Elsa hoped dessert wouldn't be as heavy as dinner.
Maybe dessert would be a little more, normal in the realm of conversation compared to the indiscreet interview dinner turned out to be.
Thought, that's not to say it was a total disappointment.
What Danika had said . . . what they'd all said . . . Yes, Michael had been wise to bring them here. To let her and Anna decide if they could handle them—the teasing and intensity and power. If she and Anna wanted to be a part of a group who would likely push them, and overwhelm them, and maybe frighten them, but . . . If they are willing to stand against this new threat, after already fighting a war of their own . . .
Needless to say Elsa feels like a bit of an ass after the way she funneled her feelings towards Danika so quickly. But with what she was able to confess towards Elsa and Anna . . . suddenly some aspects of her personality make so much more sense.
She had been forced to love for however long she was in that brothel – Elsa knew there had to be so much more to the story than Danika led on – so what better way to counter it than by loving whomever she pleases, to be free to make her own choice for once.
To be able to still look towards life with a fierce smile and wildness . . . what better way to outrun the darkness. To her own surprise, she finds herself excited to finally be given proper training in controlling her magic. Or, to at least use it in a way that would protect her along with any blade.
Michael had been given an arsenal of weapons to use if the other failed. The fact that he was able to hold his own against someone like Caiden, and walk away . . .
The fact that even someone as powerful and eternal as Caiden wouldn't want to fight against Michael again . . .
Elsa can't understand why she finds that so . . . alluring.
What did she and Anna have in their own beyond a good blast of ice and brute stubbornness? And if they have this new power—these other abilities to protect themselves . . .
They will not be weak again. They will not be dependent on anyone else.
The servants come and take their plates, swiftly and deftly clearing the table before another wave come out with trays of sweets. Cakes and cookies and pies and fruit. Elsa bites back a giggle as Danika seizes the first chance to get a slice of chocolate cake, going as far as to smack Caiden's hand with her fork before seizing the first slice.
Michael – seemingly knowing better than to get in the middle of their squabbles – settles on the chocolate dipped strawberries and a couple of sugar cookies. He suddenly chuckles and Elsa turns to find Olaf having chugged an entire pitcher of pink lemonade.
The little snowman now a bright pink from his bottom to his neck.
"So, what is it you wanted to discuss, Michael?" Anna asks as she stuff some chocolate candy in her face.
"It's about the runes and that Midnight Beauty we've been seeing."
An uneasiness settles across the table, Danika and Caiden turning their heads to him.
"I'd nearly forgotten about her. I know that sounds bad to say, but just the few days we've had without much incident . . . it was nice. Almost normal again." Anna says as her gaze turns downcast.
"I understand. Believe me." Michael says with an apologetic smile. "But I think it's time we bring the fight to her."
Elsa's stomach sinks, enough that the white chocolate candy she just swallowed almost makes a reappearance. In a surprisingly steady voice, she asks, "How do you mean?"
"When we first encountered her at that temple, before she made my magic, explode on itself, she had told me to find her when I was ready."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Anna asks.
"It means she's interested in me, and that awakening the magic in me was no accident."
Elsa suddenly interjects. "You're not really going to go, right?"
He looks to her with a sternness she hasn't seen since that first day he arrived at the castle. "At this point, I feel like I have to."
"It's probably a trap."
"It's also our only option. We have to chance it." Elsa presses her lips together, bringing her eyes to the steaming up of tea on her saucer. Michael notes this and gently grasps her elbow beneath the lip of the table. "Look, I know it might be dangerous, but if she wanted me dead, I feel like I would've been already. She wants something from me, and what that is, I don't know. But maybe it's worth finding out."
"I would've assumed you wanted to stay away from her as much as possible." Kristoff says as he stuffs a piece of melon in his mouth.
"I did. But nothing else had yielded any results except for a book I found in a secret moon in the library."
"Secret room?" asks Anna.
"What secret room?" asks Elsa.
"I had stumbled upon this room in the library. It looked long abandoned with the dust inside, among other things."
Elsa narrows her brows. "How long ago did you find this?"
Michael shrugs his shoulders. "I want to say a couple weeks."
"And you didn't think to tell us?" Anna says with a pout, putting her hands to her hips. The gesture makes Danika giggle.
"I intended to, but you know . . . some things happened." Michael says a bit sharply.
The Midnight Beauty.
The draugr.
Michael having magic.
Demons sprouting around the kingdom.
"Fair point."
"That's not even the worst part. The book that I found, it has the same runes as those used at the murder scenes, when summoning the demon, and when she awakened my magic at the temple."
"I see." Elsa near grumbles, realizing the connection in his want to go and find this woman.
"The book had said that the runes matched that of, Northuldrian."
Silence.
The two sisters are looking to him with shocked expression. Perhaps even horrid since they seemed to have paled. Even Kristoff has lifted his brows, his fork paused halfway towards his mouth.
"Northuldrian?" Elsa breathes.
"That's it what said. It's up in my room right now, but you can take a look after we're done. What do you know about the language?"
