Where Magic Flows
M. Lauren
Part Three: Through This Night
Blood pooled in her ears. Heart, raced. Elsa's mind dizzied, and her body grew faint. Across from her, Cleyo moved as if in slow motion. She was headed straight for Honeymaren, and all Elsa could bring herself to do was watch.
"Please!" She begged, her voice hoarse. "Don't do this!"
However, her pleas went unanswered. Cleyo never faltered in her steps. She hadn't appeared to even hear Elsa over her own thoughts.
At the sight, Elsa's vision grew dark. A stormed brew and twisted deep inside of her, yet, with the mages at her back; only the humid summer heat maintained.
"Kill me if you feel you must!" Honeymaren snarled. She looked up at Cleyo; not in fear, but with determination. "But do not fool yourself into thinking it will make any difference. Soon you too shall meet your end!"
Her words turned Cleyo's face red in anger. Balled fists drew tight at her side. Anger wasn't the only emotion Elsa saw there. Joined with it. was pure and uncontainable rage.
Power surged to life in Cleyo's hands, and suddenly, Elsa understood all too well. It was fire that took to Cleyo's skin. Like a beacon in the dark night's sky, she was the Flame Witch- sent here to extinguish the Queen of Ice and Snow.
Turning to Honeymaren, Cleyo's ignited hands directed at her face. Elsa flailed instantly. Her throat turned dry as she tried to scream. She couldn't turn away from the sight in front of her. She couldn't watch either, but then her tear blinded eyes caught Honeymaren's.
'I love you,' Honeymaren silently mouthed.
All Elsa could do was yell in reply. She yanked against the mages with no prevail. Their nails caught her skin, and surely drew blood, but she could no longer feel physical pain. The anguish, the fear of loss deep in her chest, numbed Elsa of all other sensations.
Suddenly though, chaos abrupt around them. A battle cry sounded across the camp. Cleyo's eyes still fixed to Honeymaren as power built in her hands. The other mages, however, turned in a panic.
"You messed with the wrong brother!"
It was Ryder on the back of his noble steed. He barreled through the circle of mages gathered around the fire pit. His staff extended in his hand. He leapt from his reindeer and sprinted at Cleyo; his face fierce and actions, instant.
The mages at Elsa's back released her as they moved to defend their queen. Instantly from overhead, the skies began to snow. The power which stirred beneath her skin, finally released into the air.
"Honeymaren!" Elsa shouted.
When she had her attention, Elsa fell forward onto her knees. She pressed her hand into soft dirt and beneath it, her magic surged to life. Before Honeymaren, a spiral of snow drew up from the ground. The sudden cyclone clouded Cleyo's vision momentarily, as she cast her first ball of fire. Honeymaren dodged the attack. She rolled forward into the snow. She caught the spear made from ice as it conjured up by Elsa's powers.
She swung deftly at the mages behind her. Ryder, in that same moment, waged a battle of his own. Elsa could afford to panic no longer. Her hands raised to her chest and she skated the dirt into a path of clear ice. Mages went sledding. Ryder fumbled, himself. Preparing to fall, he caught the collar of one of the dark cloaks, and he fell backward onto the ice. His reindeer then slipped into his legs. Both Ryder and the mage were sent sliding further apart.
Elsa's powers had appeared to affect everyone; everyone, that was, except for Honeymaren and the mage in red.
Still across from her, Cleyo and Honeymaren were at a standoff. Neither appeared to notice the other mages had been forced away by Elsa's magic. Two of Honeymaren's captives lay winded at their feet. They clutched their sides as if battered, and scrambled to hide from the flames growing around them.
A ball of fire directed at Honeymaren again, and she waited this time before dodging. She allowed the heat to pass over her shoulder, before leaning into a swift jab. The hilt of her spear dug forward with precision. It braced harshly against Cleyo's waist. She screamed out in pain, and beneath her palms; another fireball erupted.
Watching in terror, Elsa was already sprinting towards them. Her teeth grit, and her legs screamed in agony. She casted a bridge of ice over the dwindling pit of fire. She slid in at Honeymaren's side, startling both her and Cleyo.
Elsa's sudden appearance allowed Honeymaren to land a second lunge. Her weapon tore at Cleyo's skin, and the mage cried out in frustration. Cleyo doubled over her knees. Eyes wide, she quickly crafted a wall of fire. Separating her and the two women, she hid herself safely behind it while she prepared for another attack.
"Get out of here!" Elsa demanded.
Honeymaren didn't move. She glared with brown eyes, reflecting orange flames. "I'm here until we finish this!" She told her sternly.
