Guess who's back! That's right, it's me! I've officially been made a U.S. Soldier (with this virus going around, my job does require me to be a bit busy handling it, so don't be surprised if I suddenly go AWOL for a bit.) Now that I have time to do this, please enjoy chapter 12. I decided to make it a little fun this chapter before all hell starts breaking loose.
IMPORTANT: I've noticed after looking over this fanfiction that 1. I was 15 when this started and BOY WAS THAT ONE HELL OF A CRINGEY JOURNEY! I could not write for shit. I might rewrite this...as I go. I don't know. I know my writing has gotten...better...ish. I'm trying to get a Beta, because the story is lowkey shit, and so don't be surprised if I still go awol...due to story construction.
Heads up: There has been a month-long time jump. (I'm trying to keep this as geographically realistic as I can.)
Chapter 12: Just a City Girl
Elsa giggles when Anna jumps in surprise at the sound and feel of the taxi engine starting. They had arrived at the ports of Oslo, Norway. Yes. It was indeed a long journey. It had been thirty three days since she and Anna left the island. They had come all the way from Africa to Norway by boat, and now they were taking a taxi to the Welch Estate. Elsa's home.
When they pulled up to the docks Anna had hurriedly jumped off of the ship. This was going to be a long journey of first experiences with her, and when they moved to the streets and called for a taxi, the girl went crazy.
Within this confined space of three people, a dog, and a monkey -in which the driver could not take his wide eyes off of- Elsa tried her best to keep the younger girl calm and not wiggling all over the place. It was way too cramped for someone to be moving around so much...and yet, Elsa couldn't help but to smile at Anna's excitement, struggling to stick her head out of the window, mirroring Sven who was doing the same thing on the other end of the vehicle.
"It would've made more sense for one of us to sit in the front…" Kristoff groaned.
"Oh hush, we're almost there." Elsa chuckled, nudging him the best she could. It had been a three hour drive, so she can't really blame him for being frustrated at the predicament he was in.
Another thirty minutes and they were already pulling up to the gates of the Welch Estate in Arendal, Norway. The nostalgic feeling of seeing her childhood home brought a smile to Elsa's face. She hadn't been here since her father died; he was murdered on his own property when Elsa was only nine years old, and so her grandmother took her and left. Seeing this place...after so long...it made Elsa tear up a little.
A sudden weight was applied to her shoulder. Without looking, she reached up and placed her hand upon Kristoff's. The man had sought to comfort her, knowing her story and what this house meant.
Anna literally began to jump around in excitement as they entered the building, Agdar not too far behind her. Elsa marvelled at the sight of everything; how, even after all these years, everything looked just as beautiful as it did when she left. The checkered floor was polished and glistening with a reflection that could rival an actual mirror. There were two archways on each side of the room leading into different parts of the building. The ceiling was an enlarged glass-like dome resembling a catholic cathedral, a bright chandelier hanging down and lighting the place with a golden hue. Two flights of stairs stood before them, both curving up towards a balcony that circled around the whole room. There were twin sculptures of apes that stood at the bottom of the staircases on both sides, and a larger statue of a horse erupting from water between the staircases that wrapped around it; it was a fountain of a Nokk.
There was an obsidian bench at the foot of the fountain. There were little pebbles covering the bottom of the fountain bowl which was filled with water. The horse stood on its hind legs, its front ones kicking into the air as it is seen to be breaking out of the sea; the creator even took time out to sculpt the water ripping open beneath it to give such an effect, with real liquid shooting out of the ends of the rock made water splashes. The horse was made out of lapis lazuli, and the sculpted water was made out of obsidian, just as the bench before it. Water fell gently from the top of the horse, dripping down its body to give it the true image of water embodiment.
Agdar jumped off of Anna's back. He had gotten a bit bigger over the month, almost too big to properly carry. He had used to only come up to Elsa's knee, now he came up to her hips. Elsa no longer carried him, but Anna, being way stronger, had no problem. He galloped over to the monkey statues, chirping at the sight of them.
"Whoa, boy. Easy on the artwork, eh?" Kristoff chuckled. He had gotten on pretty well with both Anna and Agdar, who weren't very fond of him in the beginning. Agdar, being the primal animal bound to grow large and muscular, took him on as competition. Kristoff himself was built like a gorilla, which Elsa had voiced to him numerous times to his dismay. Agdar always got aggressive with the blonde man, and never hesitated to get violent or physical with him. There were many times in which Kristoff found himself actually having a slap boxing match with the ape; and as the ape got bigger, the hits got harder.
Thankfully, now, Agdar's calmed down...ish. He sees Kristoff no longer as an enemy, but as a friendly rival now. A rival for what, Elsa does not know.
Then there was Anna. Anna was kind of introverted having been away from humans for so long, so it was only natural to become hostile at the sight of a stranger. She'd growl anytime Kristoff got near her, and threatened him anytime he'd attempt to touch her. One time, Kristoff tried to let Sven out onto the deck of the ship for air, and to do that he'd have to pry him away from Anna's hands -she really loved dogs. Needless to say, the girl picked up Agdar and chucked him at the blonde man. The monkey latched onto his face and Kristoff's screams were heard echoing through the corridors of the ship. His face was full of scratches and bruises that day.
