Chapter 2 - A Night by the Lake
The moon cast its ethereal glow upon the tranquil lake, Anna and Flynn sat by the calm,
their eyes locked and hearts filled with love. The world around them seemed to fade away, leaving only their souls entwined.
Anna smiled, her eyes filled with warmth and adoration. "Flynn, this evening has been perfect. Being here with you, away from the chaos and duty of the castle, it's like a dream."
Flynn returned her smile, his heart fluttering in his chest, blush painting his cheeks.
"You make every moment feel like a dream, Anna." He paused, his expression turning serious. "But it's getting late, and we should head back to the castle."
Anna pouted, her bottom lip jutting out in a playful manner. "Can't we stay for just a little while longer? I don't want this moment to end."
Flynn chuckled, a soft sound that melted Anna's heart. "As much as I, too, want to stay here forever with you, we have people waiting on us, plus Elsa will kill me if I keep you up all night. The castle very much needs its princess."
Anna sighed, knowing that he was right. "Alright, Flynn. Let's head back." She leaned in, placing a tender kiss on his lips before rising to her feet.
As they walked along the moonlit path back to the castle, Anna leaned her head against Flynn's shoulder, relishing in the warmth of his presence.
Suddenly, two menacing figures emerged from the shadows, their armor adorned with mysterious foreign symbols. The atmosphere instantly turned sinister, as if the very air itself held its breath in anticipation.
Flynn's eyes widened with alarm, realizing the danger they were facing. He pushed Anna behind him, shielding her from harm with his own body.
"Run, Anna!" Flynn's voice quivered with a mixture of fear and determination. Anna's heart raced as she hesitated for a mere second, But fear spurred her into action, propelling her feet to carry her.
Risking a glance back, Anna saw Flynn valiantly stand his ground, engaging the attackers with fierce determination. Her heart swelled with both pride and fear as she sprinted towards the nearest guards.
Darkness fell upon the forest, casting long shadows over the path as Anna trudged forward, her footsteps heavy with exhaustion. She didn't realize how far the two had gone from the castle.
The moon lingered above, its pale light offering little comfort to the princess. As if in response, a gentle breeze brushed against her face, as if offering solace in the form of a tender caress. Anna glanced up, But what she saw made her heart stop.
Standing before her, illuminated by the flickering light of the torches, was a shadowy figure. Its form seemed to melt into the darkness, its glowing yellow eyes piercing through the night like a predator stalking its prey.
"Who...who are you?" Anna's voice wavered, a mix of fear and curiosity.
The figure said nothing but took a step forward, its presence looming over her like a specter from the beyond.
Anna's heart pounded in her chest, her breath coming in short gasps. She had always possessed a fierce determination, but in the face of this mysterious figure, she could feel a thread of vulnerability tugging at her soul. As soon as she went to approach the dark figure it disappeared.
Anna was confused and scared but it all faded away when she noticed another light, it was a torch. She runs towards the light, Panic flooded Anna's voice as she stumbled upon castle guards, gasping for breath.
"Help! Flynn is in danger! We need your help!" The guards, taken aback by the urgency and fear in Anna's voice, immediately sprung into action. Willing to do anything to protect their beloved Princess.
They gathered their weapons and followed Anna back to the lake, praying they were not too late. As Anna returned to the scene, her heart shattered into a million pieces. Flynn lay on the ground, motionless. Tears streamed down Anna's face, mingling with the dirt and grime that clung to her cheeks. Her heart felt like a lead weight in her chest, pulling her further into a pit of despair with each agonizing step.
"No," Anna whispered, her voice barely audible. "This can't be real. Flynn can't be gone..."
The memory of Flynn's vibrant laughter echoed in her mind, taunting her with the cruel reminder of what she had lost. He had been her anchor and now she was adrift, lost in a world devoid of his presence.
Elsa and Hans, their faces etched with worry and grief, are led to the where Anna and Flynn were attacked. The once serene path is now stained with blood, bearing witness to the violent confrontation that had taken place. Elsa's heart pounds in her chest as she races towards her sister, But it was Flynn who bore the brunt of the tragedy.
