Chapter 2
From the shock of the girl using magic to suspicions over how she found her to being soothed by her rambling and slightly flushed face, Elsa felt almost unable to catch up with the changes in her emotions.
“Oh.” The girl fell silent “Can I ask which types?”
Elsa shook her head slowly. Time to clear up some of the mystery surrounding this girl “My turn to ask the questions.”
She noticed the girl biting her lip before speaking “That’s fair.”
“What magic do you have?”
“Fire.” She produced a flame in her right hand “And wind.” A swirl of wind in her left hand.
“Do you know where it comes from?” Elsa held her breath, this was important. The answer to her childhood questions.
And released it when the girl shook her head “Its a secret. I can’t tell.” She looked for and held eye contact with Elsa as she continued “The best I can say is that it’s… inherent, as for all magical beings.”
“Magical beings?” That’s a phrase Elsa hasn’t heard of.
“Like elves, phoenixes, dragons, unicorns.” All monsters.
“Basically anyone that can control magic.” The girl tilts her head slightly “You could identify as one too.”she says gently.
“I don’t-“ Elsa tries, then looks to the side away from gold eyes that see too much “I can’t control it.” She admits.
A few moments of silence. Elsa closes her eyes. Then a soft voice asks “Why not?” It comes from much closer, the girl must have moved to stand only a few paces away “You made this palace, the snow titan and your dress. That all shows control.”
“That doesn’t count.”
No answer but Elsa can hear the girl thinking. “The last time I lost control-“ That quiet whisper catches Elsa’s attention. “I burned down half a forest, created multiple storms, killed multiple people-“ Elsa’s eyes snapped open and locked with pain filled gold ones “and accidentally transformed myself into a bird.”
“A bird?!” Elsa blurts out.
The girl nods seriously, a hint of relief in her posture “Got stuck as one for four years.”
Elsa shakes her head in disbelief before asking another question “Your magic killed people.”
“I’ve killed people, including a king in fact.” The girl’s stature is more defensive now, braced for pain and for some reason Elsa wants her to relax.
“Just the one time? Four years ago?” Her tone is careful.
“Just once. Eight years ago.” The answer is short but the girl seems less steeled for judgement.
The emphasis on the time period finally sinks into Elsa’s mind “Eight years. You haven’t lost control of your magic in eight years?” The girl nods. Since the accident Elsa can barely go a day without accidentally freezing something. Her head blanks for a second as she steps forward “Can you teach me?” God, she sounds desperate. Attempting to regain her decorum Elsa clears her throat before adding “If you don’t mind.” This is karma for enjoying the girl’s earlier rambling isn’t it.
“I don’t. Mind, that is. Uhh, can I?” The girl steps forward crossing past Elsa and sitting on the second stair. “Shut up Arnar.” She mutters as she pats the space between her and the wall inviting Elsa to sit.
She does. “Who’s Arnar?”
A rosy flush and the girl mutters again “You weren’t meant to hear that. Ahem-“ she speaks louder “Arnar is one of my four butterfly familiars, the purple one, the most demanding male.”
“And where is he now? You were talking to him earlier?”
“Ah- I do that sometimes. Habit of staying to myself most of the time.” She touches the pouch at her waist “They’re hiding in here for now, avoiding the cold and wind outside…but if you don’t mind I’ll let them out now?”
“Go ahead.” Elsa gestures. The pouch opens and three vibrant butterflies emerge, a red, purple and orange. “You said there were four?”
“Jovanna, the yellow one, is still in her chrysalis. So we have here Raj, red, the fierce one. Viara, orange, the annoying female. And you’ve heard about Arnar.”
“A chrysalis? Isn’t that when caterpillars turn to butterflies? So-“
A hint of mischief in the girl’s face when she says “But their magic butterflies.” Waving her hands in a ta-da motion like that explains all then catches Elsa’s confused expression. “Sorry.” She clears her throat, putting on a serious demeanor “She’s cloning herself.”
“Pardon?” Elsa’s still processing the skip of her heart at the playful manner of the girl. How old is she again? And for - she still doesn’t know her name!
“They-“ She gestures to include all the flying butterflies currently exploring the castle. “Reproduce asexually - Thank heavens - by creating a chrysalis once a year to enter and be reborn from, making a clone of themselves though only one of them ever exists at the same time.”
“Oh. Can all magical creatures…?” Why is she asking this?
“…Reproduce asexually? No, well I don’t think so though some may tell you nothing is impossible. But the main thing is most I know do enjoy…That.” The orange butterfly comes near and lands on the girl’s shoulder fluttering her wings slightly against red cheeks then the hand that comes up to stroke her gently. “Great, I’m glad you take pleasure from my awkward social skills.” She sighs and closes her eyes asking Elsa “Can we change the subject please?”
She speaks the first question coming to mind “What’s your name?”
Gold eyes snap open “Oh, I didn’t-“ Elsa shakes her head “Really?” She shakes her head again. “Oh. Well, I’m Jana. Pleased to meet you, I’d offer you my hand but I’m afraid it’s hot to the touch right now.”
Forgetting control for a second Elsa turns and reaches out to touch the hand still on the shoulder closest to her. She realizes what she’s done at the first brush against skin (human contact so very unfamiliar since years of wearing gloves) and waits for Jana to pull away but she doesn’t so Elsa gently adjusts her hand so it’s held between them. It’s hot compared to her ice cold temperature and the skin is soft, so soft that she lingers for a second before pulling away to grasp Jana’s hand more firmly in a handshake with her other. “Nice to meet you, I’m Elsa.”