This is a mAU story with the same characters simply because the idea arrived and had to be done. I went to a gig last night (Tyr and Korpiklaani) at a venue that is fast becoming my favourite and had the idea as things wrapped up. This chapter will be pushed ahead by any new chapters put into the story proper simply to keep things more coherent, so sorry for that.
Strobe lights flashed around, spotlights with their snowflake stencil and cut-outs projected their designs around the darkened room and onto the crowd. The crowd that was already stoked by the first support act and waiting for the next act. Now it was time for Islyd to take the stage.
"Are you ready?" Elsa called to her sister in the 'backstage' area. Anna bounced forward with a grin and the usual energy she had right before show time.
"Do the magic!" She shouted, the door to the performance area was now open and the crowd noise had entered full force. Kristoff, their second guitarist and Sven the drummer were moving to march out and take their place. Olaf was just having the wires to his violin taped into place and would be bounding out behind them then Anna and Elsa would enter.
Olaf was sharing a thumbs-up and slipping out before they knew it. "Is she here tonight?" Anna asked Elsa, clasping her hand. The sisters had a habit of entering any stage hand in hand, equals and best friends.
"She said she hoped to be, but only if the doctor lets her come to such a rowdy place." Elsa's tone was a little less bright but Anna bumped her shoulder and smiled.
"She'll be here then."
"Ladies! Stage time!" a roadie yelled and the first notes of their agreed opener were filtering in. They stepped out and through the small space between the room and stage. Cheers filled the room and the women raised their clasped hands.
"Who's ready for a great night!" Anna shouted into her microphone. Whistles and shouts answered. "Alright then!" She released Elsa's hand so her older sister could pick up her guitar. The boys started playing and the sisters moved into the duet with their practiced dancing stage presence.
As the set progressed Elsa had chanced searching glances out into the crowd, looking for a certain someone without success. The group they were touring with had quite a following and while she knew there were a lot of Islyd fans out there, one face in a barely lit crowd was difficult.
The cue for Elsa to prepare for her big song arrived, with practiced ease she placed her guitar to its stand as Anna whipped out her pipe for the instrumental piece they played while Elsa changed. She slipped from the stage to the backstage with helpers to assist the change from her jeans and t-shirt to the detailed, sparkling dress she would wear for the song.
The last notes of the instrumental faded and the lights lowered Elsa returned to the stage and when the lights returned with her as focus the whistles and cheers grew. Still that one voice she wanted to hear wasn't around. Disappointed, Elsa threw herself into the song, a solo, as Anna took over guitar duties (the only other person allowed to play Elsa's precious treasure). It was all about moving on from the past and forgetting the bad, it had charted globally and was their biggest hit and easy for her to sing as a fight past the hint of pain she was feeling.
Elsa smiled to the crowd when the song ended and received her hug from Anna, now it was her sister's turn at a solo so Elsa could change out of the dress for the last few songs of the set. It was an escape from this particular song really, one Anna had written about their childhood separation and the yearning to be with her older sister. The lyrics always brought Elsa to tears, she had never wanted the separation either but an acrimonious divorce and parental mental instability, restraining orders and court decided writ had parted them for too many years.
The dress was off and someone, Gerda most likely, was helping her pull up jeans while simultaneously putting on a t-shirt and stamping into huge studded boots. Elsa kept the countdown in her head, easier to track than painful lyrics. "Off you go Elsa." Gerda, it had been her, gave her a little push towards the door.
It was time for their rip-roaring track, the kind that got beer spilled on you and blood pumping through your veins, then it was the closer. Elsa loved to sing both songs; the first was always a howling success and a chance to be silly with her sister as the joy filled the room. The second was a love ballad with an upbeat riff and a happy message.
Running onto the stage and getting a quick hug from Anna, Elsa let the familiar stage patter run her through the moments rest the boys needed for a quick chug of water before the big song. Her eyes kept searching the crowd and a for a moment she thought she had seen who she sought but Anna had finished her bit of the chatter and it was time to sing.
Exhilarated after the song Elsa knew the eye shine Anna had was much like her own, they had taken a bow with clasped hands but now Anna was moving off to stand near Kristoff for this song. "Hey everyone! I hope you've had a great time so far, I know we have!" Elsa pointed the mic out at the crowd for the cheers and shouts. "So we're about to wrap up now for Call of Freedom to rock the city!" The roar was great and she grinned. "Yah, it is great of them to give us this chance to tour! But before we go there is one more song, this one is for the lovers! So grab your special someone and tell them this is how you feel..."
