Crusaders


"Okay. I think the coast is clear," Anna panted as she paused and leaned against a boulder inside of a small cutout while she caught her breath. She wiped sweat, dirt and blood away from her forehead and sighed.

The nearby rustling of leaves and crunch of gravel caught Anna's ear. Reacting quickly, she immediately whipped around and took aim with her pistol as the interloper rounded the corner of the boulder.

It was Elsa, also aiming her pistol at her. "Anna?" she asked softly.

"Elsa!" Anna rushed forward and pulled her into a tight hug. "My god, I almost shot you!" she pulled away to look Elsa in the face.

Her hair was disheveled all over, her face was smeared with sweat and dirt, and her clothing was torn in different places from the crash. Nonetheless, Anna had never been happier to see Elsa.

"I'm so glad you're okay!" Anna said, smiling warmly.

"Me too," Elsa smiled then furrowed her brows in concern. "Are you hurt?'

"Ah, this is nothing," Anna gestured to the cuts on her face. "But what about you? Your shoulder!"

"I think some of the stitches might have torn but I'm not bleeding," Elsa replied and smiled reassuringly. "It's nothing serious, don't worry."

"Oh, thank goodness," Anna exhaled in relief and hugged Elsa again.

Elsa shut her eyes and wrapped her arms around Anna, thankful beyond belief that she was safe.

"I'm okay too, thanks for asking," Kristoff cut in as he stepped out of the underbrush and joined the pair.

"Kristoff!" Anna squealed and pulled away from the hug.

Elsa reluctantly let go of Anna and watched as she pulled the larger man into a quick embrace.

"Ow, okay careful," Kristoff winced and pushed Anna away gently. "Easy now, I think I've got a few busted ribs."

"Oh, sorry," Anna chuckled sheepishly.

"Par for the course at this point really," Kristoff shrugged. "This treasure had better be worth it. You owe me a new plane," he jabbed a finger at Anna.

"Don't worry. We find the grail and I'll buy you a whole fleet of planes" Anna grinned encouragingly. "How did you guys find me?"

"We were trying to find some high ground and see if we could spot your wreck," Elsa replied. "When we heard all the commotion, we figured it was you and doubled back."

"Let me guess. Westguard mercs?" Kristoff asked.

Anna nodded. "Yeah. I was looking for you guys when I ran into them," she pointed in the direction she had come from. "Hans really wants us out of the picture."

"We shouldn't stay here then," Elsa put away her pistol and adjusted her holster more comfortably. "Forest will be crawling with mercenaries soon enough, we need to get a move on."

"Well come on," Anna flashed a cocksure grin. 'We've got a treasure to find."

... ... ...

"Well. Would you look at that," Kristoff muttered as he held the binoculars to his eyes.

They were lying prone atop a cliff shrouded in thick vegetation that overlooked a secluded bay. Below them, the three Westguard ships they had spotted from the plane weighed anchor away from shore. Smaller boats were passing back and forth between the shore and the docked ships, loaded with mercenaries and supplies.

"And… there they are," Kristoff added. "The sideburns and the mustache," he passed the binoculars to Elsa.

Elsa glassed the scene below them and spotted Hans and Weselton disembarking from one of the boats as it landed ashore. The pair appeared to be engaged in another heated conversation as they walked further inland.

"How many men did he bring?" Elsa muttered. "There must be a small army down there."

"Doesn't change anything. We just have to get to the grail first," Anna explained casually as she backed away from the cliff edge and stood up. "We should get a move on if we still want to beat them there."

Elsa set down the binoculars and rolled over to regard Anna with a pointed look. What gave her pause was the look of obsession written plain as day on Anna's face. The glint was in her eyes, her jaw was firmly set, and she wore that same expression she always wore when she had made up her mind on something. Elsa felt her heart swell with concern and trepidation. If their history served to be any indication, something awful typically followed.

"Anna, just wait," Elsa stood up and went over to Anna. "What are we even doing here?"

"Didn't I just say?" Anna deflected.

"No, I mean what are we doing here? Did you forget our plane crashed and we lost all our supplies?"

"Okay, so we steal some from Hans's goons."

"I'm sorry, did you not see the small army down there? We're just three people!'

