The Ticking Ring
K.N. Lee
Ella’s breath escaped
her lips in a puff of smoke. She licked her lips. The taste of her sweet mango lip
gloss made her smile. Snow fell from the sky in steady sheets, covering
everything in a thick layer of white. She took a sip of her hot chocolate and
delighted in the way the thick liquid warmed her from the inside out. She
sighed and snuggled into Jack’s side.
Ella frowned to herself
as she shivered. She wore two layers of clothing, a coat, gloves, a hat, and a
scarf, and was still freezing. She couldn’t understand how Jack could tolerate
the cold with nothing but a thin jacket and scarf.
“How long are we
supposed to wait out here?” Ella looked around at the quiet park. The trees
swayed slightly with the cold wind. The stars above seemed to flicker around
the pale moon.
Jack shrugged. He
pulled her in closer and kissed her left cheek. “Maybe another five minutes,
tops. You okay?”
Ella nodded and rested
her head on his shoulder. “Yeah. I’m just cold. I’m a southern girl. I’m not
used to this Arctic chill.”
Jack chuckled and
wrapped her in his coat. “We’re in Ireland, not Iceland! You mean to tell me
they don’t have winters in Savannah?”
Ella glanced up at him.
A snowflake rested on her nose. She closed one eye and scrunched up her nose as
she looked at it. “Not like this. I’m sorry darling, but I’ve never been a fan
of the cold.”
“That’s unfortunate,”
Jack said.
A hint of
disappointment in his voice made her pause. She kissed him on the cheek and dusted
more snow off her knees. “I just hope that whatever you have planned happens
quickly. I’m getting buried in snow.” Ella made a face. “I didn’t even know
Ireland got so much snow!”
Jack stood. He pulled
her up to her feet. He winked at her. “It normally doesn’t, sweetheart.”
Ella heard a howling as
the wind picked up. She looked around, startled. “What is it, Jack?” Her voice
came out cracked. She clutched his arm and held on, expecting to be carried
away as the wind blew fiercely at the both of them.
Ella saw a light in the
distance. She squealed. “What is that?”
Jack turned to face
her. He grinned as Ella covered her mouth. His blue eyes seemed to sparkle.
She’d always loved his eyes. The day they met on her tour of Ireland exactly
one year ago, she’d felt something almost magical whenever she looked into
them.
Now, she was almost
afraid. She started to take a step away, but Jack took her hands in his. Ella
stood still. The wind wrapped around them, but she didn’t care. Something in
his eyes calmed her. He kissed both of the backs of her hands and went to his
knees.
Ella’s jaw hung open as
she realized what was happening. Jack reached into his pocket and pulled out a
glittering box.
“Jack!” Ella’s eyes
widened. She looked around, there were people all
around. Watching them. Smiling. Cheering her on in silence.
“Ella,” Jack began.
“I’ve been meaning to ask you something.”
Ella shivered. “Who are
all of these people?” They all wore blue, and had the same shade of white hair
that Jack had, and the same glow in their blue eyes.
“They are my family. I
knew from the moment I saw you that you were meant to be my queen.”
Jack opened the box and
the sound of a piccolo began to fill her ears.
Ella gasped at the large
diamond set in a golden band. She froze as he took off her glove and slipped it
onto her finger. The ring was light, but warmed her entire body. She felt a
wave of joy flood her body. The joy was so euphoric that she almost lost
herself in the sensation.
Her mind raced. Her
cheeks reddened with embarrassment. She had dreamed about being proposed to
since she was a child, but she never imagined such an elaborate scene.
Ella bit her lip, and
winced at the pain. She wasn’t dreaming. Something fantastical was happening
and she didn’t know how to process it. All she could do was look around in awe,
glancing at Jack’s smiling face from time to time.
Jack’s family continued
cheering in silence. They were shouting, smiling, and clapping, but she could
hear nothing.
Jack looked so happy
and hopeful. His charming smile reached from ear to ear. He nodded her on.
“Will you, my love? Will you be my queen?”
“Queen?” Ella croaked.
Her eyes widened even more as the diamond on her left ring finger began to glow
and tick like a clock. The ticking grew so loud that the sound of the piccolo
was drowned out by it.
