Jelsa -ice alliance ?

Alone and free

11: ALONE AND FREE

The record came to an end much too soon, the last ringing, soaring notes of the waltz resounding through the dome as the music fizzled out. Realizing it, the Snow Queen and the Spirit of Winter simultaneously looked down, staring at the crystalline floor of the private ballroom as they suddenly remembered where they were.

And who they were with.

Elsa felt him slowly move his hand off of her back, her long capelet sliding off of his arm to float softly down to the ground.

"So—um," Jack laughed nervously, "Should—should we start it over, or—?"

"Oh! I—!" Elsa pushed a hair behind her ear, blushing slightly as he started to back up, pulling her towards the phonograph. "Th-that would be lovely."

He grinned, letting go of her hand and turning away, quickly pacing towards the phonograph. Elsa followed, the capelet flowing freely over the slick floor of the icy ballroom.

"Could I ask you a question?" she blurted.

The Spirit of Winter paused, holding the record and turning back to her. "Sure," he shrugged. "What is it?"

She pulled her hands into her stomach, taking another few steps towards him as he leaned back against the icy table. Pulling in a deep breath, she hesitantly looked up into his eyes.

"The jail cell," Elsa stammered. "You broke out. Like, I didn't make it strong enough. You broke the bars."

"Once I was out of the handcuffs, I could back up and get enough momentum to do it," he said casually. "Why?"

She bit her lip.

"So, you could have escaped at any time," Elsa choked.

He raised his eyebrows.

Letting out a breathy laugh, he shook his head, glancing down to the record and tossing it gently in his hands. Then, a flirtatious hint of a smile twitching out of the side of his mouth, Jack Frost looked back up to her, peering through his eyelashes.

"Escape from you?" he chuckled, turning around. "Why on earth would I have wanted to do that?"

She froze, her mouth falling open with shock as he flipped the record over, dropping it back onto the phonograph. Before she could will her vocal cords to function and respond—

"Are we still doing a one-for-one trade?" he asked suddenly, spinning back around. "Because if we are, you owe me the answer to another question, now."

Elsa shrugged. "Ask away."

"Why didn't you know how to dance?"

The question caught her off-guard.

"Not everyone dances," she whispered.

"But you're royalty."

She looked down, nervously fidgeting with her fingers, her hands pulled into her stomach. After a few moments, Elsa sighed, sliding her right hand up onto her opposite elbow.

"Dancing like that requires—touching people," she admitted sadly, "And certain—turns—and things—basically, I couldn't wear gloves. I mean, my gloves. Thick ones."

A look of concern swept over his face. "So... your powers?"

"Right." Elsa swallowed hard, looking back up into his eyes. "Anna had lessons, but for me—well, it never really came up. My parents didn't have to explain, because I knew why I was never invited to join in. I couldn't be trusted to hold a tutor's hands. I mean—with mine."