Chapter 40-Confronting the Heart
Before the crack of morning Jack arrived back at the castle with Elsa. Both of them were very wearer from last night's argument, and they have been silent on the whole way back. He managed to take Elsa back to her room by first going through the windows of her study room, and then they made their way through the halls undetected, all the way to the other side of the castle where her room was. Once they were in front of the door of her chamber, Jack let Elsa down and watched as she entered, and closed the door.
He stood there for a minute, long after she'd left him in the hall. "Did you talk to her about it?" Jack heard someone said down the hall, but he recognized the voice.
Jack waited for the person to make her way towards him. When he felt she was close enough, he spoke. "How long have you been waiting for us Blonde?" Jack asked, without turning to look. "All night? That can't be good for your health."
"No Jack, I just had a feeling from the Pact right about an hour ago." Rapunzel walked over in front of him, blocking his view of Elsa's door. She was in her human form.
Jack's eyes widen a bit. "Rapunzel," he started, placing a hand on her shoulder. "You really don't look so well! You're practically pale as the Snow Queen now."
"I'm fine Jack," Rapunzel said, as she brushed off his hand. "Really I am."
"Sorry to say but I don't believe you," said Jack firmly. "Is it because of the Pact—is it making you sick? You should go and rest and I'll—"
"No Jack I'm fine," Rapunzel insisted. "I had a little bit of food poisoning that's all. I took a few bites of last night's dinner and couldn't stomach it."
Jack shook his head, "Rapunzel, you've been on a series of pale skin, loss in colors, and fatigue. I really think you should take a few days off, and even see a doctor?"
Rapunzel ignored him. "Seriously Jack, on more important matters, tell me what happened last night." Being brought back to that subject, it gave Jack a foul taste in his mouth. Jack didn't answer, but only sighed and lowered his head. Rapunzel responded sarcastically, "Well I guess that means it didn't go so well."
"You should know," said Jack harshly, "you're practically her health monitor now."
"Grumpy in the morning aren't we?" said Rapunzel, this time ignoring the tone Jack took.
"…Nothing was solved," Jack confessed. "Overall, I guess we agree to maintain our friendship during the duration of the war and after, but as for her feelings, she wants to hold onto them during and even after the war."
Rapunzel raised one of her eyebrows at Jack, and tilted her head slightly to see his lowered face. "So let me tell you how I am understanding this Jack. You and Elsa have decided that maintaining your friendship means her emotional and mental state is neither bad, but it's not at perfection, in which case is fine. It doesn't affect the Pact too badly. However—in general, it is bad for Elsa to have feelings for you."
Jack shook his head and looked up at Rapunzel with a sarcastic smirk. He started drifting back until his back touched the wall. "Right on the spot Blonde," said Jack, but it didn't sound like a compliment.
"I'm not finish Frost," Rapunzel replied in more seriousness. "It sounds to me that you're the one with the problem here."
"What?!" Jack hissed, barely able to force it through his teeth in order to control the volume of his voice.
"I'm saying you're really uncomfortable about Elsa having feelings towards you—now I don't want to hear any excuses or reasons," Rapunzel added quickly, stopping Jack from interrupting her. "I can guess what they may be."
"Can you?" Jack challenged in a low voice.
For several minutes, the two of them stood there glaring at each other as the sun's light continued to grow brighter and brighter, shifting its shin at an angle through the windows.
Jack was the first to break off their glaring competition. He sighed as he made to leave. "Wait Jack," said Rapunzel, slightly turning her body to face him.
"What is it now Blonde?" Jack asked annoyed. "What else do you have to say to me? Because right now, I really want to be alone."
This time, Rapunzel asked in a much more sincere tone. "Be honest with me Jack, and it is important that you do. Not because Elsa is our human Pact partner, but she is my cousin and I care about her as much as Anna does. Do you even love her Jack?—because that is the big question missing. What are your feelings towards Elsa?"
