(A/N: Although I like this concept of Elsa becoming a divine being, I have to admit that I think I favor the other story a bit more since I'm getting into the assassins. Sorry for the late update for this story, but I had to do the other story first this week.)
CHAPTER EIGHT: ON MY WAY
The trip was about a full day's journey to get back to Arendelle from the Enchanted Forest. Kristoff recommended setting up camp so everyone could get some rest, but Anna and Elsa both insisted against it. Anna need to return to the Kingdom after being taken over by the Fire Spirit. What became of her Kingdom? Did she destroy it? Was everyone alright? Elsa just wanted to be home. There was nothing for her in the Enchanted Forest except a truth she wished she never knew and a burden she never wanted to bear again since she made the decision to step down from the throne. Her civilian life with Kristoff and Gerda in their home was all she wanted.
Kristoff took over the reins so that Anna, Elsa and Gerda could rest. Olaf sat up front with him. Kristoff was still trying to process what Elsa had become. According to Yelena, Elsa was beyond a spirit. Elsa was now a divine being, meant to take the place of the four spirits and rule nature itself. The thought of being a mere mortal compared to his wife was intimidating. Olaf could sense Kristoff's unease and casually started a conversation. "Well…this trip was sure something," the snowman giggled.
Kristoff smiled and muttered, "Yeah."
"I am sensing there's something more eating at you," Olaf prodded.
"It's just…I don't know who I am to her anymore," Kristoff confessed.
"Okay, I'm confused. You're her husband and Gerda's father," Olaf answered for him.
"That's not what I meant. I meant- I was always there for Elsa…to care for her…to love her…to provide for her. Now that she's an actual goddess, I feel lost. What can a mere mortal like me offer her anymore?" Kristoff explained, "Elsa promised we would always be together and that she would always be my wife and Gerda's mother. She said being what she is now would never change that, but what Yelena said about casting aside her human side to embrace the celestial by replacing the four spirits and bringing balance to nature. Does that include me and Gerda? Are Gerda and I only going to hold her back from being what she was destined to be? What the world will need her to be?"
Olaf was silent, but glanced at Elsa who was awake and listening to every word Kristoff shared with Olaf. It made her think. The answer of course was obviously NO, but despite the promise she made Kristoff, it was obvious now that he was still scared of losing her. She held Gerda closer and closed her eyes.
As they rode into Arendelle, Anna was up front with Kristoff. Elsa stood up behind them, happy to see her home again. The citizens began to cheers when they saw Anna. "It's the Queen! She has returned and El-" Elsa's divine state wasn't obvious like a heavenly glow surrounding her head like a halo, but was much deeper and more of a feeling that left people who looked upon her…intimidated and awestruck. Elsa sat back down with Gerda and Olaf, feeling uncomfortable by their stares. However, that didn't stop the people of Arendelle from following the wagon to the palace. Anna was relieved that damages were minor and that everyone appeared safe. She feared the worst. When they entered the courtyard, Hans rushed out and embraced Anna with such fierce ferocity. "I thought I lost you, Anna," his voice cracked with tearful joy. Anna hugged him back firmly, "So much has happened."
Hans pulled away, "The Council is already gathered. They- and I- need answers."
Anna gave Elsa a hug and whispered, "Everything's going to be okay. I promise."
Elsa forced a smile, but deep down doubted her sister's words. After Anna and Hans went inside, Elsa was paralyzed bythe stares of the people. They were scared of her. Their looks were worse than when she accidently froze that fountain and then the entire fjord. Gerda and Anna said otherwise, but their behavior around her only supported her fears.
Anna sat in the Meeting Room, looking down to avoid Hans' and the Council Member's eyes after she had told them everything.
"So, you don't have magic," Hans spoke up, "I've known you for a long time Anna. I knew that it was just a silly rumor. If I was in the situation you were, I would've made the same choice." His words comforted her.
"We all would've, Your Majesty," Peterssen said. "Now…we need to talk about your sister."
