Rifiuto: Non Miriena
A/N: Three souls in one body? THAT'S what you decided to go with?! Sometimes, Zani, I don't understand what goes on in your head.
Written: 2019 - Licia
He hadn't thought much of it when he awoke alone in Elsa's hut. He knew she was often an early riser, and expected he would see her at breakfast, but no luck. He knew she often skipped breakfast if she got too busy, and so didn't think much of it; he figured that she'd just gotten caught up in whatever she did as Protector of the Forest and that she'd turn up eventually, and so he went about his day, assisting where he was needed and entertaining the children when he wasn't.
By mid-morning, she still hadn't turned up, and so he asked around if anyone had seen her, but again, no luck. Though Honeymaren reassured him that if she wasn't doing whatever a Protector of the Forest did, then she usually took the time to herself, and that often included wandering off for some time by herself away from people. When he'd brought up Ahtohallan, Honeymaren had replied that her trips to the glacier usually coincided with her staying at her palace, but and since she'd stayed at the camp, it was unlikely; that she was probably just off with the Wind spirit, seeking some time to relax without everyone hoovering over her, which is what the entire camp had been doing- but especially Yelena and Vanja- since everything had come to light.
"And you, 'cause whether you admit it or not, you do have a tendency to hoover, and she's probably keeping her distance so she doesn't kill you, which I'm sure she probably wants to given how you haven't left her side since she fell off the Nokk. Give her a couple hours. If she's not back by lunch, then you can panic, but she probably just needs time. She does do this every once and a while."
And so he did, taking Honeymaren's words to heart and giving Elsa until lunchtime to turn up.
She didn't.
The panic began to set in.
When he ran into Honeymaren at this point, the girl shrugged, unable to give the disgraced prince any form of answer other than half-mutterings and nervous grimaces to the whereabouts of her cousin. The older girl- cause she was older than Elsa by four months, Hans discovered- then decided that maybe it would be a good idea to let her mother know, and the pair hurried to alert Yelena of Elsa's disappearance. At first, the chief merely glanced at Hans, and silently wondered if Hans was worried Elsa had fled because of the wedding that would take place at the witching hour that night, and calmly dismissed his fears with a wave of her hand. She even went so far as to suggest that Elsa was probably playing a game with the children, or off with the other spirits.
But when Honeymaren said that no one- not the children, not the other elders, nor any of the other spirits- for she had asked all of them- had seen or heard from Elsa since last night, Yelena turned back.
"On occasion, the spirits gather for council,"
"What is council?" Honeymaren waved it away, promising to explain later.
"but it is not like the Fifth Spirit to just vanish. The last time Fifth Spirit disappeared like this-" They knew she was thinking of the day the mist fell about the forest, trapping those left inside. "We must find her. Her soul is not her own, depending on which one is in control, we don't know what she could do."
It was then that Yelena alerted the elders to what was happening, and several people agreed to go out in search of her. At this point, Hans was in a panic; not necessarily in regards to the wedding going through- truthfully, he hadn't even given their upcoming nuptials any thought until that moment- but because of the stress she was under. Knowing that Elsa's body- or, her soul, rather- was not necessarily her own, and knowing the means the river would go to to get what it wanted, that's what scared him.
Not just that it was affecting him, but what it was doing to her. That the pull of the river, the dark, sadistic desire of Ahtohallan had finally gotten to her, and she'd done as it requested, returning and finishing what she'd started.
It was a little before supper when his feet led him to the river; it was a place he knew Elsa liked to flee to when things got to chaotic or she just wanted to relax. The rock that she often claimed, with the shallowness of the river just close enough that she could slip out of her shoes and dip her toes. More than once in the last few weeks, he'd come wandering towards the river to find her stretched out on her back on the rock, basking in the sun, or sitting with her feet tucked beneath her, having an animated conversation with the wind spirit or Bruni, her movements animated and her voice tickled with laughter.
Part of him expected to find her sitting on her rock, silently chuckling at the panic she had caused everyone, for there was a very small part of the Arendellian-born that was as mischievous as her sister, she just didn't show it that often, having been born to take her parents' throne. He'd gather her in his arms and check her over, making sure she was alright, and then scold her for scaring them all like that. But when he got to the river-
No.
His heart plummeted into his boots as he saw her staff left on the embankment, and he hurried to the water's edge. Slowly, with shaking fingers, he knelt to pick it up, tears clogging his throat. No, she couldn't- she wouldn't... unless...
Unless the voice finally got to her.
Numb, he stumbled away from the embankment, Elsa's staff in his hands, wondering how he was going to tell the others, when the sound of hoof beats on water made him turn, and he watched as the Nokk came to a stop not far away, Elsa upon its back. "Hans!"
