Winter's Echo
Chapter Twelve - Show Yourself
Elsa had been searching along the sea wall for just shy of an hour and was beginning to lose hope. She could feel through her connection to Nokk that her dark-haired target had not moved, but 'near the water' was not exactly a narrowing description for a kingdom on a fjord. Elsa leaned back against the stone waist high sea wall and sighed, running her fingers through her hair in frustration. "Where are you, Maren?" she whispered to herself, rubbing her face wearily in an effort to push back the frustrated, guilty tears that were beginning to well behind her closed eyes. She had no time to feel sorry for herself - she had to make this right, and to do that, she needed to find her missing noaide. Elsa pushed herself off the stone barrier and continued her quick walk along the sea wall.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Elsa saw a lone figure sitting on the stone wall, one leg bent and propping up an arm while the other dangled over the side. The figure was unmoving, facing the water and staring at a strangely shaped object in their hand, bathed in the light of the full moon. Elsa knew it was Honeymaren when a light breeze beckoned long, flowing locks toward the sea and she gave a sigh of happy relief that the general had been right - she didn't leave. Elsa ran to close the distance between her and her noaide, calling her name as she got closer.
Honeymaren turned her father's dagger over slowly in her hand, running her thumbs lovingly over the fine detail of the carved whale-bone hilt. Her mind was swept far away, reliving memory after memory in this rare moment of quiet. While peace was nowhere to be found for the troubled Northuldran, the scarce opportunities to be truly alone with her own thoughts enough to allow her mind to wander brought her a sense of calm. Opportunities like these were few and far between; such was the life of an empath. She smirked a bit, imagining her father gently chiding her for allowing her guard to drop so that she could reminisce, especially after what had just happened. "If you must trust in something, child, trust in your own wings alone; a bird in a tree need never fear the branch breaking because she puts her trust in her own wings above all else," he had said when he had given her the dagger. Nevermind that he had given it to her when he had grudgingly accepted her desire for Mattias to train her in the ways of combat, she remembered with a small grin. Her smile fell a bit and she sighed softly. She missed her parents dearly; she had only visited them once since Elsa had come to the forest, the night Elsa had revealed to her what had happened on her coronation. They had been the only ones she trusted to share that sensitive information with at the time. She made up her mind to pay them a visit soon when her ears pricked at the sound of a voice on the wind. "Maren!" Honeymaren blinked and looked away from pondering the dagger in her hand, searching for the voice that called to her. Brown eyes widened with slight surprise when she saw the winter spirit sprinting toward her. "Elsa?" she asked in confusion as she blonde reached her, panting slightly. "What are you doing here?" Honeymaren looked around, finding no other soul in sight. "Why aren't you with Anna?"
"Maren, I'm so sorry for what happened," Elsa blurted out, reaching out to grasp Honeymaren's free hand in both of hers. "I swear to you on my life I never thought something like this would happen, please believe me," the queen begged, squeezing her hand tightly in her slightly shaky grasp. Honeymaren shook her head, "Elsa, you've nothing to be sorry for, you've done nothing wrong. Neither has Anna," she said, squeezing back reassuringly. "But you shouldn't be here. You should be with your sister and your people. I'll be fine here," she said quietly. "No," Elsa said incredulously. "Are you mad? Of course I came for you, Maren. I was so worried," she admitted. "I thought..." Honeymaren frowned slightly, looking into Elsa's stormy blue eyes in askance. "I thought you'd left me," Elsa finished quietly. "I thought you might be on your way out of Arendelle by now." Honeymaren gave a tiny chuckle. "Of course not, Snowflake. I will go anywhere you go, my spirit," she said with a small smile. "I just...needed to get away for a bit."
