Jellicle's Creed
Frozen Memories
Seqeunce 6
Memory 2: The Bird Feeder
22 December 2051
Courtesan Assassin Den
Main Office
Just before dinner
"How can a man be truly happy if he cannot serve his Queen with his whole heart ?"
Bishop Jerimah of Arendelle to Charity Wolfe concerning the marriage of Elsa and Mark
It was eventful to say in the least. The one second they could briefly explore, yet Mark showed up. Unexepcted yes, but, also expected, yet just a matter of inconvient timing was all. Upon returning to the Courteason building Tiri shed her silver hood, her hair was not as long as Elsas own hair, yet it was bright silver, and rarely in a braid. Opening the door she stepped inside, many of the girls recognised her as their 'mom' and let her be, some even recognising Marion as the girl that passed them off for something or someone better. But then it didn't really matter much. Stepping past a girl as some bills where handed to her Tiri headed up a flight of stairs then headed to the office. Chairty awaited news. As she had yet to even visit the Manor she once called home.
Knocking twice on the door Tiri heard Charity within call out for them to come in, holding the door open for Marion to enter before her as another girl arrived, this time with a notice from the castle. It was important. possibly too important, it came directly from Elsa, wanting to speak with the new owner/overseer of the Courteans directly. That meant one thing, either Elsa was going to speak directly to Chairty, and ruin the plan to not tell Mark they were in town, or Tiri had to make do with a proper disguise
Chairty saw Tiri holding more papers in her hands, "More invoices ?" She asked
"You could say that, including a notice from Elsa, she wants to meet one of us, either you or me, in person, tomorrow" Tiri said. She cast her gaze to Charity as she handed over the letter. Oh dear.
Marion sputtered at the thought of Elsa meeting Charity in person. "Um...with Mark always at Elsa's side, her seeing you would likely give him a heart attack; or cause him to kill someone." she said calmly. She sighed and bit her bottom lip. "Tiri...you're the only person here he'd be fine if he saw. If he knew I was alive, he'd do the same thing he would if he found out our mother was alive." she explained.
She sighed, tired and removed her hood and her scarves, plopping down in one of the chairs in front of Charity's desk. "We saw him...by the way. Saw Mark at Wolfe Manor. He was acting a bit strange; said we would need an appointment of all things to go into our own home before it was finished being restored. I dunno mother...I worry about him."
Charity sat the edge of her desk as Tiri broke apart onto the other chair and laid in a pile of ice, a thoughtful hum came from her. Chairty focused on Marion. "You're right. If I go anywhere near the Castle or the Manor itself, your brother will find me, he always could as a child, I never could hide from him in our games before you were born." Charity often remembered teaching Mark how to hide, like a true Assassin, in their own home, and for hours, weeks and months even, they'd play the 'game' of hide and seek. A game that Charity tried to get her son involved in to the point where he'd practice not being seen by any of the staff or extended family itself. By the time Marion was born, Mark was hard, if not very much not the least bit possible, to find, even in plain sight! And he was ifive/i
But that did not matter. As another pressing matter was to be attended to. Marion was tired, and Mark was off, ish... it didnt make sense. Normally even by then Tiri was herself, not a pile of ice glassy blue bones and snowflakes! "Something must have happened today. How did he look to you two ? What did he do, what did he say to you two exactly ?"
Why could they not go into their own home without asking him or Elsa ?
"Well...at first we were alone. But when he found us and took our excuse for being there... he.." she swallowed hard. "He turned to the painting. The... family portrait... of us. I was three. It was months before the attack I think; it's in perfect condition... it..." she choked up and lowered her head, covering her eyes.
"When he first saw us, he... used his Eagle Vision, like Snowfeather had taught him, I had to use my magic to keep him from seeing me as ice. I could feel something off him, something... strange, almost, like I know something about him, who he is, what he is. Something I cant explain." Tiri mused thoughtfully as her icy form coiled on the chair rather then in a pile of ice. "Mark was focused on the painting when he warned us to leave or to return with permission from him or Elsa. He... was focused on you." Tiri explained to Charity, "When he asked us to leave, he mentioned in a absent frame of mind not ot touch anything as we left. There were also marks, like a hand hold or something, in the center of the main hall granite floor, the holes are too large for our hands. Like we'd need a glove or a..."
"... A gauntlet ?" Charity said, standing from the desk she went over to Marion and crouched in front of her chair. "I remember it, it was the only time we had before your father was called away to America; if it were not for Elsa's mother, we would not be here now." She remembered the day clearly as if it played before her again. As it did every year. She had taken the painting and hid it in one of the sealed floorrooms on the second floor. Sealed like a safe, in the floor and ceiling of each room there was a safe, at least one in each bedroom.
But she had to ask. "How far did you get into the Manor ?" the master bedroom was on the second floor, that room held something rather important to all four of them. Well, the three of them now. Shortly after Marion turned three the family had gathered, just the four of them, about a week before the painting was to occur. they had made stuff, as a family, all sorts of little models, planes, deer, little houses, even a miniture garden. Chairty had kept it all in the master bedroom safe. Sealed away.
"We only got in to the foyer. No further." Marion said softly, looking up from her hands as she crossed one leg over the other while she sat, leaning back in the chair as she started to relax. It wasn't too long before the sounds of the working girls pleasing their clients could be heard; though thankfully heavilly muffled. "I don't know how far Mark has gone; but I'm sure he's almost completely restored the manor." she said.
