Chapter 9
Prisoner
"We are products of our past, but we don't have to be prisoners of it."
― Rick Warren, The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here for?
"Is this really necessary?"
Anna smiles as she fixes the garments resting on Killian's shoulders. She pats down the clothing, letting it glimmer in the candlelight as they wait to be introduced at the ball.
"It's tradition Killian."
"I looked fine before."
"It's a ball," she drawls, "You looked completely unkempt."
"The ladies didn't think so."
"As if you truly cared about what they thought. Face it. I'm the only one that matters."
Killian shook his head, bemused and sighed. "And that shall be my curse. You're the only woman I'll ever love."
Anna looked at him, her glacial eyes sparkling and her golden gown glowing.
"Don't say that. One day, and maybe today, you'll find the woman of your dreams. She'll fight you every step of the way, she'll be radiant, and you'll fall under her spell the moment you meet her you hopeless romantic."
"You really believe that?"
"With all my heart."
…
Killian sighs as he and Emma trudged up the mountain. They need to stop for new clothes soon, the royal garments making them cold and wet.
"Killian up there."
The pirate looks to where Emma is pointing only to see a little shop with a faint sight of smoke coming up from the chimney. It was a small and quaint cottage, but it would provide, hopefully, some warm clothes and supplies they'd need.
"Well, looks like we're going shopping."
"Got any money on you?"
"Love, I'm a pirate. We've always got gold on us."
"Why am I not surprised."
Killian shot Emma a saucy grin and wink as he proceeded on ahead of her to the wooden door. He banged on it as Emma shivered. Killian pulled her into his side, trying to provide a futile attempt at warmth. No one answered.
"Maybe it's unlocked?"
"Worth a shot I suppose."
In true pirate fashion Killian raised his boot and kicked down the door.
"Was that really necessary?"
"Pirate."
The blonde merely rolled her eyes as strutted past Killian into the shop. Heat immediately shot to her core as she could feel the warmth the fires in the shop provided. There were only summer items that covered the shelves.
"Great…what a selection."
"We just need to find their winter supply love."
"Ello! Big summer blowout!"
The pair whipped around to find a large man sitting there with a colourful knitted sweater and a tiny hat. His facial hair was blonde and his eyes twinkled as his nose seemed to be dabbed red.
"Um hi. Do you by chance have any winter supplies?" asked Emma.
"Over there."
The man gestured to a tiny pile of clothes which was a man's set and woman's set (how convenient). There's a skirt, corset, shirt, boots, and a heavy cloak for Emma while Killian has the same but pants instead of a skirt and a vest rather than a corset.
They quickly hide themselves in the aisles, separate from one another as they change from the summer clothes into the winter ones. As soon as their done Emma browses the aisles for more supplies as Killian pays for what they need.
"Mate, any chance you can instruct us on how to get up the mountain?"
"No sir. Too dangerous. I cannot leave my family."
The man points to a family in a sauna who all wave hi. Killian shudders due to the nakedness (the only naked person he wants to see is Emma) and turns his attention back to the man.
In that moment the door bursts open and inside walks a burly man covered head to toe in snow. He stormed up to the counter, and slammed a bag of carrots and other items on the desk.
The shopkeeper tells him the amount and it turns out the stranger doesn't have enough so he storms back out. Killian watches on, keenly, curious as to the man's intent.
Emma appears by his side then with their own supplies and the pirate adds the stranger's products to his purchase. He pays and he grabs the stuff and leaves with Emma by his side.
"Killian, what's with the extra stuff? We don't need it."
"A man came in here earlier. See that sled? It's his. We can use this stuff to get him to lead us through the mountain to my sister."
"Okay and where is this guy?"
Killian gestures over to the barn off to the side where a faint glow shines out from the bottom crack of the door.
"In there."
The pair proceeded over to it and Emma opens it as Killian throws the tools down at the now blonde man's feet. He's strumming some sort of guitar and shoots a glare at the pirate.
"And uh what exactly is this?"
"Payment."
"For?"
"Guiding us up the mountain."
