Chapter 9: Just lettin' off steam
Honeymaren turned the map upside down, then up again. Anna smirked at how she twirled the paper around, trotting with her horse next to her elder, as the Northuldra led the way.
"Getting lost?" Mocked the redhead.
"Don't be silly. I have a good sense of direction. Only… I wish this map was three-dimensional. I'm trying to figure where this mountain is on the paper."
Anna snorted. "Listen to yourself. Living with Elsa gives you way too much comfort. A relief map? Seriously?"
She had pointedly stared at the Snow Queen at the end of her sentence, and the blonde widened surprised eyes.
"How do you know she was referring to something I do?"
Anna smiled. "First, you're my sister, and I know you by heart. Crafting models and sculptures and goddamn entire palaces is very your kind of thing. I wouldn't be surprised to know that you nerd make evolutive maps for Maren when she goes for expeditions that trace the entire land. And second, her voice went totally soft when she said that…"
Honeymaren got a bit shameful, but then grinned. "We can't hide much from you, uh?"
"Nope." Said Anna proudly, sitting tall on her horse, and Ivrig neighed.
Elsa shook her head. "You two, I swear."
Her lover blinked. "What? I didn't say anything wrong."
"I was talking about Anna and her horse."
"Oh."
The Fifth Spirit smiled and trotted to be on her wife's level. "No, you've been adorable."
She expertly bent from her horse with a perfect balance to kiss her on the cheek, then grinned and gently tackled Rask's sides to go faster.
Honeymaren, still dizzy from the cute peck, watched her go. "What, another race?"
"No, I just want to reach an inn before the sun starts to set. I marked one on the map with a purple cross. It's just behind that mountain you're having trouble identifying."
They had been riding since the morning, only stopping for lunch - sandwiches made by Anna - and it now was the second half of the afternoon. A break would be more than welcome once the night came, both for them and their mounts.
"Wait, how do you know that we're here?" Frowned Anna. "We've never been in this area before!"
They were still in Arendellian territory, but she knew that none of them had ever been in those plains. After all, this place was empty of activity. Honeymaren smiled as the redhead.
"She can always tell where the North is, remember?"
"...Right."
The Queen remembered that it also was the case of Bruni, who once guided her through the night in a pitch black Forest, and she wondered if it was common to all Spirits. Or rather, the Spirits of Elsa's cluster, as their source was located where the North wind meets the sea…
"How thick is the mountain?" Asked Honeymaren, with a loud call because Elsa was distancing them.
The blonde twirled her wrist, pointing behind her and not leaving her eyes from the horizon she was dashing to on Rask. A volute of snowflakes appeared in her palm, and twirled in the air before landing on Honeymaren's map in a swirling cloud. Anna and her closed their eyes and the sudden light and the puff of snow and ice. When they opened them, Anna let out a gasp and Honeymaren an admirative smile. The paper barely weighed a few grams more than before; however, on the top, standing with magic, was a relief model of the surrounding area. It depicted everything in an abstract yet precise and detailed way: the size of the mountains, the curve of the plains, the height of the trees… The cross Elsa had made on the other side now shone like a tiny beacon of light, and the two stared at it with a grin.
Anna then huffed in an amazed way. She looked up at her sister, who was now far from them.
"How the heck can she do that with such a distance? And she wasn't even looking!"
Honeymaren shrugged.
"In addition to being an architect at heart, she also is a nerd who learns maps by heart when she can't find sleep at night." Explained Honeymaren. She internally smiled at the memory of a night she had been searching for her everywhere in panic, but the blonde simply was in the archives hut, staring at the new maps of the voyagers with great interest. Honeymaren had scolded her severely, but then realized how much Elsa loved to look at those maps and how it soothed her. It ended up to be a routine.
Anna sighed, and they followed Elsa to the horizon.
The inn was a patch of light in the increasing dusk when they finally arrived near. Elsa could feel how tired Rask was, and she petted his neck with a soft stroke. The horse neighed, like he pretended that he was fine, that he could gallop a thousand kilometers more if needed, that he felt like it. Elsa chuckled tenderly, feeling how indeed, his muscles told a different story than his fervor.
"Motivation is different from shape, dear friend." She smiled. "Sometimes, you remind me of myself. Hum… I should take more advice of what I actually advise others…"
She slowed down a bit, and Anna and Honeymaren, who had been right behind, arrived to her level. The redhead was deep into a passionate conversation about coincidences that aren't.
"See? That means a lot." She said, finishing an argument.
The Northuldra nodded. "It does."
Anna then had a thinking pout. "I find it no irony anymore that Niks' name sounds the same way than Nyx. It's like it was destiny."
Elsa turned to her sister with a sarcastic stare, her horse almost turning with her gesture by how exaggerated it was.
"Look at who's bringing all her knowledge about greek mythology now… And I'm the nerd one, uhm?"
Anna lifted an eyebrow. "Well, excuse me, but at least I am not risking my life down in Ahtohallan just because I remembered the name of the god of time."
Honeymaren's mouth went in the shape of an O. "Touché."
Elsa stuck out her tongue, and the sisters giggled. It was a good thing that the Northuldra knew the siblings, because anyone would get confused as to whether they were arguing or joking.
"So, where did you lead us?" Asked Anna, looking at the light in the distance.
Her teal blue eyes had filled up with curiosity.
"A place owned by someone you know very well…" Teased Elsa.
They kept trotting until they reached an ensemble of three large wood cabins, and the chimney of the one on the left let out a lot of steam. Honeymaren admired the place; she rarely saw sedentary buildings. The one on the left was the smallest one, and had a square of glass on the door - she wondered what it was for. The second was the largest one and looked like a shop, maybe a trading post, and the last one was a stable, with some wanderers' horses getting some rest.
