7/28/21: Started
2/13/22: Completed
MILD VIOLENCE, INCEST
Chapter Summery: The group arrives to the Northuldra camp, however, the response to Emory's arrival doesn't go as smoothly as she had hoped.
Disclaimer: I don't own Elsa, Anna, Cassandra or any other Disney characters or locations that appear or are mentioned in this work of fiction, Disney does.
NOTE: At last, the final part is done! I intended to have this up sooner, but I kept finding new things to add, but I'm finally satisfied with the content in this final part.
- Seven minutes later -
"Well there it is." stated Elsa as she, Anna and Emory, saw the Northuldra camp come into view ahead of them, maybe a five minute walk to reach the camp itself.
"Ohhh, finally!" eagerly commented Emory, "I can be around a bunch of people again!" she added, before happily jogging towards the camp, followed by Elsa and Anna just a few paces behind.
"Hey, hey..." commented Elsa. "Let's not run into the camp with no notice." she added, catching up to Emory and grabbing her left shoulder to stop her. "Plus they don't know you."
"Ah, right." replied Emory. "Heh, it would be pretty rude to just excitedly run into someone's home unannounced. I'm just so excited to be around people again!" she added giddily.
"Heh, obviously..." commented Elsa with a chuckle. "Just try to keep the excitement in check until we reach the camp at least."
"Ok." replied Emory.
With that, with Emory walking between Elsa and Anna, the trio soon arrived at the edge of the camp, drawing curious gazes from the nearby Northuldra, who greeted them.
While Elsa and Anna gave a calm wave of the hand in return, before they could verbally greet back, Emory gave an excited, fully extended wave of both arms.
"Hi you all!" declared Emory, gaining most, if not all, eyes on her.
Elsa and Anna chuckled as Emory was like a kid and happily ran up to the closet person, a man to their right.
"Hi, I'm Emory!
"Oh, uh, hi?" replied the man curiously, even more so when he spotted Bruni on her shoulder.
"Can I hug you!?" asked Emory delightfully.
"Uhhh... sure?" answered the man, clearly confused at the random request, but gasped as he didn't have the chance to reach out his arms before Emory immediately embraced him, pinning his arms to his sides.
"Ohhh, thanks!" declared Emory, before she released him and departed to the left of the sisters to a woman, greeting her and requesting a hug, however the woman looked at Emory strangely and declined the request. Emory wasn't bothered though and cheerfully walked away from the woman and found another woman, who accepted the request.
The sisters watched in amusement as Emory went person to person, introducing herself and asking to hug them; while the first person Emory hugged spoke to the sisters...
"A new friend of yours?"
"Yeah." answered Anna. "She hasn't been around people in a while."
"I see..." replied the man with a smile coming to his face as he watched Emory.
Not letting Emory venture too deep into the camp without them, the sisters calmly followed after her, who managed to find more people willing than not, to accept a happy strangers request for a hug, while Elsa and Anna greeted those they passed along the way.
However, just two minutes into Emory's hug-fest. Her embracing of one man brought about the suspicions of who was assumed to be his wife walking up beside them to Emory's left.
"What is going on here!?" asked the woman. "Who is this woman!?" she added, prompting the man to release Emory and answer with a nervous chuckle...
"It's not what it looks like, she-"
"It LOOKED like you were hugged up awfully close to this stranger with your arms wrapped around her." stated the wife, narrowing her eyes at him, Emory though commented with an embarrassed chuckle.
"Oh r-really; it's not what you think, ma'am. I just haven't been around people in a while and I've just been hugging people I meet. Can I hug you?"
"No you can't hug me!" replied the woman. "I don't even know you!"
"Oh, I'm Emory." replied Emory, before Elsa and Anna walked up beside them and Elsa commented...
"She's with us, ma'am. Sorry about the misunderstanding, she just likes to hug people."
"Well she can't go hugging random strangers." replied the woman, which prompted her husband to try and calm her irritation.
"Honey, come on, you're making this a bigger issue than it needs to be. She's just a nice young lady that asked for a hug."
"Yeah..." added Emory. "I've asked if I could hug someone, I don't just go up to a random person and hug them. I'm still willing to hug you ma'am." she added delightfully as she reached out her arms to the woman."
"And I still refuse." replied the woman, before she took her husband's hand to lead him away, who gave a parting comment of...
"Sorry about that."
"Well..." commented Emory, watching the couple leave. "Didn't expect that."
"Well then..." stated Elsa. "Let's go find Yelana and get you properly introduced so that won't happen again."
"Aww, but I wanna keep hugging people." replied Emory with a little pout, which prompted a chuckle from Anna, who offered her arms out to Emory.
"How about hugging someone you know again to tide you over?"
"I accept!" happily replied Emory as she eagerly embraced Anna.
Elsa chuckled at the sight, before she commented...
"Ok you two, let's get going."
The trio then walked further into the camp, though Emory still continued to walk up to people and request a hug, some accepting, others not; but there were no confrontations by the wives or husbands of the one hugged. Elsa and Anna also took advantage of the frequent stops to greet the person Emory hugged and ask if they knew where Yelana was, directing them further into the camp. Just minutes later and a dozen people hugged, the group encountered not only Yelana, but Honeymaron as well near a group of homes; the two were talking with each other, whom turned their attention to the trio approaching and Yelana greeted them first...
"Hello again, Elsa and Anna." greeted Yelana with a smile, followed by Honeymaron, who gave a wave of the hand.
"Hey you two!"
Yelana then added...
"Your mother mentioned you two had arrived and you would possibly be bringing a guest with you."
"Hello!" greeted Emory delightfully with an excited wave of the hand, before Elsa commented...
"Yeah, Nokk called us out here to solve an issue that had shown up."
"Oh..." replied Yelana, wide-eyed. "I was unaware something had occurred, is everything ok?"
"Heh, yes, everything's fine." replied Elsa. "No need to worry yourself over it, it was more a personal issue really. It's been sorted out though." she added, before placing her left right hand on Emory's shoulder. "Anyway about our guest here-" she added, before Emory commented eagerly...
"I can introduce myself! Ahem... Yelana, ma'am; I am Emory Doul; but you and everyone here knows me as Ahtohallan."
"W-What!?" gasped Yelana and Honeymaron, both wide-eyed in shock, while the outburst had drawn a few curious gazes, while Elsa sighed and Anna chuckled nervously and commented...
"Probably could've eased into that reveal more gently."
"You're... Ahtohallan?" asked Honeymaron, whose comment had now alerted the already curious glances to full on undivided attention and whispered comments.
"Yep." answered Emory, prompting Yelana to comment...
"But Ahtohallan's a spirit."
"Yeah..." added Honeymaron. "You're a person."
"Hehe, yeah..." replied Emory nervously, "That takes a bit of explaining." she added, before she and the sisters quickly noticed a large crowd was forming around them. "Heh, well, I've suddenly gotten popular."
"What did you expect?" asked Anna. "You basically just claimed to be their God in human form." she added, before Honeymaron stated...
"Ahtohallan isn't a God to us."
"Right." stated Yelana. "We simply respect it and it's power over the spirits who were friendly towards us and helped us in our daily lives."
"And I'm not claiming to be a God!" stated Emory. "Just so we're clear on that. Me, not a God. Anyway, a long, long, loooong time ago, I became sealed in an ice castle on an island far from here and, in the long period of isolation and loneliness, I created the four spirits from my emotions that served as my connection to the outside world and whom you, the Northuldra, are familiar with and befriended." explained Emory, lifting her left hand up to her right shoulder and allowing Bruni to walk onto her hand and presented him to them, which Honeymaron greeted with a smile and wave of her hand; Yelana however, simply glanced at the fire spirit, before turning her attention back to Emory before asking...
"Let's say I believe you; Why have you appeared before us now?"
"Well, like I said, I was sealed- trapped on the island." answered Emory. "And thanks to Elsa and Anna here, I'm free."
"And what does that mean for us?" asked Yelana.
"Nothing! Well, nothing bad at least." replied Emory with a smile. "If you allow it, I'd like to live here with you all; with the Northuldra."
Yelana and Honeymaron were both taken aback by the statement and Honeymaron was the first to respond...
"W-Wait... So you, Ahtohallan, the great spirit- or rather, person, who commands the spirits, wants to live WITH us!?"
"Yeah." answered Emory with a smile. "And don't worry, I don't require any praise or worship or anything crazy like that; again, not a god, not claiming to be a god. I'd just like a place to call home and be part of a community."
"I-I..." stuttered out Yelana, in shock. "Hold on, if you really are who you claim to be, I think I can speak for all of us in saying that we'd be happy to welcome you..." she added, followed by a round of agreeing comments from the crowd, which brought a big smile to Emory's face, before Yelana continued. "... but... why?"
"Heh, well, at the moment, I'm homeless." replied Emory. "While I could live off somewhere in the forest alone, I'm sick of being alone and would like to live with people. Oh and you don't have to worry about me just sitting around doing nothing; I'll contribute and pull my weight around here! I can hunt and cook; I have no problem getting my hands dirty or putting in physical work. I'm very willing to learn too! Teach me to tend to the reindeer and I'll help out with that. Your homes are more fancy than any shelter I've built, but I could learn that too! Or making clothing, or even gathering wood for fire, I-"
"OK, ok..." cut in Yelana with a small smile. "We get it, you don't need to sell yourself that hard."
"Then can I live here with you all?" asked Emory, before Yelana sighed and placed a hand to her forehead.
