Chp9:
3 days later…
At about 2 o'clock in the day a servant knocked at Zoran's door. Zoran opened the door and the servant handed him a suit.
"Queen Elsa asked that you would wear something nice for the ball." The servant said handing him the suit. Zoran took the suit and said. "Tell Elsa the same thing." The servant nodded and left. Zoran looked at the outfit.
Then used his power to craft an exact black replica of the suit complete with a cloak and hood. Stealing a glance in the mirror he murmured to nobody in particular. "Elsa's got good taste." He glanced out the window and saw the port absolutely full of ships.
"This is the perfect moment to confess." His mom said from behind him. "Confess what?" His mother smiled knowingly. "Your feelings." Zoran laughed. "Ha ya like that's going to happen. I haven't even trusted her enough to tell her what happened to you."
His mother sighed. "Maybe you could fix that." Then disappeared. Zoran buried his guilt and marched out of the room. He reached Elsa's room a few seconds later. Elsa was wearing a navy dress. Her cloak was gone as was the gash that was normally in her dresses. Her sleeves weren't see through either. Her hair was the most striking differec though. It was out of its usual braid and hung loosely past her shoulders. Zoran looked at her with wide eyes though she couldn't see that.
"Good afternoon, Zoran." Elsa said smiling. Zoran smiled "Afternoon Elsa. Did Jones explain the plan?" Elsa nodded. "You are going to be my guard this evening." Zoran responded.
"Yes, but don't worry. I won't be standing at your side looking over your shoulder the whole ball but I'll always be near if you need me." Elsa looked at what he was wearing. Gathering up her courage she said.
"You look han… smart." Her courage failed her at the last second. "Thank you. You don't look half bad yourself." Not exactly what Elsa had wanted him to say but she guessed something was better than nothing. "You should were your hair down more. It looks good." Okay that was something Elsa had wanted to hear. "Really? I might I don't know." Zoran nodded. "Your choice but it looks really good." Elsa wished she had a hood.
She felt like he had a huge advantage against her. She smiled and said. "Thank you I will consider it in the future." When the two reached the balcony Zoran stood inside as Elsa walked forward to greet her guests. After a few minutes Elsa whispered as she waved.
"I'm surprised how many kingdoms came." "They're appeasing you. They want to stay on good terms with you." Zoran immediately regretted saying that when Elsa looked downcast and retreated from the balcony. Zoran reached out with his right hand and took her right hand to stop her. Elsa turned and Zoran saw a very cold face attempting to hide all her guilt and fear.
This made Zoran feel a hundred times worse. "Don't worry. They will learn to trust you. You mean no harm and you are an extremely kind person. They'll see you for who you really are in time." Elsa's cold face immediately melted and was replaced by a bright smile after hearing the kind words. But she still had a look of worry.
"It's just… I don't want to hurt anyone. Why do people still think I would?" Zoran shrugged. "Because they don't know you. You were suspicious of me when I first arrived. Now you trust me with defending you. Why?" Elsa considered this.
"Because you showed that you didn't want to hurt me." Zoran nodded and smiled. "So what are you going to do about them?" Zoran asked gesturing the window. "Show them I don't want to harm them." Elsa answered.
"Exactly." Zoran responded. Elsa's hand was still in Zoran's grasp. Elsa placed her other hand on his right hand. "Thank you, Zoran." Zoran shrugged. "It's what my mother told me." Elsa shook her head.
"No not just for what you said. Thank you for trying to protect me, thank you for helping to organize security, thank you for listening and understanding and thank you for saving my life." Zoran felt oddly uncomfortable.
He was naturally humble and always felt awkward when receiving praise. The fact that someone as beautiful as Elsa was giving him the praise didn't help. However he also felt very confident and rewarded, as if all he needed for repayment was for Elsa to smile. He didn't need anything else, as long as she was happy, he was happy.
"You're welcome, Elsa." As the pair walked to the ballroom Zoran said. "I'm starting to think the suit was a scheme in order to get me out of my hood." Elsa chuckled. "Maybe." When Zoran spoke next all humour was gone from it. "I know I haven't told you much about my past and I do aboligise." Elsa waved her hand dismissively.
"It's fine I shouldn't be pushing you for answers about something painful that may have happened to you." Zoran shrugged. "I still feel dishonest and I fell like I owe you so after the ball I'll tell you anything you want to know." Elsa froze for a second. "Anything?" She thought.
She was trying to keep a calm expression but inside she was bubbling with excitement. "Thank you Zoran. For trusting me." She said feeling honoured that he was willing to share his story with her. "You're welcome." The pair went down to the ball room which was already packed. A servant spoke as they entered.
