Hello, I've been busy at my work and I'm about to get busier. Chapter 11 is done but first need to be checked and edited and I'll be able to publish it after May 27th. Please be patient! it worth it.
RedQuxxnRed, Well, she kind of use her powers to stop the kiss but she can't risk to wound him badly; she doesn't want to be seen like a monster and much of all she doesn't want to risk Arendelle.
Elaine O'Roake, If you feel like that, imagine how Elsa is feeling. Jack is ignorant about Elsa's situation and Anna can't just go after her, this time, without a real plan.
IamYlen, You noticed it! Linus was a nice person until he got frustrated and then Pitch came in the picture.
emeowi, uh uh Cecile is problems for Elsa, Linus will know about Elsa loving Jack and that would be dramatic.
Katarina Aguilar, it's so nice to see you! I thought you might stopped reading the story, so glad to know you didn't.
PaoItzel, You're mexican! That's so great! I found "All I ask of you" in my ipod. you're so right, if fits perfectly (The Phantom of the Opera is so great) you will see the lyrics of the song in some chapters.
Infinitely-lost, Thank you for the grammar comment and your support.
Awesome sauce, I don't know about a sequel... recently I've having ideas for a HTTYD/Frozen crossover, but I won't do anything until I finish this one. About Cecile and Elsa, they are too different and yet both have the same pain: Linus. I conceive Cecile as a selfish and superficial person who rather to blame others for her failures than see her wrongs.
English is not my first language, Thank you to Nico DiAngelo and especially my dear friend Pamela for double checking the chapter.
Disclaimer: 'Frozen' & 'Rise of the Guardians' are not from my property.
This fic was inspired on the Disney song "Hellfire".
::·::
YOU BELONG WITH ME
"When life before is only a memory
And though I can't understand why this happened,
I know that I will when I look back someday
And after all this has passed, I still will remain."
Elsa was in the chambers that were assigned to her. Dora was helping her to get ready for the ball. Linus chose one of the dresses he bought for her to wear at the ball. The dress was deep blue, with a ruffle at the end of the sleeves; it showed a bit of cleavage, the skirt was ample with ruffles on the front.
Dora fixed her hair. She brushed Elsa's bangs on one side, made two thin braids and accommodated them over Elsa's head like some kind of coronet, then she curled the rest of Elsa's hair over her shoulder. Elsa applied little make up; again trying to not look 'too pretty'…
"You look beautiful, your Majesty." Said Dora with a sincere smile.
… And again she failed.
Linus entered to the room—again, without knocking first—followed by Gustav, the last one holding a leather box that looked too familiar to Elsa. The butler stayed near the door while Linus walked to Elsa.
"I see you're ready." Linus said. "But there's something missing." He gestured to Gustav to come closer.
He did and opened the box. Linus took the content in it. Elsa was watching Linus' moves from the mirror reflection; her eyes widened when she saw what Linus was holding with both hands.
It was the sapphires and diamonds necklace he sent her, and her father sent back: The Crown Jewel.
He placed it over her neck. Elsa felt it as a chain; she had no escape from him. He handed her the matching earrings.
"It suits you." He said smiling. "It matches with your eyes." He kissed her on the cheek.
And Elsa felt like she was some kind of object, a trophy.
·
Matt, Grace and Theo—the children Jack found in the forest—were playing in the snow. Grace and Theo immediately jumped of happiness when the snow began to fall but Matt was a little reluctant to join his friends on the snow, so Jack threw him a special snowball. After that, Matt began to laugh and started a snowball war with Jack, Grace and Theo.
The children were extremely happy. It's been such long time since they could forget about the troubles that worried their parents and the sad mood that reigned on the village. At least now they knew this stranger with white hair was not a bad person.
Then a giant rabbit appeared in front of them. ¡He was huge! He was carrying a pair of boomerangs and seemed to be upset. Jack looked at him with a fake sorry face while the children ran to hide behind Jack´s back.
"Is he bad?" asked lowly Theo looking to Jack; there was fear in his eyes.
Just then Jack understood; the people from Tallak thought that every being different or with magic, had ill intentions. He knew exactly who was the one to blame: Pitch Black. Jack supposed that the villagers were aware of Pitch and his abilities. So it was logic for them to think that all magic being was evil, like the Boogeyman.