Anna still isn't much of a fan, but...she tolerates him better now. She lets him near her, and even listens to him sometimes.
Agdar howls in excitement, running in circles around the foyer. Elsa took a step forward in an effort to calm him, but it was too late. The young ape slips and slides across the ground towards Anna, who had been investigating a strange rectangular hole in the wall that seemed to be shooting cool air. She turned her head just in time to see the animal closing in on her. With a huff of her breath, she leaps up, grabbing the border frame outlining the archway that leads into the next room. A crash resonated through the building, leaving the young blonde huntress already tired from today's current and even future shenanigans. She groaned, moving to stand beside Anna who had dropped down to the ground, crouched down in a manner similar to the primates that raised her; Elsa would have to break her of that habit. It wasn't good for her knuckles to bend in such a way, or support her body's weight.
Agdar whined from his position underneath the shattered mirror in the living room.
"This is why you don't bring wild animals into a house, Elsa." Kristoff laughed from the bottom of the staircase behind her. He had made himself comfortable on his marble seat, Sven sitting between his legs and getting the neck scratch of a lifetime.
"Shut it, Kris." She made her way over to the downed ape, Anna following close behind. Elsa lifted the mirror and helped him up. "Alright Agdar, enough playtime for you…"
He bolted across the floor over to the nokk statue.
"Wait, hey- No! Kristoff, stop him!" Elsa cried, fighting the urge to yank her hair out.
Her partner stood up with hesitation, holding his arms out to stop the primate, but all that managed to accomplish was getting both of them on the ground in a scuffle. Elsa had intended on going over to stop the conflict, but stopped partially through the archway when she noticed Anna scaling the living room with expertise to latch onto a chandelier. The sound of glass chiming made Elsa flinch with nervousness. "A-Anna! Get down from there! Stop acting like an animal!"
Oh the irony.
In addition to two screeching gorillas rolling around the ground in a violent showdown, and Elsa fighting with a stubborn young adult, Sven had decided to add to the noise himself with melodic barking.
"WHAT IN GOD'S NAME IS GOING ON HERE!?"
Had Elsa known there was anyone else in the house, she probably would have ensured that they knew she was arriving with exotic guests before she allowed them to come in and trash the place.
A red faced fat man stood speechless from the railing. It seemed as if he wanted to say something but no words would form. His eyes rapidly bounced around at the display before him. Soon enough he gained the will to move. He threw himself away from the railing and back towards whatever place he came from. Eventually he reappeared, this time with someone else beside him.
A light smile formed over Elsa's face as she watched Kai and Gerda come running down the stairs with equally excited and terrified expressions on their faces. She met them at the bottom of the stairs, that way they wouldn't have to risk passing Agdar or notice Anna in which Elsa could only assume was invisible from Kai's angle above the staircase.
Big warm arms wrapped around the smaller woman's frame as Gerda came squealing with delight. "Oh Elsa! My Elsa! It's been so long!"
"Thirteen Years, to be exact!" Kai Added from beside her.
Elsa squeezed back, a warmth settling in her chest at the sight of her childhood caretakers from whenever her father was too busy to be around. "It is so great to see you, both of you."
Gerda released her, taking a step back to take in the sight of the now grown Elsa. "You've grown so much! Look at you, you're so beautiful! Oh, and I see you've got a little thickness to ya!" The old woman winked, gesturing to Elsa's womanly features.
The pale woman grew red with embarrassment. "Y-yes, well, I uh-"
Gerda laughed, all the while Kai was shaking his head on the sidelines, "Oh don't worry dear, I'm only teasing! Oh! Kristoff!"
"Hey there, Gerda." He said, taking his place beside his friend. "Long time no see."
"Oooooh! Elsa, I see you've also brought home one hell of a man with you!" Gerda fanned herself dramatically, winking at the poor boy before her. Kristoff found himself just as flustered as Elsa, both victims of Gerda's taunting.
"Wait, no- we're not- I'm not-" He stuttered.
"Oh don't worry my boy, no need to explain yourself," Kai interrupted. "Gerda is being Gerda, don't mind her."
Elsa opened her mouth, intending to tell them that she wasn't very fond of men, when she was cut off by a small whine from behind her. The fabric of her shirt pulled against her, and she felt the weight of someone pulling on her. Elsa turned her head, glancing behind her and sneaking a peak of a very timid looking ape.
Apparently she wasn't the only one who saw him.
"D-dear heavens!" Gerda cried, pointing at the animal with distaste.
Kai, instead, leaned forward in interest, "What on earth is that doing here!?"
"I-I can explain! It's a long story…" Elsa moved to the side, allowing the young primate to become more visible to the maid and butler. "This is Agdar."
Agdar inched closer to the two strangers, the quiet sound of his sniffing almost making Elsa faint from adorableness. Gerda kept her distance, not wanting to touch the creature. Kai was far more bold, taking a step closer and reaching out to touch it. The display was endearing, to say the least. Elsa barely wanted to tear her eyes away from it, but she found herself doing so in search of one missing link. "Anna?"