"Why does this place look familiar…?" Frowned Anna, still trying to decipher Elsa's clue, and one could see the cogs clicking above her head. Then suddenly the cogs turned to a light bulb when she recognized the 'and sauna' hanging wooden sign.
"Wait, is that…"
A man suddenly walked out of the shop with an energetic pace, recognizing them through the window now that they went down their horses. He walked straight to them with a giant smile.
"Annaaaaa!"
"Oakennnn!"
The reunion was as sweet as weird. The two ran to each other like they were about to hug fiercely, then stopped at one meter of distance, and shook hands in a respectful way. Oaken put his second hand on the top of the shake, happiness exhaling from him like an aura.
"I'm very happy you here!"
The Queen grinned, her cheeks full. "It's a surprise from Elsa! An awesome idea!"
She turned to her sister, with a smile that sent a thousand thanks and compliments. The blonde was enchanted of her mood.
"So that's one of your establishments?" Asked Anna to the man.
"Ja, ja!" Nodded Oaken, and they were still shaking hands, which now looked awkward.
"I've heard from my couriers that you've opened many in the region, but also abroad? It's great!"
They talked economics for a moment, and for how long they had not seen each other, the man being too busy with business to come back to the Arendelle village or his old trading post in the closest mountains.
In the meantime, Honeymaren blinked. "That's… Oaken?"
She barely had recognized him. He sported a long beard now, and as it had been several years since she last saw him at a Yule festival, his red hair had turned grey and it was almost impossible to recognize him. However, his sparkly and happy eyes left no doubt when they landed on the Northuldra's face. It was indeed Oaken.
"Honeymaren!" He exclaimed, clapping his hands in joy and walking to her.
The leader was stunned. "You… You remember my name?"
"Ov course! I remember everyone!" Nodded the man with his strong accent and almost childish tone. "Now you married med Spirit of Ice, ja?"
Honeymaren smiled, turned to Elsa then back to him, and she nodded. "Yes."
"Gut gut gut!" He bounced, overexcited. He clapped his hands again, then gasped and shook his head. "Then you don't pay. It's my gift to you to celebrate!"
Elsa's eyes widened. "No, no, Oaken, we will pay for our night..."
The owner waved his hand at her in a dismissing gesture, but he was so tall and his palm so big that she had to jerk back to not get slapped in the face.
"Absolutely not! You're my guests."
Honeymaren assisted along with her wife. "Oaken, we've been married 4 years ago… This is a bit ridiculous."
"But it's first time for me that I see you! No more discussion. You stay here tonight, gloog included, and oooh! Sauna!"
Anna blinked, and hurried to join them. She lifted her hands. "Wait, wait, no. We don't have time for a sauna. We will go to sleep and leave early tomorrow, we can't-"
"But sauna is hygge." Pouted Oaken.
Anna grunted at his expression, slumped shoulders, insisting gaze and childish tone.
"We don't have time for hygge."
"You can't say no to hygge." Frowned the man.
Honeymaren was lost. What were they talking about?
"What is 'gloog'?" She whispered, leaning to her lover's ear.
"That's alcohol. Mulled wine." Explained Elsa.
The Northuldra snorted. "Funny how Anna said no to the sauna but not to the booze."
The redhead and the former-redhead argued for a long time, both stubborn, but Oaken eventually won. Hygge was more important, and Elsa approached with a hand on her sister's shoulder saying that they needed to take a break.
"The two Queens have spoken!" Jolted the man, clapping his hands again. "Come in, come in!"
They put the horses in the large stable - which was filled with hay, much to the women and animals' delight - and followed Oaken inside the main facility. At the ground floor was his shop, a messy yet organized place which had pretty much everything wanderers would need, but also not need. Honeymaren couldn't even tell what was the point of half the trinkets on the shelves. Oaken then led them to the rooms upstairs, and they assured they would only need one. Thankfully, the owner had one with two big beds available. As they made their way in, he gave them the key then suddenly went downstairs to the kitchens, then went back up just as quick with welcoming snacks.
"Oh, Oaken, there's no need…" Insisted the Queen.
"Thank you, Oaken, we'll take them." Smiled Honeymaren.
The man was more satisfied with the second answer. He 'hoo-hoo'ed them goodbye and went back to his shop.
Anna stared at her sister-in-law with anger. "We'll stay here forever if we slack like that."
Honeymaren rolled her eyes. "Don't exaggerate. Besides, it's rude to refuse a gift."
The redhead groaned, so she continued:
"It's been a long day, Anna. Let's put down our bags and relax. I'd be the first one to tell how urgent our mission is, but we would be inefficient tomorrow if we don't get a break right now."
The Queen had a pout. "How much will it take to reach Piruluola?" She asked her sister.
"I did the calculations. With the speed we had today, I estimate our arrival to the day after tomorrow." Said Elsa.
Anna thought for a moment, then accepted. They started to take off their traveling suits, and when Honeymaren saw them only take the towels from the inn with them as they went behind the changing screens, she blinked in confusion again. She cleared her throat.
"Okay, I've been too embarrassed to ask until now, but… I feel like I need to know. What is a sauna, exactly?"
The two sisters looked at each other, the hint of a laughter at the corner of their mouths.
The air was chilly as they hurried to shorten the distance between the inn and the sauna cabin. They were barefoot and only wore their towels, which made them giggle. It was fun to do this with Anna and Elsa; Honeymaren loved to share moments with them, especially if it was her first time trying.
"And that's gloog, I presume?" She said when she saw a smiling employee serving them three choppers of fuming liquid on their way to the cabin.
"Yep." Smiled Anna, licking her lips at the smell of the delicious beverage.
A hint of cinnamon floated in the air, strongly dominated by the smell of red wine, citruses and sugar. Honeymaren looked inside her chopper and saw a few floating orange peels. She was intrigued by that gloog, but couldn't wait to try it. The air was fresh, so a bit of warmth would do some good. She lip dipped, and it tasted wonderful. She eagerly had a few gulps.
