The falling of white sunset was sharp and – although beautiful – blaring to the eye. Elsa held up an arm to shield her sight as the Pegasus dipped and dived back towards the palace. An afternoon dusting the mountains had been gorgeously uplifting, but now all Elsa wanted to do was rest. She braced herself as the Pegasus swept down onto the back porch, a couple skips away from the intricate ice garden. After Elsa's dismount, the creature trotted steadily towards the garden, its mane swinging like a shower of glitter as it went. Elsa smiled. She herself was proud of what she had created – a creature of such beauty was that of a dream vision. She turned and at a wave of her hand, the back doors burst open with a whoosh and Elsa sauntered through.
Her lips parted when she entered the dining room. The release of her power had been voluntary, but the built up memory and longing had left occasional surprises. The dining room had been one of these, and Elsa never failed to be astounded by the complexity of its design and beauty.
The walls of ice were carved into traditional panelling with unique snowflakes flourishing in colour across each board. The dining table was very long and very heavy looking; its legs decorated with swirling patterns and round stars. The table itself was dotted with intricate candlesticks with white flames, cutlery and plates made of rounded translucent ice. A throne sat at the head of the table for Elsa, its seat made of soft blue suede and its back stretching upwards like reverse icicles. Similar chairs surrounded the length of table, but they were smaller, less grand, and were always empty.
The recent birth of the snowy osprey bird had been beneficial, for now it delivered fresh fish from the lake whenever Elsa was hungry. On a particular good day, Elsa would eat lefse flatbread, with extra butter and sugar. It had been a seasonal dish in Arendelle, but now Elsa could eat it whenever she wanted.
She sat down once more and was pleased to see a serving of cooked salmon and herring on her plate. The delicate sound of her fork occasionally scraping the plate sent echoes throughout the room and Elsa would wince each time. Every time she took a sip of iced lingonberry tea and put the cup back down, the connection made a loud hollow knock. She could hear the ghostly sound of the wind breaking past the ice palace and the distant dripping from unseen icicles. The creatures she had created filled her spirit, but how was she to fill the seats?
After hastily finishing her meal, Elsa found a pain surging up her arms that she was all too familiar with. Her fork clattered onto the table with a clang and she held herself and staggered up and away. Her arms had folded together in a desperate clutch and she felt her icy breath coming out in fast, upsetting puffs.
Within a few strides and skips, Elsa had burst into the entry hall where at least the sound of the intricate ice fountain filled the air. Her hands had cooled again but she wasn't prepared to ignore it any longer; she realised what she had to do.
Sweeping across the frozen floor felt like striding over blue sky, and Elsa began to envision her memories of people. Remembering hurt, but her own words were recalled:
"What do you know of love?"
She took a deep intake of breath and felt the chemistry inside of her. This time it was not within her fingertips, but Elsa felt it brewing and bubbling in her heart. She slowly beckoned it from her with soft waving motions and a mischievous look grew on her face with intense excitement.
The removal of the glow inside her was breathtaking and Elsa felt more in control than ever before. The luminosity of it dimmed the rest of the room until the ice around her was drained of its cobalt colour and became sleets of black. With precision, she placed the immeasurable radiance into the centre of the room where it rotated slowly like a sculpture waiting to be carved. Here she hesitated, not knowing how to continue.
The idea of creating an ice-man was alluring, but she couldn't be sure how to do such a thing. Looking intently at the blazing opportunity she felt no other urge than to approach it. Its glow strengthened as she drew near, and in a moment of sudden electricity, she darted forward and wrapped her arms around the glow, crushing her eyes shut.
A sharpening slice slid through the air like cracking ice and Elsa's hair and dress gusted out behind her at an unspeakable speed. She just held on tighter, thinking of all those days hugging her own knees while watching suspended snowflakes. The light grew brighter behind her lids and the noise was unbearable; like something was approaching at a horrifying speed.
But with a final explosion of clatter and glow, Elsa felt arms around her and a soothing hand smooth down the back of her head. Staring up, her eyes filled with admiration, she saw her Prince.
He was a beautiful concoction of ice and snow, and finally someone a few inches taller than Elsa. With white hair brushed freely backwards and dazzling blue eyes, he was dressed in a neat crystal white jacket and a fine azure shirt with tiny snowflakes stitched in daintily. His jacket ran down to his thighs and finished with tall dark boots made of black ice. His skin was made of pure white ice which made his face almost transparent. Elsa assumed he couldn't speak and immediately stepped back.
She curtseyed and he bowed:
"It is an honour, my Queen," He said, his voice was low and travelled like a harmony. She was surprised but took his out stretched hand in confidence, letting him take the lead.