Jack turned around to look at Rapunzel suspiciously, and then he took a glance at Elsa's door before returning his gaze back on his friend. Reaching out, he gently took hold of one of Rapunzel's arm, and pulled her toward the side until her back was once more facing the door. Jack then drifted in close to one of her ears. "You can't repeat this to anyone," whispered Jack, "do you understand Blonde…? I've been alive as Jack Frost for a very, very, long time, about eight-hundred years, or rather eight-hundred and six to be exact. I've seen a lot of things, and have met many interesting humans even though they couldn't see me…and that also meant I felt many things in response to them. I had my fair shares of crushes and infatuations on female humans, all of them were very beautiful and charming in their own right." Jack chuckled, "You were even one of them Blonde."
Rapunzel smiled, taking that information as a light complement. "Flattering to hear Jack," she said simply.
"Now do you know what separated you from those other human females?" Jack asked, but didn't wait for her to reply. "You were able to see me—hear me, talk to me and even touch me. Granted that it was all under special circumstances but you were the very first human to affirm my existence along with Eugene…Now, what do you think separates you from Elsa?"
"Immediate friend zone," Rapunzel said, earning her another chuckle from Jack.
"Isn't that a bit insulting to yourself there Blonde?" asked Jack with a small smile.
"I can ask you the same thing," Rapunzel retorted, her smile widening a bit.
"Ouch, fine, you can be funnier than me sometimes, but point is, you became a dear friend along with the others to me: you became my partner, my ally, a comrade, a sister. You, Hiccup and Merida all hold a special place in my heart. Elsa…" Jack trailed off, his throat and mouth felt dry. Jack swallowed twice, and with each swallow he took he moved his head first down, then to his left. "I don't know…" he said, looking miserably back at Rapunzel, "I honestly don't know how I feel…When I'm with her, I'm just calm, relax, like I can be myself—"
"And you can't be like that with your close dear friends?" Rapunzel posed.
"—No—I mean," Jack swallowed again while clenching his teeth. "That's not what I meant when I said that. I meant that it feels right—or rather it feels like nothing! Everything just runs so naturally; things just ran smoothly. Rapunzel, please understand, I know this isn't a good description but that's the best I can describe in words how I feel around her."
"…I guess asking a non-romantic guy like you to describe his feelings wasn't going to work from the beginning," Rapunzel said with disappointment, though Jack felt that it was more so directed at herself than him. "But what about wanting to be with her in general? Don't you have any desire for that?"
Jack didn't reply. He closed his eyes. Took a breath. Released. Jack re-opened his eyes and looked over Rapunzel's shoulder and at Elsa's door. He left a few seconds later drifting swiftly back in the direction he came from without ever answering. And Rapunzel didn't stop him.
Rapunzel took a glance at Elsa's door herself and made to go and knock, but stopped herself after her hand was near contact. She lowered her hand and walked away, heading back towards her own room. Upon nearing, Rapunzel halted, suddenly feeling swoon. Next was a wave of sickness climbing its way up her throat. Rapunzel quickly covered her moth with one hand, and rushed over towards one of the empty knight armor. She took off its helmet but held it tilted so that the visor wouldn't slide open. Rapunzel placed her mouth near the opening and released. She gagged a few time but it didn't take long before all that needed to come out did. Rapunzel didn't dare to look in, and was glad that her nose had become temporary clogged so she couldn't smell what was now inside the helmet. Rapunzel leaned her back against the wall, but kept herself from sliding down, and held the helmet firmly in her hands. She looked up towards the ceiling and said to herself, "Maybe I should take a few days off. I can't keep going like this."
XxXxXx
Once the Commanders and the Arendelle Council learned of Elsa's 'Descend' into new levels of power and the effects it had, they were persistent with wanting to meet with her urgently, worried about her health and physical changes overall. But this time, Elsa was the one who ordered them to let her be, at last for one more day of rest.
