So here it is! The next part! Short, but packed with wild action! Enjoy!

Note: This chapter is slightly more violent! if any of you feel that on account of it I should up the rating to T please let me know, this is my first fanfic so I'm still feeling my way!

Chapter Twenty Five: The Shadow

The ice spreads beneath my feet, clear and reflective, it sees me collapsed on it, weeping, face in my hands. Shadows surround me, inescapable, but lost in the mists of swallowing time. The snow washes about, misting the castles towers, rushing down to the ground beneath my feet and I begin to wonder what wild journey it was brought me up here, to where nothing is left but the pain of loss and death.

But I do remember every step of the journey and map it in my mind. Turning back the pages to the dirty window, where the climax was reached and, rushing itself through, dropped me here.

'Hans!' the strangled cry escapes my lips and Haydn looks round.

'What is it?' he asks.

But I'm deaf to him. I only see the cruel blade of Clement raised and swinging through the air to come down against Hans'. Even as I turn to the door to move swiftly out, something lands not far from the window. I hardly have time to see it before Kristoff has flung open the window and called out a long, singing note.

The head of the bird turns and I realise that it's the one whom Kristoff says is his papa, Cliff. The bird moves over with speed unmatched by the cheetah and coming to the window drops a note from it's beck to the ground. I catch at and tear it open at once.

Queen Elsa,

Grandpa Pabbie and I spoke for sometime, trying to place the pieces together and we think we have them. The feathers of the real birds will restore your friends, but to acquire enough you will need the birds on our side. They are enslaves by the beacon atop the palace. It's a circular ball, swimming in colours, like a crystal, described so by Grandpa Pabbie.

I will take care of Clement to give you the time you need to get it and rescue Anna.

Don't try stop me, I owe a debt to you and I'm glad to pay it.

I love you, I hope you live long and happy and I beg you remember me sometimes, anytime when you can spare a moment for your unworthy servant,

Hans.

I hand the paper to Haydn without a word and he and Kristoff read it over together, while I do some quick thinking. It's clear to me that Arendelle and it's future come first and this relies on gaining control over the birds.

'I have to go and find this crystal ball,' I say.

Kristoff and Haydn both nod and the former says,' you won't need help, I'll go for Anna.'

'And I for the twins,' says Haydn,' to keep them from troubling Hans.'

'Olaf go with Kristoff,' I say and moving to the window I climb nimbly out,' come on Cliff,' I say,' can you carry me to the top of the palace?'

He nods, spreading his wings. I mount his back and whisper in his ear,' go to Hans.'

I could almost swear that he smiles at me and we take off, breezing toward the front of the castle. We land just behind the main entrance and I slip up. The castle must be empty, so many of the Southern Isles guards are there grouped in the streets, gaping. It prompts a move from me. I slip behind them and moving to the castle door shut and ice it closed. That'll buy time. Kristoff will surely find all our own palace guards in the cells and with them free and the birds in our control Clement and his men will have to surrender.

Then I look toward the square. Hans and Clement are in full swing, the swords flashing between them, glinting in the early light. Hans' hurt arm is running a thin stream of blood down his arm and I'm about to run forward and give Clement a dose of ice when he swings round in his combat and sees me.

He doesn't let his guard down for so much as a moment and his reaction is so swift it's mind twisting. He swings himself round again and allows Hans to be the one to face me. It's too late by the time I see what he is doing.

Hans catches sight of me and his distraction, caused by concern for me, is instant. Clement needs no more time than that. His sword flashes and rushes forwards. Hans' instincts are good and he moves, but too late. The sword misses his heart, but plunges in though his side. I see him gasp, half collapsing, blood streaming.

I begin to run down the steps, knowing only one things matters now and that's him. I shot out ice, throwing Clement half a mile across the courtyard and run for Hans, who has sunk to his knees.

'Hans!' I scream his name.

He turns to look at me and then bird sweeps down and catches him by the arm, sweeping him off his feet. Atop it, riding the world, is Baldwin, the brother who I have completely forgotten existed since he disappeared back in the forest.

I want to curse myself, never overlook someone, I remind myself and call loudly,' Cliff!'