"This is all so... incredible and sudden." replied Yelana. "I'm at a loss for what to say and still find it hard to believe you are who you say you are." she added, before Anna commented...
"For what it's worth, Elsa and I can vouch for Emory being who she says she is."
"Oh..." commented Emory. "Please don't feel like I'm pressuring you or anything! I could leave with Elsa and Anna and live in Arendelle." she added, which prompted Elsa to look as though she wanted to say something, before Emory continued. "But living with you all is my first choice. I WANT to be part of the group, YOUR group."
Honeymaron looked out at the large crowd that had formed around them, before looking to Yelana.
"I say we accept her." stated Honeymaron. "If she isn't who she says she is, she's just a person without a home and I'd feel bad turning her away-"
"And I'd be more than happy to help out!" added Emory. "I'll help with whatever, if I don't know how, I'll learn."
"Yeah..." stated Honeymaron with a smile. "On the other hand, if she is Ahtohallan..."
"Then the Great Spirit in human form wishes to live among us." finished Yelana, before she sighed heavily. "This is not a decision I'm comfortable making for all of us." she added, before looking around at the crowd around them. "Everyone, what do you say about welcoming this stranger?"
A number of excited whispers began all around them, some people even approached, about a half dozen. A young man and woman to Emory's left both asked...
"Are you really Ahtohallan?"
"Yep." answered Emory.
"Can you prove it somehow?" came a woman's question to her right.
"Uh, well... I command the spirits and their friendly with me." answered Emory, presenting Bruni to the woman, who reached out a hand to allow the fire Spirit to switch to the woman's hand, who smiled at Bruni. However, another woman walked up besides her and asked...
"But we're all friendly with the spirits now, even the sisters there."
"Oh, right." replied Emory, before a familiar female voice spoke out behind Elsa and Anna...
"There's a lullaby about you."
Looking back, the woman was revealed to be Magna, Iduna's twin sister; she walked up and past the sisters and stopped in front of Emory, who turned around to face her.
"The lullaby claims you have the answers to questions."
"Oh, right!" gasped Emory. "I can use my memory powers to show-"
"No." stated Magna.
"No?" questioned Emory. "No, what?" she added, before Magna looked Emory squarely in the eyes and crossed her arms over her chest.
"Whatever magic you have isn't needed to answer the question I have. If you really are Ahtohallan, there's one question I want answered for every Northuldra here."
"Ok, I'll answer any question you have." replied Emory.
"Why did you and the spirits abandon us when Arendelle betrayed us?" asked Magna.
"O-Oh..." replied Emory, wide-eyed, glancing around as she and the sisters heard whispers and comments of agreement to Magna's question. "That..." added Emory, before Anna commented lowly to Elsa...
"Well, the mood sure changed quick; I'm getting some deja vu."
"Yes, 'that'." stated Magna.
"Well..." started Emory, nervously looking around, before meeting Magna's gaze. "I... don't have an answer to that."
To the surprise of many, including Elsa and Anna, Magna viciously slaps Emory, staggering her briefly before dropping to her hands and knees, with one hand on her stinging cheek and wincing in pain.
"Bullshit!" declared Magna.
"Hey!" gasped Anna, as she started to walk towards Magna, but was stopped by a hand grabbing her left arm and looking back to see that it was Elsa, who pulled her back and shook her head.
"This isn't our issue." stated Elsa.
"But-"
"No."
Meanwhile, Honeymaron also encountered similar resistance from Yelana when she attempted to approach her mother. With no one interfering, Magna was allowed to continue...
"Many of our friends and family died the day Arendelle attacked us! Yet you and the spirits did nothing!"
Magna then reached down and pulled Emory up to her feet by the straps of her dress, prompted her to quickly return to her feet to prevent the straps from ripping and once on her feet, Magna shook her once and glared at her angrily and she continued her statement...
"The Northuldra and the spirits were friends! With the Spirits help, the fighting could've ended as soon as it began, not drag out as long as it did!"
"I'm sorry." replied Emory.
"Sorry?" asked Magna. "You're sorry!?" gasped Magna, before releasing Emory and slapping her again, but Emory didn't fall this time. "Sorry doesn't bring back my Uncle, or everyone else's uncle, aunt, mother, father, brother or sister! Who all died because you and your spirits stood back and did nothing!" she added, as the anger in her face was now joined with tears brimming her eyes before falling. "And you come happily walking into our home expecting us to welcome you with open arms? How dare you!"
Following the emotional statement, Magna glared angrily at Emory, before she stepped towards her with a raised fist instead of an open hand, prompted Emory to lift her hands up in front of her face in defense and step back. However, seconds from a more violent assault and Anna in motion to intervene, there were a number of gasps to Emory's right and Elsa and Anna's left and the crowd quickly parted as Nokk arrived, positioning himself between Emory and Magna and glared at her, who looked on in fear as she staggered back.
"You strike my Master again and I will kill you!" declared Nokk.
While obviously scared, Magna mustered up her courage and spoke back.
"Just like you murdered my sister!?"
The remark prompted a round of whispers from the crowd. Emory though, quickly positioned herself between Nokk and Magna.
"Whoa! Whoa! Nokk, calm down!"
"She attacked you!" declared Nokk.
"Yes, but I'm fine, it's ok. She's just upset..." stated Emory, before looking back to Magna. "Understandably so." she added, before looking out to the crowd around her, before sighing. "And I owe you all an explanation... regardless of you accepting me or not." she added, before turning to Nokk and lifted her right hand up to stroke his head with a smile. "Thank you for coming to my defense, but just relax, ok? I'm going to be fine."
Nokk's gaze turns to Magna, glaring at her, before Emory reaches both hands up to Nokk's head and directs his gaze to her.
"Hey, look at me. I'm going to be fine."
Meanwhile, as Emory attempted to calm Nokk, Anna spotted another person out of the corner of her right eye quickly approaching and looked to see it was Iduna jogging towards the crowd, likely to see what the commotion was about; however, she also saw Iduna stop suddenly, also likely upon spotting Nokk and her distress was clear on her face, lifting a hand up to her chest.
Without a word, Anna quickly departed from Elsa and through the crowd towards her mother, drawing Elsa's attention, who then spotted their mother as well and followed after.
"Mother..." commented Anna as she approached.
"W-What is Nokk doing here?" asked Iduna, her breathing quickened, before Elsa arrived and answered...
"He came in defense of Emory, after Magna slapped her."
"Emory?" asked Iduna. "She's here?"
"Yeah." answered Anna, before she placed a hand on her mother's shoulder and felt her shaking. "You're trembling." stated Anna, before she looked back to Nokk in sight. "You shouldn't be here, near him."
"I-I'm fine." replied Iduna, before closing her eyes and taking a deep breath, then another, before looking at her daughters with a little smile. "As long as you're with me, I'll be fine." she added, before Elsa commented...
"You don't have to push yourself Mother. It's too soon for you to be around Nokk and personally, I don't want him near you."
Iduna closed her eyes and sighed, before lifting her other hand up and seeing it shaking, before she clenched it into a fist.
"Ok." replied Iduna.
"I'll join you in going someplace else." stated Anna, before she looked to Elsa, who smiled and commented...
"I'll stick around here and make sure things don't escalate further."
"Ok." replied Anna, before draping an arm over her mother's shoulders and leading her away, with Elsa smiling at their departure, before turning her attention back to the crowd and returning to it.
- Meanwhile -
Just shortly after Elsa and Anna left, Magna briefly lowered her head and clinched her hands into fists at her sides with a groan, before she commented...
"I'm sorry."
The comment prompted Emory to turn around to look at her, seeing Magna had bowed her head, before lifting it and looking at Emory and Nokk, still with a bit of anger in her face, but calmed down, she didn't look ready to attack.
"It was wrong of me to strike you unprovoked." stated Magna. "I let my emotions get the better of me. I grew up confused and angry at Ahtohallan for abandoning us and with you claiming to be Ahtohallan, I finally had someone to direct my anger at and I couldn't hold myself back. I shouldn't have stuck you, for that, I'm sorry. I meant every word I said to you though."
"I accept your apology." replied Emory. "And I do need to own up to my actions, or lack of." she added, before turning back to Nokk. "Are you good?"
Nokk gave a huff, before replying...
"As you wish; but I will remain by your side, in hopes of deterring any further attacks on you."
"Good." replied Emory with a smile, before turning to face Magna and the crowd. "Heh, as you can clearly see, Nokk is very protective of me. I apologize for him scaring you and anyone else if you felt threatened."
"What about Nokk?" asked Magna. "He should apologize."
"I will not apologize for protecting my Master." declared Nokk.
"Nokk..." stated Emory, which prompted another huff from Nokk, who looked at Magna.
"I will not apologize to YOU, but I will apologize to everyone else who I have freighted." stated Nokk, before looking to the crowd. "I am sorry for scaring you all."
"That's acceptable." stated Magna.
"Good..." sighed Emory, before she noticed Elsa, minus Anna, but ignored that detail for the more important matter at hand. "Ok then, my explanation..." she added, before taking a slow breath. "While I did not command the spirits to do nothing, I also did not command them to assist you in the battle against Arendelle. Through them, I was aware of the fighting and I chose not to intervene."
"Why not?" asked Yelana, walking from behind to join Magna.
"Heh..." replied Emory, briefly lowering her gaze. "I could make up some excuse about balance or it was between humans or some crap like that. But... the honest, painful truth is, I simply chose not to." revealed Emory, prompting shocked looks from the crowd and whispers, while Emory's eyes brimmed with tears.
