The break of a new day was dawning. The golden rays of a sun completely free to shine its beauty and splendor upon the world. Elsa woke feeling impossibly warm. The soft smell of herbs and spring time breeze filling her with a renewed energy. A weight against her back that held her close left no discomfort despite the injuries that befell her. Her head that was cradled so perfectly a top a steadily beating heart, slowly rose blinking in the light that was beginning to filtering down the window pane. As though washing away the sins of days previous.
The hand tucked under her chin rose to push the stray strands from her cheek and the arm that was tucked between the back of the couch, herself and the source of the warmth beneath her began to push. Her head turned slowly as she lifted her chest, her eyes taking in the rare beauty of the sight presented to her as though it were a painting from a fairy tale.
Honeymaren lay with her head propped up on a small pillow, the arm that had been previously tangled in Elsa's hair resting over the back of the arm of the couch turning her head towards the sun that was continuing to grow. Elsa found herself completely enraptured by the sight for reasons she couldn't even begin to understand.
As the sun continued to creep, it turned the lightly tanned skin of the woman beneath her a most brilliant shade that she was sure the earth giants themselves had painted. The color so rich, that when her pale fingertips rose to lightly brush away the hair that covered her lips she felt the stark contrast of their lives. Like water and fire. Two sides of the same coin.
An anxious breath pushed Elsa up further and she carefully disentangled herself from the blankets that she'd pulled down. With grace only a former Queen could manage, Elsa rose to her feet and returned the blanket to Honeymaren's resting form. The only indication of what she'd done a small furrowing of her eyebrows before Honeymaren turned her head away from the sun that was cresting over her eyelids.
Once more Elsa paused, her hand coming over the odd fluttering feeling she felt in her stomach. Her brows furrowed deep as she tried to decipher just what it was that was making her feel that way, she reluctantly pushed the thought aside chalking it up to her injuries before moving around the couch towards her room to dress for the day. It was still her in her wont to be an early riser and the routine helped to push away the memories of yesterday.
By the time Honeymaren could no longer resist the call of the sun she woke to find herself alone. Bruni still slumbering away in the stone bed Elsa had made for him inside the fireplace, his warm flame chasing the chill from the room as he continued to rest. A slow stretch released the tension in her back before she rolled herself up, her head turning around the still home.
"Elsa?"
Silence greeted her and she let out a heavy sigh bringing her hands to push away the sleep on her face. The soft sounds of the village coming to life just beyond the door pushing her forward to prepare for the day. Her heart telling her where Elsa would be found. Where she always found her when she seemed to disappear.
"Come on Bruni, it's time to get up." Honeymaren grinned to the narrowed look the little salamander gave her before she reached for one of the left over glasses of water from their dinner. She lifted it in warning and the little lizard jumped from the fireplace with great vigor, his flame contained on his body as he dashed towards the door.
"Good boy."
oOo
Elsa found herself standing along the edge of one of the precarious cliff faces that filled the enchanted forest with all its beauty. The glistening snow, that opened up the ground and shined up towards the heavens. A soft trill wrapped up from around her ankles before pulling her hair around her face.
"Good morning, Gale." The soft snowflakes in her grasp sparkled, a soft caress against the hand that rose to greet her before doing a backwards spiral towards the village shadowed in the cliff below.
Elsa followed her trail chuckling softly when Anna suddenly found herself on the receiving end of Gales gusty greeting. The former pulling her long coat from over her head. It was then Elsa realized, that her sister was alone. That she had been moving toward the river that ran along the village. Curious and concerned she pushed herself from her vantage point and started towards the river herself.
oOo
Anna dusted the small flurry from her hair as she crunched through the small cleared path towards the river. The gentle smile that Gale had brought to her face fading as she fell into deep thought. She had woke from a peacefully dreamless sleep. Safe and sound. It felt so unreal, after all she'd been through all the pain she had suffered through.
Her head turned down to look at her hands. The lingering memory of feeling Elsa's magic pulsing through her fingertips when she'd been forced to take the spear. How she had been so sure she'd been forced to kill her, to take the one thing in this world that meant the most to her. Well, one of the things that meant the world to her. Her heart warmed at the thought of Kristoff, her love for him different for what she held for her sister.
