Game of Charades
It had been 4 months since Elsa decided to live in the Enchanted Forest. Anna sorely missed her and paid a surprise visit. Ironically, it was she who was surprised as Elsa and Honeymaren were starting to get really close. But the trouble was… Anna was not liking it. Elsamaren vs Elsanna
Chapter 1
Ever since Elsa had left the castle to permanently reside in the Enchanted Forest, Anna had never felt more alone than now. When they were kids, Elsa had completely shut her out but at least Elsa's physical presence behind those massive locked doors was unmistakable. She knew she was there.
However, now that Elsa had finally chosen to stay out of the castle and into the magical forest where she felt she truly belonged, Anna badly wished that she was more than enough for her older sister to stay. Unfortunately, that was not the case. Elsa had left… her… again.
Looking around the empty ballroom, she sighed pitifully as she reminisced those times she and her sister were happily chatting for the first time in forever. They talked how the ballroom turned warmer with tons of people in attendance as well as that amazing smell that enveloped the whole room. Yes, they both loved chocolates. Oh how badly she missed her that tears started to prick at the corner of her eyes.
Suddenly, the doors behind her opened to reveal Kristoff together with Olaf loudly conversing about their adventurous travel to the North Mountain, paying a visit to Marshmallow and the snowgies in the Ice Castle. Inhaling deeply and blinking back those tears that threatened to fall, she faced them with a forced smile on her pretty freckled face.
"Hey Kristoff, Olaf, how's everything? How's everyone?"
"Oh, it was so much fun!" The bubbly snowman answered without missing a beat. "Marshmallow was playing hide and seek with the snowgies. I know it's really weird given that Marshmallow is such a giant guy, quite the opposite of all his opponents. But nonetheless, they were kind enough to invite me to join them but I guess my wonderful nose just stood out so much." Olaf laughed boisterously as he played with his long carrot nose.
"In fact," Olaf continued. "Marshmallow said he misses both you and Elsa that he is hoping to visit you sometime in the future."
"I've been telling you that is NOT a good idea!" Kristoff butted in. "Marshmallow would definitely wreck the whole village of Arendelle before he could even reach the castle!" He was shaking his blonde hair furiously.
"But he misses Anna and Elsa! Why stop the guy?" Olaf retorted. "Don't be such a big blonde killjoy." Olaf teased.
"I am not!" Kristoff huffed.
"Oh yes you are." Olaf insisted.
"Not"
"Yes"
"Not"
"Yes"
Throughout the whole bantering session between the two, Anna's mind was actually pre-occupied not with Marshmallow coming down to the city of Arendelle but of her blonde sister whom she deeply missed. She could not help but wonder how Elsa was doing in the Enchanted Forest. Is she living comfortably there? Is she adjusting properly? Is she getting along with the rest of the Northuldra clan? Is she even eating properly there? Does she even have chocolates in there? It has been four months and yet it feels like an eternity since she had left Arendelle.
Suddenly, an idea crossed her mind.
"YES!" Anna screamed triumphantly and she pumped her fist in the air. Both Olaf and Kristoff looked at her – one amused, one shocked.
"Wait what!?" Kristoff demanded. "Even you Anna? Is that really what you think?" He asked grumpily.
"Uhm…" Anna thought of what ticked the blonde guy as her aquamarine orbs settled on the victorious-looking snowman. She smiled sheepishly at the blonde guy, scratching her strawberry-blonde head. "Sorry Kristoff, that's not what I meant. I mean… I meant what I said but not that what I said is meant for you. So I meant it but not mean it. I mean I don't mean to be mean on you. Ugh! This is crazy!" Anna slapped her face with her hand in frustration causing the two to chuckle. She groaned as she watched the two taking amusement out of her.
"So tell me, how many 'mean' do you plan on speaking in one sentence?" Kristoff joked only for Anna to roll her eyes exasperatingly. Olaf imitated Anna's flustered face adding further salt to the injury. "Anyway, so what 'yes' are you talking about?" He asked curiously.
"Oh yeah. Kristoff, I've decided." Her eyes shone brightly. "I will visit Elsa!" Anna half-shouted in her excitement, almost bouncing on the balls of her feet.
