Chapter 14: Calm before the storm

Hans poured himself another drink, boredom weighing down his eyelids as the captain of his army continued babbling about his plans to storm Arendelle, Pointing and waving at a map of the small kingdom with excited glee. Hans had heard it all for what felt like a hundred times, but there was only one part of the plan that concerned him.

"What of our stealth ships?"

The captain cleared his throat, pointing down at the map again. "They are on schedule, a few leagues in front of our ship will place them in Arendelle tomorrow if the winds are with them." His next words were unusual for him to speak, making him uncomfortable. "The, erm, special arrows have been given to each of the archers, as you commanded."

Hans took a drink with a nod. "In that case, you're all dismissed and get some rest for tomorrow."

His generals all shared glances, before one by one leaving the prince to himself. He leaned back in his chair as a mild swell of the ocean caused the ship to sway slightly. He scoffed into his glass, most well built vessel in the navy and he still had to deal with turbulence. He stared absentmindedly at his glass, swirling it in his hand until the ice clinked against it.

Letting out a heavy sigh, he stood from his chair and headed for the window of his cabin. Gazing over the ocean his eyes went vacant as he retreated into his thoughts. Arendelle was a few days away, and victory would be his as long as everything went according to plan. How could it not? Everything was planned for, nothing would be left to chance.

"And yet you don't seem happy."

He closed his eyes, using the drink in his hand to force the feelings away, fighting to ignore his mother's worried tone. "Happiness must be taken." He ground his teeth. "I've come too far to turn back now."

"It's never too late. You can turn these ships around. Send a hawk to the stealth ships, call off the attack. All is not lost."

He slammed his glass onto the window ledge as a way to silence her. "But I've already paid…"

He felt a small pressure push down on his shoulder similar to a gentle hand attempting to comfort him. "And what was the cost?"

His head hung from his shoulders. "Everything."

"Do you make a habit of talking to yourself?"

Hans sighed with frustration, cursing these hell fiends and their incessant coming and going like an accursed headache. "You have good news for me I assume?"

Landon helped himself to the liquor cabinet, a sly grin on his face while he poured. "Carnus failed."

Hans felt a volcano inside of him about to burst with fury. "I told you not to bother me unless you have good news?"

Landon was quiet with a blank expression as if he was confused. "Oh! You meant when I have good news for you?! Silly me."

The prince's face contorted with rage. "What happened?"

Landon sipped his drink. "From what I could gather, he was doing well for a while, but it was a combined effort that from his friends and family that saved the boy."

"You said Carnus was the most feared demon in hell—"

Landon held up his pointer finger. "Ah, ah, ah. I said ONE of the most feared in hell. Top five I think, but In his defense he's never possessed a Dragon Knight before." Landon strolled to the desk, took a seat and threw his feet on top of it. "If it makes you feel better, the dragon boy has been severely weakened by his bout with Carnus, but I'll still chalk this one up as another failure on your part."

With a rage fueled snarl, Hans threw his face into Landon's. "My siege of Arendelle will not fail."

Landon tapped his nose. "Keep telling yourself that dear."

Hans felt a vein throbbing in his forehead, but his rage slowly subsided as a new plan slowly began to form. He lifted the ring to Landon's face. "When We get to Arendelle, and I give the order, I command you to kill Drake in front of the queen, and once she watches him die, you are ordered to kill her." With the ring glowing an ominous red, Landon's head and neck began twitching from the pain.

"And one more thing," he added, "I want you to take pleasure in it, as if he was just some other Mark for you to kill. Understand?" Landon's jovial mood was gone, replaced with utter contempt and hatred, but quiet nodded. "Good." He lifted himself up and moved away.

"In all of my years of pain," Landon began, "and fire. Blood, and torment, none of it was personal." He stood up, skulking towards the prince. "But, my friend, what I'm going to do to you, when this is all over, I'm going to enjoy it. Very, very much."

For the first time since Hans took control of this creature, he felt afraid of it.

—:0:—

Arendelle

Elsa and Anna stood holding each other's hands and their breath as Malundra floated her glowing fingers over the unconscious Dragon Knight. Once he had collapsed in the hall, he was out cold and wasn't waking up, causing great concern for them all. In the safety of one of the guest rooms, Malundra's magic began searching his body for the evil that had possessed him.

