~Chapter 8~
Elsa
This forest was filled with energy and I'm not sure how I knew that, but I could feel it. It's like my magic was reacting to it deep within my veins. I wondered if Marcus felt it too, but I think he was fairly occupied with trying not to burn up everything in sight. I felt as though I could feel his nerves myself and I wish I could take them away.
"You doing okay?" I asked giving his hand a squeeze.
"Okay as expected." He replied.
His face seemed calm enough, but his eyes told a different story. Terror. Olaf was nearby riding on Sven's back being sure to stay close. The last thing any of us needed was getting lost in this forest. Sven hopped over a nearby pond and I walked over casually letting go of Marcus' hand bending down trickling my fingers across the surface. It felt nice, even lukewarm to the touch. Maybe this forest had a natural hot spring or something.
"Elsa! Marcus! Did you know that water is like a human brain?" Olaf suddenly said.
"I don't follow, buddy," Marcus replied with a shrug.
"Water is tricky. It holds memories just like a human brain, isn't that neat?" Olaf grinned clapping his hands excitedly.
"You're made of snow, Olaf…" I smirked, "Snow is frozen water, so are you full of memories too?" I teased playfully.
"Hey guys!" Anna's voice yelled behind us suddenly.
We all turned around as Anna and Kristoff rejoined us catching their breath.
"You didn't get that far so quickly, did you?" Marcus questioned.
Kristoff glanced at me growing serious.
"Anna found something in your father's journal," Kristoff muttered.
"There's talk of Kalde too, Marcus." Anna added once she caught her breath.
Marcus grabbed the leather-bound journal from Anna's hands in a blink and began scanning the pages. I began to read over his shoulder as there was talk of a clan of people that they met called the Northuldra. Father wasn't too specific in his entries.
Entry: September 1805
Dad and I took another trip to the enchanted forest today, though we took a different route stopping in a kingdom just a little ways north of Arendelle. The Kalde kingdom was probably twice the size of Arendelle. I must have neglected my geography because I didn't know this place existed. Father had to stop here to talk with their king. Father had a brief meeting with their king who refused to trade with Arendelle claiming to be a self-sufficient kingdom. Father was furious when he returned to the traveling caravan. His temper always caught me off guard.
Upon reaching the forest and finding the Northuldra encampment, father met with the leader and their council about matters of state. I wasn't privy to any of those meetings though I was curious why father brought me along on all these trips. I suppose father wanted me to be aware of such duties as the future king of Arendelle. In the downtime while father was in talks, I cozied myself beneath a tree and took out a book, but my mind constantly wandered. The Northuldrans were kind people and very helpful to anyone who asked for their aid. I was offered snacks throughout the day and befriended some reindeer.
Around midday, I was left alone for the most part and I did finally get sucked into a book. Though as I read, my ears perked up to the sound of an outcry of laughter. I looked behind me nearby and there was a Northuldran girl climbing a huge tree. I figured she was being a lookout of the sights, but when she got to the highest branch, she jumped off with no regard for her safety. In a panic, I ran to help her, but something caught her in midair. A vortex of wind hovered around her as her hair blew wildly. When she was safely brought back on the ground, she laughed and began to climb the tree again. My heart was pounding and I tried to calm myself down realizing the girl would be okay. Shortly after, a couple emerged from a nearby tent to call that girl in for dinner. They had no issue with her diving off of trees apparently. I admired the Northuldrans and their zeal for life. I was born into a palace and privilege and they lived in an enchanted forest with no complaints. Puts things in perspective for me.
Father journaled several times on this trip and I flipped the page quickly to read more. He spoke of a trio of people on horseback who were from Kalde. Two brothers, Zane and James, along with their friend Lucia traveling with them. Father spoke highly of them. As I kept reading, soon I saw smoke beginning to rise up from the edge of the pages as Marcus dropped the book nervously. He quickly backed himself away from the rest of us in seconds. Anna picked up the journal patting it down getting rid of any slight singes.
"It's all good, Marcus, see?" Anna said waving the book at him.
He was several feet away looking terrified and I slowly approached him.
"S-Stay back, Elsa. I've already hurt you once."
"So what? I'm not afraid of you. You're my husband Marcus. For better or for worse, remember?" I replied, taking another step toward him.
His hands began glowing as he backed against a tree bumping against his back.
"Correct me if I'm wrong, but trees and fire aren't safe right?" Olaf questioned.
"Marcus, away from the trees." Kristoff urged, "You'll ignite them all if you're not careful."
"Not helping." Anna snapped.
Marcus looked like he was preparing to run and I approached him with my arms outstretched toward him.
