Chapter 27: To Oakens Pass we go!

To Potassi, you may shame me for all eternity for my procrastination. Just promise to go easy? Satan is mean enough.

"This looks like a good place. Alright we are stopping here for the night." Eilonwy dismounted from her horse while the others checked over the area. It was just covered enough they shouldn't be spotted from afar.

"Lyle and Jo. You two get some wood for a fire. Its freezing. Jason start unpacking the tents. I'll get the food ready. Anna help Jason. Mark and Gene you two find a spot for everyone to go to the bathroom. I don't want everyone pissing all over the place. And Elsa you know how to take care of horses right?"

Elsa was already pulling the saddle from her horse. "I know enough. I can get them all tied up and unsaddled if thats what you want. I might need help with the rest."

Eilonwy nodded with a half smile. "Perfect. Thats our game plan so.. break." Everyone parted ways to do their job.

Anna helped Jason set up the tents. There was eight people total but only four tents. To save space two people would squeeze into one tent. It was rather cold out so no one argued about having to snuggle with a buddy. It wasn't very hard setting up the tiny tents. These ones were a tad smaller, but they got the job done.

"Are you.. together with Elsa?" Jason asked quietly as they worked to set up the second tent. They were being placed in a wide circle. Anna raised a brow at him and she noticed he was blushing.

"If you could call it that. Not like I take her out on dates and wave to the crowd of followers. I'm with her I guess. I'm not with other girls. She's not with other men or women." Anna shrugged, hitting the stake of the tent into the ground.

At least she wasn't by choice anyway.

Jason unfolded the next tent, laying out the plastic poles for Anna to snap together. "Oh. I think I know what you mean. How does.. spying on her work out? I mean all the group ever says is she is the bad guy. Do you spy on her and just tell us things? Then go back to her all hugs and smiles?"

Anna watched the pole click snugly into place. "She isn't a bad guy Jason. Not everything is as it seems. I've only seen her be bad once." She stopped talking and her gaze seemed distant. She shuddered. "But its in the past. It doesn't matter anymore. She is good. I swear on it. Kristoff believes otherwise and he can all he wants. At least I know." She nodded remembering her spying. "Oh it used to be like that. I would sneak around then go back to her smiling. She knows now so I don't really know how this is going to work."

Jason was quiet for the third tent and halfway through the fourth he spoke again. "Do you love her?"

Anna dropped her half of the tent. "Why do you want to know Jason? Stop asking me questions." She pointed a finger at him, wings flared out to make herself appear bigger.

Jason dropped his half and held his hands up in defense, his own wings curled in tighter. "Its only my fourth question Anna. I was only curious. And its simple yes you do or no you don't. Since you're so angry about maybe you don't."

Anna's eyes narrowed and she took a step closer to him. "I killed a man for her. If that isn't some twisted form of love. Then I don't know what is." Jason's eyes widened and he looked at her as if she was a new creature. She backed off and kicked a pole. "Finish the damn tent yourself. I'm going to help Lyle and Jo collect wood."

She yanked her hood over her head and shoved her hands into her pockets. She was glad that Eilonwy or Elsa wasn't close enough to hear them. She did love Elsa. There was no question. It bothered her that Jason asked her if she did or not. It made her feel like her relationship, or whatever it was, wasn't good enough.

How many others couldn't see what she and Elsa had? Yes it had to be a secret around people in the city. But surrounded by the Guardians she didn't really have to care to hide it. It was all jumbled in her head. She was mad that her love was even questioned. She was grumpy Jason didn't know she was with Elsa. She was upset with herself for getting upset over what Jason said. She wanted..

She wanted to do something nice for Elsa. She also wanted to learn more about Elsa. The most Anna even knew was that Elsa was rich, beautiful, mostly kind, and her mother was evil. She was trying to figure it out in her head when she got a great idea.

She'd bring Elsa flowers. Not only was it a nice thing to do, the others would see that she cared, Elsa would see that too, and maybe help show the rest there was something between her and Elsa.

The plan was nearly foolproof. Except the closer to the mountains they got the less she saw of flowers. So finding some was taking some real effort. She found some small white flowers, a couple of yellow ones and a few purple. She found one blue and she placed it in the middle of her little gathering of flowers.

It took thirty minutes, and she even grabbed some thicker logs so it wouldn't be considered a wasteful trip in Eilonwy's eyes. She put the flowers inside her jacket and carried the sticks and logs with both arms.

