AutumnEve: I hope that this has the answer which you were looking for.
lollipop3056: Your confusion should be answered in the chapter.
Guest: Yep, your right on the mark.
L.M.H Shimmer Shine: Yep, you're right.
Guest: Actually Bunnymund came weeks after the assault so he would have missed Jack and Rikard.
GeeklygirlJelsalover: Yep! On the request I will try and fulfil it, maybe in the next couple of chapters. I don't know how to incorporate it though. I have an idea which may or may not work. Hmm, I'll try though.
Guest Reviews: Happy ending indeed! I did enjoy Heart of Ice though despite Elsa dying off at the end.
Icy Snow Lover: Probably not. I don't know how long it will take for Jack to come back. Initially I was thinking something like two years but now I don't know.
Whisper: Yep, you got it.
ElsaTheSnowQueen2: Actually Pitch didn't want to kill Jack himself. He would feel like it would look like an assassin hit which wouldn't look to good if Pitch was connected. Pitch doesn't want Elsa to know that he's after her husband.
Chapter 26: Frozen Over
In the days following the news that Bunnymund had brought, Elsa had been in quite a state. She refused to leave her bed, crying her eyes out into the tear soaked sheets and pillow. Her room was completely iced over and little snowflakes with jagged edges floated all around the room. The windows were frost over and jagged icicles came out of the ceiling, floor and walls. Elsa had shut herself in her room and refused to see anyone.
Anna was extremely worried about her sister. She knew that her sister was paralysed with grief but she had refused to talk or see anyone. She refused to simply move. The door and windows of her bedroom were completely frozen over so it was impossible to try and get in. Anna had managed to do once but Elsa had sent a blizzard so powerful in her direction that it pushed her out of the room not before Elsa had screamed at her to get out. The hailstorm then slammed the door and then ice started to make it impossible for anyone else to get in. Anna had been quite chilled by the experience and had to sit in front of a hot fire with a blanket covering her shoulders and a hot chocolate in her hand. Anna had gone back every day to try and talk to Elsa but it didn't work, nothing was working. Elsa just ignored Anna and everyone who tried to talk to her. In the end it was Kristoff who called Anna off. He told her that she should let Elsa calm down and then try and talk to her. So Anna did. Weeks past and Anna waited but still no sign of Elsa recovering at all. Anna would bring her food trays up to her room and left them outside. Elsa would eat but not a lot. She would often only eat about half on the plate and sometimes none at all. That worried Anna. Elsa needed to eat if she was going to get her strength back to help her fight her grief.
Anna wasn't the only one getting worried. Leif was too. He may only be two and a half but he knew something was wrong. He hadn't seen his mother in ages which worried him and judging by the mood that had overtaken the castle, told him that it was something seriously wrong. He would tug at Anna's sleeve and ask what was going on with his mother. It had been Anna to tell him the grave news about his father. Leif, who had never met the man, still cried into Anna's shoulder while they rocked in a chair together. His own powers went a bit haywire but he calmed down after a few hours of cuddling with his Aunt. Anna told him that he had died a hero's death which seemed to put a smile on his face.
Leif, himself, had tried talking to his mother but she didn't answer. Leif had just knocked on the door and got no response so he didn't go in. Anna decided that she was going talk to Elsa regardless of the consequences. She needed to talk to her so badly even if she had the door knocked down. She recruited Leif to unfreeze the doorway as it was impossible to get in otherwise. Leif put his hand on the door and concentrated the way he was taught. At once the ice started to disappear and soon the door was unfrozen. Anna turned the door handle and let them both in. Elsa was still in the same position and clothes she had been before. She didn't even look up or even do anything as her sister and son walked towards her. Leif hopped up on the bed and Elsa put her arm around him and pulled him in close. Leif put his head against her chest and cuddled into his mother. Anna sat on the bed and lay back so she was next to her.
"Feeling any better?" Anna asked speaking to the ceiling.
"No," Elsa said in a very small, croaky voice.
"Well to be honest, I didn't really expect a yes," Anna shrugged.
"Will it get any better?" Elsa asked Anna. "Or am I going to be in constant pain and misery until the end of my days when I die of a broken heart? "
"Time heals all wounds," Anna said sounding like Greek philosopher.
"It does? Doesn't feel like it."
"Well soon you will get to a place in your life where you will look back and smile at the memories instead of feeling pain. I feel like that about our parents' death. Sure I feel sad thinking about the death but I can look back without any of the grief or pain that I felt initially."
"I hope you're right."
