(Author's Note: Well, here it is, guys. The last chapter. A year ago today I uploaded the first chapter of this fanfic, so it's only fitting I should upload this one today. I hope you had as much fun as I did, and thank you for all the wonderful feedback! I decided to keep the initial ending sweet and simple, but we'll see if you like it. Thanks for reading Melting the Lonely!)
Wind howled across the fjords. All over the kingdom, people shivered and curled into the warmest corners of their homes. There was no sense in building fires anymore; all the wood was wet or chilled over, and no one could go outside to gather fresh kindling anyway. The sky was the same color as the ground—pure white. Ice crawled over every building, over the sea, over the ships. The trees crackled and swayed under the heavy snow. A blizzard had come, too strong for any living thing to last much longer. Especially not a young redhead with a heart that was already frozen.
Elsa didn't know where Anna was. Her first thought was to find her and make sure she was safe from the winter. The winter Elsa didn't have a clue how to control. As she fled her childhood home, with Jack beside her and just barely visible through the storm, she tried to figure out which way to go.
"Did you see Anna?" she shouted over the churning of the snow. "Is she safe?"
Jack's first reply was whipped away, but he repeated it, grabbing hold of her hand to move her out of the way of a dinghy that was stuck in the ice. "She's with Olaf! She'll be okay!"
He didn't know that for sure. He had hoped, against his better judgment, that Hans would be able to break the spell over Anna. But when it turned out to be quite the opposite, he'd sent her with Olaf to at least escape a cold room and a faster death. But had it been the right decision? He always jumped so quickly into things. Where could the snowman even take her? Somewhere warm, obviously. But now, looking around, Jack wondered where that might be. Nothing in the world seemed anywhere close to warm.
Elsa let out an exclamation of fright. "Jack! Look out!"
A ship suddenly bore down on them. The entire thing had splintered; the bow had come right off under the power of the cold and the storm. It crashed toward them. Jack knew if it broke through the ice, that would be the end of them, magical abilities or not. They were only human. At least, he was pretty sure he was human. Elsa definitely was, and he wasn't about to let a hunk of wood take her out.
He pushed her with both hands to the right, and in one heartbeat pointed his staff at the bow. The blast knocked it off course, but it still slammed through the frozen water. Everything around Jack crackled and quaked, and the solid sea ground beneath his feet started to crumble. It separated him from Elsa, and he could hear her a yard away, lost in the fog of the snow, yelling his name. "Jack! Jack, are you…"
Jack couldn't answer even if the storm would allow him to. For the first time in a long time, he felt paralyzing, physical fear come over him, and he knew what drained the color from Elsa so often. He rarely felt it like this. Every breaking noise the ice made took an inch off his courage. What was it in that sound that could make him tremble? He'd broken out of a frozen pond, not into one! It was the only time something even close to this had happened to him; as far back as he could remember.
So why was he terrified?
He could see the frothing, frigid water now, between his little island and the rest of the ice. Jack staggered backward, staff clattering to the ground, sliding toward the edge. He lunged for it, landing on his stomach. It was the first big movement he'd made since the bow had broken through. It jarred his senses back.
With a sweep from his slightly-soaked staff, a single burst of wind tossed him into the air, and the rest of the natural tundra slammed him against the side of what remained of the ship. He fell onto the ground, but this time it was firm beneath him. He was back on the thousands of feet of solid white land—or as solid as layer upon layer of frozen sea could be.
Jack shook his head like a dog that had gotten its fur wet. He couldn't see anything beyond four feet in front of him. Where's Elsa?
"Elsa!" He scrambled to his feet, muscles aching, running a few steps and sliding a little further in the direction he thought she'd gone. "Elsa!"
He thought he heard her for a moment, but it was gone before he could be sure which way it came from. Freezing air sliced at his ears and his cheeks, and he suddenly felt very remorseful for all the blizzards he'd handed out in the past. But those were nothing compared to this. There was something bigger feeding this one. Elsa's fear. She was alone again, unsure if he was all right or not.
Jack closed his eyes tight. "All right, wind, come on. Gimme something!"
