The Princess slowed her breathing in attempt to calm her nerves, knowing if she allowed the temperature to keep dropping, the servants, or even Anna herself, would come out to investigate. She closed her eyes for a moment, listening to what Josette was saying. Perhaps she was right. Perhaps, in due time, she could master her powers, and learn exactly why they even exist in the first place.
“I do hope you are right, Miss Josette” Elsa spoke, slowly looking back at her. “I don’t know what I will do if I cannot somehow learn to control them, or even learn to no longer fear them.” With hands balled in fists, she crossed her arms, hands tucked underneath them. “I had hoped that without using them, they would just vanish over time,” she mumbled, “but they have only grown stronger. I can’t live a day without the gloves, or else I freeze everything I touch.”
She nodded as Elsa went on to explain her troubles. It was a bit difficult for Josette to hear of the things this the princess had to face in a day. The ghost’s eyes followed Elsa’s hands, as she tucked them away. There was a pause. What more can I say, that I have not already said? She wondered. Not much, I suppose. Just be honest with her.
“I too wondered if they would vanish, in lack of using them, only to discover they grew stronger.” She stopped. This was an unusual state of mind Josette was in. She usually wept over her own death, because she could not help it, but now, her glossy blue eyes were developing tears for Elsa. “I do not think they will ever vanish.” The ghost bowed her head so the princess would not see her sorrow. The tears came anyway. Of course, they just vanished as they hit the floor, leaving no trace of a living soul.
In that moment of sorrow, Josette managed to find a dollop of hope, yet. Hope itself. Her eyes returned to the others, still shedding a few tears, but her expression was different now. A loving, and almost happy, smile presented itself across her pale face. And the, that were still filled with tears, could have lit up the entire hallway. She rose to her feet. A gentle hand stroked the princess’s cheek.
“No, I do not think they will ever go away, dear one, but there is always hope that you will learn to control them. In time, you will have many things expected of you; but I ask only one thing of you, and that you remember it forever. Promise me that, whatever the future will bring, you will have courage.”
