I'm finally updating! Sorry about the wait and I hope you like the new chapter.
Chapter 3: A Little Closer
Jack hurried home, buffeted by wind as the blizzard gnashed it's angry teeth. He shouldn't have stayed with Elsa so long. If he didn't know the way so well, he'd already have been swept away by the wind.
"Light," he breathed, spotting the yellow glow ahead. He stumbled through the door, but not before grabbing a few logs from the pile beside the house, and pulled it shut with a slam!
"Jackson Kaden Overland."
He turned quickly. "H-hi mom." The eleven year old carefully placed the logs in the grating next to the fire, where red hot coals waited to be fed.
"Where were you?" Jadis Overland asked, her arms crossed over her chest.
He swallowed. "Just getting some firewood."
"At three in the morning?" Mom asked.
He chuckled nervously. "Uh…no?"
"Where were you? And no lies," she said dangerously.
He gulped. "Um…well…it's complicated."
"Then uncomplicate it."
He bit his lip. "Well, a few weeks ago, Travis Borden dared me to climb the castle wall."
"And you did?!" Mom exclaimed.
He held out a hand. "Just wait, well, yeah. I waited 'til dark, then climbed the wall into what I thought was an empty room, it was-"
"Please tell me it was-"
"-not empty," he scuffled his feet sheepishly. "Turns out, it was Princess Elsa's room."
"The reclusive?" Mom asked.
He reddened. "She's not reclusive, just…shy," he said carefully. "And she doesn't have any friends…" He left it hanging.
Mom sighed. "So you became friends and you've been visiting her every night for the past few weeks." She pinched the bridge of her nose. "Jack-"
"I know what you're going to say, but she's really sweet and kind, she's just lonely."
"Jack if you're lying-"
"I'm not," he insisted. "I can bring her to see you! Or you to see her, or whatever! Please don't make me not be friends, she is my friend and she's really sweet and amazing and beautiful and-"
"Enough Jack." He stopped. His mother came forward. "If she is all that you say, than I don't think anything bad can come from a friendship like this, but if she's not…" Mom left it hanging warningly.
He nodded rapidly. "I promise I'll be careful! Promise."
Mother sighed. "Very well. As long as you're careful, make sure to get enough sleep, and don't drive her mad." She turned, heading in the direction of her room.
He sighed in relief. Then she whipped around, pointing a finger at him.
"If you step one toe out of line mister-"
"Ok!" He exclaimed, alarmed. "I got it I got it."
She smiled. "Good. Now get some sleep, we have work to do tomorrow."
Only after she was gone did he allow himself to breath normally.
"Whew, geez," he whispered. "Mom's are scary."
Days turned to weeks, weeks turned to months, and eventually, those long months turned to a whole year. Elsa still kept everything bottled up inside, sure Jack's nightly vigil helped, but it wasn't enough. And sometimes he could only come for a moment just to say hi.
Elsa never left the castle anymore. No more horse-back-riding, after the event with the mountain lion and her powers, they were afraid someone would see and now that was gone to.
She spent the majority of her time studying or locked up in her room.
Until one day…
"Elsa put on this dress," Grace said. Elsa looked up from her book. Grace held up a dark tan riding dress. Her eyes widened and the book froze. "Elsa!"
She started, dropping the book.
"Put on your gloves, your father would be most displeased," Grace said reprovingly.
She obeyed. "Are we going out?"
Grace nodded. "You're to go out into the village with your parents, about time too." She muttered the last part under her breath. "Foolish parents, keeping you locked up here."
She smirked. "So you do care."
Grace looked up sharply. "I said nothing of the sort, but you'd best wipe that smirk from your face and put this on. Breakfast, then you're out."
Her smirk dropped back to a neutral expression, Jack must be rubbing off on me. "Yes ma'am." Grace had become increasingly more troubled and stern.
She put on the dress and boots, accepting the riding crop from Grace. She glanced out the window, it was finally spring. Winter was long and cold in Arendelle, but summer was short and hot. Anna and her used to go out to the beach and play in the water while Kai and Grace (who were now on their 30th anniversary) watched over them.
"Where's Anna?" She asked timidly.
Grace looked at her. "Anna is studying in the library with her tutor."
"Is there a specific reason for this outing?" She questioned.
"Enough questions child, ask your father not me!" She bit her tongue and nodded.
This is going to be a long day.
"Jaaaack!"
Jack swung the axe down so it stuck in the log and looked up. "Yeah Emma?" He called back.
"Mom says we need more Nightwart," Emma said, holding out a little tan sack and his coat. "Mrs. Eddelheim has the flu."
He nodded and accepted the sack and coat, it was early spring so it was still cold.
"See you later Emma!"
Emma waved. "And don't get lost!"
He rolled his eyes. "As if."
Jack made his way through the forest, coming to a cold stream that tripped and fell over the pebbles in the bed. Nightwart grew along the river bank in little clusters around rocks. It was a great medicinal plant.
His mother was a healer, and his father had been a stable hand at the palace. Up until two years ago. Marcus Overland had died in a bandit attack. A lot of people had, but that was the last one. The King and Queen inputted patrols on the border to ensure that didn't happen again.
"Ah, there it is," he muttered, spotting the dark purple plant. He pulled five plants, laying them carefully in his sack. He made his way back home, booted feet making prints in the thin layer of snow.
He pulled open the door, shivering. "Mom! I'm back!" He called, then stopped in shock.
None other than the king and queen of Arendelle stood in their living room. He chuckled nervously, glancing outside and seeing the previously unnoticed horses.
"Oh. Ah, um," mom shot him a look. He straightened the sack and bowed deeply, if clumsily. "Highnesses."