It obeyed, fighting back against the storm to allow him to see just a few yards around him, only for a couple of seconds. Jack's heart lifted when he saw the outline of a girl far up ahead.
He flew toward it, and his own personal tornado disappeared, making it near impossible to maneuver once more. If he could just get to her, he might be able to do that again. It would have to be enough to help the two of them to her ice palace. From there, they intended to work out how to fix this winter before the day was done. Elsa would need someone to spitball solutions with, and who better than her old mentor?
But when he reached the figure, he realized it wasn't Elsa at all.
"Anna?" Jack dropped to a halt just a foot from her. "What are you doing out here? Where's Olaf?"
He came up in front of her and got a good look at her through the snow. Oh no. Her hair was completely white! Her cheeks were patterned with frost; the same design was etching itself across the skin on her hands. She brought them up to examine, teeth chattering too much to cry.
"This is bad. You gotta go some—"
Jack's thinking-out-loud was cut off by Anna herself. She looked through him, at something far off. Or someone.
"K-Kristoff…"
Jack's eyes widened. He turned around. Sure enough, almost too far away to be able to make out, a broad figure was racing toward them. Jack jumped into the air in triumph; in an instant he figured out what was happening.
"Aw, yes! I love this guy!" He grinned at Anna, though he knew she wouldn't see it. "You know how to pick 'em, Freckles."
Elsa couldn't find Jack. She couldn't even figure out where she was now. She couldn't see anything at all, actually, which was doing wonders for her self-confidence. Whoever said people had an inner compass were dirty liars. She was completely lost.
Every time her stomach churned in anxiety, the wind got sharper. She was almost knocked off her feet, and it was hard enough rushing through the cold in her dress, however comfortable she'd made it. Style came with a price.
She almost smiled at that. Jack was rubbing off on her again. Good—she'd missed those thoughts. But the smile disappeared almost as quickly as it had come. She wasn't going to have very long with him, and here they were, separated again! Elsa kept calling his name, but he didn't answer. That bow had looked so huge, barreling toward them. What if it had hit him? What if he'd gotten trapped underwater? Could Jack be killed? She knew he could be hurt; she'd seen it herself, but what if he…no, she couldn't think about that.
Was she going toward Arendelle's palace or her own? She couldn't tell. I should turn around. Go the other way.
As soon as she did, she gasped and tried to move back in the other direction. Hans! He was following her, mere steps from her, pushing his way through the storm.
"Elsa!"
She stopped. He wasn't calling her Queen anymore. Great. She didn't want that title. She just wanted to go home!
"You can't run from this!"
Defiance rose in her. Elsa turned to face him, ready to protest, tell him she wasn't running from anything. But it wouldn't be telling the truth. She was always running. This time, though, it wasn't just for her own sake. All the other moments she'd decided to escape, she'd told herself it was for everyone's benefit, when really it had only been hers. But this time—this time. This time she was running with Jack Frost, someone who knew her up and down, back to front, and could help her thaw the world she'd ruined. Making sure she wasn't killed before she could undo this curse was the top priority now. But she didn't have time to explain her actions to the upstart Prince.
"Just…take care of my sister!" She shouted. "Please!" She felt herself sobbing as she spoke. Just the thought of Anna made her sad. But Jack had offered the hope that she'd be okay; she was with Olaf. Elsa still hated herself for what she'd made Anna's life into. Even the summers the redhead had always adored were gone forever now.
"Your sister?" Hans' voice was hard and devastated at the same time. The wind cut into both of them, and he was only a foot from her now. "She returned from the mountain weak and cold! She said that you froze her heart!"
Elsa felt her own heart skip a beat. "No…" She tried to control the pressure in her chest, but the storm only grew stronger. Weak and cold. I froze her heart. Please…please…
"I tried to save her, but it was too late! Her skin was ice—her hair turned white!"
Please.
"Your sister is dead. Because of you."
Elsa felt, for the first time ever, completely and totally cold.
Your sister is dead because of you.
