A/N: Henlo! Sorry because I haven't posted in a while. I tried to go back to my old writing habits, that's part of the reason why it took me so long to update. Still, I hope you'll enjoy it.
Where magic met reality, two broken women wandered around the hallways of the unknown. The cold air washed over their skin and met the warmth of their blood beneath the surface. They both looked exhausted and worn out, and Cassandra felt a sharp pain in both wrists. It was the price of their escape, new torture. Her restraints, those handcuffs were unbearable, and even if it meant another kind of suffering, Cassandra was grateful for Elsa's kindness, and she'll make sure to express her gratitude. They both lost their powers, and they knew it, even without asking the other person. But Elsa got the worst. While Cassandra was already insane thanks to her past captivities, Elsa...sweet, precious and innocent Elsa never experienced such craziness in her life. Living in the same room for thirteen years is entirely different than being held as a hostage, and it was sure affecting the blonde's mental health. But it's okay. The damage has been done, but Cassandra knew that love will thaw, and together they can do anything.
Cassandra's gaze turned to the blonde, and her heart ached at the sight. But they kept going because they knew they couldn't stop. Movement keeps them somewhat warm, and this is exactly what they need. But their prison seemed endless, just like a lover's eyes, and they found no exit. One time they stumbled upon Elsa's cell, and the Queen immediately felt her stomach tighten with disgust. They left that unholy place as fast as they could, and soon, they discovered a ladder that led up to a door. It was like a sparkle of hope, a tiny flame that can be their way out of this terrible place, the holder of countless bad memories.
The two exchanged glances, and they both knew what to do. Without questioning her beloved, Cassandra put a foot up the ladder as she wanted to go first to see if it's safe for her lover to go. But Elsa put a hand on her somewhat aching shoulder and stopped her from making progress.
"What?" The Queen raised an eyebrow as she asked her lover. It was always like this. When it was safe, she allowed the blonde to go first. When it wasn't, she risked her life for the blonde angel's safety. She would hate herself if Elsa suffered even more because of her, and she won't let anything happen to her again. For a magical reason, Cassandra has always been way too protective of Elsa. But maybe that's not a too bad thing when one is in love.
Elsa sighed and shook her head. "I go first. And don't even try to convince me to do otherwise." She gently pushed the raven-haired woman away with slight pressure on her shoulder. It's time she took control. She loved it when Cass protected her from any harm, but as much as it brought a pleasant feeling to her heart, she yearned for a change. The blonde was getting tired of always being the damsel in distress, and it caused her to feel vulnerable. And Elsa is definitely not a porcelain doll. She's more than perfectly capable of protecting herself if needed, even without her powers.
The Queen gave her lover a questioning and a stunned look. Then she lowered her gaze to the ground and bit her lip as she thought. As much as she enjoyed playing the hero, she must admit that Elsa is not a child. She wondered how such a fragile and broken creature could be so strong and brave. Elsa amazed her every day, and she would be damned if she let anything happen to her. "Just be careful. We don't know where we are or what's out there. But if anything happens, I have your back."
"Thank you." The blonde smiled and let her hand brush against Cassandra's cheek. Her touch lingered against the warrior's skin as she watched her face the obstacle without any problem. Soon, Cassandra followed her, and on the top, they found another hallway. It was small, and not long at all. Only lit by a few candles, the two women found it quite hard to see anything, but their eyes got used to the dark after those months of being held here. They found a wooden door and then opened it as they stumbled closer. Blinded by the lightness outside, they both hissed a little and covered their eyes for a brief moment. "Do you have any idea where we are?" Elsa asked, rubbing her blue eyes.
"No." Cassandra blinked a few times, and as her vision became cleaner, she spotted a cottage. The building seemed way too familiar to her, and it caused a spark of hope to reignite in her chest. "Or yes. This is Jezebeth's cottage. I spent a lot of time here when I was little, and my years of traveling finally ended. I have one good and one bad news."
"Start with the bad, please."
