Jellicle's Creed
Frozen Memories
Seqeunce 5
Memory 1: Winter Goddess vs CIA Spooks part 2
19 December 2051
Arendelle Castle Dining Room
Noon
The painter waited in the dining hall as requested. The massive painting beside him, wrapped in cloth. it leaned on the table. Seven months ago he'd been given the task to paint a painting for the Queen, for her birthday in fact. And he had gone to his fellow painters and historians for advice, and the best possible paints he could get his hands on. Elsa even arrived a month before asking if he could paint her a picture. A rather important picture at that. Elsa had requested a painting of her and her father, which the Royal Painter, a man named Thomas, had begun work on six months prior, just after starting work on the painting with Elsa, Anna and their parents on their cruise in Elsas dream. It was the painting of Elsa, Anna and their parents that Elsa had dreamed of that was finished, Elsa and her father would be unvieled on her birthday exactly in two days.
Thomas paced the room, trying to keep his thoughts in order. He had finished both paintings and the one he was going to reveal to Elsa that night was of her and her father, though brief as it was in the dream, Elsa wanted to capture that moment, and if she ever had the chance, to show her mother. But the main request she asked of him he was already working on. And it was finished.
Mark stepped into the dining hall, covered in a thin layor of soot. He smiled upon seeing Thomas, the Royal Painter had come through indeed! "Good morning Thomas, I see you have finally finished it ?"
"Yes, But I am nervous you see, a month ago Elsa came to me asking for a painting, this one, its done now." Thomas replied "I am nervous, I went to Jarius, a good friend of mine for the canvas you see, he had the size I sought, ready made too. He told me not to stop painting, to ensure that Elsa is happy"
Mark chuckled. "Don't worry, Thomas; she'll be thrilled. Trust me." he said with a wink.
"That is just it, Seven months ago you commissioned me through the Brotherhood to paint a gift for the Queen's birthday, that is two days from now, I am nervous, two days early! I mean, I know we do the celebrations for an entire week started tonight at sunset" Thomas was speaking of the annual Winter Birthday Festival, they had a Summer Birthday Festival for Anna every june, but apparently this one was a very big deal as even Anna was in on the surprise thanks to Blackmane spill a secret to Anna who promised to keep it.
Mark chuckled and merely patted the man's shoulder. "Just trust me; she'll love it. Call it...a gut feeling." He said, the noon bell ringing.
As if on cue the doors to the Dining room opened and Elsa stepped in, once more, like always it seemed, completely barefoot. Her dress still had that slight red hue to it however, Anna had said it looked good, which was fine with Elsa as far as she cared really. The ice teal, and ice blue stood out too bright at times and the red made it easier on her eyes too. She took all of three stepps into the room and spotted a rather soot covered Mark, who looked oddly happy for some reason, and a rather nervous Royal Painter. "Mark, Master Thomas, is something the matter ?" Oh boy was she in for a surprise for sure! And apparently more then one as her gaze rested on a massive cloth wrapped item leaning against the dining table.
Seven Months ago
21 May 2051
Arendelle
Whitehall District
The Whitehall district had dozens, if not around two maybe three dozen total blacksmith shops, about seven or nine of them were once more in very active operation at that point thanks to the recent liberation of the district. In one of them which looked out to the opened up massive courtyard of a sort of the massive Whitehall District Den Kristoff had taken a liking to. For about three hours he had wandered to each new Blacksmith shop, but they had no room in their forges for a third or forth man. This was his last stop, and to his luck, they had openings for three men.
So that was when Kristoff started asking the blacksmith, a man named Bashain, about making rings, and not just any simple ring or two, but important wedding rings fit for a Princess. Bashain knew who Kristoff meant, it meant that Kristoff wanted to provide a proper wedding ring for Anna.
Out of all of the blacksmith shops he could have visited on this day Mark chose the one closest by the Den of Whitehall; and as he saw Kristoff, he raised his eyebrows while lowering his hood. "Kirstoff! What are you doing here?" He asked jovially while shaking the larger man's hand firmly. Bulging from Mark's internal pockets was some materials and rolled up pieces of paper; which made the intimidating Assassin seem... more goofy than anything, but that Clawed Gauntlet of his always made sure people knew who he was.
Of course, that was both good, and bad.
"Mark ?" Kristoff turned when he heard his name called, the man looked kinda goofy with the bluges in his pockets. Bashain however seemed to recognise Mark. "I could ask the same of you." He pointed out his ring. "I'm trying to find a blacksmith that can make a ring, a wedding ring at that, for Anna and I" Kristoff explained. "I dont simply want to buy a ring, I want to have it made." He had a mold, the same mold he used when making the engagement rings. Given to him by a friend, Malik, a fellow Ice Harvestor
Bashain stepped around the counter, calling out Marks name "Master Wolfe, so good to see you!" Bashain had been good friends with the Wolfe family before the attack. And the subsequent shutting down of his own shop as well, reaching out a hand Bashain shook Marks hand in a very strong grip, yet very friendly manner. "What might I do for you ?"
Mark nodded in greeting to Bashain, smiling to the man and patting his shoulder before returning his attention to the mold of the ring. "Kristoff my friend; let me ask you a question: On a scale of one to the hotest temperature ever recorded in a Forge's smelter; how much do you love Anna?" He asked.
That was not an easy question, but after a brief second or two he answer. "I love her enough to make the engagement ring for her and I myself. With Malik's help. But I want to properly make the wedding rings, or have them made with the mold Malik gave me"
Mark smirked and looked to Bashain. "I know just how you can help me, old friend: I'll need your best smelter and equipment." He said. "Make that...two of each." He said. Then he returned his attention to Kristoff.
"If that is the case; then I will teach you to make them yourself; without any help. She'll appreciate the effort if you do it all yourself; trust me." He said. "I'll make a blacksmith of this Ice-Boy yet, Bashain!" Mark declared, putting an arm around Kristoff's shoulders and taking him into the forge.
"Now then; if you're to learn how to make something precious for the one who means the world; you need a valuable metal; Gold will do just fine. However you're going to learn how to make it flawless, so mistakes will be made; and again, Gold is perfect; it is soft and melts easilly. Once you think you've got the mold down; you can weave a stronger metal; platinum for instance, to make it stronger and even more valuable. As for the diamonds...I can't help you there. You'll have to visit a jewler for that; but I'd suggest subtly finding out what Anna's Birthstone is; or what her favorite stone is in general."
As he ranted he placed varius things on the table; three ingots of Iron, and four ingots of some strange, crystal-like material that seemed to glow slightly. He then turned to Kristoff. "Now then; are you ready to play with fire?" He asked.
Bashain nodded "After so many years of being shut down, being reopened is something to releish, the forge is yours Young Master Wolfe, It is good to have you back!" Bashain said going around to the halfdoor and holding it open for the two men to follow him to the back area. "Refiring up everything wasn't easy, but the smelters good and hot now." Basically since taking the tape off the front door and windows, Bashain had been working on the forge, getting it going again, repairing damage to areas of the smelter. The works.
