Chapter 26: Onward we go
Anna was all healed up within two days. All traces of her wound was gone save for a minor limp. Currently Anna was in the dark cave going over the map with Eilonwy. She sighed and stared at the yellow circle that marked their campsite. Off into the distance there was red marks. Carter's men lingered around there.
It felt like a battle map, except they were running from the battle. "Jason flew back today and he said there was more here." Anna used a pencil and marked a new area. "They haven't spotted us yet but I think if you guys go this way." Another pencil mark taking a way around the red. "You can get past them. It will take us more into the state and not out, but its either that or go through this mountain pass."
Eilonwy tapped her chin in thought and she marked one of the pencil lines in red so she knew where Carter was. "We may need to go through that pass Anna. I need to get you and Elsa out of this state. I contacted Kristoff and from what I can tell... " Eilonwy put the red marker down. "I'm sending a team through the mountain pass."
The girl started marking a trail up between the mountains. "The North Mountain is dangerous around this time of the year. And it has blizzards during this time. Eventually the pass will close up. But if we hurry you two through Oaken Pass.." She drew another line directly at the mountain. "We can assemble more gear and continue through the tunnels in the mountain. Its just as dangerous. But i'd rather walk you through a dark tunnel than a freezing storm."
Anna stared at the line and she got a bad feeling, the hairs on the back of her neck stood up a little. She brushed the feeling off. She passed it off as being nervous after hearing the whole blizzard spheal. "If its what you think is right. How long will this trip to the tunnel take?" She heard a story once from a Guardian angel. He had tried to fly in the bitter cold and his feathers froze, chipping off. He had nearly lost his wings in the cold.
"Maybe a week and a half. Through the tunnels it could take another week, sometimes less. I'd say two weeks and we could have you back in your state." Eilonwy turned to fiddle with an ancient looking radio. "I'll contact Kristoff's team and tell him how this is going to go down. You start packing up a tent and traveling items for you and Elsa. We leave once he gives the okay."
Anna nodded and she left the cave, hating the static the radio put out. Jason jogged over to her after he put down a couple of logs. "So what did boss girl herself say?" The young angel smiled widely at Anna.
This guy always seemed to follow her around. Back in training he was her partner for just about everything. Always smiling and trying to get her to smile. He was always happy and only seemed to beam even brighter when she herself was smiling too.
"Says she's taking a team to go through the tunnels. Guess I get to go home." Anna turned on her heel and slowly made her way through the camp. Jason followed, looking lost in thought.
"Home huh.. Think Eilonwy would let me go with you guys?" Anna raised her brow at him and he fumbled a little. "I mean on the trip. Its so.." He leaned in whispering, "boring here." He was close enough Anna could see the silver in his grey eyes.
"If you say so. I don't see why you couldn't at least come with us. She did say she was setting up a team. Why don't you go ask her?" Anna watched Jason's feathers fluff up in his excitement.
"Excellent idea Anna. I will go ask her now before she sets it all up. See you later." He took off in a flurry of feathers and Anna caught one. They were just as grey as his eyes. She let it drop and she kept on going throughout the quiet camp.
It was still early morning and most of the people here were sleeping. Including Elsa probably. She used to rise early but Anna felt like the whole ordeal tuckered her out. She slept a lot more, and was a little more jumpy. Anna yawned a little and a strange feeling washed over her.
She felt a fear flood into her, and she could see Elsa, as if she was in front of her. Her brain and entire body felt a pull. To go to Elsa and check on her. It was strange and Elsa looked like she was rolling a little in her sleep. Elsa opened her mouth and let out a cry and Anna could hear it in the distance. It weirded her out, was she actually seeing Elsa from a distance?
Anna blinked and the image went away but the distant cry sounded off again. Anna ran across the cold ground, everything in her being screamed Elsa. She entered the tent after fumbling with the zipper a few moments. Elsa started to struggle as soon as Anna grabbed her.
"Wake up Elsa. Its not real! What ever it is." Anna felt a strange coolness go through her body as soon as she touched Elsa. It was strange and soothing in a way. Elsa opened her eyes and she was panting, eyes frantically searching around.
"Anna! Anna he was here. I ran so far.. So very far." Anna knew what this was, another nightmare. Most likely about Samson.
Anna shushed her, wrapping both her wings and arms around the frantic woman. Elsa buried her face in Anna's neck. "He's gone. Gone forever." Anna wished she could tell Elsa it would be okay. But in truth it would probably never be okay. "I have good news. Do you want to hear it? Might make you …" Anna trailed off.
"Might make?" Elsa asked, shifting in Anna's hold, her breathing was slowing down. She was safe, she always would be in Anna's arms.
