All's Made New
"Is everyone okay?" Heinrick asked with trepidation from his position on the ground. The entire expedition team, including the 20-man Queen's Own guard contingent, sat or lay about on the castle courtyard, some of them rubbing at a strained arm or leg, and many of them gripping a whiplashed neck. Members of the castle staff now moved among them, their mood somewhere between genuinely desiring to help and shellshocked.
"Great misty mountain morning!" Kristoff shouted as he stumbled to his feet, massaging his neck. "Mwebe, how could you get this so wrong?!" He spun around angrily. "Mwebe?!" He looked at the others. "Where's Mwebe?"
The group all looked about in confusion.
"I know he was in the gondola," Ambrelle said. "We both got tangled up with Sven's antlers."
They heard a -boom- as something struck the canopy of ice overhead. Everyone tensed for a second as they looked upward.
"I think I saw him go into the castle," Olaf said.
Anna approached, letting go of the arm she had been rubbing so she could put a calming hand on Kristoff's chest. "Kristoff, it's not his fault," she said calmly. "It's not like he knocked the thing out of the sky."
"Couldn't we have been more prepared?!"
Elsa had slumped down onto the courtyard cobblestones. She was sitting with her knees drawn to her chest and arms wrapped about them. "I hardly think so, Kristoff," she said distantly. "We wouldn't have been so close, of course, but what else would we have done? What precedent is there for this? Would we really have grasped the gravity?" There was another -boom-, and this time everyone noticed as Elsa flinched with a pained scowl.
Heinrick strode to her with concern and knelt at her left. He put a hand on each of her shoulders. Her breathing was rapid. "Elsa, you're shaking," he said softly.
She sagged over against him. "It hurts," she said in a tiny voice. "So much ice has died." She took a ragged breath as she flexed each of her hands open and shut with detached curiosity. "It's all I can feel."
- - Boom - -
She flinched, then glanced upward. "Well, that and my shield."
Anna had joined them, kneeling to Elsa's right. "You need some rest. Do you think you can rest?"
"No... I'm having to repair the damage each time something -"
- - Boom - -
Elsa flinched and squeezed her eyes shut tightly.
Heinrick pursed his lips. "You won't be able to keep this up forever," he said.
"It can't last forever, can it?" she asked through gritted teeth.
Heinrick worked his jaw. "No. No, it can't. But it might outlast you."
"My kingdom ..." Elsa lamented. "My people ..."
"They need to know what's going on," said Heinrick. He and Anna's eyes met.
"Right," she said with artificial enthusiasm. "I'm on it. Kristoff, let's go!"
Kristoff's eyes were focused on a point in the distance. "I need to check on Grandpabbie and the others ..." he said.
"I'm sorry, Kristoff," said Elsa, "I can't let anyone go anywhere right now."
He nodded with grim understanding and then made his way over to where Sven was laying on the ground. Ambrelle lay against him with her arm around his neck. "How are you, buddy?" He switched to his Sven voice. "A little woozy." Kristoff exchanged a glance with Ambrelle and then patted him on the back of the neck. "Looks like you're in good hands. I'll check on you later."
Heinrick and Elsa watched Kristoff and Anna exit the castle grounds. "How can I make you more comfortable?" Heinrick asked.
She flinched. "Get me somewhere quiet, please," she whispered. He helped her to her feet and the pair headed for the castle door.
- - Boom - -
Elsa bowed her head with a muted moan and her left knee buckled. Heinrick bore her up by the elbow. He went to take the next step, but she put up a hand, begging silently for a moment of recovery. After several seconds, she gave a small nod, and resumed her wobbly assisted walk to the door.
Heinrick entered the receiving room where Anna was seated to Elsa's right on the couch. Both of them had dark circles under their eyes. Elsa perched on the edge of her seat with her back straight and her hands intertwined in her lap. She was staring at a point in the distance, her eyes glassy. She did not turn to regard him. A tray of uneaten food sat on the coffee table between the couch and the fireplace.
"Hey," Heinrick said quietly.
Anna tried to stifle a yawn but had to settle for attempting to conceal it with her right hand. "Hey," she said. She ran her left hand gently down Elsa's back and then rose. As she passed Heinrick, she thumped him on the shoulder with the back of her hand. "You're it." When she reached the door she turned back. "Maybe you can get her to rest." She huffed and placed a hand on the door frame. "I'll give you ... well I don't think I have anything that you'd want or need. But I'd give about anything if you could get her to rest. Or eat." She pursed her lips with a concerned frown. "She's hurting herself." Heinrick nodded grimly. Anna shut the door quietly.
