My opposite - a story about Elsa and Red

Chapter 3

Elsa and Red sat at the fire pit and Red poked with a stick to a glowing piece of wood.  Both still couldn't believe all what was happening. They sat beside each other but Red kept some distance to be sure to cause no trouble. She was still very nervous, because nobody ever sat close to her.

'So, you're from the east...' Elsa began after she explained her story why she gave the throne to her sister and moved to the Enchanted Forest.

'Yes, I grew up in a small village in the valley of the Black Mountains. At a very young age my parents discovered I was able to create heat. As a baby I seemed to be afraid of water and ice. When my mother tried to wash me, I cried and the water started to heat up instead of cooling down slowly. Normally that would be impossible, so that kind of small things left my parents questioning. Apparently I could, as a little girl, already feel that my parents found it hard to accept that I am who I am. Fear started to grow between them and me and that was the start of an isolated life. Everyone in the village complained about me and my parents couldn't deal with the rumors. One time I heard them talking to each other that they wished to have a normal kid. From that moment my powers began to get out of hand, literally. I never felt save or free to feel myself, so everything I touched heated up or started to burn. So, for example, there were times I couldn't read a book or learn to write properly when being with other children of the village. Every kid of my age was afraid of me and nobody dared to bully me because I was dangerous to them. But I knew they gossiped and made fun behind my back. My mother however tried her best and knew that if I was alone in a calm and quiet place, I was able to control the powers. So she brought books and paper to the little room they gave me. When I didn't get disturbed, I was able to read, write and learn language properly myself. So that were some details of my miserable life before I ran.' As Red was telling this, steam came underneath her hands with which she held the tree trunk they sat on.

'Sweet of your mom. Red, I know exactly how you always felt... Your not a dangerous person from the heart, but you are always afraid that you become one...' Elsa tried to come closer, but when she did that, Red stood up quickly.

'Sorry, princess... I mean, Elsa, I am so afraid.' Red apologized as her fear worsened. The sand underneath her feet even began to melt. Is that even possible, how can she stand there? It must be very hot... Elsa thought. Red took a deep breath out of frustration and after that the sand cooled down. It was clear that some glass formed out of the sand that had melted. 

'Is this how you made your house?' Elsa asked.

'Yes.' Someone is actually curious about my life. Someone is actually paying real attention to me. And it happens to be highest person I could imagine. Red was sunken into her thoughts.

'You're the best glass blower in the world.' Elsa joked to ease the tense sphere a bit. Red seemed to understand the lightness in her words and smiled a bit too for the first time. Elsa enjoyed the little smile.

'The dangerous glass blower of the Dark Mountains.' She quipped back. Elsa enjoyed seeing the woman, she just met, becoming a bit more relaxed for the first time.

'You could make a successful career.' Elsa continued.

'Yeah, only when I could handle it.'

'We are working on that...' Elsa winked, 'by the way, I said that I stay a bit longer. I meant to stay the night, is that fine to you, actually? I can stay outside if you prefer.' She asked. Red startled by the idea someone staying.

'I didn't design my house to receive guest...' I'm so afraid if she would stay. I should try to let her go away,  '...but you can sleep in my bed, because I can't  sleep on a mattress tonight.' Immediately she regretted what she said.

'Why can't you?' Elsa asked confused.

'Well, I'm not sure if I am able to sleep easily without setting things on fire. Through my life I often didn't sleep on a mattress, because I couldn't. Luckily I always wake up when I start to heat things up in my sleep. But after burning a few burned mattresses and sheets, I chose to sleep on the ground or in a bed without the sheets except if I had an easy day. This wasn't an easy day, so I think it's more save to sleep on the ground.' Red could tell this as if this was the most normal thing in the world, but Elsa felt pity for her situation.

'I feel really sorry for you. It sounds terrible, even though you might be used to it.'

Outside it became very dark. Red had been taken place to the tree trunk after she stood beside it for a while, but still kept distance. She really felt uneasy thinking of Elsa staying tonight. Also the moment when the two women met and her powers got out of control flashed constantly through her mind. She had mixed feelings about that Elsa caressed her hand. Red shivered again thinking of the Princess' touch, but it made her also feel very uncomfortable and vulnerable. Elsa came really close that moment. Red looked to the left at Elsa. She is even more pretty and attractive than what I always imaged. Elsa looked back and again their eyes met. Red stared a brief moment into the deep blue eyes that looked at her with a very gentle look. However the eye contact ambushed her and quickly Red looked away. I can't let her in. I already told her too much. 

'Shall we go inside?' Red asked to force herself out of the uncomfortable feeling and already stood up before she got an answer from the Highness. Elsa nodded and the two walked inside. Elsa also took the basket with chocolates inside and left it at the intrance. Red walked upstairs in front of Elsa. Elsa got a warm feeling watching her slim stature with the feminine shapes. But it wasn't Red's appearance what touched her heart the most. It was her character.  Red's magic was the complete opposite of her magic, but Red's character seem to have a lot of similarities. One thing was for sure: She would never mean to hurt somebody. 

The bed seemed to be a normal bed with 'normal', off white colored bed linen.

'When I need money I simply sell some of my creations and actually buy things. I don't make my creations too extraordinary so nobody will be suspicious.' Red reacted chuckling because she clearly saw Elsa looked a bit surprised that not everything was made out of glass and stone. Elsa hesitated to take place on the bed.

'Please.' Red said, who stood beside the bed pointing with her hand to the bed. Elsa laid down under the sheets and looked at Red.
'I don't want you to sleep on the ground.'

'And I don't want to burn things. But I have an idea. I sleep downstairs on the couch, hoping I don't have to buy a new one after tonight.'
'Okay, that's better than sleeping on the floor. Can we talk briefly?'
'Eh, sure.' Red was nervous but also curious about what Elsa wanted to talk about.
'I have to be honest, normally I never rush into things and I would certainly not stay with someone I just met. But with you, it feels different. I think you're special, Red. We have a lot in common, I think and I wish to learn more about you.'
Red blushed and remained quiet by these words. Nobody ever said something like that to her. Again she had to fight against the tears.
'Thank you for everything already, even though I am still very nervous and afraid. I'm not easy to get to know and am not good at trusting people.'
'It's fine, sweetheart. Good things take time.'
Red stared briefly at Elsa's hand which layed on the blankets. She wished to take the hand in hers, but quickly put it out of her mind. She thought of the moment Elsa layed her hand unto Red's. It was magical, literally.
'Good night, Princess Elsa of Arendelle.'
'Good night, Red.'