By time Elsa had made her way back, Yelana had started the ceremony to cleanse the darkness that settled across the forest. The clouds were clear from the sky, leaving a dusting of snow across the ground and faint moonlight to trickle into the forest.
Elsa held her chin up at the back of the group, watching as Yelana once again thanked the North, South, East, and West.
After her trip into the forest, she came out feeling a little more grounded. No more wallowing in self-pity, she needed to be strong. She spoke her feelings into the world and now she needed to recover.
As Anna always said, she had to do the next right thing by taking that next step. Even telling herself that, creating a mantra for herself, the pain still ebbed like a festering, open wound.
It would be a painful road but one that she would recover from. She hoped. Though she didn't think she would ever love anyone ever again. Keahi was her one and only. When she was a child listening to children's stories her mother read to her, she often thought it was ridiculous to think that way. Now, she truly understood the women in those stories. The feeling that connected you so strongly to someone, they became a part of you.
"We have gathered today to give thanks to the five spirits and nature itself. To cleanse the wrongs that have been unfolded on the forest, and to bring light back to the dark and illuminate our way." Yelana started, her voice strong as the matriarch started shaking the rattle made of sacred wood in a familiar melody. From a stool, she took a bundle of white sage and lit it, allowing the aroma to mingle into the crowd.
"We thank our past selves for the knowledge we harness today. And forgive ourselves for the mistakes our pasts have made. Through it, we are stronger, we are cleansed, we are healing. We thank Crow." Yelana glanced over at Elsa when she audibly gasped. Elsa's brows knit forward and she hugged her arms over herself. She wasn't quite ready to forgive Crow.
Yelana cleared her throat gruffly. "We thank Crow for showing us what darkness, power, and greed can do to your soul. We thank our enemies for validating our own righteousness. We thank Keahi,"
Elsa stiffened, head shooting up.
"For showing us change is possible with love, understanding, and acceptance." Yelana stared at Elsa before looking away and tossing the bundle of sage into the fire.
The Northuldra all started clapping to the same beat of Yelana's rattle.
Elsa glanced away and strayed further back from the group, sitting on a log in the cold shadows of the fire.
Bruni crawled up her leg and into her hand where she smiled quietly.
"Na na na heyana," Yelana led, the crowd joining in. The sound was somber and sad, everyone knew the loss that had been suffered in the past few days. Not only Elsa's, but those who knew Keahi and Crow, no matter the origin, and the forest that suffered at the hands of corruption.
"Naheya heya na yanuwa. Nuwa nu," They all chanted, so in sync, it nearly felt ominous as the chant floated through the undergrowth of the forest as an owl joined in with its solitary hoot.
She wasn't sure she wanted to stay for the rest. A ride across the dark sea with Nokk would be something to clear her head. Or perhaps she should head back to Arendelle. Anna deserved to know what transpired these past few days.
Bruni let out a sad chirp as Elsa stood to head away.
The shadows from the flames grew higher along the trees as the campfire grew. Northern lights shot across the night sky in whimsical folly so abruptly that the chanting stopped for a split second.
The chants hesitated before they became more upbeat and Elsa glanced back at the crowd.
She couldn't see much of the fire from her viewpoint.
Bruni looked back at her, his long, lazy tongue licked his eyeball before he smiled and belly-flopped from her hand. Weaving between the people and jumping into the fire, which turned a shade of pink and ice blue.
Elsa paused before twisting in between the others to come to the forefront. Honeymarens hand came to her shoulder as the uprising voices lifted the flames higher.
"Na na na heyana!"
The flames shot to the sky, licking at the lights that wavered and danced overhead. The embers fraying like bouncing fireflies that mingled with the stars.
Yelana watched the fire curiously, glancing over at Elsa when she came to stand beside the elder. They all stood far away from the reaching flames.
A shadow started within the center of the flame and Elsa's eyes narrowed to see past the silhouette.
Bruni hopped out of the fire, a pink Mohawk of fire down his back as he pranced around the fire happily. Tongue hanging to the side as he looked back to Elsa, the fire, then back to Elsa again.
Yelana seemed to understand what was happening before anyone else as a smile graced the grumpy older woman's lips. She tapped her staff and shook her rattle louder. "Naheya heya na yanuwa." Yelana motioned for Elsa to go towards the fire.
But she stood there, unsure of what was happening.
The silhouette became darker as the figure started to emerge from the fire. Then a foot stepped out and from the fire stumbled…
Keahi.
She looked worse for wear and her legs wobbled and shook when they touched the dirt.
Elsa didn't think as she ran and pushed back the overwhelming rush of blood that created a whirring noise in her ears.
