Lightning in the darkness…
The darkness descended upon Elsa after the slaying of Alek, but it had been gathering around her for some time, each devastating event since the start of the drought extinguishing a light of hope until nothing remained to banish the gloom. She'd resigned herself to the darkness, given up hope of escape as it dragged her down into the deepest depths of despair, and she was ready, ready for it all to be over. And so, as she hung limp from a pole before a throng of people, the physical manifestation of the darkness within her came as no surprise. She expected it, the inevitable conclusion of a terrible journey. It was the end.
Lightning in the darkness…
But someone had found her. Somehow, beyond the grasp of any hope, something had thrust itself into the void and snatched her out of the hand of despair. She was drawn from the depths of grief and pulled into the arms of a savior.
She felt the rush of air and the warmth of a body as she was plucked from the stake which bound her. At first, she had no idea who it could be, but when she was taken into their arms she knew. It was how they held her, so tight she could feel the whisper of their heart and smell the earthy aroma of their skin. It was the strength of the arms that supported her, holding her shoulders and cupping her knees, the determined cadence of their breath, and the grunt of exertion as they ran. Beyond all hope she'd been rescued, and she knew her rescuer was Kristoff.
Lightning in the darkness…
A flash of light seared shadows onto the backs of her eyes, followed by a shock wave, and then they were flying through the air, the pull of the earth melting until she lost track of which way was down. This disorientation was expelled by a sudden crash, followed by the bite of stone and the sting of ground, her head and hips protected by the arms which held her.
She tried to get up but she was too weak. Still, she felt strength welling within her, as if her newfound hope were injecting her with energy. Kristoff released his hold on her, stood, then picked her up again, lifting her with a grunt. She wrapped her arms around his neck, blinking up at the sky, the blurry face of the moon sharpening as her vision cleared.
She heard someone call out and saw Anna waving them forward with a terrible urgency, an urgency that wasn't lost on Kristoff who groaned and puffed as he picked up his pace. Together with Sven they made a dash for the open gates, and for the first time in many days Elsa felt the anticipation of relief — just a few more steps and they'd be free.
That hope was dashed when the doors slammed shut with a bang, flinging themselves closed of their own accord. There was a cry of alarm from Anna and a snort from Sven, then they turned left, making a run for the north exit, but with the suddenness of a bear trap a row of spikes erupted from the ground, a line of deadly ice pointing right at them. Elsa gasped, wondering why her magic betrayed her yet again.
They spun around and ran the other way, passing the baleful gates as they made for the south wall, but once again ice exploded from the ground, giant shafts thrusting themselves upward, and everyone stopped. Trapped between the ice and the gates they had no choice but to turn back the way they'd come.
Beyond the open expanse of the courtyard stood a woman in a green dress which flared around her, knees bent, hands curled into claws, face contorted in a snarl. Behind her lay a pile of broken planks and a crumpled red carpet, a wooden pole slanting upwards like the mast of a sinking ship. Bodies lay strewn amongst the debris, their twisted forms intertwined with the demolished stage.
Elsa had no time to process this scene as Kristoff lurched forward, running again, but he was thwarted after only a few steps. The ice spikes on either side of them burst into a cloud of sparkling confetti, thousands of diamond-like shards that swirled around them, forming a ring of glowing dust that glistened in the moonlight. Elsa was struck with the sudden realization that it wasn't her who conjured the ice.
She was so confused, but she had no time to consider this as they all huddled together for fear of touching the whirling magic. The swarming particles coalesced, taking on shape and hardening into razor tipped spikes of ice that surrounded them in an unbroken circle. Long shafts protruded from the ground in an upward slant, their deadly points stopping an arm's length away, rising as high as Kristoff's chest.
They were trapped.
Kristoff lowered Elsa to the ground, ushering her behind him with Anna stepping forward to close the gap. Elsa tried to push forward, to squeeze between them, but Kristoff pushed her back and she didn't have the strength to resist him. Sven gave a worried neigh.
"You fools," Maren said. She turned to survey the destruction behind her, then spun back to them. "Look what you made me do!"
"Elsa," Anna said, "it's Inger!"
At first, Anna's words had no effect. Elsa's mind was a muddled mess of garbled confusion amidst all the chaos, and she had to devote an unusual amount of energy just to process what her sister said. When understanding finally came, Elsa gasped. Inger? Their aunt? She was here? That would explain the magic!
Elsa looked over her shoulder at the gates, but they were closed. She searched every exit and examined the castle, but she saw no one here but Maren.
"Where?"
"I should kill you for what you've done," Maren said, "but I think I'd rather make you suffer."
"Inger!" Anna said. "Why are you doing this?"
