Chapter 43: Secrets and Lies, Part 2

"I hope you don't mind our intrusion, Your Majesty," Serendipity offered as she stood at her full height. "It's just, my father used to read stories about you to me as a small child, and I am honored to have the opportunity to meet you at long last."
"Stories? About me?" Ingrid said, smiling. "How lovely! I hope they were all pleasant ones."
"Yes, of course," Corey interjected. "How could any story written about you be anything but pleasant?"
"Indeed," Ingrid nodded.?"And have you read any such stories about my husband, Jack Frost?" she asked, looking at Serendipity.
"Jack Frost is your husband?" Serendipity asked, amazed.
"Yes, thanks to Mr. Cane," the Snow Queen explained. "He was able to get the council to approve changing a mere mortal into a legendary character just for my benefit. Wasn't that sweet of him?"
"Why yes" Serendipity began, but before she could finish her sentence, Ingrid cut her off.
"Of course, I don't get to see him as much as I'd like, what with it always being winter somewhere"
"His busy season will be over soon," Corey reminded her.
"Yes, that's true." Ingrid agreed. She swung around then, her long flowing pink cape nearly hitting Serendipity as she did so, and she took the few steps back over to her throne where she straightened her cape and gown before sitting down.?"Although, I must say I do get rather lonely up here all by myself. It's so nice when you do decide to pay me a visit, Corey."
There was that twinkle in her eyes again, and Serendipity couldn't help but wonder if she was missing something.
"You have your fairies," Corey reminded her.
The queen rolled her eyes. "Have you ever attempted to carry on a conversation with one of them?" Before he could answer she added, "Dalcops, the lot of them."
"You seem in a rather disagreeable mood today," Corey noted.
"Perhaps I get a little irritated when my favors are wasted," Ingrid shot back, her nose in the air.
"What?" Serendipity asked quietly, unsure exactly what was unfolding around her.
"I assure you, it wasn't wasted," Corey replied stepping forward.
"Oh, is that so?" Ingrid asked.?"It appears to me as if it were.?Tell me, Serendipity, will you come and visit me now that you've taken up residency in the North Pole?"
Still confused, Serendipity replied, "Oh, Your Majesty, I haven't decided yet whether or not I intend to stay."
"You haven't?" Ingrid questioned, her eyes locked on Corey. "Are you sure that decision is yours to make, darling?"
"Ingrid," Corey said sharply.
"What do you mean?" Serendipity asked, growing more confused and concerned by the moment.
"What, love? You still haven't told her?" Ingrid asked, amused.?"When were you planning to explain?"
"Ingrid, please, be quiet. I'll explain everything in due time. Now, let it be." Corey glanced in Serendipity's direction, a pleading expression on his face, but then he returned his gaze to the Snow Queen, and though he wasn't looking directly at her, Serendipity could see that other Corey--the angry one--clearly showing through.
"Tell me what?" she asked. When Corey didn't answer, she stepped forward, and pulled sharply on his shoulder. "Corey, tell me what?"
"It's nothing, Serendipity. I'll explain it all to you later, I promise," he finally said, still staring intently at Ingrid.
The Snow Queen's laughter peeled around her chamber. "Oh, Cornelius, surely you can't continue to keep this lady waiting the way you've strung me along for years and years? Go on, tell her. Tell her of your visit just yesterday."
"Ingrid"
"Tell her of the favor you asked of me, the one to protect your perfect record"
"INGRID!"
"So you can continue to be St. Nicholas's number one helper. Tell her Corey! Tell her! She deserves to know!"
"Ingrid, please, be quiet! I will explain everything to when it is appropriate. Why are you doing this? What have I done to you to deserve to be treated this way?" Corey cried, his head in his hands.
"What have you done??Nothing--just arranged for me to marry another and then went off in search of your own happiness, while I still sit here, all alone. That's all," Ingrid explained shrugging her shoulders.
"But, you wanted to marry Jack. You begged me to help you. And then, just yesterday, you agreed to help me. Why would you do such a thing if you truly wanted me for yourself?"
"I wanted to be with Jack--and now, thanks to you, I'm married and all alone. Now, here you are, obviously in love with this woman. Why do you deserve to be happy, Corey? Give me one good reason why."
"I don't," Corey replied emphatically. "I don't deserve to be happy. But Serendipity does--perhaps more so than anyone I've ever met--and now, you've ruined everything. I never even had a chance to explain."
"Oh, you had your chance. You just didn't take it. And now, well, I'm afraid it's too late."
Corey turned to face Serendipity, sure that at this point, she must be furious with him, but when he turned to where she had been standing, she was gone. "Where?"
"Oh, she took off minutes ago," Ingrid explained with a smirk. "You really should be after her."
"She took off, or you magicked her away?" he asked, still looking around the room for her.
"I'm afraid she left of her own free will--and since I've no idea where she's gone to, I can't rightly bring her back. Good luck, love."
Though it crossed his mind to continue to berate Ingrid, Corey realized he had no time. Serendipity was human, and this blizzard was unlike anything she would have ever experienced before. If he didn't find her shortly, there was a good possibility it would be too late. Without another glance in the queen's direction, he took off toward the front of the castle, her laughter still peeling through the chamber behind him.
As he reached the front door he threw it open and yelled, "SERENDIPITY!" at the top of his lungs. In reply, he received only the echo of his own desperate cries resounding off of the mountaintops all around him.