A/N: Hey folks! Sorry if this took so long, but after a month or so of dealing with life and college, there's finally a new update to this story! Thank you for being so patient with this story, it took me a while to write since college has really taken the toll on me. Even so, I had to make a schedule for myself just because I really needed one in my life. :/ But it's working out well, so yay! :)
Anyways, thanks once again to Collington for being my beta reader, you've been really helpful to me! I really appreciate it! :D
Without further ado, here's the next chapter!
PS: Also, if you want to add a bit more sadness to this chapter, when Elsa sings, I suggest you listen to Ring In The Season Reprised instrumental version. The piano version really works well with this chapter, if you're in the mood to shed some tears. :(
Chapter 35: Distant Memories Pt 2
December 25th, 1880
The flames in the campfire danced rapidly, twisting, turning, and frolicking in their fiery home. Tendrils of heat flew about, embraced one another, joined into one flame, then separated again.
They looked so happy to be together.
Elsa sighed, wiping away a tear as she stared into the flames, ignoring the dull pain.
Tonight was Christmas. But like last year, and the year before, she was spending it back at the Enchanted Forest, away from her family in Arendelle. This day's celebration in the Northuldran camp hadn't felt joyous and light as it should have. It hadn't felt like a celebration to Elsa at all. Much of the time, she had been terribly missing Anna, Kristoff, and Adam.
Over the past three years, her life as the fifth spirit had grown dreary and she had fallen deeper into depression. It was a different sense of drowning compared to the freezing depths of Ahtohallan. Now, she simply felt unhappy in everything she did, the days blurring into each other in an endless period of dizziness.
Oh, how she wished she could visit her family again. But she knew the answer was no.
It wouldn't be wise to do so anyway, as the kingdom, without a doubt, would immediately rebuke her presence.
All because of that Councilman Rowan. The man had done everything in his power over the years to ensure that Elsa remained an outsider, a foreigner that could never be trusted inside Arendelle's walls again. He had made sure of that through a series of laws to be passed when Anna and Kristoff were no longer around anymore. All designed to target Elsa, to banish and forbid her from showing her face in their kingdom.
Unfortunately, his status as head councilman and reputation had only grown, the citizens and nearby trading kingdoms praising him for how Arendelle had expanded under his influence and guidance.
Even though Anna and Kristoff were the monarchs of the kingdom and disapproved of his cold opinions toward Elsa, they had no choice but to keep Rowan in the council. After all, he had committed no crime, a man with a perfect reputation that people wanted to speak on their behalf.
In their eyes, he was a kind, wise councilman, a model citizen that Arendellians could look up to. Elsa thought of him as a wolf in sheep's clothing.
Despite being unable to travel to Arendelle, Elsa had remained hopeful that perhaps Anna would visit the forest for the winter holiday. After all, she was her sister. There wasn't any law preventing the queen and her family from seeing the Northuldrans, seeing Elsa…
And, luckily, there hadn't been. After all, Anna had been able to visit Elsa under the guise of 'honoring the bond between our people's different cultures'.
Anna had never been a good liar. Most people knew they only went to check up on her sister. Thankfully, no one objected, which left Elsa happy enough to at least see her family once a year.
It had gone like this for the past years, full of both joyful and sorrowful events. Anna, Kristoff, and Adam would take a trip north, the two sisters would tearfully hug, and Anna would inform Elsa about life back in Arendelle.
It was from the king and queen that Elsa learned how Adam fell in love with a young woman, the prince heavily blushing in embarrassment from the teasing that came afterward, and how Olaf had taken the liberty to write their life stories as the kingdom's librarian. To ensure that, no matter what happened, future generations would learn of their adventures.
But sorrowful events were shared as well, such as the passing of old friends and loved ones. Sven. Mattias. Kai. Gerda. Others that the family knew, grieving over them while paying their respects.
As the years went by, Elsa tried to keep her head up, to stay strong for the ones she loved with all her heart. Nothing, not even Rowan, would be able to break her spirit and tear her away from her family…
At least, that was what she told herself.
She received the first letter bearing grave news three years ago.
Anna had become ill, and so had Kristoff. The doctors weren't sure of what they had come down with, but it was enough to leave them in a weakened state, barely able to gather enough strength to leave their bedroom.
In their condition, they weren't able to make the trip to the forest, but Elsa had tried to visit them. She didn't care what Arendelle now thought of her, nor that she wasn't welcomed.
She had just wanted to see if Anna was alright, that her little sister was alive and well…
But the minute she had appeared in Arendelle before the castle gates, she was stopped by the guards. No matter what she had done, the guards never let her through the gates, despite her pleas.
Insultingly, Rowan himself had arrived, telling Elsa her presence wasn't welcomed in Arendelle. That they had enough problems already and that she could only make things worse.
Oh, how she could've frozen him right where he stood! The man had literally smirked upon seeing the anger and tears in her eyes as he told her to leave and never return.
The urge to blast him into ice had been almost impossible to resist, like a soft, melodious voice pushing her to simply let her powers go with nothing to hold her back…
But she couldn't, for merely yards away, people were watching them, eyeing her carefully with the same coldness and hatred as on her coronation day. It had been a reminder of how the people had feared her back then.
She knew that either way, Rowan would get what he wanted. If she left, she looked cowardly and would be forced to submit to him. If she opposed him, it would prove that she was a danger to Arendelle, as he had claimed for his entire career.
She would prove him wrong.
So she had decided to leave. With one last, cold glance at the councilman, the fifth spirit had turned around, his victorious smile under his bushy mustache still visible even from behind.
As everyone watched her leave, she had hugged herself, shaking, silent tears dripping down her cheeks.
If they only understood what she was going through…
That had been three years ago. Now, Elsa's only form of communication with her sister was through their letters, in which Anna assured her that she and Kristoff were recovering well.
But Elsa didn't fully believe it. Sadly, her sister's handwriting started to change as well, turning into shakingly written words that were no longer the graceful cursive writing that Elsa recognized by heart. A sign that Anna was no longer the strong woman she knew.
But it just wasn't the same as seeing her in person. She couldn't package her love for her younger sister in a letter, couldn't hug her through a letter, couldn't tell her personally by her side that she would love her forever and ever through a letter…
The crackling noise of the flames brought Elsa back to reality. She glanced at the fire in front of her, observing it as it continued its fiery dance.
The burning flames cackled, almost as if it was taunting her. Laughing at her ironic fate, at her foolishness in searching for a gift that would end up instead a curse.
Maybe, just maybe, she could reach into the flames, and she could free herself from this immortality curse. This dreary existence of sorrow and misery, from the snowflake mark embedded on the back of her neck by Ahtohallan itself. Perhaps if…
She didn't think twice as she extended her hand into the flames, more tears spilling out as she cried from the initial, flaring pain.
It was horrible, the sensation of her hand burning away coursing through her body as she gritted her teeth and shut her eyes. She could feel her hand blistering, skin peeling off as the flames ate it up.
But, eventually, the pain subsided, and Elsa was heartbroken as she opened her eyes to see the ice of Ahtohallan where her skin should have been. The same ice that had frozen her years ago, now a part of her to remind her of her actions for defying the river entity.
For saving Arendelle when it should have fallen.
Elsa wondered what would've happened instead if she never went too far, if only she brought Anna with her. Like she had promised.
