CHAPTER 16
Shae sprinted up The North Mountain, her mind reeling with panic, her body a black blur of motion as she rushed toward the staircase leading up to Elsa's ice palace. She stopped momentarily to observe the strange scene before her at the base of the stairs. There were several sets of human sized footprints in the snow, along with massive, gaping holes, which Shae assumed had belonged to Elsa's hulking snow monster. It seemed that some sort of scuffle had taken place, footprints of both man and monster strewn haphazardly among the layer of snow on the ground.
Shae drew in a startled gasp as she gazed at the staircase leading up to the palace. One side of the icy railing was partially demolished, and it looked like Elsa's snow monster had taken a tumble over the side, into the deep, rocky ravine below. Shae followed two sets of footprints leading up the icy staircase, where they disappeared within the palace doorway. Shae gasped again, her blood red eyes wide with horror as she stepped inside the palace. There were large spikes of pointed ice spread all over the floors and walls, all of them a shade of sinister, glowing red. Shae knew that Elsa's own fear was the cause, just as it had been before. The rock trolls had been right after all. Shae had to find Elsa, had to save her, before it was too late.
Kristoff, just as he had promised, had taken Anna to see his friends, the ones that he was sure would be able to help her. It just so happened that Kristoff's friends were the ancient and magical rock trolls that Elsa had spoken about to Shae. The trolls, who had adopted both Kristoff and Sven when they were very young, were very much intrigued by both Shae, a vampire, and Olaf, a snowman brought to life by magic. In their excitement over meeting two magical creatures, they failed to notice the young Princess. Once they did, utter chaos ensued as they began to fuss over Anna, every single one of them positively delighted that Kristoff had brought a girl home. Kristoff attempted to explain to his troll family that he and Anna were not together, but his words fell on deaf ears. The trolls continued to delight over Anna, insisting that she was perfect for their Kristoff. They were about to perform a wedding ceremony right then and there, when Anna suddenly collapsed, more of her red, braided hair turning white.
It was in that moment that a rock troll named Grand Pabbie made his appearance. He looked to be the oldest troll of them all, and Shae could sense an ancient and powerful magic from him. He told Anna that there was ice in her heart, put there by her sister. If it was not removed in time, the ice would consume her, and she would die. When Kristoff asked him to remove it, Grand Pabbie explained that, sadly, he could not. Only an act of true love could melt the ice in her heart, and Kristoff quickly deduced that they needed to return Anna to Hans, so he could perform true love's kiss, and save his fiancee's life.
"Thank you, Shae. For everything." Kristoff said as he ushered a shivering Anna over to Sven. "Good luck on your trip to… Uh… Where was it you said you were going?"
"I'm… Not quite sure, actually." Shae replied hesitantly. "I suppose I'll return to The Enchanted Forest."
"No!" Grand Pabbie suddenly exclaimed, his eyes wide with fear. "You cannot leave, you musn't! You must return to Elsa. Only you can be the one to save her."
"Save her?" Shae asked of the troll, brow furrowed in confusion. "Save her from who? Van Helsing?"
"Perhaps." Grand Pabbie replied with a solemn nod. "I know the man you speak of. He is indeed a great danger to Elsa, to us all. However, Elsa is in far more danger from herself."
"Herself?" Shae echoed, now more confused than ever. "I don't understand."
Grand Pabbie gestured for Shae to come closer, and the vampire obliged by kneeling down in front of him, so she was closer to his miniscule height. Kristoff, Anna, Olaf, Sven, and the rest of the rock trolls all gathered around, watching quietly as Grand Pabbie took Shae's hand, staring sorrowfully into her blood red eyes.
"I sense much fear in you, Shae." Grand Pabbie said quietly. "Just as I once did Elsa. I warned her about her fear, but it seems she has forgotten."
Grand Pabbie then released Shae's hand, and turned away from her. He raised his arms into the air, and the crowd of trolls all gasped as a glowing ball of bright blue light appeared in the air above him. Shae watched in astonished wonder as the ball of light took the shape of a person, a person that appeared to be Elsa herself. On either side of the light that was Elsa, appeared more shapes, turning into crowds of people, watching with glee as Elsa magically produced snow flurries, then a large, glittering snowflake.
"There is much beauty in Elsa's magic." Grand Pabbie explained, staring sadly up at the scene he had magically summoned before them. "But also great danger."
There was another collective gasp of shock from the trolls, and Shae, as the snowflake suddenly turned red, bursting into dangerous icy spikes. The crowds of delighted onlookers turned red as well, and the figure of Elsa began to back away in fright as the crowd advanced furiously upon her.
"I warned her that fear would be her enemy." Grand Pabbie went on, his tone sad and quiet. "As it is yours, Shae. It was not by chance that you arrived in Arendell when you did. You and Elsa found each other when you both needed each other most."
Shae watched with her mouth gaping open as the angry red crowds disappeared, and another figure appeared beside Elsa's, a figure that looked just like herself. The glowing blue shape of light that was Shae took both of Elsa's hands in her own, and flurries of snowflakes began to form around their fingers. The two figures both appeared to be laugh merrily, then they wrapped their arms around each other, and kissed.
"Woah…" Anna breathed quietly from behind Shae. "You and… And Elsa?"
Shae remained where she was still kneeling upon the ground, watching as a softly glowing pink heart began to form between the two kissing figures of herself and Elsa. Shae glanced over her shoulder back at Anna, and was slightly relieved to find that she was smiling.
"You believe that meeting Elsa was a mistake." Said Grand Pabbie, causing Shae to turn back around. "But it was not. Your mistake, Shae, would be to leave. Your mistake was to leave."
More gasps of shock resonated around the rocky clearing as the figures of Elsa and Shae broke apart, as did the heart that had formed between them. Their shapes of light then turned an angry and sinister shade of red, and they both placed their hands on either sides of their heads, their figures quivering, struggling against some sort of powerful emotion.
"There is a great and powerful fear in both you and Elsa." Grand Pabbie explained in the same sad and quiet tone. "And if you give into that fear, either of you, it will lead to nothing but pain, nothing but darkness."
They all watched in horror as more figures of light appeared around those of Elsa and Shae. Elsa used her ice powers to destroy any in her path, and Shae her brute strength. As the shapes of red, angry light that were Elsa and Shae decimated more and more figures that came before them, their own figures grew and grew, rising high into the air, looming sinisterly over the gathered and captive crowd. Grand Pabbie then waved his hands, and the figures of light dissipated. He turned slowly back to face Shae, leaning heavily on his walking stick, as if the magical effort had exhausted the ancient troll.
"Only you can save her, Shae." Grand Pabbie whispered, a small smile creeping across his gray, stone face. "Only you and Elsa can save each other."
"How?" Shae whispered back, her bottom lip trembling as her mouth gaped open.
Grand Pabbie took Shae's hand in his once again, and stared very intensely into her eyes. "You must go to Elsa. She is dangerously close to giving in to her fear. You must stop her, before it's too late. Do not let her become the monster that those who fear her think she is."
Suddenly, Anna emitted a painful groan from behind the vampire. Shae leapt to her feet and whirled around, gasping in shock as Anna collapsed feebly into Kristoff's arms, even more of her hair starting to turn white.
"Come on, we've gotta get you to Hans." Kristoff muttered fearfully, ushering Anna over to Sven.
Anna pushed away from Kristoff and stumbled over to Shae. She grabbed on tightly to the vampire's arms, her blue eyes shining with tears. "P-Please…" She said in a strangled whisper. "Go to Elsa… Help her… Please."
Shae stared into Anna's bright blue eyes, eyes that were nearly identical to her sister's. Shae opened and closed her mouth several times, unsure of how to respond, her head spinning with everything Grand Pabbie had said and shown her. Kristoff then stepped forward, and wrapped an arm around Anna's waist, drawing her away from Shae. He then quickly and gently helped her up onto Sven's back. Kristoff climbed up onto the reindeer behind Anna, and held out his hand to Olaf. Once the Princess, the blonde, and the snowman were safely upon his back, Sven turned around, and took off at a full gallop away from Shae and the trolls, back toward Arendell.
"Let's go kiss Hans!" Olaf exclaimed, throwing his stick arms up into the air. His face then fell into a confused frown. "Who is this Hans?"
Shae watched them go for a moment, her jaw still dangling open in silent shock. Once Anna and the others were lost from sight, she turned slowly back to Grand Pabbie. The ancient troll stared up at her, a small, wistful smile spread across his round, rocky face.
"You have a choice to make, Shae." He said, giving her another slow, solemn nod. "Either give in to your fear, or let it go. Whatever you decide, know that your actions in this near future will set you on a path toward your destiny. The choice is yours."
With that, Grand Pabbie rolled himself forward, curling himself into a round ball of stone. The other trolls parted for him as he rolled away, and he was gone. The rest of the rock trolls turned back to Shae, waiting and watching expectantly. Shae turned her back on them, breathing out a shaky sigh.
"Right…" She muttered, drawing herself up, and nodding determinedly. "Let it go…"
XX
Shae raced up the stairs within Elsa's ice palace, dodging and weaving around more and more dangerous and pointed spikes of ice, all of them glowing a bright, angry red. When she reached the top of the stairs, she was met with an alarming sight. Elsa was in the center of the room, surrounded on all sides by more icy spikes. Both her arms were outstretched at two armed men, whom Shae recognized to be The Duke of Weselton's guards. One of them was pinned to the wall by more spikes of ice, the tip of one poking dangerously against his throat. The other was trapped behind a wall of ice, which Elsa was slowly moving forward with her magic. Shae watched in horror as the ice wall burst through the doors of the balcony, the unfortunate man screaming and howling with panic as he was pushed closer and closer toward the edge.
"ELSA, STOP!"
Elsa gasped, the icy beam of magic that was shooting from her hand dissipating as she was startled by a voice. She searched all around her, her sparkling blue eyes growing wide when she finally spotted Shae.
"Shae?" She whispered, a smile slowly creeping across her face. As soon as it came, it went, and she vigorously shook her head. "No… No, you shouldn't be here. You need to leave. NOW!"
The Duke of Weselton's guard, who had momentarily fallen silent in relief, cried out in alarm once again as another beam of icy magic shot from Elsa's hand, and she resumed pushing the wall of ice slowly forward.
"NO! Elsa, don't!" Shae cried out.
"They tried to kill me!" Elsa exclaimed, glaring viciously at both the guards.
"I know, I know they did." Shae said gently, taking a careful step forward. "But, Elsa… Killing them is not the answer. An eye for an eye will leave the whole world blind!"
"I don't care about the whole world!" Elsa shouted, pushing her ice wall ever forward.
The Duke's guard fell backward onto the ground, attempting to scramble away from the edge of the balcony, his feet dangling out over the deep, rocky abyss. Shae rushed forward, and grabbed on to Elsa's wrist, stopping the beam of magic that was shooting from her hand.
"Elsa, please, don't do this." Shae whispered desperately. "Don't become the monster they think you are."
As Elsa stared up at Shae, the vampire was horrified to see the pure malice that was in her dazzling blue eyes. Slowly, it faded, and her face softened. Her features then twisted in misery, and she collapsed in Shae's arms. Shae went down with her as Elsa fell to her knees, wrapping her arms tightly around her as she began to sob bitterly.
"Shh… It's alright, I'm here, I've got you." Shae whispered soothingly.
"Oh, Shae… Shae, I was so scared!" Elsa said in a strangled sob.
"I know, I know…" Shae whispered, gently rubbing her back. "It's alright, it's over. You're safe now. I won't let them hurt you."
Elsa lifted her head away from Shae's chest, wiping at the tears streaming down her face. She then smiled, and placed her hand gently on Shae's cheek. She laughed, and Shae laughed with her as she felt the frost spreading out from under Elsa's hand.
"You came back." Elsa whispered, brushing a strand of Shae's messy black hair off her forehead.
"Yes." Shae whispered back, smiling into her bright blue eyes. "Yes, of course."
Elsa laughed again, and threw her arms around Shae's neck. Shae sighed, holding her close as she kissed her. Suddenly, neither of them cared that The Duke of Weselton's guards were still in the room. The entire rest of the world melted away as Shae and Elsa kissed slowly, passionately, gratefully. As she held Elsa in her arms, as she kissed her, Shae felt her unbeating heart flutter within her chest. It was something she had felt only once before, and, in that moment, she finally knew, finally accepted what it was: Love. She was madly in love with the powerful and beautiful Ice Queen, she had been from the moment she laid eyes on her. She only hoped that Elsa felt the same way.