Gerda perked up, "Anna? Who is that? Another monkey?"
"Ape," Elsa corrected, "And...sort of."
Just around the corner from the next room, a head of red came peaking out.
"Oh! Well who is this!?" The maid squealed. It was her turn to be brave now, making her way down the steps to the young girl.
"Wait, don't rush her!" Elsa warned, grabbing Gerda's arm just before she could reach Anna. "Anna's not very kind to strangers, Gerda."
"Just how unkind can such a small, pretty thing be?" The woman huffed. Anna, at the moment, was crouched down behind the wall. Her head was pretty low to the ground, giving off the impression that she was some small child. With her whole body and just a portion of her face being hidden, Elsa could see why Gerda might've mistaken the girl.
"Let's just say...you would've been better off petting the wild ape."
"There's no way she can be that dangerous!" Gerda pushed past her, reaching out towards Anna who got lower to the ground, eyes narrowing.
Elsa was thankful for being blessed with the knowledge of understanding animal body language. She threw herself between Gerda and Anna without hesitation, just in time to stop Anna from bodying the woman and harming her. Anna, who had pounced, stopped abruptly at Elsa's interception.
"Anna, relax. This is a friend of mine. A friend of yours, too."
Anna lowered back to the ground, eyes never leaving Gerda's shocked ones.
Elsa addressed the old woman without taking her own eyes off of Anna. "She intended to kill you, by the way. So please, stay away from her and listen to me next time."
Gerda silently nodded, backing away back towards the men. When Elsa could no longer feel the woman with her hands, she relaxed, letting out a sigh of relief.
"That is one hell of a girl you've brought to your father's home, young lady."
Elsa's head snapped around at the voice, her eyes wide, accompanied by the brightest smile she could possibly hold, slowly stretching across her face. In the room, on the other end of the foyer, stood a woman older than Gerda. Her hair was pure gray, and her face was covered in wrinkles; yet, she maintained an image of superiority in her tribal patterned pantsuit. She maneuvered across the silent room with grace, her eyes piercing with interest as she scanned the wild girl before her. She came to a halt just before Elsa. "Elsa, darling. It's been a while since you've left. I never thought I'd meet with you here."
Elsa hesitantly pulled the woman into a hug. "It's been three years! I've missed you, grandmother..."
"Miss Northuldra!" Kristoff chirped, running over to meet with the woman.
"Ah, you're the boy who gave Elsa a home. I remember." She chuckled. The woman, Yelena, glanced down towards the wild girl that looked back up at her with curiosity. "Perhaps...we can all catch up on this unscheduled event over dinner?"
Filling everyone in on the events that led up to now wasn't very pleasant. No one could believe in a war between gorillas and men. No one could believe that a girl raised by said animals could save Elsa and take care of her for weeks. No one could believe in just about any of the things that Elsa told them. Some things Elsa kept to herself, like Hans and Anna's body count. Some things...they just don't need to know.
"So Anna, dearest, tell us about yourself!" Gerda leaned over the table, hands clasped together.
The girl in question tilted her head. Elsa spoke in lieu, "Gerda, please. As I've told you, Anna isn't good with words. Hell, she doesn't even like to talk, for that matter."
"She talks to you, does she not?"
Her pale skin turned red with embarrassment. "Y-yes, well...she knows me better, is all."
"I see...Anna, would you like some pork steak darling? Your plate seems pretty empty."
The way the older woman ignored the clear and very concise information made Elsa grit her teeth slightly. "She's vegetarian. She's satisfied with the salad and fruit. The only meat she'll get close to eating is fish."
Gerda hummed. "Why on earth didn't you tell me that before? I would've made something strictly for her to eat."
"I'm more concerned as to why she isn't using the utensils given to her and instead is plowing through her meal with her...bare hands." Yelena nonchalantly chimed in. "Do I need to put her next to Sven and...what's his name...Agnarr?"
"Agdar, grandmother."
"Yes, him. Please, correct your guest, Elsa." She ended it there.
When it came to Yelena, she was a woman that expected things to be done her way quickly and in a hurry; no if, ands, or buts. Definitely when it came to Elsa, and even her mother, in the past. Obedience was everything in her family when she was younger. Which was a struggle for Elsa growing up.
"Anna," Elsa gently called, which was rough to do considering how frustrated she was getting. "Why don't you try eating with the fork? Right here…" Elsa picked up the fork and gave it to her. Then, with her own fork, she proceeded to eat her food, motioning for Anna to do the same.
To be honest, this should be something Anna already knows how to do. Elsa can only assume that her parents didn't use kitchen utensils on the island. Then again, there aren't many things one can find on an island to eat that require forks and spoons, are there? It's really just meat and crops.
Anna picked up the fork, and eyed Elsa, slowly copying her movements. She smiled when Elsa gave her a nod of approval.
Watching the two girls interact in such a way brought a single question to her grandmother's mind. "What ever happened to that...Belle girl?"
Elsa froze.
Kristoff cleared his throat uncomfortably from across the table. He, and only he, really knew about Belle. Yelena had only known the woman for a day; She had ended it with both Elsa and Belle outside in the cold, Elsa crying in the other woman's arms. Elsa was eighteen then.
