Note: Still thanking you for all the reviews, though now that I have a little more time to myself, I can do that properly! First, a million thanks to HopelessRomantic183, your reviews always make my day (as do all the others)! A big thank you to elegantdestiny, and Silvermist66! To anime-vampiress, I was really touched by your review, as I sometimes doubt my writing style. To Quirk2, sorry about Katie, she had to die, her death started the whole goddamn war! And to the Guest Reviewers, your reviews (or review, if you're actually the same person) made me smile. Please review this chapter, I would really love to know what you think about it, and have a great day!
Chapter 16: The Price of War
After leaving Elsa's room, Jack had flown full speed west. He was still shaking from shock at the words she'd thrown at him, still trembling from having all his fears thrown in his face. Her words echoed in his mind, over and over, again and again, until he wanted to plunge headfirst to the ground, so that her voice would stop.
Maybe I don't want to be loved by you.
I regret every moment we spent together.
I could never, ever fall in love with you.
He screamed in frustration at the silent night. And the worst was that after all that, still, all his instincts screamed at him to go back-
She doesn't want me there, he thought to himself. She's better off without me.
The wind pushed him harder, faster south-west. He realized where he was going only when he saw the familiar statue, in front of which- what seemed like an eternity ago- Jamie had slammed into, holding on to a sled maneuvered by Jack himself. Soon, he found himself in front of Jamie's window, and slid it open, his feet sinking into the little boy's carpet. He was asleep, curled underneath his covers. The little boy had seldom changed since he'd last saw him, months ago. Maybe grown an inch or two, but other than that…
As if sensing a presence in his room, Jamie's eyes opened and he sat up, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes. Then, his eyes fell on Jack and they widened in shock. Jack grinned.
"Hey, little guy," he said, as Jamie cried out in joy, launching himself from the bed and hurtling into Jack's arms. It was less a shock than the first-time Jamie had hugged him, but it still felt wonderful to be held tight- real, he was completely real and solid…
Jack crouched down to be eye-level with Jamie, his arms wrapping around him.
"You came back!" Jamie gasped, letting go of him, taking a step back to have a good look at him.
"I told you I would, didn't I?" he asked, grinning. Though Elsa's words still echoed in his head, his misery had become a painful but dull ache at the back of his mind, as Jamie's joy infected him as well.
"I didn't stop believing in you, see?" Jamie said, jumping up and down excitedly. "I remembered what you told me about the sun and the moon!"
Jack laughed as Jamie hugged him again.
"How are you Jamie?" he asked when Jamie had pulled back again.
"I've been great!" he said, grinning excitedly, "Sophie lost a tooth, so I tried to stay up all night to see the Tooth Fairy, but I think Sandy knocked me out before she came."
"That sounds like Sandy all right," laughed Jack. He sat on the floor, cross-legged, and Jamie imitated him.
"Is everything all right?" asked Jamie, looking suddenly worried. "The last time you came, it was because Pitch was about to defeat you guys."
Jack's smile faltered for a second.
"Everything's fine," he said unconvincingly, and Jamie narrowed his eyes.
"You can tell me. You said I was a Guardian too."
Jack chuckled, remembering his words to Jamie. He had felt such euphoria that night, the first night since he'd been Chosen by Manny that somebody had seen him, known him. After their victory with Pitch, he'd made the vow to look after children for ever more and hadn't regretted it for a moment. He'd felt so hopeful, Sandy's fireworks exploding above him…
What he wouldn't give to go back to that night.
But then, he had not met Elsa; had not yet realized that something he hadn't known he needed was absent from his life. He didn't regret meeting her, he could never regret meeting her; she was the most amazing person he had ever met, and though she had told him all those horrible things, he still yearned to go back to Arendelle.
He remembered what Pitch had told him, what seemed like a lifetime ago.
Seems like your fellow guardians haven't let you in on all their secrets, if you don't know about the treasure hidden in Arendelle.
Treasure indeed.
"Jack?" Jamie's voice called him back to reality, and he snapped back into focus.
"It's nothing to worry yourself with, Jamie."
"But you're upset," the little boy insisted, and Jack's smile faltered.
"Yeah, well, happens to the best of us kiddo," he said, trying bravely to call back a smile.
"Is it about a girl? Mom says that when a boy's upset and he doesn't want to talk about it, it's almost certainly about a girl."
"Smart woman, your mother is," Jack smiled. There was a pause before Jamie started talking again.
"So, is it about a girl?" he asked uncertainly. Jack hesitated.
"Yes, it's about a girl," he said, sighing.
"What does she look like?" asked Jamie curiously.
"She's-" Jack paused, unsure of where to start. "She's got blonde hair, nearly white, and um- her eyes are really blue and big, they kind of pull you in- I don't know how to explain it. She blushes when she's a little embarrassed, it's really cute, and she worries about small details, it's adorable-"
"She sounds pretty," Jamie observed. Jack laughed. That was an understatement.
"She is," he nodded. "But there's so much more, Jamie."
"Like what?"
"Well…" Jack thought for a second, "She can be formidable and empowering- fringing on a little scary to the ones that try to stop her- one second, and the next vulnerable and defenseless. Sometimes, she hides behind impenetrable walls that she's built to protect herself, and other times she just lets go. It helps if you know how to get around her walls too- something that I'd begun to know how to do," he added sadly. "And she knows how to reassure someone that's terrified, making them feel safe and protected, and when she loves someone- she would do anything for them, loves them heart and soul. And when she likes someone, she cares about what the people that person values think about her." Jack grinned at the memories that came to his mind, forgetting for a moment that maybe he would never again get to see Elsa's startled eyes when he flirted with her or made a joke, or hear her surprised scream when he flew her into the air…
"Wow," breathed Jamie, "I'd like to meet her one day."
"Maybe you will," smiled Jack. "If you're very, very lucky."
"But why are you upset, if she's like what you say she is?"
Jack sobered, the giddiness that had come with thinking about Elsa evaporating.
"It's complicated," he muttered.
"I hate it when grownups do that," said Jamie angrily, "I'm not an idiot you know!"
"I know," Jack said, grinning at Jamie's outraged look. "Well, she's a little scared of what us being together would mean."
Jamie didn't say anything, waiting for him to continue.
"You know, because she's scared that if I get too attached I would be really, really sad if- if something happened to her. Because I can't die."
