Chapter 9: Love and thunder
"Sorry for the mess." Said the man.
He approached.
"Uhm... My apologies, but I can't see much of your faces behind that blur barrier... Would you please put it down?"
Anna frowned from the other side of the ice shield that her sister had briskly raised to protect her family and Kai from his potential threat.
"This barrier is protecting us, stranger. Who are you and how did you suddenly fall from the sky?" Asked the Queen.
Elsa, her left arm stretched forward to strengthen her shield if needed and her right arm placing the others behind in a protecting gesture, squinted at him. She turned to her younger, whispering.
"He's magical. I can feel it. Mjöllnir may be a magical source, but this man also has magic in him."
Anna nodded at this information, but still stared at the stranger. He hadn't stopped walking forward.
"Stay where you are!" Groaned Anna.
He lifted his bushy blond eyebrows. "I thought you wanted me to introduce myself."
"I don't take any chances." Stated Anna with a regal tone that filled Elsa's heart with pride, but the elder kept focusing on the barrier. "You certainly alarmed everyone in the castle with your abrupt arrival. My guards will be there any moment now."
The man smiled, analyzing her words. "Your guards? Oh, so you're the Queen."
To everyone's surprise, he shook his cape back and bowed slightly, showing his respect. "Your Majesty. Sorry for the intrusion, again."
It was odd to hear coming from the one person in the room who competed with Elsa in terms of radiant aura. Also, the man was fit enough to crush their skulls with his bare hands, and the blonde couldn't help but admire the armor he was wearing, seemingly tailor-made. Elsa stared at it mindfully. She has got an eye for recognizing fabrics and materials since she helped the Northuldra create their own clothes from natural sources, and whatever grey alloy he was wearing, it was not from this world. Was it from divine range?
That's this curiosity which made her flick her hand and slowly melt the ice shield, to get a closer look, also allowing the man to see them completely and show that she trusted him.
Several gasps resounded from her side.
"Elsa, what the heck are you doing?!" Muttered Anna rapidly, her panicked eyes darting to her.
"He won't harm us."
"Excuse me to doubt about that, but he has a magic hammer and the attitude of a warrior." Whispered Kristoff fast as well, bending to his sister-in-law as well.
"Uhm... I can hear you. I am standing right here." Coughed politely the intruder, and he had a soft smile as he stood where he was, which indeed happened to be a few meters in front of them.
The hall wasn't that big, and anything they would say would be heard by him. In that setting, they remained quiet, mouths closed. Anna had her jaw clenched as she held a timid Eydis close to her leg, Kristoff was gulping with an unsafe expression, yet unlike them, Elsa was displaying a large smile.
She walked to the man, and Anna widened her eyes at her sister's move.
"I know you don't have aggressive intentions. I can tell. I can sense it." Smiled Elsa, with an undeniable fascination in her voice.
She was mesmerized by the energy the stranger exhaled, mainly because she had never met another magical being with a human appearance.
The man winked, sharing her smile.
"And you must be the magic sister."
Elsa's eyes widened.
"Veðr and Lo̧gr talked about you. You're exactly as they described!" He jolted.
The Snow Queen's expression changed completely. Her eyes started to prick, even though she was trying to keep a virtuous presence and attitude. Her mouth opened, her bottom lip slightly trembling.
"What did he just say?" Murmured Kristoff to his wife, seeing how it affected Elsa.
"Wind and Water..." Translated Anna from old Norse. "He... He's talking about the Spirits."
"Gale and Nokk?" Said Elsa in a disbelief voice, her breathing speeding up.
She gasped of relief. They were alright. And... They talked to him?
"You're familiar with them?" She asked with a tearful smile, like she had just met someone who would give good news about friends she hadn't seen in a long time.
"Of course I am. We spent the last days... Say... Together. Not in the way I'd have like it to be, but yeah, we definitely know each other." Chuckled the stranger.
Anna saw in his words a strategy to have Elsa by his side. And she wouldn't allow that. If her elder, who also was a powerful asset, started to be in the enemy's camp, then they were doomed.
"Stop talking to her." Hissed the Queen. "Tell us who you are and what is your business here."