The Southern Isle brothers Grill and Lipso soon learned of Elsa's Descend as well. Wanting to take advantage of this information, they suggested in spread the word right away to the Arendelle people and the soldiers. That way, it would rias their moral to the extreme, knowing that the last battle, now named 'Ice, Snow, and Shadows,' the Queen of Arendelle had been the one to wage such a storm alongside Jack Frost. After careful consideration of the suggestion, the members of the alliance agreed it would be beneficial. Merida also made a suggestion of having Elsa be out in public view more often from then on, so that everyone can see the changes they have herd from the spreading word.
Merida had argued, "There are strengths that can come from rumors that are shrouded in mysteries, grown from the minds of imagination. But, to actually see mysterious rumors are true, that can stand to have greater strength than blind faith."
When it was settled to have Elsa make multiple public appearances, Rapunzel weighed in on a different matter. It had to do with the relocation of the civilians. Beforehand, Rapunzel decided to come to the meeting in her human form, meanwhile letting Kristoff control her Spirit doll. This way she and Eugene could explain their plan better without having to worry about losing concentration on the Being doll.
"So where do you have in mind to move the people Princess Rapunzel?" asked Commander Gorm.
Rapunzel took a deep breath, mainly to clear her mind before speaking. "Unfortunately Commander, there are no real safe place in Arendelle to relocate the citizens. In the last few days we had Bellflower looked at every location we thought possible, able to host the large body of citizens while still being a defendable area. But every location she went presented the same problem, being too far away for reinforcement to come, as well as regular supply deliver.
"…Well can't Bellflower be able to do something about supply deliveries?" Commander Atlas asked, turning to look at the doll. "That day when the very first Hole appeared, you were away on patrol, but I remember seeing you appearing almost out of nowhere back in town."
Carefully, Kristoff had the doll said "I used a portal of mine to transport myself back to town that day."
"Then can't you create the same portal to transfer the citizens to the new location, as well as to help make regular delivery?"
Both Rapunzel and Eugene, along with the others, were all alarmed by the question. They hadn't expected anyone to talk to the Spirit doll in general, and so were worried as to how Kristoff would have the doll answer. Rapunzel couldn't answer it herself, it would be suspicious for her to answer in place of the 'Spirit of Spring', and she couldn't even tell Kristoff what to say.
Before Rapunzel or the others could think of a solution, the doll spoke. "I'm sorry to disappoint you Commander Atlas, but to transport a large body of people through my portal is currently impossible. Despite being a spirit, I have not been living long as one. Compare to Jack and the others, I am just a fledgling; not all my powers are equally powerful, and that includes my ability in making portals and transporting people through them."
Rapunzel and the others had to subdue their smile; they were impressed with the answer Kristoff had manipulated the doll into saying. It was a straight hard hit on the nail. Anna's radiant pride for Kristoff's performance was the hardest to hide.
"And I don't mean to burst your hope Commander," said Hiccup, "But Spirit portals are limited in the kinds of creatures we're allow to transport through. Due for safety measures of course."
Eugene glanced over at Rapunzel, wanting to see if that was true or not. Rapunzel replied with a smile, and discreetly rocked her head side-to-side.
One of the Arendelle Councilor sighed, and asked, "Then we have no choice. If we are to relocate the civilians, then it must be at a risk."
"Not quite," Eugene intruded. "Rapunzel said there's no real safe place in Arendelle, but that doesn't mean outside would pose the same threat."
"What do you mean by that Prince Eugene?" voiced a different councilor.
"With the permissions of the Arendelle's Council and Princess Anna and Her Majesty Queen Elsa, we would like to purpose a mission in moving the Arendelle citizens out of Arendelle and into the Kingdom of Corona."
Neither the Commanders nor the Council spoke right away. They also shared the shock with Anna and the Southern Isle brothers. In one perspective, that would be a good solution, but other questions and doubts were streaming through their minds."
