Elsa awoke to the cries of the bear that quickly transitioned into Gerold's screams. She rolled off the bed where the two of them had fallen asleep and hid her face from the sight as once again she could hear his bones cracking, working to fit back into human size. When it was all over, Gerold lay still, his body shaking as he took gasping, groaning breaths. Elsa could only imagine the pain he must be in, even with the transformation over – his body sore and aching from what it had just endured.
"Don't!" Gerold gasped as Elsa reached out to touch him in an effort to comfort him.
She pulled her hand back, realizing her mistake. And then she thought she'd try calming him as she had done once before and sent a cool breeze around the room. Gerold seemed to relax. He tentatively lowered his hands to his chest, which had previously been shaking in front of his face. He closed his eyes, and though his body still shook and his breathing came in short gasps, his groans of pain ceased.
"It helps," he managed.
Elsa climbed back into bed to be beside him and made sure he was well covered for propriety's sake. "Are you all right?"
He nodded, his eyes still closed. His breathing was slowly returning to normal, his body shaking less. "Not usually… fully conscious… for the… transformation back."
"I'm sorry," said Elsa automatically. In freeing him from the mind of the bear, she'd made him more susceptible to the trials of the transformation.
But Gerold shook his head. "It was good… to… get some sleep."
Elsa didn't know what else to do, so she simply lay beside him. Eventually, his body adjusted from what it had just experienced, and Gerold opened his eyes and turned his face to hers. He reached out a hand to grasp her arm. "The guards should come in soon. They do so every morning to help… help me dress."
"You remove your clothing for every transformation?" she clarified.
He nodded. "Otherwise the bear would tear right though them. I'd lose a lot of nice shirts that way."
Elsa gave snort of laughter, and Gerold smiled at her.
"I think I'd like to have breakfast with my brothers," he told her suddenly.
"Are you sure you're up for that?" He didn't look particularly well.
"It's been a long time since I've actually achieved a good night's rest," he told her. "My body might feel abused, but I'm awake, and I'd like to see them."
Elsa nodded. She understood, and she was sure his brothers would be more than delighted to see him, as well.
The guards came in a few minutes later, and Elsa left the room as they helped Gerold dress. Then they supported him as they helped him from the room, Gerold leaning on them both and looking like the effort to remain upright was strenuous. But he didn't complain as they half carried him down the hall.
There were immediate cries of surprise from the table as Gerold entered the hall and his brothers saw him coming toward them. Staffan and Henrik took over for the guards and helped Gerold into a chair by Einar's side. Elsa stood by and watched the scene, nearly forgotten by the men before her until Gerold mentioned he wanted her sitting next to him.
His brothers asked him several questions, from how he was feeling to why he had felt well enough to have breakfast with them. When Gerold explained Elsa had stayed in his room with him, silence fell among the table. Elsa looked up at Einar who seemed torn between fury and impossible hope.
"Then… the curse…" said Henrik, voicing what they all feared to ask. "Is it…?"
Gerold shook his head. "I don't know. The transformation happened as it always does. You fulfilled the conditions the trolls said were necessary," he added to Elsa's confused look. "But… if the curse has lifted, there's been nothing to indicate it."
The brothers argued back and forth, debating amongst each other until, at last, Einar quieted them down. "Enough," he told them. "I think what is most important is our brother has joined us for breakfast. We should celebrate that, not focus on things beyond our control."
Gerold smiled his thanks, and the mood at the table instantly changed to a joyful one. The brothers began debating the best ways to celebrate, including what deserts would be appropriate for breakfast. They asked Gerold what dishes he would like for a celebratory feast.
"Something I can eat with my face," he said jokingly, for his hands had started shaking again from the effort he was demanding of them to hold a knife and fork. Elsa took it upon herself to feed him.
When breakfast was over, the brothers went out to the beach. They made a chair out of sand for Gerold to sit in while he watched Henrik, Staffan, and Frans splash in the water. Eventually, they came back for Gerold and carried him in. Surprisingly, he felt better in the water and was able to partake in their antics so long as he was in an area where he could touch the sea floor.
Lunch involved an overly extravagant meal, followed by games in which Gerold could sit and still enjoy along with friendly conversation. Dinner was even more extravagant than lunch. And while Gerold's physical abilities improved through the day to where he was able to hold himself up without help so long as he didn't try to walk more than a few feet, his demeanor declined. Elsa could tell he was preoccupied with the idea that the curse might not have broken and he'd soon be back in his room suffering another transformation.
It came close to nightfall, and Gerold insisted he return to his room for the night. If the curse had broken, they he'd be able to tell them when the guards went in to check on him in the morning. For safety reasons, they were to proceed as though the curse were still active.
Elsa didn't like the idea, but there was no talking Gerold out of it. She offered to stay with him through the night as she had done before, but he insisted it was too dangerous. There was no telling if he'd become trapped in the bear's mind again, and Elsa had already risked her life once. He would not let her do it again. And so, reluctantly, she stood outside Gerold's door and watched as he walked into his room before the guards closed the door and blocked him from view.
