A/N: Happy reading, folks! And stay safe, don't catch any kind of nasty disease
Cassandra never felt so broken before. Her mind was like a lost man at sea, desperate and starving for reasons. Desperate for a memory, pleasant, warm, welcoming, one she could smile to. But when she thought of her father, she found none.
As much as she tried to hold it in, the pain came out like an uproar from her throat in the form of loud sobbing. The tears started falling down one after another, without a sign of stopping. Despite that, she refused to look away. The next memory was about herself and her mother again, laying together in her bed, just after Wulfacar's figure left the room. She could still remember the day it happened and how her mother's hand lovingly soothed her to stop crying. The memory almost seemed to ease her pain a little.
"Mom...Does he love me?"
"Of course, he loves you. He's just...he's different, you know? But he loves you; I'm sure of that.
"Then why he's so bad to me?
"I don't know, sweetie. I don't know."
"I was such a fool," Cassandra said, still sobbing as Elsa watched the memory, her heart breaking at the sight. The princess' beautiful eyes were already red from crying, and she tried to wipe the tears away with the back of her hand, but they still flowed like a river after a rainy day. "Killing everyone for power was his plan all along. He seduced my mother just because he wanted to rule, and when he became the king, he only wished for more. He's the person who tried to kill me since I refused his will, not wanting to go to another battle. He sent me away after he killed my mother, so I could become a brainwashed machine, trained to kill." She turned to look at Elsa, catching a glimpse of fear and sorrow in her eyes. "He's insane, Elsa." Cassandra gulped, trying to swallow a painful lump in her throat. Her lips trembled, but she didn't care if she looks stupid. "So many people died because of him, and I don't want more death. But I need to kill him to end this torture.
Elsa allowed a gasp to leave her mouth, unable to believe her ears. The Reeve family is known of dirty stories about killing their relatives. But Cassandra is different. She's kind and gentle, with a heart made of pure gold. Despite the shame of her family flooding in her veins, Cassandra would sacrifice her dignity without question, so someone else doesn't have to. But every person is like the moon; they all have a dark side that they would never show to anyone. Elsa can't let the darkness take over her lover's mind. "No! You don't even know what you're talking about! Y-you're not like him, Cassandra!"
"It is too late for me, Snowflake." The warrior smiled weakly while her heart shattered into a million pieces. "There's nothing that could save me from becoming the monster that he is." She gulped, swallowing her sorrow. No matter how hard she fought against the deadly claws of sadness, she could never defeat it. "I wish for another way to end this. But soon, history will repeat itself. And what can I do about it?" Her voice softened, eyes reflecting the pain inside her. A gentle hand reached around the blonde's waist, holding her tightly against the older woman's toned body as she spoke to her face to face. "It is in my blood, Elsa, that is all I know. My grandfather killed his own mother. My father did the same to his wife and son, his own flesh and blood. And now, I'll take my father's life to save a whole country from his shameful reign."
"I know that you want what's best for Ovrilon and I trust you." Slender fingers reached for the warrior's cheek, brushing away the tears of her grief. "But please, don't do it, Cassandra, I'm begging you! There's always another way!" Perhaps her pleading reached the warrior's heart, because her gaze nervously wandered, never meeting her lover's eyes. Elsa hoped their love might free Cassandra from her grief, and she finds enough mercy left in herself to do otherwise.
With a sigh, Cass closed her eyes and leaned down to Elsa, foreheads touching lovingly. "It's a deadly sin, I know. And for you, Elsa, I promise if there's another way to end this war between father and daughter, I will take the chance. But I won't let more blood stick to other people's hand."
"My God, Cass! You must tell us everything! And when I say everything, I really mean it!" Anna chirped, her fist gently punching Cassandra's arm, making her chuckle. "How the hell did you lose all of your memories?"
"Oh, well..." Cass grabbed Elsa's hand, uniting their fingers as they went further into the Northuldra camp with Olaf and Anna. They arrived back from Ahtohallan barely a moment ago, and these two are already acting like kindergarteners. "I don't remember much, but I'd like to think that my powers protected me. Some weird black hooded guys started beating me in a forest and as soon as I fell on the ground, my magic activated. Just a couple of hits against my head and ta-da! I blacked out, and the next thing I know is that I was chained to the ground without remembering a single thing about my past. My name included." She paused for a moment to look and smile at Elsa, affectionately stroking her hand with her thumb. "But thanks to my beautiful girlfriend, now I know more than I can recall."
