Chapter 11
A brutal chill had settled onto Arendelle, infesting the wind and crops with an unnerving shadow. The villagers walked with a small sprint in their step and an eye glancing over their shoulder as they went through their days—all noting how the singed earth around the fallen seasonal pole seemed to creep away from the market square little by little. Almost, some villagers would say, inching towards the shore where the sun would rise and set—almost as if it were waiting. Though what it would be waiting for, none wished to say.
The wind howled lowly through the village up to the castle, winding around the brick walls to whistle through the windows. Ingvar's lips thinned out, his eyes glowering at the gray clouds strolling overhead. A soft, feather light touch of snow pecked his bare shoulder and he sighed deeply.
"You know, there have been rumors spreading.," he said, bunching the sleeves of his dress shirt around his arms; keeping it from completely sliding off. "About the prince going missing because he's run off like a coward, or worse yet a spy selling secrets to the enemy until he bit off too much that he could chew," Ingvar chuckled humorlessly, staring out the window with a stony expression as he turned around to add, "And, that before their worthless prince fled, he poisoned their king with a sickness only the Draugen could brew. What do you think of that?"
Ingvar arched an eyebrow at the bed, ice spiking around its wall and the floor around it as the man tangled in the torn sheets gasped for breath. His pale chest heaved deeply, an arm draped over his face as heat pumped through his veins. The sheet clung around his long legs, barely covering over the other's manhood. "Have you been poisoned?"
Elias's chest rose and fell with each deep breath he took, his eyes locked on the web of ice that splintered across the ceiling.
"I was poisoned before I was even born." He murmured, watching the crackling ice hiss under his gaze.
"And your 'worthless' brother?"
Elias's eyes shot a bitter glare at the man across the room, his eyes narrowing as he growled, "Shut. Up."
Ingvar chuckled, falling back on the bed. "And here I thought I finally unwound you." His fingers played with sweat slicked ivory locks clinging to Elias's temples, running through the tangled mess while humming quietly.
"You're overreacting, you know that right?" Ingvar murmured, sinking his head into the pillows. A gust of feathers plumed from the torn fabric, weaving across the bed like snow and onto Elias's chest.
The young king frowned, scoffing slightly, "It's my job to overreact."
"The ship's been gone for less than a month. You know it takes almost two months after to hear word so soon—especially when travelling to the North."
"And it only takes a second for a pirate to decide which artery his knife will journey through first."
"I'm sure his royal name will carry some protection."
"As much as a measly piece of paper does as a shield to a fleet of soldiers." Elias rolled onto his side, staring up at Ingvar. His voice broke into a whisper. "Blood is blood no matter where it sheds. You know that better than anyone."
The frown on Ingvar's mouth deepened as he brushed the stray lock of hair from Elias's eyes.
"Unfortunately so do you," he sighed, resting his hand on the nape of Elias's neck. He pressed his forehead against the younger's. "But as stubborn as that boy is, he's somehow bound to come back be it broken or not."
Elias curled up against the man and rested his chin on the other's shoulder. Elias closed his eyes, inhaling the winter cress scent emitting from his skin. Ingvar's hands slowly inched down Elias's back, pulling him closer until their heartbeats echoed into the other's chest. Elias bit back a groan as fingers left thin trails of frost down his flesh, slowly circling over his coccyx.
"Stop that," Elias ordered weakly, his voice caught between another groan and a squeeze of the other's fingers.
"Stop what?" Ingvar asked with a smirk as the man shivered against his arms. His teeth nipped Elias's ear, suckling on the tender flesh idly as he whispered, "As much as I enjoy taking your frustrations," he shifted his leg between Elias's despite the stinging pain trekking up his lower back. Ingvar slipped his hands right under Elias's rear and rolled them over, his body hovering over Elias's like a second skin. "I believe it's my turn."
Pink dusted Elias's cheeks, absentmindedly arching his back to meet the other's sculpted frame like a puzzle. "I hate it when you do that." Elias mumbled under his breath, tearing his gaze from the snowy, gray orbs staring down at him.
"Do what?" Ingvar purred, slipping his tongue out to trace a patch of scarred flesh on the young king's neck.
Elias sucked in a harsh breath, silently cursing at the moan that slipped out of him. "When you make me forget."
Ingvar hummed against his throat, sending a shiver running down Elias spine. He tangled his fingers in Elias's hair, smirking, "Forget what?"
Suddenly, Ingvar winced as his neck was yanked back by icy fingers. As ice dug into his skin, the man stared into dark blue irises bleeding out into the whites of Elias's eyes while a sharp flint of icy blue sharpened along his pupil. Elias's eyes narrowed into a dangerous glare while Ingvar's smirk widened.