King Agdar smiled. "It's wonderful to finally meet the son of the best horse trainer in the kingdom." Then he sobered. "You have my condolences."
He nodded, rubbing his neck. "It's an honor to meet you as well sir."
A girl looked out from behind the queen, seeing him, her eyes widened. She mouthed 'Jack'.
The King motioned her forward, though Jack noticed that he didn't touch her. Elsa curtsied.
"This is Princess Elsa," he said.
Jack took her hand and kissed it. "Princess." She didn't miss the twinkle in his eye, and he did not fail to notice her smile. Emma simply rolled her eyes.
"I apologize for our unexpected intrusion," the queen said. "But could we speak with you privately Ms. Overland?"
His mom nodded. "Of course. Jack, Emma, how about you tend to their majesties horses?"
Jack nodded. "Yes ma'am."
"You can go with them Elsa," the King said.
Elsa nodded, clenching her hands tightly in the folds of her dress. "Yes father."
The trio walked out, but before the door closed, Jack heard the king's words.
"It's been a long time Jadis, have you found a cure-" The door swung shut.
Elsa immediately shed all pretenses and scooped up some snow, throwing it at his head.
"Hey!" Jack exclaimed, wiping snow from his eyes.
Elsa giggled. "That's for last night."
He'd woken her by dumping snow on her head. Emma grinned.
"I like her," Emma announced.
"It's nice to meet you Emma," Elsa said. "Jack's told me a lot about you."
The eight year old's grin widened. "Same, Jack doesn't stop talking about you."
"Emma!" He exclaimed. "Don't listen to her."
Elsa smirked. "What does he say."
"He talks about-"
Jack slapped a hand over his sister's mouth. "Nothing. Nothing at all." Elsa smiled, covering her mouth with a gloved hand. "Let's just go take care of the horses," he groaned.
Emma and Elsa smirked at each other.
The Overland's had a small stable, father used to own a few horses, but when he died they'd needed the money and had to sell them.
Emma left to get the grooming tools, leaving Jack and Elsa alone.
They were silent for a moment, a silence that Elsa broke. "Why didn't you tell me about your father Jack?"
Jack bit his lip. "It's not exactly something that comes up in everyday conversations. Or night as it were."
"Oh. I'm sorry."
"It wasn't your fault." Another silence fell. "He was an amazing horse trainer, but he didn't like advertising his talent," Jack said, taking the turn to break the silence. "He worked as a stable hand at first, then worked his way up from there."
"Are you very poor?" Elsa asked.
He shrugged. "We get by all right."
"If Jack would do his chores," Emma said, walking up.
"I do do them!" Jack exclaimed. Emma rolled her eyes.
Their parents were still talking behind closed doors even after they finished with the horses.
Emma jumped onto Jack's back, he didn't protest.
"Hey, do you wanna see something?" Jack asked Elsa
"What?" Elsa asked.
Jack grinned. "It's my favorite place." He took her hand. "Come on."
He led her through the forest, Emma complaining about the bouncing from on his back, for about five minutes, then they came to a small pond ringed by a circle of trees.
"Wow!" Elsa breathed. Snow frosted the edges of the pines making it look like the winter spirit had come to decorate for Christmas, despite the holiday having come and gone.
Emma jumped off his back. "You too love birds can talk. I'm going to make a flower crown."
"Stay in sight!" Jack called.
"I know!"
"And be careful by the water!"
"I know!"
Elsa smiled. "You really care about her."
He nodded. "Of course, she's my annoying little sister."
She looked down at her feet. "I haven't seen my sister in a year."
Jack's eyes widened. "Why?"
She held up her gloved hands. "Things happen. My parents are-" She sighed. "I am afraid."
He took her hands. "Well I'm not." She looked up, he smiled. "I would never be afraid of you." He went over to the tree closest to the pond and pulled a small knife from his waist band.
"What's that?" Elsa asked, reading the writing. "Courageous," she read aloud.
"It was my father's," Jack said.
"Oh." He carved into the tree, making a heart and two names.
"Is that a profession?" She asked with a smirk, though her heart was pounding.
Jack put away his knife and turned to her. "It's a promise. See? I'm stuck in the heart with you so I'll never leave."
She smiled. "Thank you Jack."
He grinned, then scooped up snow and threw it at her.
"Hey!"
"You're welcome!"
"Jackson Overland!"
That night, Elsa waited impatiently for her friend. It was almost midnight when he finally came. She breathed a sigh of relief.
"Took you long enough," she grumbled.
He took both hands and kissed them. "Apologies milady, it won't happen again lest you hang me."
She smiled. "I have something for you." She went over to her bed and pulled a long staff from under it. "I couldn't help but notice that your staff isn't in very good shape, so I had this one made for you."
He took it carefully, running a hand up the wood and over the hook.
She bit her lip nervously. "Do you like it?"
He looked at her. "Like it? I love it!"
She covered his mouth with her hand. "Shh."
He whispered this time. "I love it." He held it up. "Can I give you a kiss in return?" He asked jokingly, wiggling his eyebrows mischievously.
She ignored her intense blush and rolled her eyes, smacking his arm. "In your dreams buddy."
He grinned and winked. "Someday." Then he sobered. "I actually can't stay, mum wants me to sleep a lot, we have a lot of work tomorrow."
Her face fell. "Oh."
"But I'll be back tomorrow," he said. "Promise."
She smiled. "Okay, see ya."
He climbed out the window. "See ya. Thanks for the staff!" Then he disappeared into the night.
Elsa pressed two fingers to her lips, smiling.
"Someday…"
I loved writing this, they're so cute! I hope I have their characters right, please review about what you think!