"No. No." She couldn't breathe. She couldn't move. The whirlwind thoughts of where Jack was and how to get to her palace and what to do to stop the winter left her. All she could see was hopeful, pool-colored eyes and childish freckles and an unconditional love in the form of a rosy smile. All she could hear was a fresh giggle and a clumsy step and a constant knock.
Anna is dead because of me.
With that knowledge, the only thing that could break through, Elsa collapsed. The storm froze in the air. Snowflakes stopped falling, hanging there. The wind died entirely. Everything was still. She couldn't even cry. She needed to die too. She didn't want to live in a world where Anna was not chasing her. Elsa didn't know if she would ever move again.
Jack flew at Kristoff's side, willing him to go faster. "Come on, big guy, you're almost there!"
And then everything stopped.
The storm was gone. The snow was lifeless. Jack looked around, confused. What was going on? He could see all around him now. He turned his back to Anna and Kristoff, trying to pinpoint the fjords and the North Mountain, trying to find footsteps in the snow.
He heard Kristoff stop. He heard Anna's whisper. "Elsa?"
Jack followed her gaze. He saw his years with the snow queen go by in a single second. Hans was standing over Elsa, who was on the ground. His sword was raised, ready to strike.
What happened next was too fast.
"No!"
Jack and Anna yelled it at the same time. Jack flew, and Anna ran. Being several yards closer, the princess got there first. She didn't know what else to do, it seemed—she threw herself into the path of the weapon, hand outstretched, shielding her big sister. Jack felt his skull pounding. Time slowed down.
"A-Anna—" Kristoff choked out, taking off after her. Jack was way ahead of him.
It was already over by the time they reached her. Hans' sword tip only had to touch Anna's hand, and the Prince was thrown backward, igniting a blast from the place where frozen fingers met tainted blade. Her body was ice; she was frozen over. Anna had used up the last of herself to protect Elsa. A last puff of breath escaped her lungs, and everything was quiet again.
Jack skidded to a halt. This wasn't how it was supposed to be. She should be alive and well, side by side with Kristoff, the curse broken, her heart clean again. He should be halfway up the North Mountain with Elsa by now, laughing and finding a way to free Arendelle. Elsa.
It took Elsa just about a heartbeat to come out of her grief-stricken stupor.
"Anna!"
She stood and rushed around to the front of her sister's statuesque form, hands out but hardly daring to touch her. "Oh…Anna…no—please—no…" It was all her nightmares come true. She couldn't process what had happened. All she could do was hold that smooth, frightened face and feel the tears well up. I did this. Elsa embraced her little sister's frozen frame, sobbing uncontrollably.
Sven came to stand beside a broken Kristoff. The blonde stared at the scene before him, brown eyes dull. His mouth hung open slightly; he seemed to be in shock. Jack couldn't tell what he was thinking, but he thought he saw a flash of bitterness in the mountain man's expression, as if Kristoff were telling himself it just figured. Jack knew what that felt like.
To his dismay, Olaf arrived shortly after. He stopped short when he saw the blue, glassy former princess. His little face fell. "Anna?" His voice was soft, and his eyes cut from Elsa to Anna to Jack and back, resting on his freckle-faced friend. Jack could see Olaf didn't understand. What had happened to his buddy? Why wasn't she okay?
Then there was absolute silence, all apart from Elsa's occasional sniffle. She seemed to have cried out as much as she could. She was dried up. All she could do was hang on to Anna. How could I let this happen? She wanted so badly, suddenly, to hear that question she'd never answered. "D'you wanna build a snowman?" She'd open the door now. She'd build a snowman. She'd spend every single second of every single hour of every single day with Anna if she could turn back time. All those years. She'd missed every loose tooth, missed so many birthdays in person, missed hearing Anna's voice grow and seeing her get taller and helping her with her sewing and her studies and her dance lessons. She wanted to hear Anna laugh again and sneak chocolate out of the royal kitchens with her. She wanted to hug her and feel her return the hug! Please. Please come back. I'm here now. Come back, we have so much to do!
