Winter's Echo
Chapter Forty-One – Change of Plans
Honeymaren sighed softly as she awoke to a crisp breeze, snuggling in closer to the warmth she held in her arms. Twilight-flecked eyes opened slowly, blinking away the remnants of sleep as she glanced around the room bathed in the early morning light streaming from the open balcony doors. A soft, contented sigh drew her wandering eyes to the sleeping goddess in her arms, a warm and adoring smile tugging at her lips as she gazed upon the peaceful spirit. Elsa's head lay cradled in the crook of her lover's arm, Honeymaren's forearm crossing over her chest to her other shoulder and holding the queen against her in a protective embrace while the other lay draped over the beautiful spirit's waist. One of the blonde's hands was curled over the arm holding her close, the other laying limp and relaxed on the bed beside her. The noaide smiled, tightening her hold on her beloved possessively and pulling her closer. The fire maven buried her face into the silky waterfall of Elsa's hair, inhaling deeply as she did and sighing in utter contentment.
"By the spirits, do I love you," she murmured lowly, grinning to herself when she felt the blonde stir, stretching languidly as she did and humming happily. "And I, you, my noaide," came the queen's reply as she turned her head slightly to place a soft kiss on the arm beneath her head, her voice thick with sleep. "I still feel bad you left the forest so soon, but I can't tell you how wonderful it is to wake up in your arms again," she said as she settled in again, snuggling back into her love. "And how loathe I am to leave them and start the day." Honeymaren chuckled and released her hold around the spirit's waist so that a hand could wander languidly across Elsa's silk-clad body beneath the duvet, tracing the outline of curves that would make an artist weep from their beautiful perfection. "You are the queen, my love. Hardly anyone could stop you if you decided you wanted to stay in bed all day," she reasoned, the playful smile clear in her voice as her fingers trailed down Elsa's sensitive hip, gliding ever lower until they reached the hem of her silken nightgown. The queen gasped softly, her eyes finally opening in surprise as warm fingers slipped beneath the gossamer material and slowly dragged back up the outline of the queen's curves, drawing the garment up with them to reveal the soft, pale skin beneath. Elsa whimpered quietly as full lips whispered against the shell of her ear, her body arching instinctively at the teasing touch. "And of course, as an ever devout servant to my goddess and my queen, I would ensure to tend to your every possible need and desire," the noaide whispered huskily, groaning softly in approval as her fingers ghosted against Elsa's hips and encountered nothing but an endless expanse of perfect, mouthwatering skin. Her lips captured the goddess's earlobe, nibbling playfully as her fingers danced along their personal playground of the queen's body, their mischief hidden beneath the duvet.
Elsa bit her lip as the teasing fingers brushed across the bare skin of her taut lower stomach just above the line of her hips, moaning softly and grasping the arm across her chest that kept her firmly pinned against her lover. "M-Maren," she gasped out. "W-We shouldn't...Anna said we..." Elsa gasped and bit her lip, trying to stifle a groan. "W-we have an early meeting. She'll be c-coming soon," she cautioned, even as her traitorous hips rolled of their own volition, trying to entice the Northuldran's fingers to go where she so desperately wanted them. Honeymaren grinned deviously, tightening her hold on Elsa as she dipped her fingers lower, eliciting a beautiful, gasping cry of pleasure from the goddess of winter. Elsa's fingers dug into her arm as she pressed into her, her head thrown back in pleasure as her body began to sing for her beloved. "Not before you, I think," she replied to the queen's warning in a husky whisper, leaning over and capturing the moaning woman's lips possessively.
Anna ran over a few last minute details of the day in her head, smiling proudly to herself. Unbeknownst to her sister, she had awoken hours ago to meet with the council about her surprise plans for Elsa and Honeymaren. The council had whole-heartedly agreed with her idea and supported her entirely; now all she had to do was convince Elsa. She went over her plans again in her mind as she walked happily down the hallway on her way to wake her, smirking as she imagined the look of surprise on her sister's face when she realized the redhead had been up with the dawn for once. She felt a little guilty waking her sister up now that the blonde had a chance to rest peacefully, but she had sent out a decree for the people to gather for a celebratory feast in the courtyard at noon and needed to ask Elsa to ensure Honeymaren would be in Arendelle by then.
She lifted her hand to tap out her usual, cheery rhythm on Elsa's door but paused when she heard muffled sounds coming from the queen's bedroom. Anna frowned, her brow creasing in worry. It sounded like whimpering - was Elsa crying? Anna turned her head, listening carefully.
"Gods, yes...yes...YES! Please, Maren, I'm so close...please...Gods, don't stop...don't stop!"
Anna's hands flew to her mouth to muffle her surprised gasp, her eyes wide as saucers and her face growing redder than her hair. She immediately turned away from the door as the cries of pleasure grew louder, her sister's scream of release following her down the hall. Anna walked faster, nearly breaking into a jog and didn't stop not until she reached her study. Once safely inside, she slammed the door shut and leaned back against it, her face red as flame and her eyes still wide with shock.
"Well," she breathed quietly to herself, swallowing thickly. "That takes care of one problem, I guess." She walked over to her desk and sat down in the chair, staring ahead with a somewhat dazed expression for a long moment before rifling through a stack of parchments on her desk. She retrieved a quill from a drawer and dipped it in some ink, murmuring aloud to herself as she scrawled a note on the bottom of the checklist she had created the night before.
"Private...honeymoon...spot," she scribbled quickly. She stared at it for a moment, her face flushing deeper once more before setting quill to parchment once more. "VERY...private," she scribbled quickly before underlining it several times and leaning back in her chair, quiet once more.
"...I need a drink."
Less than an hour later, Anna looked up from her papers at the sound of a soft knock on her study door. "Come in!" she called, taking a sip from the cup of tea Kai had brought her instead of the akvavit she had wanted. She nearly choked on it when Elsa walked in, dressed in her favorite ice gown and smiling brightly at Anna before she blinked in surprise, her brow furrowing with concern. "Are you okay?" she asked the coughing woman worriedly as she closed the door behind her and walked over to the desk, pale hands hovering uncertainly in the air before her. Anna waved her hand dismissively and nodded as she continued to cough, gesturing for her sister to sit. Elsa raised an eyebrow but took a seat in the chair on the other side of the desk, reaching for the pot of tea Kai had left there and pouring herself a cup while Anna caught her breath.
