A/N: Another chapter, though this one isn't so long, I promise that the next chapter will be a lengthy one though. I've been slowing down, but I've been writing one shots in the meantime to try and keep myself writing. Anyway, I can assure you that next week there will be another chapter... beyond that... I'm not totally sure. I'm trying to keep up the weekly updates so I hope I can pull through for you guys. But enough about my writing schedule, lets get on to you guys and your lovely reviews.
Guest (1): It would be nice if Elsa can learn a lot from Anna. Elsa has come a long way from her original view of Anna... but is it so easy to shake off Anna's background? Guess we'll have to find out. I'll make sure to tell the author to hurry up and get to the good stuff!
Guest (2): Thanks for the advice, it really was very nice. I've been trying to continue to write everyday, just to make sure I don't stop. I have a bad habit of stopping with my writing completely if I stop for even two days. Glad you're enjoying the story by the way, words like this keep me going.
Nara375: Hey! As per usual you have a lot of speculation. I love it! I feel its okay to tell you that it was indeed Esmeralda that played the gypsy. It was never meant to be hidden, so much as I just saw no reason for her to introduce herself. As for Anna and Elsa's future problem that will be waiting for them... The only thing I can say is that Anna will indeed fail Elsa. As always its lovely to see your review of each chapter. I hope to keep you entertained.
Okisawa Hinari: I actually managed to spell your name without double checking the review page this time. Don't worry, your English is fine, I wasn't aware there was anything wrong with it. I love that your so excited! Makes me happy to post another chapter.
TheKpopGirl: Always nice to see a new reviewer. Glad you're enjoying the story. Better than other stories though? Well don't you know how to make an author blush. Thank you for that.
DreamWalker: No need to wait my friend, here you go! As always, nice to see your review. Sorry for the shorter chapter =( the next one will be longer.
Darratato: Oh boy, where do I begin? Well I first saw your review on my One shot I posted and was very happy to hear a nice comment about it. Then you quickly ran over to my main story and began to review every chapter. I was actually awake and talking with a friend over steam as you reviewed. I was checking back every ten-twenty minutes just to see if you left another review. It made me very happy to see your opinion of each chapter. I'm glad you were entertained and more glad to know that you're still interested. Just know that you made my day or, rather night, when you began your string of reviews.
I do believe that covers everyone. As always, thank you for the awesome reviews. I won't talk your ear off anymore though. On with the story!
"Slow down, Anna. It hurts my head when you talk too much." Elsa said, holding her head to further her point.
Sorry… Happy. Me happy. Speak Elsa.
As Elsa found out, the gypsy really had worked real magic on both herself and Anna. She gave the both of them a way to communicate with one another. So far Elsa had been testing the connection, trying to figure out how it worked, what the side effects were, and why it was possible. What she had figured out was that whatever this power was, it wasn't meant to be used in large doses. Whenever Anna began to ramble, too many words coming at once, Elsa's head would begin to hurt and she'd start to lose focus. It seemed to be some sort of mind linking between the two of them, Elsa being able to hear any thoughts that Anna directed towards her and vice versa. Elsa found out however that she could speak aloud, so long as she was directing it towards Anna, then Anna would understand. She also figured out that they were not exactly hearing the same thing. While she didn't know exactly what Anna heard, she knew that Anna didn't hear English words like Elsa did. Also, just because they were linked, did not mean Anna suddenly had a huge grasp on English. She talked in a primitive way, using small sentences and most of the time it was a feeling that Elsa got that let her know what Anna was saying, as though she and Anna would become one for a moment and Elsa understood her.
That was a great way to put it… it was like becoming one with one another.
"It's okay, Anna. Just don't say too much at a time." Elsa told her.
Currently the two were in the castle, in Elsa's room to be exact. Both were standing in the room, trying to figure out the way the communication worked. Well, Elsa was trying. Anna was just excited to finally be able to properly talk with her. Elsa had never seen the girl so giddy, it almost made Elsa forget that she could rip a man to pieces if she wanted.
Beautiful woman good. Make me talk. Make Elsa talk. Exciting!
Elsa visibly frowned. "Beautiful?"
There was a chuckle in her mind before, Elsa much beautifuller.