"Oh," said Jamie in understanding. "But it looks like you'll be really sad anyway, sooooo…"
"That's what I keep telling her!" cried out Jack in relief that finally someone shared his view on the question. "And I just had her convinced too when No- Santa Claus went to see her and told her to get away from me, or I would suffer."
"How do you know he said that?"
"Trust me, I know," Jack grumbled, fiddling angrily with his staff. If only North hadn't interfered in his own goddamn life, maybe Elsa would be in his arms right now, her arms wrapped around his neck…
And though she'd said that it wasn't just her conversation with North, now that the sting of her words was fading a little, he realized that what she'd said, what she'd thrown at him- they were lies, every single one of her words had not been sincere-
"You should have a conversation with Santa," said Jamie, springing to his feet, "tell him to let you do what you want to do."
"He won't listen," said Jack, "He's so wounded about what happened to him that he won't even consider the possibility that maybe Elsa and I could be happy."
Jamie didn't pause to ask what had happened to North, getting carried away, sauntering across his rooms, incapable of staying still. Jack grinned as he watched him getting all excited about this, half-worried that he would wake up his mother.
"Make him listen! Or you'll just be really upset all the time- That's how mom is, since dad left. She hides it well, but I can see it. I don't want you to be like that, Jack."
Jack looked up, startled at the revelation about Jamie's father. Now that he realized it, he had never seen or heard him, and was startled that it had never come to his mind that Jamie's father didn't live with the kid. Jamie noticed him looking suspiciously at him, and shrugged.
"Don't worry, I think we're better off without him," he said simply, and though Jack could tell this was a lie, he was stopped from comforting Jamie by a smart tap on the window.
He turned, and saw to his great surprise Bunny, huge as ever, looking in from inside the window.
"The Easter Bunny!" cried out Jamie, running to the window and lifting it open. Bunny grinned as he leaped into the room with a sigh of relief- he had evidently been climbing up to Jamie's window, and knowing Bunny's fear of heights, that must have cost him dearly.
"Hey mate," Bunny said to Jamie in his familiar Australian accent, grinning. "Brought these for you and your sister." He handed Jamie a basket filled with multicolored eggs, that Jamie took from him excitedly.
"Sophie's going to be so mad she missed you!" Jamie said, looking up at Bunny.
"Tell her I miss her too," smiled Bunny, before turning to Jack, who had stopped smiling the second he'd seen Bunny at the window.
"Thought I might find you here," said Bunny. "North sent me."
Jack, who had known something like this was coming, stood up, grabbing his staff as he stared angrily at Bunny.
"He did, did he?" he snarled. Jamie looked uncertainly at the two of them.
"Yes, he did. He- he wants to talk to you."
"Like he talked to Elsa?" Jack snapped, and Bunny frowned, a confused look on his face.
"What do you mean?" he asked, and it occurred to Jack that maybe the other Guardians weren't aware of North's attempts to bring Elsa and him apart. Far from softening him, however, the knowledge only made him angrier.
"Why aren't you with Elsa? You're supposed to be protecting her," Bunny said, oblivious to Jack's mounting rage.
"Why am I not- Oh this is the best," Jack said, laughing, though the sound was empty of all amusement. "Why am I not with Elsa, you ask, you little-"
He refrained from swearing in front of Jamie, who was looking more and more worried at the fight building between the two Guardians.
"It was your role to guard her against Pitch! I thought that was the plan!" said Bunny in an irritated voice, not understanding why Jack was behaving this way.
"WHY AM I NOT WITH ELSA?!" Jack roared suddenly, and Bunny jumped- actually jumped, whilst Jamie jumped to his bed and slid under the covers, pulling them to his face and watching the scene with fearful eyes. "BECAUSE SHE CHUCKED ME OUT, THAT'S WHY, ALL BECAUSE YOUR JOLLY OLD PAL WENT AND CRAMMED HER HEAD WITH LIES ABOUT WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF SHE LET HERSELF BE WITH ME!"
"My jolly old- North?"
"YES, NORTH! WHO DO YOU THINK?"
"Jack, look, calm down-" said Bunny, looking thoroughly alarmed now. "I have no idea what you're talking about-"
Jack forced himself to stop shouting, if only for Jamie's sake.
"Why didn't he come himself, then, if he wants to talk to me?" he snapped.
"Trouble at the Pole, the Yetis made a mess. Listen, Jack, I really don't know what you're going on about."
His rage evaporating as soon as it had come, Jack was left with only a dull, empty ache, not caring about what Bunny was saying.
"Never mind. Go ask North, and leave me alone."
And with that, he turned to Jamie, ruffled his hair, as if he was apologizing for shouting, and making a silent promise to return. Just as he was about to run out the window, Jamie grabbed his hand, and Jack turned back to him.
"Go back to her," said Jamie. "Go back."
Jack felt a lump form in his throat, and felt his eyes burn a little. He nodded at little Jamie, and without another look in Bunny's direction, he leaped from the window-sill, the wind catching him and whisking him far away from the Guardian.
…
Though Jack badly wanted to return to Arendelle- so badly in fact, that it was a near-constant ache inside him- he didn't do so immediately. Though he wanted to see Elsa again, to try again convincing her it was no use pulling away from him, he avoided it at the same time. He passed the next few days provoking snow fights and burying everything into piles of snow, in countries far away from Arendelle. He wouldn't admit it to herself, but the truth was… he was afraid. Afraid that he was wrong, afraid that after all those weren't lies she'd said, afraid that she would make him leave her again, afraid that she would shut him out.
He didn't know if he had enough strength in him to take it a second time.
Five days after he'd left Elsa behind, doing everything in his power to avoid thinking about her, he was once again wreaking havoc inside a small village, on the coast of Croatia. It looked like the people there had rarely seen snow, and were completely perplexed when powerful winds swept open their doors, their children screaming with glee as they ran outside, lifting their hands to catch snowflakes in their hands. Soon, he'd covered the ground with several inches of snow and it seemed like every child living in the village was outside, rolling around in the snow and having snowball fights (he may, or may not have started it).
When the sun set, parents called in their children, though looking as if they'd like to see them play a little longer in the snow, and Jack sat on a roof, one leg swinging into emptiness, fiddling with his staff as looked down at the children sadly leaving the snow-covered square. He saw a small girl with braided brown hair walk with her hand in her mother's hand. Just as she was about to enter her house, she turned back and to Jack's astonishment, looked directly at him. She waved shyly, before running into the cottage. Jack grinned. All afternoon, that girl had seen him brew mischief, and hadn't said a word.