Jack also noted the sad expression in Easter Bunny's eyes. It was more painful than the time when children in Burgess stopped believing in him. Because not to be believed was sad but to be feared was worse.
Then he had an idea.
"Come on, kids!" he said forming a snowball. "It's an annoying big kangaroo." - And he threw the snowball to Bunny.
"Hey! I'm not a Kang—" Bunny didn't finish speaking because Jack's snowball hit him in the face; he tasted some snow inside his mouth.
He cleaned the snow on his face and then was hit by a second snowball, then a third one followed by a forth snowball; he heard Jack laughing and also some childish laugher.
"Ok, it's on." Bunny picked some snow and formed a big snowball.
·
The Ballroom was amazing; there were ornaments and people enjoying the music and company. There were waiters offering flutes of Champagne and aperitifs. The air was full of laughers and chats; other guests prefer to dance. The orchestra stopped playing when Gustav stood beside the thrones.
"Presenting your Majesty," he said with a strong voice. "King Linus of Tallak and his fiancé Queen Elsa of Arendelle."
Linus entered the ballroom holding Elsa's hand. Both walked to the thrones looking regal and poised. Once they were in front of the guests, they clapped with enthusiasm. Linus waved his hand in the air and the orchestra played a new waltz.
Linus offered his hand to Elsa.
"Milady, do you concede me this piece?" he asked grinning.
Elsa looked to the crowd; all the eyes were on her. She looked to Linus and then his hand. She raised her hand; it was trembling, she gulped hard. She placed her hand over his delicately.
Linus closed his hand over Elsa's and leaded her to the dance floor; the guests moved to give them space. Linus placed his other hand on Elsa's waist and pulled her close to him; she reluctantly placed her hand on Linus' shoulder.
Linus felt butterflies inside his stomach; while dancing with Elsa, he felt like he was flying in the air and again, He smiled it was a sincere smile full of happiness. Elsa felt a knot in her throat; she wanted to cry.
'At least, after all the years in confinement my first dance was with Jack.' She closed her eyes remembering the magic of that first dance in the air, literally.
She felt oppression over her chest; she felt like she was cheating on Jack. Linus spread his hand over her back pressing her over his chest. Elsa felt sick.
·
The children were on the ground panting, their hands resting over their stomachs. Bunny was also on the ground and tired of the snowballs war where, thanks to Jack, he was the main target. Speaking of the devil, he was resting over a tree branch with a smile plastered over his lips.
His plan worked out. After attacking Bunny with snowballs the children lost their fear and had some fun—especially Jack. Bunny demonstrated to them that he wasn´t bad at all. He even left Grace to scratch behind his ears!, Jack took a mental note to make a joke about it.
When they recovered their breaths, Jack touched ground and introduced Bunny as the Easter Bunny.
"Easter Bunny?" asked Theo.
"I bring spring over to the earth." He explained.
The day began to dusk and the children say goodbye to their new friends.
·
North, Tooth and Sandy were in the sled waiting for Jack and Bunny to arrive; they were late and the rest of the Guardians were beginning to worry that something bad may have happened to them. North was pacing around and then he felt he stepped on something cold when he looked down, he saw a feminine silhouette made of frost on the ground. Tooth saw that North was gazing something on the ground, she flew over his shoulder to see what it was, Sandy followed her.
"That must be Elsa." Said Tooth cheerfully.
Santa signed heavily.
"This isn't good." Santa said.
"What? What is wrong?" asked Tooth while Sandy formed a question mark over his head.
"Jack is falling for this Queen..." He said sad and pointed to the figure of frost.
Tooth and Sandy got shocked to hear North saying those words; for the beginning when Jack was chosen by the Man in the Moon, North was very supportive with the mischievous boy. So, to hear that he wasn't happy with Jack's current situation at all was not right.
"They can't be together." Explained North; he saw the expression on his friends. "Don't get me wrong; I'm happy that Jack found someone especial to him but they are from different worlds and He is immortal; she would die some day and Jack will be left heartbroken."
He looked to the Guardians of dreams and memories.
