance and expose the kingdom of Arendelle for the whole world to see?"
James breaths deeply to keep calm of what he thinks is going a big deny on his idea, "Yes…yes I am!" Agdar stood there. With a serious look, until in a moment smiled warmly and stuck his hand out with for a shake, "I accept!"
James takes the hand and with a moment they both go to tell Rick and the others about his plan. Rick again tries to think this won't work, but the band support James's idea. Anna on that day is given a surprise VIP Ticket to see them perform and have the King and Queen to be offered as well.
After a night of hanging with the king and his stash of liquor, the band go to bed to prepare tomorrow to talk to Edna Mode about their concert wardrobe. James on the other hand goes to Elsa's room, to tell her the news, "Elsa…. Are you awake?"
Elsa opens the door with a smile to see her friend, "James, what is it?" James then opens the door fully where he sees Elsa exposed fully in her robe. James quickly turns around, believing Elsa to be naked under the robe. Elsa cocks her eyes in wonder, "What's wrong?" she soon sees her robes and holds her laughter from the 16 years old's reaction, "don't worry, I'm wearing a nightgown over it." James turns back to Elsa and gives a smile, "Would you care to walk with me? I have something I want to tell you!"
Elsa thinks until finally agreeing. They both walk as they look at paintings and murals around the walls, James looks back at Elsa and sees her full beauty, but also seeing the nervousness in her face. James looks back when he sees some interesting paintings, but Elsa looks back at him and thinks of how she got the chance to meet someone face to face. Also noticing that he is taller than her and is a bit bulky, however when meeting him and talking to him she feels as if she's next to a warm fireplace.
Soon her mind is stopped as James breaks the silence, "I want to say I'm sorry for leaving you stranded. I should've told you that I have something that came to mind." Elsa gives a question look, until realizing what he's talking about, "It's okay, something just came up and you wanted to take care of something?" James nods and continues, "I talked to your father!" Elsa looks at him with wide eyes, believing that he just asked her father for his blessing, but that was soon changed.
"I told of an idea of putting a television in your room and televising our show. This way you don't have to leave your room to see us play!" Elsa sighs a relief, but at the same time her heart is a bit broken.
'Why am I sad about him not asking for my hand?'
James notices her face expression and reaction, "Did I say something wrong?"
"Oh…no, it's just I thought…" Elsa blushes in embarrassment, "When said you talked to my father, I thought you asked for my hand!" James holds in laughter at her words, "I'm sorry… I don't think I'm ready for marriage. Plus to be honest Elsa, you can't marry someone you just met!"
Elsa's amazed at his words and soon smiles warmly at her. James soon stops at the ballroom where he and the princess are just standing, "So what do you think of the idea?" Elsa thinks for a moment and smiles, "I … I love it!" James smiles back warmly; Elsa soon notices the ballroom, "What are we doing here?"
James then takes her gloved hands in which she blushes profoundly crazily, "I want to perform you a real show." He opens the door and she sees all the band's instruments, but James goes to the piano and sits, "I have been working on this song for a while and it came to me in a dream. And this song reminds me of you for some reason. I hope you like it." Elsa listens to the song as she sits on the bench.
With one cleared throat James plays the piano tune, "The Snow glows white on the mountain tonight, not a footprint to be seen. A kingdom of isolation and it looks like you're the Queen! The wind is hollowing like this swirling storm inside. Couldn't keep it in heaven knows you've tried! Your pain is real, you tried to hide, let me help you girl so you can stride, don't hold it in and let it show, for now they know! Let it Go, Let it Go, Can't hold it back anymore! Let it go, let it go
Turn away and slam the door! I don't care what they're going to say, Let the storm rage on the cold never bothered you anyway!" All the while Elsa listens to the melody, feeling that she belongs in the song. In the moment of the music her eyes widen in his amazing voice that changed from a baritone to a tenor, "Let it go, let it go and you'll rise like the break of dawn! Let it go, let it go, that perfect girl is gone! Here you stand in the light of day, Let the storm rage on! The Cold never bothered you anyway!" Elsa is speechless she can't even move. James walks over to her and kneels in front of her, breaking her frozen state of shock. He puts a hand on her hand and looks at her with a smile.
"Ever since I talked to you and met you. I feel even more obliged to feel free and liberated; this is my gift to you. So please promise me that you will let the doors open and never conceal your feelings!"
Elsa doesn't know what to say, except she quickly hugs him in which catches James by surprise! He doesn't know what to do except hug back, feeling her body warming up. Her body is no longer ice cold to the touch, but warm and toasty; Elsa soon falls asleep. James understands and takes her to her room where puts her in her bed and leaves before hearing her saying in a sleepy tone, "Thank you!" James smiles and leaves closing the door. As he goes to bed he sleeps dreaming, but not knowing that Elsa is dreaming as well. Dreaming of him!
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This is Sunhawk001 Signing Off! See you next Chapter! J