The Ice Behind Bars
Final Chapter II: Salvation
Anna stared at Elsa's lifeless eyes that looked up at the sky emotionless.
"H-Hey…" She shook her a bit as if trying to grab her attention. "Come on… L-Look at me!"
But Elsa's face was violently bare as blood kept cooling from her mouth and nose.
Anna desperately shook her again. "P-Please…" She begged. "Look at me…!" She squeaked.
Everyone then suddenly heard a loud and deep crack.
They turned to the huge ice pillars that Elsa had created and realized they were slowly melting; desperately trying to hold on.
But failed.
"Watch out!" A citizen called.
Fwooooooooooonnnnng… POW
The huge pillar gave up then crashed to the ground, followed by another. They melted rapidly and turned to puddles of water.
Anna looked around as the ice—Elsa's ice—started melting… dying.
She shook her head slowly, trying to refuse what she was seeing. She then buried her face in her sister's shoulder, hugging her tightly and refusing to let her go.
Brandon was worried. He stared at Aphrodite's expression and knew something was horribly wrong.
She wasn't crying or sobbing. She was just… staring at her daughters in utmost shock. Her eye twitched. This was too much for her.
"Aphrodite…?" He called in concern.
Aphrodite shakily stood then started walking unsteadily towards her daughters, staring blankly at Elsa's corpse.
You didn't protect her. A voice inside her head taunted.
Her hand slowly lifted, as if she wanted to stop Elsa's life from slipping.
You ran and hid while she paid for your sins.
Her heart squeezed harder inside her chest the more she came closer.
Even when she came right back into your arms, you rejected her and pushed her back.
Her legs slowly started to give in the more Elsa's body came to a better and clearer view.
You weren't hiding from her because you thought she'd hate you. You were hiding because you were running away… running away from your past… your mistakes!
Aphrodite fell to her knees. Her lip trembled as she watched the blood slowly leak down from Elsa's mouth.
Coward… A coward! In the end, she died when YOU should have. She didn't deserve to die. You did! Now she's gone… Forever! All because...
"This is all your fault." Anna's cold and icy voice came like a sharp slap to the face, bringing Aphrodite out of her grim thoughts.
The queen slowly lifted her head and stared at Anna's cold glare. "No…" She started slowly shaking her head.
"You should have told me." Anna continued and carefully lied Elsa on the ground.
"No…"
"You should have told me!" Anna yelled.
"No!" Aphrodite put her hands over her ears.
"You coward!" Anna then grabbed her mother from her wrists, pulling them away from her ears and forcing her to listen.
"Stop it!" Her mother desperately cried.
"Why didn't you go back!? Why didn't you save her when you knew where she was?! WHY!?"
Aphrodite started to cry, struggling in Anna's grip, and trying to shut those harsh words out—more like the truth out.
"Anna!" Brandon tried to reason.
"No, Brandon! This is ALL her fault! Elsa would have been ALIVE!" Angry tears rushed down her freckles. "She would have been happy!"
Aphrodite just kept crying, refusing to even lift her head.
"She wouldn't have to go through all that! If YOU didn't care, then why didn't you tell ME!? I wouldn't have made her wait for fifteen years! I would have rushed right back to her! I could have saved her!"
"I-I'm sorry!" Aphrodite cried, pushing Anna off and hugging herself while shaking.
She knew it. She knew she deserved to hear it all. She knew she deserved to die a coward's death.
"'Sorry' won't bring her back, damn you!" Anna's eyes then caught Elsa's dead body and her face turned sorrowful again. She gritted her teeth and lowered her head; her bangs over her face. "She… She just wanted to be loved. Loved! W-Was it that hard for you to give?" Anna's voice cracked.
"I was scared…" Aphrodite's voice squeaked out. She almost sounded like a little girl being scolded.
Anna gritted her teeth. "Because you were a coward!"
"Anna! That's enough!" Brandon put a hand on her shoulder and pushed her slightly back.
Anna stubbornly and irritably looked away, still keeping her grip on her mother's wrists.
"You don't know how much your mother had suffered. It wasn't entirely her fault!" He defended.