"I'm no great spirit..." stated Emory, lifting her teary gaze to the crowd. "I'm just a person... a lonely, scared person; nothing more. After the battle started, one of you..." stated Emory, looking at Magna. "Your sister, Iduna, called to me. She was worried about Arendelle's prince, who was injured. She asked for my help." continued Emory, before she sat on the ground and lowered her gaze to the ground.
"I saw her fear and desperation as an opportunity for myself. I was trapped and lonely for so, so, sooooo long, I wanted freedom. I used Iduna's trust in me, for my own selfish desire. In exchange for saving her and the prince, I had her make a deal with me, that her first born was to be given to me."
Emory lifted her teary gaze to Elsa, which prompted a number of eyes to turn to Elsa, who quickly looked uncomfortable.
"But I was unclear in my intentions for her daughter." stated Emory. "She would be magically gifted and brought to me in an attempt to free me. Iduna attempted to reach me, without Elsa, entering Nokk's territory, who sunk her ship and drowned her in an effort to protect me."
After a moment with Emory done speaking, a number of whispers traveled through the crowd, before Honeymaron spoke up, joining her mother's side.
"OK, so you didn't tell the spirits what to do, but they can act on their own. Since Nokk's here, why didn't you help?" she asked, before looking to her mother and asking, "He didn't help, right?"
"No, he didn't." answered Magna, before sighing, "But the spirits, Bruni and Gale, eventually did intervene. It just took so long before they did; lives could've been spared if they acted sooner." she added, before Nokk spoke up...
"My one purpose is the protection of my master. Your human fights did not threaten her, so I did not care."
"Asshole." muttered Magna.
Honeymaron sighed, before turning her attention to Emory sitting on the ground.
"Then what about the fog, Ahtohallan? Why trap us?"
"... To... encourage Iduna to honor her end of the deal." answered Emory, her gaze still on the ground, unwilling to look the Northuldra in the eyes. A vocal few were clearly upset, one man angrily declaring...
"So we were just collateral to you!?"
Yelana and Honeymaron attempted to calm the few outspoken people to prevent a riot against Emory, mostly succeeding, particularly thanks to Nokk's presence, but a few moments in, Emory spoke to Nokk.
"Nokk."
"Yes Master?"
"I said not to call me that." stated Emory, before sighing. "Whatever..." she added, before she returned to her feet and lifted her gaze to the angry crowd. "I want you, Gale and Bruni to leave."
"W-What!?" gasped Nokk. "Master, my presence is what is keeping you from harm."
"Please." stated Emory, turning to Nokk with a small smile. "I've wronged them and I have to accept my punishment, in whatever form it takes." she added, which calmed the crowd some from Emory's comment.
"No." stated Nokk. "I will not leave you, only to allow you to come to harm." he added, which prompted a sigh from Emory.
"I'm not asking, I'm telling you to leave."
"Then I must disobey!" declared Nokk. "I will not leave you to be assaulted and possibly killed by these humans!"
"Nokk." stated Yelana, which drew the spirits' gaze. "She will not come to harm, I promise." she added, which prompted a surprised look from Emory, before Yelana continued, walking towards Emory "Despite her actions, I will not allow an angry crowd to assault a single person." she added, looking around to the crowd."
"But..." stated Emory. "I have to be punished."
"Yes." stated Yelana, looking to Emory. "But violence is not the way..." she added, before looking out to the crowd. "It is not our way. We will hold a vote; on whether to accept Emory or reject her request to join us." she stated, before looking to Elsa. "Elsa, please take Emory somewhere else while we decide; Honeymaron or I will come find you when a decision is reached."
"Alright." stated Elsa, before she reached out her left hand towards Emory.
Emory nervously looked around to the crowd, trying to judge if they'd accept or reject her.
"Emory, come on." urged Elsa.
Emory sighed and departed from her spot, towards Elsa, with Nokk remaining by her side, prompting the Northuldra to give them a wide berth as they made their way through the crowd.
"Well..." stated Emory as they left the crowd. "I guess that was bound to happen sooner or later."
"Let's just get away for now." replied Elsa. "Go find Anna and my mother."
Before the trio got too far away though, they heard Honeymaron call to them from behind, prompting them to turn around to see the young woman approach them, Emory specifically.
"Hey, sorry about that whole mess back there."
"It's ok." replied Emory. "I had it coming."
"Yeah..." stated Honeymaron uncomfortably. "What you said was a lot to take in, but, what's done is done, all you can do is say your sorry and work to regain any lost trust."
"I'm very willing to do that." stated Emory.
"I'm glad to hear that." replied Honeymaron with a smile. "And I just want you to know, I really appreciate that you were willing to be honest and I'll be voting for you to stay with us."
"Thank you." stated Emory with a relieved sigh. "You wouldn't happen to have some idea of what my fate is, would you?"
"Hmm, well..." replied Honeymaron, briefly looking back to the crowd, which could be heard talking. "Despite the shock of what you revealed, only a relative few were vocal about their anger. Personally, I'd say there's a good chance you'll be accepted."
"Well, that gives me hope." commented Emory.
"Still..." added Honeymaron. "At least you have the second option of living in Arendelle."
"Yeah, but being with the Northuldra is my first choice." stated Emory. "I have more of a connection with your people than those in Arendelle." she added, before looking to Elsa and adding... "No offense."
"None taken." replied Elsa.
"Either way though." stated Emory. "As long as I'm not living alone, I'm happy. I need to be around people again."
"Well then..." stated Honeymaron, as she offered her right hand to Emory. "Yelana or me will see you a little later to give you the news."
"Ok." replied Emory, taking Honeymaron's hand. "Thanks."
Honeymaron's grasp on Emory's hand lingered slightly longer than needed for a handshake, before she squeezed Emory's hand a little with a smile.
"You really are a real person."
"Heh, yep." replied Emory. "I bleed and feel pain like anyone else." she added, followed with a little chuckle, before Honeymaron released Emory's hand and stepped back.
"Well, seeya. Elsa, Nokk."
Elsa waved farewell while Nokk said nothing.
- Meanwhile -
Departing from the commotion of the crowd, Anna and Iduna approached Rona's home, and Anna could feel her mother had calmed down, no longer trembling, before Anna asked...
"How's grandma?"
"She's... getting weaker." asked Iduna.
"Oh..." replied Anna, immediately understanding the implication. "Is she in pain?"
"No." answered Iduna. "She's just tired." she added, before a small chuckle left her. "She's not too tired to talk though, thankfully. We've talked a lot this past week."
"Well that's good." replied Anna. "Is she up for visitors right now?"
"No, she's sleeping... well, when I left to see what the commotion was, she was sleeping. She's been doing a lot of that these last few days."
"Oh, then we can just talk outside then." stated Anna, as she and Iduna stopped in front of Rona's home, before Anna pulled her arm from around her mother's shoulders. "I'm glad you're not shaking anymore."
"Me too." replied Iduna, before she walked to the door of Rona's home and briefly peeked inside. "She's still asleep." stated Iduna, before she turned her attention back to Anna. "How did you know I have an issue with Nokk though?"
"Emory told us about the scare you had with him." answered Anna.
"Oh."
"Plus, he did kill you; it's only normal you'd have some sort of issue with him."
"Yeah..." replied Iduna with a sigh, lowering her gaze to the ground, which prompted Anna to gasp.
"Oh sorry! I didn't mean to remind you of that moment!"
An awkward moment of silence passed between them as Iduna didn't reply, her gaze still lowered.
'Dang-it...' thought Anna. 'I need to talk about something else.' she added, before she thought back to their talk with the Other Elsa and Anna recalled the matter of if Iduna knew about her relationship with Elsa and briefly averted her gaze in nervousness.
However, moments passed between them and as Anna worked up the courage to ask her mother, they both spoke at the same time; Anna with "So..." and Iduna with "Anna, I..." before Iduna lifted her gaze and added, "You first."
"No, you." insisted Anna.
Iduna briefly lowered her gaze again and took a slow, deep breath, before meeting Anna's expectant eyes.
"When we met earlier with the other Elsa..." started Iduna. "You mentioned you talked to your father about us having your magic removed, how much did he tell you?"
"Oh, right..." replied Anna, looking a little uncomfortable. "I did say I had some questions for you about that."
"You deserve to know the truth." stated Iduna, lowering her head. "No matter how much you may hate me for it and the shame I feel."
"What? I'll never hate you mother!" declared Anna, reaching to and taking her mother's right hand in both of hers. "No matter what reason you had for having my magic removed."
Iduna lifted her head and gave a small smile, returning the grasp of Anna's hands.
"So you're father said I brought up the idea of removing your magic, right?"
"Yeah." answered Anna. "I was shocked when he said it was your idea. The reasoning made sense. He told me about when you and him discovered my magic manifesting for the first time when I was a baby, but he hinted at the idea that you may have had another reason, aside from the possible danger of a baby with fire powers."
Anna saw her mother close her eyes and squeeze her hands, before she replied...
"I did have another reason... When your magic manifested, I was scared... and not just because of the fire; I was afraid because of what I thought it meant."
"What did it mean?" asked Anna.
Iduna took a slow breath, before she lifted her worried gaze to Anna.
"I... chose you, over Elsa." admitted Iduna as tears trailed down her face.
"Huh? What do you mean by that?" asked Anna, followed by Iduna closing her eyes and lowering her head.
"I thought Ahtohallan was sending me a message." stated Iduna. "I had no intention of honoring the deal, even after Elsa's magic started to show. But when you started to have magic... I thought the worst, that both of you would be taken from me, so..."
