The Nokk

(A/N: There was a chapter posted yesterday, for those of you who missed it. I was debating whether or not the nokk was a brook horse or Kelpie, it wasn't made clear in the movie what type of nokk 'Nokk' actually was, so I kind of went with the flow of my imagination. Not sure how well it'll go over, but I'm interested in hearing your opinions on the matter.)

Yelana entered the tent where the doctor that Queen Elsa and Princess Anna had brought along was busy attending to patients. Currently the man's focus was on the object of her attentions as well. She approached quietly. "Destin Mattias," she greeted.

"Yelana," he replied, focused on the bandage Jekyll was wrapping around a badly injured arm.

She looked him over quietly. "Still alive I see," she said after a time. He chuckled wryly. "Did you find the woman you loved again?" she soon asked.

"Yes. I did… She waited too… We married you know. Didn't have many years together, but the ones we shared were happy ones," he said. Silence. "So, so happy…"

Yelana was quiet. "Does that mean she…?" she began before trailing off.

"Yeah. It does. I don't wanna talk about it, so do me a favor and don't ask when or how," Mattias replied.

"I'm sorry for your loss," she replied.

"Well now we're in the same boat, you and I. Again," he answered. "Albeit in a different way." She smiled ever so slightly. Quiet for a moment. "You weren't at the wedding," he noted.

"I never leave the forest," she answered, answering without really answering. It wasn't lost on him.

"How are Honeymaren and Ryder?" he soon questioned.

"They're good," she answered. "Excellent, in fact."

"I'm glad to hear it," he answered. Silence once more. "Can't believe I'm saying this, but I missed you Yelana. Kind of got used to butting heads with you. Could never quite capture that feeling again after we parted ways." She nodded, standing at his bedside and worriedly looking him over. "I'm gonna live. Doc's promise," Mattias said with a smile.

Yelana let out a soft sigh, closing her eyes. "I hope so," she said. "I can't… I don't want to lose anyone else."

He nodded. "How's Elsa?" he questioned.

"Resting," Yelana answered. "She insists on going out for regular walks though, until she can't any longer. She claims it makes her feel better. I suspect it's because she wants to feel like she's of some use in the search for her cousin but knows she can't risk going far."

"Best not to try and keep either of those girls down. If they're much like their father, it wouldn't work," Mattias said, rolling his eyes.

"She's permitted to go as long as she returns the moment contractions begin again," Yelana said. "But that won't be a problem with her husband at her side."

"Hard to believe how much time passed after the forest was shut off," Mattias said ruefully. "Missed a lot of years."

"I'm sorry," she said.

"Don't say you're sorry. It was never the Northuldra's fault," he said.

She nodded, not meeting his eyes, but then looked at him again. "I'll visit later. There are things to attend to, and I think the doctor would like his space back."

"He's very devoted to his patients," Mattias said with a chuckle, glancing over at this 'Dr. Jekyll' who was giving the woman annoyed glances to try and silently convey his desire for her to leave his working space.

"Someone has to be," she replied with a giggle of her own before turning and leaving with a wave. Mattias watched fondly after her with a smile.

Frozen

Hans grimaced while watching Kristoff and a man named Ryder square off in a milk drinking contest, of all the moronic things. Reindeer milk, which was enough to churn Hans' stomach as was. Still, right now Kristoff and Ryder were the ones making up his social group. Jurgen was in the tent Jekyll had designated the medical facilities, as was Xe, so Hans could only imagine how full Jekyll's plate was right now. The Knights of the Round Table were off exploring the forest as they seemed wont to do, Thord of course was missing, the Duke was fast asleep, so that left him and Kristoff and this Ryder character who seemed a lot like Kristoff and got on famously with him. He'd liked the kid too, well enough. Until the duo started getting ridiculous, talking for reindeer in those stupid voices while they milked the females so they could have this little 'drinking' contest. Ugh, he'd really scraped the bottom of the barrel for friends, hadn't he? Not that he'd had a lot of choice, he guessed.