"Why didn't you come wake me, Anna?" Elsa asked as she leaned back into her chair with her cup of tea, crossing her legs comfortably. "I saw Kai in the hall and he said you've been up for hours already," she commented as she took a sip from her cup. Anna quickly gathered several of the papers on her desk and bunched them together neatly before surreptitiously placing them in one of the drawers. "I...uh...figured you could use the rest, is all. You've had a pretty crazy few days that followed a month of hell and I'm sure you could use a chance to catch up on some sleep," she rambled before lifting her own cup to her lips to occupy her mouth. Elsa smiled gratefully and set her cup down on her saucer for a moment. "Thank you, Anna. That means a lot to me, really. So, what's on the agenda for the day?" she asked, raising the cup to her lips once more. Anna set her own cup on her desk and pulled out her schedule, glancing over it. "Well, since Honeymaren is here already I think the most important thing is to give her a chance to see Mattias," she answered. Elsa paused in taking a sip of her tea, eyeing Anna over the edge of her cup.
"Anna."
"Yeah?" Anna asked as she lowered the paper, glancing at Elsa questioningly as the elder monarch slowly set her tea on the desk.
"...how did you know Maren was here?"
Anna blinked owlishly at Elsa.
"Um...uh...well..." she stuttered out, playing with the ends of her hair as her face turned the same color as her hair.
"Anna..." Elsa said in a near growl, her own face flushing bright red as she realized there was only one way Anna could know that her lover was already there.
"...well, maybe now we should have that conversation about thicker doors you didn't want to have when Kristoff and I first started-"
Honeymaren jumped when Elsa's bedroom door was thrown open, blinking in surprise when her irate lover stormed into the room, red-faced and clearly flustered. The queen grabbed the door as it bounced back, having been thrown open hard enough to hit the wall and nearly slam shut again. Elsa inspected its edge in annoyance, muttering to herself under her breath. She seemed to study it for a minute before her arctic gaze flickered to her lover, the towel Honeymaren had been using to dry her long, freshly washed hair held limply in her hands as the noaide looked inquisitively at her. "How thick would you say this door is?" Elsa asked sharply. Honeymaren raised an eyebrow, eyeing her lover for a moment like she had lost her mind. "Um...a few centimeters? Maybe four?" she guessed, hesitant to move for some reason. Elsa scowled and looked accusingly at the door for a moment, blue eyes narrowed in annoyance before she huffed and shut it firmly. "New doors it is," she mumbled before crossing her arms and looking at her baffled lover once more, a slight glare on her beautiful features. A glare that softened slightly as she took in the forest green tunic embroidered with the sigil of Arendelle on the chest and tan breeches the Northuldran was wearing. Something about the woman wearing the colors of their kingdom made a warmth blossom in her chest. It didn't hurt that the deep green and gold colors looked absolutely amazing on her, highlighting the flecks of twilight in her doe brown eyes.
Honeymaren blinked a few times before looking all around her searchingly. "Um...did I do something wrong?" she asked hesitantly, thrown off by the odd mood swing her beloved appeared to have had. The blonde shook herself out of her staring and huffed slightly, slowly walking over to her with a small, embarrassed pout. "No...the opposite, in fact. You did too well," she admitted in a low mumble, a bright blush filling her cheeks. "Anna heard us..." she trailed off, dropping unceremoniously on the edge of the bed with her arms still folded. Honeymaren's brow furrowed in confusion for a moment before realization dawned in her eyes and a sly grin tugged at the corners of her mouth. "Heard 'us' or heard 'you', darling?" Elsa rolled her eyes and threw her hands up in exasperation, standing from the seat on the bed she had just taken. "Oh, alright, she heard me! But it's not my fault! It's you and your...your..." Elsa sputtered, gesturing distractedly at Honeymaren. "Beguiling seduction!" she exclaimed, crossing her arms again and turning her back on her now openly laughing lover.
Honeymaren bit her lip to try to stifle her laughter, tossing her towel across her shoulder as she slowly walked up behind the queen. "You're right. It's completely unfair."
"Completely," Elsa agreed, throwing an annoyed glance over her shoulder that had the slightest hint of playfulness in it.
"I mean, what's a poor, innocent young maiden to do?" Honeymaren asked as she placed her hands on Elsa's shoulders, sliding them slowly down her arms and pressing lovingly against her. "You were completely defenseless."
"Y-Yes. Exactly. I'm...I'm..." Elsa trailed off, closing her eyes as she felt Honeymaren's lips on her neck. When did words become so difficult?
"Innocent?" the dark-haired woman supplied, her hands following Elsa's arms until she could clasp her hands, entwining their fingers lovingly.
"Yeah...that one..." the queen murmured, leaning back into her beloved's embrace, a comforting warmth blossoming across her chest as she felt more than heard her lover's chuckle buried against her neck.
"I've sinned against you, my queen. Allow me to make it up to you," Honeymaren whispered, the smile clear in her voice as she lifted one of Elsa's hands above her head and slowly spun the queen in a circle before pulling her against her in a waltz frame, her other hand slipping around the blonde's trim waist. Elsa blushed but smiled adoringly and rested her head against Honeymaren's as the dark-haired woman simply swayed with the queen in her arms, a loving smile and a soft, melodic hum on her lips as the lovers allowed the rest of the world to fall away for a few moments.
They weren't sure how much time had actually passed when a familiar, rhythmic knocking pulled them from their private reveries. Elsa smiled and pulled away from the fire maven's embrace, planting a sweet kiss on her cheek before walking to the door and letting Anna in. The redhead grinned at Honeymaren, who smiled broadly at her and opened her arms in invitation – an invitation the younger queen immediately accepted, wrapping her arms around the Northuldran and hugging her tightly. "I missed you too, Sugar Rush," Honeymaren teased at the younger woman's tight grip, squeezing her back playfully before releasing her, "Thank you for covering for Elsa and I." Anna smiled and nodded, waving her hand nonchalantly. "Don't you worry, Honeymaren. If there's anything I'm good at, it's providing distractions aplenty when needed," she said with a devious grin.
Elsa smiled and rolled her eyes at her sister before moving to stand next to her lover once more. "So, what did you have planned, Anna? Were you able to explain everything without me at the council meeting this morning?" The redhead nodded and smiled knowingly, clasping her hands behind her back. "That and more, dear sister," she said cryptically, a sly smirk tugging at her features. "Which brings to light something I'd like to discuss with both of you." Both Elsa and Honeymaren blinked, looking at each other before their gazes drifted back to the redhead in askance. Anna walked up to the pair, teal eyes flicking back and forth between them before they settled on Honeymaren.