All the tools were also laid out properly as well. everything the two would need to make a ring, or a sword, or something more delicate was all set out on various tables in the room. Two forges burned white hot, and the smelter poured choking black soot to the ground with some melted sludge. Bashain stepped aside as the threesome entered the back area with the forge "The forge is yours gentlemen. As long as you not mind my occasinal sword repair or making. I got three orders from the Arendelle Guard alone now already since opening this morning."
Kristoff had to smile, Mark was the guy that got him thinking on his engagement ring to Anna, Something he'd been thinking about how to do, when Mark, by chance the two of them at the Roughwater Inn had met up, chatted a bit, and Kristoff worked that night and month actually in making the engagement rings. They were simple items, nothing too hard to make, but Kristoff wanted them to be perfect, something to present to the Princess had to be flawless to begin with. So as Mark spoke of the various kinds of metal, Gold yes, that was his plan. and how they were easy to mold when heated properly.
Kristoff didn't know it, but he was in for a lot of heavy learning. Or was that hot learning ? It didn't matter, he wanted to make the rings, and he wanted them to be perfect, anything to present properly to Anna when they were done. When Mark turned to him and asked if he was ready to play with fire, Kristoff smiled "I thoughjt you would never ask" Yes, he was ready, he wanted to present the best rings he could to Anna for their wedding.
Mark smiled at his answer; and for four whole weeks he guided Kristoff on every step while Mark carried on his own business as well; cursing like a well-seasoned sailor every time he screwed up bofore dropping what he had into a bucket and tossing it into the smelter again to try once more. Mark was a good mentor; he and Kristoff ate together daily; Mark made sure Kristoff got sleep, and bathed; though for obvious reasons he didn't join Kristoff. In fact, Mark and Kristoff became very close friends through the ordeal.
Finally at the end of the forth week, Mark smirked; his toned muscular arms slick with sweat and sore from hammering. "Alright, Kristoff; you're ready. Weave in the Platinum. how? Simple; melt them at the same time, they'll mix and become an alloy." He said, smirking before returning to his work; scrambling before throwing a hammer at the wall in a fit of anger, cursing loudly. "Screwed up again!" he growled, dropping whatever it was back into the bucket he used to hold the molten metal that went into the smelter, and placed it into the hottest coals, sighing and wiping sweat from his brow he shook his head.
Four weeks, that was what it too, four weeks and three men were working daily, Bashain was working on swords, either repairing or making new weapons as needed for the Arendelle Guard orders he had been getting. In some cases he had three swords being worked on at a time over the course of a day. In many cases however Bashain was in the front part of the smithy, the shop portion was almost constantly filled with customers seeking weapons, armor, or repairs or information.
Finally it was set, four weeks and the design was perfected. Finally it was finished. Kristoff liked the idea of the platinum. Which then allowed him to add in the gems. He'd asked Elsa offhand of what Anna's birthmonth was. In this case it was June, which was coming up again, how coujld he have forgotten his own betrothed birthday ? A year after the great thaw he had helped Elsa organise the party for Anna. and somehow he forgot... inice going brain/i Kristoff thought brieflyAnd then went looking into some brief lore in terms of some searching he found what he sought. A few decent sized pearls, and two pieces of Alexandrite, already he had a idea of what the rings were going to look like.
"I have a few stones, some pearls as well, But I think I got this. or should we see a jewler for it ?" He showed Mark the design. Two pieces of Alexandrite surrounding a single halfcut pearl.
He raised an eyebrow briefly as Mark threw the hammer, well, it happened a lot recently, Mark was obviously trying to get something exact. Somehow. "You alright ? You think we should a brief break while the metals heat ?" He'd just put both the gold and the platinum into the smelter to get them mixing.
Mark looked at the design and smiled. "Very nice...I think she'll love it." He said calmly. If Mark knew Anna; and he should since she's around Elsa a lot, she was going to probably go crazy when Kristoff showed her the rings.
When asked if he needed a break Mark sighed, sitting in a stool and leaning back; breathing hard. "Yea...let's go get something to eat." he said. "It'll take a while before the Platinum melts to where you want it anyway." He added calmly, standing and stretching out his arms before putting on his jacket and stuffing the crystal-like material into his pockets again. Apparently they were too precious to be left alone. "Come; I know a decent steakhouse in a nearby district." He smiled at Kristoff and noded to Bashain as they left the shop.
Bashain waved as the two men left to get something to eat, he was working on a weapon order, which was a rather... important one considering of where it came from, when Elsa showed up at his counter with a design, he said he'd give it his best shot. She said to take as long as needed. As it was something she wanted to have made from something her mother had drawn in her journal.
Kristoff smiled, with a nod he followed Mark out, a steakhouse, there was something Kristoff had yet to really visit such a place. and if Mark knew of one in a nearby district, hopefully it was open. Recently a lot of shops were closed down or left in ruin in many areas. But Elsa had a map in the Royal Study, and sometimes that same map was in the dining room at dinner, apparently making plans for something important. All sorts of districts were listed on it.
After a few minutes of idle chit-chat and walking, the two arrive at a rather decent looking steakhouse in a lightly Templar infested part of the district. Lightly, of course, meaning that there were only patrols consisting of ten men each every two minutes in stead of constantly. However without his hood up and sooty appearance, Mark didn't look very much like a hated Assassin, nor did Kristoff look like the fiance of the Princess of Arendelle.
Sitting at a table finally Mark grunted and smiled. "Well; here we are. Decent steak here, doesn't take too long to cook." he said calmly, his eyes scanning the room quickly. Of course he had taken the seat facing the door, Kristoff sitting in the seat next to him; where he could easilly pull him behind the table if he needed to flip it for cover at any point.
"Now then; I don't suggest ordering any liquor today; or at all for that matter; if you give those rings to Anna while alcohol is on your breath, she'll be suspicious of you." She said. "Trust me; you don't want her to be suspicious; for one, if I know her; and I should considering how long I've been here in Arendelle now, she'll have us looking into your every movement, or she'll knock you out before questioning you when you wake up." He said, chuckling softly.
Kristoff snickered "I dont drink anyhow" the steak was soon ordered and smells were caught from the kitchen. turning to Mark Kristoff said quietly through the rukus of the room "What are you working on so hard for ? Swearing like you were moments ago, you've been slaving the last four weeks at the forge, what's eating you ?" He had no idea exactly what Mark was after, only seeing a drawing though brief in design. Yet well worked. "You need more then just a simple lunch break my friend."
In the darker corners of the dining room of the steakhouse area, two men sat observing, both men spotted their prey, and watched them both for long moments, one of them looking briefly to another man who moved to a table near them. All of them watching the pair of men carefully unseen.
