Ice Hearts Can Melt – Chapter 2
Elsa sighed. She had read every book she had collected from the extensive library, and nothing had been of any use to her! Nothing was relevant to her or her ominous powers.
She was about to give up and try to sleep when she saw a book, it's spine facing the ceiling. A light, sheer coat of ice encased the book, but Elsa was absolutely sure she hadn't touched the book; she would recognise its pale blue exterior, carefully embossed title. In terms of books, it was beautiful. Elsa slowly picked the book up, not feeling the coldness of it; she was immune to cold- numb to it. She held it still as her hands, and skimmed her eyes over the opening line.
"Jack Frost is the personification of Frost and Cold Weather."
That was all it took to spark Elsa's curiosity. She was delighted to find that there was an entire chapter on the person, but left wishing for more when she reached the end of the chapter. She thought she may have missed something, so she went back and read it again- and many more times after that.
Elsa had a good feeling in her stomach as she read about him. He was a real person, she was sure, who could control ice- and snow- and winter! He had snow white hair, and ice blue eyes. His personality was supposedly cold and uncaring, but from what Elsa could gage, he had a mischievous streak. He was constantly causing trouble, wreaking havoc and enjoying himself.
Apparently, he was incredibly skilled, and according to the book, Jack crafted each snowflake that fluttered by her window himself, by hand; Elsa scoffed at that, finding that hard to believe. He seemed immature, the boy who shunned his responsibilities, not hand-crafted snow day décor.
For the first time in a long time, Elsa caught herself smiling. If there really was a Jack Frost, she sure wanted to meet him. If anyone had the power to brighten her world, it was the Jack Frost.
A knock on the door alerted Elsa, and a warm, soft voice called through, "Princess Elsa, you must start preparing now. How does it feel to know that soon, the gates will be open?" She gushed excitedly, "And you will be a Queen too!" The woman was practically squealing herself, and Elsa didn't understand that. Yes, she would be a Queen, but that woman would still be a maid in twenty-four hours, so why was she so excited? Elsa knew she should be happier. After all, she would be a young Queen in a matter of hours.
Any happiness was beat down by severe panic. The gates would open soon, and everyone would be inside the castle, watching her- no, speculating her. Elsa knew that one mistake could change everything. They wouldn't understand. They wouldn't listen. They would be terrified, and Elsa would be a threat to others once again. Elsa inhaled deeply, and shut her eyes. She just had to get though the coronation, and then she could lock the gates again and barricade herself in her bedroom.
In a fit of adrenaline and eagerness to get the day over with, Elsa looked down at the book in her hands. She was tearful with resentment as she said, "Jack Frost," she scoffed, "It's just a children's story. He's just a children's story." She flung the book down on her bed and started to get dressed.
Usually, a princess would have a handmaid to help her get dressed, especially for such an important event, but for obvious reasons, Elsa couldn't let anyone in her bedroom, and she never stood before anyone while not wearing gloves- for fear of injuring or killing them.
It didn't take very long for Elsa to be ready. She wore a teal dress with a sweetheart bodice with bronze lacing. Looking down, she saw black long sleeves to her wrists, and draped behind my shoulders was a light, magenta cape. She was pleased with how she had her silver-white hair pulled up in an elaborate, intricate bun. The last thing she did before leaving her bedroom was pulling on a pair of ivory silk gloves, stretching right up to her fore-arms. She looked nice, and felt infinitely more comfortable now that her hands were covered- they seemed to contain her powers.
A knock on the door resounded through Elsa's room, and the fluttery, soft voice of the maid sounded too. "Princess Elsa, the gatekeeper wants to know whether he should open up the gates yet?" the maid is busily patting down her finest dress when Elsa opens the door narrowly, and slips outside, careful not to let the woman see inside the room.
"Open the gates now." Elsa said, not smiling. She would face them all now, and as soon as the ball was over, the gates would close again, and she would be safe- everyone would be safe.
Jack was gliding, airborne, when he thought of Elsa. He hadn't seen her since he'd left the book for her, and the thought of her seeing him made him spin and fly in the direction of the Arendelle Castle. He hoped she would see him now, but of course, he knew she would be busy for a while; it was her coronation day.
