(advent) December 23

Tuesday, December 23

Molly was up and sitting in the armchair by the window when Caliban came to collect her the next morning. Despite everything, she’d actually slept well, probably a residual effect of the drug he’d used on her. That didn’t stop her from glaring at him when he came in the room. “Coming to gloat again?” she asked, not moving from the chair.

“No, actually.” He moved the tray from the table and leaned against it, looking at her thoughtfully. “I’m wondering what it is about you, Molly Barrett.”

He sounded honestly confused, and Molly frowned. “What do you mean?”

“Jade lifted her banishment of me,” Caliban told her, still studying her. “In fact, in a few minutes, you’re coming with me to see her finally accept her place as my consort.”

“Isn’t that what you wanted?” Molly said. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Because she did it to get you back. The Snow Queen, one of the most powerful spirits in this part of the Realms, raised a very powerful banishment to get you, a mortal, back. Why? What is so important about you?” Caliban looked her up and down. “You’re not even that stunning to look at. I mean, I suppose you’re pretty enough, but you’re so…human.”

Molly realized he was actually serious. He had no idea why Jade would do such a thing, and that realization broke her mood. She was no longer angry at him. Rather, she looked at him, and felt sorry that he would never, could never understand.

“It’s not how powerful or how pretty I am,” she said quietly. “It’s because she’s my friend. And that’s what friends do for one another.”

Caliban shook his head. “It can’t be just that. For one thing, why would Jade be your friend? You’re just a mortal.”

Molly shrugged. “I don’t know. But we are friends. I’d do anything for her, and it appears she’ll do almost anything for me.” She looked at him, and there was no anger in her gaze now, just pity. “Maybe one day, you’ll find someone that you feel the same way about.”

“I do. Jade.”

“No.” Molly shook her head. “You want her. You want to own her. Friends don’t own each other. Lovers don’t own each other.” She stood up. “Let’s go. There’s nothing more I have to say to you.”

She was somehow unsurprised that his carriage pulled up to the clearing where the Snow Queen held her ball every year. If what Jack had said was true – if the people of the Cove had danced there to raise power for the five spirits who had protected their home from raiders, then it was only right that this ended where it had started three hundred years ago.

Molly was surprised, however, at who was waiting there for them when she stepped into the ballroom, Caliban right behind her. Jade was there, sitting there on her throne, pale and determined, with Jack and Old Man Winter on either side of her, and Ember curled at her feet like a guardian, smoke curling from either nostril. But it was Drew that Molly saw first, followed by Schrodinger. She tore herself from Caliban’s grasp and ran across the floor to them, not caring who else was there. Drew hugged her tightly as Schrodinger pressed up against her legs, and Molly quickly dried her tears of joy on Drew’s shirt before anyone saw them.

“Are you okay?” Drew asked her quietly, lifting her head so he could search her face. “Did he hurt you?”

If he did, I get first bite, Schrodinger said, growling.

“No, no, I’m fine,” she reassured them. “He didn’t hurt me.” She looked over at Jade. “I promise.”

The Snow Queen’s eyes were as flinty as her namesake stone. “Good. Else Schrodinger’s bite would have been the least of his worries.”

Drew pulled Molly back to the sidelines, where Pavel was. Molly looked out and saw Father Christopher and Herse standing to either side of the throne as well, but farther back in the shadows.

“I have returned the mortal,” Caliban said. “Will the Snow Queen hear my suit?”

“I will hear both suits,” she said, and Jack stepped out from around her throne. He gave her a quick but courteous bow and stood in front of her, making certain that he was not standing close to Caliban. “Speak, Caliban.”

Molly noted the lack of an honorific in front of his name; to judge by the flush on his face, so did Caliban. But he stepped forward nonetheless and said, “I thank you, Your Majesty. For both raising your banishment, and for your audience today.”

He took a deep breath and raised his dark eyes to hers. “I have loved you since the first time I saw you, Jade, when we were but children. I have always striven to protect you, to keep you safe, to help you to realize your true potential. Now, I ask you to join your land, your line, with mine, to make both our families stronger.”

“And what would you give me in return?” Jade asked him. “Will you share my life here with the Cove? Will you consent to live part of the time in the snow with me?”

Caliban looked at her, disbelief running swiftly across his face, so fast that Molly almost wondered if she’d imagined it. “You don’t need to stay in the Cove anymore, Jade,” he said, smiling. “You’ve made them safe, the way we wanted to. Now, you are free to start a family of your own. Of our own.”

