Jellicle's Creed
Frozen Memories
Seqeunce 5
Memory 6: A Birthday Fit for a Queen part 3
21 December 2051
Arendelle Castle
Elsa's bedroom
Just before dawn
Sunlight broke through the window, slowly filling the room with light as Elsa sat on her bed, curled in a pained ball. Her arms holding her knees close to her chest, her right arm soaked with fresh blood and new cuts from nowhere. She had hoped it was all just a bad dream. But when she woke from her fitful pained slumber, she was well aware of blood on her arm, and on her bed. And also aware of the fact that it was also her birthday
But all she could think and wonder, was; why today ? Her birthday of all days, to have such a nightmare ?
At the same moment
Mark's eyes snapped open, and he sat up had actually made it to the room assigned to be his, and was in his bed. For sleeping apparel he wore a simple pair of sweats and a white tank-top shirt, his muscular body somewhat accented by the tightness of the shirt, but was made more apparent by the quick rise and fall of his chest as he looked down, then up, to the level where Elsa slept.
Something was wrong.
He cast a Transport array on the ground and rolled through it, appearing outside of her room and knocking on the door rather...uncourteously. "Elsa?! You alright?" He asked through the door before opening it, remembering that the door would open for him.
All Mark got in terms of an answer was a soft whimper. Upon entering it was clear something had happened, Scars on Elsa's arm that weren't there the night before were bleeding. Scars he was certain he'd have noticed on her before. But either she was very good at hiding them, or he was too focused on her face to notice. It was most likely the latter. Elsa sat upon her bed, curled into a pained ball. Her right arm he could see clearly, as well as the blood on the bed, and on her.
What had happened ? Where did she get the scars from ? Why were they bleeding ?
Mark blinked as he saw the bleeding scars on her arm as he stepped to her bedside. "Elsa...wh...what happened? Who did this to you?" He said, ever so gently touching her arm to assess how bad they were. "Kai!" He called of course heard the call and quickly entered, and have a similar reaction to Mark. "Get the healer immediately, these must be tended to before she meets the public today." Mark said calmly.
Kai nodded "by your word sir" He said turning and exiting the Queens bedroom
After Kai left, Mark sighed and scooted cloer to Elsa, offering her a gentle hug. "They're not bad; if anything they appear to just be old scars that have opened up some...the Healer will be able to get you looking good as new in a jiffy." He reassured her gently, kissing her cheek gently to help raise her confidence.
Elsa at first did not really feel anyone in the room with her, her mind locked in horror of being ripped up by a horse. Her worse nightmare, on her birthday. Well that in of itself was actually normal. It took a minute before she realised that mark was on her bed next to her ,holding her. She was scared, she never showed even Anna her scars! Well, at times Anna did see them, but no questions were asked! But how could she tell Mark ? "They are old scars, most of them at least." Some of the scars were faded, nearly the same color as her skin, but where her dress sleeve normally was, the scars were notiably darker. Travling up her right arm in a complete hellish mess. Elsa did not even want to think about her side and shoulder which were covered
Old scars ? Why was he not told ? Turns out, the scars were nearly twenty years old! She was seven, iseven/i years old when she had been bitten by that horse! seven! So why was it bleeding then ?
Mark appeared mostly calm, and sighed softly. "Old, huh? I've got my fair share of old scars." He said, shaking his head and shivering to get rid of the memory before it became real in his mind again. He sighed and gently pulled Elsa to him after using the ribbon she gave him to tie his hair to tie a make-shift tourniquet to help stop the bleeding. "Kai and the Healer should be here any minute now, Elsa... This'll help." he said, gesturing to the ribbon, tied right around her upper shoulder and arm-pit; above the scars to slow the blood flow and stop the bleeding.
Elsa nodded, it was now or never "It was on my seventh birthday when I got these. You wonder why we dont have horses in Arendelle. These are why" She lifted her arm slightly. the blood still flowed, yet not as strong as before thanks to the ribbon. "I was alone in the stables when it happened." She said softly, her mind still filled with the horror of the horse ripping apart her arm as a child. "A massive horse, I was curious and reached up to pet it, let it take a sniff or something, the next thing I knew, it had my hand in its mouth and was chewing up my arm. I was too scared or in shock or something to react right away, but it was not until it got to my side and shoulder when I reacted." She explained it all, freezing the horse's heart to stop the thing, fleeing and hiding in a bathroom until Kaedrian could find her. Everything.
It was as she was finishing when Kai returned with Kaedrian. The healer at the time when Elsa was first injured by the horse could heal her, but had she done so completely, no scars or anything, Kaedrian would have died herself. So leaving scars was the only option at the time. Upon entering Elsa's bedroom she saw the blood, and the fact that Elsa was freaked out, but Mark was there keeping her calm. Kaedrian of course said simply right from the outset upon seeing Elsa's condition, as well as noting the date "Nightmare again ?" She sighed then "So, are there any new ones this time, or is it just the old ones that have reopened ?"
"Both" Came the sullen, freaked out reply. New scars, new cuts, freshly bleeding, and the old scars reopened and bleeding.
Wait, again ?
Kingdom of Arendelle
Courtesan's Compound
Tush District
At that same moment
Since being rebuilt it soon became a haunt of the Templar soldiers in the area. Thankfully it also provided a nice home sitting for certain people. A caravan of a sort by ship had arrived the night before, and the day before that. and also the day before that at the start of the weeklong party. And it was now to get things into proper motion. Once settled in, the courtesan building quickly became a proper bordello of a sort. For wont of a better term, a proper house for ladies to help men ease their nerves. And under a certain Ice creature named Tiri, it was easier said then done, but then again, Tiri had used the same cover at Idun's request nearly twenty years before!
"Two days in this kingdom already, I never thought I'd see it again after so long" A stack of papers hit the desk in the office like room. Tiri had made good use of this building already. Since Blackmane had repaired it, only Georgina knew they'd be arriving that week. But did Marion ? Tiri had been born on the slopes of the North Mountain the same exact instant Elsa first cried at being born and held within Idun's arms. Tiri being born on the North Mountain as a serpentine creature wasn't found by any of the Royal Family until Elsa's parents were searching for a teacher for Elsa when the storm hit their ship. Tiri had returned to the north mountain after arriving in Arendelle. None really cared of the icy creature chowing down on moose in the wilderness.
"How is Marion adjusting ?" Tiri then asked as a woman stepped in, being the 'owners' of a sort of the new courtesan building Chairty had found it hard not to explore Arendelle unless in proepr desguise.
"I don't know, Georgina knew that we were arriving this week, but I never told her." Came the reply, they should be there soon, Charity missed her daughter. But this mission was important, they had to retake Arendelle the right way. Besides, today was the Queen's birthday and it was an important event! That and the news she got of what transpired the night they had arrived
"Either way I'm gonna go back to sleep, wake me when its breakfast time or when Marion shows up will you please ?" With that Tiri's form, which was a mirror of Elsa herself, simply crumbled into bones of ice blue and many snowflakes and took a powernap
The streets of Arendelle
Tush District
A few moments later
It was indeed a festive day, yet even for the Templars that patrolled the district, as small as it was, it was a festive day and there wasn't any stopping the district from celebrating a certain monarchs birthday. Patrols of six wandered the district. But even with the soldiers present, the townspeople in the district couldn't tell the difference between Templars and those loyal to Elsa anyhow. Only those with the abilites of an Assassin could easily tell that much.
One of those groups were patrolling near a house for girls, a ladies home, otherwrise known among the soldiers as the whorehouse; The group walked the street and as they passed in front of the building one turned to the other.
"Hey cap, why're we patrolling at nearly sunup ? Dont the bosses know its below freezing out here ? My nutsack is cold! I wanna warm it up!" The Templar soldier complained, others chimed in their wants and needs. Which mostly included the ladies in the building to their left.
"You'll get to do so, later. Right now we got a job to do" Said another soldier in the patrol. Both men were not looking forwards to eight hour shifts in subzero tempertures. But it was life lately. Besides, any second and the Assassin's could retake the district and they'd all be dead!