At that moment Elsa's entire world changed, spinning with dizzying speed leaving her physically disoriented. Her breath caught in her throat and her fingers went numb as the truth of Anna's realization descended upon her. The woman who captured her, tormented her, and tried to have her killed, wasn't who she claimed to be. She'd somehow stolen the identity of the Queen of the Southern Isles, disguising who she really was. Maren wasn't a queen at all. She wasn't even Maren. She was Inger, the forgotten heir to the throne of Arendelle, the mysterious twin sister erased from history, their long-lost aunt.
"Yes, we know who you are," Anna said. "How could you do this? How could you treat us this way? You're our aunt! Why would you do this to your own family?"
Inger straightened, hands falling to her sides.
Anna gasped. "You were the one causing the drought! It was you all along!"
Inger threw her head back and laughed. It was an awful sound, the cackle of a madwoman.
"How long did it take you to work that one out, you dim-witted brat? You're as dense as your father was. I've waited a long time to finish what I started all those years ago, when I killed that contemptible man."
Elsa and Anna's breath went out with an audible whoosh, and Elsa grabbed her sister's arm. It was incomprehensible, so hard to understand that Elsa felt paralyzed with disbelief. As if the realization their long-lost aunt had returned wasn't enough, her disguise as Maren, Queen of the Southern Isles already disorienting, now she had to contend with the idea that her parents hadn't died in a tragic accident, they were killed. It was too much, she couldn't get the different pieces of information to connect to one another, and she felt overwhelmed and confused. How could any of it be true? How could this woman have gotten away with so much? How could she have killed her parents, in the middle of an ocean? None of it made sense, and yet, somehow, she knew this woman wasn't lying. As difficult as it was to believe she knew, beyond all understanding, she was telling the truth, and this left her breathless and bewildered.
"Yes. I destroyed that miserable man, but he deserved far worse than he got. I'm not going to make the same mistake with you. This time I'm going to enjoy it."
Inger raised her arms and the courtyard was buffeted by a stiff, rushing breeze, a blast of cool air that sent Elsa's braid flapping. Anna and Kristoff shielded their eyes as it picked up speed, leaning forward trying to keep their balance, and Sven lowered his head, snorting. The wind rifled through the debris behind Inger, floating the red carpet like a kite and sending chunks of wood tumbling over stone. Black clouds coalesced above them, beginning as wisps of smoke-like strands that snaked inward toward the castle, collecting above Inger and swelling into a churning mass that spiraled low in the sky. They swallowed the moon, a cauldron of gloom spilling its darkness upon everything around them. A white streak of jagged lightning stabbed at the ground, striking the cobblestone with a crack! followed by a deafening clap of thunder. Then another appeared and another, each bolt flooding the courtyard with white light, a series of flashes that lit it up as bright as day. Some struck so close Elsa heard the sizzle of their descent and felt the heat of their power.
Kristoff pulled the girls to the ground yelling "get down!" They crouched in the middle of the ring of ice, arms folded over their heads, flinching with each crack of lightning. They could do little more than hang on to each other and accept their fate, and it made Elsa think of the fear and helplessness her parents must've felt before their ship went down, realizing they'd now die in the same way. Like her parents before her, there would be no escape.
"Mother! STOP!"
Hans' voice rang out from under the balcony, cutting through the roar of the storm. The lightning slowed its incessant barrage, tapering off before stopping altogether, and the ominous clouds broke apart, a hole torn in their middle until they dissipated into nothing.
The light of the moon shone down once more, bathing everything in a dim, yellowish glow, and Elsa checked to see if Anna and Kristoff were okay. Anna appeared relieved but confused, and Kristoff stood up just far enough to peek over the ice. He waved a hand at the girls to stay put, but they didn't obey, pushing themselves up so they could see too.
Inger was facing Hans, who stood at the edge of the courtyard to their right.
"Hans," Inger said, and Elsa thought she detected a hint of emotion in her voice. "What are you doing here?"
"Is it true?" Hans asked. The question was sharp and full of anger.
Inger stood like a statue, unmoving, looking at Hans who was waiting for an answer.
"Is it true?"
"Is what true? What are you talking about?"
"I want to hear it from your own mouth! Are you an heir of Arendelle?"
Hans marched toward the group who were trapped in the ice and Elsa flinched as he approached. He looked so angry, so full of spite, and it brought back memories of the moment she'd encountered him on the frozen fjord. He'd told her Anna was dead, that she'd frozen her heart, and she'd collapsed on the ice in despair. She remembered hearing him behind her, then the metallic swish as he unsheathed his sword. She knew what was coming then, but she'd been so distraught she had no thought to escape, no desire to flee from her fate.