Jack hung his head. If he'd been faster—if he hadn't been so stupid, sending Anna and Olaf out alone, out into the wild storm and the cold, she might still be here. Walking through a raging blizzard to get to Kristoff couldn't have done anything good for her condition, and Jack had basically pushed them right to it. He was so used to wrestling with guilt that he couldn't see it as anyone else's fault, least of all Elsa's. Elsa's striking Anna's heart had only been an accident, one that should've been easily solved, and probably would have been. Jack glanced at Kristoff. If it wasn't for me. When would he learn? He couldn't fix everything! It wasn't all his job. He wasn't the only one who could save the day. Anna had proved that.
They all stood there for what seemed like hours, mourning the determined princess of Arendelle. Jack wanted to say something to Elsa. He wanted to make her stronger, the way he was supposed to. But he knew nothing he said or did would make a difference—even if she could see him this time. Sometimes, when someone you love is hurting, it's best to simply be there, not saying anything, not touching them. Just letting them know they aren't by themselves. And that was what they did, he and Olaf and even Kristoff and Sven.
He thought he was still suffering from his collision with that ship when heard a shimmering sound. That was the only way he could describe it—a shimmering sound. He looked up, swiping away tears with the back of his right hand so that no one would see he'd been crying. It didn't matter anyway. A huge smile spread across his face and chased the sorrow off.
Color was unfurling from Anna's chest, pouring out all over her. Jack's eyes grew wide and Olaf looked up, gasping. Kristoff wouldn't move until Sven nudged him, reluctant to even look at the statue. He glanced at Anna's rapidly melting body, and his mouth dropped open all over again.
When she was completely thawed out, Anna moved. She lowered her arm and exhaled, marveling at the lack of cold she now felt. The white in her hair was gone—all of it. Even the streak Elsa's magic had put there long ago.
Jack almost moved forward, almost laughed and told Elsa to look, but there was no need. The moment her sister's breath returned to her, Elsa could feel it. She stayed still for only a few seconds, and Jack saw one last spark of terror in her eyes, as if she didn't dare to hope. Then it was gone and she propelled herself to her feet. "Anna?"
Anna smiled.
For the first time in forever, Elsa wrapped her arms around her sister and held her tight. They rocked back and forth, and nothing could wipe the smile from the snow queen's face. She was never, ever, ever losing her little sister again.
Elsa pulled away after a while, staring at Anna in bewilderment. "You sacrificed yourself…for me?" She still didn't understand. Jack had sacrificed so much for her, and now Anna had done the same. They'd both been for her, all this time. Why? She didn't deserve it in any way.
The answer was simple, and Jack was glad Anna had the guts to say it.
With a shrug, because it was obvious, Anna took her sister's hands. "I love you."
Olaf gasped, plucking his own head off his body. "An act of true love will thaw a frozen heart!"
I love you. That was why. Elsa felt freedom, real freedom, set her heart beating again. The storm disappeared, melting into a sweet, rolling white calm. Anna loved her so much; she'd given her own life in exchange for Elsa's. She'd thrown everything away for someone who had never given her anything, really. An act of true love will thaw a frozen heart. Actions speak louder than words, and Anna's action had broken the curse. Elsa wasn't rid of her powers. She was free from her fear.
"Love will thaw…" Elsa tugged her hands out of Anna's, gears in her mind turning. Everything felt easier. It was like something had been clogging her, and now she could breathe again. How long had she been holding her breath?
Nothing she ever did would push Anna away. Nothing she'd ever said could have made Jack leave her. She didn't have to run. She could never get far enough, fall hard enough, that she wouldn't turn around and see them right on her heels. She could stay. She could control it. Because they weren't going anywhere, and she wasn't afraid anymore.
"Love. Of course." Elsa spread her arms, looking at her hands. They weren't shaking. The calm flowed into her fingertips, tickling her, making her grin.
She looked at Jack, turning the grin on him, to let him know she understood now. Jack grinned back, nodding only slightly. Finally.
"Elsa?" Anna searched her sister's face, pleasantly baffled.
Elsa's eyes met hers, wondering what there was to be baffled about. "Love."
