Chapter XXXVIII: The Right Choice
Elsa sat on her grand chair in the ballroom. The platform she was on was elevated by about one foot off the ground. She was overlooking the entire grand party she threw for everyone. Music played nonstop from a small area of the ballroom. The musicians were rotated so they each got a rest. The middle of the room was reserved for those who wanted to dance. Tables filled with food were set up all around the room. The castle cooks worked nonstop to keep the food tables filled. Decorations hung on the walls, mixed with some of Elsa's own decorations. The doors that led down a hallway that led outside were open. It was miraculous how it only took a few short hours to set this all up.
The party, as Elsa promised, was going to last all of that day. It's been approximately twenty four hours since Anna arrived with the monarchs. The afternoon sun glowed outside the castle. More people were hanging around in the courtyard though there was nothing festive set up out there. Those who stood outside preferred to socialize more than anything else. There were guards to keep an eye out for them, though.
Bad news kept coming to Elsa the day before. She first learned that Kai had voluntarily chosen to stay behind to face Cade and buy his friends time. Elsa almost broke down into tears when she was told he might not be coming back. Anna felt awful when she told her sister the bad news. As hard as it was for Elsa, it was hard for her too. She was forced to leave a friend behind to his possible death. How could she sleep at night knowing that? Anna feared that Elsa would resent her for willingly leaving Kai behind, but Elsa was aware of the difficult position Anna was in. Perhaps it was for the best. After all, Arendelle was saved after all. They got what they wanted at the last of a friend. Elsa hoped with all of her heart that Kai would come back to her,
That wasn't all of the bad news to come. Ander's men informed him that Hans could not be found and that he was no where on any of the ships. Ander called of the search, sure that he was going to see his youngest brother again. They all had a feeling that they were going to see Hans again. Hans would stop at nothing to get what he wants, but since everyone knows what kind of a monster he is, it will be very difficult for Hans to achieve his goals.
Ander had ordered most of his navy to return back to the Southern Isles. Only one ship remained meant for him and his brothers. That one ship was docked in the Arendelle's docks. Ander also ordered his navy to send travel ships to Arendelle for the monarchs and representatives. They were to leave after the party was over. Many ships filled Arendelle's once blockaded docks.
Elsa scanned the room from her chair to see how everything was. Anna and Kristoff were dancing together, hand in hand, on the dancing floor along with Rapunzel and Eugene. The couples giggled and smiled at each other as they danced along with many other couples from Arendelle. Sven and Maximus had their very own private area in the corner of the room where they had meals fit for a King served to them by the castle servants. The two were never going to stop eating. Ander, Christian, and King Lyre had glasses of wine in their hands and were talking to each other, telling political jokes and what not. Olaf was dancing on the dance floor, barely visible because of his height.
Everyone seemed to be having a good time. Everyone but Elsa. She sat on her chair, her head leaning against her fist. She couldn't even manage a smile. She cared so much about Anna's well being that she never put Kai's into consideration. Her last words to him weren't the friendliest. If only she could see him one last time. Anna looked over at her sister and saw how upset she was. Anna broke her dance from Kristoff and pointed him towards her. Together, the couple walked over to Elsa.
"Are..." Anna cleared her throat. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine." Elsa lied.
"You're upset." Anna said. "I know that for a fact."
"What do I have to be upset about?" Elsa asked, sarcastically. "My kingdom's safe and so is my sister. I couldn't be happier."
"Did you learn that sarcasm from Kai?" Kristoff asked.
"He rubs off on me." Elsa answered. "I just... I just can't believe he was so willing to leave everything behind like that. It's as if he doesn't care for his own well being."
"He did what he thought was best." Anna defended.
"It wasn't his call." Elsa rebutted. "Who is he to tell you what to do? I also can't believe why no one stopped him."
"I didn't leave him because he told me pretty please." Anna said. "Kai had done so much for us, and this was how I repaid him; by doing what he wished."
"So you repay him by letting him walk into a death trap?" Elsa asked.
"That's not fair..." Anna said. "You weren't there. You didn't know how things went down."
Elsa took a second to think about what she was saying. Perhaps she was being a little bit too intense and harsh to her sister. This was exactly what Anna was sick of. She hated being talked down to. Elsa promised that she would do better with her sister so Anna doesn't pull a move like what she pulled again.