Just as Keahi went to fall, Elsa was there to catch her. Easing her down onto the ground a comfortable distance from the fire. She rested Keahi's head on her lap, but the woman's eyes were tightly shut.
Elsa put a hand to her cheek, her hands trembling so much she couldn't keep them still. "Keahi?" She whispered past the sporadic beating of her heart that drowned everything and everyone out.
Keahi held up a wobbling hand with her eyes still closed. "The names Ah Ha — ouch!"
Elsa didn't wait for her to finish and leaned over to hug her as hard as she could. Laughing through tears, not concerned about the group of onlookers that watched them. For once she didn't care, it was just Keahi at that moment.
Keahi whined and tried to sit up. Elsa helped her and held her by her shoulders to help prop her up against a log. Keahi put a hand to her head and winced.
Yelana walked over, arching a brow at Keahi and standing over the two. "While there is much you need to atone for, you chose the good in your heart over fear and greed." Yelanas gruff look gave way to a tender smile as she closed her eyes while giving Keahi a nod. "Thank you for protecting our fifth spirit."
Yelana and most of the Northuldra dispersed and Elsa sat staring at Keahi who was looking up at the lights dancing along the sky. The woman looked dazed and not at all sure what had happened. Elsa was afraid she wasn't real, even as she touched her arm carefully. Hoping it wouldn't go through the woman sitting there, hoping this wasn't a figment of her imagination.
Keahi finally looked at Elsa, eyes tired even as an easy smile slid onto her lips. "Can we not do that again?"
"I agree." She replied with a breathy laugh. She couldn't stop smiling. She helped Keahi up, both looking at the sky as it continued its beautiful display.
Elsa hesitated before shyly taking Keahi's warm hand into her own. Keahi's fingers coiled hotly around hers.
The jet of fire shot through her arm and not only thawed her, it completely melted her. "Before anything else happens," she spoke fast, her words jumbling together, and Elsa shook her head to get her words right. "I love you." She finally blurted out. She wrinkled her nose and laughed, embarrassed. It was a lot more graceful in her head. Why could she keep herself together so easily with everything else, but when it came to Keahi, she was a happy mess?
Keahi was watching her with a coy grin as she tucked a strand of blonde hair behind Elsa's ears. "Mmm that was graceful, princess." She purred before chuckling. "You know I love you too."
Elsa looked away, unable to take the heat that illuminated in Keahi's gaze.
"Are you going to work up the courage to kiss me or do I have to stand here, hurt and broken for eternity?" Keahi teased.
Elsa's cheeks flamed red and she once more glanced around the area, scanning it for anyone lingering. "Are you really hurt?" She whispered.
"Is that what you took from that?" Keahi laughed and gave a roguish grin, tipping Elsas chin up. Blue eyes bore into fresh green ones. "If I say yes, do I get special treatment?" Keahi whispered, her lips hovering just over Elsas.
Elsa sucked in a breath, wrinkling her nose. But instead of answering, she just tilted her head enough so their lips were apart just a fraction. Warm breath mingled together.
"Are you teasing me?" Keahi murmured.
"Is it working?" Elsa asked smugly, though a bubbled edge of shyness slanted her words.
Keahi's look was reminiscent of a hungry wolf as she passionately pressed their lips together.
Elsa's body sunk into Keahi's, her arms wrapping around Keahi's waist to press them as close as she could. It could never be close enough.
The warmth that traveled through her body was both invigorating and violent. Every cell in her felt like it exploded with fever.
When they finally separated, she knew she probably looked love drunk. That's exactly how she felt.
"So, what's this mean?" Keahi whispered, breaking through her fog.
Elsa could barely collect her thoughts as they swam in her head. "It means we're free." She shook her head to not sound like a glassy-eyed little girl. She played with the fringe of Keahi's shirt collar. "And don't mess with fifth spirits anymore." She scowled, tapping Keahi's nose with her finger.
"That's no fun. There's a fifth spirit right here I want to mess with." Keahi purred.
Elsa's cheeks stayed a healthy shade of pink as she buried her face into the crook of Keahi's neck as a rumble of laughter rolled through Keahi's chest.
"All right, you two are gross, get a hut." Ryder came up and slapped a hand on Keahi, Honeymaren followed behind him awkwardly. "Let's celebrate! You still need to be initiated." Ryder announced happily.
Keahi laughed but paused, peering at Honeymaren and Ryder suddenly unsure, "He's joking right? Does dying and coming back to life not count?"
"Uh, no, it doesn't. But a good try." Ryder pointed at her.
Elsa trailed behind the three as they started towards the campfire and the few that started to gather around it. Her hands clasped in front of her as she happily watched them all. She couldn't wait to send word to Anna and see her sister. Perhaps fate was a kind mistress.
And perhaps something bigger than them was brewing just under the surface.