"But wait," Anna finally spoke, "that would be a problem for the Corona Kingdom. We agreed that you are only providing support in this war through supplies. We can't have you get your Kingdom involve more then you already are."
"And we are not," Rapunzel argued. "The Kingdom of Corona will just be extending a little bit more of its help. Our Kingdom will temporarily host the Arendelle citizens within our borders until other plans are made, or until the war ends. Given that our support in the supplies will wane from this plan, but we'll still be able to make some delivery to the army."
Before Anna could argue back, Jack stepped in. "I think that could be a good idea. Looking back since this war started, Hans and Pitch has yet to make an attack on the Southern Isle. So far all of their focus and strengths have been targeted on Arendelle. This could mean that though they are powerful, they are still limited in where they can stretch their strengths. Perhaps if we did get the citizens far enough, then not only will the people be safe, but Pitch's sources of fear will be reduce as well."
It didn't take long before it became apparent that the Commanders and Councilmen were coming around on the idea. "But Arendelle doesn't have enough ships to sail many citizens out in one day," voice Commander Gorm, looking as though he was deep in thought.
"And the supply ships of Corona are not suitable in transporting a large group of people either," said Commander Atlas, leaning forward on the table. "The ships are big themselves, but to transport people along with possessions would be tight spacing. And it would be about five days sail."
"And this is where the Princes of the Southern Isle can lend their hands," Rapunzel said, turning to look at the brothers.
"Yes Princess?" Lipso said.
"We know that you are using your ships to transport your dead men to be buried back home. But at most you only use two ships to do it. So with your permission, can you lend us the remaining three of the five?"
The brothers gave their permission, but Anna two more arguments to make. "But what about the citizens' safety while over the ocean? Hans was able to easily sink the boats after we had just returned from the Realm of Beings. If he could do that, what's to stop him from abducting people while they're out there? And we can't just start sending the people over to Corona; we need the King and Queen permission and that could take—"
"Anna," said Rapunzel, "Our allied spirits here have all gotten into contact with some of their Being friends, and those Beings have agreed to guard the ships as they travel back and forth between kingdoms, however, those Beings will remain unseen at all times. As for the matter about intruding on Corona, I've already sent a letter to my parents with the help of Bellflower's magic. I may need to hammer a few things out with them on this plan, but otherwise, they are already preparing an area just outside the kingdom for the Arendelle citizens. Everything is already set to go."
Anna suddenly looked as though she had lost all energy, which was unusual in her character. "…You two are really serious about this plan aren't you?" Yes was both Eugene and Rapunzel's answer. "Fine," Anna said in defeated. "I still don't like this, and you can believe Elsa will try to have you change your mind. But otherwise, go ahead and start telling the people about Elsa's Descending, and start having the citizens prepare for their relocation. I'll go and inform Elsa about what's been decided in this meeting.
XxXxXx
Anna was right about Elsa, the very moment when the report was finished, she rushed to get Eugene and Rapunzel to change their minds. However, she gave up surprisingly sooner than what everyone had expected of her out of her usual persistency.
The word about Queen Elsa's Descend spread faster than any other news in the history of Arendelle. So for the next few days, Elsa, alongside her sister, both performed tasked requiring them to be out in the public view. It also didn't take long for the letter Rapunzel sent home to return. She quickly hammered all the questions her parents raised, and with Elsa's help, decided on a compromise—with the approval of the King and Queen of Corona, to repay the Kingdom for hosting the Arendelle citizens. Once everything was settled, the relocation was fully put into motion.
In order to increase the speed of the moving, Jack came up with the idea of creating several narrow ice tracks that goes from the Safe Camp, all the way down into town. Travelling on the tracks would be long heavy sleighs made from ice, and each one will be controlled by Arendelle's ice harvesters assigned to one specific track. That way, the harvesters could memorize all the bends and curves of their assigned track, and will know when to slow their sleigh down to avoid running out of control and off their track.
