CHAPTER 14-Pact
When morning came Elsa was the first to wake as usual. There was a tranquil feeling when she did, her body felt light, and her mind clearer than she can ever recall. The memory of last night's talk with Jack filled her with warmth, making Elsa bury herself deeper under the bedcover.
Anna for once woke up not too long after Elsa, with lots of energy to release. Despite already knowing about Anna's dream, Elsa still listens to her sister's tale—listing everything they did and her pleas of what they should do together when the war is over. The listing and pleading continued all their way down to breakfast, where at the designated dining table, Lukas was already there along with Tooth.
Elsa looks around to see if any of the other Guardians were coming, but there was no sign of them. "Where is everyone?" she asks as she and Anna seated themselves.
Tooth turns an apologetic look towards the sisters. "They won't be joining us for breakfast this morning. North and Sandy and Bunny are teaching the others how to perform the Pact."
"Oh…" Elsa hid her disappointment behind her queenly mask, and followed the flow of the news to the more important subject. "Then shouldn't we be joining them? We have to learn how to perform the Pact as well."
"I'll be teaching you guys about it later after breakfast. Besides, your part in the ceremony will be simple enough to perform without much practice. Majority of the ceremony relies mostly on the Beings because of our affiliation with magic."
"That makes sense," reply Anna, taking a bite of her biscuit. "So is Rapunzel here as well? She's got to be tired by now, haven gone back and forth without sleep."
Elsa have forgotten about the different timeline between the worlds, and felt sorry for Rapunzel. "She is," Tooth answered, "She hasn't gotten much rest in either my realm or in Arendelle. So we'll be pushing the ceremony back towards the late afternoon for her to have some time to rest."
Maybe she can use a bit of Sandy's dream sand when she rest. It certainly helped last night. Elsa thought to herself, remembering the effects the dream sands had on her and Anna.
"Then what are you going to do for the rest of the day Lukas?" Anna asks, taking a sip of her mint tea.
Ever since this morning, Lukas hasn't once put the Promise Book down. There were tales of Story Tellers—his ancestors in the book, but more importantly, instructions on how and what the book can do. Even last night he kept his nose in the book, reading all the assigned pages North had instructed him to do, in order to learn more about his role as the new keeper of the book.
When Anna asked her question again, Lukas refuses to lift his eyes from the pages, but answer her all the same. "I'll be learning from North more about how to use the Promise Book properly. Afterword in the afternoon, I'll be guiding the ceremony as the Binder. The making of the Pact has to be guided by either the keeper of the book, or an experience Being, acting as the Binder between those who are performing the Pact."
"Really?" Anna asked surprise. She was getting a bit confused, wondering if the Pact making was more complicated than what was explained the other day.
"North said so," reply Lukas flatly. Swiftly, he turns the book to face openly towards Anna and Elsa, holding it so that the pages are flipping freely to where they wanted. Towards the back again, where emplaced of the blankness, was instruction on how to make a Pact. "Even the book said so."
XxXxXx
"Not bad Lukas!" complimented Tooth, "At the rate you're going, you will have mastery over the book in no time."
Lukas smiled at her, flattered by Tooth's positive reinforcement of his skill. "I still need to get better though. And do more than just be able to 'search' things up." He turns the book back towards him, and resumed the pages he was reading while taking small bites from the food on his plate.
For the rest of breakfast, Elsa and Anna listened to the reports Rapunzel gave Tooth about Arendelle's progress. Anna's little disappearance had caused quite the panic among the people, which was no surprise there. But once Rapunzel announced that she'd received word from Elsa, that Anna had stowaway on ship with her, the people have settled down, understanding the princess would do such a thing. Kristoff is still mad though, and is waiting to let Anna have an earful when she comes back.
There is a bit of a problem with the evacuation. The evacuation is taking longer than expected, and there isn't much room for the tents to be spread comfortably, so the citizens will be living in cramp spacing during the course of war. This also means that there's a majority of the citizens who will not be located near a steam hole for warmth. However the cold will not be too big of a problem; springs in Arendelle are warm, and summer is on the way. The worry for cold will be at its peak is if the citizens are force to move higher-up to the snow zone of the mountain.
If it does come down to it, there will be plenty of blankets to be distributed along with some extra warm clothing. Other supplies will not be a problem either, thanks to the kingdom of Coronal. Their ships with the supplies are just days away. As for the Southern Isles Kingdom, their military fleets are two days away.
Following the schedule after breakfast, Lukas went with North to farther his lesson, while Elsa and Anna went with Tooth. She decided to hold their study at another pond, though there was a small waterfall at this new location.
Tooth was already hyped-up ready to teach the sisters. "Alright girls!" she starts, "The Pact ceremony can take a while depending on how many Beings you're forming a Pact with, you are not limited to one partner. Plus the Pact involves you to learn about the Being you're forming a Pact with: their story, and what sort of Being they are. That way, you will have a base to build upon the three traditional promises."
"Our loyalty, strength, and our faith," said Elsa, listing off the three.
