Winter's Echo
Chapter Thirty-Three – The Aftermath
"Maren..."
Elsa's desperate, panting breaths echoed in the stillness of her bedroom, the moonlight the only witness to the spirit's nightmare. The queen whimpered quietly and leaned forward, bringing her knees up to her chest and cradling her head in her hands as she tried to calm her breathing. She squeezed her eyes shut tightly against the familiar sting of tears, gritting her teeth. 'You will not cry. You will not cry,' she mentally scolded herself as the gates of her heart and mind, unguarded in sleep, slammed shut once more. They were the only reason she was still alive.
Every night she was plagued with dreams such as this, forcing her to relive the tragedy of that day over and over again, each one crueler than the next as her own fears and beliefs bled into them. Some nights Honeymaren spoke to her through the flames, asking her why she did not save her. Others, she was locked away in her chains and forced to listen to her lover's tortured screams for hours.
Sometimes, Gustav never came to her aid when Ulrik tried to have his way with her. She kept a bucket next to her bed for when she woke from those particular horrors and even her iron will could not prevent the terrified sobs that would last until dawn.
Elsa ran her fingers through her hair as her breathing finally calmed, turning dark and exhausted eyes to the moon. She stared, unseeing, at its beauty, contemplating her most recent reason for yet another sleepless night. This night's particular dream had begun to repeat itself more and more frequently as of late and it was beginning to wear on the queen. For her beloved mother and the love of her life to be in the same place only highlighted their agonizing absence. At least in this dream, her beautiful Northuldran was whole and unscathed without a trace of her tortured end to be found.
Elsa wept against her sister, clinging to her in desperation as her entire world came crashing down around her. She couldn't think, couldn't breathe, she couldn't feel anything but soul-numbing pain.
"She's gone..."
She had heard Anna's words, but she couldn't, wouldn't absorb them. Honeymaren couldn't be gone. Her noaide would never, ever leave her. They were going to get married, they were going to live their lives happily wrapped up in each other and their family. Elsa wasn't going to be alone anymore. She promised! She promised...
"Matty...old friend..." came Davos's thickly accented voice, its normal gruffness tempered with a softness that could only come from an unfathomable sadness. "We need 'ta get her down." Kristoff, who had been staring helplessly down at the entwined sisters placed a hand on each of their heads lovingly before he turned to face Davos. "I'll-" Kristoff coughed as his voice cracked, too thick with emotion to speak. He cleared his throat and tried again. "I'll help you." Mattias slowly and silently dragged himself to his feet, joining the other two men as they climbed onto the platform in a near daze. The general stood before Honeymaren, his breath hitching in a sob as he reached out to touch her face. "I'm so sorry, kid..." he whispered as the other two men moved the plank bridges back into place.
"These chains are locked," Davos said quietly, grasping the lock and pulling hard. "They're too thick 'ta break without proper tools." He stepped back, looking up and down the chains as his mind worked the problem. Anna's sudden sharp sob drew their attention to the mourning siblings to find Anna shaking her head, cradling Elsa's head against her chest and burying her face her sister's hair. She began to rock her back and forth, as Kristoff jumped off of the dais and ran to her side, kneeling next to her. Before he could speak, the hand that cradled Elsa's head against her covered the distraught queen's ear, blocking out their conversation as one would a frightened child, though it was likely Elsa couldn't hear anything above the sound of her own anguished sobs. "Kristoff, she knew...she fucking knew what was going to happen..." she whispered harshly.
The mountain man's brow furrowed in confusion. "Baby, she told us-" he began, but Anna cut him off with a sharp shake of her head, kissing Elsa's forehead firmly over and over as though she were layering the broken queen with protection against reality. "Go look in my bag in the supply cart," she finally whispered, laying her head atop her sobbing sister's. The furrow of Kristoff's brow deepened, but he quickly rose to do as she asked. As their small group had been dealing with the devastating blow of Honeymaren's death, the well-trained Arendellian soldiers had been cleaning house. Command posts and medical tents were already being established, so their supply carts were luckily close by. Kristoff easily spotted the bag Anna was talking about and opened it, reaching inside and staring with dismay at what he now held in his hand. After a long moment, he finally turned and slowly climbed the steps of the dais, wordlessly handing the tool to the smithe.
Davos blinked at the heavy bolt-cutters in his hand, staring at them for a moment before raising his eyes to the haunted honey-gold of the mountain man's in askance. "She...she told Anna we would need these," he said quietly, all three men looking up in reverence at the body of a woman far braver than any of them could have fathomed. Kristoff and Mattias carefully supported Honeymaren as Davos cut the chains binding her to the pyre one by one, easing her to the ground delicately when she was finally freed. Mattias finally broke as he cradled his lifeless charge in his arms, whispering apologies over and over against her hair. Images of the young girl he had grown to love so much assaulted his mind as he held her close to him, rocking her back and forth as though she were a child in his arms again.
After what seemed like an unending amount of time, Elsa's agonized sobs finally quieted as a numbness settled into her soul. She pulled away from Anna slowly, reaching up to run her fingers through her little sister's fiery tresses. "Elsa..." Anna breathed, at a complete loss of what she could possibly say at a moment such as this. Elsa pressed her forehead to Anna's and closed her eyes, the sisters finding solace in each other. They stayed like that for a long while, Elsa gathering the courage she needed to do what she knew had to be done.
Elsa tossed the blankets off of herself in frustration and walked across the room to retrieve her robe. She knew from experience that Morpheus would embrace her no longer this night, just as he had abandoned her every night since...
The queen shook her head to clear it. She would not, could not linger on the events of that day any longer, lest she go mad with grief.
It had been just over a month since Calabria and life had settled into a new 'normal'. Life as Elsa knew it ended that fateful day. Her hopes and dreams for a future she could look forward to were gone, burned away to ash with her lover's life. Elsa spent as much time as she could with the Northuldra in the enchanted forest, but there was so much going on in Arendelle that needed her attention. These matters had been her solace on these sleepless nights, preventing her quixotic mind from diving too deeply into itself. Slipping her robe over her shoulders, Elsa walked over to her desk and struck a match with practiced ease, lighting the worn down candles that sat atop it. The queen blew out the match as the small flames came to life and leafed through the papers on her desk, sighing softly as the familiar weight of the world settled on her shoulders once more.