"Seriously? You're getting drunk off milk?" Hans incredulously said to the two. They weren't literally getting drunk, of course, at least per se, but there was a component in milk -maybe it was the sugars? He couldn't remember - that, if consumed excessively, could mimic the effects of being drunk and elicit a similar physiological response. He couldn't remember what it was of course, but he was… eighty-seven percent certain it was actually a thing and he wasn't getting his signals crossed.

"This is great stuff man!" Ryder insisted, shoving him a glass.

Hans grimaced and pushed it back, rolling his eyes. "No thanks," he said.

"Cute, isn't he?" Ryder snickered.

"Drink your milk little boy," Hans bit, shoving the glass back at Ryder who began to giggle hysterically, soon sucking Kristoff into it too. "Okay, that's it. I'm going out for a walk. See if I can't find more cohesive company."

"He said adhesive," Kristoff said, jerking a thumb at Hans with arm slung over Ryder's shoulders.

"Oh my gods," Hans said, massaging his temples. It wasn't even funny! Or correct! He got up, throwing his hands in the air, and walked out.

"Boo!" Ryder called after him.

Hans scoffed and looked up at the night sky, relishing in the feel of the cool night air. He drew a deep breath, closing his eyes, and let it out in a steady stream. Something moved out the corner of his eyes. It was small but there. He turned quickly, instantly on guard. He scanned the forest quietly. He heard brush moving from close by and turned fast, just in time to see it rustling before it stopped. He frowned. A small animal, probably. He shook his head and took to looking up at the night sky again. He heard little clicking sounds and looked over again. This time he saw the creature. A little lizard, sitting up on a rock. He blinked blankly at it. It tilted its head at him. He looked around then back at it, puzzled. "Uh… hi?" he said lamely. It licked its eyeball. Well that was… gross. In an admittedly adorable way. "Uh, shoo," Hans said, waving his hands at it. It didn't move, just tilted its head the other way. "Shoo," he said a bit firmer, stepping towards it. It dropped to all fours, scrambling a bit back and suddenly looking wary. "Oh come on little guy, I'm not gonna hurt you. You sit out there on that rock though and something's going to swoop by and have you for lunch. Seriously. Beat it." It sat cautiously up again. "You know what? Fine. Don't say I didn't warn you," Hans said, rolling his eyes and taking to ignoring it once more. At least until it was suddenly scampering up his body. He yelped in surprise and started batting at it, but it avoided his fruitless attempts at brushing it off until Hans tripped on a rock and yelped, falling onto the ground. At that point it leapt off him and quickly scurried back. "What the hell?!" Hans demanded of it, sitting quickly up. "Who do you think you are?!" It seemed to shrink back in what almost seemed like guilt or shame. It curled in on itself, staring at him with wide eyes. Hans scowled at it then sighed, standing up and brushing himself off. He went to the rock, kneeling in front of it. "You're pretty tame," he noted. "Someone's pet?"

"He's Bruni," Elsa's voice said from behind. He turned and saw her emerging from their shared tend. "He's the fire lizard." Hans blinked at her then looked at the lizard again. It perked up and lit its body on fire while trying to look menacing. It did a surprisingly good job at it for such a bitty thing. Elsa knelt next to Hans with a smile. "Bruni, this is Hans. He's my husband," she introduced. "He controls fire too." Bruni looked at Hans and scrambled onto him, sniffing at his nose before scurrying to the prince's shoulder. Hans stood up to watch the lizard race all over him ablaze with fire that Hans couldn't feel burning his skin but could bet would be burning others. "Ironically enough, he loves the cold," Elsa said with a grin, letting snow fall on top of the little creature. It almost seemed to melt into it, sagging in Hans' hand with a contented sound as its body steamed and sizzled. Hans couldn't help but smile a bit at the sight. She looked at him. "He likes you," she said. "I knew he would."

"He's cute. I'll give him that," Hans replied.

She smiled and stood up, taking his hand and pulling him to his feet. "Let's walk," she said. "No ulterior motive, I promise. I just want to walk," she said. He considered it then nodded in agreement, putting the lizard on his shoulder where it promptly made itself at home. She smiled, squeezing his hand and leading him along with her into the woods, grinning tenderly up at him. He smiled back at her and drew her near.