Jack closed the ring
box and the music abruptly stopped. He came to his feet, kissed her gently on
the lips, and pulled her away at arm’s length. “Yes, Ella. I’m asking you not
only to marry me, but to be my queen.”
Ella’s brows furrowed.
She swallowed a lump in her throat. “Queen of what?”
Jack chuckled. “Your
innocence and purity is what drew me to you.”
Ella shook her head. “I
don’t understand, Jack.”
Jack turned her toward the
wall of wind that encircled them. The faces of his family began to swirl away
and vanish. Their images were replaced by a castle made of ice. “Have you ever
heard the name, Jack Frost?”
Ella shot a look at
him. “No…you’re not telling me you’re the
Jack Frost?”
Jack nodded and pointed
to the ice castle. “That is my home, where I rule all of winter. I need a
queen, someone to help me rule winter and watch over the children of the
world.”
Ella covered her mouth
with her hands. The glow of the ring drew her attention again. It continued to
tick. “Why is the ring ticking?”
Jack stroked her cheek.
His smile faded. “It has a timer. You don’t have much longer to make your
choice.”
Ella paled. She hated
decisions. She hated pressure. But, she knew she loved Jack.
“Tell me, my love. Will
you chose to go back to your life before me, where you’ll forget you ever met
me, or, will you join me in my kingdom? Together we can change the colors of
the leaves in autumn, create art and wonder for people to enjoy. We can spread
winter snow and joy to the people of the world. Doesn’t that sound glorious?”
Ella glanced at him. Her
eyes examined his face. His white skin was perfect. His white hair was soft and
flew around his face as the wind continued to sweep around them. Ella couldn’t
help but smile. His happiness was infectious. Jack was as cheerful and happy as
a boy.
She couldn’t remember
seeing him that happy before. Not even she could make him as happy as when he
spoke of spreading winter and creating art with the seasons.
Ella pulled her hand
from his and took a step toward the vision of his castle. It was a grand sight.
The beauty of its towers and gardens of blue and white flowers was captivating.
She contemplated his
words. “Will I be able to see my family?”
Jack was silent.
Ella glanced back at
him. He shook his head. Ella felt her body fill with sadness. She couldn’t
imagine a life without her mother, father, and two brothers. Then, she thought
of being a queen.
She smiled. She’d be able to live with Jack in happiness.
In a cold ice castle, Ella thought. Her
smile faded and she looked down at the ring. The ticking made her shudder. Her
time was running out. She could feel it.
Ella knew her choice.
She took the ring off
and handed it to Jack. Tears filled her eyes when she looked at his face. The
look of devastation seemed to morph his features. She was almost too afraid to
look at him any longer. She put her glove back on and looked down at her feet.
“I’m sorry, Jack. I
love you, but I could never leave my family.”
Jack went to his knees
and held his hands in prayer. His eyes were wide with hope. Tears froze on his
cheeks. “But, Ella. What if I brought your family to my castle as well? There
are tons of rooms. They’d be happy there. You’d be happy. Right?”
Ella went to her knees
before him and took his hands in hers. She kissed his hands and used them to
cup her face. She closed her eyes, enjoying the feel of his palms on her cheeks
and his fresh evergreen smell for the last time. She wrapped her arms around
his neck. “Darling, you cannot bring my entire family. Even a life with them in
your castle would be a lonely one. Take my brother for example. You bring him
along, but what about his wife’s friends and family? Could you bring them too?
Can you bring my entire family tree…and their
friends and extended family?”
Jack’s shoulders
slumped. “I suppose not.”
Ella offered a small
smile, and wiped a frozen tear from his cheek. “I love you, but I cannot live
the life of a queen in your world.”
Jack nodded. “I
understand.”
Ella kissed him. She
held back a sob as she whispered in his ear. “I’ll love you forever. And I will
not forget you. I will remember you with each snowflake and winter wind. You’ll
be with me every time I jump in a pile of orange leaves with my nieces and
nephews, or when I drink hot chocolate and watch the kids in the neighborhood
build snowmen.”
Jack laughed softly.
“You’re right, Ella.”
Ella gasped as he
vanished.
She was all alone in
the snow, confused and unsure of what had happened. Then, she heard a soft
voice on the wind.
“I’ll always be with you.”
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