"It's a bit awkward to be almost naked in front of strangers…" Murmured Elsa as they walked to the door, and she was holding her towel tight.
Anna rolled her eyes. "Please, you haven't been wearing any underwear since the Great Thaw and everybody knows it."
Honeymaren spat the entire content of her mouth in the air, and the two sisters turned around with concern. Thankfully, it all landed in the grass.
"Are you okay?" Worried the redhead. "You don't like it?"
The brunette coughed loudly, trying her best not to let out her burst of laughter, and preferably not to die. She nodded. "I like it, I like it. I just… Swallowed crookedly."
"Did it go the wrong hole?" Asked Anna.
At the sentence, Honeymaren coughed again, now clearly wheezing as well. Elsa was blushing so hard she could match the embers inside the sauna. Anna looked at them both, not understanding what was going on and too tired to even figure out the innuendo.
"You two are weird. Let's go have a seat."
Once Honeymaren retrieved her normal breathing and Elsa her proper face color, they entered the steaming place, making sure to close the door behind. There were four men, two friends chatting lightly in a corner, one sat on the upper bench on the right wall, and one laid down on the middle bench. They easily found a spot, as the sauna was large, and enjoyed their booze.
Honeymaren then imitated Elsa and Anna's postures and tried to enjoy the sauna at its best. It was tricky at first. She started to fan herself with her hand. "It's really dry and hot…"
"Yes, that's the whole point." Teased Anna. Her tone then went smoother. "Do you want to ask if anyone minds cooling down the room a bit? That's what the bucket of cold water over there is for. You pour some water on the coals and-"
"No, it's okay." Urged to say the Northuldra. "I just have to get used to it."
Elsa's eyebrows knotted. She wasn't worried for her lover, but rather was a bit upset at how selfless she was.
"You don't have to force yourself to follow the traditions…" Murmured Elsa with a sorry voice. "If you don't like it, it's your right."
"I like it." Assured the brunette. "It's my first sauna, I only need time."
"Eating humble pie again?" Smirked Anna. "Elsa told me you do that a lot."
The blonde sent her a deathly gaze, but Honeymaren was too busy frowning at her sister-in-law to notice. "What do you mean? I'm not that fond of pie. Why, do we get pie after that?"
Elsa's worry switched to amusement, and she giggled. "That's an idiom, love. It means that you eat up the tradition. That you don't say anything and comply…"
"Because I care about your traditions! I've never been in a sauna before, and I want to give you a proper feedback about it. Now, I've known scorching summers, but I've never been in a close place with such heat before. Let me get accustomed to it, okay?" Pouted Honeymaren.
The blonde smiled. "Okay."
Anna stopped laughing to nod as well.
The Northuldra leader soon found her towel restricting. She loosened it a bit to breathe freely, and let out a relieved moan when her breasts had more room. She relaxed against the wooden backrest, leaning on her elbows and humming in delight as she now had found comfort. She closed her eyes, and therefore completely missed the fact that Elsa had been staring at her all along, and hadn't been able to detach her eyes from her chest ever since.
Anna felt the air becoming colder, and wondered why. Elsa was blushing hard and it felt to her like her cheeks were literally burning, combined with the heat of the room. She diffused ice and snow magic through her veins to cool down her body and avoid a heat stroke. The redhead's eyes widened when she saw her elder exhaling steam from all of her skin, and an amused smile stretched her lips.
Honeymaren frowned at the dissipating steam of the sauna.
"Anna, did you refresh the room? I told you there was no need!"
The Queen smirked. "I'm not the one refreshing the room."
The brunette turned to her wife, thinking Elsa was pouring water on the coals, but she was sitting still. And when their eyes met, she saw that her face was covered with a flustered expression… And that she had just lifted them from her cleavage.
"Oh."
Elsa noticed that she noticed and bashfully looked away, her cheeks a bright red. "Don't look at me." She murmured.
"Well, then don't look at me." Teased Honeymaren.
Anna laid back on her palms. "When you two will be done flirting, maybe we can get a normal heat in the room again? This is starting to get lukewarm."
She looked around with amusement, hoping nobody minded if the room had gone colder for a moment. With the smoke gone, she could see the others' faces clearly. Anna startled when she saw that all four of the men were staring at Elsa with wide eyes.
"Wait…" Muttered the man who had been lounging until now.
"Is she the one cooling down..." Said another.
"Is that…?" Asked one of the group of two.
"Yeah, I think so…" Murmured his friend.
The Queen's blood ran quick; she placed a hand in front of Elsa instinctively, and the two women looked down at her hand, intrigued, for they had been staring at each other until now. They noticed what Anna was worried about; now the men were either leaning down to see Elsa's face and confirm that they recognized her, or even bluntly walking to the blonde.
"Excuse me, are you Lady Elsa, by any chance?" Asked one.
"That's her for sure." Said another man.
Anna was ready to defend her sister, preparing herself to say that they're the monsters if they think Elsa is one. Nevertheless, the men's surprise wasn't due to fear; their eyes soon sparkled with admiration.
"Holy cow, it is Snow Queen Elsa!" Exclaimed the closest man.
The blonde was confused at his joy.
"It's an honor to meet you!" Beamed the man, visibly an admirer.
The two friends joined in. "You're a living legend!" Said one. "We admire you since we're kids!" Said the second.
The last man present in the room leaned in, also with a big smile. "My daughter talks about you and the Spirits all day and night. Can I get an autograph?"
Elsa's cheeks covered with red again, but she wasn't flustered; her eyes filled with touched tears, and she had a shy smile, looking at them all.
"I… Thank you. Yes, yes of course."
She then turned to Anna and Honeymaren. "...But maybe I shouldn't? I mean, we're on a break, and…"
The two exchanged a smile. Anna seemed overjoyed. "Elsa, you deserve this. And neither Maren and I will prevent you from meeting fans, trust me."
