A/N Thank you for everyone who reviewed the last chapter and everyone still following this story.
I'm sorry this chapter is a little shorter, but hopefully the next one will be a little longer.
Chapter Fourteen.
"Anna!" Elsa's panic-stricken scream reveberated through the whole room. Struggling from the grasp of Gunter and Wilheim, and ignoring Hans' smug glare, she staggered across to her sister. Disregarding her lack of attire and her own injuries, she fell to her knees beside Anna. With trembling hands she tentatively reached down to the Princess who was lying on her side, and gasping like a fish out of water. "Anna, can you hear me? Anna!"
Blood. So much blood was blossoming around her abdomen, soaking through her dress. Elsa pulled her into her lap, placing her hand firmly on the wound, in a desperate attempt to staunch the bleeding. "It's okay Anna, I've got you."
Kristoff was at a loss for words as he watched his sister-in-law cradling his beloved wife in her arms. "She's...going to...be okay...isn't she?"
Anna's breaths were shallow gasps for air, but despite the blinding pain, she fought to remain conscious. Her vision was slowly darkening though, tunneling into black pinpoints.
Kristoff attempted to get closer, but Elsa's commanding words stopped him in his tracks.
"STAY AWAY FROM HER!"
Surprised by her sudden outrage, Kristoff looked up to see Hans looming over him, a hateful sneer twisting his lips.
"Oh dear, ice boy. Look what you've gone and done now!"
"This...this is your fault!" Kristoff shrieked with a look of sheer rage and burning hatred in his eyes.
Hans pointed a finger to himself innocently. "Me? How is this my fault? You were the one who disobeyed the rules. If only you would have done as I asked, then dear, sweet Anna wouldn't of had to pay the price."
Anna broke into a coughing fit, spluttering flecks of blood all over her hand, which didn't go unnoticed by the Queen.
"No, no, no, this can't be happening. No please, it can't be!"
This is the end, I know it. I don't want to die. There is still so much I want to do. Tears pooled in her eyes as Anna gazed fearfully at her sister. "Elsa?!"
"An-na," she choked out, her voice cracking, tears stinging her eyes. "It's alright. I'm right here. I won't leave you, I promise."
Laying safe in her sister's arms was at least calm and comforting. "I... w-wish we could have... had more time... together," the Princess choked out, finally accepting her imminent death.
Elsa took her hand, whispering softly, "we will Anna, we will. You're going to be fine."
"Tsk, tsk, tsk. Would you look at that? The virtuous Snow Queen, lying to her baby sister," Hans chastised.
Anna reached out her bloodied hand towards her sister, stroking her cheek, all her strength diminishing. "I love you Elsa. Please look after Kristoff for me, and don't be mad at him. This isn't his fault." She turned to face her husband, who was now a quivering mess. "I love you Kristoff. I'll always love you."
Elsa could see Anna was finding it much more difficult to keep awake. "Stay with me Anna...please. Arendelle needs you. I need you," Elsa declared, her heart breaking in two.
"No. Arendelle needs you. I'm just the spare remember. You're the only one that matters."
The Queen shook her head violently. "You matter too. Without you, Arendelle would have still been stuck in an eternal winter. Without your sacrifice I wouldn't be here today. I wouldn't be the woman I am today. You made me who I am Anna. You showed me that love is stronger then fear. There was no better gift then that...then you Anna."
"But I'm tired Elsa...so tired," she murmured as the struggle to keep her eyes open was slowly failing.
"No stay with me!" Elsa urged.
Anna nodded as her eyes slipped closed. Sleep was too demanding as a peaceful warmth started to wash through her.
"A-Anna!" A cry of anguish rang out as the heartbroken Queen buried her face in her sister's hair.
"Such a pity," Wilheim derided with a smirk. "I really had a thing for her."
Unimaginable fury coalesced within his core, and without hesitation, Kristoff slammed into Wilheim, knocking him to the ground, landing vicious punches to the thief's face. "You bastard! I'm going to kill you!"
As abruptly as his assault had started though, it quickly ended as the ice master found himself lying on the ground with everything spinning around him. Dazed and confused he struggled to a sitting position, until the tip of a sword was jabbed into his throat.
Wilheim stood there smoothing his disheveled clothing, and nursing his jaw, which to the ice master's satisfaction now had a few bruises forming.
However his delight was short-lived as a heavy boot was then slammed into his back, sending him to the ground. "Why don't we just kill him? It pretty much looks like his little wife over there is done for, so let's put him out of his misery and let him join her," Christian snarled.
"What a good idea," Hans replied. "It's not like I have any further use for him." Still focused on Christian, the former Prince handed him a sword. "You can do the honors. The Queen and I have a date with her fate."
Suddenly, Elsa was ripped from her sister's body by Hans. He roughly hauled her to her feet and shoved her into Wilheim's arms as he reached for some rope from his satchel.
Wilheim grinned as the semi-naked Queen landed in his clutches. "Ello there love."
"Where are you taking Elsa?" Kristoff piped up.
Hans sniggered," I wouldn't worry about that. I'd be more more worried about saying your goodbyes to the Princess. You know...your wife, who's dying as we speak."
"But you'd better do it quickly, before I gut you like a fish," Christian said with a hint of malice.
Gunter suddenly stepped forward offering a suggestion. "Let me kill him. I haven't really done anything fulfilling yet. And it will give me a great amount of pleasure to be the one to end his pathetic existance."
Christian glowered at his younger brother. "Are you sure you're up for the job, little bro?"
Gunter licked his lips. "Yes, I'm sure."
"Fine. But don't take to long about it," Hans ordered, as he tied thick rope around the Queen's hands and began dragging her behind him. He then turned to Wilheim and Christian. "Come on men, let's go.
As Christian passed by the younger man, he shot him a deadly glare. "You better not let us down brother!"
Once Hans and his brothers had vacated the room, Gunter strolled towards Kristoff, sword in hand.
Kristoff who was rocking Anna soothingly in his arms just as Elsa had done previous, looked up at his soon to be executioner. "Just get it over with, will you?"
Instead of swinging the sword at the ice master, Gunter threw the weapon to the ground. "I'm not going to kill you."
Kristoff's eyes widened in surprise. "Wait, what? I don't believe you. You're one of them. A psychopath, working for an even bigger psychopath."
"I'm just a lowly thief. And believe you me, I didn't want any of this. But Hans, he made us help him." Gunter berated himself for allowing Hans to use him and his brothers like this, to exact his revenge on two innocent girls. "I knew Hans was going to teach the Queen and Princess a lesson. I also knew he planned to kill them after he had made them suffer enough." He quickly swiped a small tear that had formed in the corner of his eye, before continuing. "Now, how is the Princess? is she still alive?"
Kristoff gently laid Anna flat on the ground and leaned down towards her chest, listening for any sign of a heartbeat or breathing. It took several moments, but he did hear a faint beat in her chest. Her breathing was almost inaudible, but these were definite signs that she was still alive, even if only barely.
Kristoff experienced a small moment of elation. "She's alive, but the blood. She's lost so much. And she's deathly pale, and so, so cold."
"Then you must take her back to Arendelle. See she gets proper medical attention. I need to go after Hans. It seems he still has some unfinished business with the Queen and I need to stop him."
Kristoff lifted Anna's limp body into his arms. "When I get back to Arendelle, I will alert the guards. Do you have any idea which direction Hans is heading?"
"East I believe. Now please be on your way and save the Princess."
A/N Have faith people.
Reviews appreciated.