Elsa placed a gentle kiss on her sister's forehead before slowly rising to her feet, helping the redhead to stand as well. Anna's face fell with dismay as she looked into her sister's eyes and closed her own tightly against the sight. In her mind's eye, the younger monarch could see walls being constructed and gates slamming closed behind her beloved sister's eyes, closing her off once more to protect her from the outside world that held only pain for her now. Grim duty was all that remained in their depths as the last traces of fire and light finally left the twin chips of ice. With a small, comforting squeeze of her hand, Elsa released her and turned from her sister to walk with slow, measured steps to say her final goodbye to her love. Anna swallowed a sob - she had just lost her sister all over again in front of her eyes. Elsa was gone, hidden away behind the Queen of Arendelle...because it was the only way to survive. Only the Queen would survive what she had to do. Only the Queen could shut her own soul-splitting agony away for the greater good of others...because Elsa would never allow herself to come first.
The mourning Northuldran warriors that had made their way to gather around the dais slowly parted for the queen, watching with sad eyes as both she and her sister climbed the steps to the platform. Mattias looked up when he felt his monarch's cool hand on his tear-stained cheek and stared up at the sad, hollow smile of an angelic, tear-stained face. She knelt down next to him, placing her other hand on her lover's cooling cheek, wiping away the general's tears that had fallen there and the trails in the soot and ash they had created. "She loved you," she said quietly to him, the dark numbness inside of her allowing her these few moments to be the leader she needed to be. "She loved you so much, Mattias."
The general's tears began anew at his sovereign's words and he buried his face once more against Honeymaren's head as his arms tightened around her. Anna sobbed quietly from her place on his other side as Elsa placed a soft, gentle kiss to his cheek, petting his head gently for a moment before she turned her attention to Honeymaren. She did not speak, she did not blink, she did not even breathe as she looked upon her noaide, for her grip on her emotions was as delicate as a thread of silk. Shaking fingers softly caressed Honeymaren's cheek as she looked upon the most stunning face she had ever seen, not even death tempering her beauty. Slowly, Elsa leaned forward to place a delicate kiss on each of Honeymaren's closed eyelids, bidding her love to her eternal rest before kissing her love softly one, final time. "Come, my love," she whispered with a teary smile. "Let me take you home."
"Dammit," Elsa swore quietly as she felt tears trekking down her face, wiping them away harshly and cursing weakness for losing herself in her memories. She sniffled as she turned her attention back to the papers on her desk. Missives from other kingdoms in the realm responding to the news of Ulrik's plots and betrayal and the subsequent trial continued to pour in, each one vehemently confirming their agreement and blessing of his sentence. The traitorous king was to be executed in Arendelle for his crimes two days from now and was safely under guard in the castle's dungeons awaiting his fate. Her soldiers had found him in what remained of the bedroom of the royal box wrapped in chains with a badly bleeding head wound, both courtesy of the young soldier who had saved her, Gustav. Hans was nowhere to be found.
The Northuldran warriors climbed the steps to the platform and, as one, lifted the noaide's lifeless body from Mattias's arms. As they did, Elsa held Honeymaren's left hand in hers, kissing the knuckle just above her icy ring before slowly letting it fall from her grasp as she was taken away. Elsa's jaw clenched so hard she heard her teeth grinding as she wrestled her emotions back under control before finally rising from her knees and offering her hand to Mattias. "Come, General," she commanded softly. Mattias looked up at his sovereign in a near desperate reverence – never had he so respected or so loved a leader as he did at that moment. Elsa was a sovereign of the people, through and through. Her life was destroyed, yet she loaned all of her considerable strength and bravery to others, saving none for herself. He knew when his ruler allowed herself to shatter, and shatter she would, she would do so alone and far away from the eyes of others like a mortally wounded animal. He doubted even her sister would be allowed entrance to the queen's sorrow. But, she would protect and care for her everyone else before she slunk away to her own despair because that was the type of selfless leader both her and her sister were. Mattias reached up to take the offered hand as he stood, though he didn't rely on it – he simply needed a way to hold her. "My Queen," he whispered reverently before planting his chest against his fist. "I am yours to command."
Elsa nodded in acknowledgment before turning to survey the scene around her. All eyes in the area turned to her, looking to her for leadership. Calabrian soldiers loyal to Ulrik were chained together in a small group with her own soldiers guarding them closely. The Calabrian council had been gathered and were strewn among them – a group of finely dressed aristocracy that Elsa could instantly tell shared their defeated king's dark heart and motives. While they were not deemed dangerous enough to be in chains, they were guarded by hatefully glaring Arendellian soldiers nonetheless. A small commotion to the side drew Elsa's gaze next and she frowned slightly when she saw two of her soldiers leading none other than Gustav up to the dais.
"Your Majesty," one of the soldiers greeted, bowing his head sharply before meeting her gaze again. "We found this Calabrian officer up on the balcony. He was with the traitor king." Gustav growled slightly, turning his head to look at the soldier. "I told you, I went back to tie him up so he couldn't slink off! Why do you think he's unconscious in the first place?!" Elsa raised her hand to silence them, both men instantly quieting and respectfully waiting for her to speak. "This man saved my life," she said firmly as she descended the dais, Anna, Kristoff, and Mattias coming to stand next to her while Davos went to assist the other soldiers. "His name is Gustav. He betrayed Ulrik to save me without any possible knowledge of your arrival or assistance and is to be commended for both his morality and bravery. Release him at once." Gustav beamed at Elsa's words of praise, falling to his knee before her the moment he was released. "It was my greatest honor, Your Majesty," he said softly, bowing his head. Elsa nodded in acknowledgment before speaking again. "Do you know where Prince Hans is?" Gustav winced and shook his head. "I saw him leave shortly after you all arrived, Your Majesty. I don't know where he has gone, but I'm afraid he is far beyond your reach by now." Elsa closed her eyes and sighed softly through her nose. "Might I call upon you to serve the interests of both Arendelle and Calabria in these dark times?" she asked when she opened her eyes again. Gustav nodded confidently. "I am yours to command, Queen Elsa." She nodded once more dismissing all three soldiers and turning to Mattias.