"Pipe down, both of ya." the Captain said. "Or I'll make sure you won't have to worry about your nuts ever again." he said, glancing over his shoulder. He hated the cold as much as the next guy; but he didn't complain about it; which is probably why he was promoted to be Captain in the first place.
Marion watched from a nearby bench; half amused, half disgusted with how these men were talking. But that wouldn't matter; the liberation of this district would begin with them, before Morning. With that the raised her hood and assumed the guise of Diana, picking up a rock from the ground. She chucked it into an alley beside the group of Templars; hitting an old piece of glass, which shattered loudly.
"The fuck was that?" One of them asked.
"Hell if I know, go check, dumb-ass."
"You're shitting me, right? Probably what the Assassin's want me to do."
"Fine, I'll go with you, chicken."
"Fuck you asshole..."
The two continued their banter as they, predictiably, went into the Alley way to check on the mysterious noise.
From up above the patrol Georgina looked every bit a statue at the corner of the rooftop above. Oh man not this captain again, she thought. This guy was a very cowardly fellow, yet really funny when it came to just watching his movements and patrols. She raised her crossbow, a small handheld job she'd flitched off the man she pretty much landed in the lap of when they retook Marks home.
Before loading it she did a quick rehearsal to see if she had the timing down then she loaded a explosive bolt into the thing and aimed at the center of the lot, They wanted warmth, they were getting it, smoke really, but still, that inital flash was warm...ish
Toooing!
kaPOOF! thick grey smoke filled the street as Georgina then dropped her crossbow and dropped off the roof ontop of the captain, this was the only chance to actually get the guy for once, besides he had the den key to begin with.
As soon as the smoke bomb went off, there was cursing, yelling, and some screams from citizens who were up this early.
"See! I Fucking Told You, you fucking walnut."
"Shut up and run asshole!"
They wouldn't get very far, however. As Georgina landed on the captain, Diana had unsheathed her dual blades, and with a flurry of motion, had sliced their comerades into peices. The two stood staring at the girl; fresh steam rising from their crotches. Before their heads met the ground before their bodies could, and Diana sheathed her blades after flicking what little blood was on them off. She turned to Georgina as she wrestled with that skinny, squeemish, surprisingly hard to hold still captain.
Due to this ability to not sit still, he was on his feet, and throwing punch after punch at Georgina in a desperate attempt to distract her long enough to be able to bolt; knowing his superior speed would allow him to possibly escape.
It should have been easy, from the smoke bomb to the tackle, to everything really. But this skinny, squeemish captain was impossible to hold down! Within a heartbeat of landing on him she was back on her feet trading blows with the guy. She brought up her foot the same time he brought up his, colliding hard with his knee against her lightly armored shin she heard a bone crack, possibly hers, but in the heat of battle she didn't notice.
She spotted a glint of silver flash briefly around his neck. The key. Flicking out her wrist she grabbed her scarf and used it as a whip, wrapping it around the key she pulled the thing while also kicking hard with both feet at the guy when the chain holding the key snapped sending her to the snowy ground in a heap
"Son of a fuck!" The captain later known as Captain Snaproot, lurched back after the chain around his neck snapped. He stumbled back and patted his knee hard on either side before bolting down the road as fast as he could; much too fast for many to even try to catch him, let alone succeed.
Diana reached for her blades. "Should I go after him?" She asked Georgina, quickly looking to her mentor before lowering herself into a ready stance where she could bolt after him faster than many humans can move.
Georgina shook her head, distangling her scarf from the keychain she smiled and held up the key "Let him be, we have what we need to unlock the den here and set the signal fire. Help me up; there's someone important you need to see before we see Elsa and Mark for breakfast" She noticed the snowfall then as it started, it was light yet not too heavy either, just a natural thing too.
She held out a hand to Diana to get to her feet, hissing slightly at the weight on her injured leg. Mental note girl, she told herself, slightly thicker leg armor. Or maybe dont aim for the knee. The only problem with mental notes was that the ink faded so quickly.
Diana nodded and reached to Georgina, helping her up easilly. "What is it I need to see after we're done liberating this district?" She asked calmly, adjusting the scarf she was using as a mask to keep her face warm with her glove-covered fingers. She seemed a lot more fit than when she first came to Arendelle; it seemed that all the Templar slaying and free-running had toned her body to the point where a bit of visible muscle could be seen; but so too could her natural curves. She was fair, and gentle; but only when she wanted to be.
She cleared her throat, wanting to get onto the topic of what she needed to see quickly.
"Not what" Georgina said with a hiss as she limped a bit. She'd need to see Kaedrian before breakfast for sure,She held out the key "Who. Here, get up stairs and light the signal fire to mark the liberation, I'll stay here in case anything happens. When the signal's lit I'll meet you by that haystack"
She pointed out a haystack, they had to properly liberate the district before they could focus on anything else.
The younger female raised an eyebrow, but nodded; unlocking the door and heading up the stairs quickly. After kicking the single guard off the top of the tower, and the poor man screaming to his death right next to the haystack, she lit the tower, then swan-dove into the hay below. She popped her head out of the hay and then hopped out before tossing the man's body into it and leaning against the cart, waiting for Georgina.
"Now then... who do I need to meet?"
Georgina smiled, bringing up both hands she waved her fingers out as if saying 'ten score!' as she limped into view, it was a very noticable limp as well. She didn't even flinch when the dead templar was tossed into the haystack with a sickening sound either. She pointed to the building behind her, "In there, on the second floor, its the third door on the left. I need to see Kaedrian before I am able to go up any stairs, and sooner I do the better. My leg is killing me. Don't worry, with your swords you got back, nothing can bother you once you see the person inside." She meant Marions mother. Charity, and their current benefactor, Tiri.
"I'll see you at breakfast at the castle, Elsa's library, we're both expected." Georgina smiled and gave Diana a pat on the shoulder. "Dont worry, relax. Besides, I am quite sure you'll need to sit down or at least take a breather." She started to limp off deeper into the alley before activated a pale gold transport array.
Diana looked to the building behind her, "The Brothel?" She looked confused as her eyebrows furrowed. She then looked back to Georgina, about to ask why she couldn't come with her when the answer was given. "I see. Well, you get yourself fixed up. I'll... I'll meet you at the breakfast." She said, giving her mentor a pat on the shoulder before heading towards the door of the brothel. She opened it up, and was greeted by a few ladies, whom she politely waved away.
After that she moved to the second floor, finding the hallway. She walked down the hall, counting the doors and what she could hear behind each one. First door: Giggling. Second door: The sounds of degredation and lust. Third door: Nothing; quiet chatter, if anything. The whole thing reminded her of what she called home back in England; only a bit more classy. And by a bit, she meant an astronomical difference. No creepy old men hitting on her; no working girls commenting on why she didn't have to work, too. But most importantly, it smelled better. With a sigh, she raised her hand to knock on the door. She blinked a few times, but proceeded to knock anyway before opening the door.
"Hello? Is anyone here? I was told there was someone I needed to meet." She said calmly as she closed the door behind her, and lowered her hood before pulling the scarf down from her face, revealing its fair features to the world.
There was chair behind a neat desk loaded with bills and invoices, yet there was something asleep in it, a large pile of ice making weird tinkling and purring noises as someone stood at the window. watching the street below as several Arendelle soldiers picked up the dead templars and carted them off. "I see you have them back, Samuel is a good curiour is he not ?" Charity smiled and turned to the door as her daughter closed it behind her.
Seeing Marion after over just a month or so, Charity was sad when her last remaining flesh and blood left her side to return to the kingdom they called home for generations, though she smiled brightly and held a letter, the last letter Marion sent to her concerning Mark and Elsa, and their kiss.
Charity smiled again, "Surprised to see me ?" Tiri stirred in the chair, the pile of ice bones murred and rolled over a bit, some snow and ice dangling off the chair like a arm sticking off a bed, it never touched the floor.