It was different now. Seeing him walking toward them with his jaw set and his fists clenched made her want to flee, but she couldn't. They were trapped.
Hans stopped right next to them, but he was looking at Inger.
"Are you?" He said, gesturing at them. "Are you their aunt or not?"
"Hans, I don't know what to say."
"The magic. The lies. The deception. WHO ARE YOU?"
"Hans, you don't understand—"
"You were always keeping secrets, hiding in the shadows, filling me with your lies. You never cared about me, did you? I was just a puppet to do your bidding."
"Hans, it's not like that—"
"You sent me to kill them!" Hans said, jabbing a finger at Elsa.
"Hans…please."
Inger was pleading, sounding hurt and afraid. For the first time since Elsa met her she appeared vulnerable, unconfident.
"How could you send me to marry and murder my own cousins?"
The sound of that made Elsa's stomach turn, and she realized for the first time if Inger was their aunt, then Hans was indeed their cousin. It was a ludicrous idea, beyond all comprehension, and she struggled to believe it.
"Hans. STOP!"
"I will not stop! Though I should've stopped you long ago. I should've stopped you before you killed my father. Before you murdered my brothers. Before you plunged my homeland into chaos."
"LISTEN TO ME! All I've ever wanted is what was good for you."
Hans shook his head in disbelief.
"No, listen to me!" Inger pointed at Elsa. "Their father took everything from me. EVERYTHING! He took my dignity, he took my mother, and he tried to take my life. He destroyed everything I love. So, yes, I sent you here to kill them, because they deserve to die!"
"Enough!" Hans turned toward them, head in hands. He was so close now, and for a moment Elsa was glad for the row of spikes which separated them.
Hans spun back to his mother.
"You would destroy every member of my family given the opportunity, wouldn't you? How long 'til you destroyed me, too?"
"How could you say that? I only ever wanted what was best for you, I wanted you to rule as a king."
"I saw you with the people tonight. I was watching. I saw how much you wanted their love and respect, all for yourself."
"That's not true—"
"You wanted to be queen all along. That was your plan, wasn't it? To take the throne of Arendelle for yourself?"
"Hans, no—"
"Let me guess," Hans put a hand to his chin in a mock display of contemplation, "after I deposed the heirs of Arendelle you would come and join me as the proud mother of the new king. You'd spend months gaining the love of the people and then an accident would befall me, some unlucky event like a carriage disaster or a bridge collapse." He leveled his eyes at his mother. "Or perhaps you'd devise some new creation to have me done away with. And then there would be only you."
"Hans, you don't know what you're saying—"
"YOU WANTED TO BE QUEEN!" Hans' fury flew from his lips in droplets of spittle. "And you'd stop at nothing to get it, no matter who you had to kill or who stood in your way."
"Don't be ridiculous. You don't understand."
"Oh, I understand. I understand all too well. I should've disowned you long before you could make me an accessory to your murderous rampage. Well, no more. I am done with you."
The disgust in Hans' voice was unmistakable, and Inger's response was full of rage.
"How dare you say such a thing! I've given you everything. EVERYTHING! If it weren't for me you would still be rotting in that garbage heap of a country you call the Southern Isles, living your life as an insignificant heir to a worthless throne. And yet you'd defend these despicable girls? They are worth nothing. NOTHING!"
Hans' reply was cold, dismissive, and full of disdain.
"They are more family to me than you are."
Elsa was both captivated and frightened by the confrontation happening before her. It was like watching a carriage accident unfold in slow motion, hoping not to get caught up in the devastation while everything disintegrated. That hope faded, though, as Inger cast a wrathful eye in their direction.
"You would choose these wretched souls over me?"
A sparkling ball of magic arced at them so fast Elsa had no time to react. It struck her hard, feeling like the grasp of a giant hand had clamped upon her, squeezing the life out of her. She gasped for breath and tried to break free, but her arms were stuck to her sides, as if bound by rope. Anna and Kristoff, too, were caught in its grasp, lifting them all off the ground until their toes scraped the stone. Sven sniffed and whined, but there was nothing he could do.
"Let them go," Hans said.
"You'd choose them over your own mother?"
"Yes! You are nothing to me!"
Inger let out a yell, a cry of anger so raw it sounded like the yelp of a vicious animal. The scream decayed into a growl, and she drew her elbows back, the way a bowstring is pulled taut, until her fists were at her sides and aimed at them. She thrust out her hands and a bolt of white hot power exploded from her like an arrow, a bright spear of light shooting through the air.
"No!"