Elsa coughed loudly, embarrassed as she turned around, cheeks beginning to blaze. "I-I wasn't fishing for compliments. Besides, I don't care if you think she is beautiful." A lie.
There was another laugh. Elsa funny.
Elsa turned to her, trying to look upset. "Enough about me. We should be figuring out what this… link between us is."
Now it was Anna's turn to frown. Elsa not happy? No like speak me?
"Of course I like speaking with you." Then she let something slip that she meant to keep in. "It's all I've wanted for awhile now."
While Elsa felt embarrassed about that last bit, Anna looked reassured, smiling at Elsa.
Be happy. How not matter. Is mystery. Like you.
Elsa chuckled. "You think I'm a mystery? I'm an open book." Not that Elsa could read.
Anna shook her head. Not that. Is mystery. Like ice. You ice.
Elsa looked surprised. "You… know about that?" She questioned.
Anna nodded. See once. See twice. She admitted.
Elsa was surprised by that. She had thought that perhaps Anna had seen the ice the second time around, but to find out she remembered the first time Elsa used it was surprising. She was sure that Anna hadn't seen her that time. As for the second time, she never thought that Anna would have linked it to her.
While Elsa was thinking about this, Anna walked up and took one of her hands, interlocking their fingers.
No care for ice. Only Elsa. Me care Elsa. No ice. Only Elsa. She explained, thinking Elsa might have been worried about keeping it a secret from her.
Elsa blushed at their proximity.
"Yes… well I'm glad." Elsa said as she took her hand back as discreetly as she could and took a step back.
Elsa could feel it through the link, that Anna was too blinded with… feelings to notice how embarrassed and awkward she made Elsa at times.
This was another thing Elsa noticed. Anna didn't seem to catch onto Elsa's feelings through the link. Anna only seemed to hear her words for the most part, or any feelings that helped her to hear the words. Anna however seemed to go full force with the link, displaying her heart and everything she had to Elsa. Elsa concealed however, not wanting to show so much to Anna. If Elsa ever did doubt Anna's feelings, then she sure couldn't now. It was clear as day. The girl liked her beyond friendship, wanted more than friendship, though it seems she didn't exactly know what that entailed. Elsa wondered why her own feelings did not go through the link. She could only guess that it was because she didn't want Anna to know, that and she had years of practicing when it came to concealing feelings.
It almost made her feel bad with how open Anna was about her own feelings.
Elsa noticed nervousness coming through the link. She noticed that Anna began to look away from her, as if she were about to ask something terrible.
Now we talk. Can question? Anna asked.
Anna was nervous about asking questions? Elsa almost laughed. It was kind of cute that the girl could still be shy with her, considering the things they'd done together.
"Of course you can ask questions, Anna. That's part of getting to know one another." She told her kindly.
She somewhat regretted that.
Anna lit up. I see you not change for battle. Why not? Not can do? Do you fear pain? Lots more in old home fear pain, no like to transform. What kind you? Big? Small? I think small. You look small. Anna suddenly looked surprised, trying to take back what could have been a potential insult. Not what me meant. Me mean… you look… small? No! Me mean you look… not scary. Not strong? Sorry. Me not mean bad. Me mean-
Elsa cut her off with a giggle, hand coming up to try and hide it. "Nice to see you think I'm so weak." Elsa told her, understanding that Anna assumed her to be some sort of Half-Beast, a weak one at that. Anna's thoughts turned to a jumbled mess of embarrassment and regret at her words. "I'm kidding, Anna. It's only a joke. I know you weren't trying to insult me." She explained.
Anna looked relieved at that.
You not like me. No change.
Elsa nodded. "I'm not like you, Anna. You're right. I don't change." Elsa could feel that Anna was having a hard time understanding this. "We look alike." Elsa said, not pointing out that Anna's people tended to have strange features. "We think alike. We… act alike." Elsa remembered the way they killed her old captain and wondered if this was really true. "However I don't transform, Anna. That's all the difference." She tried to make it easier for Anna to understand. Truthfully there were more differences, but she could practically feel the old and unused gears of Anna's brain trying to spin.
Is same. No change. Still same. Okay. Anna nodded at this, seeming to understand.