The man who wanted an autograph gasped in delight and ran outside to get a pen from his room, then hurried back in with clattering teeth. In the meantime, Elsa had cheerfully chatted with the two friends who happened to be former Arendellian scholars now living abroad, and Anna remembered seeing them in the children choir that had sung for her 19th birthday.
"Oh my goodness, it doesn't make me any younger." Giggled the Queen when she saw the age of the two men.
Honeymaren laughed. "And you, where are you from?" She asked to the last man, because he had a strong accent.
"Ellriheimr." Answered the man. He then thought that she probably couldn't tell where it was, as she visibly was Northuldra. "It's located a hundred kilometers West from here…"
"Yes, I know." Smiled Honeymaren. "I learned about the nearby kingdoms."
"Right. The famous learning program between Northuldra and Arendelle. It's a nice idea! My neighbor is a teacher, he told me about it… So you're part of the program?"
The brunette couldn't help but grin. "No, I learned from my wife."
"Your… Wife?" He frowned, following her indication towards Elsa, who was busy talking.
The man seemed shocked. At first, Honeymaren thought that the man was getting homophobic, but then she saw his face covering with shame and embarassement.
"Wait, you're… You're Honeymaren? You're the Northuldra leader?"
He blabbered, then bowed, and the woman was taken aback by his behavior. "I didn't know… I'm so sorry!"
"Please, don't apologize, really…" Insisted the brunette, stunned by how much of a deal it was to him, and noticing in that moment that indeed, she hadn't introduced herself. "You can stop bowing, there truly is no need."
When the last man approached with his paper to ask Elsa for her autograph, however, he informed that the Northuldra who accompanied Lady Elsa and Queen Anna was no one less than the tribe leader. The man's eyes glittered in utter joy.
"Three majestic autographs!" He gasped. "My daughter will name me the best father ever!"
Incrementally, the conversations finished, and the men left one by one until Anna, Honeymaren and Elsa were alone in the sauna. It was calm now, and the brunette smiled at how cheerful those meetings were. She was glad that her lover got to see how admired she was, and she turned with a smile to her. Yet, Elsa had been cowering, bringing her thighs against her and resting on her knees.
"Elsa? What's wrong?"
Anna worried too. "They didn't mean to be intrusive, don't blame them. They just got very happy to meet you…"
"I know." Muttered the Snow Queen, her voice masked by her knees.
"Then what is it, snømus?" Asked Honeymaren's sweet voice as she approached and passed a hand in Elsa's hair.
"I… I can't live up to my reputation anymore. They admire me so much… But if they knew the type of magic that course in my veins right now, they wouldn't think the same…"
A silence passed, and Anna and Honeymaren exchanged a look.
Anna bent her head to look at her sister. "That's nonsense. It's quite the opposite, they would admire how chill you are about it. How you managed to control it, and how you're able to find a balance. If they knew the mission we're in now, they would be amazed. Wait, did I make a pun with 'chill'?"
The Northuldra laughed. She then playfully poked Elsa's ribs through the towel. "Love. This is a moment of relaxation. You should try to forget about it."
Elsa didn't seem to relax at all, and looked like a human version of a tangled ball of wool. Honeymaren lifted an eyebrow.
"Say, when was the last time you actually relaxed?"
The blonde frowned, and turned to her. "I always relax. I take naps in the Forest."
"It's not what I mean. Did you relax since we got attacked at the camp?"
A blank passed, and Elsa wanted to contest to hide her feelings. But before she could invent a lie or switch the topic, Honeymaren continued:
"You didn't have any calm moment when you could have emptied your mind, or stop thinking about anything."
"Stop thinking about anything?" Snorted Anna. "I'm not sure she's physically able to do that."
Elsa pouted like a child. "Stop mocking me!"
She looked down. "I'm serious. Would they still admire me and ask for autographs if they knew what happened those last days? Would they still like me if they learned that I have become dangerous again? Would they even-"
Honeymaren had bent with a smile and kissed Elsa deeply on the lips. It was very efficient, like always. The blonde immediately interrupted her rambling, startled.
After a moment, Anna melted as she saw the brunette detach her lips delicately from hers, and Elsa slowly blink like she had been going through a foggy daydream.
"Here's the proof that at least one person loves you no matter what you're going through, Elsa, and no matter how you think you've changed." Smiled the Northuldra tenderly.
The blonde bit her lip in a thin line, keeping a trace of Honeymaren's touch, but she didn't really trust her words.
"We're married, it doesn't count."
The Northuldra snorted. "Oh, sorry, being your wife is cheating on love proofs?"
Anna giggled, and her elder looked down again. One of her locks fell in front of her eyes, and the redhead gently placed it away. Elsa sat up, smiling at the gesture she knew Anna was referring to.
"We're here, and we love and support you, Elsa. Every day. You know that. You know how much Arendellians admire you, and the same goes for people in foreign kingdoms."
Elsa sighed, and gulped with emotion. "I know. It's just…"
She fidgeted with her fingers. Anna had a sad smile.
"The dark magic has been playing a trick on you again, uh? You only see the bad side."
The Snow Queen's bare shoulders slumped. "Yes."
Anna had a mischievous smile and abruptly stood up from the wooden bench to go to the bucket of cold water. She made sure it was filled to the brim, then looked at them.
"I know a way to cool off…"
Honeymaren dropped a smiling jaw, and Elsa's eyes widened.
"No, Anna, don't you dare…"
With a big grin, the redhead gripped the bucket firmly, and Honeymaren ducked aside with a scream. The splash covered Elsa entirely, and it was too fast for her to stop the water drops in mid-air. Entirely covered with cold water, but obviously not shivering from it, the Fifth Spirit wiped her face and stared at Anna with deep blue eyes.
