Sorry for any error.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN - Sleeping Dust

Hans's fever seemed to have ceased a little, but he still was visibly ill. The Prince was now resting above the humble bed again while Elsa left his side to talk to the others in the other room.

'How is he?' Anna asked her after she crossed the door.

'Better, but his fever is not completely gone yet, and his hand still very red'

'It's because of his mark, but don't worry; your friend will be okay in a few hours' said the supposed owner of the shelter.

'How do you know that?' Anna asked.

The man served himself a cup of hot chocolate before answer:

'I've been marked once'

Anna frowned at him, probably waiting for the man to keep going with his response. However, he didn't seem like he'd keep talking. He took a bread inside his bag and started cheering it while absently gazing to the bedroom door.

'How? I mean, why? And what this mark means, anyways?'

He gaped the piece of bread and sipped his chocolate before answering:

'It means many things, all of them bad'

The man tried to take off the bread on his teeth with his tongue while keeping his stare at Anna, and saying no more words.

'Okay, I believe it's quite clear it isn't a good thing. I don't maybe because the man was barely breathing, and skin was pure red and burning?'

Anna said losing her patient 'I'm sorry, I don't mean to be rude, but can you explain it a little further?'

He nodded, scratched his back lazily after standing up, and walked towards the impatient girl.

'That mark is a reminder that your friend's now belongs to Bergaham, and that, if he wishes to, he can kill him anytime'

Elsa's heart tightened inside her chest. So was she right? Bergaham indeed did something terrible to Hans. She wondered if that mark had happened before or after he helped her.

'You said you've already been marked, in the past. Does it mean there's a way to be unmarked?' she dedecied to ask, her hands starting to sweat.

'There is a way; not easy, though' he simply answered.

She waited him to continue, but he didn't.

'So what is this way?' she decided to ask.

The man took a time to answer, his blank face now showing some curiosity.

'Bergaham is searching for you, all of you, and it's clear his intentions aren't good' he started 'there's a tavern a bit far from here that I believe we can not only find answers about what that bloody bastard is planning, but also take the cure to your friend'

Search for that place sounded like a good thing, but Elsa was still not sure if she could trust that guy.

'Can you take me to this place?' she heard Anna ask.

Anna was determinedly looking at the clumsy man standing in front of her, his features bringing a slight of surprise and admiration.

'Yep, ma'am' he answered doing a brief bow 'I can take you there'

'Okay, then' she said fixing her posture 'so let's go to this tavern you mentioned'

Elsa held her arm subtly pushing her back and whispering to her ear while the strange man started to pack his bag.

'What do you think you're doing? We barely know this man'

'And I'm ready to take the risk'

Elsa gave her a disapproval gaze. She was aware about Anna's tendency to spur of the moment decisions, and even it already had brought good results before, who could affirm she'd have the same luck this time?

'You can't do this' Elsa said 'Who can tell if he's saying the true about this tavern?'

'No one, I know' Anna said keeping her determined eyes 'But even though I mostly disagree with Hans, I agree with him about one thing: we're not safe here, actually, it's quite clear we're not safe anywhere in this whole dark place or whatsoever. We just can't stay here and wish to things solve by themselves'

Anna was right, Elsa had to admit it. Yet, let her sister walk out there with that unknown man in that terrific place wasn't an option.

'I'll go with him instead, then'

'No, Elsa, you won't. You must stay here and watch Kristoff and Hans. Use your magic to stay safe'

'I'm sorry, Anna, but I won't let you…'

And those were her sister last words before falling into her arms. What was happening? She looked back and the answer was there: the shelter' owner had some sort of dust in his hands. Apparently, he had blew that in her sister face causing her to faint. Magic dust, she thought.

'What have you done to my sister?' she asked, trying to lay Elsa's body carefully on the ground.

'Don't worry, love. She'll only be peacefully sleeping for around twenty minutes. It'll be enough to we reach the tavern before she even thinks in going after us'

He said, holding his belt while analyzing her sister body laid on the ground.

'Was it really necessary?'

'I believe so' he nodded 'I know how it feels to wish to protect a little sister at all costs, and I don't think she'd just let you go so easily. Sleep dust was the option a could think of'

'Good to know you think' she said a bit absently but then hurriedly continued 'I mean, I'm glad you had think about a way to make her have no options but let me go, even though I'm still not sure if I truly should trust what you said about the dust'

Anna was kneeling while gently caressing her sister forehead.

'But even if it'd be a curse, I can always wake her up'

A smile formed in Anna's lips. They had been through so much to finally reunited, and take a break of so many adventures, but there they were, lost in that strange and drowning place. No marriage with the man she loved, no more peaceful and good times with her sister.

However, she couldn't complain much, because this time at least they were together, and that was what truly mattered.

'What are you? A true love machine?' the man asked waking her from her thoughts.

His tone didn't sounded mocking. Anna was just accepting the fact that she would not be able to understand the true meanings of his words.

Everything he did and said seemed so blank, yet, somehow comical.

'I have people to love. Don't you?' she asked.

She had her back for him, so she couldn't see his face. However, she could notice the moment he stopped pouring chocolate in his cup. She forgot about the things Hook said, that everyone in that place suffered with the hole that their heart had. Perhaps it wasn't one of her best ideas to say such thing to that man. He hadn't done anything evil, he was actually trying to help them until that moment. Perhaps it was for the best to give him a chance.

'I'm sorry, I didn't mean-'

'I had a few once, and I'd give anything to have the chance to see them again'

Yeah. She was right, she had done something wrong. Come Anna, can't you shut up at least once?

'I'm sorry' she repeated shaking her head and standing up 'I shouldn't have said that. I'm really sorry'

'No need to apologize. You don't know about my past, and you don't have to. Now pack your bag and let's go before your sister wakes'

'Are you sure they'll be save here? Bergaham can appear in any moment. Not to mention that thing in Hans hand seems so creepy and enchanted'

'That thing in your mate's hand will not bother him until Bergaham's wishes to, and I doubt he'll wish to make him feel pain until he gets recovered. His magic is powerful but it has its limits. Bergaham wants your friend alive, so he won't risk him even more'

'He almost killed him'

'Yep. But is he dead? When that bloody man wishes to kill someone, he does that. If your friend is alive it is because he didn't wish to'

'What about the shelter? What about he wishes to take them to his Castel?'

'He probably would if the shelter wasn't protected for his magic. Dragon's breath, and no bloody magic of his is capable to reach anything'

'Are you telling me he can't find us here?'

'He can find us, but he can't enter it. Not him, not his men'

'What about the mark? It works here, it is his magic, right?'

'Yep. But it's different, the magic of the mark is different. Now don't ask me anything further cause I won't know how to answer ya'

The man hurriedly clumsily straightened the strap of his bag, before walking towards the door.

'Why do you want me to come with you, by the way?' she decided to ask.
'Because you're the only one who can drive the sled. Now, enough of questions. Let's go before your sister wakes'

Thank you so much to everyone who's reading this story! Every favorite, follow and review makes me so happy! You guys are amazing!

I hope you liked this chapter :)