WOW over 1000 views and I want to thank everyone for checking out my story. I hope you like this next chapter. I am trying something new near the end so let me know what you think with your reviews. Enjoy!
The next few days passed similar to the others. Everyone occupied with their training during the day and preparing the castle and village the rest of the time. Elsa had done her best to explain to the people of the town what dangers were coming and while some had left, most had taken it upon themselves to prepare the city for what was coming. Since then, the city had been filled with the sound of hammers preparing barricades, merchants selling wares promising how they were necessary for your protection, and a tension was almost palpable amongst the citizens. And that tension continued to grow as more and more people began streaming into the city looking for refuge, their villages and homes having been razed. With them came increased amounts of fear, as stories told by the refugees began making their way through the town centers, bars and stores. The name Fenrir began to be whispered as if saying it too loud would cause him to appear.
"What is he waiting for? Why doesn't Fenrir just make his move?" Elsa paced in her study, something she had taken to doing whenever she had a moment to herself. Raiden had explained, head bowed and deep in thought as he and Elsa had been training on the ramparts of the castle, that it was likely that Fenrir was attempting to draw Elsa and whatever forces she possessed outside the protection of the castle; now that they were aware of his coming. "But what does he want?" Elsa asked at this point to herself, the debate over the topic having been a futile one.
"I don't know. I just don't know." Raiden had answered quietly to himself, before turning back to training with Elsa. But Elsa's mind was no longer focused on the challenges that Raiden threw at her, the faces of the refugees streaming into the city seemingly on a constant run in her mind.
Elsa had excused herself from some afternoon training in order to take care of royal business, but had spent most of the last hours anxiously awaiting something that she both dreaded and wished would simply be over. The stream of refugees had taken its toll on Elsa, as she knew deep down that all of this was somehow tied to her. But Elsa's anxiety was also due to the fact that she had not been sleeping well, as her nightmares had returned with a new intensity. These last few mornings she had taken to waking up with her bedroom completely frozen and she had ordered her guards away from her chambers both out of embarrassment from what they must have been hearing and out of fear that she may accidentally cause them harm. All of this simply compounded the anxiety Elsa was feeling. Her only grace came at brief moments throughout the night when her nightmares were interrupted by a tune that when morning came she could no longer remember, the terror of her nightmares having drowned it out.
"Elsa?" Elsa paused mid-step at hearing her sister knocking on her door. As much as Elsa wished to simply be alone, she knew the toll that her isolation had taken on Anna and in the spirit of repairing their relationship; Elsa had sworn to never refuse Anna her company.
"It's alright Anna. Come in." Elsa said, quickly doing her best to whisk away the frost and snow that had slowly been enveloping the study.
"I'm glad I found you. Raiden was looking everywhere and I told him..." Anna had walked into the room and was taking in Elsa's rigid posture, the stark drop in temperature from the hallway and the way everything seemed a little damp.
"You told him what?" Elsa asked impatiently. She loved her sister dearly but really just wanted to get back to her thoughts and being alone.
"Nothing, just that I would check inside the castle." Anna said turning her attention back to Elsa. "Elsa, is everything alright? I mean I know nothing is alright what with the whole army coming to attack us thing but you know you can - " Anna had taken a few steps towards Elsa but Elsa recoiled. Her anxiety and growing fear making her worried of lashing out at Anna.
"I'm fine, Anna. Really. You can tell Raiden that I need to focus on just being the Queen of Arendelle for today. And that I would rather not be disturbed." Anna noted that Elsa's tone seemed distant. Anna really did not like what she was seeing from her sister.
"Elsa, if there is something bothering you I want you to tell me. I noticed that you sent the guards and the servants away, but you don't need to keep your distance. Not from me. Tell me what's wrong. Please." Anna felt horrible feeling the need to ask for Elsa to open up to her, hoping that they had moved beyond that, but she could tell from the look in Elsa's eyes and the way she kept turning her body away from her that something was wrong. "Elsa..."
"Anna, I said I was fine. Now please, just - just go. Please." Anna noted the sound of desperation in Elsa's voice and took another step towards her, arms slightly open as if to embrace her. "I said GO!" Anna was slightly blown back from the sudden gust of snow and wind and Elsa had now totally turned away from Anna. "Please..." Elsa said in a small voice. Elsa's nightmares were flashing before her closed eyes, of hurting Anna with her powers and of the dark wolf's threat to harm everything that Elsa loved. Elsa had to hold back tears at hearing Anna slowly make her way back to the door.
"I'll be right here for you, when you're ready Elsa." Anna said quietly, as she slowly closed the door behind her. Hearing the click, Elsa's anguish at having to reject the last person she would ever want to hurt turned to a burning anger. The anger was at herself, at her father for not being here, at being queen, at the danger she had placed her kingdom in and her inability to protect it, at her own weakness, for being afraid of nightmares. She went to her desk, throwing everything to the floor, a storm now raging in her room. Finally exhausted, Elsa tossed herself on to her bed, and wept.
Raiden awoke with a start once he heard it. It was a scream, but not one of pain, but of abject terror. Almost breaking down his door in his haste, he sprinted down the darkened halls as he headed towards the source of the screams. Once he realized where the screams were coming from, he quickened his pace, and as he reached the beginning of the hall that led to Elsa's quarters, he knew he was right. What looked like a blizzard was emanating from the end of the hallway and the temperature was easily reaching freezing. It had been the wind of the storm that had carried Elsa's screams throughout the castle.