Would things be different? Would they have discovered the truth a different way?
Maybe. She would never know for sure. But now, she was paying the consequences for her actions.
"Elsa! What are you doing?!"
Elsa already knew who the voice belonged to. She didn't need to see the elder Northuldran woman rushing by her side, pulling her away from the fire, to know who it was.
Shaking, the woman carefully grasped Elsa's burnt hand with wide, worried eyes, shocked at what she had just witnessed.
"Elsa, what have you done?"
The fifth spirit could only weep, blubbering half-formed apologies lost to fallen tears.
Honeymaren picked up her crumpled form on the earth, rubbing her warm hands to her cold back, whispering words of comfort to Elsa.
As Elsa's hand began to heal, flesh covering pure crystal ice, Honeymaren eyed her, a mix of emotions on her face. Concern and anger flooded her mind that Elsa was hurting herself to an extreme degree.
"Elsa, this is getting out of hand! What were you thinking?"
She glanced away shamefully as she began to shake slightly.
"I… I thought…"
"You thought what? What were you thinking?"
Elsa's lips quivered.
"I thought that if I burned myself, I could… free myself from this curse… find a way to..."
Honeymaren's face softened, feeling pity and sympathy for her love. Gently, the elder woman pulled her close as Elsa began to sob, Honeymaren trying her best to comfort the fifth spirit.
"Elsa, I love you, okay? I care about you." Her gaze softened. "But you can't do this. You can't just hurt yourself, thinking that would break the curse. It'll break my heart. You know that, right?"
She nodded, still shaking in Honeymaren's embrace.
"Oh, Elsa." She hugged her tightly, wishing she could do more, to let her know she's there for her.
"I don't know what else to do," Elsa whimpered as she pulled away from the Northuldran woman, hugging herself and wiping her tears off. "I'm cursed with immortality, I haven't seen my family in years, and the home I once knew is long gone. I… I'm scared of being alone, Honeymaren, and I… I don't want to be alone anymore…"
She sniffled quietly, her lip quivering uncontrollably. Honeymaren felt her heart hurting for Elsa, realizing just how much she was suffering in her everyday life. It was to the point where she was willing to burn herself, and a twinge of guilt pained Honeymaren.
She had learned years ago, from Elsa, about her friend's lonely childhood, how she was isolated from everyone she knew and loved because of the "incident." Elsa had gone through a lot as a child, spending days apart from her family while wishing she could join them, and being forced to shut Anna, her own sister, out while contemplating… dark thoughts about herself.
It was only because of Anna that Elsa was able to overcome her depression, the reason why Elsa now accepted herself for who she was.
But after what recent years had done to Elsa's self-image and mind, she was falling into depression once again. Honeymaren needed to reassure her that there were still people who loved her no matter what.
"Elsa, look at me."
Slowly, the fifth spirit met Honeymaren's eyes, compassion and love beaming back at her as Honeymaren gently took Elsa's hands into her own.
"You're not alone, and you will never be alone. Remember, I love you with all of my heart, and I will never stop loving you. And, by Ahtohallan, if it takes all that I am to prove that I love you and that I will never leave you," Honeymaren smiled lovingly at Elsa as she took her hands, "I will love you again in a different life."
She managed a shaky "r-really?"
Honeymaren nodded, eyes filled with determination. "I promise."
Elsa, seeing her serious expression, let herself relax as Honeymaren leaned forward and tenderly kissed her on the forehead. Honeymaren really did love her. There were people who still loved her…
The elder woman stepped away from Elsa, a warm smile on her lips, but slightly winced when a twang of pain raced at her limping leg.
Elsa worriedly extended a hand towards her, but Honeymaren simply brushed it off with a chuckle. "I'm alright. Although, if you don't mind, why don't we head back to the village and get some rest? I'm not as young as I used to be, my love."
The words hit her painfully, but she refused to let it show. Instead, she gently took Honeymaren's hand and faked a smile. "Alright."
The two slowly returned to the Northuldran camp, Elsa holding Honeymaren's hand as both enjoyed the company of their beloved. It worked in a way. Elsa felt a sense of peace as the two walked to their tent for the night.
But, deep down inside, she knew that any peace was going to be short-lived, and that harsh, cruel reality would intrude upon her life again, as it always did.
So she lay there and kept awake, waiting until the gentle snoring of her lover, who slept beside her, filled her ears. When she figured that Honeymaren was fully asleep, Elsa crept away, leaving the tent quietly.
Elsa didn't even know why she left, but she just did. Perhaps it was to get away, to find a spot for herself where she could continue to hurt and worry about the future. About the pain and suffering that she knew awaited her as she lived an endless life, her family and friends gone.
Eventually, she reached a spot that was alone and quiet, a clearing in the forest next to a calm lake. As she looked down into the surface of the water, Elsa was met with her sad reflection, the same appearance that she had once accepted many years ago.
Now, the idea of accepting herself seemed as far away as the happiness that used to fill her days.
Her pain and hurt eventually became too much. Unable to hold back the anger and sadness as she glanced at the full moon above, a mournful cry escaped her lips, filling the air.
"Why?! Why me?! What do you want from me?!"
No answer came that night, on the next night, or on any night for the next hundred years.
November 7, 2020
The icy orb grows dark once again, the third memory coming to an end as Elsa watches for her friends' reactions.
It doesn't surprise her to see them on the verge of tears, her story already being depressing enough as it is. Elsa's retelling of her life, combined with the vivid imagery of the glowing orb…
It's just… becoming too sad to watch.
But they remain strong for her as the group collectively calms down while wiping stray tears that escape their eyes. Sniffling, they take a moment to reflect on what they've learned so far, a silence filling the room as Elsa looks down at her feet, not sure what to say.
After a while, she decides to check up on them out of concern. "Are you guys alright?"
Nodding, Anna glances at the fifth spirit, trying her best not to cry despite the screaming urge to do so. "Yeah, I'm- I'm fine. Just… got something in my eye, that's all."
As she raises her hand once again to wipe her eyes- How many times had she done that in the past few hours?- Elsa softly giggles out of nowhere, causing Anna to frown as she lowers her hand. "What?"
Elsa, upon meeting each of their confused stares, simply shakes her head. "Nothing."
Anna, clearly not believing her, crosses her arms. She stands up, raising an unimpressed eyebrow. "Really? You've told us almost your whole story already, and now you're gonna start keeping secrets?"
For a moment, it's almost as if a reflection of her younger sister's past self flashes by. Studying Anna's expression and posture, Elsa's eyes widen at the glimpse of the sister that she knew like the back of her hand. The same smug, nostalgic look on her face, the same shift of her hips, the same set, confronting stance…
Anna scrunches her brow. "Now what?"
With a sigh, Elsa waves her off and decides to explain, smiling. "Well, it's just that… you're exactly like how my sister was back then. She… Anna would always know when something was bothering me, no matter how hard I would try to lie about it. Even when I would write back letters saying that I was doing well, it's like she could tell that I wasn't. And, believe me, it went on like that for months, right until the day before…"
Elsa stops mid-sentence, her smile dying as her friends shoot concerned glances at each other, sensing that something had happened. As her gaze drops to the floor, Maren walks up to her, gently taking her hand and putting an assuring arm on her shoulder.