"Honeymaren. Do you still intend to marry my sister?" Anna asked her point-blank. "Of course," came the dark-haired woman's immediate reply despite the clear surprise from the question, Honeymaren's entire being now rapt with solemn attention. Anna nodded in approval before she continued. "And if I told you that in order to do so, you are required to swear your fealty to not just my sister and I, but to Arendelle as well? Would your answer change? This is something you have declined to do twice now when I offered it, mind you," the redhead reminded her. Honeymaren frowned in thought as she searched herself for the truth. She could feel Elsa's nervous gaze on her as her twilight flecked eyes slowly rose to meet expectant, but confident teal. "No. My answer would not change," she answered confidently. "I am of the Northuldra and I will always protect my tribe and the enchanted forest. To protect Arendelle is to protect them as well."
Elsa reached out to grasp her lover's hand, squeezing it gently to bring her attention to her. "Maren, you should take some time to really think about this," Elsa began and Anna nodded in agreement. "She's right, Honeymaren. This would make you a royal knight – a position of power. You would have control over the castle guard, which means our protection would be your responsibility." Honeymaren smiled lovingly at Elsa, squeezing her hand back in reassurance before looking at Anna again. "I stand by my previous statement. Nothing will ever separate me from Elsa again. I've more than proven that keeping both of you safe is my highest priority. If what you say is true, swearing myself and my service to Arendelle simply allows me the freedom to do that." Anna grinned approvingly and nodded before clasping her hands in front of her.
"Excellent. Moving on, did Elsa tell you that Kristoff and I were getting married next week?" Anna asked, a sudden chipper tone in her voice. Honeymaren blinked at the sudden subject change, nodding slowly. "Yes...? I'm...invited, right...?" she asked hesitantly, unsure where Anna was going with all of this. "Well," Anna began, gesturing animatedly with her hands. "Yes and no. See, the wedding actually isn't happening." Elsa's head snapped to look at Anna so fast the muscles in Honeymaren's neck twitched. "What?!" Elsa asked in shock. "What do you mean? Did something happen between you and Kristoff?" the blonde demanded, immediately grasping the redhead's shoulders as she looked at her with concern. Anna smiled brightly, placing her hands over Elsa's reassuringly. "No, no, no, we are completely fine, Elsa. It's just a scheduling conflict. Someone else's wedding is happening the same day as ours so we decided to postpone a few months – I've always wanted a summer wedding anyway, so this actually works out much better." Elsa blinked, her brow furrowing in confusion. "Wait, what? But all the kingdoms of the realm have already accepted! None of the missives or replies mentioned another event...whose wedding is it?" she asked dubiously. Anna grinned at her broadly, excited teal eyes flicking back and forth between her and Honeymaren before settling on Elsa's crystal blue.
"Yours," she answered simply.
Elsa stared blankly at her sister for several moments as she tried to wrap her head around what the redhead just said. "I'm...I'm sorry, I think I...blacked out for a minute, did you say mine?" she asked incredulously. Anna smirked and crossed her arms, nodding in confirmation - Elsa didn't look convinced. "Mine," she reiterated with a dead-panned look on her face. "Ours," she clarified, gesturing between herself and the confused noaide. "As in Honeymaren and I. Getting married. Next week," she said with a hint of disbelieving sarcasm.Anna nodded again, her smile turning warm and exuberant as she looked back and forth between Elsa and Honeymaren. "Yup! I met with the council this morning and they agreed it would be a grand idea," she replied proudly, winking at Honeymaren when a bright grin began to spread across the dark-haired woman's face. "After all, you are the eldest - it's only right that you are betrothed first. And it will officially put into law the bond between Arendelle and the Northuldra. Not to mention celebrating both of you and your efforts to save everyone from Ulrik and his plots."
Elsa put her hand to her forehead, her mind spinning and her eyes wide as she realized her sister was not, in fact, joking. "Oh Gods, you're serious," she breathed, her hand nervously tangling in her sweeping bangs. "Anna...why? Why would you do this? You've..." Elsa trailed off for a moment, shaking her head slightly in disbelief as she looked between Honeymaren and her sister, both women grinning from ear to ear. "Anna, I...I couldn't. You waited forever for Kristoff to gather his courage to propose and even longer to find love-" Anna held up her hand to interrupt her sister before reaching down and grasping Honeymaren's hand gently, smiling at the Northuldran. "Elsa, this woman has saved your life over and again. Her bravery in the face of danger and certain death saved the not just both of our lives, but the lives of the Northuldra, Arendellians and Calabrians alike. She deserves to stop waiting." Anna turned warm, loving teal pools back to the now silent blonde, reaching out her other hand to grasp the wrist of Elsa's that was still nervously buried in her hair before holding her hand as well and squeezing it gently. With a confident smile, Anna placed Elsa's hand in Honeymaren's, pressing them together for a moment and cupping her own around them as she looked between them. "And you...Els, how could you possibly talk about me waiting for love? If anyone, anyone in this world deserves to stop waiting for their happily ever after...it's you," she insisted imploringly.
...happily ever after?
Elsa met Honeymaren's loving, hopeful gaze and her heart sank like a stone. She hadn't even told her that she couldn't...
The memory of Honeymaren telling the Northuldra children stories the night before flashed in her mind, but they were no longer the children in the village. No, these children had the fire maven's bright, infectious smile, her enchanting chocolate eyes, her angelic heart-shaped face. One of the children shrieked in delight as the noaide growled at them playfully before the child laughed just like her.
Happily ever after? At the cost of allowing the woman she loved most in the world to settle for a half-life? Elsa's breathing began to come quicker as a slight panic seeped into her mind, glancing back and forth between her lover and her sister. Everything was happening too fast and she still didn't have a solution – still no way to make up for her failures and shortcomings that would allow her to truly give Honeymaren the life she deserved.
