Authors note: Welcome to the final chapter of the draugr. Everything that happened, all the events, this is the end result of everything that happened.
We shall see the truth without the rose color glass shards that distorted the truth which was used on Elsa and Anna, the end result of years of manipulation and such of the devil troll. What is the truth? Will Hans be okay? You shall see.
Anyway, enough of me blabbering, please continue to read on to your hearts content and please leave a review when done as your opinions matter.
~Even now as broken as you may feel, you are still strong. There is something to be said about how you hold yourself together and keep moving, even though you feel like shattering. Don't stop. This is your healing. It doesn't have to be pretty. You just have to keep going~
Elsa cried then she stopped before looking at Anna and said "Yes... your right...".
Agnaar stared not sure what to say before Elsa said "I think it's time we pay a visit to that mountain again..."
Yes! That was it! It gave them that elixir! Surely it had more or maybe a way to bring Hans back.
Seems that Agnaar though the same as his eyes lit up and nodded. This was their best bet.
So with that they took and dragged Sitron away towards the mountain. Determined and hopeful. This was not over yet...
Deep into the woods, a disheveled blond man scrambled through the heavy foliage, gasping and wheezing as he stumbled over the shrubs and bushes that seemed to block every trail. He paused for a brief moment, only to continue his flight at the sight of the ominous shadows and cackling laughter pursuing him.
"Leave me alone!" he cried, terror seizing him with each succeeding step. "Please just leave me be!"
However, his pleas went unheeded. The laughing just grew louder. "Traitor! Hypocrite! You have broken your vows. No matter, tormenting scum like you is where the fun is. Welcome to your hell, Kristoff Bjorgman..."
Kristoff continued to flee but yelled as he felt a stabbing pain in his left leg. Looking down his face turned to pure fear as shadowed claws rose from the ground and began to claw at his legs, dragging him down into the earth and darkness.
"Help! Somebody! Please!" Kristoff screamed as he kicked, rescued out and struggled, but it was no use as he was slowly being swallowed by the darkness. Taken away from this world to another where nothing but nightmares awaited him.
As a last ditch resort Kristoff kicked and pulled, eventually jumped and managed to grab unto a root of a tree which he held onto for dear life, but the shadows refused to give up their prize and continued to pull and tug.
Screams of pain and horror came from Kristoffs mount as he held on, but the shadows refused to let go of their prize then all of a sudden.
Wack! It was loud, sudden, Kristoff felt cold enter his body as he looked down at his dominant hand and forearm... all that was left of it was a stump where his elbow was as the rest had been cut off in a matter of seconds.
Unable to process or given the time to react Kristoff was dragged into the darkness by the hands.
As soon as he was gone the forest fell into silence and all that was left that indicated that Kristoff had been there was what remained of his hand and forearm, left out in the open to which soon it would be devoured by animals leaving no trace behind.
Muscles ached, her chest felt tight, she was exhausted, fatigued and in all honesty she was running on adrenaline, but Elsa refused to back down as she, Anna and Agnaar made their way up to the mountain.
Stopping at the entrance Elsa looked up and could not help but laugh a little at the irony. This will all end where it had begun. This mountain has been the beginning point of the journey, now.
Holding her head up and steeling her nerves Elsa walked in, behind her Anna and Agnaar. Nothing had been said, they were all in a strange mix of grief and being focused at the task at hand.
As they made their way to the center of the mountain, pass the many people who were confused then glad when they saw the threat was gone. The trio paid them no mind as they continued.
As soon as they stepped into the chamber, the very center of the mountain it spoke "You all did it, I am surprised".
Not skipping a beat, not wasting another second Elsa demanded in a growl "Bring him back!".
"Pardon me?" spoke the mountain half amused and half outraged at Elsa. Who did she though she was to make such demands?
"Bring him back! You gave me the elixir! You can make more or bring him back!" growled Elsa.
"You do not order me around you spoiled little brat, this was all your-",
"I get it!" yelled Elsa "It is all my fault! I know and accept it! That's why you have to do something! Please! Hans does not deserve to be condemned because of something I did!",
"Elsa please calm down" said Anna trying to be the voice of reason this time as she doubted that the mountain will help if Elsa screams and demands at it. Yes she wanted Hans back as much as Elsa, but this was not the way to do it.