Aphrodite suddenly shoved Anna's hands off of her. She could feel that anger building but... she was just too sad to be angry. "What do you know…?" Her voice was firm.
Anna looked at her in confusion.
"You've never even known real Fear." Aphrodite huffed mockingly at herself. "Fear makes us do horrible things… And because of that very 'coward'," She pointed at herself while smiling sarcastically. "You were kept safe from it!"
Anna's eyes widened.
Aphrodite then leaned towards Elsa and held her baby's body in her arms. She smiled at Elsa while silent tears rushed and rushed to flow down her face. She brought her hand up and brushed Elsa's cheek. "You were so little when I once held you like this." She giggled and put her hand in hers. "Your hands were chubby… And you always loved to pull my hair." She brushed a bloody strand of platinum hair away from Elsa's face. "You used to always wake up smiling. You were happy." Her smile suddenly fell and she turned woeful. "Y-You… were..." She sobbed. "Alive…!" She then hugged her tightly, letting her tears fall on Elsa's face.
"I'm so sorry… I-I'm so sorry!" She rocked her back and forth. "Please forgive me! I should have never had ran away! I should have stayed in the castle to protect you no matter how painful and scary it was! But I turned out to be a coward! I turned out to be the worst mother! You deserve so much more!" She sniffed. "So much more!"
She buried her face in her daughter's shoulder. "So… much… more…"
"Indeed."
Aphrodite's eyes shot wide when she heard this haunting voice. She whipped her head quickly to the side and she came face to face with that same strange woman whom she had seen in her dream.
Her lip trembled. "Y-You…" She recognized.
The citizens gasped and gawked at the ghostly figure that stood next to their queen.
Anna's jaw was slightly open as she stared bug-eyed at this stunning woman.
She'd seen this woman before. Where? Where?! Her eyes widened when she remembered. That was her… the woman in white.
"You… You're real?" Aiden asked in astonishment, remembering that he also had seen her.
Rapunzel gasped when the blue rose started glowing.
The woman stood there with a sad face, staring down at Elsa. "She deserved so much more." Her voice echoed when no one else's did. She kneeled down and brought her glowing hand to Elsa's face, closing the dead princess's eyelids. "But at least she finally found peace."
Aphrodite didn't know what to think. She didn't know what to say. Heck, she didn't even know if she was supposed to believe her own eyes. Was her mind playing tricks on her?
"Wha— What are you really?" Anna dared ask.
The woman turned her head to her. "My name… is Namal of Isolar. The queen of a great kingdom that once stood on this very land." She looked lost in thoughts. "But even great kingdoms falter."
"I... I don't understand." Aphrodite said, shaking her head.
"On my 21st birthday, my kingdom was invaded. Betrayed by our neighboring realms." She said then looked down at her hands sadly. "For how could they allow a demon to rule?"
Everyone's eyes widened when they heard her.
The woman looked at Elsa. "I was different. Just like her. My powers used to heal. Hers used to freeze. But nevertheless, both of our powers were dangerous."
Aphrodite's eyes widened in hope. "But you can heal her now, right?! You can do it! Bring her back! Please! Bring my daughter back!" She begged.
The woman kept staring at Elsa. "Yes, my powers used to heal… Albeit when I couldn't control them, they'd spread plagues across nations."
"Please tell me you can control them now!" Anna desperately said.
"I am but an image of my former self. Powers, I do not have. The power I had died along with my body. However…" She turned and started walking towards Rapunzel.
People started backing away.
"Before I died in my garden, I infused all of my power in one of my roses." The woman explained.
Rapunzel blinked repeatedly at her as she slowly took the blue rose from her. The woman was way taller than normal.
"After all these ages… My powers still reside here." She said while looking at the rose. She turned, walked towards Elsa and placed the blue rose next to her limp body.
Anna gasped. "I-It'll heal her?! Tell me it'll save her!"
The woman in white nodded once.
Tears of joy streamed down Anna's face and she looked down at Elsa with a smile of relief. She stroked the side of her face. "Do you hear that, Elsa? You'll be okay!"
"Please…" Aphrodite suddenly started.
The woman in white didn't look.
Anna looked at her mother.