He was a bit annoyed by this repetition, but accepted. "I am Thor. Son of Odin. God of thunder."
Kai stared at him like he was a dead man. Fooling around like this? He wouldn't have long to live if he kidded Anna like this. His eyes flicked to his monarch, and saw that indeed, Anna had twitched. This stranger had given a fright to her daughter with his arrival, but was also declaring himself as a threat to Arendelle. She gritted her teeth.
"I have no time playing games. Who. Are. You."
He chuckled at her insistence. And it drove the redhead even more angry.
"STATE YOUR IDENTITY!" Yelled the Queen.
As if on cue, a group of soldiers arrived in the room, on Kai's side. They all quickly caught up with the situation and placed themselves between the intruder and the rest of them with their shields up and swords turned to the man, in a way similar to the soldiers in the Forest 11 years ago, which Elsa noted and wasn't a fan of. She would have told Anna if the latter wasn't busy sending all her rage through her teal blue eyes.
The stranger wondered if he made them all deaf with his impact. He stated once again:
"Folks, I am Thor."
Anna clenched her fists. "Okay, I don't have this kind of patience. Sir, you're trespassing. GUARDS!"
A rattle of armed soldiers spread further in the hall, and circled the stranger.
"No, wait, Anna..." Murmured Elsa, but her younger didn't care.
"Soldiers..." She started to announce, her voice firm.
The blonde realized she had to act very fast. "Stop! Lower your weapons!"
The soldiers obeyed instantly. Elsa may had moved away since 11 years, she still had royal blood, and they put their swords down at her insisting order.
"They will be of no use anyway." Informed the man. "You hardly can stop me."
Elsa frowned, stepping forward between two guards. "I'm willing to take the challenge."
He saw the spark in her eyes, and scoffed. "Don't raise your anger. Trust me, I'm not someone you want to mess with."
Elsa's stare was still determined. "And trust me, I'm not someone you want to mess with either."
Anna grinned, a bit evilly. "Yep, she is. So you better tell us right now who you truly are and what your intentions are, and maybe I'll not put you into jail for that dangerous intrusion."
He sighed discreetly. "When I said that you hardly can stop me, I meant because I am a god and these soldiers are mere humans. It would be better not to try."
"Stop it, stranger." Grunted Kristoff, his usual soft voice switching to the one of a King who now was annoyed. "Tell us the truth. Where the hell do you come from?"
"Not hell, actually. Ásgard." Specified the man.
A silence followed, so he pointed at the ceiling. "A land from above, in... Another dimension, if we can call it that way. It's, uhm... So, see, there's the world of gods and the world of humans... Dang, it will take a long time explaining this. Heimdallr must be dead laughing as we speak."
Anna was utterly done with his nonsense. She pushed a soldier aside and bent to Eydis' toolkit, grabbing her spirit level. It was long, made of metal and heavy enough to be used as a weapon. Would it have an effect on the beefy man or not, she didn't care. She really wanted to hit him, that was for sure.
Her fingers clenched the metal bar. "I'm going to ask you one more time."
"I'm not a menace." He assured, raising his hands, eyeing the way she was ready to get aggressive.
"You just exploded the roof of my castle!" Yelled Anna.
His flicked one of his hands to point. "No, actually, your daughter did. I just descended through it."
Anna's eyes were on fire now. She dashed forward. The Arendelle soldiers and Kristoff ran to stop her, but she was already lifting the spirit level to slap him.
"Wow, wow! Okay! You want a proof? I'll give you one!" He said, widening his eyes, and Elsa wondered in that split second if he actually was scared of Anna.
He gripped the shaft of his hammer before the redhead reached him, and threw it in the sky. An immense lightning bolt jolted between the clouds, shedding a flash on all of them, and a vociferous thunder echoed right after, making the whole place tremble. Kristoff held Eydis close, thinking she would be terrified, but in fact, she was admiring the power of the man.
A silence followed the crack in the sky, and a slight sound of metal resonating came to their ears. Whistling in the air, Mjöllnir went down, seemingly attracted by the man's stretched hand. It perfectly landed in his palm, and he twirled it before putting it back in the leather loop at his waist.