"When am I not right?"
"How about your idea for tours to my ice palace? Marshmallow scared every single person away."
"He's your giant talking snowman not mine," Anna said. "He was your problem to deal with not mine."
Elsa let out a small laugh at Anna's words.
"Did I just hear a laugh?" Anna said looking over at her sister with a smile.
"No," Elsa said suppressing a smile.
"Oh and a smile too," Anna said poking Elsa's cheek. "So she can remember how to smile and laugh! That's good to know."
"Stop it Anna," Elsa said.
"Hmm, how about no?" Anna said poking Elsa's sides which made her giggle as she was ticklish there.
"Stop it," Elsa shrieked as Anna kept poking her.
"I have a child near me, please stop, for his health."
Anna just laughed but she stopped. The temporarily moment of happiness faded quite quickly. Anna noticed that the ice darkened on the walls as Elsa drifted back into her despair and depression state.
"Is Mama going to be okay?" Leif asked her.
"I hope so," Elsa answered him squeezing him tightly and kissing his forehead.
"We all hope so," Anna said also giving Elsa a hug.
Pitch was beyond happy at this point. He had gone from being absolutely furious and shaking with rage to being pleasantly happy. He had just found out that the Arendelle camp had been completely destroyed following a massive onslaught by the Fellen soldiers. Due to this, that stupid boy Sir Jackson was more than likely to be have been taken out. It had been reported that there was no survivors following the attack. Pitch was trying to imagine Jackson being stripped down where he stood. He hoped it was painful. He hoped that Jackson lost all hope as he saw the sword coming down and slicing him up. He wondered how long he had been alive, just lying there bleeding probably hoping that his dear wife will be okay. Pitch didn't care how he died, all that it mattered was that he did, that Sir Jackson Frost was no longer walking the Earth. Now Pitch could finally start on the second part of his plan. It was now time for his plan to get kick started.
Pitch started to gather up his things and place them in a large trunk. He was going to slip away like a thief in the night. His own Fearlings had been recalled and were waiting for him to come join them. Pitch packed his trunk, slammed the lid and ordered Arvid to carry it down to the docks for him. Arvid had been punished quite severely since the failing of his mission to kill Prince Leif but Pitch had other ideas concerning the child. He might end up having to do the killing himself. Leif was a problem that had to be solved. He could either kill him or have him declared illegitimate. It didn't really matter to him. As long as Prince Leif wasn't going to be a problem for him or cause any unexpected ice and snow to be formed then it was going to be smooth sailing for him.
Pitch followed Arvid down to the docks. It was pitch dark, just the kind of darkness that Pitch liked. No one could see him or what it was up to. He just hoped that the king wouldn't put two and two together and realised he had been used all along. Well the king wasn't the sharpest knife in the drawer so Pitch thought that may not be a problem. He didn't see how Pitch used and manipulated him for his own agenda or that he used the war as a cover to get what he really wanted. The king was just a bumbling young fool with no experience and who blundered forward without thinking. His cousin Prince Edvard on the other hand may have been a problem but Pitch used his charm and wit to get him out of any trouble concerning him. Pitch was sure that no one guessed his true agenda which was to take Arendelle and Queen Elsa for himself. He had no intention to share the crown with some spoilt brat of a child.
Pitch boarded the ship and Arvid followed him down to his cabin while his other Fearlings got the ship prepared for sailing. Arvid placed the trunk on the floor and stood up straight facing Pitch who had his back to him.
"What now your lordship?" Arvid asked.
"Now I want you to be at my sides at all times once we reached our destination," Pitch said. "Those icy powers are tricky. I will need all the backup I can get."
"Of course Lord Black," Arvid gave a short bow.
"And of course you've snuck around Arendelle, learned its streets and its castle. I was only there for a short amount of time and didn't learn it's layout as you did. You will be that person once again. I can't have some secret passage way getting in my way. I must be in control at all times."
"Yes your lordship."
"You may go Arvid. I have many things to attend to before we arrive."
"Yes sir."
Arvid bowed from the room. Pitch didn't see him go. He was staring out his window into the murky blackness. Arendelle, here I come, Pitch thought with an evil grin on his face.
Anna walked up to Elsa's room carrying a large tray. The tray was packed with some delicious chocolate treats that Anna had made with Gerda's help and also sported two amazing hot chocolates. Anna had spent most of the morning on them and was quite pleased on what had been the end product. Anna had figured that if anything could cheer up Elsa it was chocolate. It certainly helped Anna when she missed her children when they were in Corona. Anna had to a balancing act with the tray, the drinks and all the plates while she knocked on the door to Elsa's room. She balanced them on her knee with one hand making sure nothing spilled or fell off while the other quickly knocked on the door.