Hans dove in front of the magic, absorbing the full force of the blast. It crashed into his body where it shattered into a thousand pieces, sending shards of magic flying in a vertical ring of blue light. Hans slammed into the ground, coming to a rest on his side. He lay there, unmoving, with his head on his shoulder and his arm extended.
"No!" Inger said, releasing her hold on Elsa, Anna, and Kristoff.
Elsa fell to her knees, choking and coughing while reaching out to make sure Anna and Kristoff were okay. They were coughing too, but a flurry of footsteps filled Elsa with such panic she had to forgo her concern for their welfare to search for Inger, bracing herself for another attack.
Inger was running right at them and Elsa gasped in alarm, but she passed them, falling to her knees before Hans, who lay a few paces away.
Inger let out a cry of distress, a sorrowful moan filled with pain as she placed Hans' head in her lap, rocking back and forth while repeating "no, no, no."
Elsa was the first to see the snowflakes, small, angular crystals appearing out of nowhere and multiplying all around them. A gust of cold air rushed through the courtyard, stirring up the snow and creating a white vortex that churned around Inger. It expanded in a freezing blast that shattered the spikes of ice and nearly knocked them to the ground as they stumbled on their hands and knees. The storm became a roar, whitewashing everything until the walls disappeared in the ferocity of the swirling snow.
Kristoff grabbed Sven's antlers and pulled himself up, then offered his hand to Anna who in turn grasped Elsa, forming a human chain.
"Let's go!" Kristoff yelled over the wind.
Sven led them away from Inger but Elsa couldn't tell which way they were going, could see nothing beyond the storm that enveloped them. Elsa's dress whipped and lashed about her and Anna held her arm in front of her face, her braids flapping in the wind.
They found a wall, gathering beneath the shelter of a balcony, but it provided no reprieve from Inger's fury.
"We can't stay here!" Anna yelled, trying to be heard above the storm. The outer edge of the snowstorm was so fierce it cut into Elsa's skin as she clutched a support beam, trying not to be blown away. Kristoff grabbed a door jam then a window sill as he followed the line of the wall, but the wind knocked him back and he lost his balance. Just as it appeared they'd all be sent rolling across the courtyard like tumbleweed, the storm stopped. As suddenly as it had begun it was gone. The wind stopped, the snow fell to the ground, and an eerie quiet crept into the courtyard.
Elsa was out of breath and fell back upon the wall, clinging to it for support. She was exhausted, surprised she had the energy to get as far as she did through that storm, and now she expected Inger to come finish the job. It was an awful feeling, believing this moment would be her last, but a strange silence contradicted her fears. Nothing moved, nothing stirred, nothing made a sound except for the exhausted panting of Anna, Kristoff, and Sven.
Kristoff pushed away from the wall, walking out into the courtyard.
"She's gone."
Elsa didn't understand. How could she be gone?
"Elsa, she's gone!"
This time she understood, but she didn't believe. Anna helped her regain her balance and they joined Kristoff, looking out over the desolate wasteland that was now her courtyard. There was no sign of Inger or Hans. She looked over her shoulder, expecting to see her standing behind them, but she wasn't there. Then some motion near the church caught her eye and she held her breath, expecting the worst. But it was only her guards, helping one another up.
Her guards! They must've come back with Anna and Kristoff. How close had they been to the stage when Inger released the blast of magic that destroyed the courtyard? Were they injured? She wanted to go to them but she was still fearful Inger was hiding somewhere, waiting to pounce on them. She searched every corner and shadow, but the gates were still closed and she saw nothing to alarm her.
"What do you mean she's gone?" Anna asked. "Where'd she go?"
"I don't know," Kristoff said, leaving to search the courtyard.
"Queen Elsa!" one of the guards shouted, and she recognized the voice of Peder.
He and the other guards navigated their way through what was left of the rubble of the stage.
"Your Majesty, are you alright?" Peder asked as they approached.
Elsa nodded.
"I apologize," he said. "The force of that blast knocked the lights right out of us."
They were lucky they didn't end up like Jakob and Karl, she thought, but they weren't unscathed. One man had blood on his collar, apparently from a head wound, and the other had the copper remnants of a bloody nose streaking across his cheek. Peder looked unharmed.
"Are you alright?" she asked.
Peder looked over the men with him, and they responded with a nod.
"Yes, we're fine. How can we help?"
"Keep an eye out for Inger."
"Who?"
"That woman, she's our aunt."
That sentence gave her pause, and she could hardly believe she was saying it.
"Your aunt? Are you certain?"
"Yes. She's missing and you need to keep a lookout for her."
"Of course." He turned back to the other guards. "You," he said, pointing at the one on the left, "go to the gate. And you," he pointed to the other, "keep watch on the west wall, and get that portcullis closed! If either of you see something, anything, you call out, do you understand?"