Anna's eyes widened as the realization hit her.
"So, you were willing to give up Elsa?" asked Anna, as she felt Iduna pull her hands away and take a few steps back as she lifted her hands to cover her face.
"I entertained the idea as a worse-case scenario." cried Iduna. "I couldn't lose you both!"
The shocking reveal had left Anna momentarily speechless, but seeing her mother in tears, Anna immediately stepped forward and hugged her.
"It's ok Mother." stated Anna, before a thought occurred to her with a smile. "Oh hey, I just remembered, even if you had given Elsa to Ahtohallan, you wouldn't have lost her."
"H-huh?" replied Iduna curiously with a few sniffles, before Anna released her.
"Yeah, Emory said she wasn't clear in her intention to you about giving her Elsa. She only wanted Elsa to try and free her. She never intended on keeping her. Like, letting her borrow a key to a room."
It was now Iduna's turn to be at a loss for what to say, before she lowered her gaze and shook her head.
"I'm sorry, but that doesn't change the fact that I made that choice between you two. What kind of mother even considers sacrificing her child!? A horrible one!"
"But you never ended up doing it." stated Anna. "You instead tried to go to Ahtohallan yourself; there's nothing wrong with taking a possible outcome into consideration and in the end, you didn't go through with it. Plus, given what we know, Nokk's the real problem. If you managed to make it to Ahtohallan, this likely would've been cleared up easily. He's obsessively protective of Emory."
"Still... I can't forgive myself for what I did." replied Iduna, before Anna smiled and hugged her again.
"Then I will; I forgive you, Mother."
Anna's comment surprised Iduna and she lifted her hands, but hesitated to return the hug, only for a few seconds, before she embraced her daughter.
"Thank you and I'm sorry."
"Apology accepted." replied Anna, before she pulled back with a smile, seeing Iduna give a little smile in return. "So, any more life-altering secrets?" asked Anna teasingly, which prompted a small chuckle from Iduna.
"Heh, no, there's nothing else." answered Iduna, before she gave a relieved sigh. "So, what was it you were going to say earlier?"
"Oh, hehe, it was nothing." replied Anna nervously. "I just wanted to change the subject, it wasn't anything important."
"Really?" asked Iduna.
"Yeah, it's fine."
"Well, ok then." replied Iduna, before her gaze turned from Anna to behind her daughter, seeing Elsa approaching, with an unfamiliar woman to her right. Iduna sighed before she added... "I need to tell Elsa what I told you and hope she's as forgiving about it as you."
Seeing that Iduna's attention was drawn to something behind her, Anna looked back to see Elsa and Emory heading towards them.
"I'm actually curious too." commented Anna, before waving at her sister and waited a few moments for the two to reach them.
"Hey." greeted Elsa, but she noticed the still viable wet trails down her mothers face. "Mother, were you crying?"
"O-Oh..." replied Iduna as she wiped the tears from her face with her hands.
"What happened?" asked Elsa. "Is grandma ok!?" she added quickly, before Anna answered.
"Grandma's just fine, she's sleeping. We just had a conversation that brought up some emotion."
"Oh, what about?"
"Elsa..." started Iduna. "There's something I have to tell you. There's another reason I had Anna's magic removed."
"Oh, why tell me?" asked Elsa, before she saw her mother briefly lower her gaze and take a deep breath.
"My reasoning included you as well... I... chose Anna over you. I thought Ahtohallan would try to take both of you when Anna's magic manifested, so if Anna didn't have magic, she would be safe."
Following the statement, Iduna warily lifted her gaze to Elsa and saw her daughter's eyes wide in surprise, before her expression turned curious.
"So..." started Elsa. "You were willing to sacrifice me over Anna?"
"I'm so sorry!" quickly replied Iduna.
However, while Iduna expected some form of lashing out from Elsa, it didn't happen as she placed her hands on her hips and looked squarely at Emory to her right with a frown, who looked back with a nervous smile.
"Ok, ok, I should've been clearer in my intention, I admit that. Things were happening really fast."
"But have you actually told our mother that?" asked Elsa, "You've caused her years of unneeded stress." she added, before Iduna asked...
"Wait, Elsa, you're not angry at me?"
"No." answered Elsa. "You were forced into that choice by Emory here. Any anger I have would be directed at her for being the cause of it."
Emory sighed and looked at Iduna apologetically and commented...
"I'm sorry again about forcing that choice on you in a time of stress and additionally, my lack of clarifying the extent of my intentions for your daughter. I just wanted her to free me- or try to. I had no intention of keeping her."
"Oh, well..." replied Iduna with a sigh, before she muttered... "Years of stress stemming from a miscommunication, with a 'sorry' at the end of it. Well, what's done is done; I'm alive, my daughters are ok, my people are free." she added, before looking to Elsa and adding... "I'm sorry, Elsa."
"It's ok." replied Elsa with a smile. "I forgive you." she added, which prompted a relieved sigh and smile from Iduna, before Emory asked Iduna...
"So... we good?"
"Yeah..." replied Iduna, looking to Emory. "So, you're Ahtohallan, in the flesh."
"Yep!" answered Emory happily.
"You look more normal than I thought." commented Iduna, which prompted a chuckle from Emory, before Anna asked...
"Hey, I got a question that just came to me. Emory, the deal between you and Mother said that her first born, Elsa, would be given to you- which we now have clarification on, but, why did I get magic? I wasn't part of the deal."
"No clue." answered Emory.
"Seriously?" asked Elsa and Anna in unison.
"Yeah, seriously." replied Emory. "Making magic deals isn't part of my natural-born magical abilities and my agreement with your mom was my first attempt, second being that other woman... Cassandra. So there may have been some smaller details even I was unaware of. But hey, I'm lucky you DO have magic, otherwise, I would've still been trapped or dead."
The answer prompted both sisters to sigh, before Anna asked...
"Anyway... was everything settled and can you stay here?"
"Not quite." answered Emory with a little nervous chuckle, before Elsa added...
"They're gonna hold a vote to decide if Emory will be allowed to live with them."
"Oh."
"Yeah..." sighed Emory. "With Magna exposing my lack of action with the spirits not helping during the fight between Arendelle and the Northuldra, her slapping me, prompting Nokk to rush to my defense and threaten to kill her, then I come clean about the fog wall and helping Iduna and the agreement there, it was just a mess."
"Wow..." commented Iduna. "So that's why Magna was yelling."
"Yeah." replied Emory. "Honestly though, I'm glad this is happening now rather than later. I would've told everyone eventually, but the longer I waited the worse the reaction likely would've been."
"Well, what are you gonna do if everyone decides you're not welcome?" asked Iduna.
"I'll leave with Elsa and Anna." answered Emory, before chuckling uncomfortably. "I can't be alone, I need to be around people and not spirits born from my emotions."
"Well, I for one hope you're approved to stay." stated Iduna. "I'd like to get to know you."
"Same here." added Anna.
"Heh, and I third that." replied Emory, before Elsa commented, looking to Iduna.
"So, Mother, how have things been here? Adjusting ok?"
"Yeah." answered Iduna with a smile. "I do miss some of the conveniences back in Arendelle, but it's not bad here. This was my life as a child after all, it's simpler. I do look forward to returning to Arendelle though, but I won't abandon my people like I did before. I have family here and I'd like the people of Arendelle to know them." she added, before Anna replied...
"That's nice, we talked about this with the citizens and they're willing to meet the Northuldra, but with how recent everything is and revealing the truth, we decided to give it some time."
"That's good to here." stated Iduna with a smile, before Elsa asked...
"So, any idea when you'll return?"
"Well..." answered Iduna, averting her gaze towards Rona's home and looking a little saddened. "I intend to stay at least until my Mother is still with us."
"Oh..." replied Elsa and Anna. "Of course." added Elsa, before Anna also commented...
"I would hate it if we missed the last time to see her."
"I can send Nokk or Gale." stated Emory. "If there's enough advance notice." she added, before Elsa groaned.
"I really don't like the idea of Nokk coming to Arendelle, but in that situation, I'd have to allow it."
"Or!" gasped Anna delightfully. "You could send Gale and if I've managed to perfect my portals, we can be here in a blink!"
"Portals?" questioned Iduna. "Like that woman that was with you before, and the marble she gave me?"
"Yea!" answered Anna happily. "We met one of her friends today and she taught me- well, both of us, but I actually attempted it, to make a portal. I failed spectacularly, but I was actually doing it! I just need to keep at it and practice. Hopefully, in the future, me and or Elsa will have easy and quick transportation between here and Arendelle for anyone willing to come."
"Wow..." replied Iduna, wide-eyed. "That's very impressive." she added, which prompted a proud smile from Anna. "Looks like transportation back and forth won't be a problem."
"Nope." replied Anna with a smile. "Arendelle's conveniences will just be a portal away." she added, which prompted a chuckle from Iduna, before Emory asked...
"What conveniences do you miss, by the way?"
The question prompted a blush and another small chuckle from Iduna before she answered...
"Well... toilets."
The remark earned her chuckles from Elsa and Anna, before Emory asked...
"What's a toilet?"
The question prompted immediate, curious gazes at Emory from the three and Anna was the first to answer...
"Well... it makes 'doing your business' much more convenient than doing it out in the wild."
"Doing your business?" asked Emory. "You mean peeing and pooping?" she added, before gasping. "Ohhhh! A toilet is that seat you sit on that you pee and poop in and you pull a lever and it all gets sent somewhere else."
