(A/N: Someone messaged me and was having difficulties so I'm just reuploading this chapter.)
CHAPTER SEVEN: LAST HOPE
Anna fell to her hands and knees after taunting the giant and nearly dodging a fatal blow of a giant rock hand. The other hand was ripping through the air towards her, too fast to jump out of the way. "ANNA!" Kristoff's voice yelled.
Anna turned to see Kristoff running for her. She held out her hand to halt him, "KRISTOFF, NO!"
He threw her to the side and Anna watched in horror when all became silent as she watched her brother in-law vanish in a split second when the large hand swat him from her sight.
When Kristoff was struck, he instantly saw his life flash before his eyes. More accurately, every precious moment he spent with his family…Elsa…Gerda.
Don't give up, Elsa. Take my hand.
I wanted to see Elsa. If anyone wants to hold me back, I'd like to see them try. Can I see you do the magic again? It was really pretty!
Who could ever hate the ice or snow? Each snowflake is unique and so are you.
Wow, Elsa. You look…different. It's a good different and this place…It's amazing!
Thank you. I never knew what I was capable of.
I did. I always knew.
You never have to be afraid, Elsa. You aren't alone. You have Anna, Hans…You have me. You'll always have me.
When are you going to see yourself the way I see you?
Like it? It's a palace made of ice! Ice is my life! I love it! You're incredible, Elsa!
They're wrong about you, Elsa. They're all wrong. You're not a witch. You're not a monster. You're amazing. You're beautiful.
He's so wild and free and not ashamed of who he is. I'm the Queen. I don't get the luxury. I have a reputation as Arendelle's ruler to maintain. He makes me laugh. Ever since we were separated long ago, there were only a few people who could make me feel that safe again. You. Mother. Gerda…and Kristoff. I don't know if it's because I've known him for so long or if it's because he has eyes like Father or maybe even that he's a gentle person.
Come say hello to your daughter, Kristoff.
I love you, Papa!
Suddenly all was quiet and dark for Kristoff. Gerda's crying was carried in the cold wind around them to Elsa, causing the ice to fade from her face partially, to reveal Elsa's normal eye, overflowing with tears. Elsa broke free from her icy appearance and fell to her knees in despair before looking up at the rock giant towering above her. An inconceivable anger rose in her and she unleased all her magic. Her eyes glowed a bright blue with the full power of the Icy Spirit. Her face became partially covered with veins that glowed the same color as she screamed as loudly as humanly possible, unleashing every bit of anger and pain in one attack. The frost giant was frozen, impaled with countless large icy spikes. Her raised hands clenched into fists, causing the Earth spirit to die and crumble like an enormous tower.
Anna quickly covered Kristoff and Gerda with her body as the entire area was filled with thick dust from the crumbling giant. When the dust settled, Anna looked up and saw Elsa…her Elsa…approaching them and knelt by them, hugging Kristoff and Gerda, crying. When she was camping with Kristoff years ago, she had a nightmare, from which she was able to escape through the kiss of a caring man. Seeing Kristoff dead before her brought every detail of that nightmare back to her. If it was possible, more tears flowed from her eyes. Her heart ached, whether from being ripped in half inside or being slowly frozen. You promised you would never leave me! Wake up, Kristoff. Come back to me! I need you!
"Elsa!" Anna whispered and Elsa saw her magic was doing something, traveling through her fingers into Kristoff. Suddenly his eyelids were twitching and his fingertips moving slightly "Kristoff?!"
His hazel eyes opened and the bloody contusions healed before their eyes which startled Anna and rendered her speechless. His eyes fell on Elsa and then he immediately realized what she had become. The same revelation slowly falls on the others. One by one. Olaf. Gerda. Sven. Anna.
Gerda and Olaf rushed to Elsa unafraid, but Kristoff and Anna kept their distance. Elsa looked up at Anna as Anna asked, "Elsa…what did you just do?" Elsa saw the shock in their eyes, it was similar to how her people looked at her when her secret was revealed at the Coronation Ball, but there was more fear. They're afraid of me.
Elsa walked away from them and headed to the Northuldra Camp with Gerda in her arms and Olaf right behind her. Elsa was calmed by her daughter's loving arms wrapped around her neck and cuddled closer, holding her firmer as she continued walking. She glanced over shoulders at Anna and Kristoff, who she caught stealing frightened glances at her before looking away when she looked at them. She began to tear up again and started shaking when the emotions became too much for her.