"Nothing. But we have to pack up traveling items. We are going home finally. Eilonwy is getting a team ready and once Kristoff answers we can go. We have to go up the mountain but its the only way." Anna rested her head on top of Elsa's, wanting to wash away her worries.
"Do you think I have time to bathe? Its been two days and I can't take being dirty anymore." Anna couldn't stop the small laugh.
"Yeah you should have time. I'll get you some clothes and its in the direction of the river. But if you go up a ways there is.. a stall or something? I don't know what to call it. But its a private area for one person to bathe. But its cold as fuck." Anna shivered remembering her bath earlier.
Elsa smacked her back lightly. "Language Anna."
Anna detached herself from Elsa and crawled out of the tent. "I'll be back with your stuff."
XxXxXxX
Anna led Elsa to the bathing area and found it empty. Of course it was. Its was still early. Only a few others had woken up from Elsa's cries. After Anna explained it was a nightmare they either went back to sleep or got up for the day.
Anna set the small pile of clothes on the stand just inside the wooden walls, set up in a circle in the river. It has small holes put into it so water could flow through still. It was a simple bathing area. Inside it had a stand with soaps waiting to be used. Eilonwy said something about stealing or buying their hair soaps from time to time.
Each person had their own rag though so Anna had to go get Elsa her own, as well as a towel. "Alright here you go Elsa. Knock yourself out. The soaps all there, try not to use it all. And.. bye." Anna turned quickly and started to leave but Elsa stopped her.
"Will you stay? Just to watch out for other people?" Elsa was gently holding her by her wrist, looking worried. Anna felt that pull again, everything inside her said to stay. To watch over and to help her. It was weird, and Elsa's words felt like a command. She knew it was only a question, but the pull inside of her had her feeling like it was a direct order.
She wished Dr. Istovish was here so she could speak to her about it. "Uh.. yeah sure Elsa. I can stand here." Anna kept her back to Elsa and watched for anyone. Anna heard a splash and a squeal.
"Its freezing!"
Anna rolled her eyes and she couldn't keep the laughter out of her voice. "I told you. I didn't say it was freezing for fun. What happens when you don't listen to me." Elsa splashed cold water onto her back and Anna stiffened up, jumping forward in surprise. "You little.. I already bathed!" She spun to face Elsa and wished she hadn't.
Elsa had to be either a Goddess or the child to one. Elsa was standing in the water deep enough that it was just past her navel. She licked her lips and tried to not stare. Quite honestly, she got to see Elsa's naked body each night. The woman was adamant about getting over her fears.
Still Anna could feel her face heating up and she looked at the tree tops. She could hear Elsa giggling and she got splashed by water again. Anna sputtered, wiping the water from her face, wringing her now wet shirt and jacket out. Teal eyes glared at frosty blue. "What was that for?"
"The first time was for making fun of me. The second was because you looked like you needed to cool down." Anna turned away from Elsa, grumbling that she needed to bathe already.
"We have places to be so.. hurry it up a little." While Elsa bathed Anna plucked at her feathers. She pulled one that looked so beat up it was a little sad. "Poor little feather. Sorry, you didn't make the cut." She straightened one out, smoothing another. "Much better."
Anna was halfway through her other wing when Elsa coughed behind her. "If you're done talking to yourself crazy.. I'd like to leave." Anna turned to see Elsa fully dressed, complete with the Guardian signature jacket. Her hair was in a loose braid, as if it was hastily done and thrown over her left shoulder.
"What?" Elsa asked, pulling at the bottom of her jacket, shifting around a little. "Does it look weird?" She ran a hand through her bangs, pushing them back.
"You look wonderful. I like your hair like this. Better than your bun. Not that there was anything wrong with your bun. And you didn't lace these properly." Anna gestured to a rock. "Hop up. I'll do them for you."
Elsa obeyed and she hopped onto the ledge so Anna could kneel and redo the laces. "If you don't do it right, they could come loose while you are on the run. If someone is after you that is the last thing you want. Death by tripping over your laces. Or if they are too loose then the boot could slip from your foot while trekking through mud." Anna finished one boot and moved onto the next.
Anna had to tie her own boots many times under the scrutiny of Rapunzel. Her fingers worked from muscle memory, tying them up quick and the correct way. "And have you lost a boot in the mud?"
Anna chuckled remembering the time she had. The mud pulled her boot clean off her foot. Rapunzel had yelled at her for not lacing her boots right. Such things can cost your life. It was Rapunzels job to keep Guardians alive. Anna learned how to lace her boots after that mistake. She stood up hands going to Elsa's waist. She had intended to pull Elsa off the rock, but that plan shot out of her head when Elsa wrapped her arms around her neck. Elsa smiled down at her, using one leg to pull Anna closer.