The familiar sensation of fear began to bleed into the blonde's mind, soaking into her soul like a poison. Fear of failing the people she loved, fear of not being enough, fear of the discovery of her otherness crept into Elsa's being like rough, gnarled vines, strangling her heart as they wound tightly around it. She looked away from the pained expression on Honeymaren's face when she quickly pulled her hand from hers, shaking her head. "I-I don't know about this," she muttered as she turned her head away, wrapping her arms around herself defensively. "Maren, maybe this isn't a good idea. I mean...are you really sure this is what you want?" Honeymaren frowned, glancing at Anna only to find the redhead just as confused and concerned as she was before reaching out to place her hands on Elsa's shoulders. "What are you talking about, Elsa? I was born to love you. As far as I'm concerned, the day I get to marry you couldn't come fast enough," she insisted gently, trying to get the suddenly withdrawn queen to look at her. Elsa shook her head vehemently, pulling away once more. "You don't understand, Maren," Elsa insisted, fully turning her back on them both. "You don't know the sacrifice you're making. I'm not...I can't..." Elsa hunched in on herself slightly as she squeezed her eyes shut, trying to find the courage to tell Honeymaren the truth.
Honeymaren sighed softly and Anna was surprised to find not the crestfallen disappointment she expected, but a small smile of sad understanding on the fire maven's lips. She looked on quietly as the dark-haired woman approached her sister and slowly placed her hands on Elsa's hips, the blonde flinching slightly at the touch. But instead of pulling away as Anna thought she would, the tension in the elder queen's shoulders surprisingly began to loosen as Honeymaren waited patiently to feel the emotional woman relax beneath her touch. Anna watched this touch-and-go dance in fascination, a warmth blossoming in her chest as the ever-patient noaide gave her sister all the time she needed to accept her comfort, smiling warmly when the Northuldran was finally able to wrap her arms around Elsa's waist and hold her close. The redhead felt a sharp pang of sadness in her heart when Honeymaren slowly lay her palms against the winter spirit's flat stomach beneath her defensively curled arms and her sister's strong, proud shoulders instantly began to shake with the effort to hold back silent sobs. The young monarch covered her mouth with her hand, closing her eyes briefly against the heart-wrenching sight of her older sister finally mourning the children and the family she had always wanted but could never have.
The noaide shushed Elsa gently and wrapped her arms more securely around the queen, her suspicions about her beloved's sudden emotional turmoil confirmed. A small smile of relief tugged at Anna's lips when she could see her sister actually press closer to the Northuldran, seeking the comfort that only her lover could give rather than pull away and retreat into herself. When the blonde sniffled quietly, the dark-haired woman rested her chin on Elsa's shoulder and murmured something into her ear that Anna couldn't make out.
Anna tore her gaze away from the pair as Honeymaren continued to murmur softly to the steadily calming blonde, not wanting to intrude on their private moment. She took one step away before movement from the corner of her eye made her look back, blinking when she was unexpectedly pinned with Honeymaren's intense gaze. When Anna gestured first to herself, then the door to indicate she would leave them alone, the fire maven shook her head just enough for Anna to see. Once she was satisfied the redhead wouldn't leave, Honeymaren began speaking a bit louder so both siblings could hear. "Will you do something for me, Snowflake?" she asked Elsa gently, her chin resting once more on the queen's shoulder. Though her eyes were on the ground, Elsa took a deep, slightly shaky breath before nodding, reaching up with one hand to wipe away the few tears that had managed to fall. Honeymaren smiled and kissed Elsa's cheek lovingly before turning and gesturing for Anna to come closer. "Go give your sister a hug," she said as she gently nudged Elsa toward the redhead.
Elsa couldn't help the wet chuckle that escaped her when Anna threw herself at the blonde in an enthusiastic hug. The elder monarch instantly wrapped her arms tightly around Anna and closed her eyes, soaking in the feeling of her beloved little sister safe in her arms – a sorely needed comfort in that moment. Honeymaren smiled warmly at the sisters for a moment before speaking again, her arms crossed comfortably across her chest. "That's funny...I thought that was impossible," she said, making a show of thoughtfully rubbing her chin. Both Elsa and Anna pulled away, blinking at Honeymaren in confusion. "Thought what would never happen?" Elsa asked, her brow furrowed slightly at the cryptic statement. Honeymaren shrugged innocently, holding her hands out in surrender before crossing her arms again. "Didn't you spend thirteen years thinking ever touching Anna again, let alone hugging her would be impossible?" she asked with a pointed, knowing smile. Elsa's eyes softened as they slowly turned back to her sister, a light of realization dawning in her arctic gaze. Anna smiled at her brightly, taking Elsa's hands in her own and squeezing them gently. "She's right, you know, Els," she said reassuringly. "It took you a while to let go of your fear, but look at us now!" she said earnestly, squeezing her hands again for emphasis. "When was the last time you thought twice about hugging me, let alone were afraid to?"
"And that's not the only impossible thing that's happened in just a few short years, is it, Snowflake?" Honeymaren asked, though her knowing tone made it sound more like a statement than a question as she turned and walked over to the balcony, opening the doors wide and beckoning the sisters outside with her. Anna grinned and tugged Elsa onto the balcony by her hand, only letting go to lean over the stone railing and closing her eyes as the salty sea breeze washed over her. When warm, protective arms wrapped around Elsa's waist from behind, the queen instinctively put her hands over them and closed her own eyes, letting the woman's comforting presence soothe her uncertainties. "Elsa," Honeymaren began in a low voice laced with sincerity and pride. "Think about all of the things in your life that you were certain were impossible just three short years ago. Three years ago, you knew you could never be near your sister again, yet fear is the last thing you feel when you are near her. Three years ago, you knew your people would never accept a woman with ice magic as Queen, yet their love and loyalty runs so deep they've demanded the monarchy itself be re-written so both you and Anna can rule Arendelle together." Honeymaren turned Elsa around to face her, cupping her cheek with one hand and slowly running her thumb back and forth across it. "Three years ago, you were convinced you were incapable of falling in love or being loved in return...yet, here I stand, Elsa. Here I stand, impossibly in love with everything you are and begging you to see just a fraction of the potential I see in you," she murmured quietly as crystal blue pools stared hopefully at her, one of Elsa's own pale hands reaching up to cover the one on her cheek.
