Elsa rubbed her face against the pillow as a crackle of thunder split through the morning. The damp smell of rain and the earthy musk of wet dirt had her rousing from sleep.
Rubbing her palms over her eyes, she leaned up, looking down at Keahi who still had a hand on her hip. She smiled and leaned into kiss Keahi's forehead before stretching languidly, her body felt content and loose.
Trying not to wake Keahi, she tiptoed across the room and slipped out of her nightgown, waving a hand as blue glittered around her as her fifth element dress materialized.
Letting out a sigh of relief, she was happy to be back in Arendelle and back into some normality. Gale flittered through the room, quietly chiming around her and giving a gust of wind that blew Elsa's hair wildly.
She grinned and held her index finger to her lips to try and keep Gale quiet. "I'm happy to see you too, Gale. Let's let Ki sleep a little longer." She whispered. Gale glittered around the room and paused over the bed, like the spirit was contemplating waking Keahi, but decided against it as it followed Elsa out of the room.
The hallways were quiet even as Gale moved across the wide halls and stirred up the carpet and rattled paintings on the wall.
Kristoff rounded the corner and paused when they locked eyes. He had a glass of water and a plate of what looked to be toast in his other hand.
A broad smile made its way on his cheeks, "Elsa! I didn't get a chance to see you when you all came in. Are you okay? How's Ki?" He awkwardly half jogged over to her, trying not to spill the cup of water or rattle the plate.
A piece of toast fell from the plate, but Gale chattered and pushed it back into its place.
Elsa smiled warmly at Kristoff. She was so happy to see him and was even more excited to see how he was feeling about Anna's unexpected surprise. "I'm fine, and so is Ki. She's sleeping, we were both...exhausted." She coughed at the last bit as she thought about last night and straightened, "How's Anna?"
Kristoff's eyes brightened and he moved so excitedly that he nearly threw everything he was holding. Gale helped keep everything together but frittered around him as if she were chiding him. "She's okay! Doctor said she needs to rest, she's four months along!" He was almost out of breath, he was so excited.
Elsa's heart warmed at his excitement, but it fueled her own. Their family was getting bigger and she couldn't wait to see her niece or nephew. "That's great, Kristoff. Take good care of her, she deserves some rest."
A clash of thunder outside had her looking back and frowning. Even with all the excitement of Anna's pregnancy, she had to remember that danger still loomed in their future. Elsa leaned over, putting a feather of a touch to Kristoff's arm, "There may be a time that I ask you to take Anna away from here and I need to know, no matter what Anna says, you will do it."
Kristoff stilled, his eyes resting on her as a frown marred his lips. He gave a somber nod of his head. "I will always do whatever it takes to protect her. I promise."
"Thank you." She watched him nod and walk away, looking over his shoulder as he did so until he rounded the corner.
She continued down the hall and towards the front of the castle, stopping outside in front of the fountain in the courtyard.
The clouds swirled angrily overhead; the wind rolled across the fjord to an angry sea. Elsa couldn't help but feel unease as a bolt of lightning lit the sky.
"Doesn't look good." The voice behind her had her whole body stiffen and she twisted to look at Hans.
He stood with his hands clasped behind his back, the hard look resting in his gaze as he kept a distance from Elsa. "It's hard to believe that such dark magic could flood this world."
She cast an icy gaze in his direction, "You believed my magic was dark."
Hans shrugged, edging closer, "Magic is uncommon and usually it's used badly."
She couldn't deny that. What she had seen in her short time sailing beyond Arendelle, and what had happened with Keahi and the curse, was that magic was highly sought after and rare. Still, she didn't like agreeing with him. "I hope I can change that."
"You already have."
He came up a few feet beside her, watching the fjord with her and the choppy waters as they rocked the boats like toys. "The question is — when it all comes down to it, will your true nature come out?" Elsa asked, shifting to face him as she folded her hands in front of her.
Hans brows knit forward and for a moment, he looked angry until he let out a staggering breath. "I'd like to believe I can prove myself and make up for the wrongs I've done. I've done a lot of searching on my own, and my brother, the King, hasn't made it easy. I've done a lot of dungeon duty." He grimaced.
