Disclaimer: This work of fan fiction uses characters from Rise of the Guardians, The Guardians of Childhood, and Frozen which are trademarked by DreamWorks Animation, William Joyce, and the Walt Disney Company respectively. The author of this story claims no ownership over them. The story the author is telling is of her own invention and it is not purported or believed to be part of the canon storyline. This story is made for entertainment purposes only. The author is not profiting financially from the creation and publication of this story.

No matter how much suffering you went through,

You never want to let go of those memories.

– Haruki Murakami

Chapter Soundtrack

First Arabesque – Claude Debussy

Nocturne: First Movement – Part V

Elsa peered around a tall pillar standing between the castle walls and the courtyard. There she saw Jack was waiting for her in the courtyard. There was an open sleigh in front of him, pulling by four beautiful horses. It was the most practical way to travel, as the Western Isles was a country that was graced with everlasting snow.

He was petting one of the handsome snow-white horses, laughing as the horse affectionately licked him, slobbering him in saliva. An attendant beside the prince offered him a white handkerchief to which Jack took with a bright smile and a thank you. Elsa smiled as she stepped out from behind the corner, happily watching the prince.

Jack was dressed more casually than he was yesterday, donned in a simple white blouse underneath a fitted Persian-blue vest that was embellished with silvery swirls across the shoulder and collar with simple black trousers tucked into a pair of black knee high boots. He had a black belt around his waist, holding a beautiful rapier with a striking and intricate sweep hilt.

Elsa also exchanged her traditional pale blue gown for a Byzantium-purple frock with a black bodice, floral designs across the chest, and a mauve coloured half-sleeved blouse. Her hands were covered by a pair of brown leather gloves, not wanting to experience any painful experiences in the village with Jack. She also wore a pair of dark brown ankle high boots and had kept her hair in her usual elegant side plait.

Jack smiled as soon as she came into view, jogging up to greet her. He bowed. She curtsied as she offered her hand again; and even though the greetings were routine, Elsa savoured each and every one of them with the 25- year-old prince.

"Good afternoon, Elsa."

"Likewise, Jack." The Queen of Arendelle replied, walking with the prince towards the sleigh. "Did you have a good evening?"

He smiled with a chuckle, "Of course! I got to celebrate my 25th birthday and dance with the beautiful Queen of Arendelle? What more could I ask for?"

Elsa laughed.

"Now come on, the sleigh is ready; you'll love the city of the Western Isles. I think there still might be festivities in honour of my birthday." Jack said as he offered her a hand up the sleigh.

She climbed up and sat down as Jack quickly joined her. Jack nodded at the chauffeur who quickly usher the horses forward.

"The castle is a little ways away from the city, but the journey there is scenic, trust me." Jack said as soon as the sleigh passed through the castle gates. He turned to glance at Elsa.

Vibrant cerulean blue eyes met with soft azure.

"I trust you, Jack." Elsa said with a gentle smile he turned the smile with an equally kind one.

When they had arrived in the city, Elsa immediately understood Jack's love for it. The smell of freshly baked bread assaulted her senses as soon as they passed through the gates. The city was beautiful with its snow covered rooftops, large evergreen trees, cobblestone roads, tall stone bell towers, and a gorgeous view of the mountains. The houses were made of grey coloured bricks and had very triangular styled roofs. The townspeople were loud and merry as they greeted the visiting monarchs.

"Lord Prince!" they cried, bowing and curtsying.

"Happy Birthday, Lord Prince!"

"Happy Birthday, Prince Jackson!"

"To your health, Lord Prince!"

Jack laughed as he thanked the people, waving casually at them. The sleigh stopped at the city's center – or at least, Elsa assumed it was due to the magnificent and enormous evergreen tree in the center of a bustling square.

Jack jumped off the sleigh first before helping Elsa. His eyes asked for permission from her before he lifted her by the waist and easily set her down on the ground. She smoothed her dress down upon habit before looking up to see that Jack was being stormed by a crowd of eager children.

"Jack, we missed you!"

"Happy birthday, Jack!"

"You're getting old, Jack."

"Where's Emma, Jack?"

"Jack, when will you get married?"

"Jack! Jack, look I lost a tooth!"

"Jack!" cried the loudest of voices, as a little girl around the age of 6 came bashing through the crowd.

Elsa smiled contently as she watched him pick up the small little blonde girl in his arms.

"Hello there, Sophie." He said as the little girl clung to his neck, "how are you today?"

The little girl giggled before planting a kiss on the prince's cheek. Jack glanced over to Elsa as he beckoned for her to come. She approached cautiously as the little crowd of children parted for her to stand beside the prince. They stared, wide-eyed at the young Queen.

"Everyone, this is my friend, Elsa." Jack introduced, placing a hand on her back, his other arm supporting Sophie on his hip. Elsa smiled pleasantly, raising a hand to wave, wondering how the children would react to her.

Silence.