Marion's eyes widened. "Mama?" she took a few steps forward, only giving the Ice in the chair a side-long glance before returning her focus to her mother: Charity Wolfe. She then rushed forward and gave her mother a tight hug. "I... I missed you!" she said before nodding, her hands gently touching the handles of her blades. "Yes... Samuel is a good courier. Unfortunately, he fell. The CIA got to him, I... couldn't save him." She said calmly before giving her mother another hug, kissing her mother's cheek.
"How have you been, Mama? And... How's Tiri?" She asked, nodding to the sleeping pile of Ice in the chair.
"Yes its me" Charity said softly as Marion crashed into her giving her a hug. Charity returned the hug just as strongly. Very briefly she shed a tear for Samuel. the poor man, and only a year older than Marion herself! But that did not matter. What Samuel did for them in England could still live on after all. "I missed you too sweetie, I missed you too"
At mention of her name the ice in the chair murred as Tiri's voice was heard grumbling something of 'needing better alarm clocks' before rolling back over and nearly tiping over the chair at the same time.
"We arrived two days ago" Charity said thoughtfully, "Upon arrival at the docks yesterday to unload the second ship of our caravan, the third and last one arrives today, I was given this, but I did not read it until this morning, I was so busy with moving parcels and pakages and settling in" The letter was the last one Marion had sent off through Blackmane. But it never left Arendelle itself as her mother had arrived the morning that Marion had wrote the letter to her informing her of what transpired at the start of the weeklong party with her brother and the Queen's kiss.
Finally the chair Tiri was sleeping in tipped over with a loud THUD and some icy screaming in norse before a bony hand gripped the edge of the desk and Tiri stood up refoming into her human appearance as she stood. The ice made mostly bones before the snow formed her body. her dress was dark silver, her hair brilliant white.
"There must be an easier way of waking up! Now where is my..." Tiri grumbled brushing off her dress and backside a bit before picking up a piece of ice which ended up being her left foot from under the chair by the door. "Aha! there we go! Oh, hello Marion! Or whatever name you're using now, I heard the news that this building was ready for us to use, so... here we are!"
Marion blinked as she saw the letter. "Oh... What do you think of... the news?" she asked, meaning Mark's kissing of Elsa. She then supressed a laugh as the chair fell over and Tiri formed herself into her human form, and gave her a small bow.
"Hello there, Tiri. It's Diana, publicly, or around anyone not Blackmane or Georgina." she said calmly, but with a friendly smile. She looked around the room then, walking around. "Yes, I've heard this was being fixed in private from Georgina, didn't think it'd be another brothel, but..." she shrugged before the sounds of giggling were heard from the other room. "You may want to invest in soundproofed walls." she said.
"Especially since the district is liberated now." She added with a smile. "Unless you can stand working with the sounds of laughter and lust in the background." She shrugged; her trademark Wolfe sarcasm coming into play. She had it, Mark overflowed with it, their mother had it, and it was said that their father had it, too. If he was still alive, anyway.
"I dont know" Charity replied, "After twenty some odd years of listening to it in England, it feels like home you know ?" Though what she couldn't give to be back in their true home in the Wolfe District across the kingdom closer to the castle, she smiled however, the news of her son, and the Queen of all people in the kingdom, sharing a kiss, yes, she wanted grandkids.
"Apparently that's on the agenda" Tiri said taking a seat on the over turned chair before spotting something that apparently hit the ceiling before she set the chair on the desk as she spoke "According to a recent order made through here, soundproofing..." She climbed onto the desk "Is to be on the next delivery, apparently each room will get some of it put in the walls, but not the ceilings or floors. Or doors." Tiri climbed onto the chair standing ever so delicately on the very little balanced thing she grabbed a ice blue bone out of the ceiling before tumbling off the chair, well, hanging onto the ceiling fixure at the same time. Struggling briefly with what was stuck in the ceiling.
Finally the ice bone came loose from the ceiling and after shaking the dust out she slapped the thing back to its proper place, her head, smacking her ear a few times to make sure it was in proper place. After a second she nodded and looked down. "Coming down, look out below! Oh crud..." CRACK "Yeah comin down!" Quickly letting go of the fixture the fixture itself fell from the ceiling like a rock, Tiri had meant to replace it upon arrival, but not that soon
"Little soon in the morning for remodeling is it not ?" Chairty asked the icewraith who landed on the chair in a very unlady like pose, thankfully being made of nothing but ice and snow had its perks and drawbacks. Drawback number one, no internal organs to worry about, perk number one, fireworks were dang tasty!
Marion ignored Tiri's antics and glanced over the orders for the next few weeks. Soundproofing, another wing full of private rooms and sleeping quarters for the girls, kitchen renovations, the works. Looks like the place was going to get a lot classier. Then she saw one thing that made her audibly giggle: Air Fresheners.
After her giggle fit was over she sighed and smiled. "I'm afraid I must leave now, Mama, Tiri. Elsa expects me to be at breakfast in the Library. Head over to Wolfe Manor whenever you want; Mark is in the process of Restoring it to its original glory; the Central and East Wings are almost perfect. Mark just cant decide on which finish to use for the hard-wood floors." She said before smiling, giggling once more and heading towards the door, putting the scarf over her face once more before raising her hood.
"So that's your daughter huh ?" Tiri asked as she watched Marion take her leave, Tiri would indeed be making her rounds in the kingdom that very day to be sure. Take a peek at the Wolfe Manor, why certainly I believe I will! Tiri thought.
"Mhm, she takes after her brother, but yes, she is my daughter." Charity said softly, she gave Marion another hug at the door and smiled as she put on the hood. "You look ever bit like I did when I was on my first contract." She held the door open for Diana. "I will have to sneak home soon to see it. I miss it dearly. Stay safe OK ?"
"I can see why Smauel stuck around as he did all those years back in England, a shame he's deceased. He was a good kid" Tiri mused. She knew of certain ways of possible rezzings, but she dare not try them, besides, she was ice and snow, nothing more.
"I thought you were asleep ?" Charity shot the question in a hilariously sarcasic way.
"I was until Marion showed up! Like I said there's gotta be an easier way of waking up!" Tiri grumbled as the door closed behind Marion and her voice was cut off, a few minutes later and Tiri ended up raiding the kitchen.
Arendelle Castle
A few moments later
Elsa's bedroom, just before breakfast
"I can stop the bleeding, yet the new scars will still remain m'lady, is this acceptable ?" Kaedrian asked, though nobodsy had answered Marks unasked question on again, as it seemed to happen every year, Elsa always sent for Kaedrian before sending for breakfast because of the reopened scars, but each year, until this year at least, fewer and fewer scars reopened, and even less new ones appeared. It seemed the nightmares were fading.
Until this morning. In exactly twenty years when Kaedrian had hoped it would be the last, it ended up most likely being just like the day the horse had bit the Queen, then at the time of the bite, a Princess, just turning seven.
Mark stayed mostly quiet, but after it was done, he smiled, and gently moved a few loose strands of Elsa's hair away from her face before kissing her forehead. "Well then... this has been eventful..." he said, back to his cheery self in an effort to make the Queen smile. "Now how's about we fill that stomach of yours? A Queen needs her strength to enjoy her day thuroughly." He said before standing. "I'll wait for you outside." He said calmly before giving Elsa's cheek another kiss. He then left the room and went to his; putting on the cloak he'd worn all week so far.
He then returned to Elsa's bedroom door, and waited outside for her as promised.
Elsa nodded to Kaedrian, new scars were fine, honestly, she didn't really worry about the scars execept on her birthday. But for the moment it was fine. Mark indeed made her smile however a moment later in his cherry tone. Which was a good thing because her stomach growled and she nodded. "I wont be long, Kai, thankyou Kaedrian. If anything happens I will send for you" The healer soon finished her work and took her leave as Kai stepped from the bedroom as Anna stepped up clearly confused as to why almost all the castle staff were packed at her sisters door as Mark and Kai came out.