His lifeless body lay motionless on the ground, surrounded by a pool of vibrant crimson. The realization hit Elsa, Flynn, the man who had become a brother to her, was dead.
Anna looked at her sister, eyes filled with sorrow, her voice trembled and broke as she recounted the event "We were ambushed, Elsa. These men came out of nowhere and attacked us. Flynn... Flynn fought them off, He told me to run." Anna brokenly spoke, "I ran, and I ran, trying to find the closest guards by the time I did...he was gone when I came back." Her words were choked with grief, each syllable etched with agony.
"I shouldn't have left him, I...I should've stayed." She fell into unaudio rambles, Elsa couldn't help but feel grateful towards Flynn. His last act was to protect Anna, to ensure her safety. His final words were a plea for her to run.
Tears began to well up in Elsa's eyes, threatening to spill over as she wraps her trembling arms around Anna's shivering frame. "I'm here, Anna," she whispers, "I won't let anyone hurt you again." vowing to protect her sister no matter the cost.
"We have to go, Anna," Elsa whispered, her voice laced with sorrow. "We'll get you to safety." With gentle determination, Elsa guided Anna towards the waiting royal carriage. She held her sister close, her own tears mingling with Anna's as they mourned their devastating loss together.
Meanwhile, Hans' expression hardened with anger and resolve. His icy blue eyes blazed with a steely determination. "Find the men who did this," he commanded the guards, his voice firm and unwavering. "Leave no stone unturned until we have them in custody."
As Hans moved towards the carriage, a glimmer caught his eye. It was a torn piece of fabric, fluttering in the gentle breeze. His breath caught in his throat as he recognized the symbol embroidered on it – In a swift motion, Hans snatched the fabric from the air, concealing it in his pocket, a steely determination taking hold.
Within the confines of the carriage, Elsa furrowed her brow, the weight of her grief mingling with a gnawing sense of unease. Her powers, once a source of fear and isolation, now surged within her, Elsa's fingers twitched with a yearning to bring those responsible to justice. She knew that her powers might now be her greatest tool.
The carriage came to a halt as they reached the castle gates, the towering stone walls now both a sanctuary and a fortress. Elsa gripped Anna's hand, her touch a silent reassurance in the face of uncertainty. Together, they would face whatever darkness awaited them.
The kingdom of Arendelle atmosphere was filled with sorrow and grief. The news of Flynn's death had spread like wildfire. Villagers wore somber expressions, and the castle walls echoed Anna's mournful cries.
Hans couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss. As he wandered the castle grounds, his mind swirled with doubts and suspicions. "There's more to this," he muttered, gripping his sword tightly.
He pauses and takes a look up at the family painting, they had it done months back, he studies the smile of both sisters, and then turns his attention over to Flynn. It finally hit him, that he'll never see him smile again, they won't share a laugh again, or spare, he won't hear that dumb excuse of why a guitar would make for a great weapon.
It all hits him like a ton of bricks, he falls into his chair, head leaning down and his eyes closing. The tears he was holding back were finally falling, he failed Flynn as a King, but worse of all as his best friend.
A door begins to creak open causing Hans to look up. Right in front of him was Elsa, eyes bloodshot, her once noble, untouchable appearance was now hagged. Hans starts to stand up but Elsa pushes him back into his chair, slowly wrapping her arms around him. Neither said a thing to one another, they sat there in silence for a while. The only sound being heard was the cold wind blowing.
Elsa was the first one to finally speak, "Anna's resting now, she...cried herself to sleep.", she confesses. "Hans, what are we going to do? Why did this have to happen? just a few days ago he was planning to ask her to marry him and now..." Elsa couldn't find it in herself to finish the sentence.
Taking a deep breath, "I can't shake the feeling that there's something suspicious about this all. It wasn't...it can't just be a random act of violence. " Hans spoke, his mind trying to piece all of the events together, looking for an answer that he won't get, at least for now.
Elsa looked up at Hans, her eyes filled with a mix of sorrow and curiosity. "What do you mean?" she asked, She too had felt that there was something more at play.
Hans sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I don't know, but I intend to find out who did this. We owe it to Anna to uncover the truth." The two fall quiet again, choosing to spend the rest of the evening wrapped in eachothers arms.