Mark felt eyes on them and leaned in towards the table, resting his elbows calmly on the table as he talked, making it look as inconspicuous as he could. "Well, I can't show you right now; the mold isn't done yet." He said. "The plans are also a secret until its done. I should have it all done by the time you have the final product of the rings done." he added calmly. Then he lowered his voice to a mere whisper. "Don't look; but there are a few guys eyeing us from across the room. Malicious intentions, too I have no doubt." he muttered, eyes glowing bronze as he looked around, marking enemies and potential allys with his Eagle Vision.
He then reaised his eyebrows as the door opened and he noticed a distinct blue outline, unable to distinguish who it was, however aside from the distinct female figure. "Looks like we do have friends, however." He said, smiling. If this person was truely a friend, they would notice him by his glowing eyes.
'Dont look' normally meant 'look before you miss it' in some circles. Thankfully in this circle, Kristoff was smarter then that and half smiled, "Understandable, but you need to take more then a simple lunch break." He said, he sat upright as the server brought their orders, two steaks, a few nonalcholic drinks and some potatoes as well, all of it piled high with all sorts of other goodies, gravy, sauces, you name it they got it. Well mostly. Kristoff raised an eyebrow, well, a friend in this crowd was a welcome one for sure.
The men watching for some time kept an eye on everything, occasionally taking a drink, or observing, one man ordered food and waited for it to arrive. The third man however started to get up when he stopped as someone came right up to their table and sat down. A woman by the look of it.
So tense was the room and the two men that when Georgina sat down she nodded to the server "I'll take the same," She said, waiting only brief heartbeats before setting something on the table. "I thought I might find you here. Hello Kristoff." Georgina said, her melodic voice carried softly yet heard clearly by both men. She'd noticed Marks eyes and gave him a look that could be translated 'turn off the searchlights before I tell Elsa of your so called see through clothing vision' or translated as 'Have you been drinking again ?' either one worked.
"Georgina" Kristoff replied with a simple nod
Regardless of the look Georgina gave him, Mark didn't care, and stopped using his Eagle Vision as she sat, the glowing fading from his eyes as he smiled. "Georgina; always a pleasure to see you." he said as he began to eat and drink calmly, taking long, slow drinks as well as chewing small, precisely cut bites before nodding towards what she'd placed on the table.
"What's this? Orders from Elsa?" He asked calmly as he wiped his lips with his napkin.
"Worse" Georgina replied, she gave her mentor a steeled look, "How many people knew you were coming to Arendelle ?" She asked, opening the paper, it was a wanted poster, written in all sorts of langauges, two of which were easily recognised, Egyptian, and Chinese, the rest were unreadable. All of them wanted Marks head. "A wanted poster, for your head. I took this off a Templar messenger, one of the Weasles you might say." She said simply. "No I did not kill him, if I had then every templar in this district would be after my head right now."
As Georgina spoke with Mark and Kristoff the men who were going to attack the pair dispersed, it wasn't worth fighting that woman, not yet. Not when she had recently gotten her home back. no, they weren't risking it. Not now. The spies left. Soon they knew their time could come rightly. Soon.
Mark only chuckled at the wanted poster; "Look at that; they even got my nose right." he said, tapping on the paper with a finger before he picked up the paper and storing it in one of his pockets after folding it neatly. "Also; as for who knew I was coming to Arendelle, I didn't even know until Snowfeather said to get on the damn boat." He said calmly. "However, before coming here I also was causing havok for Templars all over the world on contracts without...too much of an issue." He explained.
"Snowfeather can elaborate more on that, I'm sure." he added finishing his steak and moving to finish his potatoes as the server brought Georgina her order.
When her order arrived she dug right in. "It appears then that they all now know that you are here in Arendelle, a Weselton messenger carried that poster and he was in the Malo District. I had to chase him on the rooftops for some time before tackling him there. The guy took off once I got his money and that poster." She said. "Tell me, when were you last in the Green Empire, China ?" She asked out of the blue. Her homeland. Sometimes she missed it, but she wouldn't leave Arendelle for the world!
Kristoff ate quietly, listening to the two speak. Finally he spoke up as Georgina dug into her meal seeing that she had ordered alcohol with her meal instead of tea or similar drink. "Does Elsa know you drink ?" He didn't have to ask actually, as others already knew. Anna for one. But Mark was right, if Kristoff had touched a drop, Anna would drop him.
"Yes," Came the soft reply, calm and simple as well. Yes, Elsa knew she drank, but then, Georgina made sure not to drink around the queen. That was rather... disastorus.
Mark coughed a few times at her sudden question and tilted his head. "Green Empire? Oh jeeze...um... Two years before I came to Arendelle? Yea, two years." He said. "Beautiful place, blew up a Templar factory; they were mass producing weapons." he said. "Did it alone, too; my partner at the time came down with the flu, leaving me alone. Lucky fool; I wanted to be the sick one. Then again; he would have died..." he added the last part with a solemn shrug.
Mark ordered himself another drink before he finished the one he was currently sipping at to ensure he didn't run out.
"Anyway, yea. I got a gnarly scar from that explosion, though; shrapnel tore apart my chin." He said, stroking his goatee lightly.
"Then you will be... happy, to hear that your target is still alive and working with the Prince and the Duke at this time." Georgina also found out something a little more important. "But right now that is the least of our worries. Someone else has a poster just like this, the Weasel told me before he took off. Nine men have this same poster. They wanted both of you." Meaning him and Matthew. "Now in light of what has happened, Just you." They were still in Arendelle, but they were well hidden the CIA.
Kristoff choked on his patato. "You mean those idiots that kidnapped Elsa and Anna a few months ago ? They're still in the kingdom ? I thought they had left" Kristoff was in a mood for a while when that happened, but with Anna safe and in bed he relented but never let his future wife out of his sight for a week until Anna said he could leave her be. Besides, Sven got lonely at the time too, no lady Reindeer or even other deer to begin with to hang around with and just be with somebody.
"Yes, them, they are still in Arendelle" Georgina finished her steak and started on the patato, looking to Mark as she spoke. "They are looking for you. But refuse to say why. I fear they may try something soon. Plus there is also that shipment, you heard no doubt that Elsa received notice of a shipment of goods to be stopping here briefly before continuing inland to the eastern kingdom ?" She meant Sweden, Stockholm Sweden was receiving a shipment of several hundred billion in gold from England. "I was barely able to corner one, learn a secret, though I am glad it did not go that far to begin with." Georgina had to resort to some nasty things to get one of those CIA men to talk. They wanted nothing more thne to talk with Mark, and Matthew, it concerned something important to Mark but the guy was so freaked out by Georgina that he refused to say what exactly the CIA wanted.
