Percy was sat in the snow, and although he could keep himself from getting wet, that did nothing to protect him from the cold. Sharp, bitter winds viciously assaulted the mountain. He shivered, bringing his arms close to his chest, desperately trying to suppress the shudders that racked his body. Looking around him, he saw similar reactions being expressed by his friends, Leo and Elsa being the only exceptions.
They had decided to let Elsa rest for a while before making their way back to the kingdom. The woman was snuggled up against one of the hellhounds now, her breathing deep and heavy. Anna had been adamant when she told Percy that there was no way she was letting Elsa walk away from her this time and that she was sure that the Queen would come back with them. At least to see a doctor. He hoped she was right.
Percy had decided to use the free time they had to find out more about Kristoff. Listening to the man talk, Percy thought he did sound honest and in no way deceitful, but he couldn't let himself trust the man fully. Not after the horrific hellhound attack. Which lead him to his next question.
His face turned completely serious and he asked the man what had been nagging him since the first moment they encountered the blonde. "Why did you send the hellhounds after us?" He demanded, unable to keep the bitterness from his voice.
Kristoff quickly glanced towards Hans - who had finally wakened only moments after Kristoff had healed Elsa - but gave a small, barely audible gasp when he saw green eyes already glaring at him. Percy watched as the Prince gave a miniscule blink-and-you'll-miss-it shake of his head, a clear warning look in his eyes. He quickly looked back down at his bound hands when he saw Percy looking, tugging uselessly at the tight ropes wrapped around his wrists.
Percy turned back towards Kristoff, a mixture of emotions flashing across the blonde's face. Fear. Anger. Indecision. And finally determination.
He faced Percy. "I know I have no right to ask this of you, Percy." he began. "But I need your help." The look on Kristoff's face as he said those words told Percy just how much he hated to have to ask this of him. Percy didn't think the blonde had a problem asking him for aid, more that he generally hated to have to ask for help from anyone.
"You want… my help?" Percy said, gesturing at himself, clear bewilderment written all over his face.
"I-Look. I didn't send those hounds after you." Kristoff blurted. "He did!" he spat, waving his hand in Hans' direction. "Well, kind of. He made me do it!" Percy looked at the Prince, who had a deep scowl on his face, evidently having heard every word.
"What?!" Every set of eyes turned towards Anna, who was looking at the exchange between Kristoff and Hans in confusion. Percy hadn't even realised they'd been talking so loudly but, apart from Elsa who was somehow still sleeping, despite Anna's exclamation and the unrelenting gale force winds, all attention was focused on them. Anna turned to Hans, cheeks reddening, an angry scowl on her face. "You tried to have me killed. As well." It wasn't even a question, simply a statement and the Prince didn't make any attempt to deny it. He wouldn't even look at Anna, eyes glued on his hands instead.
This was the angriest Percy had seen Anna yet, and even he had to admit, she looked fierce and actually a little intimidating. Her fists were clenched tightly at her sides, her lips set in a thin line, her blue eyes hard and cold. Icy, even, like Elsa's.
Percy stood, stepping in front of the girl, effectively blocking Anna's view of Hans, who looked as though she was moments away from inflicting some serious pain upon the Prince, and knowing what Hans had done, Percy didn't exactly feel inclined to stop the girl should she suddenly become violent. If Kristoff was telling the truth, which Percy somehow suspected was the case, then Hans had not only hurt Elsa - nearly killed her, even - but he'd also sent the pack of hellhounds after the group, which could have resulted in all of their deaths. Although, the hellhounds had been useful to them in the end, but that wasn't the point, Percy reminded himself.
Anna was craning her neck, trying to peer around Percy and focus her steely glare on the Prince instead. Her whole body was trembling and her knuckles had gone white. Just as Percy thought he would have to make an intervention and possibly lead the Princess elsewhere to calm down, Anna backed away.
She turned and stalked back towards Elsa, but not before whipping her head around and focusing her stare on the Prince. "You're not worth it." she said simply, shaking her head. She reached Elsa, and sat before her sister, not giving Hans a second glance.
Percy turned back to Hans who looked furious. The Prince turned on Kristoff, tugging at the ropes around his wrists with increased vigour, and gave the blonde a look that Percy could only describe as pure hatred. "Your friend is as good as dead." he spat.
The colour drained from Kristoff's face.
