Loved - Snow Night

Loved - Snow Night

Elsa peeked around the dark corner, her face just over her bare hand.
It was dark under Anna’s door and her parent’s door too.
Her slippers made no sound as she fled the upper halls of the castle for the stairs. She glided down the stairs like a little princess should, but was still sorely tempted to slide down the banister.
Elsa stopped at the big doors and caught her breathe. She knew what would happen in the morning, Papa would be disappointed but she couldn’t help herself. She had to try doing something. She felt it inside so much, she wasn’t sure if she could stop it or even if she wanted to stop it, but maybe she could hide it.
Elsa struggled to open the heavy door, which creaked loudly in the quiet castle.
Elsa listened for a few moments, ready to bolt back to her room but no one came to investigate.
The tutor had chided her today during lessons she hadn’t been paying attention. How could she? Knowing what was coming. Knowing what she would have to do. Knowing how much it would hurt.
Elsa peeked around the door and smiled as she saw the layer of snow building on the stone of the courtyard. She had felt it coming, she knew it was going to snow this night.
The temperature had dropped during the day and heavy, dark clouds had built around the North Mountain which she had watched all day. Mama had mentioned the possibility of a  storm, but she knew the storm was certain and it would come just after bedtime.
Elsa bit her lip as she stepped to the edge of the doorway where the snow was sticking to the flagstones. She had been so good, she hadn’t used her powers for months, even if there had been a few slips, but they had been accidents. Now, it felt as if she didn’t use her powers soon she’d explode. Maybe she could hide them in this snow storm. She also knew it wouldn’t be nearly as fun without Anna to share and play with.
It was just so beautifully quiet when snow fell. The castle didn’t moan and creak so much, the fires were more quiet too, and the sounds of the fjord and the town were hushed by the snowflakes.
Elsa closed her eyes and took a big breathe in through her nose and smiled at the clean, crisp smell of falling snow, to her it was the smell of everything good and happy in the world.
She stepped into the fallen snow and let the fairy touch of snowflakes land on her upturned face. Letting a few land on her tongue.
Then throwing out her arms she ran in a big spiral around the courtyard, filling it with extra of her snow so there would be plenty to play with. Elsa finished with a twirl at the very center of the courtyard. It felt so good to use her powers just this once.
Then she looked around, she had put a lot of snow down. Even more then that time Anna had tickled her until she had let out a huge burst of snow in the throne room. If this was any way to judge, she was still getting more powerful. There was a twinge of guilt in the middle of all the happiness and pleasure of using her powers. At least it wasn’t bursting out when she wasn’t wanting it to. Elsa was still in control.
Then Elsa had a idea.
She couldn’t play with her sister, there was too much chance of her seeing Elsa’s powers if she slipped up, but she could leave a place for Anna to play in. A winter playground.
Elsa made a long fast slide and a twisty slide, a small skating rink in the far corner and tickle bumps Anna could climb, but she was careful to fill in around them so Anna wouldn’t be hurt if she fell. She finished off with an arrangement of large snowballs in different sizes, perfect for making snowmen out of, that would take away most of the work, but leave the fun.
“Elsa.”
Elsa jumped as she heard her Papa’s voice behind her. He was dressing in slippers and a robe.
“Oh, Papa. Um, I was just making a place for Anna to play tomorrow.”
Papa looked around. “Do you really think Anna won’t figure that something is going on with all this snow and construction?”
“Ah, um, well.” Elsa sighed. “I guess not.”
“Clean it up.”
“Yes, Papa.”
Elsa waved her hand and the courtyard was cleared.
“I know you love Anna very much. You just have to find a different way to show it. Not like this.”
“Yes, Papa.”
Papa put his arm around her and lead her into the castle, pulling the heavy doors closed with a heavy thud behind them.