Rifiuto: Non Miriena

A/N: Written: 2019 - Licia

You had nearly... nearly... if either of you had moved another inch, you would have...

She let out a growl of annoyance as she continued her pacing. The warmth in her belly hadn't receded, nor had the blush on her cheeks; if anything, it had gotten worse after she'd fetched Yelena and Vanja. The women had simply stared at her after she'd relayed her information, both noting with tiny smiles tugging at their lips the flustered look in her eyes, the tinge to her cheeks, the restless movement of her hands, but neither had said a word.

They'd followed her to the hut, and once there, Elsa had turned and booked it across the camp, needing air. She'd fled to the river, calling for the Nokk, who had shown up eagerly, anxious for a ride. Briefly, she'd considered going back to Ahtohallan, but then she remembered that the box was still in her bag back in her hut. She still needed to ask Hans about the box. So, instead, she'd frosted the Nokk and then climbed atop, allowing the feel of the wind on her face to calm her as they took off to the south, away from the camp...

Towards Arendelle.

It wasn't her intention to go to Arendelle, she just needed to get away, to be far enough from the Northuldra and Hans to clear her head. And the Nokk, sensing her distress, had heeded her unspoken command. When she'd looked up next, it was in surprise, to see the gates of Arendelle approaching. They raced through the gates, startling the townspeople out and about; shouts of surprise and delight filled the air, but she paid them no mind.

"It's the Snow Queen!"

"Queen Elsa!"

"She's come back to us!"

"Oh, she's grown quite lovely, hasn't she?"

"She looks so much like her mother, rest Queen Iduna's soul-"

"Queen Elsa, wait for us!"

She ignored the gaggle of children chasing after them; a man pulling a cart blocked their path, but the Nokk, unlike a regular horse, didn't spook. Instead, it leapt cleanly over the cart; the cape about her shoulders waved in the wind, as the citizens watched. Without a word, the horse turned, headed for the royal stables.

Kirstoff looked up at the sound of hoof beats, surprised to find the Nokk, with Elsa sitting atop, out of breath. "Elsa? What... not that I'm not glad to see you, but... what are you doing here?"

She opened her mouth to speak, but waved a hand, attempting to gather her thoughts. He hurried towards her, taking her waist and helping her down. She didn't protest. Without a word, she turned to the Nokk and nodded to it; the horse trekked into the stable, Elsa following with Kristoff behind her. "Are you here to see Anna?"

"No." Her voice was soft, breathy. "I'm here to see you."

One blonde eyebrow rose. "Me?"

She nodded. "Did you get my letter?"

"I did. I'm sorry I didn't respond; I wasn't sure what to say." She took a deep breath, sitting down on a bench; he joined her, concern filling his gaze for his future sister-in-law. "Is it true? Is Hans really-"

"Yeah, he is." She sighed, tugging her hair over her shoulder and nervously plaiting and un-plaiting it. "He was... exiled, six months ago from the Southern Isles, made his way up north, fell in with a group of gypsies. They got caught making camp in Konalmir land, and the camp was destroyed. Bandits, but I have a feeling the bandits were sent by the Konalmir tribe. He was badly wounded, and he's been with the Northuldra,recuperating in my hut for the last..." She stopped, realizing she'd actually lost track of how long he'd been with them. "Give or take two weeks."

Kristoff whistled low in amazement. "That's... wait, why did you write to me then?"

She sighed, standing. The Ice Harvester watched in silence as the young woman began to pace, a soft growl escaping her throat. "Because maybe a week ago, when I took an empty bowl from him, our hands brushed, and he's been staring at me like he's trying to... to figure out my weakness... and then today, after I checked his ribs and redressed them, I looked up and we... we nearly... our faces were..."

It was then that Kristoff realized what Elsa had trouble saying. His eyes widened in surprise, and he struggled to think of something to say, not that Elsa noticed. She had moved to a rant, barely slowing down to catch her breath.

"And when I returned to Ahtohallan last week after our hands touched... I felt sick... like... like there was fluttering in my stomach..."

"Butterflies?"

She looked up at him, surprised. A moment passed, before she returned to her pacing. "And then today... it was back, that... that weird... warmth in my stomach... and I... I couldn't stop flushing..."

"You're still pretty flushed, Elsa, and I don't think it's from the ride."

Her pacing stopped, and she turned to him, reaching up and pressing her palms to her cheeks. They were indeed warm in a most unnatural way, and she swallowed. Kirstoff watched with silent amusement as a range of emotions passed over her face. It was completely evident to him what was going on-

"Maybe I need to talk to Grand Pabbie about this-" He stood, hurrying to Elsa as she conjured a set of ice reigns and a bridle and slung them over the Nokk, who waited patiently for her.

"Elsa-"

"- he'll know what to do. He'll know how to stop this, whatever this is. Whatever... gypsy magic Hans has cast-"

It surprised him that the first conclusion Elsa's overthinking, overly logical, black and white mind came up with was magic. She clearly hadn't been getting enough rest. She climbed back up onto the Nokk's back, and he grabbed her wrist.

"Elsa!" She turned back, meeting his gaze. Silence settled between the two for several minutes, before he finally spoke again. "Elsa, come here." Without waiting, he took her waist, gently helping her from the horse. The material of her dress- smooth, beautiful ice crystals woven together to create something akin to silk- was cool against his warm hands, but he didn't release her. He needed to keep her attention, to make her understand that she had nothing to fear. Her hands, that had rested against Kristoff's shoulders as he'd lifted her down, remained as she met his gaze.

"What's wrong with me, Kristoff?" Her voice was soft, small, frightened; a child afraid of the dark. He could see the wheels turning in her head- that brilliant mind she was known for, the way she was able to figure out solutions to problems in only a few moments, or balance budgets without having to check her math repeatedly, or could draw on the great written works to shape her reign to the best advantage for her people- and he half feared they would rust themselves solid if she didn't stop and breathe.

"Nothing's wrong with you, Elsa."

She closed her eyes as he reached up and brushed a strand off her cheek; the blush had left her skin, leaving her paler than the snow she commanded, and she was back to her regular cool temperature. For a brief moment, he feared she was suffering from fever, but was relieved to find her skin truly, completely cool, if not getting colder. He knew the drop in her body temperature wasn't unusual, especially if she was worked up, as she had been.

Tears began to gather on her lashes, dripping down onto her cheeks as she stood with Kristoff, and his heart clenched for her. He didn't blame her for being upset, certainly not for being frightened, because clearly, she'd never experienced something like this before, and certainly not on this level, since it was scaring her so. It was immediately evident to him what was flustering her so; her mention of the warmth in her stomach had been perhaps the biggest giveaway. "Elsa," She swallowed, but kept quiet, her eyes remaining closed. "Elsa, it's okay to be scared. You've never experienced something like this before, it's only natural for you to feel this way."

"Exper- experience what?" She choked, feeling Kristoff rest his forehead to hers. Her mind went to the worst possible scenario, the tears coursing down her cheeks in small rivers now.

"Oh, Elsa," He scoffed gently, pressing a kiss to her forehead, as she used to do to Anna before the events of two years ago had torn them apart. His voice was slow, soft, gentle, so as not to spook her further. He tightened his hold on her; he needed her to not run. "those butterflies in your stomach?" She nodded, keeping her eyes closed. "They're there for a reason."

"And... what's that?" Her voice was small. He pressed another kiss to her forehead, firmer this time, knowing that she needed to comfort, especially in regards to what he was going to say next.

"Elsa, what you're feeling is love."