After about five minutes she lowered her hand and gave an exhausted smile. "Any and all traces of the demon are gone. He is clean."

The sisters let out a long breath of relief. "How did that happen?" Anna asked. "We didn't have any cure or anything?"

Malundra looked down at him with a raised shoulder. "We'll have to ask him as soon as he wakes up." Elsa caught the tips of the witch's fingers caress his bare arm. "His mind was fractured and this meditative state will help to put him back together."

"Do you know when he'll wake up?"

Malundra's jaw clenched, seemingly in annoyance, causing Elsa to elbow her sister. "I don't know. We'll just have to wait and see." Malundra undid the clasp on her cloak. The exhausted witch moved across the room until sitting herself on a nearby couch, her body seeming to deflate as soon as she sat down.

"What are you going to do now?" Elsa wondered.

Malundra busied herself by removing her boots. "Getting comfortable so that I can get some sleep. It's been a long… long night, my magic is taking a toll on me and the best is yet to come."

It hit her like a small electric shock. "Oh gods. Elsa! Hans was here, I don't know how, but he wanted to negotiate Arendelle's surrender. We told him to screw off, and then all this happened."

Anna was waving her hands around so much that Elsa was having a hard time focusing on what she was saying, but she caught the important bits. Just like her sister, she too had forgotten that war was upon them.

"Anna, you need to get some rest, I need to see Bjorn about our battle strategy." Elsa made her way to the door, but Anna's hand held her back.

"Bjorn? Elsa, but—"

"I know what you're gonna say. I need rest, but war is coming and I have to get Arendelle ready…" Her voice trailed off when she saw Anna's lower lip beginning to tremble, and her eyes started to water. "Anna? Wh-what is it?"

Her voice failed her. "Bjorn… he's…". Anna didn't need to finish.

Elsa shook her head as her throat began to tighten. "No… no… please no…". The two embraced each other as their intense emotions overcame them.

"Elsa, you have to know that it was Carnus that killed him." She thought it was odd when Anna put extra emphasis on the demon's name, until it slowly dawned on her.

"Wait… you mean," she looked at Drake, her hand cupping her mouth, "oh… no." To Anna's surprise, Elsa didn't seem angry with Drake, but rather sympathetic.

"Your majesty," Malundra stood before the sisters, "I recommend getting some rest. Things will look better in the morning."

Elsa let out a small cough, similar to a scoff. "Will Bjorn be back in the morning? Then nothing will—". Malundra lifted her two fingers to touch Elsa's forehead, immediately placing the queen into a deep sleep.

"Elsa!" Anna's sister crumbled, fortunately through a formed portal onto her bed. "What did you do to her?"

With wobbly legs, Malundra lifted her fingers to Anna, "Sment her to med."

"Wait wh—". Malundra tapped the princesses forehead, similar to Elsa with the same results. With the portal beneath her still open, she fell gently onto the bed right next to her slumbering sister.

Malundra shuffled to the couch, vanishing the portal, and collapsing onto the couch. "Tommush mashik." were her last words before succumbing to sleep.

—:0:—

While the city of Arendelle had its own blacksmith, the castle had a small shop for their horses, swords and other small needs. This being the case, and away from his own workshop, this would have to do in the meantime for Magnus to repair his suit, if it were possible. First he had to get all the scraps from the castle.

With his arms loaded with scraps of Magnus' suit, Kristoff let them fall onto the table with an obnoxiously loud clatter.

"You trying to wake the whole kingdom?" Magnus moved his hand over the metal to start counting the pieces.

"Sorry," Kristoff rolled his shoulders, "this stuff is heavy. How were you able to walk with all this stuff on?"

Magnus lifted the chest component with the three, now lightless, crystals. "It uses magic and alchemy to take the weight, making it flexible and manageable." He threw it back onto the table, "fat load of good it does now."

Kristoff lifted a piece and started examining it in his hands. "Will you be able to fix this?"

Magnus ripped the metal from his hand and tossed it back onto the table. "I have no idea. If I was back home, maybe, but it took me months to get the suit this far. I don't know if I'd be able to salvage it from here."

