A flat piece of ground had been dug into Half-Blood Hill; inside of the camp. Elsa's sarcophagus was placed on the flat piece of ground, only a couple of meters away from Thalia's pine tree. The sides of the sarcophagus were visible though, to show what she had done. The marble pedestal was a couple of feet away from the tree, which had the Golden Fleece hanging off the branches. Peleus the dragon was dismissed for the day. The lid of the sarcophagus was sitting on the ground, next to the actual thing, which was open. Inside was a pale blue satin pillow, and white satin embroidered with snowflakes in different shades of blue covering the bottom of the sarcophagus. It was like a bed. Nico wished that she were only sleeping so much that it hurt.

So many campers had come to pay their respects. This was optional for everyone. But there were more people clad in black than Nico could count, many of them holding flowers. The majority of the flowers were blue and/or white.

Nico was carrying Elsa's body to the sarcophagus; her final resting place. Everybody made way for him. Hazel was close by Nico. When he reached the sarcophagus, her carefully lowered her inside. He made sure that she was in an acceptable position. Lying flat with her hands placed on her stomach… He fixed her dress so that it wasn't willy-nilly. He moved her braid over her shoulder. Nico gazed down at her face before Hazel placed a hand on his shoulder, silently coaxing him away. He allowed her to move him back a few feet. Chiron cleared his throat.

"Campers, we are gathered to celebrate the life and mourn the death of Elsa, daughter of Khione and princess Arendelle." Chiron announced. "Beloved daughter to her adopted mother, and beloved sister to her sister Anna, and her good friend Nico di Angelo." Hazel rubbed circles into Nico's back. "She grew up as the crown princess of her small kingdom. Unfortunately, she was never able to claim her birthright. From age eight forward, she was isolated from her sister; Anna. Anna never truly gave up on Elsa." Nico remembered how Anna would knock on the door when he was there, and beg Elsa to come out, speaking Norwegian, and how Elsa would (with a heavy heart) reject her and tell her to go away, also in Norwegian. "When she was twelve, Elsa met Nico di Angelo. Lonely, Elsa and Nico bonded." Nico closed his eyes, remembering how Elsa had offered him to eat with her. He'd accepted. "The two became good friends. He'd secretly visit her." All of those times… Shadow-traveling to that closet of childhood things belong to Elsa… "Eventually, they began to love each other like siblings, though they didn't realize it at first. As some might know, platonic love isn't as noticeable as romantic love, despite it being stronger, unless it is stronger than most." At this, Nico lifted his head, and just looked at Chiron, confused, while he went on to talk about the things that Nico and Elsa had gone through. This speech made all of his memories resurface, though he was mainly contemplating what Chiron had said about platonic love usually not being as noticeable as romantic love, even though it was stronger.

Hazel kept an arm around Nico, doing her best to comfort him. He didn't even notice when he started crying. She rubbed his arm again, feeling useless, as she didn't know what else to do. Hazel didn't know how to make him feel better.

When Chiron finished describing Elsa's life, highlighting the struggles she went through, the challenges she made and the sacrifices she made.

Nico was standing right in front of the marble pedestal saying who she was, when she was born, when she died, and… Her last words. His lips trembled. Who knew that the three words could have such an effect on him? But he did know. Elsa had given up all of the love in her heart in order to stop Khione and the Boreads. And now she was dead. Gone, forever.

"Nico," Chiron called the son of Hades forward. He, as if on autopilot, stepped away from Hazel. "You may place this dagger with her." Nico was handed the dagger he'd given Elsa on her thirteenth birthday. His lips trembled and he released another round of tears. She'd never used it, but she'd kept it. He couldn't help but wonder how the battle might have gone, had she used it and the army of the undead that would have arisen. Would she have gotten out alive? Nico pushed that thought out of his head. There was no use in wonder what might have been, had this or that happened instead. Nico didn't know exactly what had happened. For now, there was no way of knowing what did happen.

He approached the side of the sarcophagus again, and placed the dagger handle (the blade pointing towards her feet) under her hands. He curled her fingers around it, as if Elsa's corpse would need it to protect her.

