Madame Letsworth studied her. ‘You mean you’d really give up being the Ice Princess just to give the Lulling Dance a better chance of working?’
Emily swallowed and nodded. ‘I want to be the Ice Princess, I really do, but I want the land to be OK even more.’
‘Then this changes things. Wait here a moment.’ Madame Letsworth had a quick word with Madame Li and then looked round. ‘Hannah! Zoe! Can we talk in my office, please?’
Hannah, Zoe and Emily followed Madame Letsworth out of the hall. Hannah and Zoe shot Emily puzzled looks, but she was just as confused as them. When they got to the office, Madame Letsworth shut the door. ‘Emily has just come to me and said that she would rather not dance. She is worried that the dance will send the dragon to sleep if all three of you skate it.’
‘I just don’t want to risk it not working,’ Emily told the others.
‘That’s really unselfish, Em,’ Hannah said slowly.
Zoe looked guilty. ‘Yeah.’
‘It would probably be best if just one of us went, wouldn’t it?’ Hannah said to Madame Letsworth. The headteacher nodded.
‘I won’t go,’ Hannah and Zoe said at the same time.
Madame Letsworth raised her eyebrows. ‘Someone has to.’
‘Then it should be Emily,’ Hannah put in. ‘After all, she was the one who put the land first and was the first to say she wouldn’t go.’
Emily stared. ‘But, Hannah, that wouldn’t be fair –’
‘Em! We can’t all be the Ice Princess, even though we’d like to,’ Zoe interrupted her. ‘It has to be just one. I agree with Hannah. I think it should be you.’
‘Your friends are right, Emily,’ Madame Letsworth said. ‘You should be the Ice Princess. The way you responded just now has proved it to me. The Lulling Dance must not be performed for the person’s own glory or benefit; the magic in it will only work if it is skated completely unselfishly. Did you ever wonder why we needed a human girl to do it – why one of us didn’t just skate the dance?’
Emily nodded.
‘No ice sylph can skate it because any ice sylph would be dancing to save their own land and home,’ Madame Letsworth explained. ‘Magic in this land comes from unselfish acts, which is why we need a human girl to be our Ice Princess: someone who will dance simply to save the land because she has come to love it. Out of the three of you, you were the first to show a willingness to sacrifice your own happiness in order to help our land. And that means, Emily, you truly are the right person to be the Ice Princess.’
Zoe nodded and Hannah squeezed Emily’s hand. ‘You are.’
Madame Letsworth looked between the three of them. ‘This is why the dance hasn’t sent people to sleep this week. You have all been skating the dance over and over. Yet because you have all been practising it to try and win the competition for yourselves, the magic has not worked and so no one has become sleepy.’
‘It did work a few times,’ said Zoe.
‘Only when it was being performed unselfishly, maybe to help someone else or to stop others getting into trouble.’ Madame Letsworth’s eyes twinkled. ‘It is probably just as well for all of you that teachers, unlike dragons, do not fall asleep for a hundred years!’
Emily stared at their headteacher.
‘You knew about the feast?’ Zoe exclaimed.
‘I know most of the things that happen in this school, Zoe. I am glad you all had a good time,’ Madame Letsworth said with a smile. ‘Now, let us go to the rink and tell everyone the decision that has been made.’
The rink was still crowded with people. All the other girls were there and the teachers had joined them. When Madame Letsworth announced that Emily was to be the Ice Princess, Emily saw the surprised looks on the others’ faces. ‘Don’t worry, we’ll explain to them what happened,’ Zoe whispered.
Madame Letsworth presented Zoe and Hannah with a pair of sparkling silver skates each as runners-up and then it was Emily’s turn. The audience applauded loudly as Madame Letsworth presented her with her skates and then opened a box and took out a delicate crystal tiara.
‘You are the Ice Princess, Emily.’ Madame Letsworth placed the sparkling tiara on her head. ‘Well done,’ she said with a warm smile as the audience all clapped and cheered. ‘Now it is time to see if you can make the Lulling Dance work.’