"We will need to establish new lines of authority here. Start weeding out those who supported Ulrik's madness and those who refused to condone him and we will go from there," she began before turning to Anna. "You will need to inform the council somehow of what has transpired here. I'm sure you know that you officially declared war on this kingdom by taking our army beyond our borders and into theirs - they must be informed of the outcome." Anna nodded and took a shaky breath, wiping the remaining tears from her face and following her elder's example – now was a time for leadership. Elsa turned to Kristoff next. "Kristoff, you are Anna's...betrothed." Elsa stumbled slightly over the word, swallowing quickly and clamping down on her heart with an iron grip before speaking again, barely missing a beat. "Soon to be the Prince-Consort. As such, your word in this crisis is law and beyond contestation by any other than Anna and myself. Your behavior through this will be watched and marked by our soldiers and the citizens present. I know you will make Arendelle proud." Kristoff nodded in solemn understanding. "I will do my best. Honeymaren's plan luckily gave us enough time to mobilize the army properly so there is very little damage. They didn't have a chance to put up a fight, even if they wanted to."
Elsa's eyes narrowed slightly as she looked at Kristoff in sudden scrutiny. "What do you mean, 'Honeymaren's plan'?" she asked slowly. Three pairs of eyes widened as they all realized Kristoff's terrible mistake. Deep blue eyes, sharp with growing anger and suspicion looked between them expectantly. "What 'plan'?" she repeated, her voice harder than it was seconds ago. Anna took a deep breath and took Elsa's hands in her own. "Elsa," she began softly, bracing herself for the truth she was about to deliver. "Honeymaren knew this would happen." Elsa's mask of stoic confidence cracked a bit, hurt and confusion seeping through in her voice. "I...I don't understand," she said quietly.
Anna's heart clenched painfully in her chest and she looked around at the dozens of people surrounding them. Making a quick decision, she took Elsa's hand and tugged her gently away from prying ears and into an empty stable, Kristoff and Mattias following worriedly. When Anna decided they were far enough out of earshot, she took a deep, steadying breath before turning to her sister once more. "Elsa, Honeymaren had a premonition. She knew all of this would happen. That's why she wasn't worried about finding a defensible spot for me in the forest – she knew I wouldn't be there." Elsa shook her head slowly as she tried to make sense of what her sister was telling her. "T-that doesn't make any sense," she said, shaking her head. She pulled her hands from Anna's grip to run them through her hair as she began to pace. "How could she possibly know what you would or would not do?"
"Because I held Anna back when she left to help you," Kristoff's voice, though quiet, cut through the queen's anxious thoughts, stilling her movements. "Her vision told her that if Anna came to the forest, both of you would die...and if she went alone you at least had a chance to live." His hands balled into fists as he looked down in shame when Elsa never turned to face him, her back to all three of them. "Before the Northuldra and I left the forest, she made me promise to keep it a secret so I could keep Anna away when the time came for her to..." he trailed off, unable to finish. Mattias put a comforting hand on his shoulder, stepping forward. "Your Majesty," he began quietly. "Honeymaren knew what she was doing. She sacrificed herself for the safety of Arendelle and her queens."
"You knew as well, General?" came the quiet, accusatory whisper from the still blonde. Elsa turned to look at the group slowly, her eyes alight with a fury and hatred Anna had never seen before in their sweet depths. "You knew she would die...and you let her come for me still?" Both Kristoff and Mattias took a wary step back as a shiver of cold dread climbed up both of their spines. Anna placed herself between them and her sister, cupping the blonde's face in her hands. "Elsa, listen to me," she said hurriedly, trying to get her sister to look at her. "Elsa, she did what she did to save your life. Sweetheart, she loved you SO much-" Anna gasped when Elsa grasped her hands and threw them away from her face. "So they let her fucking DIE?!" she yelled, not even the sight of Anna cowering back slightly dampening the furious fire in her heart. "For WHAT?! To what end?!" She rounded on the two stunned men then, not even aware of the bright blue glow growing from her hands. "What makes me so much more fucking important than her?! Because I have powers?! I'm a queen?! I'm not even REMOTELY important, but HER?!" When neither man answered, both too stunned or too afraid to speak, she turned her anger on Ahtohallan herself, screaming at the rafters and heavens. "SHE COULD HAVE DONE SO MUCH MORE!"
Elsa fell to her knees and pounded her glowing fists into the packed dirt floor of the stable, thick ice instantly coating every surface inside the building save for, miraculously, the other three inhabitants who were left shivering violently in the sudden cold. All was deathly quiet for a moment as Elsa stared down at her reflection in the ice beneath her. "But this is what she gets," she said in an unnervingly quiet voice as she stared at herself in disgust. "This was Ahtohallan's reward..." Just as Anna took a step forward toward the eerily silent blonde, Elsa stood up and walked to the door of the barn without a word. "Your Majesty-" Mattias tried, reaching out for her timidly, but the words died in his throat when Elsa held up her hand to silence him, pausing only briefly. Without turning, she gave her final warning. "If either of you dare touch me or SPEAK to me again, I will have you thrown in the dungeons with Ulrik and you will share his fate. I swear on Honeymaren's grave, the grave BOTH of you helped her dig, that I will kill you myself." With that, the vengeful spirit walked back into the courtyard, leaving behind the shattered remnants of what was once her small circle of trust and a layer of ice that would not be melted.
When she spotted Gustav, she called his name and bid him to attend her. The young soldier jogged over and bowed before her with a chest over his heart, hazel eyes looking earnestly into hers and softening as he noticed the distress in hers. "How can I help, Your Majesty?" Elsa tried to subtly wipe away angry tears she didn't realize she had shed, sniffling quietly. She blinked in surprise when a clean, white handkerchief was presented to her and looked up to see Gustav's small, understanding smile. "I am here for whatever you need, Your Grace," he said softly. "Take your time." Elsa's breath hitched and she gave a small, watery smile of thanks before taking the offered cloth. It didn't go unnoticed to her when Gustav subtly used his body to block the view of wandering eyes as she collected herself, which solidified her decision.
