AN: I was going to say something, but I forgot what it was and once again you all will have to suffer the unknown with me. I hope you enjoy the latest chapter and thank you for your reviews.
Anna resisted the urge to twist her fingers in the sleeve of her shirt as she tried to take in and memorize everything she was seeing. There had been little in the way of conversation with the guards who were escorting them to Hasvik, only a brief greeting before the group from Arendelle boarded the ship. Despite her bravado, Anna felt nervous, scared, excited, and regretting that third sweet roll she had before leaving the camp.
They sailed for a few hours before she spotted a giant wall of mist that seemed to rise out of the ocean, reaching into an unfathomable height.
This must be the mist where the scouts got lost, she thought, suddenly curious how the Vindarr were going to navigate it. She tried not to show too much interest, but her eyes widened considerably when the helmsmen pulled a crystal from his shirt and held it aloft. It glowed a brilliant yellow, and the mist in front of them parted for the boat to pass through.
She chanced a glance toward Jogeir and Alarik to find them watching the man with just as much fascination, and couldn't help but wonder what each man was thinking.
They sailed for some time after that, an odd sense of timelessness as they drifted through the mist. It felt like forever, and like mere moments passed before the mist broke away completely and allowed them their first view of Hasvik.
"Whoa," Anna breathed.
The island itself wasn't large, but what it lacked in width it more than made up for in height. Steep rock faces that sunk below the ocean waves framed the island as far as she could see, except for a small stretch of sandy beach a mile long and a quarter mile deep. Sitting high above them was Hasvik Keep. The structure was smooth rock, with clean-cut lines, sharp edges and looming towers that made Arendelle castle look like nothing more than a common shed.
The ship bumping against the dock drew Anna's attention from the keep. The crew moved to tie down the boat while the guards gestured for Anna and her party to disembark. Alarik assisted her as she stepped out onto the slick wooded dock, stepping carefully to maintain her balance. They ushered the group up a short staircase onto a long winding path that led from the docks to the keep and through the outer gates until they finally reached the inner gates that led inside.
Anna took a deep breath as the guards led them inside, her stomach twisting with butterflies. She balled her hands into fists to keep from fidgeting. She didn't know what to expect but knew she needed to keep a calm front, to seem in control.
After some twists and turns along long hallways, they walked into what Anna could only assume was their version of a throne room. Instead of housing a single throne, there was a table surrounded by seats, with the one at the far side of the room standing taller than the rest. There was a fireplace and large windows, but the room was otherwise bare, the walls empty and stretching upwards to disappear into the dark.
The man standing in front of the table, wearing a smile that was as disarming as it was welcoming, immediately drew Anna's attention. He appeared to be in his mid-forties, with salt and pepper hair that only added to his obvious charm.
The man offered a low bow, pressing a hand to his chest. "Princess Anna, I presume. My name is Markkus, and I welcome you to Hasvik."
Anna pressed her lips into a tight line, forcing what she hoped to be a smile. "Thank you for having us, and for the escort. I'm not sure we could have found the place on our own."
"By design, I assure you. The mist protects the island from any would-be invaders. But you don't want to hear about that," he said, waving a dismissive hand. "Elsa has told me much about you. It's good to finally meet you."
Anna had to resist the urge to frown, immediately hating the familiarity with which this man said her sister's name. "I wish I could say the same. Unfortunately, Elsa has been rather sparse, offering details about yourself or Hasvik. Though it is good to finally put a face to the man that has held my sister a captive audience."
Markkus raised his eyebrows and released an amused snort of air. "I'm sure you are eager to see her. I'll have the guards escort you to her at once."
"If I may," Anna blurted out, trying not to wince and hoping she didn't accidently insult the man holding her sister. "Your keep is very impressive, I've never seen anything like it before. I was wondering if you would allow my guards a tour? If it's not too much of a bother."
Markkus was silent for a moment before finally dipping his chin and gesturing to someone behind them. "I would be more than happy to have someone show you around."
Jogeir tilted his head. "Your Highness, while I appreciate the thought, and would jump at the chance if I were younger, I would prefer to stay nearby. I'm afraid the weather here does not agree with my aching joints, but my far younger companion," he said, gesturing to Alarik while looking at Markkus, "would surely be interested in a tour, as he is naturally prone to wandering off to explore."
Anna winced, fairly certain Jogeir had just taken a dig at Alarik for what happened in Sioaskard. The man sure knew how to hold a grudge.