A figure appeared from behind one of the tents with a jealous expression, the staff in her hand pointing towards Cassandra. "You must've gotten lost in the woods because Elsa is my girlfriend." Claimed Honeymaren.
Cass almost laughed, refusing to believe the Northuldran woman. She was away for two years, and even the thought of Elsa already having another lover hurts her deeply. "What the hell are you talking about?" She turned her attention to Elsa. "Snowflake, is there something that you might want to tell me?"
The blonde woman lowered her gaze to the ground, blushing as she played with the grass with her feet. "Umm...w-while you were away, Honeymaren and I-"
The Arendellian couldn't finish her sentence as Honeymaren stepped closer, pulling her away from Cassandra's arms. "See? She's my girlfriend!" The shepherdess said, folding her arms in front of her chest as she looked at the princess with a cocky grin. Every time she opened her mouth, it made Cassandra's blood boil with wrath.
She looked at her lover, her grey eyes showing how the news pained her heart. "Is that true, Elsa? Everything that happened between us meant nothing to you? Don't you love me?" She asked, her voice almost desperate.
Without hesitation, Elsa answered her lover's question, her voice stuttering. "No! I mean, yes! I love you, Cassandra, it's just that-"
But then Honeymaren cut into her sentence again, leaving the blonde frustrated, biting her lip to keep herself calm. "What the hell, Elsa?! You love...this?! I thought we had something serious! I love you more, Elsa! I would've died for you!"
"Then perish," Cass said it in a serious, commanding tone, but that only angered Maren. With a swift motion, the Northuldran slapped the princess' face, earning an animalistic groan, but Cass didn't fight back. Or at least not yet. "Elsa is mine! She has always been mine! You need to accept that and get lost, you fucking idiot!"
"Oh, yeah? Then that's why she screamed my name last night and not yours!" And that was the last drop in the cup. Elsa knew that what Honey said isn't true, because Cass is the only woman she loves and ever let close enough to trust with her naked body as well.
Grabbing Honeymaren by the collar, Cassandra slammed the shepherdess body against a tree like she weighed nothing. "How dare you disrespect my woman like that! I'm gonna make you equal with the ground as I turn you into ashes!" Cassandra swallowed her anger when it was a fire-seed and forgot to drink something cool, and so it grew in her belly until it came out as hot as any dragon has ever flamed. Every violated phrase was like gasoline to it, and her fists began to clench. Being unarmed, she let her magic appear in hands, the fire burning on the surface of her skin as Honeymaren desperately reached for her staff, afraid of the princess' destructive powers.
Just when she was about to shoot a fireball at her enemy, Elsa turned the ground below them to shining ice, and both Cass and Maren slipped, falling with a loud thud. "Enough!" Elsa yelled. Everyone in the Northuldra tribe looked at then with their mouth hanging, unable to believe their eyes. "I expected more from both of you! I'm not just an object that you claim for yourself!" With the snap of her fingers, she made the ice disappear under the two women, and they stood up, tails between their legs as they looked at Elsa like they are two puppies who just got yelled at for their behaviour. "Like it or not, it's my choice and yours."
With her gaze shamefully fixed on the ground, Cassandra began to walk away in silence. But the leader of Northuldra rushed to her side, grabbing her hand to hold her back from leaving. Cass turned around as she felt her grip and cocked an eyebrow. "Kima?" Yelena asked in a soft tone, her eyes filled with the hope of seeing a long lost person.
The princess shook her head and smiled. "No, I'm Cassandra. However, my great-grandmother's name was Kima."
"Where are you from, Cassandra?" Yelena asked, lifting the princess' hand to examine her palm where the magic came from just a few moments ago.
"Ovrilon," Cass answered, her voice uncertain from the question and the tribe leader's act.
"That land is cursed." Yelena murmured under her breath as she let Cass' warm hand fall to her side. "They do not see the beauty in nature's magic. King Ivan of Ovrilon killed his mother because he had powers like you do. But if you're her great-granddaughter, then how is that possible that you're still alive?"
