(advent) December 18

Thursday, December 18

Normally, Molly had Thursdays off. But this was the Thursday before the Snow Queen’s Ball, and since Aunt Margie usually closed the bookstore that Saturday, Molly had come in to work. Jack was sitting at the island, a cup of tea cooling at his elbow as he watched her paint lines of shimmering silver icing on delicate snowflake cookies. Lily’s teacher Miss Stanley had stopped by the day before and requested them for the last day of school on Friday, and Molly had been happy to oblige.

Jack was fascinated. “But how do you do it?” he asked. “Not the actual icing – I can see that. But how do you know what it’s supposed to look like?”

“I just do,” Molly said, laying another line down. There were nearly three dozen cookies that had already been frosted on the counters against the wall, and she only had two or three cookies on this last sheet to lay icing on. “It’s not really something I can explain.” She frowned at the cookie, deemed it done, and moved on to the next one.

“It’s amazing,” he said. “Like watching a nymph dance.”

“Seriously?” Molly looked up at him. “A nymph?”

“I don’t know many mortals, or I’d compare you to them,” Jack said. “Nymphs are what I know. Cut me some slack?”

“Oh, I suppose.” Molly grinned at him, then went back to her cookies. When she’d finished the last one, she set the icing bag aside and frowned at the trays. Then she went into the pantry and came back, not with the silver bullets she’d planned originally, but more of the shimmery sugar that she’d used in the icing. She dusted this across the snowflakes and smiled. “There.”

“Almost,” Jack said, leaning over. “May I?”

She eyed him warily. “What are you going to do?”

He grinned. “Make them magical. Do you trust me?”

“I don’t know,” Molly said, wondering if she really did. “These are for Lily and Zoey’s class, you know.”

“I won’t hurt them, and I won’t wreck the cookies,” he promised. “Please? Let me help.”

“Okay,” Molly said, stepping back. “Go ahead.”

Jack grinned even wider and then, to her surprise, he leaned down and blew softly across the cookies. Loose sugar whirled up, sparkling in the light. No, not just sparkling, Molly realized: they were glowing.

The glowing sugar swirled across all the cookies, settling down and making the cookies dance with pale light. Now they looked like captured stars, glowing with inner starlight.

“Oh, those are beautiful!” Molly breathed, clapping her hands together. “Jack, that’s wonderful!”

Then she looked up, and saw his face was pale, paler than normal. “Jack? Are you okay?” she asked worriedly, hurrying over to him.

He waved her off. “I’m fine. I just didn’t realize how much that would take out of me.” Passing a hand in front of his face, Jack sighed. “Not long ago, I could have done that in my sleep.”

Molly settled for laying a hand on his shoulder. “It will be over soon,” she soothed. “Drew said that Jade didn’t seem completely opposed to lifting the banishment.” She smiled. “He said she was captivated by the cabin.”

“Really?” Jack looked up, hope warring with despair in his eyes.

“Really,” she assured him.

Jack picked up his tea and sipped, making a slight face, but waving her away when she went to warm it back up for him. “She only went there once, you know,” he said, as she went to start packing up the glowing cookies instead.

“Oh?” Molly said, inviting him to continue with that one word.

“Just before the last battle,” Jack said, his eyes going distant, looking back across the centuries. “We didn’t know if we’d even survive, and I convinced her that we needed one night together.” He laughed softly. “She said it was charmingly rustic. I think she meant it wasn’t much better than a tent. But it was a clear fall night, with a sky full of stars. We had a fire outside, and we fell asleep in each other’s arms.”

“It sounds lovely,” Molly said.

“It was the last time I was truly happy,” he said. “The next day, the raiders made their final attempt. I was lured off, my guard slain, and Caliban accused me of cowardice that cost his brother his life. I was banished.” He laughed again, but this one was laced with bitterness. “My only consolation was that Caliban was banished too. It made things…bearable.”

“What do you think will happen to Caliban when she chooses you, Jack?” Molly asked him.

“You speak as if it’s a forgone conclusion.”

“It is.” Molly’s voice was firm. “I know it.”

“True love conquers all?” Jack smiled sadly at her.

“Yes.” Molly shook a finger at him. “Don’t distract me. What will Caliban do?”

“I don’t know,” Jack said honestly. “He can’t come to the Cove while Jade is here, but that doesn’t mean his army can’t.”