That day, she had made Gustav her temporary personal bodyguard. It caused insurmountable discomfort to all the Arendellians present to have a soldier of Calabria so close to their fragile queen, but Elsa didn't care. Gustav was the only person who's loyalty the broken spirit trusted in that moment. Part of her wondered if it was because he would not try to stop her when she unleashed her fury upon those who had wronged her.
As Elsa returned to the courtyard proper with her new bodyguard at her side, the cry of one of the Calabrian council members reached her ears. "You cannot do this! These are NOT your lands!" Elsa and Gustav made their way over to the imprisoned Calabrian soldiers and aristocracy to find a young, haughty looking man yelling in the face of one of her soldiers. When he saw her approach, he turned his ire on the queen herself. "You have no right to invade like this! Calabria is not yours to rule, witch queen!" Two soldiers of Arendelle instantly brought the man to his knees, a sword at his throat and awaiting the word from their sovereign to end his life for his insolence. Just as she was contemplating giving such an order, a warm hand slipped into hers unexpectedly and stopped her. She turned to find her sister's gentle, understanding teal eyes looking into hers imploringly and felt the fire within her dim slightly, giving the hand in hers a slight squeeze. That was, until, out of the corner of her eye, she saw Kristoff and Mattias watching them warily and fanning the flames of Elsa's anger once more. She released Anna's hand and turned from the sight of the two men to address the assembled group of dark, greedy souls. "It appears we have some confusion. Let me clear that up for you," she said in an unwavering voice filled with icy authority that unnerved even her sister.
"The question of the hour is 'who is in charge of Calabria?' The answer? I am. Next question," she paused briefly, staring down each man that dared meet her gaze. "Who is coming to take it from me?" she challenged threateningly. "You?" she asked, pointing to a burly soldier glaring up at her. "You?" she asked, gesturing to a rather fat aristocrat who looked nervously away from her. "What about you?" she said as her eyes fell on the aristocrat on his knees. She raised a challenging eyebrow at him before addressing the group again. "No? None of you? Come now, I'm just an innocent woman! My fiancé was just an innocent woman! None of you were afraid to kill us less than an hour ago. To have your false king declare war on my people, to capture me, to rape me and turn me into his broodmare. What's changed?" she asked, holding her hands up in the air questioningly as she walked about. "I have nothing. No plans, no schemes. Oh..." she trailed off as though remembering something before turning to glare daggers at the group of dark, hateful souls before her.
"I also have nothing to lose."
Elsa marched straight up to the bound aristocrat and reached out to him, grasping a fistful of the silk cravat he wore and yanking the stunned man's face to within inches of hers. "You have already taken everything from me. So if you have any plans of taking control of this country from the hands of whomsoever I deem fit to rule, or of EVER taking advantage of this country or mine again, just remember who it is you're taking it from," she growled, staring straight into his eyes before shoving him backward with enough force that he landed on his back, scrambling away from the terrifying winter spirit. Elsa raised her voice so all around her would hear her warning. "Remember who it is that stands in your way, you pathetic excuses for men. And THEN, do the smart thing..." she said before she gave the gathered traitors a dark look that promised to bring the very fires of hell to their doorsteps.
"Crawl back to your holes like the worthless snakes you are."
Elsa ran her fingers through her hair in annoyance before shoving the stack of papers off of her desk in a fit of frustration. She propped her elbows on the now bare desk and buried her face in her hands, forcing herself to take several deep, slow breaths to calm her racing heart. She wouldn't let herself go down that dark path again. Effective as her threats had been, she felt as though the real her and everything she had stood for had taken a backseat in her mind when she was making them. When she had confessed her fears to Nokk, he had told her it was likely not simply a result of the incredible stress of the situation but also the forceful repression of her magic turning to gall in her soul. It had made sense to Elsa, considering that the more she had tried to repress her magic in her youth the harder it became for her to hold it back, but she knew in her heart that all it had done was exacerbate a darkness that was already inside of her.
The queen sighed deeply, turning her head to look at the papers strewn about on the floor dispassionately before finding the distraction she had needed. She bent down and swiftly collected the parchments, organizing them into neat stacks once more before pulling out a different project, smiling a bit as a rare feeling of at least partial calm washed over her. "Anna..." she whispered with a sigh and the barest hint of a smile before she settled into her new task.
"Flowers, catering, bakery, room assignments," she muttered to herself as she sorted her work from the previous sleepless night, organizing them as she went. Anna and Kristoff's wedding was only a few weeks away and Elsa had volunteered to take on as much of the planning as possible, claiming she wanted her beloved younger sister to be stress-free so she could have the wedding of her dreams. While that was the whole-hearted truth, Elsa was also driven by the need for the all-encompassing distraction. When the council had first suggested they move the wedding forward as a morale booster to not just their kingdom, but the entire realm, Anna had balked at the idea. It took Elsa days to convince her to go through with it.
Elsa walked about the castle in a daze, wandering in whatever direction her feet deemed worthy. She had been as a ghost for the past two weeks, speaking only when necessary and keeping only her sister's company. Both Kristoff and Mattias had tried to visit with her with disastrous consequences – that was a step the grieving woman was not ready for. She knew her feelings of betrayal and distrust were misplaced – not only that, they were unfair – but her broken heart would not be persuaded, for it would mean accepting the truth of where her anger truly lay. She was brought out of her musings when she heard her sister's raised voice from a short distance down the hall. What could have the redhead so riled up?
"How dare you suggest such a thing, councilman?"
Anna's voice, though muffled by the heavy wooden door of the council room, was thick with righteous indignation as Elsa slowly walked closer, manners and lessons of propriety forgotten as she eavesdropped outside the door. "How could you possibly think this a time for a celebration? And my wedding, no less?!" Anna continued, her ire clear in her tone. "You would ask my sister to endure such an event when her own fiancé's life was so cruelly taken not a fortnite ago?!"
