A/N: Right... so this chapter was cut in half basically. It was supposed to be longer, but I'm just having trouble finishing it for some reason. I've been at it for at least a week and for some reason I cannot get the scenes right. So anyway, I'm cutting it in half for now so that you guys at least get something on my normal update day.
FateKitty: Really? Glad you're loving it! Makes my day to see a new reviewer.
Lance58: Elsa as a mercenary? Hmm. That could be entertaining. But alas, Elsa wants the money for her family and at the same time wants to keep Anna. Who knows how well Anna would be received if she wasn't working for the queen herself. But damn... now I want Elsa as a mercenary lol.
Guest: Glad you're enjoying. As for the streak in Anna's hair? Hmm. Don't worry, I've thought about what it means, its not just there for the sake of keeping up with the original movie. And don't worry, would I really kill Milo off so easily... (Flashbacks to chapter 9) Hmm... well... maybe.
Darratato: So many speculations... I LOVE IT! I would love to go into the speculations and dodge around them... but I worry that I could potentially spoil something by accident. So I'll just say... maybe I have things planned for certain characters and maybe I have some things planned for the future. (Also you're one of the few who trusts Milo, I find that funny for some reason).
Nara375: Hey! Just to clear it up, All of the soldiers that came with them are dead. Elsa killed the two that tried stopping her and Anna killed the rest. Also you were totally right about Gaston, I love how you were like the only person to doubt him from the beginning and guess that he knew Elsa's gender. When you first mentioned Gaston I did my best not to reveal that he knew about Elsa lol. I've been saving that chapter since Gaston first came around. You were too smart for me though, I couldn't hide it.
Guest (2): Yeah the end of the last chapter was supposed to be quick, with Elsa not understanding what was going on. I do remember having trouble writing it properly and ended up leaving it the way it was when I wanted to change it. Glad you liked it anyway.
DreamWalker: That's right! Shame on you doubting poor Milo!... or is he telling the truth about how Anna wounded him... hmm... we haven't gotten Anna's side of the story yet... oops... did I make you doubt him again? :)
KingBoulevard: I sent you a PM to respond to some things and let you know I read your reviews. Either way, I'm glad to say again that I'm happy to see a new face reviewing not only this story but others I have as well. Also, Yes, I would say that Anna was totally flirting, or at least trying to express what she felt to Elsa.
Novert A-Rex: Why thank you kind sir! Who I am though? Just another new writer who hopes their stories are entertaining.
Okisawa Hinari: Yeah! Screw Gaston! Enjoy being a bunch of frozen pieces you evil bastard!
Abel: Perhaps. I won't say anything because I don't want to spoil. But the image of her waiting and drinking wine will be forever etched into my memory.
jennifersmith2198: Ah... poor aladdin. I had to do it to him though lol. Also suspicious of everyone? Uh oh. I feel kind of evil. Probably because I know things about characters that others don't... but I wouldn't dare spoil anything. Glad to see another review from you.
Okay that should do it for the reviews. Wow that is the most I've ever received for one chapter. Makes me feel bad for having to cut this one in half... but the story must go on!
Loneliness. It was a feeling that Elsa had become used to. So used to it in fact that she didn't even know it existed after awhile. It was a part of her, normal for her. She never really thought about it when she had a loving family and a job to do on the farm. There were brief moments when it would rear its head and remind her that it existed. Moments like when she saw kids playing with one another when she was growing up. Moments like when she caught a young couple kissing outside when she was a teenager. She wasn't immune to the emotion, so much as she learned to live with it.
Then came Anna.
Anna ripped the lonely right out of here like the beast she was. The girl was always at her side, always there. Even before they could properly communicate, Elsa would find herself saying things to Anna and Anna would respond with rough noises. Anna had always been there since their introduction. For the first time she had a friend, one who was so strong that she did not fear the ice taking them away. Or maybe it was less that and more that she had control over it now in her adult years. Who knows… either way, Anna was there, as a friend, as something so much more.
Now she was passed out and bloody atop a horse because of Elsa.
Elsa would have rode the horse with her, would have kicked the horse to run as fast as it was capable to get her to town… but she couldn't.
There was no room, considering Milo was atop the horse as well.
Thankfully the man had been alive when Elsa came back towards the lobby with Anna in her arms. He had passed out, but he was breathing. She wound up hefting both of them onto the horse, a truly impressive feat that no one would believe she could have pulled off. Still, the best she could manage was getting them to lay with their stomachs over the horse's back. Well, Anna had not been on her stomach at first. Anna had passed out while Elsa was walking the horse. It was the sudden sound of a body hitting the floor that alerted Elsa to this. Needless to say she had panicked something fierce, immediately assuming the worst when she turned to find Anna's body on the ground unmoving. Elsa found that she was still breathing during a frantic check, and so she ended up tossing Anna over the horse as well. There was no room for her to climb on board and so she was forced to walk the horse.
She felt alone as she walked through the forest at night. Funny how Elsa could feel alone with two of her only friends next to her. She did though. She wanted someone to talk to, someone to share her troubles with. Even if Anna or Milo were awake, what would it accomplish. She could talk to neither of them. Both of them had been hurt by her actions. She couldn't share her pain with them when she had caused them much more. She wished for someone new, someone who didn't know of her past deeds. She wanted someone she could start fresh with, someone who wouldn't judge her because they didn't know her.