Heinrick sat in the silence for awhile watching Elsa stare. And wince. And breathe. "I don't know how you do it," he said just above a whisper. In spite of their present circumstances, he found himself taking advantage of the opportunity to study her from head to toe. In spite of the dark circles under her eyes, she was still beautiful. Absolutely beautiful. And the greater part of her beauty was somewhere between suspended animation and yet on clear display in the way she was giving herself for her people. "May it be," the words moved silently across his lips. Then he cleared his throat and wrestled his thoughts back in order.
He looked at her awhile longer, trying to think of what he could do to help. Playing the harpsichord seemed a bit intrusive. He didn't think of himself as much of a singer, but if it would help ... He began to hum. He hummed children's lullabies he recalled from his youth. He hummed the Mittergaard and Arendelle national anthems. He hummed songs that had become special to him over the years. He hummed just about every tune he could think of, and doubtless there were some repeats. And along the way, he thought he saw a bit of relaxation in her tense shoulders and back. "Elsa," he attempted softly. "You need food and rest." She didn't respond; she just sat in her trance. "Water, at least," he said. He took the cup from the coffee table and lifted it to her lips. Her lips moved slightly as though having to relearn how to respond. Then she took the water as he tipped the cup. He smiled warmly. "Good girl," he whispered.
She tipped her chin when she was finished to stanch the flow. A moment later, she whispered, "thank you."
Heinrick jumped on the opportunity. "How are you?"
"Fine," she whispered after a moment.
"No, how are you, really?"
"I have to be fine."
Heinrick pursed his lips. "You're hurting yourself, My Light. Arendelle is still going to need a queen when this is over."
Her lips twitched as though contemplating an answer, but ultimately, she did not reply. After several long minutes of silence, Heinrick conceded that the conversation was over. He sighed with disappointment.
Tick, tock
Tick, tock
Tick, tock
Heinrick drummed his fingers on the back of the couch. The sound from the clock seemed to grow louder and louder. Heinrick noted the tension again in Elsa's shoulders and returned to his humming. Some time later he glanced at the clock and realized that it was far past lunch time. The sandwich on the tray (Anna must have been involved) looked mighty good. He looked at the sandwich. He looked at Elsa. In the time that he had been here, she hadn't moved, other than flinching. Her eyes were red and glassy, the bags below them more sunken, but her back and shoulders remained stiff.
"I'm going to eat your sandwich, Elsa," he said provocatively. He reached for it slowly while watching her eyes. Equally slowly he lifted it to his mouth and took a bite. "Mmmmmmmm," he mused. He took several more bites. "Are you sure you don't want some? I think there must be chocolate in here. Yeah. Chocolate. Choooocoooolaaaaaaate."
Heinrick made a mental note never to engage Elsa in any staring contests or battles of will.
The day inched past with few interruptions. Kristoff stuck his head in a few times to see how she was, and Gerda came around at dinner time to remove the tray and replace it with two others, one for each of them. "Did she eat?" she asked. Heinrick shook his head. She sighed in disappointment and went her way. By the end of the day Elsa's eyelids were drooping and her breath shallow. And Heinrick was going hoarse from humming.
Anna entered quietly and frowned immediately when she saw Elsa's uneaten food. She approached with her arms crossed. "Mwebe turned up," she said. She cleared her throat.
"Really? Where has he been?"
"The dungeon, it seems" She raised a hand suddenly to intercept his judgement. "And it wasn't Kristoff's fault! It was his own choice." She paused. "You need to talk to him."
"I will." Heinrick rose to leave and thumped Anna on the shoulder with the back of his hand as they passed. "You're it." She responded with a wooden smile and a light cough.
After a few inquiries, Heinrick located Mwebe on the bench in the garden, facing the north fjord face. It was pitch dark here until he arrived with his lantern. The water sloshed lazily against the banks. Mwebe sat with his elbows on his knees. He looked up when Heinrick approached and shifted over on the bench to give him space. Heinrick sat beside him and held his peace. There was a long silence.
"My forefathers have been deemed crazy by many over the years," Mwebe said at last. His deep voice seemed deeper still as he brooded. He sighed. "Crazy but right. That's why the people kept coming back for advice and help." He sat in silence listening to the water and the occasional - - boom - - from above. Heinrick's heart wrenched each time he heard it. "I should have fought," he hissed. "I should have demanded to be heard. To hell with my reputation! I should have scrabbled on the door of anyone who would listen!" He shook his head and finally made eye contact with Heinrick and cleared his throat. "I'm so sorry," he said.