As was her wont, her brain cycled again and her fingers flexed. The raw beauty of Ahtohallan taking over the dark thoughts. Bringing light to her soul and lifting her spirits once again. How it felt to stand where her sister stood. Beside her, together. To experience just one moment of the life she lived everyday; her heart no longer filled with envy but understanding.
A sudden thought ran up her spine and she curled her lips in her teeth as she inhaled deeply. There was only a moments of hesitation before her hand shot out in front of her, a near perfect mirror of what she'd seen Elsa do when she controlled ice. Her eyes widened to near comic levels when the snow in front of her curled up from the river bank before a trilling laugh curled the snow around her frame.
"Gale…" Anna felt her shoulders drop but she couldn't fault the spirit for making fun of her. No doubt she looked completely foolish. Still she thrust out her hand again and Gale responded in kind. Another small trilling laugh reaching around to bring the snow down the back of her neck. A small game of chase had begun, Anna pretending to shoot out magic from her hands while Gale deviously circled back around to catch her. A raucous laugh bubbling up the brunette's throat from the tension that had been so beautifully broken.
"What are you doing?" Elsa had come at just the right time, her sister too caught up in the game to have noticed her approach.
Anna squeaked to a stop, her hand still held out in front of her before a rather large pile of snow fell from the tree branch over her head making her shiver and squeal, "Nothing!" She hastily brushed the snow from her shoulders and dusted her hair once again. Her face turned red as a sheepish look curled over her lips.
"Uh-huh." Elsa aided her by lightly running her fingers over her shoulders before shaking her head lovingly.
Anna chuckled nervously for a moment before taking a small step back, "I just thought…you know…maybe…" Anna shrugged with a forced grin. Not a true sadness, not really, just a childish dream. She opened and closed her hands between them before shaking her head and letting the feeling go completely.
Elsa could see the dejection in her sisters face, the variety of emotions that she quickly cycled through before letting them go, just the tiniest of sadness in the very corner of her eyes. She reached forward, taking her hands in hers.
"Oh, Anna. You have the greatest power of all."
"Yeah what's that?"
"Love." Elsa held her tight, holding her safe, "And being my sister."
Anna smiled into the Elsa's collar, taking her words deeply into her heart.
"You're the light in my darkness." Elsa spoke reverently, "I wouldn't be here at all without you." She pulled back, a small tear of unspoken words rolling down her cheek, "Don't you ever forget that okay?"
"Okay." Anna smiled through the tears that ran down her face before wrapping Elsa up in one more tight hug, "I love you so much."
"I love you, too."
The weight of all they'd been through finally crashed down around them and they could do nothing but hold the other for support. What had been meant to be a light-hearted chat along the river turning into a moment of healing. A moment they had been missing for far too long.
A flickering shadow raised both of their heads, each one taking a step back to follow. Anna's hand squeezed Elsa's when the faintest of wings could be seen along the white puffy clouds that painted the brilliant winter sky.
"There you are!"
Both sisters jolted out of their pensive, each one turning with wide eyes as the tell-tale crunch of snow grew closer. It was Anna who spotted what was coming towards them first, her body pushing off with excitement.
"I've been looking all over for you!" The little snowman had traveled far, having been lost in an avalanche when the Earth Giants had fallen. Though Kristoff had searched, he had ultimately been left behind.
"Olaf!"
"Olaf." A relieved sigh.
"Hey guys! Did you just see that huge dragon?!" Olaf waved his arms in amazement, his innocent eyes shining brightly, "At least, I think it was a dragon. Do birds come that big?"
Anna chuckled in time with her sister when she wrapped him up in a tight hug that was readily returned. Elsa quickly joining in on the moment.
"Did you get the bad guy?" Olaf looked between the two sisters, eyes wide and hopeful. Though he had walked through the battlefield, it had already been cleared of the dead. The ground having swallowed up their enemies. Though the paths of destruction between the elements would take time to heal, new life was already beginning to form in their wake. A soft pure snow readying the ground for healing.