"But, Maren-" Elsa tried to argue, but was silenced when Honeymaren's lips gently claimed her own in a long, soft kiss. When Honeymaren finally pulled away, Elsa's eyes remained closed as she pressed her forehead against Honeymaren's, seeking reassurance to quell her niggling fears and doubts. "Elsa, you turned a lifetime of solitude and fear into one filled with love and understanding acceptance in just three short years – if we truly want to grow our family, there is not a single doubt in my mind that nothing could stand in our way. But, please believe me when I tell you I am holding everything I have ever needed or truly wanted in my arms right now. I don't need anything more than just you, Elsa. I never have and I never will," the fire maven said reassuringly, a bright smile growing on her face. She could almost see the weight lifting from the winter queen's shoulders, beautiful blue pools once fraught with concern and sadness now returning to their starry brilliance at Honeymaren's whispered promise.
"So what do you say, Elsa. Do you love this woman?" Anna asked softly as Elsa's crystalline gaze locked onto Honeymaren's warm, twilight-flecked chocolate. "Yes..." Elsa breathed, her eyes never leaving Honeymaren's smiling face. Anna grinned and stepped away, gesturing to Honeymaren encouragingly. "Well...are you going to marry her or not?" Elsa glanced back at her sister before looking once more to Honeymaren, a final unspoken question in her asking glance. The fire maven simply smiled lovingly at Elsa, lifting the queen's hand to her lips and touching them softly to her knuckles. Elsa bit her lip to try to stifle her slowly growing smile before she turned her gaze to Anna, crystalline eyes bright with love and cautious excitement. "Are you absolutely certain, Anna?" she had to ask once more. The redhead smiled indulgently and nodded, reaching out to brush a strand of white-gold hair from her sister's face. "Yes, Elsa, I swear. Not only is it okay but I want this so badly for you," she insisted. "I want to see my big sister finally get the happy ending she's always deserved. Everything's already taken care of. All you need to do is count the days," she said brightly.
Elsa beamed back at her, her eyes becoming glassy with happy tears as she looked back at Honeymaren. "We're going to be married..." she whispered in disbelief. Honeymaren grinned brightly and wrapped her arms around Elsa's waist in a fierce hug. "We're going to be married!" she exclaimed as she spun the blonde around in excitement. Elsa immediately threw her arms around her noaide's neck, hugging her tightly and laughing before kissing her soundly. Anna grinned at the happy couple, surreptitiously wiping away a happy tear that had snuck up on her. The joy in the air was palpable and Anna was beyond thrilled at the couple's excitement. What appeared to be the final wall between Elsa and a happy life was crushed beneath the weight of Honeymaren's love for her sister and the young monarch could not be more thrilled or relieved. The redhead shrieked and laughed gaily when Honeymaren snatched Anna up in a fierce hug the moment she released Elsa. "Thank you, Anna. You don't know how much this means to me," Honeymaren said in a low voice as she set the young queen down, pulling her close for a proper hug. Anna smiled as she returned it enthusiastically. "Trust me...I do," she intoned softly before pulling away, her smile saddening somewhat as she grasped Honeymaren's hands and squeezed them affectionately. "Now, I don't mean to bring down the mood, but I plan on announcing your resurrection, engagement, and wedding to the people at noon and I'm pretty sure there is a certain General who would like to know all of that before then."
Honeymaren sighed softly and nodded, squeezing Anna's hands lightly in return before dropping them and offering Elsa a soft smile. "Shall we, darling?" Elsa bit her lip for a moment before nodding and looking back at Anna. "I'd like to speak to him first and ease him into it. Will you have him meet me in the throne room, Anna?" she asked as she led the trio from her bedroom. Anna nodded in understanding, knowing the real reason her sister wanted to speak to Mattias alone first. "Of course. While you three are talking, I'll have Kai inform the rest of the staff so no one freaks out thinking they've seen a ghost," she said with a playful wink at Honeymaren before she waved and headed the opposite direction down the hall and toward the practice fields, knowing she would find the general there. The younger queen had spent many hours on the archery range with the despondent soldier as he worked through his mourning and his guilt. She grinned to herself as she walked – he was soon about to be the happiest man in the world.
Elsa led Honeymaren down the lesser used corridors of the castle to avoid the staff as they made their way to the throne room, Elsa's arm nestled comfortably in the crook of the Northuldran's elbow. The queen was quiet as they walked, her unseeing gaze on the lush carpet and lost deep in thought. "Care to share your thoughts, my queen?" Honeymaren asked gently, placing her free hand over the one tucked into her arm to bring the blonde's attention back to her. Elsa sighed and leaned into her lover, her gaze remaining locked on the ground. "When you...died...Mattias was distraught. I did what I could to comfort him, but then..." Elsa trailed off for a moment, biting her lip and shaking her head. "Then, I found out he and Kristoff both knew what was going to happen to you." Honeymaren winced and nodded in understanding, realizing how Elsa must have felt in that moment. She knew if she had been in the queen's position, blood would very likely have been spilt – her father figure was quite lucky Elsa was a gentler soul than she. "I...haven't really said a kind word to him since," Elsa admitted guiltily. "But I couldn't bring myself to forgive him, even for a sin that wasn't entirely his choice to commit. Every time I saw him, all I could imagine was him knowing you were going to your death...and letting you walk away." Elsa shook her head again and took a deep breath as she fought back her guilty emotions. "Now, all I can think about is how hard it must have been to do just that...and he did it for me. For me, for Anna, for Arendelle...he let his daughter walk away to die out of loyalty to me and I treated him so horribly," Elsa said solemnly, her stormy blue eyes lost and remorseful. "I don't know how I could ever make this up to him, Maren."
Honeymaren's brow creased with concern for the queen. She looked around for a moment, listening intensely to be sure no one was approaching before she brought them to a halt in the hallway, immediately pulling her beloved into her arms. "Hey, now," she whispered soothingly, gently brushing the back of her fingers against Elsa's cheek. "You weren't wrong for being upset, Snowflake. If I was in your position, I promise you I would have been far less cordial than I'm sure you were." Elsa blushed slightly, looking away from the noaide. "I...may or may not have threatened their lives when I first found out..." she admitted in a quiet mumble. Honeymaren couldn't stop the chuckle that bubbled forth, despite the slight glare it earned her from the queen. "It's not funny, Maren," Elsa chided. Honeymaren only smiled brighter and pulled Elsa closer to her, cradling her head against her shoulder as the queen instinctively melted into her. "Again, you were kinder than I would have been. Neither of them would have been given a warning if I had been in your place," Honeymaren teased lightly, though her tone implied she was not joking about the truth of it.
