Elsa awoke resting her head against a crate, her arms folded under her as a makeshift pillow. Groggily, she shifted and stretched. A kink in her neck had her wincing as she rubbed the tender spot.
They had fallen asleep late last night. Talking about the stars, about memories Keahi no longer had, and teaching bits of sign language which was decidedly more difficult than she had originally thought it would be.
But she liked the idea of speaking without, well, spoken words. She never had much to say, out loud anyway, this felt so much more private than having a vocally spoken conversation.
She knew enough to tell the young girl her name. That was the extent she had gotten to.
Her eyes drifted over the deck, a low fog settled over them and blanketed the ocean. Olaf and the girl were sitting in the middle of the deck, Olaf giggling as they made a small snowman.
Walking over, she folded her hands in front of her and sat down with the two.
"Morning!" Olaf chimed.
Elsa smiled at the honey blonde-haired girl looked at her and tilted her head. She thought for a moment before signing. "My name is Elsa what's yours?"
The girl watched her and shifted to face Elsa. A frown marring her lips and she shook her head. She signed quickly and Elsa didn't know what she was saying.
Instead, Elsa pointed to the ragged little toy bear and held open her hand to see if she would give it to her.
The girl hesitated before cautiously giving it to Elsa.
She waved a hand as blue powder speckled the air as her magic took hold of the small, decrepit bear. The seams turned a light blue and mended, the color of the bear turning a darker shade of blue and snowflake symbols adorned its fur.
The girl leaned over, putting her hands on Elsa's lap as she watched it, mystified. When she was done, Elsa handed it back to her. "There, good as new."
The girl snatched it, excited as she looked it over in amazement. Flashing a wide smile just as a shadow towered over both of them.
They both looked up to see Keahi, she was peeling an apple with her knife. Cutting off chunks as she sat down, watching the two curiously.
"What's going on with the kid?" Keahi asked absently, yawning.
"I tried to see what her name was. And maybe where her parents are?" Elsa edged but sighed, folding her legs as she watched the girl play with the new bear.
"What's your name?" Keahi spoke aloud simultaneously she signed to the girl.
The girl paused, frowning. "I don't have one." She signed.
"Oh, she says she doesn't have one." Keahi murmured, thinking a moment. "She's probably an orphan. It's pretty common in the bigger cities." Keahi offered the girl a slice of the apple and she took it.
Elsa watched the two and she couldn't help but smile at her. When Keahi caught her looking, Keahi looked embarrassed. "What?"
Elsa scowled, crossing her arms. "I never thought you'd be good with children."
"Yeah, well," Keahi frowned, playing with a pebble on the deck before tossing it. "The sea is full of orphans. It's all too common and for the girls...well, they don't have a lot of choices. Luckily for me, I had Crow. Otherwise, orphaned girls have four choices out here; to be a barmaid, a thief, a pirate, or work in a house of ill repute. I didn't really have too much of a choice in what I became."
Elsa took Keahi's hand in her own, "You are so much more than just a pirate."
"I'm starting to believe that." Keahi smiles until Jarrahs voice boomed over the deck.
"Land ho!" He called gallantly.
Elsa stood and looked around, everyone was on deck except Anna. "Where's Anna?"
"Below deck," Saphire muttered, arms crossed bitterly like always. "Your little sis has been throwing up all morning."
"Oh, she hasn't been feeling well, I think she's getting a cold." Elsa was worried for her, but if they were going to beat Crow to this giant they needed to set anchor and find their way to the island. It was best if she didn't say anything to Anna and let her sleep.
"Sure, a cold." Saphire replied dryly, scratching the inside of her ear in the most unladylike of fashion.
Elsa glanced at her but decided to ignore her and went to the edge of the ship. The island looked fairly normal. The only thing about it was the jagged rocks that lined the waters for at least a mile out.
That was easy. She crossed the dark sea, she could cross a bit of coastline.
"Weird, this island isn't on any map. I wonder how Crow found it." Jarrah murmured as he spread out a large mao, scouring it's contents but failing to find what he was looking for.
Elsa started to take off her cowl so it wouldn't get in the way. She turned to Jarrah, who was folding up the map. "Please keep them safe." Sure they had the guards on the ship but Jarrah knew how to navigate, he knew the sea, and he helped with getting Keahi back.
He stiffened and saluted dramatically "Yes ma'am!"
She felt a tug on her pants and looked down at the girl as she looked up with a worried gaze. Elsa crouched over, hands on her knees with a gentle smile. "We'll be back. Olaf will show you a fun game."
Elsa looked to Keahi for help. Keahi took the time to show Elsa so she could sign to the girl .
"Yeah, pipsqueek," Keahi grinned, only to receive a look of scorn from Elsa. "What? It's better than calling her 'that kid'."
The girl looked back at Olaf who came up beside her. He put his arm around her. "Yes! We'll have so much fun. We can play hide and seek, count the seagulls...but be careful they don't land on you they are kind of mean." Olaf started, he didn't seem to care if she couldn't hear him and just kept talking. But the girl watched him and was smiling so whatever he did, it worked.
Elsa looked back to the island, the wind drifted off the top of the water and skimmed them with blowback from the waves.
Her heart fluttered nervously in her chest. She had to do this, had to confront Crow and keep him from getting what he wanted. For all of their sake. For Anna and Arendelle, for Keahi and her friends.
She glanced at the young girl. For a young child who never had the chance to live yet.
Elsa squared her shoulders and nodded in confirmation. Even if no one else followed her in, she won't back down.
She looked over when she felt someone beside her, Keahi shrugged lazily. "Well, what are we waiting for? I need to teach my brother how to play nice with the other children." She joked, punching a fist to her open palm.
Elsa perked up, she wasn't sure that Keahi would come. After all, she wouldn't blame her. With the issue being her brother, and Keahi forgetting all about what happened in Arendelle, why would she? She wouldn't blame Keahi if she didn't take what she said at face value.
So the fact that Keahi was looking at her with that smoldering, determined gaze made her hopes sore and she merely nodded her head.
Below, in the gentle lapping of waves against the boat, Nokk emerged from the water in a chorus of whinnies as he hoove stomped the water.
"Nokk!" Elsa exclaimed, leaning over the railing to look down at the water spirit. She didn't think he followed but she was so grateful to see him. In one easy motion, Elsa swooped over the deck and landed on him, creating reigns of ice and looking up at Keahi. "Let's go."
Keahi gave her a blank look, "I'm not getting on the water cow."
Elsa laughed gently, "That's what you said when you first saw Nokk last time. At least you're consistent." She paused and arched a brow when she realized Keahi was adamant about not getting on Nokk. "He won't bite."
"Mmmm, not worried about biting." Keahi shot back.
Nokk tapped the water with his hoof and huffed. They both stared at one another before Elsa froze the water around them so Keahi could come down.
"Are you scared?" Elsa coyly asked, hoping it was egg Keahi on enough to come down.
It worked.
Keahi finally worked up the nerve to come down, swing herself up on Nokk behind Elsa, grabbing ahold of her waist.
Elsa smiled secretly to herself. She felt a little more confident with Keahi with her as she steered Nokk towards the shores of Muspelheim.