Elsa awkwardly lowered her hand, looking to Jack for help.

"You're really pretty." Sophie stated bluntly, breaking the strange silence. Jack laughed loudly as the other children around him agreed. Elsa smiled sweetly as she turned to the little girl.

"Thank you." Elsa said.

"She's more that pretty, Sophie." Another child said, his twin beside him nodding seriously.

"Are you a princess?" another child asked.

"Oh no," Jack stated, "Elsa's not a princess; she's the Queen of Arendelle!"

A set of surprised gasps.

"A Queen!"

"The Queen!"

"Of Arendelle!?"

"Bow you guys!" they gasped as they quickly jumped into bows and curtsies. Elsa quickly reached down and pulled them all upright.

"No, no, no! Don't bow to me; treat me as you would treat Jack."

The children stared.

"You have awesome friends, Jack." A brown-haired child said.

Jack laughed.

"Well of course, you are my friends, aren't you?"

The children giggled.

"What are you doing here today, Jack?"

"Well, I am taking Elsa on a tour around the village." Jack replied.

"Can we come with you?"

"Ya, can we?"

"Please, please, please?" Sophie asked. The children all struck the prince with their best puppy dog eyes. The white-haired prince smiled helplessly before turning to Elsa to see if she was okay with it. Elsa nodded without another thought.

"Sure." Jack said. The children cheered. A couple of them ran ahead, call back to Jack exactly what he should show Elsa. Sophie clambered down from Jack's arm and grabbed onto Elsa's gloved hand.

"Come on, Elsa!" she said, pulling on the said Queen's arm. So, the little party made up of the Prince of the Western Isles, the Queen of Arendelle, and five little kids set out on a trip sightseeing the city of eternal snow.

"And this here is Lake Jackson." Jack said, pointing to an ethereal lake surrounded by a high cliff-face and the edge of a forest.

"Lake Jackson?" Elsa asked, "You mean the lake is named after you?"

Jack nodded absentmindedly, staring out at the lake with a vague look on his face, as if he was somewhere else.

"Uh huh," Sophie said, "the King named lake after Jack after what happened."

Elsa's eyebrow rose, "What happened?"

"It's a long story…" Jack said, turning to her with a half-smile.

Sophie went to explain, but then someone interrupted. The odd company turned to see a man wearing the colours of King James galloping on a horse towards them. He quickly dismounted before dipping into a bow.

"Lord Prince, Lady Queen," he greeted, bowing at the waist. "His Majesty the King asks that you join him back at the palace of the evening meal."

Jack nodded, "Thank you, Alfonse. Tell my father we will come home shortly after we bring the children back to the city." The messenger bowed again before taking off on his horse once more.

Jack and Elsa leisurely walked the children back to the city center, waving good-bye to each one. Sophie even gave the Snow Queen a kiss on the cheek goodbye, begging the queen to come back and play with them soon. The young queen was a little shocked by the affection the little girl gave. But never the less, she promised that she would be back as soon as she could and she will make snowmen and snow angels with the little girl.

And then the pair returned to the sleigh, setting back to the palace, waving goodbye to the children.

When they were passed the city gates, Elsa looked expectantly at Jack.

"Will you tell me the story?" she asked.

Jack smiled mischievously. "What will you do if I don't?"

Two can play at that game, Elsa thought with an equally playful smile as she formed a snowball in her hand, tossing in up and down forebodingly. Jack snorted loudly, holding both his arms up defeat.

"Alright, alright! You win!"

Jack removed the sword from his belt and placed it, blade down, onto the floor of the sleigh, leaning his right arm and then his chin onto the pommel. His left arm gripped the hilt of the rapier.

"I wasn't born with white hair, you know." He said as he stared off into the distance, extending a pinky finger to catch a couple falling snowflakes. Elsa also followed his gaze, calling forth her powers to make the snowflakes larger, prettier, and float closer to the prince. He smiled, suddenly realizing that Elsa was manipulating the weather. He opened his palm fully, letting the snowflakes drift into his hands. Elsa watched with mild interest how the snowflakes would stay perfectly un-melted in the prince's hands.

"It happened 10 years ago, when I was 15. I remember it was a beautiful day and Emma wanted to go ice skating, so I took her to a remote lake on the edge of the city."

"Lake Jackson?" Elsa asked.

"Hm, ya. That's right, Lake Jackson. It wasn't called that then though." He stopped for a second, his smile falling before continuing again, "But, anyway, when we went skating, everything went fine, like it should, until I heard the ice cracking underneath Emma's feet."

Jack closed his eyes, reminiscing the past.

"It was my fault really," he said with a soft sigh, "I should have checked to ensure that the lake was frozen solid – this wouldn't have happened if I was more responsible."

"But Emma's fine isn't she?" Elsa asked, Jack nodded, "What happened?"

"I managed to pull her out safely, but, in essence, I took her place for I fell through the ice instead."