She wanted a shoulder to cry on.
There was no one though, the forest at night was bereft of any intelligent life. Who was she to talk to? The owl that was making noise in the trees? The small lizard that scurried across her boot as she walked? No, there was no one. She would be forced to walk alone, eyes staring at the dirt road as her memories constantly reminded her of what she'd done and what almost happened. She'd nearly lost both Anna and Milo.
And for what?
She still didn't understand why Gaston did what he did. The only ones that could tell her were both knocked out and potentially dying on top of the horse she'd rode here upon. Was the man truly mad? Was there a purpose behind all of this? Was he ordered to do it? By whom?
She thought of the queen that didn't inform her properly on her first mission.
Was the queen out to get her?
The thought didn't make sense. There was no reason for the queen to go through all of this, to go behind everyone's back and try and get Anna and her killed during a mission. If the queen wanted Anna and her gone, a simple word was enough. She promoted them to her select few. The queen couldn't have been a part of this… so why?
Maybe the man really did have a screw loose.
The sound of a growl interrupted her thoughts.
Elsa immediately stopped. The sound of growling wasn't something she was unaccustomed to, after all, for a long time it was all Anna could really do as a way to communicate. This however, was not Anna. The growl held a threat, the sound coming from a nearby beast. On instinct, Elsa backed away towards the horse, towards Anna. Even now, while the girl was unconscious, the cowardly Elsa still sought her protection. Blue and frightened eyes looked around, searching for danger.
Another growl.
Elsa watched a paw step out from the forest, more of the body revealing until she was face to face with a wolf. The beast eyed her hungrily, inching closer as it assessed just how much work would have to go into taking Elsa down. Clearly it did not think much as it inched closer and closer with no fear of backing down. Elsa thought to try and intimidate it, to scare it away, so she yelled out as loud as she could at it.
That's when more eyes began to light up behind the wolf.
Elsa watched in horror as more wolves joined the first. Elsa could see that there was four of them, enough to scare her away from trying to intimidate them again. Elsa backed up until she hit the horse, the poor thing already startled and ready to run without Elsa bumping into it. With the horse at her back however, Elsa remembered her two unconscious friends. Now that she thought about it, it was likely their bleeding wounds that attracted the wolves. They weren't here for Elsa or the horse, but for the two passed out.
There was a sick and twisted thought that entered her mind briefly at this new knowledge.
Throw one of them to the wolves and run with the other. Sacrifice one to save the rest.
The thought didn't make her sick… didn't make her disgusted… No, it made her angry. She was mad at herself for even being capable of thinking it. It was just like when she tried escaping from Anna's old villagers. How could she even think to sacrifice others to save herself? She wouldn't, couldn't. Just the image of the wolves feasting on Anna or Milo's corpse was enough to fuel her into what she did next.
She drew her sword, the blade still clean from a lack of use.
Elsa yelled out again, making two of the wolves step back an inch. The intimidation might have worked to scare away one wolf, but with four, they stood their ground. One wolf grew bold enough to step within range of Elsa's weapon, another inch and he would lunge for her. Elsa didn't give him the chance, swinging out her blade and forcing the wolf to retreat. Now the wolves began to bark and growl, trying to scare her. The intimidation tactic was working, but she dared not show it to the animals. Elsa took a step forward, yelling out again as she swung her sword, making all of the wolves back away. She couldn't fall here. She couldn't die and leave these animals to eat the only two friends she's had since the start of her curse.
She heard the sound of the horse's stressful call.
Elsa turned just in time to see several wolves begin to surround the horse and bark at it. There were more. The four from before were just a distraction while the rest snuck up on the horse. They barked and growled, scaring the horse as best they could. Before Elsa could even think to help the horse, the four from before growled and closed the distance with her. She quickly turned and swiped at them, yelling to scare them back.
The horse whinnied in distress again.
Once again Elsa looked, only this time in horror as the horse reared back on its back two legs and stood. Her unconscious friends rolled off the horses back and hit the floor. To make matters worse, the horse stormed off after that, two wolves giving chase to it. That still left nearly the entire pack for Elsa to deal with however. She ran back to the bodies of her friends, swinging out her blade at a wolf that grew bold enough to bite at one of Milo's boots. The wolf dodged her with agility that almost reminded her of Anna. She took up a stance around her friends, looking around herself to gauge just how bad the situation was.
It couldn't have been worse.
There were less than a dozen wolves, but still closer to a dozen than they were not. They had her surrounded, all of them inching closer and jumping back at times when she swiped at the ones who got to close. Elsa realized after probably the tenth swipe of her sword, that they were tiring her out, waiting for her to get weaker before lunging.
She realized this too late as her breath began to get heavy.
Thinking quickly, she thought to use her ice. She imagined the spears of ice that would come from the ground and impale her targets. It was the only way. Her left hand began to tingle, the feeling of power all too familiar. The ice was hers to command, hers to control. She could kill a few wolves and force them to retreat with it. She would do it, to save her friends.