"You didn't know," Heinrick replied. The pair returned to silence. "Anna told me you were in the dungeon?"
He chuckled. "Not penance," he said, "trying to figure out Lon." He picked a piece of dirt off his olive green breeches. "She has never led me astray." He shook his head in disbelief. "Do you know what she said? She said she is happy." Mwebe nodded at the consternation on Heinrick's face. "Yes. Happy. She has received one of her own." He looked back at the ground. "I've always known not to confuse nature with the earth. It is a distinction taught early in our family. But I don't think I realized how divorced from one another the two are." He slapped his knee with his hand. "Lon could care less if any of us live. She was here before we came and she will be here long after we are gone."
Heinrick looked at the ground as he pondered Mwebe's words. Thinking of the earth - and air, and water, and fire - as something self-aware was nearly impossible to get his head around. He wondered if the earth regarded humanity as a blessing or a curse. Apparently 'she' barely regarded humanity at all.
A pitiful sight greeted Heinrick when he arrived at the receiving room the next morning. Elsa's face looked grey. She was still sitting on the edge of the couch, but her back was no longer straight and her shoulders were sagged. Her pupils, nested in red eyes, were barely visible below her eyelids. And everything was covered with snow, which continued to fall lightly.
Finally, in the middle of the afternoon, he had to catch her as she toppled off the couch. It might have been a precious moment had she fainted into his arms, but he had to fling his sandwich and dive to catch her as she fell away from him. He lay on the floor with the unconscious queen sprawled face-down across his chest, her platinum blond braid trailing off to the side. Sandwich parts were everywhere. "Well, My Light. We shall have to make do without you for awhile." He stifled a cough. He worked his way carefully out from under her and then scooped her up, cradling her in his arms. He looked down at her drawn and exhausted face. So beautiful. And strong. And fragile. He couldn't help the loving smile. Getting the door open was tricky, but once completed, he soon happened upon a staff member as he carried Elsa to her bedroom. By the time he reached it, Kristoff, Ambrelle, and Gerda were at his side. He laid her tenderly on her bed and Gerda covered her with the blankets.
"She's earned it," Kristoff murmured. Their eyes all went to the ceiling at the next - - boom - - and they held their collective breath.
"No," Ambrelle whimpered. "Your Majesty - Your Majesty -," she said with restrained urgency, "we need -" She was reaching to touch the queen when then they heard the sound of a thunderous roaring waterfall. They all exchanged a glance and raced back to the receiving room and out onto the balcony.
Enceladus was putting the finishing touches on a massive pillar of ice. It stretched from the town square all the way to the canopy overhead. Its base took up the entire town square. Its smooth sides glowed in the light of the town's gas lamps. The dragon added a few more puffs of ice, and then, apparently satisfied, settled back onto water to the east of the castle.
"Great misty mountain morning," breathed a wide-eyed Kristoff.
Later that evening, Kristoff sat on the top terrace step of the courtyard wearing his leather tunic and pants. Ambrelle sat at his side in an ivory dress with gold trim that followed the line of decorative buttons from its neckline to its hem, and down the outside of both long sleeves. He ran his whittling knife slowly down the length of the six-inch piece of wood he was holding, then coughed. "I sure am ready to see the sun again," he said. "Further north the sun never rises during the winter. I couldn't stand it." Ambrelle nodded silently. The town was lit by its normal nighttime gas lamps and torches, but in all respects, it had been a three-day night. Kristoff covered his mouth with the back of his hand as he coughed a second time. "I hope I'm not getting sick," he mumbled.
Ambrelle shook her head. "No," she said, then cleared her throat. "It's the air. It's getting stale."
He glanced her way with an inquisitive eye. "Stale?"
"When I make a traveling bubble under the water, the air gets stale quickly." She looked up and around. The castle torches danced in her evergreen eyes. "This is a big bubble."
"Oh!" She had his full attention now.
"And what's more, these lamps and fires are filling it up with smoke." She cleared her throat again. "It's affecting all of us."
Kristoff sighed and hung his hands across his thighs with the wood and whittling knife dangling between his legs. "Why didn't I think of that? I've had the same thing happen when camping in caves." He pursed his lips in thought. "We're going to have to put these fires out."
"Everyone's fireplace will have to be put out too. It will be pitch dark."
