Winter's Echo
Chapter Forty-Three – Álo Ovtto
The rest of the week was a blur to Elsa as the wedding quickly approached, the queen's nerves growing as the big day drew ever nearer. Honeymaren did everything she could to relax the anxious queen but couldn't help the small amount of amusement the situation gave her.
The Queen of Ice and Snow was losing confidence in her ability to win their wager.
She wondered when she had become such a carnal creature for what seemed to be the hundredth time in a few short days. Their wedding was still a day and a half away and Elsa was surprised at how much she was struggling to control herself around the beautiful woman. She could feel when her lover's appreciative gaze was on her, the ever-growing look of hunger she would find in their twilight-flecked depths sending pleasurable sparks of lightning through her body. It didn't help that she and her betrothed were not exactly on even playing fields, though she knew it was not truly the nomad's fault.
Elsa may have spent years practicing self-control, but it was Honeymaren who was the restraining anchor for them. The queen had focused all of her energies trying to learn how to shut off her feelings and her physical needs, but one cannot easily control what one doesn't fully understand. Contrarily, the Northuldran had spent her life freely exploring and learning about the desires and feelings that drove her, inside and out, and so was able to better control herself. While Elsa's rationality and self-restraint took a backseat to the novelty of the mind-numbing pleasures of the flesh, the noaide knew herself well enough to stay grounded and cognizant, restraining herself before temptation overwhelmed her.
Suffice it to say, this was a struggle for the spirit of winter when her lover's every touch turned her blood to fire.
Elsa sighed and ran her fingers through her hair, a small grin tugging at her face as she listened to the sound of leather and her lover's annoyed mumbling as she fought with her belt in the bathroom, having just finished getting cleaned up. Today was Honeymaren's final fitting for her wedding outfit. As Elsa had suspected, Honeymaren chose to wear a suit modeled after her new knightly uniform. Elsa bit her lip and closed her eyes, her smile growing wider as the image of her lover in the sharp-looking green suit with gold trimmings came to the forefront of her mind. The forest green and deep gold complimented her darker skin tone while the royal purple stripes that ran down her pantlegs and filigreed designs on the chest of the jacket brought out the twilight flecks in her chocolate eyes.
Though Anna had been the one to help design Honeymaren's wedding outfit, the redhead had not given away a single clue as to what her lover would be wearing that day, much to the blonde's disappointment. Anna had insisted that it be kept a surprise, quoting it was 'bad luck to know what the bride looked like' before Elsa saw her, a concept Elsa had to bite her tongue against rebuffing out of her own dislike for being kept in the dark. She couldn't be too upset with her sister, however, as the redhead's ability to keep secrets was working in her favor at the moment. Unbeknownst to the fire spirit, Honeymaren's explanation of the Northuldran wedding tradition of abstinence had given the queen an idea for the perfect wedding present – an idea that was solidified in her mind a short time later.
Though both Anna and Honeymaren had been adamant about the winter spirit resting and taking the opportunity to recuperate from her month of hell, it meant that both the redhead and her Northuldran lover were often the ones kept busy with preparations and last-minute changes. Honeymaren even went to the enchanted forest to inform the Northuldra of the wedding and invite them to join the festivities – an invitation Yelena had politely declined on behalf of the people. While Elsa could tell the refusal was disappointing for her lover, the queen was not surprised, nor did she disagree with the wise old woman's decision. While the Northuldra had been treated well and had a pleasant time during their stay in the castle, despite the somber events that occurred, Elsa could plainly see the awkward discomfort laced in the countenance of her forest brethren. The polished veneer of higher society was a foreign world to the Northuldra, even within the safety and acceptance of their castle – a feeling that would be increased exponentially in the presence of the visiting royalty of the realm that would be attending their wedding. Only Ryder accompanied his sister back to Arendelle that day, intent on being there to give his blessing in their parents' stead.
With Gale's help, Elsa sent a letter to Yelena in the enchanted forest detailing all that had transpired and inviting the entire tribe back to Arendelle for a special celebration to honor the traditions of their culture. Yelena had replied immediately, thanking the queen for her thoughtfulness and agreeing with her suggestion of setting up a traditional camp on one of the cliffs overlooking the fjord. After the more reserved, proprietary reception for the nobles of the realm, Elsa would lead Honeymaren to the secret camp where they could share the happiness and joy of their union with their people, safe from the judgments of the outside world. While the queen had no doubts in her mind that her lover would bear the social inanities with grace and poise, Elsa wanted desperately for her noaide to be able to look at Arendelle as her second home and could think of no better way to do that than to bring a piece of her home to Arendelle.