Aphrodite had her head low. "Please… remove them… Remove all her memories. Get rid of all this torment! Just help her! Give her happy ones!" She looked up at the woman with a look of desperation. "I'm begging you! Remove those memories from her mind! She deserves only happy ones! She never had any! Give her happy ones, please!"
"You want me to give your daughter fake memories? Memories she would have been happy to experience but never had?"
Aphrodite nodded quickly. "Yes!"
"Mama…" Anna put a hand on her mother's shoulder.
"I see…" The woman in white said, her voice disappointed. "So you want to give your daughter something that doesn't exist. An illusion?"
Aphrodite didn't know what to say. "I-I…" Was it really the right thing to do?
"I cannot." The woman in white admitted. "No power on earth can erase what's been done to one's mind. Only she can decide to overcome her past." She touched the rose with her fingertip, making it glow brighter than ever. "I'm only giving her a chance to try. A chance to accept and move on." She turned her head to look at Anna and Aphrodite. "You should too."
They watched as the aura around the rose started to slip away, crawling towards the floor until it reached Elsa's fingertip. The blue rose suddenly turned red then withered rapidly, before the petals fell off.
The woman in white then stood and started walking away. "My time here has finally come to an end."
Aphrodite lifted a hand. "Wait!"
The woman in white stopped but didn't turn.
"Why… Why are you doing this? Why are you helping us?" She asked.
The woman in white was silent for a moment and Aphrodite's eyes widened when she saw the sad look on her face. "This used to be my kingdom… my home. I watched it burn." She finally turned to look at her. "My soul had roamed this land for years… Searching for the right person to rule. Centuries passed and not a single one was worthy." She looked at Elsa. "Until she was born."
"Why Elsa?" Aphrodite asked.
"Royals can't understand famine… nor Pain… nor Loss. But she can. She has something no ruler has." She paused. "She has empathy." She looked up at the sky. "The last time I saw the sky was when I laid their in my garden, dying. I made a wish on that moment."
Everyone listened as they watched her body slowly disappear.
"My wish… was that a brave person would come and give my people hope. I wished for someone to make this kingdom thrive once more." She looked at Aphrodite as half her body was gone. "Rule in her stead, Aphrodite of Arendelle. Rule until she is ready."
Aphrodite's eye widened. "What?... N-No. I can't!"
"Don't cling to your past, O' Silent Queen." The women in white smiled sympathetically. "The past is only a memory."
Her ghostly figure exploded, sending beams of light so strong, it forced everyone to look away.
As they were all busy, struggling against the sudden gust of wind, no one noticed Elsa's eyes opened.
It's been almost a week now since Arendelle's deep secret was unraveled. The ice had finally thawed completely. When the woman in white had disappeared, the dark clouds above the kingdom finally dissipated, allowing for the sun to shine after years of darkness. The citizens started anew, rebuilding their homes, planting new crops, and raising new cattle.
She walked behind Bulda, keeping her hands over the older one's eyes.
Bulda giggled. "Where are you taking me?"
She didn't say a thing.
Aiden walked alongside them, admiring the two with a wide smile. He looked around and waved to some men who were busy rebuilding a small shack after a frozen tree had fallen over it.
"We're here!" She said and removed her hands.
Bulda's eye widened when she saw a small shop with a sign where Bulda's Flowers was painted—with the worst handwriting she had ever seen.
"Surprise!" Elsa jumped in front of her, giving her a big smile.
Bulda didn't know what to say. She looked at her with wide eyes, feeling speechless.
Elsa wore a long teal dress with black sleeves, hiding all her scars. It had Arendelle's golden crest sewed on the chest.
Bulda smiled sympathetically as she looked at the eyepatch Elsa was wearing.
It had worried everyone at first that Elsa's left eye stayed the way it became when she had given herself away to Mad's dark magic to save everyone. However, they were relieved that Elsa's personality hadn't changed and she was still her innocent, cheerful self.
"Bulda?"
Bulda finally snapped out of it, realizing that she was thinking of that dark day.
Elsa tilted her head in worry. "You don't like it?"
Bulda quickly smiled reassuringly. "Are you kidding?!" She hugged her tightly, squeezing her hard. "Of course, I love it!"