Seeing mark as he closed the door with Elsa alone inside, Anna stepped up to him and spoke quietly, "I haven't seen Snowfeather, nor Georgina, is everything set for today ?" They had planned this party for weeks! A surprise party for Elsa, she'd be so fucsed on the Marketplace district that day which gave them time in the castle hall to get it ready for the party that afternoon for dinner.
The planned called for Elsa to be with Mark all day until the appointed time back at the castle, Anna and Kai had planned out everything for the work at the castle while Elsa was with Mark. Presumably on a daylong picnic, just the two of them while Anna and the rest got the kingdom ready for the party.
But there was also the Painter in the throneroom waiting for Elsa for a important panting of her and her father she had asked him for, but which he'd been working on secretly as with the other paintings Mark had requested of him
Mark turned to Anna and blinked a few times. "I thought they would find you...apparently I was wrong." he said with a hushed voice. "If everything is set they should have found you; I'll do what I can to stall Elsa other wise." he said calmly. He thought for a second and held up his open hand. He closed his eyes and appearing in a flash of bronze was his sword in its scabbard; each made of brilliant iDuradaeden/i.
"I'll stall her; have her help me look for this, when everything is ready, come and find me and give it back." He instructed calmly. "Use Ulnaus to find me when it's time." he said softly. "Deal?" he smiled.
Anna stared as the sword matrialised out of thin air in Marks hands. It took a minute before she shut her mouth, she opened it to speak, and like the first time, she couldn't form words. The appearance of the sword just iappearing/i out of thin air was breathtaking! Finally her mouth and brain worked like they should and she briefly squeaked out "That's beautiful!" Before getting herself under control and slowly nodded.
Gently reaching to the blade in its sheath she agreed "Alright, I think that can work, Dont forget the picnic lunch you promised her too! If worse comes to worse, I can also send Snowfeather to find Ulnaus to find you guys." the way Anna held the sword was rather respectful, had she held a sword before, heck yes, she had trained. At least when her mother insisted on it.
She was about to say more when she heard Elsa on the other side of the bedroom door. Quickly ducking off behind a wardrobe as Elsa opened her bedroom door, stepping out in her now slightly darker red ice gown, which even with her hair unbraided was as beautiful as ever. "Are we ready for breakfast ?" It was still an hour to breakfast itself, but there was another painting to present to Elsa
Elsa then saw Mark's attire, all clean and proper, she then noticed his hair, and without thinking it she conjured up another ice blue ribbon and held it to him. "Here, you look much more handsome with this on" Her own hair wasn't braided, deciding against wearing her hair in a braid for once, heck it was her birthday she'd wear her hair as she pleased!
Mark looked at Elsa as she entered from her room, and smiled; he loved the color of her dress and how it contrasted against the rest of her body, hair, and eyes. He playfully puffed out his cheeks when she handed him the ribbon, but regardless tied back his hair with it without a word and without a moment to lose as he turned to provide Anna a chance to scamper off silently.
"Next stop, the throne-room, I believe?" he asked as he offere Elsa his arm and began walking down the corridor. He walked slowly; strolling, really; as to draw out the time they were together, and to allow more time for the surprise party to be set up. He made what most would consider idle chit-chat with Elsa: where he came from, what it was like there, how life with Snowfeather as his primary care-giver was, and even his adopted sisters that he had whilst living with Snowfeather. However, most would consider that small talk.
To anyone who knew Mark in the least, and especially to Mark, this was something he never revealed to anyone without proper reason. It was almost as if he were selling away the secrets of the Wolfe Clan to Elsa's attentive ears for free. However Elsa, being Queen, could find these things out at a mere whim; by simply asking him or Snowfeather, or even Blackmane, for what she was there for.
Mark's tone was gentle the whole time, soothing and happy as he recalled each memory with clarity. It was then they rounded the corner for the throne room and he smiled. "Ah, here we are..." He gave her a quick peck on the cheek before opening the door for her to reveal the painter waiting for them, another protrait covered by cloth ready to be inspected.
Elsa slid her arm into his and started down the hall to the stairs, listening as he spoke of growing up, the place he lived, with Snowfeather as his mother ? That was... interesting, but she didn't question it. For once they were both very happy, it was possibly the first time she had actually heard him laugh from a memory alone, Most of the time when she asked about certain things he went all quiet and moody.
Though one thing was for sure, Elsa never saw, or heard Anna slip away to her own bedroom and hide Marks sword under her mattress.
But now he was happy, sharing memories of growing up in... Cairo ? That was an interesting name to be sure. But she was confused when he was leading her to the throne room ? Weren't they going to breakfast ? She pointed with her free arm to behind them "But, the dining room is that way ?" Meaning breakfast was that way, why were they in the Throne Room ?
They stepped inside and it was revealed of why, the Royal Painter stood waiting, as promised to Mark, and he had another similarily sized painting carefully wrapped for the Queen.
Elsa saw it and briefly stopped, Was that the one she had Mark print out first ? "Is that... for me ?" She asked softly.
Mark nodded. "The Dining room is indeed that way, my Queen." He said softly before opening the door anyway. He turned to watch her expression at seeing the painter with the painting. He smiled. "A few of the pictures you had me print from your... adventures in the Dream world whilst on that RV took a little longer than I expected, but... they're done. At least... this one is." he said calmly.
With that he nodded to the painter, who pulled the cloth down to reveal the painting of Elsa and her father together; moments before the Family Portrait that she also wanted to have painted. Mark placed his hand gently on the small of Elsa's back as he stepped back a half-step, and gave her a very gentle push towards the painting so she could inspect it better, a smile on his face.
After she stepped forward he nodded once more to the Painter and smiled, stroking his beard softly with his right hand while his left supported his other arm at the elbow. "What do you think, my Queen?" he asked calmly.
Elsa's mouth dropped open as she stared at the painting, seeing herself, and her father so lifelike! It was beautifully detailed, she nodded as Mark spoke of the Dream world she had been trapped in. "Yes, I,... a month ago I had remembered it and went to ask to have this one painted. It, It shall hang next to all of us there!" She pointed to the wall right next to her family. The painting she had received two days before hung grandly on the otherwise very bare dark oak wall. The Protrait room was full, this would be the next generation of the royal paintings of her family!
She had forgotten however, just how many paintings she had requested, was it fifteen ? Maybe seventeen ? No possibly nineteen... It was actually seventeen paintings Elsa had Mark print off to get painted. And he had every single one painted
Elsa stepped up to the painting, the paint glittered as if just recently finished, absolutely beautiful, every color, the best possible paints. If only she had more paintings from that dream!
That one of her and Mark together, with her necklace, their necklace held between them, she wanted that one too, but this, this was beautiful! She gave off a happy shout and hugged Mark tightly. OK, breakfast could wait, for now
Mark had to take a step back as she hugged him tightly, since he was a good five feet away, so she had to practically jump at him. He hugged her back and chuckled softly as he did so. He gently lifted her and gave her a spin before setting her down. "I take it you love the painting my Queen?" he asked happily while his hands slid gently down her arms to her hands.
Elsa nodded and gave off a soft giggle as Mark spun her briefly before setting her back down, her hands then in his, Oh man that made her feel good for sure! "We must put it on the wall! Before breakfast! Please ?" She gave a cute look before giggling again and calling for Kai and some of the servants to fetch two ladders and a nail with hammer to hang a painting. She just got a painting, and it was a painting that she wanted on the wall!
Anna came in, acting bleary eyed and tired, when in truth she was actually wide awake the last two hours alone planning her sisters surprise for that evening, "Elsa, why's everyone scampering around getting ladders and tools and such before breakfast ? Muchless what are you doing up this soon before... breakfast ? Is that you and Papa ?" Anna had yet to even learn where rest of the paintings were, she knew where they came from, Mark had explained it to her two days before; but seeing the newest one she had to stare, for a brief second she thought her father home again.