Anna looked down and gasped, delighted. Elsa's magic pulsed out beneath their feet, in the shape of a snowflake. The ice around them melted. All around Arendelle, a gentle breeze whipped past, carrying the ice and the snow with it, pulling the winter up by its roots and leaving the promise of summer. Jack turned his gaze to the sky as Elsa brought it all to rest in that same signature snowflake high above the little group. With a flick of her arms, it dissipated into the air. The sun had never felt so good, and the sky had never looked this blue.
Jack was worried they'd crash into the sea as soon as everything melted, but it turned out they were all standing on the deck of one of the sunken ships. It rose up out of the waves, and he saw Sven and Kristoff wobble and exchange a glance. They must not be used to boats.
Jack flipped his staff upside-down. "Not bad, Princess."
Elsa crossed her eyes at him. He stuck his tongue out at her.
Anna put a hand on Elsa's shoulder. "I knew you could do it!"
Olaf interrupted them, his voice wavering. "Hands down, this is the best day of my life! And quite possibly the last."
Jack turned with everyone else, and Elsa gasped. Olaf was melting, rather rapidly for a snowman made with ice magic. His arms fell off, still waving at them.
Jack shot a disturbed glance at his friend. "Wow. What does that feel like?"
Olaf's mouth had disappeared, so he couldn't answer, but he tried his best with his eyes. Didn't help much. Jack probably would've been worried or sad if Olaf were really dying, but he knew a certain blueblood with connections, so he wasn't gearing up to say goodbye just yet.
"Olaf!" Elsa chuckled. "Hang on, little guy!"
With a twirl of her hand, Olaf was back in full form, and above him sprouted a tiny cloud. Sparkling snowflakes fell down onto him. Olaf giggled, crying out, "My own personal flurry!" He bounced in the air, gazing at the warmth and the green all around them with coal eyes that couldn't move fast enough.
They heard a grunting behind them. Anna was the first to glance that way. Jack felt fury overlay his previous cheer. Prince Hans of the Southern Isles was struggling to get to his feet, leaning on the railing for support.
Jack readied his staff, eyebrows low over his blue irises. "Oho, no, no, don't get up on our account." He started forward. He was so ready to freeze the underwear out of that man.
Elsa grabbed his hand. "No—wait."
Kristoff, mittens bunched into fists, stormed toward Hans, head cocked in a barely-controlled rage. He was definitely stronger than the would-be murderer; you could tell just by looking at the two of them. Anna rushed to his side and put an arm out to stop him.
She walked calmly toward Hans, the picture of sophisticated grace, as poised as she had ever been in her life. She didn't trip, she didn't falter.
Hans looked up, rubbing his jaw, testing it after how hard he'd landed on his pretty face. His eyes widened. "Anna?" He stood up too quickly, stopping short when she got close. "But—she…she froze your heart!"
Anna didn't stutter even once. "The only frozen heart around here is yours."
With that, she smoothly whisked around, taking a few steps back toward her sister. Jack looked at Elsa, disappointed. "That was it?"
Then Anna swiftly turned on her heel and slugged Hans, right in the nose. With a splash, he was over the side.
Jack let out a whoop. "All right!" He could hear the dignitaries and watching townsfolk cheering and laughing.
Elsa put a hand to her mouth, startled. "Oh my."
Olaf started clapping.
"That's what I'm talking about!" Jack nudged Elsa, still holding her hand. "How come you never did that?"
Elsa rolled her eyes at him. She tugged her hand out of his, opened her arms, and Anna hugged her again. Jack knew what it was to feel like one just wasn't enough.
Over her sister's shoulder, Anna opened her eyes and smiled right at Kristoff, who flushed, folded his arms, and grinned back. Sven grunted in what sounded suspiciously like a chuckle, hitting Kristoff in the ear with an antler. Kristoff pushed his head away with one hand on his friend's big nose.
And over Anna's shoulder, Elsa looked at Jack and mouthed Thank you.
"Hey, don't look at me," he said quietly. He nodded to Anna. "I'm not the hero here."
Elsa gave him her best Reserved-For-Jack-Frost smile anyway, and he lost feeling in his knees. He made a face at her and she made one back, but her heart was doing backflips when he smirked.