Emily, the other girls and the teachers all set off for the High Mountains in sledges pulled by teams of huskies. The girls were wrapped up in fur rugs, most of them chattering excitedly. Emily was quiet with nerves. What if I can’t do the dance, she thought anxiously. What if the magic doesn’t work? What if I fail and the land continues to melt?
Hannah looked at her sympathetically, reading her mind. ‘You’ll be able to do it, Em.’
‘Yeah,’ said Molly, squeezing her hand. ‘You’ll be brilliant!’
Emily gave them a grateful look. ‘Thanks.’ She swallowed. Her stomach felt full of fluttering butterflies, but she was very glad she had Molly and Hannah there with her.
At last, the sledges came to a halt by a large glittering lake.
‘Look!’ exclaimed Molly.
Emily caught her breath. The High Mountains rose up behind the lake’s frozen surface. Coiled around the top of one of the mountains was an enormous dark-red dragon. His giant wings were folded flat against his sides and his long spiky tail was wound round the mountain top. As he breathed in and out, jets of fire streamed from his nostrils. Emily stared. This was it – the moment when everyone found out if she was the right person to be the Ice Princess.
‘We’ll have to stop here,’ said Trakin, the ice sylph who was driving Emily’s sledge. ‘This lake is the closest to the dragon that we can go. Further on, everywhere is starting to melt. Skate the Lulling Dance and, if the magic works, he will fly down from the mountain top and then you can talk to him and ask him to leave.’
Emily got off the sledge, her heart beating fast. Everyone else started to pile off too. She felt very nervous as they all looked at her expectantly.
Monsieur Carvallio unloaded a music box from his sledge. Two ice dragons popped their heads out and waved at Emily and she immediately felt a little better.
‘Put your skates on,’ Madame Letsworth told her gently.
‘Good luck!’ whispered Hannah, and Molly gave her a last hug.
‘Think about the dragon, Emily,’ Madame Letsworth told her as she stepped on to the ice. ‘And dance for the land. You can do this.’
Emily looked at all her friends who were gathered round and then she gazed at the beautiful mountains. Skating on to the river, she took her starting position. Pictures of the Land of Ice and Winter flowed through her mind: everything she had seen and done in the last six weeks, the wonderful creatures, the beautiful scenery, the kind ice sylphs.
The music started and Emily began to dance. She glided, jumped and spun in a way she had only ever dreamt of before she came to this magical land – she almost felt like she was becoming part of the music. It carried her through the routine, surging beneath her as she thought about the dragon.
Emily didn’t think about falling over even once. She just skated with all her heart and soul, even through the difficult combination. Reaching the final spin, the world blurred around her and Emily breathlessly came to a stop to the sound of everyone clapping. But that was drowned out by a different noise – the sound of great wings beating in the air.
A shadow fell over the lake and Emily gasped as the dragon flew down from the mountain. He landed on the ice, his vast red bulk filling the lake. For a moment she felt very scared, but she fought the urge to run. The dragon’s large, dark eyes were curious but peaceful.
Emily cleared her throat. ‘Um, hello,’ she said in dragon language.
The dragon stared at her. ‘What do you want, human child?’ His voice rumbled out, shaking the air.
‘I’m here to ask you to leave this land. Your breath is warming everything up. It’s going to cause great floods. Please will you move on?�
� Emily asked.
The dragon stared down at her. ‘I am really melting the land?’
‘Yes,’ Emily told him. ‘If you stay here, the whole land will be destroyed.’
The dragon thought about it for a long moment. ‘I like it in these mountains, but I am rested now. Very well, I will move on.’ He blew out a stream of flames from his nostrils, the heat scorching Emily’s skin. ‘I liked your dance, child.’
Emily smiled at him. ‘Thank you. I did it for you.’
The dragon stretched out his giant wings. He flapped them three times and then took off into the sky.
Emily heard the others gasp. Madame Letsworth came skating on to the lake.
‘He’s going!’ Emily said in astonishment. She couldn’t quite believe it. She had thought it was going to be so much harder.