"Right..." answered Elsa.
"Heh, yeah..." replied Emory. "I was just unfamiliar with the name. That definitely seems a lot better than digging a hole, pooping into it and burying it, or pooping into a bucket that you'd have to empty and clean." she added, prompting all three to smile uncomfortably before Iduna asked...
"So, speaking of Arendelle, how's Agnarr doing?"
"Good." answered Elsa, eager to change the subject. "He's catching up on the three years he's been gone and returning to his duties as King."
"Well, I'm sure that'll be a help for you." replied Iduna. "To divide up some of the work required of you." she added, before Anna chimed in...
"Me too! I help out too. Mostly talking with the citizens directly and helping them with things if I can."
"That's great." replied Iduna. "I'm glad Arendelle is doing just fine."
"Yep!" commented Anna delightfully. "Arendelle's running well."
"So, where's Nokk?" asked Iduna.
"Somewhere else." answered Elsa. "You don't have to worry about him showing up unannounced around you again. He won't show up unless you're looking for him."
"Oh, ok. Nokk didn't happen to tell you why he showed up all of a sudden, did he?"
Elsa briefly looked reluctant to answer, but did.
"Since you had chosen to remain here, he felt conflicted about what he had done to you and, in a weird way, he was attempting to apologize."
"Oh... really?" asked Iduna with surprise.
"You don't have to forgive him though!" quickly added Elsa. "Please don't feel like you have to do that."
"Well, it's clear I'm not ready to talk to him yet..." stated Iduna. "So if he'll honor that and only approach me when I seek him out, that's good enough for me."
"Same here." replied Elsa.
"Well then..." stated Anna. "Mother, since grandma's sleeping, what do you do when your not tending to her?"
"Walk around talking to people and getting to know them." answered Iduna, with a smile. "I've even met some childhood friends of mine."
"That's awesome!" declared Anna.
"Yeah." added Elsa. "We'd love to meet them."
"I wouldn't mind introducing you." replied Iduna. "I also go for walks outside of camp to relax and think about things. Though lately, much of my thoughts have been occupied with my mother and my past actions, but it's nice to just be by myself for a little bit."
"Well that's good." stated Anna. "We probably shouldn't leave grandma alone though, so we can just stay here and talk until the vote is finished." she added, before Iduna's attention shifted to behind the three, seeing Yelana, Honeymaron, Magna and a small crowd behind them walking towards them.
"Looks like it's finished." stated Iduna.
The three looked back to see the group approach them and Emory commented...
"Well, that was sooner than expected."
The group soon reached them, stopping about a yard from them, before Yelana and Honeymaron walked up to Emory and Yelana greeted her.
"Hello again, Ahtohallan."
"Emory." stated Emory. "Call me Emory."
"Oh, right, Emory." replied Yelana with a little smile. "Anyway, on the matter of your acceptance, after some discussion, the majority have decided to welcome you and allow you to live among us."
"R-Really!?" gasped Emory delightfully. "I can stay!?"
"Yep!" answered Honeymaron happily. "Some people still aren't too happy with you though."
"That's ok!" declared Emory. "I'll work to change their minds and be upfront and honest with whatever questions anyone has for me!" she added, before giddily hopping up and down, before motioning to hug Yelana, before stopping herself. "Oh, can I hug you!? I REEEEALY like hugs!"
"Heh, sure." replied Yelana, before extending her arms, though gasping a little when Emory eagerly embraced her.
Just moments after a teary-eyed Emory released her, Emory saw Honeymaron reach out her arms...
"I'll take a hug."
Without a word, Emory quickly accepted the offer and hugged Honeymaron. Following the end of that hug, Emory looked at the small crowd behind them and walked between Yelana and Honeymaron towards the crowd and extended her hands towards them.
"Anyone else wanna hug!?" asked Emory, which prompted the crowd to appear hesitant. "I'll accept group hugs too!"
Magna then stepped up, looking around briefly, before asking...
"Is Nokk around?"
"No." answered Emory. "We had him leave." she added, before Magna offered her right hand.
"I'll take a handshake for now."
"Fine by me." stated Emory, taking the woman's hand.
"I'm still upset with you." stated Magna. "But what's done is done, there's no going back and fixing it. I'm willing to give you a chance and get to know you."
"Thank you." replied Emory with a smile.
Following that, a man approached Emory and offered his hand.
"I too look forward to getting to know you."
"Same here." replied Emory, taking his hand.
Next, a young woman approached Emory and extended her arms out towards her, but only got as far as 'I'll take a-" before Emory happily embraced her, who giggled at the excited hug.
Elsa, Anna, Iduna and now Magna, joining her sister, watched with a smile as Emory greeted the small crowd with hugs and handshakes and with everyone hugged or their hands shaken, Emory offered a group hug, which while not everyone participated in, enough people did to surround Emory.
With everyone's attention on Emory's greeting of everyone, Magna turned to her sister and whispered to her with a smile...
"Did you ask your daughters about their relationship? I see the rings on their fingers."
The question brought a smile to Iduna's face as she looked at her twin.
"Not directly, but it was pretty much confirmed." whispered back Iduna. "I won't confront them about it. It was cute how flustered they were dancing around it though." she added, which prompted a chuckle from Magna.
"Yeah, it is cute." replied Magna.
"I'll wait for them tell me." stated Iduna with a smile. "In the meantime, I'll enjoy prodding a little and watching them squirm. They did mention they told their father about liking other woman, and that he took it well, but they didn't mention if they told them who their girlfriends are. I wonder what his reaction would be to that, it's certainly not something a parent expects to hear from their children, let alone their children who are Queen and Princess."
"And are expected to marry a prince, right?" asked Magna.
"Yeah..." replied Iduna with a little smile as she looked to her daughters whose back remained to them, watching Emory talk with the others. "I won't pressure them with that though; they have enough to deal with right now and their happy, that's really all I want for them."
Following the remark, Magna smirked and nudged Iduna in the side with her elbow and commented teasingly...
"Guess you and your husband should get familiar in the bed, huh, give them another sibling."
The comment prompted Iduna to look at her twin with an annoyed smirk.
"I'm over forty now."
"So?" replied Magna with a smile. "You can still pop out one or two more." she added, poking Iduna's stomach, which prompted a flinch and gasp from her, and returned the poke.
"What about you?"
However, before the sisters could get into a poking fight, they quickly reign themselves in when Elsa's spoke...
"Well then..." stated Elsa, turning to Iduna and Magna, unaware of their private conversation as they both stood calmly, while Anna also turned to face them. "Everything looks to be fine. We should get going."
"Alright." stated Iduna. "It was good seeing you two again too."
"Same here." added Magna, reaching out her right hand. "Even though this is the first time I've greeted you since your arrival."
"Well, we did bring a big deal back with us." replied Elsa, taking Magna's hand. "So you're attention was understandably elsewhere."
"Yeah..." added Anna with a nervous chuckle. "We did just shatter everyone's perception of what and who Ahtohallan is; sorry about that."
"Do not be sorry." commented Yelana, as she walked up behind Elsa and Anna, while Honeymaron walked to her mother's side. "The truth was revealed. It's better to live the truth, than a lie or ignorance."
"Yeah..." replied Anna. "Hopefully, the next time we visit, we won't be bringing any drama with us."
"Heh, that would be nice." replied Yelana, offering a hand to Anna, who took it, soon followed by Elsa.
"We'll be going." stated Elsa.
"Alright then." replied Yelana.
Following a round of 'see ya's' and 'bye's', the sisters only got a few paces away, before they heard Emory call to them, prompting them to turn around to see the woman jog up to and stop in front of them with a big smile and wiping the tears from her face.
"Thank you again SOOOOO much for freeing me!" stated Emory. "I promise you, you won't regret it!" she added, which earned her a smile from Elsa and Anna and Elsa commented...
"I'll hold you to that."
"And call me Emi." stated Emory with a smile. "I know you don't really think of me as a friend yet, but I consider both of you my friends and would really like it if you called me Emi. That's what my friends call me."
"I'll consider it." replied Elsa with a smirk, followed by Anna happily adding..
"Alright, Emi."
A small gasp left Elsa when Emory quickly hugged her, which Elsa briefly returned, before Emory pulled back and then hugged Anna, who anticipated the embrace and extended her arms out to return it.
Emory then pulled back, fresh tears trailing down her face as she looked at the sisters with a smile.
"Thank you." stated Emory.
"You're welcome." replied Elsa and Anna.
Emory gave a parting wave of the hand, returned by the sisters as they resumed their departure, before turning their backs to her and continuing on.
With more than a dozen yards between them, Emory wiped the tears from her face again and took a deep breath, before turning around to face the crowd which was to be her new family.
"Alright!" stated Emory happily. "What's there to be done? I said I'd pull my weight and that's what I'm gonna do!"
The remark prompted a chuckle from Honeymaron, who walked up to her and placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Hold on there, you just got here. Let's get to know you more."
"Oh, ok." replied Emory with a smile. "I'll answer any questions anyone has for me, so bring it on!"
"Well, that ended well." commented Anna, as she and Elsa were just minutes outside of the camp.
"Yeah." replied Elsa with a relieved sigh. "Hopefully this is the last of the loose ends."
"Heh, well at least this trip wasn't as life-threatening as our first."
"Point taken."
"So... we headed home by air, or..." asked Anna.
"Same way we arrived." answered Elsa. "Head to the closest river, meet Nokk and have him take us home."
Following the two reaching the closest river, they didn't need to wait long before Nokk rose from the water.