"And we've been doing okay so far!"

"While being stranded on an island in the middle of nowhere."

"We were trying to get here!"

"When we still had an exit strategy. Anna, just listen. Even if you find the grail, how do you expect to get out of here?"

Anna chewed her lip in thought then gazed out over the bay. "We take one of their boats," she said simply, hoping that would satisfy Elsa.

"Really?" Elsa scoffed. "You? On a boat?"

"I'll cross that bridge when we get to it?" Anna threw her hands up in frustration. "We sure as hell can't fly off this rock now can we!"

"Anna, have you actually seen any signs of a medieval settlement here?" Elsa asked. "Because I sure haven't."

"It's a little late to start developing doubts now isn't it, Elsa? You want to know what we're doing?" Anna stepped up to Elsa's face and spoke in a voice low enough so that only they could hear. "Finishing it. For them. And I will turn over every goddamn stone on this island until I find it."

A flash of hurt passed over Elsa's face as she balked and backed away from Anna.

"Ugh, enough!" Kristoff groaned. "You two bicker like an old married couple."

Anna glanced at Kristoff and then back to Elsa, and immediately felt regret for her words. She saw the worry on Elsa's face and wished she could take them back. Elsa was only trying to look out for Anna, just as she always had, and just as it was always like Anna to charge headlong into something with little forethought. She was naturally hotheaded, that much she knew, and more often than not, Anna had landed herself in quite a bit of trouble for it.

"You're both right," Kristoff turned to Elsa. "We can't give up now. Not when we've come so far. But," he turned to Anna. "We need a new escape plan since flying isn't an option."

"So what do you propose?" Anna asked, tearing her gaze away from Elsa since she could not meet the look of concern in her eye any longer.

Kristoff rubbed his jaw in thought. "We need to split up again."

Both Elsa and Anna looked up to him at the same time.

"I'm not saying you guys split up, jeez. It's a race now to see who gets to the grail first, and when we" Kristoff emphasized his point by pointing to all three of them. "Find it, we'll need to get out of here lickety split because I doubt they're just gonna let us walk away with it. So, I'll head down there and secure one of their boats. Meanwhile you two get to that treasure before they do."

"Are you sure?" Anna asked. "That's way too risky."

"Yeah," Kristoff said easily. "You two have always been better at me at this sort of thing anyways. It's alright, I'll be fine."

"It won't be like stealing their helicopter again. Hans will have smartened up by now," Anna gestured towards the armed mercenaries milling about. "He'll definitely have men guarding those boats."

"Leave that to me, I'll worry about that. I've still got a few tricks up my sleeve," Kristoff said confidently. "Look, we can stand here arguing all day, but the longer we wait, the closer Hans and Weselton get to the grail. We need to move now."

Anna nodded her agreement then turned to Elsa. "What do you think?"

"I think… we might be in over our heads on this one," Elsa replied.

Kristoff chuckled easily and shrugged. "Hey, join the club."

"Then I guess it's as good a plan as any," Elsa said.

She looked at Anna again and there she found her strength and confidence. Whatever they would face, they would face together. Anna matched the soft look on Elsa's face and smiled warmly.

"Alright then, take this," Kristoff handed Anna a two-way radio. "We'll keep in touch. Good luck guys."

As he started down the cliff, Anna waved him off. "Be careful!"

Kristoff turned and gave the okay sign with his thumb and forefinger. "You too!" he called back.

At that, Anna started off into the woods before pausing and turning to Elsa. "You coming?" she asked.

Elsa nodded once and followed after Anna. "I'm right behind you," she said.

... ... ...

Elsa and Anna walked side by side through the forest in silence. They had little notion of where they were going, only that reaching higher ground was the most logical move for them so that they could find their bearings. Now that the storm had passed, more and more of the island became visible as they ascended a gentle slope. Far ahead in the distance, a single mountain peak towered over the entire island. Aside from that distinguishing geological feature, the island was covered in a dense forest that was interspersed by ridges and valleys.

It was obvious to Elsa and Anna that the island and the forest were very old. As they trekked through the woods, the air became thicker and unnaturally still. Though the sound of the wind sighing among the trees and the calls of various wildlife remained present, they soon became distant and muffled. The feeling was eerie and foreboding, filling Elsa and Anna with equal parts dread and wonder at being the first humans to step foot on the island in a very long time.