She looked to Anna, hoping that a reminder of her friend's face would give her the courage to do what she needed to.
She caught sight of the strip of blonde hair in her head.
A fear went through her, fear that she would accidentally lose control of her powers and harm both Anna and Milo. What if the ice impaled them instead? How would she ever live with the knowledge that she murdered them?
That was when it happened.
Suddenly Elsa screamed out as pain blossomed in her left hand, starting at her fingertips. It was a pain she knew too well. She could feel the cold settle over her fingers, feel the blood freezing her hand. A thousand needles blossomed under her skin and stabbed at her tender flesh. She fell to a knee, dropping her sword. With her guard down, the leading wolf wasted no time. Elsa screamed out again as a muzzle attached to her left wrist, teeth penetrating her flesh. The wolf pulled at her, a natural instinct to try and rip her apart to kill her. The other wolves descended on her then, one of them biting at her shoulder that was armored. Another bit at her right arm, scratching the flesh as Elsa managed to rip her arm away before it could clench down properly.
This was it. This was how she was going to die. She was going to fail her friends who needed her. She was going to be eaten alive, no one around to hear her screams. Milo would die. Anna would die. Not to the southern isles' troops, not to the Half-Beasts who once hunted her down. No, Elsa was going to die to a pack of wolves, a pack of animals.
A roar that shook the very ground sounded out.
Suddenly the weight of the wolves was no more as they were ripped away. Elsa looked on as a large form swatted away the wolf that had grabbed her wrist, the teeth leaving a nasty gash from the force of the removal. Elsa could do little more than nurse her wrist by placing her hand over it. She thought to reach for her sword, but the pain and fear held her back. Instead, she tried to gather what was happening. Another roar made her eyes alight on the huge figure that took a stance in front of her. The wolves surrounded it, barking and growling, doing their best to scare away this new monster in order to continue with their easy meal. The huge beast roared again, slapping away another wolf that lunged at it.
It was only for a brief moment, but for a few seconds Elsa believed that Anna had somehow transformed and had come to her rescue. However this thought was snuffed out when she turned to see an unconscious Anna still next to an unconscious Milo. She looked back at the fight going on around her, noticed then that the beast that was fighting the wolves was some strange bipedal monster. It was large, easily five times the wolves' size. Stranger yet was the huge cape around the beast that swayed as it fought with the wolves. Elsa watched on, clutching at her bleeding arm as the beast knocked a wolf into a tree, breaking its spine and killing it instantly.
Elsa realized that this monster could easily come for her next.
She turned to Anna and Milo, wondering how she was going to carry them both. The answer to her problem was that she simply couldn't. She would have to choose one, to abandon the other and run with one one in her arms. She told herself she couldn't choose, told herself she wouldn't. She would pick up her sword and fight this monstrosity as well, to defend her friends.
Her mind screamed for her to take Anna and run.
It was cruel, a horrible thought to have. Milo however would be far heavier, the fact that he was a boy and was wearing armor would make hefting him and running a real problem. Anna would be lighter, only wearing simple clothes that Elsa found in the wardrobe of her room. Despite her muscle, Anna would be easier to carry. It wasn't this cold and logical thinking that made her feel cruel however.
It was the simple fact that she would always choose Anna over him, even if the girl were somehow heavier.
It made her feel like scum to know she could value one friend over the other so much.
The giant beast from before roared again, drawing Elsa's attention. She watched as all of the wolves descended on him, one after another they jumped on him to bite at him. Elsa assumed this was it, assumed that the mighty beast that had likely come to steal a meal would now die.
She was wrong.
The beast with the cape rolled and wrestled with them. It smashed one of their heads in with its fist. Another found its throat torn out by its claws. She watched in amazement as the beast began taking their numbers down one by one. Eventually, after losing so many, the few remaining wolves made a retreat. They ran with their tails tucked between their legs, frightened after losing so many of their pack mates. The large beast gave another roar at their retreating backs, driving the point home that he was the victor. It was then that he turned to Elsa, the battle over and now only the spoils of victory remained. For the briefest moment, Elsa almost thought it was some impossibly large and hairy man. The blue eyes that looked at her were nothing short of human.
Yet the form…
Elsa reached for her sword, picking up the cold steel and aiming it with one hand from her position on the ground. Her left hand was unusable, the throbbing of pain too much to grab the sword with two hands. The sword felt unbearably heavy in one hand, something she never realized during her practice with a wooden sword. She never realized how much she used both her hands to swing the sword.
The beast eyed her.
No… it was looking to her left… looking at…
Elsa looked down, her eyes widening at the sight of her left hand covered in frost. She'd somehow forgotten, somehow she had associated the pain in her left hand with the pain from the gash on her wrist. Her left hand was freezing. The ice had not spread beyond her fingers, but it was there as a layer of frost. She tried to move her fingers, finding them stiff and hard to manage. She panicked then, dropping her sword and grabbing at her hand.
