AUTHOR'S NOTE: Okay, can I just say that I love you guys? You're SO supportive, and the reviews, and—and the follows, and reads, and—and—! (*incomprehensive, pathetic sobbing, possibly followed by explosion for dramatic effect*)
Basically, even though this chapter is far from perfect, I'm tired of drafting for now, so I'm just going to cross my fingers that it's okay and post. There was some confusion in the last chapter… again, while I TRRYYYYYYYyyyyyeeeeeeeee to update about once a month, it's not always going to be done on time. I assure you that I'm writing as fast as I possibly can (so… slow), but if you feel the need to badger me about it, I think I speak for a LOT of fanfiction writers when I say: please do. Like, it's actually weirdly inspirational. On that note, I need to once again take a moment to enormously THANK YOU for your support. It means way, WAY more to me than I can say.
Anyway, you guys are AWESOME, I LOVE YOU SO MUCH, and HAPPY FANFICTIONING!
To Guest Reviewer Radibugz: PINTEREST?! I'M ON PINTEREST?! (*pterodactyl shriek*) I mean, I've seen a lot of stuff on Pinterest where people are basically using dialogue and stuff lifted directly from Ice Alliance in their captions, but—never where anybody's ever CREDITED it, or anything! WHERE IS THIS WONDERFUL, BEAUTIFUL PERSON THAT PINNED ME, THAT I MAY THANK THEM CORRECTLY?!
To Guest Reviewer Ki Azi: Of course you can call me "Author." By the way, you're adorable, and thank you SO MUCH for your ADORABLE support! :D
To Guest Reviewer DontJudge: Thank you so much for writing to tell me that! Also, I love your username. Also, I totally get it. Sincerely, someone who is literally operating an entire Jelsa fanfiction account under the name of NopeNotTelling
.
.
62: THE FINAL ROUND
When she wanted to, the Snow Queen of Arendelle could be totally scary. And it was totally hot.
Jack Frost knew better than to be scared away by Elsa's power. Frankly? He thought it was amazing. Granted, his lack of intimidation might have been at least partially due to the fact that he knew the real Elsa. As kind as she was powerful, Jack felt that his beautiful, brilliant Ice Powers Girl was about the warmest, nicest, gentlest person ever.
Not to say that she couldn't pull off being a total boss. He would never have thought that she could have fun doing this, but the fact that Elsa could completely ROCK the "Evil Snow Queen" vibe was seriously sexy.
His girlfriend was such a Winter Vixen.
Looking down to his feet and kicking gently at the frozen carpet, Jack's mouth crooked into a grin. Elsa had a prankster streak. Sure, she was in denial about it, but he could now see that it was DEFINITELY there. Could she be any more perfect for him?
Jack turned around, walking to the side of the room and dropping his staff into the carpet. Flipping upwards into the air, he landed on top of it, perfectly balanced as he surveyed the room. MAN, he could hardly wait for their date. Jack was a little nervous, but—well, who wouldn't be? Queen Elsa was adorable, and he wasn't exactly concerned about claiming what was clearly already his ("Hi. You're my girlfriend. Any questions?"), but she did have a slight tendency to freak out. He was pretty new to this himself, but Jack knew that Freaking Out wasn't the best way to transition into Making Out, so he had to handle this carefully.
He was grateful that they were back on the same page with the whole "touching" thing, though—even though he might never, ever get over the humiliation that was breakfast. If Queen Anna hadn't stopped Elsa from her verbal tirade (BLESS that girl), Jack would have probably excused himself for a quick jaunt down to Antarctica, where he could have blasted himself a gigantic mountain of ice, crawled underneath it, and then shriveled up into a ball of mortification to maybe just stayed there until he died.
So… forever. Basically.
King Kristoff, thankfully, had been merciful. After the girls had gone out into the hallway—and a long, painful silence—Jack Frost had hesitantly lifted his head from his arms.
Well? he'd mumbled.
Kristoff had raised his eyebrows. Well—what?
Jack had miserably raised his eyebrows back.
Have anything to add? he'd groaned.
To Jack's great astonishment and relief, Elsa's brother-in-law had—at this point—casually picked up a scone, leaning onto his elbow and biting into the pastry with a shrug.
Nope, he'd chuckled.
And that was that.
By Manny, Jack was starting to love this guy.
The door was thunking open again, and Jack turned around to see Elsa's head councilman, Rolf, come into the room. Stepping to the side as a young man in his early twenties followed him through the doors, Rolf drew himself up.
"PRINCE JORN OF VJORBRING," he announced.
As the prince came to a stop and looked up, his eyes bulged.
Jack restrained from a snort, watching as the young man's mouth fell open in shock, his previously regal demeanor suddenly replaced by stunned horror. Like a deer in the headlights, he froze, his gaze flickering about the spikes and blasts of snow. Queen Elsa, meanwhile, was perfectly at ease, sitting in her terrifying throne of icicles and acting as if this were perfectly normal. Because, of course she was.
The resounding clunk of the door closing resounded through the room once again, and Jack readjusted his feet on the top of the staff, tearing his eyes away from his Snow Queen to see that Rolf had left the room. Good riddance. But, Jack didn't care enough about the meddling jerk to give him more than a single moment of thought.
No—perched with his toes curled around the curved top of his staff with the best view in the throne room, Jack had a feeling that the real fun was about to begin.
Glancing back towards the doors, Elsa's suitor swallowed hard. Chewing nervously on his lip, his hands trembling, he then slowly turned back around to face her.
"Queen Elsa?" he squeaked.
The Snow Queen raised her eyebrows.