Honeymaren held her beloved close to her, remembering for the thousandth time how truly lucky they both were to even be alive, let alone so close to their happily ever after. Every time the noaide tried to imagine being in Elsa's place, it seemed her very soul would rebel against the process and all she could do was hold the goddess ever closer. "Elsa, I'm sorry," she murmured against white-gold waves of silk. When the queen lifted her head to look at her lover, blue eyes softened seeing the concern in Honeymaren's twilight-flecked depths. "I'm sorry for what I put you through, sweet spirit. I won't say I wouldn't do it again if it meant saving you or Anna, but I will never leave you in the dark again. I swear it, Elsa." The queen's heart thrummed against her chest at the utter devotion and sincerity in Honeymaren's eyes. She immediately wound her arms around the fire maven's neck and hugged her close, feeling as though her heart had finally let go of a heavy weight it had been stubbornly clinging to. "Thank you, Maren," she whispered in her lover's ear. Honeymaren smiled and laid her head against Elsa's, nuzzling against her gently.
"As far as Mattias is concerned, I agree you must apologize, Elsa, but you need not fret about it so. Mattias is a man who lives his life for his duty – he was the only reason I didn't grow up hating Arendelle like so many of my people. It's not possible for a man of his caliber to speak of something with such passion without it coming from at least some truth," Honeymaren murmured reassuringly before pressing a kiss to the queen's head. "The moment you ask his forgiveness, he will know he has earned yours and will be over the moon to be in your good graces again. In fact, he may hardly notice me," she said with a playful grin, gently nuzzling her face into the crook of Elsa's neck to tickle her and eliciting a small laugh from the blonde. "We will see about that, noaide. I'd like you to stand behind the curtains on the dais until the moment is right, if that's alright with you?" Elsa asked as she tugged her lover along to the throne room again. When Honeymaren nodded in acceptance, she opened the side entrance door and peeked her head in to ensure they were alone before leading Honeymaren up the steps and situating her behind one of the dark green curtains behind the thrones.
Just as she smoothed the thick material back into place, the sound of a door opening drew her attention to the door where Kai had just entered. "Your Majesty, General Mattias is here to speak with you," he intoned with a small, respectful bow. Elsa nodded and moved away from the curtain to sit primly on the larger of the two thrones and smiled politely at her loyal head of staff. "Thank you, Kai. You may show him in." A few moments after Kai had disappeared, General Mattias entered the room cautiously. Though his shoulders and back maintained their perfect militant posture, his eyes and head were lowered in submission as he approached the dais. When he reached the steps of the dais, he immediately dropped to his knee before his sovereign, his right fist planted against his chest and his eyes glued to the ground in front of him. "You summoned me, Your Grace?"
Though the general's tone was neutral, Elsa's guilt stabbed at her heart once more as she took in the rigidity of the old warrior's shoulders, the air around him so tense she could almost see it. Elsa took a deep, steadying breath, silently releasing it through her nose before she answered. "Yes, General. We have unfinished business, you and I. There is something I would like to say to you," she said as she stood from her throne. Mattias winced slightly when he heard his sovereign's heels clicking as she made her way down the steps of the dais, his eyes closing in dreading anticipation as she came to a stop in front of him. They flew open in surprise when he felt her cool, gentle hand cup his cheek, his head snapping up in surprise to find the queen kneeling before him, a sad smile on her lips.
"I'm sorry, Mattias," she said gently, beautiful and sincerely remorseful blue pools imploring shocked brown. "Y-Your Majesty?" Mattias questioned in a voice barely above a whisper, confusion clear on the old soldier's face. Elsa reached down to grasp the hand over his chest with both of hers, rising to stand and tugging him up with her. "I'm so sorry for how I've acted toward you for the past several weeks, Mattias. You did your duty to protect Arendelle and her queens and instead of honoring your sacrifice as I should have, I shunned you. Even after I treated you so horribly, so many times you came to try to comfort me or to offer me food and I turned you away." Elsa shook her head, disgusted with her behavior even more as she said it aloud. "I am ashamed of myself, old friend. I was weak, I was foolish, and I was so incredibly cruel – so lost was I in my agony over losing Honeymaren that I left you completely alone in yours. These are sins I will never be able to make amends for, but I pray you will find it in you to forgive them all the same," Elsa said remorsefully, her hands still holding his as she looked up into his eyes imploringly.
Mattias smiled in disbelief, blinking back the tears welling in his eyes and Elsa couldn't help but smile right back at him. It was so refreshingly charming to have a soldier of Mattias's caliber wear his heart on his sleeve and it endeared her to him that much more. "Thank you, Your Majesty," Mattias began, placing his larger hand atop both of hers to cup them delicately. "I swear on my life I will never deceive you again." Elsa smiled a bit broader as she recalled a similar promise made to her only a few minutes before and shook her head. "Thank you for your steadfast loyalty, General," she said quietly before her smile turned playfully mischievous. "Now, Father always taught me that when brokering a peace treaty, it was important to be sure one had an impressive and meaningful gift to bestow upon the other party," she said with a laughing tone. Mattias immediately inclined his head to his queen. "That is quite generous of you, Your Majesty, but your good graces are more than enough reward for this old soldier," he said politely. Elsa smirked and raised a brow, shrugging dramatically. "Well, if you don't want it," she drawled out slowly, grinning at him. "Now, I didn't say I didn't want it," he said with an answering grin and a conspiratorial tone.
"Yeah, you'd better want it, old man."
Mattias's head snapped up to the dais to see Honeymaren appear from the folds of dark green velvet behind the thrones, an amused smirk on her face. She folded her arms across her chest and leaned against Elsa's throne nonchalantly, her smirk turning into a face splitting grin as Mattias stared at her in shock. "Do I need to go find Olaf to get a warm hug around here?" she asked with a raised eyebrow, laughing joyfully as Mattias snapped out of his reverie and leapt over the steps of the dais, engulfing the noaide in a bone-crushing hug. She returned the hug fiercely as the brave soldier shook from the silent sobs of joy that overtook him as he cradled the woman he saw as his daughter against him, petting her hair disbelievingly. He quickly held her out at arm's length for a moment, his hands traveling shakily across her face and shoulders as though searching for injuries, trying to ask a hundred questions at once. "I-I don't...how...when...b-but I saw...y-you were..." he stammered, only to engulf her in his strong arms once more, laying his head atop hers. "It doesn't matter...you're back..." he whispered. Honeymaren pressed her face against his chest and wrapped her arms around him tightly. "I'm back," she affirmed just as quietly, allowing her own tears to flow freely. "Thanks to Elsa's love, Ahtohallan granted me new life to serve as her protector."