Elsa nodded in understanding, absentmindedly caressing Honeymaren's hand with her thumbs. After a moment, Elsa slowly brought the hand she held to her lips and placed a soft kiss on her palm before guiding it to her face and pressing her cheek against its warmth. "I really am sorry, Maren," she whispered, watery eyes looking up into the Northuldran's sadly. "This is my fault; I should not have left you alone." Honeymaren sighed deeply, pulling her hand away and looking back at the dagger in her hands, Elsa's heart squeezing painfully at the action. "Why?" Honeymaren asked quietly, unable to keep the bitter edge from her voice. "Because you knew your people could not be trusted to be civil?" Elsa's mouth open and closed a few times, trying to form an answer. "N-no, it's not that at all, just...it just shouldn't have happened, it wouldn't have happened if-"
"If you had been there?" Honeymaren finished for her, looking the slight distance down at the blonde with hardening eyes. "Do they need to be babysat by their queen to be polite to a lowly savage like me? That's not the Arendelle I told my people I was visiting, Your Majesty." Tears began to form in Elsa's eyes at the biting, but truthful words. She looked away from the rightfully angry woman, biting her lip to keep it from trembling as she wrapped her arms around herself. Instant and painful regret surged through Honeymaren at the sight of the trembling blonde. She placed her dagger on the sea wall and immediately pushed off of it, wrapping the queen up in her arms protectively. When Elsa buried her face in the crook of Honeymaren's neck and began to sob softly, the Northuldran wanted to throw herself over the stone wall and into the fjord. "I'm so sorry, Elsa," she murmured to the crying woman in her arms, squeezing her tightly and gently stroking her hair. "I shouldn't have said that, it's nowhere near fair. This has nothing to do with you, you are not responsible for the actions of others." Honeymaren pressed her warm lips to the spirit's forehead and temple, peppering the area with soft kisses and whispered apologies as the queen's tears ebbed.
Elsa pulled back slightly, lifting her head to wipe away her remaining tears but Honeymaren beat her to it, delicately brushing them away with her thumb. She gave Elsa a small smile and playfully tickled the corner of the spirit's lips, causing them to twitch upward into a little smile and eliciting a watery chuckle from the queen. "That's better," Honeymaren said gently, a sweet smile on her lips as she gently caressed Elsa's tear-stained face with her thumb, her other arm still wrapped protectively around the blonde's waist and holding her close. Elsa looked into doe brown eyes that had regained the warmth and compassion that comforted her so many times before and a sudden fear of seeing it gone again washed over her. She had been so close to finally acting on her growing feelings for the beautiful woman before her earlier in the evening, only to nearly lose all chance of ever knowing her touch mere hours later. She would have spent the rest of her days cursing her own cowardice, regretting all the opportunities to explore her feelings for the empathic Northuldran that she had stupidly squandered.
Without thinking, Elsa closed her eyes and leaned forward to claim Honeymaren's lips with her own. Her eyes opened in confusion when she was met with warm fingers instead of the full lips she had expected. "Elsa, wait," Honeymaren breathed. Her heart tightened painfully at the unexpected rejection, red blooming hotly across her face. Had the events of the evening changed Honeymaren's feelings for her? Had she misread their almost-kiss in the foyer earlier, and she had no feelings for the queen at all? Elsa stuttered out an apology in a voice barely above a whisper and tried to move away from the Northuldran, but was held tight in the brunette's close embrace. "Wait, wait, wait, Snowflake, hold on," Honeymaren said calmingly, running her fingers through Elsa's white-gold locks and guiding the queen's embarrassed gaze to her. "I-I'm sorry-" the blonde started before a warm, slightly calloused thumb over her lips silenced her. "Please don't misunderstand, Elsa. I've waited for what feels like forever to taste your lips somewhere other than my dreams," Honeymaren said lovingly. She brushed her thumb lightly across the soft, full lips in question, the action sending a delightful shiver up the wintery spirit's spine. Elsa's eyes fell closed briefly with a stuttering breath before opening again in confusion and longing, meeting Honeymaren's gaze once more in askance.
