Santa and the Ice King

Synopsis: Santa's attempt to make a match between the Sun Daughter and the Ice King failed miserably. In anger and shame the Ice King is determined to go back to his castle to grind out more winter.

Chapter Fourteen

One More Try

"What will we do?" whispered Oonik as the sled flew away. "The Ice King will never stop making winter now."

"We'll make one more try," said Santa. "This one I think will do."

"Who is she?" asked Oonik.

"The Ice Queen of the south," said Santa.

"I didn't know there was such a one!" exclaimed Oonik.

"Oh yes," said Santa. "She lives at the South Pole where, I have heard it is colder by far than at our home in the North."

The Ice king had buried his head in the polar bear's fur to hide his tears of shame and sorrow at being rejected by the Sun Daughter. As the reindeer sped toward the South Pole it grew colder and colder and the Ice King, thinking they were nearing his home, raised his head and shouted gleefully, "I must have left my ice machine going full blast!"

The sled came down before a palace of Ice. "What is this?" cried the King. "This isn't my home."

"It is the South pole, replied Santa. "The Ice Queen lives here. I have brought you to ask for her hand."

"Never!" roared the king. "I told you I would never humble myself again. Every one hates me and I hate everyone and that's the end of that." And he threw himself down beside the polar bear and refused to budge an inch.

Santa left him there and went into the Ice Queen's palace. Now the Ice Queen's palace was just like the Ice King's Castle. Everything was made of ice and far above Santa could be heard the same grinding. Clattering noise he had heard at the King's home. Santa went up a winding icy staircase and found the Ice Queen energetically working her ice machines and pumping her wind bellows.

But this was the South Pole winter always came in June and July and August and when December, January and February came, the Ice Queen would stop her work for it would be summertime in her upside down world.

Santa had to holler to make himself heard over the noise. "I've brought at suitor!" he bellowed.

The Ice Queen stopped pounding and pumping. She turned and stared at Santa. She was tall and regal looking and she to had icicles in her hair and frost on her eyebrows.

"A Suitor?" she exclaimed blushing. What nonsense! Who would ever marry me?"

"He is in my sled," said Santa. "Come and see."

Picking up her icy skits the Ice queen rushed own the stairs and out to the sled. There was the Ice King sitting there with his back to her staring at his feet.

The Ice Queen walked in front of him and gazed at him worshipfully. "Oh, No!" she whispered. "He's too wonderful for me."

The Ice King raised his sullen eyes and when he saw her his heart turned over. He got out of the sled an took one step towards the queen and then they both gulped and cried out, "Oh, would you marry me?"

They fell into each others arms and Oonik jumped up and down with joy and Keotuk barked and even the polar bear looked pleased.

The Ice King said, "Fly with me now to my castle in the north." But the queens said," I can't do that for it is winter time at the south Pole and I must keep things cold."

The King looked crestfallen. "But, I can't stay here," he mumbled unhappily. "I am needed at the north Pole."

Santa burst into laughter. He laughed until the tears rolled down his cheeks.

"What is so funny?" demanded the Ice King.

"You!" cried Santa. "You've forgotten-it is August! It should be summer in the North and you're not needed or wanted there at all!

Next: A Merry Christmas