Elsa brought her hand up to her heart, pressing against it as a sharp pain coursed through her chest at the mention of her lost love. "Your Majesty," came the councilman's muffled reply. "Your sister has gone through absolute and utter hell and not one of us wants to rush her or you into anything either of you aren't ready for. But within a few short weeks, we will have enough replies from the neighboring kingdoms that will put into motion the first execution of a royal in this realm in the last century. Arendelle needs something to give her hope. The realm needs it. What better than celebrating the true love of one of her Queens and her common-born soul-mate?"
Just as Anna was about to argue once more, the sound of the heavy door being pushed open drew everyone's attention to the blonde queen as she entered. The council members instantly stood from their seats, bowing in deference to the elder royal as she entered the room and walked purposefully toward her sister. Anna stood slowly, looking at Elsa with worried concern. "Are you okay, Els?" she asked gently. Elsa smiled slightly at the affectionate little nickname and reached her hand out for Anna, which the redhead gladly took and squeezed it gently. Elsa looked around the room, nodding politely to the assembled council before speaking. "Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for your loyalty and your time, but I need to speak with my sister in private if you would leave us, please."
Anna blinked in surprise, her eyes searching Elsa's questioningly as the council members filed out. Once the door was shut behind them, Elsa gestured for Anna to sit once more before pulling out the chair next to hers and sitting as well, never letting go of her sister's hand. "Elsa, what's going on?" Anna asked, gently running her thumbs over Elsa's hands. The blonde queen took a deep, steadying breath before looking back at her sister. "I think the council is right. We should have the wedding as soon as possible." Anna blinked a few times in confusion before her brow furrowed with concern. "Elsa...there's no need to rush. I...I can't ask you to watch us get married right after..." she trailed off, looking away from her sister. The image of Honeymaren on that pyre haunted her nearly every day – she couldn't even fathom what it was like to be in Elsa's position.
A cool, gentle hand under her chin guided watery teal eyes to clear, understanding blue. Elsa smiled at her reassuringly. It didn't reach her eyes – no smile ever did anymore – but she made the effort anyway. "Anna," Elsa said gently, the chin under her hand moving to cup her sister's face. "Maren wouldn't want her death to be a reason to postpone your wedding. She wouldn't want to be a reason to wait." Elsa took a deep breath, her gaze dropping momentarily as she gathered her courage before looking back into wide teal eyes, her own shining with unshed tears the blonde would not allow to fall. "If anything, this should serve as a reminder that the worst thing in the world you can do is wait...because tomorrow is promised to no one, queen or commoner. You should celebrate your love...hold Kristoff as tight as you can...and never, ever let him go," she finished quietly.
Anna sniffled quietly, placing her hand over Elsa's on her cheek and closing her eyes, soaking in her sister's presence. When they opened again, a different concern lay within them. "Elsa...do...do you still give your blessing?" It was Elsa's turn to blink in surprise at that, the blonde pulling back slightly. "What?" Anna shook her head a bit, sighing before meeting Elsa's eyes again. "Kristoff...thinks you hate him." Elsa sighed and leaned back in her chair in contemplation, Anna instantly missing her sister's presence. "I would never stand between your love, nor would I ever doubt his worthiness or his love for you...but I can't forgive him, Anna. Or Mattias," she said after a long moment, unable to meet her sister's sad gaze. "My heart will not allow it. Honestly..." she trailed off before speaking again in a small voice. "I think it's because I can't even forgive her," she whispered, hanging her head in shame.
Elsa sighed softly as she made notes on the seating chart, moving the names around like pieces on a chessboard. "Prince Armand, you need to be kept as far from Princess Melisandre as possible because you will not be sparking a war in our ballroom...King Doran, you will not be sitting anywhere near the head table and bugging Anna, you lecherous old dolt," she murmured to herself as she scribbled on the parchment, letting the less unpleasant memory pass by her mind in the background like a leaf caught in the current of the stream. That had been the first time since she had spoken about Honeymaren since they had laid her to rest.
Elsa walked alongside the supply cart that carried Honeymaren's body, the noaide covered with a large blanket. Elsa kept her hand on the cart at all times, refusing all offers to ride a horse back to Arendelle – she would not leave her lover's side again. Anna walked beside her, lacing her fingers with her other hand and holding it in silent comfort. The redhead didn't speak, nor did she ask Elsa to. She simply squeezed her hand occasionally in silent reassurance of her presence. As they pulled into the village, the Northuldra were waiting for them with solemn, tear-streaked faces. Elsa and Anna looked at each other for a moment before understanding dawned on them.
They knew. But how?
Ryder appeared from the gathered nomads, looking worse for the wear. His normally bright, sky blue eyes were dull and red-rimmed from hours of tears. He walked slowly up to the cart and gazed at the covered body within it before turning to look at Elsa in askance. Elsa couldn't meet the young man's eyes, a wave of guilt washing over her – she was the reason his sister was dead. Ryder reached across the cart and pulled the blanket back from Honeymaren's face slowly, his breath hitching as he let out a strained sob when his sister came into view. He gently brushed his fingers against his sister's face, his other hand grasping the edge of the cart in a death grip and cried.
A gentle hand on his shoulder made Ryder look up, turning to see Yelena's sad, understanding gaze on him. She squeezed his shoulder gently before reaching out to slowly cover Honeymaren's face with the blanket once more. "Go," she said gently to the distraught young man. "Prepare the canoe." Ryder nodded slowly and, with one final look at his sister's body, turned and walked dejectedly back down the path. When Yelena turned her gaze on Elsa and Anna, Elsa began to tremble violently and Anna squeezed her hand tightly. The blonde's head hung heavy with guilt and the wooden cart creaked slightly under the grip she never released. A strong, wrinkled hand gently lifted the queen's chin first to meet her meaningful gaze, then a bit higher to remind her who she was.
"Come, Winter Spirit," she said gently. "It is time to say goodbye. It is your duty as her wife to bid her to her eternal rest." Elsa bit her lip to prevent the tears that stung her eyes from falling, glancing forlornly at the blanketed form in the cart. "We...never got that far," Elsa said hoarsely. "I asked her yesterday and she accepted...but-" Yelena's hand once more grasped Elsa's chin gently, a small smile on her face. "Sweet spirit, the Great Mother cares not for the laws of man. In her eyes, you were joined the moment you gave yourself to her." Elsa blinked in surprise, a deep blush spreading across her cheeks as she realized what moment the wise old woman was talking about. When Yelena continued to smile at her gently, a small light came to life in Elsa's eyes as she looked back at the still form in the cart longingly.