"Well, well, well…"
Shae and Elsa both gasped, staring wide eyed at each other as they heard a very familiar voice. They both leapt to their feet, and were horrified to find who exactly had intruded on their passionate and grateful reunion: Van Helsing. Next to him stood Prince Hans, and behind them both were a score of Van Helsing's own knights, all armed with swords.
"I should have known you would be consorting with The Ice Witch." Van Helsing sneered at Shae. "All the better for me. I get to kill you both at once."
"You stay away from her, Van Helsing!" Shae snarled, stepping protectively in front of Elsa.
Van Helsing chuckled darkly, grinning sinisterly at both Elsa and Shae as he removed a crossbow from where it was strapped to his back. He pointed the tip of the silver arrow straight at Shae's heart, his eyes wide and wild with excitement.
"Wait!" Cried Prince Hans, grabbing on to Van Helsing's arm. "We agreed that Queen Elsa was not to be harmed!"
Van Helsing emitted another dark and amused chuckle, and slowly shook his head. "Oh no, Your Highness. I never agreed to anything of the sort."
"NO!" Hans shouted as Van Helsing pulled the trigger of his crossbow.
Just before the arrow was let loose, Hans threw himself in front of Van Helsing, smacking his crossbow upward with his hand. The arrow sailed high into the air, shooting straight through the icy chain of the chandelier hanging above Shae and Elsa's heads. Time seemed to slow to a crawl, and they both watched in horror as the massive, glittering chandelier came crashing down toward them.
Elsa cried out in alarm as Shae sent her shooting across the room with a blast of magic. Just before the chandelier came down upon her, Shae was able to catch a glimpse of Elsa smacking into the wall and crashing to the ground, out of harm's way. Then, all she heard was the sound of ice shattering all around her, all she felt was a shooting, stabbing pain in the top of her head. Next, she heard Van Helsing's triumphant roar of laughter, then nothing, and everything went black.
XX
Shae began to wake slowly, her head throbbing painfully. She realized that she was lying on something hard and flat, which seemed to be rumbling beneath her. She slowly blinked her eyes open, peering through her foggy vision, trying decipher her new and strange surroundings. She blinked several times, her vision slowly beginning to clear. She sat forward, and found that she was staring at metal bars. She quickly leapt to her feet, turning in her spot, panic bubbling in her stomach when she realized that she was in a cage. Her cage was sitting atop a wooden cart, which was being pulled forward by a horse.
"No… No, no, no…" Shae muttered.
She rushed forward within her tiny metal cage, gripping the bars tight. She immediately released them, howling with pain as her hands burned with shooting, white hot pain. The skin on her palms began to sizzle, emitting wisps of whirling black smoke.
"Careful, now. I wouldn't touch those, if I were you."
Shae jumped, snapping her head to the side, her blood red eyes growing wide with horror. Van Helsing was strolling along beside her cage, grinning deviously up at her.
"That's all silver, by the way." He said, gesturing toward the cage. "Had it made just especially for you."
"Van Helsing…" Shae snarled, her hands shaking as she balled them into fists. "You let me out of here. You let me out RIGHT NOW!"
Van Helsing barked out a mocking laugh. "Or what? What exactly are you planning to do from in there?"
Shae glared silently at her nemesis as he barked out another laugh. "Why? Why are you doing this?" She demanded. "Why not just kill me and get it over with?"
"Oh no, my friend, I'm not going to kill you." Van Helsing replied, sporting another dark and devilish grin. "Not just yet, anyway."
"And why not?" Shae snarled fiercely. "You've been trying to kill me for years, even followed me to a whole different world to do it."
"Well, you see, I've been having a bit of trouble convincing the nobility of this world to join my cause." Van Helsing explained, giving Shae a casual shrug. "I know for a fact that if you don't get the blood you need, you'll go into a frenzy. You'll become a rabid, mindless, drooling animal, ready to slaughter anyone or anything that crosses your path."
Van Helsing chuckled deviously, tapping the side of his head with a finger. "Now, I think, once people get a good look at what exactly my men and I are trying to protect them from, then they'll be positively hurling soldiers my way."
Shae growled in frustration, running her hands through her messy black hair. "Dammit, Van Helsing. What have you done with Elsa? Where is she?"
"Locked up tight in her own dungeon, by my guess." Van Helsing replied with another shrug. "I told that Prince Hans to just bloody kill her right then, but, well, he's got a plan, you see. He needs her alive, but only for the moment."
"Hans?" Shae asked, brow furrowed in confusion. "But… He's Anna's fiancee. Why would he want Elsa dead?"
Van Helsing laughed mockingly once again. "Oh, no, that was all a very clever ruse." He said, waving his hand dismissively. "I have to say, the boy may be wet behind the ears, but he certainly is clever."
"What the fucking hell are you talking about, Van Helsing?" Shae snarled.
"See, once the people of Arendell learn that dear Princess Anna was murdered by her own sister, they'll be calling for The Queen's head." Van Helsing explained, grinning all the while. "Prince Hans plans on giving it to them, and he will take over as Arendell's King. A damn good plan, I must say. Don't you agree?"
"No…" Shae whispered in horror as Van Helsing meandered away from her cage, laughing mockingly at her once again. "NO! ELSA!"
Shae reached her hand through the bars of her silver cage, grabbing onto to the lock that was hanging from the door. She cried out in pain once again, her hand sizzling and smoking. She collapsed back against the bars, sliding down onto the ground, sobbing bitterly. It had happened all over again, the very thing that the vampire had feared since the start. The woman she loved had been taken away from her once again, and would soon be dead, murdered in cold blood, just like before.
"Elsa…" Shae whispered, tears pouring from her eyes. "Elsa, I'm sorry… I'm so sorry…"
XX
The silver cage atop the cart rumbled ever forward, and the vampire held captive within sat in miserable, heartbroken, destitute silence. Shae's tears had finally subsided, and all that was left was a deep, gaping void of numbness inside her heart and soul. Van Helsing stopped by her cage every so often to taunt her, but Shae was too broken to make any sort of reply. She curled herself up in a ball on the floor of her cage, her eyes shut tight as the horrible, aching misery began to consume her. She felt her cage roll to a sudden stop, but she didn't even bother to open her eyes, too miserable to even care.
"What's going on here?" She heard Van Helsing bellowing to his knights.
"Sorry, sir, but there's… Rocks."
Shae's eyes suddenly snapped open. "Rocks?" Asked Van Helsing. "What the bloody hell are you talking about?"
"Look, sir, there's rocks!" The knight atop the horse said again. "Dozens of them, right in the road!"
Shae sat bolt upright, her blood red eyes growing wide with shock when she saw, just as the knight had said, dozens and dozens of perfectly round, moss covered rocks lying strewn about the road before them, rocks that looked very, very familiar.
"Well, don't just stand there you idiots!" Van Helsing bellowed at his men. "Start moving them! Get them out of the way!"
Shae scrambled up to her feet, watching as one of Van Helsing's knights picked up one of the smaller rocks, grunting in exertion as he did. Suddenly, the rock sprang to life in the knight's hands, into the form of a tiny, childlike rock troll.
"Hehehe! That tickles!"
"AAHH!"
The knight cried out in alarm, dropping the child troll from his hands. The troll giggled again, scampered forward between the knight's legs, knocking him off his feet. The rest of Van Helsing's knights emitted cries and gasps of startled fright, drawing their swords as the rest of trolls unrolled themselves from their boulder like forms.
"What the hell are they?" One of the knights exclaimed.
"We're the rock trolls!" One of the trolls shouted back. "And we're not going to let you take our friend!"
A female troll leapt on top of the other that had just spoken, and Shae recognized her as the troll named Unda, the one who had adopted young Sven and Kristoff years and years ago. Unda drew herself up to her full but miniscule height, pointing a determined, stony finger at Van Helsing and his Knights of the Sun.
"TROLLS ATTACK!"
Chaos ensued upon the road as the rocks trolls all bellowed out fearsome and courageous war cries, charging at Van Helsing and his knights. Shae couldn't help but laugh as she watched the knights swinging their swords at the trolls, only to have them bounce harmlessly off of their dense, stone bodies. The vampire laughed even more as the child trolls rolled themselves back into balls, and were sent sailing through the air by their elders, knocking out knights one right after the other.
"Hello, Shae!"
Shae whirled around, grinning from ear to ear when she found Unda standing atop another troll's shoulders before the door to her silver cage. "You… Came to rescue me?" Shae breathed in wonder.
"Of course we did, honey!" Unda replied, grinning back at the vampire. "Grand Pabbie said you were in trouble, so we came as soon as we could. Now, stand back!"
Shae obeyed, drawing back a step as Unda raised her rocky fist, narrowing her eyes determinedly at the silver padlock of Shae's cage. Unda wound up her arm, spinning it in circles several times. Shae jumped, her blood red eyes wide as saucers as the troll brought her fist down upon the lock, shattering it to tiny pieces.
"Hurry, honey, hurry!" Cried Unda, throwing the cage door open.
The troll beneath Unda stepped back, allowing Shae to leap down from the cage. "Quick, you've gotta get to the castle!" Unda said, grabbing on to Shae's arm. "You've gotta get to Elsa!"
"Elsa?" Shae breathed, her eyes growing wide once again. "She's… She's alive?"
Unda nodded hastily, her stony face grave. "Yes, but she's in terrible danger, Anna too. You've gotta hurry!"
"The bloodsucker's escaping!" Van Helsing bellowed from amongst the fray. "Stop her! STOP HER!"
"Go! We'll hold them off!" Unda commanded to Shae.
Shae nodded, gently squeezing the rock trolls hand. "Thank you."
Unda nodded back, and quickly leapt down from the other's trolls back. Shae remained where she stood for a moment, watching as Unda and her friend threw themselves upon Van Helsing, promptly stopping him in his tracks as he gave chase after the vampire. Shae chuckled as her long time nemesis hit the ground hard, besieged by even more of the rock trolls. She then turned around and sprinted away from the heated battle, her body disappearing in a black blur motion. Her heart soared as she ran toward Arendell Castle as fast as her superhuman speed would carry her. Elsa, the woman that Shae had fallen so deeply and abruptly in love with, was still alive.
XX
With her powers of superhuman speed, it didn't take Shae long to reach Arendell Castle. She skidded to a stop as she reached the top of a snow covered hill, and her heart sunk deep into the pit of her stomach as she gazed upon the castle below. A fearsome, roaring blizzard was swirling about the kingdom of Arendell, the towering castle walls slowly being encased by shimmering blue ice. Shae raced down the hill, her mind reeling with panic. She had no idea what exactly was happening to Elsa, but she knew it was nothing good. The Ice Queen's fear was now greater than it had ever been before.
Shae sprinted out onto the frozen waters of the fjord, slowing to a stop as she entered the eye of the storm. All she could hear was the wind rushing through her ears, and even her heightened sense of sight was useless amongst the roaring blizzard. She walked slowly forward, peering through the ice and snow, shielding her eyes with the back of her hand.
"Dammit!" She snarled, stumbling back a step as the wind whirled furiously all around her. "Elsa? ELSA!"
"Kristoff!"
The voice was barely a whisper within the roaring wind, but Shae was able to hear it all the same. She turned toward the sound, and recognized the voice as Anna's, weak, feeble, and desperate.
"Anna!"
Shae spun around, peering through the snow and ice toward the sound of Kristoff's voice. She staggered toward it, struggling as she pushed against the powerful force of Elsa's icy blizzard. An exceptionally strong gust of wind blew her off of her feet, and she fell sideways onto the ground. She groaned, propping herself up on her elbow, trying in vain to spot someone, anyone within the storm.
"Your sister is dead!" She heard another familiar voice call out. "Because of YOU!"