The gates were open, Jack saw with surprise. He made his way into the castle, and saw her standing with her sister and an unfamiliar man.
"You can't marry a man you just met." Elsa said decisively, her voice leaving no room for argument, but Anna was unusually argumentative.
She jumped to her own defence, "You can if its true love!" She exclaimed. Everything she knew about love caused her to believe that she was right. When it is true love, everything is right; everything is perfect.
Elsa rolled her eyes, "Anna, what do you know about true love?" she didn't mean to be condescending, but she was, and Anna was so mad she was getting red in the face.
Anna couldn't allow Elsa to ruin this magical thing. Elsa was barely a presence in her life, and now that something good was finally happening, Elsa wanted to turn up and play the role of guardian. Well, no, that wasn't how things worked. "More than you!" Anna exclaimed, "All you know is how to shut people out!" Anna didn't really regret saying that- or at least, not until a look of sorrow crossed Elsa's beautiful, pale face. Anna's words were true, and that was why they hurt.
"You asked for my blessing," Elsa said coldly, glowering now, "But my answer is no." she was announcing her power and authority not only as Anna's older sister, but as her Queen, her ruler. Anna's mouth gaped open at this, half in outrage, half in sadness.
Even Jack winced at how harsh Elsa had sounded; she didn't mean to be cruel to her sister, Jack understood. She was merely trying to look out for her- that was all she ever did.
"Now," Elsa interrupted Anna's quiet reverie, "excuse me."
The mystery man Anna wanted to marry stepped forward, bowing his head to her. "Your majesty, if I may ease your conscience." Jack wasn't sure he liked this man. He had no right to intrude on family matters between Elsa and Anna.
Obviously, Elsa thought the same as Jack, because she coldly glared at Hans, the mystery man. "No, you may not. I think you should go." She told Hans, "The party is over. Close the gates." The last part was a call to the gatekeeper, and a message to all the people at the ball, telling them that they had overstayed their welcome.
Anna's eyes widened, terrified of her dream fluttering beyond reach, "What? Elsa, no! No, wait!" Anna grabbed at Elsa's hand, accidentally pulling her glove off. Jack gasped as Elsa did. He understood why Elsa wore her gloves- to protect herself and everyone else. Anna couldn't let that gate close again, she just couldn't, and she wouldn't be able to stand a life constantly trapped within the Castle. She needed people, and love, and conversation. She didn't want to be alone again, and find herself talking to the portraits, or sitting with her back to Elsa's door again.
"Give me my glove!" Elsa commanded, falling into a state of blind panic.
"Elsa, please, please, I can't live like this anymore." Anna pleaded, clutching her sister's glove tighter. She wouldn't let her shut her out again. Elsa couldn't have everything her own way. She couldn't isolate Anna completely- not anymore! If Elsa didn't want to see Anna, she could at least let Anna see other people. Why did she want Anna to be alone all the time? It wasn't fair!
"Then leave." Elsa breathed solemnly. Elsa would prefer to send her sister away, then to risk hurting her. She sighed, looking tearful. She turned, walking away. That was all she ever did. Jack made his way to the front of the crowd, watching quietly.
"What did I ever do to you?" Anna exclaimed, tears rimming her eyes, threatening to brim over and cause a scene.
"Enough, Anna," Elsa replied, tired, all too aware of everyone's eyes on her. Elsa clutched her hand to her chest, trying to keep it hidden.
"No," Anna wasn't finished yet, "why do you shut me out? Wh-why do you shut the world out? What are you so afraid of?" Anna didn't realise, but she was shouting. She was letting every single person there know what happened inside the walls of the most mysterious Castle. Elsa didn't care about that though; she just needed to get away without anything happening.
"I said, enough!" Elsa screamed, swinging around, her uncovered hand pointing unintentionally.
It happened so fast, even Jack gasped along with the crowd. A wall of ice surrounded the new queen, up to her waist; successfully stopping Anna from any further attack. Anna jumped back just in time to avoid being speared right through her chest, bringing her arms up to her chest. Elsa breathed heavily, suddenly terrified. Cruel whispers aroused in the crowd, people already suspecting her of witchcraft and sorcery.
Anna whispered her sister's name, and, failing to catch her breath, Elsa ran.