Sitting slightly forward in the throne, Elsa uncrossed her legs, the chains of icicles on her skirt clacking against each other as she did. Flicking her hand to the side, she then casually re-crossed her legs in the other direction, drawing herself up.
"Prince Jorn?" she responded dismissively.
Jack looked back to the suitor, who was struggling to swallow. The prince of Vjorbring looked to be about Elsa's age, but his nervousness made him appear younger.
Pulling in his breath, the prince drew himself up, reaching up to quickly poke his crown back into place on his slick blonde hair. He cleared his throat.
"Queen Elsa," he started again, speaking quickly like he was stumbling over a hastily-prepared speech, "It is an honor to stand before you. I have heard great things about Arendelle and its leader. The increase in trade from other kingdoms in recent months is especially impressive. If we were to wed, I think both of our kingdoms would benefit from th—"
"—What are your views on capital punishment?" Elsa asked suddenly.
Prince Jorn stopped.
"I—um," he stammered, "It—what?"
"Capital punishment."
The young prince of Vjorbring visibly fumbled, struggling to change gears. His eyes wide, he opened his mouth to speak just as the Snow Queen started talking again.
"You know," she prompted, shifting on the throne of spikes. "The death penalty? What's your take."
Jack Frost's eyes widened. Uh... OKAY. Wow.
THAT took a different turn than I was expecting.
Shifting on his toes again, still perching on the curved top of the shepherd's crook, Jack looked back to Elsa. Settled back comfortably into the throne of spikes, she was smiling sweetly at the suitor, a maniacal glint in her eye as she waited for his response.
"Well—uh," the prince stammered awkwardly, his crown slipping forward an inch on his hair, "I—I th-think it depends on the situation. The crime. Or—you know. I mean, if the situation calls for it, it sometimes might be necessary to—"
"—Oh, no. That's not what I meant," Elsa interrupted. "What I really want to know is whether or not you think a simple death is too—merciful?"
Shing!
A long, crystalline dagger of ice suddenly materialized in her hand, and the prince's eyes bulged. Raising her eyebrows, the Snow Queen stood from her throne, taking a step forward on the platform.
"M-merciful?" the prince stammered.
"Well—obviously. I mean, compared to other methods of punishment," Elsa responded, looking down and dramatically beginning to stroke the dagger. "You know—prolonged imprisonment? Forced labor? Psychological tactics?"
She paused, her fingers stilling on the crystalline ice dagger. Lifting its blade to her lips, Elsa's left eyebrow twitched as she slowly looked back up into the prince's eyes.
"Torture?" she whispered.
The suitor's eyes bulged.
"T-Torture?" he squeaked, making Jack snap his head back around to look. Seeing the prince's expression, Jack snorted, clapping his hand over his mouth.
"Oh, yes! Naturally," the Snow Queen cooed, not distracted from her performance as she flipped the dagger over, using its sharp tip to pick at her teeth. "You know… thumbscrews… the rack…? Do you have a favorite method?"
The suitor swallowed hard.
"No?" he squeaked, stumbling a step back.
"Oh, that's a shame. I do."
With a flick of her opposite hand, Elsa disintegrated the dagger into the air, pulling the shimmering mist across her body as a long, sparkling thread. Letting the snowflakes float aimlessly down to her feet, she then raised her eyebrows.
"I like… ice," she breathed.
Jack's eyes bulged as Elsa's twitched her head to the side, contorting her face into a dazed, maniacal grin. Her eyes terrifyingly vacant as she smiled at the man, she then suddenly widened them even further.
"All they're doing is standing there, and then—oh. Look," Elsa said, gesturing to the spikes of ice stretching towards them from all around the room. "They've been IMPALED."
And she giggled.
Despite knowing that it was all just an act, Jack Frost felt himself instinctively cringe, suddenly gripped by the urge to leap into the air and fly out the closest window that he could find. Elsa's suitor visibly shuddered.
"I—erm," the prince stammered, awkwardly stumbling back again, "I think—it—um, thank you for seeing me."
She stuck out her lip in dramatic disappointment. "But we haven't even begun to discuss impalement!"
"I know, but—it—I'm sorry," the suitor squeaked, helplessly starting to back away from her, "But I just don't think that I can—uh—my kingdom needs me!"
The prince of Vjorbring turned and sprinted for the doors, grasping the handles and flinging them open. Without a word, he ran out into the hallway beyond them, and they heavily swung shut.
BOOM.
The maniacal façade vanishing from her expression, the Fifth Spirit suddenly buckled over with giggles, her angelic laughter ringing through the throne room once again. Clapping her hands over her mouth, she looked to Jack, the twisted expression swept away as her face softened back into its natural, adorable smile.
Jack exhaled in relief.
"Mother. Of NORTH!" he gasped, laughing breathlessly as Elsa blushed, "Where did THAT come from?!"
The elegant Snow Queen giggled self-consciously, pulling her hands down from her face. "Do you think he got the message?"
"To run for his life? Oh, I dunno, Snowflake; you think?!"
They both buckled over laughing again. Straightening up, Jack ruffled his fingers through his hair.
"I thought you said you were a bad actress?" he chuckled.
"I would hardly call 'giving voice to all of humanity's worst impulses' ACTING."
"Agree to disagree."
She blushed, rolling her eyes with a breathy laugh. "I just feel so bad for him," the Fifth Spirit admitted, glancing at the door, "But I have to—I'm not getting shut out of my own Council. And, if they think they're just going to tie me down in Arendelle, so I can—can steal Anna's throne, and give it to some random stranger—! There's way too much at stake, and too many people at stake, and—well, they're NOT."