"My grandfather regretted what he has done. His daughter, Zara, who was the Queen and my mother was born with those powers. He loved his daughter dearly and recognised how harmless our magic could be. He spared her life because he loved her. Despite that, we kept our magic hidden to keep ourselves safe."
"An act of true love." Yelena smiled and placed both of the princess' hand in hers. "We're the people of the sun. And you, Cassandra, are one of us."
"Please tell me we're not related," Elsa said, her eyes opened wide in surprise. Cass did mention that Kima was from a tribe. But Northuldra? That takes things to an entirely new level.
"You're not." Yelena chuckled. "But if you don't know your origin, then why are you here?"
"It's my time to shine again!" Olaf stepped between the women and took a deep breath. "Oh, Cassandra you are the best daughter! Mama, I love you! Her mother is dead. Oh papa why are you sending me away! Slap! Travelling for eight years. Papa, Ovrilon is in a terrible state! Another slap! You're going to win me a battle! Look, papa, I won! Let's go to another battle! Oh no, we got captured! They escaped. My friends are dead! This whole village is on fire, it wasn't me, but it's my fault! Hahaha, evil father laughter! Life in Ovrilon is getting even worse! Papa, let me help! Her father didn't let her help. Papa, why are you not listening to me? Slap! Let's go travelling again! Hey, Rasia, wanna be friends? Oh, my, the Queen of Arendelle has ice powers! Let's visit them and offer them an alliance! Elsa, no! Cassandra saves Elsa. The kissing quest begins! They go to Ovrilon for Cassandra's birthday! Elsa, I'm a monster! Cassandra, I need you to kiss me! Mwah! The kissing quest is completed! Nobody messes with my girl! They arrive in Ovrilon! Rasia is a bad person; she wants to kill Elsa! Cassandra arrives just in time and kills Rasia! They confess their love! Mwah again! The sisters go back to Arendelle! Cassandra is dead. Cassandra is not dead, she just lost her memories because of some black hooded guys, and she started following the same voice that Elsa heard, and then Elsa took her to Ahtohallan, and now Cass remembers everything, and now she knows that her father killed her mother, and it turned out that Elsa is now Honeymaren's girlfriend, they wanted to fight, but Elsa stopped them just in time, and now Yelena revealed that Cassandra is kinda Northuldran." He took another deep breath and looked around, smiling with anticipation at the whole camp. "Any questions?"
Before anyone could open their mouths to speak, the sound of hooves hitting the ground as an Arendellian guard rode through the enchanted forest in search of a significant person. "Queen Anna!" He shouted the young monarch's name.
"What is it?" Anna looked at him with worry shining in her turquoise eyes, not knowing of what the guard holds.
"Terrible news, your majesty! A group of soldiers arrived from Ovrilon with the leading of a man named Zander Reeve."
"My uncle," Cassandra said.
"We closed the gates and didn't let them in. They said that they came here because they refused their king's will and to protect Arendelle." He paused to breathe, filling his lungs with air, but everyone could see his worry. "King Wulfacar declared war of us!" The people gasped in surprise and horror. The Ovrilonian army is well-trained, and their weapons are all made with the newest technology. Arendelle stands no chance against them.
"We need to go back to Arendelle and stop him!" Cassandra said as she surged to her horse, calling for her companions. "Wulfacar will pay for his crimes!" She murmured under her breath, and they made their way back to the Kingdom of Arendelle.
"Open the gates!" The Queen commanded to the guards guarding the huge entrance, but they just looked at her with fear in their eyes, like their ruler went insane. "You heard me! Now, open the gates!"
The guards hesitantly nodded, and the gates opened, revealing the biggest army Elsa had ever seen in her entire life. Cassandra walked closer to her people, unsure of what to expect from those who fought with her just a few years ago. But then she saw her uncle with his back to her, turning to face his niece. Zander looked the same as before, despite the few locks of white hair colouring his head and beard. He dropped a sword from his hand and let it fall on the ground with an unpleasant sound as his eyes met Cassandra's, failing to believe that she's alive. "Cassandra? No, you can't be here! You died!" He said with his mouth trembling.
"Well, dear uncle, I'm pretty much alive. It takes more than a dirty little trick to kill me." Zander rushed to the princess' side and with great force, he lifted her up into his arms like she's still a featherweight little kid again. She yelped and then giggled, her colour infused cheeks dimpled with her blossoming smile and her eyes shone in a way that only deep happiness can bring. She could hear Elsa's laugh from a few meters away, admiring the cute reunion. "Put me down! Put me down! The pretty lady is watching, don't embarrass me!"
