Chapter IX
An Omen of War
-ooo-
Flynn's company rode into town shrouded in darkness. Ahead, the King regent could already see the bright torches around the barn, and the townsfolk as they talked amongst each other.
Soon, he and his raiders dismounted, and the people – his subjects – bowed to him.
A part of him still felt uncomfortable with that treatment. After a lifetime of thieving for a living, now he had to lead his people. It had been an abrupt change, of course, but one he had come to love as well, for Rapunzel had managed to lighten up even the dullest aspects of royal life.
He was a brigand turned King. The thought made him smile. In a way, Flynn now embodied both: he was his people's rightful ruler but he was also an outlaw in his own kingdom. While he'd never think of Corona as his property, he had come to accept the duties of the crown. King Frederick had pardoned him, offered him a true shot at redemption, and he would see the liberation of the country he loved to the end. From the top of his saddle, he inspected his small band of renegades, along with the volunteers that had come that night. The men began their march towards their hidden camp, entering the dark woods around them. He couldn't help the swell of pride he felt as he saw their determined faces. Most of the recruits were farmers, or blacksmiths, or all kinds of laborious people who had offered to help in his rebellion, the one his trusted lieutenants – old brigands too, turned rightful rebels – had dubbed the Flynn Raiders.
He nodded as the tail of the column passed him. This was the last town he'd visit, just outside Corona's mountain ranges. A couple days riding north were the Faraxian armies, marching through open fields and into the border villages of Arendelle.
After months of close calls, he had managed to gather a force of almost two thousand – not strong enough to even disrupt the Usurper's army, but big enough for his and Anna's plan –.
Now he had an army to catch, and enact said plan.
-ooo-
She spent the better part of the day asleep on Anna's arms. Just the two of them. Aside from a brief visit from Yelana, Matthias and Kai, not a single soul had bothered them for the rest of the day. She suspected Anna had made that a Queenly order.
Slowly, she sat on the bed using her elbows to prop herself upwards. Her sister had left the room, promising to come back in a few minutes.
She had so many questions, and so little answers. Anna had only told her she went missing for half a year. Just thinking about it brought shivers down her back. How much had she missed?
Her sister had been unusually quiet. It startled her.
Anna had changed.
Not only in appearance but in her actions too. Ever since she woke up, Anna had spoken in nothing more than a few, scattered sentences. Light touches and drowsy sighs had made the bulk of their fragile communication from dusk 'till now. Even if a lone year was not truly a big amount of time, without Anna it had felt like a decade. She kept rediscovering these tiny gestures she had grown accustomed to over their years together: the way her sister's arms snuggled her as they laid silently against the bed's headboard; the way her freckles seemed to vanish in the morning's early light, just to resurface when her cheeks blushed.
How she wished she could put aside her worries. But she could not.
It weighed heavily on her. Six months had gone by without her, and things seemed truly bleak. They needed to talk. And so, she waited for her sister to come back from whatever she was doing.
As promised, after a couple minutes the doors opened. Anna snuck inside, holding the door with her hips as her hands were busy with a large tray covered by a silver dome. Elsa couldn't help but admire how well Anna's new wardrobe fit her. Her colorful dresses were gone. Now, she wore a square-shouldered bodice, covered by a tight dark shirt tastefully adorned with several golden treads around the side bottoms and neckline, resembling the Kingdom's crocus flower. It bore a certain resemblance to the long gown her sister had used at her own coronation. In a way, it had the same effect, only tenfold this time: it gave her an air of supreme confidence.
Just what has happened? She wondered.
Anna smiled sweetly at her as she walked towards the room, precariously leaving the tray over the nightstand. Elsa frowned a little. She knew her sister well: this overly chipper demeanor was just her way to avoid confrontation.
"How are you feeling?" The redhead asked, plopping down on the bed.
"Tired." Elsa answered honestly.
A playful grin formed on her sister's face. "Off to sleep you go, then." She declared, patting the soft pillows.
"Anna." Elsa locked gazes. Aquamarine orbs shone with worry. "I must know. What has happened? How did you get that scar?" She figured that last question was a good place to begin.
Anna's cheerful expression vanished. Her shift in mood felt almost violent: deep shadows emerged around her eyes. Elsa saw her fingers grabbing the blankets.
"You can tell me…" She hushed, extending her hand and interlocking their fingers. Through that touch, she felt the tension on the Queen's body.
Anna eyed her carefully, sighing profusely.
"I went to fight the Hanian raiders." She began. Her tone was flat, dull. "They attacked the northern provinces, and we barely stopped them on Lirendelle. One managed to get a hit." She shrugged her shoulders.
"But why did you have to go? And what caused the attack?" Elsa pushed. She saw Anna's jaw clench, and the look she returned her gave her chills.
"A couple weeks after your last letter… Falax's armies began to mobilize. They attacked the eastern borders swiftly, and soon they encircled us. We have fought them for the better part of the year." She glanced away, her fiery bangs falling over her eyes.
"They're getting closer. Soon, I'll have to ride south… to fight again."
Elsa just stared. Her head spun as she took in the news. Fight? Armies? She had suspected so many things, but this wild scenario just did not seem plausible.