Kristoff nodded. "That's not gonna work." He sighed again. "I hope Elsa wakes up soon with a bright idea. Otherwise, I'm going to have to chip a tunnel through her canopy." He shook his head. "As thick as it is, I think we'd all be dead before I finished." He looked up and around. "We should put out as many of these fires as we can live without, though." He pushed himself to his feet. "I need to talk with Anna and Heinrick about it. Do you want to come?" She nodded and rose also.
They found Heinrick, Princess Yasmina, and Olaf in Elsa's receiving room. "Hey everyone. Is Anna with Elsa?" Kristoff asked.
Heinrick nodded and then rubbed at his eyes. "Yes. It's her shift. I need to get some sleep." He coughed.
"Yeah, that," Kristoff noted. "Ambrelle says we're running out of air and the town's lights and fireplaces are filling up our 'big bubble' with smoke."
Heinrick stood with his mouth slightly open as he processed what Kristoff had just said.
"I know! A chimney!" Olaf said cheerfully.
"Yeah, that would be great, little buddy," Kristoff said with a patient smile, "but I don't think we're getting one until Elsa wakes up."
Olaf persisted. "Well then just push the smoke over to where it's not bothering anyone." He looked at Yasmina. "You can do that, right?"
She looked back, startled. Then she thought for a moment. "No ... I cannot. I apologize."
Olaf looked at the rug with a downcast expression. "Bummer." He kicked at a spot on the floor. "I mean, you're the Weather Princess, and all you have to do is push the bad air over there and push the good air over here -"
Ambrelle knelt by his side. "The problem is that it's all mixed together, Olaf. If you push it, it all pushes together. I can't separate dirty water from clean water, either," she explained.
"How about your water horse?" Heinrick asked suddenly. "Can he separate dirty water from clean?"
Ambrelle thought for a moment. "Yes. Yes, he has done that for Johan and me."
Heinrick looked at the Princess firmly. "Princess Yasmina, it might be time for you to see what 'Kaze no Ryū' can do for us."
She stared back in wide-eyed shock. The room was dead silent. "No!" she insisted. "You do not understand!" She stood a step backward towards the door. "It is not allowed!"
Ambrelle stepped ahead of Heinrick. "Your Highness, can you help us understand?"
Yasmina eyed Ambrelle with misgiving. Her expression moved through uncertainty as she searched for words. "People ... and spirits ... They do not ... they do not work for us! They must be honored! Only bad people try, make them work! In Shinyo such people are killed!"
Ambrelle nodded. "I did not go looking for the water spirit, Your Highness. He came looking for me. The same is true for Johan, and probably for Mr. Otongo. Queen Elsa believes the air spirit is looking for you." She paused in thought. "The water spirit does as he likes. I do not make him work for me. I just ask for what I need." Yasmina looked unconvinced. "Think of it like a prayer."
There was another long silence while the Princess studied Ambrelle's face closely. Finally, she gave the tiniest of nods. "A prayer," she said. She looked at the others. "I will pray." She turned and glided from the room with her hands folded in front of her and her head bowed.
Heinrick moved forward and placed his hand on Ambrelle's far shoulder. He smiled warmly. "Duchess Ambrelle, sometimes I forget that you're only fourteen!"
Ambrelle clasped her hands in front of her and bowed her head shyly. "Well actually I turned fifteen on the boat to Delavia," she said with a note of pride. "June 19th."
"Oh!" Heinrick exclaimed. "That was right after you left us! Why didn't you say anything?"
"Everyone was busy ..."
"You should have said something - we might have at least given you a flute of champagne!" Ambrelle blushed in humiliation as Heinrick laughed.
They rejoined Princess Yasmina on the courtyard terrace. Her jaw was tight and there was fear in her eyes. She glanced aside at them. "A prayer," she repeated apprehensively. Heinrick nodded. She closed her eyes and took a long settling breath, in through her nose and out through her mouth. They all stood silently. She opened her eyes and scanned the courtyard and the valley face beyond. After several minutes of silence, she whispered, "there!" Her folded hands sprang apart and she took a step backward.
Heinrick stepped into her path of retreat. She gave a short, sharp gasp as he gripped her from behind by the shoulders. "Princess Yasmina," he said quietly but firmly, close to her ear, "it's time you gave this a try. The rest of us trust Queen Elsa. I think you do too. It's time to act on that trust."