The Prince, noticing this reaction spoke again. "I suspect he's being killed as we speak." he said, a nasty sneer on his face. Percy stared at the Prince in shock.
"What's he talking about?" Percy asked Kristoff.
"I'm sure they tortured him first though." Hans continued casually. Kristoff's hands were shaking. "Oh yes. I was clear when I told them that his death was to be long and painful." The Prince went on, chuckling wickedly.
That did it. Before Percy could even blink, the blonde had closed the little distance there was between him and the Prince, and had launched himself at the man. Kristoff was atop Hans, bringing his fist down on his face over and over and over again. Only seconds had passed, and Percy was already in action. He heard others behind him, no doubt Leo and Nico, they too, finally deciding to get involved. Percy had reached Kristoff in mere moments but the son of Apollo was clearly enraged and just as Percy reached him, he heard the undeniable crack of bone from below him, and watched as blood started pouring from the Prince's nose.
Stunned for only a moment, Percy quickly ripped Kristoff away from Hans, who was sprawled on the ground, laughing manically, streams of blood gushing down over his mouth and chin. Even Kristoff's punches hadn't been able to wipe away the wicked grin that seemed to be permanently plastered to the guy's face.
Percy leaned down, gripped the Prince's arm as tightly as he could, and started dragging him backwards as far away from Kristoff as he could get him, who was currently being restrained by Leo and Nico.
Hans still managed to shout threats at the blonde, clearly amused at the furious man struggling in Leo and Nico's grasp. Anna, who had jumped up as soon as she'd seen the two men fighting, stood before Hans. "Stop!" she screamed, glaring down at the Prince. "Just stop!"
Hans, apparently shocked by Anna's outburst, stopped whatever he was saying to Kristoff mid-sentence and gave the Princess a quizzical look.
"Wh-what happened to you?" she blurted. "I-I thought you c-cared. Or were you using me this whole time?"
"Oh, Anna." he said calmly with a nasty chuckle. Anna's eyes were already watering as she looked down at the man who she had cared so deeply for. Sure, they had only met a few days ago but Anna had truly believed that what they had had was true love. "If only there wa-" he was cut off abruptly when a large block of ice materialised before him, advancing forwards and forcing him to scramble backwards. Percy watched as the ice slid past him, following the Prince. Thin razor shards of ice sprouted out from the ice, ahead of the rest of the icy block, aimed right at the man's face. Suddenly backed up against a tree with nowhere else to go, this was the first time Percy had seen the man truly scared, his eyes widened in fear, as the shards were only mere inches from his face and neck.
Percy, finally coming to his senses, looked behind him to see Elsa. He immediately took a step back.
To say the Queen looked angry would be an understatement. She was furious. Her eyes were narrowed and arms outstretched, the ice flowing from her hands pushing the block forward. The wind whipped her hair around her face, her loose platinum braid flowing behind her. Her icy stare bore into the Prince, hard and cold. Percy didn't know if he should step back and watch as the Prince got what he deserved or if he should cower in fear himself. He didn't need to decide however, as Anna approached her sister, slowly. Everyone else was frozen around them, even Kristoff, who was no longer being held back by Leo and Nico, their eyes flickering between the Ice Queen and the manipulative Prince, and now Anna, who was carefully approaching her sister.
"Elsa?" she asked tentatively. Elsa gave her sister a quick glance but immediately refocused her attention on the Prince before her. If anything, the ice's advance quickened, one of the shards finally coming into contact with the Prince's already blood-soaked neck. Anna looked down, not sure what to say, the Queen's dismissal of her shockingly clear.
Percy desperately tried to think of a peaceful way out of this situation. He felt a pang of guilt as he thought about just letting the Prince die then and there, but immediately recoiled at the thought. Even after all he'd done, he couldn't just let him die. It just felt… wrong. Besides, Percy still didn't know why Hans had done the things he'd done and wanted to find out.
Across from him, Leo was giving him a wide eyed look. Percy narrowed his eyes at him in confusion. The dark haired boy glanced at the moving block of ice, his fingers twitching, before returning his stare to Percy. He looked at Leo's hands, a faint red glow on his fingertips. He gave the boy a small nod.
Nico, seeing this exchange between the two, suspicious that they'd arranged some kind of plan, inched his way closer to Elsa, a plan of his own already forming.