"Yes." Elsa smiled at Anna, "Yes, we did."
Anna nodded her head with the same reverence, "It's all safe now."
"Good, good." Olaf pulled free of them when he'd spotted something in the water, "Hey, Nokk!"
The water's suffice rippled, a soft blue light glowing from beneath but he didn't jump out to greet them. Instead, the water pushed forward rushing through it's bed towards the sea.
"Okay, bye!" Olaf waved before turning around, "So? Where's Kristoff and Sven? Oh, and Honeymaren and Ryder?"
Elsa and Anna shared a look but neither one felt like speaking. Instead they gave him a gracious smile and offered out their hands, to which he gladly took allowing them to lead him back toward the village.
oOo
Honeymaren stood atop the outlook over the village, a look of defeat crossing her features when she'd discovered that Elsa wasn't there. With a deep groan she lowered herself down over the stone that Elsa always seemed to favorite. Though she couldn't understand why as it was dreadfully uncomfortable and so she allowed herself to slip down into the pressed snow. Her arms came up to her knees with another sigh, her heart dropping down into her stomach.
"Why do I feel this way?" While not inexperienced in the ways of love, her love-life thus far had yielded very little in terms of fulfillment. She had tried and failed many times, too many for such a young heart. Yet, despite her efforts none of it ever felt right and she had tried to make it feel right but it just wasn't something you could force. It was something that had to happen.
Yet now, a new feeling was much more confusing than anything she'd felt before. It didn't feel wrong, just…unexplored. Unfortunately, before she could dig much deeper into the thought a lump of snow fell onto her head sending a preverbal bucket of cold water over her thoughts.
"Gale!" As much as she respected the spirits of the forest, they could be down right impossible at times.
The twittering laugh that zipped around her ears made her reach out at the flurry of snow in front of her with frustration. Gale was completely unphased and actually shot through her sleeves. One side to the other with another twinkling laugh. Once Honeymaren's attentions had been garnered she spun the women back towards the cliff face so that she was standing once more, her body teetering slightly before a gentle hand pushed her back onto her footing.
A flurried heart appeared in front of Honeymaren but she struck her hand through it with great distress. Her chest heaving from the slight scare of falling over the cliff before her eyes shot down as the wind seemingly vanished into the trees below.
When the sisters came through the trees with Olaf, her heart thumped heavy and she pushed herself down from the cliff face with a skill that had been learned from many falls. Unfortunately, before she could meet up with the sisters, Applen's statue-like body was blocking her path making her grind her teeth and glare, "What?"
"The Elder's are meeting."
"And?" She'd never been invited to a council meeting before though she had once or twice listened in on their conversations from inside one of the trees that reached over their hut.
"You've been requested." Applen turned behind him, the non-stop ramblings of Olaf pulling his attentions for a brief moment before he continued, "Ryder and Elsa as well. No one else."
Honeymaren frowned to his tone. While she understood why Anna and Kristoff would have been restricted she did find herself curious why Elsa was allowed. "When?"
"After breakfast."
"We'll be there."
"Good." Applen turned to find Ryder, no doubt he was in the pins tending to the reindeer.
Honeymaren sighed with aggravation before forcing herself to simply calm down. There was nothing to worry about. It was just a meeting. What was the worst that could happen?
"Elsa, Anna. Good morning." Honeymaren couldn't help the blush creeping over her cheeks when Elsa came to her side, "I see you found Olaf."
"Yes, well actually he found us." Elsa smiled even more as Anna excused herself to take Olaf to Kristoff and Sven.
"That's good. I mean, I know he means a lot to you." Honeymaren couldn't help but track a small beam of light that traced down a lock of Elsa's hair as she turned.
"Yes, very much so." Feeling the weight of Honeymaren's stare, Elsa turned back with a bit of concern on her brow, "How are you feeling this morning?" She had been worried when she'd woken atop the younger woman. She knew she'd been injured, she'd seen it. It had been what had led her to the cliffs over looking the village.