"I know he's alive; I'll kill him next chance I get." He muttered calmly, taking a drink calmly. "Anyway; Kristoff and I are attending to rather personal business; so I don't have time to chase down these hooligans with my face on a piece of paper." He added, thinking softly. "We have a score of new recruits from Whitehall, don't we? What better way to teach them how to effectively free-run than to have them chase those couriers?" He asked, smiling. Snowfeather was going to do one of two things upon hearing this: Either say it wasn't a bad idea, or find Mark and slug him in the gut.
Either way; he still had a point.
Either way; he was going to keep smithing, regardless of his noteriety.
"Speaking of free-running, someone has to teach Elsa one day..." He added, shrugging.
"Sounds like a plan to me" Georgina replied, Kristoff nodded at the mention of their personal business. Having finished the ring mold only that morning, and Mark needing a break, which he was not yet taking enough time to relax as it was. It wasn't easy. Georgina smiled however, Snowfeather would have most likely heard it, briefly hearing the cry of an eagle, yes, she heard that. Most likely to refer to the new recruits, seven so far, No doubt Snowfeather would do one of two things, say it is a good idea, or slug Mark in the stomach, but, knowing Snowfeather, it'd most likely end up as both. Small wonder that Mark didn't upchuck each time he was hit. Nomatter what kind of armor he wore Snowfeather always hit her mark dead on.
About an hour later and the three left the tavern, Mark and Kristoff for the blacksmith shop, Georgina for the Roughwater Den to oversee some new contracts for the newest recruits. This was going to be a long day.
Five weeks later
16 July 2051
Arendelle, Whitehall District Blacksmith Shop
Midafternoon
Kristoff entered the shop, Mark was still at work it seemed. "Still working on that ?" He'd never seen exactly what Mark was working on, Mark never let anyone see it, always saying that when it was done, then someone could see it, that was five weeks before. Now was the fun part. "You've been slaving in here for weeks, how are you even able to breathe in here ?"
"How? With my lungs." He said; chuckling softly before shaking Kristoff's hand. "I've done it. I finally got an Iron mold of what I was making." He said; his voice estatic with energy as he let out a strangely deranged, happy giggle holding up a necklace. "Look! It can even come apart!" he said, taking it apart down the middle with a click
Looking around Mark's lip twitched softly before he smiled again. "Can you keep a secret, Kristoff?" He asked, at the man's nod he smiled wider. "I'm Making Elsa a necklace for her birthday; this is the prototype. Here, here! Check it out!" he said excitedly, handing it to Kristoff so he could examine it in the dim light of the forge.
Kristoff whistled as he held the necklace prototype. "A gift for Elsa huh ? Wow, She'll love this for sure." He said, saying nothing of the sudden weird giggle from Mark, he must just be too happy over finally getting the prototype completed. "That's what, seven or so months away isn't it ? No matter. Point is, speaking of Elsa" He handed the necklace back to Mark "She and Anna want you at dinner tonight, Elsa says its important as its the anniversary dinner of her becoming Queen." It had been an eventful first year since Mark had arrived in Arendelle. And that night was the first offical night at the Ice Palace with Elsa, with no outside influence either.
"See you at Dinner ?" Kristoff said, a half smile on his face as he said offhand "I'd recommend getting cleaned up, soot near Elsa isn't a good thing lately, Marei is always going crazy cleaning up around Elsa, its starting to drive her a bit crazy"
Mark chuckled and wiped some soot off of his shoulder idly. He took the necklace back and smiled, balling it in his right hand, balled into a fist as he put it over his heart. "I wouldn't miss it for the world. Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got to head somewhere to get clean." He said.
As Kristoff left the forge, Mark smiled and chuckled, making sure to pocket the perfected Iron necklace and mold he had made in his coat. He was about to leave when he stopped; he had almost forgot! The 'Quartz' needed to be moved. He reached forward with a bare hand and grabbed one of the four huge ingots, when suddenly time froze; and his Eagle Vision was forced into Activation. Around him was nothing but a black space with Golden lines running horizontally and vertically in every direction. His muscles were locked, and suddenly he was turned around to find a figure staring at him; a figure with a striking resemblance to Elsa. His brown eyes, blazing bronze from the Eagle Vision, stared in wonder and confusion.
"Greetings Guardian" The woman replied in a soft medlodic type tone. Her golden eyes blinked, she was barefoot, and dressed in ancient Arendelle garb from eons before. Long before time was recorded. Her face was thinner then that of Elsa, yet her similarties did not end there, her hair was braided in the same design, and yet, she held herself with an air of someone in command of many. She stepped closer to him. He could see that she had a elegant longsword upon her back.
"Who are you ?" Mark's voice was strained; unsure if he should remain indifferent, or slightly submissive with his tone of voice. She looked like a queen, or someone of high-social standing. His eyes darted to the sword upon her back; the craftsmanship of the handle looked familiar, but he couldn't put it his finger on it. Blinking slowly he stared into her golden eyes. "And why call me Guardian?" He added
She smiled, "I am Elena" She replied softly, her tone seemingly indifferent, yet soothing. Lines of pale gold drifted around them as the same lines held Mark in place. "It is what you are." She continued. A vision appeared "Those that seek access to it must not get it. premature access will distablise the region" the vision showed several men, one of whom was the Duke of Weselton, behind him was the unmistakable Templar Cross. The vision shifted to show Arendelle in ruin and fires raging.
Mark's eyes seemed to narrow when the vision came to him; a feral look of rage in his eyes at the sight of the Templar Cross and Arendelle burning. It was then he noticed a subtle smirk on Elena's face; he'd just confirmed the title of Guardian with his reaction to the vision. "A-alright... but what is "it" that those fools mustn't get their greedy little paws on?" He asked calmly, the intensity of his Eagle Vision raising as power surged through his body; and a massive headache slammed into his body like a truck.
Briefly a vision appeared, showing a wall, seemingly blank, before pulling outwards, overhead of a massive building. The massive E shaped building. In the vision it was clean and well kept, the grounds were worked, and people lived there, servants, workers and family alike. Steam rose from holes in the ground near the back or south point of the massive building. Was it the Whitehall District Den he was seeing ? "You must protect her, your heart will lead you astray, but you will return." The vision shifted, this time showing the ancient forge lighting up, which in reality, it just had. Very briefly a path was shown on how to get to it.
Elena stepped among the visions, they were like little TV screens no larger then a common identity disc that Snowfeather kept; The last vision she passed floated into view, it showed seemingly a beautiful crystal, clear as glass yet glittery like ice. "The heart of the Mountain. Protect her, Protect your family." the vision pulled back, the 'heart of the mountain' refocused on the Arendelle throne room, seven men dead at Elsas feet, in her hands were two swords.. the vision focused on her as she sat heavily on her mothers throne chair, one sword falling to the floor. Each man had the Templar Cross upon their body.
Mark's gauntlet materialized upon his arm, the claws glowing brightly for a second before his hand contracted into a fist while the crystal was shown to him. He breifly glanced to his gauntlet, then to the crystal. Duradaeden! That's what he needs to protect Elsa. It was Elsa that he was to protect, right? Her and Anna both? That's what his heart told him.
