Ice being used to conduct the lightning--make it easier to direct. Lightning can be...unpredictable, sometimes. The idea is something like...throwing an ice spike at someone and using it to direct a lightning strike.

[ Which is...still violence, just more direct violence. Still pretty cool, though. ]

But--I suppose it could be applied in other ways. A shield to keep others from directing lightning to allies? I'd have to brush up on my ice magic, but it shouldn't be too hard.

I agree, though. The elements combine naturally in nature, why not in spells?