He dropped the staff, rushing to her. Once close, grabbed her around the waist; her arm went around his neck as he lifted her from the water spirit's back. "Gods, Elisabeth, don't disappear like that! Why would you do that?" As soon as her feet were back on solid ground, he captured her mouth in his, drinking deeply from her, one arm going around her waist, the other reaching up to tangle in her hair. At first, she tried to pull away- she had to find Yelena and didn't have time for kissing- before giving in, realizing that they both needed this moment.
"I'm sorry, I just-" She shook her head once they'd broken apart, unable to fully find her voice, even as she clutched the box to her chest. "I... I just..."
"Why would you leave without telling anyone! What is wrong with you? Especially with the river- I thought it had finally gotten to you, that you'd-" He kissed her again; neither noticed Yelena and the others who'd helped search for her hurrying towards the embankment at the sound of voices. "Don't you ever do that again, without letting someone know, Elisabeth! You hear me?" He held her face in his hands, making sure she listened, even as the tears slipped down his cheeks and clocked his voice, for he'd truly feared she'd gone and done as the river desired. "Don't leave me, please."
He pulled her into his arms, burying his face in her hair, shoulders shaking, and she clung to him, whispering soft promises the she would never do such a thing again without first telling someone. When Hans' fears finally subsided, Elsa pulled away, brushing a soft kiss to his lips, whispering softly once more that she would be careful next time, that she would keep him or someone always in the loop from then on. She gently brushed the last of the tears from his cheeks, touched he would worry so, and silently wondering if what the princess had told her about reincarnations was true.
Over his shoulder, she saw Yelena and the others and pulled away, hurrying to them, as Hans knelt to grab her staff. "Yelena! We have to talk-"
"Thank the Gods you're alright, Elsa. You cannot just go running off like that, not with what is happening-" Her niece had the decency to stop where she stood a couple feet away; the older woman sighed, noticing that everyone's panic and worry had gotten to her- most of all Hans's. She had the decency to be ashamed of her reckless behavior.
"I'm sorry, to all of you. All I did was return to Ahtohallan." Her voice was soft, and after a moment, she lifted her head, seeing the fear in Yelena's gaze. "I needed to find something I'd left my palace. I truly didn't think I'd be gone longer than an hour. I lost track of time. I didn't know everyone would worry so." She turned as Hans wrapped his arm around her waist and held her close. "Least of all you." He simply rested his forehead to hers, keeping silent. Yelena watched the pair, noting the remorse in Elsa's voice and softened, smiling gently as she watched Elsa nudge her nose against his in a tender gesture.
"Elsa, what is that?"
It was Honeymaren who has spoken, gaze locked on the bag in Elsa's grasp, the bag she hadn't let go of, not even what Hans lifted her from the Nokk's back. Hans broke apart first, turning to follow their gazes. A moment passed, before Elsa followed, brow furrowing briefly before she remembered what it was. "Oh!" She grabbed his hand, and then turned to the chief. "I found it." She swallowed at their confused looks. She knew the entire camp knew the legend of the diadem, and didn't bother beating around the bush. "I found the diadem."
A moment passed, as Yelena's gaze moved from the bag to the Nokk; she knew the connection it had to Ahtohallan, being one of its protectors, but she also knew the connection it had with Elsa, how that connection was so much stronger, because though they were different forms, they were still of the same element. Elsa followed her gaze, and then moved to return to the horse, gently shaking Hans's hand off hers. She reached up once she got close, stroking it's snout, and before resting her forehead against it. "I can't guarantee I'll be going back tonight. I'm to get married in a few hours." The horse snorted softly, as though congratulating her. "Thank you, for helping me today. I know you really didn't want to go back. I know you sense it too. It's why you reared when we got close." She sighed. "Don't worry, Nokk. I'll fix this, I promise I will. I'll break the curse, and stop the poison and return Ahtohallan to it's true purpose," She bit her lip. "And set the souls trapped inside free, once and for all. I promise."
"That's a pretty big promise, Elsa." Honeymaren spoke up, and Elsa shivered, remember Anna saying the same to her when she'd promised to free the forest of the curse and save Arendelle.
"Back to camp, hurry. We can discuss it there." Elsa pulled away from the Nokk, stroking his snout one last time, tightening her hold on the bag that held the box at Yelena's gentle command, but no one moved.
"Wait for me, friend. I will call you when I'm ready." The Nokk lowered its head in a bow, and after a moment, Elsa followed, stepping back and sinking into a quick curtsy, the skirt of her dress wrapped loosely around her hand. The tribe had never truly witnessed the simple gesture between the spirits, for often the spirits were not all in the same place at once, so this was a treat for them. Once the Nokk was gone, Elsa returned to Hans's side, taking his hand.
