Melt for me

Chapter Nine

                                                   **Elsa**

 My question makes Jack close his eyes and smile, sighing like that question is the question. "I'm from outside of Adrenal  if that's what your asking. Here, there... I don't really have a home. At least not like what you have."   Of course I know that Jack isn't from around here, I knew that the first moment I saw him. But to think he is from... out there. I look out towards the sea, my eyes glistening from just the sheer thought of it.  I have never been to the outside world before, not many people have.

Adrenal is surrounded by a magic pocket. Which means magic flows in our rivers, its is the air we breathe in and the food we eat.  So we are not effected the same way as the modern world is. No one from the modern world has ever found Adrenal so I amuse the just don't know we exist or perhaps they just can't find us.  Many people say that the modern world is evil, Anna says its scary. I however have always felt a need to explore the outside world. Its a taboo thought, frowned upon but I still long to go on adventures in far off places.  "I'm  also a  guardian," Jack says watching my reaction.

My eye brows pull together and I purse my lips. Guardian? Where have I heard that before...  "I'm the guardian of fun...not gonna brag or anything but its the most important job," He says laying down on the rock and stretching out.  I look at him and roll my eyes.

This guy.

Ever so slowly, I flip over his feet making him fall off the rock. I dust it off and seat down. "Ow.. you know could have just said you wanted a seat."  I smile; "And you call yourself the guardian of fun." He is up from the ground in a second. "Touché," Jack says wiggling his eye brows and taking a seat next to me,sitting dangerously close to me. I try and ignore his crisp snow scent. Even though it makes my brain go to mush. 

"Elsa why is everyone afraid of you?" That question catches me so off guard that I almost fall off the rock. But just at the last second Jack catches my hand and pulls me back up to him. I hold my breath as our eyes meet. His bright blue eyes staring into mine, so clear and innocent. Pale white hair that looks like it came from the moon itself.   A blush spreads across our cheeks as we both relies we have been staring into each others eyes for more a few minutes.  He lets go of my hand and looks away. I look the other way. Which one of our faces our redder. Mine or Jack Frosts?

I cough trying to get my self under control. Why would he ask something like that not that I can blame him. I mean the villagers whisper about me, who wouldn't want to know the tragic back story. "You don't have to answer if you don't want to," He says scratching his head. How cute the blush has spread to his neck.

I sigh, running my fingers through my braid. No, that wouldn't be fair of me. I asked him something, even though his answers were vague ( what the heck is a guardian anyway?)  they were still answers. The least I could do is answer his questions. Although its hard talking about it to Jack. I don't want him to think I'm a monster.  So I tell him everything.

From the moment I froze Anna's head and gave her that streak. To when I locked her and everyone else out for the sake of my own safety and the safety of others.  I told him how alone I felt on the day of my crowning. How I felt so fake and I thought to myself; "This is what the rest of my life is going to be like. Empty and shut-in."   When I ran away from everything and became free. The feeling of freedom and complete and utter acceptance.  I even touch on the subject of Hans but when I explained what Hans did and what his plans were. Jack's eyes filled with rage and I could see his veins and muscles tighten. For a second I think he might jump up and fly to the Southern  Isles  to put Hans in his place. I quickly skim over him, saying he got what he deserved. He even laughed when I said Anna punched him in the face.  His laugh is like a river. So full of life and light. It makes me laugh just hearing it.

"After that everything was going fine....  but"   Jack urges me on with a look of confusion on his face; "But?"    I sigh. "But.. it didn't last. They didn't want me to be well... me. They want me to be a perfect normal Queen with a husband and a family. I don't want that. Now that I have released the storm inside and discovered myself, how can I go back to what things were?"    Jack looks at me hard. "You don't Elsa, you don't."

My heart swells a little and I can't help but smile. Because the first time in forever, I was fully noticed by someone.

He coughs, to hide his embracement of my stare.  "Sooo what does that mean? You being a guardian?" I say, changing the subject.  I mean there's only so long before someone can talk about them selves and it be rude.   Besides I want to know more about Jack. "I dunno save the world and stuff. To tell the truth I am just figuring it out myself."  "Are you a self proclaimed guardian or.."  Jack laughs; "Of course not, the moon told me," He says pointing to the now clear sky.  My eyes follow where his slender finger points.

To the moon, which casts its soft glow on us and the little clearing.  I didn't know I was feeling tense in the darkness, like someone might pop out on us. But now that the moon is here, a wave of calmness washes over me. Like everything is going to be okay.

"The moon?" I say, a little skeptical.  He shrugs sadly; "He doesn't talk much... believe me I know."  He looks so sad and lonely that to both our surprise I find his hand and squeeze it. "Its okay Jack because I would never shut you out."  Jack stares at me with large eyes then gives me a sneaky smile that I have learned not to trust.

Then proceeds to pinch both of my cheeks and pull them this way and that.  "How cute you look like a baby squirrel like this!" He says happily. "Iflawuwen qfnwdu  mmm"   "What Elsa? I can't understand you."  I scowl as I push him away. "I SAID, ow that hurts!" I say, rubbing my now sore cheeks.

"Oh I'm sorry. Here let me make it better," Then he goes and KISSES MY CHEEK. Its quick but that doesn't stop it from feeling soft and leaving behind a  lingering smell of mint.  He laughs at my expression.  "Its cute seeing you speechless."  

I grab a hand full of snow and stuff it in his face. "JACK FROST I SWEAR!" I shout, waving my fist at him.  He laughs flying over me, wiping the snow off of his face.   "Come up and get me!" He taunts. Oh come up an get him?  Oh I'll show him snow guardian.

"Oh Jack.." I say sweetly. "Huh?" He says. I don't hesitate to release a wave of snow.  He wants a snow fight? So be it.