"Remind me not to get on your bad side…"
Elsa laughed self-consciously again, smoothing a stray hair back up onto her ice-covered spike. Before Jack could say anything more, however, the doors were opening.
The Ice Powers Girl jumped, spinning around just as Rolf, followed closely by an older man, strode into the room.
"Oh! WELCOME!" she exclaimed dramatically, whipping around and launching herself back into the performance, "DO come in! Come! Come COURT the Evil Queen, if you DARE!"
Suddenly noticing the violent, ice-blasted state of the throne room, the next suitor froze in his tracks, his mouth falling open with shock. As he glanced around the space—his eyes bulging with horror, just like the last—Rolf cleared his throat.
"Uh… Prince Dane of Allevals," Rolf announced half-heartedly.
Throwing a sympathetic look at the other man—and then a glare at Elsa—Rolf nodded curtly, turning and stiffly walking back out of the room.
BOOM.
The doors were closed behind him.
Elsa raised her eyebrows, clasping her hands together and sweeping forward down the central carpet towards the suitor. Glancing around himself in terror—and visibly wincing—the prince of Allevals nervously cleared his throat.
"Uh," he squeaked, "Thank—th-thank you for—uh, for seeing me? Queen Elsa?"
She smiled coldly, coming to a stop.
"Are you going to make it worth my time?" she threatened.
Jack felt a shiver run down his spine as Elsa clicked her teeth together, her left eyebrow twitching upwards like a taunt. Her gaze was so intense that it seemed to be boring holes into Prince Dane's skull, rendering him helpless as he stood, paralyzed with fright, in the center of the throne room.
Sweet MANNY.
Who in the BLIZZARDS had taught her to be so TERRIFYING?
The Snow Queen, launching into performance once again, sniffed loudly, picking up the edge of her capelet. She then spun around, the chains of icicles on her dress clanking against each other as she began to stalk away from him.
"The last man that came in here was an absolute BORE," Elsa called out over her shoulder, not looking back to him as she flounced up to the throne. "You're not going to BORE me, are you, Prince… ?"
Her voice trailed off.
"Dane," the prince stammered, "Uh, P-Prince Dane. Of Allevals."
Shing!
The Ice Powers Girl swept her hand through the air, materializing herself an enormous scepter out of ice and catching it as she spun around. As an enormous snowflake spiked out of its head, she then slammed the end of the scepter into the platform with a resounding boom.
Sitting down and relaxing into the ice-blasted throne, the long capelet sweeping around her feet, Elsa carelessly tossed her right leg over her left. She then looked back to the suitor with an expression of thinly-veiled contempt, deeply into character once again.
"So… Prince Dane," Elsa drawled, gesturing with the scepter. "You've come to court the Evil Snow Queen. What makes you think that you are strong enough to render her at ALL interested in you?"
Visibly gathering his courage, the prince of Allevals tried to stand up straighter. From the side of the room, perched atop his staff, Jack could see that the guy was shaking.
"I—well, yes, uh, your majesty," he stammered, "It—Queen Elsa, I've heard many stories of your power, but I, uh, I didn't realize it was quite so—"
"—Come closer," she interrupted.
CREAK!
The prince yelped in shock as the spindly chair of ice suddenly shot up out of the ground beneath him, knocking him off of his feet to fall back into its jagged array of spikes. An instant later, Elsa snapped her hands upwards, and the crystalline ice-chair shot forward across the frozen carpet, zipping the terrified suitor right up to the throne platform.
Planting the end of the scepter into the ground, the Snow Queen pushed herself up from the throne, dramatically sweeping forward and lilting down the steps.
"I told you not to BORE me," she gritted threateningly.
Jack looked back to see the prince visibly cringe into the chair, ready to release an actual whimper. Her capelet billowing behind her, Elsa strode confidently up to the ice chair, her expression maniacal as she raised her crystalline scepter into the air.
"My LAST suitor and I were just talking about TORTURE methods!" she cackled.
CRASH!
Elsa threw the scepter onto the ground, and it shattered, shards of ice flying across the carpet in every direction. The suitor yelped, and Jack's eyes bulged once again as his Ice Powers Girl suddenly hitched up her skirt, placing one of her spiked, icy high heels on the chair by the prince's knee. The chains of icicles clacked against each other as Elsa moved, and the prince's eyes bulged, cringing away from her in terror.
Seductively bending over the man, she delicately reached her hand forward to the prince's face. Slipping her fingers down onto his neck, she then moved them underneath his chin, jerking it upwards and forcing him to look into her eyes.
Elsa smirked.
"After all," she whispered dramatically, the skirt falling open across her slender leg. "Did you not come to court the Evil Snow Queen?"
Jack Frost felt his mouth go dry.
Watching in dumbfounded shock from the side of the room, sitting on top of his shepherd's crook, he blushed. She was practically crawling on this guy. Dropping his head forward to stare at the ground, he bit his lip, rubbing the back of his neck. It was—that—how was this so—?!
Where was she even GETTING this from?
Looking back up to his Snow Queen, Jack groaned inwardly, hardly even hearing what she was saying to the cringing suitor as the skirt shifted even higher onto her thigh. Just—she clearly had no idea. Elsa never seemed to have ANY idea, how much it—but she—the way she was seductively leaning over the guy like that, just GAZING intensely into his eyes, and—!
Giving up and hopping down from his perch on the shepherd's crook, Jack swallowed hard, feeling heat rushing to his face. As he turned away, contemplating the merits of spending the remainder of the audience curled up into a ball on the nearest couch, he found himself mentally running through a list of the Ice Alliance's current combined accomplishments.
Elsa having fun: Check.