"Alright, you win." Ingvar said, cupping Elias's cheeks in his hands. His smirk softened into a smile as the man's eyes shifted back into their original soft blue hue. Elias flushed, his grip shakily releasing Ingvar's neck when Ingvar pulled his arms back around him. "Don't." Elias blinked as his arms wove themselves around Ingvar's neck again. The former regent dusted Elias's cheek with a chaste kiss, whispering breathlessly, "I taught you so well."
"Not quite." Elias groaned, pushing his hips up into Ingvar's as his lips brushed over his. "Teach me more."
With a low growl rumbling from the back of his throat, Ingvar lips devoured the young king's. The last inkling of sheets clinging to the two fell from their bucking frames. A soft snowfall began falling from the ice glazed over the ceiling over the bed until a sharp knock pierced the air. Ingvar sighed deeply, forcing every nerve of his body to remain still while Elias groaned.
"Your highness!" a voice behind the door called.
"Yes?" Elias growled through gritted teeth; an alien heat causing his limbs to ache under Ingvar's touch—just inches from grasping him.
"A letter from your regent has arrived."
Elias's heart skipped a beat, carefully peeling Ingvar from his frame. The two reluctantly pulled away from each other while Elias quickly snatched a robe from the side of the bed. Quickly tugging it over his shoulders, Elias opened the door to find his messenger—tightly bundled his windswept furs—jittering in front of him. The messenger's eyes widened, glancing at the barely fitted robe flung onto Elias's shoulders and quickly handed him a tattered letter.
"I-I thought you'd want to see it immediately," the messenger, stuttered. "Please excuse my intrusion, your majesty."
Elias grasped the letter from the man, waving his hand as if dismissing the statement. "No, thank you for getting this to me so soon." The young king bowed his head at the messenger, oblivious to the faint flush on the man's face as he scurried off.
Elias closed the door behind him, his fingers tearing through the weather beaten envelope. He tore the letter out, icy blue eyes scanning through the scrawled script before his eyes widened. He fell against the back of the door, sliding to the floor. Ingvar rose from the bed and knelt beside Elias.
"Elias?" Ingvar arched an eyebrow, watching as the letter crumbled in Elias's hand. Elias's fingers buried themselves in his hair, his lips set in a firm line as he chewed on his thumb nail. Ingvar gently tugged the letter from Elias's grasp and felt his heart drop. He scanned through the letter, rescanned it, then scanned it again until he murmured breathlessly, "How?"
"Can you hear it?" he asked.
Golden brows knitted together as the boy stared up at the man. "Hear what?"
"The song." The man chuckled, pulling the boy close to him. "The wind is singing the song."
The boy blinked up at the man quizzically as he placed him on his lap. The man rested his chin on the boy's shoulder, the boy fighting against the giggle on his tongue as his mustache tickled his cheek.
"Now, close your eyes," the man said. The boy closed his eyes, sneaking a glance up at the man until he replied, "No peeking."
Huffing, the boy closed his eyes. The man smiled softly, bringing his hands to cover the boy's ears. He pressed his lips against his hands, murmuring softly, "Listen."
The boy sighed, feeling the wind caress his face with an icy nip to his nose. The world rumbled beneath the man's hands, almost speaking in a foreign tongue until the wind whistled by his fingers and left a ringing to dance through the boy's ears. A soft, fragile jingle made the boy gasp lightly, the ringing growing louder and clearer the harder he clenched his eyes.
"Can you hear it now?" The man's voice began to dissolve into the wind, tattering between calm to yearning. "Can you hear it?"
Before the boy could respond, the voice of the wind came to an abrupt halt as one voice rang in the air with an eerie chill that made the boy's blood run cold.
"Can you hear me now, Andy?"
Andy violently jerked up with a gasp, gagging on grains of silt that had wandered into his mouth. The boy groaned as he sat up, his chest burning at the air that filled his lungs. He blinked the haziness from his eyes until he the mosaic of the world settled into his gaze. Monstrous storm clouds thundered over the black sea that lapped at his sodden boots. He squinted up at the clouds greedily devouring the sun, letting pale streaks of light dribble onto the shoreline.
Andy carefully turned around to find rocks scattered behind him, growing sharper and bulkier with every passing stone along with thick trees jutting towards the sky. His fingers scratched against the spare board he had floated on pressing deeply into the sediment when his breath hitched at the back of his throat. He snapped his head back towards the ocean to find the darkened sky mingled with the horizon.