He didn’t answer her other question, Schrodinger said quietly to Molly.

“No,” she murmured. “He didn’t.”

But Jade turned from him to Jack. “And you, Jack Frost? What do you offer me?”

He looked up to her and said simply, “My heart, Jade. I offer you my heart, and hope you will accept it.”

“Will you share my life here in the Cove?” she asked him, the same question she had asked Caliban. “Will you consent to live part of the time in the snow with me?”

“Yes,” he said, not hesitating. “Absolutely.”

She smiled at him, and it was like the sun coming up after a long, cold, rainy night, and Molly knew without a doubt that not only had Jack answered correctly, but he meant it.

Then, to everyone’s surprise, Jade turned to Father Christopher. “You have always been a good friend, Father,” she said. “Would you give me your counsel again?”

He bowed his head to her. “I will always offer you counsel when asked, Your Majesty. I do not know Caliban, but I do know that someone who was in love does not use innocent people as pawns. I know Jack has been in the Cove for the past month, working to change himself into the man that could win your heart. My counsel is, if you have to choose one of them, choose Jack. He loves you, and yet doesn’t want to own you.”

Jade nodded. “I thank you, Father.” Then she turned and looked at Herse. “You are one of my oldest friends, Herse,” she said. “What is your counsel?”

“Jack,” Herse said, without hesitation. “I do not trust Caliban. He has given me no reason to.”

Jade nodded again. “Thank you.” She then turned and looked at Molly. “Molly, you have always been a friend to me. You were dragged into this because we were friends, and I apologize for that.”

“You have nothing to apologize for, Jade,” Molly said. “Nothing.”

The Snow Queen smiled. “What is your counsel, Molly?”

Molly took a deep breath. “I know you have to make a decision, Jade,” she said, twining her fingers in with Drew’s. “What I will say is that I have seen Jack make changes this month. He’s become a friend.” She looked at Caliban. “I don’t think Caliban even understands what that word means.”

“Thank you, Molly.” Jade turned back, and looked at the two men standing before her. “Molly is right,” she said. “I have to make a decision.” She sighed. “I was hoping that it wouldn’t be so easy, but it is.”

Molly found she was holding her breath.

“Caliban,” Jade said, and the spirit looked up hopefully. “I had hoped that the years would soften your heart, show you what you could never see – how to love. I am afraid that this has not happened, and I am sorry about that.”

“Jack.” Jack looked up at her. “You took the banishment and rather than force me to change, you took it upon yourself to learn why you had been banished. You did not push me, did not force my hand.”

She paused, and then looked up. “I choose Jack as my consort, if he will have me.”

“You know I will,” Jack said, starting forward towards her, eyes only for her.

“No!” Caliban shouted, looked stunned. “NO! I will not be cast aside like this!” He threw something at Jack, who didn’t duck in time. There was a loud slap, and Molly saw a large black glove on the floor. A red mark had appeared on Jack’s face. “I demand trial by combat!”

“The Snow Queen has made her decision,” Herse said. “You are out of order, Caliban.”

“No,” Jack said slowly, one hand going up to his cheek. “I will accept his challenge.” He looked at Herse. “Can you seal this place? I do not want anyone else to be harmed. I will not repeat the mistakes of the past.”

The goddess nodded and raised her hands. Pale green light that smelled of spring rain flowed out and around the room, twining around each of the pillars, bathing the entire area. She lowered her hands. “It is done. Nothing shall escape.”

“Thank you,” Jack said. Looking at Caliban, he raised one eyebrow. “Well, coward, what combat do you want?”

Caliban twisted his hands in the air, and two swords appeared. He tossed one to Jack. “Less talk,” he snapped. “My honor will be avenged with your blood, and then I will claim my consort as well.”

“This is not for Jade’s hand,” Jack said. “This is between me and you. She’s made her choice.”

Caliban simply snarled at him and lunged forward. Jack parried, dancing out of the way, and lunged in his own turn. The blades hissed through the air, flashing and slashing, and Molly found herself holding her breath. Both men were excellent swordsmen, or so she assumed, since she was hardly an expert in fighting. But they appeared evenly matched, trading blows back and forth.

And then Jack slipped on something as he lunged forward, and Caliban took the opening, reaching out with his free hand and grabbing Jack’s shirt, yanking him forward onto the floor. Jack’s sword went clattering along the floor and Molly gasped. She wasn’t the only one.

“Finally,” Caliban grated, and raised his sword. It flashed in the light as it slashed down.

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