"Odin's name." Muttered Anna after a long stillness.
"That you can say." Winked the stranger.
It was however no stranger. For everyone in the room had been told legends about the person standing in front of them. He was no human. He was a god. The god of thunder was standing in Arendelle's hall.
"Thor." Murmured Elsa, a smile stretching her lips.
"This got to be the weirdest thing that has ever happened to Arendelle in its entire history." Muttered Anna.
She had placed the spirit level back inside the toolkit, asked the guards to lower their weapons, and was now passing a nervous hand in her long red hair, tucking it behind her ear.
Kristoff could see the nervousness of his wife, and smiled with humor.
"Really? Because I quite remember Elsa once turning the whole kingdom to Winter during the month of July."
Thor smiled. "Oh, you gave names to the frost giants? That's funny. We often to the same with Sif."
"What?"
"'Elsa'. It's an odd name for a being with such a power, though." Judged the god.
"No... That's Elsa." Said Anna, pointing at her elder.
The blonde smiled and waved from where she was standing.
"Ohhh. Yeah, right. The Fifth Spirit. The Snow Queen. The others mentioned everything but your name, actually."
Elsa grinned, a bit flustered. Hearing her appellations from the god's mouth felt like she belonged to eternal tales and legends. And indeed, the Spirits actually never called her by her name. They reached to her with a specific emotion.
"And how did you even arrive from the sky?" Questioned Kristoff.
The god turned to him.
"I traveled to your world on a chariot pulled by two goats."
A silence followed. He then suddenly burst of laughter.
"Just kidding! I came down using Mjöllnir. I mean, come on, this is the 19th century. One flick of the hammer and it's done."
A new silence followed, and everyone in the room was stunned by the situation.
"I missed this dear one." He smiled, tapping the hammer at his waist. As he did, tiny sparkles of thunder passed between his fingers and the metal.
"Thank you for keeping an eye on it all that time, tiny worthy fella." He added, winking at Eydis.
The princess was still timid at the encounter, and had a small smile.
Anna eyed the man with anger. "Don't talk to her like that. Don't even speak to her directly."
"Anna, it's alright." Whispered Elsa.
"But I am grateful, for real." Promised the god, looking back at the girl. "It's the lightning bolt you sent that allowed me to get free from the Spirits' barrier. So thanks, lad."
"The Spirits' barrier?" Frowned Elsa.
"Kind of like the one you did." He said, and pointed at the spot where the blonde's ice shield had been erected earlier. "Only, this one was made by two magical beings, and it stood for days."
He insisted on that last word, like he was exhausted from being stopped by it. Or rather...
"Did you fight it?" Understood Elsa, her eyes widened. "Did you try to pass through the Spirits?"
The stranger snorted, like it was obvious, his hands on his hips, the armor on his forearms gleaming. "Naturally. No fight is big enough to retrieve my hammer."
Everything fitted together in Elsa's mind, so perfectly that she could almost hear a strong 'CLICK' in her head.
"The storm. That's why. That's why!"
They all turned to him, confused. She was beaming like someone who solved an old riddle.
"During all those days, the Water and Wind Spirits haven't stopped trying to push you back, is that right?"
"Yes." Simply answered the man.
"And they put all their magical energy in it, undiminished, reckless?" She asked then, remembering all the emotions she had felt from her fellow Spirits when she meditated and tried to call or mentally reach to them.
"Oh, they really were." Scoffed the stranger, for he had both hated their dedication and admired it.
Elsa turned to her family with a victorious smile, but they were still lost.
"The storm didn't happen because Nokk and Gale were furious at each other... But because they were furious at him!"
She pointed at the man, and it was a bit rude, though no offense was taken. Elsa continued on her explanation under their confused blinks, using exaggerated moves of her hands.
"I could feel they were doing all they could... But it was against a common enemy. They acted like a... A horizontal barrier that would reinforce the limit between the world of gods and the world of humans!"
She now had a giant smile. "Guys... They were protecting us all along! The heavy clouds of the storm... They were here to prevent him to get through."