The now older woman swallowed down any attempt to excuse herself from the table to avoid the question. It was about time she talked about it. "We broke up some time ago."
"Is that so? Tell me, what for?" Yelena straightened her back. Her eyes were glued to Elsa, and Elsa's were glued to the ground.
Elsa clenched her fists, resting them on her lap. "She...didn't want me anymore. She found someone else...someone better."
"Some guy named Adam Beast, a real tool if you ask me." Kristoff intervened, a small smile on his face in attempt to lighten the awkward situation. Elsa smiled back, thankful.
"She left you to pursue this man?" Yelena continued on, paying Kristoff no mind.
"W-well...she uh...she already had him...really." Elsa confessed. "She had been seeing him for ten months prior to our separation."
"And how did you discover this?"
"She kicked me out after I found them together...that's why I've been living with Kristoff for the past year and a half."
"Hmph." Yelena took a sip of her beverage. "Well, at least she chose a man this time."
Elsa's eyes shot up to meet with her grandmother's. "What is that supposed to mean."
"I told you back then and I'll tell you now, Elsa. Nothing good comes of same sex relationships. This was bound to happen."
It was at this moment that the table seemed to grow in tension. Kristoff turned in his chair to play with Sven, waving pork steak around so that the dog would perform tricks. Kai turned his interest to the young ape, petting it and studying it's features. All the while, Gerda took this time to awe over the uncomfortable primitive redhead -her unease having nothing to do with the statement made by the grandmother (seeing as though she had no idea what she meant), and everything to do with the strange big lady trying to touch her.
"After these three years, you still show no remorse for the way you treated me after I told you?" Elsa's voice was soft, but the trembling of pure anger did not go unheard by anyone at the table. Even Anna's ears perked up, and her attention was on the blonde; the prodding of Gerda went ignored.
Yelena shook her head. "You expect me to house something so vulgar?"
"I expect you to house your granddaughter!" Elsa was standing now, and so was Anna.
Although the girl was unsure of the going ons of this table, she knew one thing. Elsa was upset, and it was because of that gray woman.
"Elsa, I simply cannot support something like that-"
"I wasn't asking you to support it! You can believe what you want! I won't demand you convert your ideals to mine! But you can still love me without supporting what I do! You don't have to come to my weddings, you don't have to hook me up with women, you don't have to get engaged with what I do! All I ask is that you love me, and be there for me when I need you!"
At this point, there were tears falling down her eyes. Elsa was out of breath. Living under her grandmother had been hell ever since the girl started highschool. That was when she first came out to the woman. Once that happened, her grandmother began to neglect her, and punish her more than usual for silly things. When she saw Yelena today, she was excited. She was hoping that, after three years of being away, her grandmother would come to change...apparently not.
A small growl penetrated the heated atmosphere around them. Anna was glaring in Yelena's direction, chest puffed out in a show of dominance. She was warning the older lady. Agdar huffed loudly from her side, it appeared as though he was backing her up.
"Perhaps...we can all sit down and relax a bit? Surely this is a misunderstanding." Gerda insisted, straightening out the wrinkles in her apron.
A silent, but mutual agreement. They sat down.
Gerda entered the kitchen to fetch more beverage, Anna following closely behind after being told that there was fruit for her in the back. Elsa took a moment to compose herself, but mentally refused to look at her grandmother for the rest of the dinner. Yelena seemed to be unbothered by the whole ordeal.
Gerda returned with a pitcher. It seemed as though Anna was left inside. As the doors flapped open and closed before coming to a halt, the girl could be seen munching on a watermelon -Agdar running in to join her- while observing the fishtank in which was used for cooking purposes...such as making fish. "So, Elsa." Gerda spoke. "If Anna can't talk then I guess you'll just have to talk for her."
Elsa accepted this invitation to move on from bad moments. "Well...she's eighteen. Uh...she's been stuck on that island since she was six-"
"What!?" Gerda gasped. Kai's brow perked up in interest. Yelena's eyes fell on the girl in question.
"Yea...her parents were primitive people. They lived their lives like there was no civilization. They ate whatever they hunted, lived in whatever they could build...honestly I believe the only things they kept from the modern world were their clothing and guns."
"What family would do that to a small child?" Gerda shook her head in disbelief. "A life like that…"
"Is a life lived by an Arendelle." Yelena interjected. "More specifically, Agdar Arendelle." Elsa said nothing. It would be best if they didn't interact, she figured.
"You mean...Sir Welch's friend?" Kai asked.
"Wait...father was a friend of Mr. Arendelle?"
"The best of friends. Closer than brothers." Yelena confirmed.
...well...Elsa guessed it wouldn't hurt to interact, for this...actually...this was the perfect time to get some answers to the abundance of questions she had following the incident on the island. She turned to her grandmother, "When was this? How did they know each other?"
"They grew up together. Your father's family and theirs had an alliance that lasted four generations, your father's being the fourth. His grandfather hunted beside the grandfather of Agdar Arendelle. The families bonded due to their partnership. Your father's friendship with Agdar Arendelle was simply tradition."
