Where Magic Flows

M. Lauren

Part Two: Of the Flame

The Northuldra village had been overrun by the time Elsa arrived. Fire had taken to the goahtis and the trees. They had transformed into frightful beacons of magenta light amidst the early evening hours.

Flames spread through the village with vengeance. The clearing held more fire, than it did people. As a unit, the people scattered. They fought against the relentless inferno, and to Elsa; it appeared as if Northuldra had fallen under enemy siege.

Working quickly, the villagers passed pails of water along a human chain. With each pail, their weight grew heavier in their hands. Yet, the people never faltered. Water continued up to their homes, and they raced to put out the fires as fast as they possibly could.

Elsa did not stop to think. She drove Nokk through to the center of the village. There, the heart of the fire had taken root. She leapt from Nokk's back. Her feet barely planted into the dirt. She spun on a coin, and began to extinguish the flames.

With the arrival of aide, the people filtered out of Elsa's way. Their efforts moved down to the smaller buildings as their water chain continued.

Looking up, Honeymaren slid out of line. She raced toward Elsa, and came to a quick halt at her side.

"What happened while I was gone?" Elsa demanded. Her voice strained to carry over the chaos.

"It's Bruni!" Honeymaren exclaimed. "He attacked the village right after dusk."

"What?" Elsa balked. "What do you mean he attacked the village?"

Honeymaren shrugged and fled the direction of Elsa's hands. With a blast, magic cast from her palms, as Elsa fought another fire.

"He came in from the forest, angered and chaotic. From one tree to another, he didn't stop until everything had set ablaze!"

Frowning, Elsa dropped her hands and took Honeymaren's. "Where is he now? I'll tame him."

Honeymaren's gaze turned over her shoulder. She pointed.

Hurdling from tree to tree in the far off distance, was a speck of magenta light. In its wake, everything burned under hot flames. Ashes rained down from the sky. Sparks were sent flying. It would have been beautiful, had it not been so terrifying.

Elsa released Honeymaren. Two fingers lifted to her lips, and she whistled for Nokk. He returned to Elsa's hip faster than one could blink. She took her arms around his neck, and swung into his saddle.

Elsa sent Honeymaren a grateful nod. "Get somewhere safe." She instructed. "I will take care of this."

Her heels dug into the belly of Nokk. Raising onto his rear legs, he leapt into a run. Straight through the fire, they disappeared. Honeymaren watched them go, extinguishing flames as they traveled West.

Bruni's escapade had spanned further than Elsa would have liked. For as fast as she worked, Bruni ignited faster. His destruction led them off the trails. He turned and zagged through the trees with no rhyme nor reason.

It did not take long for Elsa to realize where Bruni was headed. Like the giants, he too, was racing to leave the forest.

This time, however, Elsa had the opportunity to call him back.

Elsa sang out into the trees, her melody wavering above the flames. Up ahead, the spreading slowed. Her song had reached Bruni's ears, and Elsa saw she wasn't far behind him.

With her hands white-knuckled around the reins, Nokk pushed his legs faster. Flames grew at his feet, while sparks tickled beneath his belly. Nokk hissed in response. He cowered as steam poured off his liquid skin. Nokk would evaporate if Elsa wasn't careful. He would go as far as she asked him to, but Elsa knew it was not worth the risk.

She directed Nokk to slow before leaping from his back. Elsa pulled him a safe distance away from the flames, and brushed her hand along his nose. Nokk sighed into her, then his eyes grew frightfully wide. Elsa turned her back on him, and Nokk realized Elsa planned to leave him there alone. He brayed in retort. His feet fought to follow.

"Stay there!" Elsa called to him.

Nokk whined, but he begrudgingly obliged. He cowered away from the flames, finding solace in the untouched trees.

Elsa left him at a sprint. The soles of her shoes planted firmly into the ground, and she carried after the flames.

Nearing the meadow, Elsa spotted Bruni lingering high amongst the trees. He was disoriented. Bruni spiraled through the branches, creating rings of fire overhead. Leaves ignited. The air billowed with smoke. Bruni worked to drive a barrier between him and Elsa, ensuring he could get away if she got too close.

Elsa sang out to him again. Her voice caused Bruni to shudder. He shook his head, trying to clear the haze, as his colors dimmed back to green.

Elsa climbed up to him. Her hand wrapped around the bottom branch, and she swung herself into the tree. Bruni was still up too high, though. Below him, her movements caught his attention, and Bruni's flames roared back to life.

Thinking quickly, Elsa sang to him for a third time. The melody shook him rigid, and Bruni came to a swift halt. Elsa's hands braced the tree with ice. Frost coated along the branches. It drove up through the center of the trunk, and Bruni's eyes widened as he fumbled.

His feet scratched at the bark. Scattered, he tried to outrun the ice. It slithered in his direction like a frozen snake, and backed him into a hole.

While Bruni was distracted, Elsa flung herself onto the top branch. Swinging feet over head, she landed with a thump besides him. Frightened, Bruni searched for somewhere to run, however, his feet slipped against the ice. His short nails and scaly skin were not meant for snow. He was born of flame, and as such; had no tolerance for winter.

Bruni hissed angrily. Fear darkened his eyes, and he spat back a ball of fire at Elsa's chest.

Elsa dodged the flame. Her face pulled into a glare. She fired a ball of snow back at him, and wedged Bruni's feet into the branch.

He had been trapped.

"It's okay " Elsa soothed. "It's just me!"

Bruni frowned and his fear maintained. He quivered as Elsa slunk in closer. Bruni tried desperately to free himself from the icy hold, but it stuck fast. He began to panic, and Bruni's colors flashed from magenta to green.

Seeing his distress, Elsa reached for him. She stretched across the tangles of twigs and leaves, and placed a hand to Bruni's head.