"We're in this together," I told him calmly.
It was still ironic to me how our roles had reversed seeing I was in his position not even a year ago. The fear and terror of hurting someone with the power was real for me back then as it was for Marcus right now. He took a step toward me, but then hesitated fixating on my bandaged hand. I saw that it drew his gaze as I quickly closed the gap between us hugging him tightly. He relaxed the moment we embraced. Marcus fell to his knees shaking nervously.
"I'm sorry."
"There is nothing to apologize for," I whispered in his ear.
"Darn it, Elsa." Anna groaned, "I was prepared to push him in the pond." She laughed playfully.
"I would have loved to see that," Kristoff smirked.
Sven snorted in agreement.
"Oh really?" Anna smirked as she quickly spun around pushing Kristoff right into the muddy pond water just behind him. Kristoff splashed loudly getting soaked.
"Hey!" He complained.
All of us burst out laughing as Kristoff began splashing Anna. Marcus got even more relaxed as he continued to laugh at the two of them. He suddenly rose to his feet looking much calmer, composed, and more like himself.
"Hey Sven, can you lend an antler and help me out?" Kristoff asked.
Sven did so quickly getting Kristoff back on dry land. He approached Anna wringing out his clothes.
"Just for that move, you get a sloppy wet bear hug." Kristoff grinned immediately chasing Anna grabbing her in his arms as he embraced her. Anna laughed trying to push him away, but Kristoff was just too quick playfully showering my sister with a few quick kisses.
"Get a room, you two." Olaf laughed.
"We best keep moving." I urged.
"It'll be dark in an hour or so," Marcus added.
Moments later, my ears perked up at the sound of that mysterious voice again. I whirled around nervously trying to pinpoint a direction.
"Elsa?" Anna muttered.
"You hear it again, don't you?" Marcus asked.
"Do you?" I asked him.
He shook his head. I guess it made sense, powers of ice and fire, it would be different. I called to it again in the same tune and it echoed back.
"Are we still sure hearing voices is a good thing?" Olaf asked.
"I know it doesn't make sense, Olaf, but I don't know how to explain how I know that whatever this thing is...it's good."
"We believe you, Elsa." Anna nodded.
I appreciated my sisters' comment. There was no sign of doubt in her eyes. As I called out again to the voice even more confidently, the wind began to pick up tremendously.
"That's different…" Anna muttered glancing around.
Suddenly a vortex of wind emerged from the trees heading directly toward us.
"Run! Zigzag through the trees!" Marcus yelled.
Sven scooped up Kristoff, Anna, and Olaf running further into the trees. Marcus grabbing my injured hand making me jerk it back painfully. He apologized quickly as I turned toward the vortex.
"What are you doing?" He shouted.
The winds were loud buzzing in my ears. I blasted a thick sheet of ice with my good hand trying to see if I could slow it down. This vortex was chasing us, so somehow it was sentient and not just a random weather anomaly. Marcus stayed with me as I kept blasting the ice to make it even thicker.
"Marcus, go. I've got this." I nodded determinedly.
Stubborn as always, he refused and in my distraction, the vortex burst through my ice like it was a wall of toothpicks. My eyes widened in surprise shielding my arms over my head as chunks of ice fell all around us. Marcus quickly grabbed my hand as we both turned to run. Though how could we possibly outrun the wind? Moments later, we got pulled into the vortex itself. It was a strange feeling of weightlessness as my feet were dangling off the ground hundreds of feet in the air in seconds. Marcus and I were swirling around each other on opposite ends of the vortex.
"Elsa!" Marcus yelled.
I looked at his hands as they were beginning to glow.
"No Marcus, not in here!" I yelled back.
"I-I can't hold it back!" He screamed as two fireblasts emerged from his hands in quick succession. I had no time to think, but just shot two precise ice blasts at his hands to buy a little time, but the vortex soaked up the fire too. The heat was instant as I blasted at the vortex with both my hands. My injured left hand stung tremendously, but I had no choice. I kept pushing as my ice put out the fire. Suddenly the vortex began to shrink and get small and Marcus was thrown out randomly.
"Elsa!" He yelled nervously for my safety.
I kept blasting ice back at the wind trying to get whatever this thing was under control. I heard voices traveling amongst the winds. Was it my family or maybe it was the mysterious voice I had been hearing. My injured hand was starting to swell and I knew I couldn't keep up this ice blasting for too much longer. In a final desperate push of power, the vortex suddenly dissipated and I fell out onto the ground below head first blasting a snow pile to break my fall.
