Kozmotis and Emma walked through the crowd, both giggling and looking around for Jack. "Excuse me," Emma said softly, taking Kozmotis's hand as they passed a talking couple and finally made it to Jack. "Jack! I mean, King," Emma bowed. "me again."
"Kozmotis and and I would like your blessing.. of our marriage!!" The two grinned excitedly.
Jack's eyes widened. "Marriage?"
"Yes!!" Emma grinned. "Of course we'll need a few days to plan the ceremony, and we'll have soup roast and ice cream, and oh!" She looked over at Kozmotis. "Will we live here?"
"Absolutely." Kozmotis smiled.
"Oh, we could invite all twelve of your brothers to stay here!" Emma was still smiling widely.
"Emma, slow down." Jack interrupted. "Can I talk to you? Alone?"
"No.." Emma's face fell. I found true love.. what's wrong with that? she thought. "Whatever you want to say, you can say to both of us."
Jack remained serious. "Fine. You can't marry a man you just met."
"You can if it's true love!" Emma protested.
"Emma, what do you know about true love?"
"More than you, all you know is how to shut people out!"
Jack's eyes widened. He did know about true love. He had spent thirteen years hiding from Emma because he loved her. She just didn't see that. "Okay, you asked me to bless the marriage, but my answer is no." He began to walk away. "The party is over, close the gates," he called.
"Wait, no!" Emma ran to her older brother, grabbing one of his gloves.
Jack whirled around. "Give me my glove!"
"Jack, please, I can't live like this anymore!" Emma begged, gripping Jack's glove as she talked.
Jack began to fight tears. "Then leave,"
Tears welled up in Emma's dark brown eyes before Jack started to walk away again.
"What did I ever do to you?" Emma yelled, causing people to stop what they were doing and look over at her. "Why? Why do you shut me out? Why do you shut the world out? WHAT ARE YOU SO AFRAID OF?!"
"I said enough!" Jack turned around, ice shooting out of the hand without the glove, making a border of ice in between Jack and Emma. Emma and the guests gasped, stumbling backward. "Jack.." Emma whispered. Jack's eyes widened. He did it. He ran out of the room, looking around before stepping onto the big body of water surrounding the kingdom. It hardened into ice.
"Jack, wait, please!" Emma ran after Jack, panting, but Jack had already left. She tripped, falling on top of the ice. Kozmotis chased after her, running to her aid. "Emma!"
"No.." Emma's eyes were now huge as she watched Jack run off, his purple cape flying; her anger turning into sadness.
The fjord began to freeze over, and the whole kingdom was soon covered in snow. "Snow?" one of the townsfolk whispered in disbelief. Emma and Kozmotis were now walking. "Did you know?" asked Kozmotis.
Emma shook her head. "No.."
They watched as the Duke began to panic, as did everyone else. "This was my fault, I'm going after her.." Emma said softly. She climbed onto her horse. "I leave prince Kozmotis in charge.."
Emma was just about to leave when an Asian girl with black hair and pink eyes ran up to her, shouting. "Wait!!"
Emma looked down at her, seeming a bit confused. "Huh?"
"My name is Tatiana, but you can call me Ana." Ana smiled at Emma, then continued talking. "I know those mountains very well, maybe I could be some help!"
Emma looked at her, thinking about it. Finally, she agreed. "Yeah, thanks." She smiled back at her as Ana mounted her own horse.