"You minx…"
Anna laughed loudly, because she knew her elder would get her revenge immediately. After all, it was the point; make her change her mood.
"Come here RIGHT NOW."
The redhead giggled and squealed, running outside as Elsa dashed to her. Honeymaren cackled as she heard them chase each other on the grass out of the sauna, their laughters echoing in the valley.
Elsa was the first one to fall to sleep in the bedroom. Anna informed Honeymaren that her sister was off when the brunette came back from the communal bathroom, saying that Elsa's double magic surely made her the most tired of them three.
The Northuldra laid down next to the blonde and placed the blanket over her properly, then looked at the ceiling and the paintings of the room.
"This place is so romantic." Qualified Honeymaren with a smile. "I'll probably come back here with Elsa."
"It is. It's a nice idea she had, to visit Oaken's last establishment on our way to the South. Look, the painting on the paneling is brand new. I'm happy that he got this many clients already."
Honeymaren nodded. Anna turned to her in a rustle of sheets. "You know what would be super romantic to do now that we have photography? Plan one for Elsa, take the copy, then cut it and put it in a locket near your heart. That way, you can always have a look at her."
The leader grinned. "That's a really cute idea. But… She's not a fan of photographs. And she'll find it suspicious if I give her a rendez-vous in the Arendelle village... "
"We'll find a way to plan it out, don't worry." Winked Anna.
The horses were pawing at the ground when they went to the stable to get them in the morning.
"Yeah, I know, we slept a bit late…" Apologized Elsa as she set the bridle on Rask.
The horse playfully nudged her with his muzzle and ruffled with her hair, which made the other laugh. Once Anna was done putting on her saddle - Elsa and Honeymaren didn't need one - they left in the warm rays of light crossing the valley, and waved at Oaken with great thankful calls.
It didn't last long, however; the horses were so happy to ride again that the man's silhouette disappeared quickly behind them.
"Holy Ahtohallan, they're really excited today." Commented Honeymaren, petting her mare.
"Maybe we can start with a race, then?" Grinned Anna to her elder, as she had won the last one.
"Is that a challenge?" Replied the blonde with a quirked eyebrow.
"No, because I know I will win this time. It's rather a suggestion of humiliation."
Elsa scorned at her nerve. "You're-"
Suddenly, a blur of beige and brown zoomed passed them, and they startled as it rushed to the horizon.
Honeymaren giggled and turned to them as Rolig happily galloped forward. "If you keep talking, I'll be the one to win!"
The two sisters dropped their jaws.
"That's so unfair!" Gasped Anna, but she dashed right behind her.
Elsa did the same, though she was a bit confused… They hadn't decided what would be the finish line. Nevertheless, she giggled and followed her family.
Anna splashed her face with water from a stream, letting out a relaxed moan at how much good it did. She then rubbed her belly. "Do we have a few more vegetables? I'm still hungry."
Elsa rolled her eyes as she filled her water flask. "We just had lunch."
Yet, when she saw her sister's pout, she groaned exaggeratedly and handed her one of her apples.
"Sorry." Said Anna as a thank you. "I know we need to ration to have food on the way back…"
"It's okay", assured the elder with a soft voice. "We bought some more at Oaken's. That was the only way I could actually pay him something." She added, smiling.
They climbed back on their horses to get back on the path.
"And tonight, you will be lucky, for we get to feast with Honeymaren's gåjkkebierggo." Smiled Elsa widely.
Anna blinked in confusion. "Excuse me, Honeymaren's what?"
"Gåjkkebierggo." Repeated the Northuldra with a giggle. "Don't bother trying to pronounce it, it's fine."
"No, wait, I wanna try." Insisted Anna.
The brunette laughed. "Please don't, it took Elsa a whole week to manage it and I felt like my ears were bleeding."
Her wife stuck out her tongue, and she smirked.
"So if I can't say it, can I at least know what it is?" Said the Queen, sarcastic.
"It's a soup with dried reindeer meat, rice and potato pieces."
"It's a bellyful and honestly one of the best things I ever ate." Added Elsa.
Anna licked her lips in excitement. "It does sound delicious."
"And it's even more when Honey cooks it." Promised Elsa.
"OH MY GOODNESS THAT'S THE BEST THING EVEEEEER!" Exclaimed Anna under the stars once she had her first bite of Honeymaren's dish.
"I know, right?!" Beamed Elsa, who was eating the soup at high speed.
Honeymaren blushed at their compliments.
"Love, this is amazing. As always." Smiled the blonde, and she kissed the Northuldra.
The latter hadn't tried it out yet, only tasting the seasoning earlier when she mixed it all in the portable pot, and indeed, when she had some of its flavor on her lips thanks to Elsa's kiss, she admitted it was a success.
"I'm happy you love it." Smiled back the leader, delighted by Elsa's joy.
The two sisters now ate like gluttons, emptying their bowls at an alarming rate. The Northuldra laughed out loud. "Could you at least wait for me? That will be weird if you two watch me eat once you're finished."
They stopped, looking a bit ashamed, and waited for her to serve her own bowl.
Later, while Elsa and Honeymaren digested by laying down on the fresh night grass and pointed at the constellations, Anna stood up and went to feed the horses. Ivrig already was asleep, and the redhead smiled at how she herself felt tired already. Maybe the two did have a connection... It had been a long day for all of them anyway. She placed some hay at the mare's feet so she could have a snack when she woke up, and walked to her bag on the ground to take out three tight sacks.
"What is it?" Wondered Honeymaren when the redhead came back with them in her arms.
"Well, I know that you guys don't mind sleeping out in the open, and I'm not in the need of a tent as well, but we can at least get a bit of comfort."
"Okay, Queenie." Snorted Elsa.
Anna had meant to hand each bag properly, but instead she tossed Elsa's right in her face.
"Ouch!"
"Serves you right."