Olaf went to the railing and waved at Hans. "Bye! Have a great swim!" There wasn't even a hint of mockery in his tone; he actually wanted Hans to enjoy the water. He turned to Jack, suddenly deep in thought. "Ooh, you know, I've never actually swam before! Wait—is it swum? I gotta try it! My first summer and I'm already going swimming!"
Jack grinned. "Want a lift?"
"Please."
Jack picked him up by the feet and hoisted the snowman over the side. The cloud followed him, still floating over each separate piece of Olaf's body as he bobbed and backstroked in the waves.
"Thanks, Jack!" Olaf picked his head up a little. "Hey, you should hop in! It's really warm!"
"Thanks but no thanks, little man," Jack laughed. "I've got some catching up to do. You take it easy."
He turned and saw that Kristoff, Sven, Anna, and Elsa had all gone to the railing to watch their snowman friend enjoy summer. They waved and called down to him and warned him that his right foot was floating too far east.
Anna paused, glancing at Elsa in sudden puzzlement. "Wait—Elsa? Who is Jack?"
Jack exchanged a look with Elsa. He lifted a finger to his lips. As much as he wanted other people to believe in him, now just wasn't the right time. Anna would have so many questions. Kristoff might not believe at all. It was pretty far fetched. And even if there was loads of proof now, Jack had a feeling it wasn't supposed to happen. Not today. Today just one person could see him. And that was all he wanted.
Elsa nodded, just enough for him to see. She smiled at Anna, shrugging one shoulder, but her voice was filled with feeling. "He's an old friend."
That night, after Elsa had turned the courtyard into an ice skating rink, they held another party. A new one. This time it was held both outside and inside. Anna was in charge of decorated the interior, while Elsa took the castle grounds. Icicles in various glittering shapes hung from everything, the fountains were frozen in swooping, tall poses, the garden had a thin, sparkly layer of frost over it. It was all wispy and lovely and the perfect temperature. Anna made sure the ballroom was covered in blooming, fresh flowers—everyone had missed those colors in the past terrible weekend. Garlands hung from the ceiling, and the smell of apples and chocolate hung in the air. If outside was the shine of winter, inside was the peace of summer.
Jack helped Elsa with her fussy décor almost all evening. They talked and laughed. He told her, in great detail, what a commotion he'd caused in the royal kitchens trying to get her soup.
"I wondered where that came from!"
"You like it?"
"It was delicious."
"Good, 'cuz I still smell like fish."
She told him about the battle with the guards. He listened, fingers working quickly as he spiraled each pillar and turret with frosty blue. Elsa made each flag in the symbol of a snowflake.
"And then the doors fell and…they broke the railing, and I—"
"You wrecked the balcony? Must've been some fight."
"Yes, well. You should see the other guys."
When they were done, the party began. The people of Arendelle weren't the least bit tired from their previous skating outing earlier in the day; eager to have more fun at this ball. The servants brought out tray after tray of desserts—the only thing they were serving tonight, by Anna's request. Elsa wore her same self-made dress, and Anna wore her summer gown. Kristoff had the first dance with the redhead, but revealed awkwardly that he couldn't dance. So Anna taught him, amid much awwwing from the citizens watching, and a bunch of oops—sorrysfrom Kristoff.
Jack stood next to Elsa, eating a frozen concoction that smelled like mint. It was all over his mouth and staining his shawl. "Huh. I woulda thought the trolls had taught him a thing or two about dancing."
Elsa's proud smile dropped away. She shot him a glance. "Trolls?"
"Uh, yeah." Jack licked his sticky fingers. "Don't ask. He's already got that reindeer thing."
At one point, when the party was carried outside, Olaf waddled by with Sven, who was chewing on a carrot. Olaf assured Jack that it was not his nose the caribou was chowing down on.
"See?" He took his nose off and held it up to Jack. "It's right here!"
"Yeah, I-I see it, buddy. What happens if you lose that one?" Jack asked, curious. He was trying not to laugh; Sven had a piece of carrot stuck between his teeth behind Olaf and was frantically swiping his large tongue in all the wrong crevices.