Freaked-out suitor, who was definitely not coming back: Check.
Yet ANOTHER Ice-Powers-Girl-related fantasy, that he had to actively restrain from thinking about: Double-Check.
Jack squeezed his eyes shut.
Make that Triple-Check.
Clenching the shepherd's crook so hard his knuckles turned white, Jack sucked in his breath, watching as the slit of her skirt shifted up her leg again. Because… whoa. There. Ma'am. Hi.
Deciding against the couch, Jack spun around and leaned back against the wall, casually wrapping his right leg around the shepherd's crook, the top of it resting on the wallpaper above his shoulder. He looked up just as the Snow Queen shifted on her feet, the long slit of her skirt falling back over her leg as she leaned over the terrified prince. She was probably grilling him about politics or something. Jack had lost track of the conversation, but OOOOooooooooh, what he wouldn't give to be in that CHAIR…
I can't help but notice that you're REALLY fun, Jack thought, struggling to swallow as Elsa straightened up in his peripheral vision, beginning to seductively walk in a slow circle around the chair like a lioness circling its prey. And that you seem to like me.
I think.
Uh.
SO.
Can we please just get married and have fun now?
Jack squeezed his eyes shut, giving his head a violent shake and pressing the staff against his forehead. This wasn't—not—gaugh. He was NOT into this.
He was NOT into this.
Like he was in pain, Jack gave his head a hard shake. THIS picture, this, was NEVER leaving his brain. Normally, he wouldn't have minded it, but the problem with being best friends with the Sandman was that Jack knew he was going to have a hard time not dreaming about certain things, that he DEFINITELY didn't want Sandy knowing about.
Eh, heh.
"Jack?"
"AUGH!"
Jack jolted, fumbling his staff and then catching it, gasping for breath. The suitor suddenly gone, the Fifth Spirit of the Enchanted Forest was suddenly standing in from of him again, her eyes soft with concern.
"Are you—um," Elsa whispered, "Are you okay? You look—a little freaked out."
"OH! Yeah," Jack stammered, his heart pounding, "I—I'm fine. Where'd the guy go?"
"He—left."
Got it.
Jack looked down to his feet, starting to spin the staff on the carpet. WOW.
So maybe I got a little distracted.
"Do you—um," the Ice Powers Girl asked suddenly, making him look up, "Did you think it was too much, or…?"
"What? No! No, no, no, no, no. Not at all."
Feeling himself relaxing again, drowning in his Elsa's beautiful smile, Jack let out his breath, pushing himself off from the wall. He glanced to the doors.
"I just—um," he admitted, "It—I'm just really glad to know the real you. You know?"
"Oh…" she smiled shyly. "I—thanks. I—me too."
Jack grinned, proud of his Ice Powers Girl for the fact that she could own these guys, and also relieved that the Real Elsa was back. You know—the kind, empathetic, adorable one, who WASN'T into torture?
Nodding to herself, Elsa let out her breath. "I never thought that I could—um, freak them out, like this," she admitted, "But I—I think I can actually handle these stupid men!"
"Yeah! But—uh—you know," Jack suggested, his voice a squeak, "If you wanted to, you could maybe handle them slightly less—"
"—Oh! I just had an idea!"
Her face lighting up, Elsa spun away from him. Sweeping her hands forward to the throne platform, the Snow Queen cackled, two enormous, grotesque statues exploding into being in front of the throne. As the snow flurries settled, Jack realized what they were.
Gargoyles.
"Uh…" Jack said. "Wow. You should maybe not bring those things to life."
Nodding at the crystalline, snarling lion-snake hybrids, Elsa laughed.
"I think they add something," she chuckled slyly.
"Something…"
Ch-CHUNK!
The sound of the doors opening made them both jump, and Elsa whirled around and frantically sat down on her throne. Her icy capelet spread out across the floor, Jack Frost bounced into the air, silently flying back to his watching point from the side of the room as Rolf and another man strode in.
Coming to a stop as the suitor froze, horrified just last the previous two, Rolf sighed.
"Representing King Filip of Lorrs," he announced, "The Duke of Lorrs."
Jack smirked, flipping his staff over his wrist and sitting down on it as Rolf threw another helpless death glare at the Snow Queen, who was—like before—casually lounged back in her throne of icicles, looking bored and maniacal all at the same time. Just as he was about to leave, Rolf's gaze snagged on the enormous gargoyles, and his eyes bulged.
Jack Frost watched as Rolf's gaze locked with Elsa's, his eyes lighting up with fury again. Shrugging, the Snow Queen of Arendelle lifted a single, taunting eyebrow at him.
Problem? Her expression asked.
Rolf's grip clenched on the clipboard. Without another word, he then turned and stomped from the room, passing through the open doors.
BOOM.
Suddenly realizing that they were alone, the duke of Lorrs nervously reached up to his jacket. Pulling a notecard from his left pocket—most likely a prepared speech, written for his king—his eyes darted frantically around the room, from the spikes, to the gargoyles, to the blasts of snow covering every surface in sight. Swallowing hard, he hesitantly looked up to the Snow Queen, who was relaxing back into her throne of icicles, flanked by ice-gargoyles and wearing a taunting, smug expression on her face once again.
A long, hard silence fell over the room.
"Well!" Elsa hissed. "I certainly hope your blood is thicker than the LAST one's."
The duke's face went pale.
Whipping around, he sprinted the doors, frantically yanking them open and lurching from the room without a word.
BOOM.
As the sounds of men yelling at each other started up from the other side of the door, Elsa and Jack burst out laughing, gasping and buckling over and staring into each other's eyes in triumph. Sidestepping the nearest gargoyle, Jack Frost raised his eyebrows, grinning at his Ice Powers Girl in adoration.