Kristoff looked over the metal pieces, not having the slightest clue as to what any of it did, or how he could help at all. "Well, Uh, I can help if you need an extra hand." His mouth slammed shut, realizing slowly his mistake.

But without missing a beat, his response was. "That's for sure. Considering I'm short one." He motioned to the stump on his right arm. "Don't worry I've heard it all. Luckily I have extras, but once again, back at home." He noticed Kristoff let out a large yawn. "Why don't you catch some sleep, I'm good here."

Kristoff glanced over his shoulder at a pile of hay that the fast asleep Sven and Olaf were occupying. "You sure? You're not just as tired?"

He shrugged. "Adrenaline is still pumping I guess."

Kristoff noted how Magnus was struggling with only having the use of one arm to work with, but had the feeling that he shouldn't push the issue. Instead, he made his way to a bare spot on the haystack and laid himself down. Before dropping his hat over his eyes, he noticed a large yawn coming from Magnus, telling him that he wasn't far behind.

—:0:—

A soft moan escaped her lips and she rolled onto her side, her hands clasped together underneath her cheek as her body relaxed onto the softness of her bed.

Wait. Bed?

Elsa sleepily opened her eyes a crack, noticing that not only was she in her bed, but that she wasn't alone. Face down, with her behind in the air, lay Anna, fast asleep and drooling as per usual.

How did we get here? Elsa creased her brows. The last thing I remember was— her eyes shot open then narrowed in anger, Malundra. She must have knocked us out then transported us here.

With her face tangled and twisting in anger, she rolled over to her back staring at the canopy over her bed.

I miss the days where magic only existed in stories and with me. So much simpler back then.

A sudden jolt shot through her body, freezing her in place.

What—why can't I move? Her eyes drifted to the side to look at Anna, her tongue unable to form words through her open lips. Why can't I talk? She reached within herself, trying with all of her might to call upon her magic, but they remained dormant.

Her eyes started darting in all directions then drifted to the doors of her room. Creaking, as loud as thunder, accompanied there slow opening. A figure made of complete blackness floated through the entryway, gliding through her room as if looking for something. Elsa couldn't make out any discernible features, just pure, black smoke in the form of a man. A man coming towards her.

She didn't know what this thing was, why it was there, or what it wanted. All she knew was that she didn't want it anywhere near her, but there wasn't anything she could do to stop it.

No! Go away! Leave me alone!

Her breathing quickened when she heard a scraping noise against the sheets of her bed. To her horror it was the sound of the tip of a knife.

Her eyes moved towards her sister, her sister that was still asleep and completely unaware of what was happening. Anna! Please! Her heart was beating so loud she was sure it would get Anna's attention, but still she remained asleep.

Elsa let out a small gasp when she felt the tip of the knife being dragged across the flesh of her leg, not cutting into her, just enough to graze her. She grunted when the weight of the thing fell on top of her, straddling her stomach. It was staring down at her now, shadowy fingers wrapped around her throat and jaw as if to keep her eyes upwards. There was just blackness to it, all except for a pair of bright white eyes looking down at her.

Elsa knew that this was Carnus. The knife in his hand slowly drifting over her heart.

Anna! Drake! Kristoff! Anyone! Help!

The canopy over her bed was ripped apart, the Carnus entity glancing upwards at the commotion. A pair of jaws came down, clamping down on the entity and lifting it off of Elsa. With a flick, the entity was flipped into the air before being eaten whole by whatever had just saved her life.

With her body back under her control, Elsa scurried under her bed, not at all curious as to why Anna had suddenly vanished, or how her room could accommodate such a massive beast. Sure the entity that wanted her dead was gone, but which was worse? A slow death by a knife or being eaten alive?

She put her hand over her mouth to quiet her quickened breaths, her eyes wide with horror when she saw the beast lower it's triangle shaped head to the floor. Because it was so large, Elsa could only see its jaws.

"Forgive me, your majesty, I didn't mean to frighten you. I saw what that entity was about to do and went too far in removing it."

It was polite, with a deep voice that reverberated in her chest, and strangely, familiar. With caution, she shuffled from beneath the bed to look up at the creature, or now that she could see, a dragon. It lifted its head, revealing blue belly scales glimmering like moonlight atop the ocean waves, and she realized where she knew him from.