Elsa watched her for a moment before deciding something.
"Well, you asked me a question. Now I get to ask you one." Elsa told her.
Anna seemed to get excited. Want to know me strength? Me power?
Elsa rolled her eyes playfully, smile on her face. "I think I've seen enough of that to know." Anna wilted a bit at her words, saddened that she would not be given a chance to impress Elsa. Elsa felt her emotions wash over her and decided to take some pity on her. "Okay… what's the biggest thing you've ever killed?" She tried, trying to think of a question that Anna would love to answer.
She had asked correctly as Anna's chest puffed out and her chin was held high.
Roaring Boom! She answered easily.
Elsa blinked. "A… what?"
Roaring Boom! Is big animal in forest. Big like tree. Like sky. Long belly, delicious. Then Anna's thoughts turned to food, Elsa feeling like Anna wanted to drool at the thought.
Elsa almost giggled at how easily Anna got distracted. Elsa mind was suddenly filled with thoughts of the castle's delicacies. "Want to get something to eat? You can tell me more about this… 'boom', on the way." Elsa told her.
Okay. Is Roaring Boom! Huge, long, big head with fangs. Scales very tough. Hard to bite. Longer than wide, but-"
Anna went on and on about this 'Roaring Boom' as the two walked out of the room and down the hall. It seemed that this creature that Anna was talking about, sounded more and more like some gigantic snake. It wasn't all Anna's descriptions though, for some reason Elsa was getting an almost mental image of it just from Anna's emotions alone, almost like Anna was painting a picture through the link. Truthfully it began to hurt Elsa's head a bit. She almost asked Anna to stop, but alas, feeling her so happy to recount her tale of slaying the beast, Elsa could not do it.
"Amazing." Elsa interrupted Anna's thoughts, hoping to gain some relief without stopping her completely. "You killed such a beast alone? Very impressive." She tried stroking at Anna's ego, knowing the girl seemed to love having her feats recognized.
Anna looked sheepish at the praise.
Not… alone. With others. Others like me. Anna admitted, seeming to have a hard time admitting to Elsa that she hadn't done it alone.
And Elsa knew why.
Anna wanted to impress her, only wanted Elsa to see her in a positive light. It was all she wanted, all she craved. Perhaps more than her desire to be more than friends with Elsa. It was hard to tell. What Elsa did know was that Anna seemed to fear Elsa rejecting her, could feel the nervousness through the link as she admitted to having not done it alone. She seemed to think that just because Anna was in a party during the hunt, that Elsa would not find her strong. Strength seemed to be important to Anna, very important.
Elsa simply smiled, wondering if this was how pets would feel if they could talk to their owners. Always wanting to know whether they've been good enough or not.
"It's still very impressive, Anna. I could never fight such a beast, alone or with others." She told her, trying to bleed her own emotions into the link to let Anna know that she was being entirely truthful. She found Anna impressive, the girl not needing to tell her stories of her past deeds to try and impress her when she already thought Anna was above and beyond anyone she'd ever met.
It seems her feelings did go through as Anna suddenly looked very happy and proud of herself. The feelings sent through the link confirmed this.
This nice. Talking. Understanding. Nice. Anna said, though Elsa wondered if she actually said it or if Anna's open link was just letting feelings through.
"I agree." Elsa agreed easily.
While both Elsa and Anna were distracted with conversation, neither of them were paying enough attention as they turned a corner, bumping into something. Well, Elsa had thought it was something due to how much it felt like running into a wall, but it turned out to be a person.
"Oh, I'm sorry." Elsa apologized as she looked up.
"No problem, little lady." Sir Flynn spoke, his shiny armor being what Elsa felt was a wall. Flynn noticed it was Elsa after a moment and laughed. "Oh, sorry Larsa. Thought you were a girl for a second." He smiled in good nature.
Elsa let out a nervous chuckle. "A common mistake. Maybe I should cut my hair." Elsa tried to go with it.
Flynn shrugged. "Some girls like men with long hair." He then rolled his eyes. "Isn't that like a part of knight tales or something? Knights are always with long, flowing, blonde locks and all that." He chuckled as he looked to Elsa again. "You fit the description… just maybe not as tall… or muscular… and your voice too." He reached up a hand to his chin, assessing Elsa.