"Lioness," he laughed, gasping as he gestured to her and then the door, "Housecat. You're getting the hang of this, Snowflake."
The Fifth Spirit blushed, smoothing her hair up against the spike and glancing down self-consciously. "I hope I don't have to keep doing it for long, though," she admitted. "I don't want people to fear me."
"I can understand that. But just remember: they struck firs—"
BANG!
Elsa and Jack jumped, whipping around as the doors crashed open. An instant later, a livid Rolf stomped into the room, gripping his clipboard in fury.
"QUEEN ELSA!" he bellowed.
Jack glanced back to his Ice Powers Girl as she calmly drew herself up, turning to her head councilman. She looked to him innocently.
"Yes, Rolf?" she asked. "Whatever is the matter?"
"What's the matter?" Rolf sputtered, his face turning purple, "What's the MATTER?! HOW DARE YOU SIT THERE, AND PRETEND TO NOT KNOW WHAT'S THE MATTER!"
A tiny hint of a smirk on the edge of her lips, Queen Elsa lifted a single eyebrow.
"Well," she drawled, "I certainly can't do anything to help you, if you're going to be so emotional about it."
Jack Frost snorted.
Stunned from the accusation, Rolf opened his mouth to snap back, but no sound came out. Gripping the clipboard, he glared.
"It's bad enough," Rolf snarled, "The way you've been meddling with everything! There are—rules! Standards! A lot of very powerful people, you've angered here!"
"And what standards might those be, Rolf?"
Queen Elsa interlaced her fingers, relaxing her body back into the throne of spikes as her gaze intensified. Standing invisibly next to her on the throne platform, Jack Frost recognized this as Elsa's political Game Face.
Go get 'im, Snowflake.
"Well, it—you—!" Rolf stammered, "You must find a king! It—it is how things are done! You can't run a kingdom without a king!"
"And yet… here I am," Elsa said icily, gesturing to the room. "Running it."
Rolf's teeth clicked together in aggravation. "Speaking for the Royal Council, we don't know where all of this sudden arrogance is coming from," he gritted, shaking his finger at her like a club, "But we do NOT approve of it, young lady! We all watched you shrug off your responsibilities to have your little VACATION in the forest last year, and now that you have a crown back on your head, it's like you suddenly think that a twenty-three-year-old FEMALE is more capable than an entire BOARD of—!"
Elsa stiffened, and Jack's fingers clenched on the staff.
Rolf snapped his mouth shut. As he glanced down to the carpet in frustration—his cheeks flushing crimson—the Snow Queen forced herself to relax again, her eyes boring holes into his skull.
"Would you like to repeat that?" she said coldly.
Rolf didn't respond.
Leaning forward slightly in the throne, Elsa twitched an eyebrow upwards at her head councilman in warning.
"Need I remind you that I am your queen?" she enunciated threateningly.
Letting out his breath, Jack watched as Elsa's head councilman squeezed his eyes shut. Carefully measuring his words—but not looking into her gaze—he set his jaw.
"The Council—we have done—everything," he groaned, angrily glaring at the floor, "To assure that this would go well. We made the arrangements, we came up with the explanations, we cleared your schedule, and—well, we don't think you're being very appreciative of the fact that we've done all of this, for you! To get these suitors here for you!"
Oh, now this is all ELSA'S fault? Jack thought.
"While I appreciate your—great effort, Rolf," she replied, her voice dangerously soft, "I must admit, that I'm having a rather hard time being grateful the fact that you've found these—suitors for me. Oddly enough, I don't seem to recall asking for them."
"And then—and then, they walk in and they—you've—!"
Elsa raised her eyebrows. Sucking in his breath, Rolf gestured to the room with the clipboard.
"They see THIS," he choked helplessly, "And it—how—WHY would—?!"
Her eyes narrowed. "What are you implying?"
For a long moment, the Snow Queen's head councilman looked completely at a loss for words. Struggling to gather his thoughts, his face contorted, he then broke, the words then bursting from his mouth:
"Queen Elsa," he stammered, his voice getting louder, "I do believe that you are intentionally SCARING THEM OFF!"
Jack Frost smirked.
You don't say.
"Why, RoooooOOOOOOoooolf," Elsa chuckled, settling back into the ice-blasted throne and crossing her legs, "I haven't the FAINTEST idea what you're talking about."
Elsa's Head Councilman was now trembling with fury. "This is INCREDIBLY childish of you!"
"What is, now?"
The Snow Queen smoothed the front of her dress, batting her eyelashes. Rolf glowered.
"Queen Elsa, you promised The Council that you would consider them!" he spat.
"Oh, I am, Rolf! I am," Elsa said dramatically. "But is it my fault, if they won't consider me? Why, I'm doing the best I can to show them my—well, my very attractive sense of power."
"But—!"
Jack grinned and hopped down from his staff as Elsa's Head Councilman cut himself off, balling his hands into fists and staring at the floor, visibly struggling to contain his indignation. Pressing his lips together, his entire body rigid, Rolf then slowly inhaled, his nostrils flaring. Glancing around the room, to the aches and icicles and jagged blasts of snow, Rolf's frustrated gaze finally—and helplessly—fell onto Elsa once again.
"Are the gargoyles—really—necessary?" he choked.
Elsa drew herself up, looking lovingly to the grotesque lion-snake.
"I think they're regal," she sighed happily.
And Jack lost it.