"Anna…" she leant towards her. Carefully, she swept some of the red locks from her sister's temples.
"We're at war, Elsa." Anna explained, leaning a little against Elsa's touch, but refusing to meet her eyes. "We've been for some time now. That man… he waited for you to be out of the picture so they could begin their attack. It was all a trap."
She had a hard time processing what her sister had just told her. In a way, it felt like waking up from a bad dream, only to find another, even worst nightmare waiting in the real world. The full weight of her failures crashed hard over Elsa's head.
This was all her fault. Not only had she left her sister behind, but also her inability to fulfill her roll had caused gods knew how many deaths. She remembered Anna's bitter words, the day she left. She had been right all along.
Everything would have been fine, if only she had stopped Onix.
If only she had stayed.
Anna's hand delicately lifted her chin. The Queen's gaze had softened and a tiny, restrained smile resurfaced on her pink lips.
"You couldn't have known." She assured. "I know that look, Elsa. This is not your fault. No one wished for this, except that man. All of this is on him, and on the sorceress. I'm trying to make my peace with it: the things that I've done… the choices I've made. You must do the same… for your own sake."
How? Elsa wondered. How could her sister be so forgiving of her failures?
"You should be mad…" She said, her tone rising above a simple whisper. "Why aren't you…?" She asked sadly.
"I was." Anna replied. "For a long time… That's why I never answered your letters." She shook her head, making some thin locks of auburn hair fall again over her forehead. Elsa's chest tightened. She could almost see it: the burden her royal sister had to endure.
"I don't want to be angry… lest of all, at you. I can't." The Queen continued. Her eyes teared up a little. "I just missed you, so much…"
"I missed you too…" Elsa muttered, gently rubbing Anna's arm. Her sister smiled weakly at her, a gesture she quickly reciprocated.
"Now's your turn… What happened after you left?" Anna asked. "What… what happened on the mountain?"
Elsa shivered. So much surrounding her fight was cloudy inside her mind. Many details were lost: she supposed Onix's magic had tampered with her memories, leaving them scrambled, mixed into a twisted mass of incoherent images and sounds. Each time she tried to recount what had happened inside the mountain's belly, a raging river of blackened memories flooded her. Just thinking about it made her head throb viciously.
"I can't remember much of that day…" she began her tale. "I travelled for months, following the essence I felt. I was careless… I should've known it went both ways. She knew I was coming… For most of the time, I could not use my powers freely: I usually travelled by horse, or hitched a ride from town to town. Around the time spring began I reached the mountain…"
Anna just looked at her, an inscrutable expression on her face.
"I confronted her inside the mountain. She just mocked me, and we ended up fighting for a while." A troubling detail became a bit clearer as she spoke. "Her magic… it was strange. Every time I called on the strength of my own, she matched it. Every time… It didn't matter how much I tried, I could never break her defenses. It was as if she was just waiting, testing my strength. "
Toying with me, Elsa realized bitterly.
Elsa shook her head. Anna's hand gave hers a little squish.
"Anyway," she continued, "that's when they attacked. The other mages…" She struggled against her torn memories, trying to make sense of the chaos inside her. "She managed to get a clean hit against me… I don't remember anything after that… just…"
She trembled involuntarily. "I felt it… The Black Stone… it grabbed onto me, gnawing… I tried to push it out, but I couldn't. It was like falling into a bottomless pit, full of hatred a-and anger…"
Without realizing, she had retracted onto herself, her own arms wrapped around her chest. She could remember those blazing fingers, crawling down her arm. A beating heart of blackness and howling rage…
Her sister's gaze shone with empathy as she leant forward, gently taking her hands into hers once more. She sat in front of her.
"It's alright now…" Anna said firmly. Her forehead touched Elsa's as her watery green eyes stared at her.
"Is it?" Elsa retorted, sadness and incredulity slipping into her voice. "The kingdom's invaded… Onix's still out there, somewhere. All because I failed…"
Anna's finger poked at her ribs. "Enough of that…" she demanded, half-jokingly. "But you're right… Things are as bad as they can get… but we are okay now. You and me… we're together…"
It was Elsa's turn to read her sister. She stared at her intently, taking in the subtle changes on her eyes. She marveled at the strength Anna had inside her. She saw it fully now: the eternal summer that lived in her sister was a light that could flick and wave, but never yield.
They stayed like that for a while; Anna sitting on her lap, she reclined over the pillows behind. As the minutes passed, something stirred in her chest, pushing its way outwards through her weakened state. The force of the feeling rattled her. A part of her wished to pull back, to retreat from the source of this wave of… attraction: another, bigger part, basked in it. In an instant, years of unspoken tension sparked with the strength of a bonfire. Past memories rushed into her mind's eye. Her pulse quickened, same as her breathing. The warmth grew wildly, threatening to burst her aflame.
They were alone. And her sister's body was at arm's reach. She gulped.
Anna's thumb drew small circles over her hand. The touch was increasingly distracting. It made her think about other things… emotions left unsaid that now resurfaced in force.
It's so warm, Elsa noted, still under the charm. It soon became unbearable.
"When…" She began, forcing the words up her dry throat. "When'll you leave?"
