Chapter Twenty Six

Healing Wounds

Author's Note: Just a headsup, the first few paragraphs of this chapter have a few suggestive themes of sensuality, though nothing explicit. So for those who would like to skip over this portion, do feel free to do so. Thanks again for reading, and do leave a review!

ELSA

Janus removed his black gloves and put them on the table together with his mask. Undoing the lid of the bottle, he moved in closer to Elsa. Her heart raced as she anticipated his touch. Normally, she hated being physically touched by anyone. It made her feel uncomfortable and annoyed. However, something about Janus felt different. Somehow, she felt strangely at ease around him, but still her heart pounded in her chest. Why was she feeling this way?

Elsa shuddered a little as his fingers, smeared in the dark maroon liquid, made contact with her raw skin. But she was admittedly surprised by how gentle his touch was, and how she practically didn't feel any pain at all. Maybe it was Holli's magic, or maybe it was his gentleness. Who would have expected it from someone who was supposed to be a hardened and deadly mercenary?

"Does it hurt?" Janus asked, concern laced in his voice.

"No," Elsa said reassuringly. "You're doing fine." She sat in silence as Janus continued to work, and she was now convinced that there was a completely different side to the mercenary that no one knew about, and that he never revealed to anyone. Apparently she was the first.

"About your sister…" Janus broke the silence again.

"What about her?"

"You saw her in Quodrun and Srevnjor. Your friends as well."

"I did."

"I'm sorry. It must be hard to keep lying to them. Keeping up this…facade."

"It's too hard." Elsa said. "How do you do it?"

"Do what?"

"Keep up the facade. A face of stoic coldness. Enduring the brutality of it all."

"It's a lot easier when you're doing it from behind a mask. And when you've accepted the fact that you're a monster."

"You're not a monster."

"That is debatable."

"Look, I guess what I'm trying to say is," Elsa glanced over her shoulder. "I don't know what to do anymore."

"Truthfully, there's nothing else you can do except what the Pilgrim tells you."

"I know, but-" Elsa choked back a tear. "My friends. They must think I'm a monster now after everything that I've done. A cold-hearted cruel witch who turned against everyone she loved."

Janus stayed silent.

"You should have seen the look in their eyes. Maui. Melody. My sister." Elsa's shoulders trembled a little.

"I…I don't know what to say. No one's ever looked at me that way."

"I'm sorry. I just..." Elsa wiped her eyes. "My sister… she must hate me now after everything that has happened."

Janus haltingly placed his free hand on her bare shoulder tenderly. "I'm sorry."

The room fell back into silence as Janus continued spreading the lotion across her back.

"It's done." Janus finally stood up, backing away. "How do you feel?"

"Better already," Elsa put her baggy shirt back on, and when she had finished doing up the buttons, she turned round to face him. Still seated on her bed, she gave him a weak smile. "Thank you."

"I should go. I'm sorry." Janus picked up his gloves and mask and wore them quickly. Then, before she could say another word, he slipped out of the room and closed the door behind him.

Elsa crossed her legs and sighed. In some strange way, she felt that she had really connected with Janus. And it didn't make any sense. He was a mercenary! But there was something about him that she had tapped into, and he had let her in. A tender side of him that had feelings, that knew that what he was doing was wrong. But yet he had refused to give in, choosing to return to the darkness where he was comfortable in, behind the mask, weapons, and an air of enigma and intimidation.

She lay prone on the comfortable bed, closing her heavy eyelids. It had been an extremely long day full of tension and violence. Maybe she would have better luck tomorrow.

###

Rolling onto her back, Elsa subconsciously flinched heavily, sitting up with a jolt. A headache shot through her from the sudden stir from sleep, but she was too surprised to find that there was no pain on her back to even take notice of the headache. She placed her hand on the skin of her back, and felt for the raw skin. There was none. And there was no trace of pain either. Holli's magic lotion must have done its work.

Gratefully, Elsa threw off the covers and swung her feet off the bed. After a long shower and a change of clothes, she closed the door of her room behind her, and pattered down the corridor in search of Holli. It was still rather early in the morning and the sun had only just risen, still a bright golden ball that had just lit up the dark sky. It was highly unlikely that the small "witch doctor" had gone for breakfast yet. She found Holli's room and knocked on the door.

"Who is it?" A muffled, tired voice slurred from inside.

"It's me, Elsa."

"Oh, wait, just hang on a second!"

Elsa could hear scrambling and a thud, which she assumed was Holli getting out of bed - and possibly falling. The door opened, and Holli poked her head out.

"Come in, come in." Holli gestured to her.

Walking into the room, Elsa looked around. The room was untidy, with clothes strewn everywhere, and personal belongings piled up on the floor. She mused to herself that it reminded her of Anna's room back in the castle.

"How are you feeling, Your M-, I mean, Elsa?" Holli looked at her with tired eyes. Her brown hair was unkempt, falling over her face and obscuring her features. Holli really was quite similar to her sister. In a hypothetical situation, they would make best of friends, if they ever met.

"I came to thank you," Elsa said. "Your magic lotion did the trick again."

"Aww that was nothing." Holli yawned a little and stretched. "I'm glad you're okay. Give me a minute." She walked off to the bathroom and Elsa heard water running and splashing. The young girl returned to the main room, looking refreshed and a lot more awake than she did previously. Her hair was still a mess, though it seemed she couldn't care less. "Sit down, Elsa. I'll just change and get my things, and we can go for breakfast."

"Actually, I wanted to ask," Elsa was slightly astonished that she was asking this, but it was a bit late to turn back now. "Is Deirdre alright? After our brief scuffle yesterday, I mean."

"Wow." Holli arched an eyebrow. "In spite of what she did to you, you actually bother if she's alright?"

"I guess." Elsa looked down. "I feel kind of responsible. A little. Don't get me wrong, I'm still mad at what she did, but I can't help but feel that it could've been avoided."

"Don't know if this helps, but maybe you should just drop it." Holli frowned. "Deirdre's a tough nut to crack. But she's been through a lot herself, so you can't really blame her."

"I'm just trying to understand," Elsa removed a couple of piled up clothes from one of the chairs and sat down, holding them in her lap. "I know about the whole Pilgrim's Apprentice thing, but I can't help but feel that there's a deeper reason as to why she's…like this."

Holli pulled out another chair and sat facing Elsa, the back of the chair in front of her and leaning against it.

"I know everyone says that Deirdre's past is a touchy subject and all, but…I just want to understand. And then maybe I can reach out to her." Elsa said, feeling a little embarrassed. "I know it's silly, but-"

"It's noble." Holli nodded her head in understanding. "I know Deirdre wouldn't want anyone talking about it, but I think this is the best chance you have of reaching out to her. And maybe fixing things too."

Elsa leaned forward.

Holli cleared her throat and exhaled. "Alright then, here goes. Deirdre was the first born child of the Tal Yin family."

"Wait, the Tal Yins?" Elsa blinked. "Like, the royal family of Exon?"

"Yeah," Holli said. "She was the Crown Princess of Exon."