Rifiuto: Non Miriena

A/N: Written: 2019 - Licia

Yelena was going to kill him. Plain and simple.

"I've never been married before, but even I know that the whole point of the wedding night is to spend time alone with your bride! That doesn't mean you argue, that doesn't mean you lose your temper, and that certainly as hell doesn't mean you tell her to go ahead and get herself killed and then let her walk away to get herself killed! What the hell were you thinking? Or better yet, what the hell is wrong with you?"

Okay, so clearly Honeymaren was going to get to him first.

After Elsa had left, he'd gone in search of the chief and explained the situation. To say seeing the groom without the bride had startled her, and she'd immediately demanded to know what was going on. Thankfully the celebration had started to wind down by then and the majority of the tribe had gone to bed. She'd immediately marched the young man into her hut, Honeymaren, Ryder and Vanja following.

"I may have... had a moment of-"

"Stupidity? Ignorance? Utter... idiocy?"

"Conscience!"

Honeymaren's eyebrows rose. "Conscience? What newly married man leaves the wedding celebration with his new wife, and suddenly decides 'I'd rather argue that sleep with her'? What newly married man develops a conscience on his wedding night? Seriously? Why would you do that?"

"I just... this whole thing has been rushed, we haven't exactly had time to breathe, or think, and... and honestly, I don't know that Elsa was ready for that type of intimacy, just yet." The younger girl stared at him dumbstruck, Ryder was red in the face, and neither Yelena nor Vanja said anything. "And... honestly... neither was I."

"Wait, a minute, you were... ready to get married, but... not ready to sleep with her? I don't understand. What man wouldn't want to sleep with Elsa? Have you seen her?"

Hans released a breath, trying to control his temper. "Honeymaren, I get it, I just-"

"You're hiding something."

"What?"

The younger woman stepped closer, studying him. "You're hiding something, and it's getting to you, and that's why you didn't do anything tonight. You're keeping something from her, and you didn't want it to come out in the heat of the moment so you stopped everything." She jabbed a finger into his chest, trying to look intimidating and failing, given her five-foot-six-inch frame.

Yelena cleared her throat then; she'd watched and listened to them argue long enough. "Honeymaren, stop. Leave him alone." Reluctantly the girl backed down, moving away and crossing her arms over her chest with a scowl.

"You are the strangest man I've ever met. Develops bouts of... conscience at the most inopportune times. No wonder you married Elsa; between your bouts of conscience and her bouts of self-doubt, you're perfect for each other."

"Honeymaren."

Without another word, the girl snapped her mouth shut and took a seat beside her brother. A moment passed before Hans took a seat across from Yelena, running a hand through his red hair. "Look, I'm sorry, all right, I just... it didn't feel right. It felt like we were... rushing into things, forgetting the actual problem, letting it pass by without thought to how to fix it. I love her, I really do. I'm happy to be married to her, I just... I guess..." He sighed. "She was fiddling with her staff, and I suddenly got this... overwhelming sense of dread. I don't know what it was, and I can't exactly describe it, but... something told me that if we... if we consummated our marriage tonight... it would end badly."

"I'm sorry, but... how would consummating a marriage end badly?" This was the first time Ryder had spoken, at all after they'd returned to Yelena's hut. Hans glanced at the younger man, nibbling his lower lip.

"I don't know, I just... felt like something was hoping to finish what was started-"

"Kill during an act of passion, and it looks like an accident." Vanja whispered, having put the pieces together. "Not unheard of." She gave him a sympathetic smile. "I think the river senses the shift in Elsa's life, and hoped to play on it. And since this was not long after the witching hour, the intent would be even stronger." Gently, she reached out, tucking a finger beneath Hans' chin. Her dark eyes studied his, and she sighed. "You have a gift, a very slight one, but a gift none the less. I think, that you're also connected to the river, though not in the way Elsa is. Not as strongly, but you are connected to it. I fear it may try to use you as a means to reach its end."

"So... where did she go, exactly?"

They both turned to Honeymaren, and Hans swallowed thickly. "My guess? Arendelle."

"There is nothing we can do at the moment." Everyone turned to Yelena, who finally decided to speak. "She will return, there's no sense in going after her at this late hour."

Hans furrowed a brow; Yelena seemed oddly calm about the whole situation. Sure, she was the chief, it made sense for her to keep a level head, but this- Your niece goes running off after her wedding ceremony, during what was supposed to be her wedding night, and all you can say is that there's nothing we can do?

"No, Mother, we have to find her, she could be doing what Hans told her to do and getting herself killed! We can't just sit back and hope she'll return!" Hans relaxed slightly, clearly Honeymaren was on the same train of thought as he was. Yelena turned to her daughter.

"Honeymaren. It's late. We all need sleep. At first light, we'll go out in search of Elsa." After several minutes, everyone dispersed; Honeymaren stalked out of her mother's hut, aggravated beyond reason. Hans left, thinking the chief quietly, but stopped, his gaze going to the corner of the hut, where the bag and box rested. Something screamed at him to take it, and after a moment, he turned back.