His color briefly returned. However, his panic did not settle, and nor did Bruni's anger. He nipped at Elsa's fingers, coughing sparks at her hand.

"Ouch!" Elsa cried out. Her hand reeled back into a fist against her chest.

Elsa had taken the final hit in her attempt to tame Bruni. With both hands in unison, she worked her magic into the air. Elsa sent an orb of power reeling from her chest, and straight into that of the salamander's. Wincing, Bruni cowered. His head buried under his hands. He was immediately entrapped within a makeshift cage of ice, and would find he no longer had the means to escape.

With Bruni now confined, Elsa took his enclosure between her arms. She clambered back down from the tree, and slowly, the flames around her began to dissipate. Try as he might, Bruni had no hope in reigniting. The icy floor of the enclosure kept him cold, and all the flames in the forest withered away.

Elsa sighed. "I did not want to do this, but you left me no choice." Her eyes lowered cautiously to view him.

Bruni braced himself against the bars. He scrambled around the enclosure and continued to panic.

"What is going on with you?" Elsa frightfully cooed.

Bruni hissed in reply, and his little nails scratched between the bars.

Biting her lip, Elsa's shoulders slumped.

"Come," She whispered, and turned back for the village. "Let us see what of your damage can no longer be undone."

It was some time after midnight when Anna stirred. Kristoff's arms were tight around her waist. His gentle snores echoed in her ear, and a gentle breeze filtered in overhead from the open window.

Anna innerly groaned. She slipped from Kristoff's arms, and replaced a pillow in his hold. He lay there, unknowing. Kristoff's face buried deep into the down. His snores continued as he hugged the pillow to his chest, and Anna crept silently across the room.

Her feet were light on the hardwood as she slipped through the door. With her bare toes, she padded silently down the hall. The castle was as quiet as the outside world. All the staff slept sound through the night, as Anna wished she could be doing herself.

However, Anna had been plagued by dreams of sickness. They kept her stirring and moving restlessly against her silk sheets. Her subconscious told tales about death and violence, turning terror as she watched her loved ones die. There was Gerda, and then Kai. It was Kristoff next, who followed them both. In her grief, dreaming Anna had tried to save Elsa in time, but it was no use. The illness struck her sister in its final blow against Arendelle.

No matter how hard Anna fought, the dreams returned. Hopeful a walk would clear her thoughts, Anna set for the halls. She cut through the library, the study, and the lounge. Anna watched out the balcony, overlooking the fjords. She navigated each empty room in the castle, until her legs began to buckle beneath her weight.

Sleep had dazed her, yet another sensation brought Anna back to the present.

The strain of everything she'd been made to deal with, had Anna's faint feeling circling back in full force. As with dinner, a dizzy spell took over her mind. It would not settle. It caused her feet to stumble as if she were walking on wet sand. Each step had her swaying, and the sickness only continued to grow.

When it got to be more than Anna could handle, she had reached the stairs leading to the second floor. Anna looked up at the steps. She eyed the sturdy banister, however she also understood the danger of daring forward. A fall while feeling like this; she might end up hurt. Instead, she came to a seat against the floor. The cool tile soothed through her night dress, and had her further melting into its embrace.

Anna's head fell lax against the banister. She closed her eyes, reeling in a deep breathe. The silence of the night, and the peacefulness of the castle, had Anna feeling as though she could fall asleep right then and there.

Time escaped her as she crooned against the cold floor. It was not until some far-off voice called to her, that Anna remembered where she was.

Shaken from the hazy spell, Anna sat up straight.

"Anna!" Kristoff hurried down the stairs. He slid in at her side, and his arms drew tight around her. "What are you doing down here?" He balked.

Color slowly returned to Anna's cheeks. "I couldn't sleep." She explained.

"Anna, are you sick? Tell me now! You look pale, and I was so worried when I woke up without you there!" He was stumbling through his words. Sleep and worry clouded him.

Kristoff gathered his wife in his arms. He lifted Anna from the floor and pulled her against his chest.

"I'm alright." She feigned a grin, however Kristoff saw right through her.

His eyes lowered. Kristoff's hand splayed over her head. "You are warm. You are sweating and it's cold in here!"

Kristoff started away from the stairs, and Anna began to flail. "Wait! Where are you taking me?" Her eyes went round.

"To the doctor." Kristoff replied.

Anna scrambled from his arms. "No, no! Don't you dare! I am anxious, and I'm tired, but I can promise you that I'm not sick. If you take me there, you'll cause a panic! Look at me, Kristoff. I promise, I'm okay."

He gave her a once over. His eyes scanned slow from head to foot. "Is your stomach alright?"

Anna nodded. "My stomach is fine."

Kristoff's face held strict until Anna's reassuring eyes broke him down. He sighed and pulled Anna back into his arms.

"But you would tell me if you weren't feeling okay, right? Please don't wait until it's too late for me to help you."

She felt his lips move against her hair, and Anna smiled. "I promise, I'm okay."

She pulled back from his hold. Her eyes searched for his. They met, and Anna circled her arms around Kristoff's side.

Kristoff watched her smile. He felt the strength of her hug against his waist.

"Okay…" He finally breathed.

"Okay," She echoed. "Now, let's go back to bed. Everything will be better in the morning, you'll see."

Anna tugged his hand to her hip and allowed Kristoff to take the lead. He stalled only long enough to check her over once more. Once satisfied with her appearance, Kristoff held onto her as they walked back up the stairs.

However, It wasn't until the two were slumbered together under the sheets, and when Anna's dizzy spell returned; that she realized she had lied to her husband.

Her only wish now was for whatever ailment plagued her, to pass before they awoke.

Finally, carried by fatigue and the relentless haze, Anna fearfully returned to sleep.

-M.