The Queen's gaze lingered on her for a few seconds more before she broke contact. Whatever had risen between them, it started to fade away, like ripples on a pond.
Elsa felt guilty after it did.
"The day after tomorrow, at the latest." Anna replied. She looked up to the ceiling and chuckled darkly. "It's like a bad joke. I have to leave, just after you wake up… That's why I'll stay with you, for as long as I can." She declared through a half-hearted smile.
Elsa nodded once, and a heavy silence followed. She wanted to break it, but the words died before leaving her chest. After all, what could she say?
"What's over there?" She finally asked, pointing to the forgotten tray. Anna grinned. She jumped off the bed, dramatically lifting the shining dome.
Elsa laughed softly. She should have known.
"I imagine you haven't had chocolate cake in a while." Her sister guessed, taking the plate and the dark desert.
"You're right," she answered honestly. While travelling, her meals had always been sparse. Sometimes she had forgone the need to eat for days, sustained by the magic inside her. But Anna didn't need to know all that.
"Well, enjoy." Anna chirped, taking a little bit with a spoon and feeding it to her. Even if the smell alone made her mouth water, Elsa looked at the treat with reluctance. Anna rolled her eyes.
"I cleared it with the medic and Yelana. You can eat it. Actually… you need to eat a lot more, if you want to recover." She held the spoon a few centimeters away from her lips.
She took a tiny bite. And then another, bigger one. Sweetness flooded her mouth and she hummed in delight.
This… Elsa thought as she focused on her sister's joyful expression. This is what I missed.
Long months of lonely travels, lost in an unforgiving, foreign country had taken its toll. How many nights had she spent on her own, wishing she could be on her sister's side? Gladly, she basked on Anna's attentions, even if she felt undeserving of such a loving care.
As she finished a few more bites, the room's door opened slightly.
That's weird, she thought. Everyone usually knocks…
A blonde-framed face peeked inside, with a big smile splashed into it.
"Anna said there would be cake." Rapunzel stated, her lips pulled into a tight line. Her serious expression fell almost immediately, replaced with somber relief. Her cousin closed the distance, hugging Elsa carefully with a single arm.
"It's so good to see you!" Rapunzel said. Elsa smiled at her.
"It's good to be back." She replied softly, gazing meaningfully at Anna.
Her sister's cheeks colored a little.
"We were all worried." Her cousin said, sitting opposite to the redhead. "Are you feeling alright? Your injuries looked, well…"
Elsa nodded. "I'm good now… or as good as I can, I suppose."
Thanks to her, she thought, looking back at her sister. She had not forgotten. How could she? The black, tangled skin hidden below her sister's clothes.
"Have you tried using your powers?" Rapunzel asked.
Elsa shook her head. She exhaled nervously before trying to conjure some simple stuff. As naturally as she breathed, magic flowed from her fingertips as some snowflakes appeared above their heads. She flicked her wrists, doing slow circular motions. Heaps of snow appeared and vanished at her whim. For a brief instant she thought everything was as before, but soon she felt her inner strength waver.
She sighed loudly, stopping her motions. A pair of worried looks settled over her.
"It seems I can still do some things… but not much more."
"Do not worry too much." The blonde said. "You just need to recover, that's all."
Elsa nodded. She hoped her cousin was right. She could still feel the ever-living soul of winter inside herself, like she could feel her own beating heart. It just felt faint. So frighteningly faint.
Rapunzel's gaze found the silver tray.
"Hey!" she exclaimed. "You promised some cake for me too, remember?"
"Sorry!" Anna replied, giggling. "All out of cake." She licked her fingers tauntingly. Elsa lips curled upwards, amused. It seemed the love for sweets was deeply ingrained in their family's blood.
"Are you serious?" Rapunzel groaned. "You know it's gonna be a while 'till you can afford another, right?"
Anna's smile faltered for a fraction of a second, but Elsa still picked it up.
"I know." The Queen replied solemnly. "That's why I kept you a slice." She uncovered the tray, giving the last piece of cake to her cousin. The blonde squeaked appreciatively.
"What does she mean?" Elsa inquired.
Anna let out a tiny sigh. "I've been giving away most of the castle's pantry to the refugees in the city. We keep just the essentials."
Elsa smiled warmly. Of course she did. She nodded approvingly.
"Why did you dye your hair?" Elsa wondered aloud, refocusing on the other Queen in the room.
"A week after we arrived, I think. I've to keep a low profile. No one in Arendelle ever saw me with blonde hair, so it made sense." Rapunzel explained, hiding her full mouth behind her palm. "I usually stay on the library most of the day. I think I've gone over every one of your books at least once at this point…"
They chatted casually for a little while, until after one too many yawns both her relatives looked down at her with knowing eyes.
"Alright, you two love birds." Rapunzel teased. Elsa felt heat quickly rising into her cheeks and ears. Anna was no better. "I'll leave you to it." She winked at them, doing a little theatrical pirouette as she rose from her chair.
The room's door closed softly, leaving them in complete silence.
The redhead smiled faintly, but Elsa could sense something hiding behind it. Anna bent over, kissing her on the cheek, their lips' corners touching.