Suddenly, the blizzard stopped. The frozen fjord surrounding the kingdom of Arendell was once again calm and still. Shae remained where she sat upon the frozen waters, gazing all around her in wonder. The once swirling flakes of snow had stopped, and hung frozen in mid air, completely still. A few yards to her left, Shae finally spotted Kristoff, blinking dazedly as he too stared at the snowflakes hovering before his eyes. A few yards ahead of him, was Anna. The young Princess's entire body was caked over in frost, her red, braided hair now almost entirely white. She stumbled forward, and Shae smiled as Kristoff sprinted toward her. She now knew that it wasn't Hans who could save Anna with true love's kiss, but Kristoff.
The sound of a sword being drawn from a scabbard rang out across the fjord. Shae turned her head toward the sound, her blood red eyes growing wide with horror at what she now saw. Hans, standing over Elsa as she sobbed upon the ground, sword raised in the air.
"ELSA!" Shae screamed.
Shae scrambled to her feet, sprinting forward as fast as she possibly could. The corners of her vision turned black, tunneling in on Elsa's huddled and broken form. She was mere inches away as Hans' sword cut through the air.
"NO!"
Suddenly, Shae was thrown backward by a powerful, magical force, and she crashed to the ground on her back. Hans grunted in pain as he landed beside her, where he remained motionless, knocked senseless by the blast. Shae sat forward, and her eyes were filled with horror once again. Anna was standing before her, her arm outstretched into the air, her entire body encased in blue, shimmering, glistening ice. Elsa drew in a startled gasp, her own sparkling blue eyes filled with fear as she gazed upon her sister.
"No…" Elsa whispered, scrambling up onto her feet. She choked out a strangled sob, placing her hands gently on Anna's frozen face. "Anna? ANNA!"
Shae slowly rose to her feet, watching in silent shock and horror as Elsa threw her arms around the icy statue that was now her sister, her whole body shaking with violent sobs. Shae jumped slightly, startled when she felt a hand on her shoulder. It was Kristoff, followed closely by Sven, and the snowman Olaf. Kristoff placed his other hand over his mouth, staring at Anna's frozen form with tears in his eyes. Olaf carefully stepped up to Anna, gingerly touching her frozen leg with his stick hand.
"Anna?" He whispered, his snowy features frightened and confused.
Shae slowly stepped forward, placing a quivering hand on Elsa's back. "Elsa… Elsa, I'm sorry… I'm so sorry…"
Elsa gasped, whirling around when she felt the vampire's touch. "Shae?" She whispered, her bottom lip trembling. "Shae… Oh god… Oh, what have I done?"
Elsa buried her face in her hands, and Shae quickly drew her into her arms, holding her tight as she began to sob bitterly once again. Shae buried her face in the top of Elsa's head, squeezing her eyes shut as tears leaked down her face. Those that were gathered around Anna's frozen body, the ones that cared about her most, stood in destitute and horrified silence, their hearts aching with sheer misery. After everything that had happened, after all that they had done, it had all been in vain. They were too late, and Anna was gone.
Suddenly, the sound of a harsh, startled gasp broke through the sounds of Elsa's sobs. It was Olaf, gazing up at Anna's frozen body, his eyes gaping wide. Shae picked her head up, gasping herself as she saw what was happening. A small circle of ice around Anna's heart had melted, and it was slowly spreading outward, the rest of her torso starting to thaw. Kristoff breathed out an astonished, hopeful laugh, and Sven brayed excitedly, clopping his front hooves.
"Elsa…" Shae whispered, smiling as she shook Elsa's shoulder. "Elsa, look!"
Elsa whirled around, drawing in a gasp of her own. They all stood in silent wonder, watching closely as the ice covering Anna's body melted away. Finally, miraculously, the ice was gone, and the young Princess was restored to bright, colorful life once again. Anna blinked confusedly for a moment, then a smile slowly crept across her now rosy cheeked face as she saw her sister standing before her.
"Elsa?" She whispered.
"Anna!" Elsa cried.
Elsa threw herself into her sister's arms, and Anna laughed, hugging her tightly, gratefully. Shae laughed too, and so did Kristoff, both of them grinning at each other from ear to ear. Sven clopped his front hooves excitedly once again, braying happily into the air. Olaf giggled joyfully, clapping his tiny, stick hands.
"Anna…" Elsa whispered, holding her sister's face in her hands, tears of joy streaming out of her eyes. "You… Sacrificed yourself… For me?"
Anna shrugged sheepishly. "You're my sister. I… I love you."
Elsa sobbed with pure joy, throwing her arms around her sister once again. "Oh, Anna… I love you too. I love you so much."
Suddenly, Shae's arms were pinned to her sides as Kristoff wrapped her in a tight, joyful hug. "Dammit… Kristoff!" Shae grumbled, grimacing in disgust. "Stop… Stop this!"
"No!" Kristoff said stubbornly, squeezing the vampire even tighter.
"Group hug!" Exclaimed Olaf, throwing his arms around Shae's legs.
"Oh! Yes!" Anna said excitedly. "Here we go, comin' in!"
Anna threw her arms around both Kristoff and Shae, as did Elsa, both of them laughing joyfully. Shae began to protest loudly, but stopped when Elsa placed a kiss on her cheek. As Elsa smiled up into her blood red eyes, Shae suddenly no longer cared that Kristoff's blonde haired head was nestled in her shoulder.
"I love all of you!" Olaf cried happily. "Every single one of you!"
Suddenly, Elsa drew in a sharp gasp, pulling away from their group embrace. Shae and Anna both exchanged a curious glance, eyeing Elsa confusedly as a strange smile slowly crept across her face.
"That's it…" Elsa whispered, her bright blue eyes sparkling with excitement. "Love!"
XX
Through the power of the true, unyielding love that she shared with her sister, Elsa was finally able to let go of her fear. She undid the icy spell that she had unwillingly cast upon her kingdom, restoring the bright, warm summer once again. This caused problems for poor Olaf, who immediately began to melt. Elsa quickly remedied the situation by creating a perpetually snowing cloud over Olaf's head. Olaf absolutely loved it, and was overjoyed to have his own personal snow flurry.
Elsa returned to her castle, hand in hand with her sister, and once again donned her crown, now ready and willing to take on her responsibility as Queen. Her first royal act was to ban Prince Hans from her kingdom, as well as The Duke of Weselton. She declared that Arendell would never do business of any sort with Weselton or The Southern Isles, and the Prince and the Duke were to leave Arendell immediately, never to return again. Her second royal decree was to make Kristoff Arendell's Official Ice Master and Deliverer. He and Sven were both provided with a brand new sled, which was top of the line, sturdily built and polished to perfection. Kristoff graciously accepted, simply grateful that Anna was safe and sound. The two of them shared a quick, sweet, and slightly awkward kiss, their own true love slowly beginning to blossom.
The Kingdom of Arendell gathered together once again for another coronation ceremony, this time with a little twist. Elsa used her magic to create a beautiful, shimmering ice rink in the courtyard of her castle. The townsfolk were overjoyed, and quick to forgive and accept their powerful, magical Queen. They spent the day skating upon the ice rink, and gathered inside the castle that night. Elsa and Anna quickly threw together another ball, this time inviting the entire kingdom. The gates of Arendell Castle were thrown open, never to be closed again.
Shae stood at the back of the ballroom, trying her best to ignore the prying and fearful eyes that gazed upon her. Though the people of Arendell were quick to accept their Queen, Shae, however, was a different story. During his brief time spent amongst them, Van Helsing had spouted nothing but fear, malice, and hatred toward the vampire. Creatures like Shae were merely a legend in Arendell, and Van Helsing toldeven more stories about things that Shae had done in their homeland, horrors that he himself had seen her and others of her kind commit. Both Elsa and Anna assured their subjects that Shae was their friend, that she had saved both their lives, and would never harm any of them. Most seemed to accept their Queen and Princess' words, but others still looked at Shae with fear in their eyes.
Unable to bare the wary glances any more, Shae quickly and quietly slipped out of the ballroom. She stepped out onto the balcony, grateful to find it quiet and empty. She sank down onto one of the marble benches, and buried her face in her hands. She knew that she loved Elsa, and all she wanted was to stay by her side, to tell her how she felt. But, as the fearful, accusing faces of the people of Arendell swam before her eyes, she knew that it was best to leave, for her own sake, and, more importantly, for Elsa's.
Something that Remus had said to her long ago kept repeating itself inside the vampire's head. It had been years after Nadia's death, and Shae had remained desperately searching for some kind of magic, some way, any way to bring back the woman that she loved. Remus had humored her, and remained by her side as she searched and searched, always coming up with nothing, continually failing. Finally, Remus sat her down, and told her that the only way she would be able to have any peace in her mind and heart was to let Nadia go.
"Sometimes, when you love someone, the best thing to do is… Let them go."
Shae squeezed her eyes shut, tears leaking down her cold, pale face. As she remembered Remus's words, she knew what she had to do. All was right in Arendell now, and Elsa was finally at peace, finally able to let go of her fear. Shae knew that for Elsa to remain at peace, for her kingdom to have peace, she would need to let her go.
"There you are!"
Shae snapped her head up, and found Elsa herself stepping out onto the balcony. She rose to her feet, hastily wiping away the tears from her cheeks.
"I've been looking all over for you." Elsa told her with a smile. "I'm glad we're alone. There's something I've been wanting to do all day."
Elsa crossed the balcony in three long strides, gripped the front of Shae's black and maroon coat, and placed a deep, gentle kiss on her lips. Shae stood rigid in her spot for a moment, silently battling with the confliction in her heart. Unable to resist, unable to fight off the deep, unyielding love she felt for Elsa, she sighed, and wrapped her up in her arms. They stood locked in their embrace for several long, passionate moments, their lips parting slowly, gently, their tongues brushing lightly against each other.
"I don't think I'll ever get tired of this." Elsa whispered, her cheeks flushed with heat.
"Me either." Shae whispered back.
They kissed again, and, for a moment, all of Shae's worries, all of her fears melted away as she held Elsa in her arms. She was deeply, desperately, irrevocably in love with her, and it terrified the vampire right down to her very core.
"Anna told me that you had been planning on leaving before." Elsa said quietly as she drew away from Shae's lips. "But, if you'd want, I would… Like for you to stay. I would like to offer you a position here at my castle, at my side."
"Position?" Shae asked, brow furrowed in confusion. "What kind of position."
Elsa smiled, gently adjusting Shae's black and maroon jacket. "I would like to make you my… Royal Protector."
Shae breathed out a surprised laugh. "'Royal Protector?'" She echoed, raising a skeptical eyebrow at Elsa. "That's not a real thing."
"Well, I'm making it a thing." Elsa said with a determined nod. "I am The Queen, after all."
Shae laughed again, slowly shaking her head. She then fell silent, and stared down at the ground, avoiding Elsa's piercing blue gaze as she once again wrestled with the confliction in her mind and heart.
"Shae, I… I want you to stay." Elsa went on quietly, smiling into Shae's blood red eyes. "I… Need you to stay. I need you by my side while I rule my kingdom."
Shae stared into Elsa's sparkling blue eyes, her unbeating heart fluttering inside her ribcage as she gazed upon her smile. She then breathed out a sad, heavy sigh, and took both Elsa's hands in her own.
"Elsa, your people are very kind, and very… Forgiving." She whispered softly. "They have accepted you with open arms. But, I see the way some of them look at you, the way they look at me. You are… Different, unique, and… Powerful. There will always be people that fear you because of what you are, people that will hate you."
Shae paused for a moment, fighting back the tears that were welling into her eyes. "And… A-And with me by your side, that fear, that hate… Elsa, I'll only make it worse for you, make it that much harder."
"I don't care about that." Elsa whispered, placing her hand gently on Shae's cheek. "I don't care what my people think of you, of me. You're the one that insisted that I shouldn't, remember?"
Shae sighed again, biting her lip as more tears threatened to leak out of her eyes. "Well, it's not like you need me to protect you, anyway." She muttered, once again refusing to meet Elsa's gaze. "You're in full control of your powers now. You're more than capable of protecting yourself, and then some."
"Yes, I know… That's… Not why I want you to stay." Elsa replied slowly, hesitantly. Her smile then faded, and she suddenly looked quite anxious. "I… I want you to stay, because… I… I love you."
Shae's blood red eyes grew wide, and her mouth gaped open in utter shock. Tears began to well into her eyes again, and a smile slowly crept across her pale face. Elsa, the woman that Shae had fallen so deeply and madly in love with, loved her too.