Jack stationed himself around the bottom of the tracks, and would monitor the sleighs after they reach a certain point when nearing town. He would watch for any incoming sleighs and help them slow down to a safe stop, and would melt them down after everything's unloaded and all the passengers was out. This way he could make way for another sleigh to come in. But it was mostly important for Jack to be stationed at the bottom so then he could monitor how many sleighs were travelling down the same track. This way he could warn the ice harvesters coming down if there was still a sleigh ahead of him or not, so that they may decrease the sleigh's speed. And once at the bottom, the harvesters would travel back up by horses.
Meanwhile, Elsa was stationed at the top of the tracks in the Safe Camp with Anna. Her job was to create new ice sleighs after each ones has been sent down in any of the tracks, carrying either passengers or possessions. Anna helped out with the items loading and the seating of the civilians. Though in truth, she strongly wanted to help by driving the sleighs, seeing how much the children was getting the most enjoyment out of the ride—second to Kristoff. Surprisingly enough Elsa came up with a compromise with her sister; she was willing allow Anna one ride at the end of each day: Kristoff would be driving naturally, but Jack, Merida, or Hiccup had to be monitoring the ride from Strat to finish.
During those days, Elsa felt something she hadn't felt in a long time. She felt different. Minus the closed doors and the solitude room, the way how the soldiers and her people beamed at her with their gaze, filled with tremendous awe and hope, Elsa felt so different. It wasn't a good difference either. Their gaze and smiles all felt too heavy; heavier than when she first took the throne, and even heavier than when they first feared her.
…Elsa wished she could talk to Jack.
XxXxXx
Surrounding the blacksmith shop were thick lines of rectangular flysheets, setup to wall the shop in a twentieth radius of a circle. They were held up with ropes tied to long thin logs that were fourteen feet tall. Overall, the flysheets were thoroughly tied so that there were no gaps that would allow anyone to peak in. It took some a bit of time before Elsa found the entrance flap and went in.
It was the strangest thing. The moment she stepped through the flap, Elsa could hear the workings of metal tools beating on iron. But just a second ago, outside the walled clothe, there were no sounds at all coming from the. Elsa was confused as to why but immediately assumed that magic was involved here, but she didn't understand why Hiccup would want the concealing of sound around the shop.
Elsa also noticed right away there were odd patches of drawn circles scattered about the area, and there was a massive tent set just right behind the shop. There was something glowing inside, very faintly despite it being the middle of the day with the sun fully out. Elsa became curious the more she looked at it, but held herself back from peaking and went straight to the shop instead.
Looking in she found Hiccup hammering at a sword with a medium length hollow bit holding it in place. Toothless was resting next to the bellow as he watched his rider practice his trade. The dragon yarned while shaking his head, blinking twice in the process. Before he went back to rest, Toothless snapped his head back up after spotting Elsa, looking honestly bewildered to see her. Hiccup noticed the action and turned to look. He also expressed the same expression. "Duh—Euh—Elsa! W-What are you doing here? How did you get in here?"
Elsa raised a brow and walked forward. "I just went in through the entrance flap," she replied simply. "Why? Should I not be here?"
"No-No-No, you can," Hiccup quickly replied, while carefully placing his work down. "At least for now you're fine. But seriously, you just simply walked in through the flap?"
"Yes. Is there something wrong Hiccup"
Hiccup removed the gloves he was wearing and stuck them in one of the pockets of the leather apron he had on. "Nothing really, except you just somehow managed to bypass the barrier surrounding the shop," said Hiccup, and he pointed to the lines of flysheets."
"Those are supposed to be magical barriers?" Elsa asked, sounding a bit too doubtful of Hiccup's words.
Hiccup only smiled crookedly in understanding. "Yeah I know. They don't look like much, but really, they are barriers. They were made to keep everyone, including certain Beings out and away from the shop so then no one can see how the Golden Armors are made, or what sort of materials are used. Looking overhead doesn't help either. Do that and you'll see nothing and be bounced a good yard away. You either have to be Jack, Merida, or Rapunzel to get in here, but even then it's hard for them to come in alone without me. The best way is to have one of us personally invite you in. Otherwise you're out of luck.