Elsa smiled a toothy smile. Her eyes then widened when she heard the bells.
"Looks like it's time." Bulda said and winked.
Elsa looked at her with an urgent look on her face. It's time! It's time! I have to go!
Bulda laughed at her expression. "Well, don't just wait here! Go!" She urged her.
"B-But I wanted to show you!" Elsa said.
Bulda turned her around. "Oh, come on! I'll be fine by myself! Go! You definitely don't wanna miss it!"
Elsa then gasped happily.
Aiden looked towards the castle. "Well, I think we'll make It if we—" He suddenly stopped when he found himself being pulled by Elsa.
"Come on, Aiden!" She grabbed his hand and started running, not noticing that he was blushing hard. "Come on! Come on!" She laughed. "It's time! We're gonna be late!"
He ran behind her in confusion, staring at their hands together and couldn't help but feel utter bliss. For some strange reasons he suddenly started laughing. "Fine! I'll race you!"
They started racing towards the castle gates with him taking the lead. People bowed or curtsied or sent smiles at her as their princess passed.
She smirked and it made his expression change.
He suddenly stumbled by an ice obstacle and fell to the ground. He groaned when he heard her laugh. "No fair! You cheated!"
She only kept running and just gave him an innocent shrug.
He shook his head in amusement at her. His eyes widened when he found himself thinking. Was that… ? He sighed. "Unbelievable."
She ran past an inn and kept rushing towards the castle gates.
Inside, Razor, one of the people who used to be prisoners alongside Elsa, saw her. He elbowed Sasha who was holding a tray of drinks.
They looked at her from the window and smiled together.
"She sure changed." Sasha said. "She was just a kid when we first saw her."
Razor watched her, feeling proud. "Yeah… She's come a long way."
Sasha nodded. "Now… Do you want your drink or not?!"
Aphrodite paced in front of the door that led to the balcony overlooking the courtyard. She kept biting her nails, feeling that her heart was about to burst. "Ah! I'm nervous!" She admitted, wanting to pull her hair.
Rapunzel and Catherine watched her in amusement.
"Of course, you are! You're about to give your first speech as the queen of Arendelle after all these years." Catherine said. "I used to be scared out of my pants, I tell you! Oh! Once I nearly peed my—" She suddenly stopped when she saw the glare on Rapunzel's face.
You're not making things any better! Rapunzel thought, giving her death glares.
Catherine lifted her hands in defense and smiled nervously.
Aphrodited turned to her. "Catherine… you should be the one to rule. It's your right! You are the heir after all!"
Catherine shook her head. "I got rid of that title when I ran away from that world. I'm not worthy of having the title Queen."
Aphrodite gave her a 'really, now?' face. "You're just running away from the hard work, aren't you?"
Catherine turned away with a funny look on her face as she scratched her cheek. "Haha. Maybe?"
Aphrodite facepalmed.
Rapunzel smiled sympathetically at her. "It's strange to see LEANNA so nervous." She deadpanned. "Maybe… Brandon will make you feel better?"
Aphrodite frowned. "Shut up." Her eyes widened a bit when she realized that something really was missing. "Where is Brandon?"
Rapunzel smirked. "Oh, Brandon, Brandon! Save me. Save me from this place! Take me away on your white steed and free me from this castle!"
Aphrodite's fists clenched and she started gritting her teeth. "Y-You…"
Catherine backed away. "U-Uh… Maybe you should really stop." She told Rapunzel with nervousness in her voice.
Rapunzel twirled around, pretending to be a princess in distress. "When shall he come to my aid?! Tomorrow? Next week? Maybe…" She gasped dramatically. "Never?"
Aphrodite's eye twitched. "You know I would have thrown you out the balcony if you weren't having a baby, right?" She said through gritted teeth as Catherine waved her hands at her to cool her down with some air.
Rapunzel stood straighter and puffed her chest. "Two actually." She showed them two fingers.
Aphrodite and Catherine gave her a confused look. "How did you know?" Aphrodite asked.
"Elsa told me!" She said happily.
Aphrodite frowned. "And how did Elsa know?"
Rapunzel thought for a moment. "Beats me." She said with a shrug.