"Yelena?" The chief turned to him. "Would it be all right if I took the bag and tinderbox back to Elsa's hut? I won't touch the diadem, I swear, but, since we're not... maybe it'll be safer there?" A moment passed, as she studied him, but sensing no auspicious motive, she nodded in agreement and he gathered the bag and box up and bid her goodnight. On his way back to the hut, Honeymaren caught up to him, Ryder in tow.

"Hans!" He turned back. "I wanted to-"

"Look, Honeymaren, I get it, I'm the stupidest male on the planet-"

"I wanted to apologize." He turned to her. "For jumping down your throat like that. I just... I watched for Elsa for two years and she seemed... content but never... happy. You make her happy. I just... I can't understand why you'd deny yourself and her that-"

"Just call it a feeling. A very, very bad feeling." Once they reached the hut, Hans reached for the flap, but stopped. "Hey Honeymaren? Ryder? I don't mean to pry, but... did Yelena seem... off to you?" The siblings shared a glance.

"How so?" Ryder asked. Hans sighed.

"I don't know, but... she didn't seem too concerned when I told her that Elsa had run off, almost like she expected it."

"Elsa does have a habit of disappearing. Usually she goes back to Ahtohallan, or her ice palace, or she takes the Nokk and goes for a ride. We're used to her vanishing, doing whatever the Fifth Spirit does. Mother's grown accustomed to it." He started, before remembering that Honeymaren and Ryder were Yelena's children, Iduna's niece and nephew, and therefore, Elsa's cousins.

A moment passed, before he nodded slowly. He opened his mouth to speak, before deciding against it and motioning for them to both come in. Once inside the hut, he set the bag and box down in the far corner. "Do you really think you rushed it? The marriage?"

He paused at Honeymaren's words. "Honestly?" He straightened, turning to them. "Yes. I mean, I love Elsa, I truly do, it just... it feels like we're parts in a play, and... we're doing what we're supposed to and saying what we're supposed to say and... I felt that, if we went through with the wedding night... that one of us wouldn't be alive in the morning." Her eyes widened. "That's why I stopped. It's why I told her no. Regardless of whether we consummate our marriage tonight or two nights from now or two years from now, I want it to be on our terms."

"And if you end up consummating it tonight? If she returns in time?" Ryder asked, crossing his arms over his chest. Hans shrugged.

"Then we'll consummate it, but not here. Not in the camp." He bit his lip. "I can't describe it, but... something tells me that the... the further away we get from the tribe, the safer we'll be when we do-" He watched her fidget; an unusual thing for the normally relaxed girl to do. "Honeymaren? What is it?"

Ryder bit his lip before nudging his sister. "Tell him. He has to know. It's only right. She's our cousin."

"Tell me what?" The girl glanced at him, brow furrowed in worry. "Honeymaren? What are you two hiding?"

Several minutes passed before she finally sighed. "Okay, okay, fine! But you can't tell anyone- not even Elsa! Got it?" He nodded. "Promise?"

"On my honor as a sailor, you have my word." Quickly, she reached out, grabbing the hand he held up, shaking smartly. Once they released hands, she spoke.

"Our mother... hasn't been herself."

Hans raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean Yelena hasn't been herself?"

The siblings shared a worried glance, before Ryder spoke up. "She's been acting... strange. It's hard to explain. But-"

"She wanted you and Elsa to consummate your marriage tonight. But... not in the way an aunt would want her niece too."

"I don't understand." He glanced from one sibling to the next, trying to put the pieces together, but with everything that had gone on in the last twenty-four hours, his brain was having trouble catching up. Honeymaren snapped her mouth shut, and Ryder picked up where she left off.

"Mother said something earlier, about how 'everything was as it should be, that everything was going according to plan' and that... that since the spirits approved of your union, we would have no reason to worry.'"

"Worry? About what?"

He shrugged. "I don't know. She stopped talking and then changed the subject when I asked what she meant."

"It's starting to worry us. We know that Mother would never willingly put Elsa in danger- she's Aunt Iduna's daughter, and I think she still feels guilty for letting her go and not chasing after her the day the mist fell, but... at the same time... we don't know whether it's guilt that's making her act this way or... or something else."

"Something else? Like magic?"

"We only trust nature." Ryder spoke up. "When nature speaks-"

"Yeah, yeah, you listen, I know. But... with everything going on... with what's happening with the river and Elsa and the Fifth Spirit... do you think the magic could be... tainted?"

Honeymaren shook her head. "No, the other spirits... they're fine. It's just Elsa. And Elsa would let us know if something was wrong with the other four; she's connected to all of them, just as they're connected to her. But something's not right."

"Why didn't you say anything?"

She shrugged. "Because the last... several weeks have been nothing but chaos, and... today was your wedding day. And Elsa's already struggling with... all of this as is. We didn't want to make it any worse with... meaningless suspicions. But tonight-" He nodded. "Hans, we're worried, for both you and Elsa. Just... just promise us something."

"Of course."

