Chapter 12 Winter Wonderland

"Back from your walk so soon?" asked the butler as he opened the castle door for Jack.
Jack sighed. "Yeah." He walked around the castle going in and out of rooms as he got lost in his thoughts. What was Hans going to do? When will he attack? No doubt it would be soon but—
"Jack!" Jack stopped and turned to see Elsa standing some feet away from him. "How was your walk around town? Anna wanted to know if you saw that crystal shop."
Jack smiled. "Yeah, they've got a lot of nice stuff in there. How's the paperwork coming along?"
Elsa shrugged. "I couldn't keep focused so I was going to go for a walk." She paused for a moment. "Did you, um, want to...?"
"Come?" Jack finished as he started to make his way over to her.
Elsa cleared her throat and stood up straighter. "Yes. I would like you to be my escort. That is, if you don't mind."
"No, I don't mind."
To Jack's amusement, Elsa couldn't help but give a shy but giddy smile.

"And that's why that tower was added on." Elsa said. Jack looked back at one of the tall towers on the castle. "Never knew a castle can have so many secrets."
"Yeah." Elsa replied.
"I can see why you want to wear gloves." Jack gave a lighthearted laugh.
They stopped walking. Jack's smile disappeared as he watched Elsa look down sadly at her gloved hands. "Elsa, I-"
"No!" Elsa snapped her head up. "No it's just that..."
"That what?" Jack said softly.
Elsa closed her eyes and took a deep breath. How was she going to tell him this? Would he understand? Or would he see her as some sort of monster as well?
She opened her eyes again. He had to find out sooner or later. There was no point in hiding it anymore. She started to take off the gloves.
"Jack", she said quietly, "I'm not like everyone else. Not like Anna or Kristoff or anyone else I know. I've always been...different." She stuffed the gloves in the pocket of her dress.
"Meaning?" Jack said.
"Meaning I can do this." Elsa whirled her hand and a snowball appeared. She tossed it up and caught it before turning to face him.
Jack didn't say anything for a moment. All this time it was her. He stared at her.
"You think I'm a monster too, don't you?" Elsa said choking down her emotions.
"No, I don't." Jack smiled.
"Then what is it?"
Elsa watched as Jack twirled his staff and walked up to the nearest tree in the castle garden. "This." Jack said as he tapped the staff against the tree bark. He turned to face Elsa.
She watched the tree in surprise as intricate ice formations started to cover part of the trunk. She looked back at him with confused but shocked wide eyes.
"Can you control it?" she asked as she went to touch the ice. "'Cause if I did that I'd probably cover the whole thing in ice!" Jack laughed. "It wasn't always easy but once you get the hang of it..."
He blew on his hand as if blowing a kiss. Elsa watched as a small formation of snow whirled into the air and circled about. She giggled as it came back and circled around her before forming into a small heart shaped snowflake and landing on her nose. It disappeared in a burst of tiny snow particles.
"Can't you control it?" Jack asked.
Elsa gave a sheepish smile. "Most of the time. Other times it scares me how much I can do. Anna always says I just have to let go and have fun."
Jack smiled. "Well come on. Let's see what you've got."
"What, now?"
"Yeah. Let's have some fun!"
Elsa bit her lip. She conjured up another snowball and tossed it up high into the air where it burst into a momentary snowfall. Jack leaned against his staff. "That's it?"
Elsa, surprising herself, swatted playfully at his arm. "Like you can do better."
"Yeah? Well watch this." With his staff he tapped several times on the ground. Ice started to form in a large opening just in front of them. "Come on!" Jack said as he started to skate on the ice.
Elsa laughed and looked down at her feet. She couldn't believe this. He was so-
A snowball hit her on her arm. She looked up. Jack was still skating around already forming another snowball. Elsa rolled up her sleeves before taking a step onto the ice rink. Instantly, her shoes changed to skates made of ice.
She formed her own snowball and threw it at Jack but missed. "Too slow!" Jack laughed.
Elsa formed another snowball and threw it. "Get back over here!"
As they played their game neither of them noticed it had started to snow around them. It covered the trees and grass. What was a nice summer day turned into a winter wonderland. Sometimes Elsa would chase Jack and sometimes he would chase her. They ran through the garden playing hide and seek or trying to out-do one another when it came to using their powers.
By time they had finished building a snowman, Elsa had no idea how long they had been out there. She looked off into the distance as she watched the sun start to set. "It's getting late." she said. But she wished this moment would last forever. It was much better than her duties being queen. How she wished she could always be this free.
Jack held out his arm for her. "Should we be getting back?" She wrapped her arm around his and together they walked back towards the castle.
By time they emerged from the gardens a young servant boy was racing up to them. "My queen! My queen!" he called.
Elsa and Jack stopped their conversation and turned to him. "Yes?" Elsa said with a smile still on her face.
The young boy stopped as he reached them. "It's Princess Anna!" he said as he tried to catch his breath. "There's been a terrible accident."

A/N: Its been a while but finals are finally over so here is the next chapter. Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!