They turned when they heard quick footsteps coming up the stairs. They smiled when Elsa appeared, breathing heavily as she waved. Aphrodite finally relaxed when she saw her.
"Mama…" Elsa greeted and approached with her arms wide.
Aphrodite quickly hugged her, squeezing tighter than she should and still not believing that her daughter was alive. It almost felt like a dream.
Elsa then broke the hug and approached the window. She stared in awe at the crowd down in the courtyard. "So many…"
"Where's Aiden?" Rapunzel asked.
"On the ground." Elsa blurted then moved to the other window.
"Oh, okay." Rapunzel replied. "Wait, what!?"
Aphrodite looked around. "And your sister?"
"I don't know." Elsa said with a blank face then approached her mother and held her hands. "You ready?"
"B-But your sister—"
"She's probably in her room still readying herself." Rapunzel assured.
"But she's late!"
Elsa grabbed her mother from her shoulder and turned her around.
"B-But—" Aphrodite tried to protest but Elsa suddenly pushed her towards the door, forcing her to step outside.
Aphrodite's eyes shot wide when she saw Brandon standing at the balcony in a white suit. His hair neat and slicked back, as for his graying beard, it was cleanly cut. Anna stood to his right with Kristoff at her side. She was smiling and hopping in her place. She felt as if she was about to burst from excitement. She wore a green dress and her hair was up in a bun.
Aphrodite had her jaw open in shock. She looked down and saw that practically the entire kingdom was gathered in the courtyard. "Brandon… What the hell are you wearing?" She asked, totally oblivious.
Rapunzel and Catherine facepalmed.
Brandon looked like he was about to faint from nervousness. Sweat came down his forehead and he couldn't open his mouth to speak.
Tyler stood to his left with a stoic face. He sighed and slapped him—too hard—on his back. Maybe that was supposed to be the encouraging pat on the shoulder but Tyler had his ways.
Brandon gulped then walked towards her until he was standing a few feet away. Awkwardly, he knelt.
Aphrodite's shoulders lifted and everyone saw the troubled look on her face.
Rapunzel bit her lip, hoping that her fears wouldn't come true. Come on, Aphrodite… You love him!
Brandon inhaled from his nose then spoke. "A-Aphrodite of Arendelle… U-Uh… Will you marry me?"
Aphrodite didn't reply.
Everyone waited.
"Brandon…" Aphrodite started, her face haunted.
Brandon lowered his head, not wanting to look at her expression.
Rapunzel put a hand over her mouth. No… No! This was supposed to be a happy ending for them! I thought she loved him!
Everyone felt disappointed as Aphrodite didn't give an answer. The look on her face said it all.
Anna's smile fell.
Elsa was the only one left smiling.
Brandon then felt Aphrodite's hands cup his cheek.
Slowly, she lifted his head to stare at his eyes. She wiped away a stray tear from his cheek and smiled. "You don't have to ask."
"Huh?!" Brandon didn't believe his ears. "Wait, what?! Yes? You mean, YES!? As in YES!?"
Aphrodite giggled. "Yes."
"Yes!?" He asked again, wanting to hear it again and again.
"YES!" Aphrodite confirmed.
He quickly hugged her and lifted her off the floor. "YES!"
"Yes!" Elsa through her hands in the air happily.
Anna turned around to address the citizens. "She said YES!"
"She said YES!" The citizens shouted all in unison before a loud roar erupted from them as they cheered and shouted blessings for their queen.
Brandon twirled his wife around, feeling utter bliss as she gave off carefree laughs.
Rapunzel exhaled loudly and put a hand on her heart. "I'm so glad!"
"Sure thing!" Catherine agreed.
"Who know! Maybe you're next!" Rapunzel said with a smirk.
"What?" Catherine was confused.
"Mmm?" Rapunzel teased, getting too close to her. "I saw the way you look at Tyler and I also saw the way he looks at YOU!"
"Oh, shut up!" She pushed her face away, making her laugh.
"Everyone!" Anna called out, letting everyone look at her. "Since the proposal went so well, Elsa here, have something to say. Elsa and I've been preparing a speech all that time for our new lovely couple." She turned to Elsa. "Ready?"