As they hiked, the temperature evened out as the sun passed its apex and descended towards the afternoon quadrant of the sky. They eventually reached a clearing atop a small hill that stood above a wide valley when the sight of something below stopped Anna in her tracks.

A mound of moss covered cobblestones were piled up at the base of what was once a watchtower that guarded the entrance of the valley. It was connected to the ruins of a perimeter wall that encircled a small village. The interior was dotted by the ruins of various structures closely huddled together. Nonetheless, there was no mistaking it. Elsa and Anna were standing before the remains of an ancient medieval settlement.

"Huh," Anna placed her hands on her hips. "Now, I'm no geologist but I'm pretty sure those are not natural rock formations down there," she pointed out the tower and wall.

"Whoa," Elsa gasped, eyes widening in awe as she was arrested by the sight before them.

Anna turned to Elsa and smirked confidently. "What do you see?"

"Hmm," Elsa scrunched up her face in thought. "There's no other structures outside the bailey, and no motte where a lord or knight would preside. So we're probably on the outskirts-"

"Yes. Thank you, for that Elsa. You nerd," Anna laughed and shook her head. "Come on, what do you see?"

Elsa sighed and glanced at Anna. "You just want me to say it, don't you?"

"Really want you to say it," Anna said as her smirk widened into a grin.

"You were right," Elsa admitted. "Avalon."

Anna clapped her hands and bounced up and down in glee. "Avalon!" she laughed. "The legendary mystical island, long thought to be a myth, finally discovered by one Anna Kaldborg."

"And?" Elsa prompted.

"And her stubborn older sister who just happened to be tagging along for the ride," Anna teased. She drank in the sight a moment longer, sighing in satisfaction and wearing a content smile.

"I'm sorry I yelled at you, Anna" Elsa spoke up. "And… I'm sorry for doubting you."

Anna glanced over at Elsa's sullen expression. "You don't have to say that," she reassured. "Besides, I'm the one who should be apologizing. After all, I did drag you into this whole thing. I mean, we've been shot at, captured, nearly drowned… all because of this crazy dream."

"No. Not crazy. Not anymore at least," Elsa smiled forlornly. "It's just, I- I..." she trailed off

"You worry about me. I know, Elsa, I know," Anna said and returned a grateful smile. "I can always count on you."

Elsa swallowed a lump in her throat and nodded, unable to say anything else. The next minute passed in silence as they contemplated the ruins before them.

"Well, what are we waiting for?" Anna asked. "Let's go take a closer look!"

After making their way down from the hill, Elsa and Anna passed through a grassy meadow that laid before the fallen watchtower. They leapt over a small babbling brook before proceeding through the ancient ruins of the village. Nothing else remained aside from moss and ivy covered cobblestones. Nonetheless, the sight was still mystifying to see.

The ruins continued to span the floor of the valley, following the length of a muddy road that ran down the center. They continued along the road until it came to an end at a section that was blocked by rubble and overgrowth.

"Maybe we can cut around," Anna suggested.

"I think there's a way through here," Elsa said as she approached a low opening in the base of a large, cobblestone wall. "This way, Anna," she crouched low and entered a damp hollow.

"Right behind you," Anna replied as she followed along.

The hollow was gloomy, but lit well enough to see and led to a rectangular enclosure. It was exposed to the sky above and partially shaded by the leaves of a tall oak tree that had burst through the foundation in a corner. Next to it, lay a section of wall that had broken down low enough that they could climb over it.

"Up there," Elsa pointed. "We can climb out."

"Think you can manage that?" Anna asked as she gauged the height. "I don't want you to stress your shoulder."

"You're right," Elsa agreed. "Maybe there's something we can use to give us an extra leg up," she looked around for anything they could use to make the ascent easier.

"Here," Anna said standing at the base of the wall. "I'll give you a boost. That way you shouldn't have to jump up and grab the ledge."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah. Of course. C'mon."

"Alright."

Elsa approached Anna, who placed one hand over another with her palms turned upwards for Elsa to step on.

"Okay, careful now," Anna cautioned as Elsa stood higher and braced herself against the wall.