Elsa nodded, "Yes, Its... its a birthday present. I want to get it up where it belongs, on that wall, next to us." the throne room was normally bare of paintings, maybe the Queen's Crest, in this case Elsa's mothers crest hung over the throne room doors.
Anna traded a look with Mark when Elsa's attention went back to surpervising the placement of the new painting. His sword was properly hidden. Though she had to wonder, how many more paintiings were there to be had anyhow ?
Mark nodded to Elsa's request, and helped her supervise, but as Anna came in he blinked and cleared his throat. "Princess Anna... you're not usually up this early either." he said calmly with a tilt of his head. Mark was always up this early, earlier, to be honest, training the new Assassin Recruits in their hand to hand combat skills should they find themselves without any weapons. Usually around breakfast time Mark could be found out in the courtyard feeding the birds that he'd called to him using his talent for mimicry.
He however caught Anna's look and gave a short, small nod that wasn't noticable to anyone else. "Come, Elsa. Surely your stomach is about to rumble from hunger." He said calmly. "Anna, will you be joining us?" he asked. "Or will you be returning to bed? You do seem very tired." He took Elsa's arm in his, entwining his fingers with hers to get her attention.
With her attention focused on placing the painting exactly where it should be she didn't notice anything between Anna and Mark, however she did hear Marks words, normally Elsa was waking up Anna by now to get to the dining room for breakfast. "A little more to the right... ahah, that's it, perfect!" The painting was hung upon the wall where it belonged!
Her attention was then grabbed by Mark, as his fingers entwined with her own she leaned on him, her head to his shoulder, she didn't care if anyone saw her with him now. It was her birthday dangit! When Mark mentioned breakfast and the diningroom she nodded, yes, Breakfast was to be had, and they couldn't exactly eat in the throne room now could they ? "Yes, lets, Anna, come on! You'll miss the fun!" She reached her hand to her sister Nudging Mark with her arm entwined with his, he could escort them both to breakfast!
"Besides, from what it smells like is my favorite breakfast meat too!" Vension was a wonderful morning treat, along with fox, elk, moose and wolf meats too, but nothing beat deermeat first thing in the morning! Execept neatly cooked horsemeat for dinner or a late snack.
Mark felt the nudge and smiled, beginning to walk towards the door that would give them the long way around to the dining room; knowing that the short way would likely be used by people needing to set up the surprise at the end of the day. Along the way he once more delved into his past; the rigors that Snowfeather made him go through in his training compared to what the Assassins use to train their recruits now. He then vocied that he reasoned she did that to him so that one day he could claim his destiny.
Whatever that meant; he went no further with that subject, and if asked he would expertly dodge the question and move on to a different subject, such as what he was currently teaching the new Assassin recruits in terms of physical combat.
"You go on ahead" Anna said seeing how the two were, "Dont let me interrupt, I'll meet you there I need to finish waking up" She cast a very brief glance to Mark as if to say, 'enjoy lunch!' Before leaving the throneroom the faster way to the diningroom to ensure everything was ready, though she failed to notice the third painting to be given to Elsa.
Elsa keopt her head on Marks shoulder as they walked the long way to the dining room, Elsa truly had no idea what a wonderful day she was in for! She listened and absorbed everything he spoke about his past, he mentioned briefly two others he grew up with, sisters ? Mark had sisters ?
As they walked through the halls to the diningroom Elsa asked out of the blue "When do I meet them ?" Meaning his sisters. She was truly curious of who they were as well as what they could do, "Are they Assassin's too ?" He had her on every word, her full attention was on him as they walked through the halls. Where he grew up sounded so lovely.
For a moment she seemed thoughtful when he mentioned his destiny, but she chose not to ask what he meant as he seemed to move onto other things, mostly about his training and things Snowfeather had him do.
A few steps more and they were at the dining room, Two guards, and Kai stood outside, of course Kai waited since the room was in fact ready when he stepped out to let Elsa inside to get to breakfast, and her second gift of the day.
"Your Majesty, Master Wolfe, good morning; our breakfast today is vension, fox, elk and wolf meats, as requested, alcohol free wines were used in their cooking." As Kai spoke the door to the dining room opened allowing them to enter. All that was left was Elsa's favorite drink, Hot Cocoa with lavender!
"Technically; yes. I don't know when you'll meet them; I haven't seen them since I left Cairo." he said softly as they approached the door. He smiled to Kai as he approached them and gave him a nod. As the door opened, he stepped into the dining room; the various smells assaulting his nose as he entered. "Smells lovely..." He said calmly.
Indeed it did smell lovely, they sat down to breakfast, and it was not until after eating did Elsa notice the second painting, or was it the third painting she was to get made ? It didn't matter, like the first two, she had it placed where it properly belonged, the painting was of her and Anna, in the marketplace right before going to the cruise ship in her dream. Just the two of them together.
This was shaping up to be an amazing day indeed!
Five hours later
In the hills overlooking the Kingdom of Arendelle
Mark took her all over the kingdom, differnet places and in each one they stopped at, was another painting, and each one in turn was taken by the servants back to the castle to be properly put into place in the throne room. But this was the best part, Mark seemed excited about what he was going to show Elsa for lunch alone!
Mark stopped at the base of a hill and then looked at Elsa with a smirk; one that rarely came to his face; one that meant one thing: He was gonna pull something devious. With that Mark slipped behind Elsa, and with his fingers playfully jabbed her on her sides to tickle her for a few seconds before hopping away. "Race ya to the top!" He shouted before running up the hill quickly.
Mark's speed hadn't decreased at all since their last race, in fact it'd only increased, of course, there was another surprise at the top of the hill that egged him to go faster so he could beat Elsa to it.
Huh ? Elsa thought, race to the top ? "Hey! Wait! Mark!" Elsa took off after him, since she was bsarefoot she had better traction on the grassy knoll and was only a pace or two behind him before he got to the top ahead of her and she pretty much tackled him from behind for a brief moment going piggyback on his back and bending just a ilittle too far/i forwards to look, though upside down, at him from above, her hair in his face, "I asked you to wait for me! WHOA!" Their balance completely gone Mark flipped forwards, somehow she landed on him.
It was then she spotted... three things. One was a carefully set up picnic spot, and two were... "Are those... ?"
Mark managed to look up before nodding. "Yep! Two more paintings just for you!" He said as Ulnaus arrived, delicately landing on the painting that held Elsa and Ulnaus in it from the dream, wherein she was reaching for him on the ship's bow. He chirped a few times as if to laugh and Mark squawked back. "Darn bird... gotta laugh it up... fuzz ball." He said, gently lifting Elsa off of him so he could sit up comfortably.
The other painting was of Elsa and her Mother alone; the detail impecable, as if she were alive, just on paper. Servants stood nearby of course, waiting for Elsa's signal to take them into the Throne room.
Elsa sat up, for a long moment she stared at the painting, she remembered seeing her mother first, her mother coming to her bedroom and asking if she was all packed and ready for the cruise to go find Anna and meet their parents at the cruise ship dock. Her mother, just as she had dreamed her, was exactly as Elsa remembered ten years before. Before they left on that ill fated voyage.
Finaly she screamed out in joy and spread her arms wide, all but clobbering Mark dead in the face with the back of her right hand {which in fact slammed into his nose in her absolute joy} as she reached over to hug him tightly, she looked up to Ulanus, half tempted to ask the huge eagle to come down and join them. She wanted to hug him too!
But he was acting just like in the painting, preening as if without a care in the world, yet. So beautiful at the same time! Elsa then noticed a bit of something, it wasn't blood, but something else, snot maybe ? On the back of her right hand, did she hit Mark that hard to make him sneeze on her hand ?
Mark was silent as he tried to keep in a shout of pain, his hand going to his nose. "Your...hand is hard, Elsa." He said calmly before looking at her and hugging her back. "Remind me not to anger you...god...ow..." He shook his head and sighed. "Let's just...eat our lunch now, yea?" He asked, gesturing to the picnic basket filled with food and drink.
