Journals and Diaries
Chapter 4
"Family, it's the only thing I've ever known and the only thing I'll ever care for." -Elsa.
The room reeked of an intoxicated smell leaking out from the plethora amount of herbs. Sunlight shone brightly through the wooden frame window. Dust speckles floating in the air like buzzing bees around their hive.
Clack.
Clack.
Clack.
Sounds of crushing and clubbing resounding off of the walls. She held the grinder as she carefully blended together the herbs in perfect ratio. Years of practice gave her the finesse skill in medicine making and later became her profession. Her ocean-blue eyes fixed on her work intensively.
"Some Azilin after the Corden and Sensa mix," she muttered to herself, reaching forward beyond the mixing bowl for a small herb planted in its brown pot. She plucked off about five leaves from a single stem and dropped them into the bowl. She then moved to grab the silver kettle on top of a burning stove and poured it into the crushed contents. She dropped in a small spoonful of sugar and swirled it along in the steaming bowl.
The medicinal soup colored tan with greens floating on top, its steam rose and she felt the heat making contact with her skin. She carefully lifted the bowl with a towel underneath placing it on a wooden tray. Putting a spoon and a patch of cloth beside it, she carried tray out of the kitchen.
Through a short distance, she stopped in front of a door. Using the right foot, she prodded it open with minimal effort. Sunlight was the first thing that hit her eyes, it was almost blind with the sun shining its luminous ray directly at her from the window. She averted her eyes to a bed next to it. A figure laid with her back against the board. Her strawberry-blond hair tussled in a mess, strands out of order making it looked like a bird nest. She was giggling as she played with a butterfly that flew from the window and onto her hand. It was like a sunflower gladly greeting the morning sunbeam.
She walked closer and pulled up a nearby chair, the noise caught the bedded girl's attention. She turned and grinned broadly.
"Morning Elsa!" She held the butterfly gently between her palms up at her. "Look! It's a Marin butterfly! Today is going to be a lucky day!"
Elsa gazed at the purple-winged creature situated in her younger sister's hand. Black line patterns edged around its wings and dots littered in the spaces between, many paltry yellow spots lined up across the span. She chuckled heartily.
"No Anna, that's a Rostem butterfly, a Marin has green spots, not yellow," Elsa said.
Anna's brows scrunched together cutely as she reviewed the animal closer. Her bright blue eyes narrowed tensely, several strands of hair fell over her still eyelashes. She then sagged her shoulders with a dainty pout on her adorable facial expression.
"Aww, I totally thought I got it right," Anna mumbled dejectedly.
Elsa smiled, reaching out a hand to lift her younger sister's chin up and brushed away the stray hair behind her ear. She kissed her forehead softly.
"But a Rostem butterfly represents appreciation, just like how much I appreciate what luck I have to have you."
Anna grinned widely, she placed the butterfly onto the window sill before wrapping them around Elsa.
"I love you too Elsa."
They placed their foreheads against each other while smiling.
"I love you more Sunshine," Elsa spoke. She watched as the bug creature fluttered away outward to its natural habitat.
"Bye butterfly!" Anna called out happily as she waved childishly. Elsa was admiring her sister, Anna would be the most beautiful woman in the world if it had not been for the sickly pale color that adorned her once alabaster skin feature. She sighed inwardly with sadness, her little sister was contracted with an unknown illness that only deteriorates her health over the course of time. It was painful watching the dearest person in her life being struck with something so awful. The worst part? There was no known cure for such a disease.
No combination of herbs or specific plants could be found. It frustrated Elsa to no end and it tore heart as she watched her sister lived through it day by day. The process was stagnant, as if it was taunting her, her ability as an apothecary and incompetence as an older sister. She hated it, and she was hitting a dead-end. It made her want to quit and cry at her failures. The boating accident that took their parents' lives did no better years after. If there was one deadliest thing she knew that negatively affected a person the most, it would be depression. She had to juggle her life between work and family and even refused to let Anna help.
