Opposites Attract

     What better opposites are there than fire and ice? Fire, symbolizing a free spirit, warmth, and a carefree nature. Ice, symbolizing a sheltered environment, a strict upbringing, and a lonely, cold life. But yet, somehow, when these two polar opposites combine . . . well, I'll let the story tell itself.

     _ELSA_

      Elsa, the queen of Arendelle, is the ice of the story. Her delicate features, her light skin, her practically white hair . . . it was no surprise to find that there was a secret buried beneath those soft baby blue gloves. But no one could guess it was a secret quite so big.

     At this point in the story, she is not yet queen. She remained withdrawn in the castle, rarely leaving her room, never making contact with anyone but her parents, who did their best to help her subdue her gift. Or her curse.

     After they passed, Elsa was alone. The castle grew dreary and lifeless, the only spark of energy and hope appearing the moment her childish sister, Anna, skidded into the room, filling the empty halls and endless rooms with the magic of song.

     Often Elsa would sit against her door, listening to her sister sing about blue skies and warmth and joy. She wished more often than not that she could share in her sister's easy-going nature. But, alas, Elsa could not. She could not control her curse. She could not hurt her sister again. And so, she could not make her sister's solo transform into a duet, or provide her with a dancing partner as they slid across the freshly polished wood floors in only their sock feet. Elsa knew none of these things could ever happen. They just simply were not meant to be. That didn't stop Elsa from dreaming about it though.

     The day Elsa dreaded drew nearer and nearer. Arendelle had been three years without a suitable ruler on the throne. The people were growing restless, and Elsa had finally come of age. On this day, Elsa was to be crowned the queen of Arendelle.

     The entire population of her vast kingdom would find some way to be watching. They'd be desperate to see the new, hopelessly overwhelmed, young 21 year old girl who they hoped would deliver them into a time of prosperity and health.

     By the time she was crowned and pronounced Queen of Arendelle, the cathedral was packed with as many people who could fit in its constricting pews. She turned to face her people, her subjects, and was met with thunderous applause. She managed a smile despite her trembling hands.

     The after party seemed like some cruel test to her. All these people, all the people that mattered most in Arendelle's future of trade and marketing, they were all gathered in her home, where she was most vulnerable. She felt as if she were just playing the part of the queen on some great stage, and the moment the castle emptied, she could flee back to the comforting solitary safety of her bedroom.

     But the party was going well, and soon Elsa would be able to retire back into quiet and peace. She had made polite small talk, nothing too serious, and had struggled to keep things light as well as controlling her curse. It would occasionally crop up, and she'd have to excuse herself in order to remain in control, but she had done so the entire time, and was preparing to call an end to the party.

     As she was about to break away from a conversation to regain her control of the curse, Anna, little unaware Anna, ran up to her with the goofiest grin on her face, pulling a fairly handsome man Elsa had never seen before behind him.

    "Elsa!" She called.

    The crowd parted for then enough for them to get through, and Anna stopped in front of her sister.

     Elsa greeted her with what she hoped was a warm and pleasant smile.

     Anna suddenly swept into a deep exaggerated bow. "I mean Queen." She beamed at Elsa before gesturing to the man behind her. "May I present Prince Hans of the Southern Isles."