Nothing else needed to be said. Anna could read everyone's expressions. The Council. Even Hans. They were terrified. "What about Elsa?" Anna asked cautiously, but she already feared the answer.
"She's-" Hans was speaking up, but Kai burst in.
"Please pardon me, but it's Elsa. She needs help," Kai reported and Anna ran. In the courtyard, Elsa was surrounded by a large crowd of people. Elsa was clearly uncomfortable in the crowded space. Anna forced her way through the crowd and got everyone's attention. "Everyone return to your homes and businesses." Everyone protested, demanding answers to questions.
"Queen Anna, what does this mean?!"
"Is she like those things that attacked us?!"
"What is the fate of our home?!"
The more questions they spouted; the more fearful Elsa became. Suddenly, Iclyn began speaking to her again. Do you understand now, Elsa? Do you understand what you are now?
Leave me alone? I don't want to be apart of you! You killed my parents!
Elsa could feel a heaviness, like her last words struck Iclyn deeply. Everyone began toughing Elsa to see if she was a spirit like the ones that attacked them, but this triggered Elsa when her personal space became more and more crammed. "LEAVE ME ALONE!" by accident, Elsa unleashed a divine wave of power that repelled everyone. If they weren't afraid of her before, they were now. Elsa froze, heavily regretting her reaction and ran out of the palace grounds. Kristoff quickly picked up Gerda and went after her. She was already running across the fjord without freezing it, which took his breath away. "Elsa, wait!"
Elsa stopped and looked back from the middle of the fjord before continuing to run. Kristoff looked up and saw she was going to the Ice Palace that gleamed like a heavenly clear jewel on the North Mountain. He smiled. Hold on, Elsa. We're coming. With Sven's help, he was able to get to Elsa's Ice Palace faster. From Arendelle, he could see it glow brightly with that same light as earlier.
Elsa entered the Ice Palace and looked at her reflection in the icy walls that made her palace. Her eyes widened when she saw not herself, but Iclyn, the Ice Spirit.
Your parents. I didn't mean to-
Elsa fired her magic at the reflection but her reflection still was Iclyn. Elsa. "Don't ever talk about my parents or even say my name! They were looking for answers about me!"
They should've stay out of my sea. What's done is done. You are no longer just a royal daughter and sister. You are divine. With the four elemental spirits gone, the duty of ruling nature now falls to you. It has ALWAYS been…YOUR DESTINY.
Elsa began hitting her reflection in the ice wall, but the reflection didn't mimic her. Elsa kept striking the cold hard ice. "That's not what I wanted! I don't want to be a queen or a goddess! I don't want this! Leave me!"
How selfish. You are no different than the Northuldra who started this in the first place. Are you really that selfish that you would condemn the entire world to wither and decay? What would your family think?
Elsa was about to hit the reflection again, but this time, with all the divine power she now possessed within, but a hand grabbed her arm and quickly pulled her into a firm hug.
"K-Kristoff?" Elsa asked as tears filled her eyes.
"Shh. I'm here. Me…and Gerda are here," he spoke softly as they continued to embrace. She pulled away feeling something hug her leg. She looked down to see Gerda. Kristoff noticed her hands, "Elsa, your hands."
Her knuckles were bleeding. She concentrated her magic to her hands and her wounds were healed. This amazed them.
Kristoff took her hand to study it. "How-?"
"I don't know," Elsa replied. She looked up at his face as he focused on her hands and gently rubbed her knuckles with his fingers. She recalled what she overheard him say to Olaf. That's not what I meant. I meant- I was always there for Elsa…to care for her…to love her…to provide for her. Now that she's an actual goddess, I feel lost. What can a mere mortal like me offer her anymore? Elsa promised we would always be together and that she would always be my wife and Gerda's mother. She said being what she is now would never change that, but what Yelena said about casting aside her human side to embrace the celestial by replacing the four spirits and bringing balance to nature. Does that include me and Gerda? Are Gerda and I only going to hold her back from being what she was destined to be? What the world will need her to be?