As Percy watched a new trickle of blood drip down the Prince's throat, he jumped into action. "Now, Leo!" Leo immediately headed towards the ice, flames dancing in his hands as he placed them upon the frozen block. Percy headed in the opposite direction, towards Elsa, quickly but carefully moving up the side of the ice flying from her hands.
Elsa frantically looked between Hans and Percy. He noticed her hands trembling and shaking, unsure whether she should consider Percy as a threat and defend herself against him, or continue her assault on the Prince. Percy meant only to approach the Queen and perhaps talk some sense into her, since Anna seemed to be at a loss for words at the moment, but as he'd been moving, so had Nico.
Nico was kneeled near the Queen, unnoticed and silent, his hands burrowed into the snow, seeking the ground below. Percy realised too late what Nico what was up to, and tripped as the ground underneath him gave a jolt. Nico had meant only to knock Elsa off her feet but hadn't noticed that Percy was so close to her.
The two tumbled towards the ground, Elsa landing on her back with a soft thud, Percy falling on top of her with a grunt. He lifted himself slightly, looking at her face to make sure she was okay.
Her eyes were wide as she stared up at him, a small blush creeping up her cheeks. "A-are you okay?" Suddenly realising his position and that he was probably crushing her, he placed his hands at the sides of her head and pushed himself up quickly. "S-sorry." he stuttered, offering his hand to her. She sat up, making no move to take his hand. In fact, she clutched her hands together tightly and brought them up to her chest. "I-I didn't mean-" he stammered.
"Its, uh, its fine." she said. "I'm fine." she assured him. Percy let his hand fall back to his side as she got up on her own. He looked at the Queen, unsure of whether or not she'd turn on Hans again. Knocking her down appeared to have shaken the Queen of her anger and rage and she once again looked very distant.
Glancing behind him, Percy saw that Leo had melted the block of ice, and realised that all eyes were on him and Elsa. Sensing that someone had to take charge, and realising that no-one else was going to do it, Percy addressed the group. "We have to get back to Arendelle." he said. He asked Nico and Leo to get Hans up and ready to leave, while he and Anna turned back to Elsa.
"Elsa?" Anna asked. "Please come back with us."
"Ann-" the Queen began, but was immediately cut off.
"No," Anna said. "Elsa, I'm not leaving without you. Please, j-just stop trying to shut me out." she pleaded. "I'm not afraid of you, or your powers, a-and I never will be." she continued. "You're my sister."
Elsa looked like she was about to say something but Anna quickly added. "At least, come back and let someone make sure you're not hurt or something. You did get hit on the head, y'know."
Any objections the Queen may have had died on her lips as she reached up to feel for the gash that had been on her head. Only it wasn't there.
"Kristoff healed you." Percy explained, gesturing at the man standing behind them awkwardly. "You should still come home and get checked out though." he added.
Elsa sighed. "Okay." she said softly. "I'll come back. For now, at least." That was apparently enough for Anna as her face lit up in a massive grin that the Queen couldn't help but return.
"Let's get going then." Percy said, as they began their long walk back to Arendelle.
The cabin was small, the only light provided by the flickering candle in the centre of the wooden table. A woman sat behind it, waiting expectantly for an explanation from the crew member before her.
"Well?" she asked. "Any word from him?" The blonde man stumbled slightly as the waves beneath the ship caused it to sway back and forth.
"Hans has been captured." he said. "I saw him."
The woman sighed. She never should have trusted the Prince to win her Arendelle, but she didn't bother dwelling on that now. It was her turn to take action, and she wouldn't fail. She made to dismiss the man before her but was surprised when he cleared his throat and said: "There's something else."
She looked at him, a look of bewilderment on his face. "What?" she commanded.
"The Queen," he began. "She has powers."
The woman gave a small laugh. "And?" she said, her tone harsh. "So do we. We're demigods."
"Sh-she's powerful." he stammered. "She's the reason the sea around Arendelle is frozen. That was her." he continued.
The woman was undeterred. "Arendelle will be mine." she snarled. "I will take down anyone who gets in my way, including the Queen, do you understand?"
The man nodded quickly. "Yes, Captain."
"Good." she said. "Now go. We leave for Arendelle in the morning."
A/N: Sorry for the wait. School's been kinda hectic recently, what with exams coming up soon, but I'll still try and update as often as I can.
Anyway, hope you enjoyed the chapter. Feedback is appreciated. :)