"I am so very deeply in love with you, Shae." Elsa whispered, her own eyes shining with tears as well. "I know you said not to fall in love, but… I couldn't help it."
Elsa placed her hand on Shae's cheek once again, wiping away the tears that had leaked onto her face with her thumb. "You are so kind, and smart, and funny, and… And absolutely gorgeous." She went on, smiling gently into Shae's eyes. "I just… Couldn't help falling in love with you."
Elsa cleared her throat, glancing away from Shae's eyes, fiddling with the front of her coat. "What I want to know, what I need to know…" She began slowly. "Is… Is if you love me too."
Shae stood in silence for a few moments, wrestling with the storm of emotion that was swirling within her heart and soul. Her heart ached as Elsa gazed back into her eyes. She so desperately wanted to kiss her again, to tell her that she loved her too. She thought back to what Remus had said, remembered the agony of losing his sister, the woman that she had loved so very much. She remembered what Grand Pabbie had said, that she either needed to give in to her fear, or let it go. She thought she had already let it go, just as Elsa had. But, in that moment, she knew that she hadn't, that she just couldn't.
"No."
Shae stepped away from Elsa, turning her back on her, unable to bare the sight of the sorrow in her dazzling blue eyes. She could almost hear the sound of The Ice Queen's heart shattering to pieces.
"What?" Elsa breathed in shock.
"I don't love you, Elsa." Shae whispered, balling her hands into fists, trying to stop them from shaking. "What I wanted from you was purely physical, nothing more."
"W-What? No!" Elsa cried, grabbing on to Shae's arm. "No, you do love me, I know you do! Shae, I could see it in your eyes, I could-"
Shae rounded on Elsa, wrenching her arm out of her grip. "I don't know what it is you thought you saw." She snarled scathingly. "But it certainly wasn't love."
Elsa's mouth gaped open in horror, her sparkling blue eyes streaming with tears. Shae turned her back on her once again, furiously fighting back against the tears that were threatening to leak out of her own eyes.
"Now, I need to leave." She said quietly. "I can't stay here, not if this is how you feel."
"No!" Elsa sobbed, desperately gripping Shae's arm. "No, please, don't go!"
Shae hung her head, placing her quivering hand on top of Elsa's. "I'm sorry, Elsa." She whispered, her heart aching with misery. "I told you… I… I tried to tell you."
Elsa choked out another strangled sob, and Shae slowly turned around to face her. She gazed deep into Elsa's miserable, tear stained, dazzling blue eyes one last time, and whispered softly to her before disappearing in a cloud of blood red smoke.
"Love is nothing but pain…"
XX
For the next several days, Shae wandered aimlessly through the forests and mountains that surrounded the kingdom of Arendell, unable to actually summon the will to leave. She suffered alone, fighting and wrestling with the tumultuous storm of pain and confliction within her mind and heart. She knew that she had broken Elsa's heart, and all she wanted to do was go back and tell her how she really felt, that it was all a lie, a mistake. But, she also knew that she shouldn't, that she just couldn't. Elsa was Queen now, and she was much better off without a dark and dangerous creature like Shae at her side.
Shae had happened upon a small fishing village at the edge of Arendell's border, and decided to drown her sorrows in rum at the local tavern. The villagers were all wary of her, but the inkeep took her coin and provided her with drink all the same. She was on her third bottle when the door to the tavern swung open, and the townsfolk within all began gasping and crying out in alarm. Next, Shae heard a very familiar voice.
"Hi, I'm Olaf, and I like warm hugs!"
Shae nearly spat out her mouthful of rum. She whirled around on her barstool, and found the snowman Olaf standing in the tavern's doorway, the tiny cloud above his head snowing as perpetually as ever. He smiled gleefully at all the startled villagers, and gasped excitedly when he spotted Shae.
"Shae! There you are!" He exclaimed. "I can't believe I actually found you!"
Shae breathed out a frustrated groan, and vacacted her barstool, stomping angrily over to the snowman. Olaf continued talking, seemingly unbothered as Shae lifted him into the air, tucking him under her arm as she stomped out the door.
"Hi! How are you? I'm doing great, by the way. Summer is so much fun! With all the sunshine, and the flowers, and the bees buzzing, and the children playing, and-"
"Dammit, Olaf…" Shae grumbled, setting the snowman back down on the ground once they were a safe distance away from the tavern. "What the hell are you doing here?"
"Well, looking for you, of course!" Olaf exclaimed in an obvious tone. "I've come to bring you back to the castle."
Shae sighed heavily, folding her arms across her chest. "Did Elsa send you?"
Olaf hesitated to respond for a moment, swinging his stick arms back and forth as he stared at the ground. "Um… Well, no. Anna did." He slowly replied. "She's really worried about Elsa, we all are. Shae, she really misses you. She's… She's miserable without you."
Shae sighed again, her blood red eyes filled with sorrow. "I know." She muttered quietly. "But… Trust me, Olaf, it's for the best."
Olaf's snow covered brow furrowed in confusion. "How is Elsa being sad for the best?"
"Because… It just is!" Shae exclaimed, throwing her arms up in the air. "Trust me, Elsa is far better off being sad than… Than being with someone like me."
"Well, what's wrong with you?" Olaf asked, looking Shae up and down. "I mean, sure, you dress kinda funny, and your haircut is kinda weird, but-"
"No, no, no! That's not what I meant!" Shae cried, vigorously shaking her head. "What I meant was- Wait a minute, you think my haircut is weird?"
"I mean, have you ever tried brushing it?" Olaf whispered, eyeing the vampire with concern.
Shae groaned in frustration, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Olaf, listen, I can't go back with you. Elsa is already branded as different, and many of her subjects still fear her, and they certainly fear me. Being with me would only make ruling her kingdom that much harder."
"So?" Olaf demanded, folding his stick arms across his round, snowy chest. "It doesn't matter what other people think. All that matters is how you and Elsa feel about each other. You… Do love her, don't you? Because I know that she loves you."
Shae sighed, hanging her head in sorrow. "Yes, of course I do." She whispered, her heart aching with misery. "I have since the moment I saw her. But… But that doesn't matter. Someone once told me that, if you love someone, sometimes the best thing you can do for them is… Let them go."
"What? No! That's wrong!" Olaf cried in indignant shock. "Love is… Is… Standing by someone through the good times and the bad. It's… Being there for each other no matter how hard things get. Love is never giving up. Ever."
Shae bit her lip, fighting back the tears that were welling into her eyes. "Olaf, you're just a snowman." She muttered bitterly. "What could you possibly know about love?"
"It looks like I know a lot more about it than you do, bat girl." Olaf replied haughtily.
Shae narrowed her eyes irritably at the snowman. "Well, now you're just being rude. Goodbye."
"Shae, wait!" Olaf cried out as Shae turned away from him, stomping back toward the tavern. "I can't leave without you! Elsa needs you! Arendell needs you!"
Shae barked out a laugh, turning back to Olaf. "Arendell? What could Arendell possibly need me for?"
Olaf hesitated for a moment, staring down at the ground, swinging his stick arms back and forth once again. When he finally glanced back up, when he finally replied, the snowman's normal carefree and jovial demeanor was utterly gone.
"Um, well, you see… Arendell is sort of, uh… Under attack."
XX
"ELSA, GO! RUN!"
Anna stood in Arendell Castle's throne room, side by side with Kristoff, Elsa standing at the bottom of the staircase just behind them. They were surrounded on all sides by soldiers armed to the teeth with swords, shields, spears, and axes. Among them stood The Duke of Weselton, accompanied once again by Abraham Van Helsing and his Knights of the Sun. Elsa hesitated for a moment, but then turned and ran up the stairs, fleeing from the men who had come to take her life.
"After her!" Van Helsing commanded to his knights.
"Men, with me!" Shouted The Duke of Weselton. "Bring that sorceress to justice!"
As Van Helsing, The Duke, and their soldiers gave chase after Elsa, Anna stood defiantly in their way. The soldiers continued their charge regardless, and Anna was quickly pulled out of harm's way by Kristoff.
"Anna, no! Elsa can take care of herself!" Kristoff exclaimed as Anna struggled to free herself from his grip. "I think we need to worry more about our own lives right now."
A dozen or so soldiers remained in the throne room, and they slowly advanced upon both Anna and Kristoff. Anna marched over to the suits of armor that stood along the wall, retrieving two swords from the grip of their empty gauntlets. She shoved one into Kristoff's hand, and brandished her own at the men surrounding them.
"You sure you know how to use that thing?" Kristoff asked her warily.
Anna chuckled, nodding determinedly. "Come on, dirtbags!" She bellowed at the soldiers. "Come and get me, you sons of-"
Anna stopped mid sentence as Sven the reindeer came barrelling into the throne room. He brayed furiously into the air, head bowed, his antlers pointed outward. Anna and Kristoff both watched in stunned silence as he galloped straight into the unfortunate soldiers, bowling over nearly half of them. He reared up on his hind legs, clocking another in the face with his front hoof. He kicked out his back legs, and two more men fell to the ground, the wind knocked out of them as Sven's back hooves made contact with their stomachs.
"Good boy, Sven!" Kristoff exclaimed.
Sven threw back his antlered head, braying triumphantly into the night air. He then dropped his head, and once again charged at more of the soldiers that were staggering back to their feet. Kristoff and Anna both entered the fray, and the sounds of steel striking steel echoed off the walls of the throne room. Kristoff was clumsy with his sword, but still managed to hold off the soldiers that set upon them. Anna, however, had been trained to fight with a sword by the soldiers that protected Arendell ever since she was a young girl. She deftly and gracefully swung her blade through the air, cutting down any and every soldier in her path.
Suddenly, Anna lost her footing, tripping over the body of one of The Duke's soldiers. She fell backwards onto the ground, her sword sliding across the marble floor. She scrambled backwards, her heart hammering in her chest as one of Van Helsing's knights stood over her. The knight raised his sword in the air, and Anna threw her arms over her head, squeezing her eyes shut. She held her breath, waiting for the pain to come. But it never did. Instead, she heard a very familiar voice.
"Sorry, my friend. Not today."
Anna snapped her eyes open, and gasped when she found Shae standing before her, the blade of the knight's sword clutched firmly in her hand. Shae threw out her free hand, blasting the knight backward with her telekinetic magic. She then turned around, smiling warmly at Anna as she helped her back to her feet.
"Anna!"
Anna spun around, and found Olaf scurrying toward her. Following behind him was a group of Arendell soldiers, who promptly set upon The Duke and Van Helsing's men. Anna knelt down, laughing with relieved and grateful joy as Olaf threw himself into her arms.
"Olaf, you did it!" She exclaimed, smiling up at Shae. "You found Shae!"
"Of course I did!" Olaf said, looking quite proud of himself. "I promised you I would, didn't I?"
"Shae! Thank god you're here." Said Kristoff, panting heavily as he placed a hand on the vampire's shoulder. "It's The Duke of Weselton, and your friend Van Helsing. They came back and attacked the castle and-"
"Yes, yes, I know, Olaf told me." Shae said quickly. "Where is Elsa? Is she alright? Is she safe?"
Anna gasped in alarm, urgently grabbing Shae's arm. "Oh no! Elsa!" She exclaimed, her bright blue eyes full of panic. "I told her to run, but Van Helsing and The Duke ran after her. Come on, we gotta hurry!"
Shae nodded, and hurried after Anna as she raced toward the staircase, Kristoff, Sven, and Olaf upon Sven's back hot on their heels. As they began climbing the stairs, several of Van Helsing's knights broke away from their fight with the Arendell soldiers. They gave chase after Shae and the others, climbing the stairs two and three at a time.
"Dammit!" Shae snarled, pausing on the staircase. "Go, hurry! I'm right behind you!"
Shae threw herself upon Van Helsing's knights, and the others continued on up the stairs. When they reached the top, they were all startled to find bodies of soldiers strewn all over the long hallway, along with pointed spikes of ice. Anna gasped in alarm, and sprinted off down the hallway. They followed the bodies and the ice, bursting through the doors of the library. More soldiers and Van Helsing's knights were gathered inside the room, along with The Duke of Weselton, watching as Van Helsing himself slowly advanced upon Elsa. She backed away from the hulking, bearded man, shooting beams of icy magic from her hands. Van Helsing swung his sword with inhuman speed, effortlessly knocking away Elsa's magic. Elsa backed out onto the balcony, her sparkling blue eyes wide with fear. Suddenly, she stopped, gasping in alarm as her back hit the railing.