She ran straight outside, crowds stopping her to congratulate her and praise her. Jack tried to follow her, but he was being shoved about by the crowds, and by the time he got outside, and could see her again, Elsa looked a lot like a startled deer. "Please, just stay away from me? Stay away!" she begged an unfamiliar Duke who was looking at the new Queen as if he wanted her dead. Jack instantly felt protective of her and pushed past people in an attempt to get closer to her.
While Elsa was actually holding her hands up in a show of surrender- she didn't want to hurt them, she meant no harm; she accidentally shot dagger-sharp icicles at the Duke and his henchmen. Elsa gasped louder than anyone else, and jumped back. She was far more scared than anyone else. If she was a danger to anyone, it was to herself, and Jack saw that, and was desperate to get her out of there. Things would end badly if Elsa didn't get away soon.
Jack broke through the crowd, and was soon grasping her wrist and pulling her along behind him. When people wouldn't move aside for the man they couldn't even see, Jack shot a blast of frosty air at them, or in the most severe circumstances, pushed them back with the cold force of ice. Elsa was stumbling along behind him, and people were whispering about her.
Jack succeeded; they were very quickly on the bare, open docks. Jack didn't hesitate to point his staff towards the water below; it promptly turned to thick, opaque ice. Jack stepped onto the ice, and it didn't falter under his weight. He tugged on her hand, but she resisted, remaining on the wooden docks, "Who are you?" She asked.
Jack scoffed, "You know who I am," he told her, flashing his wicked smile at her, "you wouldn't be able to see me if you didn't." he tugged again, "Now come on, we need to get out of here."
"Jack Frost," Elsa breathed, amazed, "You actually exist." Jack sent her a sarcastic look as if to say, 'I never would have guessed'. "I read about you." She informed him, finally letting him lead her away, "In a book." Elsa was carefully testing the stability of the ice.
"I know," Jack retorted as he ran, "I put the book there for you. I thought you could use a friend." He smiled over his shoulder at Elsa, "And you weren't going to find out about me on your own. You've practically been in a coma these last few years."
"You have been watching me for years?" Elsa asked nervously.
"Yeah, but don't worry, it's not weird." Jack told her simply.
Elsa was sceptical, "Why is it not weird?" she asked, pulling her arm away from him and crossing both her arms across her chest, raising an eyebrow.
"I have the same powers as you," Jack told Elsa, "and besides… I was lonely too."
"I wasn't lonely." Elsa snapped, "I was perfectly fine. It is safer for everyone if I just keep to myself."
"Maybe for them, but not for you- trust me, Elsa." Jack sighed, "I have been on my own for two-hundred-and-fifty years, and no one ever even sees me. I was lonely, and then I saw you. What's the problem with me wanting to be your friend?" He looked at her pointedly, "I don't think you have so many friends you can afford to turn people away."
Elsa frowned, but then heard shouting from the docks. She looked over her shoulder and saw the people of Arendelle flocking at the end of the pier, pointing and staring at Elsa. She wanted to leave. She didn't want anyone to speculate over her anymore.
Elsa turned back to Jack, who smiled hopefully at her. Elsa took in his messy white hair, and shining, pale blue eyes; he was taller than her, and charming in a rebellious, easy-going way. She was sure she had never seen a man as handsome as Jack Frost before. Elsa saw how Jack raised his left hand, outstretched in question. Elsa nodded, but she didn't take his hand. Instead, she tested the ground more. She placed a foot on clear water, and watched as it became opaque white ice. It was solid, and didn't crack or break. Elsa continued to take more steps, until her pace had sped and she was running. She laughed softly, and carried on running, only looking up from her feet once, to see that Jack was following her, grinning, and gliding alongside the silver-haired girl.
A/N: Hi readers! Thanks for stopping by and reading Chapter two, and thank you for the reviews some of you left last time I posted a chapter (which I am pretty sure was just a day or two ago)…
So, this will be a story and not a one-shot, and I will try to post again soon. I tried to make this chapter a bit longer than the first one.
You should know, that it is currently 1:39AM, and I have to get up to get ready for school at 7; I think that deserves a review or two I need something to show for how exhausted I'll be tomorrow!
Well, bye (and good night from me, I guess). Kate xxx