Just as Anna leaned up for a kiss she heard a shuffling behind her. With a sigh that could knock a house down she pulled away from Elsa's grip. Elsa hopped off the rock just as Jason entered the area. "There you two are. Jackie mentioned that she saw you two head… whatever it doesn't matter. Eilonwy says better pack up your tent and grab an extra set of clothes. Its time to go."
Jason's grey eyes looked between the two. Anna could see the unspoken question in his eyes. She ignored it and pulled Elsa along. "Thanks Jason. Did you get to go on the trip?"
He blinked and then a big smile spread across his face. He sped up so he could walk next to Anna. "Eilonwy is letting me go. Which is great. Hopefully I can go home too. This place is too cold for me."
"I hear you on that. Too cold." Anna replied as she walked in the direction of the tent.
"But the cold is very nice. Its a reason to snuggle, to curl up in front of a fire." Elsa argued not believing her ears. "Cold usually means snow. Making snowmen and having snowball fights."
"I've never seen the snow." Anna admitted wincing when Jason and Elsa gasped in unison.
Jason spoke first, looking at Anna like she had just grown another head. Inwardly she snickered because it would be a third head. She put that thought aside for now. "But.. how Anna? Where have you lived your whole life? A prison cell?"
Anna frowned shoving her hands into her pockets. She kicked a rock in her path. "Something like that. Whatever. I'll see the snow up on the mountains right?"
Jason watched as Anna sped up her pace and he leaned closer to Elsa. "Has she lived in a prison cell?"
Elsa shook her head, "It doesn't matter.." Elsa struggled to remember his name. "Jason. It's not really my place to say where she's from. In truth I don't actually know. Well I do know.. sort of. Go pack your stuff up."
Jason watched as the blond woman struggled to find the right words. He took the hint. "Oh yeah sure. Tell her i'm sorry. I didn't know." Jason took flight after that, leaving the two girls behind.
After a small jog that Elsa would forever deny that she jogged like a little kid, she caught up to Anna who was already taking apart the tent. "Need some help there?"
Anna blinked and pulled the plastic poles from the nylon with a swish. "Naw. Its probably better if you get an extra set of clothes. It will take us two weeks to get home. So a few sets is nice. Whatever they can spare really."
Elsa hesitated to make sure Anna wasn't still bothered by the prison cell joke. Anna seemed to be okay. She was humming some tune that Elsa swore she had hummed to Anna before. She didn't look distressed or upset anymore either. Seeing that Anna was her normal self she nodded. "Okay. I can do that."
XxXxXxX
"We're riding on horses?" Anna looked at the chestnut stallion that kept pawing at the ground. His head kept jerking up and down and he snorted from time to time. She had this terrible flashback, riding that horse at Aurora's home. What was his name? She couldn't remember at the moment but the idea of riding this horse didn't seem like the best one. "I could just walk.. Or you know walk."
Eilonwy raised a brow, "Get on the horse Anna. If Jason can ride his horse, then so can you." Anna glared at the blond girl then at Jason and his horse. His horse looked fat and lazy. Far from the spritely thing that kept bouncing around like it was ready. Ready for what? To kill her probably.
Elsa mounted her own brown horse, and it calmly waited for her to get situated. She patted the mare's neck. "Good girl." She glanced at Anna who still looked nervous. "Maybe he's testing you. Just hop on." Quieter she added, "and pray he doesn't buck you off."
"What?"
"Nothing, just get on the horse Anna. I'm sure Eilonwy wouldn't lend you a mean horse. He's probably ready to go on the adventure. Aren't you?" Anna stiffened and she reached for the saddle. Mechanically she hoisted herself onto the horse.
She didn't want to, but there was that feeling again. Like it was an order. The horse's ears dropped back onto its head and it stumbled around. It looked spooked, maybe it sensed something about Anna. Maybe it was just feeling ornery. But Anna stayed on the horse and the horse stayed on the ground.
Eilonwy looked a little bored. "Jason stay behind in case her horse gets crazy. I'm leading the rest of the team up the path to be sure its clear. Keep an eye on them."
Eilonwy steered her grey horse and gave it a kick, her and the four others trotted into the forest. Jason walked his horse to stand beside Anna. Jason's horse looked a little nervous now too. "He's a little frightened but its probably you. Don't be afraid of him and he shouldn't be of you. Grab the reins." Jason lifted his own and Anna copied him.
"Good. Now just give him a small click of your tongue." Jason demonstrated for her. "And tap his sides with your feet. See?" Jason's horse walked forward and it looked more relaxed as the distance between Anna and the horse grew. Jason stopped his horse and motioned for Elsa to follow him.
