Frostbitten Fairy Tales

by Melanie Karsak

  A few moments later, the London marshall who was keeping watch over the Frost Fair came to the front of the crowd. From the red of his nose and cheeks, one could see he’d been deep in his cups.

  “Ladies of the Frozen Fair,” he said, his voice slurring. “Join us here in this palace of ice so we may delight in the treasures the Thames. We shall deliberate on your beauty, and in a few moments, your thoughts on this winter splendor. Our Frost Fair Prince, who has generously provided the awards for this debacle—debate—debut—pageant—will judge which maiden is the fairest in our frozen kingdom,” the marshall called.

  “How ridiculous,” Hannah said with a snort.

  “He’s completely sauced,” Lizzie added with a laugh.

  “Doesn’t matter. Come along, ladies. We have tripe to win,” Hannah replied, pulling us into line with the other girls.

  At that, we all laughed.

  Lizzie, Hannah, Amy, and I joined the line of girls standing before the icy throne. When the ladies queued up, a cheer erupted from the crowd. The men called loudly when one of the tarts from The Frozen Mushroom lifted her coat to show off a very attractive leg.

  “Come on, that’s not fair,” Lizzie called good-naturedly to her.

  “Use what God gave you, marionette,” the tart yelled back with a laugh.

  “She has knobby knees anyway,” Lizzie told me.

  “I suspect it wasn’t her knees they were looking at. Her arse was half-hanging out,” Amy replied.

  I giggled. Hannah was right. This was ridiculous. No one seemed to know what was going on. Regardless, we ladies waited patiently for the pageant.

  I scanned over the crowd as the marshall and the strangers finished organizing the ladies. Quite a throng had assembled. I recognized many of them as attendees at the Ice House Theatre. It seemed like the audience on the ice simply moved from wonder to wonder.

  And the scene around me was, in fact, a wonder. The artisans had carved an elaborate castle. The sharp contrasts of crystalline ice shot with flecks of blue, glowing golden on the edges under the sun, was a sight to behold. On the upper peak, someone had carved a dragon clutching the roof of the castle. I couldn’t help but notice the water dripping off its wing as the sun beat down on the fierce creature.

  Movement on the ship behind me caught my attention. A moment later, three men made their way from the ship, through the ice palace, to the judging area where we ladies waited.

  “And here is our Frost Fair Prince,” the marshall called.

  Rather than a blast of trumpets, a lovely chime announced their arrival. Two of the men, each of whom carried wooden chests, held back to allow the third man, in his fine blue suit trimmed with ermine, walking with his cane, to come forward. His pale yellow hair shimmered almost incandescently surrounded by the icy palace of wonders. He turned to the crowd and bowed. Then he turned to us and made a similar bow. After that, he sat down on his throne of ice.

  I locked my eyes on the baron.

  When he met my gaze, he smiled.

  My expression went hard.

  In return, a look of worry crossed his face.

  “Elyse?” Lizzie whispered, looking at me. “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing,” I replied. Remembering myself, I pulled on a serenely sweet false face. Lady MacBeth could not have done better.

  The baron’s surprised expression eased, but I saw his forehead furrow with confusion.

  I looked away.

  “Now, ladies, let us begin. As I come around, please tell us your names and give us a spin so we may observe your finery,” the marshall called with a naughty laugh, raising and lowering his eyebrows.

  “Finery, indeed!” Hannah said with a giggle.

  At the sound of a gong, we began.

  First, there was Elizabeth. The buxom girl, who I’d seen at the fishmonger’s tent, stepped forward and curtseyed first to the foreign gentleman and then to the crowd. “My name is Elizabeth Adams,” she said. Taking her skirt by her fingertips, she bowed to the crowd, giving her ample bosom a shake.

  “She’s about to pop out,” Lizzie whispered.

  “Then she’ll win for sure,” Hannah added, causing us all to suppress a laugh.

  The crowd roared with delight.

  The baron merely smiled, nodded to her, then motioned with just the slightest gesture of his hand for the next woman to come forward.