"No! Please, no!" She begged, remembering the pain that came with freezing. Oh how she remembered, it was unforgettable. "Please!" She wailed, watching as the frost began to turn to ice, and the pain blossomed anew as it began to spread. She clutched her cold hand to her stomach, bending into herself to smother it and try to warm it back up. The cold of her armor offered no warmth however.
As the pain became more unbearable in her hand, she remembered something. An image of her mother's face entered her mind.
"C-conceal. Don't feel." She began. "Conceal. Don't feel." She muttered to herself like a mantra, trying to suppress her emotions, trying to store the power that she had unleashed onto herself.
She thought about her mother, thought about how it was her mother who figured out that it was her emotions that controlled the ice. It was her mother who discovered that fear would unleash it onto herself. It was her mother who realized that this was all that mattered. It didn't matter that Elsa could once create little flurries of snow to entertain herself. What mattered was that it could turn on her. So long as she had control over her emotions, it would not harm her.
She had to believe that.
"Conceal. Don't feel." She muttered.
The pain began to subside, her thoughts turning warmer as she remembered the family she would see again someday.
For some reason, Anna was standing there as well, looking overjoyed to see her.
The ice melted, her fingers becoming nimble again as she moved them about.
None of this really mattered to the beast that was now towering over her.
Elsa turned her icy blue eyes up and stared into the beast's aqua blue. Elsa, frightened, reached quickly for her sword. She grabbed it, moving to point it towards the beast. The monster growled at her attempt to defend herself and swiped the blade out of her hand with one enormous paw. The force hurt Elsa's wrist as she brought her hand back to her chest to nurse it.
Out of options, she did the only thing she could do.
"Get away!" She yelled, backing up towards Anna's body. She didn't know why she did. Maybe if she was going to die, she'd rather die with Anna by her side.
It was a… nearly romantic thought. However she knew herself better.
She backed away towards Anna because Anna had always been her protector. Anna told her that she would always protect her. Even now, Elsa clung onto that and hoped for some miracle, hoped that Anna would awaken and change. Anna could easily fell this beast if she were to change. It was not nearly the same size as Anna's transformed state.
The beast merely growled at her.
"Beast! Beast, where have you gone?!" Someone suddenly yelled.
Elsa watched as the monster's blue eyes turned to somewhere behind itself. Elsa didn't dare try and look though. She wouldn't take her eyes off of the predator that had her trapped.
"Beast! Beast where- Oh!" The voice drew closer, sounding like a female.
Elsa blinked in surprise when she saw a woman suddenly appeared, walking from behind the beast with no fear of it. In fact, if anything, she looked angry with the monstrosity.
"Where did you go?! Why did you leave me?!" She scolded the monster as though he were a child.
Elsa watched in bewilderment as the monster suddenly looked out of place, as though it wanted to run away itself. The monster with the human looking eyes gave a wave towards Elsa with his gigantic paw. A growl was the only sound it made. The brunette that had looked completely miffed with him turned their eyes to Elsa and then soon they widened in shock at the sight of her.
"Oh my! What happened?!" The brunette ran over, crouching beside Elsa and looking at her bleeding wrist. "Oh, this looks awful." She commented. Elsa watched as she ripped away a part of her long skirt and began wrapping it around her wound. Elsa flinched at the pain of having it touched, hissing through her teeth as the woman tightened a knot around it. Elsa was less focused on the pain though, more focused on the fact that the giant beast from before was still standing tall and watching.
To say Elsa was confused would be an understatement.
"Don't worry, I'm not going leave you like this. You need proper care." The girl told Elsa, her features suggesting she was the same age as Elsa or at least very close. Before Elsa could say anything, she turned to the monstrosity that stood in front of them and threw out a command. "Beast, help me." She told him.
Elsa nearly had a heart attack as the giant monster moved closer.
"He's not going to hurt you." The woman said soothingly, though Elsa found it hard to take her word for it.
With surprisingly care and slow movements, the monstrosity did in fact get closer and bend down to help Elsa to her feet. Once on her feet she backed away though, still wary and frightened.
"Oh good, you can walk." The woman said.
Elsa said nothing, though she did let out a yelp as she almost tripped over something. She looked down and realized that she had backed up into Anna's unconscious body that laid in the snow.
"Anna." Elsa said to herself as she bent down. Just to comfort herself, she felt at Anna's cheeks, felt the warmth and knew she was alive.
"Oh. Oh god there's more injured. Beast!" The woman called.
With a low rumble that reverberated through the monster's chest, the giant thing walked over towards Elsa and bent down to touch at Anna.
"Don't you touch her!" Elsa yelled, venom in her voice.
"Hold on! He's not going to hurt her. Just calm down." The woman tried.
The beast grumbled and shoved Elsa aside, sending her to the ground.
"You don't have to be rough with him!" The woman scolded.
The beast ignored her, picking up both Anna and Milo and tossing them over his shoulders.
"What are you doing?" Elsa questioned, forcing herself to stand, nearly crying out as she exerted a small bit of force on her left hand to help herself stand. The beast ignored her and turned to walk away. "Where are you going?!" She yelled.
The woman from before entered her vision as the beast stalked off with her friends. "It's okay. We're here to help." The woman told her with a sincere smile.