The ledge of the wall was now at the height of Elsa's chest and was considerably easier to climb without straining her shoulder. She pushed herself up then looped her left leg over and straddled the wall.

"Now you," Elsa said as she extended her right arm towards Anna.

"What about your-"

"I have two arms, Anna."

"Oh. Heh. Right," Anna jumped up and grabbed Elsa's hand, then she quickly ascended the wall and sat next to Elsa. "Going down?" she grinned and dropped down to a soft patch of tall grass.

Above, Elsa rolled her eyes before she also leapt down from the wall and landed next to Anna. She was about to tease her when Anna pressed a finger tightly to her lips in warning and pointed beyond the grass.

A group of mercenaries were poking through an empty watchtower that had remained largely intact. It rose to three-stories tall, and a long hole in the side exposed the interior of the tower to the outside.

"Perfect," Elsa whispered. "Just what we need."

"There must be at least a dozen of them," Anna frowned as she observed the group. "How do we play this?"

"Quietly," Elsa replied. "Just be ready for a fight in case things go south," she started creeping her way forward.

Anna nodded and drew her suppressed pistol. "Oh, I'm always ready for a fight."

Elsa paused and looked confused. "Wait, is that in reference to me?"

"No, would you relax?"

"No, you... relax."

They crept silently through the tall grass, giving the watchtower a wide berth as they circled around it. A small group of the mercenaries appeared to be searching the interior of the tower while the rest roamed the grounds outside, patrolling the area in pairs. The pair closest to Elsa and Anna passed by were engrossed in a conversation and failed to notice them as they froze in place among the grass.

"Did you hear? The squad searching the crash site got wiped out by just one girl."

Elsa fixed Anna with a surprised look and silently mouthed, "you?"

Anna simply shrugged her shoulders.

"Christ. Guess Hans underestimated the competition then eh?" The other mercenary chuckled. "Those girls must be pretty tough."

"Don't let him hear you say that. He'll string you up on a bloody cross."

"What's he got us poking around these ruins for anyway? Didn't the rest of them head up towards the castle?"

"Just being thorough. No one has stepped foot on this island in hundreds of years. There's bound to be something valuable somewhere."

Anna turned to Elsa with a gleam in her eye and mouthed, "castle?"

It was Elsa's turn to shrug, then she jabbed a thumb over her shoulder as she gestured for them to keep moving. The patch of tall grass ended before the remains of a stone granary that offered ample cover, which Elsa and Anna took refuge in. Just then, a voice nearby spoke aloud.

"I'll be back. Got to take a piss."

"Just don't take too long."

"Fuck off."

"Hide. Quick!" Elsa hissed as she darted into the shadows behind a pile of rubble.

Meanwhile, Anna slipped behind a patch of bushes that had grown up through the flooring. From each of their hiding spots, Elsa and Anna had a sightline on one another.

A few seconds later, a lone mercenary entered the granary through a hole in the wall and slung his rifle over his shoulder as he began to unzip his trousers. He whistled tunelessly as he began to audibly urinate, causing Elsa and Anna to grimace at one another.

Anna drew a finger across her throat and cocked her head at the mercenary. Elsa understood her intention and nodded, then whistled a sharp note to distract him.

"Huh?" the mercenary turned his head to place the sound.

As he zipped up his trousers, Anna crept up behind him like a shadow and walloped him over the head with a stone she had found, rendering him unconscious as he fell to the ground.

"Ugh, so gross," Anna shuddered, dropping the rock. "Ooh, hello."

"What are you doing?" Elsa asked as she crept out from behind the rubble.

Anna bent down and picked up a hand grenade from the unconscious mercenary and hefted it in her hand. "I have a feeling we might need this," she tucked it in her pocket.

"Just don't blow yourself up," Elsa peeked outside the granary and determined the coast was clear. "Let's move," she gestured for Anna to follow.

"Yeah, please. Before anyone else decides to come and take a piss in here," Anna scowled.

The pair departed from the granary, slinking across the open ground quickly before using a low cobblestone wall shielded by thick overgrowth for cover. From their new position, they could see a pair of 4x4 jeeps parked atop a hill ahead of them past the watchtower.

"Look," Elsa pointed. "They parked their cars up there, we can take one of them."