Elsa suddenly looks to Anna, and she could've sworn she felt their hearts quicken in unison. "When we were little, our father told us a story about the mysterious Northuldra people, who lived in an enchanted forest far away; as north as we can go." Says Elsa. "The forest is said to be very old, and very enchanted. But it's magic wasn't that of goblin spells or lost fairies. It was protected by the most powerful spirits of all: those of air, water, fire, and earth."
"Were these people magical?" Danika asks through a mouthful of cake.
Anna shakes her head. "Our father said they weren't magical, but took advantage of the forests gifts."
"How did your father know all of this?" Caiden asks.
Elsa tries to ignore the ache in her heart, and the familiar fear as she looks towards the shadow weaver. "Because he visited them, when he was very little. They promised us friendship, and our grandfather, King Runeard at the time, built them a dam to strengthen their waters, as a gift of peace."
"Maybe they know something about the runes. Maybe it was something created in the early days of their culture." Caiden suggests.
Danika and Michael nod in agreement, but it's the shifter who says, "How long a journey is it to the this, forest?"
"I don't know. None of us do. Only our father knew the way, but even then, it would be fruitless." Elsa says, her tone heavying.
"Why?"
"Because, something . . . went wrong, and the next thing my father knew, they were attacking us. And our grandfather was lost." Everyone bows their head in condolence. Still Elsa pulls herself to continue despite her stuttering heart and sinking stomach. "The fighting enraged the spirits, turning their magic against everyone."
"I thought you said your parents passed in a shipwreck." Michael gently asks.
"They did," Anna answers. "Someone saved our father that day. Because that night, he returned home, King of Arendelle."
Elsa could almost sense the chill that runs through the three rebel soldiers. "We were told that after the battle, the spirits then vanished. And a powerful mist covered the forest. Locking everyone out. And it still stands to this day. No one can get in, and no one has ever come out."
"I suppose that's a good thing. Should they ever find a way to free themselves, you might have an impending invasion on your hands, Queeny." Says Danika with a sip of her wine. "But there also goes our only source who might be able to read these runes you guys keep seeing."
"I could do some research. See if there something in any of the books I have." Caiden suggests.
"You have books about Northuldians?" asks Anna.
"I might've stumbled across it without giving it much thought. But once I see more of the runes, I can make a better comparison."
"How has the forest not awoken again?" Michael asks Elsa, grasping her elbow to get her attention.
"I don't know. I remember asking my mother that same question, and she only responded with: Only Ahtohallan knows."
Danika's brows knit together. "Ahta-who-what?"
Elsa giggles, finally bringing her hands up onto the table to enjoy her slice of cake and cookies. "When we were little, our mother used to sing about a special river called, Ahtohallan. It's a magical river said to hold all the answers about the past; about what we are a part of."
"That's the river from that song." Michael says with a smile of understanding. Elsa nods with a proud smile – touched, even that he remembers.
"So what's our next move?" Caiden asks.
Elsa turns to look at Michael, as does everyone else. "Danika and I are planning on going to the temple to find that Midnight Beauty. The Northuldrians might not be of any use to us, but maybe she can. She obviously has enough experience with the runes to know how to use them. You girls and Caiden are going to stay here and see what else you can dig up in that secret room in the library."
"What?" Elsa exclaims. "You can't expect me to let you go and face that woman by yourself!"
"You're the Queen of Arendelle, you're needed here. And if gods forbid something happens to you, I'd never forgive myself." Michael says sternly.
Elsa pouts her lips. "I can protect myself just fine, Michael. You and I."
"I never said you couldn't. But you saw what that woman did to me, did to my magic. I wouldn't want that to happen to anyone. Danika has had more training; the worst that could happen to her is she shifts into a fly."
A fair point. If her magic reacts as badly as Michael's – perhaps even worse considering she has no training, whereas Michael at least has an unbreaking iron will.
The damage she saw that day at the temple. The power that erupted when he jumped into the fjord . . .
"Yes," she finds herself saying bitterly. "You're probably right."
He places his hand on her thigh, as he has been during the whole meal – and she manages a timid smile. Even without his hand on her leg, even when trying to ignore the heat that pulses between her legs with every one of his touches, the warmth if left like a welcoming stain.
When she looks to Michael, seeing his soft smile and full lips, she blinks for a minute in confusion.
A shimmering golden halo rests about his head, like a crown of sunlight.
She blinks again, and it's gone.
There again.
Gone again.
"Are you okay?" Michael asks.
Elsa flutters her eyes, and it doesn't show again, so she takes a breath and says, "Yeah. Sorry, I think I had something in my eye."
But when she catches Danika and Caiden also staring at Michael, uncertainty has her heart skipping a beat.
The shifter's citrine eyes flick to the queen, and Elsa could've sworn she saw the shifter give the slightest dip in her chin.
She saw it too.
"When do you plan on leaving?" Elsa asks the shifter as an excuse to keep her gaze.
Danika blinks, resuming her casual posture as she plucks a grape in her mouth. "Michael said we'd be leaving shortly after lunch."
Elsa whirls to him. "That soon?"
A confirming nod. "I figured that way we could be home before midnight. If it even takes us that long."