Elsa realized partly that she had no choice but to follow the monster. She couldn't fight it and it had her friends. She looked to the woman with her who also began to follow the beast. Elsa was quick to pick up her sword as she hurried to catch up.
She did not sheath it upon catching up.
"Who are you?" Elsa questioned the woman. She didn't trust that monstrosity for one minute, but the girl seemed to have some control over it.
The brunette with the blue ribbon in her hair merely turned towards Elsa with a smile as she walked. "I'm Belle."
The name sounded familiar, yet Elsa couldn't place just where she'd heard it. Elsa followed the brunette closely, staying at her side while she stared at the beast that walked ahead of them. She looked at both Milo and Anna who were thrown over the beast's shoulders.
"Are you… do you control it?" Elsa asked.
Belle gave Elsa a small glare. "He is not an it. I understand his appearance can be… intimidating. But he's a good man." Belle told her defensively.
Elsa was instantly reminded of the way she would defend Anna when people spoke out of turn about her. She almost apologized, almost thought to tell her that she had not meant any offense. However, she looked to the monster in front of her and it was all she could see.
What man was there to be found?
As Elsa walked on, a nagging voice spoke in the back of her mind. It told her that she once saw Anna the same way.
There was a silence as they walked. Elsa's boots making loud crunches in the snow. Elsa looked at her injured arm, stared at the fabric wrapped around it. She wondered if such a nasty wound would ever heal properly. Then her thoughts turned to the fabric, and soon turned to the woman beside her. She was a woman who did not hesitate to rip her skirt to help alleviate Elsa's pain. It made Elsa wonder what she was doing outside in a skirt when they were in early winter. The thought was dismissed however, it was not like she had not seen women wearing long skirts back at home during winter. Elsa had no right to judge, seeing as she could wear less and not feel the icy chill of winter unless it was absurdly cold. Elsa usually did not feel the cold even when bare skinned unless it was a cold winter's night. Even now, fully clothed, the cold night did not bother her.
She already knew the reason for this, her ice granting her a sort of… affinity with the cold. Still, she was not immune.
Belle did not attempt any conversation with Elsa as they walked. Elsa also did not say anything, worried that the girl may still be mad with her about what she said. The beast ahead of them of course had nothing to say. There was only silence and the crunch of snow as they walked. Eventually though, after much walking, they did reach their destination. Elsa spotted an old looking cabin ahead of them, the thing looking as though it were built decades ago. Still, it was large and looked sturdy and warm. The beast walked up to the cabin and pushed open the door. Elsa watched as he had trouble getting his large frame inside, yet somehow managed.
Belle was just about to walk in when Elsa decided to speak up.
"I…" She began, making Belle stop and turn to her. "I'm sorry about what I said. I shouldn't have said that the way I did. I know about people judging others because of their looks." Elsa finally said, looking down at the snow as she apologized. The nagging voice in her mind had lasted the entire walk and would not go away until she apologized. If this woman was really here to help, then Elsa should have at least thanked her. "I also want to thank you… for sending your friend to help us." Elsa finished.
Elsa looked up to see Belle smiling with perfectly white teeth. "No offense taken. Though," She began. "I did not send him to do anything. He rushed off on his own. He must have heard something I didn't. He does have good hearing." Belle explained. "Now, come in and out of the cold. Let's have a look at you." Belle said kindly, stepping into the cabin.
Elsa really didn't know how things had come to this, her about to walk into a cabin with some random stranger and the one she called Beast. She was without a horse and Anna and Milo would need assistance before long. She knew she would have to hope these people really could and would help.
Elsa sheathed her blade before entering the cabin.
The inside of the cabin was just as large as it looked on the outside. It was also warm, a fire in the fireplace providing this. There was a bookshelf with books in the living room, a kitchen area, and an actual dining room that was not just a part of the kitchen or living room. There were two beds, both of them large enough to fit three or possibly even four people in them. It was a nice home to have, one that seemed to cater to everything you would need.
Maybe she only thought so because she was a peasant with a modest home.
Elsa watched as the beast put both Milo and Anna in the same bed, both of them still unmoving, but most importantly they were breathing. His hulking form being so careful as he set them down was unexpected… but welcome. Belle, the girl who dared to brave winter with a long skirt instead of pants, walked Elsa over to the living room. She placed Elsa in a seat near the fireplace, telling her to warm up. The girl went off again, searching for something. Elsa turned her eyes back to the bed that held her friends. The beast was removing Milo's armor. She was surprised he had not just ripped it apart and instead went for strap after strap. Belle eventually returned with a roll of bandages and a bucket of water with a cloth hanging off of it.
"Let's get you fixed up right." Belle smiled at her.
Before Belle could begin to unwrap the temporary bandage she had wrapped before, Elsa spoke up. "Please," She began. "I am fine. My friends could use your attention more. They were… injured in battle." Elsa tried explaining, not wanting to go into the specifics.
Belle looked over towards the two in question and saw the way Beast hovered around them, unsure of what to do. She gave a small nod and picked up her items she brought over.
"Alright. But you stay here, you need to warm up, you were practically frozen when I helped you earlier." Belle told her before making her way across the room.