Elsa turned to Anna to say something but the mountain spoke first "You foolish girl, he is not doomed! He had a choice!"
Silence fell in the area as the three now had their full attention on the mountain. Choice? What did the mountain mean by choice?
"A choice?" asked Agnaar "What choice? Why did you not tell us?",
"Because then it would not have worked" explained the mountain "In order for it to work Hans had to make the choice without knowing that he would benefit from making the right choice".
Anna though then asked "The choice... what was it?",
"Earlier I had given the elixir of life to Hans, the very content of the inside of the holy grail, it was not for him to use it on himself, but to test him, had he taken it for himself it would not have worked" said the mountain,
"But he did not he..." whispered Elsa then she called out "It was all a test?! You gave it because you wanted to test him?! Why?!",
"There is more going on than you think, trust me, the devil troll is just the beginning of the evil you three will encounter" said the mountain. With that it's presence began to vanish.
"Wait! Don't go! Please tell us if Hans is okay!" called Anna, but there was no answer.
Looking at one another they said nothing as there was nothing more to say before Elsa looked down, closing her eyes. Opening her eyes she looked noticed a hand on her hand, looking up she looked into Agnaars eyes as he stared into her eyes with sorrow "Let's go home... there is nothing else left for us here".
She did not answer, just looked down as he gently tugged and pulled her out of the mountain and down to the port to go home. There was nothing else left to do. What was done was done.
"There is one thing" growled Anna in anger, as of guessing Agnaar said "Leave him Anna, he is not worth it",
"But father" complained Anna,
"No buts... we have to go before things get complicated" said Agnaar rather urgently, he knew that things will get ugly when the people see what was left of their home,
"Fine" hissed Anna but added "If Kristoff ever dares to show his face around I will destroy him with my bare hands".
Several months later:
Oslo castle:
The battle was won, but not the war. The devil troll seemed to make sure of that. Everything was different, the place she and Anna left was not the same place that they returned. Because that place did not exist, it probably never did.
Arendelle was gone, they never saved it, when the dam was broken the water swept it away and what was left was in ruins. The people hated them, blame them for what happened. Elsa did not blame them.
She and her sister had good intentions, they really did, but what good were intentions if actions spoke otherwise? She and her sister were not selfish, self centered, careless, ignorant and out of touch with reality. But their actions reflected that they were as the actions they took and what people saw were actions made while they were under the influence of the devil troll and the rose glass mirror shards reflected this.
They never wanted this to happen, they never wanted to hurt anybody. But they did and as time passed Elsa and Anna began to remember more and see the reality of what happened more and more. What Elsa and Anna remembered truly horrified them and made them question who they were as people and who they even were anymore.
So Elsa allowed allowed her kingdom to be angry, she allowed them to feel what they feel. In hopes that with work she, Anna and their father would be able to show them they do care and what was best for their people and in time they would regain the people's trust once more.
With a gentle flourish Elsa moved the curtain of her bedroom window to look out into the night. As she did memories began to dance in her head.
One of them being Anna, things between her and Anna were better now. It took a lot of tearful yet long over due honest talks. Them crying and screaming at one another, letting out all of their emotions like a poisonous venom escaping their bodies.
Anna expressing her anger and jealousy, how she was angry that she was always ignored, pushed aside, that her feelings were never validated. Anger that she was always underestimated, how Elsa and their parents had such little faith in her. Jealousy about how Elsa was always put first and how her parents seemed to only care about her and discarded Anna as if she was some useless trash. How Elsa protecting her only hurt her more than anything else would have, how Elsa was unknowingly so selfish.
Elsa spoke about her isolation, how she too was jealous of Anna. She was jealous that Anna seemed to have it all with ease and she did not have the high expectations Elsa had, she was normal and everything seems to be handed down to her with ease, Anna had actual freedom. Not like her, Elsa would never truly be free.
There was one other thing Elsa was also jealous about, but it was one thing Elsa never would dare to say, a secret she will take to her grave, no matter the cost.
The process between Elsa and Anna talking and mending each other was not fast, took about 5 months, 5 months of long nights talking, crying, screaming and yelling at one another before they finally broke through. Everything was now out in the open, everything that had been hurt was exposed, both of them had finally began to communicate, finally they apologized and from there they began to move pass their issues.