"Elsa?" Anna said tapping the door. "I got a surprise for you."
Anna pushed open the door and she found Elsa sitting at her dresser tying up her long platinum blonde hair. She had changed out of dress she had been wearing for the last several weeks into her ice dress. Anna smiled at her. She was glad that Elsa was no longer that mess on her bed. It looked like Elsa had come out of the slump that she had been in for the last few weeks. Anna hoped that the talk she had with Elsa had been the first step. Small steps at a time. A wound like this doesn't heal automatically. Time is required.
"I heard you had a surprise," Elsa hummed as she finished tying her hair in an elegant knot. She sounded excited at whatever surprise that Anna had for her.
"I do," Anna said as Elsa got out of her chair and walked towards her. "Chocolate!" Anna exclaimed holding out the tray rather forcibly which caused the hot chocolates to spill a little. Elsa smiled at the try full of treats when she took the tray from Anna's hands. Both she and Anna were both suckers for chocolate. Anna considered it to be her one weakness. She hoped that that applied to Elsa as well. Well she knew it did, Anna knew her sister very well. "I figured if anything can make you feel better it's this!"
"Thanks Anna," Elsa said. "You know exactly what to do."
"No problem. I made enough for two."
"Of course you did," Elsa laughed.
Elsa placed the tray on her bed and she and Anna hopped down next to them. They then made their way through all the delicious treats that Anna had made for them. Anna was glad to see a smile on her sister's face. She knew it wouldn't be easy for her for the next while but Anna would make sure to be as much help as she possibly can. They didn't speak for several moments. Anna didn't hesitate to guess what was on Elsa's mind. It was the same thing that had consumed it for that last few weeks.
"When's the funeral?" Elsa asked taking a small sip of her hot chocolate. "Oh that's good stuff."
"Oh well," Anna wasn't quite sure how to phase her answer. "No body has turned up, so having a funeral would be kind of tricky."
"I see," Elsa said quietly.
"I'm sure it will turn up soon, so a funeral shouldn't be too far away," Anna said still unsure of what she should say.
"Okay," Elsa then forced a smile at Anna.
"Besides I'm sure we can have some kind of memorial service," Anna quickly said. "They were talking about one anyway."
"Okay," Elsa repeated.
Anna then heard the clock chiming from out in the hallway. Anna then leapt to her feet. She realised that she was late. She had completely forgotten about the time.
"I'm sorry, council meeting," Anna said shoving the last bit of the chocolate cake into her mouth.
"Since when do you go to council meetings?" Elsa asked in disbelief. "You hate them. You find them boring, dull and a waste of time."
"Since I stepped up when you were unable to," Anna said quickly finishing off her hot chocolate. "Really," she added when Elsa still looked at her in disbelief. "I just figured that since you have a lot on your plate, this is one less thing for you to worry about. When you have decided it's time for you to go back to work, then I'll give you an update. But right now, I want you to focus on yourself and start getting to a place in your life where you are okay. I want to make sure you are ready before you launch yourself back into frustration that is your job. Seriously I don't even know how you do this. It's a nightmare."
"Okay," Elsa nodded. "Thanks and yes I know."
"What else are little sisters for?" Anna laughed. "Besides all that you said before was true."
Elsa let out a laugh. "Well it isn't easy. That's for sure."
"Well I better get going before Dierk eats me alive for being late."
"Go then," Elsa laughed again.
Anna then bolted out of the room and down the corridor. She passed Kristoff who was carrying Heidi. Heidi was on Kristoff's shoulders and was riding him like a horse.
"Slow down love," Kristoff called after her.
"Can't, I'm late," Anna called back.
"Forward Papa!" Heidi said which made Anna laugh at her youngest daughter.
Anna rushed towards the council room where she skidded to a halt right outside before opening the door. The men in the room stopped instantly and took their seats. Anna took the seat that Elsa would usually sit in. Ever since Elsa had heard the news about her husband, Anna had taken the reins of being Queen. She had attended council meetings and signed off on numerous boring looking documents. She wasn't doing it alone though. She had recruited Lord Anton, who was like a second father to the two girls, and of course her own husband Kristoff. The three them had successfully been running the country for several weeks now and Anna thought that they had been doing a good job. Arendelle hadn't burned down yet so Anna considered herself to be a bit of a success.