The man stares at the pair and then begins to laugh.
"You want to go up the Northern Mountains in this weather? No way. You're kidding…right?"
Silence rang in the air.
"You're not kidding. Okay look, I'm an ice guy. I sell ice not lead people up suicide missions. Sorry but not interested."
Killian raises an eyebrow and tosses down the carrots. A reindeer then rushed towards the carrots and began happily munching away.
"Now you have to mate."
"Seriously Sven? Really?"
"Look, what my friend here is trying to say is we need to find someone who is in those mountains, we'd really like it if you could help us…uh…"
"Kristoff. My name is Kristoff."
"I'm Emma. Can you help us?"
Kristoff sighed and looked to Sven and then to Killian.
"Fine. We leave tomorrow."
"No. We leave now. I don't want to lose any more time."
"Fine. We'll leave now. Let me just get my sled ready. C'mon Sven."
Kristoff and Sven left the barn leaving Emma and Killian behind. Emma placed her hand on Killian's arm as a sign of reassurance.
"You really think he'll help us?" asked Killian.
"He's our only option to find her. We've got to take that chance."
The pirate sighs and turns his gaze to the blonde who looks at him with trust. It makes Killian's heart flutter to know that he's finally gained it.
"Very well then. Let's go."
The pair then headed outside to follow Kristoff into the deathly Northern Mountains.
…
Snow screamed in agony as the pain shooting through her body with unthinkable pain. She hated this feeling, but then again who doesn't?
"The baby's coming m'lady, just a few more pushes." declared Mrs. Potts. Snow screamed again, her grip tightening on Charming's hand. Regina stood by with Robin, watching and wincing at certain moments.
"Almost there…two more pushes!"
Another scream of agony.
"One more push!"
Another scream ripped through the air until finally Snow collapsed onto the bed, heaving for breath and the sweat glistening on her flushed body.
"Congratulations. It's a boy."
Mrs. Potts cleaned the baby boy off and then wrapped him up, handing him to Snow who took him into her arms gratefully.
"Hi there little boy."
Snow watched as the baby soon fell asleep in her arms and Charming leaned over, looking at the precious bundle.
"You were great Snow."
The princess sighed underneath the affection her husband gave her and stared at the baby in her arms.
"He's beautiful. If only Emma were here."
All to soon Sverre rushed in thought, running the happy moment.
"Mrs. Potts!"
"Good heavens Sverre? What is going on?"
"Someone's at the wards. They're trying to break in!"
"Oh no! What can we do? The Queen isn't here!"
"Get your maids to safety, take these people with you. I'll get the knights and Calvary ready."
Charming pulled out his sword, looking Sverre in the eye.
"We're coming with you. You need us. Snow, stay with Mrs. Potts and keep the baby safe."
Snow nodded wearily, too tired from the earlier events. Mrs. Potts rushes about and gets the maids to pick up Snow and the baby and get them to safety.
"You know where we will be Sverre. And do not fear, the Queen will come back and save us. It's what she does best."
…
"Killian?"
"Hm?"
Anna smiles at her brother as he lies on the grass, distracted by the latest sea faring novel. His hair is spread out, not in its usual ponytail. She likes it better that way, it's more natural, more him. She sits on the swing, the breeze drifting her locks away from her face. Her glacial eyes glitter as she waits patiently for him to realize she's talking to him.
Soon the book falls on his chest and Anna's smile widens, knowing she has his full attention.
"Enjoying your book?"
"How can I not? It's all about daring adventure, pirates, rogues, fair maidens…"
"Father will have your head if he finds you dreaming again rather than focusing on your studies."
"it doesn't really matter anyway. I'm not going to be king, Liam will be. Where do I fit in in the royal life?"
"By my side of course."
"Oh? And how will that work?"
"Because you're my brother and I need you in my life just as you need me. One day you'll find the love of your life, your soul mate, and I'll be second plkace, but you'll come to me for all the girl advice because frankly, you're horrible with women."
"That's not true!"