"To my understanding the Arendelle family had been living on that island for years. Agdar Arendelle himself was born on that island, correct? Then how did he even meet my father?"
"The island belongs to the Arendelle family; but again, the Arendelles met the Welchs before the island was founded. Simply enough, we travelled over to the islands many times to maintain the partnership we've made. Why do you think it was so easy for you to go there without having to pay a tourist fee?"
"I was under the impression that the Welchs owned the island…" Elsa glanced at her now cold food in confusion.
"Yes, we do now. Agdar Arendelle gave the rights over to your father. Apparently there was a debacle over the island between him and Cedrick Westerguard. Agdar feared the worst and created a backup plan, that being Calbourne."
"Cedrick Westerguard" Kristoff's eyes widened at this. "Han's uncle!"
"Ah, Hans Westerguard. Yes. You're still friends with that boy?"
"I wouldn't call him that anymore no." Elsa shook her head, "He uh...went crazy back at the island. He shot Anna and attempted a mass genocide on every living primate on the land, telling me to hand the island over to his family for the sake of his father or something like that."
"Of course he did. That's what the Westerguards do! They're evil pigs who'll stop at nothing to satisfy their greed…" Yelena snorted, sipping on her drink.
"But...My father had the deed to the island, so if they...did something to Agdar Arendelle then-" Elsa quieted, eyes frantically searching the air for any answer to her unspoken question.
"You remember that day, child. You were there after all." Yelena didn't even need to look at Elsa to know what she was thinking.
"That's impossible. My father...he…" Elsa asked for answers...but she didn't think it would all lead to something like this. Something like her father's murder.
"There is no doubt in my mind that the Westerguards killed Agdar and Idunn Arendelle, and even less doubt that they killed your father as well."
Elsa was silent. She didn't really know how to react. The family of a former close friend were to blame for the murder of her father...over some stupid piece of land? If it weren't for her pride and the need to avenge the man and what he tried to protect, she'd have given that stupid deed away within seconds.
"I urge you to be careful, Elsa. You hold the deed now." Yelena gently placed her empty glass atop her plate, pushing it away from her. "Definitely now that you've once again brought together the Arendelle and Welch family, the legal rights over the island will be harder to gain for those clowns."
"Brought together…" Elsa was barely listening. So many thoughts were going through her mind. "I...I'm so confused I-"
"Agdar Arendelle was born a significant man." Yelena continued. "His bloodline carried a history of fame and fortune. I mean, just who do you think founded the great city we live in? The city of Arendal? Think about it. His great grandfather found that island and decided the primitive life was for him and his family with the exception of travel and business to keep his legacy and wealth alive. His son Runeard found a woman from the mainland and gave birth to Agdar, who found a woman from the mainland and together they had a daughter named…?"
Elsa ran her sweaty palm through her hair. "Anna…"
"Anna Arendelle. Exactly. As I said, the Welchs and Arendelles have been united for four generations, and it seems now we've got a fifth. Elsa, you've just brought home the assumed-to-be-dead daughter of the family that owns that land and you've also got the rights to it. You've just put yourself into a lot of trouble."
Elsa swallowed, but said nothing.
"You've got to be joking with me, Miss. Northuldra." Kai mirthlessly chuckled, "That girl is no more intelligent than a monkey, and you're speaking of her as if she's the most powerful person on the estate."
"In her defense, her parents were killed when she was six, and she was raised by primates, I don't think she had a say in how intelligent or powerful she is." Kristoff pointed out, his eyes narrowing at the butler.
"She's not the powerful one here...not yet at least," Yelena reassured them, "Elsa is the one with power here. She has the rights to that land, as well as the founder's daughter who I'm sure she can...educate."
"As if you could educate someone at that age," Kai scoffed. "I'm sorry, Ma'am. I say we give the child to a hospital or someone who can help her. Keep her until she's fixed, if she can even be fixed. We can call the police and handle this-"
It was then that the table erupted with comments and complaints. Elsa and Kristoff jumped to defend Anna, while Gerda jumped in to defend Kai, saying that it was only right to get the girl proper help. Yelena sat quietly, thinking to herself about the situation.
Only a few minutes passed before her superior voice brought silence upon the group.
"Enough." She demanded. Everyone's eyes were on her now. "Elsa, why don't you call in the girl?"
She didn't need to hear another word. "Anna! Come here, please?"
An aggressive shuffling could be heard behind the kitchen doors. Within seconds Anna was by Elsa's side.
"What did I tell you about crouching like that?"
Anna begrudgingly stood up on her two legs. While she wasn't very tall naturally, standing made her appear way taller than what people would assume.
"Here is what I say we should do," Yelena stood from the table, scanning the girl from head to toe. "The saying that you can't teach an old dog new tricks has been proven myth, and here we have our old dog. I say we teach her the tricks she needs, take this time that we have to get her civilized, educate her, and prepare her. We are going to keep that land safe. Both her father, and your father have died for that, Elsa."