"Take your time, Elsa. It's alright."
With a nod, she looks up again, a small tear trailing down her cheek as she looks at Anna and Kristoff sadly, mental images of their past selves replacing their current ones in her mind as she sadly lets it out.
"The day before… your passing."
June 21, 1885
"How are you feeling, mother?"
Anna could only sigh in response, the elderly woman sitting up in bed as she met her son's concerned gaze with weary eyes. "Tired, to be honest. I think being stuck all day in this bed is just the worst."
Adam nodded in response, sitting on the bed by his mother's side as he took her frail hands into his own. "I'm sorry to hear that. Would you like for me to ask the servants to help you, to help find something comfier for you to rest on?"
Anna shook her head, a happy smile crossing her lips. "I'm alright, my son. At least it's better than being stuck with paperwork to complete all day. That's even more tiring."
"Ha ha ha!"
The elderly man by Anna's side, Kristoff, warmly laughed at the comment she made. Anna turned around to shoot a frown at him, though he simply shrugged with a loving grin. "What? At least, you have me by your side. It can't get any better than that, right?"
It took a while, but, eventually, a smirk formed on Anna's lips. "I suppose you're right. After all, you do know me well, love expert."
Kristoff smirked back. "I certainly do, feisty pants."
It earned a chuckle from all three of them, Adam heartily laughing from hearing his parents' cheesy love remarks, glad that they were happy by each other's side.
Adam always loved his parents for who they were. After all, he admired them, learning of their story together and how his father had met his mother through an adventure of a lifetime. And seeing them happy, well, it seemed like he could just forget about the present, just remember the good old times of the past while remaining hopeful for a bright future…
He snapped back into reality when he heard his mother groan in pain, slowly raising a hand to her forehead as he and Kristoff checked her as well. And they almost pulled back from her heat, which was hot to the touch.
Almost like there was an oven in her head.
With a concerned expression, Adam turned to his father, seeing that he was in almost the same state as his mother. Worriedly, he stood up from the bed, the prince turning his head towards the direction of the door. "Don't worry, I'll get the doctor…"
But Adam found himself stopped in his tracks, turning to find his mother grabbing his hand as she shook her head. "No… not yet…"
Adam turned to his father for support, who shook his head as well, the prince feeling himself slowly growing angry that his mother was putting her own health aside. "But, mother, your head is burning up. I need to find the doctor and get you some medicine…"
"Adam… just wait, please. Just until she gets here… my sister... "
At the mention of the figure, Adam's eyes widened in surprise, then narrowed in understanding. "You sent for her, didn't you?"
Anna shakingly nodded, guilt in her eyes as Adam glanced over and found the same reaction in Kristoff's face. "Yes, I did."
She did. His mother really did summon for her. His mother summoned for-
"Why?" Adam was surprised at his calmness with which he spoke.
"I felt like it."
Adam shook his head, knowing that wasn't the reason. "Don't fool me, mother. Why did you send for her?"
His voice rose higher, making Kristoff reach a hand towards him with a concerned look. "Adam, watch your tone…"
Adam ignored his father's stern words, feeling his hands shake with silent anger. "Mother, why, out of all people, did it have to be her? You know how Rowan feels about her, how Arendelle feels about her…"
"I don't care what they think, my son. She's family and I would never abandon her because of such accusations…"
"No, you're not listening to me!" Adam found himself angry now, yelling at his parents for the first time in his life. "You told her to come, still knowing she's not welcomed here! Olaf's presence is barely even tolerated here in Arendelle, yet she's not! Do you know how much trouble you can cause by just having here?! She's dangerous and…"
He never caught sight of the hand flying towards his face, the resonating sound of the slap as it impacted across his cheek, leaving a hot-red mark. As the prince reached up to cool the burning area on his face, he found Anna staring at him with an anger that he had never seen before. Even Kristoff was surprised by the fact at his wife's furious outburst.
The elderly queen, of course, was also surprised by the realization that she had slapped Adam, her eldest son. Immediately, she regretted it deep down in her heart, but the fury had gotten the best of her upon hearing her own child consider her sister a threat to the kingdom and their safety, lies caused by that damned councilman, Rowan.
Even so, however, Adam was still her son, and she needed to set him straight here and now.
"Adam Bjorgman," She only said his full name when he was in real trouble. "Listen to me. Very. Carefully."
Adam, who was still busy trying to soothe his stinging cheek, kept quiet as he respectfully met his mother's fierce gaze, listening carefully as she had instructed.
"One, your aunt, my sister, is not a threat and will never be a threat. I don't know what Rowan or anyone has told you within these last years, but you yourself should know better than anyone the real truth. Two, don't you ever, ever, ever raise your voice at me or your father. We raised you to be respectful, kind, and wise, my son, not to ever yell at us out of anger. Three, and let me make myself clear, never suggest the idea of abandoning your aunt when all she ever did for us were acts of kindness. When all she did for you was love you. Do I make myself clear?"
Adam remained silent for a moment, the young prince sighing before he nodded. "Yes, I understand. Forgive me, mother, I didn't think about what I was saying…"
Anna's fierce gaze died down upon seeing the regret in his eyes, her face softening as she took his hands with a sad smile. "No, forgive me. I shouldn't have slapped you in the first place. I just… you were sounding like that painful councilman, and the next thing I knew… I… I…"
Her unfinished sentence was replaced by sobbing as Kristoff leaned over to hold her close to him, the elderly couple embracing each other as Adam felt tears well up in his own eyes, saddened by the sight of his mother crying.
It took a while to console her, Anna regaining her composure as she looked at him with pleading eyes. "Adam, just… please don't ever mistreat your aunt. It's not her fault for what's happening to the world, for what she's going through. But, please, please, promise me…"
She took his hands into her own, lips quivering as Adam listened carefully to her. He tried to forever imprint every syllable that she next said inside his mind.
"Find a way to free her. A way to set her free."
The promise required so much of him, but Adam nodded, hoping to do right for the hateful words that left his mouth, directed towards his aunt. "I will. I promise."
With a shaky 'thank you', the trio turned as they heard a light tapping on the door, which opened to reveal Olaf as he peeked in the room, nervously tapping his twig arms together as he addressed them in a soft voice.
"Umm, sorry to bother you, but she's here now."
Anna nodded, the queen composing herself along with Kristoff and Adam as well before she replied calmly. "Let her through."
As Olaf stepped into the room, a young woman followed behind the snowman, covered by a long, dark cloak that concealed her face and the snow-white, sparkling, crystallized dress she wore underneath.
When the doors had closed, the young woman pulled the hoodie of the cloak off, her lengthy, snowy platinum-blonde hair falling down to the waist as she gave a half-smile to everyone in the room.
"Hi."
That was it, just one word upon seeing her family together in the same room.
For Anna, it was enough to at least remember the sound of her majestic, angelic voice. But she still raised an eyebrow in surprisement. "Hi, you. It's been so long, and that's the only thing you can say to your younger, but also older, sister?"
The young woman smiled, although she could feel her eyes water up. "What's wrong with hi? You know I've never been one to exaggerate a greeting. Besides, hi is good enough for me, I suppose. For the moment, at least."
Anna chuckled. "I suppose it is." She extended her arms towards her sister. "How about a hug to seal it up?"