Anna laughs. "Remember Sarah? The scullery maid? If I recall, you made a fool of yourself by falling into the fountain trying to impress her with you manly strength against Gavin which was stupid considering he's the best knight."
"He was being an idiot."
"He was doing his job." Anna says, looking on amused at Killian's childish reactions.
"He doesn't deserve her."
"Technically, she doesn't deserve you either."
"Like that matters."
"You may hate being royalty but knowing your luck, you'll fall in love with one."
"You sure about that?"
"With all my heart."
…
"Whoa…that's a huge sled."
"Yup, fully packed with enough room to fit a reindeer, and do you see this lacquer? Gorgeous."
Emma's eyes widened as Kristoff kept going on about his sled.
"He talks about that thing the way I talk about my ship." whispered Killian, leaning over into Emma's ear.
"Different strokes for different folks of however that expression works."
"I got the gist."
"Good."
"alright folks, the sled ready to go up the mountain. You two can hop in the back. Sven! C'mon over here buddy."
The reindeer trotted over to Kristoff and got himself tied up the sled. Kristoff then hopped on the seat and gestured for the pair to follow.
"Let's go guys, haven't got a lot of time till it gets dark."
Emma and Killian clambered onto the sled, the seat being too small for the trio. Emma sat squished between the large burly man and the pirate's lean frame.
"Alright Sven, go!"
Kristoff flicked the reins and Sven took off, the sun fading off into the distance as they entered the dark forest into the mountains.
"So Kristoff…what exactly do you do for a living?" asked Emma.
"I'm an ice man. I sell ice during the summer, and collect it in the winter."
"Ooh, that's a rough business to be in right now. That is really" Emma hit Killian in hte hcest with her elbow, death staring him in the process. "Ahem - that's unfortunate mate."
Kristoff shot Killian a hard glare to which he grinned in response. Emma slapped the pirate's shoulder to which he merely shrugged.
"Ignore him."
"Already done. If I can ask…what exactly brings you to wanting to go through the northern Mountains?"
"We're looking for someone."
"I got that much. Who exactly is it to be precise? If you explain their appearance, I might be able to find them quicker."
"Well she's got brown hair, blue ey-"
"She's the Queen." Said Killian quietly, his gaze directed straight to the forest, his face stone.
"Holy crap! You're looking for the Queen? Wait…is she the reason for this winter?"
"Yeah. Something like that." said Emma, her eyes looking at Killian.
"Dude I've never met the Queen but I'm not surprised. Always heard she had an icy attitude."
"It wasn't always that way."
Kristoff ignored Killian and kept on talking.
"How exactly do you plan on having her stop this weather?"
"Uh talking to her I guess?" said Emma.
Kristoff looked at Emma.
"Talking? You're going to talk to her…are you sure that'll work?"
"It's not like we've got any other ideas."
A howl echoed in the distance and Kristoff pulled on the reins, slowing down the sled.
"Kristoff?"
"Shhh. Wolves."
The trio sat quietly, waiting for the wolves to pass by.
"Fraid we can't do that mate."
"What do you mean?"
Killian pointed into the forest where sets of glowing eyes shone through the dark trees.
"Okay. Gotta run."
Kristoff flicked the reins and Sven took off, the sled sliding into full action.
"ALRIGHT. KILLIAN YOU HELP ME OUT, EMMA STAY HERE."
Killian scrambled to the back and began searching through the tools. The sled swerved to the right and he swore as he flew back, grasping onto the edge with his good hand. The rest of his body dragged in the snow.
"Killian!"
Emma grabbed the lantern and snapped the wood it was on in half.
"Hey! This sled is priceless!"
"I'll buy you a new one."
Emma stuck the wood in the lantern and watched as it began to burn. She climbed into the back and stretched and hand out to Killian as she swung the torch to scatter the wolves. The sled swerved to the left.
"Hold on Killian! I've got you."
Killian reached with his fake hand which Emma grasped and pulled only to have it come out of its contraption.
"Damn it."
She threw the hand aside and chucked the torch, using her now free hands to clutch onto Killian's good one and pull him up onto the back of the sled for safety. The torch sizzled out in the snow and soon the wolves began to come back.