Another twenty minutes and she was back in camp. All seven of them rushed to her, looking worried. Mostly Jason and Elsa. Eilonwy looked like she was worried and angry at the same time. The others looked annoyed.

"Where have you been? Couldn't you hear us calling for you?" Eilonwy demanded as Anna dropped the logs onto the ground.

"Um no. But I got some wood. I figured we should take it with us. The higher up we go, the less trees we will see.. right? So why not have plenty packed now right?" Anna didn't like all the eyes on her and she began stacking the extra wood up. "I get it. I shouldn't have taken off without saying anything to you. But I know how to take care of myself and I did tell Jason that I was going to collect wood."

Eilonwy gave up. "Just don't do it again. Watcher only knows what could have happened." She threw her arms up heading back to the fire, and the rest followed her, wanting to eat their bread and dried meat.

Elsa stayed by Anna's side running her fingers over a small cut near Anna's ear just on the side of her face. It was a little tender and when Anna swatted her hand away with a grumble she felt the flowers get squished.

"Oh damn it." Anna cursed reaching into her zip up, she peeked inside and frowned. Great she smashed a few. She wanted them to be perfect.

"What? Did the cut hurt that bad? You big baby." Elsa said in a mocking voice but she smiled so that Anna knew she was only playing.

"No. I brought you some flowers as a surprise because I realize that I should be more.. romantic or sweet. Not that I was doing this because I felt like I was obliged. But then as I looked around there are hardly any flowers. And so I had to hunt them down. So thats why I was gone so long. And I kept them nice this whole time. Now they are all messed up. Which is stupid because I really wanted them to be perfect." Anna pulled out the flowers, some of them missing petals and a few were crushed.

Elsa looked like she was trying to keep up with what Anna was rambling on about. But the words she caught and the ruined flowers along with Anna's ducked head explained it all. "You brought these for me?"

Anna nodded and she hoped Elsa would just take them already. Barely a moment passed when she felt Elsa take the flowers. She held them in to her nose and she breathed in their scent. "They are beautiful Anna. Doesn't matter if you smashed a few. It adds character. Plus its definitely you. So imperfect that its perfect."

Anna smiled and held her hand out and Elsa took it. Together they walked to sit by the fire with everyone else and eat their ration of food. Anna was surprised when Elsa sat between her legs to lean on her. She figured because it was cold out Elsa wanted to sit closer.

Elsa plowed right through her ration of bread and dried meat and Anna watched her eyeball her own. After a few bites so she wouldn't starve she handed the rest of it over to Elsa.

"I can't take that. It's yours." Elsa looked like she really wanted it but was trying to be noble and not.

"You're eying it like you can't go on without it. Take it silly. I'm not all that into dried meat any way." Anna smiled at her and held it closer to the woman's mouth. Anna was lucky to keep her fingers. Elsa uncharacteristically chomped the offered food. "Gee did I rub off on you a little? Or you really this hungry?"

"I'm starving. We ate a few hours ago during a break but.. I'm just dying for food. Must be all the travel." She shrugged and once she checked her fingers for crumbs she leaned back. Anna held onto her and listened to Jo speaking about some story.

Something about taking on six of Carters men alone and taking them all out. After an hour of sitting and playing with Elsa's hair, the woman's body gradually got heavier and her breathing slowed.

Quietly as she could she waved Jason closer. "Hey.. Can you give me a hand? I need you to open the tent for me. Please?"

Jason nodded and got up opening her tent. Anna gently pushed Elsa forward, keeping a hold on her so she wouldn't just tumble forward. Carefully she got up and pulled Elsa up with her. Carrying her like a bride she shuffled by the group.

"Elsa's asleep so I guess I better sleep. Good night you guys." Anna nearly tripped over the edge of the tent. Some how she and Elsa didn't end up on the ground.

She expected Elsa to wake up but she didn't for some reason. She really had to have been tired. She lay Elsa across the large open sleeping bag and then she zipped the tent up. It was much colder away from the fire. Cold enough that Elsa shivered and finally decided to wake up a little.

"Its cold." The words were mumbled and the sleepy woman curled into herself.

Anna smiled at her while she slid into the sleeping bag as well. Elsa rolled and huddled closer, and the flier fought the urge to giggle. Elsa's breath was so warm against her neck.