Elsa, having knowledge that Belle didn't, knew that she must have felt the remnants of the ice that tried to take over Elsa's hand. Elsa wouldn't bother telling her that she was immune to most cold and that the only cold she feared was her own. No, instead Elsa looked into the fire that was supposed to be keeping her warm. Once again she was already feeling pleasant in the ways of temperature before she entered the cabin. She wasn't sure, perhaps it was just less cold today, but Elsa almost thought she was getting more and more immune to the cold. She hardly noticed the weather the day she went to save Anna in nothing but a shirt and trousers. She often went outside to train with Milo with only one or two thin shirts and her armor. The day she went to see the gypsy, she was positive that she wore what others might wear in spring or summer. Where as Anna had the excuse of her… beast blood in her veins that gave her some small immunity to the cold, requiring her to wear just a little less than others, Elsa still dressed her in cloaks and thick clothes to keep her warm. Elsa had no such excuse as not being completely human. She only had her power, a power that seemed to grow the more she used it. It was the only explanation she had. She'd always been less inclined to feel cold, but even she remembered dressing thickly for winter as a child and as an adult. It wasn't until she began using her powers more that the need to dress for winter became unneeded.
Just what was she becoming?
Elsa thought more on the matter, eyes staring into the fire. Soon though, her vision was obscured by the sight of animal like paws and legs walking in front of her. She looked up to see the mighty beast and all his huge glory as he walked past her and took a seat in a chair that also faced the fire. They were feet apart now, Elsa doing her best not to stare, but failing. She noticed that he did in fact wear a cape of some kind that wrapped around his upper body. Surprisingly he wore pants as well, pants that had been ripped somewhat from being stretched on his huge frame. She found that strange, wondering why a monster would wear human clothing. Anna had not wanted to wear the clothing, Elsa basically having to force her to wear it. Perhaps Belle had forced him, she did seem to have some control over him.
The thought provoked a new thought, one that she felt stupid for not thinking of before. Perhaps this man was some sort of Half-Beast and Belle was in a situation similar to her own. She examined the beast more, trying not to look suspicious as she did so. He didn't really look like an animal she might see outside. Anna's people seemed to take on animal forms, only altered in weird ways such as having extra horns or eyes. Anna herself was some sort of giant canine with whips on her back to defend herself and rows of sharp teeth. Elsa also realized that he was bipedal, something not often found in the animal kingdom. He had horns, a thick mane, claws and a huge chest. He didn't look like any animal Elsa could think of. Maybe he was some sort of ape with a lot of new features.
"You stare a lot, cursed one."
Elsa's eyes widened as she saw the beast's mouth move.
"W-what?"
Aqua colored eyes turned to her. "It is rude." He growled.
Elsa was shocked to say the least. "You can talk."
He growled again, eyes looking to her with anger. "And what did you expect? A monster? To be torn limb from limb the moment I walked over?" He accused.
Elsa shrunk a bit in her seat as he guessed exactly what she thought.
"No." She lied very unconvincingly.
He made a gruff noise and turned back to the fire.
Elsa was silent, her eyes back on the fire. Occasionally she would turn to look towards Belle. The girl was still cleaning the blood off of both Milo and Anna, though right now she was focusing on Anna. Elsa could see on her face that Belle was shocked to see her, perhaps not really taking notice of Anna's features until now. Still, despite Anna's appearance, Belle worked diligently to help her. Elsa's eyes wandered back to the fire eventually, but soon they were looking toward the beast that sat in the chair that was just a bit too small for his frame. Elsa began to truly wonder if he really was some sort of Half-Beast. He was capable of speech, something she knew they were capable of as well. Still, if he was, what was he doing way out here, away from the forest where Elsa met them.
Elsa might have asked, but he gave her another look and a rough growl that sent her eyes back to the fire.
Elsa must have sat and pretended to be interested in warming up for nearly ten minutes before she gained the courage to stand. The beast looked her way, but she ignored him, favoring instead to walk over towards Belle. She could feel his eyes burning into her even as she walked away.
When Elsa made it over to Belle, she saw that the girl was in the process of bandaging Anna's wounds.
"Hi." The word felt unnecessary, but Elsa didn't know what to say now that she was here. Belle gave her a small smile before going back to her work. Elsa wet her lips as she looked back at the beast, just to make sure he was not about to charge over and murder her.
He was looking back to the fire.
Elsa turned back to Belle. One look at Anna was enough to spark a question in her mind. "Will she… be alright?" Elsa asked, scared to ask, scared of an answer that would shatter her world.
Belle gave a nod. "She'll be fine. If she's anything like Beast, these wounds will mean nothing in time." Belle said with assurance.
Elsa suddenly felt a bit of anger. "She's not like… your friend." She almost called him a monster.
Belle gave another nod. "Still, she seems strong. I don't think this will keep her down for long. I'm sure doctors could do a better job than me, but for now, I'm sure I can patch her up long enough to see a real doctor. If I don't… well…" Belle left it out there, letting Elsa know that Anna's life was basically in her hands since she had no means of getting to a doctor right now.
Elsa took the information in silence, her eyes drifting to Anna's slumbering face. She tried to wonder what it would be like if Anna's eyes stayed forever shut.
