Hearts of Fire and Ice

Chapter Fourteen~ Jasper

I was the first to arrive on our favorite mountain ledge that evening at sunset. I knew that Snowdrift would be here shortly. It was a longer flight for me to get here than her, as she lived near the border, and I lived in the SkyWing Palace in the very heart of the Sky Kingdom. 

With a flap of her wings, I saw Snow soar across the sky and swoop down for a landing. The setting sun illuminated her glistening pale blue scales, making her appear to shimmer and glow. The white flower that I gave her was still tucked behind her ear. 

"Hello there, gorgeous," I smiled at her. "Still wearing your flower?" 

"Forever and always, like I promised," She responded with a small laugh. "Did you make a plan to rescue my sister?" 

I nodded, "I know exactly where in the palace she is now. Mother took her to the prisons. They've been tourtering her..." I sighed. 

"This is bad, this is really, really bad..." Snow sighed, her voice filled with anxiety. 

"Don't worry. We just need to break into the prisons and free her," I assured. 

"And how do you expect we're supposed to do that?" She narrowed her eyes. 

"Enter our master plan," I said. "Mother has many guards around the palace. More than usual now because Icecap was captured and she's afraid there might be more serial killer dragons like her around."

"My sister is not a serial killer," Snowdrfit frowned. 

"I know she's not," I laughed a little. "But other dragons think she is, and we've got to show them she isn't."

"Okay, go on."

"We need to sneak past all of the palace guards, around the side of the palace and onto my balcony. I'll open the window and we'll slip into my room. You, however, need to pretend you're a prisnor." 

"What?" She exclaimed.

"It's the only way. I'll allow you to get into the palace, but you need to pretend you're a prisnor and allow the guards, when they find you, to escort you to the prisons. Only then will you be able to find Icecap and free her." I looked into her azure blue eyes. "You trust me, right?" 

"Sorry?" She asked, confused.

"You do trust me, right? This plan is a little dangerous, but it's the best plan we've got." 

"Jasper, I trust you. You're a smart dragon and I know this will work. Danger is practically my middle name. I'll be fine," Snowdrift took my talons in mine. 

I beamed. She was in. The plan was happening. We were going to save Icecap. "You've got to promise me while you're in there you'll be careful, Snow. If you mess up... This whole operation is over. Icecap will be killed for sure." 

"I want to stay alive, Jasper. I want to stay alive because I want my sister alive and by my side again, and I..." Snow trailed off.

"And you what?" I asked. 

"I want to be with you." 

I smiled, "You're already with me."

"I know... But I want to be with you forever. You're the best thing that's ever happened to me. You've shown me that maybe being an outcast isn't so bad." 

"And you've shown me that I should speak my mind and be a rebel more often," I smiled at her, "And you've shown that to Icecap as well." 

Snow sighed, "But that's exactly how Icecap got into trouble. Being a rebel. I feel like I taught her wrong." 

"Hey, don't worry. Everything will be okay in the end," I assured her, "Icecap will be free, and you and I can be together."

"Forever and always?" Snow asked quietly. 

"Forever and always," I responded, touching Snowdrift's white flower gently. She blushed a little and gave a small laugh. 

"So, are we ready?" I asked after a moment of silence. 

"I'm ready." Snow nodded. "Let's go save my sister."