"ELSA!" Anna cried.
Elsa gasped again, turning her head toward the sound of her sister's voice. Van Helsing used the distraction to his advantage, and swung his free fist at Elsa, hitting her squarely in the side of the head. Anna cried out in alarm as Elsa slumped to the ground, knocked senseless by the blow.
"NO!" Cried Kristoff.
"ELSA!" Anna screamed.
Anna and Kristoff both rushed forward, only to be stopped by The Duke of Weselton's soldiers. They seized both of them by their arms, and Sven emitted a fearful whine as more soldiers pointed their swords at him and Olaf.
"Kill her, Van Helsing!" Shrieked The Duke of Weselton, pointing a bony finger at Elsa. "Bring me that witch's head!"
Van Helsing chuckled darkly, grinning from ear to ear. "With pleasure, my lord."
Anna screamed, struggling furiously against the man holding her arms behind her back. Van Helsing held his sword in both his hands, raising it slowly into the air, the tip pointing straight down at Elsa's heart.
"NOOO!"
Anna, Kristoff, and the men around them were suddenly knocked off their feet by a rushing black blur. Anna hit the ground hard, and picked her head up just in time to see the black blur taking the form of Shae. Van Helsing spun around just as the vampire reached him, and only had time to gasp in alarm before Shae slammed her shoulder into his chest. Time seemed to slow to a crawl as they watched Van Helsing soar through the air, straight over the edge of the balcony. He screamed in terror, the sound growing fainter and fainter as he fell, and fell, and fell. There was a faint splash as he plunged into the fjord far below Arendell Castle.
"Elsa!" Anna exclaimed, scrambling back onto her feet.
Anna rushed to her sister's side, closely followed by Kristoff, Olaf, and Sven. As the soldiers and knights in the room staggered back to their feet, Shae stepped forward, standing defiantly before them. The Duke of Weselton was helped up by one of his guards, and he eyed Shae fearfully.
"You…" He whispered, his beady, watery eyes wide. "Who exactly are you?"
"Me?" Shae asked, placing a hand over her heart.
Shae paused for a moment and glanced back at Anna, who smiled at her as she held her sister's limp body in her arms. Shae smiled back at her, and slowly turned back to The Duke. She chuckled lightly, grinning from ear to ear. In that moment, she made a decision, and she now knew exactly who she was, who she wanted to be.
"I'm the Protector of the Queen." She stated determinedly, proudly squaring her shoulders. "And The Princess. And… Them."
Shae gestured toward Olaf, Kristoff, and Sven. Suddenly, her eyes began to glow a bright, burning red. She slowly raised her arms, and the soldiers and knights all gasped, drawing back in fear as their fallen swords hovered magically into the air. They cried out in alarm as Shae shoved her arms forward, the swords all shooting out toward their owners, stopping just before their startled and fearful faces.
"Leave now, and you leave with your lives." Shae commanded in a clear, ringing voice. "Should you ever return, I will not be so merciful. Now, go… NOW."
The Duke, the soldiers, and the knights all turned tail and ran, shoving each other as they fled from The Queen's powerful vampire protector. As soon as they were gone, Shae dropped her hands back to her sides, her eyes fading back to their normal blood red as the swords clattered back to the ground. Shae rushed over to Elsa's side, who was still lying unconscious in the arms of her sister.
"Elsa? Elsa!" Shae exclaimed, taking one of Elsa's hands in both her own. "Oh, Elsa… Elsa, please… Please wake up."
As if she were obeying the vampire's command, Elsa emitted a feeble groan, and her eyes slowly fluttered open. She blinked dazedly for a few moments, her sparkling blue eyes hazy and unfocused. Suddenly, her eyes focused, and they grew wide when she saw Shae kneeling before her.
"Shae?" She whispered, a smile slowly creeping across her face. "You… Came back."
"Yes." Shae whispered back, grateful tears spilling down her pale cheeks. "Oh, Elsa… Elsa, I'm so sorry. I'm sorry I left, sorry that I turned you away. I… I do love you."
Elsa's smile grew wider, and tears began to well into her own eyes. "You… You do?"
Shae nodded, squeezing Elsa's hand tight, more tears streaming down her face as she placed a kiss on Elsa's fingers. "Yes, with all my heart. I… I have since the very beginning. Elsa, it was love at first sight. I… I was just… Afraid."
Shae paused for a moment, squeezing her eyes shut. "I was so afraid." She whispered shakily. She then opened her eyes, and smiled at both Anna and Kristoff. "But, I finally understand what Grand Pabbie meant. I finally… Let it go."
Elsa laughed, placing her hand gently on Shae's cheek. "Let it go." She whispered, smiling into Shae's blood red eyes. "Oh, Shae… Shae, I love you."
"I love you too, Elsa." Shae whispered back.
Elsa sat forward, and threw her arms around Shae's neck. Anna smiled at Kristoff, tears leaking out of her own eyes as Shae and Elsa kissed. Shae sighed, burying her face in Elsa's neck, wrapping her arms tightly around her.
"Group hug!" Kristoff suddenly exclaimed.
"What? No!" Cried Shae.
Shae groaned in protest as Kristoff, Anna, and Olaf all threw their arms around both her and Elsa, squeezing them tight. Sven brayed happily, nuzzling his brown, fuzzy muzzle into the top of their heads. Elsa laughed, placing another kiss on Shae's lips.
"Promise me you won't leave again." Elsa whispered, running her fingers through Shae's messy black hair.
"I promise." Shae whispered back, smiling into her dazzling blue eyes. "I will never leave you again, Elsa. Ever."
XX
After Arendell's soldiers dispatched both The Duke of Weselton and Van Helsing and his Knights of the Sun, Arendell was at peace once again. The next day, Elsa gathered her subjects inside the castle once again, this time for a knighting ceremony. Shae spent most of the morning with Elsa's servants, as they tailored for her a brand new set of fine clothes, in the traditional style of Arendell's royalty. The navy blue coat was ornately adorned with red and gold, the gray pants made of the finest cotton. Shae was not overly fond of the golden shoulder cuffs, but otherwise did not make a fuss. After Shae was knighted by her Queen, Elsa pinned a bronze badge to her coat, Arendell's royal sigil engraved into the metal. Shae the vampire was now, 'Shae of Arendell,' The Queen's Royal Protector.
Shae wore her badge proudly, and spent the next several years standing faithfully by Elsa's side, as did her sister, as well as Kristoff. The snowman Olaf, however, had his own plans. Not long after Shae's knighting ceremony, Olaf announced that he wanted to see more of the world that he had been brought to life in, and promptly set off on his own grand adventure. He would send letters to Arendell Castle from time to time, but due to his tiny stick arms and general lack of knowledge of how to read and write, Olaf's letters were mostly indescifrable. Still, though, they were all grateful to at least know that their snowman friend was safe and sound.
Though neither The Duke of Weselton nor Shae's old nemesis, Van Helsing, were ever seen in Arendell again, Prince Hans was still determined to win Arendell's crown. He and his twelve brothers gathered a small army, and made several attempts to storm the kingdom. With Shae now at the command of Arendell's own army, Hans and his men never got far. The vampire had a surprisingly brilliant tactical mind, and Hans' forces were always quickly and carefully dispatched, with little to no harm coming to the kingdom of Arendell. Queen Elsa was unbothered by the young Prince from the Southern Isles, and she slept peacefully every night, cradled in the loving arms of her Protector.
While Shae and Elsa's love bloomed and blossomed, so did Anna and Kristoff's. Elsa was very fond of Kristoff, and thought he and Anna were simply perfect for each other. However, Elsa was still very protective of her little sister, and gave Kristoff a very stern talking to after he proposed to Anna. Shae was certain it was the first time that Elsa had ever made someone sweat. Nevertheless, Elsa gave Kristoff and Anna her blessing. She and Anna, with Shae's help, quickly began to make plans for the wedding. It all came to a screeching halt one day, however, after Elsa made a shocking and disturbing discovery.
Elsa had found her mother's old wedding dress in a dusty attic, and Anna was simply overjoyed. While Anna was trying on the dress, Elsa found their mother's diary within one of the cabinets. In it, Gerda wrote about Elsa's magic, about how terrifyingly powerful it was. She and her husband, Elsa and Anna's father, had embarked on a voyage to seek out a way to strip Elsa of her powers, a voyage from which they never returned. Elsa was absolutely distraught, horrified to learn that her parents had feared her magic, and sought to remove the very thing that made their daughter special. What made it all worse, was knowing that they had died trying.
Anna couldn't bare to see her beloved sister so upset, and was determined to find some answers, to help Elsa to cope with this new and startling information. She immediately set out on her own voyage, unbeknownst to her sister. She quickly and quietly boarded a ship bound for the land that her parents had sought to travel to. It was called Misthaven, better known to its inhabitants as The Enchanted Forest.
"Shae, that's the land you came here from, isn't it?" Elsa asked as she, Kristoff, and Shae were arguing inside her throne room.
"Um… Well, yes, it is." Shae replied hesitantly.
"Then you have to go back, you have to find her!"
Shae exchanged a quick glance with Kristoff, who simply shrugged at her. "No, I don't think I will."
Elsa scoffed indignantly. "Excuse me?"
Shae sighed, gently taking her lover's hand. "Elsa, please, she'll be fine." She said pleadingly. "She's smart and she's tough, and damn good with a sword."
"What if I command you to go?" Elsa replied, folding her arms stubbornly across her chest. "I am your Queen, after all."
This time, Shae was the one that scoffed. "Oh, so we're playing the Queen card now, are we?"
"Elsa, come on, Shae's right." Kristoff said gently. "Anna can take care of herself. She'll be just fine."
"I don't care!" Elsa cried heatedly. "She's my sister, and she could be in danger. You have to go, you have to bring her back."
Shae groaned in frustration, rolling her eyes at the woman she loved. "Look, even if I do find her, there's absolutely no chance I'd be able to convince her to come back with me. She's nearly as stubborn as you are!"
"Actually, I'd say she's more stubborn." Kristoff said with a shrug.
"I don't know about that." Shae replied, chuckling lightly. "It's a bit hard to tell, really."
"Enough!" Elsa exclaimed, throwing her arms up in the air. She then breathed out an irritated sigh, rubbing her aching forehead. "Honestly, you two…"
Shae and Kristoff both grinned cheekily at each other, causing Elsa to roll her own eyes. She then stepped up to Shae, taking her lover's hands in both of hers and staring pleadingly into her eyes.
"Shae, please." She whispered desperately. "It's bad enough knowing that my parents died on their voyage to this… Misthaven. If something happened to Anna, I… I couldn't bare it."
Shae sighed, placing her hand on Elsa's cheek. "I understand, Elsa. Really, I do." She said gently. "But do you really want me to… To… Kidnap your sister, and bring her back here against her will?"
Elsa bit her lip, hesitating as she pondered Shae's words. "Well… No, I suppose not." She muttered in defeat. "But… But I at least need to know that she's safe."
Elsa cupped Shae's face in her hands, smiling into her blood red eyes. "Please, Shae." She whispered softly. "Please. For me."
Shae hesitated for a moment as well, staring into the dazzling blue eyes of the woman she loved. She then breathed out a relenting sigh, and nodded. "For you, my love?" She whispered, pressing her forehead to Elsa's. "Anything."
Elsa smiled, and wrapped her arms around Shae's neck. Kristoff emitted a disgusted groan as Shae and Elsa kissed, which turned into a laugh as Shae reached out and shoved his shoulder, keeping her lips locked with Elsa's. Kristoff then quietly and respectfully removed himself from the room, leaving Elsa to say goodbye to her lover and Protector. The two lovers kissed slowly, gently, passionately, and Shae began to explore Elsa's body with her hands. Elsa gasped, grinning against her lover's lips as Shae ran her hands over the curves of her backside.
"I know what you're doing, Shae." Elsa whispered as Shae gently nibbled on her neck. "You're trying to distract me."
Shae pulled away from her neck, grinning cheekily into her eyes. "Is it working?"