The strikingly powerful image was enough to twist her face into a sad grimace that came with an ache of pain in her chest.
"I thank you then." Elsa said, realizing just how much she needed to rely on this woman and her… friend now. She couldn't afford another slip up and insult the woman or her friend. She looked to Milo who was still dirty with blood, though his armor had been removed. "Will my other friend be okay?" She questioned.
Belle turned her eyes towards him for a moment before looking back to the bandage she was wrapping around Anna's arm. A cut, clearly one made by a sword, had slashed down her arm. The entire upper arm would need to be wrapped.
"I'm unsure. I haven't had a chance to look at him yet." Then Belle turned her eyes to Elsa. "If you are fit enough, I could use some help." That got Elsa to look back towards Belle. "Would you finish wrapping the wounds here while I take a look at your other friend." She questioned.
Elsa gave a nod. She had some small experience in wrapping wounds, having done so with her brothers when they got a little too rough when playing with friends. She took over Belle's duty as the woman walked over with her bucket and wash cloth to wipe the blood from Milo's body before wrapping his wounds. Elsa was staring at Anna's wounds as she wrapped her arm. She had been cut in several places by swords and stabbed by spears. It hurt Elsa to see, but at the same time, she was just glad that Anna had survived it.
"Would I be too invasive if I asked how this all happened?" Belle questioned softly, not pushing for more information, but she was obviously curious.
Elsa only shook her head. "I wish I could tell you. I don't even know." Elsa told her. Belle assumed nothing else would be said and went back to cleaning. Elsa however needed someone to talk to after everything that happened. "I wasn't there… I abandoned them when they needed me." Elsa admitted, the words like acid that burned away at her.
Belle gave a look, but said nothing. Elsa would continue anyway.
"I could have helped them. I'm nothing special. Maybe we would all be injured even if I had been there. But I could have suffered some of it for them." Elsa said as she finished wrapping Anna's arm. She reached for more bandages, beginning to work on Anna's midsection that had been cut. She lifted up her shirt for easier access and began to wrap the bandages.
"You came back for them though." Belle guessed, figuring it had to be the case considering they were with her now.
Elsa scoffed, upset with herself, not Belle. "Yeah, after they were near dead. If you and your friend had not come along, we would have been food for the wolves." She didn't bother to admit that they also would have likely bled out with how slow Elsa had to move while walking the horse.
Belle gave a small smile, her eyes still trained on her attendant. "It's a good thing we went on a stroll to see the stars then." Belle told her. When Elsa had nothing else to say, seeming to wallow in more self pity, Belle decided on a question that she had been dying to ask. "So… your friend… is she like Beast?" Belle questioned.
Elsa looked up. "Beast? Your friend?" Elsa wondered why the woman would call him that when she took so much offense when Elsa referred to him as an 'it' earlier.
"Yes."
Elsa looked to the creature that occupied a seat in front the fireplace. "I'm not sure what your friend is." Elsa said, hoping she wasn't being offensive. "Anna is from the black forest. She's known as a Half-Beast." Elsa explained.
Belle chuckled a bit. "Surely you jest. A Half-Beast? Like the bards sing?" Belle questioned. When she saw Elsa only nod, she realized that that she was serious. "Oh… I assumed it to be a myth, just a tale to scare children." Belle said, but it was hard to deny when Anna was so close to her.
Elsa merely made a noise to agree. She was having a little bit of trouble wrapping Anna's stomach, the tendrils from her back were hanging down and in the way. She had to lift Anna and move her tendrils by hand in order to continue her job.
Belle decided to continue. "Well she certainly isn't like Beast then." Belle said.
Elsa gave a quick look towards the one called Beast before looking back to Anna and continuing her work. "And what is… Beast like?" She questioned, wary of using a name that sounded like it held so much offense.
Belle worried her bottom lip for a moment. "I don't know if he'd want me to tell you. But I suppose it wouldn't hurt to just say… he's not from this country." Belle told her, the girl seeming to worry if she was giving too much information already.
Elsa heard the sound of a chair in agony, the sounds of Beast getting up from a chair that was much too small for him. He lumbered over to the two of them, eyeing Elsa the entire time.
"I was once part of the southern Isles. If this is a problem knight, then speak and let us get this issue over with." The Beast spoke, obviously having heard them.
Elsa had shrunk away a bit in fear, though at the term 'knight' she looked confused.
"I am no knight." This was the second time that someone had mistaken her for one.
"Captain?" Beast questioned.
Elsa gave a shake of her head. "I am just a soldier."
Beast subtly sniffed the air before folding his arms. Suddenly, his presence seemed easier to be in. He loss much of the intimidating air around him, but not all of it. She wondered what settled him down.
"Since when are women allowed into the military? Has Arendelle sunken so low?" He questioned.
Elsa's eyes nearly popped out of her head.
"You're not a man?" Belle questioned, looking just as shocked.
"I-I am a man. I know not what you are getting at." Elsa told him, not really knowing why she was trying to fool them.
"Men don't smell like you do." He told her. Elsa went to say something else, but he cut her off. "I don't care for your gender. I merely wished to know if my old status as a man of The Southern Isles was a problem." He finished.