She stood motionless for a long moment, and then finally gave a quick tense nod. Heinrick let go of her and stepped back. She remained motionless, her arms riveted to her sides, paralyzed with fear, as the barely visible perturbations in the smoky air swirled slowly closer. Finally, hesitantly, she lifted a shaking right hand. Twice she brought it back down. Her breathing was so rapid that Heinrick was concerned she would faint. On the third try, she persevered, bringing her hand all the way up to the height of a horse's nose.
Heinrick watched, transfixed. He couldn't be sure whether or not it was Yasmina who had moved her hand, but he distinctly saw it give a little, as though something had been pressed against it. Yasmina let out a little muffled squeak and then clapped her left hand over her mouth. He could see a tear pressed from the corner of her eye. She was shaking - all except for that extended right hand. She stood in that position for a full minute, and then pulled her left hand briefly from over her mouth. "Ka -" It was all she got out, and then her hand went back into place, and she stood shaking for another full minute as tears flowed down her cheeks. She caught her breath and tried again. "Kaze ... Kaze no Ryū -"
A sudden gust of wind whipped across the courtyard, causing Yasmina to withdraw her offered hand and cry out in fright. She dropped to her knees and sat shivering with her head bowed and her hands between her knees. At length, she looked up again, panting as though she had just run a marathon, and gradually reached up her right hand once more. Heinrick again saw it give just a little. Yasmina squeezed her eyes shut when it did.
"Kaze no Ryū," she repeated as she reopened her eyes. There was a desperate edge to her voice. "Watashi wa anata no tasuke ga hitsuyōdesu," she poured out plaintively. There was another gust of wind, this one larger than the first, but Yasmina held her ground. Then the air became still. Yasmina paused, and then looked to the right, then to the left. She turned about to look at Heinrick. "He is gone," she said with bewilderment.
"No," said Ambrelle. "Look up there!" She pointed at the top of the canopy. Yasmina saw it immediately and gasped. Heinrick had to squint, but then he saw it too: there was a swirling motion at the top of the canopy, as though a fish was darting back and forth across its bowl.
As Heinrick watched, the 'fish' became increasingly easier to see, although following its ricocheting motion in the darkness was nearly impossible. "I see it!" he said with awe.
"Oh, no!" Yasmina exclaimed as she put both hands to her mouth. What is happening to him?"
The spirit got darker and darker, and the air got clearer and clearer, until the job was done. The air was as clear and pure as a new spring morning.
"Yes!" Kristoff gave a quiet fist-pump.
"Thank you, Princess," Heinrick said, but she did not look happy. She looked grief-stricken. She held out her hand in the same way she had done before, and he turned to see why.
There, gliding over the rampart like a low storm cloud, was a long, charcoal serpentine creature. It reached their location and touched Yasmina's hand with its nose. It was about eight feet tall and maybe a hundred feet long. Its facial features resembled an ornate mask - not quite human, but not quite animal. Along its length, near the front, middle, and back, were features that looked like vertically oriented fins, although they weren't nearly large enough to explain its rapid motion. It floated there in front of the Princess, its head motionless and its body rippling slowly like a long pennant in a gentle breeze.
Yasmina choked through her tears. "Hontōni mōshiwakenai," she cried.
The spirit's head changed shape, morphing into a large likeness of Princess Yasmina's mourning face as though reflected in a giant mirror, complete with the semblance of her tears. Yasmina looked back, stunned. Then it twisted its head back and forth like a dog shaking off water. As it did so, its face returned to its original form. In a burst of wind, it streaked away to the east, disappearing over the rampart and out of sight. They heard a splash from the water beyond.
"The water?" Ambrelle said. She ran to the rampart and mounted the steep steps.
Princess Yasmina, with a dazed stare, flopped inelegantly into a W-sitting position.
Heinrick patted her on the shoulder. "Thank you," he said. He made his way onto the rampart and joined Ambrelle. An inky black smudge floated in the water there, gradually dispersing.
Kristoff was the third to arrive. "That'll work," he said.
Ambrelle couldn't help herself. "Yuck. We're sorry, Bubble."
When Elsa opened her eyes, she saw Ambrelle in a chair at her left, attempting to read a book by the light of the single candle. "Ambrelle -" the girl jumped in place and fumbled her book to the floor "- that will hurt your eyes," she whispered.
"Your Majesty! Oh!" She scrambled from the chair. "I'll get the others!"
"No, wait," Elsa said weakly. "How ... how long have I been asleep?"
"Three days, Your Majesty."
Elsa felt for the ice. Her shield, although fractured, was still in place, thank heavens, with a number of pillars bearing it up. Thank you, Great One.