When the Whitehall Den was shown to him, he didn't see it as an E anymore; but as a W. W? Wolfe? His suspicions were confirmed as he saw the forges activate and the steam rising from the vents. This was a secret, even to him. He'd need to ask Elsa for access to her Mother's Private Library; if one existed. Research needed to be done. Unless there was one in the old Whitehall... no, Wolfe Manor. Hidden beneath where the Templars couldn't touch it. Another jolt of pain ran through Mark's body as the power surged again; the knowledge on how to forge the Duradaeden suddenly becoming clearer than ever before to him as he winced, and began panting.
"W-where...should I start?" He asked softly.
Elena lifted a pale nearly seethrou hand, the necklaces Mark had constructed in iron floated into the air between them. A vision formed, Duradaeden soon took the place of the iron in such perfect quality that it could never be matched. For a long moment not even Elena spoke as the pale gold lines danced around them. Holding up the necklace, still appearing as if of Duradaeden she said softly and kindly as well "Do as your heart dictates, Guardian, Protect her, protect them, Protect your family." The vision appeared behind her as she stepped aside the necklace floating between Mark and the vision, it showed Elsa, overjoyed at what Mark had made, the Painter, Thomas, was also in the vison, unvieling a priceless, yet extremely important gift to Elsa.
The vision shifted a final time, this time showing the Duke arriving enmasse to another city, Oslo by the look of it, their massive airfields and airships far above under construction, he wore the Templar cross on his chest among the many medals. Hans was also seen, but his clothing seemed more adorned to that of a leader, but he did not possess any medals or Templar sigil upon his clothing. Finally another person entered the vision, this one gaunt and thin. Long whispy white hair in thin braids and dark robes revealed herself with a very wicked looking sword. "The past cannot be resurrected. Protect her, Protect the Heart of the Mountain." Finally the vision shifted once more to show that strange glittery crystal, which slowly zoomed out to show it was in fact Elsas own heart. Clear as glass, yet cold as ice.
The vision of Elsa showed her among a parkland of a sort, placing something upon a stone marker. In her hand she held her half of the necklaces. And then she put it on as the vision faded
As Elena spoke to protect Elsa, she faded from view, as did the strange etherspace, in the span of what seemed like many hours, it was really only two minutes, maybe even less then two minutes.
Mark's eyes focused on the necklaces; mesmerized by how they will look. With the vision ingrained in his mind, he knew what he had to do. Again came the words: "Protect. Protect. Protect." Mark's eyes squinted shut as another vision came to his head; what was the best way to protect something? Armor. Indestructible, flawless Armor. That's what he needed. To complete the set that started with simply his gauntlet.
Mark seemed to huff in agitation at the sight of the Duke and Hans;and as the vision started to fade, Mark was plopped down onto the ground, landing on his hands and knees. He heaved and coughed, standing and managing to direct his puke into the barrel used to cool off the metal while forging. He panted hard for a few seconds before using a rag to wipe his lips. Slicking his hair back, he grabbed the other three massive ingots of iDuradaeden/i and managed to stuff them into his coat so they weren't obvious.
With his newest assignment, apparently given by Elsas own ancestor, he knew in his heart he could not refuse to come to dinner when Elsa requested him there!
It was time to get to work, but first, he had a very important dinner to attend, and who was he to refuse the Queen's invitation ?
As he stepped from the blacksmith shop, one last thought locked onto his mind. The iHeart of the Mountain/i wasn't gold or steel, or metal or gems. But a very important person, It was Queen Elsa. Someone who, somehow, long ago, ages into the past, his own family had protected hers.
Present Day
19 December 2051
Arendelle Castle Dining Room
Noon
Elsa stepped over to the soot coated Mark, a thin layer, she noted, coated him from head to foot, yet he seemed happy about something, almost as if elated about something important. Well that was worthwhile was it not ? But what was he so excited about ? She turned to Thomas, the Painter too seemed happy, almost nervous with excitement actually. Then her eyes rested on the cloth wrapped item leaning on the dining room table. "Is that ?" It was too soon wasn't it ? The painting she wanted of her and her father, mother and Anna ? But, she requested it a month ago!
Mark chuckled at Elsa's inability to finish her question about the cloth-wrapped painting on the table. "You should open it, my Queen. I believe you'll be very pleased." he said calmly. "Thomas has been working harder than you would believe on it." he said. "Once you're done with that... well..." Mark smiled bashfully and chuckled, "I have something for you." he said calmly, stepping back and asking one of the butlers for a wet rag. Once it was brought to him, he wiped his face and hands with it to get the soot off and make himself look a little more presentable.
At those words Elsa pretty much scampered to the cloth wrapped massive painting and gently undid the cloth. Staring in complete joyful shock as the velvet cloth fall away, and there it stood, the painting she and her family had sat for in her dream. Finally realised. She was so happy that she was unable to speak right away. Everything about it was so richly detailed, almost as if her parents were still alive, and they just sat for it!
"Your highness ?" Thomas asked at her sudden quiet, she had bowed her head slightly but was happy. "Is everything alright ?"
She nodded "yes, Yes, everything is perfect. its beautiful. It is exactly what I was hoping it would be." Elsa replied, already trying to think of where to hang it properly. the throne room had very little paintings in it, so they'd put it there. It'd fit nicely!
Mark smiled at Elsa's reaction to the painting. Riding the wave of happiness, Mark walked up and tapped Elsa's shoulder. Once she turned, he lifted up his hand; the necklaces dangling from his hand. The Duradaeden metal reflecting perfectly. The design was perfect: A scorpion on top of a snowflake; Elsa's snowflake, all on top of the Arendelle Assassin's Crest.
"For you, my Queen, made from the best metal possible." he said softly, smiling.
Elsa turned as Mark touched her shoulder, OK that was new, He rarely touched her as he just did if at all, so it had to have been the first time. Wasn't it ? She looked at him slightly confused, but her eyes locked on the necklaces in his hands, he held two of them, She recognised her snowflake right off. There was no missing it, she reached a gentle hand up. the necklaces glittered brightly, they were beautiful! "How did, did you make this ?" As her hand touched one half of it, a glittery thin layer of permafrost floated onto the metal, making half of it, no, all of it, glow much brighter, just her touch was all it needed to look the way the vision showed it. She stood still then and motioned for him to put it on her.
Mark chuckled and very delicately placed the necklace around her neck, letting it hang to just below her collarbones on her upper chest. He smiled and then lifted his side, connecting the two peices with a sharp click! sound before smiling wider, disconnecting them after letting her see the whole thing, and then he put on the other half.