Anna took deep, steadying breaths as she and Captain Jogeir followed the two guards to Elsa's room. Her excitement and apprehensive making her feel lightheaded. When the guard stopped in front of a door, her heart skipped a beat. It had been so long, but now this bit of heavy, polished wood—and a couple of guards—was all that stood between her and Elsa. The man knocked on the door, offering a respectful moment's pause before pushing it open and stepping aside to allow Anna and the Captain to enter.
She stepped quickly into the room and immediately stopped short. She gaped wordlessly at her sister, the very sight of her striking Anna like a punch to the chest and stealing her breath, bringing tears to her eyes.
There was nothing obviously wrong with her, which should have put Anna at ease. Elsa's face showed no trace of the bruises she carried when Anna had last seen her. Her hair looked soft and clean, pulled back into a loose bun, a comfortable style Anna wasn't used to seeing on her regal, perpetually put-together sister.
But the cuffs on Elsa's wrists drew her gaze, and it forced Anna to remind herself that whatever this Markkus was telling her sister, Elsa was still in some way imprisoned here at Hasvik.
"Anna," Elsa said, and her name sounded like it caught in her sister's throat as she crossed the distance between them.
Anna met her halfway and wrapped her arms tightly around her older sister. She didn't know which of them squeezed tighter, though she supposed it didn't really matter. Instantly, she felt all her worries and troubles and everything horrible and stressful that had occurred over the last month—that was still happening—melt away within her sister's embrace. For a moment, she found herself still wanting to believe that her big sister could make everything better, like she had as a girl.
Elsa pulled out of the hug first but didn't fully break contact. She brushed Anna's bangs from her forehead and gently cupped the sides of her face, her thumbs brushing away the tears Anna hadn't even realized were there. She saw her sister's own eyes water, tears threatening to fall. Elsa leaned forward and pressed a quick kiss to Anna's forehead, then pulled back only far enough to rest own her forehead against Anna's.
They stood like that for a long time, drawing comfort in each other's presence and savoring a moment that had taken far too long in coming. It was an unspoken understanding that neither knew when they'd next get the chance to be close. Anna silently hoped it wouldn't be any further away than later that same day, and again the day after, and the day after that.
Elsa finally pulled away fully, dropping her hands to Anna's and giving them a small squeeze. "Are you okay?"
Anna almost wanted to laugh—almost. Of course, that would be the first question out of her sister's mouth. "I'm okay," she assured her. "And before you ask: Arendelle is fine, the people are okay, and we have distributed the food out as per your extensive instructions." She smiled. "Everyone is okay."
Elsa's shoulders slumped as she released a heavy sigh, and Anna could see the tension melting out of her posture. Or some of it, at least.
Anna gave her sister's hands a light squeeze in return, ducking her chin to meet Elsa's eyes. "We're all worried about you."
"I'm fine," Elsa quickly replied, her tone dismissive.
Anna fought to not roll her eyes. "I think we've already established that you don't actually know what the definition of 'fine' is."
Her sister tilted her head, reaching out to brush Anna's hair from her face. "You worry too much."
"You've been held prisoner for over a month," Anna was quick to retort. "Forced to fight in a war. Passed from one captor to the next. Confined once more to a single space. I can go on." She tore her gaze from her sister's eyes to sweep the room. It was what bothered Anna the most, the thing she feared would cause her sister the most problems. Being confined to a room—even this room, which seemed large and comfortable enough—didn't seem on the surface to be the worst thing they had subjected Elsa to, but it was something Elsa had already gone through. The fact her sister had spent thirteen years isolating herself from everyone out of fear of hurting them, then enjoyed three months of freedom just to be forced back into a similar situation was worrying. It scared Anna that all the progress her sister had made, how she had slowly but steadily begun to come out of her shell and enter the world again, could be undone. That Elsa could fall back into old patterns if this went on for too much longer. This time, with the mess of everything else that had happened layered on top, pulling her sister out of those self-destructive patterns would be that much harder.
She looked back to her sister. "I'm not sure there is a such thing as too much worry at this point."
Elsa frowned, her eyes crinkling as she rubbed her forehead. She sighed, then fixed Anna with a look. "Why aren't you in Arendelle?"
"I was."
Elsa pressed her lips together. "You were not in Arendelle when you received my last letter, nor when you sent your reply to Markkus."
Anna lifted a shoulder. "You never said I had to stay in Arendelle."
"It was implied."