This day was turning out better then she had hoped! A picnic lunch, and apparently every painting she wanted painting when she was dreaming of them ? They weren't following a string like she had done with Anna, but still; The food smelled amazing just as well. the servants gently took the two paintings to the Throne Room, each painting was set in the room, not yet hung, Elsa was going to surpervise the hanging of each painting herself. But at this moment, she was with Mark. And it was possibly the first time she saw him so relaxed too!
After a wonderful picnic lunch Elsa leaned against Mark, without really thinking what she was doing she took his arm and put it around her, maybe they could relax a little bit ? It wasn't every day she got the cance to just go out of the castle, find a place to sit down, and just, relax. So that was what she chose to do right at that moment. Relax, in Marks arms. Just the two of them.
But there was still one last painting to reveal, Elsa counted sixteen so far, including the last two Mark lead her to. But she had to wonder, what was the last one ? If there was a last one, were these two it ? But she didn't care, she was with Mark, that was what counted!
Six hours later
Just before dinner
It was time to go back to the castle, they'd relaxed the entire afternoon under that tree, just the two of them, no worries, no nothing to make them want to leave their spot, Elsa was curled up against Mark, starting to wake up as the sun began to set. Elsa sat up, had they napped all day ? Either way it was an amazing day to begin with, her paintings she wanted, she had them all, or did she ?
It was time to head back to the castle for dinner, weren't they to have a big dinner to begin with ? It didn't matter, for once she was well rested and quite happy, turning to Mark she shook him "Mark! Come on wake up!"
She was so focused on waking up Mark that she failed to notice two new people arrive on deerback. Muledeer were a whole lot better then horses, they were docile and rarely if at all, bit anyone
After a few shakes from Elsa, Mark's stomach gurgled, and he groaned as he sat up; hungry. He shook his head and blinked a few times before stretching out and yawning a few times. "I'm up..." He mumbled softly, standing up and stretching out his legs before he plopped back onto the ground and sighed. His hair was all messed up again and he grumbled before standing once more, helping up Elsa as he glanced to the two hooded Assassins on their Muledeer who approached.
He untied the ribbon, and his bangs hung in front of his eyes; cutting off his vision as he tilted his head to either side, cracking his neck loudly in order to wake himself up. Aside from the plain white color of the Assassin robes the two wore; Mark couldn't discern anything else from them; gender, rank, age, or who they were.
"I presume you're here to report on a completed mission?" He asked calmly, his almost royal-looking Assassin Coat a stark contrast to their simple white ones.
"You could say that" Said the apparent elder of the two as the two stepped off their two steeds, the muledeer began to graze nearby as they stepped closer, "Mother had a mission for us, by you." They removed their hoods, blazing orange eyes of Serena had a hint of mirth behind them while diamond pink seemed to glow from Serenity's own eyes.
"She told us to report to you when it was completed, since it was you that requested it directly." Serena said to Elsa who once on her feet next to Mark had to wonder why these two removed their hoods, normally this never happened, especially in front of her when a mission was completed
"Mother also told us of your... dance two nights ago too, a shame we weren't here to see it." Serenity said softly, her soft voice belied a strong willed feline woman under it.
"Stop staring Brother" Serena smirked, her orange eyes sparkling brightly, "Say something, or hug us or something!" Apparently the three were a very close knit bunch growing up.
As soon as the first voice spoke a smile split across Mark's face, and he quickly tied back his hair before opening his Brown eyes, a flash of Bronze behind them for a second before he chuckled and ran towards the two, grabbing both of them in a tight hug, and easilly picking them up in his hug before placing them down. "Serena... Serenity... So good to see you again! Oh my dear sisters!" He cried out happily before smiling and releasing them and stepping back.
"I figured Snow would tell you; but... how long have you been working under the Arendelle Assassins?" He asked, confused before blinking and laughing again. "Where are my manners..."
He turned to Elsa. "Elsa, these are my adoptive sisters, Serena and Serenity. We grew up together in Cairo under Snowfeather's mothering gaze." he said, introducing the two to Elsa, and Elsa to the two. He smiled and looked the two up and down briefly before flicking some dust off of Serenity's shoulder. "These cloaks suit you both, dear Sisters." He said with a giddy smile.
He then took another step back and cleared his throat. "Now then... what have you to report?"
Serenity, even though younger of the two yet out of the three the most level headed when it came to missions and the like, couldn't help but give off a chirp of pure laughter as Mark sung them into a hug. Serena too laughed at the reunion, totally worth it too When set back on the ground Serena spoke again "Mother never knew it was us that were sent on the contract either; she figured us two new recruits, never seen in either kingdom before, she was right. But we're not new recruits are we Brother ?"
"Sadly if only it were good news." Serenity said softly towards Elsa, "The Duke was right, only those in power in his country do not suffer, yet those living there are in... let us just say they'd rather live in Arendelle or Oslo rather then Weasltown." Serenity never could properly pronounce Weselton and Serena gave up on correcting her sister. But seeing Elsa give off a soft giggle herself at the intentional mispronouncing of the country she decided to just not worry about it anymore
When Mark introuced them Serena smiled and with a slight bow "A pleasure your highness." She said, and was about to say more when Elsa raised a hand
"No it is alright, in situations like this, when It is not in formality like it will be tonight, you may call me Elsa. otherwise you can refer to me as royalty" She did not like it one bit, the Duke being right, his country was suffering, and his people needed their trade goods. Which sadly was mostly ice, and certain choclates. Now what was that about their own mother not knowing they were in the kingdom ?
"It'll be a surprise then when she finds out you two are here, I'm sure. May get scolded, but..." Mark shrugged. "At least she doesn't slug you guys in the stomach." he patted his stomach before the conversation went a little...south.
He frowned at the report of how bad Weselton was. The Duke told the truth for once...in what Mark had read before it was obvious that the Duke had cheated his way to his position... so this was very serious.
He looked around and blinked. "Well then... it's time for dinner..." He looked around; no Ulnaus, no Anna with his sword either. Stall Mode: Engaged. "I suppose I must... be formal, yea?" He chuckled before he lifted his arms just a tad and took a deep breath, his eyes beginning to glow a bright Bronze as his entire body glowed while his Duradaeden armor appeared on his body. With his eyes glowing, he could see that his sisters were indeed Snowfeather's biological children; the illusion thrown up by their magic renderd useless by the sheer power of Mark's Eagle Vision, but only while it lasted.
Soon the glowing stopped and Mark's full set of armor was on his body; the glowing lines and everything exactly how everyone remembered it from the Dance. Except one thing: His sword. He blinked and looked at his back where the scabbard usually was. "That's weird...where's my sword?" He frowned and appeared to try to summon it; his eyes flashing, along with a flash of Bronze appearing above his palm a few times before he shook his head. "Must be somewhere..."
He simply couldn't make an appearance with a part of his costume missing! It'd be like Elsa showing up without her cape, or corset! Which, (regardless of the cheering of Elsa's admirers, including Mark), would be catestrophic! Plus what if something happened? Mark was good with hand to hand combat, and with any other weapon, but he preferred the reach his sword gave him! He had to find it.
"Um... Serenity, Serena... can you go find Mother and tell her we'll be a little late for Dinner? Elsa and I will find my sword." He said, winking to them. "I need to keep her stalled until Ulnaus finds me, Anna will know. Enter the palace through the tunnels, and try not to mess up the decorations." he added in a dialect that he and his sisters used as children to keep secrets from everyone, speaking it as fluently as if it was his Mother-Tongue.