"We need to stop this relationship." He said determinate. "For the good of Jack."
Tooth stayed in silent mediating his words, he was right. This love will only bring suffering to her dear friend when Elsa's time ends. Sandy played with his fingers; he also though that Santa was right, he didn't wanted to see Jack sad neither but he also couldn't agree with North. Nobody should interfere in a relationship, especially if there was true love.
·
Cecile never took her eyes off the couple. Jealous and envy were injected in her green eyes. She observed them dance and how Linus held Elsa close to him, He didn't even invited her to dance on the ball that King Andor offered to celebrate her and Linus's engagement.
The members of the court and wealthy commoners bowed and introduced to the future Queen. Linus never left her side; he was presenting her to everyone with proud. When Linus was betrothed to Cecile; he secluded himself in a corner with Markkus and a bottle of whisky, he even ignored her the rest of the night as if them were never betrothed.
'Stop making comparisons.' Cecile scolded herself.
But she couldn't stop. She saw the beautiful gown that Linus bought for Elsa while now she was forced to wear conservative clothes that didn't show her skin, especially her shoulders.
·
Elsa was tired; sick would be the right word. She felt like a war trophy that Linus was fancying to everyone. She tried to step aside Linus but he didn't left her arm go. There were too many people introducing to her, congratulating to Linus and her and offering their services to her. She wanted to scream to these people that there was nothing to celebrate; she was being forced to marry this despiteful man in order to keep her land safe.
She recognized Duke Anderson among the crowd, for a moment it seemed he was looking her with hatred but then she saw who he was looking with such hatred was to Linus when he spotted her gaze on him, he gave Elsa a pitiful look.
Some Lords asked for them to have some private words with the King of Tallak.
"We won't steal his company for too long." Said one of the Lords to Elsa.
'Please! The longer you take him away from me the better it will be.' She just smiled to the Lords.
Linus retired with them and Markkus accompanied him.
She tried to hide herself from Linus' gaze on the crowd but wherever she went people greeted her and tried to start a conversation with her but she was not interested in befriending any of this people.
But they seemed to not get the message. That's how she ended cornered by a small group of women with excessive make up on their faces, extravagant hairstyles and heavy jewelry. They were flattering Elsa's looks and looking the sapphire necklace with greedy eyes.
"I'll help you to adapt to your new role as Queen of Tallak." Said one Lady sipping her wine.
"I'm sure she'll do fine." Said a younger woman with a fake mole near her mouth. "After all, she's Queen on her land."
Elsa just nodded.
"But not anymore, my Dear." Answered with a venous tone disguised with kindness. "Queen Elsa will rule Tallak by the side of King Linus and Arendelle will be left without a queen." Smirked.
Elsa tried her best to keep a cold gaze.
"Anyway, dear Elsa." Other Lady caressed Elsa's arm. "You can trust us with anything you have doubts. By the way, have you already chosen your wedding attire?"
The group of women startled to give Elsa advises about what flowers she should pick, the food that should be served and other things that she wasn't interested. At the mention of her imminent marriage Elsa lowed her gaze.
·
Linus was watching her from far. The members of the council were speaking to him but he wasn't paying any attention; all his concentration was on Elsa and the people surrounding her.
The wives of the Lords, Dukes and others members of the court were monopolizing Elsa's attention, but that wasn't what was brothering him; it was the looks that other men in the room gave to Elsa, theirs were gazes full of lust.
Linus knew he needed to watch Elsa carefully; he longed her for seven years and he wouldn't allow any man to take her away from him. He excused himself with the members of the council and walked towards Elsa. He invited her to dance.
"Who was the man who talked to you before?" he asked rudely.
"I don't know, I don't know anyone of these people." Elsa answered.
"I don't want you to speak to him again, you won´t speak to any man if I'm not present." He ordered.
Elsa shot him a gaze full of hate.
"I got it, I'm your prisoner." She said upset.
"No, you are not my prisoner." He cupped her face with one hand. "You can go around the village and palace as you are pleased but never alone; I can't risk you to ask for help… That may be something harmful for Arendelle."
Elsa clutched her hand over Linus' shoulder.