Though it took a long time Elsa found it well worth it, their relationship was better, so was their communication and trust.
They were back, they were sisters, together but independent, each doing their own thing both together and apart, but working together for a same goal.
With this they worked on setting things right. The first thing they did was to find out the whole truth, for that... they had to travel...
Flashback:
Wesealton Duchy:
The tension was so high you could cut it with a knife. Elsa and Anna waited in a parlor, both were nervous, but did their best not to show it.
They were right now in the den of lions, a den of lions who wanted nothing more than to get rid of them as there was clear hostility against them. Not that they blamed them, after everything they now know they just could not.
A light click was heard as the door opened, turning Elsa and Anna saw a young man walk in. He was average height, nice strawberry blond hair, bright blue eyes behind a pair of round glasses, wore a black suit and polished shoes.
"Haakon?" asked Anna breaking the silence in a surprise tone,
"Anna?" asked Haakon just as surprised to see her.
Elsa stared between the two, rather shocked to see their reaction, did they know one another?
"You know one another?" Elsa finally voiced as she stared between the two, to which the two looked away and moved rather uncomfortably, Anna speaking first "Yes we knew one another since we were kids" she paused then added "We were bethrode once",
"Yes" said Haakon softly, Elsa detected a sad sorrowful tone in that yes before Haakon said "My uncle does not want to see you two",
"What?!" said Anna loosing her composure for a bit before catching herself and saying "Please we have to see him, it's important",
"I am sorry, but it was his wishes" said Haakon "After what happened he... he says your all dead to him",
"But so much has changed!" Promised Anna "He has to hear what we have to say",
"I am sorry, he does not want to and ordered that you two leave before sun down lest you both be executed" said Hawkins sadly.
Anna opened her mouth to try to plea again before Elsa said "He will hear what we have to say" before much to their shock she stormed out of the room.
"Elsa!", "Your majesty!" She heard as she ran pass the halls, pushed through doors and finally forced herself through the double doors with a loud slam.
Upon looking inside the room Elsas could not help but stare in shock.
The Duke of Weselton, at least the one she though she had seen, extremely short, skinny and balding. Was not the same one she was seeing before her.
He was about as tall as she was, had hair, but was peppered with gray hairs, his face showed a lot of stress lines and wrinkles, but still, it was as if the Duke she saw and this one were two completely different people.
"Duke Weselton?" asked Elsa, the man said nothing as he refused to budge from his location, he had his body in front of a table that had many potted flower plants and bushes. If Elsa did not know any better she would have sworn that he was using his own body to shield those plants.
Seeing he was saying nothing Elsa continued "I have to tell you something",
"You have nothing to say!" He finally shouted "Leave before I call the guards and have you two executed",
"Please, listen, so much has changed! I know the truth now!" promised Elsa,
"Why should I listen to you harlot! You and your sister have caused nothing but pain and suffering!" Spat the Duke in anger, he was so angry that his face had turned red.
"Elsa" said Anna as she and Haakon ran in, grabbing Elsas forearm Anna tried to pull her.
"Let's just go" she pleaded,
"Anna please he has to hear" said Elsa then added turning to the Duke "I know the truth!",
"What truth? That you are evil! A monster?" The duke snapped "About time you realized that",
"Uncle please" begged Haakon trying to calm him down,
"I know about the devil troll!" said Elsa causing the Duke to stop and stare.
He just stayed like that for a bit, as if his mind was processing what was said before he asked "What?".
Slowly walking over, Elsa reach into her bag and pulled out her mother's shawl, which she now knew was not her mothers, presented it to the Duke "The devil troll" she said then added "You... my grandfathers... you four were heroes".
This caused the Duke to tremble a little, his eyes went misty before he turned to face the plants.
Slowly walking over Elsa said "Please, I need your help, I need you to tell me where the forest is",
"Why? So you and your sister can continue to destroy everything?" he spatted.
"Duke, we understand and even we agree that you have no reason to trust us" said Anna "But you have to believe we only want the best... with the devil troll gone we need to know what was damaged in order to heal and fix what we broke".
"The devil troll is dead?" asked the duke as he turned to stare at them in shock.
Nodding Elsa and Anna told him what happened. It took an hour or so before it was done. Nodding the Duke said "Good to know that my brothers deaths were not in vain".