She reached over, to take his hands and then stopped. She bit her lip. "If you keep going North, past the earth giants, towards the Dark Sea and turn right, there's a path. Follow that path for half a mile-" She stopped. "Actually, grab some of the blankets, the oils and a lantern." Hans glanced at her, but didn't argue and gathered up the recommended things. Ryder muttered that he'd go get a couple of the reindeer and left. As an afterthought, he picked up one of the cups and brought it to his lips, just as Honeymaren was making sure everything was orderly. She looked up, sniffing the air before snatching the cup away, just as his bottom lip brushed against the cup.

"Excuse me-"

But Honeymaren wasn't paying attention. She brought the cup to her nose, and sniffing it quickly. Her nose wrinkled, and then she tipped it, taking the most minuscule of sips, and blanched. "What is it?" Hans' green eyes filled with worry. "Honeymaren?"

She turned back to him. "Bitter."

"Okay?" Hans shrugged. "It's been sitting out, wine tends to-"

"But not this fast. It's only been a couple hours." She sniffed it again, before dipping her pinkie into it and testing a drop on the tip of her tongue. She made a face and held it out. "Smell." Hans leaned close, taking a sniff.

"Smells like wine." She held out the cup, and after a moment's urging, he did the same as she had just done, dipping a pinkie into it and testing a drop on his tongue. He blanched. "Is that vi-"

"Vinegar." She clarified. "The berries that make this specific wine are sweet, like apples, and when they're made into wine, it tastes like cinnamon. These berries are specific to the Enchanted Forest only. This wine doesn't spoil when it's in the open air, because it's the acids of these berries that keep it. The only reason it would taste like vinegar is if someone laced it with-" She stopped speaking, gaze narrowing at something stuck to the inside of the cup, half-submerged in the drink. Carefully, she fished it out, studying it for a moment before sniffing it. "This is mushroom moss." He shrugged. "It's a specific type of moss that grows about the forest floor, near the toadstools. It's only found in the forest. It's edible only for animals- the reindeer eat them. Were a human to ingest them..." She sighed, thinking. "It would cause psychosis, auditory and visual voices and images, out-of-body experiences, and it can heighten the senses and incite violence."

"So it's a drug if humans ingest it?" She nodded.

"Too much can kill a man."

Hans narrowed his gaze, intrigued and yet horrified. "How do you know that?"

She blushed. "I've been training to be a healer since I was ten. The point is, someone laced the wine," She picked up the second cup, sniffing and testing it. "Both of them, probably hoping that you both would drink it and-"

"Something would happen other than what would normally happen with wine." Hans finished in understanding.

"They laced the wine because poison's absorbed into the blood faster by way of liquids than food. I would still be wary of the treats though, just to be safe."

He shook his head. "They don't matter. None of it. Food, drink... cold comforts. What matters is Elsa and I. That's what's important. The night... those moments... they'll be between us. When we look back on this night, it'll be our actions and our words that we remember, not the food and drink."

"That's beautiful." Both of them turned to Ryder, who had returned, and was quickly wiping his eyes. "What? Oh, right. Um... two or three reindeer?" Silence. "I'll get three then." And he was gone once more.

Honeymaren shook her head at her brother before turning back to the disgraced prince. "Do you have everything you want?" He nodded. "Good. Ryder, go get-"

"I know. I'll be back."

"Reindeer. It's quite a walk, and in the dark, we'll have an easier time of getting around." A moment passed, as they stepped out of the hut to wait. "Hans?" He met her gaze. "What I said earlier. I... I was wrong. You had a good reason tonight."

"Apology accepted, Honeymaren. Look, I know I'm just the outsider here, but... I really do love Elsa, and... I feel like I've found a home here. I'm wanted, accepted. I have a place here. And for so many years, I didn't." She reached over, squeezing his arm. Before she could say anything, Ryder returned atop a reindeer with two more in two.

The ride was long and quiet, and Hans couldn't help wondering where exactly Honeymaren and Ryder were taking him. Probably somewhere to slaughter me. Wouldn't be surprised. There's just... something not entirely right with the tribe. Well, not necessarily the tribe, per se, but Yelena, and even Vanja to a degree. It's almost... almost as though they want the prophecy to go through, like they want Elsa to die...

"Here we are." He was pulled from his musings as they came to a halt, and he couldn't help the surprise that he knew filled his face as he stared at the beautiful double, cascading waterfall falling gently into the small lake they stood before. Not far away, there was a small alcove of trees near the lake. It was secluded, quiet, and in the dark, there was a quiet beauty about it. "I found this place a few years go, before Elsa broke the curse and removed the mist. When things would get too overwhelming, I would come here and just... relax and trying to think. Focus on something else for a while."

"It's beautiful." Honeymaren grinned. "And you're... letting Elsa and I... have it for our wedding night?"

"I don't spend time in the alcove, I prefer to sit by the water. You and Elsa can have it for the next few days. Consummate your marriage here, that way you're away from the camp, you won't have the tribe hoovering, you'll be able to enjoy it and truly spend some time together, and most importantly, you won't have our mother hovering over you two."

Hans gave her a soft smile. "Thank you, Honeymaren."

"Welcome, Hans. Now lets go back to the camp. Your bride should be back by now, hopefully."