"Kristoff, I overheard you talking to Olaf on the way back," Elsa confessed and Kristoff looked at her with shock and embarrassment and looked away. Crap! She heard that? She cupped his face with her hands and turned his eyes to her's. "Yes, I did." It dawned on them that she could read his thoughts which made Kristoff panic more and back away slightly. "How is that possible?"
Elsa looked at her hands. "I wish I had all the answers but I don't. Kristoff, I can't escape this…what I am now. I don't know what I'm supposed to do and it terrifies me."
Kristoff stepped closer, his expression softening. "We'll figure it all out. I promise." She smiled and lunged into his arms, so grateful she was blessed with someone like Kristoff.
"What would I do without you and Gerda? I don't know who I am without you," Elsa muttered with joyful tears and hugging hm further.
"You know EXACTLY who you are. You are the eldest daughter of King Agnarr and Queen Iduna. You are a strong, fierce, and beautiful woman who can create snow and ice. Now…you are still those things and a goddess among men," Kristoff replied without pulling away. A mischievous thought came to Kristoff and he smiled, "What am I thinking about now?"
Elsa pulled away and looked at him questionably and focused. As she peered into his mind, her's was flooded with erotica making her eyes widened with shock and her cheeks turned redder than he had ever seen them. "Kristoff!" she gasped and pushed away slightly but he kept his firm embrace around her.
"What?" he asked innocently. She rolled her eyes and walked over to the open door. At the edge of the mountain, she could see Arendelle below. What she did earlier made her feel guilty. She turned towards Kristoff and took his hand, "I don't want to be what Yelena and Iclyn demand of me, but these powers- I can feel it changing me. Please promise me that you won't let me lose myself to these powers, that you'll keep me human."
"I promise," Kristoff smiled, holding her hands up to his lips to kiss them.
In the months that followed, Elsa remained at the Ice Palace, too afraid of scaring anyone else. Kristoff continued working as the Ice Master to earn money for food and move their things up to the palace.
In the time Elsa was absent from Arendelle, Anna shared more about Elsa to calm the natural fears of the people. Traumatized by the attack of spirits, there were people who weren't receptive, believing the young Queen was just making up stories about Elsa. Whether they believed the stories Anna shared, tales of the goddess Elsa filled all of Arendelle and people even made up stories about the divine Elsa to tell their children. Before the King and Queen knew it, the people were happy again to have Elsa back home and asked where she was. Queen Anna overheard their eager questions as she walked amongst them in her cloak since the Yule season was coming upon them. Snow had fallen and the north wind brought freezing temperatures to the small kingdom.
To help Elsa feel comfortable with being in the kingdom, she decided on a small Yule celebration. Just her, Hans, Kristoff, Elsa, and Gerda. Anna went out of her way to make it the best family get together ever. Elsa headed down the North Mountain from her isolation at the Ice Palace to meet with Kristoff and her daughter at the royal palace.
In the outskirts of the town that surrounded the royal palace, closest to the North Mountain, was a small family of farmers, consisting of a middle-aged couple and their son who was blind due to a terrible accident over a year ago. Due to his condition, the young teen found it difficult to have friends so he isolated himself at his home, striving desperately to not be a burden to anyone. Being born blind would have been better. He wouldn't know what he was missing, but the memories of days when he could see made his sightless ones more unbearable. He closed his eyes, silently praying to anyone who would hear him for his sight to be restored, desperate to see the world and people around him once more. He prayed with such desperation and opened his eyes, hoping his prayers would be answered. His young heart was struck with depression when all he could see was a black void. He went to his room and knelt by his bed, clasping both hands, "It's me again. I know you're very busy and I don't want to waste your time. Please, let me see again. That's all I ask. Amen."