"Fine…actually pretty good this morning." Honeymaren rolled her shoulders, though her lower back was a bit stiff, she held no lie in her words, "How about you?"
"Better." Elsa smiled softly before a small commotion behind turned her away again. Her brows furrowing as she recognized the royal courier.
"That's good." Honeymaren curled in her lips, "Oh, the elders wish to speak with us."
"Both of us?"
"Yeah…But after breakfast. So, you know…" Honeymaren motioned towards Anna and Kristoff, "Let's eat okay? I'm sure you're hungry. I know I am."
"Yes." Elsa spoke distantly and when an arm looped through hers she felt her brows raise before a gentle smile relaxed her features completely.
"Come on, let's go see what news there is to be said." Honeymaren could see the longing in Elsa's gaze. The elder's could wait just a moment longer.
Anna gave them a small smile when they approached, her fingers fiddling with the seal on the letter as though she was afraid to open it.
"It's okay Anna, look. The seal is green." Elsa took her hands in her own turning the envelope, "Green just means general information. Don't tell me that knock to your head made you forget?"
"What, no of course not!" Of course she'd forgotten and all on her own. There were so many fine details to being a Queen she could hardly be expected to keep them all straight.
"Well, since it's not important, we can read it after breakfast yes?" Ryder had returned, a grumpy looking Applen following behind, "Come on, they're setting up the long tables. We can all eat together."
"Great! What's on the menu?" Anna was more than excited to share in a meal. Thus far she'd been given her meals in the small hut that Kristoff and she shared with Ryder. Not the best smelling place to eat if she were to be completely honest with herself.
"I'm not sure you'd ever had it before. But I promise it'll be delicious." Ryder chuckled to Anna's wide eyed enthusiasm. He could definitely understand why Kirstoff loved her so, and why her sister was so protective of her.
"I'm sure I will." Anna took a seat along side Elsa, who sat between herself and Honeymaren. The girls side of the table as it were while Ryder and Kristoff went to the other side.
"Did Applen tell you that we're expected at the Elder's council?" Honeymaren had already begun to fill Elsa's plate, a habit she couldn't remember when she'd started but it was definitely noticed by the two men across the table now. The pair of which shared a small look before they began filling their own plates. Anna meanwhile was completely oblivious as she'd already begun pulling small bits of everything onto her own, her eyes filled with curiosity with out different everything seemed.
"Yeah, we'll go after breakfast." Ryder took a bite of his bread before pushing a plate towards Anna, "Try that with the meat."
"Oh, thanks." Anna took a small piece of what looked like a rolled leaf.
Elsa took the plate that had been filled for her, a soft thank you passing her lips as Honeymaren came back down beside her. There was a bit of awkward hand crossing before they both settled into the meal.
"So, how about a story?" Ryder couldn't help himself, Anna's excitment over everything around her was just too contagious.
"Yes, please." Anything to keep her mind occupied.
Both Elsa and Honeymaren groaned deeply and shifted just a little bit farther down the table leaving Anna to her own devices against Ryder. Kristoff noticed it immediately and despite having a mouth full of food, he smirked, dropping a winter cherry from his lips to roll over the table. When he finally caught it he hastily shoved it back into his mouth and tried to pretend nothing had happened.
"Picture it, spring time. All the flowers and colors. Honeymaren and I-"
"Don't bring me into this!" Honeymaren already knew this story very well. It was one of her most devious achievements to date. Elsa smirked softly from her outburst and her attention was completely drawn into her smile forcing her to hide her flush behind her cup and completely forget about Ryder's story.
"Went high up in the mountains to pick wild strawberries. They're our favorite and you can make amazing jams from them if you do it just right." He motioned to the jam on the flat bread in Anna's hand at present making the woman smile and take a large bite.
"I said we should tie the basket over the cliff so that the reindeer wouldn't try to eat them while we went out for more. We worked nearly all day collecting them, picked almost the entire patch but when we came back to where I know I'd tied the basket. It wasn't there!"