Elsa snatched her hand, fighting to pull her away and back toward the bridge. As they touched, though, a flash of power burst from the ground beneath them. A cold wind swirled down from the night sky and draped the pair in a shield of white.
Snow poured in around the mages, thick and powerful in its assault. They scattered. Their cloaks beat against the fierce winds. The sudden storm worked to clear the area, and protect them against the mages' cult.
Honeymaren's eyes turned to find Elsa's wide ones. Breathing heavily, she released their hands with a snap.
All at once, the storm above them began to slow.
"No, not yet," Honeymaren told her. She quickly retook Elsa's hand in her own. "We don't worry about this yet! We keep fighting, understand?"
She closed her brown eyes.
Reeling in a deep breath, Elsa felt her powers surge with a strength that both frightened and thrilled her. She felt suddenly powerful, unstoppable, but also near-out of control.
Soon though, the storm returned. Both women were safely hidden behind a white veil of snow.
"Ryder and Kristoff!" Elsa reminded her. She tugged at Honeymaren's hand.
She allowed Elsa to lead her back to the bridge. Yet, the attempt was moot. They'd been rendered blind. As with the mages, both women's vision was stolen by the storm. They fought against the wind. Snow burned against their eyes. Shielding their faces, they searched through the haze, feeling as lost as it appeared they were.
"Gale!" Elsa shouted. "Gale, I need you!"
Her hand tightened around Honeymaren's. She closed her eyes and tilted her head back. Elsa waited there, her storm further darkening the night. Neither moved, not until the tickle of a softer breeze caught against the skin of their faces. Elsa's eyes reopened. Gale moved against the strength of the fifth spirit's storm. She circled low at their feet, and rose to meet above their heads.
"Gale, we need you to lead us to Ryder- and to Kristoff!" Elsa choked against the cold air.
It stole her breath, and applied pressure to her chest. Elsa had never conjured a storm before with a chill that nearly bothered her.
Honeymaren shivered beside her. She pulled further into her summer tunic.
Gale circled the women once more before pushing them forward by their backs. They were directed to the bridge, and over the now-extinguished fire. Gale continued, her steady pressure leading them further into the storm. Honeymaren felt as if she were flying. Leaning into Gale's wings, she was gliding over Elsa's rink of ice. Yet, neither could see where they were going. Not even Elsa could see through her own storm, it appeared. Her own eyes were closed as they were forced down an embankment and into a shallow ravine.
"The huts!" Honeymaren turned. "They've taken Kristoff to the lower huts!"
Despite her revelation, though, neither were prepared for Gale's next turn.
Elsa and Honeymaren gasped as they came to a dead and painful stop. Their chests bounced against hardwood. Hands caught at the wall of a sudden hut. Gale delivered them forcefully into the side panel of the medical tent, and now lingered beside them as if awaiting praise.
"Go find Ryder!" Elsa shouted to her. "He's up the hill! Find him and bring him here!"
Gale circled Elsa's cheek before turning back for the camp.
Following Gale's departure, Honeymaren reacted first. She dragged Elsa by the hand as she searched the hut's perimeter for its lost door. After a minute of blind probing, her fingers caught against the lining of the tarp. Honeymaren cast it open, and tugged Elsa quickly inside.
At that moment, both women were thankful the storm stayed trapped behind them. Here in the medical hut, the air was still and significantly warmer. The room itself was dark. Nearly baron, only Kristoff lay unattended on one of the cots. His hands were tied down. His feet binded together. He was still unconscious, but Elsa was running toward him anyway.
Feeling her tug, Honeymaren gasped as she was dragged fiercely behind her. They reached Kristoff with faces of worry. Neither wanted to do what they knew that they must. Slowly though, Honeymaren touched her ear to Kristoff's tunic. Beneath it, she listened to the steady beating of his heart.
"He's alive! He's okay!" She promised Elsa with relief in her voice.
With that revelation, both moved quickly, ready to free Kristoff from the restraints.
"I need two hands if I'm to undo these bindings…" Elsa fidgeted with the knot at his feet.
"Shh, be silent a moment." Honeymaren whispered. She pulled her hand from Elsa's and replaced it against her arm.
Straining her ears, Honeymaren listened for any indication the storm had slowed. Yet, nothing happened. The tarp overhead continued to beat against the hut in the intensely cold wind. Swirling with vengeance, the blizzard maintained. Its ambush had trapped the stolen campground in a thick squall of white.
"What is happening here?" Elsa asked her, both hands now tugging the rope loose.