Madame Letsworth smiled. ‘Because of the magic of the dance. Well done, Emily. Now, quickly. Make your wish. You have created magic here by doing the Lulling Dance. While the magic lingers, whatever you wish for will be granted.’
‘I’ve got to decide already?’ Emily hadn’t even thought about it properly.
‘Yes, but be quick. You must make your wish before the magic fades.’
Emily’s mind raced. There were so many things… Her eyes fell on Hannah and Molly. They grinned and waved. Suddenly something Molly had said during the competition came back to Emily. Of course! It was perfect!
‘I wish…’ she began.
‘In your head, Emily,’ Madame Letsworth said warningly. ‘You must not speak a wish aloud.’
Emily nodded and said the wish in her head. As she finished, she felt a tingle run through her and suddenly the lake lit up with glowing lines.
‘That’s where I skated!’ Emily exclaimed, looking at the shining carvings on the ice.
‘Yes. It means the magic is working. Your wish will be granted.’ Madame Letsworth’s eyes met Emily’s and Emily had the strangest feeling that the headteacher knew what she had wished for. But then she knew so many things!
The glittering lines slowly faded and the dragon soared away overhead.
‘Come, let us rejoin the others,’ said Madame Letsworth.
Smiling happily, Emily skated over to meet her friends.
Chapter Nine
Going Home
‘I can’t believe we’re about to go home,’ said Molly.
Emily nodded. ‘I know.’ It seemed impossible that very soon their time at skating school would be over. She still almost couldn’t believe she had got to be the Ice Princess, but she knew that the memory of dancing for the dragon would live with her forever.
‘I’m going to miss everyone so much,’ sighed Hannah.
A massive party had been laid on for them in the hall when they got back. The table was piled high with food, and the frost fairies had hung streamers around the room. Everyone had a great time and, after all the food was eaten, the teachers gave them each silver charm bracelets from which hung a pair of white enamel skates. Anyone who had won a pair of coloured skates also had tiny skates of the same colour.
Emily had four charms – more than anyone else. ‘I wish that we could take the real skates back,’ she said, touching the charms.
‘They’d be a bit hard to explain!’ said Hannah.
‘Maybe you should have made that your wish,’ said Molly. She looked at Emily curiously. ‘So, what did you wish for?’
Emily shook her head. ‘I’ll tell you later.’ She wanted to hold on to her secret for a little longer. She went to the window and looked out at the gardens. It had been such an amazing six weeks.
Two frost fairies fluttered over and landed on her shoulders. They touched her cheeks with their tiny hands and chattered softly. ‘I’ll miss you,’ Emily told them. ‘I’ll miss everything here – the dragons, you, the teachers, the classes. Everything.’ But now she had made her wish, her heart didn’t feel quite so heavy.
Madame Letsworth clapped her hands. ‘I’m afraid it is time for you to leave for home now, girls.’
There was a chorus of gasps.
‘Not now!’
‘Can’t we stay just a little longer?’
‘Just one more night?’
Madame Letsworth shook her head. ‘No, I’m afraid not. Your time here is over. You must return to your family and friends. Take the lessons you have learnt and your memories with you, but remember, do not speak of anything that has happened here to anyone who does not know of this land or your memories will fade and then you will never come back.’
‘You mean we might come back?’ said Molly eagerly.
‘Maybe.’ Madame Letsworth’s eyes met Emily’s and she smiled. ‘Now, say your goodbyes and get into a circle.’
The girls quickly started hugging each other. ‘Bye!’ Amanda and Heather cried to Emily.
‘Bye!’ gasped Emily. Turning, she came face to face with Camilla.
‘See you,’ Camilla said and for a moment her mouth flickered into a smile. ‘It’s been fun.’
Emily smiled back. ‘Yes. It has.’
She was swept away into a whirl of saying goodbye to Tilda and Alice and the others, and then Hannah and Molly grabbed her hands.
‘I can’t believe this is it! Friends forever?’ said Molly. ‘Wherever we are.’
Hannah and Emily both nodded.
‘And we will come back. Don’t worry,’ Emily said quickly. ‘It’ll be OK.’