She then sighed. "Now then... which of you will see Elsa? You do both run this place, so you can get away with it; but if Mark were to find out you were here, Mother, I dunno what would happen."
"I will keep the peace here, Mark, as you may have not exactly noticed, didn't take kindly to the girls when they were here before the attack all those years ago, I doubt he'd know where to look." Charity started pacing then thoughtfully. "Tiri will go to see Elsa, she wants you there for dinner according to this, tonight"
"Really ?" Tiri reformed then, almost a exact duplicate of the queen herself but in silver and wild silverwhite hair "I thought it said tomorrow morning ? Ah no matter." This was going to be a very eventful night for sure
"In the mean time, your brother indeed sleeps, as soon as Tiri gets back from dinner with Elsa and more then likely, Mark as well, I want the two of you to sneak into the Manor, find my old bedroom, the safe should still be in there, if it is, use this key to access it." She handed a key cylender about the width of Marion's wrists. "Inside there should be some papers, take them, and make sure Mark never sees them. For now." It was the familes birth records, at least, from the last six or seven generations. Really started since Blackmane was first in Arendelle generations before. "There will also be something in there with a bronzeblack Kudzul J on it. take it as well" Charity said to Marion. they could only sneak into the manor after dark, using eagle vision to see in the darkness.
"Until Tiri gets back however, I want you to be well rested, are you up for it ?" Charity said to her daughter, this was an important mission. all those papers Chairty wanted kept safe, were also important to Elsa's family tree as well, After all, Mark was to be Elsa's bodyguard when he came of age, and Marion was to be Anna's when she came of age as well.
But then another thought hit her. "Besides Mark, did you see anyone else ?"
Marion nodded when it came time to hear her orders. She took mental notes; second floor, master bedroom, find the safe, unlock it. She took the cylinder and stuffed it into one of her pockets in her coat. "Yes, I'm up for it... provided that I can sleep without any of the girls bringing a client into the room." she said calmly, standing. A good nap would do her well. "As for seeing anyone, we saw no one; just Ulnaus, Mark's Eagle. Massive creature pounced on a rat in the courtyard. We also saw the satue of Second Wolfe; our Clan's founder and co-founder of Arendelle." she said.
"Other than that; nothing."
"Use my bedroom, none of the girls have a key to it" Charity said jerking her thumb to the door on the right side of the room, to the left of the desk actually. "I'll have Tiri waken you when she gets back. and you'd better get going, if the Queen sends for you, you best answer. try not to make a fool of yourself"
"Dont I always try ?" Tiri mumbled softly, half there half trying to figure out that weirdness about Mark
"Only sometimes, the last time..." Charity began, bringing up a rather unfortunate event in London concerning a traveling circus
"... How was I supposed to know Ringling Circu wanted me for their freak show ?" Tiri grumbled, they just had to show up and try to grab her, but because she was nothing but ice, they couldn;t keep her contained in a cage or anything of the sort.
"Because you aren't human to begin with..." Charity mused
"Oh stuff it I'll see you after dinner" Tiri rose from the chair she sat in and then headed for the door, tonight was going to be eventful for sure, she forgot to open the door, all but walking into the thing before opening, and slamming into the edge of it before stumbling out. none of the girls in the hall made a sound in her direction though, so that was good. For the most part
Arendelle Castle
Dining Room
Dinner
The exact moment Tiri touched the handhold, the fingerholds to a place unknown for ages, since the establishment of Arendelle to begin with. Elsa saw a room unlike any she had ever seen in her life, black marble lined with green light, like her mothers secret library vault walls, only in this case this room was just to get into a much larger space lined with columns and statues of ancient Queens of Arendelle. She blinked as she saw it, it felt like home ? Oddly homelike actually, the cavernus hall had stairs on either side leading into something, up to a balcony of a sort. Her vision shifted, almost as if she was walking amid that white room as Georgina called it, that space between spaces. Outside of time yet able to view it from all angles.
When her vision finally cleared she saw two people, one of them a woman in beautiful silver, whose face she could not see, but the other took her attention instantly upon sight of the child. The child, a girl, she had wings of beautiful silver scales like a dragon. the child was so full of life, and when Elsa saw her face she stared in shock. She had drawn that same face in her journal, but the woman in silver, who was she ? Why could she not see her face ?
The vision faded as Elsa focused on the fireplace in the castle study, her fathers study. Her mother's study none but her and Mark knew about. Not even Matthew had found out about it. The door opened and Kai stepped in "Yes Kai ?"
"Madam, your guest has arrived, yet Master Wolfe has yet to arrive, shall I entreat her to mingle with the partygoers in the courtyard while we await Master Wolfe ?" Kai asked calmly.
"No, send her in, I will see her in the dining room, if Mark shows up, have him wait for me there as well." She could tell Mark her vision, after dinner, when they had their moment to themselves before seeing to the party goers, it was the third night of the weeklong party, and everyone was looking forwards to the next morning when Mark was going to wake everyone up with all the birds like he did every morning since, well... since she became his student really after Matthew disappeared
But what she did not know was the news, dire news, that Mark had for her concerning her mother.
