"This is our portrait room, we usually play here at daytime because it's roomy." Andrea fervently introduced.
"It's like an art gallery." Louisa complimented as she twirled around slowly. "With so many paintings that were from many renowned artist."
"Is that Odin and Freyja in Norse mythology?" Jonas pointed at an old artwork on the left.
"Yes. We have lots of portraits about Norse mythology. If you can stay here for a month or two, we can show you everything about Norse." Estelle said.
"Really? That would be wonderful." Louisa exclaimed.
"Andrea, we are not supposed to leave the ballroom." Fredrick muttered. "Mama and Papa will get furious if they find out."
"That's nothing to worry." Andrea grinned. "As long as we go back on time."
Estelle suddenly could feel a stir of fear inside her, an image of her mother projected in her mind, warning her to go back immediately. But the allurement of disobedience had filled her soul and there was no room for other things. So she ignored the fear and continued the tour.
"How it is like living in Western-Isles?" Estelle opened up the conversation.
Jonas thought for a while and replied, "Having lessons, playing around and chatting with my cousins."
"How many cousins do you have?" Andrea asked.
"Andrea!" Fredrick said. "You've stepped over the line. This is not a question for you to ask."
"Never mind. Let me count… I think there's…5…6...8. Yes, eight!" Louisa counted for fingers and reported with pride.
"Eight?" The three Norse children exclaimed.
"What's wrong with that?" Louisa asked in a curious tone.
"We three are the only children in the castle." Fredrick explained.
Jonas and Louisa nodded helpfully as if they knew their situation.
The clock struck nine, warning them about the passage of time.
"Perhaps we should go, Mama and Papa would be so outraged." Estelle remarked.
Just when Estelle turned around and started heading to the door, Jonas wanted to stay here for longer and thus grabbed her hand, unintentionally grabbing her gloves. Estelle panicked and ice shot out from her palm, covering the floor with a few inches of ice, with pointy icicles shot up and looked frightening like the long thick spines of a porcupine.
Andrea and Fredrick held their breath, knowing that Estelle was in great trouble, but they could not help. The ice continued to grow, the sharp spikes became threatening and ghastly, making all the children fret.
Though Estelle knew the consequences, she, was too, frightened by what she saw. The ice continued to grow, until it was taller than the children, creating a hand-like figure. The incisive fingers pointed at them, like a witch trying to grab innocent and horrified youngsters.
"Estelle, how many times I've—" Elsa opened the door and said but was stopped by what she saw. Behind her, were Erik, Anna and Kristoff, most astonishingly, King Henrik.
Elsa simply could not believe what she saw. She thought she had done all kinds of prevention for her daughter, but the magic had grown so much out of control due to her fear. King Henrik glared at his children and Estelle, looking serious. But then, a nasty grin appeared on his face and his taut face relaxed.
"I'm sorry if my children have caused inconvenience to Princess Estelle."
"Are you hurt, children?" Kristoff asked, trying to switch subject.
The five shook. Estelle peeked into her mother's eyes with guilt, realizing how horrible the situation had become.
"Children, go to bed now." Erik said.
"I apologize for my daughter's action."
"No, it's nothing. Perhaps we should go." Henrik chuckled. "Children, come along!"
Jonas and Louisa glanced at Estelle, then their father. Without being asked twice, they hurried to Henrik, and the three left.
Andrea and Fredrick quickly ran to Anna. Andrea threw herself into her mother's abdomen, trying to hide her frightened tears. Kristoff picked her up and the family left too, leaving Elsa, Erik and Estelle alone.
Silently, Elsa cleared the thick ice by lifting her fingers.
"Estelle, go back to your bedroom." Erik ordered.
The young girl peeped into the queen's blue eyes, seeking for approval. The queen glowered at her for a while, then shifted her attention to the grandfather clock. The pendulum kept on swinging, its clicking noise was the only sound in the room. Elsa's breath was shallow and slow, trying to conceal the fear and worries from her child. She looked back to her child, and gave a curt nod.
Panicking, Estelle fled back to her room. And a trail of frost was left on the floor, gleaming like crystal.