"I'm sorry." Elsa said, quietly.
"You have nothing to be sorry for." Anna said. "I get it."
"Besides." Kristoff said. "Kai wasn't going to take no for an answer."
Elsa smiled. "He never does." Then, her smile quickly faded. The thought of Kai's death still haunted and echoed in her mind. If he had lost, that would mean Cade would still be running around. That wasn't something to be hopeful for at all. Elsa needed to process this and think about what to do next. She couldn't bring herself to believe Kai was dead, but if he was...
"Go." Elsa said. "Have fun and enjoy the rest of the party."
"What about you?" Anna asked.
"I'll be fine." Elsa promised.
"Are you sure?" Anna asked. "You don't need to be alone through this. We're here for you."
"I'm sure." Elsa asserted. "If I need you, I'll tell. Right now, I just need to be alone."
Anna was reluctant to leave. She just gave her sister a stare, not sure what to think.
"Go on, children." Elsa teased. "Frolic and play."
Kristoff nudged Anna on the arm, telling her that it's best if they go. Kristoff walked away, waiting for Anna to join him. Kristoff was going to keep his eye on Anna more, but since there was no reason for Anna to run off again, he could let his guard down for just once. He expected Anna to join him as quickly as possible.
Anna turned around to walk away, but she instantly turned back to face her sister.
"I didn't tell you this earlier." Anna said. "But, Kai told me that if he wasn't back soon, he told me to tell you that he loves you."
Elsa looked down at her feet, not willing to show Anna the weakness in her eyes.
"I want you to know that I love you too." Anna said. "You'll never have to be alone ever again."
With that, Anna walked towards Kristoff and took his hands. The couple rejoined Eugene and Rapunzel on the dance floor and continued showing people their spectacular moves. Anna always kept her sister in mind, though. She wasn't sure if she should trust Elsa when Elsa said she was fine. Elsa didn't look fine, but if there was one thing Elsa was good at it was concealing.
Anna grew tired of pretending to be happy while dancing. She told Kristoff that she was going to get a quick drink and come back. As she broke away from the dance floor, Rapunzel followed her. Anna was aware of Rapunzel's presence but was yet to react to it. Anna made it to the table where the drinks were served and tried to decide which one she wanted. Rapunzel stood next to her.
"This is quite an ending to our little adventure." Rapunzel said.
"Yeah..." Anna said, distantly.
Rapunzel immediately detected something wrong with Anna. "Alright." Rapunzel. "Time for some girl talk. What's wrong?"
Anna sighed. "I wanted to do something great in my life that would go down in history. I got my wish but at what cost?"
"We're not certain Kai's gone." Rapunzel said. "Think positive."
"How many times are you going to tell me that?" Anna asked.
"Every time you lose your optimistic side, I'll keep telling it to you." Rapunzel said.
Anna smiled. Anna always needed to remind herself of who she really was now. She always looked on the bright side of everything prior to all of this. She needed to keep that way for everyone. The optimistic Anna was the Anna everyone loved. It was about time the optimistic Anna came back.
Anna grabbed two glasses of scotch whiskey from the table. Everyone around them was having mostly wine, and it was rare for scotch to be put out on the tables. But, scotch was always Kai's preferred drink even though he sparingly consumed alcohol. Elsa out scotch out just for him. Anna decided it was time to make a toast for a very good friend.
Anna handed Rapunzel one of the glasses. She then raised her glass in front of Rapunzel's.
"You're not going to toast without us, are you?" Eugene's voice said from behind.
Eugene and Kristoff approached the girls, wearing fancy clothes they usually woluldn't wear on a normal basis. Both grabbed a glass of whiskey as well. The four then stood in a square, with Kristoff to Anna's left, Eugene to Anna's right, and Rapunzel in front of Anna.
Anna raised her glass. "A toast to a friend, and without his sacrifice, nine of this would've been possible. To Kai."
"To Kai." The others said at the same time, cheering their glasses together.
The four took a drink from their whiskey at the same time. Kristoff and Eugene easily consumed the beverage. Anna and Rapunzel on the other hand immediately spit the alcohol out of their mouths when it reached their tongue. They couldn't believe Kai actually enjoyed that stuff.
"Who's that?" Eugene asked, looking over at someone standing near Elsa.