"Brothers?" asked Anna,
"Blood brothers, we took an oath, a binding blood oath" said the duke as he removed the glove of his left hand and showed his palm to them, there was a deep cut scar there "We do not share the same family, but the bond we share is stronger than iron chains forged in the fiery depths" putting the glove back on he said "When we faced off against the evil, we made a promise that no matter what we would never allow that evil to win, no matter what price had to be payed... so far we had succeeded... we trapped the ice queen, the devil trolls wife in a glacier".
Elsa said nothing as she remembered the memory that the truth mirror/reflective blade showed her. When she arrived to that place... Ahtohallan... it was not a place of memories... but a prison for something evil.
"The same evil you let out" said the Duke in anger then continued "Then we managed to trap the devil troll... it took many years... so many lives lost... so many brave men, women.. even children" the duke stopped placed a hand on his face before turning to glare at Elsa and Anna as he snarled "The very evils you two let out into this world! Their sacrifice was in vain because of the two of you and your horrid mother!"
"That was why you wanted to kill me... you knew the truth... you knew I was the key to freeing the devil troll and his wife" said Elsa softly, not phased by his anger or surprised by this revelation as she had pieced together this info before while fighting the devil troll.
After a couple of breathed the Duke calm down and said "Don't take it personal, but if you helped defeat that thing then you understand why you had to be killed... I could not let those evil escape... when I wanted to kill you I was thinking about the future... no matter what it took... no matter what sacrifice... whatever was done... was something our future generations would not have to suffer" then took a breath "I also knew your mother worked for that thing, we all tried to warn your father but he did not listen... in truth I blame your parents more than I blame you two ... the only sin you two have is being born and one cannot fault you for that... but that's is it... everything else I blame you two..."
Pausing yet again the Duke though and said "It's strange really... I blame you two yet at the same time I do not..."
"Maybe because we all played a part on what went wrong" suggested Anna after a bit "We are our own villains and heroes in our own stories"
Sighting yet again the Duke touched a flower in one of the shrubs and said "You can come out now, it's okay".
At first Anna and Elsa were puzzled but soon that turned to surprise as the flowers began to move. They floated up into the air before turning right side up to reveal.
"Fairies" gasped Anna in surprise and delight at the beautiful flower creatures as they floated around the room, chattering happily.
"They are my friends" said the duke as he reached out, letting the fairies land on his arm or hold unto his hand and fingers, cooing and chattering happily as they did.
Then added as he looked at Elsa, glaring "I am not a magic hater as you seem to like to paint me, neither me or your grandfather or King Hans the third we're" he paused then stroked one fairy gently and continued "Our brother was magic and our best friends were all magical or magical creatures".
"Duke we are sorry, someday we hope to make it up to you properly, but right now we need you to tell us where the forest is" said Elsa as she hated to interrupt but this was important.
"Why?" said the Duke,
"Every time we try we cannot seem to find it" explained Anna,
"Not surprised, it's an enchanted forest after all" said the duke as if it was the most obvious thing in the world "It's sentient, alive, it will only be found if it wants you to find it not the other way around... and to be frank I cannot blame the forest for not wanting you two to find it... you two hurt many and especially the people the forest protects",
"You know what happened?" asked Anna,
"Hard not to, I keep in contact with my friends, especially the Fairy king who I am close to, he likes to gossip" answered the Duke then added warning "You two are not welcomed there so even if by some miracle you two do find the forest, death will await you there... my guess the first time you found it was due to the Devil trolls intervention allowing you to find it",
"We don't care, how do we find the forest?" said Elsa, the duke though then looked at the fairies "Any of you would like to escort them please?"
There was a hush, the fairies looked around before floating away, some hiding, others pretending to not have heard the dukes request.
"Okay then, I will have to pick one" said the Duke before looking and pointing at a fairy, this one looked to have been made out of a crocus "You, will you please escort them to the forest?", the fairy looked less than pleased but did as she was told as she floated over to Elsa and Anna.
As she did the duke warned "If anything happens to her I will see to it that you both pay for it",
"We understand" said Elsa as she took the fairy gently into her hands before she and Anna walked away. As they did Elsa noticed Anna looking back at Haakon every so often as they walked.