"ELSA!" Turning Raiden saw Anna, still in her nightgown, running towards the source of what she knew was her sister in distress.
"Anna, wait! It's not safe." Raiden had grabbed Anna around the shoulders but despite Raiden's firm grip she continued to struggle to reach her sister. "Anna! Listen to me, I need you to stay here. It's not safe. I will get to your sister but you need to promise me you will stay here." Raiden tried to get Anna to focus on his voice but she seemed unaware he was even holding her.
"Anna, what would Elsa do if she hurt you again?!" This got Anna's attention and seeming to finally comprehend what Raiden was saying to her, Anna slowly nodded her head. At that moment, Kristoff came crashing around the corner.
"Keep her here. I'll get to Elsa." Kristoff simply nodded as he took in the raging storm gaining strength in the hallway and took hold of Anna who went limply into Kristoff's arms. Seeing Anna was safe, Raiden turned his attention to the storm in front of him and bowing his head, began making his way towards Elsa's door.
It was horrible. Elsa was lost in the forest, unable to find the fjord, the ice blue wolf that had protected her, or anyplace to hide. The wolves simply circled her, always just out of sight, barking and howling, tormenting her. The blood red moon casting a macabre hue on everything. Elsa was on her knees, hands over her ears, but no matter how hard she tried, she could not block out what that horrible voice was saying to her.
"You think you can hide from me Ice Queen? You think you can hide your power? That your 'protector' can save you? You are mine. Your power is mine. I will destroy everything you love. The time is close and I will come for what you hold most dear. You. Are. Mine. Now...suffer." Elsa screamed as visions of all the harm her powers had ever caused flashed before her eyes. It was all she could see and all she could hear was that voice. Always that voice. But something else was coming. She felt as if she was being held down, she struggled against the restraints, but they were persistent. She continued to scream...
"NO! NO! NO!"
"ELSA! ELSA WAKE UP!"
Elsa's eyes flashed open, seeing a snow covered Raiden, ice blue scratches across his face and chest, releasing his hold on her wrists. Overcome, Elsa fell into his chest and cried. Raiden slowly embraced her, his strong hold and warm embrace eventually cutting through the grief that Elsa was feeling. Eventually, her sobs became whispers and she was able to regain her composure. Suddenly feeling very self-conscious, Elsa gently broke from Raiden's embrace.
"Y - You must think..." Elsa couldn't finish.
"I think you are someone carrying an impossible burden. I am here to help you and protect you Elsa, even from nightmares." Raiden said quitely. He remained on her bed, concern obvious in his face. Elsa sat silently for a few moments, just appreciating Raiden's presence. She had tried to follow Anna's advice and talk to Raiden outside of their training together, but he had seemed hesitant to engage in any kind of conversation that might reveal something about himself. But now, here he was comforting her as if she were a child. Elsa berated herself for losing this kind of control. She averted her eyes, embarrassed and ashamed for allowing her fear to get the better of her, and scooted further away from Raiden. Elsa could see from the corner of her eye Raiden seemingly struggling with wanting to say something, his arms slightly rising and falling, as if to embrace her again, but fell back to his sides. Instead, he rose from the bed and headed back towards the door.
"Raiden -" Elsa wasnt sure what to say. She was too afraid to be alone but not sure how to get him to stay. Raiden turned and seeing Elsa struggle, instantly recognized the look in her eyes.
"I'll be here Elsa. Your safe. Go back to sleep." Elsa stayed silent as Raiden slowly closed the door behind him, and once he was gone, Elsa realized that being alone was the last thing she wanted, but it was all she felt she knew. Elsa wasn't sure how long she laid there, too afraid to go back to sleep but too scared to open her door. She felt tears beginning to again well up in her eyes but paused when she began to hear something coming from outside her door. Sitting up, Elsa heard a humming coming from just outside her door. The melody seemed sad and matched how she was feeling, but when she began hearing the words, she realized that it was the words to the song that had been her only peace at night. The words spoke directly to her and she slowly laid down and listened to the words as she slowly drifted to sleep:
I wanted you to know I love the way you laugh
I wanna hold you high and steal your pain away
I keep your photograph, I know it serves me well
I wanna hold you high and steal your pain
'Cause I'm broken when I'm open
And I don't feel like I am strong enough
'Cause I'm broken when I'm lonesome
And I don't feel right when you're gone away
The worst is over now and we can breathe again
I wanna hold you high, you steal my pain away
There's so much left to learn, and no one left to fight
I wanna hold you high and steal your pain
'Cause I'm broken when I'm open
And I don't feel like I am strong enough
'Cause I'm broken when I'm lonesome
And I don't feel right when you're gone away
Elsa was again dreaming, but there was no forest and no red moon. She dreamed she was laying under the stars, her head resting against the soft fur of the giant dark blue wolf, his head up and alert as it kept careful watch. Sighing, Elsa rolled over and entered a dreamless sleep, her head filled with a familiar song.
After I had watched Frozen and then heard this song, I immediately thought of Elsa. Not sure if I will be putting in any more songs but just wanted to work it in somewhere. Really tried to convey the struggle that Elsa and Raiden have in being open and making real connections, hopefully I did alright. Anyways, please REVIEW! I really feed off of your comments and suggestions.