A Gift of Snow and Ice; Chapter 5

No one knew what to do. To be fair, no one had any experience with this kind of situation: a human becoming fae and also getting winter gifts in the summer realm. No one even knew what it meant- much less why I was freezing cold to the touch yet never felt cold myself. Not that I ever felt warm either; I could barely feel heat at all. Then again warm things didn't stay warm long in my grasp.

The town leader had ended up sending for help. Someone who might know what to do. He hadn't seemed quite sure himself, so I wasn't putting much hope in it.

My fingers fidget below the table. We’d received word that this mysterious help and arrived in the village and would be coming to our house soon. But how soon?

I jump at the knock, looking toward the front door, my heart speeding up ever so slightly.

Now, it would seem.

Ma moves first, Papa just silently rises from his chair as she moves for the door. I see her surprise when she opens the door. Did she know who was outside the door?

She quickly steps back, motioning for them to enter. "Please, come in."

A man walks in and it doesn't take long to realize why Ma had been surprised. While his clothes are made with traveling in mind, there's no mistaking the gold band around his head. He was King Varian.

I rise quickly as his guard follows him in. He was the help called in? That couldn't bode well for me.

A young man with red hair enters next. It takes me a moment to place his face, but I recognize him. He was the stranger that had tried to dance with me at the Festival. Why was he here? When Kanje walks in after him in uniform, I have a sneaking suspicion as to who the mystery man is.

I focus my attention on the king though, bowing my head, murmuring, "Majesty."

King Varian smiles lightly at me as he begins to cross to the table. "Please, there's no need to be formal. I'm an old friend of your grandfather." He gracefully lowers himself into the chair across from me. "Sit," he gently coaxes me.

Slowly, I lower myself back down. King Varian studies me for a moment, head cocking to the side. My fingers have resumed their fidgeting under the table.

"No longer human indeed," he muses.

My eyes drop down to the table. I can see ice beginning to creep over the edge.

"It is my understanding that you can't touch anyone. I would like to see for myself."

I look up. He's extended one hand to me. I can feel my heart pick up at a new pace. I look up to his eyes. He's perfectly calm.

I shake my head. "I don't want to hurt you."

That light smile remains in place. "It's alright."

I can't help it. I glance over at Ma. We already knew I couldn't touch anyone. Surely, this wasn't necessary. Ma gives me a small nod.

I look back at the king. He's still calmly waiting. Slowly, I lift a hand from under the table. As I extend it toward the king, the ice seems to chase it across the table.

"Wait."

I yank my hand back, heart racing. The order hadn't come from the king though. My eyes flick toward the movement. The young man sits down beside the king. Side by side, I'm sure of my suspicion. He had to be Prince Aloysha.

Just like at the Festival, he holds his hand out to me, green eyes daring me to take it.

"Aloysha," the king chides him sternly, confirming my suspicion.

"I'm curious," he answers, eyes refusing to leave mine. One corner of his lips slowly curls up. "I doubt she could hurt me if she wanted to."

I blink in surprise before my eyes narrow. "I'm not trying to hurt anyone."

He leans forward, "Then try to hurt me."

I stare at him. Was he serious?

His head tilts to the side. "Scared?"

My eyes narrow again. "Yes, actually."

He flashes me a full-on lop-sided grin. "You'd be stupid if you weren't."

King Varian starts. "Aloysha." His voice is a thin warning.

It doesn't stop me from moving. If he wanted to learn the hard way, so be it.

My hand touches his. He doesn't pull away. He doesn't even wince. Instead, his hand clasps mine so I can't pull away. I'm about to try to pull away when I feel it. His hand was warm. I look down in surprise.

"You can feel it, can't you?" He muses.

I look up at him, nodding. "You're warm."

As the words leave my mouth, the warmth vanishes. Just as quickly, it's back. Then it's gone and back again.

I give him a quizzical look. "What are you doing?"

He blinks in surprise. "You're not doing that?"

"I'm not doing anything," I tell him with a shake of my head.

The warmth continues to come and go as we stare at each other. I can see his brow furrowing.

"Aloysha," his father cautions as his eyes narrow in concentration.

"Stop," Ma breathes. "STOP!" She barks a second later.

"Aloysha, enough!" King Varian orders.

Aloysha pulls his hand away staring at me with something between intrigue and wonder. Silence fills the air.

"Aspen?" Ma calls, voice unsure.

Blinking, I look toward her. That's when I notice the frost swirling in the air. I look down at the table. It's coated in ice, save the semi-circle stretching from where my hand had been clasped in Aloysha's to the edge of the table before him. I hadn't even realized I was doing that. I look back at Ma.

She gives me a small smile. "It's alright," she says gently. She starts reaching toward me, but I flinch away. She pulls her hand back.

I wasn't sure why Aloysha had been able to hold my hand, but if my power had just done this, I doubt she'd be able to touch me. I'd rather not find out right now.

"Well," King Varian begins, drawing our attention to him. He's studying me again. "This has certainly been enlightening."

"Is there anything that can be done?" Papa demands.

King Varian is silent for a moment. "If her powers can be triggered, I believe there is hope they can be tamed. It will certainly require much training though."

"I'll do it," Aloysha speaks again. All eyes turn to him. He shrugs. "My powers seem to be a perfect counter to hers. That makes me the logical choice, especially with how unpredictable they are."

I can feel my eyes narrowing. I'm not sure how I feel about him being my instructor. If anything, he seemed to be just as unpredictable as my powers. Surely that couldn't be a good match.

His father studies him for a moment. "There's a fine line between a perfect counter and an antagonist."

"Perhaps," Aloysha admits. He reaches out, dragging a finger across the ice coating the table. White steam curls out from under his finger, highlighting the path, ice continuing to melt in his wake. "But maybe it will help." His eyes come up to mine. There's no taunting look or amusement in his eyes, just sincerity. "I suppose it's a matter of whether or not you're willing to trust me."