Everyone followed the chief back towards the camp in silence, and once returned, Elsa spent much of her time being chastised by the elders for disappearing as she had, especially during such a dangerous time- for the elders knew of the river's call, and but had kept silent, knowing Elsa needed to figure it out on her own, all of which she took in stride. Two hours after supper, Yelena beckoned for the couple to join her and Vanja in her hut, and the pair followed. Elsa set the bag by her side, and the four sat in silence for several minutes before the older woman spoke up. "You scared not just Hans today, but all of us. It's not like you to disappear after staying like that. Not without telling anyone. What was so important you needed to return to Ahtohallan in the first place?"
"Especially considering you will be married in a few hours' time. You should have been preparing for your wedding, not gallivanting across the Dark Sea." Vanja gently chided, and Elsa blushed, lowering her gaze.
Elsa's gaze darted to the bag, and after a moment she pulled the box out of the bag. She heard Hans' sharp intake, and felt both Vanja and Yelena tense, despite the question in both sets of eyes. Setting it between them, Elsa reached down, gently making to life the lid, but Hans grabbed her hand. She turned to meet his fearful gaze. "What are you doing?"
A small smile tugged at her lips. "It's okay, love. Trust me." The older women shared a glance; the pair never used any term of endearment unless it was to poke fun at each other, which was rare. So for this gentle reassurance to come from her lips, they knew it was important. Slowly, Hans released her, sitting back and watching her reach for the box.
She was met with no resistance on the box's part. She lifted the lid slowly, as though carefully unwrapping crystal, and the others watched she reached in for the glittering crown.
"Elsa, is that-"
She turned to Yelena, meeting her gaze with a soft nod. "It is." Gently, she wrapped her fingers around it, lifting it from its resting place. She could feel the frost fabric of the mask brushing against her skin as she did so. "But it's broken. Look," She gestured for the others to see. Slowly, they all leaned close. " the center piece is missing."
Silence fell, as everyone studied the crown in Elsa's grasp. Hans's brow furrowed, and he cocked his head. Something wasn't right. "It looks like... like it could have been part of a... a hair comb or..." He sighed. "I don't know."
A moment passed, before Vanja held out a hand. "May I?"
They all saw the hesitation in Elsa's eyes. She glanced down at the diadem, seemed to stroke her finger over the snowflakes as though she were a mother stroking her child's hair, before looking back up at the healer. Hans bit his lip. His hunch tugged at the back of his mind, but he really hoped his was wrong. After a moment, he shifted closer to her, resting a hand against her back. "Let her see it, Els. I don't think she'll do anything to it."
She met his gaze, her blue eyes narrowing, and for the briefest of moments, he felt as though he were staring into someone else's face and not the face of his beloved. It was just a flicker, but it was enough to feed his hunch. Gently, he moved his hand down her back, until it rested against her lower back, before sliding it around her waist. She tensed, straightening. "You okay, Els?"
"Mhmm." She gave the most minuscule of nods, not noticing the glances Yelena and Vanja were throwing at Hans. He simply mouthed, 'Trust me', and they nodded, watching as he moved closer to her. She shifted, closer to the box, pulling the diadem towards her chest, in attempt to protect it and breaking contact with him. He followed, wrapping his arm once more around her waist and tugging her back into his side. She once more went rigid, pulling away as much as he would allow.
"Elsa, it's just a crown. No one's going to hurt it." She turned to him, blue eyes narrowing even more as she met his gaze.
"This isn't just a crown, Johannes!" The use of his full name startled him and he pulled back, though he never released her. His green eyes widened in surprise and he studied her face, once more seeing the flash of someone else, though it lasted longer this time- "This was crafted of the most ancient of elements. It doesn't belong to any of you, it belongs to me! Now release me!" She scooted away from him, never releasing her grip on the diadem as she turned away from them all.
"Elsa," But Yelena's soft whisper didn't do anything. The girl refused to look at them, and after a moment, Hans closed the distance between them, reaching out to turn her back. Slowly, he lifted her head, and feeling his heart stall at he pulled away from her. Vanja's soft gasp rang loud in the hut, and Yelena, whispered a soft prayer to the gods.
It was Elsa, and yet it wasn't- Hans felt as though he were looking at three separate people.
The beautiful heart-shape of her face was gone; it looked more like a diamond shape than anything; on both sides, the lines of her cheeks were too sharp, much, much too thin, the apples to sharp to be correctly curved and soft like he was used to. The soft point of her chin was sharp, jagged, even, much to sharp to be normal, and the tip of her small, upturned nose appeared frostbitten. But what worried him were her eyes.