Again, the wave swelled, crashing and fizzling away in a split second. The skin her sister's lips had touched buzzed and her breath hitched. For an instant, she could've sworn she saw a knowing glint on Anna's gaze.
"Enough chatting." Her sister ordered firmly. "You gotta get some more sleep."
-ooo-
She had always been a light sleeper. For many years, she had feared her powers would manifest in her sleep: the anxiety had made her skittish, and almost any sound could manage to wake her up. It had gotten better after a couple years on the Forest, but now it seemed she had reversed from that time.
Immediately after waking up, she missed her sister's warmth.
Carefully she rose, using the back of her hand to rub off the sleepiness on her eyes.
Looking left, she saw Anna's silhouette lit by the moonlight coming from the window. She was sitting on the bed's edge, leaning down with her hands on her knees. The nightgown's pale fabric seemed to glow in the ghostly light.
"Anna… what's wrong?" She asked softly.
Her sister shook her head.
"It's nothing…" She uttered.
Elsa scooted closer. She leaned over her shoulder, encouraging her to open up. Anna's skin felt warm. Comfortable. Safe.
Her sister exhaled shakily, taking her time.
"Well… it's kind of dumb…" She began, suppressing a tiny sniffle. "I just can't sleep. Every time I close my eyes, I fear you will be gone when I open them. It's like you're not even here… like you haven't returned…"
Anna's body turned suddenly, her hands a blur as she took Elsa's face between them. The touch was hard, almost uncomfortable. Teal, wide orbs studied her fervently.
Elsa understood. Her sister's eyes roamed her, as if she was trying to make sure they were not deceiving her. She relaxed, instinctively leaning into Anna's touch. After a while, the grip softened, and a shaky gasp left the redhead's lips.
"It's all right." She whispered, taking her soft hands with her own.
As Elsa enveloped and intertwined their fingers together, she noticed Anna's felt rougher than she remembered, calloused and hardened.
"It isn't." The redhead said hoarsely. "Everything's gone to hell and…"
Anna's gaze fell before she looked away.
"The best of days I can barely keep it together. I have changed… I think." Anna squeezed her hand, her quivering voice showing hints of unshed tears. Her forlorn gaze was fixed on the tall windows.
"I dream about it sometimes, you know?" The redhead explained, her tone not rising above a hush. "The people I've failed to protect. They stare at me… the ones I've killed, too."
Elsa would never admit it, but it bothered her. Anna's eyes had a roughness, an edge to them that hadn't been there before. It reminded her of the cracks in a frozen lake: long fissures, tarnishing what once had been an immaculate surface.
Before she could begin to talk, something caught her sister's attention, catching hers in return. Anna narrowed her eyes slightly, but they widened up almost immediately, her delicate eyebrows jumping up.
"Come here." Anna said, mesmerized. She got of the bed and opened the windows, letting in the gentlest of winds. Elsa followed suit.
The night's sky shone above them. There was not a single cloud; only the moon and the glimmering stars above their heads. Elsa perched her head over the redhead's shoulder, looking up, and both her arms sneaked around the redhead's navel. Then, she saw what Anna saw before. A falling star crossed the dark sky: a small, lightning fast dot that disappeared as it touched the horizon. A second soon followed. Then another. And another.
After a few minutes sky gazing, Elsa's attention returned to her sister's calm, marveling expression.
How could I leave her? Elsa wondered. She inhaled her scent, a mixture of strawberry and sweetbread. Leaving the warmth of her belly, she took her sister's head between her hands, cupping her cheeks affectionately, mirroring what Anna had done before. Her sister held her gaze, eyes twinkling.
Elsa pushed away any thoughts of war. She pushed away any thoughts of their enemies. For the span of a breath, all there was for her were Anna's darkened eyes.
What did anything matter, if she didn't have her sister at her side? Lively, lovely Anna, who despite the hardships, despite all the death and sorrow she had suffered, was still the fiery, happy-going child at heart. Elsa had to admit, too, that she had grown into a beautiful woman, fierce and resolute, yet gentle and considerate when she could be so. She knew well the burdens of the crown, but what little troubles she had encountered during her short reign were nothing compared to what Anna had faced so far.
She hated herself for leaving. A part of her wanted to berate herself, to wallow on her own faults, but she dismissed that voice. It had no place on that instant. Her long struggle on a foreign land, her fall to the sorceress' powers, the miracle Anna had managed to pull off by freeing her mind of the Black Stone; those moments had all led to this. In a way, it had been inevitable.
Elsa would not let doubt or fear sway her heart anymore.
"Elsa…" Anna muttered, her breath hot over Elsa's own skin. There it was again: that pull, her nerves lighting up at such wondrous sight. The blonde wanted nothing more than to curse, and to just lean forward.
Anna had always been her beacon. Even against her will. Elsa could not take it anymore, this heart-pounding need. She had to follow her light, and damned be what anyone thought was right. Anna was right. This is right, was Elsa's final thought before she leant forward, pressing their lips together.
She moaned, echoing her sister. Her skin was impossibly soft. For the first time in her whole life, waves of pleasure surged through her body, numbing all other feelings except Anna's lips timidly moving against her own. How much had she longed for this… it scared her to the bone.
