A/N,
We are nearing the end of this tale and it's been a fun ride. While I managed to lose a few readers with the Elsa fiasco, this story is still something of a success, and all I had to do was kill Anna. As a dyed in the wool Annaholic, this tale was a little out of my comfort zone. But I do try to bring alternate stories here to FF, viewed from a different perspective. My original ending was a bit of a downer, but I still may post it as an alternate ending. Also an epilogue is being put together and may see the light of day in a few weeks. Thanks again for making it this far, and enjoy the two chapter conclusion of 'To Melt Away'.
Elsa had managed to charter the Nebuchadnezzar just before it would make its ice run south. By this time the gold coffers were getting low, but it was the last trip. The Earth had been flipped over and shook several times to find an answer for Anna's condition, and none had been found. It was a sickening walk up the gangway, with that dread you feel in the pit of your stomach. Once under sail, there would be no turning back, and no reprieves, it was over.
"Good evening, Captain. I assume everything is in order?"
"Yes, your Majesty. All monetary affairs are in good standing, and winds are favorable to Iceland. We should make Vik in less than three days."
"Very well Captain. Is the berth ready?"
"Yes, you may bring it aboard." Elsa did not like the captain's tone, but this was his ship, and Elsa was not up for an argument.
"Centurion, bring her!" The Centurion picked her up carefully and walked up the gangway, it would flex with his every step.
"Pierre will show the creature the way to the hold." Pierre stepped up, visibly shaken by the sheer size of the snow beast.
"Don't worry, Pierre. He wouln't harm you, unless you try to touch Anna."
"That wouln't be a p-problem, your Highness." Pierre planned on putting a great distance between him and the snow beast as soon as Anna was in the hold.
"Captain, I must accompany them to the hold to secure Anna. Normal methods wouln't work."
"As you wish, your Majesty. But I must warn you, if either the statue, or that snow monster endanger this vessel, they will be making a quick trip to Davy Jones locker, understood?!"
"Yes, Captain. We are in agreement then?"
"Yes…, carry on." So Elsa, Anna, Pierre, and the Centurion made their way to the hold. Once there, Elsa packed Anna in snow, so she wouldn't slide about, potentially knocking holes in the hull.
Once under sail, Kristoff and Elsa met up on the deck, to watch the setting sun. At this point there really wasn't much say- it had all been exhausted- and frankly, they were too. Kristoff took Elsa's ungloved hand and said;
"She will finally be at rest, Elsa."
"I know, Kris. We knew this day would come. Still..., it's a bitter pill to swallow."
"I'm headed below for some shut-eye and a prayer or two, you coming?"
"No…, I think I'll stay up here and watch the sea for a little while longer, it's been so very long since I've seen it."
"Unfortunately, I can't say the same…, goodnight Elsa."
"Goodnight Kristoff." Elsa's frozen tears made tiny clinking noises hitting the deck as she stared into the twilight.
Once in port, the Centurion dug Anna out of her snow bank and carried her to shore, much to Pierre's relief.
"Thank you Captain for our safe delivery. We will return in three days. I will reward you once we are safely back in Arendelle."
"We will be waiting…, three days, no longer."
"Understood, goodbye Captain."
"Safe journey, your Majesty…, and may God rest her soul." Once outside the tiny port, it was all barren wilderness.
"This will be a steep climb, Elsa. Are you sure you're up to it?"
"I owe Anna this much. I have to be there to say g-goodbye." With a trembling lip, Elsa choked the words out.
It would be a tough slog. While the temperature wasn't too bad, the sun was overly warm, and they were sweating. Then Elsa thought to herself; Duh! I'm the Snow Queen, why not have it snow? So Elsa gave them a small flurry and a cloud to keep them cool, the Centurion certainly appreciated it.
It had been over two years since Katla had erupted and the caldera hadn't iced back over. One hundred feet below the rim the lava bubbled away, the stench of sulfur thick in the air. Elsa's thoughts turned to the Devil, and how he might be waiting there to steal Anna's soul. But Lun's words were echoing in her ear. Her spirit needs release.
"If you have any last words, Kristoff, now is the time." He had said this speech a thousand times in his head, hoping he could spit out at least part of it. Kristoff walked up to her, staring straight into her eyes.