"How I did it is a matter of... fondness. 'Twould be rude not to present my Queen with the finest gifts for her birthday; 'Twould be ruder still to do it late; so I decided that today would be perfect." He said calmly. "When Matthew left, he made me swear to protect you; I figured I might as well find a way to symbolize it for you. For ..." he hesitated, a small blush on his face. "... for us."
He then took a small step back; unsure how she'd react.
Her eyes had something that Mark could have sworn wasn't there before, absolute unadulterated joy, maybe even love, but he could have been seeing things as she let him put the necklace on her, it glittered with a thin layer of permafrost as it rested perfectly just below her collarbone and right at her dress neckline. Directly above her heart rather then over it, She lifted it up in her hands, her smile brightning the room as she looked it over. "Its beautiful!"
Briefly at mention of Matthew, her smile faltered, but returned to its bright smile when she remermbered "Matthew told me to trust him. Then I never saw him again. I trust him, and if he told you before he left to be here for me, I trust you too!" She smiled and pretty much tackled him in a hug.
It was a few minutes later when lunch was properly served and the beautiful painting of her family from her dream was placed in the throne room where it belonged. Of course Elsa insisted that it be revieled until that evening when the celebration began offically The Royal Painter agreed
"I'm glad you like it, My Queen." He said calmly, and then as she tackled him in a hug, soot fell off of his coat and onto the floor in tufts as Mark returned the hug with the same amount of energy; though it was more gentle than usual. His body was sore from non-stop work in those ancient forges. "I'm glad you trust me, Elsa. It'd feel wrong if you didn't." He whispered softly to her while they hugged.
After that, he was more than happy to join her for lunch; after all for the past seven months he'd been living practically on water, bread, and excess magical energy from the forges, fueled by something definitely inhuman. He didn't talk much whilst eating; he was too busy stuffing his face full of the delicious food time and time again. Seconds, thirds, fourths, hell, even fifths and he still wasn't full. Finally after about seven plate fulls of meat, potatoes, cabbage, cheeses, and about fifteen cups of sparkling wine, he was full, and feeling a little bit of a buzz from the alcohol.
Elsa was barely onto her second plate of meats and cheeses and a fourth mug of hot coca with lavender when she noticed Mark going after his seventh plate of food and tenth glass of sparkling wine. The man must have been starving to go after that much food! Even so, the table would be relaid within an hour anyhow, it was loaded with food at all hours of the day and night to begin with alone! The soot on Mark had been cleaned away, and only a scant bit of it or two had gotten into her own hair, but it was easy to clean out.
Finally done she watched Mark go for his last cup of wine, counting fifteen glasses of the stuff, and she only had three mugs of hot cocoa! Finally when he sat back fully refreshed and what she could see, possibly a bit buzzed, she asked him "Did you even eat the last seven months ?" Each morning Ulnaus was outsaide her window keeping careful watch, and each day too, nothing went wrong the last seven months. What kept him from eating or drinking ? And why were his eyes brighter ? She had a content smile on her face, remembering his touch, he never did that before. Ever. What made him change so much ?
Mark paused for a second after her question of his eating habits over the last seven months, almost as if waiting for someone else to answer. "Oh, who me? Um.. y-no... no.." he paused again. "I mean yea, y-yea ye-yea...yea...I think I did. Um... Yea...no wait... Um. ... Yes?" He shrugged. It seemed that those seven months of isolation have dulled his socializing skills to the point where he found himself unable to hold down a thought or answer from time to time.
He cleared his throat and reached for another glass of sparkling wine. The light in his eyes faded after a few seconds, making them return to their usual brown selves. Mark took a sip of the wine and sighed, leaning back and crossing one leg over the other knee while holding the goblet in his right hand calmly as he looked to Elsa. "So...um...how're things? Everything good? No one bugging you?, um...nothing out of the ordinary? How's Georgina? Matter of fact, how's Kai? He still doing what he does best?" One question after another in a very slightly slurred rapid fire. Once he was done with the questions, he knocked back the last of that wine in his cup and set it down on the table before shaking his head. "Ooh boy...too much fruit...not gonna feel good later...oh boy..." he began to mutter to himself insecantly before the sound of Ulnaus tapping on one of the windows snapped him out of it and he returned his attention to Elsa while Ulnaus appeared suddenly on the back of Mark's chair, as if digitized like Mark's gauntlet.
Elsa raised a eyebrow, OK, this was interesting. Mark drunk ? She smiled however when he turned his attention to her, iGood/i, she thought, ihe's got his eyes on me, perfect. Wait, what ?/i Why was she wanting his eyes on her ? She mentally kicked herself and said in reply "Mark, its been seven months, the only person that passed away recently if at all was Marei's mother, Gerda, you were here for the funeral last year in the spring" She said. Kai was still the butler, Elsa insisted he select someone to take over for him and retire, and relax, maybe even become her advisor where she wanted him the most. "Kai is still the head butler, he refuses to step down to be my aid in the council."
She smiled, hearing his words, "Georgina is fine, she is back home, her manor, the Roughwater Den, has been expanded, she is rebuilding and renovating a few shops within the marketplace there. Two inns have been rebuilt as well" Elsa said, pretty much giving a report to a elder of a sort, which in this case, with just her and him, was of Assassin Business to be sure. "Georgina also gave reports of recent templar incursions in Arko, and Greensky districts, but its nothing she couldn't handle." Elsa set a brown folder type envelope on the table before Mark, "Everything is in there."
Elsa watched Mark, then, taking in his body carefully, when she first met him he was thinner, but now he seemed, stronger, more... built up. Why was she thinking like that ? It didn't matter right then, all of a sudden she wanted to go on a walk. With him. Just her and Mark, alone. Maybe see Pabbie ? It was snowing outside, so... "Do you feel up for a walk ?" She said giving him a look, one that said simply 'pay attention to me before I freeze your ass to the chair you are sitting in' or something like it, "Just the two of us ? Explore Arendelle, maybe see Pabbie ?" She always saw Pabbie the day before her birthday, sometimes he came to them with the whole group
Mark nodded along with Elsa's words, showing that he was in fact paying attention. He snatched the brown envelope from her and stashed it in his coat for later review. "Tell me; how is our security in the Whitehall District?" He asked out of the blue. "Whatever it is, I want it doubled." He said; not as a man speaking to a queen, but a mentor speaking to a lower ranking assassin who happens to also be a Queen. "The Den is... important to me. Let's just say that it isn't an E, but a W." He said, leaving it at that with a quick cough to clear his throat.
"A walk? With you? Alone? Um... Sure...yea, why not?" He asked calmly, smiling at her as Ulnaus tilted his head, pecking Mark's head, which prompted Mark to smack the massive bird right in the beak before returning his attention to Elsa.
"Freyla already has that district swarming with patrols, in the streets around the den itself there's nine patrols of ten men each, then scattered through the district, smaller patrols of four and five in areas keeping careful watch" Elsa said calmly, as if giving a report on the current happenings. She looked at him confused, the Whitehall Den, wasn't that a E shaped building ? How was it a W shape ?