Frozen

They walked in contented silence through the woods for a long time while Bruni napped on Hans's shoulder, letting out adorable little snores."This is nice," Hans finally said, breaking the quiet. She hummed in contentment, her eyes closed and her head rested on his shoulder. He felt like he should bring up Thord, it was clear the man was Anna and Elsa's biggest concern right now, but he couldn't bring himself to ruin this atmosphere as long as it was serene. Eventually they stopped on a hill that overlooked a spectacular view. This place was so beautiful… But he'd never been one to trust beauty and serenity easily.

"I'm worried about him," Elsa soon breached, and he felt the shift in tone the moment it happened.

"We'll find him," Hans promised. He wouldn't promise they'd find the guy alive, but they'd find him. Elsa nodded somewhat distractedly. He took her chin gently, turning her to face him. "Elsa, we'll find him," he reiterated.

"I know," she answered. "I'm worried about the state we'll find him in."

Hans squeezed her hand reassuringly, pulling her close as the wind lightly blew passed them. "I'll be here for you whatever happens," he promised.

She nodded. "I know," she said. Suddenly she stiffened, head rising quickly. He frowned.

"Elsa?" he asked.

"Do you hear music?" she asked.

"What?" he said.

"Music. Violin, it sounds like," she said, pulling away from him and walking in the direction she presumably heard it from. "You have to hear it. It's plain as day." She started to push through the forest.

"Elsa?!" he called again. She didn't stop. He shifted uncomfortably and quickly began to follow. "Elsa, there's no music."

"There's music," she said. He froze. She sounded like she was almost in a daze. "It's so beautiful," she continued.

"Elsa? Elsa, don't!" he said, reaching out and catching her wrist. Bruni was stirring now, blinking awake. She looked down at his hand on her wrist then gave him a look that was decidedly not Elsa.

Hans started back with a gasp, releasing her. Bruni was alert now too, staring at her in puzzlement. She turned and started walking again. "I hear it. It's calling me."

"What? What's calling you?!" Hans demanded. He looked at the lizard. "Do you hear it?" he asked. The lizard shrugged, shaking its head quickly in concern. Hans looked after Elsa and hurried to catch up with her. As they went, he began to hear the sound of running water… He slowed and stopped, an icy chill running through him. He heard it now… faint, but there. Bruni squeaked in fear and suddenly darted off of him, racing back into the forest. Hans gasped, turning to watch after the lizard, then looked quickly after Elsa once more. He began to jog. "Elsa? Elsa!" he called out. She moved swiftly and deftly through the forest. He reached out to grab her, but each time he tried she dodged away.

"Hans, enough! It's important, I know it is!" she insisted.

"Elsa, it's a lie!" he exclaimed, trying again and again to catch her but failing each time. It was only a matter of time before she got fed up. Sure enough, she suddenly spun around and sent out a blast of ice that knocked him back. He cried out in pain as he hit the ground and sat up, shaking his head and gasping. She was disappearing around a corner. He scowled and got up, running after her. "Elsa!" he shouted. He rounded the corner as well and froze, mouth dropping open. There before them was a creek, and Elsa was down by it wading into the water! "Elsa!" Hans shouted, scrambling towards her. He couldn't see from here what she was heading towards, but her eyes were fixed on something. As he slipped and slid down the bank, and as the creek came into fuller view, he suddenly froze, gasping. There, sitting on a rock in the middle of the body of water, was a man scantily clad, a fiddle in his hands that he was tenderly playing!

Nix, a dreaded thought screamed. It was a nixie! A nacken! Those were a type of nokk, and he got the sense this definitely wasn't the one his wife searched for. "Elsa!" he shouted, barreling towards the creek. He was determined to catch her before it was too late. She was chest deep and too close to the creature now. Its song was slowing down. It was going to pounce! "Elsa, no!" he cried again, charging into the water and hating how much it slowed him down. He seized her tightly and jerked her back, spinning her around. She gasped in shock.

"Hans?!" he heard her exclaim before suddenly there was a cackle from behind. All at once the sprite on the rock leapt upon him, dragging him under the water! "Hans!" he heard her scream.

Frozen

The young king struggled frantically against the creature, thrashing in the waters and tossing his body, clawing and biting and hitting and kicking to try and break free as he felt it haul him deeper under the water and further down stream. Elsa's cry echoed in his head. At least she would be okay, he noted bittersweetly to himself.