Seeing how Mark reacted to not having a certain weapon made the two girls a bit confused, but Elsa noticed it missing "I thought you had it with you this morning when we were in the kingdom ?" She asked, she could have sworn she saw it on his back, she went over to the place they had relaxed against the tree and began searching
The two girls, both of whom Mark could see had feline like features under their makeup and whatnot, traded looks, as if asking each other 'is he OK ?' before turning to their brother, "I think six eyes are better then four" Serenity said as her elder sister nodded, the twins, though almost identical aside from their eyes and voices, worked together on every contract, just like their mother and aunt did. Sometimes going so far as trading places
"I will go find mother and report to her that we reported to you, I wont let me be known to her that I'm her elder daughter just yet, we planned that for dinner tonight. Do find your sword Mark, you dont look right without your perferred weapon" Serena said, once again giving a slight bow to Elsa she went back to her muledeer and once upon it, rode off towards the Kingdom, leaving her younger twin, her brother, and soon, {she hoped} to be sister-in-law, after hearing about the kiss, it was sure to come, a ring, or more.
Serenity smiled and nodded at her sisters words. "She's right Brother" She said softly, her pink eyes however held something of more news, news for his ears alone. "I found... someone important to Elsa" She said in their dialect they used as kids, it was second nature really to speak it. She reached to Mark and took him a few paces off as Elsa was searching where they had laid that afternoon for Marks sword "A woman from Arendelle, I fear it is the Queen, her mother, was in the dungeons used in Weasltown, she had with her a child, underfed, possibly ill. looked quite strange too, with wings of untarnished silver" she detailed the woman, it matched what Elsa had shown Mark in her journal the night of their dance and kiss
Mark gave a nod to Serena and a smile before stepping aside with Serenity. He listened to her words and bit his bottom lip hard; almost enough to make himself bleed. He let out a sigh and shook his head. "Best we save this news for much later; the last thing we need is Elsa worried sick; making wrong decisions and getting Arendelle into a war it isn't ready to fight." he said in the dialect, speaking from past experience, it seemed from a long time ago. "Until then; pretend you found nothing; preferably don't report it to Mother; or to Auntie." he added before smiling and giving her one more hug.
"It is good to see you again...really. Now then, let's find my sword." he said simply before looking around, his eyes flashing Bronze as he used his Eagle Vision to search for the glowing of his sword. "Hmm...I think I remember having it out by Wolfe Manor, yes I'm sure I did!" he said. With that he would keep Elsa busy for at least another fourty five minutes as they raced back and forth throughout the city "looking" for his sword.
Eventually Ulnaus would show up and Mark would stop, kicking a stone off to the side; this was where Anna was to "find" him, with his sword. He shook his head and sighed heavilly, leaning against a wall as he looked utterly defeated by the fact that he couldn't find, nor summon his sword.
It took them back to the Wolfe Manor, known offically now as the Heart of the Wolfe Destrict thanks to Elsa making an offical behind closed door meeting concerning it. In the front room she paced, where could the sword be. Serenity had long since left to report to Snowfeather of her return, but not before having a few words with her younger brother.
Serenity nodded to Marks words "I agree, as does the woman held with the child, she pressed upon me to give this to Elsa, tomorrow morning, she'll know what to do. Dont worry, Aunt Blackie wont know a thing! Nor will Mother" Serenity had a letter for Elsa from her mother, only this time it concerned the importance of the Shroud and what it could do and what it was rumored to do. It wasn't signed with anything more then the same crest that was given to Sam Green for his orders.
She nodded then, "Yes, lets try and find your sword. Without it, you're what the americans call a 'sitting duck'" yes, the girls had been to America, and honestly, Serenity hated it there, mostly because of how it was to outsiders, but then that did not matter much anymore to her. She was in Arendelle, where she belonged. But it was close to an hour later when she had to take her leave and report to Snowfeather of her return. though she promised to see them at dinner that night
About twenty minutes after Serenity left, Anna came running up, with her was thankfully not Olaf for the moment, but about a dozen snowgies, and they all carried a brozen glowy thing "Aha! There you two are!" She said upon seeing her sister and possible future brother in law inside the front lobby area of the Wolfe Manor. "Mark! This thing glows! Why'd you leave it in the throne room again ?! It scared the living daylights out of Kai!"
Mark turned to Anna, and blinked a few times before a happy smile came to his face. "My Sword!" he picked it up and drew it half-way to inspect it for a second before sheathing it, and slinging it over his back where it belonged. "Gah, I left it in the Throne Room again?!" He shook his head and grumbled to himself in Arabic; words Elsa wouldn't understand despite his teachings.
He nontheless smiled and gave Anna a small bow. "Thank you, Anna. You've saved me." it was then that Ulnaus screeched softly, and pounced on a rat that was skittering across the courtyard before swallowing it whole easilly. That sight made Mark remember what time it was; and his body acted accordingly; his stomach growling loudly. "I suppose we must get to Dinner now!" He said, a bit embarrassed about his stomach's demonstration of a Whale's Mating call.
Elsa's gaze was taken from admiruing the pure beauty that went into the Wolfe Manor to her sister as she came running up, with a dozen snowgies in her wake, Oh great. Elsa put her hand to her temple and rubbed her forehead a bit, When was the last time she had made the snowgies ? Oh yeah, her sisters birthday, when she saw they had the sword, and that it was in the the throne room made her confused. "It was in the throne room ?" She asked confused.
But before Anna could answer, Ulnaus had screeched and divebombed a rat, which didn't stand a chance and compared to the massive eagle, was a flea really. Which prompted Elsa to ask, "Has he been fed recently ?" Either they had to find Ulnaus a horse to munch on, or find a Templar Patrol quick.
Yeah it was dinner time, Anna threw Mark a look, everything was ready for the surprise party for Elsa.
This was going to be the best birthday party ever!
At the question of Ulnaus being fed recently, Mark shrugged. "He feeds himself." he said calmly before catching the look from Anna and smiling. "I'm starving; come let's eat." he said calmly, beginning to walk towards the Castle quickly while Ulnaus pounced on more rodents in the courtyard.
It was when they reached the corner that would lead them to the bridge leading to the castle that Mark came to a stop and reached into his coat. "Now then...Elsa. I'm going to ask you to put this on..." He said calmly; holding a blindfold up from one of his pockets. "Trust me." He gave her a smile. He knew Anna was going to insist as well that Elsa put on the blindfold.
Once it was on, Mark took Elsa by the arm and chuckled. "Now, no peeking, or you'll ruin it." He said. Come to think of it...most of the streets were empty.
When they were almost to the castle when Mark stopped, it was only a few more feet! Why were they stopping ? Wasn't his stomach just making the 'feed me' notice ? Wait, what ? Blindfold ? She cast her gaze to Anna, who impishly nodded.
OK. She let Mark put it on her, then guide her by the arm, she was barefoot, and oddly, even the bridge felt like woodfloor underfoot as Mark lead her along! She trusted he wasn't going to lead her into the fjord, but why was the bridge so smooth ? She couldn't hear anyone else, the occasional shop bell going off as someone was shopping, otherwise all was oddly quiet..
Why was that ?
What was going on ?
These questions were going through her head as they walked along, Mark leading her by the arm, unlike how Anna all but mated Kristoff with a lamppost the year or so before when Elsa thawed out the kingdom.
They came to the castle gates, which were closed but Elsa, with her eyes covered, couldn't tell. As much as she wanted to see where she was going she had to try and figure it out herself, Which didn't work as she had no idea where she was with the blindfold on, which way was north ?
As they stopped at the gates, Mark was sure there was no way she could see anything. "Okay Elsa. The gates are in front of you. Anna and I are going to go through. I want you wait ten seconds, then take off the blindfold and open them yourself." He said calmly, giving her cheek a peck before silently opening the castle gate, and letting Anna through.
"Ten seconds begins...now." he closed the gate and got into his position as the rest of the kingdom eagerly awaited Elsa's opening of the gates.
Ten seconds ? Ten seconds yes she could do that. Oh she wanted to do it sooner. But nevertheless. She counted slowly to ten. One,... two... three... She was somehow confused, five,... six... why count to ten ? Wait what was going on ? Sure it was her birthday and all but... no that couldn't be it they had a picnic on the hill! nine... could it ?... ten!