Olaf gasped. "Lose my nose, no way! Anna gave it to me, y'know." He chuckled, sticking his nose back in. "I am never letting it out of my sight!" He turned to Elsa, murmuring confidentially, "I can't really see it; it's like, right between my eyes. Right there." It was also upside-down. Elsa readjusted it for him, giggling.
Throughout the night, there was an air of melancholy about Queen Elsa, and no one could put their finger on why. Some said it was because she preferred the palace she was rumored to have on the North Mountain. Others said it was the trauma of almost losing Princess Anna. The children thought she liked vanilla the best (because it was the color of snow) and she must be sad because everything on the dessert table was chocolate, not vanilla. Anna tried to ask her what was wrong several times, but Elsa assured her it was nothing and directed her attention elsewhere. Anna kept sneaking glances at her sister, concerned. But Elsa kept a faint smile on her face at all times, loathe to show any sort of unhappiness to a kingdom that was filled with joy.
The party lasted until the late hours, and before anyone knew it, there was only one of those late hours left before midnight. Elsa was chatting with Kai and Geoffrey about the arrangements for their next ball—which would almost certainly be this week—when she spied Jack outside the window, out in the gardens. He was motioning for her to come out.
Elsa cleared her throat, forcing cheer into her voice. "Can you excuse me, please, gentlemen?"
When she came outside, Jack dropped in front of her; he'd been hanging around on the roof waiting.
"Jack? What is it?"
"Shh!" He covered her mouth with a hand, glancing around.
She said something, but it was muffled behind his palm. She shrugged her shoulders in an exaggerated way, asking him for an explanation.
"Sorry." Jack uncovered her mouth. "Hide and seek with Olaf. He doesn't quit."
Elsa licked her lips indignantly; he still had that frozen treat somewhere on his hand and she was unaccustomed to having people physically shut her up like that. It was very undignified. She wondered if he'd messed up her lipstick briefly, and what she looked like without it, but then decided she didn't care that much after all.
He took her hand. "C'mon."
"What are we doing?"
Jack took her to her chambers. She looked around the room; she hadn't been in it since the coronation. That seemed like years away now. She almost expected dust to have settled over everything, but it was just the same—neat and perfect, the way she liked it.
Elsa opened her mouth to ask another question, but she thought better of it.
He left her in the doorway. "Wait right here. One second."
Jack went to the middle of her room, picked up his staff, and banged it once on the floor. Ice, clear and simple, spread over the floor and stopped at her feet. He leaned the staff against a wall and slid up to her.
"Everybody else got to skate with you earlier," he explained. "Figured it was my turn." He grinned. "And hey, this way nobody can give you the skunk eye for skating with your imaginary friend."
Elsa smiled. "You're impossible."
"Thanks."
"But…" She glanced backward. "I really should get back to the party, Jack."
"Sure." Jack crossed his arms at her. "It's okay if you can't really skate."
Elsa turned back toward him. A memory flickered in her mind. She smirked. "Watch me."
They skated up and down the room, showing off to each other, Jack trying to trip her up constantly. At one point she fired a snowball at him and he toppled to the floor, kicking her feet out from under her so that she fell too. They always got back up, though, and it turned from game to dance almost as if it were planned.
When they got tired, they rested on the windowsill, sitting together and looking out at the moon. Well, Elsa looked at the moon. Jack deliberately avoided it, choosing instead to look at her.
"It's gettin' late," he said softly, after a moment. "Almost time."
She'd been thinking the same thing. Soon it would be midnight, the next day, and their time together would be over. Elsa turned to him, trying to figure out what to say, but nothing would come out for the longest time. All she got was tears, but she wouldn't let them fall.
"You can't leave," she whispered. "I need you."
"Boy, I like hearing that." Jack chortled, but it lacked his usual humor. He messed his hair with a hand, starting at the back. "But you know it's not true now, right?"
Elsa looked back out at the moon. She didn't want to answer. If she didn't answer, she couldn't confirm it, and he couldn't go.
"You don't need me anymore. You got Anna. And Kristoff." He nudged her. "And Olaf!"