Her breathing calmed down a bit as she lowered her eyes with a captivated smile. "Since the beginning... Nokk and Gale were saving the human world from him."
There was a blank, and Anna approached her.
"Wait, Elsa... This is too much information. I think you're going too far."
The Snow Queen seized her hands, and the redhead yelped of surprise. "No, I'm right! Everything suddenly makes sense!"
"...To you..." Underlined Anna, telling her that she was the only one to understand herself in that moment.
Elsa's hold in her hands went softer, warmer, and she kept her grip. "Listen."
Her voice was calmer too, and the younger could see in her azure blue eyes that she was serious, and not theorizing in a crazy way. It was like she had the answer all that time in her subconscious, and only grasped it then.
"Thor was enraging from the loss of his hammer, and so he was threatening to arrive in our world and run riot. His plan was to fight the Earth Spirit to retrieve it! And as we always – I mean, we Spirits – got the other's backs, Nokk and Gale united to block his way."
The redhead gasped.
"And then when Eydis lifted Mjöllnir and created a bolt, he saw that the hammer was here now." She finished, nodding.
Anna started to believe her sister, slowly but surely. Her eyes were filling with care and love, like every time Elsa explained something about magic that didn't make any sense, but she could tell by instinct that her sister was telling the truth.
"...Okay." Smiled tenderly the younger.
Elsa smiled back, touched by her trust. Something was however missing.
"But..." She murmured, turning to the god. "Why did you lose Mjöllnir? How did it get in Ruckus' possession?"
Thor lifted his eyebrows.
"Oh, you call him Ruckus? I call him Thrym. He goes by many names, though. Big-head-giant works as well."
"He's the tallest of all the Giants composing the Earth Spirit." Stated Elsa. "He's so big that he's the size of a small mountain, and the Northuldra mistook him for one during many years."
All gazes were turned to her, so she kept going.
"Because of his size, they call him 'King of the Giants'. But that's because they don't know his full personality. Which I sense." Grinned Elsa. "He seems peaceful and sleepy on first glance – once again, the Northuldra thought he was a stoic mountain – but he's in fact a real prankster. I'm not surprised that he stole Thor's hammer."
She couldn't believe she actually had said that sentence out loud, and judging by her sister's expression, she couldn't believe her elder had stated that either. Yes, they were seriously and literally talking about Thor's hammer.
"The king of the giants..." Repeated Anna. "Jötunn...?"
She scoffed at the way they now all looked at her. "What? Elsa may know each and every Giant of the Earth Spirit, I happen to read a lot of books."
She then smirked to Thor. "And I remember reading that as he's the tallest of giants, he's often hit by thunder. Knowing his character now, I'd say that he wanted to get his revenge, and that's why he stole your hammer."
The god had a big laughter. "Those bloody giants! It's always fun to have them as enemies."
The others lifted concerned eyebrows. Do gods realize that their fight games reach a scale that can be destructive and mortal to humans?
Nevertheless, Thor seemed to have become reasonable, and he had warmth in his eyes.
"You stated earlier that Water and Wind were there to stop my rage." He said to Elsa, then his eyes turned to Eydis. "Well, now that I know the kindness of this Mjöllnir holder, I'm feeling much better and I know there was no reason for me to get mad in the first place."
"All the better." Muttered Anna.
Eydis lifted her eyes to her. Elsa stared at her sister. Did Anna say that because she was happy to avoid a disaster? Or was it because she would be the origin of said disaster if Thor was planning to hurt her daughter?
"You seem nervous about my presence." Noted the god, whose great age sometimes brought wisdom.
Anna burst. "Of course I am! You are a god! You're not even... Supposed... To be here!"
She jolted nervously, her arms wagging around.
"What?" Scoffed Thor. "Gods can't walk the human realm? Your sister is standing right next to you."
Anna looked at Elsa, also intrigued, and back at Thor. "That... It's... Completely out of the topic! It's... Wait, what? Are you saying that Elsa is a goddess?"
"Why yes. Someone who can master elements certainly is a goddess."
The blonde blabbered, her cheeks flushed. "I'm not a goddess. I barely control ice and snow, it's not that amazing..."
They gave her sarcastic stares, and she blushed even more. "...What?"