He laid down on the roof, not feeling the hard tiles against his back. He watched as stars appeared gradually in the clear night sky, the cold wind ruffling his hair.
He had been gone long enough. It was more than time to go back.
But what if she'd realized in his absence that she was better off without him?
I wish we'd never met.
Lies, he told himself, she was lying.
But still, there was a deep, dark fear living inside him that none of it had been lies, that she'd meant every word.
You know she didn't, he thought firmly. This is Elsa we're talking about. She'd lie to protect me.
She'd lie to protect me.
The words echoed in his mind. A wonderful possibility came to his mind; maybe, after all this time, Elsa felt as he did. His thoughts flitted back to their kiss, of the feeling of her body under his, how he'd tried to stop her getting up to answer the door, scared that she would regret letting herself go- how she had breathed 'No, I won't' and softly kissed him…
She hadn't been preoccupied, then, that he had nothing to offer Arendelle then. Nor was she now, he realized and he was again convinced that she'd lied.
Let me be right, he thought. Please let me be right.
He stood up and started running, jumping off the edge of the roof as he did so, the wind catching him. Jack didn't even see the little girl watching the Snow Spirit flying away.
As he soared over the village, a dark shadow caught his eye. He stalled in mid-air. It had looked for a second- but no, he had imagined it-
There it was again.
Jack landed on the ground and set off at a run, his bare feet slamming against the ground.
WHOOSH
He changed directions as the Nightmare passed him, running after it. Finally, he ran straight into a dead-end, and the Nightmare was nowhere to be found. He crouched into a defensive stance, holding his shepherd's crook aloft, turning on himself, his eyes searching the shadows. If a Nightmare was here-
"Hey, mate."
Jack turned around suddenly, prepared to ice blast the person- or monster- in front of him, though he'd recognized dimly the Australian accent.
"Oh. It's you," he said as he saw Bunny, leaning against one of his cottages.
"No need to sound so disappointed," retorted Bunny, spinning a boomerang in his hand. "I've been looking everywhere for you for the past five days."
"Yeah, well, I'm pretty good at hiding when I want to not be found," said Jack, already starting to walk away from him, "Look, Bunny, if you're here to tell me North wants to talk to me, you're wasting your time. I'm going back to Elsa, and nothing you guys say is going to stop me."
"I don't want to stop you," said Bunny, "I actually had a row with North about what he did."
Jack stopped in his tracks. He turned, a hand in his front pocket.
"You did?" he said, lifting his eyebrows.
"Yep. I think you two deserve a shot, and it's not like we have a choice anyhow- no matter what we do you'll go back to her, eventually, I saw that when you started yelling at me that she chucked you out." Jack was surprised to see Bunny was grinning, a glint in his eyes. He grinned back, unable of stopping himself.
"Damn right, I am," he said.
"But first," said Bunny, his grin vanishing, "You do have to talk to North."
"Why?" Jack snapped, "He'll just go and tell me more depressing stories about what happened to him."
"Don't be too harsh on him," said Bunny quietly, "You should have seen him, after we found Anita killed by Pitch- it was horrible. He thinks he's looking out for you."
Jack didn't answer. He couldn't imagine what state he'd be in if Elsa was found murdered because of him.
Still, he shouldn't have gone talk to Elsa like he did.
"I'm going to see Elsa first," he said firmly. "If she takes me back, I'll go talk to North."
He turned away, and slammed into a yeti, that towered over him.
"I was afraid you'd say that," said Bunny.
"Don't you dare-" he started, but the rest of his protest died on his tongue as Phil lifted him up by the scruff of his neck.
"Sorry, Jack," said Bunny, though he didn't sound sorry at all as Jack tried to wriggle desperately out of the yeti's grasp. "It was North's idea."
And with that, Jack was thrown into a dark sack, and he felt himself thrown through the portal, as he recognized the sensation of being thrown across Earth in a few heartbeats.
Next thing he knew, he'd landed painfully, the sack springing open, revealing the Globe room. He crawled out, and the second he was out, springing to his feet. Next to him, a gaping hole opened in the floor, and Bunny jumped out of it. Half-wanting to strangle the guy, Jack opened his mouth to start yelling, but was cut short by Tooth.
"Jack!" she cried and hurtled to him, hugging him. "We were so worried!"
Instinctively, he wrapped his arms around her. Try though he might, Jack found it impossible to feel the same rage for Tooth that he felt for Bunny. Deep down, he knew what was happening wasn't either of their faults, but he was still mad that after turning a blind eye to Elsa's suffering for nearly her whole life, North would think it was appropriate to stuff Elsa's head with more fears than she already had. And he was totally taking his outrage out on Bunny. Tooth let go of him, and behind her was Sandy. Now, he was reluctant to be mad at Tooth- but it was impossible to be angry at Sandy. The small Guardian was bouncing up and down excitedly around Jack, and Jack chuckled despite himself.
"I'm happy to see you too, Sandy."
A question mark made out of sand floated above Sandy's head.
"I've been around," answered Jack, though something told him that Sandy knew exactly why he'd been avoiding the guardians.
"Hello Jack," said a deep, booming voice and Jack turned to see North walking towards him. He stiffened, and saw Tooth exchange a meaningful look with Bunny.
"You came," North said simply.
"I didn't have much of a choice," said Jack, "seeing as I was shoved into a sack and tossed through a magical portal. You've got to be more creative about how you kidnap people."
"I'll think about it," said North, and Jack resisted the urge to smile.
"So- now you've got me here, say what you want to say, so I can leave."
Tooth looked a little scared at his tone as she edged closer to Bunny. Sandy huffed in acknowledgement of the tension in the air.
"Jack-" (Jack prepared himself mentally for what was coming) "I know that I went wrong way to handle situation, but I'm just trying look out for you."
Jack noticed the enhanced Russian accent, that always became more pronounced when North got upset, or angry, and though he'd made an effort to remember to place all articles in Elsa's presence, he had gone back to his usual quick talk, not careful of the grammar mistakes. Not that it bothered any of them.
"Just trying-" coughed Jack. "Well, please stop trying, then. Because approaching Elsa is really not looking out for me."
"I know you think it's not, but Elsa is trouble, for all of us. You will be hurt by her."
"It's done already," said Jack, shrugging, "I'm going to get hurt either way, but I plan on being happy a little first. And that means that you have to find someone else to brainwash."