She considered a witty retort, but opted instead for the simple truth. "You knew I was never going to stay put."
"No," Elsa admitted. "But I had hoped. I am surprised the council let you leave."
"I didn't give them much of a choice." Anna squeezed the chilly hand that was still in hers. "I wasn't going to stay at home where it was warm and safe while you were imprisoned, suffering god knows what."
Elsa gave her a soft smile. "I appreciate the concern, but as I told you in my first letter, I'm perfectly safe here."
Anna opened her mouth but was unable to find the right words to counter the absurdity of her sister's statement. "I'm confused," she said, shaking her head. "Because when they escorted us to your room, I saw two armed guards standing outside your door. Your locked door. And correct me if I'm wrong, but those cuffs on your wrists still look like they are very much blocking your magic."
Elsa frowned, her gaze taking on a faraway quality as she raised one wrist and looked at the cuff. "It's complicated."
Anna shook her sister's hand gently, breaking her from her stupor. "I'm listening," she said, though there was no denying the pit of worry that was forming in her gut.
Elsa met her gaze, rolling her lips against her teeth. "I'm glad you're okay," she said finally. "I was scared something might have happened to you in the fighting, or on the way back to Arendelle."
The pit in Anna's stomach widened as her sister attempted to change the subject. "Elsa, you're deflecting," she said boldly. "Badly." There was once a time she never would have dared launch such an accusation at her older sister, but she had faced the Council; she could say anything to anyone now. Her sister was a lot of things, but inelegant and clumsy wasn't one of them. Anna had watched her sister verbally dance her way around numerous discussions, had been more than once on the receiving end of Elsa's masterful skills of deflection, had seen firsthand her ability to direct a conversation toward the direction she wanted without the other person realizing it was happening. It was something Anna herself wouldn't realize had happened until long after the conversation was over, and it drove her nuts every time.
There was nothing elegant or masterful at work here. Up close, Elsa looked weary, unfocused. Anna squeezed her sister's hands. "If Markkus said you were free to return home, why are there still guards outside your door? Why hasn't he removed the cuffs?"
Elsa's gaze bounced between the door and the cuffs in question. She released Anna's hands and took a few steps away before turning back. "I am responsible, directly and indirectly, for the deaths of a lot of Vindarr soldiers," she said. "The guards are there to make sure no one tries to take some sort of misguided attempt at revenge, and the cuffs help keep my magic in check, and—" Elsa's face suddenly scrunched up, and she pressed a hand to her forehead.
Anna's stomach executed an uneasy flop as she patiently waited for Elsa to collect her thoughts and finish her sentence.
After a long moment, Elsa shook her head. "If I can't use my magic, the Vindarr won't see me as a threat."
"Elsa, that doesn't sound like perfectly safe to me," Anna told her, folding her arms over her chest. "That sounds like an awful lot of danger, and for what?"
Elsa wrapped her arms around herself, tearing her gaze away. "You wouldn't understand."
Anna stepped toward Elsa and pressed a hand against her chest. "Then explain it to me so I can."
Elsa wouldn't look at her, chewing on her lower lip as she shook her head. Anna could see the tears forming in her sister's eyes again, threatening to fall. "Markkus is teaching me about magic," she finally said, so low Anna had to strain to hear it. "He is showing me how to control my power."
"That's why you wanna stay." Anna closed her eyes, feeling any argument she hoped to offer crumble under the weight of her sister's statement, but she couldn't give up. She couldn't leave her sister here. "Elsa . . ." She took a deep breath, collecting her own thoughts. "Elsa, I know what that means to you, but I don't think this is the best place to find those answers."
Elsa kept her gaze diverted. "This is the only place, Anna."
"It's not. I know it's not." Anna positioned herself in front of her sister, forcing Elsa to look at her. "I wasn't going to say anything until we got home, but . . ." She bit down on her lip, unsure how her sister was going to take the news. For her, it had been a mixture of excitement and frustration, but she worried Elsa would only feel the frustration. It was why she had wanted to wait until they were home together to tell her sister, to show her.
"But?" Elsa prodded.
Anna pulled in a deep breath. "Kristoff, Olaf, and I were in the library looking for information on the Sirma and Vindarr, and somehow Olaf and Kristoff found a secret room hidden behind a bookcase."
Elsa's brow wrinkled. "I don't understand," she said, shaking her head.
"I think the room belonged to Mother and Father." She tentatively reached out, taking her sister's hand. "Elsa, there were books in there about magic. I didn't have time to read through any, but I'm certain there's something there that can help you."