Anna gripped the reins tightly and she did her best to copy what Jason did. He made it look so easy and so did Elsa. If they could do it, why couldn't she do it? She misjudged the strength of her kick. That or the horse really loved a good run. It reared in to the air and Anna flapped her wings in surprise and fear. All the while clinging to the animals thick neck, and she tightened her legs around its sides.
She shut her eyes and the horse took off like hell itself was rising behind it. She vaguely heard Jason and Elsa yell her name, or maybe she was the one yelling? The horse dashed through the forest and Anna felt a few of the branches tug at her. "Stop horse! Stop please! Whoa! Halt! Stay! Bad horse!" Anna had lost track of the reins. Were they thrown over the horses head?
She wondered briefly why it was her that got the crazy horse. A joke? Maybe she should ask Eilonwy about it later. Speaking of the devil there she was. The young girl glanced over her shoulder and was surprised to see Anna speeding closer.
"Eilonwy you are a di…" Anna never got to finish because she had already passed her up. Dust flying behind her and settling quickly. Eilonwy had little time to question what she just saw as Jason and Elsa rode up not too far behind.
"Did Anna pass by?" Elsa asked, looking frantic.
"Yes. Lets go get her." Eilonwy huffed like this was the worlds way of punishing her. "After her! Who ever catches Anna first gets the biggest softest bed at Oaken's place."
That set the whole group off. They sped after Anna with a whoop. Elsa couldn't believe it. They probably really only wanted the most comfortable bed at Oaken's Place. Elsa encouraged her horse to move faster, following the broken path of sticks and the small bit of leftover dust to find Anna.
Anna meanwhile felt a terrible pain in her head. She felt the need to be by Elsa's side which was what she normally wanted. But this was urgent. She yanked hard on the horses long main, screeching out, "Stop!" The horse finally started to slow and she kept on repeating stop and pulling until the horse had finally stopped.
Both Anna and the horse were shaking, the horse was panting and coughing, seeming to be gagging on something. Anna slid off the horse with a groan and she checked on the horse. The pain in her head didn't stop until the group had surrounded her. She ignored the questions and let the others check over the horse.
Like a zombie she made her way to Elsa and hugged her leg. That same relief washed over her. Actually the pain stopped as soon as Elsa stopped her horse. "No more fast riding. For the love of all things." Anna mumbled into Elsa's thigh. Anna felt a hand run through her hair.
"Thats alright with me. You scared me."
Anna laughed but there was no humor behind it. "I scared myself."
XxXxXx
Turns out there was a bur or a stickler rubbing between the blanket and the horse. It was already bothered by that and Anna sitting on it never helped the horse. The horse was still antsy after they removed the stickler but it was much easier now to sit astride the horse.
Anna wasn't allowed to steer her own horse. She was instructed to hold onto the pommel of her saddle. The reins were tied to a rope which was tied to Elsa's saddle. All Anna had to do was sit on her horse. She felt humiliated and wanted to lead the horse on her own. Eilonwy had merely told her no.
She felt like a child, or a dog, or an ingrate. She couldn't decide what she felt like quite yet. It didn't help that the others snickered at her now that they knew both she and the stallion was just fine.
"Dumb stickler thing. Stupid horse. Stupid Eilonwy and who ever saddled this creature. Dumb everyone." Anna grumbled, arms crossed glaring at the ears of her horse.
"Does that include me in the dumb everyone?" Elsa asked turning in her saddle a little to look back at Anna. The flier shook her head adamantly, but the pout was still on her face.
"No.. but this is dumb. The horse isn't scared anymore. Not me either! Why can't I drive? Or steer.. whatever you do with this." She gestured to the horse below her, and gave up when Elsa couldn't help but laugh.
"If you're good maybe you can 'drive' the horse. You could have hurt yourself or the horse. Consider yourself lucky Anna." Elsa turned back to face the front, deciding to turn her attention to Jason.
"What luck? Its my 'luck' I got the horse with a stickler thing under its saddle. I don't see anyone else with the same problem." Anna continued her pout for the next five hours they rode. Only managing to stop when they got off the horses for a break.
AN: That was a longer delay in chapters than I ever wanted. So sorry. I won't throw any stories or excuses because in the end. They are just excuses. I'm sure you didn't want to hear them. I went over this chapter sleepy so there may be a crap ton of errors. Please excuse that. PLEASE.
Next chapter is traveling to see Oaken's Place up in the mountains!
I'll do my best to keep the updates quick like I had them before. College starts this monday for me. Its a new experience and I do not want to mess that up. I am not sure how I feel about this chapter.. But its what I wanted at the same time. I feel like chapter 26 is just cursed.