Elsa removed the blindfold from her head. Mark was right, she stood outside her castle gates. But everything was so eirily quiet. She mentally steeled herself, taking a deep breath. OK, so. she had to open her castle's gates ? What could be so hard about that ? She reached up both hands and gave a gentle push on the gates to open them. a small gust of wind and a Snowgie landed at her feet from atop the castle gate in question, quickly putting himself back together Elsa pushed the gates open the rest of the way after picking up the snowgie.
And stared.
Everyone was waiting, for her.
Everything remained silent for a tense five more seconds before everyone, all at once, shouted "SURPRISE!" and "HAPPY BIRTHDAY YOUR MAJESTY!" at the top of their lungs, fireworks went off, people cheered, Ulnaus Screeched louder than ever before, and Mark stood with a smirk on his face as he stood in the center; one last painting behind him with a silver cloth covering it. He stood with his arms crossed and weight on his left leg as he gave Elsa his signiture smile. His armor glowed beautifully and the lines danced upon its surface.
Once Elsa was close enough he spoke; raising his hand to quiet the cheering people. "We've many gifts left to give you; but this is perhaps the most important in my eyes." He said calmly as he reached back and grabbed the cloth, and with a great pull, revealed the magnificent painting of him and Elsa alone in her dream; connecting their necklaces just before they awoke. The whole thing was perfect; better than what she'd seen in the Dream, even thanks to a secret technique the Royal Painter used that was passed down from Master to Apprentice, and never to anyone else, getting better with each generation.
"Happy birthday, my Queen." He said before giving her a low bow, right hand closed in a fist over his heart, and weight balanced on his feet, which were snapped together. Only later would Mark realize the significance of this bow and gesture.
Seeing everyone in the kingdom packed into the Courtyard for her birthday meant a lot to the young Queen of Arendelle. It was wonderful she had no idea what to say! So Anna ran up, grabbed her sister by the hand, and with some of the citizens of Arendelle, pulled Elsa into the party made for her.
The kingdom rejoiced then, Elsa was too happy to even respond, rather then say anything to the many children, mothers, fathers and teens and elders who wished her a happy birthday, Elsa simply gave them all a hug until she got to Mark.
When Mark revealed the last painting she stared, a hand to her mouth in at first shock, then she smiled as Mark bowed to her, the kingdom stood in awe at the painting, how perfect it was. It was cleaner then her dream for certain! The painting was so beautiful! Exactly how she remmebered it, the necklace she had worn in the dream to unlock it, he just held it up between them!
It was then when she did something nobody expected. She stepped next to Mark, stood him upright, and planted one hell of a kiss on his lips as the kingdom cheered. Out of the corner of Marks eye however three people could he see clearly, his adopted mother, Snowfeather, a smile on her face, and his adopted sisters, Serenity fistpumping happy to finally see her brother get someone wanting him for once.
Elsa spoke softly amid the cheering of her kingdom to Mark, "This is the best birthday ever!" She said happliy while giving him a tight hug
Mark's face turned bright red as Elsa planted that kiss on him, and at first his body language suggested surprise; but it quickly relaxed and embraced Elsa in a hug as he returned the kiss; his face returned to its normal color however quickly before long as Elsa broke the kiss. He smiled and winked to Elsa. "The party's only just begun, my Queen." He said calmly, kissing her forehead gently before speaking up.
"Bring forth the cake!"
With that a team of chefs brought in a massive cake on a cart; decorated with everything they knew Elsa loved; the assassin crest, Arendelle's colors made up the frosting, And a Snowflake adorned the top. Mark drew his Duradaeden sword, the blade gleaming in the light of the courtyard, the edge sharp enough that one could cut themself with a mere graze across their person.
Mark twisted it and held the handle up to Elsa. "Of course, who else but the queen, should cut the first slice?" He asked loudly, which promped another cheer from the kingdom.
"Go on, Elsa... don't cut yourself." He said, adding the last part softly to tease her; and as a warning due to how sharp the blade actually was.
At Marks actions one person was confused, in this case his adopted Mother, Snowfeather, her mouth agape as she watched. "Is he actually gi..." She started to say before one of the two white robed Recruits standing with her, covered her mouth and nodded.
"Yes, he is. This is the safest place in the kingdom." Serena said as her sister removed her hood.
"Besides" Serenity said softly to her mother "With us watching him, who could get close enough to harm him ?"
Snowfeather stared at her younger daughter as Serena removed her own hood. Rather then speak right away she drew both girls into a hug; tomorrow she'd repremand them, but until then. It was a party to be had
Elsa raised an eyebrow, Cake ? They were having a cake too ? Wait, what ? That was the cake ? Elsa stared at the truly massive birthday cake that was brought out. It had a beautiful snowflake on the top, her own design of course, the twelve pointed thing was beautiful atop the cake, which she saw was adorned with the Arendelle colors, and the Assassin's crest, and her corcus flower pattern as well. It was not as elaborate as Anna's birthday cake a few years before, but still. This was well worth it!
She stared at him, he was giving her his sword to cut the cake with ? He rarely let anyone touch the thing! Execept maybe her and maybe Anna ? Elsa couldn't remember, did Anna actually handle the weapon before ? Elsa had picked it up once or twice, but she never actually used it to cut anything. She gave him a look when he said not to cut herself with it. The weapon felt wierd in her hand, oddly so, like it was unbalanced or something, yet it was light as a feather in her hands.
She was to cut the cake ? What about dinner ? So she asked then "Before I cut the cake, what about dinner ? Perhaps I can cut both ?" She meant the huge as hell Horse on the spit nearby that was ready to serve and not yet cut. But if she was to cut the cake, she could do that too.
But when every one cheered at the thought of Elsa cutting the cake and not the dinner, she figured, what the heck, Carefully she took the blade as the cake was brought to a large table. The blade glittered with the firelight around the courtyard, gently she used the tip of the blade to carve a proper slive of cake. The sweet smell of chocolate filled her senses as the blade cut without any force against it into the massive desert leaving faint traces of frosting on the blade tip as she withdrew a slice seated perfectly on the sword's tip.
A somewhat silly thought hit her then, she figured, why not ? "Since I cut the first slice, I think it fitting that Mark gets the first bite ?" She had a broad happy smile on her face as she held the sword towards him, cake and tip first.
Mark was absolutely calm as Elsa held the tip of his weapon towards him; though internally he was freaking out due to how sharp he knew he made the darn thing. He gently reached up and took the piece of cake from the tip of his blade, and with a bow of his head, he took a huge bite of the piece. He savored the piece and swallowed slowly before smiling, and holding up the peice as if in victory. He then offered the side he did not bite from to Elsa; so she could have the second bite.
"I think the chefs have captured literally everything you love; including the flavor, my Queen." he said calmly.
Elsa smiled and held the sword, hilt first, towards Mark, the way she held it though made everyone wonder, why was she holding a sword by its tip and not bleeding ? But with the joy of the party, nobody gave it much thought if that, they were rejoicing too much! Elsa opened her mouth and let Mark feed her the piece he still had left. He was right, the chefs captured everything she loved!
Now it was time for dinner as Elsa's stomach growled loudly! "Could someone be so kind as to feed the Queen ?" Anna called out, hearing the rumble of her sisters stomach, it made Elsa giggle a bit, yeah well, sure could someone feed me ? Elsa thought. Her eyes locking on Mark though she saw out of the corner of her eyes as Kristoff approached Anna with something in his hand
From what Elsa could see, it was a proper engagement ring.
And seeing her sister happy made Elsa smile then. For once, all was right with the world! Elsa though smiled all the more when she heard Anna's happy scream and pretty much frenchkiss Kristoff dead on, though when Elsa later saw the ring on her sisters finger she knew her sister had the right man for her. A man that stood by her to find her! With that thought in her mind, Elsa pulled Mark into a hug as the kingdom cheered, and the dinner, a massive massive horse, was served to everyone present, Apparently there was evne enough left over for breakfast the next day, which made Elsa happy
MEMORY SYNC COMPLETE, SEQEUNCE 5 COMPLETED