"I didn't know you could use such magic," said Elsa, looking back once more at the walls.
"I actually can't. Those were lent to me by the same Being who provided the knowledge of making the Golden Armors. It was all part of our deal if he was going to give me the knowledge."
"You mean Ombric?"
Hiccup looked at Elsa with new-founded surprise. "Did I ever tell you his name? Or was it one of the other guys?" Elsa decided not to lie and told Hiccup that Jack was the one who told her about the Being. "I guess I should've have known," he replied while nodding his head. "The two of you are nearly side-by-side together in this war." Elsa was afraid that Hiccup may say something more about Jack and her, but was relieved when the topic wasn't continued. "But really though, for you to simply walk in here is pretty impressive. I wonder if it had anything to do with your Merging with Jack."
"…Could be," Elsa said quietly, now wondering the same thing.
"Or could it be because of the Pact?" Hiccup posed, as he crossed his arms over his chest. Elsa looked over at him but couldn't look him straight in the eyes. She forced herself to gaze at his forehead instead. "Well Elsa?" Hiccup said as he raised a brow. "I'm guessing you came here for a reason. So if there's anything you need, feel free to ask me."
"If you want me to be honest, I'm just looking for a place to rest for a bit from the public view. I'm not use to people staring at me like…something strange."
"A good strange though," Hiccup said, and it was supported by Toothless. The dragon had made a sort of gargling noise deep in his throat.
Their comment was received with a small smile from Elsa. "I'm just not use to it, and I'm getting a bit tired of it. I tried everywhere before coming here. But I don't feel like being alone in my room anymore, and most of my paperwork's are being handled by the councils now…So I was hoping this may be a good place to relax for a while with company. If it isn't too much trouble that is."
Elsa could see that Hiccup was only buying have of her reason. But he decided not to pressure her to further. "Stay as long as you want Elsa," Hiccup said, putting his gloves back on. "All the Golden Armors for today was completed about an hour ago. Now I'm just making repairs to the dream weapons for the rest of the time." He retook the hollow bit and held the sword by its blade, brought it to the hearth, and stared reheating it. "If you want Elsa, you can help me out by refilling the shafts of the arrows with dream sands. Everything you need is on that table right over there."
To her left, there was a table set up with several arrows neatly stacked on top of each other like a mountain. There was also a small cup, a funnel with a very pointed end, and next to the table was a tall stool with a barrow. Out of the corner of his eyes, Hiccup saw Elsa taking the stool and re-positioning it so that she may be seated in line with the middle of the table. "The dream sands are in the barrow, the lid can be pop off," Hiccup said without ever stopping his work. "Remove the arrow head first then pour the dream sand in using the funnel. You don't have to fill it all the way to the top, just leave enough space for the head to be screw back on."
It didn't take long before Elsa got into a steady pace of work, with the sounds of fire and metal playing in the background. But she knew that as soon as the pile of arrows is half finish or so, then Hiccup will try and get her to talk again. And Elsa knew that she will comply when that time comes. After all, she did came partly for that reason.
XxXxXx
With the last ship loaded and had left port to join the several other vessels off coast, Jack and Merida took off as well. They flew far ahead of the ships but did not lead them. Instead, the two of them stayed high, almost above the clouds; getting a bird's eye overlay of all the sailing vessels. They traveled up until Arendelle was just a speck in the distance. At the same time, or rather right on time, Jack and Merida spotted Tooth with her whole hive of Tooth Fairs and Sandy coming. After exchanging some words between each other, they parted ways with Tooth and Sandy now taking charge of guarding the ships to Corona and back. They would continue the task until all of Arendelle's citizens are evacuated. And as agreed upon, they will remain out of sight. It wasn't because they were afraid of being seen; they can't be seen anyway, or at least not by the adults. But they can't have believing children start pointing them out, to only have the grown-ups say to them there's nothing there.