"I told him to double check the rope." Honeymaren stage whispered. Nevermind that she'd eaten nearly half a basket full and had knocked over another and hurriedly hid it behind the tree in her attempt to hide her childhood crime.
"So I went looking of course. And wouldn't you know it. The whole lot of them had eaten every single berry we'd been collecting all day!" Ryder shook his head and let out a chuckling sigh at the memory.
"Mom and Dad were furious." Honeymaren joined in with a chuckle of her own, though her eyes were trained on Elsa's reaction to the story, "They made him go back out all by himself for three days!"
Elsa's grin grew just a bit, the lightness of the story something that they all needed in that moment. The weight of their upcoming responsibilities too much for any of them to want to think about at the present. Her eyes turned towards Honeymaren and that odd feeling in her chest returned. Her brows furrowed as she turned her eyes away, her hand coming up to rub at her heart as though she were sore.
Anna noticed the action, her own laughter dying out just a bit as she wrapped her arm around the top of Elsa's shoulders, "You okay?"
"Yeah, fine." Elsa pressed her head against Anna's for a moment before rolling her shoulders to remove the weight, "This is just fine."
Anna bit the corner of her lip lightly but decided not to press, "I've got one for you. It involved a lot of butter, and a very furious Gerda."
Elsa actually knew this story. It had been relayed to her by the Gerda herself when she'd come to tend to her that evening before her fear had completely shut out everyone in the castle aside from their parents. Her smile returned as Anna continued and she let out a heavy breath to take a sip of water.
"So it was summer, right? But I wanted to go ice skating. Badly." Anna had come to her feet now completely forgetting about her meal, her arms coming out to bring drama to the story, "I'd never been good at it-"
"Still aren't." Elsa grinned behind her cup when her sister gave her a look.
"But I always wanted to get better." Anna stuck out her tongue before continuing, "So I found my way to the kitchens. No one was there because it was at that perfect time between lunch and dinner. When everyone took a small break. I crept into the kitchen." Anna hunched herself over just a little, using her fingers to display her child-sized steps, "And what did I find? The baker's huge tub of butter!"
Elsa couldn't help but chuckle, already knowing the ending of the story. Her eyes dragging away once again towards Honeymaren who seemed completely enraptured by the tale. The fluttering in her stomach returned and her lips pressed into a thin line.
"Of course, I knew that butter was slippery. I'd gotten it all over my fingers enough times. So I had a brilliant plan." Anna mimed climbing up the kitchen counters, "I was going to turn summer into winter."
Another small pause as Anna continued her charade, this time pulling a lid off of a large container, "I got it everywhere!" Anna threw up her arms, "All over me, my clothes, the stone floors. Of course I took off my dress as it was much too heavy to skate in at this point. And I took off down the hallway at a speed that was completely dangerous!" She mimicked a slide on the crunched leaves beside the long table.
"It was only when I tracked through the ballroom did Gerda find me. She'd been polishing the thrones for an upcoming visit from some big important dignitary. Oh man," Anna sighed softly letting her arms come back down to her sides, "I thought for sure, Papa was going to explode! Gerda too!"
"He never did. Not with us." Elsa added softly, her fingers tracing the rim of her cup as her own memories consoled her worried heart.
"No, he didn't." Anna smiled lovingly, "He laughed. Oh, I'd never seen him so happy in all my life! They locked the kitchens from that point on."
"Still do," Kristoff added.
"But it was one crazy afternoon." Anna flopped herself back down on the bench, her eyes shining with joy. For all her effort, Anna suddenly felt as though the world had grown a dangerous tilt, the mirth slipping off her face as her head pulsed.
"Woah, okay no more charades." A deep giggle pushed back the worried looks around her and she turned to sit back properly at the table.
Before long all those who had come to stay in the village and those who lived there had begun moving on in the day's routines. The small squad of Arendelle soldiers had begun to pack away their things and a few of the Northuldran helped them load their sleighs.
When Kristoff had finished, a bit ahead of the others, he'd pulled the letter from Arendelle open. Making those at the table who were still finishing their meal give pause. Elsa however, was the first to speak, her hands folding nervously in her lap in a bid to keep her emotions under control.