"I don't understand this country. Explain to me again why I have to go for another fitting? What was wrong with the first two? It fit me perfectly literally less than twenty-four hours ago," Honeymaren groused good-naturedly, pulling the queen from her thoughts as she emerged from the bathroom wearing her undershirt and tan breeches, drying her damp hair off with a towel. Elsa giggled and walked over to her lover to slip her arms across her shoulders, linking her fingers behind her head and placing a sweet, apologetic kiss on her lips to hide the sneaky smile tugging at hers. Though she was surprised at the number of fittings Honeymaren required considering Anna had teased her that the wedding outfit fit her dashing noaide more than perfectly, she was not one to look such a convenient gift-horse in the mouth - a few inane measurings and nitpicky fussing would give the winter spirit the time she needed to ferry the Northuldra and all of their supplies to their new campsite. "Well, maybe Gerda saw the way you hovered at the lefse table the night of the feast and isn't taking any chances," Elsa teased, grinning playfully at the pouting woman. Honeymaren snorted derisively, wrapping her arms around the beautiful queen and pulling her close. "Valid point," she admitted with a grumble. "But I swear to the spirits, this is the last one. If Anna drags me to another one of these forsaken fittings for the same outfit, I am going to walk down that aisle naked, and you know I will!"
Elsa laughed and shook her head, placing a sweet kiss on her cheek before pulling away from the embrace and walking to their shared wardrobe. "From what little Anna will tell me, she says you cut quite the dashing figure," she commented as she pulled out a green tunic with silver trimming, looking over her shoulder at Honeymaren with a playful, seductive glint in her eyes. Honeymaren smirked and folded her arms over her chest, cocking her hips to one side. "Since when did I need an outfit for you to think I was dashing, Your Majesty?" she joked, raising a playful eyebrow at the queen. Elsa shrugged as she closed the wardrobe, smirking as she approached her lover slowly. "While I must admit that I would personally appreciate your 'au natural' concept, I'd rather the entire realm didn't get to ogle my new wife," she teased as she draped the tunic over Honeymaren's shoulder and gave her a soft, chaste kiss. "Which means you need to finish getting ready so you are not late for your fitting," she murmured against the Northuldran's full lips, kissing her once more before walking away. "If it makes you feel any better, I've had five fittings already myself."
Honeymaren shivered at the thought of that many poking and prodding sessions before pulling her tunic over her head and fastening her belt around it. "But that makes sense for you," Honeymaren reasoned. "I still doubt the existence of a garment that could do your beauty justice, though Anna assured me it does," she said matter-of-factly as she fussed with the knot on her belt. She looked up when she felt the queen's eyes on her from across the room, tilting her head at the unreadable expression in their crystalline depths, the beautiful blue of her eyes highlighted by the scarlet filling her pale cheeks. "Snowflake?" she questioned curiously. "How do you do that?" Elsa asked quietly, smiling softly as she sat on the cushioned stool of her vanity facing the dark-haired fire maven. Honeymaren blinked, her brow furrowing with adorable confusion as she straightened. "Do what, love?" she asked, moving toward her.
Elsa bit her lip, her smile turning shy as she fiddled with her hands in her lap, glancing down at them as her blush deepened. "You say things so naturally, as if they are the most ordinary, logical things in the world, yet they make my heart race," she admitted, shaking her head with a quiet laugh. "I've been given a thousand lifetimes worth of compliments as Queen that made me feel nothing but awkward, yet a few casual words from your lips can make me feel like the most beautiful woman in the world." Honeymaren smiled warmly as she came to a stop before the fidgeting queen, crouching down to look up at her blushing face, her smile turning to a grin as she watched the shy, adoring smile on Elsa's lips grow. "Maybe that's because they're not simple compliments, Snowflake," she reasoned, grasping the queen's fidgeting hands in her own and squeezing them lovingly. "They're genuine thoughts and observations."
Elsa smiled and rolled her eyes good-naturedly, squeezing her lover's hands in return. "There's that silver tongue again," she teased, blinking when Honeymaren's warm hand reached up to cup her cheek, guiding her gaze to the noaide's sincere twilight-flecked eyes - something about the intensity in them made the queen's heart skip a beat. "I'm serious, Elsa. You truly are the most amazing woman I've ever met. You're driven and creative, with a brilliant mind and a heart of gold; you're impossibly beautiful, inside and out, and unimaginably perfect in my eyes. I'm not being facetious when I say that I literally cannot imagine a single thing I would change about you, except perhaps your inability to see just how priceless you are."
