A/N: I wrote this for Jarida Week back in July... June? One of those. And I wanted to put it up here! It's not really that great. I wrote this part with a lot of time behind it. But the other chapters I wrote in 4 hours and they were all really rushed. So, yeah. I'm editing them now, but if you see errors or you feel the story moved to fast, I'm just telling you it wasn't meant to be dragged out. There is a comic that goes with this and it can be found here: crazejen. tumblr post/53439315214/j-a-r-i-d-a-w-e-e-k-day-five-fros tbite-lonely

Jack pushed through the biting wind; he didn't feel its sting as he walked. He knew the same could not be said about his companion, whose warm cheeks were flushed from the wind whipping against them repeatedly. They had to keep going, the nightmares weren't far behind. He looked back at her, and saw her sitting on the ground. His heart skipped a beat and he ran back to her, sliding to the ground in front of her. "Merida, we can't stop here!" He cried over the wind. Merida's blue eyes gazed into his as tears leaked down her cheeks and were quickly crystallized. "I can't, it's no use. I can't move anymore," She shouted her voice straining. Jack felt panic rush him, if they didn't leave now, she would die. "Merida, it's not that far now, we can make it." He gripped her shoulder, attempting to help and only causing more cold to eat away at her.

"Its okay, Jack," Her words were soft, like the warmest blanket, he was surprised he heard them over the howls of the wind. He leaned closer, listening. The wind seemed quiet, becoming white noise as they focused on one another. The wintery plain seemed a far off place to them now. "I'm not alone. I remember everything," she smiled through the frozen tears, "I remember the day I first met you. The day you taught me to fly. And I will never forget the day you gave me a choice. You helped me, Jack. More than you can know." Her lips trembled and he watched her face growing paler.

"Merida, stop… You can't say things like that. You will be alright." But he knew, in his heart, things would not be alright. Merida knew it too and stroked his cheek, "just hold me, Jack. Hold me like you did that day." Jack hesitated, but then wrapped his cold arms around her and held her to him, feeling his heart clench and throat constrict as he restrained heavy sobs.

"Thank you," she murmured against his hoodie, "Jack… I…" He waited, but no other sound was heard. Gently he pulled back and stared down at the redhead, "Merida?" He whispered, "Merida?!" He shook her, "No! No!" He cried, as everything came crashing down on him at once, the whirling blizzard, and the shriek of the wind in his ears like nails on a chalkboard. "Merida…" He broke then, tears streaming down his face, he could feel the cold body in his arms. The Princess DunBroch, daughter of Queen Elinor and King Fergus, was dead.

He wasn't sure when or how, but he blindly managed to make it on foot to North's house. His mind was numb as the doors swung open and he stepped into the room, carrying the lifeless body. "Jack! Where ya-" Bunny stopped mid-sentence, his mouth dropped and his eyes grew wide, "Oh no…" He whispered. "Jack…"

North appeared, smiling, "Jack Frost! You made it." He stopped in front of the boy, he had been about to hug him. "Jack… is that?"

Jack nodded, "She…" He looked down at her, "she couldn't make it."

"Jack, where's your staff, mate?" Bunnymund asked walking closer. Jack blinked, "I left it out there."

Bunny nodded, "I'll get it." He said, disappearing into his warren. Jack walked toward the fire and lay her body down in front of it. North wrung his hands, unsure of what to say or do. "Jack, I'm… I'm so sorry."

Jack didn't respond, he only gazed at the princess and felt a pain that he had only felt once in his life. It was like the day he drowned. It felt the same, like the bitter cold eating him, knocking the breath from his lungs as he gasped in the icy water. It had burned him, chilled him and tormented him until death had swept him away and he became a guardian for the Moon. He clenched his hands into fists and rushed to the moonbeam on the floor. The blizzard was slowing. "Save her!" He screamed at the moon, "Bring her back!" His voice rang harshly against the warm room. North looked startled as the room quaked from Jack's rage. "Why don't you save her? You saved me! Now save her!" He pointed furiously as Merida's body.

But the Moon was ever quiet, and said nothing in response. Tears burned Jack's eyes and he turned away, "I became a Guardian to protect people. So why couldn't I protect her?" he whispered.

To be continued…