He swished around the snowflake sculpture that resided just outside of town, whizzed through Winter Pine Forest and off to the left where the substantial crystallized blue glacier, also known as Glacier Temple, rested in the middle of Ice Lake.
In front, the intricate ice gates, that were open as usual. Fairies were coming and going but they moved out of his way when they took notice of him. They had come for Frozen Zen appointments, yoga for inner peace classes, and to walk the famous ice maze path of enlightenment.
Graupel walked to the front desk and was greeted by a glacier fairie who flustered as she helped him sign in. She was very talkative.
“Well if the icicles haven't shattered, this is the second Royal fairie that has come through our doors today!”
That aroused his suspicions. “And who might be the second person?”
He signed in and she gave him a cheery smile. “Oh, you’re testing me. Well, then. You know we're not allowed to answer that. It’s just interesting. I wonder if there's something in the ice?”
“I’m not testing you.”
She winked and handed him his pass. “Sure you aren’t. Have an enlightening day!”
He moved away from the counter and into the great hall where the sculptures were and bypassed them, wondering which one of his brothers was here. Were they checking to see if he came? Father would, possibly he came.
Even though his thoughts were on what his father wanted from him, his mind couldn't help shifting to Diamond Dust. He’d always noticed her, but today, something happened. He ordered a hot drink, which he’s never done. Sat by his father's advisers daughter and tried to find out who Sleet was keeping an eye on. He thought, since his brother brought her up, that she might have an inkling of who that was and where Graupel could find her, just to spite his brother.
But the other reason he insisted on knowing who Sleet thought his snowflake was at the coffee shop was so he could sit by Diamond. At first it wasn’t about that, but as he made that decision and followed it through, he realized that there was a part of him that was satisfied sitting near her. And as he sat across from her, he realized that wasn't the only reason, he actually wanted her attention.
Lost in his thoughts about her, he proceeded down the corridor past the statues not even bearing to glance at them. His father had magic. His father had winter power. He said that he should have it too. And sent him to Glacier Temple to find it.
Quite frankly he didn't know where to start. Go to the Zen room or wander under the ice castle maze? Possibly sit down with the winter elders and hope to gain some wisdom through them? But none of those sounded appeasing to him.
He turned the corner and headed to the Zen room. He had to start somewhere, and it was best to start in the last place he really wanted to be. Attempting to find his inner winter Dashes.
He made his way there just in time for a class. Other fairies there were sitting down and when he walked in, all eyes turned to him. Guess they never expected a prince to be there.
Disregarding them, he decided to sit at the end closest to the door so if he need to fly he could do so without fault.
He got down on the snow, and folded his legs crossways, setting his palms down on his knees. As the music chimed from the icicles that swept above, freshly fallen snow drifted down. The teacher instructed for them to close their eyes and let out a deep breath and slightly flutter their wings so they were midair.
It takes great concentration to do this. It's not as easy as one thinks and for Graupel it was no different. It was like riding a bike for the first time, but once he got the hang of it, he didn't tip to the sides but stayed steady and continued to go deep into his thoughts.
Graupel worried about all the things that had gone wrong in his life, and how his soul had become slightly hardened. He couldn't admit that. He wouldn't admit, or even believe that he had sunk down into the depths of a blue frozen heart. He was sure he hadn't gone that far. But as to detecting the shifts in the Dashes, he thought he had done fine. Well, that was until things started warming up and softening.
He blew out another deep breath and adjusted his shoulders trying to concentrate on looking deep within himself, to find that part of him that his father wanted him to search for.
A shift in the air told him that someone had entered but he ignored it as a soft shrill laugh broke his concentration.
"You will never find the Dashes that way." His eyes popped open as a tiny frozen pixie giggled in front of him. He jerked back and glanced around the room but no one seemed to notice.
“I suggest going to the elders.” The pixie disappeared.
Not sure what the pixie had to gain by suggesting the elders, Graupel glanced across from him to find no other than Diamond. Eyes closed, her gown draping down across her hips and her delicate blue crossed legs were bare. In the slow trickle of snow and the way that dress molded around her as it hung, he swallowed and turned his gaze away, trying not to think about her that way. It was hard.
The winter pixie told him to go see the elders and while pixies were rare and insightful creatures, they also liked to cause mischief. Graupel was unsure if he should take the advice that one gave him or steer clear.
He took one more glance at the fairie that kept catching his eye before he shook himself out of his musing and snapped his wings into action, taking off. Perhaps the elders would help him.
Chapter Five
Once at Glacier Temple, Diamond made her way past the glass glacier icicles which depicted snowflakes falling down among hearts and two lovers in an embrace. She moved on to the sculpture of diamond dust and the snowflake storm. This was the one her mother and father had named her after. Diamond dust was ruthless.
She’d like to say she was nothing like diamond dust, that there wasn’t any ruthlessness in her, but others knew better. Take her books, she’d become a storm.
Moving along, looking at each of the sculptures, she stopped in front of the one that showed two fairies palm to palm, staring in each other's eyes.
She loved that one the most. Despite the ice that had made them, in their expression there was fire in the depths of their gazes .
Fire she was still desperately seeking. Pushing further on, she studied the rest of the sculptures and made her way to the snowy garden. It’s where they Zen. She'd only been once before, previously, but figured since she had all day she might as well go to one.
She entered the snowy garden and found several fairies there, but only one caught her eye. It was the fairie she had been lusting over. In the midst of all the fairies fluttering their wings, sitting mid-flight while soft snow fell was Graupel. The one person she believed that might light her fire, was the one who never noticed her bookworm heart until yesterday
And conveniently the only spot open was across from him. Luckily when zenning, one closed their eyes.
The prince was no exception. Already in position with eyes tightly closed and a determined face on, he looked silly. Diamond tried not to smirk... or giggle.
It looked like he was trying too hard.
Quickly setting her satchel down in front of him Diamond eased her way down. She sat on the freshly fallen snow, fluffing her skirt around her and then closed her eyes, resting her palms on her knees. With some concentration she was able to rise slightly above the floor and stay steady.
It wasn't easy to zen. With legs crossed and palms resting on your knees, one would have to balance to keep straight. It was a learned talent.
Slowly as she gained her balance Diamond was able to drift off into her thoughts and try to do what her father wanted, become at peace with the bitter cold and let the chilling dust fill her with the burn of frost.
The surrounding energy seemed to crackle. At least it did for her, knowing who was across the way.
It gave her an edge, one she’d never noticed before. And now she wondered if he would notice who was in front of him.