Though most of Gerold's brothers had resolved themselves to waiting till morning to discover the truth about the curse, Frans stood with Elsa outside the door to Gerold's room. They'd both put so much effort into setting things right, they weren't willing to wait to know the results.
Elsa took a step forward. "Let me in," she told the guards.
They looked at each other, considered her, and then nodded. Since she'd survived the previous night, Elsa assumed the guards didn't think she was at much of a risk. They opened the door quickly, planning on giving Elsa a few moments to dart inside before shutting it again, but there was no need. Night had fallen, but Gerold was standing in the middle of the room just as he had been when he had walked in. The transformation hadn't come.
His face was turned from her and though she called him, he didn't respond. She walked over to him and placed a hand on his shoulder, to which he jumped. He turned to her slowly, and she could see the tears rolling silently down his face. Elsa took him into her arms, and he collapsed to the floor, taking Elsa down with him as he finally let go and sobbed into her shoulder.
Gerold was free, and no one could understand the full weight of that fact more than him.
Celebrations were truly set in place the next morning. Invitations went out across the Isles for the palace's first real party in a very long time. Elsa was reminded strongly of her Coronation Day as the servants ran to and fro to get everything in place. As Elsa had, Gerold found himself feeling a little uneasy over the whole prospect.
"Your brothers are just glad you can finally live your life," she told him while a servant measured him for fittings. He was a lot stronger today, having not suffered the grueling transformations from the night before. He looked much closer to the man she'd first met when he'd arrived in Arendelle.
"I know," Gerold told her. "But couldn't we have celebrated quietly, like yesterday?"
"They have to introduce you back into society somehow." Elsa reasoned. "The Lost Son of the Southern Isles."
Gerold sighed. "It's been so long since I've had to mingle with strangers."
"You did fine with me," she reminded him.
"Yes," he admitted. "But you were just one person. And you were so inviting and beautiful, you made it easy."
She beamed at him, even though she felt he was over exaggerating her manner at the time they had met. She'd wanted absolutely nothing to do with him. It was funny now how things had changed.
No expense had been spared for the celebration. The halls were filled with guests and delicate foods and lights and music and dancing. Elsa lost herself in the fancy clothing. Einar had a dress hastily made especially for her for the occasion, but she missed her own clothes. And she felt slightly under dressed compared to some of the elaborate gowns in her closet at home - which undoubtedly took more than half a day to make. Still, it was more than worth it to see Gerold dressed in his princely attire – quite a change from the worn clothing he'd worn before. She could tell he wasn't comfortable in the eloquent suit – a refitting from one of his older brothers, she would later learn – but she thought he looked quite charming in it.
It shouldn't have surprised her, but it did, when through all the pomp and circumstance, Gerold crossed the threshold from where he had been announced to where Elsa was standing by the wall, took her hand, and proceeded to dance with her song after song. He seemed too afraid to let her go and risk getting swept up in undesirable politics.
"All those eligible young ladies," Elsa teased. "You won't humor at them all?"
"If I must dance," he told her. "Then I don't see why I should force myself to dance with those I don't wish to." His stubbornness was probably for the best. He'd been out of practice for a long time, and while Elsa had quickly learned how to cover his missteps, she was certain he wouldn't impress anyone with his skills.
"But you're the Lost Son," she told him. "Just newly returned. How could you have set your sights so quickly on me?"
"Any man with eyes," he insisted. "Could understand how quickly I could come to that conclusion."
She stopped teasing him because she was certain she was blushing. She wasn't used to such compliments, but they were nice to hear, even if some stubborn part of her felt like rolling her eyes.
"Do you think we could manage to escape?" he asked her after a while. She could tell he was tiring from the physical effort of dancing, and she hadn't failed to notice some dirty looks being thrown their way from some jealous young women.
"Perhaps," she told him, and they eventually managed to slip into a servant passage and out the castle down to the father side of the beach. It was quiet there and devoid of guests.
Gerold took in the fresh air and leaned against the cliff face, looking peaceful.
"I don't know what I would do with you in Arendelle," she teased. "You'd have to lock yourself up in a room to avoid all the politics."
Gerold shrugged. "I'm sure we could find a few moments out of the day to escape together."
"You think I'd evade my queenly duties?"
"You're doing it now," he reminded her. "You've been doing it all week."
That was true. She'd actually forgotten. She'd been so certain that her place had been here in trying to help Gerold that she'd spent little time questioning her decision to leave Arendelle. Being in the Isles had just felt right, and it still did.
"You know," he said, pushing himself off from the cliff face and stepping toward her. "I never did thank you."
"You don't have to," she told him. "I did it because… I wanted to."
He took her hand and gently pulled her toward him so her arms were in his. "Just because you wanted to?"
