Page 71 of Enchanted By a Pirate
"Blasted! Is that true?"
Anton shook his head. "No, Anemone. Remember. She said it would make the transformation easier, but she didn't mention that it was necessary."
Chris didn't give up easily either. "You have to have faith. In yourself. Ani, you can do it."
She shrugged in resignation. "Believe me, I want to save the fairies as much as you do, but I have no idea how to change forms."
"Margerite showed you." Anton pondered for a moment before continuing. "You should imagine being small, feel yourwings, and perceive your magic. Then, hey, boom, you're a fairy again."
Anna sighed deeply. She would try it if she somehow felt it would make a difference, but she knew that for whatever reason, she wasn't ready yet. "Toni, that may sound simple, but it's not."
The giant scratched his scraggly beard. "What if you jump from my hand? Maybe the feeling of falling will help."
"Are you crazy, giant?" Chris looked at him indignantly and gripped Anna's hand tighter, as if he were afraid Anton would put his idea into action. "Ani can do it without being frightened for her life! She's also afraid of heights. Do you have any idea what that might do? The blockage might intensify."
"Okay, pirate, do you have a better suggestion?"
Chris peered at her thoughtfully. "We have to find another way to awaken your powers."
Anna stared off into the distance without seeing what was in front of her. There was magic somewhere within her. How could she tap into it if she didn't know what magic felt like? But wasn't Chris also using some kind of magic when he spoke to the sea? Maybe he could help her. "How do you do it when you talk to the water? That's magic too, right?"
"Aye. I focus on the sea and then I whisper in its language. It's easy."
"If you know how to do it…" She smiled half-heartedly and he took her hands.
"Ani, I know you can do it. You simply have to believe in yourself."
Only believe the unthinkable, he probably meant. Sure, she had seen herself, her reflection in his eyes. And, yes, she knew now that she had once been a fairy. Still, it was a huge step to imagine that she had actually flown through the sky and done magical things. But if the magic was truly within her — and shewanted to believe in it, no doubt about it — there had to be a way to access it. And she had to find out what it was.
Time passed while Anna was deep in thought. Anton marched steadily north and after a while, it began to snow lightly. Small flakes landed on them and nestled in their fur coats, Anton's beard, and Chris's dark eyebrows. The captain had lain down for a short nap, his arms folded behind his head. It wasn't surprising, given that he had been fighting the storm all night.
Anna let him sleep and spread a fur blanket over him as she continued to think. The few memory fragments she'd had before weren't enough to outline what had happened back then. Was she the one blocking her own powers? Or was there a strong magical being behind it, like the Snow Queen?
As if on cue, the top of a tall building appeared on the northern horizon. The closer they came, the higher it seemed to rise into the sky. As if made of pure ice, it shone like matte glass. Was that the Ice Palace?
"Stop, giant!"
Anna clutched her chest in shock. She hadn't even noticed that Chris had woken up.
"What is it?" Anton grumbled grumpily. He didn't like Chris telling him what to do.
"If you keep walking, she will see us. You have to disguise yourself and Ani and I will walk the rest of the way."
On foot? She'd seen it coming. She'd have to walk through this icy desert. For hours. The mere thought gave her frostbite. Luckily, the fur coat Anton had given her was long, covering her bare legs and reaching down to her boots. She peered skyward. The gentle snowfall continued and thick gray clouds hung overhead, consuming much of the daylight. Or was it already evening?
"How far is it to the next village?"
"A brisk one- or two-hour walk." Chris was standing on Anton's hand, peering northward.
The giant crouched on the frozen meadow and placed his hand on the ground next to him. He suspiciously eyed the captain, who immediately jumped down. "What are you up to?"
"I want to look around and ask around. Talk to people. If the Snow Queen is behind all this, I will find out. We also have to find out what she uses to fuel her magic. Maybe we can find a lead to the fairy dust."
"Make sure she doesn't get her hands on Anemone — if it was her." The giant sighed, causing Anna's hair to flap wildly. "I do not have a good feeling about this. Wouldn't you rather stay with me, Anemone? I don't want anything terrible to happen to you again."
Anna smiled and stroked his hand. "I can't stay, Toni. I need to know what happened to me. Only by figuring out how to reactivate the fairy dust source can I save the fairies… my family."
The giant smiled and a tear glittered in his moss-green eyes. "You called them your family. Finally. Now I know everything will be okay, Anemone. Still, take care of yourself. If something seems wrong, come back to me. I will be waiting for you here."