Gerda kissed her mother on the cheek and said, "Don't be sad, Mama. They don't understand because they forgot. I understand and I think Mama is very beautiful." Her words warmed Elsa's heart, but were confusing. Elsa stopped and put Gerda down and knelt so she could be level with her daughter's hazel eyes.
"What do you mean, sweetie? I don't understand," Elsa asked taking her daughter's small hands in her's.
"You will. Soon, everyone will," Gerda replied with a vague smile before hugging her mother again. This confused Elsa even more and she asked her daughter, "Gerda…do you know what happened to me…what I am?"
Gerda was about to answer happily, but the piercing looks from Kristoff and Anna became too much for her. She stood and looked at them, hurt when they looked away to avoid her gaze. "Please say something. Are you…afraid of me? Anna? Kristoff?"
Anna and Kristoff both looked at her then at each other. Elsa began to tear up, "I don't know what happened to me. Please don't be afraid. I need my family." No reply. They were paralyzed and speechless in her presence. Elsa walked over to Anna and tried to hug her but noticed Anna was shaking so she hesitated, "Anna. It's me. Am I…still your sister?" Anna smiled and hugged Elsa, making her sigh with relief. "I was never afraid. I just…what you are now…I can't comprehend it. It's a bit overwhelming."
"I don't understand," Elsa replied in her sister's arms.
"Neither do I but I always knew you were destined for more," Anna said back to Elsa, hugging more firmly as if finally, comfortable in her presence.
Elsa pulled away and turned towards Kristoff and smiled encouragingly. She held out her arms invitingly. Kristoff's shaking calmed slightly as he took a deep breath before daring to step closer to her. The closer he got, the overwhelming feeling inside lessened and the easier it became to smile and finally embrace his wife. There was something different about her, something amazing. So indescribable that he had no words-no way to express what he was feeling.
She knew his warm, firm hug anywhere. His hug this time was soft and shaky as if he was afraid to hug her like before. "Please, don't be afraid, Kristoff. Hold me…like you did years ago when there were no spirits…no war…nothing but our love." His hands held her more firmly. He was feeling strange around her now, but it was also because of what the voice in Elsa said to him earlier about Elsa now a being above silly human concepts…like marriage. The thought of Elsa changing that much that she no longer loved him or Gerda and no longer viewed herself as his wife and the mother of their daughter, it shook him up deeply inside. She didn't seem any different. Why? He should be happy, but the question of why and if filled his troubled mind. What if it's a gradual process and she'll one day no longer love him or Gerda?
Elsa looked at him with shock and grabbed his face before kissing him with such sincere passion. Anna smiled and looked away. Elsa pulled away and promised with a smile, "I will ALWAYS love you and Gerda. I will ALWAYS be your wife and her mother. No force in heaven or earth is strong enough to take that away from us. I am yours and you are mine…until the end of time."
Kristoff was speechless, shocked by a nagging feeling. Did she just read my thoughts? No. That's just silly. I just need to get some sleep.
Elsa giggled at his expression and kissed her husband again. Gerda saw them and screamed, "EWW! GROSS!"
The three adults laughed before Elsa and Anna both ganged up on her and trapped her in gentle hugs and kisses making Gerda laugh and beg them to stop. A thought came into Kristoff's head, making him smile. He gestured to Sven to come over. Elsa was startled when Kristoff swept her off her feet like on their wedding night and placed her on top of Sven before placing Anna and Gerda on there as well. "Kristoff?" Elsa asked.
"No Queen should have to walk, especially not MY Queen," Kristoff smiled, looking up at her, making her smile and stroke his face affectionately with her hand. "Where too, Your Majesties?"
"The Northuldra Camp," Elsa replied and Sven began following Kristoff South back to the Enchanted Forest. As they neared the camp, Elsa noticed all the natives starring with shock at her. When they got to Yelena, they dismounted to talk to her, but Yelena bowed, followed by Honeymaren, Ryder and all the Northuldra. Even Kristoff and Anna bowed. Elsa looked around with confusion. I don't understand. Why are they all bowing to me? She looked down at her legs seeing Gerda hugging them and looking up at her with a smile. Yelena spoke up with a bowed head, "You found the Ice Spirit. Just like the legend foretold. You have saved us all from the spirits. We are eternally grateful. My people and I pledge our lives to you and will serve you."