"What does it say?" It hadn't been so long that that letter would have been written to her. The stress and pressure of being Queen still a very present memory. While she didn't wish to go back under any circumstance, she still felt that innate duty that had been drilled into her since her childhood.
"They're saying we need should return as soon as we're able…The People of Arendelle have been safely returned to their homes but they're still waiting to hear from us…and awaiting our safe return home." Kristoff folded the letter. A small frown forming on his face as he looked across the table.
Anna pouted and groaned, her hand leaving her sister's folded ones, an unconscious action that had brought the elder woman comfort, "I suppose they're right." She didn't want to go…not yet. The day had only begun to turn, the sun held high in the sky as warm food settled in their stomachs.
"Well, we still have time. I mean…it's going to take time gather everyone and everything. I'm sure they'd understand if we came back late." Kristoff offered a weak smile.
"Yeah…" Anna didn't want to think about all the men she'd have to escort home. All the families whose lives would never be the same again. It really put a wet blanket over the amicable mood that they'd all been enjoying.
To further bring things down, the Elder's at the far end of the table cast down their eyes before coming to their feet. Their silent request very clear. Elsa let out a soft sigh and began to push herself up, "I suppose we have duties too?"
Honeymaren groaned softly and pushed herself up a bit less gracefully, "Yeah. Come on, Ryder."
"Wait, where are you going?" Anna turned with worry in her wide eyes.
"Our presence has been requested." Ryder wiggled his eyebrows a bit, " Think of it like that court thing you have at the castle." He'd remembered from his lessons during Elsa's readings. A puff of his chest showing how proud he was to have remembered.
"Oh…so I guess we'll see you later?" Anna didn't want to spend more time away from her sister. Even being so close, they were still so far away. It didn't feel right.
"Shouldn't be too long." Ryder assured, "Kristoff, you mind feeding the reindeer for me? I took their food down this morning but I didn't get a chance to give them any."
"Sure thing."
Elsa wrapped her arms around her waist but tried to stand tall, "Why do you think they want to see me?" Her words were whispered and filled with worry. Did they blame her for all that had happened? For all those who had been lost? Were they going to cast her out?
"I'm sure it's nothing serious." Honeymaren wrapped her arm around her shoulders but when Elsa winced, her face fell and so did her arm, "Sorry…" Were they back at the very beginning all over again?
oOOo
Honeymaren stood as strong she possibly could after receiving the soul-crushing news of her grandmother's passing. Tears shining in the corners of her eyes but she refused to let them fall. Not there, no she would mourn her loss in private. Away from the judgemental eyes of the Elders before her. Their words drowned out to near murmurs as she merely focused on the feeling of Elsa's arm around her shoulders.
Ryder had not been so reserved in his grief. The ever present smile leaving his face as he found himself on the floor, hiding his face away as he just let the emotion flow through him. Their reactions setting the course to what would happen next.
The Northuldran were now without a leader and the council of Elders had convened to discuss possible replacements. Their words were strict and succinct. Hitting all three of the young people before them in different ways. Elsa too, was doing her best to stand strong. Her own ears drowning out to a myriad of other emotions that filled her soul with grief.
The Northuldran Elder's had only very briefly considered Elsa as their new leader but it had been quickly dashed to the stones when it had been brought to attention her very real lack of knowledge regarding the tribe and their traditions. While she had showed great bravery and self-sacrifice, ultimately it came down to carrying on their way of life. Their values and traditions. When Ryder had tearfully spoke of the power that had come to Honeymaren at the Black Sea the vote to make her leader was almost unanimous.
Honeymaren had initially pressed against the idea, she was still so young, she didn't know if she could possibly take on the pressure of taking care of the entire tribe. That combined with the unbelievable weight that was stepping into Yelena's shadow. It was nearly too much to bear in such a short time. That was until Elsa had given her a very important lesson about what it truly meant to be a leader, having had at least that experience under her belt. Her words had been soft, private and shared between just the two of them.