The boy's heart sank, warmth stinging the back of his eyes, and dropped his head onto his knees. The waves silently caressed the sole of his boots as if trying to comfort the prince. Time would have stretched on like that forever for the boy until the wind whirled by him. Andy hissed, gripping his arms only to feel the chill seep through his sleeves. He glanced down, shivering at the sight of his attire completely drenched.
"Perfect," Andy huffed, peeling a shred of seaweed frozen from his shirt. He looked toward at the hill of rocks running behind him with an extra crack of thunder sending his feet flying towards the forest.
Snatching the board from the ground, Andy stumbled over the rocks. As he entered the forest, he shuddered at the sloshing each step he took made—the chill of the air lapping at his goose bump littered flesh eagerly. He marched through the thick brushwood, stumbling over a loose branch or stone. Andy felt his skin prickle at the rustles shaking above in the trees and felt his stomach twist as the light from the sun grew dimmer and dimmer.
The earth seemed to swallow Andy's steps as the hours went by, day quickly losing itself in night. Andy blindly stumbled forward, feeling along the towering trees. He trembled with each step, gulping the bitter, musky air. In the darkness Andy finally leaned back against a trunk. Breathing heavily, he stared up at the tree branches tightly intertwined like a cage from the sky itself. He groaned, running a muddied hand over his face.
Andy forced his gaze back onto the leaf scattered path before him. He stepped forward and winced, choking on a cry as he tumbled to the ground. Pain seared through his ankle as he tossed through the large pool tree leaves. His eyes widened at the bear trap firmly clasped around his ankle—its rusted teeth glaring at him in the darkness. Andy leaned in, carefully pulling at the metal bars to no avail
The pain spread through his muscle faster, tears paving clean streaks down his cheeks until a rustling shifted closer towards him. Andy's heart leapt into his mouth at the small balls of orange light piercing through the shadows. Andy's heartbeat roared in his ears as the voices and calls grew louder, breaking through the walls of brushwood and fallen trees to erupt in full. Andy stared up at ogling men whose gaze was instantly drawn to the bear trap encasing the boy's bloody ankle.
"God damn it!" One of them snarled, a snarl revealing several broken teeth.
The torches came together, hoarding around Andy with the same disgusted expression as the first did until a stomp came from behind them all. A man with dark mauve paste smeared down his cheek thundered from the group behind them, his black eyes smoldering. His eyes trailed down Andy to the bear trap before asking lowly, "What happened?"
The first of the men pointed Andy with the end of his knife. "This piece of shit cost us dinner!"
Andy winced as the men growled in unison. A series of clanks of knifes and blades being unsheathed caused Andy to shudder, the pain of the bear trap long gone under the winking of the blades.
"Let's eat him then," one exclaimed. "He's got some meat on them."
It hurt to breathe for Andy, one voice rallying to another to tear him apart until the man with the mauve markings stepped into the circle. His black eyes glittered something beneath them as Andy shrunk into his shoulders. The man jerked the boy's chin up to him and asked, "Why are you in my woods?"
Andy's tongue worked to untangle itself, tripping over the heart that wanted to race from the boy's chest. The man's greasy fingers brushed over Andy's chin before diving down to wrap around his throat.
"I said why the hell are you in my woods?"
Andy gasped, his windpipe being crushed under the man's hand.
"P-passing by," Andy stuttered out, sweat lapping down his skin.
The man clucked his tongue, rolling his neck until a smirk crossed his lips. He plucked a strand of hair hanging raggedly on the boy's scalp. "Around here, it's a sorry crime to ruin a man's meal." Andy gulped as the man leaned closer to him. The man's bulky nose was inches from Andy's face, fanning him with sour air while the man tightened his grip around his neck. At a closer space, Andy's skin crawled. The mauve paste lines running under the man's left eye was still fresh and flowing freely down his square jaw.
Andy gulped as the man yanked him to his feet, causing the metal of the bear trap to tear deeper into Andy's ankle. The man shook Andy forcefully to his other comrades with a devious smirk outlining his blackened molars.
"Seems as though we've cut ourselves a mutt gentlemen," the man bellowed, grinning madly. "Let's have a little fun with this fresh meat!"
The near unanimous cheer that answered him made Andy's stomach clench painfully. The man turned to Andy, chuckling at the ashen flush that seeped through his face. "Don't worry," he murmured, so quiet only Andy could hear, "I'll be sure to break in nice and easy."
As the man chuckled on, a screech tore from his throat. The rest of the men gawked at the boy sinking his teeth into the man's hand. The man snarled, pulling his free hand back and swiped it across the boy's face. Andy collapsed on the ground at the sharp crack that met his cheek, his head spinning as the other men leapt onto him. Andy thrashed and writhed under the men clawing at him while the leader spat at the ground.