Elsa laughed, leaning in toward her lips again. "Mmm… Just a little."
Shae laughed too, and Elsa hummed happily against her lips as Shae kissed her again. "Perhaps you could leave in the morning." Elsa muttered with a grin of her own.
"Perhaps I could." Shae replied, grinning back.
Elsa laughed again as Shae lifted her into the air by her hips. Elsa wrapped her legs around Shae's waist, and Shae carried her effortlessly to her bedchamber. After several rounds of vigorous and passionate lovemaking, Elsa fell asleep peacefully in her Protector's arms, just as she did every night. As Shae held her tight, she reflected on her life over the past few years, her life with her Queen. She was grateful that she had finally been able to let go of her fear over her love for Elsa. She truly couldn't remember the last time she had been so happy, so content. Elsa was everything to her, her entire world. She had no idea that, one day soon, her world was going to fall apart.
XX
Just as she had promised her Queen, Shae returned to the land of Misthaven, aka The Enchanted Forest. It took some time, but she was eventually able to track Anna down. She found her at a small inn, where the young Princess had stopped for food and drink after leaving the farm of an old friend of Kristoff's, a young man named David. David's mother, Ruth, had given Anna the name of a powerful wizard, Rumplestiltskin. Ruth insisted that this wizard would have the knowledge and information she sought, and Anna was determined to find him, to find answers about what it was exactly that her parents had come to The Enchanted Forest to find.
Just as Shae had suspected, Anna completely refused to return to Arendell with her. Shae begged and pleaded, but her words fell on deaf and stubborn ears. Anna was determined to help her beloved sister, and Shae couldn't help but admire her passionate resolve. The vampire was forced to relent, and she left Anna with a warning. She had heard the name Rumplestiltskin whispered amongst the inhabitants of The Enchanted Forest. The whispers and rumors were nothing at all pleasant, and Shae begged Anna to be careful. Anna promised that she would, and Shae returned to the ship that had carried her to the land of Misthaven, not at all aware of how dire things had become in Arendell in the weeks that she had been gone.
Hans and his brothers once again returned to Arendell, this time with a much larger force than ever before. Kristoff, against Elsa's orders, snuck in to their camp one night, and overheard Hans talking about a magical urn that was hidden away in a cave within Arendell's mountains. The urn was said to be able to trap someone with magic inside, and Hans planned to find it, and use it on Elsa. Kristoff returned to Elsa with this information, and the two of them immediately set off to find the urn themselves, before Hans and his brothers did. They managed to make it to the cave just before Hans arrived, and were startled to find the urn already occupied. Inside was a woman with light blonde hair, the same shade as Elsa's. She also shared Elsa's icy powers, and promptly froze Hans into a statue made of ice.
The strange woman from the urn's name was Ingrid, Elsa and Anna's aunt. Elsa was delighted to find someone with magic like her own, even more so to find out that she was family. However, she was quite confused, since her mother had never spoken about a sister. Ingrid didn't say much on the matter, only that some things are much too painful to talk about. Elsa didn't spend much time worrying about her mother's secrets, and quickly began to grow very close to her new found aunt. In the weeks that Shae was gone, Elsa took to spending her free time with Ingrid, and learned much from her about her own icy powers. She spoke to Ingrid about Shae often, and couldn't wait for her Royal Protector to return, so she could be back in her loving arms again, and introduce her to the new member of her family.
"Shae!" Elsa exclaimed, throwing herself into her Protector's arms the instant she saw her. "You're here! You're back!"
Shae laughed loudly, lifting Elsa into the air and spinning her around in circles. Elsa laughed as she did, and sighed happily as Shae placed a grateful, gentle kiss on her lips.
"Was there ever any doubt?" Shae asked her, grinning in the cheeky way that she so often did.
"Never." Elsa whispered, smiling into her lover's blood red eyes. "I knew you'd come back."
Shae smiled back at her, drawing her in closer, kissing her deeply once again. The two lovers stood locked in their passionate embrace for several long moments, both of them grateful to be back in each other's arms once again.
"Oh, Shae… I missed you." Elsa whispered against Shae's lips. She then drew back suddenly, her dazzling blue eyes full of worry. "What about Anna? Did you find her? Is she alright, is she safe? Is she-"
"Fine, she's fine." Shae cut in gently. "Safe and sound, I promise. All out refused to come back with me, just as I said. You know, Kristoff might be right. She just might be even more stubborn than you are."
Elsa laughed once again, curling her arms around Shae's neck and leaning back in toward her lips. "And you both love us for it."
Shae laughed too, slowly nodding her head. "Indeed, we do."
Shae kissed her once again, sighing contentedly as she held the woman she loved in her arms. She was so happy to back, so content with her life by Elsa's side. She truly could never remember a time when she had been happier.
"Elsa?"
Shae and Elsa broke apart, startled by the sudden voice. Shae whirled around, and found a strange looking woman standing in the doorway to the throne room. She had light blonde hair that was almost identical to Elsa's, pulled back into a tightly braided bun, and was garbed in a high collared, glittering white dress. Elsa gasped excitedly when she saw her, and quickly pulled Shae toward her by the hand.
"There's someone I'd like you to meet." Elsa told Shae, grinning from ear to ear. "This is Ingrid. She's… My aunt."
Shae's blood red eyes grew wide with shock. "Your… Your aunt? I didn't know you had an aunt."
"Neither did I, until a few weeks ago." Elsa admitted with a laugh. She then cleared her throat, and placed her hand gently on Shae's arm, smiling affectionately at her. "Ingrid, this is Shae. My love, my Protector."
"Oh, right, yes…" Shae stammered, holding her hand out to Ingrid. "Pleasure to meet you, Ingrid."
Ingrid made no move to shake the vampire's hand, and merely stood rooted in her spot. Shae's heart sunk when she saw the look on her face. It was one she was all to familiar with, one of disgust, of loathing, of fear. Ingrid then slowly turned her eyes onto Elsa, staring at her with utter disbelief.
"This… Is Shae?" She asked her niece quietly.
Elsa bit her lip as Shae's hand fell limply back to her side. "Um… Yes. I'm sorry, I guess I forgot to mention that she's-"
"I know exactly what she is." Ingrid whispered, her lips curling into a disgusted snarl. "A vampire."
Shae swallowed the hard lump that had suddenly formed in her throat, and stared down at the ground. "Um… Well, yes." She muttered quietly. "Yes, I am."
"It's alright, she's a good vampire." Said Elsa, and Shae smiled at her as she placed her hand gently on her cheek. "A very good one."
"Oh, I have a very hard time believing that."
Elsa dropped her hand back to her side, eyeing her aunt with absolute and indignant shock. "Excuse me?"
"There's no such thing as a good vampire." Ingrid replied, glaring at Shae with malice in her eyes. "Elsa, she's a monster! A detestable creature of darkness and death!"
Shae clenched her fists, fighting back hard against the rage that was bubbling in her stomach. When Elsa remained silent, too stunned for words, Ingrid breathed out a laugh, shaking her head slowly in disbelief.
"Elsa, please tell me that this is all some sort of joke." She said with another laugh, placing her hand gently on Elsa's shoulder. "Please tell me that you're not really with this… This… Thing!"
Elsa scoffed indignantly, stepping back out of her aunt's grip. "No, it is not a joke!" She cried heatedly. "And you will not speak to her like that! This is the woman that I love, the woman that I intend to marry!"
Ingrid's jaw dropped open in shock, and so did Shae's. "What?" Shae breathed quietly.
Elsa's bright blue eyes grew wide, and she opened and closed her mouth several times, not quite sure what to say. She loved Shae with all her heart, and Shae loved her, but marriage had not been something that they had ever talked about. However, unbeknownst to each other, it was something that was on both their minds mind quite often.
"No! Absolutely not!" Ingrid exclaimed, once again looking Shae up and down with pure and total disgust. "Elsa, you cannot marry her! You already have a brand upon you, one that sets you apart from everyone else, one that some still fear. You are Queen now, and this creature will only be a dark and dirty stain upon your already sullied reputation."
"I told you, do not speak to her like that!" Elsa shouted furiously. "Shae? Shae!"
Shae had heard enough. Unable to bare Ingrid's stinging, biting words any longer, she turned on her heel, and stomped furiously away from her and Elsa. Her clenched fists shook with rage as she quickly left the throne room, blood pulsing in her ears. She climbed the castle steps two at a time, and threw open the door of Elsa's bedchamber, the one that she shared with her Queen every night. She stepped out onto the balcony, leaning her hands on the railing, hanging her head in misery. Tears began to leak from her eyes, and her whole body began to tremble. Ingrid had spoken of the very fears that had kept Shae from admitting her feelings for Elsa years ago, the fears that still held a tight grip upon the vampire's heart and soul. After she was knighted, the people of Arendell began to accept their Queen's vampire Protector, but Shae continued to live in constant fear and worry that, one day, they would turn on her, just as humans so often did.
Shae stood rooted in her spot for a long while, unable to move, her body shaking with quiet, miserable sobs. After a while, she heard the bedchamber door open, and footsteps drawing closer. She then felt arms around her waist, and the familiar feeling of Elsa's body pressed against her back, her head resting in between her shoulder blades. Elsa held her tight, and they stood in silence for a time, Shae's sobbing slowly beginning to subside as the woman she loved held her in her arms.
"Oh, Shae…" Elsa whispered, her voice quavering with emotion. "Shae, I'm so sorry."
Shae shook her head, placing her hand on top of Elsa's that were resting on her chest. "Don't be." She whispered softly back. "I'm the one that should be sorry."
"What for?" Asked Elsa, lifting her head off of Shae's back.
"You're a remarkable woman, Elsa." Shae replied quietly, her tone heavy with sorrow. "You… You deserve better than me."
Elsa grabbed on to Shae's arm, and quickly spun her around to face her. She sighed heavily, and reached out, gently wiping away the tears on Shae's face. "I do deserve you, Shae." She told her lover with a smile. "I deserve you because you're remarkable. You're kind, and patient, and loving. You're everything I could ever want in a partner."
When Shae continued to stare at the ground, refusing to meet Elsa's gaze, Elsa heaved another sad, heavy sigh. "Ingrid just doesn't know you, not like I do, not like Anna and Kristoff do." She went on quietly. "I am quite furious with her over the things she said, but… She's still my aunt, she's still family."
Elsa draped her arms around Shae's neck, and placed a gentle kiss on her lips. "She'll come around, you'll see." She whispered, smiling gently into her lover's eyes. "She'll come to love you just as much as I do, in time."
Shae chuckled lightly, wiping more tears off of her face. "Well, I certainly hope not. She's not exactly my type. I prefer brunettes, to be perfectly honest."
Elsa rolled her eyes, playfully shoving Shae's shoulder. Shae laughed, and wrapped her arms around Elsa's waist, drawing her back in for another kiss. Elsa smiled against Shae's lips, and, for a moment, Shae forgot all about the pain of Ingrid's harsh and insulting words. She suddenly no longer cared about her lover's angry and bitter aunt. All she cared about was Elsa's love. All that mattered was that Elsa loved her for who she was, and nothing else.
"Oh, Elsa…" Shae whispered, smiling as she kept her forehead pressed against Elsa's. "Elsa, I… I need to thank you."
Elsa leaned back, raising an eyebrow curiously at Shae. "For what?"
Shae removed Elsa's arms from around her neck, and took both of her hands in her own. "Before I met you, if someone had said to me the things that Ingrid did, I would have… Reacted much differently." She told her quietly, her blood red eyes suddenly very sad. "Honestly, I most likely would have killed them, simply for making me angry. But… But now… Things are much different. You've… Changed me."
Shae sighed, hanging her head in regretful sorrow. "For years and years, my mind, my heart, my very soul… They were filled so much darkness, so much evil. But… Elsa, you've saved me from all of that. Your love, our love, it's… It's saved me."
Shae smiled into Elsa's dazzling blue eyes, her own welling with tears. "You are everything to me, Elsa." She whispered softly, gently caressing Elsa's cheek. "I would be nothing but the dark and dangerous creature that Ingrid thinks I am without you. And… And if you really meant what you said earlier, I… I would very much love to marry you."
Elsa smiled too, her own eyes shining with tears. "Really?"