Elsa had barely moved a muscle after her conversation with her sister. Now, Elsa was looking up at a standing man standing diagonal to her. He had a golden mask on which outlined two eyes and a mouth but that was it. He wore a black cloak as if he had something to hide. The man obviously didn't belong with the others. The business he had with Elsa was unknown.
"Hello." Elsa said to the man. "Is the something I can help you with?" She grew nervous every second she spent with the man. His presence did not bode well at all. Many others in the ballroom were focusing on the two's interactions as well, curious to who the man was.
The man then slowly reached for his mask, grabbing it with one hand. His other hand slowly reached into his cloak to grab something that Elsa did not know what. He then quickly took his mask off of his face and threw it on the ground. Elsa's eyes widened when she saw who it was.
"Hans?!" Elsa said.
"Surprise." Hans said. Hans then took out a knife from his cloak with his other hand. He raised it up in the air, ready to stab Elsa. He meant to assassinate her as he had lost everything. He might as well do something that will please himself before he went down. Killing his greatest enemy would be just that thing. Fortunately for Hans, Elsa wasn't expected it and she had almost zero time to react.
Before Hans could kill Elsa, a blast of fire came his way, hitting his back. Hans' clothes did not catch fire but he was pushed back into the wall next to Elsa's grand chair. He let go of his knife when he hit the wall, face first. He then turned his body around, facing the direction where the fireball came from. He could feel blood trickle down his nose. Kai ran to Hans from inside the crowd. The limp way he ran was obvious to everyone. Kai grabbed Hans' knife from the floor and held it against Hans' throat.
"Kai." Hans said. "So glad you can finally join us. You look like crap."
Hans wasn't lying. Kai was much paler than usual. Hg had lost so much blood already. Bags were under his eyes since he was so tired. He walked for countless hours and his body almost gave away. He needed to trek on, though. He was barely able to survive Elsa's Palace, so if he loved there, he could live throughout the journey.
"Yeah?" Kai said. "Trust me, I'll look amazing by comparison after I'm done with you."
"Is that a threat?" Hans asked.
"You bet it is." Kai said.
"You won't kill me." Hans said.
"Try me." Kai said.
"That's enough." Elsa said.
Kai turned his head back to find Elsa standing behind him, an unamused look on her face. He could also see Ander and his brothers standing in the front of the crowd behind her. Anna and the others also joined them. Anna normally would've been happy with Kai back, but seeing what he was doing right now was questionable.
"Kai, I'm glad you're back." Elsa said. "But you need to let Hans go?"
"I don't think so." Kai said, looking back at Hans. "After everything this monster as done, there's no way I can let him go."
"Kai, this isn't you." Elsa said. "You're not like this."
"Then you don't know me!" Kai said. "Trust me, I'll be doing everyone a favor by slicing his throat right now."
"It's not your decision." Elsa said.
"Then who's decision is it?" Kai asked.
Kai looked back at Elsa who looked back at Ander. Ander's arms were crossed with a very angry look on his face. Ander knew that he had the most authority over Hans than anyone else in the room. He would be doing everyone right and avenging his father if he have Hans what Hans deserved. But, Ander did learn something out of this whole experience. He shouldn't rob the right of life from everyone. He was so ignorant earlier, so clouded by anger that his sense of morality disappeared. He vowed to change that. But, he still thought Hans was better dead.
Ander just stayed silent, not wanting this to be his call. Elsa looked disappointed, and then she looked back at Kai.
"I thought so." Kai said. "I'm ending this."
"I'll bet you'll enjoy it too." Hans said.
"Oh, you can count on that." Kai said.
"Do you know what you sound like?" Elsa asked. "Kai, this isn't you. You talk like you're no better than Cade."
"I'm sure I'm better than a dead man." Kai said.
Elsa's eyes widened, realizing what that meant. "You didn't k-" Elsa was interrupted.
"No." Kai answered. "He didn't deserve it. Hans on the other hand..."
"Kai, never have you killed someone." Elsa said.
"There's a first time for everything." Kai rebutted.
"Please, Kai, I'm begging you." Elsa said. "I understand how you feel. Honestly, I'm all for taking him out permanently. But, it's not the right thing."
"If doing the wrong thing makes things better, then so be it." Kai said.