"I don't think they'll just let us waltz right up there and take one," Anna muttered.

A red beam protruding from a sentry's laser sight passed near their position, causing Elsa to push Anna down.

"Get down!" Elsa whispered. "Sniper. Top of the tower. See him?"

"Shit," Anna peeked up slowly then leaned back down. "No way we can grab one of their cars without being seen. We'll have to take him out."

Elsa nodded. "Get ready to move."

They waited until the sentry's watchful gaze passed over them, then silently crept towards the base of the tower. There, they paused behind some rocks on either side of a dirt trail as they awaited a pair of patrolling mercenaries to pass them by. Once they were beyond earshot, Anna quickly dropped them with two suppressed gunshots.

The pair of mercenaries barely uttered a shudder before they collapsed to the ground, dead. Elsa darted over and picked up one of their shotguns, then pocketed the extra shells. She looked up and saw Anna, looking back at her with a quirky expression on her face.

"What?" Elsa shrugged. "You have a bigger gun and I don't."

Afterwards, Elsa and Anna moved stealthily towards the base of the watchtower where they passed through the gash in the side and found themselves face to face with two mercenaries searching through the rubble. They had set their weapons down next to a wall and were presently unarmed.

"H- hi," Anna chuckled. "Oh, well this is awkward."

"They're he-!" one of them shouted as the butt end of Anna's rifle struck him in the face.

As he bent over from the blow, he pulled out his sidearm and took aim. Anna batted it aside just in time as he fired off a round into the wall.

They locked arms with each other, struggling to gain control over their weapons when Anna kneed him in the groin twice. The first blow winded him, while the second blow landed more accurately and caused him to keel over while shoving Anna down. As she fell to the ground, she rolled over and found her rifle just as the other mercenary was reaching for his fallen pistol. Anna was quicker, and she flipped onto her back to fire three rounds into his chest just as he was about to take aim. He fell and crumpled to the ground in a lifeless heap.

Meanwhile, Elsa attempted to fire her shotgun but just as she let loose a volley of pellets, the mercenary rushed forward and pointed the barrel away, unbalancing her. Elsa utilized the rush of movement and pirouetted with the momentum, raising one foot high and bringing it around as she aimed her kick towards her foe's side.

The mercenary caught her leg easily and taunted Elsa as she struggled to free herself from his grasp. "Nice try," he sneered

He held her leg in a tight grip, and Elsa struggled to free herself without losing her balance. Instantly, she switched tactics and jumped off her free leg so she could pivot her torso mid-air. As she did, she swept her foot in from the side across his face and knocked him over. The sudden blow caused him to release his hold on Elsa and they both dropped to the ground. However, he was quicker and rose before Elsa could, crossing the short distance between them and grabbing her by the left shoulder and slamming her into the wall.

"Agh!" Elsa cried out hoarsely as her shoulder exploded in pain.

Her vision swam and blurred. As she blinked in shock, she saw a fist rushing in towards her face and moved her head to the side in time to dodge the incoming blow. A crunch of bone followed as his fist crumpled against the rough stone wall. The mercenary backed away and clutched his hand, while Elsa used the opportunity to grab him by the back of the shoulders and pulled his face towards the wall where he met it nose-first. As he recoiled and grunted in pain, he threw out a wild haymaker which Elsa easily ducked. She finished him off by grabbing him by the collars and falling back, dragging him down and bringing the side of his head crashing into the wall where he fell limp.

As Elsa rose, she looked up in time just as another mercenary came through the hole in the wall and leveled his gun at her.

Anna spotted him first and took aim with her rifle. "Elsa! Get down!" she yelled.

Elsa ducked just in time to dodge a burst of bullets that slammed into the wall behind her. Once she was out of the way, Anna delivered her own retort via her rifle and dropped him. Outside, voices could be heard shouting as they closed in on the tower. Elsa helped Anna to her feet when she spotted another figure coming down the staircase.

"Look out, Anna!" Elsa shouted as she took aim with her shotgun and blasted the mercenary coming down the stairs.

He flew back against the wall and rolled all the way down the stairs in a heap.

"Whew, close one," Elsa panted as she racked the pump and chambered another shell.