She moved to free Kristoff's wrists. Working fast, Elsa froze the restraints and shattered them into dust.
"Happening how?" Honeymaren brought her eyes to Elsa's. "Happening with the mages? Or Happening here, with us?"
"With us! With this power; this surge! Can't you tell, Honeymaren? I am not in control of this storm!" Elsa panicked, terror building beneath her skin.
"No, you're not…" Honeymaren's lip wedged between her teeth. "You're not… because I think I am..."
"What?" Startled, Elsa dropped the final rope.
"I don't know how to explain it!" Honeymaren's free hand raised in surrender. Her eyes turned shyly toward the wall. "When I took your hand before, when the storm started; I was thinking about what I had told you earlier… I was thinking about escaping into the forest, and finding somewhere for us to hide! But then, I took your hand. The storm started and we were lost in the squall. That was exactly what I wanted for us, don't you get it? I wanted for us to blend in! The huntsman, not the hunted, remember?"
Elsa stared hard as she shook her head. "None of that makes sense!" She told her. "Never before has anyone other than me had control over my powers!"
"Don't think about that now! We can't afford to." She nudged her head towards Kristoff in reminder. "Let's focus on getting both him and Ryder out of here, and then we can worry about how to handle the mage."
Stifling a huff, Elsa returned her attention to Kristoff. He was free from the restraints, but had remained unconscious.
"We'll have to carry him." Honeymaren spun to examine the room. "Maybe we can find something to leverage him with. Look for a board or pelt; something sturdy we can pull him on…"
The two women moved in unison. They headed across the hut to begin searching through the shelves. However, as their backs turned, they were both startled into a panic with the arrival of someone new.
"Woah! Woah! Woah!" The person shouted.
They spun, eyes wide, as Ryder was thrown through the door.
Gale swirled into the hut behind him. She spiralled up Elsa's leg and into her soft hair.
"Thank you, Gale." She smiled, leaning into her touch. Her eyes briefly closed in greeting. "Don't go too far. I may need you again soon."
Gale then lingered for a moment before retreating from the hut. Ryder was in the dirt on his hands and knees. He looked up at both women, his eyes wide and breathing, labored.
"It's uh, a real howeler out there…" He returned quickly to his feet. "I assume this all your doing?" Ryder asked as he pointed to Elsa.
"Yes." She answered quickly. "I needed to distract the mages."
He hummed. Ryder's head tilted to the side. "Is that what those were? Why were they attacking Honeymaren? Are they the ones who have been messing with the spirits?"
"No, no questions." Honeymaren growled. "Not until you answer mine- what the hell are you doing here? Why did you follow me back?"
Glaring, Ryder crossed his arms. "Really… you're going to ask me that? When we got to the palace, which is super amazing by the way, and you were gone... I decided to come back before Yelena could force me to stay! You can be such a pain sometimes, you know?"
"Me?" Honeymaren defended with a short breath. "You're the one who tracked all the way back here on a burned foot! Those mages could have killed you!"
"Enough!" Elsa quickly silenced them. "We don't have time for your arguments! And really?" Her eyes sharply turned to Honeymaren. "Certainly, you are one to talk! How's that concussion treating you, hmm?"
Arching her brow, Elsa shook her head. There was anger present on her face, but also the subtle flicker of humor.
"Regardless, Ryder now that you're here, we're going to need your help." Elsa motioned for him to follow.
When they turned, his gaze rose to the hand which his sister had left braced almost affectionately under Elsa's arm. His eyes widened. He opened his mouth to comment, but Honeymaren quickly shot him a look.
Sensing the precariousness of the situation, Ryder's lips snapped closed. He followed Elsa to Kristoff's bedside and eyed the man with a frown.
"What happened to him? What was he doing all the way up here?"
Elsa sadly shrugged. "We're not exactly certain. He must have been headed to Northuldra when the mages found him… He was alone, but I need to get him back to Arendelle and to the medic there. Can you do that for me please?"
Nearly begging, she looked to Ryder. Blue eyes turned beneath pinched brows.
"Sure." Ryder nodded. "I remember the way, but the storm-"
Elsa shook her head. "Gale will lead you out of the storm. She'll bring you to the river. It's faster to Arendelle by boat. If you use one of the canoes there, the Nokk will take care of the rest."
"But the nokk?" Ryder frowned.
"You don't need to worry about him." Elsa promised. "He is still on our side and I plan for him to stay that way."
Ryder seemed to contemplate her plan. His face continued to darken and his shoulders shrugged into his ears. "What of the mages? There were so many of them. They overpowered you both before…"
It was Honeymaren who responded next. She stepped forward, and with her free hand; she took Ryder's shoulder in her hold.