Mattias turned his head to look at Elsa, his watery eyes beaming with joy and adoration. Elsa blushed but smiled and nodded slightly at the general before turning to leave to give the pair some privacy. She halted when Mattias's voice rang out across the throne room. "Your Majesty, wait, please," he called out, turning back to Honeymaren and squeezing her shoulders briefly, bidding her to stay before he descended the steps and walked toward the queen. Elsa blinked when Mattias fell to his knee before her, reaching out to cup her hand in his and bringing it to his lips. He placed a soft kiss upon the back of her hand before touching his forehead to it and closing his eyes. "Thank you, My Queen. I am forever in your debt for the kindness you have shown me."
As Elsa opened her mouth to argue, Mattias quickly stood, smiling down at her reassuringly. "I assure you, Your Majesty, there is nothing that need be forgiven. I saw you push your own hurt and needs aside that horrible day to come to the aid of all others but yourself – that is only one of the many reasons I will forever serve Arendelle proudly at your behest. Your soul shines with the rarest beauty, Your Majesty. For even in the face of betrayal, anger, and devastating loss you could not bring yourself to be cruel, and that is the mark of a truly great leader." The queen stared at the general, stunned into speechlessness at the unexpected fealty and praise and unable to help the light blush that spread across her cheeks. Mattias grinned broadly and bowed slightly, placing another kiss upon her hand before turning and nearly jogging back to the similarly grinning Northuldran. He wrapped one of his long arms around her shoulders, squeezing her close to him. "Alright, kid, you've got some stories to tell," he said happily as he steered her toward the exit. Honeymaren flashed Elsa a smile over her shoulder, the queen smiling back and made a shooing motion with her hands. She sighed softly when the door closed behind them and she was left alone in the grandeur of the throne room.
Elsa walked back to the dais, lost in thought as she ascended the steps and sat upon her throne once more, leaning back against it with her hands in her lap. She stared down at them thoughtfully, idly twisting the icy ring on her finger as she thought about all that had transpired in the last few days. She didn't know how long she sat there lost in her own thoughts, only roused from her contemplations by a voice that seemed to come from nowhere.
"You shouldn't think so hard."
Elsa blinked in surprise, her back instantly going ramrod straight and her head snapping up to find Kristoff standing at the bottom of the dais in front of her, his hands casually on his hips and an amused smirk on his face. "W-what?" she stuttered, completely taken aback by his sudden appearance. Kristoff chuckled and shook his head, folding his arms across his broad chest and smiling warmly at her. "You shouldn't think so hard," he repeated as he slowly walked up the steps of the dais. "It only creates problems that didn't exist in the first place," he said sagely before sitting on the top step near Elsa's feet and resting his elbows on his knees. Elsa made a small sound of acknowledgement before her gaze returned to her hands. "You're not wrong," she murmured in reply before falling silent again.
"Kroner for your thoughts?" the mountain man asked gently. Though he assumed from their last interaction the night Elsa had a panic attack that they were on good terms once more, the blonde man wasn't quite sure where he stood with Elsa. It had taken him several moments to work up the courage to approach the reserved queen while she was so lost in her thoughts, but eventually he realized he cared too much for her to allow her to stew in her own thoughts alone for long. He was rewarded with a small, reassuring smile from the winter spirit and a slight shrug. "Just thinking about how much my life has changed in so little time," she answered quietly, toying with her ring once more. Kristoff noticed her fidgeting and smiled warmly, lacing his fingers behind his head and leaning back against the armrest of the throne casually, his honey eyes smiling up at her. "I know the feeling. I'm hoping there are more good changes than bad?" he said with a slightly questioning tone. Elsa nodded, turning to him with a small smile. "Far more," she said with clear certainty. "What about you?" she asked curiously, mimicking his earlier position and resting her elbows on her knees, propping her head in her hands in an incredibly rare slouch. "Well, I get to put off being the center of way too much attention for a few more months thanks to you, so I'm counting my life as one giant win at the moment," Kristoff said with a grin as he bumped her playfully with his elbow. "Congratulations, by the way."
Elsa blushed and laughed a little, shaking her head. "Thank you. You're sure you're alright with this?" she asked imploringly. "And please don't lie to me," she added, a slight desperation in her tone. Kristoff lowered his hands to his lap and turned more to face Elsa, a sincere smile on his handsome face. "I swear, Elsa. She actually sent me here to get you so she could announce it to the kingdom. Both Anna and I are much happier this way. She was feeling very pressured into it and knowing both you and Honeymaren are just happy to be together made her realize this was the best option," he answered. "As long as we haven't just transferred our stress to you and Honeymaren, everyone wins." Elsa hummed in agreement before tilting her head slightly, regarding the ice harvester curiously. "What was stressing you out, if you don't mind my asking?" she asked plainly.
Kristoff's smile fell slightly and he sighed, shrugging a bit. "Honestly? Even after all of this time, I still feel like a stranger in your and Anna's world. There's so many important people and so much responsibility and it's just..." Kristoff sighed, raking his hand through his hair as he searched for the words. "I just worry sometimes if I will be able to do enough to help Anna. The world stage is just too big for someone like me," he admitted quietly. He looked up in surprise when he felt Elsa's dainty hand on his shoulder to see crystalline pools of blue and a beautiful, reassuring smile. "A wise woman once told me 'if you think you are too small or insignificant to make an impact, try going to bed with a mosquito in a dark room'. Kristoff, you are the best partner Anna could ever ask for and the only man I would ever trust to care for my sister." Kristoff blinked at the queen for a moment before laughing openly. Elsa soon joined in the laughter, covering her mouth daintily with her hand, both blondes feeling a weight begin to lift from their shoulders.