"Brainwash?! Jack, I only wanted to help!"
"Aren't you listening?! You did the opposite, North! Look, all of you lost the right to give lessons to Elsa when you turned a blind eye to what was happening to her," he said, his anger coming back in a sudden rush, "Did you know that she still has nightmares? She wakes up in the middle of the night, terrified, because she was treated like less than nothing, and each one of you could have stopped it. Are you people Guardians or not?"
Bunny's gaze dropped to the floor in shame, and Jack, far from feeling remorse about it, was oddly satisfied.
"We can't fix the past," said Tooth softly, "Though we wish we could. You can't throw it in our faces forever, Jack… If Elsa can find it in herself to forgive us, then you should too."
"Elsa would forgive anything you did to her, that's who she is- as long as you didn't attack her sister. I don't even know how she's grown into this- this amazing girl, when she had to live through what she did. And I'm not throwing it in your faces, I'm just telling you that you weren't true Guardians with her, and that you lost the right to give her shitty advice a long, long time ago."
Sandy looked at Jack with an insulted glare, and Jack smiled apologetically.
"Sorry, Sandy, I didn't mean you. I know you looked after her." He gazed around at the other Guardians. "But you were the only one who did."
And without another word, Jack's feet took off from the ground, leaving the other Guardians stunned in his wake.
He was out, already flying south towards Arendelle, when he heard Tooth calling him back. He stopped, and heard her flitting towards him, Sandy at her side.
"Jack!" she called again, and he faced her, halting in mid-air. She flew up to him, and spluttered for a moment, breathless. "You didn't stay long enough, so we couldn't tell you-"
"Tell me what?" he asked curiously.
"I saw the Southern Army march into Arendelle. They stay hidden, only moving at night, and I tried to protect as many children as I could, but- they don't leave any survivors. I think- I think they're going towards the castle. You have to hurry back."
"Do you think they'll be there yet?" he asked urgently, and Tooth shook her head.
"No, I don't think so. But you have to warn Elsa."
"I will," he said, nodding and turning her back to her again. He was about to propel himself south when she grabbed his arm. "And Jack- good luck. With Elsa. Sandy told me that she's been crying every night since you left."
Jack looked at Sandy, and the little golden man nodded.
"She's been crying?!" he said in disbelief, and Sandy nodded again, a pained expression on his face.
So all of this- just to make him go away, for his own safety- and it had caused her so much pain…
And the worst of it was that he'd actually believed it, had actually ran, and now Elsa was as unhappy as ever as armies closed around her from all sides- guilt racked his insides. He should never, ever have felt.
"Thank you Tooth," he said, embracing her. "And you too, Sandy," he added, smiling at the Sandman, and he took off.
He was in Arendelle in the hour, and flew at top speed past huge snow-covered mountains and frozen lakes- until, at long last, he saw the castle. The wind carried music to his ears, and it was a second before he realized that today was New Year's Eve, and that a ball would be taking place. He descended quickly from the skies, and not until he was close to the palace did he notice something.
There was an odd hush around the castle; nothing in the village was moving, though the decorations indicated that people had been planning on celebrating- instead, it was completely empty, a gust of wind roaming the deserted streets. He frowned. Then he heard a sound, and turned- there, at the servants' entrance were men filing in.
Maybe they're here to help with the party, he thought to himself, though he knew that wasn't it.
Something was very wrong. He had to get in, quickly- Elsa was in there, without him-
That's when the screams started.
…
Elsa had looked in her mirror without any emotion as she'd put on her make-up before the ball. Purple eye-shadow brought out her brilliant blue eyes, and Gretel smiled as she beheld the queen.
"You look beautiful, your Majesty," she'd said. Elsa smiled a little, for Gretel's sake, and the servant looked delighted. She left the room, to help with the last of the preparations, and Elsa had been left with only her reflection for company. Her tired look had been hidden by make-up, and a faint blush colored her face. But no amount of cosmetics could hide her unhappy look.
There was a knock on the door, and Anna entered. Elsa turned to watch her sister approach, and noticed that she was beginning to show; her stomach had taken a round shape, barely noticeable. Still, it was more than time to announce her pregnancy to the world. She was wearing an emerald green ball gown, that perfectly matched her eyes.
"Hello, you," she said, attempting- and failing miserably- to use a cheerful tone. She hated herself for looking so sad when this was such an important day for Anna. Her sister seemed to read her mind, and walked over to where Elsa sat, squeezing her shoulders.
"Have you decided on a name?" asked Elsa, giving a try at conversation.
"We're still thinking about it," she answered. "Still no news from Jack?"
Something told Elsa that Anna knew exactly what she was asking, as she felt her smile vanish from her face. She didn't answer, and began to braid her hair.
"I think- I know that you told him to stay away," said Anna quietly, "didn't you?"
Elsa still didn't answer, but Anna seemed to understand her silence as a confirmation.
"Elsa-" she said, and there was definitely an exasperated tone in her voice, "can't you see how unhappy you are?"
"I prefer being unhappy, rather than him being unhappy over me."
"But why would he be unhappy with you?! Honestly, Elsa, you're the only one that hasn't noticed how he looks at you. You two are nearly as obvious as Gregory and Eleanor, and that's saying something."
Elsa's lips perked around the corners, but the small smile vanished as soon as it had appeared.
"That's precisely why I did it," she said quietly, "don't you get it? I'm going to grow old, and he'll watch me slowly die-"
"You didn't come up with this on your own, did you?" asked Anna suspiciously.
"Well- no, but that doesn't make it any less true-"
"Elsa," sighed Anna, "what am I going to do with you?"
The door opened and Gretel's head emerged into the room.
"Your Majesty, Princess Anna, you should probably go down. The guests have arrived."
"I'll go," said Anna, walking towards the door. At the last moment, Anna turned back. "And Elsa? Wear an ice dress."
Before she could protest, Anna had disappeared. She chuckled softly, shaking her head.
…
She descended the stairwell that led into the ball room. A great hush seemed to settle over the guests, as they looked at the queen. Even she knew she was beautiful.
She'd forgotten how at ease and comfortable she felt in an ice dress, the cold comforting as it hugged her body. Ice sparkled on her bodice, her capelet trailing on the steps as she walked down, her heels making elegant sounds. There was a slit in the skirt, revealing her leg- her sleeves were transparent, the ice so well put together that most people would think that she was wearing silk.