"There is something here that can help me." Elsa pulled her hand away and gestured widely. "There are people here who use magic every day. People who understand it."
"People who stolen it from spirits," Anna said hotly. She thought back to Markkus, the man's charming smile and smooth persona, and felt a chill run down her spin. The man gave her the creeps. "I don't trust Markkus."
Elsa coolly met her gaze. "I do."
"You can't be serious." Anna threw out a hand. "Elsa, he is using you. I don't know what for, but there is just something about him. Something unsettling."
Elsa shook her head and folded her arms over her chest, letting out a huff of air as she crossed the room.
Anna felt her cheeks warming in the face of her sister's flippant, dismissive attitude. "Elsa," she bit out sharply. "Come on, you have to see it. I know you're smarter than this."
Elsa turned back sharply, a scowl on her face. "I'm not a child, Anna, nor am I blind. I know that Markkus wants something from me." Her expression eased. "I don't know what it is, but one doesn't offer to help an enemy combatant without wanting something in return."
Anna stayed silent for a long moment, digesting what her sister was saying. "But you trust him?" she asked in a small voice.
"I do."
"Why?"
"Because—" Elsa frowned tightly, pressing her hand to her forehead in a way that was frighteningly familiar. She dropped her hand, wrapping the arm around her body. "If Markkus was going to harm me, don't you think he's had more than enough time to do so already?"
It wasn't an answer. At least, not to the question Anna had asked. She held out a hand, palm toward her sister, and attempted to keep her voice steady despite the anxious thumping within her chest. "Elsa, I think something is wrong." She bit down on her lip before adding with you, knowing that would cause her sister to get defensive, and that would get them nowhere.
Elsa rolled her eyes tiredly. "I told you I'm fine. There's nothing wrong."
Anna stared at her sister in complete disbelief. The moment she had stepped into the room, she knew something was off. The more they talked, the more Elsa talked, the surer she was that there was something wrong.
"Markkus won't hurt me," Elsa insisted.
"And you just believe him?" Anna pressed.
"He has no reason to lie to me."
"He has every reason to lie to you!" Anna took a deep breath and stepped back. Getting angry would not help the situation, but she needed her sister to see reason. "Elsa, you need to come home."
Elsa shook her head. "I can't. I have to see this through."
"What about Arendelle? Me? Your people? You are the Queen, and you have a duty—"
"I know my duty, Anna," Elsa snapped. "And that's what I am trying to do."
"How?" Anna lifted her shoulders. "By isolating yourself again? By trusting a man you don't even know?"
"By learning how to control my magic so I don't hurt anyone else!"
"Elsa, you were doing fine before. You have control."
Her sister shook her head. "No, I don't. I know how to get rid of what I accidently make, and I've learned to suppress it better, but my magic grows every day, Anna. It's like this wild force raging beneath my skin, and some days it's all I can do to hold the tide back. But Markkus—he is teaching me how to accept my magic. How to work with it instead of against it, and how to not allow my emotions to control it."
Anna stood, at a loss for words, as the temperature in the room plummeted to an uncomfortable level. She was fairly certain this was the most her sister had ever said to her about her magic, on a personal level, about what it felt like. She wasn't sure what to do with it, how she factored in. "Okay," she breathed, patting the air between them. "Okay, but you need to come back to Arendelle. Maybe Markkus can continue teaching you there, or—"
"No," Elsa said firmly, shaking her head. "It's safer here, if I accidently lose control . . . "
Anna felt that gnawing pit in her stomach twist painfully as her sister again seemed to lose focus mid-sentence, as Elsa's arms tightened around herself like she was struggling with something. She crossed the distance between them and gripped her sister's shoulders. "Elsa."
Elsa's gaze snapped up to meet Anna's, but it was a long moment before she spoke. "You don't understand what it's like."
She didn't. Anna truly didn't understand what things were like for her sister—what life was like—and that cut her deeper than she was willing to admit. Maybe with time and patience, she could get Elsa to open up more, and her sister could help her understand. But that was a thought for another time, when they were both safe and far away from here. "I know," Anna said. "I know that you're scared, and that Markkus is offering you something you have strived for your entire life, but staying here is dangerous. Even if Markkus isn't lying, you admitted yourself that there are people here who may want to hurt you, or worse."
"I'll be fine," Elsa replied, quietly but steadily.
