Linnea: A tale of the Snow Queen

Chapter 11, The Ball

I was the last person to pull up. I told the horses to go home and they left. The same duke from last time recognized me and offered to announce me. I happily agreed and he walked me up. We walked to the ballroom and I was at the top of the stairs. I saw Filip standing with his father at the throne. Ingrid was standing next to him, “Ladies and gentlemen! Miss Linnea, daughter of lord Hans and lady Agnes!” the duke announced. I walked down the stairs and Ingrid was shocked. Everyone parted for me to walk through. It was like I was parting the sea with each step.

I walked to the king and curtsied to him and Filip. Filip was happy to see me and I was happy to see him. He walked over and took my hand. He kissed it infront of everyone, “I’ve been waiting for you Linnea. May I have this dance?” he asked. I nodded and he guided me to the dance floor. As we waltzed Ingrid looked at me with disdain the entire time. With my dress made of ice I felt confident. The entire time I was there none of it melted. It then occurred to me that I was the only one who could get rid of my ice and snow. The way that Filip twirled me made my heart race.

I eventually spotted my father and Agnes on the dance floor. I also spotted Lucas dancing with someone as well. I know full well that he saw me sneak off with Filip. We left the ball room and went out into the garden. I saw that he had the gardeners plant white roses. He picked one and gave it to me. I remember in one letter he compared me to a white rose, “I planted them for you. I thought you would like them.” he said
“I love them.” I replied
“I love you.”
“Filip, I love you too.”
“As you know my father requested that I take a wife. I never intended to do so until after I became king. Then I met you.” He said. He got down on one knee and took my hand in his, “Linnea, will you marry me?” he asked. I was so happy. I was too happy. It started to flurry around me, “Yes.” I replied
“Is that snow? Why is it only over you?” he asked
“Promise you won’t tell anyone.”
“Of course my dear.”
“One day in December we went for a walk in the woods. Next thing I know I can control ice and snow. Ingrid almost kept me from coming tonight. Using my powers was the only way I could.”
“Linnea darling, I knew you were magical.”
“So it’s okay?”
“Absolutely darling. I can’t wait to make you my snow queen one day.” he replied. He picked me up in his arms and spun me around with him. We stayed in the garden for sometime.

I remember when we walked back in. No one noticed that we had left. Before we walked back into the ballroom we shared a kiss. I couldn’t wait for the wedding. I’d skip to that part of the story now if I could but there was so much that had gone on between the ball and the wedding so I can’t. Anyway we walked back in and made our way to the king. Emil saw me coming with his son and smiled. I could tell that he knew it was me who would be his son’s wife. I curtsied to him and Filip told him. The king signaled the music to stop, “Ladies and gentlemen, thank you all for coming tonight. As you know I’ve been trying to find a wife for my son. We’ve been through many families and we finally found one. May I present Linnea. We shall be hard at work planning the royal wedding. Now tonight, we celebrate!” he exclaimed. The rest of the night I stood next to Filip and Ingrid. I was right in the middle of the two. Everyone was smiling, except for Ingrid. As soon as I became part of the royal family I would get her married. That I swore to her. She didn’t move or look at me.

I rode home with them that night. I made sure that all the ice I had made that night disappeared except for my dress. Ingrid didn’t talk to me for the rest of the night. I got home and she unlocked the door to our room. I walked in and looked at my bed. I decided that it wasn’t to my liking anymore. I went to the bed frame and touched it with my hand. I made a canopy and four small pillars of ice. Ingrid watched as I used my magic. She realized what I had done, “You can do that? When did you learn to control your powers?” she asked
“Tonight. You forced me to accept them. It’s how I fixed my dress, and got to the ball, and how I got out of the room.”
“Linnea, I don’t know what keeps coming over me and my mother lately. It’s like we’re fine one second and then we just turn.”
“What do you mean?”
“You, we turn on you. It’s like the worst is being forced out of us. I don’t know why Lucas and I brought that mirror here.”
“Where is it?”
“We’re having it fixed right now. I liked how it looked so I brought it back.”
“You should’ve left it in the woods.”
“Linnea, it's a mirror.”
“We don’t even know where it came from.”
“It’s a mirror. I’m going to bed.” Ingrid said. I didn’t like this one bit. That mirror had something sinister about it. It never felt like it came from the natural world. It always felt like it held a secret. It caused this and I didn’t know how to get rid of it.