"Kai." Elsa said. "You're a good man. We all know it. No matter what some think, you are a good man. Good men don't murder. You may call this justice, but it's still murder. If you kill him, how does that make you better than the people you fight? You may think this may be a one time deal, but trust me, it's hardest the first time. You'll keep killing in the name of justice. It'll become a habit. A very dark habit. I don't want you to go down that road. I love you, but I won't stick around to watch you become a murderer."
Kai's angered look faded externally only. On the inside, he was still full of rage. If serving justice meant losing Elsa, then so be it. Kai understood what he was going to do well. He had twenty four hours to think about it. They would thank him later.
"Then don't watch." Kai said, quietly.
"Kai." Anna said, stepping up next to Elsa. "Please don't."
"Don't get involved in this." Kai said.
"No!" Anna said. "Elsa said it herself, you'll become one of the people who you hate the most."
"This is different." Kai said.
"No, it's not." Anna said. "Killing is killing, no matter how you sugarcoat it. Kai, I did what you asked back at the palace because I believed that I was doing what was right and so were you. Now, I can't back you up on this. This is wrong, and not something I could ever forgive you for. What happened in the palace, Kai?"
Kai's eyes let down a bit, showing a more emotional side. "I... I failed Cade. He killed himself, believing that there is no good in some people. I failed him. I failed Deren. I failed my parents. If Hans dies now, everything will be better. I won't fail anyone anymore."
"You won't have to." Elsa said. "You'll be failing us if you kill Hans. Trust me, Hans will get whats coming, and you don't need to be involved in it."
Kai then put Anna and Elsa's words into consideration. They were right. Killing Hans would be the beginning of a dark path Kai didn't want to take. Right now, his friends were his world. He couldn't let his world down or else there would be nothing else to live for.
Kai's grip on the knife grew weaker and he finally dropped it, his hands shaking. Hans have a smirk, happy that Kai wouldn't kill him. Then, Kai grabbed the collar of Hans' clothes and turned around, pulling Hans in front of him. Kai then kicked Hans down, Hans landing in front of Ander, Christian, and a few more of his brothers.
"He's all yours." Kai said. "Do what you will."
Ander smiled, cracking his knuckles. Hans gulped.
Elsa stepped up to Kai and hugged him tightly. He wrapped his arms around her back, though he kept his blank expression. Elsa shed a tear onto Kai's shoulder, so glad that he was able to return to her. Kai wasn't as overjoyed as Elsa was. He had many other things in his mind.
"What have I become?" Kai asked.
"Someone I can still love." Elsa answered.
Kai didn't know if that answer was good enough but he decided against telling Elsa what he truly felt. Elsa broke their hug, happy that Kai would remain the same old Kai he usually was.
Then, Kai's vision became blurry. He staggered forward, obvious he was having trouble with something.
"Kai, are you okay?" Elsa asked.
"Yeah..." Kai said. "I just... I just need to..."
Kai collapsed on the floor and blacked out due to exhaustion.
Author's Note: This chapter was a little shorter than most. But, this chapter was somewhat important as it showed what Kai would sacrifice for what he thinks is right. The next chapters will probably be just as long as this chapter is. I expect there to be two more chapters left in this story, not including the one shot at the end of course. Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Please, right a review and tell me if you hate Kai or not since he wanted to kill a guy which goes against his moral code.
Remember when I said someone important will die? Well, that came true. Cade was an important character in this story, and he died. Yes, I can confirm his death. Don't expect him to show up miraculously alive. It was fun seeing you guys guess who dies.
I realized this story has a much more mature themes in it than Phoenix Fire and the Frozen film had. I'm not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing. The next story will be somewhat darker than this one but will have a very strong light hearted tone as well.
Fun fact: Travis Summers from my previous story was set to appear in The Coming Storm. Yep, that's right. He was meant to be the lead Bandit who was holding the guards captive before Kristoff and Eugene saved them. He was to have a short exchange with Kristoff as well. But, I was unfortunately very sick when I wrote the chapter and I felt awful. I didn't want to force myself to write for a long time, and adding Summers in would mean I would need to add more backstory. I didn't feel like explaining much, so I just cut him out. Sorry.
The sequel to this story, Frozen: A Sky Of Shadows, comes out September 2014!
Ciao.