Chapter 42: Secrets and Lies, Part 1

Once Serendipity re-appeared in the main room, her cape, mittens, and hat on, Corey produced a matching scarf and wound it tightly around her, tucking everything in against the wind he knew they were about to encounter. "Are you ready?" he asked once she was bundled up.
"Yes," Serendipity confirmed through the layers. "How shall we get there? Will we take the sleigh again?"
"No, this time, we shall travel by my magic," Corey replied.
"But, if you can magic me there with you, why couldn't you magic me up those stairs yesterday?" she asked confused.
"I could have," he admitted. "I thought you should have the human experience of meeting Santa in the most regal way possible."
"Oh," Serendipity muttered, still a bit confused. Then another thought occurred to her. "So, why couldn't you have just used your magic to bring Pozzletot to me?"
"In order to use my magic to move someone or something from one location to another, I have to know where the person or object is located," he explained. "Now, my sweet, are you ready?"
"Yes, of course," Serendipity replied, "I'm so excited!"
"I hope that your excitement does not lead to disappointment," Corey muttered as he wrapped his arms around her, and nodded his head once sharply.
A split second later, Serendipity found herself standing on a mountainside in the midst of a blizzard, Corey's arms still around her, which did little to keep the wind and snow out of the uncovered portion of her face, but it did assure her that she was safe and not liable to fall off the side of the steep cliff. He knocked on the door boldly twice, and then returned his arm to her shoulders, and though her view was obstructed, she could see how high they were, with only a few paths down the mountainside which looked like they might be stairs, or some other safer passage a human might use to traverse this steep passage.
She felt Pozzletot squirming in her pocket and hoped that it was warm enough. She was just about to ask why Corey couldn't just use his magic to let them inside when the tall, icy silver door opened, and what she could only describe as a rather large fairy stood before them. "What is the password," she asked.
"Borealis," Corey replied and the fairy gestured for them to come inside.
"Mr. Cane," the pixie said in a melodically high voice as Corey and Serendipity shook the ice and snow from their coats and Serendipity removed her scarf and hat, "we are surprised to see you back at the palace so soon."
Serendipity raised an eyebrow, wondering how often Corey frequented the Snow Queen's palace for such a comment to seem warranted, but she said nothing, and in reply, Corey stated, "Serendipity wanted to meet Her Majesty, if she has a few moments."
"I see," the blue fairy replied. "You may wait here while I check."
"Thank you," Corey replied, and as she watched the fairy flutter away, Serendipity was amazed at her surroundings. "It's entirely made of ice," Corey explained.
"It's amazing," Serendipity said. The room where they stood had an extremely high ceiling capped in turrets which must have been at least four stories above them. There were high arching windows on either side and the sunlight poured through, the translucency of the ice causing the beams to fracture producing rainbows wherever she looked. There was no furniture save one small table at the entryway and a chair, which also appeared to be made of ice.
As she continued to look around the room, Serendipity asked, "How long have you and the Snow Queen been friends?"
"Quite a long time," Corey replied, his hands folded in front of him. He was watching Serendipity, not looking around the familiar room, and he couldn't help but smile at her amazement.
"What is she like?" she asked quietly, thinking she should have asked that question before.
"Well, on the outside, she is quite a bit like you," he admitted. "Pale, blonde, beautiful. On the inside, however, I don't think you're much alike at all."
"How's that?" she asked.
"Let's just say Ingrid has a tendency to be a bit selfish," Corey said quietly, aware that his words could easily be picked up by a number of winged creatures and carried directly to the queen.
Serendipity did not comment, only looked at him a bit puzzled and then shook her head. Just then, there was the sound of flapping wings down the corridor and the same fairy appeared before them. "Come with me," she insisted, and Serendipity took Corey's arm, both to keep from falling on what appeared to be polished ice, and to steady her nerves, and followed along behind the surprisingly quick little creature.
The fairy pushed the door to the throne room open, and Corey held it for Serendipity and then followed her in himself. There was no waiting for Ingrid this time as she was seated on her throne. Serendipity was shocked; she really did look much like the Snow Queen--except for Ingrid's skin had a more bluish hue, her face was a bit fuller, and eyes danced with a hint of mischief.
"Corey," Ingrid said, standing as he approached her throne. "I'm very surprised to see you so soon. Usually, it takes weeks for you to pay me a visit after I've granted you a favor."
Serendipity wasn't at all clear what she was hinting at, but she said nothing.
Corey looked at her with a dismissive expression on his face and then took both of Ingrid's hands which she held out straight in front of herself in offering. "Your Majesty," he said, kissing her ring, but not kneeling this time. "Allow me to introduce to you Ms. Serendipity Fizzlestitch."
"Oh, yes, the doll maker. It's a pleasure to meet you, Serendipity," Ingrid said, her eyes still twinkling. She offered her ring, and Serendipity, not sure what to do exactly, having never met royalty, held it to her lips as she had seen Corey do. His nod of approval served as reassurance, and Serendipity curtseyed as she bid the queen good tidings.