"We were married," Elsa whispered in awe, reaching out with her other hand to lay it upon Honeymaren's cloth-covered forehead. The blonde began to sob softly as she stroked her hand over her forehead. "I was your wife..." Elsa's knees started to buckle as that truth sank into her mind. Just as her grief began to overcome her, a pair of warm, feminine arms encircled her from behind. Anna squeezed her sister close, laying her head against her back. "I'm here, Elsa," she whispered through her own tears as the blonde fought to regain control of herself. After several moments, Yelena's reached out to cup Elsa's tear-stained cheek with one hand and Anna's in the other, guiding both siblings to look at her. "It is time, Your Majesties," she said softly, using her thumb to brush away their tears. "You, Ryder, and myself are her family," she said, gently lifting Elsa's chin high once more. "It is our job to deliver her into the arms of the Great Mother once more so she may bask in her grace and love until we see her again...and we will send her to her final rest with all the honor and bravery she showed in life." Elsa felt Anna reach down and squeeze her hand again. She nodded bravely, taking a deep breath to steel herself for the task ahead.
An hour later saw what appeared to be nearly the entire population of Arendelle as well as the Northuldra tribe gathered at the fjord's edge, candles of vigil strewn amongst the gathered mourners casting a soft glow across the water. Anna had helped Elsa painstakingly cleanse Honeymaren's body of blood, ash, and soot as she lay on a thick, wooden plank that they would use to carry her down to the water for her final sendoff. With a slow wave of Elsa's hand, several snowflake flowers dotted her long, dark tresses and her body encased in a simple and beautiful white gown. Elsa stared down at her lover, brushing the back of her fingers back and forth across her cheek. She looked like she was sleeping; as though she would wake up any moment and smile that special smile she reserved just for the winter spirit with those warm, loving chocolate eyes that saw right into her soul.
"Elsa?" Anna's soft, probing voice brought Elsa out of her wishful thinking and she tore her gaze away from Honeymaren to meet the sad, understanding teal of her sister's. "She's ready, sweetheart," Anna said gently, reaching out to tuck a strand of white-gold hair behind Elsa's ear as the winter spirit's watery gaze turned back to her noaide. After a moment, Elsa nodded and moved back from her love, feeling her heart constrict as she did. With another wave of her hand, a gossamer-like layer of woven frost draped over the dark-haired Northuldran and Elsa nodded to her sister. Anna walked to the other side of the room and opened the door, stepping back to allow the occupants of the adjacent room in. Ryder came in first, his breath catching as he saw his sister. Elsa's magical touches caught the glow of the firelight in the room, giving his sister an ethereal glow. He approached her body reverently, coming to stand next to Elsa.
"Wow..." he breathed quietly as he stared down at her. "She looks like an angel..." Elsa watched as his hand hovered uncertainly over Honeymaren's for a moment before she reached out to grasp his hand in her own and guided it down slowly to place it over his sister's crossed hands, pressing her hand atop his. "It's alright, Ryder," she said gently, running her other hand through his short, dark brown hair soothingly as he began to cry, ignoring the other three men that silently entered the room. "I'm sorry I couldn't save her," she whispered quietly as she continued to stroke the young man's hair in a motherly fashion. Ryder shook his head vehemently, pulling back to wipe at his tears. "You gave her life back to her when you came into it, Elsa," he said firmly, turning to look at her with a small smile. "She was never the same after our parents passed. Then you and Anna and Kristoff show up...and suddenly she's smiling again."
Elsa opened her mouth to say something when she felt a presence behind her. When she turned, her face became an icy mask, an angry fire lighting in her eyes. "I thought I made it very clear what the consequences of being in my presence were, Mattias," she said coldly with a barely restrained snarl in her voice. The general nodded and fell to his knee before his sovereign, his fist planted over his chest. "I accept the consequences of my actions, Your Majesty. I..." Mattias took a deep, slow breath to calm his racing heart. "I ask that you allow me the honor of helping to carry Honeymaren to the water's edge." Imploring eyes dared to look up into wounded blue, his gaze pleading with her to understand. "Elsa, please," he asked, dropping his voice as he begged. "She was like a daughter to me. I helped raise her, watched her grow up, helped shape her into the woman you fell in love with. She..." Mattias swallowed the thick, emotional lump in his throat. "We BOTH just...had to protect you...AND Anna."
Elsa gazed down at him for a long moment, searching her soul before she sighed deeply and nodded in understanding. "Honeymaren will be reunited with her father in Ahtohallan. It is only right that her other be there to bid her farewell," she said quietly. "My anger will not be the thing to separate her from someone she loved." Mattias closed his eyes tightly against the wave of emotion that washed over him. Before he knew it, he had risen to his full height and embraced the stunned monarch tightly. "I swear to you, Elsa, I tried," he whispered hoarsely. Elsa visibly tensed, but nodded in acceptance before pulling away. "I understand, General," she said quietly before backing away to give him the opportunity to say his own goodbyes, Anna's worried teal eyes following her out of the room, brushing past the other two Northuldran men who waited patiently to fulfill their duties.
Several minutes later, Elsa and Anna followed the slow procession down the winding path to the shore of the fjord. Yelena led the way as Ryder, Mattias, and the other two Northuldrans carried Honeymaren's body, faces etched with solemn duty. Elsa and Anna followed behind Honeymaren, the blonde queen trying to gather her courage for the final goodbye that was swiftly approaching. At the edge of the fjord, the four men slowly and carefully lowered Honeymaren's body into a large canoe decorated beautifully with an assortment of fresh flowers, ferns, and grasses – Ryder had confessed he had been working on its preparation since the army left Arendelle. He told Elsa about the letter the noaide had left him explaining what was about to happen – a letter in which she told him of her vision and how much she loved him, apologizing for having to leave him. Elsa was both anxious and terrified to find out if she had a similar such letter waiting for her somewhere.