Mark wasn't far behind Tiri; only a minute or two. He entered the main gate of the castle through the courtyard and blinked; his Eagle Vision automatically activating. He saw footprints he didn't recognize heading towards the castle. "Whose..." He mouthed, following them. They were heading towards where Elsa was to meet him and someone else for Dinner. He narrowed his eyes and summoned his armor once out of sight of the general population. For a second he took a moment to reflect on his appearance. Aside from his messy hair and fatigued look, he looked alright. His armor, mostly bronze aside from his Left Gauntlet, which was older than he could dream, looked normal as far as he could see. The left gauntlet was a more blackish color; evidence of the age of the metal work, yet it worked still.
"That trail..."
It was the voice and presence Mark had sensed earlier during his meditation. It sounded more gravely though; or longing...it was hard to discern. Mark continued to follow it and caught up to the source: Tiri, just as she was led into the dining room by Kai. In the second that he had, Mark focused his Eagle Vision as hard as he could to see who she was. The Assassin he'd sent from his home back to her den? Or at least, one of them...
"No...it can't be her..."
Mark dropped to a knee and gripped at his forehead again in pain, his pupils shifting from their usual circles to reptilian slits again.
In the study Elsa felt a migrane ram into her like a loaded fright ship. Icicles it hurt! Reaching to her head she rubbed gently, please, dont go full blown headache, just a gentle OW! Nope, Elsa bit her lip as she struggled to keep from screaming in pain, it looked like something hard was hurting, briefly, very briefly she saw the egg, it had to be an egg, the same thing she had shown Mark from her journal, but this time it looked much more real, as if... the vision faded, the headache slowly fading as well, it still pounded, but not as strong. Icicles that hurt.
She looked around the study, it was just her, surrounded by old books and paperwork and other things, the fire burned brightly. OK, what just happened ?
Tiri was lead into the diningroom, she felt eyes on her but never turned to look, the gaze felt oddly, strangely familar, almost hauntingly so. oh dear. She had no idea how to react, but something did not feel right, if that. Once inside the dining room she went to the window and looked out, ahh, so pretty, she barely remembered seeing Arendelle from the diningroom window! It looked out over the kingdom's port and docks district and the Fjord beyond! So peaceful, so... puzzle like oddly so.
After a moment of gaining his strength Mark stood and let out a deep breath, raising his hood as he deactivated his Eagle Vision, and his pupils returned to normal. He walked to the door and opened it, looking once more to Tiri as he entered the room, his armor vanishing slowly from his body, all except anyway, for his left gauntlet. He took a seat across from Tiri and leaned back in the chair, clawed hand lightly scratching at his bearded chin while he waited for Elsa to enter the room.
"She doesn't look quite the same anymore."
Mark idly turned his head, thinking he'd be able to see the source of the voice he heard beside him. Briefly he saw a man in a white robe sitting in the chair beside him, looking lovingly towards Tiri. But with a bllink he was gone, and Mark bit his bottom lip. Did Tiri see that? The man was right there.
Mark licked his lips and drank from the goblet of wine Kai had poured for him, taking a sip to calm his nerves for the time being.
"It seems permission or otherwise is to be obtained tonight ?" Tiri said softly, her tone the exact same as the first time she and Mark had first met only twenty or so minutes before, her face still covered the Icewraith focused on the outside of the diningroom window as the sun slowly set. Bathing the room in a warm glow. "Wouldn't you think ?" What was Mark trying to see about her anyhow ? She turned to face Mark, never seeing the man in white that he had seen. her face covered, even if uncovered he'd not really fully recognise her right off as Elsa, but in silver ? no Elsa wore ice... red at the moment. The hooded woman at the window smiled behind her mask in the silver shadows of her hood. "You seem troubled. Pray tell Mentor, what troubles you ?"
It was at that moment when the door opened and Elsa stepped in when Tiri felt it briefly, a connection to Elsa unlike any other; one that felt... sisterly. She couldn't put her finger on it yet, but soon she'd figure it out. But until then she went quiet as Elsa entered the dining room and closed the door behind her. Looking to the silver dressed woman Elsa seemed oddly confused, yet also happy. "You are the woman in charge of the Courtesans building ?" Elsa asked, for the moment not noticing Mark as he sat in the chair directly in front of her, the high backed seat made it hard for her to see him.
It was then Elsa noticed something right off. The woman in the room with her, was dressed in silver. Her face unseen. and as much as Tiri wanted to be seen by Elsa, to see Elsa one one one, without covering her face, it was too risky, too soon. Something told her, too soon to show her face to her... twin sister ? Now where in the name of all the broken ice on the Fjords did that come from ? Elsa her twin sister ? Impossible!
Unless...
Mark's gauntleted hand gripped the arm of the seat, claws digging into the wood as his eyes shifted once more. Mark placed his wine glass down with a startled grunt as something fought hard to escape his throat; something...unnatural. Not him. The strange voice that Mark kept hearing screamed to let him speak in his head, and eventually took control of Mark's throat for a second; long enough to spout the words:
"Xeir Zith!"
Before Mark covered his mouth and gasped for air, taking control of his own body again. What the hell was going on? Everything ached; and Mark felt the presence of the man behind him again, sitting with his back to Mark's as he chuckled. "If that don't wake her up... I'll have to try again."