"I wouldn't make a good knight." Elsa quickly said, not liking the way he was judging her features.
"I said the same thing about myself and guess what?" He opened his mouth to say something else before stopping. "Wait… actually I'm not so good a knight. Well, good thing my job is to just follow the princess around." He shrugged again.
Hungry. Why stop for man? Belly ache. Food. More emotions and thoughts from Anna.
Elsa cleared her throat. "Sorry again for bumping into you. I'm on my way to the mess hall." Elsa said as she tried to go around him.
She was stopped.
"The mess hall? Ugh! Don't get me wrong I was raised on peasant food, but why go back to that when you have the castle at your disposal?" He took a look around, finding a servant was washing a window far down the hall. "Hey! Hey you! Yes, you! Come here!" He called out.
The servant came running over, nearly tripping over himself to come and attend someone of Sir Flynn's status.
"Y-yes, sir?" The servant asked.
"Fetch… uh." He turned to Elsa. "What's the name of the maid who attends your room?"
"Ariel." She answered.
"Yes, fetch Ariel and have her bring up some breakfast for Larsa." He looked to Elsa, giving her an eyeful as his eyes roamed down and then up. "Make it a big plate." He said, thinking Elsa to be far too skinny to be a soldier.
"Yes, sir!" The servant went to leave, about to run away to quickly fill the order that a knight, the queen's guard no less, had given him.
"Wait!" Elsa called. The servant stopped. "If you're going to do that… might as well get something for Anna as well." She looked to Anna. "What do you want to eat?"
Anna looked to Elsa.
Meat. Succulent. Juicy. A simple answer.
Elsa turned to the servant. "She want's uh… ham… and chicken." She told him. The servant ran off after that, forcing Elsa to call out with, "Make it an extra big plate!"
Flynn was rubbing his chin again. "You talk to her as if you understood her." He said.
Elsa, not really knowing why, panicked. "Of course not!" She quickly threw out.
Flynn shrugged again. "I know that. She didn't say anything. I was just saying you must be able to read her well. I expect no less from the infamous Beast-Tamer." Flynn told her, no sense of mischief about him.
Elsa nodded. "Well… thank you. For the food I mean. I should get back to my room with Anna. She's very hungry." Elsa told him, trying to use Anna to help her escape quicker.
Flynn looked to Anna who was staring at him. He raised a brow and took a cautious step back. "Is that so? Well, don't let me keep you." He said. "Ah right, might as well give you a heads up." He went to go around Elsa to continue to wherever he was going, but suddenly stopped. "Princess has plans to use you again. Something about a demon sighting at an old village. I think she plans to send you since you and your friend are experienced in demon slaying." He gave a small salute. "Just thought you might want to know." Then he went around Elsa, making sure to pass by Elsa and not Anna.
Elsa listened to him leave for a moment, her mind thinking about what he said. Another demon? Another monster from the south? She felt her heart rate pick up after thinking about the last battle, remembering the way she was nearly crushed to death. She recalled the man she tried to fight, remembered the way he deflected her blade and hurt her wrist. She recalled him raising his sword, a sword that would have cut her down if not for Anna. She remembered a boy that could have become her friend, remembered the way his guts stuck to the demon's fist.
Elsa?
Anna.
Elsa turned to Anna, finding the girl looking at her with worry. It occurred to Elsa that she had let her emotions bleed through the link. She quickly tried to seal it off, her mother's words entering her head as she forced herself to calm down.
Conceal, don't feel.
Elsa's emotions became her own once again.
"I'm fine, Anna. Just a bit of… bad news." Elsa said, forcing a smile.
Anna, unable to feel what she previously felt, could only take Elsa's words at face value.
Bad? What bad? Anna asked, wondering if she should chase down the metal man from before and rip into him. Elsa had not felt that way until he came.
Elsa sighed as she turned to go back to her room.
"I'll tell you on the way."
And Elsa did tell. She told Anna that they may have to fight another monster, the same kind from before in the village. Anna was silent for awhile, however by the time they were back in the room, she seemed to have gathered her thoughts.