“His army?” Molly paused, wide-eyed. “He’d invade the Cove? But that’s insane!”

Jack chuckled. “Look at who you’re talking about, Molly.”

Her brain whirled. What would happen? This wasn’t back when the only defense the Cove had was Captain Carter and his ragtag allies. Despite the magical nature of the Cove, it was still a part of the United States. “He might be surprised at the reaction,” she said. “Does he know about modern warfare?”

“I don’t know, but I wouldn’t be surprised,” Jack said. “But maybe we’re borrowing trouble. Maybe he’ll give up and go find someone else to bother.”

Molly looked at him steadily. “You don’t believe that, do you.” It wasn’t a question.

“No,” Jack said. “No, I don’t.”

And that left her with all sorts of other things to worry about.

Originally published at The words of Valerie Griswold-Ford. You can comment here or there.

(advent) December 19

Friday, December 19

Molly had woken up feeling exhausted, and decided to take the day off. She very rarely did that, and Aunt Margie had agreed that she’d been working too hard.

She’d planned on a lazy day, since they’d finished their decorations. But as she and Schrodinger sat in the bay window in the dining nook in the kitchen, watching fat, wet snowflakes drift down sullenly from a dirty grey sky and drinking their second cups of tea, they both heard bells.

Visitors? Schrodinger said, looking over at Molly. Were we expecting someone?

“Not that I know of,” she said, getting up, her mug still in her hand. “Let’s see who it is.”

The bells continued to peel as Molly and Schrodinger stepped out on to the porch, but neither of them recognized the carriage, not a sleigh, that came up the drive. It was made of pale wood, with pale green leaves twined around it, and the horses were cream-colored, with what looked like spring flowers in their manes. A warm, sweet wind preceded them, turning the wet snowflakes into rain.

The carriage came right up to the barn, and a young woman in a brightly colored tunic jumped down from the back, opening the carriage door to allow her mistress to alight. Molly noticed that both the handmaiden and the young woman who stepped out of the carriage were barefoot, and that they had a slightly greenish tinge to their pale skins.

“I think this might be Herse,” she murmured to Schrodinger, as the two came across the damp lawn and up the stairs.

It was indeed. The goddess of rain came up to the front door, her gentle face glowing slightly, and asked, “Miss Barrett? May I speak with you, please?”

“Of course,” Molly said, inviting her and her handmaiden into the house. “Would you like some tea?”

“If you have an herbal, that would be lovely,” Herse said, following her and Schrodinger down the hall into the kitchen. “Pandora, see to the horses.”

The handmaiden bowed and darted out again as the goddess settled herself at the kitchen table. “You have a lovely house, Miss Barrett.”

“Molly, please,” Molly said, filling a mug with hot water and settling an herbal mixture of strawberries and chamomile leaves in to steep. “To what do I owe this visit?”

Herse accepted the mug with a pretty smile that was at odds with the worry in her light green eyes. “Word travels fast, Molly. I hear worrying things about my friend Jade, and rumors that Cal-that certain unwanted people are back in her life.” She put the mug on the table. “I haven’t been back to Carter’s Cove in a very long time, but I couldn’t stay away. Not if it was true.”

It’s true, Schrodinger confirmed, putting a gentle paw on the goddess’ knee. Caliban and Jack are both back.

“Jack is not a worry of mine,” Herse said. “It’s Caliban. He’s ambitious. And dangerous.”

“Which is why the Snow Queen won’t choose him,” Molly said. “I’m not sure why everyone is so concerned she might.”

“She might not have a choice,” Herse said somberly. “If she holds out much longer, and refuses to let Jack in, then she will lose control of her borders. He will simply march in and take her – which is what he’s hoping for. It’s not her he wants – it’s her realm.”

Why? Schrodinger asked. Doesn’t he have one?

“Yes, but it’s not enough for him. He’s craved her realm since he first saw it, all these years ago.” Herse looked over at Molly. “Which is why I’ve come today.”

Molly waited.

“I want you to come with me to see Jade,” Herse said. “We have to convince her to lift the banishment on Jack.” She sipped her tea, and continued, “I know he comes across as a bit of an ass – or at least, he did when I knew him. But he truly loves Jade, unlike Caliban, and he would be as good for her as she would be for him. And I think she does love him. I could see the anguish in her face when she banished him.”