Despite knowing of her illness, Anna revolted, claiming that she was seeing less of her every day. Elsa didn't realize then that through sleepless nights of researching, the only emotional that ran through her was frustration. She remembered lashing out at Anna for saying such things and that she was trying to find a cure for her. But what came after shocked her to no end.
"I don't care about this, this stupid disease! I'd rather die than not having my sister at all!"
That sentence alone really did shook Elsa out of her stupor. She remembered freezing in place not saying a single word, then Anna crashed into her for a tightest embrace she had ever received. They had stayed like that for as long as she could remember, it was also when she swore to put her sister's desire above all, including her own.
Blinking back to the current time, Elsa sat back and began to swirl the soup in her hands.
"Come on, time to eat."
"Aw, noooo," Anna tried to scuffle away, causing for Elsa to giggled. "It's disgusting!"
"Anna, come, eat," Elsa ordered, smirking as she prodded the spoonful of soup in front of her sister.
"I don't wannaaaa," Anna wailed, sitting far against the headboard.
"Anna," Elsa said more sternly.
"B-bu-but."
"No buts, this is for your health, bear with it."
Anna whimpered, shuffling the bed sheet a little before scooting forward. She gingerly accepted the soup into her mouth. Her eyes clamped together and she shuddered.
"Bleh, you're a great doctor, but not so much a cook," Anna said with exaggerated difficulty.
Elsa only rolled her eyes.
"You're always welcome to start making your own meals from now on."
"Nononono, I take it back, you're amazing," Anna quickly recovered, taking the tray from Elsa and started feeding herself. She winced as she ate.
"Y-yum."
Elsa couldn't help but giggled. It was true that her cooking skills never exactly met the standard she set for herself, she still tried though. Anna was surprisingly slightly better than her, but the little sister's laziness didn't like the work so much.
"So is Aurelia here yet?" Anna asked, drawing her attention.
"Hmm? Aurelia? She should be in an hour or so, why?" Elsa replied.
"Oh, nothing, never mind," Anna waved off shyly and went back to the soup.
Elsa thought for a moment then she gave a small lopsided smile. She crossed her arms, leaning back against the backrest, looking a little teasingly.
"Looking forward to see a certain blond man?"
"Whu-what? I don't know what you're talking about," Anna looked away, playing clueless, but the pick stains on her cheeks spoke otherwise.
"Uh-huh, so I guess I was wrong," Elsa smirked slightly, finger prodding silly against her cheek. "Looks like I won't be needing his service anymore then."
Anna gasped with the most adorable expression she had ever seen. Round big eyes, mouth open with quivering lips, eyebrows rose to unexpected height, all in all, she looked like a gaping fish.
"B-b-but-"
"With distraction out of the way, you're free to continue your study," Elsa remarked with an innocent smile.
"B-b-but-"
"Not to mention you can help me out more."
"B-b-but-"
"And perhaps putting more time into cooking as well, so you won't complain as much."
"Ah-b-but-"
"You wouldn't want to leave your dear sister do all the work right?" Elsa's eyes glinted mischievously, it was amused seeing her sister's jaw widening by the second.
Anna looked away, fingers fiddling with the spoon.
"Well...no. I'll...help you more sis."
Elsa couldn't help but smiled warmly, she relaxed her arms and wrapped them around Anna. Pulling her baby sister closer, she kissed her soft locks with passion. She felt the petite girl huddling her head into her shoulder. Warmth spread through the sisters as the sun's ray seemed to brighten its beam, intensifying the golden color in the small bedroom. The wind crooned with each pass through the swaying leaves. Butterflies in different colors and patterns fluttered at the nearby flower bushes. Birds chirping from above, tweeting rhythmically as if they were singing a song.
"Just as long as you're happy, that's good enough for me," Elsa whispered, patting Anna's hair with soft touch.
She felt her sister's lips forming into a smile, and that was all she needed. Elsa pulled back at arm's length.
"Now finish up, I have to prepare for work soon."
"Yes, ma'am!"