Kristoff snorted at her modesty. "Yeah, not that amazing. And Anna barely controls the biggest kingdom of the country. No big deal, you two sisters, really."
They looked at each other, and had a bashful smile. Thor clapped his hands excitedly.
"May I say that I love this? Strong women. Big fan. There should be more powerful humans who are women. Or identify as such."
He smiled, beaming, then raised his fist. "Women! Yaaay!"
They were dumbfounded, and his eyes laid on the Snow Queen. He approached her, now standing close, though Elsa didn't mind. Her personal space didn't feel intruded by someone with such magic and intentions.
"Wind told me that you had recharges, lately?" Smirked Thor, representing her magic boost with a spark of thunder between his hands.
Elsa scoffed. She could easily picture Gale being a real snitch. It was in their nature, after all, and quite literally. Just like the news spread through wind, the Spirit's curiosity often betrayed Elsa in moments when she wanted to surprise Anna.
"They've been watching me all that time, uh?" Smirked the Snow Queen. "Yes, I have."
"I don't know much about human science, but... I guess that it was due to a mix of magic and magnetism from the storm, right?" Tried Thor.
Elsa had a giggle, which she politely masked as a cough. Far be it from her to disrespect the god. "Not exactly. It's Mjöllnir which gave me this energy, jolting every time I felt very happy. It allowed me to have stronger magic, to materialize my dreams... It's truly incredible."
"You're preaching to the choir." Grinned the god.
Suddenly, Elsa remembered an earlier part of the conversation.
"Wait... Told you?" She repeated. "You can talk to the Spirits?"
Thor tilted his head. "Nah, not really. It's more like..."
He searched how to explain it in words.
"...Like you can feel their emotions." Helped Elsa, smiling.
The god snapped his fingers. "Yes! Exactly. And I didn't truly need them to form a full sentence, I could get what they meant."
Elsa was positively beaming. At last, she met someone who could understand her. Not that she thought she was crazy, far from it, for she knew that it's how the Spirits communicate between them, but to know that every person with magic could to the same alleviated her in a way. Maybe it was because she now had the proof that she didn't have the exclusivity to hear them, which she felt a bit guilty of over the years when she had to do translations to Honeymaren and so many other people. It's not that the Spirits always refused to talk with non-magic persons, it's just that they lacked a sixth sense that allowed to feel their language.
The Snow Queen kept smiling, and Anna eyed them from where she was. She couldn't believe the happy relationship that was building in front of her eyes. Was her sister casually talking with the actual god of thunder?
"Papa... Who's the big mister?" Whispered Eydis, finally talking, and taking advantage of him being distracted by Elsa to tug on the pants of her father and ask.
"Uh... That's... That's Thor, sweetie." Gulped Kristoff.
"Thor? But Thor is in books!"
The god snapped his head to her, and she jumped of surprise. She wasn't scared much, but his aura was impressive. He smiled widely.
"Oh, I certainly am in books!" Exclaimed the massive man. "All over the lands, little one! The tales of my mighty quests and epic fights have transcended space and time!" He said with a roaring laughter.
"Woaaaaah." Admired Eydis, stars in her eyes.
Anna coughed. "Elsa, can I talk to you, please? Alone?"
The blonde smiled. "Sure."
They went in a corner behind the guards.
"What do you think?" Asked the Queen.
"What do you mean?"
Anna eyed the god.
"How to know that we're not hallucinating? That it's not a magic trip? A magic trick?"
"Why ask me?" Puffed Elsa.
"You're the only one around who knows about magic!"
"You can ask Kristoff. He was raised by trolls." Grinned the Snow Queen.
"Elsa! I'm serious. Please, give me your advice."
A pause.
"I need my sister's advice."
Elsa's sarcastic expression faded away. Her face got thoughtful.
"I don't feel any magic affecting us. This is not an illusion. This is Thor, Anna, I can tell. As insane as it is, we're not in a dream."
She held her hand, squeezing it to ensure that she was really there. Elsa then noticed that Anna was trembling slightly.
"Anna?" She frowned. "Are you alright?"