The room went deathly silent, Tiri seemed indifferent to what just happened, behind the silver shadows she raised a pale eyebrow towards Mark, OK... that was different... But it was Elsa she saw clearly that had the most reaction, her hands to her ears closing her eyes, once again the headache returned full blast. A single word on the wind was felt more then heard. A soft whimper of a question really. It was soft, only those it was meant for could hear it. "Kaldakava ?"
Elsa lowered her hands from her ears, it felt oddly stuffy in the dining room just then, like it needed either fresh air or made larger. But she did not want to do any reconstruction, so instead she flicked her wrist, snowflakes flung from her fingertips and opened the windows behind the woman in Silver. Ahhhhh. fresh air, perfect, now it felt... much better. Elsa then asked the question on their minds. "What just happened ? Mark ?!" She went to the table, seeing him there, the poor guy looked a wreck!
She stood next to him, reaching to him, the presence of Xeir Zith however was still in the room, but... not awake, not yet. "Are you alright, what happened ? I went to see you, but I met up with Snowfeather, I wanted to ask you something in private, tonight I normally go see my parents memorial stones, I want you to come with me. After everyone leaves tonight from the third night" Maybe a change of topic could be of help ? But the stillness of the room, even with the windows open, and the small voice on the wind, across the kingdom another heard the small voice upon the wind. Bright eyes seemed to glow as a smile graced the face of trhe owner of those eyes. he recognised the small voice. it was almost time.
Elsa briefly turned her gaze to Tiri, who still stood by the windows. The woman in silver, whose face Elsa couldn't see, seemed to just stand there, like a statue, "Do I know you ?"
"You should" Tiri replied calmly, "You summoned me, one of my girls had your summons waiting for me when I got back to my Den in the Talos District" Tiri explained. "Was there something you wanted ?"
"For this moment, yes, I wanted to see you. But now, I want to see to Mark, but, if I can see you after breakfast tomorrow ?" Elsa said
The hooded woman nodded. the hood bobbed a bit. "Yes, I can come to you or, if you want you may come to me. You may let me know later. For now I've important business to attend to." With Elsa seeing to Mark that gave Tiri and Marion the prime time to get Charity's orders completed at the Wolfe Manor. "I take my leave." with a bow the woman stepped past Elsa, and in doing so Elsa thought she saw past the silver shadows, and very briefly saw a pair of bright silver sapphire eyes, like her own, staring right back at her., but just as briefly as she saw those eyes, they were gone, was she looking in a mirror ?
Tiri left the diningroom, leaving Mark and Elsa alone, once outside the castle she headed for the Courtesan building by rooftop, once far enough from the castle and closer to the courtesans, did she stop for a bit of rest. She too felt the voice on the wind, Now she somewhat knew why Mark felt so... familar. It made her nervous. But only slightly so.
As Tiri left, Elsa turned her attention back to Mark.
Arendelle
Wolfe District
Ten minutes later
After leaving the castle, it was eventful, Tiri had to talk to Marion, to figure out something important, the only prtonblem was, they had a task for Charity they had to attend to! Once in the darkness Tiri shattered into ice shards and slithered off into the backalleys and through gardens unseen as the next leg of the party was underway. It was important that the Icewrath not be seen by passerby or people of the kingdom as a whole, but alas that could not truly be helped as she came upon several patrols of Templars in one of the distrcts between the Wolfe District and the Marketplace and Roughwater Districts. Finally she made it to the place she and Marion were to meet. However there were a group of Templars already there.
She'd have to clean these men away, or at least figure friend from foe.
She did not have long to wait as it was clear these men were Assassin Recruits returning from a mission and were in fact looking for her as they were told to report to her, or to Georgina. And since they were unable to find the Roughwater Assassin, they instead met up with Tiri and gave their report on Templar movements within the kingdom. So far none of the Assassin's were able to recover or even locate the stolen ten billion gold
"What is the report ?" Tiri asked upon recognising the two foursome as Assassin recriuts
"The missing gold is not in Arendelle, if it is, he'd find it. Otherwise its too far gone, somewhere else not in the city or outlaying farms." Said one
"Well, have we noticed anyone being slightly richer in regards to what they currently possess, a nice home, new furnishings, prettier clothing ?" Tiri asked softly never revealing her face, only her silver eyes were seen behind a cloth mask.
"No, none that we can see, we're searching all the liberated distrcts" Said another recruit
"That may be the reason the gold is unfound. Liberate another district... wait. I will have Diana do it, go find the Roughwater Den and speak to the Den Master there. She will take care of things" Tiri said dismissing the four men, allready thinking in her mind iNever take a gamble without being ready to lose/i And she was ready to gamble, but lose ? Nah, she wasn't born for that. But something still bugged her, swiftly shattering again she slithered closer to where Marion waited and reformed next to her friend.
"We may have a problem finding that gold" Tiri said softly, but first thing was first. If someone had announced it they'd have a slew of old friends and distent realtives flooding them like old debt collectors, having the tendancy to turn up when you least wanted them. Then again the paranoia already floating in the Brothel concerning Charity never able to leave and Marion faking her name to go out and about and get so close to Mark in the first place made Tiri smile and remember something from the Ancient Days. iParanoia is a very comforting state of mind, if you think they're out to get you, it means you think you matter to someone/i Sadly, at this moment, both Charity and Marion mattered to the Templars. Which was why Charity now oversaw the Brothel, and Tiri went out with Marion desguised as a Silver Assassin
Before Marion could speak Tiri said softly. "it concerns your brother."