It didn't take long for Anna to join Elsa in dreamland.

XxXxXxX

Anna was floating. In a darkness that was both familiar and not. There was almost a light surrounding her. As if she was surrounded by a dark curtain that only just blocked the light out. She tried to move but there was nothing to move on. Her limbs were free and her wings could move as well. But there was nothing to move against. Nothing to push off from.

It was as if she was floating inside a great cavern maybe even space. She couldn't hear anything but she could feel a cool water float over her skin. The feeling was much like the relief of touching Elsa after waking her from her nightmare.

Anna felt the world move around her. The cavern vibrated slightly, and Anna had the vague sense that the room had rolled. She tried to move her arms in attempt to move around, she felt herself drifting uselessly around.

"Hello?" She tried, hoping what ever brought her here would speak. Was this just a crazy dream? Was Voice here? She hadn't heard from him since Elsa told her to stop beating on the man hired by Carter in the mansion.

"Voice? Are you doing this?" As soon as she tried to reach out to him the whole room convulsed and Anna felt a terrible pain enter her head. She shouted and held her head and she stopped trying to reach him. The pain in her head stopped immediately after.

"Okay so you aren't Voice. I won't try and reach him here." She saw the walls shudder and convulse and she felt a fear and pain rush through her. She screamed and the whole room disappeared.

When she woke up she could hear Elsa whimpering.

XxXxXxX

Anna opened her eyes and after some adjusting she could see Elsa. Elsa no longer was cuddled to her body, she was holding her stomach and she whimpered again. "Does.. did something make you sick?"

Elsa opened one eye, sitting up with a groan. "No its just a stomach ache. Ugh… Ow Ow ow. Or worse.. It's a cramp." Anna gave her a blank look while Elsa rubbed her stomach.

"I don't know what makes the difference between the two.. but what can I do to help?" Anna still felt that fear rushing through her system but she wasn't sure why. What was there to be afraid of? The feeling felt forced and it bothered her.

"I should be fine. Will you rub my belly for me?"

Anna put her hand on Elsa's belly directly and ran her palm across it. She felt the muscles twitch and Elsa sighed. "How do you do that? Like you just sucked the pain away."

Anna felt that pain and fear fall away and she felt just fine again as well. She was tempted to tell Elsa about this strange new feeling but there was always that nagging voice inside her head. Telling her to be quiet until she understood it. The right thing to do would be to not freak Elsa out right?

Besides it was only an idea really. She didn't actually know or not if she was feeling what Elsa was feeling. She just knew the pain and fear went away. She wanted to know more before she said anything. That and something told her to keep her mouth shut.

Anna stopped rubbing the belly and that earned her a grunt. "Keep going," Elsa said. "Maybe I can fall asleep with you doing that."

"Oh of course mistress. What ever pleases her. It's not like I need sleep either." Anna continued to rub Elsa's stomach softly and she watched the blonde woman relax under her fingers. "Feeling better now?"

Elsa smiled up at Anna who was leaning over her slightly, still gently running her fingers along her stomach. "Yeah." Elsa flinched, sucking her stomach in when gentle fingers brushed too far to the right. "But that tickles."

"Oh it does?" A devious smile.

"Don't you even dare."

Anna dared and sat up fully so she could use both her hands. Elsa screamed and writhed beneath the treacherous hands. "S-s-s-top!" She laughed harder and the sleeping bag stopped her from fleeing.

Anna continued until she heard someone shout, "Jesus christ just kiss and go to bed already. I'm trying to sleep."

Anna laughed and Elsa smacked her.

XxXxXxX

The next few days went on uneventful. The days began to blur and it got ever colder. Anna didn't have another strange dream, and she even got to ride the horse on her own for once.

After a fifth day of travel Anna woke up and unzipped the tent to see four feet of snow covering the entire area.

"What is this!?" She fell back into the tent, and she stuck her hand out after a moment. Little snowflakes melted onto her hand and she growled. "Elsa.. wake up. There is.. cold stuff outside."

"Thats snow silly." Elsa mumbled after sitting up, stretching and scratching her back lazily. She smiled once her body woke up. "Maybe we can play in it later. We have to get going."

XxXxXx

Later turned out to be after a day of riding. Anna practically threw herself off the horse and onto the snow. The horse stamped its hoof with a snort, giving Anna a weary look. "So this is snow. Its cold, wet, and crunchy."