Glassy crystalline eyes welling with tears stared in wonder at the fire spirit, Elsa's hand reaching up dazedly to slowly cover the one on her cheek. "Thank you, Maren," she whispered, a loving smile tugging at her lips that caused the happy tears welling in her eyes to spill over as she released a breath she didn't realize she had been holding. "There's no need to thank me for pointing out the truth, my queen," Honeymaren said with a playful wink, eliciting a quiet laugh from the blonde. "You know, if your goal was to be sweet enough to bring me to tears, maybe you should have saved that for your vows," she teased with a wet chuckle. Honeymaren smirked and shook her head as her other hand reached up to cup Elsa's other cheek as well, brushing away the last of the queen's tears with her thumbs. "But that implies I would only tell you once, my love. I intend to remind you frequently for the rest of your life." Elsa's smile turned into a full-on grin as she shook her head slightly in awe. "I can't believe you're not a dream," she breathed. Honeymaren chuckled quietly before standing up, grasping the queen's hands and pulling her up with her. "If this was a dream, then I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have to leave you to go to another stupid fitting," she joked as she wrapped her arms around Elsa's waist, pulling her close and leaning in to kiss her softly.
Elsa immediately melted into her lover's arms, draping her own over Honeymaren's shoulders and sighing contentedly into the kiss. "Which you are likely late for," Elsa murmured when she pulled away. "Mhmm," Honeymaren hummed noncommittally as she kissed her again, pressing closer to deepen the kiss. The queen drew in a sharp breath as Honeymaren's tongue ghosted across her lips, begging entrance that the blonde instantly granted. The dark-haired woman hummed approvingly, her fingers digging into full hips as she tried to pull her lover ever closer. Elsa finally pulled back, gasping for air and groaning softly when warm lips began to assault her sensitive neck. "V-very late," she gasped, her knees nearly buckling when her lover sucked sharply at her pulse point. Pale fingers tangled in dark, silky tresses as the queen held on to her noaide desperately, whimpering in the Northuldran's ear - when had it gotten so stupidly hot in her room? "Very, very late," Honeymaren agreed huskily against the pale skin of Elsa's neck before kissing her fiercely, suddenly reaching down and grasping the back of the queen's thighs before lifting her effortlessly and carrying her to the bed as quickly as possible.
The sudden flurry of movement was a blur to the passion-hazed spirit of winter, weightless one moment before a surge of electricity ran through her entire body the next when she felt her lover's familiar weight above her. She nearly sobbed in pleasure when Honeymaren's thigh pressed roughly against her need, immediately bucking her hips against it wantonly. "Maren...please..." she begged shamelessly, arching her body against hers needily. She quickly grasped Honeymaren's hand and guided it where she needed it most, eliciting a primal groan from the Northuldran. "I need you so badly," Elsa whimpered breathlessly against her ear, knowing full well it would spark the primal, possessive spark in her fiery lover – a spark the winter spirit's carnal desires desperately wanted to fan into a roaring flame. With a low growl, Honeymaren roughly yanked Elsa's icy gown up and forced the queen's legs apart before claiming her lips hungrily, raking her fingernails up the inside of the blonde's thigh. Elsa gasped, wrapping her arms tightly around her lover's neck and closing her eyes in anticipation.
*Knock knock knock-knock knock*
"…you're fucking kidding me."
Honeymaren blinked rapidly in surprise at Elsa's very un-queen-like outburst, her passion-addled brain struggling to come to terms with what was happening. One look at the incredulous fury on the goddess's flushed features and the Northuldran couldn't help herself as she began to laugh openly. Elsa glared daggers at her lover, shoving her off of her onto the bed and stalking to her bedroom door as the noaide continued to howl with laughter. With near-superhuman strength, Elsa ripped the door open and glared darkly at the redhead she knew she would find there, her hand raised to knock again. "Hi, Els! I'm here to get Honeymaren for…her…fitting?" Anna began cheerily, tapering off as she blinked in surprise at the anger on her sister's face. "Did…did something happen?" she asked warily, the confusion clear on her face as teal eyes flicked from her glaring sibling to the madly laughing Northuldran.
"Nope!" Honeymaren crowed, tears streaming down her face as her laughter renewed. "Nothing at all, Sugar Rush!" Elsa grit her teeth, taking a deep breath and forcing herself to speak calmly. "Would you be so kind as to give us a few minutes, Anna?" she nearly growled. The redhead gulped and nodded, backing away slowly. "O-Of course, Els. Just…remember that she has a fitting and…ah…blood stains…" she muttered before Elsa closed the door firmly. Honeymaren had dragged herself to sit on the edge of the bed by this point, catching her breath as she wiped away her tears of laughter. "I'm sorry, Snowflake, but you just can't make that kind of stuff up," she said with a grin that immediately fell from her face when she saw Elsa's shoulders shaking, her hand holding the doorknob in a death grip.
In an instant, Honeymaren was at the queen's side, reaching out to her gently only for the queen to whip around to face her, tears of pure frustration running unchecked down the winter spirit's face. "I can't do this anymore, Maren!" she whispered harshly, angrily wiping away her tears before running her hands roughly through her hair. Honeymaren smiled knowingly, immediately wrapping Elsa up in a tight embrace and rubbing her hand soothingly up and down the frustrated queen's back when she felt the distressed blonde cling to her and sniffle quietly. The dark-haired woman could feel the pent-up frustration rolling off of her in waves, a culmination of her anxiety about the upcoming wedding and the lack of the physical outlet she was just beginning to allow herself to seek out.