Oh dear
Marion blinked. "Mark? What's he done this time?" She asked calmly. Her voice sounded a tad bit muffled behind her scarf-hidden face, but it helped her hide who she was from anyone who wanted to know, and wasn't on that need-to-know basis. Like Mark.
"It is more of what he... said" Tiri said thoughtfully. "Though the voice in which he spoke... did not sound like him, if at all." She explained the weird sound to Marks voice, like that of an older yet more experienced man when Elsa entered the dining room, and of how Elsa reacted to such a name, as if she had a massive headache "I fear of what may happen should they be seperated for any length of time, Elsa also seemed to favor her right arm as well" Tiri sighed then "But until I can figure out what the connection is exactly, we have other things to attend to" like the missing gold. Ten billion of it at that, hidden somewhere in Arendelle. Plus finding what Marions mother wanted them to look for.
"I dunno...He's never done that before...Maybe it was a freak accident?" Marion shrugged, looking to her long-time friend. She sighed. She didn't know anything of Elsa's left or right hands to be certain; truth be told she wasn't even sure if Elsa was left or right handed as she'd never payed attention to that aspect of the Queen...
Might not want to tell anyone that.
"You're right though...any ideas where that Gold might be? That could fund a lot of things for a long time; it just depends on who gets it." she said calmly.
"Well, as of now only the liberated districts have been searched, we need to liberate a few more before we can search further, I sent two recruits to Georgina for further orders. Lets get what your mother sent us to your manor for first before worrying of any liberating." Best case scenario they only had to worry of traps set up behind those sealed doors. Tiri nodded towards the darkened Manor's side door they were closest to "Any movement ?"
Marion shook her head. "None; just Ulnaus who occasionally flies by, sits for a few minutes, then leaves." She explained. "If we get in now, we'll have a chance, any later and we'll have to wait another five minutes for him to fly off." With that she headed for the door of the manor, moving quickly as a speck became visible in the darkened sky - Ulnaus was coming quickly.
Tiri was in step with Marion, she sensed Ulnaus not far away and getting closer, possibly on patrol or the like. Using her own unquie style of Eagle Vision Tiri could see Ulnaus flight path of his patrol, at the very last second she ducked into a flowerpot loaded with snow, the perfect cover as Ulanus flew over her and perched on the other side of the massive statue. Not looking her way for the moment at least. Swiftly ducking from the pot Tiri headed for the door and slithered her icy form inside without a sound before reforming.
They were inside
Outside Tiri heard the rumble of far off thunder. Or was it really thunder ? Considering what Mark did earlier that day... it was possible that something else was rumbling, But seeing the dark clouds coming, it was to rain... turn into snow as well. The perfect getaway cover. Turning to Marion she nodded, giving Marion the lead. After all, she was raised for six years or so in that same house
Marion had managed to get inside before Tiri did, though did risk Ulnaus seeing her. Luckily he didn't as his eyes were fixed on another rat that scampered through the lawn of the Manor. As he moved to pounce it, Tiri had joined Marion. She looked to her Ice-Wraith friend and smiled softly. She heard the rumble of the thunder, almost felt it, too, and smiled more. "Perfect...come on, let's go." She nodded, heading towards the stairs. The Master Suite wouldn't be on the first floor, perhaps the second or third. Not the top, though...she knew it wouldn't be at the top for some reason.
Gut feeling? Ancestral memory? Likely the latter. "You check the second floor, I'll check the third, if you find the Master Bedroom, let me know; it'll probably have something with those five finger-holes again in it. I'll wager that's the safe my mother wants."
Tiri nodded "You think it is safe for us to split up ? Some of thse doors may be locked, and last I knew, unless you drank a potion or got visited by a witch or something, you cant shatter like me" The icewraith explained thoughtfully, however it made sense as they climbed the stairs to the second floor. Most of the doors were wide open to begin with, and one or two rooms had lights on where men were still working. All of them Assassins. One or two doing plumbings or tile work in a bathroom or two.
Tiri quickly shifted to her natural form then, "If I find it, what do I do ? Whistle or something ?" How was she to let her friend know she found what Charity sent them for in the first place ? This place was huge! easily drawfing the Brothel alone! though not as large as the Castle itself, it was still a big Mansion. Or rather more like a massive courthouse, which in some areas of the ground it kinda was at some point
"Come find me when you find the room, if you find it." She said calmly. What they'd do after they found it and and found the safe. If it truly did have the five finger lock, as Marion decided it should be called for sake of time, how would they open it? Only Mark's gauntlet could open it, and he had control over it completely. This would be interesting.
She walked up the next flight of stairs and began her search. Most of the rooms were simply sitting rooms or bathrooms. Minor Bedrooms, libraries, etc. For the life of her though she couldn't find the Master Bedroom.
Tiri nodded and started off down the hall as Marion went up. Going room to room, if the door was closed, and locked, she easily shattered and flit under the door seam at the floor before looking about, then unlocking the door, and closing it behind her. The icewraith never saw the snowman go up the stairs after Marion. But she did hear his voice echo through the place with a sudden iFLURK/i "WHOA HEADRUSH!" As the snowman, Olaf, walked carrot nose first into Marion's left knee.