Crumbling into hysterical, gasping snorts of laughter, the Spirit of Winter sank down against his staff, clapping his hand over his mouth and trying to stop. His eyes tearing up as he laughed and laughed, gasping for breath, he looked back up to realize that Elsa was suddenly struggling to keep a straight face as well, sitting tall on her throne of icicles as Rolf angrily berated her, his voice drowned out in Jack's ears from his guffaws and snorts.
"This isn't something to be taken LIGHTLY!" Rolf was sputtering, his eyes murderous at Elsa's tiny smile, "If none of these suitors work out, it will be at least another month before we could even consider getting more to come!"
"By which time I will potentially be finishing up the bulk of my work in Arendelle, and preparing to return to the Enchanted Forest anyway."
His jaw ticked. "Your majesty," he gritted, "We have DISCUSSED this little fantasy of yours! If any of the suitors were to find out that you were still holding on to these silly ideas, they wouldn't even be willing to consider you, and—"
"—And the single reinstated Queen of Arendelle will be able to return to her regular duties running the kingdom, alone," Elsa enunciated. "And. Free."
Suddenly back in complete control of herself as Jack quieted down, she smiled coldly.
Rolf glared.
"Queen Elsa," Rolf sneered, "You have no idea what you're doing. Unless to intend to regret—"
"—I think I know perfectly well, thank you."
"Your Majesty, you cannot fix all of society's problems by questioning every construct it has in place!"
His eyebrows lifting, Jack Frost looked back up to Elsa, who had suddenly tensed up. A moment later—carefully gathering her thoughts—he watched as the Snow Queen let out her breath.
"Perhaps not," she replied softly. "But it's an awfully good place to start, don't you think?"
Jack's heart swelled with pride.
She's magnificent.
Standing rigidly in front of her, Rolf—for the first time, it seemed—had absolutely nothing to say. In what could only be described as agony, he pressed his teeth together, staring down at his shoes in defeat.
"With all due respect, Rolf," Elsa asked, breaking the silence and making her Head Councilman jump, "Do you intend to send in this—last suitor?"
Rolf's cheeks flushed bright red.
Without a word, he gripped his clipboard and spun around, stalking for the doors. Grasping the left handle, he then pulled it back, allowing a tall, athletic-looking man in his late twenties to enter.
"PRINCE FREDERIK OF KINGSLEY," Rolf announced determinately.
And he stomped through the doors back out into the hallway.
BOOM.
The doors were closed.
His eyebrows lifting in interest, Prince Frederik clasped his hands behind his back, considering the room. Watching the scene, Jack instantly concluded that this guy was too calm—he must have been warned, about the state of the throne room.
But—yeah, whatever. Jack knew that his Elsa would take care of that.
"COME TO COURT THE EVIL QUEEN?!" she demanded, as if on cue, smirking and sitting forward in her throne.
Prince Frederik didn't respond.
Jack watched as the prince pushed a curl back from his face, his deep, honey-colored eyes sharp with focus like he was simultaneously absorbing and analyzing every detail of his surroundings. Although his suit was immaculate, it was abnormally modest for someone of his rank. The Prince of Kingsley wore a single burgundy vest and cravat over his ivory shirt, sporting no ornamentation except for a small red pin on the left lapel of his jacket. Even the small crown set amongst his brown curls was jarringly simple, without a single jewel or swirl of engraving.
"WELL?" Queen Elsa taunted again, dramatically sweeping her hand forward in the gesture, "WHY THE SILENCE, suitor? Did you not come to court the Evil Snow Queen of Arendelle? Am I not what you expected?"
But the prince still didn't speak.
Jack's brow furrowed in confusion as the prince clasped his hands behind his back, walking forward into the room and continuing to scan the arches and blasts of snow. Saying nothing, he calmly began to approach the throne.
Jack looked back to Elsa, his breath catching as he realized that her body had suddenly gone rigid. Fighting it, she drew herself up.
"SPEAK!" Elsa shrieked.
The Prince of Kingsley paused, coming to a halt and meeting her gaze. He raised his eyebrows.
"No," he said simply.
Elsa's eyes bulged.
"What do you mean, NO?!" she demanded, her cheeks flushing with anger. "I am THE QUEEN! You WILL answer me!"
"Forgive me, your majesty. I meant, No, you are not what I expected."
Elsa snapped her mouth shut. An instant later, Jack Frost felt his stomach clench with horror.
Smile gone.
Hopping down from his staff and snatching it from the air, Jack walked towards her, throwing a death glare at the suitor. He was beginning to sweep his hand through the air to conjure some fun magic when he saw the Ice Powers Girl's eyes flicker to his own.
She gave her head a tiny, almost indistinguishable shake. Jack nodded, disintegrating the snowflake and stepping back as Elsa drew herself up again, the teasing smirk on her features once again.
"I am not?" she taunted, dramatically rising from her throne, "Why? What did you expect? I am the EVIL SNOW QUEEN!"
CRACK!
She flung her arms upward, a shot of ice blasting into the air and splintering apart, shattering into a rain of shards all around her.
THERE'S that smile!
Jack's heart leapt as the Ice Powers Girl cackled maniacally and swept her swept her capelet back, launching into the performance once again. Taking the cue, he bounced into the air, flipping the staff over his wrist and shooting up to the ceiling.
BOOM!
A crash of thunder rang through the throne room as the wind picked up, beginning to whip around the prince below at Jack's command. Elsa, the capelet suddenly tearing behind her as she swept her arms forward, drew in her breath.
"I AM THE SNOW QUEEN OF ARENDELLE!" she shrieked over the wind, blasting ice out of both of her arms with another ear-splitting crack as she swept forward, "AND ALL WILL BOW BEFORE ME!"