She laughed, but it was a short one. Her smile fell again. "You won't really be gone, will you?"
Jack looked at his hands. "You won't be able to see me. Or hear me."
"But I'll know you're there. Doesn't that count for something?"
Jack shook his head. His eyes stung. He didn't want to cry and he didn't want her to cry. Everything was really going to be okay, especially for her. He could see that. Crying would spoil it.
"I…I dunno how to explain it, but—it's just the way things've gotta go. I traded that, that minute in the cell when you believed for…every day after."
She might not have believed on her own; she'd lacked the courage to try. The Man in the Moon had given her that courage, only for a moment, and she'd chosen to see Jack again. She'd believed when she needed him most, when nobody else could help her. But it would cost them; because Jack's life was the way it was for a very important reason, even if he wouldn't know what it was until ages later. It had to work like this. It was necessary. And no amount of foreknowledge Elsa had would change it. In exchange for that moment of sight, every other moment had to be given away, to make room for others to believe generations after, when they would need him most.
But neither of them knew it. All they knew was that time was running out, and so many years had passed since Jack had opened the window to a frightened little girl, wide awake because of a nightmare. It had gone by too fast. And it would be over even faster.
"Will you stay?" Elsa asked, voice catching. "Here, I-I mean. Even when…"
Jack didn't know how to respond at first. Something had been tugging at him, ever since he'd spoken to Grandpabbie. There were things he needed to know, questions that needed answering. And what sort of life could he have with Elsa when he was nothing but vapor, even if she knew he was real somewhere out there? Others could believe too. She'd shown him one of the most important things in his life, something he'd remember centuries from then: it was possible. He could be seen again. He just had to figure out how.
"Yeah, I'll be around for visits," Jack replied. He shrugged. "Just don't freeze the world again, okay?"
Elsa huffed, but she offered him a wet smile. "I suppose I can try." She understood why he couldn't stay. He shouldn't, after all. What could he do, if he was invisible again? But she wished things were different. So very badly. "Jack…what if…what if I…"
He knew what she was trying to say. He tapped her ankle with his foot; he was sitting a little too far to elbow her in that ticklish spot. "Hey, it's gonna be great. You've got your sister back. You're not alone anymore."
Elsa nodded. He was right. Anna was more than she needed, much more than she deserved. She felt selfish all over again, wanting Jack along with her. He had things he needed to do, far from Arendelle, discoveries to be made. And she had a kingdom to run, a sister to get to know again.
But one thought nagged at her. "What about you?" She stood up. "You'll be alone, Jack. It's…it's terrible to be lonely, w-we both know that. I mean, what if—w-what will you—"
"Elsa, Elsa, it's okay," Jack held up both hands to slow her down. "I'm gonna be fine."
"What do you mean?"
"Somebody fixed me." Jack grinned, spreading his arms as if there were an actual wound she could examine that had been healed up. "I was alone for years, Princess. Nobody knew I was here. And then something different happened."
She tilted her head, confused, waiting.
"One day, I found this huge castle. And when I went in, I found some cute little kid crying her eyes out." Elsa smiled. "And…she fixed me. She's been fixing me ever since, and I'm not so alone anymore."
Elsa felt the tears spilling out, but she didn't move to wipe them away. Only minutes left now.
"You melted the lonely away."
She gave him one final hug. Jack squeezed her tight, and she remembered standing right here, right in front of the window, 7 years old, holding onto a much taller Jack Frost. He smelled like pine needles and that stupid chocolate ice cream. Jack closed his eyes and felt her calming down. She's gonna be okay. He didn't have to stick around to make sure of that. But he would miss her.
When they pulled away, Jack went to the door. They shared an unspoken understanding; it would be best if she didn't watch him disappear.
"Have fun, Princess."
Elsa blinked. When she looked again, Jack was gone.
Elsa closed her eyes and pictured the brown shawl, the cream-colored shirt, the sackcloth pants, the crooked staff, the cheeky grin, the warm, warm eyes. She tried very hard not to sob; she'd cried enough in one day to last a lifetime. So instead, she smiled. "Thank you, Jack."
You melted the lonely away.