"And what if you're wrong?" Anna pressed. "What if something happens? Where will Arendelle be without you? Where would I be?"
"Better off."
Anna recoiled, shocked from her sister's response. Elsa started to pull away, but Anna stopped her, grabbing either side of her cool face and forcing her sister to look at her. Even after Elsa met her gaze, she waited a beat to make sure she had her sister's full attention. "No," she said firmly. "Elsa, that is not even remotely true. How can you even say that? You made a mistake. Everyone makes mistakes."
Tears welled in Elsa's eyes. "You died."
"And I got better," Anna said. "That was just as much, if not more, my fault. I pushed you, even though the signs it was too much for you were literally swirling around me. At your coronation, you asked to talk to me privately. I was being stubborn and selfish and refused, and I shouldn't have. We both made mistakes. You are a great Queen, and your people see it. And you are the most important thing in the whole world to me." She forced a smile. "I would never, ever be better off without you."
Elsa wrung her hands in front of her chest but didn't pull away, and Anna marked that as a win.
She took a deep breath. "I know you, Elsa. And trusting a man you don't know? Choosing to stay here, isolated from all but, what, two, three people?" Anna shook her head. "This isn't you. Something is wrong with you. I don't know how Markkus has done it, but somehow, he's gotten into your head. Convinced you that you need his help."
Elsa reached up and gently took Anna's hands in her own. She pulled them from her face as she stepped back. "It's only been three months, Anna. Maybe you don't know me as well as you think you do."
Anna swallowed, her chest tightening. The comment cut deep, but she shook her head, not wanting to give the words any sort of weight. "I do know you, Elsa. I know you're having problems focusing right now."
Elsa opened her mouth to respond but averted her gaze, staring down at the floor. "I don't know what you're talking about," she said, stumbling over the words.
"I know you are," Anna persisted. "Because I've seen this look on your face before. I saw it in the days following your concussion whenever you'd lose focus or have problems concentrating on what you were working. I watched for it every day, because that was the point I knew it was time to call it a day."
Elsa shook her head, folding her arms across herself once more. "We are not having this conversation." She turned back to Anna, a steely look in her eyes. "You need to go back to Arendelle and take care of things until I can return."
"Elsa—"
"It'll only be another week, Anna. Two at most." Elsa's eyes were still a bit unfocused, but her jaw was set. "If it takes longer than that, I will return to Arendelle first and decide what happens from there."
Anna's jaw dropped. "You can't be serious."
For the first time, Elsa looked to Captain Jogeir, who had been standing silently next to the door through the conversation. "Captain Jogeir, you are to escort Anna home. And this time, ensure she stays there until I return."
He stepped forward. "Your Majesty—"
"That's an order, Captain."
"Yes, ma'am." Jogeir's gaze shifted from Elsa to Anna and back again. "Your Majesty, if I may? I would prefer either myself or Alarik remain here with you, if it is truly your wish to stay. Just for some added protection."
Anna chewed on her lower lip. She couldn't believe they were even entertaining the thought of Elsa staying here, but was feeling fractionally better at the thought of Alarik or Jogeir staying with her. They could at least watch over her, make sure Markkus didn't have any secret evil plot.
Elsa's answer took them both by surprise.
"No."
Jogeir blinked. "No, ma'am?"
"I have already discussed this possibility with Markkus, and he believes it's a bad idea." Elsa scrubbed her fingers against her forehead and frowned. "The Vindarr council already doesn't like my being here—"
"All the more reason for you to return home," Anna offered.
"And they are even less happy with Markkus taking up so much of his time training me," Elsa continued, like Anna hadn't even spoken. "Having one of my guards stay with me would only make things worse. Markkus's people are more than sufficient, and I trust them."
Anna rolled her eyes. "Even though you know he wants something."
"Yes," Elsa answered sharply. "Wanting something doesn't immediately mean malice or ill intentions. Everyone wants something from someone. Right now, for instance, I want you to do your duty and return to Arendelle to take care of our people in my absence."
"You mean do your duty in your absence." Anna crossed her arms and glared.
"Anna." Elsa's tone was edged with a warning, and the temperature of the room dropped even lower. "I am trying to protect my people."
"From yourself?"
"Yes!"
"At what cost?"
"Any cost!"