“If she loved him so much, why banish him?” Molly asked quietly.

“Because she had no choice,” Herse said sadly. “Caliban had accused him of cowardice and possibly helping the enemy, and everyone else who had been at the Gate with him was dead. Jack had to respond to Caliban’s charges, and they were both so angry – the Cove would have been destroyed if we hadn’t stopped them. And then, rather than admitting he’d been wrong, Jack was so angry that he told her they were just mortals. It was the entirely wrong thing to say, and made her so angry that she’d spoken the banishment on both of them before she realized it. And once it was done…” She shrugged eloquently. “Which brings me to now.”

“And why you are here in my kitchen,” Molly agreed.

“I need you to come with me, Molly. You’re the only one who can convince Jade to give Jack a second chance. And if we don’t go now, it may not make a difference.”

It’s that bad? Schrodinger said, his eyes wide. But I just saw her!

Herse nodded. “She needs to be in his presence, even if she doesn’t accept him right away, or she’ll lose the last of her control. Old Man Winter sent me a message last night, letting me know. He can’t keep it under control much longer.”

“Let me get my coat,” Molly said, putting her mug in the sink. “Come on, Schrodinger.”

The carriage was smaller than Pavel’s, but not by much, and it smelled like a meadow after a spring rain, rather than wood smoke and pine tar. Herse didn’t have to knock on the roof, as the pirate had; she simply leaned back against her seat and the driver got the horses moving.

It was a much easier drive than the last time Molly and Schrodinger had gone to the Snow Queen’s realm. Apparently Caliban’s wind was no match for Herse’s carriage – then again, she was a goddess, and he was simply a summer spirit. Molly supposed that being a goddess, even a minor goddess, had to be good for that much.

The carriage shuddered a bit when it hit the cold air of the Snow Queen’s realm, and Herse laid her hand on the window, murmuring something under her breath. Another shudder, and then it straightened out, riding smoothly over the snow.

“I always forget to change to the sled runners before we hit the Gate,” Herse said. “I come here so infrequently now. I should change that.”

I bet Jade would like that, Schrodinger agreed, and Molly nodded. She always seems to like having friends around.

“I thought that maybe I would bring back bad memories,” Herse confessed. “But that might have been wrong.” She looked out at the white snowy fields. “It wouldn’t be the first mistake that’s been made in this mess.”

When the carriage pulled into the yard of the Snow Queen’s castle and Molly got out, she gasped. Although the lands were still snow-covered, the castle itself was dry and grey-looking, with no greenery or decorations in evidence.

Something is very wrong, Schrodinger said. It didn’t look like this before!

Molly tore up the steps, Schrodinger and Herse hot on her heels, and nearly knocked Old Man Winter over as he opened the front door.

“Whoa, wait, Molly!” he said, holding out a hand. “There’s something you need to know before you go up.”

“What?” The word came out a little more sharply than she’d meant.

“She’s fragile,” he said, and the worry in his voice made Molly focus on him. Old Man Winter looked older than normal, and the lines on his face were deeply-cut. “Her control is slipping more and more – Ember is up with her now, stabilizing her, but she might not be what you remember. Try not to upset her.”

Sobered, Molly followed him up the stairs to the Snow Queen’s apartments. The characteristic crisp peppermint and ice smell was faint – still there, but almost a memory of itself. As he led them into her sitting room, Molly steeled herself for the worst.

“Jade?” It was Herse who pushed ahead of her, hurrying to her old friend’s side to take a pale limp hand of the girl laying on the chaise lounge. The dragon curled around her moved to give the goddess access.

“Herse?” The Snow Queen’s voice was a bare whisper. “Is that you?”

“I’m here,” the goddess said, and Molly could see a glow moving from her to the Snow Queen. “I’m here.”

Schrodinger had crept in after her, and now curled up next to Jade, purring deeply. The girl smiled down at him, her other hand moving to pet him gently, and then she looked up at Molly. “Hello, Molly.”

“Hello, Jade.” Molly heard the exhaustion in her voice and realized how far gone the Snow Queen was. “You look terrible.”

Herse, Ember and Schrodinger all looked shocked, but both Old Man Winter and the Snow Queen laughed. “I do, don’t I?” Jade agreed. “I should do something about it.”

“Yes,” Molly said, moving into the room. “You need to lift the banishment on Jack.”