"You're scared right now, Snowflake. You are scared and confused and full of misplaced guilt for sins you didn't commit. When I am finally able to claim your lips, it will be in a moment when you feel completely and utterly safe, happy, and loved - not because you are trying to keep me with you when there is nowhere else in the world I would ever go. When that moment comes, I swear I will kiss you breathless until the stars themselves burn out of existence, but not until you truly feel how deeply I cherish you. Do you understand?" she asked gently, slowly running her thumb back and forth across Elsa's lips. Elsa took a trembling breath, the feel of Honeymaren's thumb gliding across such sensitive skin sending little bolts of lightning though her body. She nodded silently before leaning forward and pressing herself into the Northuldran's embrace once more, breathing in deeply and relishing the comforting scent of the woman's silky tresses.
"I want to go home," Elsa mumbled quietly into the dark waterfall of Honeymaren's hair, nuzzling her gently. Honeymaren sighed and nodded, squeezing the queen close to her. "Alright," she said, placing a gentle kiss upon Elsa's head. "I'll take you back to the castle." Elsa shook her head, pulling back to look into Honeymaren's eyes. "No," she corrected gently. "I want to go home...with you." Honeymaren blinked for a moment before she realized Elsa was talking about the forest, her heart skipping a beat at the queen's request. She smiled genuinely at the blonde and nodded in agreement. "I do, too," she said softly before giving a small, apologetic smile. "But you know as well as I do that it wouldn't be fair to Anna to do that." Elsa sighed and nodded, mirroring the disappointed smile on the Northuldran's features. "I know...but you don't know how much it means to me that you understand that, or how deeply I appreciate it."
Honeymaren shrugged and reached back to retrieve her dagger from the edge of the sea wall, tucking it into her belt before slipping her arm through Elsa's and beginning the long trek back to the castle. "I have a duty, to you and to Anna, to clean up the mess I've made," Honeymaren said resolutely, her eyes on the ground as they walked arm in arm. Elsa shook her head, pressing closer to her companion. "You didn't do anything wrong, Maren. You didn't start it. This is Davos's doing," she reasoned. Honeymaren chuckled a bit at the winter spirit's immediate defense of her honor, but shook her head in disagreement. "I may not have instigated this mess, but I could have prevented it from getting so out of hand and so public if I had just walked away and left him to his bigotry," she countered. "It was wrong of me to insinuate the onlookers shared his ignorance. I should have given them the benefit of the doubt." Elsa tilted her head slightly, her eyebrows rising in askance. "What doubt is that?"
"That they were cheering for sport, not cruelty." Elsa chewed her lip pensively before answering slowly, shaking her head slightly at her noaide. "No..." she said after a moment. "War hero or not, to cheer for Davos is to cheer for his actions. To cheer for his actions is to condone them. You were right to do what you did. While I can assure you that they meant no harm or malice, the people of Arendelle needed to witness that. Their eyes needed to be opened to reveal the way of thinking that caused the rift between our peoples in the first place," she reasoned thoughtfully. "Besides," she added with a small, playful smile. "It unintentionally showcased yet another facet of you that you've kept hidden from me. I had no idea you had such skills in combat, noaide." Honeymaren laughed lightly at that, shaking her head. "You make it sound as though I purposely keep secrets from you, my love," she said in an amused tone. Elsa blushed prettily as she tried to fight the bright smile tugging at her lips at the slipped endearment and how naturally it fell from the Northuldran's lips. "I apologize that there hasn't been a need for me to beat someone into submission until now," Honeymaren joked.
Elsa giggled, briefly resting her head on Honeymaren's shoulder as they walked before lifting it again to ask a question. "General Mattias said he taught you to fight when you were younger. Why would he do that if you were enemies?" Honeymaren smiled and nodded in affirmation. "That he did, Snowflake. By the time you got to the forest, we had developed a somewhat shaky, but mostly reliable truce. That wasn't always the case, however," she began. "There was one particularly harsh winter a little more than a decade ago, and food was scarce. The Arendellian soldiers were no strangers to the cold by then, but were nowhere near as capable of preparing for the unseasonable ruthlessness of that year as my people," she began, a small, fond smile on her face as she recalled her first dealings with Mattias. "Even before I was officially the noaide, I couldn't stand to see them suffer so. They were just as trapped as we were in those mists, but at least we had our families and our relative way of life. Even then I firmly believed that, in times of crisis, only the truly weak would leave people to needlessly suffer." Honeymaren's smile grew, becoming fondly nostalgic as they strolled casually along the path. "Since Ryder and I were young, our father told us that the strength of a person was measured by the circle they drew around themselves. It was only then that I realized what he meant...and what kind of a circle I wanted to draw." Elsa tilted her head curiously at that. "What does that mean?"
