As the months passed with summer passing into autumn things seemed to get better all the time. Elsa could now remove the bandage from her now mended wrist. She even continued to advance in her economic and political studies and become more competent as Queen. As Elsa's skills improved so did her confidence. Sometimes some thought she seemed more confident and elated than usual. Elsa's recent change in emotion surprised a lot of her subjects. Some just took it as a good thing and accepted it. Others thought it out of character; and a few quietly speculated and gossiped.
But there was more to her life than just improving in her confidence and her ability to do her job. By this time, it was nearing sunset and Elsa started out her back door and toward the glen to meet Jack after a long day's work. As Elsa walked on, several things crossed her mind including her upcoming meeting with Jack and her expecting horse and best friend. With Elsa's chest tightening and her mind racing she took a deep breath and collected herself again.
Before long, Elsa arrived at the glen and found Jack waiting for her by the river. "Hello Jack, I hope I didn't keep you waiting," said Elsa.
"Not too long Elsa, only five minutes," Jack replied turning around to meet her. "How are you?"
"I have a lot to talk about, in a good way," Elsa replied as she gestured for Jack to follow her.
Jack noticed that Elsa's wrist was no longer bandaged. "What happened to your bandage? Does this mean your wrist is healed?"
"Yes. It's somewhat uncomfortable moving my wrist freely for the first time in months though."
"I imagine it would take time for your strength to return but I'm sure it will in time."
While they chatted with each other Jack and Elsa walked through the woods further east. When the trees cleared they arrived at the top of a cliff and below was a lake. Jack removed his sweatshirt revealing a white muscle shirt and jumped into the lake below. Once in the lake he gestured for Elsa to join him. Elsa magically switched from her royal raiment to something similar to her magical ice robe and came diving after. They swam to the other end of the lake toward the mountains. Jack saw a thin vertical cloud of steam in the distance. "What's that?" he asked.
Elsa squinted slightly, "That? That's a hot spring. You want to see it Jack?"
"Why not."
"All right, let's go."
Jack and Elsa walked up the slope until the terrain seemed to level out and right in front of them was the hot spring. They stopped at the edge of the spring and Elsa stuck her hand in the water.
"Doesn't that hurt you?"
"No, in fact it's dormant. It's hot in there but it's a comfortable hot."
Jack hesitated.
"Go ahead, feel the water."
Jack put his hand in the water. As he did Elsa magically levitated water from the hot spring which she froze into an ice bubble and directed it over Jack's head. Once she did she thawed it over his head drenching him. Elsa laughed. "All right, Elsa you asked for it," Jack said playfully as he chased her back to the lake. They both ran along the shore of the lake, kicking up water. Jack seemed to forget about wanting to return the favor for Elsa's prank and just ran with her.
Before long, they reached a deeper and steeper corner of the lake and Jack disappeared into the water. Elsa looked behind her and knelt at the edge of the lake. "Jack? Where are you?" she asked. After what seemed like a minute Jack popped up out of the water surprising Elsa. She jumped and fell over for a couple of seconds. Elsa laughed and so did Jack. After they stopped laughing Jack beckoned Elsa to step into the lake.
"You sure fell in deep for a second, are you sure it's safe?" asked Elsa.
"Absolutely, do you trust me?" Jack held out his hand.
"Of course," Elsa replied as she took Jack's hand and stepped into the lake.
Once in the lake, Jack held Elsa in his arms while they steadily treaded the water. Jack and Elsa looked into each other's eyes for what seemed like a long time. Jack broke the silence after a while.
"Elsa," he whispered.
"Yes Jack."
"For a long time, I've been wanting to say… you're so beautiful."
"Thank you." Then for a fleeting moment Elsa's smile slowly faded. She looked off to the side and put her head against Jack's chest.
"What is it?"
"I'm scared."
"Why?"
"It's just that, I never felt this way about anyone before."
"I understand but, you don't need to be," Jack said gently as he held her firmly.
Elsa made eye contact again and that same warm smile slowly crossed her face again. As they lost themselves in each other's eyes again Jack leaned toward Elsa and kissed her lips. At first, Jack's kiss surprised Elsa, and she seemed to freeze once they broke away from the kiss. But, she soon accepted it and initiated a second kiss in return.
As the two kissed both of their magic powers seemed to surface involuntarily and integrate in the most spectacular way possible. Before long their powers combined and formed a large magical snowflake that elevated them out of the lake and up into the air. Jack looked down for a second and the two looked at one another in amazement as they remained in their magical hover hand in hand.
After what seemed like a really long time Jack and Elsa magically dissipated their magical platform as they floated back down to the lake. Once back in the lake Jack and Elsa laughed.
"That was so amazing!" said Jack.
"I know! It was like my magic just surfaced in the best way possible!"
"So did mine! How did we do that?"
"I don't know!" As she swam toward the shore alongside Jack they were still laughing and talking about their magical moment. Once at the shore Elsa looked at the now setting Sun. "What would you say about watching the stars before I went home later?"
"Of course," Jack replied as he took her arm linking his with hers.
As they walked on, Elsa remembered something, "Are you forgetting something?"
"Not that I'm aware of. Why?"
"Your staff and sweatshirt."
"Oh! That's right. Thank you."