"Oh okay. Sven and I can tag along." Then turning his head on the snowman, "Do you want to come along too Olaf?"
"Actually..." Anna cut in. "I plan to do it by myself. I mean.. not that I don't want you guys to come with me. Of course I do. That'll be awesome." She laughed hesitantly. "But it's just that I want to surprise Elsa. So I don't want to attract so much attention. Does that make sense?" Anna looked pleadingly at the two.
Kristoff would have wanted to argue more but the look in those desperate eyes already told him enough that Anna wanted some alone time with her sister. Olaf would have also complained but Kristoff had already hushed the little guy, pushing him towards the door, leaving Anna by herself. Anna looked at him gratefully before the door completely shut close.
Thanks Kristoff for understanding.
-x-
Despite Elsa's decision to stay in the Enchanted Forest, that did not mean she would easily open up to the Northuldra tribe. Growing up, she was forced to conceal, don't feel and don't let her magic show. It was because the people in Arendelle weren't attuned to magic. Now that she was in living in the Enchanted Forest where magic freely flowed unrestrictedly, it was a change in pace that she was trying to get accustomed to.
"So… how do you like your new home?" Elsa whipped her blonde head around to find the young beautiful brunette smiling enigmatically at her.
"Oh it was so lovely and magical of course." Elsa offered as she glanced around, taking in the wonders of the tall trees swaying gracefully with the wind spirit 'Gale'. It was such an amazing place with the forest overlooking the calm ocean far ahead. The sun setting down was reflected magnificently in the waters almost mirroring the skies in the seas.
"I'm so glad you chose to stay." Honeymaren voiced out her thoughts as she stood alongside the now blushing Elsa.
In the corner of her eyes, the brunette was studying the young ice queen in all her glory and simplicity. For someone who had grown up in the castle, she was surprised that never once did she hear the former queen complain about anything. Surely the castle would afford her more luxurious things and comfort but this pretty blonde still chose to live in the forest.
"Thank you." Elsa answered sincerely. "I guess I just want to see and explore what's out there. My powers continue to grow and I have yet to know the depths of what I can and cannot do." Unconsciously, she conjured a tiny glittering snowflake the size of her palm and the brunette couldn't help but be amazed at its perfection. Honeymaren had long been accustomed to magic seeing it in her every day to day living but to actually see magic personified, she couldn't help but feel attracted. And Elsa being perfectly beautiful was not helping her case.
"Your power is so beautiful." Honeymaren openly admitted as she stared at the snowflake that Elsa dropped in her now open palm. Then she brought her gaze back to Elsa. Brown eyes locked with blue eyes. "Just like you…" Both women's eyes widened at such a compliment.
"I mean… just like your heart." The brunette corrected herself a little too late, her cheeks glowing red in the fading sunset. "You have a beautiful heart." Strangely, Elsa felt butterflies in her stomach. It was such a good feeling to hear someone compliment her, not just her but also her magic.
While Anna adored her magic just as well, it was different coming from someone totally unrelated. But it was a good different! From her previous experience, her powers were connoted as dark, evil and dangerous. But now, someone actually admired and fancied her powers.
"Thank you." Elsa responded. "But are you not afraid?" She asked uncertainly as the snowflake in the brunette's hand evaporated into thin air.
"Afraid of what?"
"Of me." Elsa said quietly as her blue eyes turned downcast, suddenly unable to meet the brunette's brown eyes.
Sensing the blonde's discomfort, Honeymaren lifted Elsa's chin forcing those evasive blue eyes to look at nothing but her. She smiled sweetly before responding genuinely. "I will never be afraid of you." She winked at her. "Do you know why?"
Elsa was captivated by those confident yet gentle brown eyes that she could not afford an appropriate response but rather a small shake of her head. It must have been her imagination but in that moment, she thought she saw the brunette looking down at her lips – no, that must have been just a trick of the light. There was no way.