…
Elsa fitted the pair of rubber gloves onto her slim hands, holding a scissor with one, she snipped a few purple and spiked leaves. She put the cut petals into a small glass jar and corked it. She wrote a label with Sezreh and placed the container into a vial rack. Elsa took the clay pot and moved it back onto a shelf were the sun ray shone bright through. The pollen floated in the air as light reflected upon them.
Grabbing a box full vials and tubes separated by and organizer, Elsa carried it into her home office, leaving the intoxicated botanical garden behind with the wooden door shut.
Clink. Clink.
The glasses hit each other slightly when Elsa placed the container on a table, she lifted the lid and began taking out the vials. She organized each individual plant type from light in effectiveness to the most potent in form of toxicity. She made sure to leave the labels facing outward and written clearly. She went over to grab the hanged white apron and wear it around her neck and waist. Up next was a book from a thin but tall bookshelf situated beside the working table.
Opening the hard faded crimson cover with gentle touch as the pages had grown yellow from its age. The edges had begun to tatter and paper became crisp. It was the rarest book that she possessed, written by the most famous doctor during the time of Affliction Age, and that almost a millennium ago. A lost property of the Silver Crossing Bard, Azrum, Healer of the Winter Garden, her ancestor.
It was said the knowledge contained within was beyond of its time, Azrum was merely a traveling merchant with little skills in medicine. As his journey passed through the Living Valley of Lights, where the forest lit itself in a dazzling glow, flowers absorbing the sunlight at day and shine them at night, animals spotted with colorful patterns in the most intricate designs, a creek of stream flowed prickling through the land from a grand waterfall, life always flourished. As Azrum described, it was ethereal, celestial, and the most exquisite beauty he had ever seen in all of Thalun.
Little outside of the valley, laid a small kingdom called Lerenz. At nightfall, Azrum rested his mount and himself at an affordable inn. He had heard news from passerby that the king was gravely ill, healers from across the land to heal in promise of great reward. None had succeeded, and the king grew desperate. Azrum decided to test his luck. The king's time was not long, a week at most, and a miracle was needed. Azrum traveled back to the valley, in hope of finding a Spiritual Herb, which tainted with magical property.
Five days of searching, from tree to tree and rock to rock, Azrum could not find it. The on the sixth, he ventured to the waterfall and decided to climb its rocky surface. Unceremoniously, he fell flat after the fifth reach. It was then that he heard echoes coming from behind the roaring water. Behold, there was a cave laid within. Through the rough terrain, Azrum finally made it to the bottom, where darkness was supposed to reside, there was light. Shrubs of plants with glowing leaves lighting up the cave.
Excited at the prospect of finding a Spiritual Herb, Azrum took a handful from the roots and climbed back out excitedly. Reaching the town at midday, he began to test the ingredient. It was incredibly potent, far more than any other plants he had seen, it completely dominated every herb he mixed with and turned into poison instead. Frustration rose with death dawned upon the king closer with every tick of the clock. In the end, Azrum decided to use the tiniest bit of the special herb hoping to reduce its vigorous effect. Eventually he managed to not turn the broth black and dangerous
The medicine was delivered, and the result happened not long after. It was miraculous, the king's illness receded within a span of 50 counts, even as far as restored his youth by a few cycles. Overjoyed, the kingdom celebrated that night, and Azrum was considered a hero, but no such promises were shown, only betrayal. With such a powerful herb discovered, the idea of a profitable business made the king thirst for greed. Wanting everything for himself, the soldiers raided Azrum's possession for the herb and everything else that came with it. He would also have to spill the recipe. So he did.
Out of spite and hatred. Whilst sitting in a dark and dimmed dungeon.
Instead of a healing medicine, it was the opposite. The week passed, the air in Lerenz grew heavy. Sickness brewed and malady stirred in all kind. The people started to go mad, young babes cried more often, children stopped playing outside, plants refused to grow, and madness stirred within the royal seats. An illness spread, people started to become weaker and optimism waned.
People began to die, but so did the land. Soil lost their richness and silver streams turned into mud. Crops unable to absorb both nutrients and sunlight. The number of deaths started from singular to triple digits within weeks. Many of Lerenz's citizens fled for a better place to live, but the king refused, even his subjects were denied of leave. One by one they all fell.