The young woman didn't even hesitate as she quickly headed to where Anna lay on the bed, hugging her tightly as Anna embraced her in return. The two sisters reunited, years after they had last seen each other. Kristoff and Olaf shared a joyous grin. Adam remained quiet for a second before he found himself tearfully smiling as well.
After a while, the two sisters separated, a question popping into his head as he spoke to her. "Aunt Elsa, how did you sneak into the castle without being seen?"
Elsa turned towards him while she held Anna's hands in her own, a sigh escaping her lips.
"Well, let's just say I know more about this castle than those councilmen fools do. Call it from all the times in my childhood when I used the secret passages this castle has to offer, if you will."
Adam's eyes widened in surprise upon hearing of the passages she had mentioned, but, silently thinking, he gave a nod of his head with pursed lips. Interesting…
He shook the thought out of his mind when his aunt came his way, everyone watching them carefully and quietly as Elsa warmly smiled at him. "Hi, Adam."
Adam simply stared at her, his mind debating whether to happily greet her as if he hadn't just said so many harsh things about her, whether to offer a few, unenthusiastic words, or whether to even say anything at all. To his surprisement, he found himself greeting her, a single word unexpectedly leaving his mouth.
"...Hi."
She tilted her head slightly, perplexed at his strange behavior, before she shook her head, slowly raising her arms as if inviting him for a loving embrace.
Without a moment to wait, he slowly stepped into the hug of his aunt, putting aside the negative thoughts he had about her as he felt her shake in his gentle embrace. He could only hold her with an aching heart as he questioned his own beliefs about her and how people could fear someone like her in the first place.
How Rowan had manipulated the people of Arendelle into turning their back on someone so pure of heart…
How he had given in so easily to the hateful influence spread around the kingdom…
After they separated, Elsa went over to Kristoff and hugged the king as he returned the embrace to the fifth spirit. When they pulled back, Elsa glanced at the elderly couple, smiling at them with a hint of sadness in her eyes.
"So… how have you two been?"
Anna sighed as she rubbed her forehead tiredly. Adam cautiously put a hand on her shoulder as she glanced at her sister. "Well, it's been… hard. Especially with these headaches…"
Elsa reached over to feel Anna's head, gasping from its heat. She did the same to Kristoff, his forehead feeling the same, and conjured small blocks of ice, giving one to Kristoff before moving to the other side of the bed to hand one to her sister.
"Here. You need one too, Anna."
As they accepted it gratefully, the queen and king placed the blocks of ice against their forehead, sighing in relief. The chilly ice cooled their bodies down as Elsa felt herself relax.
"Better?"
As they nodded, she conjured a chair of ice, sitting down in it as she glanced at them. "And… Arendelle?"
Anna glanced at Kristoff, who gave a nod of his head, before she looked back at her sister, sadness, regret, and disappointment evident in her eyes.
"Ever since we've been confined to this bed, life in Arendelle has… changed. So much has happened lately, with Arendelle growing and changing that… whether it's for the best or the worse, I don't know anymore..."
Elsa's shoulders sadly drooped in response, and she placed her hands on her hips as her eyes began to water.
"Then, I'm guessing it's for the best, I suppose. That… everything is moving on, forward, without me."
Anna could feel her heart breaking, trying to reach for her sister's hands. "Elsa… I'm so, so sorry..."
"It's fine, Anna," Elsa replied, wiping away the stray droplets of water trailing down her cheek. "There's no changing what was going to happen, that Arendelle is…" She trailed off for a moment before she shook her head, looking up at Anna with a smile. "Nevermind. Today's a day for celebration! It's your birthday."
"My birthday?" Anna asked, Elsa hesitantly nodding her head before Anna's eyes slightly widened in realization. "Oh, right. I forgot about it."
It slammed Elsa with a pang of sadness that Anna had forgotten about her birthday, recalling how she always used to be filled with ecstatic excitement whenever her birthday was near. But, now, she remembered her sister's mind wasn't as young as before.
This time, however, Anna didn't seem happy about the thought that it was her birthday, not even Kristoff himself seemed thrilled. In fact, both seemed miserable at that idea, so much that Olaf tried to cheer them up as he went up by Anna's side with a cheerful grin.
"Happy birthday, Anna!"
Anna glanced at Olaf as she gave the snowman a weak smile. "Thank you, Olaf. I really appreciate your kind words, but..." Anna slumped as she felt her smile dissipate, "What is the point of celebrating this day? To celebrate a day that's painfully reminding me that the time I have left with you is growing shorter?"
"Anna," Kristoff gently took Anna's hand as she looked at him. He flashed his eyes back and forth between her and Elsa, sending his wife a message that the fifth spirit couldn't understand.
Guilt instantly churned up inside Anna as she turned to find Elsa still looking at her. "Oh, Elsa, I'm so, so sorry for acting like that. I didn't mean…"
Anna stopped mid-sentence, sighing as she shook her head.
"You know what, let's talk about something else instead."
"Like what?" Elsa asked, the elderly queen raising a hand to her chin thoughtfully.
"How about…" Honestly, Anna didn't want to see her sister upset, trying her best to remember something that would lift their spirits. Soon, her eyes lit up and she snapped her fingers. "That time when you fell out of the tree?"
"The old maple tree? The one by the courtyard?"
Anna nodded, Elsa thinking about it for a moment as she warmly giggled. "Alright. I suppose I can tell everyone here about it."
Anna cuddled close to Kristoff, the royal couple holding each other as they listened, along with Adam and Olaf, while Elsa told them the story, a joyful memory she had of the past with Anna when the times were still peaceful.
For the next hour or so, it went like this, telling stories of childhood memories and memorable stories of the past, light laughter from everyone filling the air that temporarily replaced the feelings of despair, dread, and loss.
Adam listened carefully, the prince waiting to soak in every bit of knowledge from the stories deep in his mind as he felt himself tearfully smile.
He really wished that things could've been different. That Elsa would never have had to go through this, that his aunt would be able to spend her last days with her family instead of living a never-ending life.
He decided that he would remember everything. So that he would never forget her.
Still, he felt his heart ache in pain, knowing what he would have to do when his parents weren't around anymore. He only hoped his aunt would forgive him for his future actions, for what he would have to do for Arendelle's "safety".
So he tried to listen, trying to focus not on the future but on the present, on the joy and happy times of his aunt's stories…
"Elsa, forgive me for interrupting, but there's something I wanted to ask you. How're the Northuldrans and how is Honeymaren, by the way? I haven't heard about her since you got here."
Adam perked up at his mother's question, glancing over at Elsa to find her now strangely quiet, the fifth spirit's eyes glistening with water as her lips trembled slightly.
"..."
"Elsa? What's wrong?" the queen concernedly asked as she saw Elsa's body shaking, the fifth spirit shivering slightly for a moment before she replied, her voice having been reduced to a soft, wavering whisper.
"... She's gone, Anna."
There was a moment of silence, everyone trying to comprehend what she'd just said.
"What do you mean 'she's gone'?" Kristoff asked.
Elsa tried to open her mouth, to form a sentence to explain what she meant to her family, but only succeeded in breaking down as she sobbed like a broken mess in her chair.
Instantly, Adam found himself on his feet and walked over to where she sat, kneeling by her side as he tried to soothe her to no avail. He's tempted to ask for clarification, but he knew that everyone in the room understood what Elsa meant.