"Yes!" Elsa held out a paper.
Aphrodite smiled at the two as she put a hand on Brandon's which was already on her shoulder.
"Okay, okay!" Elsa silenced everyone.
Catherine crossed her arms. "This should be interesting."
Rapunzel looked nervous. "More like horrifying." So Anna helped Elsa write a speech… Oh, boy...
Elsa stood next to Anna and coughed, holding the paper way too close to her face. "Mama and step-papa… I want to let you know… That…" She read slowly, still new to the reading thing. "My heart is f—… filled with happiness today… to see you very, very happy and… in love."
Aphrodite giggled at her.
"C—… Con—… Congra—" She frowned and showed Anna the paper.
"Congratulation." Anna helped with a smile.
"Congratu— Congra— That one." She pointed at the word 'congratulation' and continued reading, ignoring this stupid hard word. "To the happy couple… on their wedding day."
Rapunzel facepalmed. This isn't their wedding day! It's just a proposal!
Tyler rolled his eyes and shook his head in amusement.
"So much love… lays a head—"
"Ahead." Anna corrected. This isn't decapitation! She thought.
"Ahead of you… and the best… is yet to come. So peel potatoes… together."
Aphrodite and Brandon blushed really hard.
Anna leaned towards her with a frown. "I didn't put that part in. Why did you?!" She whispered.
"Hm?" Elsa tilted her head. "Why not?"
Anna sighed. "Nevermind. Just continue."
Elsa smiled again and looked back at the paper. "So be happy… A-And never… be b—…b—"
"Blue." Anna helped yet again.
Elsa stared at the paper with a blank face.
Everyone waited in silence. They could even hear a cricket!
They didn't know what was going on in that head of hers. She just stood there blinking at the paper.
She lowered the paper and stared out into space. Why couldn't she get the words right?! "Fuck." She cursed for not reading the speech correctly.
Everyone flinched at the word with even Anna recoiling. They looked at her as if she just said the most horrifying thing in the world.
Silence.
A crow passed by.
Still silence.
"The end!" Elsa suddenly exclaimed with a smile and threw the paper in the air. "You may kiss the bride." She said too quickly and folded her hands in front of her; a big oblivious smile on her face.
Rapunzel was trying her best not to burst out laughing as she kept her hand over her mouth. Way to go, Anna… You did a GREAT job helping her out. She thought.
Anna blinked. "W-Well, uhm… T-Thank you… Elsa… Wonderful speech!" She clapped and Elsa puffed her chest, beaming with pride.
"This isn't a walk on the isle but… Oh, well!" Anna turned to the couple.
Both of their eyes widened. "W-Wait, WHAT?! R-Right now?!" They said in unison.
"Yes!" Everyone shouted back.
Aphrodite and Brandon both tensed up. They turned to look at each other and smiled awkwardly.
"U-Uhm… Y-Yeah. We need to—" Aphrodite started.
"Yeah, yeah! U-uh… a kiss. Haha…" Brandon continued.
They approached each other and leaned forward. "Y-Your nose…" Aphrodite said.
"Oh sorry!" Brandon held his nose.
Rapunzel watched them with a frown. "You're not kids for crying out loud! JUST KISS ALREADY!" She suddenly blurted.
Their lips finally made contact and they kissed passionately.
The crowd cheered in joy.
Elsa hugged Anna from the side as the latter wiped away her tears.
When their lips parted the guards rushed to lift them up on their shoulders.
Two lifted Aphrodite but as for Brandon, the other two were having trouble. A third finally joined and they were able to lift him.
Everyone clapped and cheered and Elsa couldn't help but stare in awe. She had never seen her mother so happy. Like… Ever.
She suddenly found herself being lifted as well and she looked down in confusion to see Tyler.
He smirked. "You deserve to be lifted as well, kiddo!" He shouted through the loud cheers.
Rapunzel watched as Elsa, Aphrodite and everyone laughed, enjoying their time.
"It's strange seeing her like this." She said.
Catherine looked at her.
"When she first came to us… She was so packed with fear and hate that she had no place for happiness nor Love."
Catherine then watched Elsa's joyful expression.