Elsa gave him a once over. Maybe they had all been too harsh on him without giving him a chance to prove himself. If it's one thing she'd learned from Keahi, was that the past should be left in the past and who you grew into today depended on what you learned from those mistakes.
People could change.
Elsa hesitantly rested a hand on his shoulder. It was brief and she pulled back almost immediately but Hans watched her curiously. "Let this show who you are so we don't keep judging you on your past." She murmured.
Hans puffed his chest, hands gripping at his sides as he turned back to the fjord and gave a shallow nod. "It would be nice to be looked at with respect instead of disdain and disappointment."
She frowned and nearly felt sorry for him. She knew he would have to dig himself out of the ditch he was in, but she would not make it more difficult.
He was still held accountable for, oh, trying to kill her and trying to kill her sister. But she was different back then. Shut off, cold, lacking confidence. She saw herself as a monster, but she chose against it. What if something happened in the past to Hans, and he had the same crossroad but thought the only way past it was to be that monster?
"This was...actually nice." Elsa told, albeit a bit awkwardly.
A chirp came from the fountain and she turned back, only to have Bruni belly flop into her hands. Her eyes lit up and she brought the small salamander to her cheek. He happily rubbed his cheek to her before giving an open-mouthed smile.
"Elsa!" Honeymaren called, coming from the market back across the bridge to the courtyard. She waved her hand wildly before stopping in front of Elsa, leaning over and letting out a hefty breath. Once she caught it she straightened, "I'm glad you're back! Are you okay?"
Elsa wrapped Honeymaren in a hug, "I'm fine, did Kristoff and Anna tell you what was going on?" She pulled back and held Honeymarens hand, squeezing it.
Honeymaren nodded somberly, squeezing Elsa's hand back in reassurance. "Whatever is going to happen, the spirits, and the Northuldra stand with you."
Elsa smiled and felt a little more confident, though she paused and looked around. "Where's Ryder?"
"Ryder I swear to whatever gods you pray to!" Keahi's shouts came from the entrance of the castle.
Ryder laughed and took the steps two by two, only to be tackled by a half-dressed Keahi and both of them jumbled down the stairs.
Honeymaren and Elsa glanced at one another and Hans came up to join them in their gawking.
Honeymaren jumped when she realized Hans came up beside them. She hitched a thumb to him, "Who's this guy?"
Elsa looked away just long enough to answer, "Hans." She answered simply before walking over to the bickering two at the foot of the stairs. "What are you two doing?"
Ryder and Keahi both stopped and looked up at Elsa who just cocked a brow and crossed her arms.
"This egg head woke me up by making kissing noises and had Bruni burn the blankets," Keahi grumbled, standing up and dusting herself off. She only had on her black pajama pants that hung low on her muscular, narrow hips and a thin shirt. Elsa coughed into her hand and reached over to adjust her shirt.
"Hey! I waited until Elsa left! Be thankful!" Ryder leaned over and punched Keahi's shoulder.
Keahi scowled and shoved him until the two got into a shoving match.
Elsa just watched them and shook her head, closing her eyes as she rubbed her temple. "I'm engaged to a child."
"You're engaged?" Hans, Honeymaren, and Ryder all asked at once. All poking their heads up like baby birds being offered a worm.
Elsa jumped at the unanimous question. Her cheeks turned rosy in embarrassment. "Oh — Ahem, Ah, yes." She fumbled.
"Oh man, who asked?" Ryder edged.
Elsa's cheeks turned a deeper shade of red as she looked at the three of them gawking. Even Hans looked interested in the situation. "Er — me."
"Pay up." Honeymaren elbowed Ryder.
"Why is everyone making that bet?" Keahi complained.
"What do you mean?" Elsa frowned.
"Oh, the trolls made a bet too." Keahi offered and shrugged. "For the record, I would have asked." Keahi objected defensively.
Elsa's gaze softened on her and she just giggled, "I know you would have." She leaned over to give Keahi a peck on the cheek.
The group joked back and forth, Hans introduced himself to both Ryder and Honeymaren.
They were pulled from their chatter when the ground grumbled below them and a frosty wind blew through Arendelle. A cackling splintered the air and they all turned their attention towards the fjord.
Elsa narrowed her eyes and gasped just as the entire fjord froze with black ice.