Elsa released her powers, the snow around them ceased. Her heart leapt to her throat.

"I would have died in the water," Jack continued, "if it weren't for Alfred who came looking for us. He managed to pull me out of the lake somehow. But…my mind had already shut down and despite my heart still beating, I wouldn't wake up. It would only be a matter of time before my body succumbed to the cold."

"But my father refused to give up," Jack said with a tender smile, "he called for help from around the world, declaring that whoever could cure the Prince of the Western Isles will be given many riches. And finally, the King of Arendelle was the one who answered our calls. He told my father about the Pabbie, King of Trolls, who resides in Valley of the Living Rock. So we set out for them, but it was too late when we reached them: my heart was already cold." Jack moved, laying his sword across his lap, leaning back against the seat, and turning his head up to the skies.

"My mother begged them to do anything, anything at all."

"And…"

"They did, Pabbie managed to seal my heart with ice and snow, lowering my internal temperature. I'm as cold as ice now. The magic turned my hair white somehow too." He placed a hand on his chest, "my heart still beats and I am still alive, but I am not 'normal' anymore. I'm alive because of magic."

Elsa stared, dazedly.

Silence as guilt and remorse filled Elsa. She never thought that the story surrounding the lake was so heart-breaking.

"I'm so sorry I asked, Jack. I didn't mean to bring up such memories."

"No, Elsa." Jack quickly said, gazing at the queen with sincere eyes, "The memories aren't sad. If I had a chance to relive the moment I'll do the exact same thing over and over again, because it was a good memory for me. I saved my sister and that's all that mattered." Jack said with a smile. "Anyway, on a happier note, due to this magic I'm never affected by the cold so I could play outside for as long as I want."

Elsa laughed half-heartedly, "And the heat?"

Jack cringed thinking about it, turning his head over to the scenic forests around them, "I don't really like the heat very much, and my body can't handle the warmth very well either. It's a good thing the Western Isles is always cold."

Elsa smiled, agreeing with him, "I don't like the heat either."

Jack snapped his head over to her, with a brilliant smile on his lips before opening his mouth to say several words that made her heart beat loudly in her chest.

"We were meant to be friends."

The next morning, a maid came and gave Elsa a letter, saying that it was from the Prince.

"Ooh!" Anna cried, jumping onto Elsa's arm. "Did Jack send you a love letter?" Elsa elbowed Anna in the ribs. The strawberry-blonde Princess grunted in surprise before giggling widely. Elsa rolled her eyes at her sister's teasing before opening the letter.

Dear Elsa,

I'm sorry I was unable to stay and tell you goodbye in person, but I was needed on a diplomatic mission on behalf of the King that would leave before dawn.

I'll be in coming to Arendelle with my father in three months' time for the semi-annual economic meeting between our countries. So perhaps you may find the time to spend with me and show me around the Ice Palace?

I hope you will have a pleasant time for the remainder of your stay in the Western Isles and I hope you have a safe trip home.

Yours,
Jack

PS: I demand a rematch snowball fight.

Author's Note: Well here you have it, the fifth installment to the Nocturne Series! I can explain why Jack doesn't have a staff. I just don't think it would be a practical weapon for him to have in this verse, so I gave him a rapier instead because I think he would look awesome with one and it probably sort of fits in the era. Sophie will be the only one who will make an appearance in the Nocturne Series for now just because I don't want to throw in too many characters.

Also, I am planning on writing a Christmas One-Shot Special for Ouvertüre in Snow unfortunately, it won't be Nocturne related, but hopefully you guys will enjoy it! It won't be your typical Christmas styled story, so I hope you'll find it fun.

Thank you to:

AyamiKitsune, MissGigglesx3, vkfreako, MikiFubiki, Guest, xXDarkYukariXx, Chelsea75, LilliannaStone, Shark Queen 2014, sakura-fai, DeniseArgon, and Dragowolf

For reviewing the last chapter! I am glad that you guise enjoyed it despite it not being Nocturne.

Shark Queen 2014: I had Jack major in Physiotherapy or Physical Therapy (not Philosophy, ahaha) which is a health care profession that primarily focuses on health promotion and treatment of injury and disease. I want him to work in a profession which focuses on a lot of movement and I wanted him be helping others a lot. Also, I am particularly biased towards this profession because I am kind of also working towards it myself…. Ahaha… busted! Also, thank you so much for your support and praise, your reviews always make my day. Happy holidays to you too!

sakura-fai: I am not sure if I want to write another chapter for this verse, I initially just wanted to write about Jack and Elsa going on a simple and fun date, but it kind of took a turn towards angst in the end. Would you like another chapter, guise? If you do, I might write another chapter, but no promises. Also, in this verse, Anna and Elsa aren't alone. They live with their parents. I just never mentioned that in the chapter… sorry…I dropped the ball on that one there. Thank you so much for your review!

Until next time!

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Cordially,

EireneHarmonia