"Her life wasn't perfect… But she still found it in her heart to see the beauty in it. Many would have had their eyes clouded." Rapunzel continued then looked down at her tummy. "We've all lost someone or something precious to us." She thought of Flynn. "But to be honest… Just by seeing her like this gives me hope."
Catherine gave her a sympathetic smile. "I know how you feel. If she can still smile… So can we."
Rapunzel smiled back in appreciation. "Couldn't agree more."
Four hours later…
She stood at the top of a hill, eyeing the lonely gravestone overlooking the sunset. The sun was drowning in the horizon, its rays of light glimmering and turning the sky red and orange. She knelt down and placed a flower bouquet in front of the gravestone. "You did a lot of mistakes, Brother." Catherine said. "But I still love you none the less. I'll always forgive you." She smiled and put a hand over the stone, knowing that she would be the only one to ever visit his grave.
She was happy that the others were all back in Arendelle, enjoying Aphrodite and Brandon's celebration.
Her eyes widened when she felt a presence behind her. She quickly turned and saw a cloaked figure dressed all in black. She pulled her knife out. "Who are you?!"
The figure didn't answer. She simply removed her hood.
Catherine's shoulders relaxed. "Oh, it's you. Sorry." She put her knife back in her belt. "I thought you were one of those bounty hunters."
"Didn't mean to scare you." She said and held a single white rose up between her first and second finger for her to see.
Catherine's eyes were wide. "I didn't think you'd come here… of all people."
"Part of me didn't want to." She knelt and placed the flower next to Catherine's offering. "Maybe doing this is part of moving on."
Catherine gave her a skeptical look. "Why?" She asked. "Why are you here?"
She smiled. "Is it really this shocking for me to visit my father's grave?"
Catherine furrowed her eyebrows. "It is, Elsa… It is."
Elsa smirked, eyeing the knife in Catherine's belt. "You don't need that."
Catherine was taken aback since she had her hand ready on her knife.
"I mean no harm." Elsa said while she looked her in the eye.
"Like I'm ever gonna believe that." Catherine harshly said.
Elsa then stood, turned and started walking away.
"Leave Elsa alone." Catherine said, feeling a bit nervous.
Elsa stopped and turned to look at her. "Leave her alone?" She asked in surprise.
For some reason Catherine felt guilty for saying it.
Elsa looked away. "It's like asking someone to rip her own limbs off."
To Catherine's surprise, Elsa was smiling. It wasn't a sinister smile. It was... Sad.
"For how could I make a part of myself disappear?" Elsa said, staring at her hand. "Do you think—" She sighed. "Do you think… people will ever accept me?"
"It only depends on you." She said, keeping her hand on the knife.
Elsa huffed sarcastically and her smirk was back. "Maybe." She turned and started walking away again, putting her hood on. "You never know."
Catherine watched her frame get smaller and smaller. She sighed in relief, realizing that she was holding her breath. "Elsa of Arendelle… You are really something."
Until we see each other again in the TIBB continuation!
Anyway! Hope you enjoyed this story :) it took me two years to write xD And i met a lot of awesome people along the way and it was an amazing journey for me and it literally changed my life in so many ways. Since now i'll be more busy writing an original book (triology) i'll have little free time to update TIBB II and i guess since i'll be busy with uni and all that... well you can tell :P
I wanna give special thanks to
Loridhhp
ymke1000
powerstaark
Elsa Tomago
DjBennyD
And MANY MANY others but I can't write ALL of them xD Thank you so much guys! It's been a REALLLLLLY long ride and many readers stayed faithful to me and I can't thank them enough. Now I would honestly REALLY love to know who had been with me ever since I started this story cause I wanna KISS THEM!
Everyone here really changed my life. I've met many people who have opened their hearts for me and I can't tell you how much respect I have for you guys.
THE GRAMMAR! God the grammar! I can't say how much I love you guys for bearing with me! I mean I still flinch at my old chaps and wonder how the hell did people READ that?! Hahahah. A lot of you helped me develop my writing skills and I thank you for it :*
Lastely, i hope one day you'll read a book with my name on it ;)
Thank you, thank you, thank you all.
Peace out!
Lany.