Part the Sixth: A Chilly Reception

Crown Attorney's Office, Arendelle Castle, 9:35 A.M.

*Clong-clong*

Elsa stormed down the castle hallways, steam coming out of her ears. And considering that her preferred elements were snow and ice, that was saying something.

The other staff at the castle saw Elsa coming and immediately knew to make themselves scarce for a while.

Elsa arrived at the conference room, where Anna and Kristoff were awaiting the lecture that they knew was coming. The door slammed open of its own accord in front of her.

"All right, you two, I want an explanation," Elsa said. "You were this close to getting him, and he got away!"

"Elsa, you can't expect us to know everything Jack's going to do! We're not psychic!" Anna said indignantly. "We would have had him if that ox cart hadn't gotten in the way!"

"And my sled's going to be in the shop for a week," Kristoff said. In his hands, he held a repair estimate from the wheelwright's shop. The estimate had more zeroes in it than Kristoff would have liked.

"I want Jack in the courtroom. And I don't want him getting away," Elsa said. Then she sent Anna and Kristoff off to go gather more evidence on Jack's henchmen.

"Gee, Elsa, dontcha think you're being a little too hard on them?" Olaf asked, skittering along under the weight of a thousand court files. After the ruckus of yesterday evening, he'd decided that fetching and carrying law files at the crown attorney's office was more his cup of hot cocoa with marshmallows.

"I know, Olaf, I know," Elsa said.

"Well, look at it this way. Jack - he's made of ice, so he's slippery, and he's – whoa!" Down went Olaf, and up went another shower of legal documents.

Elsa groaned. She was feeling the onset of a headache. A good strong cup of tea in her office would probably do her some good.

She headed back to the office and stopped. There was ice on the floor just in front of her office door. And it was the "angry" kind of ice.

She stared at it in confusion. And then her mood turned to grim determination.

So, that's how he wants to play, she said to herself.

She thought about summoning Anna or Kristoff back, or calling for one of the constables. No, she decided. This is between him and me.

Elsa pushed open the door. "You know, Jack, it's not considered polite to go into someone's office when you haven't been invited," she said casually.

Elsa's blue plush swivel chair was turned to face the window. The chair spun around, and in it sat Jack.

"And risk the constables clapping me in irons before we've had the chance to meet?" He chuckled. "I would think you would know me better than that, Elsa."

Elsa closed the door and walked into the room, crossing her arms over her chest. "There's a lot I don't know about you, Jack. Chief among them is why you're turning the citizens of this kingdom into giant ice cubes. Which they REALLY don't appreciate, by the way."

"Oh, Crown Attorney Elsa. You are a summoner of winter yourself, haven't you forgotten?"

"You're a disgrace to the name of winter," Elsa said.

Jack chuckled. "Oh, Elsa, Elsa, Elsa. How alike we are, much more alike than you'd care to think.

"How dare you. I am nothing at all like you," Elsa glared.

Another chuckle. "I recall a certain young lady whose icy powers – which are very impressive, I might add – almost brought ruin to Arendelle."

"Don't you think for a moment that I enjoyed a moment of that," Elsa said angrily. "Now cut to the chase, Jack. We both know that you didn't just drop in for a cup of coffee. Why are you here, and what do you want?"

"Very well. I am here to turn myself in."

Elsa stared. "What?"

"Just what I said. I am a wanted criminal, and I am here to surrender myself to custody."

"Is this some sort of game?" Elsa demanded.

"Well, when you put it that way," Jack replied, "it is. And games get boring when they're played the same way for too long." He held out his wrists. "Now do call your constables and have me manacled and fingerprinted. I promise I won't try to get away before the trial starts."

Elsa pursed her lips. Then she reached for the purple bell rope hanging to one side of the door and gave it three short tugs.

The door opened, and three constables stood there. Their eyes widened at the sight of Jack sitting in Elsa's chair.

"Take him," Elsa said.

The constables came over with manacles, locked them around Jack's wrists, and led him away.

Elsa should have been elated. But she wasn't.

She leaned back against the desk and watched the snowflakes falling outside the window.

The most wanted person - of sorts - in the kingdom, and he was turning himself in?

No, she decided. This wasn't over yet. She was going to have to keep a very careful eye on Jack Frost, she thought.

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