The Queen's breathing was hitched, and she only realized it then. Until now, she had been mesmerized by the regal attitude she had, to not appear weak to the soldiers and servants in the room, but Elsa understood that it was all a facade. Anna hadn't stopped being shocked since the explosion.
"I... I..." She blabbered, her voice weak.
The blonde quickly got closer, holding her shoulders. "Hey. It's okay. Deep breaths. Take deep breaths."
The younger did as advised, and she took long respirations, even if they were shaky.
"Shhhh..." Calmed Elsa, seeing the way Anna's eyes darted away to avoid crying.
Elsa made sure that no one was watching. Nobody could, because they were behind tall guards.
"Anna, what is it?"
"What IS IT?" Exclaimed the Queen. "The god of thunder just crashed into our home!"
"I know, Anna, I know. Tell me what is on your mind. I can see that something else is weighing on you."
The redhead sighed. She didn't fully like that Elsa was able to read in her like an open book. "He's a threat, Elsa. He's a threat and you're welcoming him with a big smile. Have you seen the way he landed?!"
"He was a bit extra, I have to admit." Winced Elsa. "But hey, I suppose that it rules among magic people."
"Don't try humor on me."
"And you, don't panic."
Anna pushed her. "I have every right to panic! He almost killed my daughter!"
Elsa got stupefied by her sentence, and calmed her down after making sure no one heard her. "He would never do that. Trust me, he surely checked before he arrived. He means no harm towards Eydis, believe me. Quite the opposite, he keeps congratulating her. He's impressed that she's worthy of lifting Mjöllnir."
A blank passed. Elsa had a soft smile, searching for her younger's eyes to have contact.
"Aren't you proud that she's worthy of lifting the hammer of legends we used to read when we were kids?"
She saw a sparkle in the redhead's eyes. "I am." She muttered with a watery chuckle. "I deeply am. But..."
"But?" Repeated Elsa.
Anna dove her teal blue eyes into hers. "I'm sorry, but you simply can't understand. I was terrified. Eydis could have been crushed, or burned, or electrocuted, and—"
"Of course I understand." Assured Elsa with a sad smile. "I almost lost you in a fire once."
Anna's face stiffened, then her expression softened. "Right."
Her panic calmed down a bit, but she was still stressed, and Elsa could hear how her breathing hadn't stopped being heavy. By the way Anna then opened her mouth, the elder knew that her sister was about to insist and sink into nervousness again.
"But Elsa, when I was in the fire, you were able to save me with your magic! Because of ice versus fire! But would you be able to protect someone from a lightning bolt?! And yet, you were there! What if you're not there? You won't always be there! I couldn't- I couldn't even save Eydis because I don't have magic. And this is bad! Because I'm her mother! And I'm supposed to protect her! What if it happens again and this time it's worse and she's targeted and—"
The redhead instantly interrupted her rambling when two fast and firm hands went to hold her cheeks.
"Shhhh. Anna, calm down. Breathe."
Anna gasped in uneven pants. She was so panicked that tears didn't even come, and her freckled face had gone pale because she had forgotten to inhale for a moment. Elsa's calm and deep eyes stared at her, and she exaggeratedly inhaled and exhaled, so the redhead would imitate her and relax.
The elder inspected her sister's state. She was quivering, the ghost of her fright when Eydis almost got hurt written on her face.
She obviously saw the way Anna had been inspecting her daughter's state earlier. In that moment, Elsa had been struck by the similar image of her mother bending over the body of a young Anna after she accidentally hurt her with her powers.
Elsa's heart was broken by Anna's panic attack, but she forced herself to not show any sadness on her features. She smiled to her little sister, in a soft and warm way, then when Anna blinked and finally had an even breathing, she caressed her cheeks.
The Queen melted in her care, and placed her hands on hers.
"Anna, you're the best mother there is. Eydis is forever safe with you. Never doubt of that."
"But—"
"She's alright. She doesn't have a scratch. Look at her."
Anna's eyes went to her husband and daughter, above Elsa's shoulder and behind the soldiers. They were smiling and talking with Thor, and the redhead let out a shaking sigh.