Nico looked over at Chiron, who held out a bouquet of different blue and white flowers. Nico recognized a sprig of blue forget-me-nots, a pure white rose, a white carnation, a white daisy, a dark blue rose, and several snowdrops. The bouquet was small, and Nico got the message that he was to place it in Elsa's hands as well. He put it in the hand that wasn't holding on the dagger; on top of it. A shroud was brought out. Clarisse and Thalia were called forward as well, since they were the ones who had gone on that quest; up that mountain, and had been there when Elsa was kidnapped by Khione.

The shroud was dark blue satin. Embroidered on it were small white snowflakes, as well as the Arendellian crown (multiple times). Above her head was the tiara that she'd created. Over her heart was a white heart, with pale ice blue woven here and there. Above her hands was the palace that she had created.

Clarisse and Thalia were each given one end of the shroud. They stretched it out. Nico pleaded at them with his eyes. They waited patiently, not judging him. Nico kissed his fingertips, tears falling from his eyes, and placed them on her forehead.

"Goodbye Elsa." He croaked. His voice was lost in the wind. "Mi sorella." Hazel wrapped her arms around him; pulling him back, and he rested his head against her, crying into her. She didn't react, just rocking her half-brother from side to side, kissing his hair, tears in her eyes.

Clarisse and Thalia lifted the lid of the white marble sarcophagus off the ground. They, slowly and with care, placed it on top of the bottom portion. It magically sealed, once placed correctly, showing the intent of it never being opened again. Everyone bowed their heads in respect for the young demigod who fought just to be free, but never fully accomplished it. She was free now. She was safe.

Slowly, in small groups, the campers began to leave, though Nico, Hazel, Clarisse, and Thalia stayed. Chiron stood near them. Once it was just the five of them, Chiron spoke up.

"I wish I'd been able to get to know her." He sighed. "She was capable of so much, from what I heard. It is truly unfortunate and a tragedy that she died so young, not having been able to live up to her full potential." Sensing that the four demigods needed time alone, he left after saying that.

Only two of the four demigods knew each other very well, for they were brother and sister, despite the other two having gone on a quest with Nico.

Hazel looked around, and quickly saw that she was the odd one out; she'd never met Elsa, or seen her alive. She felt slightly awkward in this small group of people who actually knew her, and had Elsa touch their life.

"Nico," She murmured. "I'll be back at the cabin, okay? You can come there when you're ready." She rubbed his back once more, and released him. She quickly gave him a kiss on the cheek before leaving.

Nico sank to his knees, his shoulder shaking from the intensity of his sobs. His eyes were waterfalls of tears. Neither Thalia nor Clarisse was crying as hard as he was, but they understood the fact that he had known Elsa longer. He'd known her best. And he was the one who missed her the most. He was the one who felt most guilt. Yes, Thalia and Clarisse replayed the scenario in their heads, trying to figure out what they could have done differently in order to save Elsa and ultimately prevent her death, but Nico replayed the scenario more than they did. He thought of his memories, desperate to hold onto every second of his memories that had Elsa in them. He never wanted to forget her again. However, when he replayed when Khione took Elsa in his head, it hurt the most because he knew that there was absolutely nothing he could have done to prevent Khione from kidnapping her. It killed him on the inside, admitting this to himself.

Eventually, Clarisse and Thalia left; giving Nico some privacy. He, upon seeing that he was alone, rose to his feet and slumped over the sarcophagus, and continued crying on it.

"I miss you, Elsa." He choked out through his sobs. "How am I supposed to go through life without you? You're my sister. You understand me. Only you truly know and everything that's happened to me. I love you Elsa. I… I need you." He cried on her sarcophagus for a little while longer, before summoning the strength to go back to the Hades cabin.

When Nico walked away, he didn't notice that on her sarcophagus appeared a bouquet of snowdrops, secured together with a black ribbon.


A/N: This is NOT the end. We still have eight chapters to go. We're gonna change gears for the next few chapters.

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