Honeymaren was no longer around.
How and when, he didn't know, but he knew that she meant so much to his aunt, one of the remaining few that had still loved Elsa no matter what. And to think that she probably passed away peacefully…
He was only now beginning to see the painful road that awaited Elsa in her cursed immortal life.
Unless he could change that, feeling a new burden of responsibility weighing on his shoulders to free her from the curse, to help her...
Yet, he had no way to start from, only the promise he made to his mother. Still, he felt like he could start by attempting to comfort her, holding her as she wept onto his shoulder.
Olaf came by Elsa's side as well, doing what he could to soften her grief while Anna and Kristoff gave their support as well. But they offered no false words of hope, no "it's going to be okay" or "you'll be alright", since it would only be lies to her.
Lies that would do no good for her, lies that would only cover up the harsh, cold, lonely future in store.
Adam knew that someday, he might be HoneyMaren in this situation.
knock-knock
They glanced at the door in slight surprise, Adam letting go of his aunt as a servant opened the door to slowly peek around the room. His eyes rested on Elsa in slight fear for a moment before switching over to Adam, motioning for him.
"Your highness. A word, please. It's very urgent."
With a nod of his head, Adam stood up from where he was, leaving the room as they watched him close the door on his way out. Upon his leave, Anna glanced at Elsa as she gently took her sister's hands. "What are you going to do now, Elsa?"
She was met with her sister's tear-stained eyes, Elsa's hands trembling as she shakingly responded to her question.
"I-I-I don't know. I have no idea, Anna, let alone know what the future holds for me. All that I know is that… I'm going to be alone by myself, you and Kristoff are leaving me, and…"
She choked a sob, still trying to speak.
"Why? Why did it have to be me, Anna? Why would our mother do this to me?"
Ice could be seen slowly forming around her feet, creeping up the chair and around the carpet as Anna, Olaf, and Kristoff noticed the slight drop in temperature. Facing back to her sister, Anna shook her head, her expression becoming more serious.
"Elsa, don't say something like that. This is not Mother's fault. You know she would never do something this cruel to you, let alone curse you. You know how much she loved us, how much she loved you."
Elsa lowered her gaze, Anna carefully lifting her sister's chin to get her attention. "Listen to me, Elsa."
When Elsa was listening, Anna continued, offering her own words of encouragement.
"I may not know why exactly you were chosen to be the fifth spirit of Ahtohallan, but it must have been a reason other than finding your purpose and the voice itself. There must have been another hidden specific reason other than our mother saving our father, one that you're still not aware of. Whether it was because of you saving Arendelle or when you froze back in Ahtohallan, I'm sure you have yet to discover the real reason, to find why you were the one."
Kristoff offered his own opinion as well. "Anna might be right, Elsa. Perhaps… there was something you missed back in Ahtohallan, something that you're still looking for that the river entity has answers to."
"You think so?"
The elderly king gave a nod of his head, the fifth spirit turning over the thought in her head just as the ice stopped short of reaching the bed where the elderly couple laid.
Before the door to the room abruptly banged open, a worried Adam entering the room again as everyone glanced his way.
"Aunt Elsa, you have to go. Now."
"Why?" Olaf asked the question that lingered in everyone's mind.
"Because the servant just informed me that Rowan is on his way here with the doctor and several guards..."
His eyes landed on the ice that was dangerously close to where his parents were before transitioning to Elsa, displaying momentarily a mixture of confusion, shock, fear, anger running through him.
He shook his head, trying to get back on track.
"The point is, he knows she's here. I sent the servant to try to delay his arrival upon my request, but I'm not sure how long that will work. If Rowan finds her still here, however, he won't hesitate a moment to have the guards take her away, to imprison her in the dungeons."
"That bast-" The elderly queen caught her tongue upon meeting the eyes of the worried Olaf, trying to lift herself from the bed angrily as she spoke, "If Rowan tries to do something to my sister, why, I'll… I'll…"
However, she was cut short by a coughing fit, a groan escaping her lips as Kristoff checked her forehead with his hand, glancing at Elsa worriedly.
"Her fever's growing worse."
Elsa checked as well, her sister's forehead burning to the touch, as she noticed Anna still trying to move from the bed. "Anna, no. Please, stop."
"I won't, Elsa. I have to at least do something while I'm still Queen…"
Elsa shook her head, taking her sister's hands into her own as she felt cold water forming in her eyes. "Listen to me, Anna. Please."
When she was met by her sister's tearful gaze, she gathered all the courage she had to say her next words.
"Listen, you've done enough. You and Kristoff have done all you could for me throughout these years, and I'm so grateful for it. But…" she fought the urge to cry as she continued, "there's nothing else you can do. I'm sorry that I have to do this, but I must leave for your, Kristoff's, and Adam's safety. If they were- if they were to find me here with you, I might… unleash my powers by accident, putting everyone's life in danger."
"But, Elsa…"
"It's for the best, Anna. Please, don't make this harder than it already is."
Anna said nothing for a moment, meeting her sister's ocean eyes with her own, trying to come up with the perfect thing to say that would keep Elsa with her. Just for a few more minutes.
But there was nothing she could say. Silence enveloped the room before Anna sighed in defeat.
"Then I guess this is goodbye."
There was no answer, only a tiny nod of the fifth spirit's head in response.
Extending her arms out, Anna could only watch as Elsa stood up from the chair, slowly walked on over to where she was, and gave a light hug to her as she returned it back tearfully.
The two sisters remained embraced for a moment before pulling away, Elsa gently brushing her fingers over Anna's cheek as she planted a light kiss on her forehead, causing a slight blush to grow across her cheeks. With a deep breath, Elsa closed her eyes and rested her forehead on Anna, who leaned on her in turn.
"I love you, sis," Elsa heard Anna whisper to her, her heart swelling achingly. Tearfully, she found the courage to say the same.
"I love you, too."
It was short, but it was enough that they needed to hear from each other.
With a sniffle, Elsa glanced on over at Kristoff, her eyes glistening with water as she gently took his hands. "Take care of my sister for me, please."
He gave a nod of his head, determined. "I will. Always."
With one last, solemn glance at the elderly couple, Elsa started to make her way towards the exit, everyone watching in solemn silence as her hand rested on the doorknob for a moment before she began to twist it open, the door opening for her...
"Elsa, wait."
The fifth spirit stopped in her tracks before she turned around to find Anna looking at her, a smile visible on her sister's lips despite the tears dripping down her face.
"I'm glad that you're my sister. If it's ever possible… I… I hope…" Her lips trembled with every word, but she was determined in finishing it, "that we'll get the chance to meet each other again. Someday. To show you how much we will love you forever."
It's close to what Honeymaren had promised her, and she had loved her as well. But had it mattered? For a promise that seemed almost impossible to happen? Perhaps…
"...Promise?" It came out as a shaky whisper, yet, somehow, miraculously, Anna heard her with a nod of her head.
"I promise."
With a tearful smile, Elsa glanced all around at her friends and family, remembering everything they'd gone through together, and with a last goodbye, she left the room, slowly walking down the hall and hugging her shaking self.
She hadn't gone far before she heard the door behind her open and close, tiny footsteps suddenly beside her. "Elsa?"
