Author's Note: no better day to update than Sunday. I been working this weekend hard to publish this chapter, I really need some sleep before the premier tonight, still I'm happy and bubbly like Anna :p Hope you enjoy this chapter, on the next one you will finally find out about the big climax and twist of events I been preparing, so for now, enjoy! Thanks!
Elsa was sat on the bed with the company of Ruby who was on a chair next to the window
"They are here" she said before Elsa could hear a sound. Ruby sniffed the air twice before adding "is just Emma, David and Henry" then the door was unlocked as Emma made herself announced.
"Are you here?!"
"Upstairs" answered Red taking her jacket ready to leave.
"Oh, finally" she said relieved entering the room
As soon as Emma was in sight Elsa got to her feet "Is everyone alright? No one is hurt?" she walked over to them loosing balance being barely caught by Red who went by her side.
"Easy, you are supposed to rest" she took her back to the bed to sit.
"How is the little girl?"
"Everyone is safe, nobody got hurt" David announced giving Elsa relief of the burden of guilt
"Gretel is alright, she was just a bit frighten about the truck" said Henry
"Doctor Whale took her in just to verify she is not hurt" Emma gazed over to the younger woman "How are you feeling?"
"Dizzy" she admitted with an exhausted tone.
"Yeah, you took quite a hit" she said empathically
"You just try to recover, and don't worry about a thing. We controlled the situation; so far no one knows where you are" said David
"Yes, even I lost track of you" commented Emma to Ruby
"I thought you were a better Sheriff than that" said mischievously Red "No, we are ok, Gold healed her and I took her here, no disturbance or whatsoever to report"
"Excellent" Emma said looking back to Red "Granny was looking all over for you"
"I better go then; I will have a lot of explaining to do"
"Take care; some people won't be happy that you took sides"
"I can handle them" she assured, even when she appeared a bit fragile, she was one of the strongest persons in Storybrook. Red gazed at Henry that was quietly observing her with concern "Watch out for her" asked Red to him "don't let her stand, took a lot of her energy not to faint on our way here"
"Will do" he replied
"Great, I will see you at the Dinner" she waved "Rest well, Elsa"
"Thank you for staying" she said grateful, if she had been left alone, she was pretty sure she would have been burned at the stake.
"Any time" she smiled at her and was walked to the door in Emma's company.
"I will try to contact Regina to let her know that you are here" commented David "but you are welcome to come to our apartment, we don't really want to leave you alone for the night, you might need help"
"Is too much to ask for I don't want to be any trouble" she replied "And if someone followed me to you home I could endanger your family; your wife, your newborn…"
"At least consider going to Emma's. If Regina doesn't come back home tonight, we fear someone might enter the house and you won't be able to defend yourself, you are too weak"
Elsa pondered at the suggestion for a second. "Just think about it" he asked "we will stay here for a couple of hours, just to be sure no one followed"
"You don't really have to do that"
"We know, but we won't take our chances" he stood up walking to the door "I'm going to call Regina then. Did Rumple tell you if you needed something more for that burn?"
"Just rest and the bandage if it gets worst I am to visit him"
"Ok. Henry, stay here please, just in case" David exited the room.
"Understood" he walked over to the bed sitting at the edge "Are you sure you are feeling alright?...you look…paler than usual"
That earned a smile out of the Snow Queen and a soft laugh "I can guarantee I will survive"
"It's good to see you smile" he grinned then taking something from the backpack "You left this behind" showed the gloves
"Thank you, I completely forgot about them" she said shocked at the sudden realization "I am sure your mother wouldn't had appreciate it if I was to lose them"
"She wouldn't have minded" he said "The important thing is that you are safe now"
"I know its important, but I have nothing" said Ruby at the entry of the door about to leave the house when Emma asked "I tried to find a scent close to hers, but there is none, her sister isn't here, I have already ran around the whole town line and there is nothing, plus the snow messes up a bit my smelling. It kinds of dissolves all the smells into water"
"So there is no way Anna is here?"
"In my opinion…no" she exhaled "I know you wanted to find her, but let me be honest, I don't think you could even if she was here"
"Why?"
"It's snowing on a daily basis, footprints are covered every ten minutes, I couldn't trace my own footsteps in the forest, I had to scratch a couple of trees to prevent from running in circles"
"Chasing your own tail?" Ruby shot a warning glare. "Right, sorry"
"What I'm trying to say is, you lost my track on our way here and I wasn't even trying to avoid you, if someone new appeared here I'm pretty sure they would hide" she shrugged her shoulders "we are blind here, and…its getting a bit chillier…but this cold feels bitter, kind of abnormal"
"This whole winter is abnormal"
"I know, but it falls naturally, Elsa's snow is subtle, it falls rhythmically is you want to say it like that, but lately it has been a bit aggravated, it doesn't feel…like her doing"
"What are you trying to say?"