He struggled and fought and for a moment he thought he might slip away, but then the singing began… This thing, this faerie creature, began to sing, and he felt his mind slipping into a dazed fog.

"Where the Northwind meets the sea,

There's a river full of memory;

Sleep my darling safe and sound,

For in this river all is found…" the man, the nix, sang.

Somewhere in the back of his mind Hans realized the creature had let him go, but he didn't move to escape. He stayed there treading water, watching it as intently as it watched him. It swam around gracefully like to do so was as much second nature to it as breathing was to a human, and Hans felt… safe. He knew he shouldn't, he knew he was in danger, but it was like his mind couldn't process it. He wanted to stay… Despite every part of him knowing he had to go, he wanted to stay.

"In her waters deep and true,

Lie the answers and a path for you;

Dive down deep into her sound,

But not too far or you'll be drowned…"

Hans closed his eyes. "Hans!" he heard Elsa scream above the water, her voice distorted and distant. He knew he should react to it, he knew he needed to swim towards it if he was going to survive, but he couldn't bring himself to feel anything but resentment at hearing it right now, and he couldn't bring himself to move either.

"Yes she will sing to those who hear,

And in her song all magic flows;

But can you brave what you most fear?

Can you face what the river knows…?

"Hans! Hans, please! Hans!" Elsa shrieked. He wanted to respond, wanted to stir, but he couldn't. He was starting to see colors and his breath began to depart from his lips. "Hans!" she screamed. He felt the nacken take his arm, pulling him down again. "Hans!"

"Where the Northwind meets the sea,

There's a mother full of memory;

Come my darling homeward bound,

When all is lost then all is found…"

All at once another hand seized his wrist. His eyes opened quickly and he looked up. Elsa, he saw. She began to tug him upwards desperately, wrestling against the faerie creature dragging him down. It jerked and tugged at him sharply. She fought determinedly back and attacked it with an ice blast. It caused it to let go and she jerked him upwards again, trying to get him to the surface, but the next second the creature was there above them, forcing the two of them down together. Elsa looked terrified. Hans was still coming out of the daze but knew he had to do something. If he didn't, they would both die here! He fumbled for his sword desperately. He seized its hilt to draw it on the creature, but suddenly a horse's scream rang out from under the water and he and Elsa turned quickly. Hans's eyes widened in shock and horror at the entity charging towards them and the nacken. The nacken paused, looking up, then let them go, moving calmly to the side. It wasn't alarmed, that was the first thing Hans noticed. In fact, the horse seemed more nervous than it. But it kept coming and it got Elsa onto its back, racing her back towards the surface. Not him, though. He saw her scream his name under the water, reaching out for him desperately as the horse spirited her away, and he snapped out of it. He shook his head and made immediately for the surface. He felt the nacken watching after him, but it didn't pursue. He had no time to wonder why.

Frozen

Elsa gasped for breath as she broke the surface, nokk racing away with her. "Hans!" she cried out, trying to straighten herself out on nokk's back as it ran onto land. "Nokk, go back! I can't leave him, I won't! Please! Nokk!" It whinnied what sounded like an angered whinny and kept going. Elsa gave a shout, pushing herself off the horse and grabbing at a low-hanging branch so as not to hit the ground and possibly be trampled. She wouldn't have tried a stunt like this if not for that branch, doing so would have killed the baby more likely than not, but said branch afforded her the opportunity to get off without hurting he child inside her. She dropped to the ground and ran back towards the creek desperately, gasping for breath. Her eyes were wide with fear. Please be there, please be there.

She raced down the bank and gave a cry when she saw Hans above the water clinging to a rock for all he was worth. He looked up and saw her. His eyes widened in fear. "Elsa, behind you!" he shouted.