Anna threw her hands up in the air, no longer able to hold back her frustration. "This is ridiculous. You are being ridiculous. Elsa, you are the only one who thinks you are a threat to anyone. You are the only one holding yourself to this unreachable standard. You think if you can gain perfect control over your magic then you will be good enough." Anna squared up to her sister, looking Elsa directly in the eyes. "You're wrong. If you believe that, then you're only lying to yourself. You are already good enough—you are damn near perfect. I wish I was half as good as you, at anything. You are a wonderful Queen, one our parents would be so proud of, and I will keep telling you that until you believe it. Just please," she begged, her voice breaking. "Please come home with us."
Elsa stared at her sister for a long time before she slowly shook her head. "I'm sorry, Anna. I can't."
Anna dropped her head back. She wanted to cry and yell and drag her sister out of the damnable keep herself. She looked back at her sister and raised her eyebrows. "Fine, then I'm not leaving without you."
A shadow crossed Elsa's face, so quickly it was gone in a blink. "Yes, you will."
"You can't throw me out with a snow monster this time, Elsa. They block your magic." Anna gestured toward the softly glowing cuffs.
Elsa smiled sadly. "I don't need my magic to have you escorted out of the keep, Anna."
Jogeir remembered the day Elsa had become Queen; not the day the church recognized and anointed her, but the day she went from Crown Princess Elsa to Queen Elsa. It had been dark, the sky heavy with impending rain, a storm threatening to break—the perfect mirror for what was taking place inside the castle. He also remembered the day her father had become King, though he was only seven. Just old enough to grasp the gravity of the situation, yet too young to understand how it would affect him. King Runeard had taken an expedition north, then failed to return, in the same way King Agnarr embarked on a small, secret expedition, then failed to return.
The Captain frowned as he tried to recall Arendelle's history. Unless he was mixing his information, he was fairly certain that Runeard's mother had also gone on some sort of trip to the south and failed to return, followed some years later by his father, disappearing forever amid a search for his missing wife.
Queen Elsa had taken a trip north, only to be kidnapped.
Arendelle's royal family had a disturbing amount of bad luck with traveling. Once they got the Queen safely back to Arendelle, Jogeir wondered if he could somehow convince her to never leave the castle again. There was no way she would agree to such a thing, but it wouldn't hurt anything to try.
He shifted his gaze, watching Princess Anna ride in front of him, with Alarik at her side. She had been unusually quiet while the Vindarr sailors ferried them from Hasvik; it wasn't until they began their ride back to camp that the floodgates finally opened. Alarik had spent the last hour or so trying to soothe and calm the distraught woman, as she shifted from angry, to hurt, to scared, then back again to angry.
Jogeir had allowed the younger man to take the lead in calming the princess down, stopping her from storming into the Keep and doing something none of them would live to regret. He hung back, keeping silent guard as he spent the trip turning the Queen's words over in his head, replaying them like a broken music box. The more he thought about it, the more disturbed he became.
On the surface, he was calm and in control, but that was his job. On the inside, the conversation between the two sisters had shaken him to his core, and to some extent, Jogeir understood what Anna was feeling. Queen Elsa was not an easily influenced woman. She was stubborn, with her own ideas and opinions that she wasn't afraid to express or hold to. The idea that this Markkus had somehow gotten into the Queen's head and convinced her that staying in Hasvik, risking Arendelle, was her best option was beyond troubling.
But there was also something else that stuck out to Jogeir, something the Queen had said. Something he was afraid wasn't borne of her time in Hasvik, but may have been made worse for it.
Of course, it was possible there was no reason for concern, and this was all a product of the overactive imagination of a man whose job was to be on the lookout for something to go wrong. Jogeir dropped his gaze from his quietly conversing companions, pressing his lips into a tight line as he thought back on the conversation between the two women. Elsa had told her sister that Arendelle and Anna would be better off without her. At first, he had almost dismissed the statement, but the Queen wasn't one for dramatics and very rarely muddled her words. Even if the comment had been a one-off, he would have made note of it, but wouldn't really concern himself; he could only imagine the pressure and struggle the Queen was feeling. But the comment had brought to mind another conversation.
"Admit it. You don't hate me because I almost killed you. You hate me because I didn't."
Hans had spewed the words to Elsa, looking to hurt her as much as he could before he was shipped back home. But it was the Queen's refusal to deny the accusation that had filled the Captain's mind for days after.
Perhaps he could confide in Malthe about it. The doctor was better equipped to decide whether there was anything to be concerned about. It could all simply be the product of the stress and pressure that came from a young woman losing her parents, her only support, and gaining a kingdom in one fell swoop. Then to toss difficult to control magic into the mix, and he supposed anyone would consider throwing in the towel. He probably would have long before now himself.