Elsa sniffled quietly as silent tears ran unchecked down her cheeks and her gaze fell to the locked drawer of her desk, designed to hold important diplomatic missives from other countries, declarations of war, the will of her parents as well as the living wills of both Anna and herself, along with any other sensitive information. Currently, it held something much more important to the Snow Queen than any other document in history. Atop all of these important writings lay an innocent, unassuming letter, addressed to its recipient with a single word written in an elegant, artist's scrawl – 'Snowflake'. The seal was intact and unbroken save for a small, hesitant chip on one side, marking the moment Elsa had lost her nerve. The queen's mind burned and her heart ached to read the last words her lover wished to tell her, but Elsa knew deep in her soul that she would be irrevocably broken upon discovering them. She would finally shatter, completely and utterly, and would surely go to her death to be rejoined with the only soul capable of making her whole again. And so, there the letter had remained, locked away and undisturbed since its discovery the night Elsa had returned from the funeral and all the weeks since, tormenting the fragile queen with the silence she herself had imposed upon it. With a shaky hand, the queen reached beneath her desk. Her fingernails tugged at a secret compartment with practiced movements until a key dropped into her open palm. She slipped the key into the drawer and turned, pulling the drawer open and carefully withdrawing the letter from inside. She didn't know how long she held it in her shaking hands, her eyes running over the script on the front over and over again before her hands shook too hard to hold it any longer without the risk of ripping it. She let it drop to the desk and ran her trembling fingers through her hair.
The queen sighed and dejectedly gathered her papers, putting them and the letter together neatly before setting them to the side – she would get no more work done this night, too lost was she in the pain of the memories that would not allow her a moment's rest. With another tired sigh, Elsa stood from her chair and stepped out onto her balcony, breathing in the comforting salty breeze that greeted her as she gazed across the water, carrying a seasonally uncommon chill with it. Despite the rebirth of the flowers and trees that heralded the presence of spring, winter was not keen to release its grip on the land. A soft whistling brought an almost unnoticeable smile to her face and she turned her head to the side, already knowing what she would see there.
"Hello, Gale," she greeted quietly. Her gaze was met with a small, sad smile consisting of tiny pieces of leaves and crocus petals, similar debris creating the outline of what reminded Elsa of a woodland nymph from her childhood fairytales perched upon her balcony. Ahtohallan had bestowed upon Gale her corporeal form once more as a reward for her loyal presence and assistance in guiding the noaide through the final moments of her mortal life, a fact that both tormented and greatly comforted the winter spirit. The corner of her lips tugged upward ever so slightly at Gale's restored beauty when a thought struck her. "Have I ever told you how beautiful you are, Gale?" Elsa asked quietly. "Honeymaren thought so too, when you saved her all those years ago. She was so mad that Yelena wouldn't believe her that the most beautiful woman in the world had saved her," Elsa said with a watery chuckle, shaking her head slightly. "Even at that age, she was an incorrigible flatterer."
The wind spirit simply watched with a sad expression as her mistress's face fell, her eyes becoming distant and glassy as she began to lose herself to her mourning. *You know, mistress,* came Gale's lilting voice in her mind, though her petal lips never moved. *She only thought me the most beautiful woman in the world because she had yet to meet you.* Elsa tried to smile at the sweet sentiment – she really did. But as her gaze drifted back to the sea, her eyes following the path her lover's canoe had taken, she could only choke back a harsh sob.
Yelena's voice echoed across the night as she recited the ancient end of life prayers from next to the canoe that would carry Honeymaren to her final rest. The old woman spoke in the ancient language of the Northuldra, a tongue lost to most of the Northuldrans themselves with the exception of ritualistic prayers such as these. Elsa gazed down at the serene face of her love, surrounded by beautiful spring flowers and foliage and wondered briefly if Honeymaren could speak the lost dialect. The realization that she would never hear the beautiful language from her lover's lips sank like a stone in her heart and she bit her lip hard, lest she lose control of herself before she could complete her duties. Yelena's voice, quiet and gentle, brought her mind back to the present.
"Your Majesty...it's time," she said with a small, sad smile as she gestured toward Honeymaren. Elsa found herself frozen as she stared at her lover, her feet refusing to move forward and take her to the final goodbye she would never be ready for. "I-I can't," she whispered almost inaudibly after a long moment, her whole body beginning to tremble. Just as Anna was about to place a comforting hand on her shoulder, Yelena held up her own to stop her and moved to stand next to the grief-stricken queen. A strong, wrinkled finger hooked under Elsa's chin, guiding panicked blue eyes to resolute, reassuring hazel. "Remember who you are, Elsa," she said quietly, her other hand reaching up to gently wipe away the rapidly falling tears. "You are not just a queen of Arendelle this day. This day, you are the wife of a noaide. You must be brave as you say goodbye, child. Be brave for your wife and the people she leaves behind, so she may go to her eternal rest knowing you will continue on to honor her memory in life." Elsa choked on a sob and nearly curled in on herself, prevented only by the strong finger beneath her chin and the wise old gaze locked onto hers.
After a moment, Elsa took a deep, shuddering breath and slowly forced herself to stand tall, squaring her shoulders in defiance of her grief. Yelena gave her a small, proud smile and nodded approvingly, helping the queen one final time by tilting her chin upward. "Be brave for her, Your Majesty," she said again as she led Elsa to kneel next to the canoe, reaching out to grasp her hand and placing it gently over Honeymaren's delicately folded ones, her own warm, wrinkled hand remaining atop Elsa's. Elsa stared at her lover's face, glassy blue eyes drinking their last of the beautiful woman that had stolen her heart and restored her soul as Yelena began to speak once more.
"Brave noaide of the Northuldra, worthy ancestor of the most noble among us – the wind and the ice and the snow will carry your name forever, borne of the pure heart of the wife you leave behind. Noaide, bless this woman with the strength of your love in death as you did in life, that the sun may bring her new energy by day and that the moon may softly restore her by night. May your spirit guide the rains to wash away her pain from your absence and send the breeze to blow new strength into her being. May Queen Elsa walk gently through the world with your spirit at her side so that you may continue to show her its beauty all the days of her life."