All but Azrum.
With luck on his side, Azrum was able to snatch the cell key from a drunk guard who collapsed against the jail bars. He escaped from the dungeon to the surface above, but was greeted with a very unpleasant sight.
He no longer saw people, but rather corpses and carcasses scattered across the land. There was no grass, the trees had withered, flowers wilted, all ashen gray, no green. Azrum felt no pride, but instead horror. Out of hatred, he had turned what once was a bloom town into nothing more than a place reeked of death. It was when he understood the power of such herb, it was not something one should taint with.
Horrified at such consequence, Azrum quickly gathered his stolen possession and went back to Living Valley of Lights, only to find out that the illness had spread farther than he expected. Even the holy land itself was dying. He rushed to the spot, finding the Spiritual Herb, still alive, but few had started to wither. Not even they could stand against their own poison.
In a rush, Azrum snatched a handful of the plants and fled the valley, leaving it to its doomed fate. When the illness finally stopped, the entire piece of land was void of life, the valley became the Gruesome Gorge of Grisly. Monsters soon bred from the disease, grew into humongous sizes, and took the marshland as their own home.
None dared pass through such evil land, those who did never live to tell the tale. Some said that not long after the disappearance of Lerenz, a wizard was seen within, others claimed of ghosts that still haunt in rage from their untimely deaths. One superstitious story to another, no one even knew that it was the result of the Spiritual Herb. The only seedling being able to preserve living life or breed creatures of death.
Then came the time of the First War of Thalun, the Grand Fort called upon its branches from four corners of the world: the Northern Border, Winter Fortress; the Eastern Wind, Spring Fortress; the Southern Sea, Summer Fortress; the Western Sky, Autumn Fortress.
Wraiths from Ungurlund Mountain waged conflict, under the banner of their warlord Arrlock, the last living member of the Rouchen bloodline. Once a strong and powerful line of rulers, now dishonored even in death. Their youngest son sought redemption, but had strayed into a dark path, no longer saw the light. Using an army made from the most despicable beings of Errand Realm.
The war went on for years, not seeing the end anywhere close. Until Arrlock made an attack on Winter Garden, the most magical place in all of Northern Border, where it can bring the near death back to health. The only place responsible for keeping fighters up and ready at all time. The detestable wraiths dug their magic into the acreage, killing all breathing greeneries within a week, all of the Garden Keepers were killed, there was no one left to save it.
That was until Azrum heard the news. Thinking of the chance which he could finally use the Spiritual Herb for its best purpose, he went and produced a cure. He watched with pride as Winter Garden healed. The combined army of all the great forts finally pushed back Arrlock and ended the bloodline permanently.
Northern Border' king honored Azrum with the title Healer of Winter Court. From that moment on, his name spread through the land like wildfire. People heard of how his heroic effort won the war, he was celebrated everywhere he went. However, disliking the attention given by the citizens, Azrum wished to retreat back to his former life. The Fortress Master insisted otherwise, the Winter Fortress could use someone like him, but alas, no offer could win over the determined man. Wanting to leave behind something helpful, Azrum presented the Spiritual Herb, which was planted in the very middle of Winter Garden.
The single seedling that could heal any illness, and kill even the immortal being.
Elsa wanted to find it, to cure her sister of the damned.
But if only the Winter Fortress even exists anymore.
She sighed, rubbing her temples frustratingly as she recalled the ancestral tale, now a legend. She wondered whether if her life was always going to stay this way; watching her sweet innocent sister fade away with each passing day while she helplessly stood by.
If only.
If only there was some way.
If only she knew how to read this accursed book of its ancient language.
If only it was possible to find Winter Garden.
If only she could find an Ethurin Quarid to know what happened to it.
If only there was a miracle.
If only.
Elsa slammed her fists against the table, shaking them in quick rhythm. She wanted to cry, to scream, to curse, to weep, to flip a table, to shatter the vials, but what would be the point in doing those? There was none, she must continue to try and try until she bled.
Knock knock knock!