Cassandra couldn't help but smile at Elsa's way of requesting. "Okay, so we're still in Ovrilon, but this town is far from the capital. And now the good news." Her lips curled into an even bigger smile. "I know where Jezebeth kept her keys. We should be able to get inside without having a problem."
"Well, it could be worse." The blonde shrugged. Even though it was around October or perhaps September, it was freezing outside. However, it didn't take Elsa by surprise. It was still Ovrilon, after all, one of the coldest lands on the globe. "But at least we have a place to stay."
"Yeah, but I'm not sure if I want to stay in her cottage. But we can't be picky right now. We should be grateful for what we have and start getting our lives back." Cassandra said as she began walking towards the cottage's entrance, and Elsa nodded in agreement. "The key should be somewhere around..." She dropped to her knees beneath the window and started digging the dirt with her fingers until she found what she was looking for. "...here." Cass giggled like a little girl as she picked the key up and rose to her feet. There was nothing special about the small object, but right now, it meant the world to both women. As the Queen put the key in the lock and turned it with a slight movement, a man behind them gazed at the shady act. He must've known Jezebeth because he ran away to alert the nearby guards. But Elsa and Cassandra didn't hear it. They were too busy letting themselves in the cottage. "It's not the most ideal place, but we'll manage," Cassandra said as she followed Elsa inside. The cottage was warm and cozy, but it had a quite bizarre feel to it that made the two women shiver. It felt magical. But Jezebeth was a magician, and based on that, the uniqueness of the cottage should have been expected. It looked precisely like Cassandra remembered.
The blonde looked around in awe as her eyes gazed at the mystic place. She had never seen anything like that before. "It's beautiful. Do you think we'll be safe here?" As much as Elsa wanted to go back to their home, they both needed time to recover. A long journey would only cause more damage to their already broken body and mind.
"We should be as long as you don't plan on eating anything from the jars on that ugly closet." She gestured towards the large glasses filled with unique and probably dangerous things. "Jezebeth did all kinds of things. Just like me, she was capable of making illusions, as you already know. And she had water magic and healing. But she also had a little control over fire and other elements. Whenever I was here, she would always make a potion or a spell of some kind. She was very powerful, but also dumb as a bag of hammers, just like her brother. I'm not surprised you killed her so easily."
"D-does it bother you?" The Fifth Spirit stuttered nervously. She didn't want Cassandra to judge her or look at her differently because of what she had done. Elsa felt ashamed of her actions, and a part of her wanted to change everything. But of course, that would put them in Jezebeth's hands again, and she had no desire for that. The blonde just wanted her life and her lover back, to live a happy and peaceful life. Deep inside, she still wanted to be Cassandra's wife, the mother of their children. "I mean, she was still your aunt."
"The person who wants to kill my beloved and I deserves nothing but to be treated like a worthless monster. She deserved what you've done to her, and as much as I hate the thought of you taking a person's life..." The Queen gulped as she found it hard to speak. "You did the right thing, Elsa. You saved both of us, and I'm thankful for that."
As Cassandra spoke, Elsa found something familiar on the nearby table. She gazed at the object for a moment before turning to her lover. "Is that your ring?"
Cass couldn't believe her eyes when she saw probably one of the most precious objects that her mother left to her. It was her signet ring, a well-known symbol across the cursed lands of Ovrilon. "It seems like it is. I think Jezebeth stole it when she made me pass out in my garden." She felt something bittersweet in her chest as she picked up the ring and slid it on her finger. It still fitted her perfectly. "She was such an evil witch. The funny thing is, grandmother warned me, but I didn't listen to her because I thought my aunt was different than my father. Turns out, I'm still that foolish little girl I was before." It pained her, more than she'll ever admit. When she tried to warn people, they never listened. And when others tried to warn her, she was the one who didn't care about what they said. She was her own enemy, the person working against her in the shadows without her realization.
