The Head That Wears the Crown

Chapter Twenty-One

Purgation

NO! NO! NO! NO! NO!

Anna threw herself on Elsa's body, emitting a primal, animal-like scream of sorrow. All who stood nearby lowered their heads, privately mourning the death of their queen.

Isarn sat motionless, unable to believe what had just transpired. How? he thought. How is this right? How could someone so full of love for others be taken from this world, extinguished like a candle that burned too brightly?

Love for others . . . for others . . . others. Isarn frowned. Something about that phrase had sparked a long-repressed memory. What is it?

His own words to Elsa from several nights ago—was it only just a few nights?—echoed in his ears. "You are a very, very loving woman, Elsa. That is your greatest strength."

His mind suddenly cleared. "The Fornyelse rite," he whispered. Long-forgotten texts he had studied in his childhood suddenly burst forth into the forefront of his mind. Invigorated, he stood, rushing to Anna.

"Anna! Anna! Anna, I need you to move now." Isarn gently moved to lift the grieving princess from her sister's body.

Anna emitted another scream, staring at Isarn with blind rage. "DON'T TOUCH ME! GET AWAY FROM HER!"

"Anna, please, there is no time. I need you to move now!"

"WHY? WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES IT MAKE?"

Isarn pulled Anna to her feet. "Anna, there's still a chance to save Elsa!"

Anna stepped backwards, her mind reeling. "Don't say that! WHY WOULD YOU SAY THAT? WHY ARE YOU TRYING TO MAKE THIS WORSE?"

Isarn removed his cloak and his shirt. "Anna, I need you to listen. What I'm about to try . . . No one among my people has tried for five hundred years."

Anna shook her head. "What are you talking about?"

"Among my people, there is a legend that the greatest of our race were able to revive the dead . . . to bring life back to those who had lost it."

"If . . . If no one has tried for five hundred years, what makes you think . . .?"

"Every healer among my people is required to memorize the rite, for the rare occasion we might one day need to employ it. The requirements of this rite are extraordinarily complicated. That is why no one has attempted it in centuries."

"What . . . Then why even waste our time?" Anna whispered. "Why bring hope when there is none to be had?"

"Because I believe Elsa has met the requirements for this rite!" Isarn cried. "The victim must have demonstrated beyond all doubt love of others over self. He must have given his life in the service of others. And his heart must be pure, untouched by pride or selfish concerns!" He stared desperately at Anna. "Do you see? Do you understand now why this has been so rarely attempted? It is almost impossible to find someone who so willingly puts the needs of others over their own."

"Elsa . . . That's who Elsa is," Anna whispered. "Do you really think . . .?"

"I am certain!" Isarn said. He took Elsa's hand, holding it tightly. "I need you to hold her other hand. This rite requires two: the healer and the intermediary."

"Wait . . . what?"

"The intermediary!" Isarn said. "I need you to help magnify what I am doing, to make it stronger, more potent."

"And how do I do that?" Anna asked. "I'm not a healer. I don't have a clue what you're even trying."

"All you need to do is picture Elsa in your mind, alive, healthy. Surround that image with all the love you have for her and the love she gave you in return. That will help bring her back to us."

Isarn's mouth twitched slightly. Anna noticed. "What's wrong?"

"It's . . . It's nothing." Isarn and Anna crouched next to Elsa's body, each holding one of her hands. "Are you ready?" Isarn asked.

"Yes," Anna whispered. She closed her eyes, envisioning Elsa in her mind, healthy, smiling. Her mind flooded with the happy memories they had shared together, the love they had felt for each other.

In the corner of her mind, Anna could hear Isarn speaking in an ancient language. The words flowed quickly, increasing in intensity.

Anna continued to focus on Elsa in her mind. The image of Elsa was growing stronger. As Isarn chanted, Anna could see Elsa coming closer to her, so close she could almost touch her. Anna reached out to touch Elsa, to hold her once more, to beg her to return to her—

When Elsa suddenly was pulled away from her. Desperately, Anna reached forward again, straining. If she just leaned forward just a bit more, she could take her hand, bring her back.

But something was restraining Anna. She lunged forward, determined to take hold of Elsa's hand. But each time she did so, she was pulled further and further back from her sister. Screaming, Anna lunged forward with all her might. "ELSA!" she cried. "COME BACK TO ME! PLEASE!"