For a moment Elsa wondered what's was between Anna and Haakon but decided not to pry as they had bigger things to worry about.
The Forest:
They were not welcomed and it showed, Elsa and Anna stood petrified as they were surrounded by the inhabitants of the enchanted forest who were more than ready to tear them apart if they did anything funny.
With their arms held up to show they were not armed Elsa and Anna stared all around in surprise. All manner of people and magical creatures were here.
"Seems the Duke was right, you two did come" said one of them, this one looked like their mothers father, but different, his body was entirely made out of ice and frost, yet he did not melt.
"Let's hang them for their crimes!" Yelled a fairy from the background,
"No! Drown them!" Yelled a fossigrimen,
"No! Burn them!", soon they all were screaming and yelling all the awful things that they wanted to do to Elsa and Anna. For a moment they feared but Elsa plucked all her courage and yelled "No! For we come bearing news! The devil troll is no more!".
This caused a hush of silence to surround the area, for a moment they stared at them, not believing them, but Anna continued "What my sister says is true! The devil troll is no more! Here is proof! His dagger is in my possession!" with that she took out the dagger from her holster and showed it off causing the group to gasp.
Looking at the dark dagger they began to whisper to one another, muttering things they did not understand.
Suddenly the people parted and walked in a woman. Elsa and Anna stared in awe at her. She was tall, made out of ice and snow, she looked like a beautiful woman made out of winter, only alive.
Snow wings on her back moved as she floated over and asked "What do you two want?",
"We want to know what happened, the devil troll..." Elsa paused then continued "He has been in control of us, messed with our minds and vision, now that we are free we want to know the truth so we can fix things".
There was silence before the lady turned and said "Follow me". Nodding Elsa and Anna followed, a bit scared as they looked at the people who stared, not in a friendly way.
They made their way down a path, pass different homes that were either huts or wagons or trees. Staying close the three arrived to a giant old oak tree, around the trunk there were shawls tied there, three of them.
Taking one the woman showed one of the shawl to Elsa and Anna.
"They wore these, but one is missing" she said, Elsa paused then nodded before taking out the shawl and handed it to the woman. Taking it she stroke it gently before saying "Not sure if you remember, but I told you the story" opening it she showed her the symbol of the elements... or was it?
"They represent our bond" said the woman then pointed "Your grandfather took winter, the southern isles took summer, the Weselton took spring and we took summer... north, south, east, west..." then gestured to the gem in the center "Our bond... this is our bond, the bridges we all share to one another..." then sighted "You two broke it..." before tying the shawl around the tree.
Elsa and Anna felt guilt fill the pit of their stomach but before they could speak the woman said "It's over, what's done is done and nothing else will be said" before turning and looking at Elsa "Your not here to apologize, your not even here to know the truth... what you really want is to know what happened to him".
For a moment Elsa looked confused before she realized what she was talking about and quickly said "No, it's not I-",
"The heart wants what it wants, since I am very merciful I will grant you what you want" said the woman,
"But-",
"Ingrid, that's my name" she said before turning and saying "Follow me Elsa" Elsa and Anna took a step, but Ingrid held a hand stopping them and said "Just Elsa please"
The two shared a look, Elsa did not want to leave Anna, but she knew Ingrid had seen straight through her, yes she did wanted to know the truth, but what she wanted most in the world was reassurance, something, anything, that told her that Hans was okay like the mountain said, that he was not dammed or being punished like she often has nightmares about in her sleep. Anna looked and nodded, she wanted to know as well, but it was Elsa who was chosen, so she would accept that, with another reassuring nod she said "Go, but in case you see Hans... tell him to wait for me..."
Elsa felt a lump on her throat before nodding, she had forgotten that Anna might still have some feelings for him.
"Okay" she said before following Ingrid down a path towards the people. There Elsa was escorted by two chosen fae while Anna stayed behind. Waiting for her.
Splash, a paddle hitting the water was heard as Elsa sat in the very front of an ice canoe, looking back she saw the two people, one a winter fae and the other a half man half wolf were busy taking turns paddling as they took her to her destination.
This was a sacred place to them, the north of the world, where the waters went, where the spirits would go to start their journey to the afterlife.