He is nearly at my side already, needing no call or prompt, I don't wait for him to land but leap on his back and we rush through the air, cold wind in our faces, chasing the bird ahead, who is rising higher all the time.

Cliff's pace is amazing and it has need to be, glancing behind I see that a third bird, bearing Clement on it's back, is following. Cliff sweeps under Baldwin's bird and I shot ice at the bird's claw. It's drops Hans and he hits into Cliff, almost falling off, but I catch his hand and haul him up beside me.

I stare at the blood staining down his jacket and yell passionately, while tears stream down my face,' you just don't listen! You never listen!'

Hans half collapses against my shoulder,' you shouldn't have been there Elsa,' he chokes.

'How could I leave you?' I demand,' who would I be to desert you?'

'You don't owe it to me to follow,' he half whispers.

'Yes I do,' I retort,' oh Hans,' I moan, staring at the blood that continues to stain a bigger and wider space,' you should have listened.'

He looks me in the face,' who would I be if I left you?' he rejoins.' What would my love even be worth?'

'You seem to think I must make mine worthless,' I retort.

'You are talking of gratitude and forgiveness,' he says,' I'm talking...'

'Of the same thing,' I chip in and for a moment I don't hear the wings behind and above us,' where would I be without you?' I say.' I need you, I care for you, I don't want to live without you. I love you!'

His eyes are on my face, but words are snatched from his mouth for a bird smacks into us either side. We are rushing up now, moving so fast it makes me sick, all locked together, bird wings knotted like strings, soaring up, then straight and down, crashing onto a flat portion of the palace roof, sending us all tumbling, scattering like ninepins.

My hair is in my face as I come to a halt and I toss it back, jumping up as fast as I might. And I see it. The crystal ball, shimmering, thousands of colours dancing within it.

Clement begins to run toward it and I'm about to follow when I feel a hand catch my arm and see it's Baldwin, his eyes bright as he aims Clement's sword at me. I duck away, sending ice at him, furious for a delay that will let Clement reach the ball before me.

Baldwin rolls away as the ice forms a shield to knock him back and I turn to see Clement's hands close over the ball. Then fire rains in and I see Hans has stood up and it letting it run toward his brother who moves away and then, running along side the flame, aims for Hans.

I yell the youngest princes' name and begin to run forward, only to have Baldwin rush behind me again. I throw ice, tripping his feet and sending him over and move on.

I can hardly go a step before Clement has reached his brother and caught hold of him, struggling together, both weaponless, both fighting, the ball wrapped under Clement's arm.

They are so near the edge they might slip and fall and it's now that my eyes lock Hans'. He gives me one long look and lets his guard down long enough to grab the ball and throw it toward me. I miss catching and it falls to the ground, smashing to pieces, sending colours whizzing in the air, light dancing around me, spinning with the snowflakes.

But the moment has cost so much, Hans only manages to catch hold of Clement's coat and they they slip. It's slow movement to me as they fall, locked together. Hans' eyes plead to me, full of sorrow and love and he is gone, down the side, falling toward the courtyard, a fall there is no way man can survive.

And that's when I drop, ice spreading about my feet, snow so wild it makes the colours of the crystal ball vanish away, so thick I can see nothing.

Hans is a shadow already, lost in the burning of time. Already a memory of the past. The world seems dead to me, ending it's joy and weeping in it's sorrow, colours gone, crystal's broken... Hans lost.

The shadow I could not escape, the shadow I lost.

'Queen Elsa.'

The voice that speaks my name doesn't sound like Baldwin and it's enough to make me look up. Before me, confused and dazzled is Cliff, not the bird, the troll, looking like he used too.

'Cliff,' I whisper.

He looks down at his hands and then toward the smashed fragments of the crystal near me and I gasp. It's the spell, broken indeed, shattered to bits and it awakens me to a memory. Hope rises in my heart, making me leap to my feet.

'It is special, it may one day keep a heart from breaking.'

Hans was wearing the crystal, heart charm, hooked on it's chain about his neck.

Oh please Heaven that that unbroken heart was mine all along, so his heart may keep on beating!

More to Come!

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