Suddenly, her face turned scarlet red as the brunette inched her face closer, removing the little space between their heads. Elsa's heartbeats soared high opposite to the increasingly cold frost that permeated the forest as the temperature dropped at an alarming rate. Elsa's mind went haywire trying to process what was happening when at the last second, the brunette turned her head slightly and aimed at the blonde's right ear. "It's because…" she spoke alluringly, secretly enjoying Elsa's breath hitching as her warm breath caressed Elsa's. "I trust you."
Seeing the ice queen flustered and embarrassed brought a wonderful feeling to the brunette that she decided to take things one step further. Without hesitation, she blew a small puff of breath at Elsa's right ear causing the latter to squeal in surprise. Elsa suddenly backed away until her back touched the tree which she had turned ice frozen unconsciously. The brunette watched her with interest, laughing softly at Elsa's reaction.
"Sorry, you just look so adorable." Honeymaren confessed lightheartedly. "I couldn't help myself. My sincere apologies, my Queen." She teased further as she bowed her head in curtsy.
"Haha. Very funny." Elsa spoke sarcastically as she recomposed herself while narrowing her blue eyes at the brunette's mischief.
The brunette giggled softly. "I just want you to loosen up yourself a bit around me, y'know." She said seriously. She walked towards the blonde, brown eyes twinkling. "I don't bite." She extended her hand towards Elsa, signaling that both of them should head back to the village as it was getting dark.
Obligingly, Elsa grabbed the brunette's hand stopping for a bit to get her attention, their hands now intertwined with each other. Honeymaren glanced back at Elsa whose eyebrows were raised teasingly. "I know you don't. But…" She raised their interlaced hands. "Don't let the frostbite bite."
The brunette visibly looked relieved seeing Elsa somehow relaxed in front of her. She laughed musically as she further tightened her hold of the blonde's cold hand, not letting go despite the risk of having frostbite. Actually, she never cared what would happen to her hand. As long as she got to hold her, she would gladly risk anything. Not that it needed mentioning to a certain blonde.
The two of them walked in a comfortable silence with Honeymaren enjoying the cool hand wrapped around her own. A part of her wished to never let go of that hand. She enjoyed Elsa's company so much. Despite the latter's reserved and composed attitude, Elsa was actually a sweetheart! She would always put other's safety to priority, with herself always having the short end of the stick. She had chosen isolation in order to protect her younger sister, Anna. She had chosen loneliness to protect the kingdom of Arendelle. She had completely shut herself out because she treasured the people around her. She was such a selfless moron, always prioritizing others more than her own happiness. So Honeymaren vowed to herself that she would do anything for Elsa to have that happiness the latter so much deserved.
As they neared the village, the brunette desperately wished to freeze the time and enjoy the moment the two of them had. So far, during those four months that Elsa had stayed in the forest, there were only a handful of times she could see Elsa relaxed and spontaneous. More often than not, the blonde was always careful and very much reserved affording as little conversation as possible with the Northuldra people. She was among the lucky ones to somehow break that cold barrier and see the real Elsa.
"So… how's your sister?" the brunette asked to break the silence.
Honeymaren noted the dreamy expression that glazed over the blonde's face at the mention of the younger sister. She knew how much Elsa loved and adored Anna and yet a part of her felt conflicted and envious at such affection. Anna was Elsa's sister and it was only reasonable that the blonde has that strong feeling of devotion towards the strawberry-blonde beauty.
"Anna…" Elsa whispered. "I sorely missed that stinker!" She admitted truthfully. "I remembered we used to play charades together with Kristoff, Sven and Olaf." Elsa sighed at the beautiful memory. It felt like forever since they last played that game and there were times she had wished she had never left the castle. A part of her wished to always be by Anna's side. After all, that was what she had promised her. However, another part of her could not block out the call of adventure and mystery especially now that she was slowly uncovering the sources of her powers.
"So Anna and I were a team fighting against Kristoff and Olaf. Sven was the time-keeper." Elsa smiled as she reminisced. "Anna was such a mess. She was over-exaggerating her acts she looked so cute and funny that I ended up just watching her fascinatingly. I remembered how mad she had become when I just laughed at her acts instead of actually trying to guess. But I can't be blamed. That feisty-pants was just so adorable. In the end, we lost so badly."
