A Very Frozen Christmas Carol

Chapter 3

The night grew colder as the fire dwindled down to simple ashes. King Runeard was wrapped up in his blankets, sound asleep when the town clock struck one. Setting off a loud chime throughout the city. Suddenly, in the bedroom was a light that was nearly as bright as the sun. King Runeard shielded his face, trying to hide away from this extreme illumination.
"Are you the spirit who has been foretold to me?" The king asked, his hands now covering his eyes.
"I am," the being stated with a soft female voice. "I am the ghost of Christmas Past, Runeard Scrooge."
"Can you put your light out? I cannot see." The king said in fustration.
"You wish for me to put out the Christmas light that shines in all of us?" The ghost asked in a saddend tone.
"No, no, I simply asked for you to dim it so that I can see." King Runeard stated as the ghost reduced the brightness. The ghost was like one of an angel, flowing blonde hair that faded into red. Skin white as snow and a vocal tone that was softer than the warmest blanket you've ever felt. In her hand was a metal cap, similar to the ones that are placed upon candles to extinguish them.
"Come Runeard, it is time for us to leave." The ghost said as she moved closer to him.
"Go? Go where? It is the middle of the night." The king objected as he looked out the window.

"We are going to your past, King Runeard. To Christmases that were much happier than this one. Take my hand," the ghost said as she held out her hand to him. Drifting close to the large bedroom window.
"Go? I cannot go out that way, I will fall." The king protested but still took the ghosts hand. She opened the window and the both of them began drifting out and out over the town of Arendelle. The king, who was not a fan of heights started to panick.
"Calm yourself Scrooge, I thought you enjoyed looking down on the world. Am I wrong?" The ghost stated as they flew to another place through time. When they finslly landed, they were at a royal boarding school in Sweden. A place where all the wealthy and afluent children were sent to learn.
"I know this place," said Runeard excitedly. "This is where I grew up and was schooled as a young boy." Runeard looked around his old school, children walked the halls and sang Christmas songs. A tear formed in Runeards eye as he thought back to this time in his life. The ghost turned and smiled at the old king.
"Oh? And what is that I see? A tear, perhaps."
Runeard was quick to wipe his eyes and then fixed his robes.
"Preposterous, just a bit of dust in my eyes." Runeard cleared his throat as the young children began to disappear.

"I see one child still in these halls," the ghost said as she took Runeards hand, leading him to a classroom where a young boy sat alone.
"You did not return home like the other children, why?" The ghost asked Runeard.
"My father did not wish to have me at the castle at all. He stated that I was a distraction and therefore needed to be sent away in order for him to work. My mother died during my birth and my father, well he blamed me for it."
The ghost nodded before responding.
"Perhaps we should see another Christmas." Taking ahold of Runeard's hand, they flew through the sky to a castle in Sweden. A large smile appeared on Runeard's face as they entered into a grand hall.

"Is this the Stockholm Palace? I was the king's apprentice! And there he is!" Runeard pointed to a man in royal attire with a joyful demeanor. There beside him was a young Prince Runeard.
"Good Ol' King Fredrick, he was such a kind and generous man."
The ghost looked at Runeard then back at the king and his young apprentice. "You do not seem to take after him, Scrooge."
Before Runeard could make another comment, King Fredrick clapped once as he looked around the room.
"Come Runeard, no more work tonight! It is Christmas Eve and we must celebrate! Invite the whole town, tonight we feast and dance. Go tell the staff! Don't want to make anyone wait."