His heart soaring as he threw his staff forward, Jack swept another cloud into existence, his hair whipping as the rushing of wind filled his ears.
"I AM THE GREAT DESTROYING STORM!" Elsa screamed maniacally, her capelet flying out behind her in the growing indoor storm, "I AM THE FREEZING WIND, AND THE BLIZZARD OF THE ETERNAL WINTER! BOW, BEFORE THE POWERS OF ICE AND SNOW, FOR—for—?"
As Elsa's voice trailed off, Jack realized that someone—was laughing.
Looking down in confusion, Jack's eyes widened in blank shock as his gaze fell onto the prince, who was standing in the center of the room, quietly chuckling into his hand. Jack looked back to Elsa, and their gaze locked, her suddenly terrified expression making his stomach twist.
"Forgive me," Prince Frederik laughed softly, "Your majesty, but it—this is an impressive display."
As if he couldn't help himself, the prince smiled, a glimpse of his glisteningly-white teeth visible for a fraction of a second. Clearing his throat, he then nodded, drawing himself up and trying to keep a straight face.
"I'm sorry," he apologized, clearly restraining from smiling again. "Please continue, Queen Elsa."
Silently lighting down onto the carpet, Jack silently ran up to Elsa, anxious to make sure his Ice Powers Girl was okay. Her gaze darted to his once again, a flash of panic behind her beautiful eyes.
"Di—Display?" she stammered, looking back to the prince, "I—what do you mean?"
"I mean nothing at all, your majesty."
As the edges of his mouth started to curve upwards again, Prince Frederik's honey-colored eyes were glinting with what was clearly the attempt to suppress another amused smile. With his grip tightening on the staff, the Fifth Guardian's eyes narrowed in fury.
This guy.
"Do you think this is funny?" Elsa seethed.
The prince raised his eyebrows.
"In a way," he admitted.
"So, you're—you're not at all afraid of me?"
Prince Frederik considered this question for a moment, glancing to his feet. Drawing himself up, he then looked back into Elsa's eyes, his innocent expression completely sincere.
"Why would I be?" he asked.
Elsa's eyes bulged.
"Because—because," she gritted, stumbling a tiny step forward, "Be—because I am the EVIL SNOW QUEEN!"
Just as flabbergasted as she was, Jack whipped back around to the suitor, his eyes wide as he stared in disbelief at the young man that was still standing in the middle of the throne room, as calm as a pool of still water. Prince Frederik didn't say anything more, looking down to his feet with another badly-restrained smile. Jack looked back to his Ice Powers Girl for direction, only to find that—rigidly standing on the throne platform—she had seen Prince Frederik's smile, too.
Her teeth clicking together, Elsa set her jaw, whisking her capelet forward as she turned away from him.
"I don't believe this!" she snapped.
Striding across the platform to the ice-blasted throne, Elsa drew herself up, glaring down her nose at him as she settled herself into the spikes. Watching her, Prince Frederik raised his eyebrows once again.
"And, I don't believe you," he said softly.
Elsa stiffened.
"What?" she demanded.
Jack's grip on the staff tightened as he looked back to the suitor.
"You've told me that you are the Evil Queen," Prince Frederik repeated. "Therefore: I don't believe you."
Looking away from him, Elsa uncomfortably shifted on her hips on the throne. Pressing her lips together, she looked back up. "Why not?"
"Research."
Jack's heart leapt into his throat at the word.
"What kind of—research?" Elsa asked slowly.
Clasping his hands behind his back, the crown prince of Kingsley nodded. He then began—once again—to approach the throne platform, walking slowly forward as he spoke.
"If the newspapers aren't lying, your majesty," he said, his eyebrow twitching, "It would appear that the famous Snow Queen of Arendelle is a reformer. She sees things that need to be done, and she does them. What's more than that, though, is that, in the midst of the political wars, she is kind. Every battle she's fought, every reform she's forced through, every law, every treaty, every trade agreement; all have been done with the good of her people as the highest priority. And often, at great personal sacrifice. If the headlines regarding a certain—magical—excursion to save Arendelle last year hold an ounce of truth, it appears that she was even willing to sacrifice her own crown."
Elsa's face had gone pale, her mouth hanging slightly open in shock. The prince let out his breath, walking up to the throne and staring directly into her eyes.
"So… when I say, I don't believe you," he stated emotionlessly, "It's because everything in this room; the gargoyles, the icicles, the spiked crown on your head… it's all a front, your majesty. If I may be so bold. You obviously don't want to be here, and you are clearly, certainly, not an Evil Queen."
He was now standing directly in front of her. Jack watched in shock as the prince leaned slightly in towards Elsa on the platform.
"Arendelle doesn't have one," Prince Frederik whispered.
A long, stunned silence fell over the room.
Straightening up, Prince Frederik stepped back from the platform, gazing deeply into Elsa's eyes as he waited for her to respond. Still sitting in the midst of her ice-blasted, menacing throne, the young queen was frozen with shock, her mouth hanging open in what could only be described as dumbfounded disbelief.
"Also," Prince Frederik added, making Jack snap back into focus as he casually gestured to the door, a hint of a smile tugging at the edge of his mouth once again, "There's the matter of that enormous portrait of Queen Elsa I saw on the way in. It's very beautiful; we could go out into the hallway and I could show it to you."
Jack's breath caught.
He. Did. NOT.
Whipping his head back to look at the suitor, Jack Frost's eyes narrowed with fury. The Ice Power's Girl's face flushed beet red to the comment, and all the—it—and he—!
His heart started pounding, and Jack could practically feel his blood boiling beneath his skin as his gaze remained on the suitor.