"Drake?"

It's scaly lip twitched into a grin. "Not quite. I am the dragon spirit that lives within him."

Elsa moved herself out from beneath the bed, and got into a standing position. "But you don't look like his dragon form, you look like a real dragon?"

He nodded, understanding her confusion. "My spirit was reincarnated into his body at his birth. He merely borrows my power when changing." He lowered his head so Elsa didn't have to look up to see him. "He had to break down the walls that held me for extra assistance in defeating that demon. I am here now so that I may thank you personally. For saving our lives."

She was taken aback. "'Saving your lives'? But I didn't—"

The tip of its tail came forward stopping inches from her heart. "The necklace you gave him was more than a mere token. Even though it's small, it's angelic essence gave us the strength to keep fighting, to stay in control, and finally, win the day, and for that, We owe you our lives."

She didn't know why, but she felt her face burn hot from flushing. She had never "saved" anyone before, and such a warm and heartfelt thank you was different, and not something she had ever remembered experiencing before. She gave a crooked grin. "Well, erm, your welcome I suppose." Not being able to think of what else to say, she asked, "if you're in Drake's mind, then how are you here?"

He chuckled, then tilted his head. "You don't know? We're in your dreams." Elsa looked around. Aside from her bed everything else was reduced to shapes and colors, but nothing she could easily identify. As if she was in a dream. "Spirits can only traverse the dream realm, and the veil, but seeing as you're still alive, we are in the dream realm." He got up to all fours and offered his long neck to Elsa. "In fact Drake is also here if you wish to see him."

Drake is here? Is He's okay? She straddled his neck without hesitation, and wasn't until she was safe and comfortable that he took to the skies. She grabbed onto his horns to keep herself from falling, flashes of colors, and shapeless forms of yellow and gold whizzed passed them as they flew through the dream world. She ran her fingers through the flecks of gold, noting that the course material felt like sand.

"If you're not Drake, then what do I call you?" She asked.

"We have no names," he called over the wind, "but if I remember correctly, humans called me Lasair Ghorm, which in their tongue meant 'the Blue flame'."

That's right. Drake breathes blue fire. Is it breathes? Or spits? Maybe I should ask.

"There." Lasair began to spiral downward, circling over a small patch of light. Looking down at the sight beneath then, she couldn't help an awkward giggle escape her lips.

This is what Drake dreams about?

Lasair landed, but Drake was completely enraptured in the imagery of his imagination, something Elsa, found amusing, and somewhat adorable.

With grass and a checkered blanket beneath him, Drake was sharing a glass of champagne with her, or at least a dream version of her. The two of them sat, enjoying each other's company, laughing, talking, both dressed casually, him in a simple button up shit and her in a white sundress. No armor, no wars, and no worries or anyone else to bother them.

"Why hasn't he noticed us yet?"

"He's enjoying himself," Lasair chuckled, "can you blame him?"

Elsa couldn't tell what Drake and her dream self were talking about, and with curiosity getting the best of her, she pushed herself off of Lasair's neck to get a closer look.

"... and long story short," she heard herself say, "the trade agreements went off without issue."

Drake chuckled, "Well that's because you're amazing at your job, and just plain amazing." She giggled as they clinked glasses together, even the real Elsa couldn't help but let out a small bout of laughter.

His head cocked to the side before turning around to stare at her.

Oops.

He did a humorous double take between the two Elsa's. "Well this is new, but I won't complain." She shook her head, Lasair snorting at Drake, frightening him to his feet. "Okay this isn't how this dream goes." Elsa and the Dragon shared glances with Elsa continuing to shake her head with a smile.

The two started to explain things to Drake about where they were, the dragon spirit, and that the real Elsa was with him now. Slowly the dream Elsa vanished, Drake's eyes getting wider and wider and his face getting equally red. He began sputtering, trying to explain himself, but she held up a hand to stop his chattering.

"It's fine. It's kinda… sweet."

He seemed to deflate with relief. "At least you weren't—"

He snapped his mouth shut, Elsa innocently asking, "At least I wasn't what?"

Lasair suddenly lifted his head, his eyes narrowing at something in the distance and a low hiss rumbling in his chest. "We are not alone." He swung his tail around Drake and Elsa in a protective manor, the two perplexed by his behavior.

