Kindled
By: Lady Yami / Moonybell
Chapter 2: Winds At Your Back
AN: Yay chapter two. Sorry it's a bit slowing starting off. Reviews are greatly appreciated.
I don't own Frozen, Disney does.
x x x
Dust, dust everywhere. And a King, a King that was not a sandwich. A King that had every reason in the world to kill me. And was highly capable of it. I'd seen his prowess, back on that ill-fated night on the mountain. Clumsy, uncertain, but there.
"So." I choked, waving the haze in the air away from me, "Father's granted the killing blow to you. Fair enough, I suppose." It occurred to me then, that I had not used my own voice in quite some time. What need for it was there, alone in my cell? And then in a court where even if I spoke, I was good as mute? It was a croaking, ugly thing.
King Elias leaned against the doorframe, oblivious to the now literally shivering guards. Arvid peered at me, freckled face painted with duress. There was a different drive to the Snow King now. More confidence. Grace. The fear of himself that kept him weak was fading, just a bit. I'd shed that a long time ago. No, not so much shed as ripped away as fast as I could. Thirteenth born, and a girl, but most of my brothers were hard pressed to defeat me in a sword fight. I was torn between wanting a blade to defend myself, and wanting to just die already. My life was so very annoying, lately.
I was just so very tired. I remained in my slump. "Well?" I pressed in my frog's voice. After a scalding stare, his lids dropped just a bit, smile crossing his lips.
"You look like hell, Hannah."
I gestured grandly to my cell. "As you can see, my amenities are lacking. Perhaps if I'd known you were coming, I would have had the rats fetch me a more appropriate set of rags." I drawled. Funny, that seeing him was the first time I'd felt so alive in a long time. Right before my own death, of all things.
Arvid rolled his eyes.
"It seems even the death penalty hasn't dulled that tongue of yours." He sighed. I shrugged at my would-be husband. It would never have worked, anyway. Two gingers cannot procreate. Far too many freckles, you see.
"Whatever are you here for?" I sighed, truly exhausted, bone and soul. "Are you going to drop me off a boat, again?" I asked. The prince had, very unceremoniously, picked me up around my waist and dropped me into the harbor. It was probably better he stepped between myself and that horrid mountain woman, anyway. The one who stank of reindeer. Ugh.
"Quite the opposite, actually." The Snow King said smoothly, sliding forwards through the shaft of sunlight that lit my bed, shadow covering me. He radiated cool, and the smell of winter nights. "You're getting ON a boat with us."
What little moisture was left in my throat dried up. He must have seen the fear in my face, because he smiled. It really lit his eyes up, in a very unsavory way.
"Why?" I rasped.
"Oh, that's for me to know, and you to find out." He shrugged, voice almost a purr. He breezed past the guards. Arvid lingered a moment, before shrugging at me melodramatically and scrambling after his brother. My heart creaked to a rusty start for the first time in a while, animated with fear. Strange, to be more afraid of the unknown, than death. I had anticipated death. I knew that it was a risk, in the game I set to play. What would he do with me? Sell me into the sex trade? Enslave me? Lock me in a keep? I'd swallow my own tongue, I would. I would die with my dignity. I'd already decided that. I steeled myself for the worst.
Another listless day passed. When darkness began to fall, I received another visitor. This time, I had the surprise of Augustus Reinert's presence. My swordsmanship teacher. He'd been gray since I was a child, it seemed, and never did his face change. Still imposing at God-knows-what age, he closed the door behind him, after checking to make sure nobody was behind him. He'd been one of the only ones to acknowledge my existence, growing up. Looking into his hazel eyes, I felt a true inkling of shame. His opinion mattered to me. And it was broken, I knew that.
"Hannah." He never called me "your majesty" or anything of that sort. I liked that. He spoke slowly, deliberately, voice made gritty from war smoke. He never smoked or drank, always preferring tea. My father often remarked that was the secret to his apparent immortality. It was quite a spectacle, to see a huge armored warrior delicately enjoying tea from a porcelain cup. He settled down on the edge of my cot, leathers and sword making a familiar sound.
The smell of weapon oil and spearmint tea brought me to happier days, sunsets swinging a wooden sword in the courtyard while the maids watched in horror. I wore trousers. I loved trousers, for a long time. I traded them for silks and lace, sure. But I never thought to give up the sword. I felt like giving that up would be giving up on Augustus, who'd taken time out of his grand life to teach a scrapling princess to spar when her own parents deemed her unworthy of much. "They're taking you to Arendelle."
I nodded, unable to break eye contact with him. I almost never was. He arrested you with his presence. He was special. He was special, and good. And I was small, and wicked, and I knew it. I tucked myself against the wall, silent. He reached into his breast pocket, pulling out a slender leather sheathe. A tan pommel glinted in the dying sunlight. "I don't know what they're going to do to you, Hannah." He spoke quietly, not wanting the guards to hear. "You...you've brought us much shame."
I nodded. Hearing it hurt. "But..." He trailed off, reaching out to take one of my hands and placed the dagger in it. "I will not see my little lady become a whore." He closed my fingers around the dagger. "I hope that King Elias is a good man, I do. But you have wronged him terribly, and revenge can make even good men forget their hearts." He squeezed his hands over mine. "Don't let that happen. For both yourself, and me." I bit my lip, but nodded, tears pricking my eyes. I'd not cried through all of this, even when I'd been sentenced. But seeing Augustus hurt me.
"I won't." I whispered. He rescinded his grip, rising with a song of weaponry and leather. "I promise."
He stood stiffly, as if taking me in for the last time. It was a sorry sight, with my hacked locks and bare feet. After a sharp breath, he saluted me. I found the strength to return it. If I gave anyone my last smile, it would be him. My lips cracked as I delivered it. It hurt.
"Goodbye, my little lady." He said quietly, and departed. I was left alone in the dark.
x x x
The ship to Arendelle set off quite early in the morning. There was no one to see me off. I didn't expect it. Nor did I want it. Shackled, with a sack over my head, I shivered on the docks. At least they'd given me shoes. A frigid breeze from in front of me could only mean one thing: King Elias.
"Well, let us bring our esteemed guest aboard." His voice rang out, smooth. With a jolt and a rattle, I was pulled forwards.
After much shuffling, yelling, and generally unpleasant odors, I felt the ship moving. After a while, a cool hand pulled me to my feet. I'd been unceremoniously dumped against the side of the ship, where I'd sat, too weak to stand even if I wanted to.
Stumbling to my feet, my vision reeled for a moment. Dehydration made you dizzy, being on a ship doubled that. I grabbed what was near me for support, as per instinct. The thing grabbed me back, tight around the wrist, and pulled me up in time before my knees could hit the deck. The sack was yanked off my head.
It was indeed King Elias holding my wrist. I dropped to my knees, staring up at him. He was beautiful, platinum hair tossing in the wind. Blue eyes went from my face, then forwards. I followed his gaze, and watched my country's coastline fade into the morning mist. My teeth chattered in the wind, and his proximity.
"I hope it was worth it." He spoke, eyes still on the coast. "Losing everything, that is."
"I never had anything to begin with." I responded. All I had now was a dagger tucked into my bosom.