Elsa nodded, staying silent. As much as she and her grandmother might not get along anymore, the older woman was right and Elsa knew it. It was only wise to have Anna fight the battle if they were going to win. While Elsa held the deed to the land and could attempt to get the courts involved, it wouldn't mean a thing against someone as powerful as Mr. Westerguard. They had no evidence that he committed murder on their families, and they had no evidence that he was trying to steal the land away. He was playing it smart. He was going to do it the legal way...for now. He was trying to get Elsa to sign the deeds instead of harming her...but now? Now that plan has failed, and Elsa will never sign that deed, and he knows that. So he was going to come for her and take it by force to extend his power and wealth.
Right now, they were sure he didn't know Anna was alive, and if they could get her smart enough to appear in a court case and speak out as the only witnessed who had seen a Westerguard kill her family, and the only person who knew where her parents bodies were buried, they were sure to win against him, to get him out of their hair. They were going to be safe.
"We should document her journey of education, should we need to prove that she was trapped in a place with no prior education to begin with. Her body has clearly changed to support her survival in a humid and heated location. The normal human hands can't support the excessive weight of their body should they decide to walk like an ape." Yelena added.
That was part of the reason Elsa wanted Anna to stop walking in such a way anyway, it wasn't healthy.
"Okay then," The blonde nodded, standing herself and placing a hand on Anna's shoulder. The ginger tilted her head, glancing at the hand and then at Elsa. "We will start tomorrow Morning. We will teach her even the simplest of things...under one request grandmother."
"And what might that be darling?" Yelena quirked her brow.
"Leave her training ultimately to me. You may assist, as well as Gerda and Kai. But I am the one who calls the shots. I know you, you'll take it too far." Elsa stated, remembering how her grandmother raised her. "This is no time to be raising a princess. No time for proper teacup holding and crossed legs. We just need her normal enough to get the job done...do we have a deal."
Yelena smirked.
"Yes, darling. We have a deal."
~~000~~
A month ago
Liam smirked.
Hans hated that smirk.
He hated his brother.
Of course there was nothing funnier than watching the redhead get his ass handed to him.
Hans sighed, scratching at his bandaged chest as he let his father tear into him about how much of a failure he was.
"Thank goodness I let Liam join you on this journey, clearly you need the extra help."
"Father, you have to believe me! That girl had control over the monkeys somehow! She talked to them, and they helped her! And that's how she took Elsa and got away!" He pleaded. He could hear Liam holding back a laugh in the corner of the tent. They didn't believe him. Of course they didn't believe him. Now he was being mocked, and taken as a fool! He was not a fool!
"Shut up, boy. That's enough of that nonsense. That girl has left and you gave away our plans."
"I was trying to-"
"Silence! You don't have to tell her about our plans to get her to sign the damn deeds! You fucking baffoon!"
Hans said nothing. He heard the heavy breathing from the other side of the phone. His father was getting old. Too old to even yell, and here Hans was, being dragged around like a bitch. Not only that, but he had managed to make his father so disgusted with him that he had swore. A man who was above vulgar language. A man too classy for such words, gave Hans the first use of it. How embarrassing.
"You have made the biggest mistake of your life, boy." His father coughed, "I tried to spare your heart, your pathetic feelings, but you've just doomed that girl. Now we have no choice but to take that land by force, and repeat our family's history."
What?
"Father, no! Please! One more chance, just one last chance!" Hans pleaded, Liam no longer to hold his laughter from the side of the room.
"You fool. You young fool. Hans, my boy, this is your last chance."
He wasn't offered anything after that. The line went dead and Hans was left beside his ass of a brother.
Hans wanted so badly to scream, but he decided to remain quiet.
"Well then. We got two missing girls, a missing man, a missing dog, and a missing boat." Liam commented, trying to calm himself down from his laughing high. "Tell me brother, what's the plan? How are we going to kill Els-"
"I'm not doing shit to Elsa!" Hans slammed his fist into the table beside him. He was sure he was attracting the attention of people outside the tent who heard the loud bang, but he didn't care. Let them eavesdrop if they want. They all work for his father anyway.
Liam's smile faded away, and his green eyes became serious. Hans refused to show just how uncomfortable he felt under those eyes. Liam moved from his corner, coming over to the table and leaning over it, looking Hans in his own similar green orbs.
"Careful, brother." The blond's voice was low, like a growl. "Don't proclaim your disobedience to father so proudly."
"Father is being foolish and you know it, Liam." He was digging himself a grave. He was digging himself a fucking grave. "Since when did murder become okay? Why are you so excited about it?"
"I'm excited to get what belongs to us, Hans. Even if it means going the extra mile." Liam stood up straight, dusting his hands off onto his pant leg. "Listen closely, brother. If you lose will to see this mission through, I will see it through for you. Then, I will report to father just how weak you were. How shameful would it be to have gone this far, and yet you still fall short of father's praise."
Hans didn't look at him. He didn't even watch as his brother left the tent.
He was right, although Hans didn't want to admit it.
Hans had taken this job with a goal, and now he was thinking of abandoning it for something that he was sure he'd lost already. Elsa's friendship.
So what held him back? He had already destroyed that and he was sure he wasn't getting it back. If he gave up now he'd not only be losing Elsa but his chance at getting his father to accept him. He could only go backwards or forwards.
Hans closed his eyes and rested his head back on the back of his chair. He let a shaky sigh. Liam was right. Of course he was. Hans was going to have to make a choice.