"What do you mean?" Elsa asked. "We're in Drake's head, we should be safe."

He awkwardly shrugged a shoulder as he put himself in front of her. "Well my head hasn't been the best place to be lately so that argument doesn't quite hold." Lasair growled, releasing sinewy strands of saliva that ignited into flames when they touched the ground.

Lowering his head and extending the spines on his neck, he snarled, "You are not welcome here."

Because of his tail around them, they couldn't see who the dragon was talking to, but Elsa soon recognized their voice.

"I come in peace. I just wanted to see my queen one last time."

Elsa tapped on his tail, asking him to raise it so she could see the spirit of Arendelle's late captain. "Bjorn!" She ran to him, wrapping her arms around his neck without reserve. "You're here."

He returned her embrace with warmth and a pleasant chuckle. "I felt your presence and I wanted to see you one last time."

The somberness to his words made her pull back, noting that he wasn't adorned in armor and battle gear as she had seen him in all of her life. Rather he was clothed in crisp, clean attire, the weight of the world lifted off of his shoulders and the warmest, most peaceful smile she had ever seen.

She blinked a few times, her eyes beginning to moisten. "'Last time'? But you're here now? We can go back? Can't we?"

He chuckled, cupping her face tenderly as storm clouds formed above them. "Not this time." She could hear the tightness in his voice and see the moisture in his eyes. "I'm so proud of you. You and your sister." The Memories of his service to her family began to clench her heart, making her ache with grief. He looked past her at Drake who was trying to hide himself behind Lasair's tail. "Master Dragon Knight?"

With rain suddenly beginning to pour, he pulled himself out from his hiding space, his head hanging low, and face wet and red with tears.

"Bjorn… I am so…"

The large, dark man put his hands on Drake's shoulders. "I know it wasn't your fault. You have nothing to be sorry for."

Elsa looked at Drake. "You remember killing—"

Drake was already nodding his head. "I remember everything that thing made me do, and there wasn't a thing I could do to stop it, but I tried. God damn it Bjorn I fought so hard to get back control." His head fell again. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

Bjorn grabbed him tighter by the arms. "I accept your apology, but I need you to be strong." He reached for the queen taking her hand and pulling her towards Drake. "I need you to protect Arendelle now." Gingerly he took their hands, joining them together before turning to the queen one last time. "It's time for me to go." He looked up into the distance. "My father, mother, and sisters call to me now."

He placed his hand onto her cheek, using his thumb to wipe away her tears. "Goodbye, Elsa." She continued to beg and plead for him to stay, even as he faded into nothingness she reached for him, but Bjorn had moved on. Her emotions overpowering her, she collapsed into Drake's arms, but to her shock he pushed her away.

"Drake? What—"

"How can you stand the sight of me?" He turned away to hide his face.

She reached her hand to his shoulder, but left it hovering. "It wasn't your fault. He used your body to do it. He made you do it." She let her hand fall on his shoulder, but wasn't able to turn him towards her. She could feel him trembling, shuddering at her touch in shame.

Her hand slid down his shoulder until it came to his hand, and without pushing, waited for him to face her. When he didn't she placed her other hand on his cheek to guide him towards her, her thumb moving to remove the tears beneath his eyes.

That's when she realized something as soon as she saw those hazel pools staring back at her. "Yes, your hands have done terrible things, but these eyes would never hurt me, or anyone else I love." With both hands now she caressed his face. "That's how I knew it was you when you came back."

Their eyes met, for a few moments both drenched in the rainfall, and before either of them were aware of what was happening, joined together in a fiery cold kiss.

They held each other's lips for a moment or two, only breaking away when they needed air, but kept their foreheads touching. "Did we just kiss in the rain?"

She chuckled. "I guess so."

"Wow, can we be more cliché?" She playfully slapped his face with a laugh, remembering that they weren't alone. Drake looked over his shoulder at the Dragon who had been watching them. "Do you mind?"

Lasair chuckled, using his wing to block the falling rain from soaking them further.

Back in the real world, Elsa and Drake lay in their respective beds with large smile on their sleeping faces.

Golem asked for fluff, I delivered. Boom!