She smiled and stood, yes, they could go on a walk, they needed it. She held her hand out to him, "Shall we, just the two of us with Ulnaus keeping watch above ?" She knew she could trust Mark with her life, Matthew said to trust him, and when Mark was entrusted to guard her and keep her safe, she could trust Mark too. But what she did not know was just how well he was going to keep her safe.
Mark seemed nervous, but also seemed to calm down a little as Elsa described the level of secrurity. Then he remembered a pressing question on his mind, but before he could ask, Elsa extended her hand; and almost as if he had no choice he took it gently in his, standing with a smile. "We shall. Ulnaus won't stay too close; just close enough. I hope that is acceptable?" he asked calmly before offering her his arm once they faced the door.
"After the walk, I have something I would like to ask you, if you don't mind, Elsa." He added calmly as they began to walk. Quickly the two left the castle grounds, Elsa had to wave off a few soldiers wanting to follow and act as escort. Mark was escort enough, besides, she wanted to be with him for the time before the week began, for all she knew, it'd be her only chance to just be the two of them.
Arendelle
Malo District
Twenty minutes later
Twenty minutes passed as they walked along a bridge, a wide road to a district Elsa had visited only once in her life, very briefly in fact. Malo was a fabrics district, all sorts of cloth sellers and clothing makers resided there. At least, when she was a child, now it felt as if it were a shell of its former glory. As they walked through a bazzar of sorts she took it all in. Only a scant few clothing sellers, one operating Arendelle Bank. And then a shop she recognised as a harbor keep of a sort. As a child Matthew had informed her of such good men to look out for and request their aid when it was needed.
She looked around, briefly confused. How far were they from home ? She then noticed as they stepped out of the main bazzar onto a deck of a sort. then she remembered, Malo District was built almost completely on the water with all sorts of peirs holding up everything as needed with proper supports. She looked around, she didn't see any Templars anywhere. So where where they ? Turning in a circle she looked around confused. Her left hand on Marks arm as her right arm was hooked in his own left arm as they walked along. "There are so few shops open, I do not see why. I do not see any enemies either." Enemies, that was what she called the Templars most days. Like now. Where was their den ?
Her grip on his gauntlet was light, yet at any second it could tighten, possibly to a deadly bonebreaking grip. But at that moment, she was lightly holding his arm. The Queen of Arendelle, with a man, an Assassin at that. Not even royalty. Some people tried to express distaste, yet others talked those trying to bash their queen for her friends she made down in such a manner that when Elsa was seen talking to or with the Assaassins, or even commonors to begin with she was well respected and in many cases invited into homes without hesitation
It was then that soft music, carnevale type music, reached her ears
As Mark looked around he smiled; the rather empty streets would make a good training ground... this was going to be good. Already in his mind he was scheming something; something that needed to be taught to Elsa. As the music reached his ears he spoke. "Elsa; tell me, what experience do you have with free-running?" He asked calmly, looking to her with a questioning look.
She looked at him confused, She hadn't really thought about it much. "Not a lot, sadly." She admitted softly, "Matthew tried to teach me what he could before Anna was kidnapped by those men. He taught me mostly on how to fall properly and look at my surroundings to climb when needed." She looked to Mark confused, not getting what he was aiming for just yet. She had no idea what she was in for, come to think of it, nither did he "Why ?"
Mark only smiled at her answer and unhooked his arm from hers by grabbing her hand and twirling her as if dancing before drawing a step back, his arm sliding down hers and across her neck gently before he pulled back his arm as he smiled. "Perfect; I'm going to give you a crash course on Free-Running 101. The first and only rule is this:" He held up his index finger, "No fear or doubt allowed! If you're going to run up a wall or jump over something you have to do it without question. Other tips include being able to adapt the shape of your body to fit any situation you find yourself in... to keep yourself moving as effectively as possible." He said.
Then he smirked like a mad-man.
"Since I know you need a bit of motivation to suddenly to do this; I've stolen back the necklace I gave you; catch me and take it back, and its yours forever." He said, holidng up his arm and letting it hang just in front of her as he smiled and chuckled.
At the sudden twirl she giggled softly Oh he knew how to dance too ? That was wonderful because that night when the celebration offically began was when things really go going. She was going to ask him to dance for sure with her that night! Once back on her feet and not dizzy as much as she suddenly was she listened to Mark as he spoke "OK, that makes sense, just keep moving, no doubts or stopping. Ok that's good but what is my... HEY!" Her hand went to her neckline, How on earth did he get her side of the necklace back ? She reached for it, but Mark kept it just out of her reach.
She took a step forwards, trying to grab both her necklace and his arm, but when she did so, he took a step back, the smile never leaving his face, one was in fact creeping onto her own face as well. She took another steo closer, and he took another step back. Oh this was going to be good! "Mark, what are you getting at ?" She tried grabbing at her necklace fast as she was able, only ran into one thing, he was too fast for her still, or was he toying with her ?
"Like I said, Elsa. You have to catch me if you want this back." He said while pocketing the necklace before quickly turning and bolting down the road; knowing however that Elsa with her lighter frame could keep up with him on foot, he made a sharp and sudden turn, running up the nearest wall for three whole steps before grabbin a ledge with his left hand, lifting himself up as suddenly, in a beautiful digital glow, a second gauntlet appeared on his right arm, allowing him to jam his fingers into the wall and pull himself up with no problem.
"Look for the ledges with your Eagle Vision, Elsa, and keep up!" He said while climbing, pulling himself to the top of the slanted rooftop and looking down at her while he waited for a second before bolting again, this time across the rooftop, leaping from building to building without any trouble; without any fear. "Come on slow-poke!" He called out to her with a playful, teasing voice as he again turned sharply and dove off of a building, pidgeons scattering as he landed in a hay-cart, hopping out of it and bolting across the street as fast as his strong, muscular legs could carry him.
"Hey!" She darted after him, having to stop quickly and turn hard before ramming dead into some residents of the kingdom grabbing the corner to pull herself into the alley as Mark darted up a wall to a beam and then upwards to the rooftop. Her face set Elsa half smiled and did the exact same, darting up the wall and grabbing the ledge just as Mark had, but when she got to the rooftop and stood on it she looked around, Now where did, oh, there he ... goes ? "Mark!" Elsa did not know Mark had landed in a haycart until she got to that ledge seeing him get out and dart across the street.
She looked around, her vision refocusing slightly she spotted it. rather then jump off the roof as he had she ran to a cable strung across the street connecting the rooftops. She scampered across, her momentum keeping her balanced perfectly as he made for another wall down below. She was already wondering why this ... lesson, but then she realised it, The more she ran through the rooftops and streets trying to catch up to Mark, the sounds of all sorts of musical groups playing across the air in the destrict gave her the sense to keep going at it.