Another volley of gunfire split the temporary silence as bullets whizzed past Elsa and Anna, forcing them to retreat up the tower.

"Go! Move!" Anna cried as she grabbed Elsa's hand and led her up the tower.

They passed through the empty second floor and continued on towards the third. As they reached the top of the tower, Anna peered over the edge to see the lone sentry on the landing aiming his rifle at her. She ducked just in time as a loud crack split the air and a high caliber bullet smacked into the wall behind her.

Anna gasped and immediately ducked. "Sniper! Sniper!" she yelped as a large chunk of the wall above her head exploded into dust.

As the sniper cycled the bolt of his rifle, Elsa leaned out with her shotgun and blasted him in the chest, knocking him back and sending him flying over the edge.

"Got him," Elsa said as she helped Anna to her feet and stepped out to the landing atop the tower.

More shouting was heard from below as the remaining mercenaries dug in and fired towards the tower. Anna dropped to a prone position and crawled on her stomach until she reached the crenellations. Behind her, Elsa leaned out into the stairs and blasted another mercenary as he came up.

"So, this is going well," Anna joked as she reloaded her rifle.

Once she was sure the tower below them was clear, Elsa dove into position next to Anna. She risked a glance over the crenellations and immediately shrank back down when automatic gunfire chipped the stone away around her.

"Three or four of them left bunched up down there, can you get an angle on them?" Elsa asked.

Anna peeked over her side then ducked back down. "Here," she slid the rifle over to Elsa. "Wait for a pause, then keep 'em pinned down."

Elsa looked up at her in alarm. "What are you gonna do?" she asked.

Anna reached into her pocket and pulled out the hand grenade. "I told you we might need this," she grinned.

"Just don't miss!" Elsa said as she picked up the rifle.

She clutched it tightly over her chest as they waited for a pause in the firing. When it came, Elsa sprang upwards and released a hail of bullets down below to where the mercenaries had taken cover by a wall. They ducked back down to avoid the gunfire, meanwhile Anna rose to a standing position.

"Now, Anna!" Elsa shouted.

Anna pulled the safety pin and tossed the grenade overhand, then dove back down beneath cover. As it sailed through the air, the mercenaries were unable to spot it until too late, hiding as they were from Elsa's suppressing fire. Anna's aim had been perfect, and it landed just behind them.

"Shit! Grena- !"

A small fireball erupted into the air, followed by a cloud of dirt and dust. Even though Elsa and Anna were well beyond a safe distance from the explosion, the detonation still caused a slight ringing in their ears. As the dust settled, nothing else stirred, allowing them to finally catch their breath.

"Oh man," Anna muttered. "That was intense."

Elsa scanned all around their surroundings for any further threats, then loosened up. "I think we got them all," she dumped the empty magazine from her rifle and loaded in a new one.

"Let's get the hell out of here before more of these guys show up," Anna said.

They made their way down from the tower, searching the bodies until they were able to procure a set of keys to the parked cars and made their way over to them. Anna climbed into the driver's seat of an open topped 4x4 jeep while Elsa deposited herself in the passenger seat. With no further delays, they set off down the muddy road. They followed it along until it ran parallel next to a wide, slow moving river. As the road continued through the length of the valley, the mud eventually gave way to rough hewn cobblestone as it passed through a tree line and disappeared around a bend.

"One of those guys mentioned a castle," Anna said to Elsa after some time had passed. "What do you think he meant?"

"Don't know," Elsa shrugged. "From what we saw of the village, maybe Arthur was planning to start a settlement on this island."

"Well, I guess it wouldn't be the craziest thing we'd ever seen. But a hidden castle? That would be so... so," Anna trailed off and her eyes widened in awe as they rounded the bend through the tree line and came upon the view. She stopped the car and stepped out while Elsa followed suit.

Far ahead, nestled at the end of the valley at the base of the mountain peak was a tall multi-layered castle that stood proud even despite the centuries. The outer wall was lined by a deep moat, while the inner wall stood higher upon a raised tier of earth. Furthest away, built into the side of the mountain, was an imposing stone keep.

"Wow," Elsa's jaw fell slack. "Can you imagine what it looked like back in the day?"

"Holy Toledo, it's unbelievable," Anna said.