  There was Daphne, Lara, Mary, Claudia, another Mary, Beth, Charlotte, Rosie—the girl who’d shown her leg—Katie, Poppy, Penny, Jane, and Frances. In turn, each lady had stepped forward, shared her name, and gave the loveliest, or bawdiest, turn. Rosie, who introduced herself as a tart from The Frozen Mushroom, treated the audience with a shimmy of her backside, and accidently exposed her knickers, as she showed off her finery.

  As she clowned, I glanced at the baron. He had a slightly bored expression on his face. His eyes darted toward me, and he raised an eyebrow. The sudden expression of concern melted my anger. After all, it was not his fault that his wife was a jealous whore. In fact, more was the pity. Nor was it my fault that Kai decided to run amok. I was simply an actress, and like so many others, the baron was simply an admirer. Captain Behra was a very jealous and petty woman. The quarrel was not between the baron and me. I had no right to be angry with him. And more, with John’s help, the problem was done. By now, John had pumped Kai full of coffee and good advice.

  I smiled softly at the baron then turned my attention to the marshall. He’d finally reached us.

  “Come along, young lady,” he said, motioning to me. This close, I could smell the stench of wine wafting off him.

  Even before I said a word, the audience broke into applause.

  “Titania! Titania!” several people in the audience called.

  I smiled and dropped a nice curtsey. Once they fell silent, I turned to the crowd and put on my best smile. “I see I am known to many of you as Titania. We are all players at the Ice House Theatre, the temporary home for the players at Struthers Theatre,” I said, motioning to my friends. “While I play Titania, my real name is Elyse McKenna.”

  Moving carefully in my winter boots, I took my long skirts in one hand, and raised my other arm above me in the most graceful pose I could, bending with the arch, and then moving deftly, I gave the crowd the nicest fouetté spin I could manage in winter boots and a long coat.

  A hush fell over the crowd for a moment and then they broke into a cheer.

  “A case of tripe for Elyse for sure,” Amy said with a laugh.

  “Show off,” Rosie called, sticking her tongue out at me.

  I bowed to her, winking playfully, then stepped back in line. My eyes quickly darted to the baron who nodded to me.

  After me, Lizzie was introduced.

  “Cinderella! Cinderella!” the audience called.

  I smiled, pleased for Lizzie that she too was so well-recognized. Lizzie made her introduction with Amy and Hannah following thereafter.

  “What lovely, lovely girls. Such finery as the Thames has never seen before. Wouldn’t you agree?” the marshall called.

  The crowd cheered.

  “Now, ladies, before we have a final judging, let’s see how well you can answer a question. Your lordship,” the marshall said, turning to the baron.

  “Ladies, let us hear your thoughts,” he said, leaning forward on his walking stick that was braced between his legs. “Describe for us the wonder of the frozen Thames. Give us your verses.”

  Once more, the marshall worked his way down the lines.

  Elizabeth said, “The Thames has been transformed to mountains of frozen cream.”

  “Tasty image,” Lizzie said as she clapped.

  “Fish-flavored ice cream?” Hannah asked.

  “The Thames is shimmering like the clouds of heaven,” Daphne, a tavern wench at The Frozen Mermaid, said.

  “Not bad, not bad,” Lizzie said, clapping.

  “Nice turn of a line,” Amy agreed.

  “The Thames may be hard as a
woman’s nipples on a winter’s morning, but she’ll still soften to a man’s warm touch,” Rosie said, earning her a loud cheer and boisterous laughter.

  We clapped loudly.

  “Clever tart,” Hannah said, whooping for her.

  Lizzie stuck her fingers in her mouth and let out a whistle of approval.

  I looked at the baron. Even he was chuckling at that one.

  On down the row they went until it was my turn.

  “And you, Titania?” the marshall asked when he came to me once more.

  I looked up toward the melting dragon. “I say jealous winter froze the Thames so she could play faerie games upon its surface. Frosty but kind, she will stay until she’s soothed to peace by the loving sun.”

  A round of heavy applause rewarded my line. I felt pleased with myself, yet at the same time, a strange emptiness washed over me. It had been a nice line, and Kai had not been there to hear it. The hollowness I felt at his absence disquieted me. Shouldn’t I have thought of John?