"How's her majesty doing?" Anton asked Anna.
"A bit better," Anna answered. "I think she is on her way to recovery."
"That's good," Anton smiled.
"So what's the first thing we have to do today?" Anna asked.
"Before we get onto that," Dierk asked. "I just want to know about who will replace Sir Jackson as Queen Elsa's husband."
"What?" Anna snapped, clearly outraged at Dierk's comment. "She just loss the man she loves and you are talking about who's going to be the next Prince Consort of Arendelle? Do you have any heart at all?"
"Well I just think that will be a topic that needs to be address, if not today then maybe sometime in the future."
"If I haven't made this clear already Dierk," Anna's hands curled into fists. "Elsa's husband is her decision. If, and only if, she wishes to marry again, then she will choose who she wants to marry. If she doesn't, that is her decision. Got it?"
"Yes your royal highness," Dierk said sinking into his seat.
"So, now that is out of the way," Anna smiled around the room. "Let's continue shall we?"
"I believe we are preparing for Lady Tooth's family to arrive," Anton said clearly trying not to show his delight at Dierk being told off, "for the birth of the child."
"Yes," Anna rubbed her hands together. "Let's talk about that. So when do they arrive?"
"Sometime in the next few weeks," Gregor said.
"Ah, we better get the castle prepared in time then," Anna said.
"Indeed we should," Anton said smiling. "I'll get right onto that."
"Excellent," Anna smiled. "What's next?"
"Jorgen, don't forget to go check on the horses!"
"Yeah, yeah, don't fuss," the man called Jorgen called back. "Keep your hair on," he muttered under his breath.
"I heard that!"
Jorgen rolled his eyes but headed out the stables all the same. Jorgen was a man in his late forties who worked his farm in Fellen with his wife and his four sons, well until they all had gotten married and move out of Fellen for many years now. Jorgen was getting old and was considering selling his farm and moving out of Fellen. Maybe towards Arendelle where one of his sons live with his daughter in law or move up to Corona where another one did. He had options which were a good thing. He did think he still had a bit of time left on the farm but he wanted to get out of Fellen as soon as possible. Fellen was too dark and miserable for his liking. He hated the fact that he lived in Fellen but he knew his wife would never leave Fellen. She loved Fellen, for some reason, Jorgen didn't know why. It could be because she lived in Fellen all her life and Jorgen was from another kingdom. He moved to Fellen to marry his wife. He wondered what would have happened if he hadn't made that choice. He did love her but he was living in misery. Working on a hard farm with basically no return and living in a dark, miserable kingdom was a very hard life. As he got older, he didn't think he would be able to continue with this life.
Jorgen pushed open the stables doors with his arms laden with hay. At least the animals were happy, he thought as he shoved handfuls of feed into the horses feeding tray. He made sure that the horses were all good before he turned to leave. That was when he heard a loud clanging noise from the rafters above. He looked up just in time. A bucket was falling down and Jorgen jumped out of the way. Jorgen looked up into the rafters. He could hear a rustling kind of noises and what sounded like hushed tones. Jorgen made his way over to the ladder and positioned it so he could climb it to get to the rafters above. He climbed up the ladder and made his way across the rafters with his handy wrench in his hand. He heard movement just up ahead. He raised his wrench ready to strike if need be.
"Don't hurt us!" came a scared voice.
Jorgen turned on the oil lamp that nearby. The light illuminated two men who were curled up against the wall of the rafters. One was a skinny brown hair boy who looked scared and the other had blonde hair and looked ready to fight him if need be. They were both dressed in grey uniforms but Jorgen noticed that they were a little big on them which meant that the uniforms weren't theirs. He figured they probably stole it from some soldier. That could mean they were potentially thieves or outcasts.
"Who are you?" Jorgen said trying not to let his fear show. Jorgen was a strong man but he was old. The blonde hair man could probably take him and let his friend escape or they could team up and take him together. Either way Jorgen was outnumbered and outmatched. But Jorgen did have the wrench. Maybe a decent surprise attack would work in his favour.
"This is my friend Rikard," the blonde hair boy said. "My name is Jack. If it wouldn't trouble you, we would like your help."
A/N: Okay heads up, I have an exam tomorrow and the next so there may or may not an update for the next couple of days but hopefully I will get one out. The last final exams of the year for me, wow am I stressed. Just need to get through till tomorrow. Anyway, I hope that everyone enjoyed this update. I know that a lot of people were upset about Jack's possible death but do not worry, this chapter should have cleared that up for you all. Please review =)