She'd looked at herself in the mirror, her hair braided elegantly back. With a pang, she'd remembered a cheerful morning, not so long ago…
I'd like to see you in an ice dress.
She remembered the sound of his voice, as his eyes had sparkled when he'd looked at her.
Finally, she arrived at the foot of the staircase, and forced a smile on her face.
"May the first dance begin," she said, her voice echoing, and immediately the room was filled with music. She recognized the tune almost instantly; A Winter Waltz.
The one she and Jack had danced too.
Was the memory of him going to follow her until the end of her days?!
Everyone around her was dancing, in a flurry of movement. She caught sight of Eugene and Rapunzel, Punzie looking much too enthusiastic for this solemn dancing. She hid a smile.
In the past week, Rapunzel had been ever present, as Anna had been. They'd bonded more than ever as they'd shared their worries about the Southern Army approaching. She caught Rapunzel's eye, and her cousin beamed at her from afar. Elsa smiled back, and walked to the throne. She sat down, crossing her legs elegantly. She caught sight of the six counsellors, and they nodded respectfully in her direction. She nodded back, thinking to herself that she would have to appoint a new counsellor soon- it was tradition that the Council always be composed of seven members.
The King of the Southern Isles was dancing with Eleanor, holding her too tight for her to possibly be comfortable. She was particularly stunning tonight; her deep red hair had been swept up into an elegant hair-do, curled locks falling from it and encircling her face; her green eyes sparkled in the chandelier's light, as her midnight blue gown swished around her ankles, as she danced. Gregory was standing in a corner, looking in his father's direction darkly, holding a glass of wine and turning it slowly around, so that the gorgeously purple liquid swished around.
Anna and Kristoff were dancing too, Kristoff looking down adoringly at his wife. She could see how much they loved each other from where she sat, married for less than a month, and as happy as anyone could be.
The final notes of the song echoed into silence, and the room was hushed again. Elsa stood up from her throne, and walked to the edge of the three steps that would lead her to the same level as her guests.
"Dear guests," she said. "Welcome to my castle. I wish you all a very happy new year, and wish you well."
The crowd applauded, and Elsa stood a little straighter. Before she could start speaking again, however, she noticed, from the corner of her eye, one of the King's soldiers advance and whisper something in his ear. The King nodded, and Elsa frowned. She caught Eleanor's gaze- and what she saw there made her hold her breath. Eleanor- who had been near enough to hear what the King had been told- looked more than alarmed; it was panic in her look, anguish as she looked around. Her gaze latched on to Elsa's, and she nodded, almost imperceptibly.
"I am going to take advantage of this marvelous occasion to announce to all of you a very happy event that will soon come to pass." Elsa felt as if the words she was saying were coming from a stranger's mouth as she looked around the ballroom, trying to look unalarmed and oblivious. There was unmistakably signs of restlessness, as the crowd seemed to shift a little. She clasped her hands together in front of her, trying to control the panic that threatened to overtake her. She ploughed on bravely, trying to not let anyone see her distress. "As you all know, my sister married Prince Kristoff earlier this month. I have never known people as inspiring as these are, and the love that they share is envied by all. I am very, very happy to announce-"
At that precise moment, Elsa saw a white-haired boy whizz past the window of the ballroom, so fast she'd thought she'd imagined it. Speech had temporarily been robbed from her, and the audience was looking at her curiously.
It can't be, she thought. It's not him. A large snowflake, perhaps.
"Princess Anna is with child," she said, her voice shaking- though most of the people listening mistook the tremble in her voice as happiness. "With a little prince or princess, a direct descendant with a claim to my throne, if I never come to have children."
The audience gasped and clapped. The servants, moving around the guests, had temporarily forgotten to serve as they all rushed to Anna- who most of them had as good as raised- to hug and congratulate her. Rapunzel hurtled forward, throwing herself into Anna's arm.
Elsa didn't smile, however. She looked around her and saw Eleanor looking in a direction. Elsa realized that she was alone- the King was no longer standing beside her.
Elsa tensed, knowing that something was deeply wrong, already summoning her magic. She followed Eleanor's gaze-
She saw a guard beginning to draw his sword. She lifted her hand- not knowing if she was going to order that someone stop him, or blast him with ice- but before she could do anything, the ball room went completely dark. You couldn't see a thing, as a heavy, terrifying darkness filled the room, the kind of darkness that robbed you of all your senses…
The room erupted in screams. She stumbled down the steps.
"ANNA!" she screamed, just as she felt someone grab her from behind, their arm surrounding her throat and squeezing all the air out of her lungs. She was pulled away from the screams, and heard a door open and close behind her. She was pushed, and a second later the man was at her again, his hands around her throat. Suddenly, dazzling light blinded her, and she felt herself be slammed against a wall, the small air she had left leaving her lungs.
"Hello, Queenie," she heard a man's voice she didn't recognize growl, "The King really wants to see you, you know that?"
He was so close that she could smell his rotten breath, and gritted her teeth against the mounting panic. She closed her eyes tightly, trying to summon her magic-
"Not so fast, girlie," continued the man. "Your little tricks won't work on me."
Black spots danced over her vision. Air- she needed air, she couldn't use her powers in this state- Distantly, she heard the man growl: "I'm sure he won't mind if I get a little taste of you first, sweetheart," and felt his hands slide under her skirt, up her thigh- she thrashed and kicked, but it was no use, he was pressing her to the wall-
The door crashed open.
"Get away from her," growled a voice, and the man holding her was blasted backwards. She fell to the ground, trembling, gasping for air. She felt strong arms wrap around her, and she lurched, trying to flee-
"Snowflake, it's me," Jack said urgently. She opened her eyes, and sure enough, there was Jack, a strand of his shock of white hair falling in front of his stunningly blue eyes. Relief and amazement crashed through her.
"Jack-" she breathed. "What are you doing here?"
"I came back," he said, smiling, still holding her. Behind him, Elsa saw the man who had attacked her pinned to the wall by nothing but air, looking completely terrified. He must think that a malevolent ghost had attacked him, she thought. She turned back to Jack, who was checking that she was okay, and looked back up, meeting her gaze with a heart-breaking desperation. "I know you didn't mean a single one of those things. I know you're trying to protect me. But it won't work, Elsa, I'm here to stay, I'm not letting you go. Who cares if we don't know anything about how we're going to make this work? I don't, and neither should you, if you're happy with me now."