  The marshall turned to Lizzie. “And you, Cinderella?”

  Lizzie grinned and in her stage voice, she pronounced, “Now is the winter of my discontent…my discontent that it’s still winter,” she said, playing with Shakespeare’s famous lines.

  Recognizing the turn of phrase, several people in the audience laughed and cheered for her. Amy and Hannah followed Lizzie.

  “Now, ladies and gentlemen, let’s bring forth the Frost Fair Prince to rule over the judging.”

  At that, the baron rose. His two attendants also came forward carrying the chests.

  He walked down the line, smiling at each girl in turn as she gave him a polite curtsey. When he reached me, he met my eyes. He smiled softly at me then moved past. Lizzie jabbed me in the ribs with her elbow. Then, in his role as Frost Fair Prince, the baron went back to the front of the crowd.

  “What is the best measure of beauty?” he asked the crowd.

  They flung a variety of answers at him, from nice legs to a round arse to a pretty face to a good cook.

  Smiling, he lifted his cane to silence them. “You are right, my friends, that a fair face is a thing to behold. And, true, that a nice round bottom is a pleasure on a warm night. Loyalty, honesty, and warmth of heart are, I say, worth far more than these. But that, my friends, is the most difficult to see.

  “I have three prizes to share today. The first prize goes to she is who is fair of face. I call Lizzie Montgomery, your Cinderella, to claim her prize. Was there ever a lady fairer than the princess of the glass slipper?”

  At that, the crowd cheered wildly.

  The baron motioned for one of his men to step forward while he also beckoned to Lizzie.

  We cheered our friend on as she went to collect her prize. I suppressed the sharp pang of jealousy that tripped at my breast. Lizzie really was pretty, and she had a lightness and sweetness of spirit that radiated from inside her. I reminded myself to be pleased for her.

  The baron opened one of the chests. From inside, he pulled out a small object. He lifted it for everyone to see. On a bright red ribbon hung a crystal snowflake pendant. It shimmered in the sunlight, casting blobs of rainbows around the crowd.

  The crowd cheered excitedly.

  Moving carefully, he slipped it over Lizzie’s neck then bowed to her in congratulations.

  One of the baron’s attending gentlemen took Lizzie by the arm and led her to stand with him near the thrones of ice.

  The baron turned back to the crowd. “Beauty also lies in the flesh. The warmth of a woman’s skin, the softness of her lips, and the lustiness of her eyes are all treasures to behold,” he said then smiled. “I do believe fair Rosie from The Frozen Mushroom must have this prize.”

  Whistles and applause sprang from the crowd.

  The baron motioned for a second chest to be opened. From inside, he pulled forth a hair comb made of silver and trimmed with flowers and sparkling gems. He gently slid the comb into the tart’s hair. A hush seemed to fall over Rosie’s spirit as she was awarded such a fine thing. It glimmered in her dark hair, a thing of pure goodness that seemed to cast its glow onto the wearer.

  The baron leaned forward, whispering something in her ear.

  To my surprise, Rosie blushed.

  She curtseyed to him, and then his attendant led her to join Lizzie.

  “Ah, gentlemen, it is hard to find a woman who has pure beauty and a pure heart, isn’t it? Such rare queens are a true treasure. But there is one lady here who surpasses all the rest. She is the loveliest, warmest of heart, and the most elegant creature I have ever seen. Miss Elyse McKenna, come forward and be my queen.”

  The crowd broke into elated cheers and applause.

  While the wildness and excitement of the crowd impressed itself upon me, I couldn’t help but take a second to ruminate on his words. Given the nature of his quarrel with his wife, selecting me his queen was most certainly going to annoy Captain Behra even more. Add that to John taking Kai from her clutches, I strongly suspected the captain was going to be very unhappy with me.

  Regardless, I moved forward, joining the baron. “For the Frost Fair Queen.” From within his jacket, he pulled out a magnificent silver hand mirror. The piece, elaborately crafted, was a thing of beauty. The mirror was no larger around than my palm, but the back of the mirror and all the edges had been trimmed in silverwork like I’d never seen before. Images of nymphs and satyrs, vines, flowers, and birds trimmed the mirror.