Jogeir lifted his gaze to find the princess watching him expectantly. He couldn't tell her what was on his mind—at least not yet—as the Queen had given him an order to not talk about what happened with Hans to anyone, especially Anna.
"At least if anything happens, Elsa now knows she can break the cuffs."
Anna's head snapped toward Alarik, her eyes going wide before she groaned. "No! I—I can't believe I forgot to tell her the cuffs where cracked." She dropped her head to her chest, her fingers tightening around her horse's reins. "I was so focused on trying to convince her to come home."
Alarik leaned over and grabbed her shoulder, giving it a tight squeeze. "She smart. I'm sure if push comes to shove, she'll figure it out."
Anna shook her head. "She wouldn't have to if she'd stop being so stubborn and just come home."
"Well, it might not be her fault," Alarik said. "At least, not entirely. You said there seemed to be something wrong with her?"
Anna frowned deeply, her gaze dropping to where her hands fidgeted with the reins. "She was having problems concentrating. She kept stopping mid-sentence, like she forgot what she was talking about."
"We'll bring her home." Alarik gave the princess's shoulder another squeeze before pulling away. He turned in his saddle, concern wrinkling his brow. "Everything okay, Captain? I don't think you've said a word since we left the Keep."
"Mmm," Jogeir answered noncommittally. He silently turned the Princess's words over in his head, a thought forming in his mind. One he was sure would take the spot for worst and most dangerous. The type that if they were they wrong, losing their jobs and being exiled would be the best-case scenario. "I have an idea," he said finally. "About how we can bring the Queen home."
Anna immediately perked up, the scared and desolate slump of her shoulders replaced by a new, hopeful energy.
"We should wait until we're back at camp," Jogeir said quickly, before either could ask for more details. "This is something we'll need everyone to be in agreement about." For the first time in a long time, the captain was glad the final decision wouldn't fall on his own shoulders. He only had to offer his suggestion. After that, he only had to do what the Princess asked of him.
Elsa sat cross-legged on her bed, her gaze fixed sightlessly on the paper clenched between her fingers, trying to reconcile what had happened the day before. She had known her sister was going to ask her to return to Arendelle, and that Anna would have a hard time understanding why she couldn't. Elsa had prepared herself for the argument, spending two days silently rehearsing the conversation in her head and trying to find the best, most effective way to explain it to her sister.
When the time finally came, all those calm, logical responses she had prepared disappeared, and she instead became defensive, agitated, and stubborn. She had even threatened to have her own sister removed from the Keep by the guards. If not for Captain Jogeir, Anna likely would have refused to leave until Elsa made good on that threat. It was only when the door had shut behind Anna; the lock echoing hollowly as it clicked into place, did the full gravity of what had transpired, the isolation and loneliness of her situation, hit Elsa with all the force of an avalanche.
It had taken every ounce of willpower not to run after her sister, to apologize and return home with her. There was little more Elsa wanted. The feeling was a painful reminder of those days they had spent separated growing up, the ache she would feel whenever Anna asked her to come out, or just talk to her, and the heartbreak each time she heard her sister finally give up and walk away.
But Elsa knew she had to see this through. She needed to control her magic, no matter the situation. And for that, she needed Markkus. Two weeks, she told herself. Just two more weeks and then she would return home, regardless of her level of control. She had to; she still had an entire country that was her responsibility.
And her sister.
It was important to Elsa that she learn how to control her magic, but she had been so fixated on that goal that she had neglected her sister. They were reunited only three months before being ripped apart once more—because of her magic. She knew Anna was scared and worried, looking for reassurance from a big sister that, despite never being there for her growing up, she still trusted, still believed could make everything okay again. It broke Elsa's heart to know that when her sister needed that, she had failed, again.
After Anna left, Elsa had spent the rest of the day lost within her own mind, and that night tossing and turning before finally falling into a restless, tearful slumber. She woke the next morning feeling no better; her head ached, her thoughts were slippery, her chest felt like it was being crushed in a vice, and her stomach twisted. Maybe Anna was right; maybe she had made a mistake. Maybe she should have returned home with her sister, even if it was only for a few days. Anna needed her, and Arendelle needed her. Their needs always came before hers—that was the job, her responsibility.
Elsa brushed the pad of her thumb over the messy writing of the letter she held. Her eyes welled up again as she took in her sister's words, and she bit down hard on her lip.