As they towed they were solemn and quiet. She wanted to talk to them, ask, anything to break the silence that was haunting the area, but it felt wrong to talk for some reason. Like talking would be considered a huge disrespect to both them and this place.
She shook her head, deciding not to take chances as they arrived at a lone ice island, the river went in through a waterfall which fell.
As they unloaded the two fae began to sing.
"Between the here, between the there"
"Between the north, between the south"
"Between the west, between east"
"Between the time, between the place"
"Follow the stream"
"The song of the spirits"
"Neither quiet or calm"
"Searching for home again"
"Eternal home"
These verses they sang over and over, having a hymn like quality to them as they sang both in her language and the language of the fae giving the already eerie atmosphere a more surreal tone of ambiance.
As they lead her to the waterfall they continued to sing only to stop when they reached the waterfall, turning to face Elsa they gestured to the waterfall.
"This is the fall of the spirits, our most sacred place" the ice fae gestured "Drink from the fall Elsa... if you are worthy... the Spirits will guide you to what you seek",
"If I am not?" Asked Elsa worried, something flashed in both eyes before the Wolf answered with no care for her "Then I cannot say that you did not deserve what you will get".
Elsa hesitated for a moment as she approached the waterfall, cupping her hands she gathered some water and stared. The pit of her stomach churned, warmed her to go back, but she doubted she could, she could not go back till she got the answer she was looking for.
With that she brought the water to her lips and drank.
It was cool, sweet tasting, not at all what she expected.
Backing away she looked around, waiting for something to happen, anything, then just as she was going to give up she felt a presence behind her.
"Follow my voice" whispered the presence, it was male, and... was it possible?
"Hans?" asked Elsa exited as she turned around to find nobody, but looking down at the ground she found fresh foot prints in the snow, they were not hers as the size was wrong... and it was not of the fae either.
With hope Elsa followed the foot prints pass the two fae folk.
As she followed the footprints she heard him call again "This way"
This made her follow faster, even more when she saw movement up head.
"Hans-" she called then stopped when she found the figure. It was that of a man, probably same age as Hans... but he was not Hans... not even close...
He did have reddish hair, but it was more of a reddish black, his eyes were big, body wise he and Hans were similar with narrow waist and broad shoulders. He wore an ivory color tunic with fur underneath, a red sash around his waist, trousers and thick boots. Everything about his outfit was not something from Scandinavia, but somewhere else...
"Who are you?" asked Elsa as she approached the person, the closer she went the more she realized... this person was not there... he was... but at the same time not... he inside the glacier walls, as if he was a reflection of a person she could not see.
He did not answer, just stared, his eyes judging her as if trying to decide something of her.
Finding her voice Elsa asked "Have you seen Hans?", the man did not answer.
"Please, if you know him, please tell him that he is missed" said Elsa.
The person stared before placing his hand against his side of the ice and blowing on it. Pulling his hand away she was surprised to find a snow flake pattern on it. Stepping back he gestured at it.
Walking closer Elsa held out her hand before hesitating, what if this was another trap? How can she be sure this one was honest and meant no harm?
After everything that happened, Elsa steeled herself before pressing her hand against the snowflake design. As she did she felt the cold deep into her veins before she jumped back.
Before she could demand what happened she found the man was gone...
Where did he go?... and who was he?...
End of flashback:
Oslo:
What had happened? Who was that? Elsa did not know and doubted she would ever know. After leaving the forest, by leaving it was more of them being kicked out the forest vanished behind them.
Knowing they could not go back they decided to move forward and this was where they stood right now.
They worked to set things right, Anna went off as an ambassador to try and negotiate and fix things between them and Weselton along with securing negotiations, trades and such in the different kingdoms of Europe. Sadly there has been little success in this as all kingdoms wanted to avoid making negotiations with them due to what happened. But the ever optimistic Anna refuses to give up and will keep on trying in hopes that someday bridges can be mended.
While Anna did that Elsa tried her best to fix things in their kingdom, first thing she did was give the throne back to her father, then she began to campaign and work in order to get the people's trust back. She went around to be seen helping out the poor, she was seen in different public events and charities, she publicly apologized to her people and her grandfather, she had her parents statue as kids completely removed and a new one placed. This one was an obelisk made out of pure white marble, four sided, each side had the symbol of Arendelle, Southern isles, Weselton and the Fae folk along with all the names of those who lost their lives in the battle to keep the Devil troll from taking over the world.