He closed his blind eyes again. He trembled with tears when he didn't see anything. He was all alone. His parents went into town to grab food for the Yule season. He couldn't buy his parents gifts, because there was no job in town who would hire a blind boy. Tim hoped he could give them a miracle by praying for his restored sight. However, he wasn't able to give them that. He stood up with frustration was cautiously walked outside into his back yard. Disoriented by his overwhelming grief, he didn't realize he wandered too far from home. "HELLO?! CAN ANYONE HEAR ME?! I'M LOST!" Tim called, but no one replied. He wrapped his arms around himself to stay warm, but it was too cold. After yelling more he sat on the nearby rock he almost tripped over. Someone has to hear me! Please! Anyone! I'm scared!
Tim was on the verge of giving up after yelling for what felt like hours. Time seemed to stand still being blind. He began to cry. He then heard foosteps approaching him. A woman's voice asks, "I heard you calling. What's wrong?"
"I'm blind and can't find my way home. Can you please help me? I'm cold and scared," Tim replied. Loving and gentle hands touch his shoulders and guide him away, "Don't be afraid, Tim. I'll help you get home."
"You- You know my name?" Tim asked. "Who are you?"
"A friend. I saw the accident that day. Let's get you back home. Okay?" At first the woman's voice sounded afraid, caut off guard when he asked who she was, then her voice became warm and soothing. There was something strange about her voice though. It was almost…familiar.
As this mysterious stranger guided him, he was drawn back to that day, exactly eighteen months ago.
"Tim, make you put the new horseshoes on that horse out there for the client," the blacksmith instructed and Tim grabbed the four newly made horseshoes and a hammer before heading to the horse tied to a post outside the forge. He holds up one of the horse's legs and holds it stead in between his legs, placing the horse shoe in and using his mallet to get it into the groove that was carved out of the horse's hoof. Tim felt so happy doing what he did, taking in the pride of helping his parents. He glanced up at the small shop across the street. 'Elsa's Antique & Toy Shop.'
What luck! To work so closely to the former Queen of Arendelle. After stepping down from the throne and marring the Ice Master, Kristoff, Elsa used a chunk of her own fund to start her own business. Making anything out of ice that never melted. Elsa, already popular since she was once a great queen and had beautiful magic, did extremely well, making extra money. People with children would flock to her shop every day just to own one of her ice sculptures.
Then it happened. His face lit up when Elsa stepped out front to load her display shelf with new sculptures to interest customers. She caught him looking and asked with a warm greeting, "Good morning, Tim. Today is sure beautiful."
"It sure is," Tim replied nervously. He blushed at the fact that he was talking to Elsa. Everyone knew she was married, but that didn't stop the many young men in Arendelle from fantasizing about her. In fact men have come to her apartment often to confess their love and convince her she could do better than the Ice Master. Even an entitled nobleman's son. At first, she kindly rejected their advances, but that seemed to only encourage more visits, which provoked her to anger and use her magic to drive them away. The nearby shop owners would always cheer loudly when she sent another young fool on the run.
"Whose horse are you attending to today?" Elsa asked as she walked over, which made Tim more nervous, because he had a serious crush on her. She was 23 and he was going on 16 so his hormones were going wild like every other young man in Arendelle, but he managed to keep them under control out of respect to her.
"A farmer's. Old Man Vickerson. His horse's hooves became infected due to germ buildup. Luckily, he was able to catch it in time and requested his horse be fitted with some horseshoes," Tim explained.
Being familiar with what Tim said because of the stablemaster who tended to their horses, Elsa nodded, "That is fortunate. You hear so many terrible stories about horses suffering because of that. Luckily, Arendelle is in good hands having people like you taking care of the horses."
Tim blushed from her praise and that made her smile more. Suddenly, a wagon flew right threw and Tim had to quickly shove her out of the way before being trampled by the running horse, one of its hooves connecting with the back of his head. Everyone nearby became so alarmed and rushed to him. Elsa's face was struck with disbelief and shock as she quickly crawled over to him, "Tim! Can you hear me?"
Tim was still slightly conscious and tried to move. "No, Tim. Don't move. Stay still," Elsa instructed. She saw two guards nearby. "You there! Bring a stretcher. He's hurt." The guards immediately obeyed and rushed of. Elsa created a block of ice to hold against his head.