NO.
Tossing his staff into his opposite hand, Jack set his jaw, beginning to stomp across the throne room for the table with the vase.
"If you would prefer me to go, however," Prince Frederik continued, beginning to turn for the doors as Jack reached for the vase, "Then, I'll leave you alone. If that's what you desire. If it's what you wish, I'll order my men to prepare the ship for returning to my kingdom. Thank you for making the time to see me, Queen El—"
"—WAIT!"
Both men froze.
His fingers curled around the vase, Jack Frost looked up to realize that the Fifth Spirit had suddenly stood up, her hand outstretched in the air like she was trying to stop someone. But her eyes were darting back and forth between Prince Frederik's, and his own.
The plea had been meant for both of them.
His forehead crinkling in confusion, Jack turned his palms up, shrugging defensively.
WHAT? he mouthed at her.
Elsa's eyes were wide with silent pleading, staring into his own from across the room. She gave her head a tiny, almost indistinguishable shake again.
Oh, COME ON!
"Wait," Elsa repeated shakily. "Please."
Pressing his lips together, Jack Frost reluctantly stepped back from the vase, sighing and looking to Elsa for approval. She visibly relaxed, looking back to her suitor. Jack did as well, looking to Prince Frederik with a significantly more threatening glare. If his Ice Powers Girl wanted him to refrain from taking this guy out, then refrain he would.
But he'd better not make her blush again.
"Your Majesty?" Prince Frederik prompted, taking a tiny step towards her. "Are you alright?"
"Yes. It's just—the—!"
Elsa stopped talking, her cheeks flushing as she snapped her mouth shut.
Prince Frederik said nothing, waiting politely for the Snow Queen to pull herself together. Closing her eyes—and then opening them again—Elsa carefully drew in her breath.
"The portrait…" she started quietly.
She raised her eyebrows in the question.
"I remembered the painting the moment I walked in and saw—this," Prince Frederik admitted, glancing to the room. "There's—a discrepancy."
"Yes, I know, it's just that you—but—I mean, none of the others seemed to even question, or—!"
She cut herself off again.
"You—noticed," Elsa whispered.
Watching the scene from the side of the platform, Jack Frost's muscles went rigid. His fingers clenching on the staff, his blood ran cold, his mind suddenly reeling in jealous confusion.
Why was—why was she looking at him like that?
To this, Prince Frederik smiled. Shrugging, he took a step towards the throne platform again.
"Queen Elsa… in my own kingdom, I am expected to take the throne within a year," he said softly. "So, for as far as my people are concerned, I consider it my personal responsibility to make the most politically advantageous marriage that I can. With all due respect, did you really think that I was going to come court the reinstated Snow Queen of Arendelle, without the FAINTEST idea of who she was?"
Elsa's eyes widened.
Clasping her hands together in front of her skirt, the Snow Queen was suddenly the picture of composure, every muscle in her body held with perfect, practiced control. Her eyes narrowed slightly, and she considered the prince, measuring her words carefully.
"Taxation," she decided.
A wave of confusion swept over his face. "I beg your pardon?"
"You researched me," Elsa stated emotionlessly. "Now, I'm researching you."
To this, Prince Frederik's face broke into a quiet, knowing little smile. Staring down the prince expectantly, Elsa's lips were slightly curved upwards as well.
Jack's heart started pounding.
"Taxation," Prince Frederik answered with a chuckle, "Is—complicated. More complicated than it should be."
"So, you believe it should be simplified."
"But not oversimplified."
Elsa took a step forward. "Good response. Science?"
"Funded."
"Sanitation?"
"Kept up-to-date and regulated in all highly-populated areas."
"Diplomacy?"
"Always the best path towards mutual respect and protection."
"Education?"
"Essential."
Elsa raised an eyebrow. "Education for women?"
"More essential."
She paused. "Pardon me?"
"To counteract the notion that it isn't necessary."
Elsa eyed him suspiciously. After a few moments, she drew in her breath. "And, how would it do that?"
"It's rather difficult to explain the benefits of an equalized power dynamic, to someone who has never seen it in action."
The edge of Elsa's mouth toyed with the idea of a smile.
"Fair enough," she conceded, drawing herself up as the prince nodded. "Poverty?"
"A constant battle."
"Trade?"
"Increased as much as the people desire, with necessary protections in place."
"Domestic violence?"
"Sick and wrong."
"Starvation?"
"Easy to conquer, with a little teamwork."
"War?"
"Often unnecessary for justice, and to be avoided as much as possible."
"Ice skating?"
A look of confusion swept over Prince Frederik's features. "Um… ice skating?"
"You heard me."
Jack's heart leapt into his throat, intently watching Elsa's expression. His eyes wide, Jack saw the prince's face break into a smile, his glisteningly white teeth catching the sunlight pouring in through the frost-covered windows.
"A delight," Prince Frederik said softly.
Elsa paused, her eyes narrowing slightly. Then, her face relaxed, and she closed them, reaching upwards.
Standing helplessly by the window, Jack Frost's stomach clenched in horror as she swirled her fingers above her head, the ice in her hair spiraling out from the spike into a shimmering mist.
No! Jack thought desperately.
As the Ice Powers Girl's thick blonde locks tumbled down out of the spike to fall across her shoulders, sparkling with snowflakes, she nervously took a step forward to the prince, extending her hand.
NO!
"I'm Queen Elsa," she said quietly.
Prince Frederik smiled. "I know."
.
.
(Another) Author's Note: WAIT NO DON'T UNFOLLOW ME YET! You will forgive me in two chapters' time, I PROMISE! ;)