Elsa felt and heard her sister's sigh, her shoulders trembling lightly. Anna's hand suddenly shot up behind her neck, pulling them closer. They broke apart for a small instant before pulling back, fusing their mouths with abandon.
They tasted each other time and time again, crashing with a blossoming desire of each other. Elsa's hands sneaked up Anna's back, holding her close, fingers grasping at the velvety gown. She tilted her head, allowing her sister to set the pace of their frantic kisses. Warmth coiled in her belly, rushing down her legs and bursting up her spine in short, relentless waves. Anna began pushing her backwards and she complied, taking a few wavering steps backwards before the back her knees found the bed's edge. Elsa gasped as she fell into the mattress. The sweet tinge of fear, however, quickly perished under the spell Anna's touch cast on her heart.
Her sister quickly crawled over her, straddling her hips with her long legs. She hovered a few inches above her, her lips muttering Elsa's name like a mantra. The headiness and pure want on the redhead's voice could tame even the harshest of winters.
Anna kissed her again, this time at a maddeningly slow pace. Elsa whined, feeling the full texture of Anna's lips in that kiss, aching for more. When her sister finally broke her teasing touch, dilated, dark blue eyes stared at her. It was a kind, questioning look. She was asking her permission.
Elsa smiled warmly and nodded a silent reassurance. Her hands ascended through Anna's back, enjoying the firmness of her muscles as she beckoned her sister down once again. Her fastening pulse thumped against her ears.
Lips upon lips, igniting her very soul as their tongues danced awkwardly against one another. Through the vibration on Anna's throat, she could tell of the moans she suppressed. Elsa smirked into their kiss, and pulled her sister down forcefully till she felt her breasts teasingly press against her own. She moaned and her sister took the chance to once again ravish her mouth.
Elsa gladly, greedily accepted the bliss each caress and gasp brought.
Why did it have to take a whole war, all those months in pain and apart, so they could finally arrive at each other?
This instant, one Elsa chiseled in her memory, made it all worth it.
-v-
It was better than anything her mind could've conjured. Elsa became everything there was in the whole wide world. Elsa's lips. Elsa's shaky hands, clutching her own shoulder blades like a lifeline. Anna felt like she was drowning, and gladly gave in to the dark waters that swept her.
Timidly, she poked her tongue's tip into Elsa's lower lip. For the briefest of moments, she chastised herself for being so damn bold; the last thing she wanted was to scare her. To her delightful surprise, her sister's reaction was immediate: her lips parted followed by a soft, glass-like moan. It frenzied her: each kiss felt more desperate than the last. The warmth that boiled inside suffocated both, her reason and coherent thought, in a single stroke.
She opened her eyes as she gasped for air, but the sight in front of her stole her breath away.
She kissed Elsa's charming face. She kissed her forehead, her nose, her eyelids, sighing as she felt the blonde's ghostly breath on her neck. Nothing was enough. She craved her, like the night craves the sun's light as it weakens and dies. The pointy locks of her sister's hair flowed in between Anna's needy fingers. It felt unfair: even cut short it was as beautiful as ever. It even shone in the dimly lit room: a white glow that framed Elsa's angelical features.
Having her lying down, looking into those azure orbs, dilated and clouded in something Anna lacked the words to describe. It stirred something inside her. Like a starving animal, it growled and snarled, bent on claiming what it was owed.
In that moment, Anna knew, without a shade of a doubt, that she loved her. Absolutely, completely. It was the story she could see mirrored on Elsa's searing gaze.
For the first time in her life, Anna felt whole. There was nothing that the world could give her, it held not a single thing, for all she needed lay below her, in the softness of her lips, in the full acceptance of their forbidden love.
Anna couldn't care less. Everything she was, from her soul to the last of her hairs, it belonged to Elsa now.
-ooo-
Never in her life had Elsa felt so relaxed. Anna's arm, crossed over her left side, nestled her into heavenly comfort. Their legs lay entangled below the covers, and she could feel the smooth skin of Anna's bare legs against her own. The nightgowns were still in place, she could tell that much, but nothing else separated their bodies.
When she finally opened her eyes, Elsa's heart swelled, and a wave of affection washed over her.
Anna's peaceful face rested, just at hand's reach. In the soft light of early dawn, her features looked even warmer than usual. She inched closer, and Anna's breath tickled against her cheek.
Then, Anna's eyelids lifted, revealing her sister's teal eyes as they curiously, lovingly looked back at her.
The redhead tucked one strand of Elsa's hair behind her ear. That little gesture felt different, wholly renewed from the flames of passion they had shared a few hours ago. They may have just kissed, but the physical act meant so much more: it was a silent pact. They were together now, as sisters… and as almost lovers. She could feel her ears and cheeks heating up. There was no doubt in Elsa's mind that they would consummate their relationship, just not now.
She focused briefly on Anna's half-parted lips, which pulled into a smug grin. Flustered, she looked up, locking gazes with Anna's eyes, which glowed with mischief. It appeared she had divined her line of thought.
