Beware the frozen heart

[silverandcold]

High up in the mountains of Yamagata Prefecture, there are stories of a woman who is strange, but singularly beautiful. Her hair, they say, is of such a pale color that it looks white. Her eyes are the blue of frozen water. Even in the coldest days of winter, it's said that she always wears only a summer yukata, as white as a funeral shroud.

No one is quite certain of who or what she is. Rumors abound that she is a ghost of a woman murdered in the snow or perhaps she is a yokai who takes the shape of a human woman. More practical minded people suggest a runaway woman from the west, while others ask how a young woman could endure such cold. No, others say, she is a princess from the moon, trapped on earth, like the stories of Kaguya-Hime.

No one knows for sure but whatever the legends, if someone happens to climb the mountain today, they will see a pale woman who seems unaffected by the cold.

[[Inspired by the tale of the Yuki-Onna. Either Elsa is, in fact, a runaway princess with ice powers OR if you prefer, make this a true AU and go with whatever iteration of the legend most interests you.]]

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[of_mirkwood]

Legolas had been through this particular door several times and each time, he was greeted with a new and spectacular version of the world that lay beyond. Once he came in mid spring, with delicate white and pink blossoms adorning all the trees. Once he came in summer, the river slow and lazy and the leaves bright green. And now, it seemed, it was winter and his breath came out in white little puffs as he spoke.

He climbed the mountain, hoping to meditate once more and was greeted with a strange, yet familiar sight. "Elsa," he said softly. He had not known she knew where this door was and that she, too, spent time here.

[silverandcold]

Here, in the frozen and faraway mountains, Elsa finds the solitude she couldn't have in Arendelle's mountains. The people here don't understand her, nor she them, and so they do not bother her in exchange for the same favor. Hearing her name in this door is very surprising.

"Legolas?" she asks, peering through the snowy air.

[of_mirkwood]

"I did not know you knew of this door," he says, greeting her with an open palm and a soft smile. "It is one I often visit when I wish time to think. I can imagine you have found the same solace here as I have?"

[silverandcold]

Walking slowly forward, Elsa took a deep breath and did her best to calm the flurries that scattered around them. She's about to answer when her eyes widen. "Are you walking on the snow!?"

[of_mirkwood]

"I have always been able to do that," Legolas said, looking down at his boots and looking back at her with amusement highlighting his features. "I did not know that it was so uncommon but I suppose that which is common among elves is not common among other races. Can you walk on the snow as well?"

[silverandcold]

"I don't know," she admits. "I could probably form ice under my feet..." For a moment, she's distracted from the worry that the place she's come to see as a refuge is known to others.

[of_mirkwood]

"We should try it," he encouraged. "You could grow the ice beneath your feet and walk upon it while I tread upon the snow. We could make very, very quick work of this mountain that way."

[silverandcold]

"I could also make a bridge so we could climb it even faster," Elsa says, feeling a bit sly, a bit at ease for once.

[of_mirkwood]

"I should like to see your bridge of snow and ice. I think it would be a beautiful thing to behold."

Legolas was of the opinion that most of what Elsa could do with her magic was beautiful and he did not fear it.

[silverandcold]

Elsa actually smiles then, letting all of that power rise up inside of her as she thrusts her hands forward. Ice, clear as glass, forms in spindles and weaves itself into a long stairway up to the castle she's made for herself.

"Follow me."

[of_mirkwood]

It was beautiful and Legolas feasted his eyes on all that beauty before following her up the staircase to her castle. Elves normally lived in trees, both elaborate and simple, and the idea of living in any sort of castle or raft was an utterly human notion. He liked it, though, and it fit her.

"It is almost as if you made it of starlight itself," he said, touching a delicate curl of ice.

[silverandcold]

"I never knew what I could do with my powers," Elsa admits. For so much of her life, she'd worried about suppressing her powers rather than building anything.

"Not until the day of my own coronation."

[of_mirkwood]

"This does not exert you? To craft something so magnificent out of thin air?" It was magic on a scale that Legolas had only seen done by wizards or powerful elves and he was in awe of Elsa; it took great strength and talent to create something so beautiful.

"I could not imagine being able to wield such power and using it to bring such beauty into the world."

[silverandcold]

Elsa shakes her head, smiling sadly. "Honestly, it exerts me more to keep them under control."

But what can she do? Letting her powers run rampant has been the cause of so much pain.

[of_mirkwood]

"Then you should channel that energy into this," Legolas decided, "For this is beautiful and worth seeing. I trust you, Elsa, and I do not think that you will lose control if you feel safe and confident about what you can do. If there is ever anything I can do to aid you, you know that I would, yes?"

[silverandcold]

"I'd rather have a balance," Elsa says, her smile still dimmed. "I can only build so much when I still have so much power."

[of_mirkwood]

"Balance is often sought after," Legolas agreed. "But I do not agree with suppressing your talent and beauty to achieve it. I suppose that is easy for me to say...I am not burdened with your gift."