Jade’s eyes hardened, but Molly saw the tell-tale glint of tears as well. “Why?”

“Because you have to have a consort, or so I’m told, or you’ll die,” Molly replied, sitting down in front of her. “And I don’t want you to die. And I definitely don’t want you to fall into Caliban’s clutches.”

A tremor went through the Snow Queen. “That will never happen.”

“It will, if you don’t let Jack back,” Old Man Winter said from the doorway. “I can only hold him off for so long. The land will fall to him, and he will force you to take him back. You know that’s the truth.”

“And would Jack be so much better?” Jade whispered, closing her eyes. A single tear tracked down her pale cheek. “He has as little love for mortals as Caliban.”

He’s changing, Schrodinger told her, raising his head to look at her. He wants another chance.

“Does he truly?” Jade opened her eyes again, looking at Molly. “You’ve met with Jack – do you truly think this?”

“I have, and I do,” Molly said. “I’ve met Caliban too. And of the two of them, I can tell you that while Jack might be an ass, he loves you. Caliban just wants you.” She couldn’t quite suppress a shudder at the memory of his dark eyes. “So here’s what I would suggest, Jade. Lift the banishment on Jack. Come and see him. At the Cafe, or at my house. Neutral ground. Let him make his plea.” She clasped her hands together, like she’d done when she was a child. “Please, Jade.”

The room grew silent, except for Schrodinger’s purring and the labored breathing of the Snow Queen. Molly tightened her fingers until the tips tingled.

“All right,” Jade said finally. “I will temporarily lift the banishment of Jack Frost.” She paused, and then added, “But if he cannot convince me that he has changed by the end of the ball, then the banishment will be reinstated.” She raised one hand, made a graceful gesture, and then sighed, as if that had taken all of her energy.

The temperature in the room dropped several degrees, and Herse smiled. “It is the right thing to do, Jade,” she said. “Even your magic knows it.”

There was the slightest flush of color coming back into Jade’s face. “We’ll see,” she said softly. “Molly, I will–”

There was a crash from downstairs, cutting her words off, and everyone turned to the door. Old Man Winter swore. “I wondered how long it would take him.”

Molly wasn’t shocked to see the young servant boy from Caliban’s hotel come skidding into the room. He recovered and bowed. “Gracious Snow Queen, I bring news from my master,” he said, his voice shaking. “He wonders why you would allow Jack Frost an audience, but not him. It is not right, he says.”

Old Man Winter muttered something under his breath.

“Neither is holding the Snow Queen’s realm hostage,” Molly said. “And attacking anyone who comes in.”

“He is protecting her realm, since she could not,” the boy said. “Which is the act of a friend.”

“Caliban has not been my friend since he decided the mortals that we swore to protect were expendable,” the Snow Queen said, struggling to sit up. “He has no claim on me.” She pointed a trembling finger at the boy. “Tell your master that I do not appreciate his spirits harassing my borders, or my friends. Tell him that I do NOT lift his banishment, and that I have no intention of lifting it.”

“You will anger him, Gracious Snow Queen,” the servant warned her, and Molly saw the fear in his eyes. She didn’t envy him at this moment. “My master–”

“Is a bully,” Jade said bluntly. “And someone I wish to have nothing to do with.” She pointed at the door. “Now go, and do not return here again.”

The servant boy bowed and went out. As soon as he was gone, Jade melted back against Ember, her face paler than it had been.

“Schrodinger, go get Jack,” Molly said, going to kneel on Jade’s other side. “Now!”

The CrossCat didn’t even wait to get out of the room before he disappeared, jumping onto a Road.

Molly took Jade’s other hand, shocked at how warm it was. Normally the Snow Queen was cool as an icicle. “Hold on, Jade,” she said. “He’s coming.”

It was probably only fifteen minutes, but it seemed like forever before Molly and Herse heard the pounding of boots on the stairs. Jack burst into the room and Molly drew back, giving him room.

He had eyes only for the Snow Queen, going straight to her side and gathering her gently in his arms, murmuring something that Molly didn’t hear. She looked down at Schrodinger, who had followed in Jack’s wake and was flopped at her feet, his sides heaving. “Good job,” she murmured, kneeling down and hugging him. “Maybe now this will start to work out.”

I hope so. Schrodinger said. I hope so.

Originally published at The words of Valerie Griswold-Ford. You can comment here or there.