On the left, the iris was dulled, that beautiful sapphire no long sparkling, but a deep, dull dark blue; it was ravaged, starved almost, and on the right, the iris glimmered with an unnatural light to it. There appeared to be flecks of silver in the blue iris, almost as if there were flecks of ice crystals within. It was then that he realized he was staring at the other two souls-
That of the Crown Princess and the Fifth Spirit.
He reached for her, grabbing her face, forcing her to look at him- if she was even still in there. "Elsa? Elsa, look at me! Elsa!" The eyes studied him, seeing him but not acknowledging him. She tried to pull away, but he pulled her closer. "You give her back to me! You've had your time out long enough! Give her back!" Vanja and Yelena rushed to separate the pair, but Hans simply leaned down, capturing her mouth with his.
The kiss was firm and yet gentle, and after several seconds, she released her grip on the diadem. Vanja snatched it away, studying it carefully as the younger woman's hands reached up, caressing his wrists. When finally the kiss broke, she opened her eyes, and Hans let out a soft laugh of relief, to see her staring back at him- not the Fifth Spirit and not the Crown Princess, but her. "Your moods." Her brow furrowed, and he rested his forehead to hers. "When you lose your temper or begin to act irrational or... or like you were... it's not you, is it? It's one of them, because they share your body. What Vanja said is true; there are three souls in your body."
She nodded, not trusting her voice. Suddenly, a lot of what had happened over the last few weeks made sense; if there were three souls inside her, that would make things even more complicated, but it also explained a lot of Elsa's irrationality, her persistent, near-irrational need to flee back to the river. He sighed, brushing a kiss to her forehead, before turning to Yelena and Vanja, who were studying the diadem.
"I know what awaits me."
They all turned back to her. She sniffled, nuzzling into Hans' chest, tears slipping down her cheeks. "You... you put it on." The question in Vanja's words was soft, but still there. Her gaze moved from the broken diadem to Elsa, who nodded against Hans' chest.
"I... I had to, I... I couldn't stop myself." She choked out, glancing briefly up at Hans before nuzzling closer. He wrapped his arms tight around her, pressing a kiss to the crown of her head. "It was like I was drawn to it... I saw it all... or... most of it. I couldn't bear to witness the rest." She sniffled, pulling away to meet Hans' gaze. "I saw our wedding. Our wedding night. The conception of our child," She swallowed thickly. "The birth of our daughter... and my death."
"D... daughter? Wait... are you saying that we... we end up having a daughter?" Hans interrupted her, taking her hands. She nodded. But then his face fell, as her words resonated in his head. "Your... death?" She nodded again. "Anything else?"
"Our separation, my return to Ahtohallan." Tears began to slide down her cheeks. "I don't know if the troll still sits upon my throne, I couldn't bear to watch after that." He pulled her back against his chest. "I spoke withe princess; she's trapped, in the walls of Ahtohallan. She's given up. She wants to be free, she wants peace. But she doesn't have the strength to fight; she didn't then and she couldn't condemn me to her fate, but she couldn't fully leave me either, which is why she split herself in two; it's why there's still a part of her in me. And Fifth Spirit... she just wants to continue her work; that's all she wants. She wants a soul to make it easier, and she took half of mine, and left half of herself in exchange," She swallowed thickly. "But it's not enough. She can't make the river bend to her command with half a soul, and the princess isn't strong enough nor will she put herself in danger, not after what she'd done to her betrothed; she simply wants to find peace. It..." She choked on a sob, looking up at the others. "It has to be me. I have to stop the river. I promised her I would stop the river-"
"Shh, hush, Elsa dahl. It won't happen, I won't let it." She shook her head.
"You can't say that, Hans. It's getting stronger. The pull is getting stronger and I don't know if I can ignore it for much longer."
He pulled her back against his chest, feeling her small body start to shake with barely suppressed sobs, and suddenly it became very evident the strain being put on Elsa's psyche. Yelena met Vanja's gaze, before going to the couple as Vanja returned the diadem to box. "Come on, Elsa, get up." Hans helped her stand, and Yelena wrapped an arm around her niece. She glanced back at Hans, and he quickly gathered up the box, slipping it back into Elsa's bag. "Place that in the darkest corner; it will be safe there. Once done, go find Ryder and Honeymaren. Let them know what's going on, Vanja will alert the elders of the developments."
He nodded, doing as told, before returning to them. Gently, he lifted Elsa's chin, kissing her softly one last time. Yelena watched tenderly, never stopping her stroking of her niece's back. Once she'd given them enough privacy, she once more spoke up. You'd best get ready, Hans. Don't worry, Honeymaren and I will take care of Elsa; the witching hour will be upon us soon."