"Hold on guys and uh…don't look down."
Emma and Killian shared a glance and then clutched on to the sides for dear life as the sled bumped and then went up.
The blonde looked over the side and then yelped, scrambling away into Killian's chest.
"Swan?"
"We're in the air…holy fuck we're in the air."
Killian's eyes went wide and he held on tight to Emma with his bad arm and used his good technically only hand onto the side. Soon the sled bumped again and the pair could feel it beginning to tip downwards to where the ground was very, very far away.
…
They're arms are linked as they walk through the marble halls. They're quiet, and it's moments before Killian has to leave for a mysterious location. Only Liam and their father know, and both are curious as to where Killian's going.
"So they told you nothing?"
"Not a word."
"Strange. Father I would expect but Liam…"
"I know."
"Well, I'm sure whatever it is it can't be bad. Liam would never put you in harm's way."
"Father would though."
Anna stops, her crimson dress swinging to her figure and back out to the tradition ball gown as she gives her brother an incredulous look.
"He would never!"
Killian takes both of Anna's hands in his own gently.
"Anna, I know you have a trust in him, but I don't. Not after what he did to mother."
Anna slowly removes her hands.
"Anna I didn't mean it like that…"
She smiles bitterly. "I know, it's just…it's hard to be that child and have people look at me with such distaste…"
Killian picks up her right hand and places it over his heart.
"I will never be one of them. You know that…don't you?"
"Of course Killian."
Killian kisses her forehead and takes her arm in his again as they continue to walk down the hall.
…
Elsa stands in the snow, her cloak flying away through the wind. She's on the mountainside and the snow is glowing white as night has officially arrived and the moon shines bright. It's fresh snow, and the only footprints showing are hers as she moved through it.
Soon Elsa collapsed onto the snow, staring up at the stars twinkling faintly. She's by herself now, the Queen not of Arendelle but of isolation.
She's somehow okay with that. Now she's far away from everyone so they can't get hurt. Not by her. Not by the storm inside that had been threatening to burst.
It was about time, really, Elsa couldn't have kept it in any longer. She tried though, she really did.
As she laid in the snow, her father's words went through her head and she slowly sings it out loud, ever so faintly, only for herself and the wind to hear. She doesn't know why, but she feels it's necessary.
"Don't let them in, don't let them see, be the good girl you always have to be, conceal, don't feel, don't let it show."
Anger begins to course through her veins as she sings that last few words. With a new fury she stands up and whips off her crown, letting it get buried by the wind and snow.
She's letting go of Arendelle, she's not interested in being their Queen anymore, not with the pain she endured there as a child and as the monarch. She was done listening to their words, or her father's for the matter.
Elsa walked forward, feeling something changing inside of her, getting colder than before. She welcomed it, she embraced it, because the cold was her friend, not her enemy as she had learned long ago.
The brunette stops and begins to wonder, so she reaches inside of her chest and pulls out the blue heart. It's not beating; it hasn't changed from the last time she'd taken it out. It's still rock hard, cold to the touch.
It's still pure ice.
With a grunt of pain she puts it back in and breathes out an icy breath.
Her gaze turned to the kingdom which seemed so much farther away now that she'd made it to the mountainside. Everything was much smaller now, only a glow from the kingdom's lights.
For once in her life, Elsa finally felt free.
She looked around at the vast space and then to her hands. Elsa knew her powers weren't what they used to be, but it didn't mean she couldn't do something amazing with them.
With new vigor she began to life her hands and watched in fascination as ice rose up from the ground, the snow rolling to the sides. She rose up herself on an ice plateau, watching it glitter and sparkle in the moonlight.
The ice and snow danced through her and around her as she created something so beautiful with a mere flick of her wrist. Her gaze was focused, her glacial eyes sparking with a new found fire.
She felt at peace with the wind and sky as she created her new home. Her power flurried through the air and ground, her soul spiraling in frozen fractals all around.
