Melt for me

Chapter twenty nine

                                                                 **Elsa**

My footsteps echo in the large empty palace, it's still just as beautiful as I remember.  A huge stairway leads up into the top floor. Every detail, every intercut design... was created by me.  I look at my hands, memorised at the burning question instead of me. How can something so dangerous... create such wonder and beauty?

Even the ground in which I walk on, is flawless in every way. It makes my happy knowing that (for once) I created something that wasn't dangerous or life threatening. For once, I did something right.  A crisp scent hangs in the air.

I circle my foot behind me, getting into the first ballet position. I imagine musicians playing; graceful violins, chipper  flutes  and a solemn sound of a cello. Those are the main instruments in my head, inviting me to dance. The spot light is on me making the crowd hush, anticipation for my signal.

I take a deep breath, inhaling the smell of pure crisp snow. Inhaling my last true moments of freedom. Then... its like I can't stop myself. I launch into a full dance, twisting and turning; snowflakes erupting all around me. The snowflakes dance with me, engulfing with the feeling of belonging.  They swirl around, becoming my dance partners.  They form into shapes of girls, copying my every movement and suddenly I feel like I have the dance recital I never had as a child.

We all dance as graceful butterflies, pirouetting like prima ballerinas.  I can feel the big finish coming up. My legs know what to do and before I know it; I'm jumping  into the air feeling the wonderful sensation of snowflakes brushing  my cheeks,  like a thousand tiny kisses all at once. 

My boring restricting dress erodes away and is instead replaced by my ice dress. Which crackles and hisses as it forms on my skin;  like ice breaking just before winter ends. With a flick of my wrists my dress train spins out of the seams and onto the ground in one swift graceful movement. 

I raise my hands into the air and let ice sputter out of them, creating an icy firework display. Before I know it I'm at the top of the stairs, breathless and looking at my work with a smile. A large frozen fountain sits in the middles, untouched by life.  Designs of unicorns prancing through a snow storm run across the outside of it;  their manes flying in the wind, trotting with pride, horns towards the sky.

Although you wouldn't notice it, on the far left side is a picture of two young girls; building snowman.

I breathe in heavily; this is what freedom smells like. I open my eyes slowly and for some reason...  I feel lonely. Why? Isn't this what I've always wanted? To be free of the chains that bind me to my own home? Its not that, surely. No... its something else.

"Jack what do you-"  Oh...Oh that's it. I look to my side... expecting Jack to be there but am only meted with air.  That's what's missing I suppose; his been by my side so much that I've gotten used to it.  What's it going to be like when I marry someone?

Will... will Jack have to leave? 

He wouldn't want to stay that's for sure. I remember how he almost beat Gavin to a pulp and he barely did anything to me but escort me out. I wring my hand frantically, I'll be alone? No... no I'm being selfish; I'll have Anna, Olaf and Kristoff

No you won't . Because what's to stop Anna from moving in with Kristoff once you're married?

The big door creaks open. I'm startled and jump a little when Jack comes in. His blue eyes round with this childish wonderment that I have come to love. "Jack?"  His eyes fly to me, taking in every detail. I'm becoming a little self conscious. His mouth opens and closes like a fish, not knowing what to say.

"Elsa...You look so..."   My shoulders sag. "Oh... weird I know."   Jack shakes his head back and fourth. "No Elsa, you look so beautiful."  I can feel my cheeks reddening but Jack doesn't notice because he's too busy looking around the front entrance. "You made all of this? How long did it take you?" Jack is inspecting the fountain. "Not that long actually. I made the castle a long time ago but I just added that fountain."

Jack looks at me like I'm crazy. "You mean to tell me you just made this brilliant work of art... just now?"  I nod slowly, afraid to say anything. "Well okay then." His says crossing his arms and holding his chin; thinking very hard. "You know you're more in control of yourself then you think. I mean Elsa, you're making me look bad here." 

I laugh, wiping away tears. That's what I love about Jack, he can make me laugh without even trying.  We fall into silence, both of us having things to say but not really knowing how to say them.  A bright idea comes into my mind. "Jack I have something to show you!" Its hard to keep the excitement out of my voice. Jack flies over to me, landing on the ground beside me softly, like a ninja. "Really? Does it happen to be in here cause I would really like the grand tour."

"Don't worry it is. Come on, its this way!" Without even thinking I grab his hand and drag him up the stairs. Jack doesn't protest but instead squeezes my hand lightly. Its a comfort knowing that he is here.

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"No peeking!" I command slapping Jack's hand back into place. "Ouch. I know, I know... I totally wasn't anyway.."  I roll my eyes. "Yeah sure you weren't." I carefully lead him into the middle of the room, where the sunset light will hit the most. 

I step back from him. Jack has one hand over his eyes, the other firmly on his staff.  Does he ever put that thing down?  "I'm waiting princess..." His says in an annoying sing song voice. I pretend to sound annoyed but I'm a little happy that he has returned to that old nick name.

"Okay... now open." I say my hands spreading apart, reveling the room and all its splendor. The room where it all happened, where I put my foot down.... and let it go.

The balcony looks over the ocean; with its rolling waves and far distant horizon.  Its a breath taking view and for a second,  I myself get caught up in it.  But that's not even the best part. I run over to Jack, pointing to the setting sun. "Watch and wait." Jack doesn't argue with me (surprisingly) and waits patiently.   

Then... It happens.

Pink and purple shoot across the sky, covering it in a thick blanket of colour and life. The room goes from plain ice to gold, making the chandelier glow and pulse. The giant snowflake one the ground, lights up like a Christmas tree. It feels like I'm in a gold house, how it sparkles and shines in all the right places. 

"Wow.." Jack looks speechless.  I nod, knowing how he feels. "I know."

Jack puts his hand into mine. Grasping it tightly, I squeeze back. This could be the last time we hang out together... as just us. Who knows if we'll ever see each other again.  I want to tell him, how I feel about him, about us. But... I know in my heart he doesn't feel the same way.

"Its going to be a big day tomorrow.." I say my voice without any emotion.  "Yes... yes it is." I'm not alone on this boat. We don't say it out loud but we know... after tomorrow there won't be just Elsa and Jack. It will be Queen Elsa... and Jack Frost, the guardian.

Never to see one another again.