Mark inhaled slowly, keeping his muscles filled with oxygen before his ears picked up something over the hammering of his heart, the beat of the music, the cheering of the people, and the pounding of his feet on the roof-top. With Elsa mere inches behind him he suddenly shifted his weight, bolting sideways and changing directions faster than Elsa had ever seen him move before whilst raising his hood with his newly gauntleted right hand. He heard something, and so did Ulnaus, who landed nearby, preening, along with at least fifty other birds of various sizes and breeds.
With the screech of an eagle, Mark literally leaped off of the building he was on, his hidden blade sliding out from the wrist of his Left gauntlet. As he fell, he landed atop a Templar, slamming his blade into the man's chest while using him as a cushion for his landing. Turning and drawing his sword Mark began combat with the other ten Templars that were harassing a young woman, who was currently covered in dirt and trash and god knows what else due to the harassment of the Templars. Mark fought ferociously, kicking, kneeing, elbowing, punching, smacking, slashing, stabbing, cutting and even headbutting the Templars as he fought, the birds that Ulnaus brought with him swarming the enemies he stunned to peck at their eyes and necks and to add a fear factor to combat, allowing Mark to easilly handle the men he was fighting, many of whom were the same size if not bigger than Mark was.
She was about to grab him, get her necklace back, when Mark pretty much stopped and turned on a gold piece and took off in another direction without missing a beat, had she not created a fast wall of ice to turn herself around to follow, she'd not see him pull up his hood. And that always meant trouble. And then she heard it too, voices, taunting voices. About a dozen if not more of them, nearby too. She darted after Mark once more briefly stopping at the edge of the rooftop to look into the courtyard below taking it all in.
There.
Briefly taking a momentary breath she stepped off the rooftop, her hidden blades matrialising out of naught by crystal blue ice on her arms as she slammed down ontop of two templar soldiers with a crash. Quickly withdrawing her ice sword she split it into two pieces and defended against several soldiers as Mark took on the rest. The woman the men were taunting and harrassing joining them in the fight.
Matthew had taught her that in order to survive, to protect her kingdom, she had to be ready to take a life, as much as she hated doing just that. But, Matthew had put it a good way, it was her or them, those she loved or them, her kingdom or them, It was really a means to defend herself, these men were harrassing, taunting, and in many cases beating her people. And she had to defend her people, her kingdom, even if it meant killing those harming her home.
Mark was beaten back against a wall, raising his gauntleted arms the swords bounced clean off as he screeched, Ulnaus slamming into one man while Mark kicked the other one right in the manhood, making him double over while Mark landed slammed his hidden blade into the back of his neck with a savage growl. He then moved onto the one Ulnaus had preoccupied, kicking his knee until it bent backwards, and grabbing him by the hair, slicing his throat with his sword.
He turned, and flung his arm out, a ropedart sailing past Elsa's face to nail a Templar about to strike the woman who had joined both him and Elsa's fight against the group of Templars right in the neck, causing him to fall and drown to death in his own blood as it flooded his throat while he desperately tried to breath after Mark removed the dart from the man's neck with a pull, flinging it around another's neck and pulling hard, knocking him backwards. Lifting his leg, he dropped a devastating axe-kick down on the man's head, curbstomping him into the afterlife with an almost traumatizing Crunch! that echoed in the street. The last Templar turned to run from that noise alone, but fell onto his knees to puke the contents of his stomach onto the street while Mark walked up to him, a wicked, almost evil smirk on his face, barely visible from beneath his hood as he approached.
"Suck it, Assassin Scum!" The Templar suddenly turned, pulling out a glock and pointing it at Mark, who's smirk vanished completely as the shot was fired, slamming into his side and making him stumble to one side in pain. At the resounding scream from Elsa, Mark grabbed the gun, kicked the Templar's hand away from it, and then cocked it for another shot while kicking the man down to the ground and keeping him there with a foot on his chest.
"You shouldn't a done that." were Mark's only words before he pulled the trigger, the bullet finding a new home in the brain of the Templar.
After putting the safety on the the gun and pocketing it to show to Snowfeather later in accordance with a report that was due every time someone was saved or recruited from Templars, Mark put a hand to his side where he was shot, cursing under his breath as he looked for any signs of blood. "Son of a...didn't even touch me..." He muttered, looking again and again just to make sure.
As she took out the last Templar with a perfect swipe of her ice sword Elsa watched her heart hammering in her chest as the last templar pointed something, a gun it looked like, she had never really gotten used to those things that those CIA men had them too, and firing at Mark, "No!" Elsa shrieked, causing even the birds to swarm crazily, thankfully nobody else heard the scream due to all the music going on in many areas around them. She watched worried as Mark took the weapon and shot the Templar dead in the face, a third eye. Elsa didn't care. Dispelling her sword she scrambled over the dead, the blood clinging to the edge of her already a light red to the blue ice dress.
As Mark searched himself for where he'd been shot Elsa snaked a hand up and snagged her necklace back "Got it!" She said, it felt oddly warm, and not because it was in his pocket. "Wait... What the ?" She opened her hand, and a bullet smoldered on her ice coated palm. "How did ?" She looked to Mark confused. Did the necklace he made protect even him ? She inspected the necklace carefully, there was no signs of damage whatsoever to the duradaeden Not even her ice magic showed signs of damage. Whatever had happened, the bullet was halted in its tracks completely
Mark smiled as Elsa took the necklace. "You pass for tonight." He said calmly before looking to the female. "Are you alright? Are you hurt?" He asked her, lowering his hood.
She didn't look at him, but she nodded her head. "I'm fine; thank you." She said. "I'm Diana, and you are..."
"Mark Wolfe of the Assassins; I'm sure you know our glorious Queen Elsa?" He asked, nodding to the Queen calmly.
Glorious ? Well that was an interesting title, Elsa however smiled and nodded to Diana. She was about to speak when voices rang out and about two dozen more soldiers, Templar by look of them, a scant few of them Arendelle Guardsmen that Elsa knew she could trust, they all waited on her word. After seeing Her and Mark running on the rooftops they assembled a squad to aid should they be needed. She counted the squad, about half were dressed as templar soldiers to fake the enemy out a bit it seemed. Oh boy.
Another shout rang out and more soldiers filtered into the small space. Another dozen or so, their commander dressed in black, wearing a weird type of cap. Elsa saw the templar cross clearly on the mans hat. On reflex Elsa summoned her ice sword. As she did so the Templar captain smirked, Finally, he could get a promotion for this. Withdrawing his own massive broadsword he swung towards Elsa, had she not taken proper lessons and experimented further then she had already she'd have been easily swept aside, but their blades caught and locked as ice exploded from Elsas feet in the small courtyard. The Templar held his sword upright at a slight angle, Elsa had her eyes on his face as he was focused on her.
But none saw that the Templar Captain was planning something as the hilt of his sword pointed directly at Elsa's chest, the hilt crossguard was hollow...