"Yes sir!"
They broke rank, running to their assignments.
"Any other command, Your Majesty?"
"Yes, there are others trapped in the dungeon. Release them."
"Yes, Your Majesty," Peder said, running toward the castle to collect the keys.
"Is she really gone?" Anna asked, again.
"It would seem so," Kristoff said, returning from his investigation. "She's gone and so is Hans. I think we're safe, for now."
Yes, but for how long, Elsa wondered. It was a relief to be free from the threat of Inger, whose anger and hatred terrified her. They'd barely escaped with their life, and the magnitude of that hadn't yet settled upon her, but she knew she wouldn't have survived her ordeal if it hadn't been for Anna and Kristoff.
"Thank you," she said, taking her sister into her arms. "Thank you both. You saved me."
"I'm just glad you're okay," Anna said. "You gave us a real scare."
"To be fair," Kristoff said, "we couldn't have done it without Sven or Grand Pabbie."
"Of course!"
Elsa knelt down and hugged Sven around the neck, causing him to neigh with delight.
"Where is Grand Pabbie?" Elsa asked.
"He must be outside," Kristoff said. "I'll go get him."
"Be careful," Anna said.
"You too."
He bounded off toward the gates in a half jog.
"Are you sure you're alright," Anna asked.
Elsa nodded. She was tired and sore, but she was alive, and was grateful for that. Anna inspected her anyway, fussing over her like a mother caring for a child. She grabbed Elsa's head, looking for injuries, then lifted her arms and ran her hands down her back.
"I'm fine!"
"Ok," Anna said, hugging her again. "I just want to make sure."
Elsa didn't really mind having someone fuss over her, it was nice to be the subject of so much love and concern, but she couldn't shake the feeling that Inger could return at any moment. And if she did, what would they do? What could they do?
"Where did she go?" Elsa asked, not expecting an answer.
"I don't know. Do you think she'll come back?"
That was the question Elsa couldn't get out of her mind. How could she just disappear?
"She killed mother and father," Anna said.
It was true, but how? How had she done it? Elsa realized it didn't matter. Regardless of how, they were gone. For years they believed their parents' ship had been sunk by an act of nature, the victims of a tragic accident. But it was no accident. They'd been murdered, and now her and Anna's pain had a name and a face, someone responsible for all the anguish that had afflicted them since their death.
"She killed Alek, too."
"What?"
"She used me as a hostage and Alek was stabbed. There was nothing I could do."
"Oh, Elsa! That's awful! I'm so sorry. Alek was a good man."
They were words that didn't need to be spoken. Alek had never once considered abandoning his duties no matter how desperate things became in Arendelle, and he'd sacrificed so much before giving his life to protect her. It made her want to cry, but she held it in. There would be time to mourn, but it wasn't now.
"She killed Olaf, too."
"What?" Elsa said, looking around the courtyard, as if spying him would make Anna's words untrue. She thought about his smiling face and his dancing walk wherever he went. He was a happy soul who wouldn't hurt anyone, and it pained her to think her actions had led to his demise.
"That's why you have to get your powers back!" Anna said, a glimmer of anticipation cracking through her sorrow. "It's the only way! You can remake Olaf and if Inger comes back—"
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, slow down. What are you talking about?"
"Grand Pabbie said—"
As if on cue, Kristoff shouted, "Grand Pabbie's here!"
Grand Pabbie waddled through the gates next to Kristoff, and Elsa and Anna met them halfway. Elsa fell to her knees before the old troll as he took her hand in both of his, giving it a gentle pat. His grass-like mane shimmered in the moonlight and the crystal shards decorating his tunic glowed a faint green.
"Glad to see you are alright, Your Majesty."
"Thanks to you, I am."
"I played only a part, my dear. It is Kristoff and Anna you have to thank."
"And I have."
"Grand Pabbie," Anna said, "tell Elsa what you told us up on the mountain, about getting her powers back."
"Of course."
But before he could continue, the door of the north exit burst open with such force Elsa thought it would fly off its hinges. Peder ran toward them with more urgency than he'd left, his hand on the hilt of his sword as he pressed down on his hat to keep it from flying off.
"Alek's hurt! Alek's hurt!"
Elsa stood and spun so fast she got dizzy. Then she ran, her own urgency matching his.
"What do you mean? He's still alive?"
"Yes," Peder said, sliding to a stop, "but he's hurt bad. He needs medical attention."
"Show me!"
The whole group ran toward the dungeon with Sven following close behind. Grand Pabbie was left to waddle his way along, trying to keep up.