Elsa became shocked by this. "No! Please, rise. You do not need to bow to me. I am no longer Queen. I only came here to find the voice calling me."
Yelena looked at Elsa and her people who were just as confused by her rejection. She looked up at Elsa again. "Oh, dear. You…don't know yet do you, child?"
Elsa raised her voice, "Know what? Only my daughter seems to know what happened to me. Can you all please stop being vague and answer me."
Yelena rose and invited her into her tent, "Come with me, Your Majesty. We have much to discuss. It's time to reveal the whole truth to you…as the prophetess of Iclyn, the Ice Spirit."
Anna, Kristoff and Elsa all became shocked by Yelena's revelation and eventually entered the elder's personal tent.
"Prophetess?" Anna asked after sitting.
"Why do I get the feeling you know more about the Ice Spirit then what you said earlier? You knew what would happen to Elsa once she found the Ice Spirit," Kristoff said.
Yelena turned to them and sat down with them, "Yes I did."
"Tell us everything, please," Elsa replied, stroking Gerda's cheek as she laid with her head in her mother's lap, finally asleep. Anna sat next to her.
"It all began that fateful day," Yelena replied looking down at her aged hands before her eyes glowed white and she touched the foreheads of her guests to show them the memory of that day.
Yelena was picking berries, humming a song well known to her people. A figure noticed her and smiled as he silently crept behind her and grabbed her around the waist and kissing the back of her neck, making her squeal. "Darling, you shouldn't do that. You scared me."
"I'm the Chief. If I want to sneak on my wife and kiss her while she's- What are you doing exactly?" her husband asked.
Yelena rolled her eyes, "I'm picking berries. Couldn't you tell?"
He drew close to her ear with his lips, tickling it with his warm, gentle breath as he whispered, "My eyes were not on the berries but my beautiful woman."
Yelena liked how her husband addressed her and could tell he was trying to initiate something she wasn't ready for yet by the way his hands gently slid over her stomach. "Not yet, my love."
Her husband sighed with disappointment. "We've been married weeks, Yelena. You know how important it is for our people to be fruitful and grow in number. The three elders gave me an earful because they noticed you are not yet with child. There are others in our tribe having children, yet…you are hesitant to have a child…with…me."
Yelena could tell where this conversation was headed, hearing the sadness in his voice. She instantly turned in his arms and yelled his face in her hands. "Stop right there. It's not that at all. I just…"
Her husband waited patiently for her to find the right words to describe what she was feeling. "I'm just not ready to be a mother quiet yet. Can we just enjoy being husband and wife just a little longer?"
"Okay, but when, Yelena?" the Chief asked.
Yelena rolled her eyes, pulling away to take the basket back to camp. "You men. You're all alike. Lazy, ever hungry horny beasts. If it wasn't for women, you'd be helplessly lost."
The Chief got in front of his wife chuckling, "I can't argue with that. I also can't argue with the will of Nature. A man meets a woman-"
"A beautiful woman," Yelena smiled.
"Yes. A man meets a beautiful woman. They fall in love and become one flesh. Next, they start building a family. Yelena, I love you and respect what you are requesting but you are asking me to deny myself from fulfilling the sacred duty of Nature by filling you with my child." The Chief explained.
Yelena couldn't believe what she was hearing. "Are you invoking the sacred laws of Nature to get me to have a child with you sooner?"
"No, I would NEVER," her husband insisted. "If I wanted to course my wife into entering my tent with me, I would do this." He removed the basket from her and laid it on the ground next to them, causing her to start muttering. "Then I do this." He began to passionately kiss her on the lips, holding her in his arms with a gentle intimate touched which she found very effective at arousing her. She processed this after her pulled away from her lips and looked into his pleading eyes as he said, "Let's have a child, Yelena."
Yelena smiled, "Okay, but AFTER the celebration. Right now there is too much to be done with the preparations."
The Chief smiled with immense excitement like a boy, "Agreed. We have to wait until AFTER the celebration." He drew closer to Yelena and just happily stared into her eyes.
"Dear, I said after," Yelena smiled, recognizing that look.
