|
The Ice
Queen
A J/7 Advent
Calendar Story 2008 by Gun Brooke
Disclaimer
Raffle
Would you like to participate
in a raffle for a signed copy of Warrior's Valor and/or
Rebel's Quest?
1st prize - signed
copies of Rebel's Quest and Warrior's
Valor.
2nd prize - signed copy
of Warrior's Valor
3rd prize - signed copy
of Rebel's Quest
Write me at
raffle@gbrooke-fiction.com and let me know if you want
to participate - it is free, of course! Last date to enter
the raffle is Dec 31, 2008. Winners will be announced and
emailed January 3, 2009
Gun
14
Seven stood by the long bar at one side of the vast room
constructed solely of ice. She was amazed that she wasn’t
cold at all, even after she took off her parka. She helped
the bartenders by collecting empty glasses and carrying
crates of wine and alcohol, and more than once Tilde and
Tina had scolded her, wanting her to participate in the fun
instead.
A band of musicians played on a small ice dais, and the
music, which consisted mainly percussion instruments,
thundered between the walls. People were dancing over by the
far wall, and Marie had asked Seven to dance twice, which
she had declined politely.
“You could at least dance with Lars now that I can’t because
of these darn swollen feet of mine,” Tilde complained good
naturedly and leaned against the ice counter. “Please,
Annika?”
It was much harder to say no to Tilde or Tina, than Marie.
“I do not dance well. What if I injure him?”
“Injure him?” Tilde laughed, looking surprised. “You’re
moves are that lethal, eh?”
“They have been.”
“You’re just trying to weasel your way out of it,” Tina
chimed in. “Lars is a divine dancer, trust me. He can make
anyone look good.”
Seven wanted to object, but the two young women looked so
expectantly at her, and they’d done so much for her, giving
her a job and somewhere to live. “Very well,” she said
slowly. “I will dance with Lars. For you.”
“Oh, great. There he is. Ask him to dance, that will make
him flip.”
“I was unaware that such acrobatics were required.” Seven
looked nervously at Lars who was ushering guests toward the
bar.
“What…? Oh, no, no. It’s just a saying. It means that he’d
be so surprised and overjoyed.” Tina grinned. “Just imagine,
he’d be able to brag about having danced with the Ice
Queen.” Her smile evaporated quickly. “Oh, darn.”
“Ice Queen?” Seven raised an eyebrow at the unexpected
title.
“Never mind, it’s just some of the workers silly sense of
humor.” Tilde nudged her younger sister.
“They refer to me as the Ice Queen? Elaborate.”
Tina looked imploringly at Tilde. “It’s just a joke. Isn’t
it, Tilde?”
“Yes. A silly joke by men who’ve got nothing but a certain
thing on their minds.”
Seven was unaware what this ‘certain thing’ meant, but
couldn’t help but wonder if the workers regarded her as
aloof and cool minded as some of Voyager’s crew did…had
done. Ice Queen. It certainly didn’t sound like a
compliment. Seven straightened up and walked over to Lars,
to ask him to dance. Suddenly she felt like showing them all
that she was as human as they were—and not made of ice.
|