Along with that she did tried to make peace with the Fae folk which she had before though they were the Northuldra, but now knew that they were Fae Folk... but they wanted nothing to do with her and they were not alone as sadly despite all of this effort the people remained as cold as ever.
On one hand Elsa could not blame them as a lot wrong had been done and there would always be the fear of what if it was all temporary and also there was the anger that they had lost everything, their home as Arendelle sadly was destroyed by the floor, people died...
But despite all of this Elsa was not going to give up, she was going to keep on trying. She was alive, Hans sacrificed his chance for her and she was going to make sure he never regretted doing that by being the best she can be. For if she failed not only would the devil troll get a victory beyond the grave, but also Hans sacrifice would have been in vain... she could not let that happen.
With that she pulled the curtains close, deciding to turn in for the night.
"Turning in?" she heard, moving her head she saw the Gjengengar, she was sitting in a chair, looking rather comfortable.
Elsa was not surprised or afraid, she had felt her presence all this time, she simply nodded.
"Good, you need sleep" said the Gjengengar rather pleased as Elsa walked over to her bed, getting under the covers Elsa asked "When will you leave?",
"Want to get rid of me so soon? Why I am so hurt, I though we bonded or something" said the Gjengengar, her tone in a rather amused way,
"No no, I have grown to appreciate you to be honest" said Elsa softly "But won't your family miss you",
"They would... but I don't think my job is done yet..." said the Gjengengar "They can wait a bit longer for now".
Nodding Elsa yawned and asked softly "Can you please stay a little while longer?",
"I could kill you you know" reminded the Gjengengar,
"True, but if you wanted to you would not have waited or helped us beat the devil troll" yawned Elsa again as she lay her head in her pillow.
As her eyes closed she felt the Gjengengar get up from the chair, move over and sit in the bed, with a gentle hand she ran it through Elsas hair as she hummed a lullaby.
It was soft, soothing, much like a mother's, sure she is not her mother, but it was a comforting gesture nonetheless. Listening to the soft humming Elsa felt even more drowsy as her eyes closed and in less than a minute she fell into a deep sleep.
The Gjengengar stayed for a bit before vanishing from sight, going out through town, keeping an eye on the people and home she loves so dear.
The next day:
Loud yells woke Elsa from her sleep, forgetting her encounter with the Gjengengar the night before she groggily dragged herself out of bed, slowly made her way to the window which she pulled open the curtains to look outside to see what the commotion was about.
It was pure hilarity, the stable boys were in a frenzy, running after Sitron as he ran in circles around them, trying to find a way out.
"Oh no" though Elsa as she snapped wide awake in seconds before running around the room. After getting on a proper dress and doing her hair in a tight bun she ran out of the room, down the stairs, pass the kitchen and straight out the door as Sutton broke through the gates of the castle and ran down the streets towards town.
"Sitron!" Yelled Elsa as she ran after the horse, fully well knowing where it was going.
Hans had told her that Sitron was smart, but she never imagined he would be this smart! Sadly she had to learn the hard way.
Ever since the horse was brought to Oslo it had shown its intelligence and persistence, it would open locks with ease or break the locks if he found they could not be broken, the gates were the same.
Nothing could or would stop that horse from reaching its objective.
Elsa felt sorrow bubble up, Sitron missed Hans, yes he had been told about Hans passing but the horse seem to refuse to believe that. Sitron refuses to eat, nothing could temp him, not even lemons which Elsa did try, but the horse would refuse them. They did eventually were forced to force feed and water the horse to get its weight back and keep it alive, it showed its displeasure by being aggressive to his handlers.
He was called a bad horse, but Elsa knew he was not, these were not actions of a bad horse, but one with a broken heart.
Stopping for a moment she dried her tears before continuing her way down to the beach of Oslo where Sitron was found pacing back and forth, every so often looking up to the horizon.
Slowly walking over Elsa reached and took the rope around his neck gently. Sitron looked at her, winning sadly. Gently patting the horses head Elsa said "I know... I miss him too" before looking out into the sea a bit as the sun slowly over the sea, illuminating the rocks jutting out of the sea due to low tide and.