"Nothing" she exhaled "this whole thing must be messing up with my senses" she looked back "I better go, bye, Emm"
"Bye Ruby, and thanks again for everything"
"Sure"
"So she is not here" stated David what Emma just had told him
"According to Ruby, no" she sighted taking the cup of coffee. It was past nine and the Snow Queen was in her chamber asleep while Henry and the two adults were at the kitchen.
"Those are not good news"
"We can still try to take her back to her homeland"
"Looks like the only option"
"It does" David pulled his phone out "I better call Snow, she has been alone for a while now"
"Are you going home?" asked Henry
"Not until we have news from Regina" he declared "It wouldn't be wise to leave Elsa alone here"
"She hasn't picked up the phone yet?"
"No, I left a few messages to let her know about our little situation, but so far there is no news"
"You know, you can go home, Henry and I will stay, is alright"
"I know, but you might need help"
"We are not helpless, we'll be fine"
"I know, Emma" he smiled to his girl "I just want to be here to make sure of it" he sipped his cup "you could go to our apartment. You did say you wanted to help with Neal"
"Yes but not if I'm putting you or anyone at risk"
"Hey, everything is going to be…"
"Watch the snow" called Henry gazing to the window "the flurry just got stronger"
David looked to the outside confirming it, the snowstorm was falling harder and heavier.
"I am going to go check on Elsa, you two stay put, understood?"
"Yes" they both answered when he used his authoritarian voice, giving more of a command than a suggestion.
David raced up the stairs and tried to push the door open, but it was stuck. When he looked down he saw a crust of ice creeping out of the room. He pushed it with his shoulder opening if just a crack to enter. Elsa was complaining in her sleep, she was moving restless and was mumbling; she was clearly having a nightmare.
David approached to her stepping in the small ice peaks that crushed beneath his feet and sat on the edge of the bed tentatively taking her shoulders shaking softly. "Elsa, hey, wake up" he called in caring voice, but this didn't seems to work, the young woman just started to sob in her sleep whispering desperately as she wrap a hand in her arm. David thought perhaps she was in pain and held her a bit stronger calling again for her to wake.
"Its just a dream, wake up, you are fine, you are safe" he shook hard one last time as her eyes snapped open and she sat on her place gasping for air as her hand instinctually sheltered against her chest.
She looked around terrified noticing her doing on the room; it was covered with a thick layer of ice. "Did I hurt anyone?" she looked at David's eyes "Did I hurt you? did I struck you with ice?" she was breathing heavily, hyperventilating.
"No, I'm alright; you just had a bad dream" he laid his hand on her shoulder.
She buried her face in her hands "It was awfully real"
"Here" he said grabbing a match lightening it
"A candle?" asked Elsa confused.
"It chases nightmares away. I know it might seem absurd, especially when you were hurt with fire, but this always helped me and Snow and even Henry to sleep well"
"Its not absurd" said Elsa looking at the flame "is actually comforting"
David smiled "You want to talk about the dream?" he looked at her bandaged arm that was still tucked close to her "was it about the incident today?"
Elsa hugged herself tightly "It was very vivid, it…it had to do with…" she exhaled frustrated looking at her own hands "I could had hurt someone today, it was a close call, I shouldn't be trusted"
"You did a very heroic thing today, you saved Gretel, you never attacked anyone, and you were in total control. I don't know how things were for you back home, but today you were the hero"
Elsa smiled proudly at his words "Thank you"
"No problem" he stood up "Is better if you try to sleep some more"
"I'm afraid maybe it won't suit too well the room if I freeze everything"
"You just spread a bit of your magic around the walls; it gives it a nice touch" he said lightly "you can melt it all tomorrow morning, just rest, you need to recover, and that's all that matters"
A small smile was placed in her features "You all have been too considerate with me, I don't deserve it"
"You do, we all deserve second chances. For all of us, Storybrook was that shot, perhaps you could take it to. You have done no wrong, everyone that knows you, cares for you. That should be a sign; I don't know any evil person that could be so friendly with everyone. And believe me, I saw the Wicked Witch try" he smiled jokingly then softened his features "we care for you, as long as we can help it, you won't be left alone or hurt, I can promise you that much"
She was moved, she wanted to say something, but for so long she never had the need of speaking to another soul, now, all the words she thought over in her mind for several years were gone; she just never thought how the feeling of gratitude could overwhelm her so much. "I-I…" she sighted gazing down tenderly smiling "I can't find the right words to express my appreciation"
"I can see it glowing thru your eyes" he nodded "that's more than enough of a thanks" David took her chin in his fingers lightly pulling up for her to meet his gaze "You are worth fighting for" he assured then walked back out of the room grabbing the doorknob.
"Could…could you leave the door half the way open, please?" she asked in gentle voice.
"Sure" he closed it midway "I will be near if you need anything else" he said before disappearing "Good night"