Clever little soldier, Elsa thinks.
As if he'd heard her, Michael gives one waggle of his brows before turning to Danika. "I would hope that's enough time for you to ready yourself."
"Are you kidding, I'm going to need at least an hour to get ready."
Michael rolls his eyes as Caiden chuckles. "It's going to be covert, Danika."
"Oh, well then I'm gorgeous." She says with a wave of her fork, resuming to picking between her teeth with it.
"I'm serious, Danika. I don't plan on engaging this woman – or, whatever she is. And if you saw what she did to me, you'd think the same."
"From what you wrote in your letter, it seems like she rattled you pretty good. I almost want to admit I'm impressed."
Caiden clears his throat in warning. Michael spares him a small shake of his head.
"Well, what are we supposed to do?" Anna asks.
"I assumed you guys could help Caiden in deciphering the Northuldrian runes. If they provide any meaning or if they even are the ones we're looking for." Says Michael.
"You mean, you don't know for sure?"
"It's the closest match I've come to make, but I'm trying to leave all possibilities open. Especially since there hasn't been another murder around the kingdom."
"Knock on wood." Kristoff mutters.
"What do you even hope to gain?" Elsa asks as she looks back to Michael.
"Information; of any kind."
A heavy burp from Danika near startles them both, and the shifter takes a long cat-like stretch. "Well, I need a moment to digest this lovely food, and to prepare myself for whatever is to come."
"I should get ready too. Caiden why don't you come up to my room and I can show you the rest of the notes I've collected."
"Sure." As the three rise from their seats, only Caiden speaks to the sisters as he leaves. "Thank you for your hospitality."
Danika spares a chipper smile and a friendly wave as she passes, and to Elsa's surprise, Michael spares a quick kiss on Elsa's head as he passes to leave. He traces his fingers along her shoulder, down to her left arm, giving her fingers a slight reassuring squeeze before he follows Caiden and Danika out.
Their little stolen moments must've been brutally obvious to the shifter and shadow weaver. Elsa's cheeks flush with embarrassment.
But she doesn't have time to dwell as she senses eyes upon her, and Elsa turns to find Anna with wide eyes and a gaping mouth.
Elsa can't stop the laugh that bursts past her lips. "You're going to catch a fly, Anna."
"When did that happen?!" she exclaims, near bursting from her seat.
Kristoff suddenly says, "I think Olaf and I need to go check on Sven in the stables."
Elsa is ever grateful for the Ice Master as he gets up from his seat, grabbing Olaf and tucking the little snowman under his arm like a piece of baggage. Olaf continues to talk about small trivial facts, uncaring of the sudden situation.
The giggles in Elsa's throat keep hitching her words. Anna has changed her seats, near bouncing to Elsa's side. "When did that happen between you guys!? I mean I expected it, but I didn't think anything would actually happen!"
"What do you mean you expected it?" Elsa scoffs.
"Oh please, I've seen the way you two look at each other. Now what happened?!" Anna takes her hands and shakes them with excitement, Elsa unable to hide her glowing smile.
"We – we might've shared a kiss, after your birthday party. And . . . a couple more after."
Anna squeals as she envelopes Elsa in a bone crushing hug. "Oh my gosh, your first kiss that's so exciting! And not when on the verge of death." The two sisters giggle – at Elsa's news, and at themselves for acting like little schoolgirls. "Oh Elsa, I'm so happy for you. You deserve it."
"I'm surprised you approve. But glad, regardless."
"Elsa, I've been courting Kristoff, a simple Ice-Harvester-now-Ice-Master. Who am I to judge who you decide to court?"
The queen giggles as she and her sister hug again. "Well, despite what may be official for us, I don't know how he's going to cope."
"How do you mean?"
"I don't know how he'll, adjust, to our lifestyle. He's a soldier, and . . . I'm worried he's going to have reservations about being king."
"Well, you guys don't have to get married right away."
"Even so, what if he doesn't want it? What if that's the one thing that keeps him from, wanting to be with me?"
"Could've fooled me, seeing how he's already comfortable showing you affection."
"Maybe because he still has this 'job' to keep him busy."
Anna hums with contemplation. "Maybe he and Kristoff can talk. The two share enough in common. And Kristoff really adjusted well."
"You think he would be okay talking with him?"
"Oh, come on! They've already gone shopping together, what's a little chat among friends over tea?"
Elsa chuckles as she places her napkin on the table. "What do you think of Danika and Caiden?"
"Honestly, surprisingly good people; despite all they've been through. It's almost a miracle. Admirable more than anything."
"I know, it's amazing. My heart goes out to them."
"Although, it was pretty amusing to see you stare daggers at Danika." Elsa flicks her sister's temple. Anna bats her hand away with a giggle. "Oh, I'm happy for your Elsa. You really deserve such happiness."
"Thank you, Anna. And I'm glad you're okay with this."
"Why wouldn't I be? But let me take my leave so you can go say goodbye." As Elsa follows her sister out, Anna suddenly peers around the dining room threshold and says, "You two play nice now."
Elsa yelps with embarrassment. "Anna!"