Reuniting with Alric

[riselikethebreakofdawn]

While the last few days had been painful, they'd also been some of the happiest of her life. It was true that she'd left everything; every last support and constant in her entire life, to live upon the mountain as a hermit. Yet it was here, in this chrysalis of ice, that she had found herself. She'd formed its walls and spires, from the very depths of her spirit which she'd always kept hidden. And within it, she was growing. Forming into a stronger and more self-accepting adult.

It was a lonely existence, yes, but most of her life had been. Here, she could be herself. Could play and experiment and let loose again. She'd shed her responsibilities and the expectations of others, in order to better understand what to expect of herself. It was jarring and concerning, yes, but the freedom and inner strength she had found within it, thoroughly overwhelmed such doubts.

Upon the mountain, rose her own triumph, after that uphill climb. And any who wished to see her? They would have to endure such a path, as well. Not a treacherous one of course, as she meant no harm to anyone. But certainly a difficult hike, only for those who were determined enough to continue trudging upwards through the snow.

Comments

[knighterrantofthedragon]

[Poke me with a stick if you want anything changed! ...and sorry about the length rambling setup, just trying to weave things together! And if you don't mind, he's probably going to catch up to her quite quickly, between his flight and the way she was making a bee-line for Obvious Solitude Area. XD Maybe even just a few minutes after she shut the doors to close herself in.]

Alric was glad that he'd had the opportunity to attend Elsa's coronation as a member of the Kaithenian diplomatic delegation--not a senior one, it was true, but his station as Crown Prince carried with it a certain ambassadorial authority surpassing seniority alone. It took some amount of persuasion to make the case that he would be the ideal representative of his family--and that personal representation would be necessary, following so long a period without direct contact. ...and although he'd made a point not to bring it up, he'd rather looked forward to seeing his friends once again. How many years had it been? Ten? Even more?

Even so, he had been reluctant to risk making a scene at Elsa's party, and had decided to present himself toward the end--the better to make a polite exit if that reunion went poorly, and to avoid drawing her away from the party just in case it went very well. However, that plan never came to fruition. He should have remembered, perhaps, Lady Anna's talent for disrupting the best laid plans; although that would not have prepared him at all for Elsa's surprise. Well before he'd had the chance to speak to her, she had already fled the party, leaving it in disarray--and, obviously distraught, she fled, and didn't listen when he and others called for her to stop, including her sister. And, Lady Anna being Lady Anna, she had soon followed suit, leaving some "Hans" fellow (not someone Alric knew, but apparently one whom Lady Anna trusted) in charge.

Even if "Hans" being a identified as a minor prince of the islands of the South Ocean made Alric a touch wary, for the moment, it could sit. There was only so much damage he could do in a short span of time, and either he knew that, or he'd face the consequences later. For the moment, Alric's foremost concerns were helping the obviously troubled Lady Elsa--before her sister managed to find a way to get in much more serious trouble in the sudden winter. He quietly gave orders for his retainers to keep an eye on the situation and assist Elsa's officials as needed; then removed himself from the public square, making his way outside the walls... and took quickly to the air. He'd seen the direction Elsa had taken, and made to pursue her at speed.

He had already been quite surprised at the revelation of Elsa's powers... but to see what she was capable of doing with them...! He'd followed her by the sound of her voice carrying on the storm--and he knew all too well the wild elation of release after struggling with restraint for too long--and come upon the ice palace newly erected and gleaming in the light of the dawn.

Taking only a moment to admire it and compose himself, Alric hovered nearer to land softly on the balcony. He hesitated a moment, finding himself still grinning somewhat at the sight--and reached out to knock at the balcony door. At least his formal robes, which threatened to be stifling in summer, provided some warmth, now.

"...ah. Your Majesty?"