The Power of Winter 2 (A Jelsa Fanfic Sequel)

Chapter 31

                                               Evelyn's P.o.V 

I wake up early on the day of the ball.  I look around, surprised I actually fell asleep.  Ever since I woke up from being turned back to normal, night time and sleep have been terrifying.  I keep a candle burning in my room and never sleep.  It's like I'm living a nightmare.  Everyone has started to notice because I've been exhausted all the time.  Mom and Dad try to coax me into taking a nap, but once they get me in a dark room, I start to freak out.

In the two weeks leading to the ball, I've probably slept 30 hours.  It's starting to effect me negatively.  I'm more jumpy and aware.  Mom and Dad took the night off last night to try and get me to sleep before the ball.  They stayed in my room with me, making it brighter, but it still took forever.  

I get up and put on a casual dress, brush my teeth, and put my hair in a low bun.  I go downstairs and enter the Dining Hall.  Dad looks up immediately when I walk in.

"Did you have a good sleep?" he asks, looking at me with a concerned expression on his face.

I nod, "I just woke up."

He leans back a little, "Good.  You need the rest."

"Are you excited for the ball tonight?" mom asks.

"Yeah," I shrug.  It'll be nice to have a bunch of people around for a majority of the night, it may get my mind off of things.

"We'll start getting ready around four o'clock." she informs me.

"Alright." I say, looking at the time.  It's only seven.  It's gonna be a long wait.  I take a piece of toast and some jam to eat.  Kristoff and Anna come in shortly after.

"Morning, guys!" Anna greets.

"Morning, Anna.  Morning, Kristoff." we reply.

"It looks like you got some sleep last night." Anna points out happily.

"Yeah, I did." I reply.

"I'm glad.  You'll need some energy for the ball.  Maybe you could take a nap before you have to get ready." she suggests.

I shrug, "I don't know if I'll be able to."

"You should try, at least.  You could keep your drapes open and let the light in." she says.

"I'll try, I guess." I say, setting down my toast, my appetite gone.  I don't like talking about my sleep patterns, yet that's all anyone wants to talk to me about.

I wait until everyone finishes their breakfasts, then I go to the library and sit on the window seat alone.  I look out the window, not really thinking of anything.  I sit here most of the day, or until mom comes in to tell me lunch is ready.

After lunch, Anna suggests I go try to sleep.  I go to my room and lay down.  I turn my back to the windows and close my eyes.  Images of children squirming from nightmares I gave them flash in my mind.  I open my eyes.  This is why I can't sleep, I get wave after wave of guilt from what I did every time.  I try again and again, but can't do it.  I lay there until mom knocks on my door to tell me to start getting ready.

I look at my dress, then go sit at my vanity mirror desk and start on my hair.  I make a crown braid, leaving two strands of hair hanging on either side of my face.  I slightly curl them, then start on my makeup.  I use really light colors, then add a little eyeliner.  I get up and start putting my dress on.

This time, my dress is a Victorian looking ball gown (but has less frilly lace) with sleeves to my elbows.  It has a pastel pink exterior, with some light purple in the front.  I finish putting it on and take out the box that holds my tiara.  Just then, there's a knock on my door.

"Come in!" I call.  Mom walks in.  Her dress is a light blue a-line gown with sheer sleeves.

"Oh, sweetie, you look wonderful." she says, walking over and putting her hands on my shoulders.

"Thanks, mom.  You do too." I say.

"Thank you." she smiles.  She looks over at the box.  "Ready for your tiara?"

I nod, "I just got it out."  She opens it and delicately takes out my tiara, then places it on my head.

"There.  Now you're ready." she says.

"Is it time now?" I ask.

"There's about five minutes until we need to be down and ready." she tells me.

"Alright." I sigh.

"I'll leave you to whatever you need to do.  Be down in five minutes." she says.

"I will." I say as she leaves.  I stand there until her footsteps fade away, then I walk into my bathroom.  I open a drawer and pull out the pictures I froze.  I need the closure if I'm ever going to get back to normal.  I freeze them over once more, close my eyes, then snap them in half.  I let the chunks fall back into the drawer.

After making sure everything is correct, I go downstairs.  The ball begins soon after.  The decorations are beautiful, the people look amazing, and everything is perfect.  Not even the night sky outside bothers me.

I stand in the front of the room with mom, dad, Kristoff, and Anna.  They all look stunning too.  Both Anna and Kristoff and mom and dad take turns dancing and standing with me.  I decline the dance invitations, not really in the mood for it.

Mom and dad return from dancing and come stand next to me.

"The music is wonderful to dance to." mom says.

"It must be." I say.

"You should dance with someone tonight, Evelyn." she says softly.

"I'm just not really in the mood." I shrug.

"Well, if you only dance once tonight, let it be a father daughter dance." dad says, stepping in front of me.  He holds out his hand and bows slightly.  Mom and I giggle.  I take his hand and he leads me onto the floor.

We dance together for a while, until there's a commotion outside.  Everyone stops and looks to the hall.

"Sir, only citizens of Arendelle or invited guests are allowed to the ball!" a guard yells.

"Just let me in, the King and Queen know me!  The whole royal family knows me!!" a voice yells back.

"I'm going to have to ask you to leave now, sir, unless you would like to be escorted out." the guard says.

"No, I need to get in there!" the man's voice yells again.

"Sir!  SIR!!  Someone get that man!!" the guard yells.  Dad puts me behind him, I peer over his shoulder.

A man, no, a boy runs in.  He looks around and I catch a glimpse of his face.  I stare at him in shock.  It's the thing of my nightmares, yet the boy of my dreams.

Ben.

Author's Note:

And back by extremely popular demand, Ben!!!  Fun fact of the chapter, Ben was not supposed to reappear, but everyone loves him and Bevelyn so much that I just had to bring him back.  Still not sure if he'll stay, though.  SO, now that Ben is back, what do you think will/want to happen in the story.  And also, it's AmazingPhil's birthday today (If you know who that is we can be best friends) so this chapter is dedicated to him and his adorableness.  I have on mismatching socks and cat whiskers, so yeah.  I forgot to wear a flannel and I'm really sad.  Alright, please comment, vote, and spread the Jelsa!!!  Read/Write on!!! <3