Shae nodded, and Elsa laughed, throwing her arms around her neck. Shae laughed too, wrapping her arms tightly around the woman she loved as she kissed her. They stood locked in their passionate embrace, their lips parting slowly, gently, their tears mingling together upon their faces. Both their hearts soared with joy, full to bursting with their unyielding love for one another. Neither Elsa nor Shae could remember a time when they had been happier.
Unbeknownst to the two lovers, Ingrid had been quietly listening just outside the door. Slowly, a devious grin spread across her face, and she had to stifle a laugh. No niece of her's would ever marry a dark and detestable creature like Shae. A plan had slowly begun to form in her mind as she listened to their hushed conversation, and, suddenly, she knew exactly how to get rid of the loathsome vampire. All she had to do was wait for the opportune moment.
XX
The next several days were uncomfortable for Shae. It seemed that every time she saw Elsa, Ingrid was right by her side, glaring at her with malice in her eyes. If the army from The Southern Isles nearly at their doorstep hadn't posed such a threat to the kingdom of Arendell, Shae likely would have been grateful. She spent her days with the officers of Arendell's army, able to distract herself by formulating battle plans for the upcoming war that Hans' brothers were likely to start. Thankfully, she was able to spend her nights alone with Elsa, who quickly began to formulate plans of her own, for a joint wedding with Anna and Kristoff as soon as her sister returned from the land of Misthaven.
Shae knew that Ingrid was a part of Elsa's family, and would soon be part of her family, but she couldn't quite shake the feeling that Elsa's newfound aunt was up to something. In her free time, Shae took to reading through Arendell's royal records, and found absolutely no mention of Gerda, Elsa and Anna's mother, having a sister. She was completely befuddled, and, one day, decided to voice her concerns to Kristoff. Kristoff offered a solution by way of Grand Pabbie, the ancient and powerful rock troll that had been nearly like a father to him. Grand Pabbie appeared to be as old as the earth itself, and was likely around when Gerda and, supposedly, Ingrid, were children. Kristoff told her that, if anyone would know anything at all about Elsa and Anna's aunt, it would be Grand Pabbie.
Shae was in her and Elsa's bedchamber, preparing for her journey to see the rock trolls by changing into her old black leather armor, which was much more suitable for travel. She had decided not to tell Elsa about her plan, and begged Kristoff to keep her trip a secret from The Queen. She was just about to head out the door, but stopped in her tracks when Elsa herself walked in.
"Going somewhere?" Elsa asked of her, raising a knowing eyebrow at Shae.
"Elsa! My god, you look just lovely today!" Shae exclaimed, placing a quick kiss on her lover's cheek. "Is that a new dress? You look just… Absolutely stunning!"
Elsa chuckled, shaking her head amusedly. "I know what you're doing, Shae. Kristoff told me everything."
Shae sighed heavily, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Dammit, Kristoff…" She grumbled. "I should have known. The man is so damn terrified of you."
"As he should be." Elsa said, regally drawing herself up and nodding in affirmation. She then chuckled again, and placed her hand gently on Shae's arm. "It's alright, I'm not angry."
Shae raised a skeptical eyebrow at her lover. "You're not?"
Elsa smiled, and slowly shook her head. "I know you're only doing it for me." She said gently. "Besides, I too have been… Curious as to why there is no mention of Ingrid in the royal records, and why my mother never spoke of her. Ingrid has been… Particularly elusive about it all."
Shae nodded, and took Elsa by the hand. "Grand Pabbie will have answers, I know he will." She told her determinedly. "I won't be gone long, I promise. I know how hard it's been without Anna here, and how much you worry when I'm gone."
Elsa nodded too, smiling as she placed her hand on Shae's cheek. "I know, it's alright." She whispered softly. "I know that… That you always come back."
Shae smiled into the sparkling blue eyes of the woman she loved. She gently drew Elsa into her arms, and Elsa sighed contentedly as she kissed her. They wrapped their arms around each other, holding each other tight, not at all knowing that this kiss would be their last.
"That's right." Shae whispered, gently caressing her lover's cheek. "I always come back."
XX
The rock trolls of Arendell were positively overjoyed to see their old vampire friend again, and Shae was bombarded by many joyful, and slightly painful, hugs and embraces. Once the other trolls had finally calmed down, Grand Pabbie made his appearance. The ancient and powerful troll somehow already knew why Shae had come to see him. He told the vampire that he did indeed have the answers she sought, and Shae was shocked to learn that, not only did Elsa's mother have a sister, she had two.
"Gerda was the youngest of three." Grand Pabbie explained. "Then there was Helga, and Ingrid was the oldest. As children, the three girls were quite close, often seen playing together in the royal gardens. But then, one day, Helga and Ingrid vanished. No one ever knew what happened to them. It was a tragedy the royal family wanted to their kingdom to forget. And they did, with my help."
Shae's jaw dropped open in utter shock, and she gaped silently at the old troll for several moments. "You… You took the memories of everyone in Arendell?" She asked once she finally found her voice.
Grand Pabbie nodded slowly, gravely. "Yes, and Gerda had every mention of Helga and Ingrid erased from every book and record she could find in our realm."
"My god…" Shae breathed, her blood red eyes wide. "What exactly happened to them? Is Helga trapped in some sort of magical urn as well?"
"No." Grand Pabbie answered quietly. "Helga was killed… By Ingrid."
Shae's jaw dropped open once again. "What? Y-You're… You're not serious, are you?"
"Sadly, I am." Replied Grand Pabbie, heaving a sad, heavy sigh. "It was quite by accident, as Ingrid did not have control over her powers, just as Elsa once did not. When Gerda saw what Ingrid had done, she trapped her sister inside the urn. She then came to me, and begged me to erase all memory of her sisters. She loved her sister, both of them, and did not want the kingdom to know what Ingrid had done."
Shae opened and closed her mouth several times, staring silently down at the ground, running a shaky hand through her messy black hair as she processed everything Grand Pabbie had just told her. Her eyes then grew wide once again, and she turned her gaze back onto the troll.
"If Ingrid is keeping secrets like this, then who knows what else she could be hiding." She muttered fearfully. "I… I have to go… I have to warn Elsa!"
Shae turned to leave, but stopped when Grand Pabbie grabbed her by the hand. She turned back to him, and Grand Pabbie beckoned her to come closer. Shae hesitated uncertainly for a moment, but then knelt down in front of the ancient troll. Grand Pabbie heaved another heavy sigh, hanging his head in apparent sorrow.
"Years ago, when we first met, I told you that your actions then would set you on a path to your destiny." He said quietly. He then lifted his head, and Shae saw an immense sorrow in his stony gray eyes. "I'm sorry, Shae… It appears that I was wrong."
"Wrong?" Shae asked, brow furrowed in confusion. "Wrong about what?"
Grand Pabbie sighed again, gently patting Shae's hand. "Your destiny has already been written, you have already started down it's path. I am… Very sorry, Shae."
"Sorry?" Asked Shae, shaking her head bewilderedly. "Sorry for what? How… How is it you know of such things?"
Grand Pabbie hung his head once again, his tone very quiet, and very sad. "It is my great and heavy burden to know of things that have been, will be, and could be. It is also my burden to know when such things are better left unsaid."
Grand Pabbie lifted his gaze back onto Shae, and smiled, gently squeezing her hand. "Just know that you have my thanks for everything that you have done for Elsa, and for Arendell."
Suddenly, the ancient troll's smile faded. He slowly reached out, and placed a stony hand on the vampire's pale gray cheek. As Shae stared into Grand Pabbie's eyes, a sudden chill took hold of her. She had never seen such a painful sorrow in another creature's eyes.
"Know that you have my thanks." The troll whispered softly. "And my sympathy."
XX
Grand Pabbie's cryptic message left behind an icy chill in Shae's very soul as she returned to Arendell Castle. The look in his eyes, the way he spoke, it all sent a fear unlike anything she had felt before shivering through her bones. She climbed the steps within the castle two at a time, her mind reeling. When she entered Elsa's bedchamber, she did not find Elsa within, but Ingrid.
"You…" Shae whispered quietly, her blood red eyes wide. "W-What… What are you doing in here?"
Ingrid slowly turned around from where she was standing upon the balcony, and smiled a warm, gentle smile at the vampire. Somehow, Ingrid's inviting smile gave Shae even more chills.
"I was simply admiring what Elsa has done with the room." Ingrid answered, gesturing around the bedchamber. "This was all to be mine, once. But, I always knew that it would go to one of my sisters, and my niece or nephew after them, as would my throne."
"Fascinating." Shae replied sharply, sarcastically. "Now, where is Elsa? I need to speak with her."
Ingrid smiled again in the way that Shae did not like one bit. "Yes, I imagine you do." She said quietly. "But, as it turns out, I need to speak with you."
Shae folded her arms across her chest, narrowing her eyes at Ingrid. "Is that so?"
"Indeed it is." Ingrid replied with solemn nod. "I wish to… Apologize, for the other day. You seem to care for Elsa a great deal, and she certainly cares for you. Perhaps I was… Too quick to judge you. I am very sorry."
Shae stood in shocked silence for a moment, eyeing Ingrid with complete and utter disbelief. "Oh, I… I-I see." She stammered, once she found her voice. "That is… Refreshing to hear, thank you."
Ingrid nodded once again, smiling another warm, gentle smile. She then slowly sauntered over to the end table that sat against the far wall, and retrieved two small glasses filled with wine. She stepped up to Shae, and handed her a glass. Shae took it, and smiled back at her with grateful relief. Though everything Grand Pabbie had told her about Ingrid still made the vampire nervous, she was starting to think that perhaps she had judged Elsa's newfound aunt a bit too harshly as well. Ingrid would one day soon be a part of her family, which was something that Shae had never had, but always so desperately wanted.
"To Elsa." Ingrid stated with a smile, raising her glass into the air. "Long may she reign."
Shae smiled back at her, and nodded, gently clinking her glass against Ingrid's. As Shae drained her glass in one gulp, Ingrid brought her own up to her lips, watching the vampire carefully. Shae completely failed to notice that Ingrid had not drank any of the wine herself.
"What sort of wine is this?" Shae asked, grimacing at the strange taste.
Ingrid chuckled lightly, gingerly taking the glass out of Shae's hand. "Oh, it's a very, very special vintage."
Ingrid slowly sauntered back over to the table, speaking quietly as she did. "Elsa told me a very interesting story while you were away." She said to Shae. "She said that, back when she was unable to control her magic, you were the very first person she was able to touch. And, when she struck Anna with her powers, she told me that you were struck with the same blast, but were unharmed, unlike poor Anna."
Ingrid set the glasses back down on the table, keeping her back to Shae, so the vampire could not see the dark and devious grin that was stretching across her face. "It appears that you are immune to her magic, as well as my own, correct?"
Shae's opened her mouth to respond, but shut it again, her brow furrowed in confusion over Ingrid's strange question. "Um… Well, yes." She slowly replied. "Yes, it would appear so."
Ingrid emitted a low, menacing chuckle. "We shall see about that."
Ingrid quickly spun around, and threw out her arm, a bright white, icy beam of magic shooting out of her hand. Too shocked to react in time, Shae grunted as the beam of magic hit her straight in the chest, right over her heart. She stumbled back a step, and, for a moment, nothing seemed to happen. She stared down at her own chest, her blood red eyes wide with shock. She then turned her gaze back onto Ingrid, and took an angry step forward, her face falling into a furious snarl. Suddenly, she stopped, drawing in a startled gasp as she felt a horrible, icy chill deep within her chest.
"W-What… What is this?" Shae breathed in horror, clutching her heart as the chill slowly began to spread. "What have you done to me?"
Ingrid chuckled once again, grinning in a dark and dangerous way that made the chill within Shae's heart all the more worse. "A simple spell." Ingrid replied with a dismissive wave of her hand. "I knew my magic would not be able to harm you outwardly. But, within… Well…"
Shae stared down at her own hands, which had suddenly begun to tingle, like dozens of tiny pinpricks. She gasped in horror, watching as frost began to form on her fingertips, slowly spreading farther down her hands.
"It… It was all a trick." She whispered shakily, staring wide eyed at Ingrid.