"Hello again." greeted the Water Spirit.
"Hey." greeted back Anna with a wave of her hand, before Nokk left the water and stood in front of them, and they were a little surprised when Nokk bowed his head.
"I must apologize; I have yet to show my gratitude for you freeing my master. Thank you for your willingness to help her. I will be forever grateful to both of you for granting her desire, which I and my siblings were unable to provide."
"Well thank you." replied Elsa with a smile and her hands on her hips, happy with the recognition from the Spirit, while Anna simply commented...
"You're welcome."
"Ready to depart to Arendelle?" asked Nokk, lifting his head.
"Yes." answered Elsa, as she lifted her left hand and created an icy rope and wrapped it around Nokk's head as reins, before she and Anna mounted him, followed by Nokk departing down the river.
"So, Nokk..." started Anna as they rode across the ocean. "Put any thought into the freedom Emory gave you?"
"Yes." answered Nokk. "I have considered the freedom my master has given me."
"And?" urged Anna.
"With the brief time I've had to think about my freedom." replied Nokk. "I've come to the realization that I do not know what to do going forward. All my life, my singular purpose was to protect my master; I needed not to think beyond that. But now, my master has clearly expressed my duty has come to an end and I am to find a new purpose. I am proud that I have served my master to her satisfaction, but I am lost with my duty coming to an end."
"Wow..." commented Anna.
"Protecting my master is all I know to do." stated Nokk. "So given the freedom to choose, I have chosen to take up my duty again. However, Master has expressly stated for me not to make that my purpose. When I sensed Master was under attack, I rushed to defend her. However, I know that with Master living among the humans, conflict is unavoidable and Master would not like me to intervene in every conflict."
"Well, yeah." stated Elsa. "She can't have someone coming to her defense all the time, she needs to deal with it herself."
"Right." replied Nokk. "I understand that, but it is difficult for me to let go."
"You're like an overprotective parent." commented Anna with a smile, which prompted a small chuckle from Elsa, while Nokk sighed.
"My siblings have also told me that." stated Nokk. "Claiming that I did not need to be so protective, but I remained steadfast in my purpose."
"Well..." started Anna. "Your siblings have a point. How many times has Emory actually been threatened?"
"None." answered Nokk. "But there has been ships that have ventured out into the sea and uncomfortably close to the Island where my Master resided."
"Plus, given Emory's own protection, even if someone actually got near her, they'd freeze solid."
"Are you saying that my purpose has been pointless?"
"No, no, no!" quickly answered Anna. "I'm not saying that at all! As a princess, I understand that even if I can defend myself with my magic, having the Arendelle guards as a first line of defense is better than me or Elsa risking our own safety in defending ourselves. It's good that you're Emory's first line of defense and proud to do it. It's just, maybe you didn't need to be quite so... 'intense' about it."
"In hindsight..." replied Nokk. "Perhaps you could possibly be right. However, regardless of how vigilante I needed to be, Master remained safe until this day of her freedom."
"True..." commented Anna.
"And now..." commented Elsa. "Since Emory's free, you don't need to be her sole protector, share some of that work with your siblings."
"That's a very good idea." stated Nokk.
"Hey..." stated Anna. "If and or when you do decide to split up the work between your siblings, I have a suggestion; besides surprising us with your visit, have you ever left the Enchanted Forest or the Dark Sea?"
"No, I had no reason to and leaving would put my Master at risk." answered Nokk.
"Well..." replied Anna with a smile. "Maybe now's the time? With your duty over and Emory wanting you to find a new purpose, maybe that new purpose is beyond the Enchanted Forest out in the world somewhere?"
"You suggest I leave?" questioned Nokk.
"As an option, yeah." replied Anna. "Your brothers and sister will still be with Emory, so if something big does happen, they can protect her. You trust them to do that, right?"
"... you make a valid point." stated Nokk. "I do trust my siblings to protect her, even if they may be more lax in it than me. Gale and Bruni allowed Master to be struck twice. I will consider the option." he added, before Elsa chimed in...
"Arendelle's off limits if you decide to roam the world in search of a purpose."
"Understood." stated Nokk, before Anna gasped and commented...
"Hey! I just thought of something! Can we still call to Emory like we did before she was freed?"
"That's..." stated Elsa, looking curious. "A really good question." she added, before Anna cleared her throat and sang the melody that called Emory and, to Anna's delight, heard Emory speak to her.
"Anna?"
"Oh hey!" greeted Anna. "We can still call you!"
"Oh, looks like it." replied Emory. "Heh, that makes communication easier."
However, Elsa looked back to Anna curiously and commented...
"You're talking to Emory? I don't hear anything."
"Really?" asked Anna, before she heard Emory speak again, but it was clearly not directed at her...
"Oh, I'm talking to Elsa and Anna... Yeah, we could talk like this before my freedom. Looks like we still can."
"Hey Emory." stated Anna.
"Yeah?" replied Emory.
"Can you hear Elsa speaking?" asked Anna, before Elsa greeted with a simple, 'Hi.'
"Well, Elsa hasn't said anything." answered Emory, which prompted a look of intrigue from Anna.
"But she did." answered Anna. "She just said hi and apparently, she can't hear you, only I can."
"Weird." commented Emory. "Heh, and given the looks I'm getting from everyone around me, they can't hear you either, but that's not really a surprise to me."
"Well..." stated Anna, looking to Elsa, though still talking to Emory. "Looks like these talks will be private from now on." which prompted Elsa to smile and comment...
"Well, there's advantages to that."
"Looks like it." stated Emory at the same time, before Anna asked...
"Oh, are you here with us like before; can you see us?"
"Nope." answered Emory. "We're just speaking through our heads."
"Hehe... first was my magic, Felsa; now I have another voice in my head." commented Anna.
"Heh, well at least I'm not with you all the time."
"Yeah, oh hey, speaking of Felsa, I wonder if you two could speak to each other." stated Anna. "Hey Felsa, say something." she added, before she heard Felsa speak...
"Hello."
"Ohh... Hello!" greeted back Emory. "Looks like I can! She sounds like Gale."
"Awesome!" declared Anna, before she spoke to Elsa. "Hey Elsa, my magic can talk to Emory too!"
"Heh, I guessed that given the 'awesome'." replied Elsa with a smile. "Now you can have a group conversation in your head that no one can hear." she added, which prompted a chuckle from Anna, who then heard Emory speak to her.
"Oh hey Anna, can we pick this up later? I feel like I'm being kinda rude to the people I was talking with before you called me."
"Oh! Sure!" replied Anna. "It's nice we have this option to talk to each other. How do we end this though?"
"I can sever the connection myself." answered Emory. "Talk to you later."
"Ok, seeya later." replied Anna, before after a moment, she asked, "Emory?" following another few moments of nothing, Anna simply smiled and commented, to Elsa. "And she's gone. Emory said we can talk to her later. She was talking to other people when I called her, so she felt it was rude to them that she was talking to me while she was with them."
"Ok then." replied Elsa. "At least we'll be able to relay information back and forth through Emory to Mother if we wanted."
"That's a good point." stated Anna. "We have that in the meantime while I work on creating a stable portal, then we can travel back and forth whenever we want!"
- 3:34 P.M., Arendelle -
Home again, Nokk circled around the castle to the docks. With ample time for those in town to see their approach, entering the inlet, a sizable crowd had gathered upon Elsa and Anna leaving the docks and approached the bridge leading to the castle.
With Nokk stopping in front of the gathered crowd, Elsa and Anna dismounted him; Elsa to his left and Anna to his right, while a few citizens expressed their delight that they had returned safely, which the sisters smiled at and Elsa responded...
"Thank you. Anna and I are just fine. The issue in the Enchanted Forest turned out to be easily resolved."
"Yeah..." added Anna. "Nokk here made the trip really easy."
"He is an impressive sight to behold." commented one man in awe.
"Heh..." chuckled Elsa, eyeing Nokk. "That's one way to refer to him." she added, before a young girl to their right happily commented...
"He's a really pretty horse!"
Looking in the child's direction, the three saw that a few other children were nearby, more-so than in front of them. They all looked on in awe at the Water Spirit; the children all gasped when Nokk replied to the one girl that spoke.
"Thank you, child. I appreciate the compliment."
"Ohhh! You DO talk!" spoke the child in delight, followed by a boy to her right adding...
"I told you!"
Following that, a small group of five kids, that managed to slip away from their parents, eagerly walked up to Nokk asking him questions.
"Are you really made of water!?" asked one young girl in front of him.
"Are there others like you?" asked another girl to the right.
"Can they talk too?" asked a boy in front of him.
"Can we touch you?" asked another boy to the right.
"Your water hair is so pretty!" commented another girl in front of him.
Parents of three of the children quickly retrieved their kids, apologizing to Nokk, who commented.
"That's alright, they are simply curious. I do not mind answering their questions. Yes, as a Water Spirit, I am made of water and can control it. While I am the only Water Spirit, there are other Elemental Spirits; Wind, whose name is Gale and takes the form of wind; Fire, who takes the form of a lizard and is named Bruni and lastly, Earth, who is a large, towering giant of rocks called Mou'tan. They all can speak as well and I consider them my siblings."
"Do you have a mom and dad?" asked the girl to his right.
"I have a mother." answered Nokk. "Whom, thanks to the kindness of your Queen and Princess, has rescued from her thousand years imprisonment from an evil sorcerer who no longer walks the Earth. My siblings and I are very grateful to them."
