Tuesday, December 23<\/p>\n
Molly was up and sitting in the armchair by the window when Caliban came to collect her the next morning. Despite everything, she\u2019d actually slept well, probably a residual effect of the drug he\u2019d used on her. That didn\u2019t stop her from glaring at him when he came in the room. \u201cComing to gloat again?\u201d she asked, not moving from the chair.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, actually.\u201d He moved the tray from the table and leaned against it, looking at her thoughtfully. \u201cI\u2019m wondering what it is about you, Molly Barrett.\u201d<\/p>\n
He sounded honestly confused, and Molly frowned. \u201cWhat do you mean?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cJade lifted her banishment of me,\u201d Caliban told her, still studying her. \u201cIn fact, in a few minutes, you\u2019re coming with me to see her finally accept her place as my consort.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIsn\u2019t that what you wanted?\u201d Molly said. \u201cWhy are you looking at me like that?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause she did it to get you back. The Snow Queen, one of the most powerful spirits in this part of the Realms, raised a very powerful banishment to get you, a mortal, back. Why? What is so important about you?\u201d Caliban looked her up and down. \u201cYou\u2019re not even that stunning to look at. I mean, I suppose you\u2019re pretty enough, but you\u2019re so\u2026human.\u201d<\/p>\n
Molly realized he was actually serious. He had no idea why Jade would do such a thing, and that realization broke her mood. She was no longer angry at him. Rather, she looked at him, and felt sorry that he would never, could never understand.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not how powerful or how pretty I am,\u201d she said quietly. \u201cIt\u2019s because she\u2019s my friend. And that\u2019s what friends do for one another.\u201d<\/p>\n
Caliban shook his head. \u201cIt can\u2019t be just that. For one thing, why would Jade be your friend? You\u2019re just a mortal.\u201d<\/p>\n
Molly shrugged. \u201cI don\u2019t know. But we are friends. I\u2019d do anything for her, and it appears she\u2019ll do almost anything for me.\u201d She looked at him, and there was no anger in her gaze now, just pity. \u201cMaybe one day, you\u2019ll find someone that you feel the same way about.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI do. Jade.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d Molly shook her head. \u201cYou want her. You want to own her. Friends don\u2019t own each other. Lovers don\u2019t own each other.\u201d She stood up. \u201cLet\u2019s go. There\u2019s nothing more I have to say to you.\u201d<\/p>\n
She was somehow unsurprised that his carriage pulled up to the clearing where the Snow Queen held her ball every year. If what Jack had said was true – if the people of the Cove had danced there to raise power for the five spirits who had protected their home from raiders, then it was only right that this ended where it had started three hundred years ago.<\/p>\n
Molly was surprised, however, at who was waiting there for them when she stepped into the ballroom, Caliban right behind her. Jade was there, sitting there on her throne, pale and determined, with Jack and Old Man Winter on either side of her, and Ember curled at her feet like a guardian, smoke curling from either nostril. But it was Drew that Molly saw first, followed by Schrodinger. She tore herself from Caliban\u2019s grasp and ran across the floor to them, not caring who else was there. Drew hugged her tightly as Schrodinger pressed up against her legs, and Molly quickly dried her tears of joy on Drew\u2019s shirt before anyone saw them.<\/p>\n
\u201cAre you okay?\u201d Drew asked her quietly, lifting her head so he could search her face. \u201cDid he hurt you?\u201d<\/p>\n
If he did, I get first bite,<\/em> Schrodinger said, growling.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, no, I\u2019m fine,\u201d she reassured them. \u201cHe didn\u2019t hurt me.\u201d She looked over at Jade. \u201cI promise.\u201d<\/p>\n The Snow Queen\u2019s eyes were as flinty as her namesake stone. \u201cGood. Else Schrodinger\u2019s bite would have been the least of his worries.\u201d<\/p>\n Drew pulled Molly back to the sidelines, where Pavel was. Molly looked out and saw Father Christopher and Herse standing to either side of the throne as well, but farther back in the shadows.<\/p>\n \u201cI have returned the mortal,\u201d Caliban said. \u201cWill the Snow Queen hear my suit?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI will hear both suits,\u201d she said, and Jack stepped out from around her throne. He gave her a quick but courteous bow and stood in front of her, making certain that he was not standing close to Caliban. \u201cSpeak, Caliban.\u201d<\/p>\n Molly noted the lack of an honorific in front of his name; to judge by the flush on his face, so did Caliban. But he stepped forward nonetheless and said, \u201cI thank you, Your Majesty. For both raising your banishment, and for your audience today.\u201d<\/p>\n He took a deep breath and raised his dark eyes to hers. \u201cI have loved you since the first time I saw you, Jade, when we were but children. I have always striven to protect you, to keep you safe, to help you to realize your true potential. Now, I ask you to join your land, your line, with mine, to make both our families stronger.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd what would you give me in return?\u201d Jade asked him. \u201cWill you share my life here with the Cove? Will you consent to live part of the time in the snow with me?\u201d<\/p>\n Caliban looked at her, disbelief running swiftly across his face, so fast that Molly almost wondered if she\u2019d imagined it. \u201cYou don\u2019t need to stay in the Cove anymore, Jade,\u201d he said, smiling. \u201cYou\u2019ve made them safe, the way we wanted to. Now, you are free to start a family of your own. Of our own.\u201d<\/p>\n He didn\u2019t answer her other question,<\/em> Schrodinger said quietly to Molly.