The wooden sound vibrating from a door nearby caught her attention. Elsa stopped glaring at her innocent vial collection and turned to the newcomer. Her delicate fingers grasped at the worn handle bar and pushed downward. Pulling it back, the door creaked as the hinges squeaked from the lack of oil and maintenance. Sunlight peeked through minuscule openings from splintered wood.
A young lady about two years of early beauty stood before her. The hair was that of dirty blonde braided neatly to the side of her head, thick strands fell over the forehead all over to the opposite side. The shaded green robe scaled down to the booted ankles, worn with a brown leather belt at the waist, carrying a small satchel. A red marked with green silk scarf curled itself around her neck with a loose front, revealing the slender neck underneath. Bright golden eyes gleaming back at her with a cheery smile, a dimple formed on the left cheek.
"Morning, teacher!"
"Morning to you too, Aurelia," Elsa smiled to the shorter girl, she looked at a taller figure behind her. "Kristoff."
"Morning Elsa," Kristoff greeted warmly as his bushy blond bangs fell down after he removed the travel cap.
Elsa let them into her abode.
Aurelia walked in first with Kristoff followed behind. The latter bore a leather jacket with fur around the trim and waist. Custom patterned bands around the left wrist, a family ceremonial necklace strapped proudly at the neck, over the heavy garb. He wore dark brown trousers and shin-high boots. He carried an adequate size pack and placed it on a counter nearby.
"So what do you have this time?" Elsa asked, stepping over for a peek.
"The usual supply of Remery, Luine, Horrinberry, and Mock," Kristoff replied. "But, a short trip through the Northern Trade Route, I managed to pick up something rather rare."
"What is it?" Elsa tilted her head, interested.
Kristoff dug into the bag until he retracted with a book in his hand, he showed her the title.
Living among the Olds.
It wasn't the golden letters that caught Elsa's attention, but rather the name near the bottom edge.
King Charlion Erwin Winterward VII.
Elsa's eyes widened as she grasped the book from Kristoff's hold, eyes staring at the average size book. The condition clearly showed the item's age, but the color never seemed to have faded with time. Its bright blue color still rich and the pages steamed in perfectly preserved yellow parchments. Despite the tattered edges, the words were still eligible as if they were written from merely a week ago.
But it was impossible, this must have been a fake. There was no way.
"H-how?" Elsa stammered.
Kristoff leaned against the counter with his arms crossed. "I stopped by a tavern one night in a town, the wind was howling and snow billowing at every turn. Was enjoying myself a keg of grog when a man came through the door carrying nothing but books, codex, tomes. He sat next to me, ordering himself a drink, turned out he didn't have any Frenz on him. The barkeep threatened to throw him out, but I thought I could help so I paid for him instead. In return, he gave me that book. At seeing what was written, I immediately asked where he'd got it from. All he said was."
Kristoff paused, lifting a finger into the air, Elsa lingered with anticipation. Aurelia was quiet as she had walked with the delivered herbs into Elsa's workroom.
"The mighty Fortress itself, 'course. With that, he went back out into the sleeting storm."
Elsa froze.
"B-but that's impossible."
"I thought so too, if you don't believe me, throw that book into the fire," Kristoff suggested.
"What?" Elsa held the book in her hands, disbelieving. "Are you serious?"
Kristoff only gave the silent gesture of her doing so.
Elsa turned to the direction of her kitchen, Kristoff took a metal curved fire striker against the wood beneath until the sparks caused a flame. Waiting for it to burn large enough, Elsa placed the book above the heating rods. What expectations of paper catching on fire, instead there was frost started forming where the flames were touching. Mere seconds later, the book was completely protected by a layer of magical ice.
Elsa gasped, as did Aurelia, but Kristoff kept looking at the frozen item.
"There's your answer," he said simply.
"But how? No one has ever seen it for over 300 years, most even think that it is just a legend by now," Elsa said.
"No denying it, there's no other ice elemental enchantment outside of the Fortress," Kristoff responded. "Maybe it's a sign."