Elsa looked for a second into Jack's eyes, and all her walls came crumbling down, all her arguments that they could never be together falling away, as she swung her arms around his neck and pulled her to him, their mouths crashing into each other.
This was an urgent, passionate kiss, and she heard his staff fall to the ground as he wrapped both of his arms around her, responding immediately to the kiss, her feet lifting off the ground.
"I'm sorry," she said, half-sobbing, "I'm so sorry about what I said- I didn't mean it, I never regretted meeting you, I will never regret that-" He broke away from her, staring into her eyes. "It was the best day of my life," she said simply, and he pulled her to him, their mouths joining again.
"I know," he whispered, just as a scream sounded from behind the closed door that led to the ball room. They both turned, Jack's hand sliding in hers and gripping it tightly. He picked up his staff, and looked at the door with a renewed determination.
"Okay, Snowflake," he said, "Time to show these bastards what we can do."
…
The door slammed open. Elsa and Jack ran out into the ballroom; Jack saw that light had returned, but nearly wished that the ballroom be plunged in darkness again. What he witnessed was horrifying- bodies littered the ground, young girls in ball gowns, rich counts and dukes beside them. A raging battle was taking place; Jack saw Anna and Kristoff back-to-back, swords drawn, battling with five Southern guards at once, their swords flashing through the air. He wondered where Anna had learned to fight like that.
If the situation hadn't been so dramatic, he might have laughed upon seeing Rapunzel disarming a guard with a frying pan, and Eugene in a heated battle with one of Pitch's nightmares.
Eleanor was sliding on the floor, slashing enemy legs with what looked like a small, deadly dagger; Gregory was not far from her, battling one of his own brothers. Jack recognized him dimly as the one named Broderick.
Elsa hurtled into the crowd, firing icy blasts everywhere. Suddenly, a Nightmare crashed in through the window, and ran towards the Queen. Without realizing what he was doing, Jack ran after her, jumping high in the air, and swished his staff. Instantly, the Nightmare was transpierced by an icy blast. He landed next to Elsa.
"Thanks," she said breathlessly, throwing her hands forward, and three guards that were coming running at her were propelled against the nearest wall, colliding with it with such a force that they fell, limp.
"Good one, Snowflake," he said, throwing his staff forwards, ramming another Nightmare with ice, and then ramming his staff backwards into the stomach of a soldier that had been running at him from behind. The soldier bent in two, spluttered, and fell. Hitting him with another thrust of his staff, Jack knocked him out. He looked around; Elsa was surrounded by guards, all approaching her, pointing swords towards her. He ran towards her.
"NO!" she screamed at him. "I can take care of them on my own, go and help Anna!"
Sure enough, she slammed her feet onto the ground and ice erupted from the impact. The soldiers lost their balance, and Elsa took it to her advantage; thrusting her hands forward again, ice sprang out from the floor, knocking them backwards. Jack turned, running past Eleanor- who was giving the King a piece of her mind, as she slashed his stomach, and the old man staggered backwards before running in the opposite direction- Rapunzel, now fighting a Nightmare, banging him repeatedly on the head with her frying pan (as he passed, Jack swung his staff, and the Nightmare dropped to the ground, nothing more than a rest of ice, deciding that Rapunzel wasn't going anywhere with her method), and hurtled towards Anna, who was now separated from Kristoff; she was engaged in an epic sword-fight against three men at once. Jack jumped into the air, before twirling down backwards, slamming into the ground. At the impact, ice spikes rose from the ground, transpiercing one guard pretty gruesomely; at the same time, Anna rammed her sword through one guard's stomach, and Jack threw the last one backwards with a breath of wind. She grinned at him, as she turned, her sword twirling in her hand.
"You're a sight for sore eyes," she said, parrying an attack from a guard. Jack, now gripping his staff with two hands, made ice rain down on the guards attacking them. Distantly, he saw Elsa raise walls of ice, protecting her, and then ramming them forward towards the guards.
"Missed me?" he asked, grinning. He had grown fond of Anna over the past month, fonder than he'd realized.
"I'm not the only one who did," she said, winking at him; then, they were swarmed by what seemed like seven guards, and couldn't talk anymore. Where were they all coming from?
Jack turned, and saw that Southern Guards kept swarming in from a small door on the side of the room.
Probably the servant's entrance… which means someone let them in.
A sword pierced him, but cleaved right through him, as if he wasn't even there. He looked down, breathless. For once, he was glad that he was as close to non-existence as you could get.
He froze the soldier who had done it, and continued running towards the door. He had to shut it, or they would be overcome soon- They must be, at most, thirty fighting, the Counsellors, Elsa, a few servants (most had run, or laid dead on the floor) and a few guards, but who looked mostly unprepared to such a violent attack. Before he could reach it, there was an enormous crash, and the huge window imploded, shards of glass raining down on them. Following his instinct, Jack threw his staff upwards, and he, Elsa, and all of them were covered by an ice barrier against which the glass shattered. The guards, however, were not so lucky; they screamed as the sharp glass pierced their skin, most of them raising their hands to protect their eyes.
CRACK.
He looked nervously to the ceiling, as the huge crystal chandelier starting to swerve unnaturally. He looked down, and saw Rapunzel and Elsa, now fighting side by side, completely oblivious to the danger ahead. He hurtled forward, grabbing Rapunzel's arm and Elsa's waist, and jumped high into the air, pulling the both of them up with him, just as the huge chandelier went crashing down on the guards that had been attacking them moments before.
"That was close," said Rapunzel, her feet dangling into the air. "Good to see ya, Jack."
"Good to see you too, Rapunzel," he said, winking at her.
At that moment, the same darkness that had first invaded the Ball came back. He felt Elsa stiffen against him, and he brought both of them back to the ground. He couldn't see anything, and Elsa was gripping his arm as if it was the only thing keeping her sane. A flash of green light, and suddenly Pitch, riding one of his Nightmares, rode in through the window, and landed in front of them. Jack pulled Elsa behind him, and he gritted his teeth.
"Why, hello Jack. Fancy seeing you here," said Pitch. "I take it that you found the treasure hidden in Arendelle, then?"
"The other Guardians are on their way, Pitch," Jack lied, "And you're going to be very sorry when they arrive."
Pitch laughed.
"Except they're not, dear Jack. I sent a few Nightmares in their direction, and trust me they won't realize what's going on here for quite a while."