Yelena removed her hand from Elsa's after a soft squeeze and stepped away to give her a moment of privacy. Elsa slowly leaned forward and rested her forehead against her noaide's, closing her eyes. No words were spoken, for none existed that could convey what lay in Elsa's heart. Trembling lips softly brushed Honeymaren's for the final time and Elsa's eyes shut tighter against the tears that began to fall. She buried her face against her lover's chest as her body shook with silent sobs and her hand squeezed the cold one beneath hers.
Just when she thought she may not be able to let go, a quiet chirping and slight weight atop her hand made her look up. Bruni looked up at her sadly for a moment before chirping again and moving off of her hand to settle atop Honeymaren's chest, curling up in a tiny ball and staring up at the queen. *Ahtohallan calls, my mistress,* came Gale's voice in her mind, the petal outline of a woman hovering above her in the breeze. *She calls your noaide home.*
Elsa nodded tearfully before lifting Honeymaren's left hand to her lips, the icy testament to the love they shared in life sparkling in the light of the full moon. Elsa sniffled quietly as she replaced her hand before cupping Honeymaren's cheek. "Thank you, my love..." she whispered simply before nodding. It was nearly imperceptible in its slightness, but it was a sign Yelena was watching for closely. With a solemn wave of her hand, Ryder and Mattias moved forward to the opposite side of the canoe, Ryder gripping the front and Mattias the back. "We bid you rest, favored child of the Great Mother, and thank you for the light your life brought to the world." With those final words, both Ryder and Mattias began to gently push the canoe into the water and Elsa's hand began to drift away from her noaide's cheek. Her fingers slowly trailed down her chest, brushing lightly against her hands once more before falling from the boat entirely as her lover finally went beyond her reach.
Elsa's hand floated there for a long moment, reaching for her noaide still even as the current began to gently pull her from the shore. She heard the crunch of the pebbles on the shore alerting her to Anna's presence before the redhead knelt beside her, wrapping her arms tightly around the broken widow. She gently clasped Elsa's reaching hand in her own, pulling it against the blonde's shuddering chest as she embraced her. As the Snow Queen was about to lose herself to her grief, Yelena appeared at her side once more and reached out to both of the sisters, bidding them to stand. Anna refused to let go of Elsa as they did, her strength the only reason Elsa was capable of standing at all. Yelena cupped Elsa's cheek and gave her a warm smile. "Thanks to you, Honeymaren will be carried to Ahtohallan by the Spirits themselves. There is no greater honor for a noaide, Your Majesty," she said gently before all three turned their view to the canoe drifting only a few yards from the shore.
A powerful, ethereal whinny echoed throughout the fjord, the sound carried by the sudden strong breeze that gusted across the water, causing the citizens and Northuldrans present to gasp in surprise, the candles each were holding blowing out in an instant. Though the candles were extinguished, the area seemed even lighter than before, as though the moon was able to shine brighter in their absence. Nokk leapt gracefully from the water, drawing awed gasps from the Arendellian people not used to seeing the majestic spirit of water. The mighty stallion walked gracefully up to his mistress and lowered his head, pressing it into her chest lovingly. Elsa untangled herself from Anna's arms and placed a hand on either side of his muzzle, pressing her forehead against his. "Take care of her, my friend," she whispered through her tears. Nokk whickered softly in reply, pulling away slightly to nuzzle her tear-streaked cheek before he turned away and leapt into the water. With Gale at his back, the spirits of wind and water worked together to guide the boat carrying their mistress's love out to sea. The mourners felt a deep trembling in the ground beneath their feet and from the forests at the edge of the inlet came two mighty earth giants. The behemoths waded into the water and flanked either side of the canoe, walking slowly alongside it – silent, stone sentries keeping watch over the noaide on her final journey.
Finally, a soft purple and pink light began to emanate from the canoe itself as Bruni performed the final task of the ceremony. As bright flames the color of sunset blazed to life from the canoe, Elsa's knees threatened to buckle. Anna moved forward once more and wrapped her arms around her in a supportive embrace, pressing her lips to Elsa's temple as her sister grasped at her desperately, blue eyes never leaving the bright glow in the distance as it drifted further and further away.
An insistent knock on her bedroom door startled the queen out of her reverie and she jumped, whipping around to face the door as she wiped away her tears. Barely a few seconds later, a flustered Kai entered the room, his eyes alight and nervous. "Kai? What is the meaning of this?" Elsa questioned harshly, agitated from the rude interruption of her dark musings. Kai bowed hurriedly, slightly out of breath as though he had run the entire way there. "Your Majesty, I apologize, but there is an urgent matter that requires your attention at once. There is a stranger waiting in the throne room. He is here to claim a bounty and said he will speak only to you." Elsa narrowed her eyes in angry annoyance. Had Kai lost his mind? "It's the middle of the night, Kai. Why would you even entertain such a demand, let alone dare pass along this impertinent request?" she asked icily, turning her head from him and trying to calm her rising ire.
"Because the bounty the stranger claims is that of Prince Hans, Your Majesty."
Blue eyes widened with surprise before they darkened in suspicion. "You are certain of the validity of his claim?" she asked after a brief moment, her sharp mind now whirling. Kai nodded emphatically. "It is him, Your Grace, I saw him with my own eyes. He stands bound in chains in the throne room as we speak, but the bounty hunter will not release him to us until he is given an audience with you. Elsa's eyes narrowed dangerously, glancing away in thought. Any man that thought he could stand between her and the disgraced prince was either incredibly stupid or incredibly dangerous. If Hans was, indeed, in chains, then the queen knew the bounty hunter would not be the former. Her arctic gaze flicked back to the staff head as he anxiously awaited orders.
"Get Anna."
AN:
My heart hurt writing this. Not gonna lie. My head does too, I'm pretty sure this is the longest chapter so far.
Congrats to MartukaBrennan for their correct guess at the reference in one of my chapters! I will be writing a companion piece to Winter's Echo filled with reader-requested one-shots of anything they would like to see from this story's universe and Martuka has won the right to the first chapter requested! If you have a request of a scenario you would like to see played out (maybe from Elsa's time learning the ways of the Northuldra or from Anna's time learning how to be a queen), PM me and I will do my best to make it so!
Until next time, friends!
-Volchise