<\/p>\n \u201cNo,\u201d she murmured. \u201cHe didn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n But Jade turned from him to Jack. \u201cAnd you, Jack Frost? What do you offer me?\u201d<\/p>\n He looked up to her and said simply, \u201cMy heart, Jade. I offer you my heart, and hope you will accept it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWill you share my life here in the Cove?\u201d she asked him, the same question she had asked Caliban. \u201cWill you consent to live part of the time in the snow with me?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes,\u201d he said, not hesitating. \u201cAbsolutely.\u201d<\/p>\n She smiled at him, and it was like the sun coming up after a long, cold, rainy night, and Molly knew without a doubt that not only had Jack answered correctly, but he meant it.<\/p>\n Then, to everyone\u2019s surprise, Jade turned to Father Christopher. \u201cYou have always been a good friend, Father,\u201d she said. \u201cWould you give me your counsel again?\u201d<\/p>\n He bowed his head to her. \u201cI will always offer you counsel when asked, Your Majesty. I do not know Caliban, but I do know that someone who was in love does not use innocent people as pawns. I know Jack has been in the Cove for the past month, working to change himself into the man that could win your heart. My counsel is, if you have to choose one of them, choose Jack. He loves you, and yet doesn\u2019t want to own you.\u201d<\/p>\n Jade nodded. \u201cI thank you, Father.\u201d Then she turned and looked at Herse. \u201cYou are one of my oldest friends, Herse,\u201d she said. \u201cWhat is your counsel?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJack,\u201d Herse said, without hesitation. \u201cI do not trust Caliban. He has given me no reason to.\u201d<\/p>\n Jade nodded again. \u201cThank you.\u201d She then turned and looked at Molly. \u201cMolly, you have always been a friend to me. You were dragged into this because we were friends, and I apologize for that.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou have nothing to apologize for, Jade,\u201d Molly said. \u201cNothing.\u201d<\/p>\n The Snow Queen smiled. \u201cWhat is your counsel, Molly?\u201d<\/p>\n Molly took a deep breath. \u201cI know you have to make a decision, Jade,\u201d she said, twining her fingers in with Drew\u2019s. \u201cWhat I will say is that I have seen Jack make changes this month. He\u2019s become a friend.\u201d She looked at Caliban. \u201cI don\u2019t think Caliban even understands what that word means.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThank you, Molly.\u201d Jade turned back, and looked at the two men standing before her. \u201cMolly is right,\u201d she said. \u201cI have to make a decision.\u201d She sighed. \u201cI was hoping that it wouldn\u2019t be so easy, but it is.\u201d<\/p>\n Molly found she was holding her breath.<\/p>\n \u201cCaliban,\u201d Jade said, and the spirit looked up hopefully. \u201cI had hoped that the years would soften your heart, show you what you could never see – how to love. I am afraid that this has not happened, and I am sorry about that.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJack.\u201d Jack looked up at her. \u201cYou took the banishment and rather than force me to change, you took it upon yourself to learn why you had been banished. You did not push me, did not force my hand.\u201d<\/p>\n She paused, and then looked up. \u201cI choose Jack as my consort, if he will have me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou know I will,\u201d Jack said, starting forward towards her, eyes only for her.<\/p>\n \u201cNo!\u201d Caliban shouted, looked stunned. \u201cNO! I will not be cast aside like this!\u201d He threw something at Jack, who didn\u2019t duck in time. There was a loud slap, and Molly saw a large black glove on the floor. A red mark had appeared on Jack\u2019s face. \u201cI demand trial by combat!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe Snow Queen has made her decision,\u201d Herse said. \u201cYou are out of order, Caliban.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo,\u201d Jack said slowly, one hand going up to his cheek. \u201cI will accept his challenge.\u201d He looked at Herse. \u201cCan you seal this place? I do not want anyone else to be harmed. I will not repeat the mistakes of the past.\u201d<\/p>\n The goddess nodded and raised her hands. Pale green light that smelled of spring rain flowed out and around the room, twining around each of the pillars, bathing the entire area. She lowered her hands. \u201cIt is done. Nothing shall escape.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThank you,\u201d Jack said. Looking at Caliban, he raised one eyebrow. \u201cWell, coward, what combat do you want?\u201d<\/p>\n Caliban twisted his hands in the air, and two swords appeared. He tossed one to Jack. \u201cLess talk,\u201d he snapped. \u201cMy honor will be avenged with your blood, and then I will claim my consort as well.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThis is not for Jade\u2019s hand,\u201d Jack said. \u201cThis is between me and you. She\u2019s made her choice.\u201d<\/p>\n Caliban simply snarled at him and lunged forward. Jack parried, dancing out of the way, and lunged in his own turn. The blades hissed through the air, flashing and slashing, and Molly found herself holding her breath. Both men were excellent swordsmen, or so she assumed, since she was hardly an expert in fighting. But they appeared evenly matched, trading blows back and forth.<\/p>\n And then Jack slipped on something as he lunged forward, and Caliban took the opening, reaching out with his free hand and grabbing Jack\u2019s shirt, yanking him forward onto the floor. Jack\u2019s sword went clattering along the floor and Molly gasped. She wasn\u2019t the only one.<\/p>\n \u201cFinally,\u201d Caliban grated, and raised his sword. It flashed in the light as it slashed down.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Tuesday, December 23 Molly was up and sitting in the armchair by the window when Caliban came to collect her the next morning. Despite everything, she\u2019d actually slept well, probably a residual effect of the drug he\u2019d used on her. That didn\u2019t stop her from glaring at him when he came in the room. \u201cComing …<\/p>\n