Not waiting another second, Jack lurched into action; an icy spike aimed for Pitch's Nightmare erupted out of nowhere, but missed, as Pitch lurched out of the way. He slid off the nightmarish horse.
"Oh Jack," he said chuckling, "Haven't you learned anything?"
Not seeing it happen, Pitch suddenly had a huge weapon in his hands, and threw it forward. Jack leaped, pulling Elsa with him as they narrowly missed it. Jack couldn't do anything as he saw Pitch throw it their way again- but Elsa threw her hand forward, and the weapon crashed into an impenetrable ice wall that had appeared in mid-air. Jack saw the instant Pitch realized who exactly was in his arms; his eyes widened with a kind of mad gleam, and he smirked.
"Now, this is who I've been looking for," he said. Jack readjusted his grip on his staff, preparing for a fight to the death; because that was what it was going to take, if Pitch wanted to lay a hand on her.
"Jack, you can't fight if you're holding me," she said, and it seemed as if the battle raging below them was oddly muffled somehow. Jack saw a guard disarm Anna, and Kristoff lurched forwards to help her- but a sword sank into his stomach, and Anna screamed at her fallen husband. He closed his eyes shut.
"I can," he said to Elsa.
"No, you can't."
And Jack was blasted back from her, and before he realized it he was floating in mid-air alone. He looked down, and Elsa was falling, falling… and landing into a huge pile of snow that hadn't been there seconds before. Pitch landed on the ground.
"If you want me, you'll have to come and get me!" he heard Elsa scream, and it seemed like a million icy blasts hit Pitch at the same time. He avoided them all, laughing maniacally.
"I plan too, little one!"
Jack hurtled forwards, but found himself blocked from going any further by what looked like icy, solid air-
"ELSA!" he shouted, "YOU CAN'T TAKE HIM ON YOUR OWN! LET ME IN!"
But Elsa didn't so much as glance up at him, her whole being focused on Pitch.
She avoided narrowly a gust of black sand, that burst into flames when it touched the ground. She threw her hand towards Pitch, and ice arrows erupted into existence, spinning towards the dark man. He avoided them, and vanished. Elsa turned slowly around herself, her arms raised. Jack was still floating, watching, completely terrified, incapable of paying any attention to Anna, who had picked up Kristoff's sword and thrown herself into the fight with a renewed fierceness, or Eugene, who had grabbed a sword from the ground and was slashing his sword through the air, leaving dead men in his wake as if he had been born with a sword in his hand.
"I could offer you so much, Elsa," said a deep, terrifying voice, and Elsa turned to see Pitch standing a mere inch from her. "Everything you ever wanted. Vengeance on those who abused you, power over your subjects, your sister protected forever… join me, and your wishes will come through."
"NEVER!" she screamed, and threw a huge ball of ice his way. Jack was shaking now, and it was killing him to be so close, yet so far away from her fight.
"They'll never accept you, Elsa, not really," Pitch said, next to her ear. "You'll always wonder… why you? Why were you chosen, to be like this?"
Jack recognized the words, as Pitch had once told them to him.
"DON'T LISTEN TO HIM!" he screamed, but Elsa was now completely still. Anna, holding a sword, had noticed the fight between her sister and Pitch, and was running forwards, with a fierce determination on her face, her red hair flying around her. Just like Jack had been, she was thrown backwards. Suddenly, a storm of black sand erupted around Pitch, and when it dissolved, it wasn't Pitch anymore; well, it was him, because it was his cruel expression etched upon Anna's face. Elsa lurched backwards, and Jack looked between the real Anna and the Pitch-Anna. One looked terrified, confused; the other, looked smug and cruel.
"Your sister, who no matter what she tells you will always be terrified of you."
"NO!" Anna screamed, banging against the solid air, "ELSA DON'T LISTEN, IT'S NOT TRUE, NONE OF IT IS TRUE-"
But Elsa seemed too far gone to hear her. She stared at Anna's face in a kind of horrified shock. Black sand covered Pitch again, and when it dissolved there was a brown-haired woman that Jack did not know, looking cruelly at Elsa. Elsa whimpered at the sight, and Anna sank to her knees.
"Your mother, horrified at what she had brought into this world, what a monster you were, how frightened she was for her second daughter-"
"No," sobbed Anna, "Elsa, it's not true, she loved you more than she ever loved anything-"
Black sand covered Elsa's mother, and when it faded, a tall, blond-red haired man emerged, and Jack didn't need to hear Elsa's intake of breath to know who this was.
"Your father," said Pitch quietly, "Who ordered for you to be imprisoned in that room, because he couldn't bare the sight of you-"
"No," gasped Elsa, "No, he didn't know-"
"You know he did, little one. He was behind it all."
"NO!" she shrieked, and ice seemed to erupt out of her being in a violent blast; Pitch surrounded himself with dark sand, which seemed to protect him from Elsa's powers, and when he emerged once more, Jack was horrified to see that Pitch had turned into a small, blond-eyed girl. He recognized immediately.
"You cause so much misery around you," Pitch said in Katie's small voice, "You were responsible for Katie's death, when all she wanted was to serve you well."
"STOP IT, STOP IT!" Elsa shouted, and Jack saw that tears were cascading down her cheeks now. He flew back, and hurtled towards the wall again, but it was no use, he couldn't get through. Finally, Pitch was surrounded with black sand again, and he emerged as the most terrifying thing so far.
The sand fell to the feet of a white-haired boy, with blue eyes, a staff in his hands. He hated Pitch, he always had- but when he saw Elsa sink to her knees as she saw Jack's face looking at her with a cruel smirk, he decided that hatred wasn't a big enough word to describe what he felt for Pitch.
Elsa buried her face in her hands, as Jack landed beside Anna, who was banging her fists against the invisible wall that was stopping her from going to her sister.
"You're not him," he heard Elsa murmur to herself, "You're not Jack."
The Pitch-Jack laughed cruelly, and the real Jack was horrified to hear his own voice coming out of his mouth.
"No, I'm not, little one, but I know what he thinks. I always know. Do you know what he feels for you? Only pity, darling, he pities the poor, miserable creature you are and that's why he came back. You're worthless to him, he wouldn't blink if you died, it would be a relief, because you're nothing but a burden, an obligation to him."
"ELSA!" Jack shouted. "ELSA, YOU KNOW IT ISN'T TRUE!"
Elsa turned, just a little, and saw the real Jack screaming behind her. Her eyes widened, and he shook his head.