In the second floor bathroom that Tiri stood near a voice called out "Hey did you hear something ?"
"Maybe, sounded like that Snowman, what was his name again, O something or other ?" said the second man
"You mean that harmless thing that wanders around chasing butterflies in the middle of winter ?"
"Yeah"
"Get back to work stupid, we heard nothing!"
Marion hopped back and took a quick fighting stance towards Olaf at first before realizing what he was. "A...Snowman?" She blinked and tilted her head slightly, furrowing her eyebrows..She'd heard the stories of Elsa creating life...but they were true? This...this was a lot to take in.
"Who-...what are you?" She asked.
"Just a second" Olaf said holding up a stick hand, he took off his own head, hit the back of it a few times on the floor, then nearly dropkicked it down the stairs just to get his nose to look right before putting it back on. "There, that's better, Lets try this again shall we ? I'm Olaf! And I like warm hugs!" He held his arms out ready for a hug, but none were immediately forthcoming so he gaving Marion a confused look as he stood there at maybe a third her hieght.
Well that explained his name, not what he was, or who made him, but hey he at least said his name to her! So that was good right ?
Marion raised a hand in denial of the hug; not wanting nor needing one at the moment. "W-what can I do for you...Olaf?" she resisted the urge to just leave and return to the brothel and tell her mother that she couldn't find anything, or head to a pub and get shitfaced-drunk.
"Also...the name's Mar-...Diana. Can you help me find the Master Bedroom?" she asked.
"Pleasure to meet you Diana!" Apparently the fact that she said her name too quickly and seemingly made no error in telling the snowman her name, Olaf naturally thought her name was Diana dead off the bat. Which in all things was a good thing. He nodded. "yeah why ?" He simply asked, why did she want to find the main bedroom in the place ?
On the other side of the property a silver haired man stealthly climbed the ornate fencing that marked off the formerly intricate lawns that designated the area as a private backyard.
Marion under the guise of Diana smiled. "Oh, I've been sent to give Master Wolfe an estimate on how much it would cost to return the room to its former glory, that the next Master of the house may use it." She smiled, lying through her teeth like rehearsed this a million times. Olaf seemed incredibly guillable, she'd use that to her advantage.
"Oh ? OK!" Olaf all but screamed and started off at a very cute very fast waddle before missing a step and falling down the stairs in half a dozen pieces "I'm OK! I'm OK! OW I'm not Ok!" that last part was rather muffled as his own butt smotherd his head. "Why is my butt in my mouth ?"
Tiri stared from where she stood as Olaf fefll into view. The heck ? Talking snowman ? Was that even possible ? Before she could move though the bathroom door opened and one of the workmen stepped out looking for what was making the noise. Spotting Olaf he never saw Tiri duck behind the nearby badly in need of repair painting next to the bathroom door. "Oh, hello Olaf, You haven't by chance seen anybody in here besides us right ? We're almost done with this bathroom. Dont let anyone in here when we leave so the floor can set properly." Oh who was he kidding, Olaf was a SNOWMAN for crying out loud, but yeah, Olaf was good at following orders, to a point.
Olaf of course was going to say he did find somebody, in this case Diana, but he was unsure to say anything, thankfully his own butt kept him from saying anything whatsoever as the workman smile when Olaf gave him a thumb up, yeah he could follow that order pretty well. The workman smiled and went back into the bathroom to finish laying the tile for the floor
Tiri stepped from behind the ruined painting and went to the stairs to the landing between floors and knelt next to Olaf, of coursed the snowman thought briefly that Tiri was Elsa and nearly screamed her name before she clamped a hand on his mouth to keep him quiet before he quietly asked "Why are you wearing silver... why wont my arms move ? Where'd my butt go ?"
Turning to Marion she asked softly, "Made a new friend I see ?"
Marion nodded softly. "Indeed; he can lead us to the Master Bedroom." she said calmly. She then set about helping Olaf rebuild himself quietly. "Olaf, this is Tiri, think of her as a secret sister to Elsa that she musn't know about, understand?" She asked sweetly, smiling a charming smile that was almost trademarked by the Wolfe Clan. Mark used it mostly when speaking to Elsa, when he did smile around her anyway. It was a sort of sign that said "You can trust me, don't worry about a thing."
Little did she know that this smile went back as far back as Second Wolfe, who used it first when raising his own children, and then when reassuring the Queen of Arendelle in her decisions. Almost every Queen had her own Wolfe; the two families were entwined so thuroghly that one would rarely see a member of the royal family without a member of the Wolfe Clan nearby. Silent protectors, best friends, occasionally lovers, even. Thus was the cycle in which the families lived. Always paired up as babies and raised together as siblings, as friends.
The bond was so strong that even when both families dwindled, as they did now; it was still never broken. Never fully. Elsa had Mark, which meant that Marion would be theoretically destined to be best of friends with Anna. However that would have to come later; after all this snooping around was done. When she could reveal herself to Mark and not fear what his reaction might be. When the Wolfe's were finally home.