"I know. What? Am I not allowed to even LOOK at my beautiful wife?" the Chief asked.
"You aren't if you insist on looking at me like that," Yelena answered, grabbing the basket and heading back to camp. The Chief followed her and asked innocently, "What look?"
As the Northuldra prepared for the celebration of the Sun, a small group of its rogues headed to the four monuments of the elemental spirits. "We have all gathered here, because we all want the same thing: power beyond our wildest dreams. The Chief and the elders say we are to serve Nature, but I say that WE are its masters," one of the four Northuldra tribesmen spoke up and the others agreed.
"How?" another asked. "How does a human control Nature itself?"
The first turned to the others, reading an ancient parchment he discovered. "We awaken the spirits of the forest and offer them the greatest gift they could ever desire."
"The spirits are above us. What could we offer them as humans?" A woman asked in the group. The same question filled the minds of the others by her side.
"A human body," the man by the four stone pillars replied with a smile. "According to this ancient text, although they wield great power, the four elemental spirits are bound to the cycle of the world. However, if they were offered a living human host-"
"They'll be free," the woman replied when she put two and two together. The others by her became more interested.
"In exchange for freedom, their power will belong to us." The head simplified. One by one, the others agreed, overwhelmingly enticed by the undeniable promise of power and glory that came from standing above all other humans.
"Spirits of Air, Water, Fire and Earth," the man called to the pillars and the etched symbols on each pillar glowed, signifying that the four spirits were awake. The ground shook beneath them. A breeze carrying leaves swirled around them. Water gathered from the wet morning grass and formed a chilling figure. The heat from the sun around them gathered and manifested as a purple cloud of flame.
"I know you long to be free of your burdens and to roam this beautiful world, but the Ice Spirit that governs you won't allow it You crave freedom above all things. We offer ourselves as your hosts. Receive this offering as thanksgiving for all your gifts." The bowed and spoke carefully with the intent of deceiving the spirits. It worked. The spirits all swirled around them excitedly. One of the spirits spoke up, speaking in a language the humans couldn't understand, getting the attention. One of the spirits, the spirit of air, stopped in front of the man's face. "You offer us freedom, human? What does the humans ask for in return?"
The man smiled, "Power. Make us gods amongst humanity."
The air spirit replied to the human, "You will have power. In the eyes of humanity, you will INDEED be divine."
One by one, the spirits entered their hosts. The union of Human and Spirit shattered their chains to the world, causing the Iclyn, the Ice Spirit to feel the disturbance all the way from her icy paradise and rush to the Enchanted Forest, the birthplace of the four elemental spirits.
The Northuldra began the celebration after the Chief gave his speech, "My brothers and sisters! Let us raise our voices with thanksgiving to thank the Sun for its light, its warmth and the life it gives nature. Let's give honor and thanksgiving as we celebrate in fellowship." The four individuals who merged the with the spirits, entered the celebration to make themselves known. The rest of the Northuldra noticed them and became silent, parting ways as the four individuals as they approached the new Chief, his wife and the three elders.
One of the elders demanded, "What have you four done? You have done which is forbidden. You became one with the four spirits."
"I am Bruni," the man spoke. He went by a different name, but now went by the name of the fire spirit. "We longed to be free from this world and this human gave it to us."
Another elder stepped forward and chided the four young individuals, "You fools! You have disrupted the balance of nature. Without the spirits to govern nature, it will slowly decay and all of humanity will perish!"
Bruni instantly incinerated the elderly man with purple flame, alarming everyone and making them back away.
The Chief stepped forward, "Spirit! You have been deceived by a wicked man and has corrupted you. You must release this man before you are corrupted beyond hope!"
The individual inhabiting the earth spirit struck the Chief with unnatural strength, sending landing at Yelena's feet.
"LIES! ALL LIES OF THE ICE SPIRIT!" Bruni hissed, attacking the other people and the others did the same. All looked to the north as the angelic call of the Ice Spirit echoed in the air around them, heralding her arrival. "Ah-Ah-Ahah! Ah-Ah-Ahah!" The Ice Spirit came to a screeching halt, making all the Northuldra bow in reverence as it's inconceivable bright light shined on them.