Honeymaren turned her head to look at Elsa and smiled warmly at her. She led her the short way to a small alcove that overlooked part of Arendelle, the lights of the festival shining brightly in the distance. She stood next to Elsa at the stone wall that lined the path, gazing over the village with Elsa in silence for a moment before taking Elsa's hand in hers. "My father told me that every person draws a circle in their life. A good person draws a circle around themselves and cares for those within it. Their children...their lover," she said quietly, lifting Elsa's hand to her lips and placing a sweet kiss on her knuckles. The queen smiled and lowered her gaze shyly, biting her lip, and Honeymaren grinned - the expression was quite fetching on the bashful queen. "A better person draws a larger circle," she continued, stepping behind the winter spirit and taking her in her arms, crossing them over the queen's chest in an X shape. Elsa leaned back into the encompassing, protective embrace, resting her head gently against Honeymaren's and sighing contentedly. "In this circle, a person brings in their brothers and sisters."
Honeymaren nuzzled against Elsa for a long moment, both women enjoying the quiet closeness before she spoke again. "But there are some people, quite like you, my spirit, who have a great destiny," she continued, gently nudging Elsa's cheek with her nose and looking over the village of Arendelle proper, Elsa's gaze following hers. "People like you and Anna, who must draw around themselves a circle that includes many, many more. Noaide was also one of those people with a great destiny, and it was up to me to decide for myself whether I was, as well. So, when I saw suffering I could ease, even that of my enemy, I could not ignore it. Mattias recognized this and offered to teach me the skills to help me protect my people in exchange for my help. It was through us that a truce was born in the mist," Honeymaren finished quietly, losing herself in her memories once more.
"You're an incredible person, Maren. Sometimes I think the forest would be better served if you were born with powers, rather than me," Elsa admitted quietly after a moment, bringing the Northuldran back to the present. "You always know the right thing to say or do, while I feel I am constantly making educated guesses on the next right step." Honeymaren released Elsa, only to gently turn her around and slip her arms around her trim waist, pulling the blonde spirit close to her. "A strong leader isn't simply born, Elsa. They are made by the storms they walk through," Honeymaren said earnestly, resting her forehead against the queen's. "Your storms are still swirling around you, trying to make you lose your way. Until recently, you've fought them all alone, but never again," she said firmly, pulling back to look meaningfully into beautiful blue pools. "You will never again meet a storm you have to weather alone, Elsa. Not while I have the strength to stand at your side. I swear it to you." Elsa's eyes swam with love and appreciation for the compassionate woman before her. In that moment, she finally admitted to herself that she was no longer falling for the beautiful Northuldran. She was already completely and deeply in love with her.
Just as she was working up the courage to tell Honeymaren just that, the rattling of wheels on cobblestone reached their ears as a carriage drawn by two royal horses quickly drew near, the beasts' hooves striking the stone path sharply. Honeymaren instinctively placed herself between Elsa and the carriage as the driver pulled it to a sharp stop in front of the women before jumping down. Honeymaren recognized him as the same man who had been driving the carriage that fetched them from the docks earlier in the day, though it seemed like many ages ago. "Your Majesty," he greeted reverently, bowing low to his monarch before turning to Honeymaren. "My lady," he said, bowing to her as well, causing Honeymaren to blink in confusion. She raised an eyebrow and looked at Elsa curiously before he spoke again. "Queen Anna sent me to look for you, as the hour has grown late. She was hoping I would find you journeying back to the castle and asked that I bring you back, if that is your wish." Elsa looked at Honeymaren in askance, who simply nodded. The driver opened the door for the queen, bowing low once more as Honeymaren helped her in. There was a short moment of tension where Honeymaren hesitated and Elsa wasn't sure the Northuldran would join her before she took a deep, steadying breath, and climbed into the carriage, sitting next to Elsa as the driver closed the door.