Come home soon.
All my love,
Snowbug.
Elsa smiled. She'd given her sister the nickname so many years ago, when Anna was barely old enough to walk. She pressed her fingertips to her forehead, frowning as the treasured memory broke against a wave of vertigo. She blinked a few times to clear her vision and focused once more on the letter.
"The letter was addressed to an Elsa, and until yesterday I was under the impression your name was Joan."
She regretted giving Markkus a false name. It had served no real purpose and only delayed her getting Anna's letter. If she'd given him the correct name—
Elsa's frown deepened as she scanned the letter. She turned the paper over, but the other side was only blank, smooth parchment. Her fingers grew icy and she read through the letter one more time, paying attention to every word.
"The letter was addressed to an Elsa."
Except it wasn't. Her name was not written anywhere. In her letter, Anna referred to her only as 'sister' and 'Majesty.' In fact, Anna's name wasn't in the letter either; she signed it only as 'Snowbug.' Of course, there would be no reason to spell out who the letter was to or from because her ice dragon had carried it, and would have delivered it only to her or someone she trusted. She had sent her first letter to Anna too early into her confinement for that to be Markkus, but there was no one else in Hasvik that Elsa trusted.
A knock on the door startled Elsa, and she jumped. The door creaked open and a familiar red head popped in.
Ray. Of course. She had trusted the young girl almost immediately.
"Morning," Ray said, smiling as she carried in the breakfast tray and set it on the nightstand. She hopped onto the foot of the bed.
Elsa looked down at the letter before shifting her gaze to the younger girl.
Ray frowned. "Is something wrong?"
"Maybe." Elsa fidgeted, reaching for the mug from the tray and taking a long sip of freshly brewed coffee. "Ray, this might sound like an odd question, but do you remember seeing a small dragon made of ice? Bearing a letter?" She tried not to wince, knowing how crazy it sounded.
Ray's eyes widened. Her gaze dropped to the parchment still clutched in Elsa's hands before bouncing back up.
It was all the confirmation that Elsa needed. "You did," she said, her heart thudding against her chest. "When?"
Ray ducked her head, tugging on the hem of her sleeve. In a clumsy rush, she said, "while you were in the room, the dragon flew into the window and then disappeared, leaving the letter behind. I was going to give it to you, I promise, but the guards that brought you back saw it first and said that Markkus would want to see it before you did, because even though you were training you were still a prisoner."
Elsa swallowed. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"Markkus said I wasn't allowed to talk about it. That it would distract you from your training."
Suddenly, she was reminded just how young the girl was, and found herself unable to be upset with her. Ray had just been doing what she was told, by someone she believed she could trust.
But why would Markkus keep the letter? Why wait a week before giving it to her? What did Anna's letter say that he didn't want her to see at that time, but was okay with her seeing a few days ago?
The Sirma.
Anna mentioned that the fighting had stopped only days after Elsa had first woken in Hasvik. The ongoing war between the Vindarr and Sirma was the only reason she hadn't put up a fight when Markkus said they would not release her. She doubted Markkus first learned of the ceasefire a few days ago—he was Vindarr's leader. Even if the news had been delayed, he still would have known long before he told her.
If the letter didn't contain either her or her sister's name, then Markkus had learned Anna's name from another source.
Tyr.
Elsa slumped, feeling like the biggest fool. She couldn't believe she'd forgotten the man was still locked in the dungeon. Of course, Markkus would have asked Tyr about her. She hazily recalled the bruises on Tyr's face when she first woke in the dungeon. Markkus had known who she was right from the start. But he had feigned ignorance, pretending that the fighting was still going on. But why? To keep her in Hasvik? To keep her compliant?
She had known immediately that Markkus wanted something from her, but what he offered was something Elsa wanted so badly that she allowed herself to turn a blind eye to those red flags, the warnings and her instincts.
Now, she had pushed Anna away, told her Admiral to stand down, and ordered Captain Jogeir to escort Anna home. Her magic was blocked, and no one was coming for her. She was alone. She still trusted Ray, but Ray trusted Markkus.
Elsa drew in a slow, steadying breath. She was supposed to meet Markkus shortly for training, and she would confront him about this then. It was possible there was a perfectly reasonable explanation, though she was having a hard time thinking of one.
Even if he had an explanation, Elsa would request to return home. Markkus had told her she was free to leave at any time now, and she would see that he made good on his promise.