Molly frowned. ‘Was that your wish?’
Emily nodded. ‘Yes, I said –’ But before she could say any more, Madame Letsworth was giving them instructions.
‘On the count of three, take hold of the white skates on your charm bracelets, girls. One, two…’
‘See you soon!’ Emily whispered frantically to Hannah and Molly. ‘I promise.’
‘… Three!’
Emily’s fingers closed around the white charm on the bracelet and the next second she felt herself spinning round and round as if she was on the ice. Faster and faster she went until the world blurred into a sparkling cloud around her. Then suddenly her feet landed with a bump.
Even before Emily opened her eyes she knew she wasn’t standing in the school any more. There was grass beneath her feet, birds calling and the faint sound of a radio. She opened her eyes. She was back in the garden of her house! The charms on the bracelet jingled slightly together.
I’m home, Emily thought.
Happiness and sadness swept over her at the same time. She looked around the garden and imagined her friends all arriving back in their own lives too.
But we’ll see each other again, she thought quickly.
The words of her wish echoed back to her: I wish that everyone who wants to can come back to stay at the school next year.
Yes. They would go back. The magic would make it happen.
The back door opened. ‘Mum!’ cried Emily, her heart doing a double flip. She ran over and threw her arms around her mum. It seemed forever since she had last seen her, even though she knew that to her mum it would only have been five minutes ago. ‘I love you!’
Laughing at her enthusiasm, her mum hugged her back. ‘I love you too, sweetheart. And guess what? I’ve got some good news. Dad just phoned. He’s going to be home from his work trip early so that means I’ll be able to take you skating at the weekend after all. I thought we could go out on Saturday, just you and me. We could go skating and then have lunch.’
Emily imagined going to the local rink. What would her mum say when she saw how well she could skate now? She’d have to be careful not to be too good or her mum would completely freak!
‘So, what do you think?’ Mrs Walker asked eagerly.
Emily grinned. ‘I think you’re the best mum in the world!’
She hugged her mum more tightly. She’d had an amazing time in the Land of Ice and Winter, but it was lovely to be home, particularly knowing that, although her adventures in the land were over for now, they weren’t over forever. One day, she would go back to the Magic I
ceskating Academy and see all her friends. One day, the magic would whisk her away again.
One day, Emily thought with a smile.
Do you dream of becoming an Ice Princess?
Have you ever wanted to go to a REAL Skating School?
All readers of Skating School get FREE membership to the National Ice Skating Association’s Skate UK programme!
Skate UK will help you to learn all the moves and basic skills you need to become a true Ice Princess! It’s all about fun and continuous movement and is taught in groups, so why not share your love of Skating School with your friends and bring them too?
To get your free membership, go to www.iceskating.org.uk/skatingschool and enter the secret password: Twirl.
Skate UK is taught by licensed NISA coaches and can be assisted by trained Programme Assistants.
For full terms and conditions visit:
www.lindachapman.co.uk
www.iceskating.org.uk/skatingschool
Do you want to enter super competitions, get sneak previews and download lots of fun?
Just enter this secret password:
Twirl
The Land of Ice and Winter is waiting for you…
Hi there,
I hope you’ve enjoyed reading about the adventures of the girls who go to the Magic Iceskating Academy. I love writing them all down! Wouldn’t it be amazing to go to the Land of Ice and Winter and see all the creatures who live there? Can you imagine holding an actual ice dragon or talking to a frost fairy?
Sometimes readers write to me and ask about my life. Being a writer is the best job ever. I live in a cottage in a village with my family and two dogs – a Bernese mountain dog and a golden retriever. I spend my days writing and going to visit schools and libraries to talk about writing.
I always think I’m really lucky because I get to spend my days writing about magic – mermaids, unicorns, stardust spirits, genies and now the Land of Ice and Winter. If you love them too then why not go to www.lindachapman.co.uk and join the Sparkle Club? It’s my online fan club with loads of activities and downloads, and you can only get to it by using the secret password at the back of this book. Have fun!
Skating School: Silver Skate Surprise Page 4