And it wasn't much of a choice.
~~000~~
Present Time:
Okay, so day one of getting accustomed to civilization was already proving to be a difficult task. Not because it was difficult to teach Anna things, but because she was stubborn and didn't like particular standards or actions. For example, when they woke up this morning, Elsa had used an alarm clock to get Anna used to the importance of time; an idea insisted upon by her grandmother. After Anna had slept up until the afternoon, Yelena had convinced Elsa that Anna needed to learn what it meant to have a schedule, that it would teach her order and structure. Needless to say, Anna woke up with a cry and kicked the alarm clock, slamming it on the ground and stomping it aggressively. She had held her ears tightly throughout the whole ordeal, which is why she preferred kicking the machine rather than grabbing it.
They had decided to take Anna shopping for clothing, teaching her any necessary aspect of civilian life as time went. For example, not sticking her head out of the car window like a dog, or sniffing objects or air anytime she caught a whiff of some odd scent. The biggest struggle was keeping her from climbing on everything. Every once in a while, Yelena would slap Anna with her walking cane -in which was more of an accessory rather than necessity- and snap at her; "Stand up straight." "stop tilting your head." "Walk on two feet, not your hands.".
Elsa felt awful letting her do it. She knew she should've interfered with her grandmother, especially after declaring to the dinner table last night that she wouldn't let her do it. Anna needed someone stern and serious to keep her in line if she were going to learn. Even though Elsa could very well be the ice queen and demand obedience...she couldn't bring herself to do it...not with Anna. Any other person, it would be easy; but when it came to Anna, seeing the shocked and disappointed look on her face every time she got yelled at would halt Elsa in her tracks, leading to a spew of apologies from the blonde. Then Anna would go right back to her primitive habits.
So Elsa caved. She gave her grandmother control. Not all of it, but enough.
They sat near the dressing rooms. Yelena had originally picked out a couple of nice sundresses and dress tops with skirts. Anna had denied all of them, shifting uncomfortably from side to side whenever she tried them on. Elsa couldn't help but to laugh at the young girl. It was unbelievably adorable watching her wriggle about. There was one particular dress in which Elsa found herself completely speechless. It was a red one. It's length allowed it to flow down Anna's body and spill onto the floor. There was a slit on her right leg; there were no straps, but there were sleeves, transparent ones at that. Yelena had insisted Anna let her hair down. It had only then occurred to Elsa that she had never seen Anna with her hair outside of the twin braids. The red head denied, nonetheless, and stood uncomfortably still, Yelena nodding in satisfaction and complementing the girl on how well red looks on her. Elsa surely would've complemented as well, but she just couldn't seem to form any words in her mind. Yet she knew what she wanted to say.
Anna was beautiful.
It had finally come to their attention that the primitive girl did not like dressy and flashy clothing. In lieu, she preferred loose casual wear. She hated jeans, and preferred joggers or basketball shorts. She would choose t-shirts, wife beaters, and sweaters over button ups and long sleeves. She most definitely favored the hoodies. Elsa had found one of the most adorable and accurate hoodies for the girl. Anna had come out of the dressing room with it; a pair of black biker jogging pants and a white hoodie that said "Queen of the Jungle'' on the front, and a lion roaring on the back of it. The younger woman enjoyed playing around with the hood of the clothing, yanking it over her head and pulling at the strings. Elsa wanted so badly to go up to her and open that hood up, revealing to herself the gorgeous teal eyes that were hidden beneath it.
They were having a hard time getting Anna to put on shoes. The girl refused, unhappy with how claustrophobic the socks made her feet feel. She would constantly kick them off, growling whenever someone tried to approach her with them. Another habit Yelena had to condemn.
After a long day of shopping and having to explain to Anna what a credit card was and how it worked -Elsa was sure the girl still didn't get it- they made their way to a nice restaurant about thirty minutes away from the manor. Elsa had ordered Anna a vegetarian burger. Apparently Anna does not believe one can simply 'make meat.' from plants. Elsa gave up on trying to Explain to her.
"Why don't you just try it?" Elsa insisted.
Anna grimaced, shaking her head. "I don't eat animals."
"I understand that, and that's why I got you fake meat." Elsa reached over the table and pushed Anna's plate closer to her.
"You can't make plant meat!" Anna growled, shoving the plate away from her once more.
"Anna." Elsa dipped her head, looking up into the younger woman's eyes. "Do you trust me?"
The redhead shifted in her seat, pouting just a little bit and making Elsa's lip twitch and pull into a small smile. "Yes." She answered.
"Would I trick you?"
Anna pursed her lips. "No."
Yelena watched from the sidelines as Elsa managed to calm Anna from her incoming temper tantrum. Lord knows they don't need a violent jungle child to get angry in a place filled with sharp objects. The old woman hummed, sipping on her tea, yet not taking an eye off the ordeal.
Anna bit her lip, looking down at the burger on the plate. Elsa had ordered it with everything, that way Anna could pick and choose what she did not like. She had taken a pickle off earlier, already deciding that it's looks were not good enough for her, and when Elsa had told her to "don't knock it till you try it." the girl had discovered that the pickle indeed,
Did taste even worse than it looked.