"You brat." She whispered. Anna's smile widened as she embraced her, pulling their bodies closer. Her sister's warm lips kissed her forehead, before pecking her. Elsa couldn't stop the little whine that flew off her chest. The monarch, ever complaisant, kissed her fully.
A few heated kisses later, Elsa's hand began to tease her sister's ribs over the soft fabric. It stopped when she passed the tempting outline of Anna's breast.
"Does it hurt?" She ghosted the tortured skin on the Queen's chest, barely visible through the nightgown's cleavage.
"Uh-huh." Anna's hand covered hers. She pressed their joint hands against her chest, so Elsa could feel her sister's heartbeat.
Elsa sighed, leaning forward until their foreheads touched. Both stayed still, content on looking into the other's eyes. There was no search, nor questions: just the full, joyous acceptance of their mutual affection. The blonde's heart was struck with its strength. She already knew it; perhaps she had always known: she loved her, completely, fatally.
She could see it mirrored on Anna's gaze, sharp and strong-willed, and yet, so wonderfully gentle; she could feel it on her sister's fingertips as they lazily circled her hips. It was the missing piece of her heart. Elsa knew she would give up everything just for this moment to extend infinitely, past the fading of the last star's shine.
Alas, it was not mean to be, for a soft knock on the door broke the spell. No one entered, but the body next to her tensed like a bowstring. Anna smiled wavered, and she was the first to look away. The Queen stared into the ceiling, her eyebrows sinking into a deep frown.
"When do you leave?" Elsa asked softly.
"At noon. I've to address the Council first." Anna replied, a heavy undertone clear on her voice.
Elsa smiled, so her heart would not break. She inclined and kissed the soft skin on Anna's neck, dragging her lips leisurely over the freckled, tender surface.
This was it. Their last morning together in gods knew how long.
After a few more minutes of tense silence, Anna turned her head, gently kissing Elsa's temple. With a groan, the Queen stood up, sighing heavily. Then, she turned, a playful grin on her face.
"You know…" Anna breathed, "if you leave a mark… no one has to know. My armor will cover it…" She looked back at Elsa, smiling cheekily.
Elsa complied, biting and sucking at the freckled skin on the Queen's neck. She understood perfectly the true meaning behind Anna's' veiled words.
She's mine, she realized, the thought as novel as it was enticing. As I'm hers…
Her heart was sure of it. It was meant to be.
-v-
As she began to change into her uniform, her eyes fixed on the image the large mirror showed.
Tentatively, she touched her chest. This is fine, she thought, even if her fast beating heart disproved her.
She had expected to suffer some kind of wrecking sickness after the ritual, but nothing happened after the searing pain. Still, a part of her kept her guard up. Nothing like this came so easily. Perhaps the consequences would present themselves with time.
She looked up to see Elsa's eyes roaming her reflection. Her cheeks lit aflame, but she did not cover up.
"Anna…" Her sister's voice was firm, but pleading. The redhead looked back. "Promise me. Promise me you will come back to me."
How could she? They both knew – Anna perhaps too well – that such a thing was impossible. Elsa must've known that, surely. How could Anna promise such a thing? If she agreed, it would've been nothing short of a lie.
And yet, Elsa had asked her, knowingly; and so, Anna would promise her.
"I will," the Queen lied, her tone unwavering, "I promise."
-ooo-
The tension in the War Room was palpable, and was even more accentuated thanks to the empty seats. General Dunarr had left a day earlier to prepare for her arrival at Orrendelle, and with Lord Jarwood and Lord Grenn's absence, only three seats were currently occupied: Matthias on her right, and Lady Varin, alongside Lady Talya, on her left.
Anna's heart constricted a little. It was a somber sign of the dark times they faced: not even the higher nobility had been spared of the Usurper's long-reaching hand. She didn't have to imagine how hard it was for the rest of her subjects, and her withering kingdom as a whole: she had seen it firsthand.
It had to stop, and it had to stop soon.
After she greeted them and took her seat on the throne, Lady Varin turned her way – her features covered by her black veil as usual – meaning she wanted to speak. Anna nodded once.
"There is news from the front, your Majesty." The old councilwoman hesitated for a moment before continuing. "We received reports from the mountain outposts. Small pockets of our men are still fighting, but most of our troops have either fallen or retreated. The mountain bridge has been demolished and the pass obstructed, but we have heard no word from Lord Grenn…"
The following silence grew heavier. The implication was clear enough. Anna rubbed her eyes and rested into the uncomfortable back of her seat. Painfully, she stopped the first of the tears from showing.
She gulped heavily as her stomach turned. She visualized it clearly on her mind: the noose was tightening.
I'm sorry, she thought uselessly, thinking about gentle, reliable Grenn. Her father's right hand. Her trusted advisor, the uncle she never had. She wanted to have hope about his fate, but by now, she knew it a foolhardy endeavor.
"What about the North?" The young Queen inquired in a cold tone.
Matthias rose from his seat.
"Lord Jarwood its doing a remarkable job, all things considered. They may be able to hold them indefinitely, if they manage their food reserves properly. If worst comes to pass, the townsfolk can rely on hunting and collecting before winter is upon is."
Anna nodded. Since Lady Talya had no reports to give, the Council fell silent once again.