Elsa is scared? She questioned, watching as Elsa took a seat on the bed to await their food.
Elsa chuckled in a dark way. "I thought you of all people would know by now… I'm always scared, Anna." She said, feeling that she didn't have to hide these type of things from Anna. Anna already knew her, had already seen her at her worse. Besides, telling Anna she was a coward should not come as a surprise to the redhead.
Anna thought for awhile.
Why? Me protect. Always protect. Care for Elsa. Anna couldn't seem to grasp it, her mind unable to picture why Elsa would fear anything so long as Anna was there.
Elsa shook her head. "You can't always be there, Anna. I'm no good in a fight."
You learn. Me see. You play fight. Get better. She was talking about the training.
Elsa gave another shake of her head. "That's different, Anna. This will be a monster, not a person."
You fight in old home. You win with me. We win. Together we win. She brought up the way they had fought to leave her old village, the way Elsa refused to give up and die.
"I could have easily died. We were lucky. If not for that waterfall, they would have caught up to us and killed us." She chuckled in a bad way again. "Which they kind of did. You were nearly killed and me… if not for the ice we would be dead." She admitted, the admittance of death leaving a bad taste in her mouth.
Elsa could feel the frustration that Anna was having, the girl truly did not understand.
We win though. Always win. Me strong. Me protect. Anna told her again.
Now it was Elsa's turn to go frustrated, angry that Anna couldn't receive a simple message.
"It's called luck, Anna! Luck runs out! Do you know what happens when your luck runs out?! You die! I don't want to die Anna!" Then Elsa suddenly settled, a hand coming up hide her face. "I don't want to die." Elsa admitted, feeling ashamed for some reason. She hated to admit it to someone like Anna. Anna was strong and brave. Elsa was just a weak coward.
The bed sunk in next to Elsa, Anna coming to sit down next to her.
No sad, Elsa. Please. And Elsa could just feel the sympathy, the way it hurt Anna to see Elsa in a state that was even remotely negative.
Anna reached up and took Elsa's hand, the one she hid her face with. Elsa just looked to her, her shame written all over her face. She wanted to run away from Anna, to not see her right now. How could Anna ever like or respect her when she was nothing compared to her. Everything seemed fine between the two until combat was involved, that was when their differences came out. Elsa didn't want to say it, but the gift that the gypsy gave them was working against her right now. Knowing that Anna could understand her, had understood what she said about herself, it was something Elsa wished she could take back. She always wished to talk with Anna, but never about this. Never did she want this proud warrior to look down on her cowardice self.
It hurt to think that Anna saw her as less, when Anna always seemed to look at her with more.
No think that. Always Elsa good. Anna speaking again.
Elsa looked up, wondering what she was saying considering she hadn't said anything.
Always like Elsa. Not care for strong. Not care for weak. Just Elsa. Only Elsa.
That was when Elsa realized her emotions had bled through the link again. Anna had heard her thoughts, felt her shame. Elsa almost wanted to cry when she felt the immense warmth of Anna's emotions. Anna didn't care about such things. She didn't care if Elsa knew how to fight or not. She only cared for Elsa. She would protect Elsa even if Elsa knew how to fight better than she. She would always be there for her. She liked being around Elsa, gave up her home for Elsa. She wouldn't let anyone hurt Elsa.
These were just some of the feelings that bled through from Anna, all of them warm and intense.
"Anna…" Elsa said softly, not knowing what to say in front of such pure emotion.
Anna reached over and hugged Elsa to her.
Me like Elsa for Elsa. Always. Something Elsa already knew.
Anna kissed Elsa's cheek in the same way that Elsa had done for her back before the fight with the demon. She held Elsa close, holding Elsa's chin to her shoulder. All the while she let her emotions flow through the link, let them enforce Elsa with the knowledge that Anna cared for her. And Elsa did let one tear slip as she embraced Anna back, a single tear that carried as much emotion as she let flow through to Anna. She was thankful to have met Anna, happy to have her in her life, and grateful that Anna had no plans to ever leave.
And when Ariel came rushing to the room, opening the door without knocking to apologize for being late. She had witnessed the embrace of two souls who were more connected than any other humans had ever been in one moment.