Chapter 23: A Favor, Part 1

The Snow Queen's fortress was high atop Mt. Menzelfrap, still within the protective dome put in place centuries ago when St. Nicholas first moved his operations to this secret location, but what could be several days walk through treacherous territory in inclement weather if one chose to travel by foot. Luckily, Corey had the ability to teleport himself magically and found himself standing outside her castle door only a few moments after ending his discussion with the man in charge.
While he could have easily positioned himself within the fortress itself had he chosen to do so, he rarely made the decision to disturb others so abruptly, particularly in a situation where he was in need of some assistance, so with the bitterly cold wind whipping around, blowing the snow into his face and wreaking havoc on his carefully knotted scarf, Corey knocked on the nine-foot high silver encased ice door and waited for someone to let him inside.
In reality only a few moments had passed, and even though Corey was used to the cold, it seemed like an eternity before he finally heard the creaking of ice against ice as the door was pushed open just a sliver and an ethereal voice called out through the song of the wind, "What is the password?"
Stammering a bit as his mouth began to lubricate, Corey finally muttered, "Borealis," and the door swung open, revealing a long winding hallway that appeared to be made of glass, though Corey knew the surface was actually polished ice, and the welcoming gesture of the two-foot tall pixie who hovered just above the door handle, her skin blue, her wings glistening in the light pouring through the translucent door. "Thank you," he said as he brushed the snow and tiny ice chips from his shoulders and hair.
The fairy said nothing, only began to make her way down the hall, Corey in tow, her long white dress billowing around her as she went, looking a bit like a ghost from his vantage point.?"I don't believe Ingrid is expecting you, is she?" she asked in her heavenly voice.
"No, she's not," he replied. He knew that though he had never seen this particular pixie before, she certainly knew who he was or else she would have asked him to identify himself before she allowed him into the castle.?"However, we do have a bit of business to discuss."
They had reached the entrance to the throne room, and the fairy turned to face him for a moment, saying, "Wait here," before she fluttered off so rapidly his eyes could hardly focus, and she became nothing but a blur. Once again, Corey found himself standing outside a large, impressive, polished silver door made mostly of ice. Though it was still quite cold inside of the fortress, it was nothing like standing outside in the bitterly cold wind, and he was quite content to wait a few moments for Queen Ingrid to make her appearance. He was certain it wouldn't be too long. After all, they had been friends for many years, and she was always very prompt to answer whenever he came calling.
At this juncture, however, he must have caught her at a bad time as it seemed to be taking forever, and Corey began to pace outside of the door. Occasionally, a pixie or sprite would flutter by, and he would get his hopes up that the anguish of waiting would soon be extinguished, but almost twenty minutes--an eternity--passed before he finally heard Ingrid's familiar feminine, alto voice cry out, "Corey, do come in."
No one opened the door for him, so he pulled it open himself, astonished at how heavy a door made of ice and decorated with silver filigree could be. She was seated on her throne--also made of ice with silver snowflakes adorning the top, hand rests, and legs, dressed in a sparkling pink dress that reflected the lights gleaming off of the ice windows at the top of the two-story room. She held her scepter in her right hand, the snowflake perched on top identifying her with little room for error, and her crown of snowflakes and icicles, which encircled her white hair and rested behind her pointed ears. She was lovely, as always, with cheeks kissed by the wind and eyes the color of sapphires. Her skin was flawless and smooth, like the surface of the floor he crossed as he approached, and he immediately remembered the first time he had laid eyes on her as a small boy and how enamored he had become with this goddess of snow.
"Corey, to what pleasure do I owe this visit?" she asked, her melodic voice echoing off of the walls and bouncing around the chamber.
Before he replied, he dropped to one knee before her throne and took her hand, the signet ring on her finger glistening as he kissed the snowflake made of and encircled by diamonds. "Your Majesty," he began, "you are radiant, as always." He pulled himself to his feet as one snow white eyebrow arched higher over her left eye, indicating she was suspicious, but then, it was Corey, and there was usually good reason to be somewhat apprehensive, especially when he arrived suddenly and unannounced.?
"How can I help you?" she asked calmly as she drew her hand back to the arm rest. "I haven't seen you in months."
"Well, I wanted to give you some privacy. I wouldn't know personally, but I can only assume that newlyweds do need a bit of time to themselves, don't they?" he asked, burying his hands deep into the pockets of his coat and leaning back on his heels as he spoke.
Ingrid nodded sharply but said nothing, the suspicion in her eyes clearly still present.
"How is Jack anyway?" Corey asked, standing firmly on the floor again. "We are just about through his busy season, aren't we?"
Ingrid pursed her lips a bit, as if she were thinking, before she replied, "There's always some place on Earth in need of frosting, but he is due back any day now for some well-deserved rest. I do long for him to return. It does get a little lonely up here, as you can imagine."
"Yes, I know," Corey nodded.?"I'm sure you'll be glad to have him back and the two of you will enjoy some time together, relaxing, frolicking in the snow"
"Corey"
"Doing whatever frozen people like to do."
"Corey, why are you here?" she asked, no longer willing to make small talk with her unannounced visitor who clearly wanted something.