Chapter 21

Fredric, Henrik

Henrik?

Henrik woke with a start. He looked over at Elsa who was lying peacefully in the bed next to his. She had her back to him and he couldn't see if his movement startled her at all.

Fredric? Are you okay?

I think I am, Henrik, although it's still dark. I don't know where I am.

In the meeting yesterday, Henrik forgot to tell the clergy about Fredric contacting him through thought listening, but he wasn't so sure if that was a wise move or not. And he wasn't so sure that telling Fredric where he was a smart move either.

Stay calm, Fredric. You are going to be fine; at least that's what we have been told. I need you to pull through this, Fredric. I need you to relax; I need you to be whole.

You don't understand, my brother. I am awake, my eyes are open, but things are still dark.

Henrik sat up. Fredric was awake, finally.

Doctor Neilson had explained that Fredric had a shock to the system; that he really wasn't used to cold temperatures outside for a long time. He guessed that Fredric became confused and tired and decided that he would lie down and wait for morning before resuming his trip. The wolves were common to the area, but, again, he didn't know, as Fredric had been unconscious.

And as much as Henrik tried, he couldn't get anything out of him either.

Henrik? Can you hear me?

Kristoff, he had to find Kristoff and tell him. He had hoped that he would be in his usual spot, the greenhouse or sometimes he would be outside in the garden looking at the stars.

I'm here, Fredric.

How long have I been out?

Henrik smiled and shook his head.

Almost two days. We weren't sure if you were going to pull out of this or not.

We? Fredric asked.

It was the monks who found you, battered and bruised, on their morning hike to the small harbor village at the end of the woods. They moved you back to the small hospital that the monks built, that's where you are now.

He sighed and shook his head. He went against his own advice. Anyway, he couldn't find Kristoff anywhere. I guess we'll have to wait until morning to tell him.

Get some rest or try to anyway. We'll be there later on this morning.

He entered Elsa's bedroom where they were sleeping. Kristoff had moved a single bed into the room at Anna's request, for any guests that Elsa might have.

As soon as he opened the door, he realized that he had three pairs of eyes staring at him.

"What are you guys doing up?"

"We were just about to ask you that," the three voices answered in unison.

And so Henrik told them.

XXXXXXXXXXXX

Kristoff, Anna, Elsa, Henrik

"We shouldn't have celebrated so quickly," Henrik said, looking at Kristoff.

Kristoff smiled. "Maybe we shouldn't have. Who knows what the Abbott, the Father and Brother Jakob will have to say now."

"I probably won't be able to take him now," Henrik said, shaking his head.

Kristoff stood up. The two of them had gone off to the greenhouse, which was still being repaired along with the garden.

"You might be right, plus the monastery might still want him, now that he's recovered. They will probably want to defer to Fredric's plans, if he has any besides revenge. We won't know until the meeting."

"Guys," a female voice came from the entrance, "Elsa and I have been talking and we have a question for Henrik."

"Go on," Henrik said.

"We were kind of wondering why Fredric would be so interested in getting in touch with you, especially if he was still out for revenge. " Anna asked. "And why would he tell you that he's awake unless…"

"He wanted to trick me into believing he's helpless?" Henrik said, looking at Kristoff.

"Same thing I asked," Kristoff said smiling as he folded his arms across his chest. "He doesn't seem like the type to get all brotherly affectionate right now."

"Not after almost destroying this beautiful greenhouse," Elsa said.

"Not after a lifetime of revenge," Anna added. "Something is off, way off."

"Maybe he changed his mind?" Henrik asked.

The three of them looked back at him.

"Look, he knows the meeting is tomorrow," Henrik said.

"How do we know what he's going to do when he arrives at the meeting?" Anna asked

"And how do we know what he's going to do before we get there?" Kristoff said.'

Henrik frowned. "Come on guys, maybe he's telling the truth."

"What truth," Kristoff answered. "He hasn't really told you anything, has he?"

"Wait, guys," Elsa said looking at Henrik. "He's been suppressing the magic all this time, hasn't he?"

"It's what I told Kristoff earlier, while we were headed back here. He can't get in touch with anyone else but me," Henrik said. "Brigitta and Greta are not allowed to see him or talk to him, but they just wanted to keep…"

He looked at Elsa, then at Anna and his gaze ended at Kristoff who was still smiling, his arms still folded.

"And we gave them permission to watch over him, didn't we?"

"It was the only thing we could do, under the circumstances," Anna said.

"I hate to wake Yelena, but I'd like to get going," Kristoff said. "I don't know about the rest of you guys, but I don't really think the Abbott will mind if we get there a little earlier, do you?"