She looked at him and took a soft, gasping breath. She knew what he wanted her to say, but it was difficult. She might be able to admit her feelings to his brothers and even to herself. He might know the words were true without her speaking them, but for her to say them out loud to him was another matter entirely. The curse had broken, she knew what that meant, but speaking the words to him would make it more real than she was willing to face.
It had barely been two weeks. The very idea of the thing was preposterous. People didn't fall in love this quickly – not rational people like herself. To admit her feelings now would mean she was just as silly as her sister had been when she'd agreed to marry Hans the first day they'd met! No matter how strongly she felt, no matter how certain she was she could trust Gerold, no matter how willing she'd been to risk her life for him, she couldn't let go of her stubbornness. She turned away from him, regrettably.
"Okay," he said, as she removed herself from his arms. "Then I'll say it." She turned around to face him, partially terrified of what she was about to hear. "I love you."
Elsa brought a hand to her mouth, silencing another gasping breath.
"Your beauty, your kindness," Gerold continued. "Your intelligence – good, god, your determination." Elsa hid her face in her hands, trying to shield herself, but each word touched her heart. Gerold stepped to her and gently pulled her hands from her face. "Your awkwardness," he added smiling. He held her hands tightly in his. "I'll make you a list ten times as long if you want it." He lifted her chin so she was looking up at him. "You are an extraordinary woman, Elsa, and I love you."
Elsa stared at him. She wanted to respond so badly that tears formed in her eyes and she couldn't help but wonder at exactly why she was holding herself back. She wanted this. She had wanted it from that day at waterfall. She'd crossed an ocean and defied a king to get to it. There was no use running from it anymore. "I love you too," she finally admitted.
Gerold took her into his arms and kissed her deeply. She responded by grasping his jacket and pulling him closer. They became a reaching, clutching mass of arms and lips, seeking each other as desperately as they'd done the night they'd both agreed they'd be better off on their own. But they weren't agreeing to that now, their passion spoke of something different, of the possibility of a long future together that neither of them had the slightest desire of letting go of.
Elsa titled her head back as she removed her lips from his and came up for a breath of air. Gerold moved his lips to drop a trail of kisses down her neck that set off sweet bursts of sensation. She could feel herself going lightheaded from it all, and Gerold swept her up into his arms and carried her back to the cliff face where he sat her on her feet. She leaned against the rock, using it for support as she sought him again, their kissing and passion leading them further than every second of their princely and queenly training had taught them was appropriate to go. Yet, they didn't care. There was nothing but the two of them and this night. And tomorrow, they'd have that day as well, and on and on they'd be together. Nothing had the strength to part them anymore.
Nothing except the sound of someone clearing their throat just above them up the path.
They pulled away from each other, gasping for breath and straightening their clothing. Gerold's jacket had become completely unbuttoned, and Elsa's hair had come loose from the braid she had tied it up in. She was missing her hair tie, and Gerold seemed to be missing a button. Still, they composed themselves as best they could to the laughter of their observer.
"Would your majesties like a room prepared?" asked the young servant girl, whom Elsa recognized as the strange girl she'd seen the first night she'd gone looking for Gerold's room.
She pushed herself in front of Gerold reflexively, trying to guard him from whatever the woman was about to do. But the servant girl laughed and snapped her fingers. Elsa turned around to find she was now leaning against the cliff face, the rock having jutted out and swallowed Gerold up from where he'd been standing just behind her.
Elsa yelled his name and clawed at the rock while the young woman continued to laugh.
"Don't fret, dear," she said, the sweetness in her voice dying. And Elsa saw her features become thin and pointed like before, only they didn't flicker this time. This time, they stayed and deepened. "He's under no harm."
"What did you do?" Elsa insisted.
"Just put him someplace he can't interfere," she said, her features continuing to change, to become more pronounced and grotesque. Her limbs were gnarled like twisted tree branches. Her tattered clothing and black matted hair blew in the ocean breeze like moss. Her eyes were piercing like lanterns.
"What do you want?" Elsa asked, more angry than afraid.
"The same thing I wanted twenty years ago," said the Troll Princess, her voice becoming high and gravely. She pointed a twisted finger at the outcropping that had been Gerold. "That man will be mine."
"What would you even want with him?" Elsa yelled back her. "What would be the point?"
She gave a nasty grin, revealing her pointed teeth. "The point, my dear queen, is to tear apart this family of royals," and she spat on the ground. "Who arrived on this land and took it from us trolls who lived here. Our Southern brethren might play nice, but us Northern trolls know the only solution is blood." She drew a jagged nail across her arm, cutting into the skin. She dipped her finger along the line, then brought the reddened tip of it into her mouth.
Elsa didn't recoil. Finally, she'd had Gerold. Finally, they'd been able to be together. And again, this woman had gotten in the way. She would not back down. She would not give in. She would win this fight. And then she and Gerold would go home.
The Troll Princess raised her arms and the ground moved beneath her, carrying her along the path down to the beach until she stood in front of Elsa, who recognized the presence of power in another being. She had ice, and the Princess had earth. "And now, my rival," she sneered. "I shall destroy you."