"That's wonderful." commented the mother of one of the children, which prompted Elsa to reply with a little chuckle.
"Well, we we're uniquely qualified for the task."
"Yeah." added Anna. "We were able to help, so we did."
"What's your mom like?" asked one of the children. "Is she like you and the others?"
"She is human." answered Nokk. "She is wonderful, kind and loves hugs. Seeing her smiling face brings me much joy. She decided to stay with the Northuldra though. I'm sure if your Queen allows, my mother would love to visit."
"What about you?" asked one of the children. "Will you stay for a little while?"
"No." answered Elsa. "Nokk has things he needs to do in the Enchanted Forest." she added, before Nokk also added...
"You're Queen is right. I am only here to safely return the Queen and Princess, I must return home. I would not be against returning though, with your Queen's permission, of course." stated Nokk, looking to Elsa, who gave him a smirk in an attempt to hide her annoyance at him shifting the decision of his return to her in front of everyone.
"I will consider it." answered Elsa. "Don't want you popping up out of the blue like you did earlier and scaring everyone." she added, before Anna also added, walking around in front of Nokk to join Elsa to her left...
"Well, I don't think a future unannounced visit would induce the same fear and concern."
"Still." commented Elsa. "It's only been a week since my announcement of our trip to the Enchanted Forest and all that was revealed." she added, before looking to the kids excitedly looking at Nokk with a little smile. "While the children would likely welcome the Elemental Spirits, I don't want to 'open the gates' to them just yet." she added, looking up to the crowd. "I will not overwhelm you all with such a drastic change so soon; Some of you may not be ready for that and I will respect that. To be quite honest, I'm not yet ready for such a change myself. It's a lot to adjust to and that takes time, I won't rush this."
A number of citizens expressed their thanks following Elsa's comment, before Nokk spoke.
"Well then, since there is no more reason for me to remain, I will take my leave."
Following Nokk's comment, a few children expressed their disappointment and asked if he could stay a little longer, which prompted the Water Spirit to chuckle before answering...
"I'm sorry, but I must return home. With my Mother's newfound freedom, I must remain by her side and insure her safety."
A round of reluctant 'ok's' followed from the children, before Nokk looked to Elsa and Anna and gave a parting, "Good-bye."
"See ya." replied Anna with a smile and a wave of her hand, while Elsa answered back with a simple, "Bye."
With that, Nokk turned around, walked back to the docks and departed across the water and circled around the castle back towards the Enchanted Forest.
- Minutes later, Castle Gate -
"All that's left to do is tell Father about our trip and we're done!" commented Anna happily as she and Elsa walked through the gates of the castle and into the courtyard.
"Yeah." replied Elsa with a smile. "Hopefully there are no more surprises."
"Hehe... oh, we should probably let Cass know about Emory, given she did get her magic from Emory. She'd probably like to talk to her face to face."
"Good idea." replied Elsa, "The thought didn't even cross my mind."
"Oh hey, now that I think about it." stated Anna. "Despite what Emory said her natural-born power is, she's able, or perhaps WAS able, to give or grant people magic. Mother didn't have magic, but she had two kids that did, because of Emory. I wonder if Emory can still do that or was it the result of her being sealed in that castle. Dang, I should've asked her about that when we were with Mother."
"Good point." stated Elsa. "Given how emotional Emory was though, there was no unconscious release of magic from her like there would be for us. So it's possible whatever additional magic Emory had was lost when she was freed."
"Also a good point." replied Anna. "I do remember Emory saying she might have powers she doesn't know about, given how long she's been alive, her powers have grown and evolved, like being able to make an actual portal to another reality and cross it. Since we can still magically talk to her, we can ask her about it later and test things out when we see her again."
"Maybe." commented Elsa, "Let's give her time to settle into her new life though."
"Yeah, I agree." added Anna. "At the very least, I won't bother her for the rest of the day."
The two had yet to reach halfway to the doors of the castle, before they saw them open and their father exit and meet them about a quarter of the way to the doors.
"Hey you two, it's good to see you returned safely." greeted Agnarr.
"Yeah..." replied Elsa with a smile. "The issue was resolved almost as soon as we arrived."
"Well that's good." stated Agnarr. "Was there really another Elsa that you met?"
"Yep, a mirror image." answered Elsa with a smile. "It was so weird." she added, before Anna chimed in...
"The other Elsa and Mother were just calmly talking by the river when we arrived."
Elsa then commented...
"Oh, Father..." as she reached out her left hand. "The marble I gave you."
"Right..." replied Agnarr, reaching into his pocket and retrieving the marble and handing it to Elsa, who took it and dispersed it into a small flurry, which prompted a confused look on Anna's face and asked...
"What's with the ice marble?"
"To prove the Elsa that left, is the Elsa that returned." answered Elsa. "If, for some reason, the Other Elsa had switched places with me, she would have no clue to ask for the marble and Father would know something was wrong."
"Oh..." replied Anna curiously. "Well, that seems overly cautious, I was with you."
"I prefer to be overly cautious when it comes to the strangeness of a double of me existing somewhere whom I didn't know her intention." stated Elsa.
"Hmm, yeah... I get it." replied Anna.
"So..." started Agnarr. "What was she like?" asked Agnarr.
"Nice." answered Anna. "A lot like our Elsa, with long hair still." she added with a smile as she lifted a hand up to guide her hand through Elsa's hair, prompting a little chuckle from Elsa, before Anna continued... "She's not Queen of Arendelle though, not anymore anyway, her Anna is."
"Heh, wow, Queen Anna huh?" replied Agnarr with a smile.
"Hehe, yep. We escorted her back to her own reality, but we agreed to stay in touch; so one day, I might meet the other me too." commented Anna.
"Another reality?" questioned Agnarr. "Then how would you stay in touch with her?"
"Oh right." replied Anna. "We managed to free Emory too. She has the power to create portals to different realities."
"Oh... wow..." stated Agnarr wide-eyed. "That's amazing."
"Yeah, it is." replied Anna. "Emory chose to stay with the Northuldra, but I'm sure it won't be long before she visits though and you can meet her face-to-face, maybe the Other Elsa too."
"Heh, well I'll look forward to it. Stated Agnarr. "So, what was the other Elsa really here for?" he asked, which Elsa answered...
"To meet you and Mother. Her Mother and Father died. She didn't have the benefit of her Anna having healing magic."
"Oh, well, that's unfortunate." replied Agnarr. "Why not bring her back though? I'd like to meet her if she means no harm."
"It would cause a lot of commotion and confusion to bring her here." replied Elsa. "And I'd prefer her potential future meeting of you and her to be on my terms, not an out of the blue surprise arrival."
"Well, that's understandable." commented Agnarr, before chuckling. "I can only imagine the stir having two Elsa's appearing in town would cause."
"Yeah." answered Elsa with a smile. "Thankfully, only you and some of the guards know about it. News about another me existing somewhere is not something I want to be common knowledge."
"Well, let's go inside." stated Agnarr. "I'm sure there's plenty more you two can tell me about your trip in private."
"Gladly." replied Elsa as the trio headed towards the castle, while Agnarr asked...
"So how's your Mother doing?"
"Good." answered Anna. "Heh, she says she misses having toilets though." she added with a chuckle, which prompted one from Agnarr as well.
- Later that Night, Elsa's Room -
Walking out of her bathroom, clothed in just a bath towel, Elsa walked to her dresser to pick up a comb and began to guide it through her damp hair as she looked at herself in the mirror resting on the dresser.
Just moments into the act, Elsa heard a light knocking on her door.
"Who is it?" asked Elsa, looking towards the door.
"It's me." answered Anna on the other side. "Can I come in?"
"Is there anyone else around?" asked Elsa, curious as to if she'd need to move somewhere else in the room to prevent anyone passing by from spotting her in her undressed state when Anna opened the door.
"Nope, just me." answered Anna.
"You can come in then." replied Elsa.
Following the door opening, Anna calmly walked in, dressed in a normal casual dress, but also carried what looked to be her nightgown in her right hand. However, upon seeing Elsa, Anna was clearly disappointed.
"Aww, you already took a bath or showered?" asked Anna as she closed the door.
"Heh, yep, sorry." replied Elsa with a smile. "Just stepped out too."
"Well that sucks." stated Anna with a little pout, before smiling. "You wouldn't happen to want to do it again with me this time, would you?"
"Na, I'll pass, sorry." answered Elsa. "You should've let me know earlier that you planned to take a bath with me, I would've waited."
"Yeah..." sighed Anna. "I wasn't sure if I'd spend the night with you. But I can't let dad knowing we sleep together stop us from doing that! If he happens to see us here together in the morning or walk out together, then he just sees it!" she added with a smile and her hands on her hips. "Of course, as long as that's OK with you."
"Heh, fine by me." replied Elsa. "But let's not flaunt our relationship in front of Father though."
"Oh of course." stated Anna. "I've just made up my mind, if I wanna spend a night with you, I'm gonna do it!" she added proudly and crossing her arms over her chest with a smile. "I'm not gonna let Father stop that after reappearing in our lives again."
A small chuckle left Elsa, before she walked to her bed, sat and patted the spot to her left, a silent invite to Anna to join her, which she did, before Elsa spoke...
"Yanno, after our confrontation with father, it has made me think about our relationship."
"W-What!?" gasped Anna. "He hasn't got you doubting it has he!?"
"No, no, hehe." replied Elsa, taking Anna's right hand in her left, smiling at her. "I wouldn't call it doubt anyway, I'm just thinking about it more."
