Tempest-A Jack Frost and Elsa Fanfiction

Jack-Chapter 31

At first Jack could only see white. White floor. White ceiling. White walls. But then designs and structures began taking shape, spinning into a beautiful, untouched palace. Magic seemed to be keeping it altogether, and he didn't have to be immortal to be able to feel the magic that radiated off this place. But as he looked around, he felt a memory stir up inside of him. It was a memory of a long, long time ago, but he remembered. He had been here before.

Jack's ears pricked up as he heard a familiar voice, one that he would have gladly died for. Jack. Jack, wake up. It's time for you to choose. Will you live and serve me? Or will you die?

Those words... He had heard those words before. He remembered being engulfed by an icy lake, and then a hand reached down and pulled him out. Pulled him out right here...

Jack, the voice said again, and Jack glanced around wildly for the source. They weren't alone.

"I'm sorry!" Jack cried, the anguish he felt over the past twenty-two years washing over him. "I didn't mean to let you die. Please forgive me."

Jack, Delani said much more gently this time, and he could see a flicker of a light just feet away from him. No one ever truly dies. We are born from the earth, and we are given back to the earth. I lived well beyond my years. I lived a fulfilling life, and I don't regret a thing.

Elsa's eyes widened both with fear and hope. "Jack, who are you talking to?"

The light just feet away blossomed outward, and a familiar, lithe figure appeared, very white and very transparent, but Jack would recognize her anywhere.

"Your Majesty," Jack whispered feebly as he inclined his head from where he still sat on the sleigh, and out of the corner of his eye, he saw Elsa's eyes widening, but he could tell that she still didn't see anything. Probably because Jack was on the edge of death, and only dead people could actually see the dead. As Jack Frost, he could see glowing orbs in Miris, the Realm of the Dead, but never actual human forms like he saw now.

"Am I going to die?" he asked in another whisper as he reached out to Delani and took her hand. It felt wispy and fragile, nothing like a regular human hand.

Maybe, she replied softly. But a better question is... Are you ready to give up?

Jack glanced over to Elsa, her warm blue eyes meeting his. Even though she could only hear his side of the conversation, she seemed to take it all in stride. "No," he whispered, turning his attention back to Delani. "I want to serve your daughter just like I served you. I love her. Please let me be with her."

Queen Delani shook her head sadly. There's nothing I can do for you. I may have created you, made you what you were, but I no longer have power. Elsa has it now. It transferred to her the moment I died. She has power enough to create a new Season, a new Winter. But she cannot renew what you have lost. Do you not remember Jared? The Summer Season before Mara? We did all we could to try and revive him, but he still passed onto the other side. There's nothing Elsa can do for you, Jack. I'm so sorry.

Jack covered his eyes with his free hand to try and hide his emotions that began pooling over. He was going to die. This trip had all been for nothing.

Do not despair, Jack. There is something that I can offer. Queen Delani dropped his hand and approached Elsa, caressing her cheek gently. My baby girl. I wish you could hear me, I wish you could see me. I love you more than anything else in all the realms. I know you will make the most incredible queen that Ledas has ever seen. So let me share my experiences with you, let me share my memories with you just like the queen before did for me.

Delani placed her hands on either side of Elsa's head and closed her eyes, and Jack could see wisps of white transparent tendrils pass between mother and daughter. He had no idea what Elsa saw, what she felt, what she heard, but he hoped it would be enough for her to create a new Winter, one that could help protect Ledas in their time of need.

When the white wisps stopped, Delani kissed Elsa's forehead and smiled. Goodbye, sweet Elsa. You are more courageous than you know. And then she began to fade more and more until she disappeared completely, even her small, shining orb disappearing with her.

"Jack!" Elsa exclaimed as she stumbled toward him. "You're not going to die. I can heal you. I can heal you!"

Jack shook his head slowly, sadly. "You can't do anything for me, Elsa. I'm so sorry. I love you. Please leave me here and return to your people. They need you."

"No," Elsa replied stubbornly as her voice cracked with emotion. "You can't die. I'm not going to let you die." She pressed her hands to his heart, and those same white tendrils shot out, licking him, tickling him, and surprisingly, they made him feel better, stronger, but he knew it wouldn't last. Whether or not he or Elsa wanted him to, he was still going to die.

"Come on," Elsa said, taking the reins of the sleigh and was just about to hop back inside.

Jack shook his head and climbed out of the sleigh, pulling her toward the pool of water in the middle of the palace. "That will take too long. I vote we travel in style."