Isarn's words swirled in her mind, his voice practically shouting the texts. "ELSA!" Anna screamed. "ELSA!"

Suddenly, something slammed into Anna, throwing her across the palace courtyard. Anna opened her eyes. This was no longer part of the vision, she realized, but was, in fact, reality.

"Isarn?" Anna called. She looked about, searching for the ice lord. "Isarn?"

Anna spotted him on the other side of the courtyard. Standing, she rushed to him. As she approached him, she knelt beside him.

"Isarn? Isarn! Are you all right?"

Isarn's eyes shot open. He looked about, confused. "What . . . happened?"

"I don't know!" Anna said. "We were in the middle of the ritual when something hit us and sent us flying. Did you do that?"

Isarn shook his head. "If I did, I . . . I didn't mean to." He stood, carefully. "Elsa? Elsa?!"

The two rushed back to Elsa's body, desperately searching for any sign of change. Anna took Elsa's hand. "Elsa? Can you hear me? Elsa!"

Nothing. Elsa's body lay as it had before, unchanging, unmoving.

Isarn sank to the ground, covering his head with his hands. "It's over, Anna," he whispered. "I failed. Elsa is . . . beyond my ability to revive."

"NO! NO! NO!" Anna screamed. "TRY AGAIN! YOU HAVE TO TRY AGAIN!"

"I CAN'T!" Isarn cried. "The ritual can only be used once per person. If it fails, it may not be attempted again."

"No!" Anna whispered. "It can't be! It can't!"

Isarn weakly walked to Anna, taking her in his arms. "It's all right," he whispered, allowing the princess to weep bitterly. "It's all right."

So focused were they on their own grief that they almost didn't hear one of the townspeople gasp. "Look!"

The townspeople murmured in astonishment, amazement. Anna and Isarn opened their eyes and turned to see what everyone was staring at. Anna gasped, bringing a hand to her mouth.

The Eden-stone had, very faintly, begun to glow once more. Its glow spread up Elsa's arm, pouring over her body. The knife buried in her chest faded away, leaving no trace it had ever existed. The cuts and bruises that littered Elsa's body vanished, leaving smooth, clear skin in their place. Bones that had been shattered reformed, stronger than they had been before. Finally, the glow settled over Elsa's heart. The light became unbearably bright. All within view had to shield their eyes from the intensity of its rays. Just when the light became so bright Anna was certain she would go blind, the glow receded. The Eden-stone pulsed once with an intense fire, then resumed its customary, steady glow.

Elsa's eyes opened, squinting in the bright sunlight. Carefully, the queen of Arendelle rose to her feet. The townspeople stepped back in bewilderment, uncertain of what they were seeing.

Anna could not believe her eyes. "Elsa?" she whispered. "ELSA?!"

Elsa turned and gazed upon her sister. "Anna," she said softly. "Anna!"

Anna did not feel her feet touch the ground. She raced to the center of the square faster than she had ever run before. Screaming in jubilation, she threw herself upon her older sister, embracing her, tears pouring from her eyes.

"Elsa! Elsa! Elsa, it's you! It's really you!"

Elsa held Anna as tightly as she could, her own tears streaming down her cheeks. "It's me, Anna!" she said. "It's me!"

Finally, the two sisters let go of each other long enough to talk. "Anna, what . . . what happened? I remember . . . I remember dying! Why am I here?"

"It was Isarn," Anna said. "He . . . He remembered an ancient ritual of the Wanderers and he brought you back to life. Because you were so unselfish, so loving, he was able to bring you back."

Elsa nodded. "I . . . I was somewhere and it was beautiful, but there was a voice . . . your voice that kept sounding in my ear, begging me to come back. I . . . I couldn't stay there, not with you in so much pain."

Anna embraced Elsa once more, laughing. "It's over!" she cried. "It's finally over!"

The two sisters turned and walked toward Isarn. As they approached, Elsa could wait no longer. Rushing forward, she wrapped her arms around her father, pulling him to herself.

"Elsa," Isarn whispered, not certain what he was witnessing was real. "Is it . . . Is it really you?"