Ingrid laughed loudly this time, her grin growing even wider. "Yes, one that you fell for quite spectacularly." She replied, quite mockingly. "There is ice in your heart now, Shae, and soon it will consume you. Though it will not kill a creature such as yourself, it will still turn you into a statue of ice, just like it did Anna."
"Elsa… Elsa will stop this." Shae muttered fearfully, watching the frost from Ingrid's spell working it's way up to her wrists. "She can break the spell with-"
"True love's kiss?" Ingrid finished for her. She then laughed again, and slowly shook her head. "No, I'm afraid Elsa will no longer love you, not after she learns of what you've done."
Shae opened her mouth to question, but all that came out was a startled gasp as Ingrid waved her hand, engulfing the vampire in a whirl of white snow flurries. Shae blinked dazedly for a moment, realizing that she was no longer in Elsa's bedchamber, but the castle kitchens. She slowly turned in her spot, and cried out in horror at what she saw. Three people, two women, one man, lying dead upon the ground, their heads twisted grotesquely all the way around. Shae recognized their still and lifeless faces. They were the servants that had taken care of both Elsa and Anna since they were children, and were all dearly beloved by both The Queen and The Princess.
"No…" Shae whispered, turning her horrified gaze onto Ingrid, who had appeared beside her. "W-Why?"
"It is truly tragic, what happened to these poor servants." Ingrid replied quietly, solemnly hanging her head. "You see, when the rock trolls told you all about what happened to my sister, you were so terribly angry. You attacked me, and these three were only trying to protect their Queen's beloved aunt. When they got in your way, you cut them down where they stood, without even a second thought."
Shae started to panic, watching as the frost that had been upon her hands began to turn into ice, the very kind that she had once seen on Anna's body. She glanced down at her feet, and found that her boots were beginning to cake over with ice as well. She winced, clutching her chest as her heart ached with icy, stabbing pains.
"No… I… I-I didn't do this." She stammered quietly, her whole body trembling. "Elsa will never believe you!"
"Perhaps not, but she will believe the soldiers that saw the whole thing." Ingrid replied with an unconcerned shrug.
When Shae only gaped silently at her in complete shock and confusion, Ingrid chuckled darkly once again, and waved her hand in the air. A rushing whirl of snow flurries appeared beside her, and Shae's blood red eyes grew even wider. Standing beside Ingrid, was herself, a complete and perfect doppelganger. It was as if Shae were merely staring into a mirror.
"What?" Shae breathed, staring fearfully into the grinning, blood red eyes of her doppelganger. "What… Is this?"
Ingrid chuckled amusedly again, waving her hand once more. The doppelganger's body slowly faded away with more flurries of snow, and all that was left behind was a statue in the shape of a human body, made entirely of ice.
"An ice wraith." Ingrid explained, sporting another dark and devious grin. "Another simple spell, but ever so convincing, don't you think?"
Ingrid waved her hand one last time, and the ice wraith shattered to pieces, leaving behind nothing but a small puddle of water on the floor. Shae stood in shocked and horrified silence, staring at the bodies of Elsa's beloved servants. She stared into the gaping, lifeless eyes of the man, whose name had been Kai, Elsa's royal steward. He had been a kind and gentle man, and had been almost like a father to both Elsa and Anna after The King's death. Perhaps it was only the vampire's imagination, but it seemed that Kai's dead eyes were filled with fearful accusation.
Suddenly, Shae cried out in pain, collapsing onto her knees. Her whole body shook violently, riddled with shooting, frigid pains. Her arms and legs were completely consumed by ice now, and it was slowly creeping past her shoulders and up her torso, honing in on her heart. She cried out again, falling forward with one hand on the ground, the other clutching her chest as the icy pain stabbed into her heart.
"Stop… P-Please…" Shae whispered shakily, trying in vain to stop the tremors raking her body. "S-Stop this!"
Ingrid knelt down in front of Shae, watching with a morbid sort of glee as her icy spell spread ever nearer toward the vampire's heart. She then cupped her hand under Shae's chin, tilting her head up, forcing her to stare into her hateful, malicious eyes.
"As you wish." Ingrid whispered, smiling another warm, gentle smile. "I will show you exactly how to free yourself from my spell."
Shae's vision went stark white as she was engulfed in other rush of snow flurries. She squeezed her eyes shut, feeling herself once again being lifted into the air as Ingrid transported the both of them out of the castle kitchens. Suddenly, Shae's knees hit solid ground again. Ingrid rose to her feet, stepping back as the ice encasing Shae's body shattered to pieces. Shae remained where she was kneeling upon the ground, staring down at her hands, which were now free of ice. She slowly got back to her feet, the pain and the tremors now gone. She stared all around her, and suddenly realized that she was surrounded by tall, towering trees, trees that looked all too familiar.
"Is… I-Is this-"
"The Enchanted Forest." Ingrid finished for her, grinning from ear to ear. "Also known as Misthaven. You will notice that, here, you are no longer plagued by my spell. However, the moment you set foot in Arendell, the spell will take hold of you once again."
Shae stood in shocked silence, her mouth gaping open, her blood red eyes filled with horror. "You can never return to Arendell, Shae." Ingrid went on, still grinning triumphantly. "You will never see my Elsa again. She is free of the parasite that has been plaguing her, free to find someone who is worthy of her affections."
Shae remained rooted in her spot, unable to move, unable to even speak. Suddenly, her vision went red, and she balled her hands into fists. A terrible, vicious rage began to boil within her, a rage that the vampire had not felt in years. Suddenly, she found herself rushing forward, fist raised in the air, her vision tunneling in on Ingrid's grinning face.
Ingrid was shockingly, impossibly fast, and grabbed on to Shae's arm just before the vampire's fist made contact with her face. Shae struggled against her for a moment, finding that Ingrid was also shockingly strong. She then gasped in alarm, watching in horror as her arm began to cake over in ice around Ingrid's fingers. Shae made to step back, but Ingrid swiftly reached out, grabbing on to Shae's other arm, which also began to ice over.
"Stop! STOP IT!" Shae shouted, her eyes streaming with tears. "Why? Why the hell are you doing this?"
"Because, I finally have the chance to get what I've always wanted." Ingrid replied quietly, glaring into Shae's blood red eyes. "The perfect family, a family that loves me. You are nothing like me, nothing like Elsa, you don't even deserve her. You are nothing but a monster."
Ingrid sent Shae careening backward with a blast of icy energy. Shae cried out in pain as her back smacked into a tree, and she fell face first onto the ground, the ice on her arms once again shattering to pieces. Ingrid reamined where she stood, watching silently as the vampire sobbed loudly, bitterly, her entire body quivering. Shae slowly pushed herself onto her knees, turning her tear stained face onto Ingrid.
"Please…" Shae pleaded desperately, choking out another strangled sob. "Please… Don't do this. I… I love her!"
Ingrid sighed heavily, smiling sadly down at the broken vampire. "I know you do, Shae." She whispered softly. "But, it's like you and Elsa always say. You have to… Let it go."
"No… NO!"
Shae's desperate shouting rang out through the empty forest as Ingrid disappeared in rushing whirl of snow. Shae staggered to her feet, her heart aching, her head spinning wildly.
"NO!" She screamed into the air. "ELSA!"
XX
Shae tried in vain to return to Arendell, to return to the woman that she loved so deeply. But, just as Ingrid had said, her body immediately began to frost over the moment she she crossed over Arendell's border. With little other choice, Shae finally gave up her futile attempts to return to Elsa. Ingrid had won. She would never see Elsa again.
Miserable, destitute, and broken, Shae returned to The Enchanted Forest, and decided to drown her sorrows in as much alcohol as she could buy. She was in a tiny, mostly empty tavern, already working on her fifth bottle of rum when a mob of villagers bust through the door, all of them armed with shovels, axes, pitchforks, and torches.
"You there!" One of the men called out, pointing a finger at Shae. "You need to leave this place!"
Shae chuckled amusedly, taking another deep swig from her bottle. "Do I now?" She asked, raising an eyebrow at the man. "And why exactly is that, eh?"
"We know what you are!" Another man cried, also pointing a shaky finger at the vampire. "We've heard stories about your kind!"
"Leave, now!" Shouted another. "You're not welcome here! You're nothing but a blood sucking MONSTER!"
Suddenly, something snapped within Shae the vampire's mind. The fearful and angry cries from the mob were drowned out by the ringing in her hears, and the horrible, boiling, white hot fury within her began to rise, burning with the force of a thousand suns. She slowly rose from her seat at the bar, and turned toward the mob, her clenched fists shaking with pure, unadulterated rage.
"You want a monster?" She whispered quietly. Her lips then curled into a dark and dangerous grin, and she breathed out a low, sinister chuckle. "Fine… Then that's exactly what you'll get."
The mob cried out in alarm, and all anyone saw was a black blur of motion. Suddenly, Shae appeared before them, and she plunged her hand straight into a man's chest, tearing out his still beating heart. As she crushed the man's heart in her hand, another jabbed her in the chest with his pitchfork. Shae barked out a laugh, wrenching the pitchfork from her flesh. The mob cried out again, and began fleeing in fear as Shae stabbed the pitchfork straight into its owner's eyes.
The villagers fled for their lives from the raging vampire, but not a single one of them was fast enough. As Shae set upon them, blood and guts spilling out onto the ground like a flowing faucet, she started to laugh. The sound of her laughter rose high above the screams and cries of the unfortunate townsfolk as Shae decimated men, women, and children alike. Once she was finished, the demon of rage that dwelled within her finally sated, Shae set the town ablaze. She watched with a smile on her face as the tiny huts that the townsfolk had lived in caught fire one right after the other.
Suddenly, Shae's sensitive hearing picked up on a fearful whimpering from somewhere nearby. She spun around, and spotted a young boy cowering behind a broken cart. The boy turned to flee when Shae saw him, but stopped in his tracks when the vampire appeared before him in a cloud of blood red smoke. He cried out in fear as Shae seized him by the front of his shirt, lifting him into the air. Shae laughed in the boy's face, her own sprayed and spattered with blood.
"Always leave one alive to tell the tale." She muttered quietly, grinning wickedly, the flames from the burning homes reflected in her blood red eyes. "And you will tell this tale well, boy. Tell them all, every single person you meet."
Shae jerked the boy closer, her eyes wild, wide with a deranged sort of glee. "Tell everyone you can about what you saw here today." She whispered softly to him. "Tell them that I am nothing but a monster to be feared."
Shae released the poor boy, who promptly turned tail and ran. The vampire's crazed, maniacal laughter mingled with the sounds of the roaring flames. Shae stood and watched for a while, her heart soaring with a morbid sense of delight that she had not felt in a very long time. She then turned away from the tiny, decimated, burning village, and set off into the night. She knew exactly what she wanted to do next.
Unable to enact vengeance upon Ingrid, the person who had taken away the woman that she loved, Shae sought after revenge on the next closest person, someone who had also taken love away from her: Van Helsing. It took her several weeks, but she finally managed to track him down. He and his knights had stopped for food and drink in another tiny village, a village very similar to the one that Shae had decimated just a few short weeks before. With nothing else to lose, nothing else left to live for, Shae attacked her old nemesis. She fought bitterly, brutally, but was quickly overpowered by the hulking werewolf's strength. Once again, the enemy had won.
Van Helsing and his knights tied Shae to a stake, shoving dozens of their silver swords through her body to hold her in place. The silver poisoning left her weak, powerless, and utterly broken, and she watched helplessly as The Knights of the Sun began piling sticks and logs around the wooden platform they had put her on. Shae dropped her head deep into her chest, Van Helsing's words lost amid the ringing in her ears as he addressed the crowd that had gathered to watch the vampire being burned alive. She squeezed her eyes shut, tears spilling down her face as she thought about Elsa. She hoped that, one day, she might get to see the woman she loved again, that they might be reunited in the after life. She knew, however, that wherever she was going after her death, Elsa would likely be going to a much better place. Elsa was kind, gentle, and fair, and Shae was nothing but a monster.
"Isn't that right, Shae?"
Shae picked her head up as a woman's voice spoke her name, a voice that she recognized, a voice that she hadn't heard in a very long time. She blinked several times, peering through her hazy and foggy vision. Suddenly, her vision cleared, and her eyes grew wide as she realized who exactly was standing before her.
"Regina?"
XX