"And anything else you can promise. Like I've said before, your part in the ceremony will be simple enough; the main thing you want to focus on during our lesson is what you can promise in the Pact"
"…But what else can we promise?" Anna asks, wondering what she can offer to strengthen the Guardians.
"Well it all depends on you. Other than the traditional three, you can offer certain actions you can do in some situations. Such as promising to always heal their wounds whenever they're hurt, offer to help support them, to also fight alongside them—only if you're able to though!" The last part was quickly added in, while turning a particular eye on Anna as she said it. Understanding Anna would rush into battle too if her sister so choose to do so, or even with Kristoff. "Remember, everything you promise can strengthen your partner, only if it's kept. For each time you break one, it will weaken your partner. And whenever they break a promise to you, they can weaken themselves."
"…Is there anything else we can promise?" Elsa asked out of concern for the young Guardians. She understands that what they are offering during the Pact are great powers, and once they come to Arendelle, they will be risking their lives to protect everyone. Meanwhile she and Anna can't offer much to them other then what they're humanly capable of.
There was a motherly look to Tooth as she smiles at her, understanding Elsa's concern. "It all depends on you," she answers. "Other than deeds, you can off things only you, your individual self can do, parts of which makes you, you. For example," Tooth flies close to Anna. "Anna, right away I can tell you are a happy energetic women, who's also very kind and compassionate, as well as goofy at times. You can promise some of these traits in the Pact. With your kindness and compassion, you can promise to always be there to console them when they're in doubt, sad, or afraid. And with your goofiness, you can promise to brighten their day when they're down or at least try to."
What Tooth said made Elsa uneasy. What part of myself can I possibly offer? was her thought. She can name so many qualities that her sister can offer, but yet, can't think of one for herself.
Elsa felt a hand on her shoulder belonging to Tooth. "It's alright Elsa, the practice for the ceremony is short, easy enough to mesmerize. So take your time to think about your offers, your time with me right now, is mainly for the two of you to come up with a list of promises."
Elsa was feeling somewhat better, grateful for Tooth and her motherly nature. Something she misses from her own mother. "…Alright…Then let us get started with the practice ceremony."
XxXxXx
The sun was halfway set with the shadows in the cavern growing longer by the minute. Everyone was gathered on the same location as to where Elsa, Anna, and Lukas first met the young Guardians. It was time.
Elsa and Anna stood side-by-side within the center ring formed by the young Guardians, ten yards in diameter; Lukas, with the book in hand, stood at the head of the ring, a yard away outside of it. Meanwhile far away on the side line, the older Guardians watched in silent with unbreakable attention. The distance was needed in order for them not to be caught within the Pact's magic once it begins.
Lukas looks over at each of the young Guardians. "Ready?" he asks. They nodded in response. He turns to the sisters with the same question.
"As ready as we'll ever be," Anna replied confidently, while Elsa nodded in agreement.
Lastly, he turns a gaze towards North and the old man winks at him with a smile. "Go on," North mouthed for encouragement.
Lukas takes in a deep breath through his nose, and releases it out of his mouth. "Pact," he commands the book. Instead of going towards the back as usual, the book flew open to its center, with all the pages empty. It begins to glow in moonlight, engulfing Lukas in the same shine throughout his body. Taking another deep breath, Lukas spoke loud and clear for all to hear. "The humans who wish to form a Pact with the Beings before me, please state your name."
"I, Elsa of Arendelle wish to form a Pact."
"I, Anna of Arendelle wish to form a Pact."
At the announcement of their names, the book reprinted their names on its open page, in elegant, yet bold writings.
Next was the young Guardians' turn. "The Beings before me who wish to form a Pact, what say you? Will you join in this Pact?" Each of The Big Four taped the ground below them, with Rapunzel and Hiccup using their foot, while Merida uses the end of her bow, and Jack with his staff. As a result, magical rings formed below each of them, Rapunzel with the sun, resembling well of her own Kingdom's crest; Hiccup with an autumn leaf, Merida with a flame, and Jack with a snowflake. "Now, do you four agree to Pact with these humans?"
"Yes," they said in unison.
"Do you all promise, to give Elsa, and Anna, your loyalty, your strength, as well as to have faith in them?"
"Yes," was once again their answer.
"Then let us begin…Pact." The pages within the book started to flip wildly back and forth, giving Lukas a difficult time holding it firm. Till finally, every last page ripped itself from its bind, flying around the young Guardians like a whirlwind.
Tooth had warned the sisters of the whirlwind, but they were still unprepared for it, even the shaking of the ground. Elsa and Anna had to hold on to each other for support. However, the young Guardians seem to be unaffected; they stood straight and tall like the shaking wasn't even there.
The pages appear to be multiplying in numbers—continuing to increase as they were closing in on the sisters, as well as turning black as ink. There was a loud noise from the Book of Promise, despite it being empty with no pages. The book slam shut while still creating a ringing sound. With that there was an outburst of blackness, and all was dark.