"Like a prisoner." Elsa said with her voice off. "A war trophy." She corrected in the same tone.
They danced a few more waltz; Linus was paying attention to Elsa and the men gazing her.
"I don't like the way he's looking at you." Linus signalized to a Duke. "You're not allowed to talk to him, don't even look at him." He pressed her close to his chest.
The rest of the dance he pointed out to Elsa other men who were looking at her and she wasn't allowed to even be in the same room with them, only if Linus of course was there with her.
'Okay, I'm not only betrothed to a man who is nuts but also extremely jealous, possessive and paranoid. That's a great combination!' Elsa though sarcastically.
·
"You're finally here!" Tooth said relieved when Bunny and Jack reunited with them.
"We would have arrived earlier if someone haven't been playing around." Bunny eyed Jack.
"Hey! You had fun too!" Jack defended.
"It doesn't matter, good thing is that you are both here." Said North. "We were worried that Pitch captured you or something else."
"Pitch? Ha!" said Bunny. "I can handle him alone."
"Sure you can." Jack stated joking but Bunny decided to ignored him this time, there'll be payback time later.
"Anyway," Jack began to say anxiously jumping over the grass. "We met these children in the forest—"
"What?" interrupted him Tooth and North.
"We're not supposed to be seen." Said Nicholas to Bunny.
"I tried to stop him but you know him." He just focused in paint an egg.
North nodded, Bunny was right. Jack was always eager to see new things and as a teenager he sometimes had the tendency to defy authority. Jack groaned frustrated because they weren't paying any attention to him.
"Would you please listen to me a moment? I have something very important to tell you!" The Guardians focused on him. "The villagers are afraid of magical beings like us."
"That can't be true!" Exclaimed Toothania and Sandy had a concern expression on his face.
"It's because of Pitch." Added Bunny.
"He became the King's Principal adviser, I don't know how." Began to explain Jack. "And since then Tallak has been in war after war; they all afraid of the King and know that Lord Pitch Black have some abilities, they believed everyone with some kind of power is bad."
"We need to show them we mean no harm." Said Tooth.
"But how?" asked Jack, and Sandy formed question marks over his head.
"Wait, Jack. You said that they're afraid of their king." North put a hand over Jack's shoulder.
"Yes, the children said he became a tyrant."
"And Pitch is his adviser." Completed St. North worried.
"That's what I said."
"So this King must be the source that Pitch is using to spread fear on this land." Concluded North.
"This is no good." Said Bunny and stopped painting the egg.
All the Guardians stayed in silent because they comprehend if they wanted to defeat Pitch Black, they needed to defeat also the King of Tallak and Guardians of Childhood weren't allowed to harm any human.
·
The night enveloped; more women tried to be on Elsa's good sides, Linus kept forbidding her to get close to almost any man who looked or spoke to her more than just her name. Linus and Elsa shared a few more dances, mostly because she couldn't reject him in public.
"Your future wife is quite beautiful." Said to Linus a Lord, who had the fame of a playboy and was the same age of Linus; for his breathe it was obvious that he was drunk. "I can comprehend now why you ignored every woman who approached you." He took another flute of champagne from a waiter passing by. "She seems exquisite." He eyed Elsa—who was beside Linus—lustfully. "If the King doesn't satisfy your needs, you can come to my bed." The Lord told to Elsa. "I won't disappoint you." He winked.
That was it!; Linus had enough of all those men lusting after his angel, his woman. He drew his sword from his belt and put the blade under the Lord's chin.
"You won't talk to her like that ever again." He said in low dangerous tone. "I'll make sure of that."
"Linus, please. He's drunk, he didn't mean it." Markkus said struggling to stop his friend from murdering someone in front of his subjects.
The guests were attentive to the scene developing near the thrones; they were scared, just a couple a minutes ago they were celebrating and now they were about to witness a murder.
"He insulted Elsa in front of me!" Linus said with anger pressing the sword deep; a trail of blood could be seen rolling down the blade.
"Please, forgive me." Mumbled the Lord terrified on his knees.
Linus elevated his sword ready to decapitate the Lord. The guests were frozen in their places.
"Linus, No!" Elsa shouted and Linus stopped his actions.