She spun and screamed, eyes going wide. Nokk was racing at her again, eyes narrowed. It leapt at her, scooping her up onto its back and darting into the water. Hans leapt at it with a shout and grabbed it around the neck. It dashed him against the rock violently and attempted to vanish underwater again when he let go. "Stop!" Elsa screamed, freezing it solid and then jumping off, swimming quickly to the rock and climbing up onto it, grabbing Hans' hand and pulling him onto it too. He wrapped his arms around her glaring spitefully at the frozen stallion. The ice began to quiver then suddenly shattered as the steed reared up with an angered 'scream'. It spun around on them, eyes fixing on the couple. It snorted heavily and began to menacingly approach them. Elsa looked mortified, not sure what to think or do. She'd never seen it like this before. Never! "Why are you doing this to me? Are you my nokk at all?!" she cried out in a final attempt to reach it. It stopped dead in its tracks and started, powerful and dangerous as it took the two of them in. It pawed at the river and whinnied loudly, throwing back its head and tossing its watery mane. "I'm sorry!" she cried out. "I'm sorry I left you! I'm sorry! But you never sought me out either! You knew where I was, you could have come at any time, but you didn't!

If possible, its gaze seemed to darken more and then, and Elsa knew she'd just said something unforgivable. A chill raced up her spine. The stallion reared up again, neighing loudly, and as it did its form began to warp and change before their very eyes. Elsa's lips slowly parted in a mix between dread and wonder. Hans was scowling, hand on the hilt of his blade as he got into a position more suited to fighting. "It's not a brook horse," he said. She looked at him. He glanced at her. "A brook horse would have drowned you," he darkly stated. Elsa looked sharply back, fear in her eyes as the water started to take shape in another form. A man. The water was taking the form of a man... "I came," the nokk said, voice watery and deep. "I came!" he roared a second time, advancing dangerously on them through the water as the liquid form started to take on one more solid.

"Get back!" Hans shouted furiously, shooting to his feet and drawing the sword. "Don't think I won't kill you!"

It retracted slightly, liquid form returning fully. For a long moment it stared. "You draw your sword on me?" the creature finally asked in almost a hiss. "You? A mortal? You would challenge the fae?" Hans lit his blade on fire, eyes narrowed. The creature, the nokk, flicked its gaze quickly to the sword then back again.

"I've challenged worse than you and lived," Hans replied.

There was silence as the two stared one another down. Elsa only watched, tears in her eyes as she gazed upon the nokk before them. Kelpie... The sort of nokk he was, was a kelpie! "You… you came?" she asked in a whisper.

Its attention turned to her, and when it spoke next its voice had audibly softened, though it was still as cold as ice. "Again and again," he answered. "And you would not or could not see it. See me." A sob escaped her unbidden, tears flowing freely from her eyes now. She didn't understand why, but she could feel the pain and betrayal Nokk felt, because she felt it too...

"Don't do this," she begged, though she didn't know what it was she was begging him not to do. It started to advance rapidly, form starting to return to that of a horse again, but suddenly a violin started to play again. All of them turned to it quickly. There on the opposite shore sat the nixie, watching from the banks. Elsa saw the nokk visibly shudder. It was afraid of him. That other… thing. Its presence had made her dear friend afraid…

"Stay away from this, sea king," the nokk finally spoke. "Stay away from her." It finished morphing into a horse again, pawing the ground. The Nacken smiled darkly and slipped into the waters silently before disappearing.

Silence reigned, Hans and Elsa staring at the Kelpie. The Kelpie turned its head once more to them, gaze bitter. "Where is my cousin?" Elsa finally found her voice to whisper.

The stallion tilted its head before finally approaching, body language much calmer now. It walked right up to them. Hans glared darkly and suspiciously at it. The nokk looked down at Elsa, summing her silently up, then glanced at Hans once more. Hans slowly rose and reached cautiously out, resting his hand on the nose. "Where is her cousin?" he repeated for her.

There was a tense moment between the two before finally, the kelpie snorted and turned, galloping away. "Nokk! Kelpie, where is he?! Please! I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" It disappeared down the river. "I'm sorry," she said in a breaking whisper. Hans was silent and still, staring expressionlessly in the direction it had vanished. Elsa let out a gasp, wrapping her arms tightly around herself and clenching her teeth, bowing her head low. "You were right…" she whispered numbly to her husband.