She turned around, slightly surprised to find Olaf standing in front of her as he nervously tapped his twig arms together. "Olaf, what are you doing?"
"Umm," she sensed his uncertainty, "well, it's just that… I…"
Elsa waited as he took his time to compose himself, the snowman finally getting out what he wanted to say.
"I know you're leaving, and that you don't have a choice, but…" he sighed sadly, "Do you really have to go?"
Elsa nodded, kneeling by his side as her spirit dress floated down in waves around the floor. She sadly smiled, for he was one of the remaining few who understood her the most.
"I must, Olaf. It's for the best. They don't need me or want me anymore, and, frankly, that… that's the way it has to be. Whether we like it or not."
She took his trembling twig arm in her own, sadly realizing that he was crying at the sight of the water droplet dripping down his face.
"But why? Why must it be that way, Elsa? Why doesn't Arendelle want you around anymore? What will your family do without you? What will Adam do without you? The world is growing cold, not like our type of cold, and I'm just so afraid. I don't know what I'll do without you. And where will you go? What will you do?"
So many questions, so little time.
She knew that she had to leave. The sound of footsteps echoing distantly in the hallway meant that Rowan had reached the room. If they found her here, the danger she might find herself in...
But, this was Olaf, her snow golem, in some way, almost like… her own child. He was frightened at the thought of being left behind by his own mother. The few remaining pieces of her heart splintered, realizing that she had to leave him, only because it was for the best.
Right?
She'd answer as many of his questions as she could, with the time she had left.
"I… I don't know, Olaf. I don't know what the future holds for me, or you, or Arendelle, but if there's one thing I do know…" she gently caressed the tearful snowman's cheek with a sad smile, "I'm going to miss you guys so much, especially you."
"What do you mean? Are… are you leaving me?"
She shook her head. "Heavens no, Olaf! You know I would never do that! It's just that…" she took a moment to collect herself, "I need you to stay here. To be with Anna and Kristoff when… when…"
Her lips quivered. Elsa shook her head as she rephrased it. "To be here with Adam. Remember, he's going to be King of Arendelle, and he's going to need a lot of help getting used to it. And since you're the only one who I can trust…"
He realized what she needed of him, and he gave her one last warm grin. One last cheerful smile to summarize an entire life's worth of memories. "You- you can count on me. I won't let you down!"
They hugged, and Elsa knew they were both crying into each other's backs. In the embrace, the fifth spirit felt a last second of warmth before they separated at the sounds of footsteps, the two knowing who they belonged to.
As Olaf bade her farewell, she watched him return to Anna and Kristoff, her eyes glancing all around the place that had once been her home, the halls where she had played with her parents, but most importantly, Anna.
She was going to miss her home, even though it wasn't the same anymore. She would remember everything, her past, her family, her sister...
Forever. With one last thought in mind as she carefully made her way out of the castle, out of Arendelle as she headed towards the Enchanted Forest, her permanent home.
"Until we meet again."
November 7, 2020
"That was the last time I saw you two, before you, um, you… died." She looked down at her feet. "I received letters soon after, of your passing."
Elsa finishes recalling her last memory for the night, glancing around at the gloomy reactions of her friends. At this point, no one was even trying to hold back their tears as small streams of water steadily trailed down their faces. They knew it was pointless, because no matter many times they blinked or wiped their eyes off, the tears would come again.
She sits down on a sofa opposite the group, solemnly observing them as they try to compose themselves with no success. Maren is in absolute tears, so is Anna, and Kristoff is the only one trying to comfort them while fighting off his own tears as well.
Even the sad expressions of Olaf and Sven are noticeable to her, the snowhuman sitting down by Elsa's side silently blinking away tears along with the downcast golden retriever whimpering in a low, miserable whine.
She doesn't blame them. Her story isn't a happy one; it's depressing.
As the icy orb by her side melts away, she sadly sighs before offering an apologetic smile to her friends, though her ocean eyes glisten with water. "I'm sorry if I held all of this from you guys for so long. It wasn't the right thing to do, and… I shouldn't have tried to hide the truth from all of you, especially…"
She turns towards the modern reincarnation of her sister, a shudder of guilt racing up her spine and making her shiver in regret.
"...Especially you, Anna."
Anna doesn't respond, only gazing at the fifth spirit as what seems like millions of thoughts flow through her head, all thinking about the same thing at the same time.
Elsa.
Anna is finally able to understand her, all the pieces coming together like a puzzle to form the whole image over her. Anna's learning the whole story, the pains Elsa suffered, why she's so protective over her, and how Arendelle has connected the two after all this time. Further, Elsa's recollection is now bringing memories back to Anna, flashes of color from the past life she once lived.
Perhaps the only reason Anna was even accepted into Arendelle Academy and met all her friends up to this point was not because she had worked for such an amazing opportunity, but because it was meant to be this way. For Anna to follow the calling she felt to Arendelle, to meet her friends again, and to find… Elsa.
Fulfilling the promise she'd made to her sister so long ago.
Still, Elsa has only told them so much up to the end of their past lives, Anna wiping her eyes as she tries to compose herself. Maren somehow finds the courage to ask the next question.
"Wha-What happened after? After you received the letter over… their deaths?"
Elsa stays silent as she stands up from the sofa, walking over to the tall window in the room as she peers out at the night sky, finding the full moon still hidden by the dark clouds.
Peering closer, she finds her own sorrowful reflection gazing back at her, a soft, mournful sigh leaving her lips before she answers Maren's question.
"When I received the letter, I was… heartbroken. After all, with their deaths, I was officially banished and prohibited to ever visit Arendelle again. Even so, by then, I felt so alone, left behind in a world that would no longer accept me anymore. Still, I... " she finds her voice breaking but still tries to continue, "I… I tried to go. I wanted to see the funeral, to see you off, but… but they wouldn't let me attend the funeral. The only way I was able to was to disguise myself in a black robe, to hide myself from everyone as a… ghost, and... to simply watch in silence from among the crowd with no one aware of my presence. Until... until... "
"Until what?" Maren continues, Elsa glancing back at them before turning back to the window.
"Until… I was spotted by Adam. The minute he called out for me, I fled. Why he did it, I know not why, but at the moment, I was just afraid. I knew if the people, if that councilman, realized I was in Arendelle, it would mean a cruel and harsh imprisonment. Of course, it would've been easy to simply fight back because of my powers, but I wasn't going to have a repeat of my coronation."
"So I fled from Arendelle to the forest, but I didn't return with the Northuldrans. No, I hid from them as well, everyone, to be exact, no matter whoever called for me. I couldn't live with them because they were unrecognizable, I didn't know anyone anymore, but I kept watch over them, still protecting them because I… I really tried. But, at that point, I was merely half of a crumbling bridge that was still standing, not wanting to break down and lose all sense of purpose I had in this life."
"As the days went by, turning into weeks, months, years, the spirits would inform me that Adam would call out for me, that he wanted to help me, but I never listened. How could I? At that point, I didn't really trust anyone, the only one I felt like I could still trust was Olaf, he was the only one who knew where to find me... "
Olaf gives a nod of his head, he remembers well about the time spent with Elsa after Adam told him to find her, to no longer leave her alone anymore. It had been decades, yet the memories of the time spent with Elsa during that time is enough to cause fresh tears to well in his eyes.