"Don't worry about the mages. Elsa and I have it covered. They had caught us off guard before, but they won't do it again."
"Speaking of…" Ryder pulled from Honeymaren. His hand dug into his coat pocket. He retracted a red amulet fastened by a gold chain, and held it between them for both women to see.
Even in the dark hut, the gem at the center of the halo appeared to glow. It's blood red color was haunting. The chain was thick, signifying a decent weight, and curious; Elsa began to reach forward. She took the amulet in her hand. Dangling the gem in front of her face, she reached forward and stroked the surface.
Even before she'd touched it, Elsa could feel something was off. There was an energy to the amulet; a life force... And now upon stroking it, she understood all too well. Her mind dizzied instantly. The amulet crashed to the floor. Elsa fell forward onto her hands and knees, and felt as if the air punched forcefully from her lungs.
"Elsa?" Honeymaren worried. She crouched beside her, hand soothing across her back.
"Are you okay?" Ryder asked. He leaned down and his face neared close to theirs.
Elsa shook her head. She pulled herself to stand. "I'm fine…" Her eyes reopened. "My powers- the magic… it can't handle whatever that was."
Straining her ears once more, Honeymaren listened to the storm. There was no indication it had slowed, but something felt different now; even inside of herself. The amulet had stirred Elsa's magic. She could sense that beneath her hand where they touched.
"Take it away." She told Ryder. "Bring it back to Arendelle, and send for the elders and Yelena once you get there."
Ryder nodded.
"You have to hurry now." Honeymaren continued. "There's no more time left to waste!"
"Okay," Ryder sprinted to Krisoff's side. He fumbled briefly before taking the large man over his shoulder.
Honeymaren and Elsa hurried to the door. Outside the confines of the hut, Elsa's storm began to dissipate. The walls of white were failing. The blizzard slowed. The amulet had affected Elsa's powers, and soon neither the squall nor the night would aid in their protection.
Ryder moved passed them on his way outside the hut. There, his reindeer awaited him. Gale traveled in against its feet.
"Gale, good…" Elsa smiled. "I need you to lead Ryder out of the forest! Take him to the river and show him the way. Nokk will take over from there."
Gale responded by picking up speed. She barreled eagerly over their heads, scattering the snow as it fell to the ground.
With an expression burdened by sadness, Elsa turned to Honeymaren. Her fingers traveled the length of her arms, and Elsa took their hands together.
"I would like for you to go with them." Their eyes met in the declining darkness.
Sighing, Honeymaren leaned forward. Her head touched to Elsa's before turning to each side. "When will you learn, Elsa?" Honeymaren's hands raised to cup her cheeks. "I am not leaving you here alone. I am not leaving you ever, understand? I love you, and even though you are as stubborn and as reckless as I am; this is exactly where I want and need to be! So, I'm not going anywhere, okay? I am staying."
Honeymaren could feel her frown. Tears pooled in Elsa's eyes, but she dared not let them fall.
"I know what it feels like to almost lose you now… please don't make me go through that again…"
Brushing her thumbs beneath her eyes, Honeymaren smiled. "You're not going to lose me, Elsa. You have me! You always have. Now, we fight this evil together, and we end it- once and for all."
Frowning, Elsa closed her eyes. She reeled in a deep breath.
Ryder cleared his throat, and broke their moment. His cheeks burned with an embarrassed red.
They turned to him. Kristoff stationed on the front of the reindeer, and Ryder sat with the reins in his hands.
"Well, I'm off…" He shrugged. His eyes pulled toward the sky.
Honeymaren dragged Elsa to his side. Her hand rested on Ryder's knee, and she offered him a small smile. "Thank you- for coming back here, and especially for saving me."
"Just… don't make a habit of it, okay?" Ryder smirked. "I may not act like it sometimes, but I kind of like you."
"Go, quickly now." Elsa's hand joined nervously beside Honeymaren's. "The storm is fading, and before it releases, you need to create some distance between you and the mages."
"Alrighty. I've got this!" He promised. He offered both women a quick nod.
Their hands pulled from his knee.
"Gale will show you the way…" Elsa reminded him. "Follow her to the river. It will take you back to Arendelle."
Ryder choked up on the reins. He leaned forward over the deer before sparing them one final glance. When he turned back over the deer's head, his arms raised and they lunged forward. Within feet, Ryder was swallowed into the fading wall of snow. Honeymaren and Elsa watched him disappear, both sighing before they turned back to each other.