"... is it a good or bad think?" asked Anna warily.
"I have no intention of breaking up with you for the foreseeable future, if that's what you're worried about." answered Elsa with a smile, which prompted a relieved sigh and smile from Anna.
"That's good. You had me scared for a second there."
"Heh, sorry. Anyway, we both love each other, that's obvious."
"Obviously." repeated Anna with a smile.
"I've just been thinking about the long-term viability of our relationship." stated Elsa, which prompted a wary look to return to Anna's face.
"That sounds an awful lot like doubt."
"Just... hear me out." replied Elsa with a smile, before re-positioning her hand under Anna's to properly hold her hand. "You can use your magic to know I'm telling the truth; I have no intention of breaking up with you and I don't want to break up with you."
"Ok..." answered Anna warily.
"So..." began Elsa. "Our current relationship is barely two months old and in that time, we've basically proposed to each other and even talked about possible children. We can both agree that we're moving super fast, right?"
"Yeah... I'll agree to that." answered Anna.
"After the Eternal Winter, our 'normal'- well, renewed relationship turned physical, intimate. I do enjoy the physical and intimate part of our relationship-"
"But?" asked Anna, which prompted Elsa to sigh.
"But... what if our current relationship and the way we show our love for each other is just a cooping mechanism for our separation, which I admittedly, fearfully continued, combined with the death of our parents?"
"Wow..." started Anna, lowering her gaze to her lap. "Well, I can't deny that our relationship may have turned out different if certain things in the past didn't happen." she added, before a small smile came to her face. "Heh, this was not a conversation I was expecting coming here." she added, before she felt Elsa's hand squeeze hers and Elsa commented...
"Sorry... What I'm trying to get at is- and I said this to Father, if the day ever comes that this particular relationship we have now doesn't sit well with you for whatever reason and you want to end it, I will respect that."
"So, you'd just give up?" asked Anna, looking to Elsa curiously, who cringed.
"I wouldn't phrase it that way; but if you were to come to me and say you're no longer comfortable with our relationship as it currently is- the intimate parts of it in particular, you want me to try to convince you otherwise?" explained Elsa, followed by Anna sighing and lowering her gaze.
"... Fair point... so, what you're saying is that, if I wake up tomorrow and the thought of my head between your thighs..." spoke Anna, looking to Elsa with a little smirk, returned by Elsa. "And my tongue making you moan my name, grosses me out and I don't want to have sex with you anymore, you'd accept it and move on?"
"Heh... well, it would be sudden if it happened tomorrow, but yes." answered Elsa. "The whole point of this is that I wouldn't want you doing or feel that you have to keep doing something that you find uncomfortable. So, if that means no sex and/or ending this particular relationship and just having a 'normal' sisterly relationship, I will respect and accept it."
"Normal?" questioned Anna with a little smirk. "You think we can have a 'normal' relationship after we've both had our heads between each others legs and tongue kissing each other pussies and drinking each others cum? Or you thrusting a magic ice dildo in me and making me come so hard I scream your name for everyone in the castle to hear?" she added, which prompted a little chuckle from Elsa.
"Hehe.. well, as normal as it can be, anyway." replied Elsa with a returning smirk. "Sex isn't the only way we can show each other love."
"But it's certainly the funnest." commented Anna with a grin, which prompted another chuckle from Elsa.
"Heh... anyway, like I said, I have no intention of breaking up with you and I like the way we show our love for each other, it is fun. I just want you to know where I stand in the event that this is no longer something you're interested in continuing."
"Well, thanks for being up front about this." replied Anna. "I have no intention of breaking up with you either."
"So where would you stand on this if I no longer wanted to continue our relationship?"
"Hmm, to be honest, I dunno." answered Anna. "I never considered it; after all, who thinks about their relationship ending? But, if you did come to me and say you wanted out, I'd be upset of course, and I'd try to understand why you wanted to end it." she added, before she paused briefly. "Ultimately, though, I think I would respect your choice. As long as we're still together in the end, couple or not; I'll be happy."
"Same here." replied Elsa with a smile, "After all, we're sisters. Relationships come and go, but we'll always be sisters, forever." she added, before Anna leaned in and kissed her on the lips.
"Did that gross you out?"
"Nope." answered Elsa with a grin, before she reached her right hand over to Anna's crotch, who spread her legs a little in response as Elsa caressed her through her dress. "How about this, disgusting?" she asked.
"Mmm, nope." answered Anna with a brief moan, before she reached her left hand over to Elsa and undid her towel, it falling away to reveal Elsa's bare form and Anna lowered her hand down between Elsa's thighs, before she lean in again and returned her lips to Elsa's.
The kiss was longer than the first, both closing their eyes as they teased each other. As Anna felt Elsa's tongue enter her mouth, she slipped a pair of fingers into Elsa, who tensed a little into a moan.
However, before the two could go further, Anna suddenly pulled back with a gasp.
"Oh, I just remembered! There was another reason I came here."
"What?" asked Elsa as Anna pulled her hand away, which prompted Elsa to do the same.
"Remember earlier today when we were in town and you said you practiced your wind powers and I correctly assumed it was related to something naughty, but you didn't want to say what it was?" replied Anna with a smirk, which prompted a wide-eyed, blushing smile from Elsa as she averted her gaze.
"Oh, right... that."
"We're all alone now." stated Anna, grinning expectantly. "Come on, what's the naughty thing you're doing with your wind powers? I'm dying to know!"
An embarrassed groan left Elsa as she briefly lifted her right hand over her face.
"Ok..." muttered Elsa, looking away as her face was bright red. "Do you remember, a little while ago, you discovered a secret pleasure of mine?"
"A secret pleasure?" questioned Anna, before humming in thought. "Hmm... a secret pleasure you have that I discovered, hmmm... Well that pee one didn't go well." she added, which prompted a cringe from Elsa at the memory, "But what could you do with wind and pee..." she added. "Hmm, you're embarrassed to talk about it and it involves wind." After a brief thought, realization struck and Anna's eyes widened in shock. "Wait! Oh... my... God!"
Elsa could feel Anna's eyes on her and was compelled to turn her head to look and saw Anna grinning at her.
"It's the farting thing, isn't it!?" declared Anna in delight and shock.
"Not so loud!" quickly answered Elsa, her face cherry red.
With that confirming comment, Anna tried to hold back her laughter, but quickly failed as she burst out laughing, falling to her back in a giggling fit as she clutched her stomach, while Elsa remained silent and embarrassed.
"THAT'S what your practicing your magic on!?" laughed out Anna, although Elsa remained silent, looking away, too embarrassed to respond; allowing Anna to calm down some and sit up. "S-Show me!" requested Anna, still giggling.
"W-What!? No!" gasped Elsa, turning her reddened face to Anna.
"Oh come on..." urged Anna with a grin. "Show me the progress you've made. Your farts don't smell after-all."
"No, I'm not doing that in front of you!"
"Aww, please? Pretty please? I'm sorry I laughed."
"No! Don't you have a bath to take anyway?"
"This is much more interesting!" replied Anna with a grin. "Come on, show me your fart magic, hehe."
"Don't call it that!"
"Come on..." repeated Anna delightfully. "I'm sorry I laughed, ok? I was just not expecting that answer. It's just the two of us here, I want you to share this with me." she added, prompted Elsa to look at her in annoyance.
"You want me to share my farts with you?" asked Elsa.
"I want you to share what you like with me." answered Anna with a smile. "For me, the fact that this particular delight of yours is farts isn't the thing; I just want to see you enjoying something and be part of it. After all, your farts don't smell."
"My farts DO smell." replied Elsa, looking away as her face reddened from the statement. "I just use my magic so they don't. Would you be so willing to share in this if I couldn't magic away the smell?"
"Well, maybe not repeatedly ask to be apart of it, but I'd still want to encourage this delight of yours, it's not hurting anyone." replied Anna. "After all, we don't have to like and share in every little weird thing the other likes." she added and smirked, "Like that pee one, I have no plans on repeating that one. I'll leave that to you and your ice clones."
"Well... I appreciate that, but I'm still not 'showing off' for you." answered Elsa, looking away with her face bright red. "It's just too embarrassing." she added, which prompted Anna to sigh with a smile.
"Ok then, I won't pressure you about this anymore." stated Anna. "But I'm willing to be a part of it when you're willing."
"Thanks."
"So..." added Anna with a grin. "How about sharing a bath?"
The question prompted a chuckle from Elsa, before she looked to Anna with a smile.
"Ok, fine; we can shower together."
"Awesome!" declared Anna happily as she hopped up to her feet, followed by Elsa, before the two departed into the bathroom.
END
- Northuldra Camp -
- Two Hours after Elsa and Anna leave -
Standing in front of Rona's home, Emory fiddled with her fingers in nervousness as she waited. Soon, the flap covering the opening of the tent was moved aside from within to reveal Iduna, who looked at Emory.
"You can come in, she's ready." stated Iduna, before Emory took a deep breath and slow exhale.
"Ok..." replied Emory.
Emory then entered the home, seeing Magna sitting by her mother's left side, who was sat up with Magna's hand on her back to support her as she looked to their guest.
"Hello." greeted Rona with a smile.
"Hello ma'am." greeted back Emory with a little smile, before she walked up to Rona and knelt down to her right, with Iduna joining her to her right. "I'm Emory, but you know me as Ahtohallan."
"Ahtohallan..." stated Rona with a smile. "You look so young." she added, which prompted a chuckle from Emory.
"Thank you, it's nice to meet you."