"Or an omen," Aurelia added, which drew attention from the other two occupants. "What? If the stories are right, there's always wars when the Fortresses are involved. Especially with the disappearance of the last surviving Winterward. That family is known for nothing but war."
"The Winter Fortress is a symbol of Protection!" Kristoff countered. "They keep the people safe."
"Keep us safe from what exactly?" Aurelia turned to look at Kristoff intently. "Brother, do you still really believe in those tales uncle used to tell us? If there's one thing I know for sure, there are no heroes in wars, only winners and losers. And the winners write history. These Masters supposedly have incredible powers that rival one another, I have a hard time believing that they're willing to unite without the Alliance's influence. Be it a world-ending threat or not."
"Sister," Kristoff argued. "Without the protection from the Fortress, there wouldn't be a Northern Border."
"Yeah," Aurelia scoffed. "For how long? Winters have shortened, animals from the south have started to invade the lands, monsters have been sighted within the Frozen Valley, traders and merchants never delivered the goods, the nights have become colder with every passing year."
"Why are you so worried about them?!" Kristoff asked, clearly agitated at his younger sibling. "What do all of this have to do with us?"
"Because I worry for you!" Aurelia retorted loudly, then she cupped her hands over her face and began sobbing. Kristoff was stunned as he stood there. The younger sister continued while sniffing. "Every time you traveled through that route, I would pray. I prayed every night that you'd return. I kept hearing these stories of what happened to the unlucky ones on the roads. Do you think it makes any easier for me? At home waiting?"
Kristoff froze, not uttering a single word. Elsa decided to stay silent between the sibling's feud.
"Isn't it enough?" Aurelia looked at him with tears streaming down her gleaming flushed cheeks. "I never got to know what our mother looked like, father worked day and night until he's too tired to even live. We were lucky that aunty and uncle took us in. Isn't it enough? Isn't it enough that I only want my brother to come back in good health? Isn't it enough that I don't want to see another empty bedroom? Blanket never used and pillow never slept on? That one day you'd stop bringing home stories of your travels? Isn't it enough that-"
The words never came when the younger girl broke down, her weeps resounded within the room. Kristoff was awakened from his stupor and wrapped his large arms around Aurelia's shaking body. She seemingly enshrouded by her older brother's embrace, melded into him like cushion.
Elsa stood in the back with a hand cupping her mouth.
"I'm sorry," Kristoff whispered while rubbing his sister's back comfortably. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm so so so sorry."
As the pair lingered in their moment, Elsa took a glance at the ancient book sitting on the stove. The frost still enveloped the item, protecting it from the fire's damaging effect. She walked over and found the air to be cool, as if the ice completely rejected the heat. She grasped the cold writing away from the stove, the ice began receding, back to the point where it started. It was completely unaffected.
Elsa looked back and saw that the siblings had parted, Kristoff talking in some comforting words and Aurelia wiping away her tears. She wrapped her hands around the book at mid torso.
"So, Aurelia, ready for today's work?" She asked.
"Right, work, I'll set the tables and vials ready teacher," Aurelia replied happily, the tears now absent from her rosy cheeks. She went out to do her tasks.
Kristoff turned to Elsa expectantly, looking at the book in her arms. He arched a brow, waiting on her decision.
"I don't know Kristoff," Elsa sighed. "It might not even be real."
"But there's a chance, Elsa," Kristoff said. "You know that we can take care of her until then right?"
"I trust you, but what if it's just a tale?"
"Well, it's your choice," Kristoff gave in, his eyes then darted at a certain direction. "May I?"
Elsa chuckled, understood what he was asking. "She should be finishing up, unless she had fallen asleep again. If the latter, feel free to drench her bed with water."
Kristoff gave a good warm laugh. "Aurelia and I saw Aldrich before we came here, he was picking flowers, Yilen to be exact, your favorite."
Elsa shuddered at the man's name, then narrowed her eyes at Kristoff. "But you know I'm allergic to that."
He winked.
"Don't mention it."