"Presenting Queen Elsa of Arendelle." Everyone in the room bowed. Elsa gave a curt nod. Then the music played as if nothing had happened. Zoran was absolutely disgusted by the crowd. The crowed consisted of mostly of liars and schemers.
He did spot a few honest looking people but they were nothing like Elsa or Anna. Neither of them tried to be perfect and, especially Anna openly showed who they really are. Elsa in Zoran's opinion didn't even need to try. If she wasn't perfect then she was damn close to it.
"Queen Elsa." A man greeted as he stepped forward and bowed. The man was very well built and was dressed in regal clothes. He wore a magnificent crown. Zoran raised his eyebrow though was careful to hide it under his hood.
"King Ornstein." Elsa responded giving a courteous bow. When the man stood up Zoran noticed the southern isles emblem on the chest of his outfit. "I know that my brother's behaviour was absolutely despicable, but I am glad that you have chosen to keep our partnership despite the actions of my brother. It shows how wise and just a ruler you are and if I may beautiful too."
Zoran felt his eyes flash red. The normal glow from his eyes is masked by his hood but when he gets very angry or uses allot of power the red glow intensifies and often shines through the shadow of his hood. Zoran was quick to mask his eyes by adding more power to the shadow of his hood using his power. The quick shift in Zoran's mood went unnoticed by both Elsa and Ornstein. Elsa looked extremely uncomfortable.
"Ahh… thank you your highness." Elsa said awkwardly. "You're welcome. Now in celebration of this renewed alliance do you care for a dance?" "Um… Ah…I…" Elsa stuttered before she was dragged onto the dance floor. Zoran swore that his teeth would break because of how hard he was clenching them.
"IT'S NOT MY BUSINESS!" His subconscious screamed. "But you like her." His mother argued. "Then I should be glad she's happy. Now I need to focus."
His attention became entirely focused on the room as he watched for any signs of foul play. But the only foul play he saw was Ornstein and Elsa dancing. His blood boiled. He didn't even notice that his grip was so tight on his hands that he had drawn blood until Jones approached him and spoke.
"Zoran we have a problem." Zoran tore his eyes away from Elsa to address the captain. "What?" "The guards at the west gate are dead." Zoran was shocked but gathered himself quickly. "Alert all the guards, and tell them to gather in the halls outside the ballroom. I'll tell Elsa." Jones responded.
"Should we not spread out and look for them?" Zoran shook his head. "If we do then they'll pick us off one at a time." Jones nodded and left. Zoran pushed his way through the crowd. Elsa was still talking with Ornstein, or rather he was talking and she was smiling awkwardly and nodding. "Elsa!" Zoran said urgently as he approached.
Elsa looked extremely relieved and turned to him. "Yes, Zoran?" Ornstein snapped his head at Zoran. "Don't address a queen so casually, peasant. Royalty like us are above filth like you." Elsa spun on her kneel and slapped Ornstein.
"Zoran is my friend and he is equal if not better than everyone in this room." Zoran was surprised that such a gentle woman like Elsa had a fierce side. Elsa also seemed to be shocked at her own action. Zoran felt oddly satisfied though but didn't dwell on it.
"Elsa I appreciate the support but now is not the time. The guards at the west gate are dead. I instructed all the guards to gather outside the ball room. Is there anything else you want to do." Elsa looked understandably worried.
"Where are Anna and Kristoff?" Zoran turned quickly and gave the room a once over. He swore under his breath when he didn't see them. "Wait here. I'll find them." "No I'm coming too." Elsa argued. "No you're staying here where it's safe."
Zoran said as he disappeared into the shadow of a nearby wall. Elsa ran for the nearest door but was stopped by a guard. He stuck his sword out to block her path. "Apologies your majesty but you have an appointment in hell."
He said smirking and he swung his sword at her. Elsa reacted fast. She sent a column of ice up that knocked the man's swing skyward. She then brought her hands down as she shot him with a jet of ice that sent him into the far wall.
Elsa began scanning the room for hostiles. The silver fangs didn't see any point in hiding any longer and 12 weapons were drawn simultaneously. Elsa eyes narrowed as she shot ice into the ground. Spikes shot diagonally up from the ground and pinned the nearest assailant to that wall. Most of the royals ran to escape the battle but a few did stay and drew swords.
Jones drew his rapier and charged a silver fang. Elsa scanned the room and realised that the doors had been blocked while everyone had been distracted by her knocking out the first silver fang. "Anna, please be safe." Elsa thought as she raised her hands and met her assailants head on.