The blonde was surprised by the thickness and weight of the sacks, and opened it to watch inside. "What are those?"
"Sleeping bags. Made by the finest weavers in Arendelle and based on Northuldra's engineering." Announced Anna proudly as she opened her sack and unrolled the bag in the air, then set it in the grass.
Honeymaren admired the material. "Waow."
"I'm not half-half for nothing." Grinned the redhead.
"Anna, that's brilliant." Muttered Elsa as she slowly unrolled hers. "We will be able to watch the stars and be sheltered at the same time."
They installed their camp next to the fire Honeymaren had made, and laid down.
Elsa frowned. "Though, how do we roll them back to the size they had when they were in their sacks? It looked really tight."
Anna winced. "Yeah, that's the difficult part."
Honeymaren tossed and turned. She couldn't find sleep. Not that Anna's sleeping bags were uncomfortable, on the contrary, Arendelle made really high quality duvets and quilts, but she felt like something was missing when she wasn't in the same bed than Elsa. Even if her lover was right next to her, it didn't feel the same way. Her eyes still closed, she turned to place her forearm on Elsa's waist. However, her hand met grass.
She opened her eyes, looking around frantically for her wife. It didn't take long; Elsa simply was seated up.
"Snømus? What is it? Did you hear something?" Whispered the brunette.
As she sat up next to her, she looked around, listening close to see if they were in danger, if a bear or something was approaching, but there was nothing - though she had trouble searching for a sound as Anna was snoring loudly next to them.
Elsa had a sad smile. "Go back to sleep, Honey, it's fine."
The brunette stared at her. "But you're not."
She lifted her hand to touch Elsa's back, and the latter sighed. It was mostly nude due to the shape of her crafted nightgown, and her skin wasn't cold, so she wasn't having an anxiety attack. Only, she seemed troubled.
"You're right. My thoughts are taking control again."
Honeymaren caressed her back slowly. "And what are they saying?"
Elsa's sad expression shifted to a little smile at her humor. She looked down and toyed with the hem of her sleeping bag. "What if…"
"Hum, I don't like your 'what if's." Commented Honeymaren.
"Let me finish."
"Sorry."
"What if I don't succeed? What if I can't give the dark magic back?"
Honeymaren's sassy face turned to a sad one. "Baby…"
"Answer me."
"What? It was a question?"
"It's a worry, but it's also a question. What do we even do if it doesn't work? What do I do?"
She looked down at her hands. "I'm too weak. I'm already struggling facing the fact this dark magic is mine now. I don't know if I can make it. If I have what it takes..."
Honeymaren frowned sadly. "What makes you think of that?"
Elsa sighed. "I've been alone for almost my entire childhood. That's why it took me so long to process my feelings for you, because suddenly I was craving to spend time with you, and… It had never happened with someone romantically before, and… Ugh."
She passed a hand through her hair. "It's so hard for me to cope with things sometimes. Like, it took me so long to gather all the courage it needed to propose to you. So how can I possibly give back dark magic, a task for which I'm unprepared?"
The Northuldra wanted to reply, but Elsa kept going on her stressful rambling.
"Maybe the source won't even allow me to get rid of it. Maybe it won't agree to take it back. Maybe they don't want to choose a new Fifth Spirit. Maybe they'll pick me as the new one-"
"And maybe tomorrow you'll wake up and discover you can talk to turtles."
Elsa blinked. "What?"
Her lover smirked. "That's a lot of 'maybe's. Your brain is going on full theory mode right now. Love, it's okay. You can do it. I know you can."
She leaned a bit further to kiss her shoulder, then tugged her gently down. "Now lie down and go to sleep."
Elsa didn't move. "I can see it's troubling you too."
"Uh?"
"You woke up. It was because of that, wasn't it?"
Honeymaren scoffed and grinned. "Sweetheart, I couldn't sleep because you're not next to me. Not because I doubt your skills."
She laid back, looking at her wife with love. "In fact, it actually makes me sleep better at night to remind myself how much of a badass and stupefying goddess you are. I never stop believing in you."
Elsa's eyes hadn't left hers, and now glistened at the light of the Moon. "You…" She couldn't finish her sentence, the rest vanishing in her throat where a ball had seemed to form. "Why… How…"
Honeymaren lifted an eyebrow at Elsa's impossibility to make a sentence. She then smiled when a silence followed, and chose to answer the questions Elsa hadn't been able to tell. "Because I love you, I married you, and promised to cherish and protect you until death do us part, and because I can see the tremendous strength residing in you that you barely suppose exists."
The blonde gulped a gasp, and her eyes glistened even more. At the first blink, a few tears fell on her cheeks, and she moaned slightly, chasing them with a flick of the hand. The drops flew away with her magic control, and she eventually smiled at her wife.
"You're an incorrigible poet. I definitely need to take you away from the storytellers of the tribe, they're having a bad influence on you."
Honeymaren faked an offended gasp. "That would be a terrible thing for the leader to not attend the evening tales around the campfire! How dare you!"
Elsa laughed, and the Northuldra smiled in victory. A move attracted their attention from Anna's sleeping bag. She was waking up, and both women gasped and covered their mouths with their hands.
Anna muttered something that sounded accusative, but when she saw the two lovers giggle behind their hands, she was happy to wake up to some complicity. Now was it Honeymaren's gasp or Elsa's laughter that woke her up?
"What are you guys talking about?"
Elsa didn't want to say she had been doubting herself, so she smiled and replied: "Tales around the campfire."
Anna's freckled cheeks stretched for a smile. "Nice! Can you tell us one, Maren?"
The leader snorted. "What, seriously? You were sleeping two seconds ago."
Elsa grinned. "She does that a lot."
Honeymaren sighed. "It's the middle of the night."