…
The fire crackled, brimming the room with warmth. The woods glowed red from the heat as they formed jaggy lines, splintered turned to tiny floating particles. There they sat in front on an old bear skin carpet with a tray contained two porridge bowls and mugs. The sun had long retreated behind the mountains in the west, leaving the sky for only the full moon to occupy.
Elsa wore a simple blue gown with traditional floral patterns at the hem, her hair flowed freely behind, freed from their braid. Her feet bared as they shuffled themselves on the fur, feeling its warm fuzzy welcome. Night time was her favorite part of a day, peace and quiet without hearing people argue, no work, and above all no annoying Aldrich come flocking into her shop asking for her hand in marriage. Just her sister and herself.
Speaking of Anna, she dressed in a similar gown but instead in yellow, her hair still in their twin braids as how they had been her whole life. She was smiling while humming a tune Elsa did not know. Her fingers intertwined together as her bobbed from side to side with eyes closed.
How strange, yet fitting.
"Cheery thoughts?" Elsa asked, breaking Anna's trance.
"Hmm?" Anna's eyelids popped open and looked at her, she grinned. "Yep!"
Elsa narrowed her eyes.
"He didn't present a ring or anything did he? Because if he did I swear..."
"What? Nonononono, of course not!" Anna panicky replied, then muttered to herself. "But it would've been so romantic."
"I heard that."
"Eep!"
Elsa chortled at her sister's adorable reaction. She moved closer until their shoulders were touching, used a hand to bring Anna's head upon hers. She sighed wistfully, then coughed softly, which worried Elsa.
"I'm fine sis," Anna said. "Don't worry about me, I'm still strong!"
"..."
"You know, I don't think Aldrich is that bad-"
"Anna."
"Sorry. Hehe."
Elsa sighed, she could never stay upset at Anna for a prolonged period of time, or at all. She rubbed her hair affectionately and kissed her forehead. She wondered how long moments like this would last, years? Months? Weeks? Even days? Time was running short, and she was torn. She didn't want to leave her sister alone at all, but there would come a time where she would stand in front of her gravestone. However, there was a chance, slim as a knife. Could she risk it?
Anna coughed a few times.
It hurt.
It hurt so much every time she heard them, she could the pain and worry rising from her own heart. It was like a pendulum, slowly, but surely. Each pass ingrained a piece of death into the victim's mind, nothing they could do. Nothing, but to watch as their life was being forfeited to an unknown lurker with every swing. Once the pain came, there was no stopping it.
Living with the Olds.
There it sat, at the very opening of her sack that was on the fireplace. Tempting her, mocking her, screaming at her weakness, taunting at her very soul, and ridiculing her for being pathetic. She wanted to crack, but instead bit her lower lip as she could feel something warm beneath her eyes.
She squeezed Anna against her tighter.
"Elsa?" Anna looked up at her, puzzled.
She only turned to her fully and enveloped Anna into the strongest embrace she could muster. Unable to contain them, she let the tears fall, wetting her sister's hair.
"I love you Anna. I love you so much."
"Elsa? Are you crying?"
Anna sounded so much more worry now.
Ironic, wasn't that supposed to be her responsibility?
"Just remember, I l-love you so very much. Don't ever f-forget."
Stars, she was whimpering now.
"Wh-what are you talking about? Elsa?"
She cried, the sounds muffled by Anna's sweet hair, it smelled like the sweetest of flowers, warmest of summer, and brightest of stars.
She would miss her blue eyes.
She would miss her strawberry-blond hair.
She would miss her smile.
She would miss these moments.
And one day she would see them all again.
"I promise Anna, I promise that I'll return."
Author's note: I liiiiive! Now, tell me, Great Ancestor - what mortal needs my protection? You just say the word, and I'm there! Anybody who's foolish enough to threaten our family? Vengeance shall be mine! I updated, woo! Now gimme some reward! Or I keel you! You know, this was supposed to be a one-shot, but SUB-PLOT! Oh how I hate it yet in love with it. So drop a review on your way out and would you kindly tell me what you like about this stuff I'm writing? Thanks a bunch! Cheers!
Ahahaha! MischievousRose! Suffer the wait!
May the Fortress be with You.