"It is, Father," Elsa said, kissing Isarn on the cheek. "You did it! You brought me back!"

Isarn laughed, tightly squeezing Elsa. "I would do anything to keep you safe," he whispered.

"It's all right, Father," Elsa said. "I'm here now."

"I am . . . very glad of that," Isarn gasped, his breathing becoming shallow, his face turning white.

Elsa suddenly became very concerned. "Isarn? Father? What's wrong?"

Isarn lost all strength in his legs and fell to the ground. Elsa followed him, tightly clutching his hand.

Anna stepped forward, worried. "Isarn? What's going on?"

Isarn looked at both sisters, a pained smile crossing his face. "I . . . told you the truth about the legend, Princess," he said. "The Fornyelse rite does indeed have the power to restore life to one who is worthy. However, like . . . anything else in this world . . . there must be . . . a cost."

"No," Elsa whispered. She turned to Anna. "No! Please tell me you didn't let him."

"I didn't know!" Anna said. "Elsa, I didn't know!"

"If I had told you . . . would you . . . have let me perform the ritual?" Isarn asked.

"No," Anna admitted. "I couldn't have."

"Then I am very glad . . . I kept silent," Isarn said. "A life for a life. That is the price . . . of the ritual. Equilibrium . . . Balance . . . Our world is built upon these principles. It could be . . . no other way."

Elsa gazed at Isarn, her heart slowly breaking. "How long? How much longer before . . .?"

Isarn smiled at Elsa. "I can feel my strength leaving me as we speak. I imagine . . . I imagine I will draw my last breath within the hour."

"Why?" Anna asked. "Why would you do this?"

A faint smile crossed Isarn's face. "I have committed . . . many, many sins in my life, Anna. Most of them . . . unforgivable. I know what . . . will happen to my soul upon my death. And yet . . . I would gladly give my life a thousand times over if it meant . . . keeping you safe, Elsa."

Isarn laughed weakly. "It's ironic, isn't it? I created you to give me the ultimate . . . advantage in taking revenge . . . yet you have somehow done the impossible . . . and taught a bitter old man . . . how to love again."

Elsa smiled, gently caressing Isarn's cheek. "Your love was always inside you, Father. You just needed to be reminded why you did what you did for your people. Because you are responsible for them and you want to protect them! Because you love them!"

"Then . . . we are not so different after all . . . you and I." Isarn's breath stopped, a spasm of coughing overtaking him. He fought to clear his throat and breathed deeply.

"It is almost time, Elsa. The darkness . . . I can see it now."

"No, Father! Please!" Elsa was sobbing now. "Don't leave me now."

Isarn smiled. "I will always be with you, Elsa." He pointed to her heart. "Here." He leaned forward, straining, and planted a soft kiss on her forehead. "And here. Remember me, my daughter. Remember that, even when all seems lost and darkness threatens to consume you . . . light and love . . . can find their way through."

Elsa carefully, delicately placed a gentle kiss on Isarn's lips. "I swear I will never forget you. I will use what you taught me to lead both our peoples to an age of happiness."

Isarn was no longer looking at Elsa, but beyond her. "I go now to be judged by God and my fathers," he whispered. "With their mercy, perhaps one day I will enter the great halls of my people . . . and rest for eternity in their worthy company."

Isarn drew a sharp breath. "Goodbye, Elsa . . ." As the words left his lips, his head fell forward. His lungs no longer drew air in our out. His heart, once so strong, was now silent.

Through her tears, Elsa gingerly closed Isarn's eyelids, finally creating a peaceful expression on his worried countenance. Both Elsa and Anna fell to their knees, sobbing in agony at the loss of the Ice Lord. The townspeople and the Wanderers, no longer enemies, fell to their knees, mourning the leader of the Wanderers and the father of their monarch. The only sound to be heard in Arendelle was the sobbing of Queen Elsa and Princess Anna and the quiet wind that billowed about, lifting the thoughts of Arendelle's people to the heavens.

AN: Just to be clear: It was always my plan to do this. The story, the characters, dictated that Elsa had to die first, in order for Isarn to make the ultimate sacrifice. That has been the theme of this story: Balance and sacrifice. Hopefully, I haven't hammered those points too hard, but have been subtle instead.