"Submit or face my wrath," Iclyn hissed in the spirit language. Those hosting the elemental spirits hissed back with defiance, saying they will not give up their freedom and will kill her to keep it. "You've been warned," Iclyn replied with a tone so cold that it caused the area to become frozen, causing great harm to the four rebellious spirits who have transformed the bodies of the human hosts into nightmarish sights and all lunged at her. Iclyn, in her pure spirit form, wrestled with the four spirits in the ground, crashing through trees and violently reshaping the Enchanted Forest.
Some of the Northuldra wanted to flee but the Chief instructed, "No. You must stay down. The Ice Spirit will restore balance to the world and will protect us from harm. Have faith!"
Iclyn fought valiantly against all four of the spirits, but their combined might was starting to overwhelm her, despite her lethal magic. Iclyn couldn't save the humans, since their corrupted state was now permanent, which means that the spirits were now corrupted by the evil desires of the human hosts. She unleashed all her power destroying the abominations but had to spare the spirits for the sake of the planet's survival. "You are beaten, spirits of the Enchanted Forests. I seal you to the Enchanted Forest. You will continue to guard the balance of life in this world. Hear me humanity, because of your greed and evil hearts, the spirits of your dead will haunt your sleep and you will be sentenced to be sealed within the forest as well, cursed to face the torment of the dead," Iclyn spoke with great anger and judgment.
The Chief couldn't allow this, "Ice Spirit! Please, have mercy upon my people. Don't judge them for the sins of others. Please spare the Northuldra your wrath."
Iclyn in all her fury struck the Chief dead with a blinding light. Causing Yelena to scream as she ran to her husband's body and wept as she cradled his face in her lap. "Please, spirit! Please, stop!"
Calmed by this woman's plea, Iclyn marked Yelena with a glowing white hand print on her face. "You will serve as my prophetess. My punishment is final but will not be forever." Iclyn turned to a young couple nearby, "You two. Come forward. You are with a daughter. You shall name her Iduna, which means 'loving one.' She will give birth to your salvation. You two are free to leave, but when you leave, the memories of today will be forgotten. I have spoken." Iclyn then returned to the four beaten spirits. "You will be in slumber until my champion returns. You will do battle with her and fill fight her to the death for your freedom. She…will be your judge." Iclyn looked to the water spirit, "I have been gravely injured. You will protect the Dark Sea and will drown anyone who seeks my resting place. You will serve my champion when she tames your raging sea or perish."
Back in the tent, Elsa shot up, taking it all in. "She…Iclyn killed my parents."
Anna was speechless as she met Elsa's eyes with horror at what they just learned.
Yelena was silent and looked away as the pain of losing her husband resurfaced.
"Elsa-" Kristoff said with such empathy as he held their sleeping daughter.
"Take me home, Kristoff," Elsa demanded. Her voice shaking with rage and despair.
"You can't leave just yet, Elsa," Yelena spoke up. "You are the key to balance in nature. You wield the power of all five spirits-"
"I DON'T WANT IT! ICLYN SENTENCED MY PARENTS TO DEATH! I WANT NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS FOREST, ITS PEOPLE OR HER!" Elsa screamed with fury which instantly woke Gerda and terrified her. Elsa noticed and held her in her arms, silently whispering soothing things to comfort her child.
"It's your destiny, Elsa. You are the perfect host of the Ice Spirit, born of the love of your innocent mother. When you put aside your human state and embrace the ways of the celestial, all will be clear," Yelena tried to persuade her, but Elsa just shook her head.
"Get her out of me! I don't want to be the host!" Elsa demanded.
"I can't. There's no undoing the perfect union of Spirit and Humanity," Yelena explained, looking down, humbled by the divine anger emitting from Elsa's ascended state.
Elsa marched out and Kristoff and Anna followed as they returned to Kristoff's wagon and rode back home. Anna sat up front with Kristoff while Elsa sat in the back, hugging Olaf and Gerda, crying. Kristoff watched her with a broken heart, lost on what he could possibly say or do to comfort her. What do you say to the love of your life when she just learned the spirit she just merged with was responsible for her parents' deaths in the Dark Sea? Anna saw him and took the reins, gesturing to be with her so she could drive for him. Elsa looked up from Olaf and Gerda at Kristoff and entered his arms too, weeping louder, because the answers she had been looking for all her life where not the answers she wanted.