Eventually, Honeymaren conceded to the Elders' wishes, though she did push for Elsa would be allowed to further meetings, that she'd at the very least earned the right to have a voice. They had relented.
Honeymaren sighed and sniffled heavily, her fingers idly playing with the necklace that denoted her new position before resting her hands down to her sides as she and Elsa made their way back to the central part of the village. Her next responsibility being to take care of the dead. Anna had come to join them as soon as she'd seen their teary eyes. Her words of condolence helping to calm the mood.
"Why not have the ceremony for the fallen together?" Honeymaren turned to Elsa for her support, her chest aching most painfully from the emotion she'd pushed down inside.
Anna smiled graciously at the idea, "I think that would be more than fitting."
Elsa nodded solemnly her hand taking Honeymaren's for a brief moment of reassurance, "Then we better begin preparing…"
"I'll let the guards know…" Anna pulled Honeymaren in to a tight hug and offered a soft smile before turning away to inform the small guard sent to escort them.
Honeymaren turned slowly as Ryder had been trailing behind them, her arm coming out to pull him into a much needed hug. As much as she relied on Elsa's support in that moment she knew Ryder needed her too.
Elsa didn't mind, she completely understood the situation at hand. Her mind turning in slow circles on how she could help. What she could do. Trapped between two worlds, two completely separate ways of life, she stood lost, right in the middle. Then, a soft wind blew through her hair, making her turn and look towards where the earth Giant's slept. Her brow furrowing at the words whispered in her ear.
Her head shook slightly in confusion before she felt a heat at her ankles as Bruni had jumped from the fire. He licked at his eye before jolting forward into the snow, his path melting in his wake. Before Elsa even knew what she was doing, she was following. The call of the spirits around her wrapping around her like a gentle song.
Honeymaren turned back towards where Elsa had been, her mouth open to ask if she'd like to join them when she realized the blond was gone. The melted path the only sign of where she'd gone. A pulse ran through the staff in her hand and she looked at it in surprise pushing it away. There was a long moment when she was sure she wasn't understanding what was being said to her. Then, it all became clear.
oOOo
The sun burned red over the stone monoliths that gated the Enchanted forest. The assembly of people standing silently around the large pyre that reached towards the sky. The souls of the bodies laid to rest therein releasing into the heavens. Gale's wind bringing up the embers that flickered in the waning light. Sending them high into the ether were a deep rumble greeted them like old friends.
Two new stones stood now. The Earth Giants who had brought them to place standing as silent as the mountains that they hailed from. The four elements now standing to the sides of their lost friend. It's tall pillar towering over the others, standing strong, the light that shined through it's carved rune casting down on the place where Elsa now stood. The fire behind her, the last of the additions towering greatly above her.
All those in attendance turned to give their reverence. Honeymaren and Ryder beside Anna and Kristoff. Their respective peoples in their shadows. No one dared to speak, as all words for those lost had already been said. A beautiful eulogy between two peoples.
Elsa knew what she had to do, what she could do to bring peace to all the wounded hearts behind her, all around her. Her hand raised to the stone that stood before her. Smaller than the rest, but still ever so important. It's face blank, waiting for the words she would write upon it. A crackle formed in the air around her and she turned her head up higher, into the burning sky.
A large white shadow greeted her and she knew what words needed to be said. Her eyes closed as the power of the sky raced down towards her with a thunderous crack. Her sparkling dress that had been darkened in mourning flaring out in a brilliant white as the power raced down her frame into the earth. Her long diaphanous train flaring out behind her like the wings when her palm pressed flat against the stone.
Slow winding blue lights crept into the small crevices of stone, craving out the words that needed to be said in this moment. A memorial of those who had been lost, a warning to all those who dared to trespass on the sacred lands, a message of love for those left behind.
The lights continued their path winding and twisting through the stone and when they reached the top, a silent explosion trembled the ground as the last of the elemental symbols came into being. A large six pointed snowflake glistening in the ice that filled it's cavern. The light that shone through creating an otherworldly glow around all those present.
A new balance. A new beginning.