The Lord was about to faint when the mortal weapon didn't reach his neck and the witnesses held their breaths. Markkus was in shock; it was the first time Linus actually heard someone who was trying to stop him to commit another disaster.
"Linus, please don't do it." Elsa put her hand over his arm holding the sword. "Let him live." He looked her in the eyes. "I beg you." Linus lowered his sword.
"You can go." Linus said in an emotionless voice then he grabbed the lord by the collar and pulled close to him. "And I don't want to see you near her again." He said in a threatening voice.
"Yes, My lord." Nodded still frightened.
Linus released him and the Lord almost ran to hide in the middle of the astonished crowd. Then Linus turned his gaze to Elsa, who was trying to breath normally. He calmed a bit when he saw she was still holding his arm; he drew his sword back to the holster.
Elsa looked to the crowd; she noticed all their eyes were on her and the few who were looking to Linus, did it with fear— like waiting for him to destroy something or someone. Elsa heard Linus' breathing was rash, he was still furious; she knew she needed to cool him down for the safety of the guests.
So she offered him her hand.
"Shall we dance?" she asked trying to smile but there was apprehension in her eyes.
Linus' face lightened and smiled. He then took her hand while the orchestra played, and the crowd moved to leave them space never taking their eyes off of the couple.
The King of Tallak buried his face on Elsa's shoulder; she felt how he relaxed and noticed the crowd whispering—probably about what just happened.
And indeed, they were. Never in all those years was someone able to handle the King's fury so well preventing a tragedy to occur. Markkus was astonished that Linus obeyed Elsa's pleading to not harm the poor man; he tried for years to reason with him but was always ignored, and now this queen could accomplish what no one could since Linus was crowned.
Maybe Queen Elsa's arrival was something good for Tallak and its people.
Unfortunately, Markkus wasn't the only one who noticed this; someone else did.
·
The Nightmare King was in Linus' chambers. He was looking the King and his Fiancé taking a stroll in the garden through the window; Linus tried to stay the closest as possible to Elsa but she didn't seem be enjoying his company, rather she looked like she was ready to run away on the first chance.
Around the palace and village the rumors about what happened last night in the ball spread like power. In everywhere people were talking about how the Queen of Arendelle was able to calm down King Linus spearing the Lord's life.
A tragedy was prevented that night and all thanks to Queen Elsa's intermission.
If what happened was a signal, maybe this marriage would be something good for everyone who live in Tallak. For once, there was something to feel relieve about.
Pitch also witnessed last night events and wasn't very pleased. He moved in front of Elsa's portrait.
"You've been a wonderful tool to manipulate King Linus." Said to the painting. "But if what happened on the ball repeats again…" Pitch grinned and floated to reach the portrait. "I'm afraid I will have to get rid of you." He caressed Elsa's chin and disappeared leaving behind the sound of his laugher.
That was because Elsa didn't just save a life last night; she also gave to the people of Tallak something that Pitch couldn't afford to keep growing.
She gave them hope.
If you were here
I'd whisper sweet nothings in your ear
And appeal to all your fears
::·::
What do you think about it?
Were you expecting the Guardians to try to stop Jack and Elsa's relationship? Bet you didn't! I love unexpected turn of events.
Next chapter it gets better, Jack finally get words about Elsa and Linus engagement...
and again ask you patience because I'll be able to publish after May 27th.
PREVIEW CHAPTER 11
He wanted to win Elsa's heart, to show her how much he needed her.
"Hey! I got an idea." He screamed. "I know what to do!" Jack tried to catch their attention again.
"It's not her fault, she didn't ask for this." Elsa recognized Dora's voice. "She seems very unhappy with her engagement."
"Lady Cecile has been through a lot of pain and much of it was cause by the Queen of Arendelle."
"There's something I'd like to show you." The blonde told her. "If you were so kind to follow me, your grace." She signalized to the hall.
"I'm sorry, Jack." She said sadly. "But that's what monarchy do." He looked her confuse. "They don't marry for love; they marry to gain riches, allies or solve disputes. They marry for convenience."
*The lyrics from the beginning and end are taken from the songs "Beauty from Pain" Superchick and "My mind's eye" Sirenia.