Sighing, she sat upright. Three pair of eyes gazed at her, waiting.
"You all know what's coming." She began. "Lady Varin, you are in charge of the crown's affairs until I come back. Matthias, I'm naming you Warden of Arendelle. The works about fortifying the Capital are well underway, but I want you to see them through. We cannot take any chances."
Her General bowed to her. "I'll see it done, your Majesty."
"Lady Talya," Anna continued, "please met with the Capital's overseers. Do what you can to keep helping the refugees camp, and begin preparations should we have to accommodate them inside the city walls."
The tall, black-haired woman agreed with a small nod, her face impassive.
With that, done were the formal affairs, small matters she had to settle as Queen, especially before riding into battle.
"There's one last thing." She added, staring specifically at Matthias. "Should I fall in battle, I want you to take Elsa into the Enchanted Forest. Take her into exile, same as Rapunzel, if possible. Open the city gates. Falax wants my crown. If he gets it, I want no more bloodshed. I trust you'll all do your best to ensure our people's safety, if not their freedom." Anna looked over each one of the councilors present. They all nodded.
"Be prepared. The moment you get news of the battle, good or bad, the arrangements we've discussed have to begin."
She stood up from her seat. Careful not to drop her crown, she bowed to her councilors.
"If I don't come back… It's been an honor."
The three other occupants rose and bowed in return.
-ooo-
Even against Anna's wishes, Elsa came out into the castle's courtyard to see her off. Their mother's shawl rested over her shoulders, but even in the intense cold that heralded the coming winter, Elsa still went barefoot. She had foregone her usual ice-dress, instead clad in one of her own summer dresses. Anna stood aside her new mount, a proud-looking, black stallion that Matthias had gifted her the day before. A true war-horse, your Grace, he had said with a smirk. He surely had heard the stories about the battle on Lirendelle.
Elsa walked straight to her, bypassing the Royal Guards that surrounded her. Elsa's deep blue eyes locked with hers, and before Anna could react, Elsa hugged her, plating a hard kiss on her cheek. Even through her full armor, she felt her sister's affection and despair, all bundled into her bone-crushing grip.
Anna sighed, leaning into the embrace.
"Be careful," Elsa whispered to her ear before she broke their embrace. Anna's throat felt too tight for words, so she simply nodded, tear-eyed. Her gorgeous sister was doing no better, but she smiled warmly at her.
Anna quickly mounted and signaled with her hand. The castle's gates opened and her mounted guards closed ranks around her.
With a soft lash at the reins, her horse began its gallop.
She looked back as she crossed the moot's bridge. Elsa stood, alone, framed by the stone gate. Her figure became tinier and tinier as she rode through the main street, and Anna could've sworn she saw a shy wave before her sister's body disappeared in the growing distance.
Anna finally gazed forward. In the crook underneath her chest plate, she had huddled Elsa's scarf, just as she had done before her first battle.
The memory of their night together was like a warm sun, guarded deep inside her heart. The world could crumble and even end, but nothing could take it away from her. Not even death, if it came to claim her in the dark days ahead.
-ooo-
-ooo-
-ooo-
She sighed happily, enjoying the cold breeze on her aching eyes. After a week of travelling through the heat of the western swamps, their retinue had crossed the Coalition's borders. They were, finally, on Coronian soil.
Theirs was a long caravan. Dozens and dozens of wooden wagons creaked along the tiny road: the largest of them – almost as big as a house – was pulled by four full-grown oxen.
As they approached the modest town's entrance, she spurred her mount forward.
The new master of these conquered provinces, it seemed, had prepared for their arrival. Even with her limited senses, she could make out the long wooden stakes on both sides of the road and the tiny, crow-carved heads on their tips. Falax had always been keen of this sort of punishment, gruesome and shocking, and his minions were all too eager to please.
This town had, just a few months ago, belonged to the Coronian easternmost lands, but after their swift strike in their Capital, the citizens became subjects of the Eastern Coalition. Whether they wanted or not. She wondered if the men executed had actually been traitors or rebels to their conquerors, or if their impatient ruler had just rounded up random people. From what she had heard over the last months, the Coronians were proving to be a difficult bunch. The same could be said about the Arendellian vermin.
Loyalty. A fatal trap for the naïve and the foolish alike. The world, this world she helped brought forth, only rewarded strength… and cunning.
At the town's entrance, a small man clad in a cheap black tunic came out to greet them; the newly appointed Major, she guessed.
"Your Highness! It's such an honor to finally make your acquaintance. We've waited eagerly for your arrival…" The man began, the sound of his high-pitched voice grating on her ears.
Annoyed, she tuned off the sound of the parroting man. All she wanted was to get off the damned horse and lay down in some dark corner: the muscles on her back still felt torn and scorched.
-v-
The Major took them into a modest hall, made almost entirely of wood, in the center of the small village. Inside were long tables, with modest amounts of eastern dishes that had been prepared for them. After having the food tested, the King and his entourage, herself included, had been seated.
Falax began to feast in earnest, while she had retired to one of the room's corners, where hopefully she would be left alone.
"Where's the ice witch? Is she still hiding?" The King inquired brusquely, turning to stare at her after he finished his meal.