I was shaken awake by Marcus and Anna as my eyes fluttered open into clarity seeing my family gathered around me. I was laying in his lap with my head against his shoulder.
"You okay?" Marcus asked.
"What happened?" I muttered.
"You stopped the vortex," Anna replied.
"I did? How?" I asked, incredulously.
"We're not sure." Kristoff shrugged.
"It spit me out and kept you trapped inside." Marcus added.
"You're super woman, Elsa." Olaf grinned.
"Hardly," I said with an eye roll.
Marcus helped me onto my feet as I got up pretty wobbly.
"Elsa, your nose!" Anna suddenly said.
It was a little itchy and I quickly rubbed it with the back of my hand leaving a trail of red on my skin.
"You're bleeding." Marcus muttered.
I wiped it again nonchalantly.
"I'm fine. A lot of wind...it probably dehydrated me." I shrugged.
It was a logical explanation, but I wondered if overdid it especially having to use my injured hand. The bleeding eventually stopped and I melted some snow in my hand to wash it off. As I refocused on the task at hand, I noticed some random ice sculptures surrounding us.
"Did you guys have a little fun while I was out of it?" I asked casually.
"Those formed as you came out of the vortex, Elsa." Anna replied.
"Kristoff, has been admiring them a lot." Olaf laughed.
"Hey, ice is my life. These are works of art." Kristoff smirked.
There were ice statues of soldiers, animals, and even people.
"Why would these randomly show up?" I questioned.
Moments later, I felt a calm wind brush up against my cheek as some leaves swirled around me and all the others.
"What the heck?" Kristoff said apprehensively.
"Is this what became of the vortex?" Anna muttered curiously as the winds swirled around her.
"I like this wind...we should call you Gale." Olaf clapped.
"It seems friendly enough to me." Anna shrugged.
Clearly this was a wind spirit. I wondered if it was the only one found in this forest, but why was it so drawn to me in the vortex? Gale flew around all of us as it playfully pushed all of the couples closer together. It's like it could sense a connection. Soon Gale floated over to one of the statues of people circling around it before promptly blowing away. Anna approached the statue Gale pointed out. It was a girl holding a boy in her arms. The boy looked to be asleep or something. Were these memories brought out from Gale's wind that was physically brought on by my ice? In our distraction, the voice called to me again as I called back again. Gale came back out of nowhere was this the call of the wind spirit? Marcus suddenly stood in front of me defensively. Hiding in the shadows of the trees, I spotted what had alerted him. A large group of people.
"Who are you?" Marcus spat, "Reveal yourselves!"
"I think we're a bit outnumbered," Anna whispered.
People began pouring out of the trees looking at us curiously. A group of soldiers emerged from the east along with another group wearing light-colored clothes coming from the opposite side of us. Marcus grew stiff seeing the sheer numbers that surrounded us and his hands began to start glowing again. I grabbed his hand calmly and the glow dissipated, but he was still far from relaxed.
"How do you have magic?" The lead soldier muttered.
As the soldiers moved out into the moonlight, I could better see their uniforms. They were Arendellian soldiers. An older woman from the other group approached me looking curious. She had long greying hair that was partially tied up out of her eyes.
"I've seen many things in my lifetime, but I didn't know someone could tame the spirits." The woman said glancing curiously at me.
"Trust me, I didn't know I could until just now." I replied.
"I'm Yelana, leader of the Northuldra clan." She said, sternly.
"Elsa, queen of Arendelle, and this is my family." I replied politely.
Further introductions were made courtesy of my sister and once Olaf greeted everyone. The crowd seemed mesmerized by him, which Olaf didn't mind the attention. I then introduced Marcus as my husband and King of Arendelle to everyone as well. The group of Arendelle soldiers made a loud ruckus and salute once they realized who he was.
"Your Majesties!" The lead soldier bowed low as his men followed his lead, "I'm Mattias, I served under King Runeard. Seems like a lot has happened in Arendelle in thirty-four years." He said glancing at Marcus and I.
"I think we all have much to discuss…but we best not linger here in the open. Come to our camp." Yelana nodded.
It was just like father mentioned in his journal about the Northuldra people. They were kind and went out of their way to aid others. Anna grabbed my arm was we followed Yelana and the others to their camp.
"It's kinda nice following a similar path that father did, isn't it? Meeting the same people and experiencing a culture beyond that of Arendelle." She smiled.
Before I could answer her, a spark of purple fire erupted from a nearby tree bouncing onto multiple trees catching them on fire. I shot ice from my good hand putting them out, but more fire caught on other trees at the same time. I glanced at Marcus who looked unnerved, but held up his hands.
"It wasn't me, I swear!"