Hans looked down at her. "Maybe in part, but not wholly," he answered. He looked down the river again. "If I had been wholly right, you would have been drowned and I would have either followed or preceded you…" She looked up at him, grief in her eyes. She was confused at his words. Hans shook his head disgustedly and looked back at her. "He won't hurt you. Ever… Except maybe through me..."

"What?" Elsa whispered, standing.

"He spoke to you as a spurned lover," Hans bitterly said, resisting the urge to spit the words. "Great to know I was right in one theory. I resent it had to be that one." He jumped into the river and swam towards the shore. Elsa stared after him looking shocked and torn and shaken. She looked down the river once more and a chill ran through her body.

Frozen

They returned to the village in silence, Elsa shocked as she tried to process it, Hans' resigned and tired. He was glad Elsa had yet to notice that, because it would lead to questions he wasn't in the mental place to answer right now. "What did he mean he came?" she asked in a whisper.

"The next time you see him, ask him," Hans replied in a slightly clipped tone.

She looked quickly up at him and he inwardly cursed himself. He didn't look her in the eyes in a vain hope it would cut off all potential conversation, but if something as simple as that had been enough to stop Elsa, he would still be the Wicked Prince of his stories. "I choose you," she firmly said, reaching out and taking his hand in a strong grip, pulling him to a stop and turning him around, a frown on her lips. "It will only ever be you. Remember it."

He looked her over then sighed. "I know," he answered, closing his eyes. "But maybe it shouldn't be…"

"It should be, and it will be," she firmly said, turning up his chin to make him meet her eyes.

"You are so much more than mortal…" he murmured wistfully, glancing towards the forest.

"Whatever I am, I'm still yours," she replied. "And you're still mine, understood? You'll stay mine. Forever."

He turned to her again looking somewhat amused. "As you like it," he answered. She nodded in certainty and marched towards their tent, pulling him along with her. His fond smile fell. Was it so simple as that though, he wondered? Because if he was holding her back, if he was keeping her chained where she didn't belong and never had, if he had kept her here with him for so long away from where she wanted and needed to be just because he loved her and she wanted to love him… Then that was the last fate he desired for her, and he needed to let her go as much as she needed to let him go… What happened on the sea, when she had raced out and left him behind and he couldn't follow… It spoke more volumes than anything else could have, and the sobering reality of it was simple as this. She was beyond him. So, so far beyond him… And none of this between them should have happened…

"You want to love me…" he began.

"I don't want to love you. I never wanted to love you," she said firmly, turning to him with eyes narrowed. "I never sought it, I never even dreamed of it. It just happened. It happened, and you will not start thinking those thoughts."

"The sea," he said simply, and she bristled.

"The volcano," she answered finally. Their first adventure so long ago. It seemed so distant now… He'd almost forgotten… "Fire King, you are mine. Sometimes you can't keep up with me, sometimes I can't keep up with you. That's just how it is, and that's okay. Strengths and weaknesses. Everyone has them." She played with his hands gently before starting to freeze them. He automatically responded by heating his own to keep the freezing at bay. She looked up at him. "You're mine," she said, unrelenting. "You'll always be mine. I won't let you go, I won't let you think otherwise, and you won't try and cast me out in some foolish belief it will set me free, because it won't. I'm free when you're at my side, and that's it." He kissed her swiftly, holding her lips firm and unrelenting. It began to rain, and he didn't know how to feel when she pulled away from him, looking up at the droplets guiltily… Breaking someone's heart wasn't fun, he told himself, he knew that well enough, but he still couldn't shake the uneasy feeling inside of him. Maybe it would go away if he just ignored it? He let out a breath, almost laughing at the notion. She looked back at him quickly. "I never wanted to hurt him, but I never loved him," she said in a murmur. "How could I have? I didn't even know what he was let alone that he had a human form until today."

"But if you had known, things would have been different," Hans replied.

"Maybe they would have, maybe not, but ultimately that's not how it worked, and it's is a path you aren't to let your storyteller mind wander down," she answered. "Listen to me and remember these words. I won't give you up for anything."

Hans nodded and nuzzled her gently. They walked into the tent together, not a word more spoken. Bruni was there already, curled up on the pillows. They both paused and grinned at each other in amusement before going to lay down as well.

As they slept, the lullaby haunted both their dreams…