Tim was back to the here and now when the voice said, "Here we are. You're home, Tim." Her familiar voice was so familiar that it nagged him. "I should be going."
"No, please," Tim begged fearfully, "My parents aren't home. Can you please stay until they come home? I can't stand being alone."
There was a moment of silence before the woman's voice replied assuringly, "Of course, Tim. I'll stay." They both sat on the couch after the stranger helped him to it. He suddenly felt stupid for begging her to stay, whoever she was. "I'm sorry for this, I-"
"There's no need to apologize, Tim," the voice replied encouragingly, "I don't mind. It's been awhile since we last talked. How are you?"
He was shaking since the fireplace nearby wasn't lit. "Allow me to get a fire started," Elsa offered, nearing the fireplace. Before she could grab the matches, fire shot from her hands and into the fireplace, burning the logs with a purple flame. She was reminded by what Yelena said. This raised questions in her mind, but she put them aside so she could focus on tending to Tim.
"How am I? Well, I'm blind. I can't work anymore, so I'm just a burden to my parents. I think I'm just peachy," Tim replied salty.
Elsa looked at the entrance, tempted to sneak out but seeing Tim's milky white eyes tear up moves her inside and she stays. "I refuse to believe that. There's a role for everyone to fill in this kingdom. Even a young man who can't see. You shouldn't see yourself as a burden, because I know your parents don't feel that way about you."
Tim was comforted by her words and nodded agreeably.
"Tell me about what you like to do," the voice requested.
"I used to apprentice for the blacksmith," Tim replied. "I wouldn't do any actual work. More like the finishing touches. It was still rewarding, but all that's gone."
"You listen to me, Tim," the voice became firm, which startled him slightly, "I know you. You are far from hopeless. Blind or not, you are more capable than most young men in this kingdom. You can accomplish anything you set your mind to. Do you understand me?"
Tim smiled, suddenly feeling much better from her encouragement. Elsa could see that Tim was back to his old self again and smiled. "I know you asked me to stay, but some people are waiting for me. I'm afraid I have to go."
Tim felt her rise from the couch, "Wait, please tell me your name before you go."
"Elsa," she replied with a smirk and watched as the switch flipped inside of his head.
"Elsa? Oh, wow, you have the same name as the former queen. I knew her you know. She made ice sculptures for people across from the forge near the market square. I really miss talking to her. She was always very friendly and I enjoyed her company. Can you believe the stories? How people say she became a goddess and has the power to do almost anything?"
Elsa speaks up with a giggle, "That's me."
Tim became silent, unsure what to say or do next. An actual goddess was inside his home. The divine aura radiating from her suddenly enveloped him and paralyzed him with awe and wonder.
Elsa laughs, "Do not worry. I only wanted to help."
"How cruel and ironic. You're here…and I can't see you," Tim laughed.
Elsa felt bad for him and remembered what her powers did for Kristoff and her hands. She stepped closer and touched his eyes, startling him. "What-?!"
"You lost something when you saved me. I'm giving it back," Elsa said, her eyes closed as she concentrated.
Tim trembled with fear as she felt something strange move in his eyes. Finally, her hands withdrew from his eyes and she instructed warmly, "Open your eyes, Tim. Open and see."
Tim opened his eyes and they widened when they took in Elsa's beautiful smiling face. His eyes began to tear up.
"There you are," Elsa whispered as she wiped his tears, "I always did like those blue eyes."
Overwhelmed with joy, Tim jumped up and hugged her. She smiled and hugged him back.
"Tim?" They both looked to see Tim's parents arrived back home with food for the winter. Tim pulled away and slowly approached his parents, "Mom. Dad. I can see! I can see!"
They began to become excited, hugging their son. Finally, they all look at Elsa and she says, "I really need to get to the palace. Merry Christmas."
After she left, Tim parents demanded, "What in God's name just happened? Is that who I think it was."
"It was her. The stories were true. All of them," Tim said, still tearing up with joyful tears.