Making their way back to Arendelle, Jack noticed that Merida was somewhat agitated by the expression on her face and the slight glowing of her hair, while Angus seemed a bit wiled up. "You ok Red?" Jack asked, turning his body so that he may be flying sideways to face his friend.
Merida turned her head for a moment to look at Jack but quickly returning her gaze straight forward. Angus bucked wildly and whined, but Merida managed to keep him under control. "It's this war Frost," she said in a low tone. "It's lasting longer than I expected. Angus and I should be out bringing summer to the world a week ago, but we can't even leave for moment. Nothing big is affecting us, but not being able to bring summer is driving us both a wee-bit on edge."
Jack nodded in understanding. "I don't think you're the only ones on edge. Everyone is pretty much tired now with this magical war. The damages and magic involved is always growing with each big battle. I really hate to see this go any further than it has to."
Merida grunted with distaste. "No one does Jack. But that muppet of a prince Hans, oooh! All of this for a measly revenge and just to rule a kingdom of his own. And here I thought savages only existed during my life time."
Jack smirked. "Savages have always existed for ages. What made you think it was only during your time?"
Merida smiled as she said, "If you had only seen how the clans had fought each other in my kingdom, you'll think otherwise."
"I can only imagine," Jack replied in humor. "But really Merida, you and Angus are alright right?"
"Sure, for now. Better than Rapunzel that's for sure,"
Jack's eyes narrowed, but only just slightly. "Too soon there Merida."
"Don't you mean bad joke Jack? But you have to admit, the lass was asking for it by the way she was pushing herself." Jack could see Merida had a point there, but he also thought that as her friends, he and the others could've been more persistent and made sure she was getting as much rest as possible. Seeing the expression Jack had, Merida understood what he was thinking, and so said in comfort. "Don't think too much about it. Too late for that. Just be happy that Blonde is finally resting. That last battle must really did a number on Pitch and Hans since there hasn't been any of the small Nightmare attacks. With everyone being so busy and this move, and little magic is involve, no one is in need of the Corona Princess or the Spirit of Spring now." Merida chucked for second. "To think all it took was a little food poisoning to get her to finally take a few days off. Too bad it didn't happen sooner for her sake."
Jack nodded solemnly. "Yeah, sure…" was his reply.
Merida looked over at Jack but he didn't notice her gaze, so she turned her head facing forward again. For a while they flew in silence, with only the sounds of water lapping over one another. There were no sounds of seagulls though; they were still too far out for any birds to try fishing.
Suddenly surprising Jack, Merida halted Angus abruptly, causing the horse to whine in protest and buck a few times under her. Jack managed to stop himself from flying any further, leaving about a twenty feet of gap between him and Merida. Jack turned to face her in confusion. "What's wrong now Red?" he asked while looking around. "Did you see something?"
"Yes, I did," Merida replied, in a rather bleak tone. Despite now positioning still, the winds high in the air were still strong enough to sweep most of her curly locks around her face. "How could I possibly miss it when it's right beside me, and in front of me?"
"What? What do you see?"
Merida shook her head and released a sigh, looking somewhat disappointed now. "I thought that things were going to be alright again, but I've ignored it long enough."
"Merida, just speak straight, the both of us know that you're not very good with riddles or speaking in one," Jack said with a small hesitant smile.
This time, Merida looked at Jack straight into his eyes and said, "And you're not very good at being honest at times." Jack took offense to that remark. Knowing Merida for years, he could also strongly argue back that she can be stubborn about herself as well when wanted to. But before he could say anything, Merida spoke again. "I'm not trying to pick a fight with you Frost, but I think a hard bunt to the head is the best method with you, especially with that solid nipper on your shoulder." Merida took a deep breath and released it with a heavy heave. "Well tell me Jack, what's been bothering you?"