"Why yes. It's an ideal setting: we have a campfire - well, this one went out a long time ago, but never mind - and we have you!" Exclaimed Anna. "Come on, it's been a long time. And Northuldra warriors told me that it's a great way to be ready for a busy day. It's perfect for us right now."
Honeymaren sighed, defeated. The two sisters were attentive, listening to her as she started an old story that Yelena used to tell when Ryder and her were children.
The soothing cricket sounds in the valley and Honeymaren's sweet voice lulled Elsa really quick, and she soon fell asleep, like her lover's words magically erased all her fears. The brunette noticed, but she kept going on the story for Anna. At the end, the Queen discreetly clapped.
"I love the moral. Never tickle a sleeping dragon." She said, whispering to not wake her sister up.
Honeymaren nodded with a smile. "It's a great metaphor."
The redhead thought as she stared at the stars. "I don't know how I would feel if I meet a dragon one day."
The leader cleared her throat sarcastically. "Sorry to disappoint, but they don't actually exist…"
"They do!" Insisted Anna, optimistic as always. "We just don't see them. They must be really good at hiding."
Honeymaren giggled. "I don't know if they would be fascinating or scary. I mean, they are splendid creatures according to the tales, but dangerous too…"
The redhead shrugged. "I suppose it entirely depends on how nice the dragon is. You better not stay in front of a mean one, especially with such power…"
A thought leading to another, it reminded her of the unfounded fear she had of Elsa turning evil. Anna's smile vanished, and she stared at her sleeping sister.
"I still feel terrible for having that nightmare the other day…"
Honeymaren followed her gaze. After a silence, she confessed.
"Well, don't tell Elsa, but I, too, had a nightmare because of my apprehension of her dark powers."
Anna turned to her with a sad expression, listening.
"I dreamt that I was making her a flower crown, but the flowers began to wither and rot…"
A shiver ran up her spine, and she stopped talking. A soft hand from the redhead squeezed her shoulder. "Hey. It was just a dream."
"But it felt…"
"So real." Finished Anna. "I know. And as it's a big fear of ours, it seems possible, even when you wake up."
The brunette nodded, and a silence passed in the glade, only punctuated with the cracks of the burning wood. Honeymaren suddenly lifted her face to Anna.
"Don't tell her. Please. You know she'll be devastated."
The Queen was shocked and touched by her pleading tone and heartbroken eyes.
"No, of course, I promise." Smiled Anna.
Honeymaren looked down. The redhead tilted her head with tenderness. "I know we don't hug often, but do you think it would do some good if I give you a hug now?"
The Northuldra bit her lip, her heart warming up at the gentle way Anna had asked for consent.
"It's a nice suggestion." She muttered. "Okay."
The redhead smiled, and wrapped her arms around Honeymaren to help her cope with what was weighing her heart.
The journey on the following day went on quite an odd rhythm. Maybe it was due to the fact they knew they would soon see Piruluola, or maybe was it simply due to the fact they reached it earlier than they thought.
At one point, the green grass disappeared to be replaced by flat rocks and dust, and it was a significant omen. The hooves of their horses echoed against the hard ground, and it gave their ride a sinister aspect.
"There it is." Suddenly said Elsa.
They had been riding without a sound for a while now, and both Honeymaren and Anna startled on each side of her. However, Elsa didn't stop her horse; they frowned in confusion.
"What?"
"What do you mean?"
The blonde lifted a finger, pointing straight ahead. "Piruluola. We've arrived."
Anna blinked, staring at her sister then the horizon, and squinted. "What are you talking about? There's nothing."
Honeymaren did the same as they kept going forward. "Is it something magical that only you can see?"
Elsa was amused by their reactions. "It's true that I've been able to sense that it's right in front of us because it exhales magic. But the reason why you can't see it is because you've been expecting something else."
Anna frowned again. She didn't like when Elsa was being sassy and cryptic. She stared at the horizon, trying to understand why she couldn't see a tall island, or rather a tall mountain as they were on land, rising ahead like Ahtohallan does... Then it hit her.
"That's because it's not a mount at all." She gasped.
"Uh?" Said Honeymaren, and Elsa smirked.
She made Rask dash ahead, and the two others followed her close. Hundreds of meters further, she stopped all of sudden and raised her hand to incite them to do the same. Now it was clear and Honeymaren gasped in realization as well.
Piruluola was a chasm. A gigantic round precipice was in front of them, or rather underneath them, for the hooves of their horses were near the edge of the pit. A spiral staircase made of rock was going down and down and down, to the bottom that looked pitch black for it lacked sunlight. The steps were carved against the walls of the round abyss, and looked too perfect to be made by human tools. It had been crafted with magic. Honeymaren easily imagined Niks corroding the pit on her way down with the acidity of her dark magic goo.
"Woaw." Muttered Anna, admiring the place.
It was less sparkly than Ahtohallan, in all meanings of the term, but the structure of Piruluola made a lot of sense. While Elsa's source was once a river where memories flowed, that turned into a glacier as it shifted in the sea, and now stood tall as an island, the dark magic source was, as Victor said, its complete opposite. It was an ominous, bottomless pit. The cavern exhaled a cold air, and Anna wondered if it was due to its dark nature or only because it was so deep that the light couldn't reach the end.
It was fascinating in the good and the bad way.
"That's incredible." Murmured Honeymaren. "I mean, I know it's the source of sins, but… We're in the presence of greatness. I give it full respect."
Elsa nodded. "I do too."
She seemed fascinated by the invisible bottom of the source, and Anna gulped. "Do you think that this source allures its Fifth Spirit as well? Do you think that it called Niks in the middle of the night too?"
The blonde chuckled. "You're still resentful for that, aren't you?"
Honeymaren smirked. "After all these years?"
The Queen had a pout. "What? I still think it was rude of Ahtohallan to call you in such a way."
Elsa turned to her. "Don't worry. I don't feel attracted to it in a magical way. Besides, I haven't heard any voice coming from it."