"Hold 'im down!" Andy's thrashing grew more frantic as the men pinned him to the ground. Tears rimmed the edge of Andy's eyes, watching their leader droop down in front of him. The other men jerked Andy's legs apart, yanking at the ties of his trousers, as the man nestled his self between Andy. As Andy cried louder, another crack slammed against his cheek. The darkness melded with flickers of orange swam together in the swirl of Andy's spinning gaze, his mind barely registering the goose bumps flaring down his bare thighs.
An icy burn pressed against Andy as the man hissed, "Now fucking scream mutt—"
An earsplitting scream shattered the man's sentence—yet, to his surprise was not from the boy beneath him. One of the men pulled away from Andy, clenching his hands over his eyes as he stumbled away. Suddenly, another man reared away from Andy; his hand grabbing his arm as he fell from them. The man's brows furrowed, leaning away from Andy while each of his men collapsed.
"What the hell?" he gasped, his eyes widening as he saw them writhing with their screams echoing throughout the woods.
The man's heart skipped a beat as one of his men crumbled along the ground, clawing at his neck desperately. The flesh around his neck instantly swelled to a dark purple until flints of frost began to rise up and infest the skin. The fellow man's eyes rolled to the back of his head as he dropped to the ground, the frost cutting through his jugular.
Andy's mouth gaped, a scream frozen on his tongue as he and the man watched the others writhe until the ice crept up through their limbs or eyes; as if the ice were devouring them from the inside out. The man finally pulled his self up, wincing as his vision blurred. Andy jumped back at the sheen of frost creeping through the man's eyes, his screams making his bones shudder. The frost quickly broke through his fingers, ravaging the marred flesh with a burn of its own until the man toppled forward. Black eyes, now gray and empty, stared through Andy who cradled his self up by the tree behind him.
The boy listened to the man's weak cries until a crunch met his ears. Andy looked up, his body trembling as a shadow stomped through the abandoned torches scattered along the ground. A sheet of frost skated out from the figure's feet as he walked closer towards Andy. Andy turned away, wrapping his arms around his self tighter. The footsteps took place of his heartbeat while each step thundered louder in his ears until—
"Are you alright?"
Andy and the world froze. The words slowly sinking into his mind as he inched his head up. A hooded figure stared down at him, tilting its head to the side. Andy blinked at the creature before him until a scream erupted into the air. Andy's lungs burned in relief at the scream falling from his lips. A gloved hand quickly slapped over Andy's mouth even as the boy continued to scream into the weathered leather. The figure brought a finger to its lips, gently shushing Andy until his screams slowly died down. Andy panted heavily, his dried tongue dusting over his flaking lips as the figure pulled its hand away. The hooded figure glanced over its shoulder, the shadows masking the frown on its face.
Andy trailed over the frozen bodies scattered on the ground, the ice still creeping over the men even after they took their last breath. His heart twanged at the empty eyes staring into the darkness as the figure's voice rumbled, "You shouldn't feel sorry for them. They wouldn't for you."
Andy winced, the figure's eyes trained onto him intently. Andy swallowed around the knot in his throat while the figure tilted its head at him again.
"You're cold."
Andy jumped out of his daze, ogling the figure. The white hood stretched over the figure's face, racing down its shoulders to fall into black swirls that fanned out around them. Andy squinted at the shadow covered face until a black gloved hand stretched out towards him. The boy shot the figure an arched an eyebrow.
"If I wanted to kill you, you wouldn't even feel it," the figure said. "Unless you have somewhere else to go."
Andy swallowed down any questions, moving to take the figure's hand only to trip forward. The bear trap was embedded into Andy's ankle, letting his blood trail down its mouth. The figure leaned forward, its fingers wrapping around the bear trap's jaws. Andy gawked at the metal jaws being yanked apart like paper while the figure turned back to him. The figure's arms curled under Andy's torso and bare legs, lifting him up against him. Andy yelped, clinging onto the figure desperately as a bitter chill whipped around them.
What are you doing? Andy chastised his self. As soon as you get the chance run! You can't trust—
As the wind blew, the figure's hood fell onto his shoulders and caused every nerve in Andy's body to freeze. A pale face seeming to be sculpted from ice itself stared ahead, a frail scar trailing from the edge of his eye to his jaw like a jagged smile. Andy's breath hitched at the back of his throat, staring up into ice, blue eyes—eyes he grew up yearning for everyday.
Elias?
A/N: Dun dun dun! Warm hugs for you!