So much for peace, Onix though, annoyed.
She didn't need to concentrate to sense her. Nevertheless, she took a few seconds to answer him.
"She's still in Arendelle." She confirmed.
Of course she's there. As well as the other one. Once again, as she had done for the past few days, she wondered to whom this new essence belonged. It had emerged suddenly, like a rip in the veil of the Black Stone's soul. She would've to meditate soon if she wished to know more about this new carrier.
"As long as she's in there, she's untouchable, my King." A new, vigorous voice rose from the room's other corner. The man sat in a tiny chair, the edges of his long, brown robes touching the floor. Only his head was uncovered. Even if she couldn't see colors anymore, she still remembered his: piercing grey eyes and short, snowy hair.
"So you say…" Falax replied dryly, kicking the chair next to him. "How do we lure her out, then? I can't have my armies face a never-ending blizzard."
"There'll be no need, my King." Cracius answered smoothly. "She can't recover fast enough to be a threat. Besides… our informant wrote that the Queen plans to fight once again."
"So the girl wants to play soldier…" The King scoffed, crumbling a piece of bread between his fingers. "We'll take her out on the field, then. They can't retreat forever. They will face us, eventually."
He smiled wickedly, and the old man in the corner nodded solemnly in response.
She had always questioned if Cracius was his real name: after all, all the mages under Falax's thumb had been renamed at some point. He was the oldest of her kind, and the only one of the old advisors for King Tadeus who had survived his son's 'cleansing'. He was, of course, also on her sights. After all, he had been the one responsible for the cursed collar she wore.
The bastard turned to face her.
"I'll see you do finish your job. Otherwise… well," the King chuckled, amused, "I'm sure you will remember not to fuck up this time, right?"
His black eyes bore into her as his smirk grew.
The Black Stone shrieked in fury. She had to make sure not to curl her fists in fury, or he would take notice of it. Of course she remembered, as well as her beaten body. Most of the lashes had healed by now – thanks to Mother – but most of the skin on her back still felt tender and overly sensitive.
The hall's heavy doors opened loudly, distracting Falax's attention.
A tall, handsome man entered. Judging by the way that the light bounced off his heavy armor, he was wearing Falax's colors: dark red and black. Because of the furs covering his shoulders, she assumed he was the officer in charge of the northern army.
"Your Highness." The officer greeted. He dropped on one knee, smiling brightly at the King.
"Can I assume you've finally managed to crush their garrison on the mountains?" Falax asked casually, pouring hard-smelling ale into his cup. The lieutenant's smile fell as swiftly as it came.
"Not… not quite, your Majesty. We encountered some... difficulties along the way. But not to worry!" He quickly added. "We have begun to clear the mountain passes and push forward as we speak."
The King swallowed his drink loudly, never breaking eye contact. He drank and drank 'till the mug was empty. Onix could sense his ire, boiling below the surface; she knew him well enough to anticipate what would come next
"Ahhh…" he exclaimed, slamming the mug against the table, making the bowls and the jars on it rattle. "I see…"
In a swift motion, he stood up, unsheathing his longsword and pointing it towards his soldier's chest. She looked away slightly: the sparkling metal hurt her broken sight.
By pure instinct, the officer's hand moved just an inch towards his own blade, but that was all it took for Cracius to react. He stood up violently from his seat, his right hand raised into a fist. The poor soldier collapsed to his knees, and his arms shot back awkwardly, away from his weapons. His panicked gasps filled the small room. Thanks to the Stone, she could feel the pull of Cracius' magic on the man's limbs and chest. It tightened for a little while – painfully, she was sure – before he released him.
The tip of the bastard's blade rested on the man's forehead as he tried to recover. With a slight turn of his wrist, the steel poked into the skin, drawing blood.
"See that your men reach the valley before the moonfall. We'll join forces then. And Hensen… I won't tolerate further failures." Falax ordered. He let his sword hang above the man's head for a while longer before he sat down.
The officer could barely manage a stiff nod. He scrambled to his feet and left the room in quite a hurry. Onix almost felt pity for him.
"All of that doesn't matter." Cracius claimed pompously. "Before the dawn, I saw a sign of the gods. Falling stars, my King. The divine have blessed this conquest. We cannot fail under this premonition."
Falax snorted, shaking his head in amusement.
"No god can ensure victory down here, on the dirt. Only blood." He grinned, calmly cleaning a few dark droplets off the tip of his sword.
-ooo-
A.N.: A small moment of respite for our heroines, before the winds of war caught to them. While the two next chapters should be read as a whole, along with this one, it would've made for a monumental chapter, so I decided to split it into three. Next chapters are called 'The drums of war' and 'The thunder of war' *wink wink*
An apology for the long delay. I kinda burned out, and life's been rough all around. Not to worry, if I'm back I'm back for good, at least for a couple months. As compensation, this is the biggest chapter yet, and with some proper Elsanna, at last! Also, apologies for the occasional mistakes in grammar and the such, I didn't have that much time for proofreading.
Once again, thanks to all who've read, reviewed, followed and/or favorited. You guys rock. Everyone, please take care in these trying times.
Till next time, cheers!