Elsa and the others dismounted in a much calmer fashion. Elsa got to work on taking the saddles off the horses and getting them tied up. Anna sped through her task of setting up the tents. She was shaking she was so excited.

Jason watched as Anna did her best to take a calming breath. After she relaxed she made sure each tent wasn't going to fall down. Once that was done, like a child she hopped over to Elsa who was still tending to the horses.

"Almost done there Elsa?" Anna asked, bouncing on her toes, her arms were crossed behind her back to keep them from grabbing Elsa and dragging her away from her job. Elsa shook her head only on the third of eight horses. After what felt like hours Elsa had all the horses settled.

"Come on I want to build a snowman Elsa. You are too slow sometimes." Anna took her hand and dragged Elsa to a nice open patch of snow. Elsa looked to the sky but still smiled and waited for Anna to start. Anna waited for Elsa to show her how to start. "So how do we do this shindig?" Anna asked after a moment of standing around.

"Oh. Right. I forgot this is your first time.. So what we do is pack a snowball. But don't push it tightly together. We want the snow to still stick to it." Elsa packed a light snowball then she waited for Anna to do the same. After some fumbling Anna had a lopsided snowball."Perfect, now we roll it. I'll tell you when you have enough snow."

After a few minutes Anna had enough for a bottom. "Now we have to make another ball of snow. But this time a little smaller. And then a final one for a head." Anna nodded and packed another ball up and started on it. It wasn't long until they had a decent sized snow man.

"She looks plain." Anna said frowning a little at the plain three snowballs.

"So its a snow woman?"

"Of course. Snowman sounds boring." Anna went looking for sticks. It was much harder and she eventually stole two kindling sticks from the wood pile to use them as arms. Eilonwy pretended not to notice.

Elsa tilted her head and tried to get a better look at the snowwoman. "Its missing a carrot. And eyes. Real shame. I guess we can look for rocks, but I think my hands are frozen." Elsa held her hands out and when Anna touched them, they were cold. Anna herself could feel the cold seeping into her bones as well. Her wings even was getting icy from melting snow.

"We can come back to this later then Elsa. Lets get you warm." Anna wrapped an arm around Elsa and led her to the small fire to hopefully catch some warmth. Anna hardly ate once more and gave most of her half to Elsa once again.

Her stomach had curled in on itself wanting food, but Elsa looked more hungry. Or so that was her excuse. Besides, she ate enough that it was fine to eat a little less for a few meals. Right? Either way Elsa was happy to wolf down the extra bread and meat.

After sitting at the fire long enough to warm up Anna left to plop into the snow. She let her wings unfurl after some shifting and she made herself a snow angel. She sat up carefully and glanced back at the imprint.

"A snow angel huh. Let me try." Jason said and he moved a distance away and started to make his own. "The angels are making snow angels. Weird. Your wings are bigger though." He gestured to the large prints her wings left. "How do you fly? Quick small wing strokes? Or big strong ones?"

Anna knew Jason was trying to put things back to normal. Ever since his love question she made it a point to only really converse with him unless she had to. She leaned back on her elbows. She felt the snow melt a little into her jacket but she ignored it.

"I prefer big strokes so I don't have to use my wings as much. The bigger and stronger it is, the less I need them. I like a calm glide to be honest. What about you?" She let her head roll the side and she looked at him. He was sideways to her but he leaned back as well.

"I prefer quick. I feel like i'm getting somewhere faster. You do have big wings though. Made for power and such. Rapunzel was right when she said you have potential to be a fast easy going angel." Jason scratched his jaw absently, "its like.. You are built to be perfect in what you do. I mean you're clumsy sometimes. But I can see it. When you get it right its.. almost perfection."

Anna raised a brow and Jason coughed. "There is Elsa. You should go to sleep soon. Its supposed to get even colder once the sun goes out." Jason got up as Elsa appeared. He nodded to her then used his wing to knock her forward. Elsa fell forward and landed in Anna's arms.

Elsa glared over her shoulder at Jason who was laughing and saying something along the lines of 'have fun lovebirds'.

"Did I miss something?" Elsa received a quick peck on her lips.

"Didn't miss a thing."