The ride back to the castle was a quick one, though it may have seemed that way since the two women were cuddled close to one another throughout the journey, neither eager to face the reality of their arrival to the castle. Both took a breath to collect themselves as the carriage came to a halt, smiling reassuringly at each other as the driver opened the door and stepped aside. Honeymaren climbed out first, turning to offer her arm to Elsa once more. This time, however, Honeymaren couldn't help but happily notice that Elsa didn't let go as they entered the castle where they found Anna pacing anxiously around the foyer. The redhead looked up as she heard them enter, relief washing over her features as she immediately made a beeline for them. To Honeymaren's surprise, she was quickly enveloped in a tight embrace. "I'm so sorry, Honeymaren, I'm completely ashamed at the behavior of Arendelle-"
"Please, don't, Anna," Honeymaren interrupted, returning the hug fiercely. "Nothing need be forgiven, I promise you." Anna pulled back to protest, but Honeymaren held her hand up to give her pause. "Really, truly, all I want to do right now is sleep and put this all in the past where it belongs. Is that alright with you?" she asked hopefully. Anna smiled and nodded. "Of course, whatever you need. Do you remember where your room is?" Elsa smiled and stepped forward, giving her sister a quick hug. "I'll take her," she said, slipping her arm through Honeymaren's and giving the Northuldran a warm smile. Anna looked between the two women and smiled, biting the inside of her cheek to keep it from growing into an all-out grin. "Alright. I think we should all sleep in, it's been...quite a night," Anna suggested. Elsa chuckled and stage whispered conspiratorially in Honeymaren's ear. "She always thinks it's a good idea to sleep in." Honeymaren laughed as Anna glared at her sister, crossing her arms over her chest and making a small, dignified huffing sound. "I'm afraid I have to agree with Anna on this one, Snowflake. I feel I share her attachment to the beds here." The redhead grinned at Honeymaren, nodding triumphantly at her sister. "Until brunch then!" she said cheerfully, leaning forward to place a kiss on each woman's cheek and bidding them goodnight before turning and walking down the hall to the royal study.
Elsa chuckled and slid her hand down Honeymaren's arm to entwine their fingers. "Come," she said quietly, tugging gently to lead her up the stairs. Honeymaren remembered the way, but happily allowed herself to be led anywhere the spirit of winter would ever want to take her. She smiled when Elsa stopped in front of her own bedroom, the queen placing her free hand on the door handle. "So," Honeymaren said with a warm smile, glancing at the blonde's bedroom door. "This is goodnight." Elsa bit her lower lip slightly, her cheeks tinged an incredibly fetching shade of pink as she answered. "Yes...it is," she said quietly before opening the door and slowly tugging Honeymaren inside. The Northuldran blinked as Elsa closed the door behind them, looking at the queen questioningly. "My room is further down the hall," she said quietly, her heart beginning to pound out of her chest as the air grew heavy with the tension of possibility. "No, it's not," Elsa said in a low voice that sent a shiver down Honeymaren's spine as the queen slowly approached her. "You're right where you belong."
Elsa grasped one of Honeymaren's hands in hers, lifting it to her lips and pressing a slow, deliberate kiss on her palm before guiding it to rest over her heart where Honeymaren could feel it's speedy, fluttering tempo in the blonde's chest. "I don't want to spend another night without your arms around me, Maren," Elsa whispered, looking at the stunned Northuldran through her long lashes. "You swore to me that you would kiss me when the moment came that I felt completely safe and happy...when I felt truly loved," she continued, stepping closer and pressing against Honeymaren, who instinctively wrapped her arms around the beautiful spirit, staring in mesmerized wonder at the woman she loved. "Yes," Honeymaren answered breathlessly, warm pools of chocolate searching crystalline depths. "Don't make me wait one moment more," Elsa commanded quietly.