[silverandcold]

When he refers to her beauty, the palest color rises to Elsa's cheeks, but she forces herself back to calm.

"I wish I knew someone who had the same gifts."

[of_mirkwood]

"Elves have great magic but this...this would be beyond all except possibly the Lady of the Golden Wood," Legolas admitted. He had no doubt that the Lady Galadriel could craft such beauty out of seemingly nothing but she was ancient and wise and incredibly accomplished, even for an elf. The idea that a human could wield so much power was foreign to Legolas and he found himself increasingly intrigued by Elsa and her gifts.

[silverandcold]

"You make me sound so powerful and unique," Elsa says, smiling a little. "I'm not sure I'm worthy of that praise."

[of_mirkwood]

"Anyone who can create such beauty out of something so simple is deserving of praise," Legolas insisted. "And I am in awe of you, Elsa, nearly every time that we meet. I do not mean to overburden you with praise but I cannot help but express my joy in something so beautiful."

[silverandcold]

She blushes again, a brief flurry surrounding them as she smiles.

"Just..you talk about all of your people being so powerful and I'm, you know. I'm human."

[of_mirkwood]

"Which makes it all the more remarkable," he said, catching one of the snowflakes on his fingertip. "I have never seen anyone with...does it bother you? That I flatter you so?"

[silverandcold]

Elsa laughs, though it's a bit shy and embarrassed. "No, no. I've just never been praised this way."

[of_mirkwood]

"That is a pity," Legolas said softly. He had never been remotely interested in anyone human before but Elsa intrigued him - not only with her beauty, which was abundant, but also with her talent and her desire to do good in the world. Elves had a tendency to be removed from the day to day activities of the world and Elsa brought him back, made him interested in those things that are fleeting and temporary.

[silverandcold]

"When I was a young girl, I hurt my little sister..."

The emotion rises up in her, channeling through her powers and creating delicate little frost children that play behind her.

"We were just playing...but I struck her in the head."

[of_mirkwood]

"With your ice?" Legolas could not imagine the burden of guilt that she must carry on her slim shoulders if she hurt her sister.

[silverandcold]

Elsa nods miserably. "We went to the mountain trolls...they used their magic to heal her but took those memories away and they said my power would cause fear..."

And she'd spent the next thirteen years trying to suppress her powers.

[of_mirkwood]

"Forgive me for saying this but I fear that your trolls must have been wrong. Trolls in my world are no great arbiters of justice or magic."

They were, after all, mostly just disgusting. Perhaps her trolls were different. "Elsa, your power shouldn't be something you fear. How will you ever learn to control it if you're afraid of it? Just because something can be dangerous does not mean it no longer has beauty or purpose. I am not afraid of what you can do."

[silverandcold]

"They're versed in magic, in the ways of the earth," Elsa explained, though now she felt more uncertain than ever. Doubt me the winds pick up around them.

"I'm afraid of what I could do to others. I don't want to hurt anyone."

[of_mirkwood]

"I think you should embrace it a little more. Have a healthy caution," Legolas said, giving her a knowing smile. "Because every weapon can be deadly, yes, but I think you should enjoy it and embrace it a little more than you do. Of course, my opinion is but my own. You will have to choose your own path."

[silverandcold]

Elsa's smile is grateful, though still sad. "I wish I'd known someone like you when I was learning my powers...maybe I'd have a little more faith."

[of_mirkwood]

"You know me now," Legolas reminded her gently. "And it is never too late to open a door and find a new adventure somewhere. We have found this place, after all, and the Nexus itself. There might be a place where your powers are easily controlled and no longer a burden. I have faith we can find it."

[silverandcold]

Elsa reaches out and takes his hands, knowing her cold touch is nothing to him.

"I know you now."

[of_mirkwood]

"And I am better for it," he assured her, lifting her hand up to his lips to kiss lightly. Legolas had little experience with the race of Man, shortlived as it was, but what experience he did have seemed to be positive. He felt like a better elf for having met someone as extraordinary as Elsa.

[silverandcold]

It's a gesture that she's well-accustomed to receiving, but there's something intense and intimate about Legolas' doing it.

"I'll try," she promises.

[of_mirkwood]

"Let me know if there is anything I can do to lend you aid," Legolas said. "There is nothing I want more than to see you happy and content with your powers. I do not wish to see you afraid, Elsa, or hurting."

[silverandcold]

For once, Elsa gives into impulse and pulls Legolas' hand to her own mouth, kissing his knuckles in a gesture that's intimate and grateful.

"I'm...really glad I met you."

[of_mirkwood]

It had been a long time since anyone had sparked this particular feeling in Legolas. Not since Tauriel, all those years ago, and even then this was different still. "It is, as always, my absolute pleasure, Elsa. Anything you desire, I shall endeavor to make it yours."

[silverandcold]

"A friend..." Elsa says, a little uncertain. That's what she's needed, first and foremost. "You've been a friend when I needed one and I...I wish I knew how to thank you."