Closing her eyes Elsa did a double take of the rocks, laying on top of one was a figure of a man. She had not noticed before due to how dark it was, but now she saw him clearly due to the contrast the white shirt he wore had against the dark rocks.
"Oh no" whispered Elsa before looking around, calling for help would be no good as the tide was rising, so she decided to take a risk.
Taking off her skirt, Elsa set it aside and walked over to the water, wincing in cold as it touched her feet before diving under the water.
Swimming over to the rock Elsa grabbed unto the person and began to drag him through the water, towards the shore. Seeing this Sitron walked over and helped by allowing Elsa to grab unto the rope when she was close enough which allowed for the horse to pull them to shore.
Shivering Elsa looked up at Sitron and said "Thank you, you truly are a great horse", Sitron whined a little in pride. Chuckling Elsa turned to focus on the person she just saved only to freeze.
No... it could not be... that though rang over and over in her mind in shock as she stared at the unconscious person.
His eyes were closed, his mouth slightly opened as he took soft breaths, his red hair looked dark as it was wet and cling unto his head and forehead.
Moving her hand Elsa gently moved some of his strands of hair away from his forehead, then moved his head to the side, looking to his ear.
He... he told her she had a birthmark behind his left ear...
"Is it?" Though Elsa only to nearly cry out when she saw it, yes it was the same birthmark... which meant.
"You are alive, Hans your are alive" Elsas mind screamed over and over in shock and delight. She never though she would see him, she spent many nights loosing sleep over worry, but now.
Her celebration was cut short as she though then scolded herself, he needed help and she was wasting time!
Looking around Elsa knew she could not carry him to safety herself, she was not strong enough, so she looked to Sitron.
"Can you please get help?" She asked, the horse stood there, hesitating before giving in and leaving.
As the horse left Elsa took off her cloak and placed it on top of Hans, wrapping it around him as best as she could to try to keep him warm before stroking his freckled cheek gently "Don't worry, help will come soon" she promised as she turned to look around hoping Sitron would come back soon.
And he did, soon he came back with some people, royal guards it seemed.
Upon getting there Elsa ordered them to take Hans back up to Arkeshus fortress.
Together the group carried Hans back up to the fortress, Elsa carefully moved the cloak to hide Hans face as they made their way up to the fortress. Yes the people did know the truth, but she did not know how they would react when and if they saw him.
Once they arrived in the fortress Elsa led the guards to the nicest guest room while her father who she met up on the way to the room was told what happened and he sent for a doctor.
When the doctor arrived Agnaar went to talk to him leaving Elsa alone. Turning to face the door Elsa gently opened it and looked inside.
Hans looked peaceful as he lay on the bed, covers over him, his head on top of the plush pillow. It was at that point she noticed white dressing surrounding his forehead, had he been injured? Seems so judging from the makeshift bandage.
"I hope it's nothing too serious" though Elsa with worry before walking over, standing next to him she reached and ran her hand through his hair gently before moving her hand away when she noticed two things, one was the shirt he was wearing, the sleeve design was rather odd, it had ties which gave the sleeve several puffs, said sleeve also had very elaborate embroidery in red thread.
Now that she though of it... this was not the same clothes he had on when they last saw one another.
Then there was his hand under the covers. Taking it Elsa gently pulled it out and looked to find it was holding unto a leather satchel.
Gently taking it out of his hand, which was hard as he had an iron grip on it, but she managed to get it out.
Looking over the bag she noticed the leather was well made, the clasp keeping the bag close had a very elaborate metal design of what could be shield, half of the shield had the design of a trident, the other half was a griffin.
Stroking it Elsa wondered about it as it felt... familiar... before tugging on it. It refused to open.
Holding it out Elsa was confused as to why the satchel refused to open before putting it to the side.
Seems Hans reappearance brought more questions than answers. Questions that can wait... for now.
With that Elsa made her way across the room where there was a chair, sitting down Elsa decided to stay and wait till Hans woke up. Sure he would be happy to see a familiar face.
The end... for now!
Next adventure will take us under the sea to an adventure of a life time!
Authors note: No! Its not over yet! There is more to come as this story draws to a close.
Any way hope you all enjoy the last chapter of this story! It was long and hard work! Please review to let me know what you all think, but for now I bid you adue and will post the sequel of this story as soon as possible. Take care.