"Anna..., I have loved you for so very long, I don't remember what it's like to not be in love with you. I searched the world over for a solution, yet I could not save you. I failed you, and I hope in the afterlife, you will forgive me. I love you, and I will always love you. Goodbye, Anna, my one true love." Kristoff couldn't say one more word without completely breaking down, and he didn't want to send Anna to the afterlife with him sniveling. It was now Elsa's turn...
"My dearest Anna, I cannot begin to express my sorrow for what has happened to you. While there are many people who had a hand in this great tragedy, I must take sole responsibility for your death. It is I who cursed you, and I who made the final decision to cast you into this lake of fire, hoping there is sufficient heat to release you.
Please God, be merciful and take this angel under your wing. Anna, I love you, and I will never rescind my love for you. Goodbye, my beloved sister." Elsa could not control her emotions, snow and wind began to swirl. The Centurion had one final request;
"Snow Queen, Centurion wishes to join Anna, mission ended." Elsa was in a bit of a quandary over this. None of her creations had ever died before. But it was his decision to make, and she would honor it.
"Yes, Centurion, you may join her." There would be one final goodbye.
"Farewell, my love." Kristoff said as he started to walk away.
"Goodbye, my sweet sunflower." Elsa gave her one last kiss on her head.
"Now, Centurion." The centurion picked her up and ran for the edge, as Elsa collapsed to the ground in a pool of her own tears. Kristoff then heard the sound of churning gravel under Elsa's boots, she was running for the caldera. Kristoff whirled around and broke into a run to catch her, tackling her ten feet from the rim, and pinning her down by the shoulders.
"Kristoff! Just let me go! I must end this agony!"
"You can't Elsa…, you can't. You have no idea what will happen if you die this way!"
"But I…." She never got to finish the sentence as a great column of fire erupted from the caldera, with smoke and cinders billowing out. This caused Elsa to look up and Kristoff to lift his head. Then they heard the flapping, both of them leaping to their feet.
A giant bird arose from the caldera with feathers of flame. Cinders and ash came off of it with each flap of its wings. It was much like the mythical Phoenix, its cry thunderous and deafening. While graceful in the air, its landing was anything but, practically tripping over its feet, into a ball of flame. When the smoke finally cleared, Anna emerged…, very much alive, and very, very naked.
"What happened...? Where am I?, and what happened to my clothes?!" Elsa ran up to Anna and almost tackled her, giving her the biggest hug she had ever received.
"Oh, Elsa! Your Alive! Hans is...?" She was completely disoriented.
"That's a long story, but... Kristoff!" He was catatonic…, staring in Anna's general direction, but completely frozen in place, his eyes unblinking.
"Hey Elsa, maybe a little help here?" Anna pointed at her naked self.
"Oh…, right." Elsa whipped up an outfit for Anna of fiery red, but sensible enough for going down a volcano. So boots and a calf length skirt, covered in sunflowers.
"It's very pretty, Elsa. Thank you." Elsa gave her another big hug and a kiss, they stayed in that embrace for what seemed like forever, when Kristoff in his catatonic state began to drool.
"I think I know how to break this spell." Anna walked right up to him, wrapped her hands around his neck, stood up on her toes and gave him a big kiss right on the lips. Kristoff finally snapped out of it;
"Anna, your alive!, and how did you do that?!" The first thing Kristoff noticed was that all the white in her hair was gone, and was back to its wonderful fiery red. "I love you, so much!" Kristoff could not hold back. The pent up emotions that he had been choking back all these years had finally heaved up, and he showered Anna with his tears as he just about crushed her in a bear hug.
"Misoff, I can't bref."
"Oh, sorry!" He noticed Elsa looking at them with doey eyes and a wide smile, and the memory of what she had said on the North Mountain came flooding back, she deserved to share in this wonderful moment. "Come-on Elsa, wanna' get in on this?" Group hug…, they would share it for several minutes, fearing that they would lose this tremendous feeling of togetherness.
That night they would make camp about a mile from Katla, just to be away from the smell. As they laid down to sleep, they would huddle together- with Anna in the middle- so they could all share her great warmth.