"Even so, after Olaf came to spend the days with me, I felt hollow, empty, like I was a relic stuck in the past while the world changed around me. He did what he could to cheer me up, but at that point, I was so depressed, so nearly broken, unable to feel happy again. I did enjoy his company, but it would only be so long before he, he… left me as well."
Elsa sadly sighs, her gaze dropping for a moment before looking out through the window again, at the sight of the night sky, the full moon, the streets of Arendelle before her with its all blinking lamp posts acting as dots of light in the city's otherwise black surroundings.
"While I was alone, dealing with my immortality, the world kept evolving… and changing. I didn't want to move on with it. I didn't want to believe that I was still a part of that world. I remember at one point I tried to turn myself around… but that's a story that would be too long and painful to tell all of you tonight. So, I fled to Ahtohallan, sealing myself away from the world… until now."
Something burns in her soul as she recalls that event, images vividly sprouting in her mind, making her shudder. She's had enough sadness for one night. Heck, one lifetime. Maybe even ten.
Still, as Elsa continues to stand near the window alone, Anna somehow finds the strength to stand up from the sofa and slowly walk on over until she's standing by her older sister's side, gently resting her hand on her shoulder.
"Elsa, do… do you miss the past? How things were before… before all of this happened to you?"
It's a question that's been lingering in the back of Anna's mind for the entire night. Elsa glances at her reflection in the window while thinking carefully over her response.
"Well…"
To be honest, she does miss the past terribly, the life she lived with her family and friends before she heard the call of Ahtohallan, before she was inflicted with this eternal cursed life.
There were so many joyful memories of the past, so many memories of spending time with her sister, her family, with nothing to worry about, nothing to fear at all. With her family, her sister, there was a sense of joy that she felt, a sense of bliss and happiness that greatly surpassed the feelings she'd felt upon arriving in Ahtohallan for the first time, upon thinking that the voice was her mother calling her all along.
But there were also the bad things of the past, the fact that everyone she loved and cared about had eventually passed away, that her own home kingdom had turned on and banished her, and that she had been left alone in a world that no longer wanted her or loved her.
There had been a time she had tried to reconnect with the world, a time in the past where she tried to move on with it, but it had only ended in tragedy, betrayal, despair, and the origin of the one known as the Ghost of the Forest.
Maybe… maybe she just couldn't move on from the past. Though how could she move on, let alone forget about it? So many storms of memories had been conjured in Ahtohallan just to be drowned in. Countless times she had tearfully begged the river entity to take her powers, to take it all away from her, just so she could finally be with her family again.
Because it had not taken that long to painfully realize what she truly needed, what she had been looking for all of her life, was not herself, but the love of her family, the love of her sister.
Still, even looking back at the past, at the time that had passed since she was cursed with her immortality, it's like a melody to her, something of sadness and depressing to remember about before the words softly leaves her mouth.
She glances at Anna, then back outside at the moon, which has finally freed itself from the clouds and now shines down calmly on the two sisters. Deep breath in, deep breath out.
It was long ago, a memory from today
I could feel you start to drift away
I remember the sadness I felt inside
Arendelle left me behind
Arendelle left me behind
When she's done, Elsa's met with her own tearful reflection in the window, slow, steady streams of water trailing down her cheeks to the floor below. She doesn't even attempt to hold it back as she sobs, letting her emotions flow freely through her tears after keeping the pain of the past to herself for so long. Her decades-long barricade of emotional concealment broke free, and Anna did what she could to comfort her older sister as Elsa's agony and pain came gushing out and she collapsed into her arms.
For Elsa had truly thought that she had let go of the past, that by being with her family again, she had set herself free and would never have to remember the pain again. Sadly, it appears that she's wrong. There's still a part of her holding on to it, not wanting to let it go.
And yet…
"It's alright, Elsa. I'm here, sis."
Elsa only needs to glance up to remind herself she's not alone anymore. Anna's there with her. The sight of her sister consoling her, comfortingly wiping her tears away, caressing her face, is truly nostalgic, a feeling that makes her heart flutter with joy.
Reminding her of countless moments just like this in the past, when Anna was always there for Elsa.
No matter what happened between them.
No matter how far apart they were.
No matter how long it took.
Anna would always be there, just for her.
"Elsa." Anna soothes her gently, still holding the shaking older sister close to her. "I'm so, so, so sorry that you had to go through all of this by yourself for so many years. If I had known earlier about this, I would've done all I could in my past life to help you. To free you from this curse that's caused nothing but pain."
Elsa glances up at Anna, sniffling.
"Really?"
"Of course! You know me, Elsa! I'm practically your reincarnated sister and I would do anything to help you! You don't need to hold on to the past anymore because I'm here with you again. After all, if I made a promise to meet you again in my past life, and now I'm being given the chance to make things right, then I'll fulfill the promise I made to you. I will free you from this curse."
"You mean it?"
Anna nods.
"I promise. And I will keep my promise to the end, no matter what."
The look on her face shows she's dead serious, determined in her heart, mind, and soul to her vow. It helps when Maren then heads over to where they are, embracing the shaking fifth spirit as well.
"I'm going to help you too, Elsa. If I was also given this second chance like Anna, then I'm going to do everything I can for you."
It doesn't take long for the rest of the friends to follow her lead, Kristoff and Olaf then making their way to where the trio are while they offer their own hugs and words to Elsa, giving their own promises to help her as well. Even Sven heads over, the golden retriever wagging his tail happily as he sits by their side and barks encouragingly.
Their warm gestures, along with their promises and soothing words, is enough to give Elsa a tiny glimmer of hope. Hope that after so long, after so many years of loneliness and pain, she might be free of this immortality curse, free from it once and for all. It's just a spark, but it's one that sets her heart alight in a way she hadn't remembered was possible.
Elsa feels herself continuing to cry. This time, however, they're not tears of sadness, but of joy. A joy at the thought of finally being freed, that after enduring her endless struggles and pain, she wouldn't truly be alone anymore.
Even though it's been a while since her family came back into her life, reincarnated through their promises and whatever form of magic was in the air, it was like there was something in her that still couldn't believe it. As if all of this was just a dream, one where she would wake up to painfully learn that none of it had ever been real and that she was still trapped within the ice of Ahtohallan forever.
Except, no, this was real. Truly real for the first time in forever.
"You really did keep your promises…"
All of her friends embrace her lovingly. The sadness she was feeling earlier is now fading, being replaced by a sense of joy and relief that she's grateful for.
Because this love she's feeling from her family has truly proved what she had been looking for all of her life, what she truly needed.
One thing for sure?
She's finally ready to let go of the past and, for once, move on.
Elsa stares at the full moon from the porch, silently observing the peacefully quiet night sky. Except for the occasional chirping of crickets that happens every few seconds.
She takes a deep breath and gently exhales, smiling as she enjoys the scents and sensations of autumn's cool breeze.
Even though it's late, and she should be asleep right now, Elsa couldn't help the urge to step out for some fresh air. She needs it. The cool weather of the night feels perfect as she relaxes.
Besides, after everything that had happened in the last few hours, she needs some time to reflect on what happened this day, what had happened to her during the Crocus Spirit Festival. The vague memory of being taken over by the dark spirit made her shudder, but she couldn't let it show as she wanted to confront it alone right now.
"Ahtohallan, are you there?"