Honeymaren simply observed Elsa as she talked about Anna. She noticed how those blue eyes gleamed with joy, how those lips offered nothing but compliments and sweet memories about the young sibling, how excited Elsa looked as she reminisced their times together.
"If you want…" Honeymaren offered hesistantly. "we could play that game. Only you have to teach us as we're not so familiar with that." She smiled as she scratched her cheek sheepishly.
"I don't really mind." Elsa shrugged, not noticing how relieved the brunette was at her answer.
"Great! I'd love to play with you." Honeymaren spoke engagingly.
"Just don't kill me if I can't guess it correctly." Elsa warned playfully.
"Kill you!?" Honeymaren looked aghast. "Oh come off it, you silly. I only know how to love my queen." The brunette smiled teasingly. She had hoped that the oblivious woman would catch on the real meaning behind those words but looking at the laughing blonde, she knew Elsa took it not-so-seriously.
"Alright. Just don't say I never warn you."
"You bet, my queen!"
Elsa internally winced. Sure she was the former queen of Arendelle but that was in the past. She was now just plain Elsa. "You know you can just call me Elsa. I'm not even a queen anymore." She pointed out.
"But you are my queen. I mean, when I first knew you, you are the Queen of Arendelle. So I find it all weird and awkward to now call you by your first name."
"Yet you never hesitated interlocking hands with the queen?" Elsa wisely countered, raising her brow while bringing up their intertwined hands together. The brunette suddenly brightened up, almost freeing Elsa's hand when the latter held on tighter.
"It's okay. I'm just teasing you." Elsa assured her, smirking ever so slightly.
-x-
Anna was happily trudging her way towards the Enchanted Forest. It seemed like such a bad idea especially not bringing Sven along with her given that it was getting darker. But she did not mind the long travel if it meant seeing Elsa. Tackling this long, winding road was really incomparable to her previous feat of crossing the North Mountain just to reach her sister in her Ice Castle. She would definitely be fine.
She had filled her mind with happy thoughts recalling that time when Elsa had planned a birthday surprise for her only to be cut short as the latter turned out sick with cold. However, what she found more appropriate as birthday gift for her was not the material things given by Elsa to her. It was the fact that Elsa had allowed her to take care of the blonde until she got well. Not that she never valued those things given by Elsa, she actually found them to be very endearing, but it was those moments together with her sister that she treasured even more.
She loved every inches about Elsa and she would never hesitate to sacrifice herself again just for her. No one could ever break the bond between them. Sure, their relationship had been tested since they were kids but they both withstood those trials and came out victors. This unbreakable bond even got stronger as they promised each other never to keep secrets.
"Oh I can't wait to see her reaction! She would definitely be shocked she would think she was not only hearing voices but now seeing apparitions too." Anna giggled to herself. "I bet she would look shockingly adorable!"
Sometimes, she felt like her sanity was leaving her whenever she tried to delve deeper about her relationship with Elsa. However, before she could allow her mind to wander about these overwhelming feelings she had for her sister, she was completely blocking them out, ensuring herself or more like creating an alibi that Elsa was her sister and that her love for her was completely reasonable, normal and ordinary. Yep - nothing more.
Far ahead, she already saw the soft glow of light emanating from the village's campfire. Her heartbeat quickened as her pace doubled up. Elsa was somewhere out there, she thought cheerily. For a moment, she stopped dead in her tracks as she heard loud shouting echoing in the village. Her moment of fear was quickly replaced by relief as she realized they were shouts of joys. Interestingly, she crept her way towards the crowd without anyone noticing.
-x-
The sun had set long ago and yet for the Northuldra tribe, the night had just started. The full moon illuminated the village quite serenely. In the heart of the village, the crowd went wild as they circled around the young brunette who was busily acting out the piece of paper she had drawn earlier. They were playing charades after Elsa told them the gist of the game. It was sort of entertaining seeing as how desperately each team was trying to demonstrate to the best of their ability the paper they had picked out.
Ryder was teamed with a handsome lad named Tony and they were up against Elsa and Honeymaren who were paired together. Tony was a big letdown despite Ryder's astounding performance to depict 'love at first sight'. Now it was Honeymaren giving out clue while Elsa was trying to guess it.