Anna let out a small growl -earning a slap on the shoulder from Yelena- and proceeded to lift the burger and pull it into her mouth. She chewed slowly, eyes furrowed in both concentration and aggravation. After a while of silence, Elsa spoke up.
"Well? How does this veggie burger taste?"
No response. Instead Anna grumbled to herself as she proceeded to down the burger in such haste, never once letting go of the "angry facade" she had on. Elsa giggled, watching the annoyed girl eat before turning to her own plate.
Later that night, Elsa had decided to introduce Anna to the world of literature. The redhead sat on her bed with her shorts and sports bra on, ready for bed and wrapped inside the blanket. Elsa sat next to her, reading out of a book called "The last samurai.". Elsa figured Anna might've been one for action. It became a slight hassle when Elsa found that she'd have to translate some of the words that were just too large or complicated for Anna's understanding. Although, Elsa never failed to at least explain them, hoping to improve the girl's vocabulary.
At one point Elsa had passed the book over to Anna, intending to teach her how to read. Clearly Elsa had forgotten that Anna had an education, even if it was a small one. The girl was immediately able to pick up where Elsa left off, reading through the words with only a slight struggle. Of course, when it came to the big ones, Elsa would quickly help her out. They came upon a scene where the main character clearly shows he has feelings for the woman who had nursed him and his injuries from a war. It was then that Elsa had to explain his love for the woman.
"Love?" Anna questioned. "I know that...my papa loved me…"
"I'm sure he did." Elsa smiled.
"What...is love?" Anna traced her finger over the words in the book. Slowly, she looked up at Elsa with those large teal eyes.
"Love…" Elsa breathed, wringing her hands together in thought. "Is when you find someone Else to be worth more than yourself...when you are willing to put everything down for that person...even your life. It's the urge to hold someone. To kiss them and confess to them...to make them happy."
"Oh...yeah." Anna hummed. "My...mama and papa loved me."
"Yes, Anna." Elsa's eyes were drawn to the girl's hands. They were clutching at the book with a tightness that made her knuckles go white. "I know they did, and they always will."
The redhead glanced at Elsa, then back to the book, looking as if she wanted to say something. Whatever it was, it was interrupted when a white ball of fur shot between them and onto Elsa's lap. Elsa let out a pleasant gasp.
~~000~~
The memory of her mother and father had managed to bring her mood down significantly. She was going to ask Elsa a question then. Did the blonde have a mom and dad too? Where were they?
Any question was instantly halted as something shot in front of her. Anna tensed, ready to fight off any enemy that it might be, and when she saw it land on Elsa, she was prepared to kill it right then and there...until the blonde started stroking it.
A small movement came from the white ball, and it's figure shifted until it was possible for Anna to notice a small delicate head.
A...white baby cougar?
Anna narrowed her eyes, unsure of whether or not she should take action and attack the creature before it got hostile. Even a baby cougar could be dangerous.
But...Elsa was holding it so...softly.
Elsa was being gentle.
Elsa liked the creature.
Anna watched as the blonde picked the little animal up, nuzzling her nose against its muzzle. The cougar let out a small "meow." in response. Anna tilted her head, watching in amazement as the creature managed to suck up all of Elsa's attention.
It made her...a bit upset.
Anna felt herself shaking a bit, her throat itching and teeth clenched. Ms. Yelena said no growling. Growling isn't good. People don't like it.
Yet, looking at this white animal made her feel it was all too necessary to do so. She needed to warn it. To get away from Elsa.
"It's so good to see you, Snowgie." Elsa giggled, cuddling the cougar to her chest. It began to purr. Anna didn't like that. Purring meant he was pleased. Anna didn't like that.
Elsa turned to the girl, making the redhead ease up a little. "This is Snowgie, Anna. He's my cat. My grandmother bought him when she took me in."
Cat. Not cougar. But...a cougar is a cat. So...is it…
"Cougar." Anna stated plainly.
Elsa laughed. Why is she laughing? What is funny?
"No, Anna. A house cat. They're just like cougars but smaller, fluffier, and friendlier."
Anna looked at the cat. The cat looked back at her. Friendly...no not friendly. Anna could see it in the cat's eyes.
Anna did not like this cat
This cat did not like Anna
It was settled.
They have become enemies.
Anna watched in annoyance as Elsa continued to stroke and groom the cat, hugging it close to her body and whispering to it sweetly. It's not fair. Anna wants a turn. Anna wants Elsa to groom and hug her.
The redhead leaned her body against Elsa's, curling into the blonde's side. She tried to imitate the cat's purring. It sounded like she was growling, but horribly.
Elsa giggled, looking down at Anna with a questioning look. Anna didn't want that. She wanted the adoring look that Elsa gave to the cat. Dumb cat. Stupid cat.
Anna whined, twisting off the bed, leaping off and moving towards the washroom. She ignored the way Elsa called out to her. She turned to slam the door, making eye contact once again with that white, blue eyed beast.
This was war.
I DID IT! This might be the longest chapter i've written so far. Thanks for reading and have a great quarantine.