  “In case the wind ever plays with your hair again, you’ll have this on hand,” he said in a low voice.

  I looked up at him. The prize was too perfect. How had he known I would come? Had he intended this for me all along?

  “Thank you,” I whispered.

  “There is more to this mirror than meets the eye, but first, do come,” he said, offering me his arm.

  As the crowd cheered, the baron led me to the thrones of ice.

  “Ladies and gentlemen of the Thames, may I introduce your King and Queen!” the London marshall called.

  At that, the crowd erupted into a cheer.

  From behind me, one of the attendants set a ring of Frost Fair roses on my head, and the baron and I sunk into our seats.

  A moment later, however, there was a sharp cracking sound.

  The crowd stilled.

  The wind blew harshly, and the sun was occluded as dark clouds moved in. Thunder rolled and lightning cracked.

  “What was that? Is the ice cracking?” someone asked, their voice lifting above the dead silence of the crowd.

  We were all frozen as we listened. A moment later, there was a terrible cracking sound, and the ice below our feet trembled. Everyone stood still, gripped by fear as a crack appeared in the ice under the crowd’s feet. Gasping, they backed away in horror as they watched the long crack travel the length of the Thames like a vase that has been nicked on its edge but not shattered.

  “Sunny morning,” the London marshall called out with a nervous laugh. “No doubt the Thames is getting ready to take the river back. My friends, one more round of applause for our king and queen then go on and enjoy and be merry. I fear the Frost Fair may be reaching its end.”

  I turned to look at the baron who had an odd expression on his face. He was looking in the direction of Captain Behra’s ship. After a moment, he turned and looked at me.

  “Miss McKenna, I am sorry, but I must leave you now. I have a matter I must attend to. I may have overplayed a hand and need to ensure no one gets hurt.”

  “Of course,” I said, rising.

  Already, the crowd at the fair began to disperse, worried conversations springing up amongst the revelers as to how long the ice was going to hold.

  “But wait…the mirror. You said—”

  The baron was motioning to his attendants to join him.

  “Ah, yes, the mirror. I did select it especially for you,” he said with a smile. “A special gift for a very special woman.”

  I was right. “I…” I began, but
I didn’t know what to say.

  “Say nothing. It has been many years since I’ve met a woman as fair as you. You remind me of someone…in better days. As for the mirror, it will keep your hair in order but also do much more. Under the light of the moon, all your heart’s desires will be revealed,” he said then bowed to me. “I’m sorry, I must be going.”

  At that, he waved to the others and the three of them departed in the direction of Captain Behra’s ship.

  “Elyse! Congratulations! Oh, let me see,” Lizzie said, joining me.

  “A hand mirror,” I told her.

  “It’s beautiful. And look at this,” she added.

  I admired the snowflake necklace. It shimmered with a rainbow of light. It was so beautiful. As I stared at it, I found myself momentarily lost, thinking once more of the ballet academy I wished to create.

  “You know,” Lizzie said, interrupting my thoughts, “this lovely thing has given me some ideas of how we should change tonight’s performance. I was thinking, I’ve been throwing Hermia’s lines all wrong. I suspect I never fully appreciated Master Shakespeare’s character, but it just struck me that Hermia is actually to be pitied,” she began, her voice trailing off as she talked over her new interpretation of the Bard’s work.

  I turned from her for just a moment, my eyes following the baron as he receded through the crowd.

  “Lizzie. Elyse. I’m very disappointed,” Agnes called as she approached.

  “Agnes?”

  “What? No tripe?”

  At that, Amy and Hannah, who had also joined us, laughed.

  “No, but we’d better get the Frost Fair Queen over to the City of Moscow for a pint with the boys before they give up on us,” Hannah said.

  “May we see?” Amy asked, looking at the mirror.

  I handed it to her.

  “Oh, it’s magnificent,” Agnes breathed.

  I turned my attention from them to find that Rosie, the tart, had taken off her hair comb and was sitting on the ice throne, turning the piece around in her hand.

  “Excuse me for a moment,” I said then went to her. “Rosie, I just wanted to offer my congratulations.”