"Elsa," he said, and he knew she heard her, "I've never felt like this for anyone before. Don't let him play on your fears, believe me, the real me, that's offering his heart to you, not because you have ice powers, or because you're broken inside, but because you're the most amazing, wonderful, brilliant girl I have ever met."
"He lies," said the fake-Jack, and Elsa turned back to him. "You know he does. No-one can ever love you, not even your own sister. But I can. Come with me, and all of your misery will end, all of your sorrow, all of your fear… Come with me, and you will never have to worry about what people around you feel, you will be stronger than all of them-"
"Shut up," Jack heard Elsa say quietly. Jack saw that the battle around him seemed to have halted, as everyone seemed to watch, in breathless silence. Eugene and Rapunzel ran to Anna, picking her up from the floor and holding her tight as they watched fearfully. "You don't know anything about what people feel about me, and I will never follow you. I'd rather die, than spend the rest of my days with you."
The fake Jack's smirk disappeared.
"Very well," he said in a low, dangerous voice that the real Jack had never heard escape his lips before. "If you want to play, darling, then we will play. There are other ways to make you do my bidding."
"No," said Elsa, "there aren't."
And with that, Elsa twisted her hand, and ice arrows appeared again, going straight for Pitch; at the same moment, what looked like an ice rope erupted from her hand, and coiled around Pitch's hand; but a black barrier appeared before Pitch, and the arrows all crashed to the ground; now, a knife was in his hand, cutting the rope that had wrapped itself around his hand; he grabbed his horse, and hoisted itself on it.
"Until we meet again," he snarled, and ran out of the window, into thin-air. He shouted, "GRAB THE GIRL!" before disappearing, and Jack noticed that all of the Southern soldiers seemed to be surrounded by black smoke. One ran towards Anna, grabbing her arm; she screamed, just as Elsa shouted "NO!". Then, Rapunzel, knocked her cousin's arm out of the soldier's grasp, and said, looking him dead in the eye;
"I am Princess Anna of Arendelle."
Next second, they'd both vanished. Eugene looked stunned.
It was a moment before Jack realized that they were alone in the ballroom, alone with bodies surrounding them; another moment before he realized that the solid air that had stopped him going to Elsa's rescue had vanished. He sprinted to her, and wrapped her in his arms, and she held him tight, as she looked with horror at the spot where Rapunzel had disappeared.
"What- Rapunzel-"
Eugene's knees slammed to the ground, as Anna ran to Elsa and Jack, hugging them both.
"Rapunzel- she said she was me, and they took her-"
"What just happened?" said Eugene in a strangled voice. "Where- Rapunzel-"
"Anna," they heard a chocked voice from behind them, and Anna turned to see that Kristoff was trying to sit up.
"Kristoff!" she gasped, and she hurtled towards him, throwing her arms around his neck. "I thought- I was so scared-"
Kristoff smiled bravely, then he was overcome by a fit of coughs, and Jack was alarmed to see that he was coughing blood.
"His wound is severe," said someone, and Jack and Elsa turned to see Counsellor Nicodeme advance towards them. "We should carry him to his apartments, and care for him there."
"Will he be alright?" Anna asked weakly, as five counsellors rushed forward, hoisting Kristoff onto their backs.
"We will do our best," said Counsellor Nicodeme, and they started mounting the staircase, Anna following.
"Eugene-" started Elsa, detaching herself from Jack and going to her cousin's husband- "Eugene, they're not going to kill her, they wanted Anna to hold her hostage-"
"Where is she?" he asked, and Jack saw that he was looking directly at him. "Tell me! You must know where he took her. I have to go after her!"
"I don't," said Jack, "But Elsa's right. Rapunzel is safe, at least for now."
"Safe?!" cried Eugene, "Safe?!"
"We'll get her back, Eugene. I swear it on Arendelle."
Eugene's eyes snapped to Elsa, and though he looked intensely distressed, he seemed to focus a little, though it was evident that panic threatened to overtake him.
"We'll go after her," she said, and Elsa gripped Eugene's trembling hand in her own. "And I promise you, that the men who took her will be very sorry they ever dared lay a hand on my family."
Eugene's gaze hardened, and Jack saw him squeeze Elsa's hand. Then, turning on his heel, he followed Anna.
Elsa walked back to Jack, and seized his hand.
"Let's try not to break that promise, shall we?" Jack said, and Elsa kissed him gently, as if to remind herself that this was the real him, and that what Pitch had said were nothing more than lies. She would worry later about what had happened, she would cry later about what had happened to Rapunzel- for now, she just wanted to sink into oblivion.
…
Rapunzel didn't scream as she was obscured by darkness. She didn't resist her captor's grasp, more scared of what would happen if she let go and spiraled into darkness. Even then, when she didn't know where she was going, if she would ever see Eugene again, she didn't regret her decision.
Eugene. What he must feel- what she would feel if he pulled something like this on her-
She hadn't had a choice, she thought desperately. She couldn't let Anna be taken, no doubt to be used against Elsa, maybe even murdered- she had a baby inside her, and what a weapon she would be, if they used her against the Ice Queen-
Still. With all her bravado, all her sensible words, Rapunzel was terrified.
CRACK
With an ear-splitting sound, Rapunzel left the nothingness and erupted into existence, to find herself on the ground. She lifted her head, taking in her surroundings. She was in a bedroom, she realized, a huge one, with a king-sized bed, and moonlight pouring in through the huge window. Her gaze halted for a second on the huge white orb, and though she felt as if she had never felt more afraid in her life, an odd sense of peace filled her at the sight. Then, she saw a man, tall, with a shock of red-hair, gazing out of the window, his back to her. She looked around, and saw that guards were positioned next to the door, and sitting casually on a comfortable looking armchair, was the most horrifying man Rapunzel had ever seen. She felt as if she could literally feel evil emanating from him.
"Hello, darling," said Pitch, and Rapunzel shivered at the fear he struck in her heart. "I see that you are not princess Anna."
At those words, the man near the window spun around.
"You told me that Anna would be the one we took!"
"I thought it would be," said Pitch, not turning his eyes away from Rapunzel. "Obviously, some mistake was made."
Rapunzel got to her feet, her evening gown now covered in blood.
"I am Princess Rapunzel of Corona," she said, more bravely than she truly felt.
"I know," said Pitch, and Rapunzel couldn't repress the shiver that coursed through her body. "You'll do."
Then, all went black.