"That's some good advice. Who told you that, Elsa?" he asked with a chuckle. The queen smiled proudly, looking down at her hands once more and playing with her ring. "Maren," she answered, her smile growing a little wider as the accompanying memory flooded her mind. "I felt much as you did, believe it or not. I know it's odd to imagine a magical queen feeling powerless, but you know my circumstances are anything but normal. Anyway, I had only been in the forest for a few weeks at this point. The night I told her that I felt that way, she tried everything she could to convince me that I was anything but insignificant and, in my usual stubborn fashion, I would not be swayed from my dark opinions of myself. So that night, she went to bed without another word but with an extra fur draped over her whole body. Little did I know, she was plotting against me." Kristoff crossed his arms over his chest and leaned against the arm of the throne once more, listening intently to Elsa's story. It was a rare treat for the reserved queen to be so open and candid with him and he didn't intend to miss a moment. "Go on," he urged.
Elsa chuckled and shook her head in slight disbelief before turning to look at Kristoff. "Kristoff, the woman purposefully left the opening of the lavvo open a crack so the mosquitoes could get in! I laid there for at least an hour fighting with the bloodthirsty beasts before she took pity on me and gave me some lemongrass oil to keep them away. Then she told me the next time I felt like I was too small or insignificant to matter, she wanted me to remember how a few mosquitoes were enough to nearly drive a world leader and an elemental spirit to tears," she said, shaking her head again. "I didn't speak to her for nearly the entirety of the next day," she added with a righteous nod, crossing her arms over her chest and leaning back on her throne. Kristoff laughed and shook his head, grinning from ear to ear. "You have to admit, it really drove her point home. I have to admit, I'm surprised you forgave her after only a day. Anna probably wouldn't talk to me for a week if I pulled something like that. What did she do to make you forgive her?" Elsa smiled fondly despite the pink color that dusted her cheeks. "First, she picked fresh lavender and tied it all around the lavvo to help me relax and sleep. Then she spent the whole day carving me a little wooden figurine of Olaf and soaked it in lemongrass oil to keep the bugs away. She tied it above my bedroll and promised that I would never be small or insignificant to her..." she answered quietly, her eyes becoming unfocused and dreamy as she remembered the sweet moment back before either woman had any idea just how deep their hidden feelings for each other ran.
A quiet chuckle from the ice harvester brought her back to reality. "I've got to say, Elsa, it's really nice to see you like this," he admitted, a warm smile on his handsome face. "Honeymaren is one hell of a partner to have." Elsa smiled back and nodded in agreement. "She is. She truly is, Kristoff," she said before sighing softly. "Now I just have to make sure I do everything in my power to be worthy of her." Kristoff smiled in understanding and stood, stretching a bit before he offered his hand to the petite woman. She blinked in surprise but took it anyway, allowing her soon-to-be brother to help her up and lead her down the dais. "I'll make you a deal," he began as he slipped her arm in the crook of his elbow and led her from the throne room to meet Anna. "I will work on believing that I am a worth Anna's time if you agree to work on believing you are worthy of Honeymaren. Deal?" Elsa laughed and shook her head lightly before smiling up at him. "I think we both know it is an exercise of futility, but I accept your terms, Mr. Bjorgman," she retorted playfully.
When they reached the top of the grand staircase, Anna, Mattias, and Honeymaren were already waiting at the entrance of the balcony waiting for them. Anna grinned brightly at seeing her fiancé escorting her sister like the gentleman he was, her grin growing wider as he blushed under her less-than-subtle staring. Elsa smirked and playfully bumped him with her shoulder toward Anna before releasing his arm and walking to her own fiancé. Honeymaren smiled warmly and held out her hand to Elsa, immediately bringing it to her lips the moment the blonde took it and eliciting a small blush from the queen, as well. Mattias smirked but remained silent, offering a small bow. "Your Majesty," he greeted, his dark brown eyes twinkling with mirth. Elsa smiled at him and nodded in return before turning her attention back to Honeymaren. "Are you ready?" she asked, glancing over her lover and reaching out to smooth a few wrinkles from her dark green tunic. "To come back from the dead?" Honeymaren quipped, waving her hand nonchalantly. "I'm totally an expert by now. How about you, Snowflake?" she asked sincerely, capturing the queen's fretting hands in her own and squeezing gently.
Elsa chuckled, nervous but mirthful blue pools meeting her lover's twilight-flecked gaze. "I think the fact that Arendelle's anti-social Ice Queen is betrothed, and to a woman, no less, may just steal the thunder of your reincarnation, darling," she joked before squeezing back, her eyes filled with resolute determination. "But I am more than ready and proud to tell the world that I am yours and yours alone," she said softly, a warm smile tugging at her lips. Honeymaren grinned and wrapped her arms lovingly around Elsa's waist, pulling her close and placing a sweet, soft kiss on her lips. "Good," she murmured when she pulled away, bumping her forehead against Elsa's playfully. "They can all keep their sticky paws off of you." Elsa laughed and opened her mouth to reply before Anna's voice interrupted them. "It's time," she said with a smile as the guards opened the balcony doors, the sounds of a large crowd carried to their ears on the breeze.
Anna took Kristoff's arm and stepped into the sunlight first, waving excitedly to the packed courtyard. Mattias winked at the pair before squaring his shoulders and walking to the other side of Anna, effectively blocking both of them from view until the time was right. Honeymaren smiled lovingly at Elsa, offering her arm to the queen. Elsa's mind flashed back to the first night she had brought Honeymaren to Arendelle and their near-kiss at the bottom of the stairs - the first, undeniable confirmation of their feelings for each other. Elsa smiled wistfully at the love of her life, once again awed by all they had been through together. "I love you, noaide," she whispered as she slipped her arm into Honeymaren's, her eyes never leaving twilight-flecked does. Honeymaren smiled back adoringly, placing her other hand atop the one on her arm. "I love you, Snowflake," she replied softly, doe eyes full of love for the incredible woman before her. With a final, reassuring smile and a quick, playful wink that made the queen's lips twitch upward just a bit further, Honeymaren led the beautiful goddess toward the balcony and one step closer to their happily ever after.
~FIN~
AN:
JK! Honestly, I was going to end it here but I don't yet feel like Winter's Echo has run its course. I decided that updates may be slow, but there is more to tell. I've questions to answer and adventures for our favorite lovers to have and I like you guys and want to give you something to read, dammit!
Thank you so much for all of your support and kind words of encouragement and the holy level of patience with my recent sloth-like updating habits. I wish I could tell you how much your reviews and messages mean to me!
Side note, if anyone has artistic ability I would love to get a cover image for this story, so if a scene from Winter's Echo has struck your fancy I'd love an artist's rendition!
Stay safe, stay well, stay awesome!
-Volchise