"Cass..." Her name gently fell from Elsa's lips. Her voice was so soft if one could lay down on words, it would be the most delicate pillow. "You are not foolish. And you are definitely not little." Cassandra laughed. "Yes, you are stubborn, naive, and sometimes a little distant, but you are also kind, and you only want what' best for your people even if that makes you unhappy. So please, be kinder to yourself and start seeing yourself the way I look at you. You are amazing, Cassandra, and I know we'll escape from this mess. And just like you, I really hope we can repair our relationship because I love you and I don't want to lose you. I'll be here for you whenever you need someone to talk to or if you are overwhelmed with work, and you just want to rest. I know we both have flaws, and our relationship isn't perfect, but I won't let you go just because you made a mistake. Oopsies happen. And I'll never give up on you. Ever."
Stunned by Elsa's words, Cassandra had no idea what to say. She just stared at her lover, her eyes open wide as she found it hard to form any coherent sentences. "I-thank you, Elsa. It means a lot to me. After this is over, I'll spend more time with you, I promise. And of course, if you want to get mar-"
The Queen couldn't finish her sentence because she was cut off by a loud noise from outside, and within a bat of an eyelid, a small group of guards stormed inside the cottage, dressed in their attire. "Don't you dare move!" The two women exchanged glances, and Elsa raised an eyebrow. "I said, don't move, you fucking thieves!" Elsa and Cassandra never felt so offended before. They both faced many insults in their lives, but thieves? That's something new.
"Excuse me, but what are you saying?" Elsa asked as she looked at the guards. Even if this place is far from the capital, they should be able to recognize their Queen, the person who does everything she can to make their lives better.
"You heard me! Now get out and explain yourself before we get you both executed!"
"Get us what?!" That was the only thing Cassandra needed before her blood began to boil, and her wrath reached entirely new levels. "How dare you!" She was grateful for currently not having her powers because she was sure she would have accidentally burned something due to her emotions. "How could you disrespect your queen and her beloved like that?! Do you have any idea what you've done, soldier?!" The guards almost choked on their own breath as they began to laugh. The two women could practically hear their thoughts and how pathetic they are, and it only angered the raven-haired Queen even more. She pulled her signet ring off her finger and shoved it into one of the guards' face.
The poor man turned pale, and he was definitely close to having a heart attack. He dropped to his knees and hoped that the Queen wouldn't hang him for treating her like a criminal. "My Queen, please forgive us!" His pleading words reached the ears of his colleagues, who continued their sinful behavior. Their laughter echoed through the cottage, right outside the streets of Ovrilon. "This is the Queen, you idiots! Look, it's the ring!" Everyone in the kingdom knew about the jewelry, the precious sign of their leader. Nothing in Ovrilon could compare to the beauty and uniqueness of the Queen's ring. Its owner isn't bad looking either.
As they realized their mistake, the other guards' knees shook as they followed their colleague's action. Their gaze was lowered to the ground, unworthy to even look into the Queen's piercing grey eyes. "Please, have mercy on us, your majesty!" They begged in unison.
Cassandra sighed and shook her head. She was too tired of people thinking she's like her father, that ruthless, but fortunately, dead idiot. "It's okay, you were just doing your job, and there's nothing wrong with that. Stand up, please."
"Thank you, my Queen! You are too kind! But...what happened to you, if I may ask?" One of the soldiers questioned.
"That's a long story." Came the answer from Elsa. "But we need your help. Could you get us a place to stay? We'll explain everything later."
A/N: Well, that's it for now, folks. Do you prefer this writing style or the one I used in the previous chapters?
Fun fact: in Greek mythology, Cassandra was a woman cursed to utter true prophecies but no one believed her. I named Cass after her because she tried to help and warn her father many times, but he never listened to her, causing her to become an even bigger emotional wreck. I chose Cordelia as her middle name because it has a few meanings that fit her well.
heart - well, Cass has a big heart. Sometimes she can be a dumbass and a bit distant as Elsa said, but deep inside, she has a heart of pure gold.
daughter of the sea - she traveled a lot in her life, and she has her own ship as well which might indicate her love for the sea. Same with the "jewel of the sea" meaning.
heart of a lion - I don't think I need to explain this one. Cass is brave af.