With one mere thought she crystallizes anything she wishes with one icy blast from her hands.
Elsa had never felt more at liberty. She was done with her past once and for all. Now, she would rest in her icy abode, being the Queen of isolation forever.
With that thought she looked over the vast setting, the moon illuminating Arendelle. She sighed and turned, slamming the ice doors behind her as she walked back inside.
…
"You must become Queen now Anna. The kingdom of Arendelle relies on you now."
"Olaf! She is too young!"
"Not now Mrs. Panns! She is the only heir to the throne, she must take it over!"
Anna sits silently listening to the servants bicker amongst themselves. She's still in shock. The throne is too uncomfortable, too big. The gold is too warm, reminding her of it being her father's throne, his chair.
He's dead now.
"Anna come along dear, we must get you ready."
She can't move. Mrs. Panns has to help her out of the the chair, holding on to her arms in case the princess falls.
Or is it Queen now?
…
Emma shuts her eyes tight, her grip tightening on Killian.
"Love, we'll get out of this."
"You two need to get out! Come to the front! I've got you!"
"C'mon love."
Killian grunted as he lifted the blonde up and the pair of them moved as quickly as possible to the front of the sled.
"Jump!" yelled Kristoff, who was on the cliff and holding onto the sled with just a rope.
"The pirate grabbed Emma's waist and threw her over to the cliff. She yelled and landed with an "oomph" into the snow. Killian then did a running start and leapt just as Kristoff let go of the sled.
Killian rolled into the snow, grimacing as a pain shot up his side.
"Killian?!"
Emma scrambled over to his side in the deep snow and knelt over him, grasping his face and looking on worried. Soon his eyelids fluttered open and the gapsed for air.
"Killian it's okay, I'm here."
His blue eys met hers and she smiled, relieved that he was okay.
"Swan?"
"Yeah?"
"Let's never do that again."
"Agreed."
The pair laughed briefly till the heard Kristoff groan. Emma helped Killian sit up, supporting his back as he moved,.
"Kristoff, what is it?"
"My sled…"
The pair moved over to looking over the ledge and saw a fire going on at the bottom of the cliff.
"Like I said, I'll get you a new one. Looks like we're walking up to wherever your sister is now Killian."
"It's a shame we left the horses behind. Bloody hell."
"Wait…the Queen is your sister?"
"Aye."
"Dude…that's awesome."
Emma smirked as killian rolled his eyes and began to head up the mountain.
"Let's just find her shall we?"
"Aye aye captain." laughed Emma as she and Kristoff followed the fuming pirate.
…
Anna stands behind the wooden doors to the chapel, nerves wracking her body. She's alone, waiting to be called in. her hair's done up in some fancy style and her robes seem to weight a ton.
The doors open and her feet begin to move forward of their own accord. This was never supposed to happen to her, to be in charge.
She stops in front of the priest, who speaks words of wisdom and God over her. She prays quickly, begging her holy father that if anything, he can stop this from happening.
It's futile though, because deep done she knows this was always her intended future, her fate.
The crown in placed on her head, declaring her Queen.
Finally, the time comes and she reaches for the orb and scepter.
"The gloves m'lady."
Anna freezes and looks to the priest. She slowly, with shaking hands, takes of the teal gloves and picks up the orb and scepter. She turns to face the congregation and they stand, bowing in her presence and then clapping. She feels the items becoming colder and she looks down to see the gold turning to white. She doesn't understand, not yet.
Anna quickly places the items back on the pillow and dons the gloves. From there clapping ensues and she makes her way out of the church to the reception afterwards.
She takes some time to herself, leaning against the wall, taking deep breaths.
She's never felt more like a prisoner than ever before.
…
A/N: I'm terribly sorry for the late chapter! But I hope you guys enjoy this because I certainly do!
Anyway, any other characters you guys wish to see in this story? Frome Frozen more specifically?
And I'm not posting the next chapter till I get 10 reviews. Don't blame me, it's Mole my muse. BLAME HIM! HE'S RELENTESS!
Anywho, enjoy! And much love!
~ Ember G.