"Its a snowman... a talking snowman. Tell me I'm not seeing things ?" Tiri mumbled softly watching as Marion helped Olaf put himself back together. "You're making a talking snowman, this isn't Frosty the Snowman, no hat, just talki... wait... Oh boy..." Tiri's trail of thought faltered as she realised what was going on. Elsa's magic had truly become enchanted enough to make and create breathing life! With that realisation in her mind she thoughtfully pointed a finger, "Two problems I see with this. one, its a snowman. And two, its a snowman that thinks I am the Queen... And three, why is there something tickling me in the butt ?" Reaching then looking to where she was kneeling she found Olaf's left hand and arm.
"AHA! I wondered where that went! Could you stick it back on me please, I kinda need it" Olaf said seeing his arm in Tiri's hand. Odd, her hands felt soft, like Elsa's hands, only, seemed more experienced. Tiri stuck the arm where it belonged. "Ah thanks, now, let me try this again, I'm Olaf and I like warm hugs!... Its a pleasure to meet the two of you!" He nodded to Marion's question to keep the secret. To which he simply said "Yeah, why ?" as in, yes I can keep the secret, but why ?
Tiri rolled her eyes and then rubbed her forehead, this was gonna be a long afternoon for sure.
Arendelle Memorial Garden
Royal Memorial Stones
At that same moment
Mark's armor had deteriorated until it was just his coat again; the headache he was getting from having such an extended proximity to that much Duradaeden was taking an effect, and he needed to be fully aware of his surroundings when around Elsa. Presently he held her hand as they approached the grave stones of her parents. Back at the palace, Elsa'd been kind enough to give him another ribbon with which he could tie his hair back with.
Mark's eyes held an iron resolve to them at the moment, but at the same time the look of a man deeply and helplessly in love with the girl with whom he held hands with at the moment. His gaze turned to her and he smiled gently. "These stones...any guesses as to what they're made of?" he asked gently. He could easilly look it up in the Arendellian library, but he wondered if Elsa knew; and at present he did not know. If he had to guess, it'd be some sort of Granite or Limestone. Perhaps even Quartz, based on the faint shine each one seemed to have.
Elsa had walked hand in hand with Mark, to where her parents were laid to rest. the strange black stones, never weathered even with age, glittered bright, like smooth marble. "I do not know. I know only that Anna had picked the stones out for Mother and Father for their funeral. I... did not attend, I was too scared of hurting anyone with my magic at the time. But just between us, When night fell, I wanted to be with Mother. So I... snuck out of the castle and spent some time here." Elsa said softly, almost as if ashamed for having snuck out of her own home just to visit her parents graves alone.
"Is it important of what the stones are made from ?" She asked out of the blue. She wanted to ask him who Xeir Zith was, but felt better to wait, Mark looked a wreck at the time and she prefered him to be more proper. Besides, his being with her made things, at least for her, much better. Elsa turned and looked over the kindom, her kingdom. "If only mother could see the work I am doing, the work we are doing, bringing life back to Arendelle" She mused softly as a multicolored bird alighted upon her mothers memorial stone. It was a Macaw
Mark didn't answer as to the importance of what the Stones were made of; Elsa would come to reaslize that on her own soon enough; the importance of burial stones and what they be made of. What instead caught Mark's attention now was the Macaw. He smiled. "Ah, it's Kai's favorite bird..." he said softly. Strangely enough, birds from around the world had begun to come to Arendelle; for what reason only Mark knew, and he wasn't keen on telling anyone just yet. He clicked his tongue a few times; the Macaw let out a small squawk and moved to land on his outstretched arm, which was in front of Elsa.
"Meet Henry." Mark said softly as the lovely bird began to preen himself after letting out a small squawk and sort of bow to Elsa. "He's a Macaw; normally from South America." he explained calmly.
Elsa's eyes went wide as the bird, possibly one of the most beautiful birds she had ever seen in her life aside from the aboslute massive Ulnaus, came to rest upon Marks open hand, and very close to her own as well, when the bird gave a sort of bow towards her Elsa smiled, gently she reached up a hand, the Macaw, known to her now as Henry, briefly looked to her hand, and knowing she was gentle, let her rug her finger gently against his stomach of a sort. The feathers felt... interesting to be honest. "He's beautiful. I think I have seen him outside my window every morning recently, or maybe in the courtyard, with you feeding them all ?"
She then went slightly thoughtful as yet another bird alighted on her mothers memorial stone, this one a beautiful white Cocatoo. "How many birds did you bring along ?" She was normally used to seeing homing pigeons that the Recruits used to get their orders and to give orders. the white cocatoo gave off a brief squak and then flapped over to land upn Elsa's iced over hand without leaving injury on her. and began preening. Elsa was nervous, this was the closest she had ever been to such a beautiful creature in her life as long as she could remember!
Mark only smiled at Elsa's wonder. As she brought up him feeding the birds every morning, a sort of blush appeared on his face and he looked to her. "You...you saw me doing that?" he was confused. At the ungodly hour he did that, he was sure that no one was awake! Hell, half the time even he wasn't fully awake! He blinked a few times before the Cocatoo landed on Elsa's hand. "Ah! Petunia! What did I tell you about startling me!?" Mark scolded.
This prompted a Squawk and a "It's not nice!" from the bird. Along with a few "Pretty bird!" 's from the bird's mouth. Mimicry was strange, but at the same time the bird had listened and even responded to Mark. He truly could communicate with them...strange; but also alluring. Since his presence in Arendelle, and his increased activities as guard to Elsa; there'd been an increase in all types of birds, predator and prey alike. LIkely they were spies, with Mark using them to stay informed.