Honeymaren reached a hand behind the queen's head, tangling her fingers in silken tresses of molten white-gold and pulled her close, capturing Elsa's full lips with her own without a moment's hesitation. All thoughts of anything but each other flew from the women's minds as they both inhaled sharply at the long-awaited feel of the other's lips. Elsa's hands immediately wound their way around Honeymaren's neck as her inexperienced lips moved experimentally against the Northuldran's, savoring each new sensation as wave after wonderful wave of warmth flooded her senses. Some touches felt like an intimate caress, like a wave hugging a sandy shore. Others felt like lightning coursing through her, mingling with the magic rolling beneath her skin. Honeymaren pulled away slowly, her forehead pressed against the blonde's as both women tried to calm their breathing. The Northuldran opened her eyes to see the queen's beautiful blue pools staring back at her, their icy hue darkened with passion. Elsa's gaze flicked from Honeymaren's eyes to her lips and back again before leaning forward and kissing her again, tangling her fingers in the dark tresses at the base of her neck and pulling her close, unable to pull the woman close enough. Her heart soared as her body and her soul eagerly drank in the wonderful sensations she had believed all her life she would never know, and Honeymaren was more than willing to indulge her as she let all the passion she had been repressing for the enchanting queen escape into their kiss.
Elsa felt her knees hit the mattress of her bed without having realized they had been moving. She broke the heated kiss with a small gasp as Honeymaren ducked down slightly and she felt herself being lifted from the ground only to be swiftly but gently deposited on the bed. The Northuldran immediately followed, reclaiming Elsa's lips in split seconds as she hovered over the beautiful monarch. Honeymaren ran her tongue lightly across the spirit's lips and Elsa gasped sharply at the sensation, whimpering passionately when the Northuldran slipped her tongue between them and deepened the kiss. A sudden, incredibly tight pull in her lower belly elicited a moan from the inexperienced queen as Honeymaren's tongue glided over hers. The noaide tangled her fingers in Elsa's hair once more, caressing the spirit's jawline with her thumb lovingly. Finally, they were forced to part for breath, Elsa gasping at the cool air as Honeymaren planted hot kisses to the blonde's throat and pulse point. "Maren..." the winter spirit whispered her name passionately, tangling her fingers in the dark waves of silken hair and pulling her close as she panted lightly, beginning to lose herself to the sensation of the other woman's lips. "Maren, wait..."
Honeymaren immediately pulled her lips away from the blonde's neck, nuzzling the queen's cheek in loving understanding, even as she tried to calm her own frenzied heartbeat. "It's alright, my love," she breathed. "I understand." Honeymaren feathered delicate kisses across Elsa's face, taking great care to kiss away the emotional tears the spirit hadn't even realized she had shed. The two spent the better part of the next hour trading soft, innocent kisses and caresses until their eyelids grew heavy, the emotional day finally taking its toll on the two women. Honeymaren reached down and grabbed the edge of the duvet, pulling it over them both before wrapping her arms protectively around Elsa, guiding the blonde's head to rest on her arm and pulling her close. Elsa sighed deeply in contentment, breathing deeply of her love's natural scent of fresh woods and crisp winds. "I can't recall a moment in my life that I've ever felt happier," she mused tiredly, snuggling into the dark-haired woman. Honeymaren smiled into Elsa's hair, pressing a soft kiss against white-gold tresses. "Then how wonderful it is to think that tomorrow is an entirely new day that will give me a chance to top it," she said warmly. Elsa could hear the smile in the Northuldran's voice and hummed happily. "So long as I wake up in your arms," she said tiredly, losing herself to Morpheus's call. Honeymaren felt the blonde's breathing become slow and even as she succumbed to sleep, laying her head against hers. "For the rest of my life, my embrace is yours, my queen," she whispered as she followed her love into a sweet dream that would never again surpass reality.
Sooooo let me know what you guys think and drop a review! If nothing else, to let me know if anyone other than me is interested in what happens next! XD (also, bonus points for anyone that caught the reference to another movie!)
-Volchise