"And you and Kristoff always be there to keep an eye on her." Continued Elsa, bringing her attention back to her.
Anna gulped. After a moment, she chuckled, and she detached Elsa's hands from her face to hold them firmly. "What did I do to deserve you?"
The blonde grinned. "Trust me, I've asked myself this question way more times than you."
"Prove it." Teased Anna.
They laughed and nudged each other.
"You know, you amaze me." Complimented Elsa.
"Why?"
"I can't believe you opposed him. Anna... You rebelled against a god. You rebelled against the god of thunder."
Anna smirked. "Are you sure you're not actually scared by it?"
"Honestly? Both."
They giggled again.
"Quite feisty, your wife." Commented Thor, observing the Queen from where he was.
Kristoff rubbed the back of his head. "That's the term I use, indeed."
He couldn't tell if he was astonished or aroused by Anna's early behavior towards the god. And he still was speechless at the fact he was standing in front of him.
Thor saw his awkwardness and tapped his shoulder with enough force to uproot a tree. Thankfully, the King was muscular and took the shock with a simple wincing huff.
"She has a strong character! She must be a good warrior, uh?"
Kristoff blinked. "Uhm... She surely is."
He saw Anna being tough multiple times, but Arendelle had the fortune to never been at war in his lifetime, so he couldn't fully tell.
"So you followed the light in volt to get to me?" Suddenly asked Eydis, beaming with her admirative grin.
"Lightning bolt." Corrected Kristoff, looking down at her daughter standing against his waist.
"I did!" Smiled Thor. "It led me directly to you, worthy one."
He booped her on the nose, and she giggled, but Kristoff frowned and slightly pulled his daughter away.
"Hey, don't touch her."
Thor stepped back, understanding that he crossed boundaries by how Kristoff said that through gritted teeth.
"My apologies." He coughed lightly. "You still have troubles putting trust in me, right?"
Kristoff winced. "Well, excuse me, but it's not every day that we meet gods. We don't really know how to act. Though I guess you're not evil. Elsa could have told. Therefore, I'm willing to take the risk. My wife often calls that a leap of faith. It's— What are you doing?"
He was rummaging through Eydis' tools, and the girl chuckled as he did.
"Searching for a saw. I could use it as a proof that I don't bleed as easily as you."
Kristoff blinked. "A saw?!"
"Hmm. There's none. Why doesn't your daughter have a saw?"
"Why would we give her a saw?"
Eydis giggled at her father's tone. His panic led him to high intonations.
"What's wrong with it?" Frowned Thor. "My father used to offer my brother and I all sorts of swords and daggers when I was her age. A little stabbing never killed anyone."
"A little stabbing never killed— Are you insane?" Blinked the King.
He pulled Eydis closer to him and covered her ears.
"Okay, different traditions, I get it."
As the sisters joined the others to the center of the room, Anna looked at her elder with a smile.
"What makes you this happy?"
"Pardon?"
"You're beaming. I know that it's because you're a nerd and we're in the presence of a god, and also because you're a magic nerd and that you're in the presence of a new magical being... But it's not all, am I right?"
Elsa smiled with a slight blush. Thus, they could both read in each other like an open book.
"I can feel them."
Anna started to frown, then smiled. "Gale and Nokk."
"Yes." Stated Elsa, and in that simple word, the emotion she had held until now went in a wave.
"How does it feel?"
Elsa sighed happily.
"Wonderful. I just... Feel so relieved and cheerful at the same time, I can't explain it."
"I easily imagine. They're not only friends, they're your counterparts, and, like, your colleagues, so it's amazing to know they're safe and at your side again."
The Snow Queen smiled. "Exactly. You're better at words than me."
Anna giggled. "You're the visual artist. I'm the novel addict. It's equality."
Her elder looked outside. "When Thor landed, I immediately got seized by the astonishing sensation that Nokk's and Gale's souls were returning to me. I could suddenly feel their energies again, their presences. It was like my ears popped."
"Do they act like an extension of your five senses?" Interpreted the Queen.
"Sort of, yes. Now I sense them outside, and I can't wait to join them. But first things first. We need to make sure that, well..."