Elsa shook her head. "It's incredible, I mean... really... I'm at a loss for words."

Though some sections of the castle had crumbled away or had been overtaken by nature, there was no denying the majesty of presence that it commanded. If the buried city of Sarras had been something amazing, the castle they stood before now was something altogether otherworldly. The fact was, the entire island, even with the long years it spent in solitude, seemed as if it were plucked out of a fantasy.

"It's like a postcard. Wish I had bought a camera," Anna frowned. "I'd love to get a picture."

"Yeah," Elsa laughed. "Avalon. Come for the views. Stay for the life-or-death gunfights."

Anna laughed along with her. She's in a good mood, all things considered. Maybe now I can ask her about that kiss. It's as good a time as any, she thought to herself.

After all, caught up as they were in their current events, neither of them had discussed their intense conversation they had shared back in the desert, much less the kiss the remained on both of their minds.

"So, I've been meaning to ask," Anna hesitated when she saw Elsa visibly stiffen.

How in the hell am I supposed to bring that up? Anna thought as she considered her options.

Despite how much she wanted to just come out and say it, she knew Elsa could be cagey when it came to sensitive topics and talking about that kiss would be especially sensitive. Anna opted for an easier seemingly unrelated subject.

"Back in the desert… you said you made a promise. What was it?" Anna finally managed.

"Hmm?" Elsa turned to her and fixed with a curious look.

"Just… when we were talking about everything. It was something you mentioned," Anna bit her lip nervously.

Elsa waited a long moment before answering, gazing ahead at the castle in the far distance. She thought over Anna's question, thinking of the best way to answer. It had surprised her that she had decided to answer Anna's question at all, since in the past Elsa would have done anything to avoid discussing their painful history. However, things were different now. Anna deserved better than the long years of silence that Elsa had given her.

Anna began to nervously fidget in place, suddenly fearful that she had overstepped her boundaries again and caused Elsa to retreat within herself. She looked at her older sister, and studied the way the wind softly blew loose strands of her hair and framed her elegant face. If she had not been speaking a moment ago, Anna could have mistaken her for a statue of marble.

Finally, Elsa turned towards Anna to speak slowly and delicately. "It was way back, when we first started all of this. Do you remember? The night we spoke in dad's study?"

Anna's eyes softened and she nodded slowly.

"It was when you proposed the idea of… taking after them. I was afraid then, not of the dangers or the consequences, but of you getting hurt again," Elsa turned away to face the castle. "So I made a promise. I promised to protect you and to never let anything happen to you," she faced Anna again, and her eyes were shone like silver glass. "I only wanted to protect you, Anna."

"Protect me by pushing me away all those years?" Anna asked firmly, but not ungently. "All this time, the silence, the… the loneliness, was just to protect me?"

"It's… it's not like that Anna. It's more complicated, I- I…"

"You know, even if you think you were protecting me, you had no right to just shut me out like that. You could have… you could have come to me and we could have worked it out together. We're supposed to be a team, Elsa, you and I."

Elsa fretted in place, unsure of what to say next. Their conversation had taken a turn, and the answer she had given did not reflect the whole truth. Yet, Elsa did not even know why she had hesitated. She needed more time to think. The only thing she was sure of was her love for Anna, but she did not have the faintest idea on how to even begin broaching the subject, or even if she should bring it up at all.

How can I explain to her how I feel? The way no sister should feel about their own sibling? I can't help it… I don't know what to do, Elsa thought.

"I know, Anna. I do, it's just… I- I," Elsa bit her lip and trailed off again.

Anna could see how much she was pushing Elsa and decided to drop it for now, not wanting to upset her any more than she already had, especially given the face that she herself did not fully understand her own feelings towards her. They were confusing and strange, and should have brought Anna a certain degree of discomfort, but whenever she thought of Elsa in that way, it merely made her feel like she was home.

"You know what, we should stay focused," Anna said carefully." There'll be time for this later," she smiled softly to put Elsa at ease.

Elsa let her gaze linger on Anna's face, then nodded solemnly. "Right… we should keep moving."

With that, they climbed back into their as Anna sat in the driver's seat and Elsa sat by her side.

"Onward then," Anna turned the key in the ignition. "Next stop, Castle Avalon."