Anna winced. "If you say so…"
The Fifth Spirit exhaled longly, and went down Rask. "Okay, let's go."
Her sister and lover went down Ivrig and Rolig as well, not missing a second to go at Elsa's side to protect and support her to push their apprehension aside.
The blonde put her forehead against Rask's, and promised him they would come back soon. She crafted a pole with ice so they could attach the horses, while Honeymaren scratched her mare's neck with thankful whispers and Anna fed hers one last time. After making sure that their horses were safe, they went to the edge of the stairs and started walking down, which seemed to be a long task.
After a moment, the Northuldra looked around carefully and wisely. "Don't you find it weird that nothing is preventing us from entering?"
Anna had a thinking pout. "It's true. There should be guardians, or, I don't know, Spirits of some kind? Even if they are sins?"
Elsa shook her head. "I don't feel any magic coming at us, neither good or bad. I think that for now, it's just… A regular pit?"
Honeymaren had a nervous chuckle. "Sure. A regular bottomless cavern. Great."
They kept going down with suspectful and concerned looks, and they came to a point where the light of day started to disappear. Anna squinted to see clearly. She started to feel dizzy, but she was certain it was due to the fact the spiral staircase was making them walk in giant circles, and she knew that if she lost her balance, she would fall to the bottom of the cave and surely die. She gulped and grasped the rocks of the wall.
"Anna, are you okay?" Worried Honeymaren, who was walking behind her.
Elsa turned around, and at the sight of her face, Anna forced a laughter. "I'm fine, I'm fine."
Now her elder frowned. "You look a bit pale. Are you alright? How are you feeling?"
Anna sighed. How could she hide her state to two such caring souls?
"I feel a bit weird. I think it's due to the light getting rare. It's going low, isn't it?"
Elsa looked sad and walked back up the stairs to go to her sister. "Hey. It's okay, I'm right here. Breathe."
Anna did as advised, and was glad Elsa helped her. She knew about how much they disliked darkness. She knew about her post-traumatic stress disorder. Especially about how she felt in such an environment. Such a place.
"I'm not a big fan of dark cavern pits…" Murmured Anna, even if the others had understood her issue.
"I know, I know." Assured Elsa. "Here. Follow my lead. Breathe in, breathe out."
She waved her hand up and down to help her sister go through her anxiety. "I'm here. We're together, and Honey is watching our backs. We're fine."
The brunette smiled from behind Anna. The two were lucky to have each other. Some colors reappeared on Anna's cheeks.
"I'm… Feeling a bit better."
They all nodded, and continued their march. Nevertheless, the more they went down, the darker it got; and as Anna was about to let out a scared whine, Elsa's foot slammed a long and flat surface.
She smiled. "We've reached it. We're at the bottom of the pit."
She looked up. The hole of light was tiny above their heads. How long had they been going down? It felt like a minute, and yet like they had been walking for two days in a row. She hoped that it wasn't a magic trick, and that they hadn't been trapped for so long; she worried for the horses first of all.
Elsa felt her sister grab her arm. "Are you sure it's flat now? We can't see a thing."
She forced her sight to inspect their surroundings. It looked like they were in a round room, the same size of the hole they had seen in the first place, but a darker spot seemed to be an opening at one side of the wall.
"I think we have to go there next." Cleverly pointed Honeymaren.
Now she led the way, and the sisters followed in her footsteps, Anna holding to Elsa's arm.
They now seemed to be in a long tunnel that led to another cavern room. It felt like they were going deeper and deeper into the bowels of the earth.
"I wish those grottos would have skylights…" Murmured Anna, her voice echoing against the rock walls. "But I guess that it doesn't make much sense to have light in such a place…"
"We should have captured fireflies and put some in my jar…" Admitted Honeymaren.
Elsa smiled. "Don't worry, I'll take care of it."
She lifted her hand and flicked her wrist. In a spark of snowflakes, she lit up three magical torches. They looked like actual sticks and flames but were made of ice, shining bright blue and clearing the way. The tunnel seemed way less scary with this help, and they couldn't hide relieved gasps. The walls were free of insects or bugs, and they could see the end of the tunnel far in front of them.
She grabbed one of the floating torches and gave it to Anna, who stopped holding on to her. The redhead smiled and her teal blue eyes sparkled as much as the magic torch when she admired its wonder. Honeymaren had loving eyes when her wife gave her hers, and she appreciated that the shaft was magically lukewarm. Finally, Elsa lifted her hand to take hers, and she kept walking.
"Isn't it unsafe to use your ice magic here?" Worried Honeymaren.
Elsa gave her a confident gaze. "This is who I am and may they even dare to stop me." She said firmly.
Anna and Honeymaren smiled with pride.
"Also", added Elsa, "I could feel that the entity living in these walls scanned us at the entry of this tunnel, and resonated with my dark magic just as much as the ice one."
Anna and Honeymaren's expressions changed to become fearful.
"Hum… Is it a good thing?" Asked her lover.
Elsa winced. "Well, now they know I'm here, and we haven't been attacked so far… So, I suppose so?"
Anna stared at her. "I don't like the way you ended this sentence."
The blonde turned to her, her smile shining at the blue light of the torches. She put a hand on her sister's shoulder. "Don't worry. We don't risk anything as long as we're all together. Let's reach to the core."
The younger nodded, and they walked further in the dark cavern.
Author's Note:
A tiny smol chapter! Okay, not so tiny. But smaller than the previous ones! Because I wanted to make a max of suspense for what follows.
You guys will LOVE chapter 10.
For this one I initially planned to make it all chill and relax time and I couldn't help myself to pepper some drama and random headcanons in it, woops lol
I hope you enjoy! Please leave a comment, those help me go forward! :D
See you on the next chap... ;) And don't forget that you can get your copy of "Untangling the Frozen Knots" (Google it!) in the meantime :)