The brunette was pointing to her head then down to her feet then to her chest. Elsa stopped herself from blatantly laughing as the brunette looked so frantic yet overly-competitive. It was not surprising as the siblings, Ryder and Honeymaren, added another twist to the game. Whoever lose the game would admit their 'secret crush' to the whole tribe of Northuldra. While Honeymaren was keen on eventually letting Elsa know of what she truly felt about the blonde, she could feel that the right moment would present itself, but definitely not today. And so, she had no plans of losing!
She again repeated touching her head, her lips mightily sealed from speaking. "Head" Elsa offered. Bobbing her head enthusiastically, she then pointed down to her feet, or more specifically towards her soles of her feet. "Feet?" Elsa again called out. The brunette motioned her hand in circles, as if asking for a different term. Elsa thought harder. "Heels?"
Grinning delightedly, she then pointed to her chest. "Heart?" Elsa responded. Shaking her head, she again pointed to her chest. "Chest? No?" Elsa asked timidly. In the background, the other team was already counting down to the time limit. 10… 9… 8…
Honeymaren again looked at Elsa almost pleadingly and showed the heart-shape using her hands to Elsa. "Love!" Elsa shouted. 5… 4…
Elsa was thinking desperately while the brunette was depicting to connect those words. 3… 2… 1…
"Head over heels in love!" Elsa tried as the countdown ticked away. A few seconds of silence emanated from the whole crowd before Honeymaren jumped in joy and rushed towards the giggling blonde. She hugged her fiercely while the other tribes cheered and hooted noisily. Ryder and Tony both looked devastated but still found Elsa's buzzer beater answer to be quite amusing.
"Oh Elsa! You made it! You made it!" Honeymaren cheered loudly. Elsa found herself returning the fervent hug from the brunette.
"Glad I did." Elsa agreed.
Honeymaren broke the hug to look at those pretty blue eyes. "You are so amazing, do you know that?" In her complete state of bliss coupled by the rush of her emotions, she had given the blonde a quick peck on the cheek. However, Elsa's head turned a bit slightly towards her that she kissed Elsa almost right at the corner of her mouth.
And even before the blonde and the brunette could process what had happened, a familiar voice cut through the noise and chatters. "Elsa?" It was Anna and she looked just as shocked as Elsa and Honeymaren. The two instantly broke away from each other's arm as they both gazed at the new intruder. The tribe suddenly felt silent watching the three of them.
"Anna?" Elsa looked at her. "W-what are you doing here?" Elsa did not expect Anna's arrival and it had caught her by surprise.
As those words left her mouth, she realized it sounded so wrong seeing the hurt expression that was now visible on her sister's face. "Sorry Anna. That's not what I meant." Elsa cajoled her as she walked towards her. She touched her arm and caressed her sweetly. "Of course I'm glad to see you. I'm happy you visited me… visited us… I just didn't expect you coming at this wee hour." Elsa smiled at her.
But Anna did not look convinced at all. Her expression turned from hurt to annoyance as her aquamarine eyes settled on the beautiful Northuldran woman named Honeymaren. Anna previously thought it was just her imagination before but now she could confirm it with her own eyes. This woman looked at Elsa differently. And it was a bad different! In fact, she was not liking it.
"Anna?" Elsa called out to her worriedly. "Is everything okay?" She then looked around. "Are you alone? Where is Kristoff? Olaf? Sven?" Elsa brought her hand on Anna's cheek to get her attention. "Answer me Anna, are you okay?"
Elsa's touches were always cold but gentle, enough to get her attention. As those aquamarine orbs locked eyes with blue, Anna finally decided to speak. She held the hand on her cheek, clasping it in both her hands.
"Elsa…" Anna briefly looked at the brunette before quickly returning her gaze back at her sister. "I want you to return to Arendelle with me."
The crowd that had become silent now fell into soft murmurs with Anna's declaration. Honeymaren suddenly looked at Anna then back to Elsa. This day had turned from a blast of bliss to become the worst nightmare of her life.
-x-
A/N: I really ship Elsanna. But Elsamaren seems to be a good different! Thoughts?