XxXxXx

Finally they arrived at Oakens freezing, teeth chattering and starving. They had a scuffle with a thieving raccoon and he took off with the food. They had gone nearly two days without food. The group was grumpy and tired. They all put their horses in the nearby barn and then they piled into the front door of the massive cabin.

A large man with muttonchops waved at them. He wore a sweater and a beanie to help fight off the cold. He was sitting behind a large desk with a few items placed across it. There was a notebook in front of them. "Yoo hoo! Hello group! Welcome to Oakans. What can I get for you?"

Eilonwy rolled her shoulders trying to get the cold ache out of them. "Food, rooms, baths, clothes. The whole nine yards. And we are the Guardians. We seek the Path."

Oaken's smile dropped and he narrowed his eyes. He stood up and he turned out to be a wall of a man. "Guardians the Path is always open to those who walk under Watchers gaze."

All the Guardians except Anna and Elsa kissed their palm and put it to their heart. In unison they mumbled, "Watcher guide us along the Path."

Anna wondered if she was missing something. She never really studied the Watcher. Especially since she wasn't into reading the massive textbooks on Watcher. She knew that they believed him to be a Guardian. The first true Guardian, and one that defeated all evil and wrong in this world. They hoped he would aid them in their battle against Doctor Stone.

Anna let the thought drop when everyone started grabbing for their keys to their room. Everyone had to share a room again, since Oakens never had huge lodging. The people who traveled through were usually Guardians.

"I will have my son draw a bath. You'll have to take turns. We only have two tubs. Not including my own personal one. My husband will have dinner ready by the time you are all cleaned up. My daughter will bring the winter clothes."

They shuffled down the long hall and away from the warm and inviting living room. The hall was partly cooler but the warmth was still greater than earlier. Anna opened the door to hers and Elsa's room. The room was rather warm and after flipping a switch Anna sighed. A real bed, and not a sleeping bag. Big fluffy pillows! She pulled her wet jacket off, boots and jeans. She let herself drop onto the bed.

She sighed in relief and her bones enjoyed the softness of the bed. She heard a shuffling and then a weight on her hips. Elsa had removed her jacket, boots and jeans as well. They stayed like that, cuddling for warmth until it was their turn to bathe.

Anna expected Elsa to want bathe on her own but she looked almost offended when Anna mentioned that. Anna pulled her wet pants back on with a grimace. "I just.. I don't want to make you uncomfortable thats all."

Elsa opened the door, her pants already back on. The corner of her lips barely lifted in a small half smile. "I'll be fine. I want to be the big spoon this time."

Anna didn't argue. She didn't complain at all when Elsa wanted to wash her. She was happy when Elsa didn't tense up once while she returned the favor and washed Elsa's skin. The whole bath was a quick affair. Anna felt like her stomach was eating itself and she was sure Elsa was hungry too.

With how quickly they dressed into the sleeping pajama pants and oversized shirts, and how they practically ran down the hall towards the delicious smell of food. She would say that Elsa was starved.

The table with alive with small jokes between the group and questions from Oaken's children. Oaken whispered and chatted with Eilonwy, talking about taking the Path and what would be needed.

Anna plowed through three bowls of stew and Elsa ate through four. "Geez its like you're eating for five Elsa." Anna received a glare and she shrunk a little. She tried to salvage the situation. "But uh.. you do it.. gracefully?" That didn't help at all.

Jason snorted and coughed, and Jo spit his water back into his cup. Gene looked away biting her lip and Lyle and Mark got up and left. Excusing themselves with barely suppressed chuckles that they were putting their bowls away. Jason recovered first. "Wow what a save Anna." The sarcasm was oozing out of his pores.

"Shut it Jason. At least I tried." Anna grumbled grabbing her bowl and Elsa's after checking that she wasn't hungry for more. As she walked away Elsa finally spoke.

"Guess who gets the floor Anna?"

"Who?"

"Who do you think?"

Anna groaned.

AN:

Do you want to leave a review?

I know I haven't been updating, Im really sorry, but

It doesn't have to be a review.

Just say hi...

So we meet Oaken. How lovely. Next chapter we venture into the PATH! Dangerous stuff there. People die in that tunnel. *cough* not implying anything. Just its truths. Sorry for the wait.

Im gonna do better on my updates. Hopefully. This chapter feels like a filler to me.. Sorta. If you look you might see things.. The story picks up and things move along next chapter. Well move along more than what was here..