The music started, Anna had her guitar again and was stood back to back with Kristoff as they played leaving Elsa feeling a little bare without her usual shield. She had the vocals for this one, doing a duet with Anna had got a little creepy with the lyrics as they were. As the words flowed Elsa closed her eyes and let her thoughts drift to someone very special.
Someone who wasn't here tonight.
Islyd had started out very small like most bands, performing in backrooms of bars and little halls around their local area when Elsa had met her. She had come to two gigs with a girl but by the next was alone. Attending three gigs in small places spread across the city meant she was certainly a fan and Anna had virtually shoved Elsa at the poor woman the fourth gig they saw her.
It was an easy friendship that quickly became a lot more, love was not a word Elsa used lightly but they were a deep and dedicated match. When a big break for Islyd came in the form of an invitation to tour as the first act with a pretty famous metal band Freya came along.
Freya was in the personal protection business having left the army on the don't-ask-don't-tell policy, but happily helped out as a roadie. That was until Islyd and the sisters' fame meant that they needed a bodyguard.
The song was about to hit the really meaningful stanza and the music was washing Elsa through to a memory she wished to forget. Her vocals turned more emotional but it was an extra edge that was driving them to the top and getting rave reviews.
Their big hit had meant more fans at concerts, more people who knew who Islyd were. There were more people knew of the names and lives of the band. People with strange ideas and motivations.
A month before, when the tour had just started with Islyd having equal billing to Call of Freedom, someone had attended. They had stood close to the stage and twice had been bounced back by security. Anna had been a little creeped out but Elsa took it in her stride. Until the slurs started, directed at her. The man had been ejected and they all dismissed the matter.
At the end of the night Elsa wanted to take a walk with her girlfriend. The moon was beautiful and the air crisp. They hadn't gotten far when the man from earlier had attacked with a knife. All her training and all her instinct had swiftly put Freya between her lover and the knife. The adrenalin rush meant he was laid out cold on the ground before Freya succumbed to the wound in her abdomen.
The police and medical assistance had been swift, the wound thankfully non-fatal but still Freya was in hospital. She had told Elsa to carry on the tour, performing was what the sisters loved after all. She promised she would join them later.
Elsa was still waiting.
The words she sang had led her right to the end of the song, Elsa opened her eyes to sing the last repeat of the chorus and looked out to the crowd around the stage.
Green eyes looked back, a smile just for her lit by a single spotlight. Elsa knew there was only one supposed to be shining at this point in the song, to focus on her for the last words.
The second one pointing right at her partner... The crew were certainly in on the surprise. Managing not to flub the lines Elsa ended the song, still staring at the face looking up to her. She didn't notice when two burly figures stood either side, though Kristoff and Sven lifting her down to Freya was appreciated.
The cheers and catcalls and whistles were for the band and for the two women enthusiastically reunited. Freya helped her hustle through the crowd to the backstage room.
"You're back!" Elsa shouted, throwing her arms around the taller woman and trying her best not to cry, it was too late though as tear tracks were spoiling her makeup.
"Hey hey, getting all teary." Freya smiled and kissed Elsa. "Yes, I am back. The doctor said I could come tonight if I stayed out of the rowdy crowd. Anna helped sneak me here. Kai had me in the corner but let me loose for the love song."
Elsa smiled even though tears were running her makeup terribly, not letting Freya let her go and not letting go of Freya. "How are you?" She had been phoning and skyping Freya whenever possible but face to face was even better.
"Fine, healing nicely and allowed out for the foreseeable future." Freya smiled and squeezed Elsa harder. "A clean bill of health mostly, stitches out but I need to be treated gently..."She whispered the last words into Elsa's ear and received a nibble to her neck.
"Gentle. Okay. I can give that a go." Elsa hadn't stopped beaming, or really let the rest of the world into the little bubble she had existed in since she set eyes on Freya. A stifled giggle from Anna drew her out.
Everyone was looking at them, the band, their crew and some of the venue staff. Anna was smiling too, hands clasped in front of her mouth, stood close to Kristoff and almost vibrating with excitement. Kristoff had a proud look, Sven had a conspiratorial smile and Olaf was nearly dancing for joy. Looking at them all with an appraising look she tugged Freya's jacket. "I'm going back to the hotel." The wink broke Anna, but she had been in on this and deserved it.
Elsa was very glad to have her Freya back.
Sooo. I went to a gig and had a great time. When things were getting cleared up I had a good idea and decided to run with it here.