Elsa looked away, wondering how he could smell that she was a woman.
"I only care about my friends right now." Elsa told him. It was the truth. She didn't care if he once belonged to the enemy. He was not attacking her now and seemed to be helping.
"Good answer." He responded.
And that was that.
He went back to his chair and made it scream as he settled into it. Belle looked at him for a moment before looking back to Elsa.
"I guess I see it now… I thought you were just a handsome knight. But this makes more sense." Belle said, her eyes scanning Elsa's face.
Elsa said nothing, continuing to wrap Anna's wound as best she could. It was silent after that, the two working to patch up Anna and Milo. Belle gave her the good news as she was wrapping Milo's stomach, letting Elsa know that she believed he would live. Elsa thanked her again for what she was doing. They eventually finished up, Belle coming over to help Elsa more with the bandaging, seeing as she finished cleaning and bandaging Milo. Anna had more wounds, many more to cover. Elsa ended up blushing when Belle insisted that they would need to take Anna's shirt off to get to the wounds on her chest. Elsa blush only lasted for so long however. It was hard to be embarrassed about seeing your friends chest when it there was a long gash right between her breasts. It was only a reminder of the fact that she failed Anna.
With Belle's help, Anna was bandaged and soon Belle was working on giving Elsa a proper bandage for the wound on her left wrist and right arm where the wolves had bitten her.
Belle decided to speak up as she tied the final knot to a bandage.
"So you are a soldier? I must say, I assumed you to be a knight as well. Your armor isn't something I've seen everyday." Belle told her.
Elsa realized now, after Belle and the girl from the villager had mistaken her for a knight, that her armor was different. Most soldiers wore the same thing, a simple breastplate and helmet, perhaps some armor for the knees and arms, but that was it. It mostly looked the same. Elsa's armor looked like it was made for her, something that only knights got special treatment for. Perhaps some higher ranks in the military did too, Elsa wasn't sure.
"I'm just a soldier… a weak one at that." Elsa admitted, the shame of her failure being something she couldn't hide. "I can't even protect them even though I'm… different." She was talking about her ice. Anna's strip of blonde hair was now a constant reminder that she couldn't control her own power.
She could have frozen Anna if she had not quickly finished off Gaston. It was clear to her that Anna had been caught up in the icy chill that surrounded Elsa as she froze Gaston. She had not controlled it, had not kept Anna away from its clutches. Now Anna had been permanently marked… and who knows what it could mean. For all she knew, Anna could be cursed like her now.
Anna could freeze one day.
"If it wasn't for you, they'd be dead." Belle spoke up. Elsa looked to her and the woman quickly explained herself. "I mean, you were caring for them right? If not for you, who knows what would have happened." Truthfully Belle had no idea what had happened, but she was hoping to comfort the poor blonde who looked like she needed more than just a hug right now.
Elsa looked back down, Belle having finished tying the knot on her wrist. Belle gestured to her right arm and Elsa held it up, Belle beginning to wrap it as well.
"If I had only been there to help them… then they might not be so hurt. I left them when they needed me." Elsa began again, her sorrow not so easily remedied by Belle's words. "I could have done something. I could have helped. It wouldn't have been much, but I could have been an extra body to take the pain for them."
Belle made a noise in her throat. "If you guys are truly friends, I'm sure they wouldn't feel the same. I'm sure they are just glad to have you help them now. They wouldn't want to see you hurt as well." She told Elsa.
Elsa thought about that, thought about the look on Anna's face the day that Elsa took her arm back and cut herself on Anna's claws. She remembered the rage that consumed Anna when the enemy tried to hurt her that day, the way she clawed at the man that stabbed her shoulder. Belle may have had a small point. Anna would likely always choose to keep Elsa out of harms way if she knew Elsa would be hurt. Still, she remembered the way Anna kept questioning why Elsa would not fight with her. Clearly she should have been there for Anna, it must have been something Anna wanted.
As for Milo, her only other friend besides Anna, she could have likely saved him from the wound that Anna surely gave him. Anna would have listened to her. She would not have hurt Milo if Elsa had been there to intervene. Her friends were hurt because of her and that was all there was to it.
Belle watched Elsa's face fall and realized that she had not gotten through to her.
Belle would go on to finish wrapping Elsa's wound. She gave the blonde space, seeing as Elsa seemed to need it and Belle did not know the entire situation and therefore she feared doing more harm than good with her words. She told Elsa to rest, told her she could have both of the beds. Elsa was too deep in her thoughts to protest. Belle left her with her venomous thoughts that attacked her and told her she was a failure. Elsa didn't even know when she fell asleep. One moment she was sitting and watching Anna, wishing for her thoughts to silence, and the next she was asleep.
She dreamed of a life where she never came back to Arendelle… she dreamed of a time where Anna took her to live on their own in the forest. Anna would hunt for them while Elsa took care of the garden, growing them vegetables to eat. When Anna came home in the dream, she smiled happily at Elsa as she held up a freshly killed rabbit. Elsa merely gave a smile back while Anna walked over to watch her water the garden.
It was… peaceful.