Zoran used the shadows to cover ground much quicker. Eventually he spotted a guard. Zoran came out of the shadows and ran to the guard. As he approached he called out.
"Guard have you seen Anna and Kristoff?" The guard turned quickly. If Zoran hadn't heard the man's sword unsheathe as he spun than the man would have cut Zoran in half. Zoran however leaped back but wasn't quick enough to avoid the blade completely.
The sword cut into his chest in an upward diagonal slash. Zoran gritted his teeth in pain. His attacker paused probably thinking he had killed Zoran. Then he raised his sword again. Zoran sprang forward and punched the man square in the jaw.
The man collapsed completely unconscious. Zoran's first instinct was to go back to the ball room and make sure Elsa was safe, but he knew Elsa would never forgive him if he picked her over her sister. So he managed to convince himself that she was safe in the ballroom and continued looking for Anna and Kristoff. He didn't have to look for long. A few halls later he saw Anna running with Kristoff at her kneel.
"Zoran! There was a guard, he attacked us. Kristoff knocked him out. You're bleeding. Is Elsa okay?" Anna asked desperately. "I don't know I left her in the ballroom to find you both." "Well we gotta get back." Anna said running past Zoran who became a shadow in order to move quicker. He quickly passed Anna and reached the ballroom door where the soldiers were trying to force open the doors. "What happened?" Zoran asked.
"Someone blocked up all the doors from the inside." One of the guards said. Zoran panicked and used the shadows to enter the ballroom. "Please be okay, Elsa. Please be okay." Zoran though. When he got inside the room he saw utter chaos. There were seven armed men fighting four royals, Jones and Elsa. At least seven guests lay dead the rest were cowering in a corner.
Elsa was in her element. She was chaining her powers together with the other people's attacks and was driving the silver fangs back. Zoran couldn't help but smile. He ran forward but as he did his vision blurred and he felt light headed for a seconded. He shook his head and kept running. He drew his sword and swung upward to stop a sword that was coming down on a guest. The silver fang growled. The man was huge. He was extremely tall and extremely muscular.
He wielded a massive greatsword and wore heavy silver armour that had a red feather coming out of the back of his helmet. The silver fang jerked his sword forward. Zoran quickly stepped back. The man swung a low horizontal strike which Zoran blocked. The man then swung a high horizontal slash which Zoran dodged by jerking his head backwards. The man used the momentum from the swing to do a spinning kick which hit Zoran in the gut and knocked the wind out of Zoran. Zoran fell to the floor and dropped his sword. The man rose his sword high above his head. Luckily for Zoran he also cast a long shadow which Zoran hid in when the sword came down on him.
The man looked confused for a second then Zoran shot out of the shadow and tackled the man causing him to drop his sword. The man kept his footing and after a few shaky steps back shot his knee up and met Zoran's head. Zoran was sent reeling and he tasted blood in his mouth.
Zoran felt himself getting weaker. Something was draining him, keeping his vision blurred and his head clouded. He wasn't thinking strait. The man punched Zoran in Zoran's daze. A punch that normally would have sent Zoran reeling forced him onto the ground. His legs were failing him. The man kicked Zoran while he was on the ground.
Zoran swore loudly and grasped his chest. It was then that he remembered the wound he had sustained while he was out looking for Anna. He looked down at his chest and noticed that a dull green liquid was mixed with his blood.
Then everything clicked. As a cold chill ran through him (he wasn't sure if it was caused by Elsa or the realisation of the danger he was in.) he collapsed onto his stomach. His vision was now extremely blurred and he didn't have any real strength left in him. He reached desperately for a vile on his belt. He felt two cold hands turn him over and Zoran though he could hear Elsa's voice. Using his last ounce of strength he whispered. "Elsa…Vile…Poison..."
Author's notes
This is my favorite chapter so far. I really like how the rewrite turned out. I'm going to try to get more chapters out quicker because I know most of you are probably waiting for Lords to come back.
Thank you for being patient with me. I'm sorry because I know how it feels to be dissappointed in someone. Just hang on I'll get this rewrite done then I'll get straight back into "Lords." Also I'm going to have a special one-shot for one of my followers who has requested this for quite some time via Pm.
I know he was upset with me after I took a break from "Lords" so I'll give him what he wants. Also because I still feel guilty about making you all wait so please accept the one-shot as an apology.
I know most of you have probably figured out what the one shot is and know that I am breaking my rule about no Lemons. (Shrug.) Rules were made to be broken.
Thanks for all the reviews follows and favs as usual.
Until next time!
Ninja-Cat Sif.