Ice and Fun: Love and Fear

The castle buzzed with an unusual energy that morning. Servants scurried through the halls, carrying luggage and provisions, while the sound of horses being saddled echoed from the stables. Jack stood near the entrance to the royal chambers, watching as the King and Queen prepared for their departure. A sense of unease prickled at the edges of his mind, though he couldn't quite place why.

King Agnarr's voice carried through the corridor as he spoke to one of the advisors. "Ensure the council remains informed of any developments. We'll send word as soon as we reach the port." His tone was calm and authoritative, but Jack caught the subtle edge of urgency beneath it.

Queen Iduna appeared moments later, her gown flowing gracefully as she approached Jack. Her warm smile did little to mask the tension in her eyes. "Jack," she said gently, "I trust you to watch over the girls while we're away. They'll need your guidance more than ever."

Jack straightened, his resolve firm. "Of course, Your Majesty. I won't let anything happen to them."

Iduna reached out, placing a hand on his shoulder. "We know you won't. That's why we chose you to be by their side."

Agnarr joined them, his presence commanding yet steady. "Jack, this journey is important. It's crucial for the kingdom's future. But Elsa and Anna are our future too. Keep them safe. That's all we ask."

Jack nodded, his chest tightening with a mixture of pride and apprehension. "I will, Your Majesty."

Hours later, Jack stood on the steps of the castle's grand entrance, watching as the royal carriage disappeared down the winding road toward the horizon. The sound of the horses' hooves faded into the distance, leaving a heavy silence in its wake. He turned to find Elsa and Anna standing behind him, their expressions mirrored versions of uncertainty.

"Do you think they'll be gone long?" Anna asked, her voice tinged with worry. At ten years old, she was still too young to fully grasp the weight of the situation, but she could sense the tension.

"Not too long," Jack said, keeping his tone reassuring. He glanced at Elsa, whose gaze remained fixed on the distant road. Her face was unreadable, but Jack could see the subtle tightness in her jaw. "They'll be back before you know it," he added, hoping to ease the unease that lingered in the air.

Anna's lips curved into a small smile, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. "Okay. I'll hold you to that, Jack."

The days stretched on, each one feeling longer than the last. Jack threw himself into his duties, ensuring that Elsa and Anna were cared for and occupied. He led Anna through her studies, though it often devolved into laughter as she peppered him with questions about his own training. Elsa, however, was harder to reach. She spent more and more time alone, her worry for their parents manifesting in icy tendrils that crept across her bedroom walls.

Jack knocked softly on Elsa's door one evening, a tray of tea balanced in his hands. "Elsa? It's me. Can I come in?"

A long pause followed before her quiet voice replied. "Come in."

Pushing the door open, Jack stepped inside. The room was dimly lit, the only illumination coming from the pale glow of the frost-covered window. Elsa sat by the window, her knees drawn to her chest and her arms wrapped around them. She looked up as he approached, her expression weary.

"I thought you might like some tea," Jack said, setting the tray on the small table beside her. "It'll help you relax."

"Thank you," Elsa murmured, though she didn't move to take a cup. Jack pulled up a chair and sat beside her, his gaze steady.

"They're going to be fine, Elsa," he said gently. "Your parents are strong and smart. They know what they're doing."

Elsa's lips pressed into a thin line. "What if something happens? What if they don't come back?"

Jack's chest tightened at the fear in her voice. He reached out, placing a hand over hers. "If something does happen—and that's a big 'if'—we'll face it together. You're not alone in this, Elsa. You've got Anna, you've got me. We'll get through it, no matter what."

For a moment, Elsa said nothing. Then, slowly, she nodded. "Thank you, Jack. I don't know what I'd do without you."

The storm came a week later. It arrived suddenly, fierce winds howling through the valley as rain lashed against the castle walls. Jack stood in the great hall, his gut twisting with unease as a guard rushed in, soaked to the bone.

"A ship was spotted near the southern cliffs," the guard reported, his voice strained. "It matches the description of the royal vessel."

Jack's heart sank. "And?"

The guard hesitated. "The ship… it was wrecked. There were no survivors found."

The words hit Jack like a physical blow. For a moment, the room seemed to tilt, the edges of his vision blurring. He forced himself to stay upright, his mind racing.

"Are you certain?" he asked, his voice sharper than he intended.

The guard nodded grimly. "Yes, sir. We've sent a recovery team to search the area, but… it doesn't look good."

Jack's breath caught in his throat. He turned toward the staircase, his thoughts immediately going to Elsa and Anna. They didn't know yet. He had to tell them—but how?

His legs felt like lead as he climbed the stairs, each step heavier than the last. Reaching Anna's room first, he paused outside the door, his fist hovering inches from the wood. For a moment, he considered turning away, delaying the inevitable. But he knew he couldn't.

Taking a deep breath, Jack knocked and stepped inside. Anna looked up from her desk, a smile lighting her face. "Jack! What's going on?"

The words caught in his throat. He crouched to her level, his hands resting on her shoulders. "Anna," he began, his voice unsteady. "There's something I need to tell you."

Jack didn't sleep that night. After breaking the news to Anna, he had gone to Elsa, enduring the heart-wrenching moment when her fear and grief turned to ice, covering the walls of her room in jagged frost. He stayed with her until dawn, offering what comfort he could as she wept.

As the first rays of sunlight crept over the horizon, Jack stood by the castle's main gate, staring out at the road that led to the harbor. The emptiness in his chest felt vast, but his resolve hardened. The King and Queen had entrusted him with their daughters, and he would not fail them now.

"I'll protect them," he whispered to the rising sun. "No matter what."