Jack walked back up to the incline from which they jumped into the lake earlier and put on his sweatshirt and picked up his staff. After walking down the slope and meeting Elsa at the base of the incline the two resumed walking west back the glen. Once they arrived at the glen Elsa noticed something different about the atmosphere. Swans almost never appeared and now and then she saw some geese flying south. All the leaves on nearly every tree were changing colors.
"You don't see any swans do you?" asked Jack.
"No, it's still beautiful out here though," Elsa replied as she looked at the now bright colored autumn leaves of the nearby trees.
By this time Jack and Elsa dried off and Elsa magically switched back to her royal robe. Jack gestured for Elsa to link her arm with his and when she gave her arm they started back toward the castle. They followed the river back south through the woods until the trees cleared. Before long they arrived at a nearby meadow not too far from the castle. By the time they arrived at the meadow the Sun had almost set all the way and night was just barely falling. Jack and Elsa lay down alongside each other and looked up into the sky waiting for the stars to appear.
"Look there's one," Elsa said as she pointed to a star becoming visible. "That's the North Star."
"Oh yeah." Not long thereafter the second star showed. "Oh look there's another one off to the right. See it?"
"Yeah."
As they passed the time more and more stars appeared. The more stars that appeared the more identifiable the major constellations became. Then the more identifiable the constellations became the more lost Jack and Elsa became in the ever enchanting sea of stars.
As a childhood memory fell upon Elsa's recollection she decided to break the silence. "You know what? My father, King Agnarr and I used to do this a lot before I went into isolation. I faintly recall him saying that the kings and queens of our past are up there somewhere." Elsa giggled nervously. "Does that sound stupid to you?"
"No. Of course not."
Elsa gave a relieved smile. "Jack?"
"Yes Elsa?"
"If my parents are spirits do you and your friends ever see them?"
"Sometimes."
"So, in a way they're really not gone."
Jack nodded. "When someone dies it always seems they're gone but, it's hard to believe they are because they really aren't. They live on in spirit and in the hearts of those who know and love them."
Elsa nodded. "And I sometimes wondered why I sensed my parents' presences in the room occasionally. Now that I think about it, it makes sense."
Jack reached over to the side and held and squeezed Elsa's hand in a gentle and reassuring gesture.
Elsa looked him in the eye with a far greater sense of trust than ever before. After a few minutes Elsa's thoughts shifted. "I was thinking back to what happened earlier and especially the time when I almost lost my little sister."
"What are you trying to get at?"
"It was her act of true love at the time that saved us both that day and I just barely got my powers under control after that. Do you think it was something similar with our powers a little while ago?"
"I guess it goes to show that pure love heals. It's like I told you. Just as long as you don't suppress your abilities and you learn to love another and you're comfortable in your own skin you won't lose control."
"Well, my powers are tied to my emotions."
"That's all it is," Jack said with a light smile. "You want me to fly you around?"
"I'd like that."
"Wonderful! Just tell me if I take you higher than what's comfortable for you, I'll go lower. Nothing crazy this time."
"Good," Elsa said softly as she pecked Jack's cheek.
With that Jack picked Elsa up in his arms and flew through the air at what seemed like no more than one-hundred feet above the ground. After flying over the glen around the lake and back to the clearing Elsa pointed out another one of her favorite locations.
"Jack, you see that tree over there?"
"I sure do," Jack said.
"This was where Anna and I used to play. Can we land there?"
"Absolutely."
Once they approached the large oak tree Jack settled Elsa and himself on a large bough broad and strong enough to hold them both. It was from there that they continued to gaze at the stars.
"You appear to be knowledgeable about the stars and constellations. Where did you learn all that?" asked Jack.
"Well, I have a best friend from another kingdom who knows about that. I would sometimes visit her and last time I visited with her she told me about the stars. There was even a time she charted them from scratch."
"She sounds brilliant."
"She sure is." Elsa paused for a moment. "By the way, she's about four months pregnant."
"Really? That's awesome."
Elsa smiled. "Funny how everything changes isn't it?"
"Absolutely."
"You know? My horse is also that far along with her foal. It may be possible that my best friend's baby and my horse's foal will be about two months apart."
"Amazing."
Elsa nodded. "Well, I better get home it's nearly my bedtime."
"Okay, I'll fly you up to your balcony." Jack slowly climbed down the tree and held out his arms. "Go ahead, jump."
After a few seconds Elsa decided to jump from the large oak. "All right, catch!" Just as she hoped he caught her. "Thank you," said Elsa.
"You're welcome."
Elsa turned to look at Jack and winked. "You can definitely say it made for an amazing trust exercise."
Jack chuckled, "Indeed. Well, as promised I'll take you home." Jack picked up Elsa in his arms and flew around the palace counterclockwise until they arrived at the balcony of the north wing. Jack slowly floated down onto the balcony and lowered Elsa onto her balcony floor with care. Elsa looked Jack in the eye in a somewhat playful fashion. "Good night, Jack."
"Sleep well, Elsa." Jack leaned toward her and they both kissed a final time. "I love you," Jack whispered.
Elsa's eyes widened with joy and surprise as if to not believe what she was hearing but happy all the same. "I love you too, Jack."
After they broke from their embrace Elsa walked into her room as Jack watched. Jack leaned against the balcony railing in elation. "Wind, take me home," Jack said. In a second's notice he all but flew away, returning to the North Pole.