Placing her hand in Elsa's, Honeymaren raised them in display. "Now, we face Cleyo."
Elsa nodded sadly in agreement. "We face Cleyo."
Honeymaren moved to step forward, but Elsa held her still. She turned, finding her standing there. Elsa's face worried behind low eyes. Her attention fixed at the ground and her hand twitched in their hold.
"My powers…" She whispered. "The amulet…"
Honeymaren shook her head. She stepped toward her, pulling Elsa's eyes back to her own. "The effects will fade. I-I felt what happened to you, too, but I can also sense that the magic is still alive inside of you. It didn't go anyway… it just… scattered."
Her lips drew to the side. The blue in Elsa's eyes darkened. "...like before, when I was at the river. When I saved you and my powers failed… not gone, but… scattered."
Elsa wasn't certain what to make of that information. She didn't know if she was entirely comfortable with the thought that the mages had rendered a weakness against her. On top of that, she had Honeymaren to be concerned with now. There was something between them, stirring up her magic, and it had Elsa's powers influxed.
Heading into battle against a cult of mages with limited magic, it was reckless. They'd already been overpowered by them once. However, they were out of other options. Elsa could not allow their terror to continue. The forest, her family; they were all more important than her own fate.
"We face Cleyo." Elsa said again.
The next time they stepped forward, it was Elsa who took the lead. Driven by memory, she cut through the fading storm; watching as the snow dissolved. The morning sun made its first appearance beneath the horizon. With it, the forest and its trees steadily began to brighten.
Elsa led them back to the fire pit. With Honeymaren's hand still in hers, she straightened her spine.
"Cleyo!" She shouted. Her voice echoed over the storm. It barreled across the clearing, down into the valley, and out toward the Dark Sea.
"You misjudged us! You misjudged me, and now; you can no longer win! It is time for you to surrender Northuldra. Free the spirits, and give my people back their land!"
Turning in a slow circle, Elsa watched for movement beyond the storm's fog. The squall faded to a flurry, and not a single mage appeared in sight.
"Where did they go?" Honeymaren whispered to her. "Did the storm scare them off?"
Frowning, Elsa bit her lip. "I wouldn't be too certain of that."
Beyond the clearing, laughter cut through the dawn.
Their heads whipped around. Both Honeymaren and Elsa watched as Cleyo descended from behind the trees. She walked toward them without fear in her eyes. Her confidence maintained, and despite all that had happened to her and the mages; Cleyo's face told tale of a victory- a victory she had yet to win.
"Dear girl…" Came her melodic tone. "I may have misjudged the strength of your power… but it is still I who holds the upper hand. I anticipated you might defend the lives of your friends, and my captives, but do you really believe me so ill-prepared?"
Elsa's head slightly tilted. She watched Honeymaren extend the ice spear in her hold. It was a silent reminder to Cleyo of its brute force, and a wordless threat that she'd happily take her on again.
Cleyo stopped a careful distance away from them. Her hands held suspiciously at her back.
"You will still take me to Ahtohallan." She continued. "I'm afraid your small victory changes nothing."
Her teeth grit behind thin pressed lips. Elsa fought to hold back her powers. "I will be taking you nowhere! Your seige is finished, Cleyo! I'm through with your tricks, and with your meddling. You said you were affected by my parent's decision to close the gates, but you have closed yourself off because of it. You could have had friends here; people who understood. Yet, now you can have nothing from us, and your war is over! Now leave, before I have the spirits turn you away."
Cleyo hummed and turned her head. "I can understand having no concern for your own life… but what of your sister's? What of Arendelle; and the peoples' whose lives you once sat in command of? Would you subject them to enemy forces? Would you allow your homeland to be cut off from their supplies as they surrender to a new king?"
Growling Honeymaren stepped in front of Elsa. "You speak because she allows you to; not because she doesn't have the power to stop you if she wished it."
"Honeymaren, please." Elsa's hand came to rest against her shoulder. Her eyes raised sternly to Cleyo's. "What about my sister? What is happening in Arendelle?"
Crossing away from them, Cleyo came to stand at the edge of the frozen fire pit. With her hands braced in front of her, flames roared to life amongst the wet earth. The three watched as the ground thawed and the fire pulled back to new heights.
"As we speak, your majesty, two separate armies have taken siege over Arendelle's fjord. They act on my command, and no one else's. We have watched you for over three years now. We know Arendelle's numbers, and we have come prepared. And so, Elsa, you will take me to Ahtohallan. You will show me the frozen river, and I will finally have what is rightfully mine."
Cheers,
-M.