You're welcome, Mother.
She wiggled her fingers. She could feel the bed sheets. She closed her eyes again and smiled with delight. "How is everything?"
"Fairly good. The banging has stopped. Enceladus has been propping up your canopy. But we're running out of air."
Elsa took a deep breath. Now that Ambrelle mentioned it, the room did seem stuffy. She nodded without opening her eyes. "We need to see what it's like outside before I take it down."
"Yes, Your Majesty. Shall I get the others now?"
"No; help me up." She brushed the blankets aside and swung her legs off the bed.
"I don't think you should -"
Elsa took Ambrelle's hand and rose, only to flop to the floor yanking a shrieking Ambrelle down with her.
"I'm sorry," they said in unison.
"Shall I get the others now?" Ambrelle repeated as she helped Elsa up.
Elsa nodded with some embarrassment. She reclined on the bed again as Ambrelle left the room. She wasn't sure when they arrived, or even if it was the same day. She heard Heinrick's easy voice next to her ear.
"It's good to see a smile on your face, My Light."
She peeked out through one eye. Then she brought one hand up and held it out for him. When he took it, she pulled it to her chest. "You caught me," she said. "I remember." They shared a warm smile. "And you have a pretty good sense of pitch." His smile broadened into a grin. He drew her hand back to him and gave it a long kiss on the knuckles without breaking eye contact. She felt a tingle travel up her back. Her face began to redden.
Anna grabbed Kristoff and Ambrelle by the arms and began to drag them towards the door. "Well we'll just be going ..."
It was the rescue from herself that Elsa needed. "No; please." She held her hand out to Anna. Anna responded with a slightly disapproving frown, but came forward and took it. "Thank you, too, for all your care, Anna." She looked at them each in turn. "I don't know what I would do without you." After a moment of warm silence, she said, "I'd like to see outside."
"Perhaps tomorrow?" said Heinrick. "You can barely stand."
Elsa looked from person to person. "Okay," she conceded.
"And in the meantime," he continued, "I'll catch you up on things." She nodded. "Princess Yasmina has made an uncanny new friend."
The next 'day,' such as it was, what with the extra rest, some food, and determination, Elsa insisted. They accompanied her watchfully to the balcony off her receiving room. By the time she got there, she was out of breath. The others, she noted, were also breathing heavily. The view was remarkable. Enceladus' pillars were numerous, and each one gave off a glow near the base where the town lights illuminated them. That glow gradually diminished into the blackness overhead. The townspeople had taken advantage of this phenomenon, gathering lights and lighting fires around the pillars. The result was similar to a moonlit night.
"Let's take a look outside," said Elsa, with more confidence than she felt. She, Anna, Ambrelle, Heinrick, and Kristoff took horses to the edge of the town where the barrier of ice curved down to meet the ground. By the time they arrived, the horses were breathing as though having completed a hard run. Elsa dismounted and patted her horse on the neck. "I'm sorry, friend. Let's see if we can get that fixed." She walked ahead of the group and touched the barrier with her hand. A hole a little taller than Kristoff fell away to the tunnel floor as powdery snow. The tunnel was a good 200 feet in length, but not very bright at the end.
Kristoff looked up its length and whistled. "Wow, Elsa, This is quite a piece of work." He touched the tunnel side appreciatively. Elsa went to pass him, but he put out his arm to block her way. "Let me take a first look." She stood back with deference, recognizing this as one of those times when Kristoff wouldn't take 'no' for an answer. He proceeded slowly and cautiously along its length as the four of them watched. When he reached the end, they heard him exclaim something, but they couldn't make out the words. He turned back down the tunnel. "Okay, Elsa? This is probably not as bad as it looks," he called back grimly.
Elsa swallowed hard. She exchanged a glance with the others and then gathered her skirt for the walk over the uneven surface. Her pulse was racing. When she reached the exit, she gasped and covered her mouth with her hand.
All the trees and grass were gone. The bleak landscape was strewn by blackened boulders large and small. An eerie wind blew, pelting them with grinding sand. The water was murky and dark. The sky was overcast and grey.
The sky ...
She could tell it was some hazy state of daytime, but she couldn't make out the sun through the dismal cloud cover.
It was just like the sky had been in her vision atop the North Mountain.
All's made new; what's past is past.
"NO", she screamed. She took two steps back and bumped against the dome of ice.
T'is what's committed to the ice, will last.
"NOOO!"
A/N: Yasmina's two phrases are "I need your help, please," and "I'm so sorry."