The silence is deafening. Elsa frowns upon hearing no response from the normally talkative spirit residing in her.
"Please, I just want to talk to you. Answer me."
Still nothing.
"Show yourself!"
The crickets chirp in return, nothing more.
Elsa waits a moment before she tiredly sighs, gripping the railing of the porch as she shakes her head.
"Well, at least I tried…"
Seeing that the dark spirit did not want to be heard, Elsa instead reflects on what she and her friends had done for the rest of the evening after they'd helped her move on from the past, the things they talked about with sadness no longer hovering over them.
Even though they had missed the rest of the Crocus Spirit Festival, that didn't stop them from enjoying their time together, having fun with activities and games until it was just Elsa and Anna left.
After all, the other rest of the friends had soon grown drowsy, heading to their own homes for the night while promising to visit them the next day. The two sisters, after saying their goodbyes, had then continued to talk in the kitchen by themselves, Olaf sound asleep on the sofa with a smile on his face.
It was a good thing. Elsa felt like she was able to connect with Anna over topics that she would've discussed with her past sister, topics that would have brought the same smiles and laughs as they shared now.
They had gone on like this for a while before Anna had asked her a question that had made Elsa freeze up, one that she had hoped wouldn't be asked to remember.
"So, sis, how did the title "Ghost of the Forest" end up being your nickname? You know, like the rumor that Arendelle is best known for?"
It had instantly caused her smile to fade, with Elsa avoiding Anna's glance as she began to apologize profusely for breaching such a sensitive topic to her.
"I'm so, so, so sorry! I shouldn't have asked that. I mean, I was just curious and…"
"It's alright, Anna," Elsa had glanced back at her, a smile on her lips. "No need to apologize over your curiosity. It's just… something I'd rather not talk about right now. It's a story for another time. Another place."
Thankfully, Anna had understood her, silently nodding in respect for Elsa's wishes. They'd talked a bit more before Anna found herself growing drowsy as well. Luckily, Elsa had helped her walk to their bedroom, the fifth spirit gently tucking her younger sister under the covers as Anna dreamily sighed.
"You know, I think I won't ever be able to understand how people can fear you, Elsa," Anna had tiredly yawned, " I don't even know how the people back then considered you any danger at all. You're just too kind and warm."
Elsa had simply shrugged. "Who knows, Anna? It was certainly a mystery to me back then. But it was definitely very real."
Anna had nodded, drowsily wrapping herself in the warm blankets while Elsa sat by her side, brushing her sister's hair gently as Anna slowly fell asleep.
"I love you, Elsa. So much, sis…"
Elsa's heart felt buoyant with joy. "I love you too, Anna. Good night."
She had then leaned down and placed a kiss on her sister's forehead, watching a smile grow across Anna's lips before she blissfully fell asleep. Once the snores started coming, however, Elsa had then stood up from the bed and made her way to the outside porch, to the present moment of watching the full moon by herself.
Now, standing on the porch by herself with no response from Ahtohallan at all, Elsa tries once more to communicate with the dark spirit.
"Are you really going to be like this? After breaking your promise to me?"
Still silence.
Elsa waits a bit more before she sighs.
"Fine, be that way. I don't need you in the end, only my family."
There's still no reply, but Elsa's made up her mind to head in for the night as well. Besides, since the dark fifth spirit seems to be avoiding her at the moment, there's little point in staying outside when she really should be asleep.
At the end, who cares about Ahtohallan? With Anna by her side again, with her family, they're all she truly needs and that's final.
With a newfound sense of hope, Elsa finally makes her way back into the house for the night, failing to notice the glimpse of the dark, paramilitary vehicle trailing down the opposite street of the city.
Marius could feel himself nervously sweating under his uniform as he worked up the courage to ask his fellow soldiers a question, gripping his rifle tightly with his dark gloved hands.
"... Are you sure it's here?"
The young soldier in dark clothing instantly regrets his words upon the cold looks he receives from the other people in the vehicle, cringing as they shoot him glares that are more than enough to shut him up.
"For the hundredth time, of course, it's here, Marius! Where else would it be?" One of them angrily hisses at him in German, another soldier like him but is older and meaner than the rest of the group.
"Sorry, I was just…" There's more glaring at Marius, making him nervously gulp, "Nevermind..."
As the other soldiers shake their heads and focus on using the small black tablet to find the 'device', Marius changes his attention to holding his rifle correctly, trying his best to look emotionless despite feeling his heart racing like mad.
This was it! His big chance of proving his worth to the cause of expanding human knowledge beyond the unknown, to prove his loyalty to these people who had allowed him to join their expedition.
Yes, it had taken countless months of perfecting his German, including the harsh training he had had to go through, but it was worth it in the end. This was his only chance he had of finding the Ghost of the Forest, to see if all the rumors were true or not.
To see if… if he could…
Marius shakes his head, glancing back at the other soldiers to see if they noticed his reaction.
They're still focused on finding the location of the 'device', causing him to sigh in relief. It was a good thing they were too busy to see him. If they had seen him smile slightly, it would've been a disaster.
Even so, he's called back to reality when the vehicle stops by a dark alleyway, one of the soldiers in the dark uniform giving a nod to the others as he points out. "We're here."
Marius sits up straighter as he watches the door to the vehicle open, he and the other soldiers checking to see if the coast is clear. Since it's literally past midnight, there's hardly anyone still up around this part of the city, no law enforcement hanging around here.
Still, they keep watch as some soldiers head to where the sight of a camera is visible overhead, Marius silently watching as it's dismantled from the wall and checked by the technician of the group.
This isn't the only camera in the city, there are countless others in hidden places they haven't really told him about. For all he knows, Marius could only guess that there had to be at least one in every corner of Arendelle. All designed for the same reason.
He watches them as they check and rewind the footage, glancing back as the door to the driver seat slowly opens to reveal the group's leader, the one in command Marius knows as Keres.
Still, just looking at the man is enough to send shivers down his spine, Marius avoiding his glance as he strides past to the technician.
Marius listens carefully, leaning closer and straining his ears while trying to keep a straight face.
"Is it done?"
"It's done, sir. We have the footage downloaded and ready to send. All that's left is to destroy any trace of the device and head back to the extraction point."
"Excellent. And since we already collected that useless nobody as per our orders, we should be ready to give this to him."
"As in, you don't mean…?"
Keres nods, taking the chip containing the downloaded footage from the technician as he holds it in front of his eyes, a sinister smirk crossing his lips.
"Yes. It's time we go see the boss."
A/N: And... it's a cliffhanger! I know, I'm sorry to leave you on one, especially after what has happened so far. But know that you guys are going to be in quite the surprise for the next upcoming chapters, especially who this "boss" is. One thing for sure, there's only going to be more problems than before for everyone in Arendelle.
Still, this is quite the longest chapter yet so far now, so I hope you guys won't mind it. It took a long time to write it, and life has been quite busy these times for me with college and other stuff. But I wouldn't want to bother you with that stuff, so yeah... :/
Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this chapter despite the angst and sadness presented in it! Leave a review as always (at least five reviews per chapter always helps me continue to be motivated to write), fav and follow if you like this story, and I'll see you in the next update when it's ready! I'm always interested to hear what you like or love about this chapter, and what your thoughts are as well about it!
Until next time folks! :D