Ulnaus was king of them all, however; what with his absolutely massive, almost car-like size now he could kill anything he wanted; and not a damn thing could stop him. In fact, when he flew over the kingdom, one knew he was coming; the ever present dot that flitted around the sky gracefully was always on patrol. Always watching.
A sudden SQUAK! from above as a bird slammed into Marks head and hung on, only to hang in front of his face, a yes, the Goner, a Gooney Bird, could fly perfectly great, but lord alone knows why they couldn't land worth shit whatoserver as a Seagull landed perfectly atop Marks left shoulder saying simply "Mine..." as in, "bad news"
Elsa didn't notcie the newest arrivals right away as she nodded to Mark, "Yes, It woke me up this morning, but, I did not see you in the courtyard, the birds were all there but... you weren't ?" It didn't make much sense to her, but the good thing was, he was with her now, and they had a... Ok that was a new one. Elsa stared, as did Petunia, at the Gooney Bird, known only as Goner, hanging on Marks head squaking like crazy and a Seagull saying "mine" whatever that meant "Uh Mark... you have a... bird hanging from your hair" Elsa said, stating the blatantly obvious.
Mark only sighed, and nodded, grabbing the bird and placing it on his right shoulder. "Indeed I do..." he shook his head. He gently raised his arm and the Macaw flew off to Elsa's own shoulder, gently perching before continuing with his preening. Mark sighed once more, and looked around.
"The air...It's so pure here. I love it., so much clearer than Cairo." he said calmly.
Elsa barely felt when the macaw landed and then settled upon her shoulder. The Seagul however made her smile, it seemingly said one word over and over, "Mine" what did it mean ? So she ventured a simple question "What is it saying ?" Not knowing that Mark himself had no clue as the Gooney Bird, Goner, continued squaking madly, flapping his arms and then suicide diving, of a sort, out of Marks hands to land on the ground in a heap before getting back to his feet and flapping his wings to tangle once more on Marks head before flopping onto his shoulder. All the while the Seagul tried to translate what the Gooney Bird was saying, but nobody could understand Goner or Bob, so it was up in the air what they were saying
"You mean the air is not as crisp as it is in your town ?" She naturally thought Mark lived in Cario all his life, even though his family had a Mansion, an entire DISTRICT for pity's sake, named after them, it was hard not to. She'd have asked more had Henry not suddenly fallen off her shoulder, leaving some perch Marks of his talon feet briefly before she managed to catch the poor bird, who had a little dart sticking out of his butt. Just above his tail feathers.
uh oh
"MINE!" Squaked the Seagull in warning on deaf ears
Mark had no idea what the bird was saying. "No clue," he responded. As the bird flopped to the ground with a dart out of its ass, Mark blinked. What? Mark flinched and moved his hands to his ears as the Seagull squawked loudly. "Get outta here already!" He grumbled to the seagull, waving an arm at it. Then he looked back to the Gooney Bird, and at the dart. He blinked and his eyes widened, and he moved quickly, stepping in front of Elsa as his body began to glow, his armor slowly coming into view as he shoved his way in front of her, arms extended to provide maximum blockage.
Unfortunately it was not fast enough, Elsa focused on Henry, out cold from the dart didn't dare try to remove the thing, How could she fent she felt something like a fly bite her in the neck ? The last thing she heard was a sudden loud, very angry SQUARK! as Petunia took off at Marks command, news to be had for sure! as out of nowhere another dart came flying. Dead for Mark as Elsa fainted dead away, leaning heavily on Mark as her eyes closed, her ice fadeing from her hand as she lost all motor control.
Stupid CIA, was all she could think before darkness took her and she hit the ground.
Mark turned his head as Elsa leaned against him; but then he felt his own prick against his neck, and he blinked, his armor falling away. "Trust me, boy." the voice of that...man? Thing? Man...echoed in his mind. "I'll wake you when needed." Mark didn't exactly have a choice then, and as his hand went to his neck, he glared as his visiion began to fade. The CIA agents stared at them unfeeling through their sunglasses.
Mark's hand closed into a fist as he fell face-first into the grass; Elsa landing on top of his body.
Five men stepped into view. Two of them seemingly from nothing but thin air. "Gotta hand it to the guys in Oslo, they know their technology." The leader of the group said, "Bag them both, the parrot too. They all got info we need." And hopefully my ticket back home. The leader of the group thought seeing the man under the woman as they were both out cold. It was too good to be true really, but it worked.
"What about the bird that flew off Boss ?" Said one
"You mean the Gooney ? Leave it, cant land worth a fuck, so we're good, besides, who'd understand a bird like that ?" Said another of the group
"Pipe down, leaved the other birds alone, take only what we shot, we're on a budget here and the boys in Langley are getting restless." The leader replied, Marcus sometimes hated his job so much.
"Only what they shot meant," The woman, the guy, and the parrot.
As the men picked up Elsa, and then Mark, who even without his armor weight easily twice as much as Elsa, the Gooney Bird watched it all. With him was the Seagull, The two birds watched, then looked at each other, "Goners" Said the gooney bird, "Mine ?" Replied the seagull.