Her feet met the ground as Zander gently released her with a chuckle, but then she found herself being pulled into a warm hug. Cassandra allowed herself to relax in her uncle's embrace, returning his sweet gesture. "Everyone missed you, Cassandra." He held her tightly. "But I knew you would find a way to kick a few more asses."
"Thank you for always being there for me. I couldn't have wished for a better uncle." She whispered, resting her head against the crook of his neck.
Chuckling again, Zander loosened the hug and pulled back, his eyes still fixed on Cassandra as they smiled. "Aw, you are a cutie, but I'm afraid we have a war to win." He turned away to face his soldiers, the Ovrilonian army in its almost full glory. "Princess Cassandra is alive!" Zander shouted, and all of the soldiers cheered and whistled with happiness, the sight of the heir filling their chest with the hope of a new, better era.
"I might be alive, but my father is still a great threat. Our country is tired of his selfish reign!" The soldiers cheered again, but now in agreement as the crown princess continued her speech. "I'm terribly sorry because I couldn't help, but he never let me. He even tried to me, his own daughter!" The crowd fell silent, listening to Cassandra's every word as she showered them with shocking facts. "But instead of giving up on my life, I discovered more about his true nature. Wulfacar manipulated all of us, and corrupted even more! Countless people died because of him! My beloved mother, Queen Zara and their newborn son included." The people gasped and whispered something, that Cassandra couldn't understand. She heard her uncle curse under his breath and turned to him. "What are our chances?"
"We have good weapons and enough people to fight. Wulfacar's army is strong, but most of them are corrupted Ovrilonian soldiers. Only time is what bothers me. We have about a day or less before they arrive, but despite that, I think we are good enough to win without suffering a great loss." Zander said, and his words seemed to reassure his niece.
"We can use that to our advantage. There's no need for a fight."
"What are you talking about? You want to win a war without fighting?" Zander asked, afraid his niece might have gone crazy from whatever happened to her.
Once again, Cassandra turned to the crowd. "This isn't a war between Ovrilon and Arendelle. We'll lead the civilians into the forest before sunrise, where no harm comes to them. Your job is to protect them if things get out of hand while I face my father." Cassandra felt her chest tightening as some of the soldiers said that she's insane, but that's not something that she doesn't know already. "It's not what you expected, I know. But so many people died already! This our chance for a peaceful and better life! Wulfacar's army is corrupted; the only reason they are loyal to him is because they are scared! The king is our enemy and not them!"
Zander grabbed her niece by her shoulder, forcing her to look into his warning eyes. "Cassandra. You are so damn fucking right, but I'm gonna kick your ass if you get yourself killed."
"Let's hope that won't happen." She turned to face the royal sisters of Arendelle. "I hope you don't mind if I take care of things from here." Anna shook her head. "Thanks. I want you to tell the citizens to take some of their things and meet at the gates an hour before sunrise. They trust you more. Can you do that?"
"Sure thing!" The Queen said. "Sis, you I go this way, and you go that way!" And within just a moment, the sisters parted to warn the civilians.
"Everyone! You are free to go and prepare for a possible battle!" The crowd slowly disappeared, until only the two Reeves stayed behind and Cassandra turned to her uncle once again. "Zander, as much as I hate asking, I need you to get something for me."
The older man shrugged. "Whatever you need, Cass."
The princess sighed, a bit unsure if this is what she wants or not. Being with Elsa made her feel like she's not a monster after all. But some things must be done without hesitating or running away like a coward. So she said her last word without any sign of regret or fear. "Poison."
A/N: Ehh
I hope Cassandra's heroism isn't too much. Is it just me or you can really feel that the end is coming?
Ohh, and after that, I wish to continue the story by writing a few oneshots. I also wanted to write more smut, but nope, I feel like it wouldn't fit all the tragic-romantic shit.
Poor Elsa probably feels like shit because of the little catfight between Cass and Honeymaren. A very kind user from AO3 asked for it.
And Elsa "protecting herself" was also a request but from Wattpad. I thought I could make both happen within one scene. I hope I managed to satisfy your desire! *wink wonk*