"That Thor the god of thunder won't unleash his power against us for keeping Mjöllnir in the castle?"
Elsa sighed. "I swear, there was no way that even on game night, we would be able to say such a sentence."
The redhead poked her playfully. When they arrived to the others' level, Anna cleared her throat, and forced herself to smile to the man. "I hope you don't mind that Eydis kind of... Stole your hammer."
Thor laughed powerfully again, and they all startled a bit at how loud it was. "Absolutely not. You know, I have boys of my own, and I plan to bequeath them Mjöllnir. If they're worthy, of course." He added with a wink to Eydis who blushed.
Anna realized that it was the moment or never to ask interesting questions that burned her tongue.
"If she's worthy, am I worthy too? I didn't get the occasion to lift it."
Thor chuckled but kept it polite.
"It doesn't work like that. Worth is not a hereditary thing."
Elsa remembered that the hammer slightly tilted up when she gave it a try, but she withdrew in her usual modesty and didn't say anything. However, it was like Thor could read her face, and he smiled.
"You two maybe have made mistakes in the past that qualify as unworthy. I can't tell how it works, it's honestly different for everyone. Even myself lost the worth to wield it after I took a bad decision."
"And then you could lift it again?" Asked Eydis with a cute child voice.
As an answer, the god took Mjöllnir off its emplacement at his waist, and made it spin in the air. It made the whistling metal sound again. "As you can see."
The sisters looked at each other, feeling guilty of every action they had done in the past which made them unworthy.
"Don't be so sad." Advised Kristoff. "Eydis did it, and it's amazing. We're all proud of you, baby."
The princess smiled with pride.
"Well, I think it's my cue!" Declared Thor, slamming his palm against the metal of the hammer. "It was a pleasure meeting you all."
He placed himself under the whole in the roof, then gently made a push gesture. "If you could just take a step back."
They did as advised, and watched.
Thor twirled the hammer in his hand, winked to Eydis, then made a large circle with his right arm, throwing it behind him and up with faster and faster moves, like he was about to throw Mjöllnir like he did earlier. Only, this time, his grip was firm on the magic hammer. The object started to whistle in the air with its metal sound, and a draft of air formed around him. Instinctively, the guards lifted their shields and protected the royal family, and Thor stared at the sky through the whole in the roof. He squinted in a focused expression, then suddenly stopped the circle of his arm and launched it upwards, still holding the hammer. He swiftly flew up the air as fast as he had come down, and all gasped at his dramatic exit.
Thor reached the clouds, and Anna and Elsa ran under the hole to see him go. He now was a tiny point in the sky, soon covered with a beam that looked like a rainbow tunnel, then he disappeared.
A murmur grew in the room as everyone processed the incredible event that had just occurred. Elsa lowered her eyes, looking at her younger who had the same jaw drop. Bright sun light passed on Anna's face, and that's when Elsa realized what changes Thor's departure had brought.
The storm had completely stopped. It now was replaced by pure, beautiful and warm rays, the sky above them in a deep blue. One could even hear the birds starting to chirp again outside, like everything was normal and a god hadn't just stepped in the castle.
The two sisters let out a sigh mixed with a gasp, then chuckled, and laughed openly together at that experience. They held to each other, and Kristoff smiled at them, holding Eydis against him as she smiled too and circled his waist with her arms.
Gerda entered the room and gasped at the sight of it. Her eyes darted from the state of the hall's destroyed ceiling to the state of every person standing there.
"What on Earth happened?"
Kai turned to her, and couldn't help but sigh.
"Even if we told you, you'd never believe us."
Author's Note:
*Imagine Dragon's 'Thunder' blasting through car speakers as I drift in the Arendelle courtyard* WHADDUP WORLD
Anyway I hope you liked this chapter, I truly never wrote Humangst before (a mix of Humor and Angst). I had fun with it, but it felt crazy to do haha
Next chapter is the last! Our story will soon conclude. I want to thank all of you for your amazing support and comments! Keep them coming! :D
and of course, as always: if you enjoy my writing style, type "Untangling the Frozen Knots book" on Google, and you'll get a 140k words fanfic on paper which is super comfy!
Cheers lads!