Honeymaren knew well how intoxicating the long forbidden feeling of freely touching and being touched by a lover was to the queen and felt her struggle of willingly denying herself something that had been impossible for so long. For Elsa, this week went beyond a lack of simple pleasurable release. It was a week of repressing her newfound physical freedom – something that had been recently taken away against her will with the noaide's death just after she had discovered the joy of it. While Elsa's rational mind struggled to admit the difficulty, Honeymaren could feel the war within the blonde and had spent every moment she could with the queen in her arms to physically reassure and comfort her.
"I know it's frustrating, sweet spirit, I'm sorry. All I can do is promise you that it will be worth it," she murmured reassuringly in her ear, nuzzling her gently. "And what just happened only proves me right. Imagine how amazing it's going to feel when I never have to stop touching you." Elsa sniffled again, burying her face into the crook of her lover's neck. "It already felt amazing," she grumbled. Honeymaren bit her lip to keep from chuckling, though she couldn't help but grin at the unmistakable pout in the queen's voice. "I won't argue with you there, Snowflake, but I promise there is a reason my people have kept this tradition up for centuries, despite how frustrating it is. Can you trust me when I tell you it will be worth it?" The noaide smirked – she could feel the disapproving frown on her lover's features against her neck before the queen sighed reluctantly.
"Fine," she conceded. "But only if you promise to behave or you will be sleeping in another room, Northuldran, because I am very close to doing something unbecoming of a queen." Honeymaren raised an amused eyebrow, pulling back from the embrace just enough to regard the blonde curiously. "Oh?" she asked, intrigued. "What might that be?" Elsa narrowed her eyes and pulled away from the embrace, folding her arms across her chest and lifting her nose in the air. "I'm not going to give you the satisfaction. Go to your fitting, you egotistical sexpot." Honeymaren laughed loudly and wrapped her arms around Elsa again, knowing there was no malice in the queen's words. Elsa grumbled at her despite the growing smile on her lips before she placed a quick kiss on her lover's smiling cheek and gently shoved her toward the door. "Get out of my room before Anna comes looking for you again."
Honeymaren grinned and bowed dramatically from near the door. "So sayeth the queen," she said with a playful wink before straightening and smiling more genuinely. "I have some other things to tend to after the fitting, so I will see you tonight?" Elsa nodded, flashing Honeymaren a smile that made the fire maven's heart skip a beat. "I will see you then, my love," she replied, blowing her a kiss as Honeymaren opened the door behind her, revealing a patiently waiting redhead. When the lovingly dazed nomad raised her hand slightly to wave at her beautiful lover, Anna rolled her eyes and grabbed Honeymaren by the back of her tunic, yanking her backward and down the hall. "I get the fire and ice irony and all, but this hot and cold mood swing thing you two have going on is far too confusing," Elsa heard her sister grumble as she dragged the winter spirit's betrothed down the hall, bringing a grin to the blonde's face.
Elsa waited until the sound of their banter faded before she left her room, taking a less-traveled path that would lead her to the back entrance to the castle nearest the fjord. A mischievous grin split her face as she very nearly crept down the halls of her own home, the secrecy of what she was doing giving her an odd, almost rebellious thrill, much like when she was younger and would sneak down to the Great Hall with Anna to play with her magic. When Elsa reached the heavy wooden door leading outside, she pushed it open carefully before immediately ducking between two large boulders and pressing against one of them, watching a particular set of windows carefully. Slowly, she crept along the boulder until she was in thigh-deep water, careful to remain out of sight as she reached out with her senses to her watery companion.
When Nokk appeared, he tilted his head with a curious whicker upon seeing his mistress in such a state. Before he could question her, Elsa pointed up to a large set of windows only a few stories above them. "Honeymaren and Anna are in that room there and it's very important they don't see us leave," she explained to him in a whisper, though she wasn't sure why since there was no one around to hear her. Nokk nodded his head in understanding, his watery mane bouncing with the motion. *Come into the water, mistress. I can be sure we won't be seen,* he promised, melting into the water as Elsa waded further into the fjord. When the water was at her shoulders, she felt Nokk solidify beneath her, only his head breaking the surface. *Take a deep breath, mistress, and hold on as tight as you can,* he instructed. Elsa did as she was told, leaning forward to wrap her arms around his neck and taking a large, gasping breath.
The moment she closed her mouth, Nokk immediately surged beneath the water and began to make his way out of the bay and up the fjord. Elsa closed her eyes tightly and gripped him with her knees and thighs as best she could, trying to flatten herself against the powerful spirit's back to reduce their drag in the water. After a few seconds she slowly opened her eyes, turning her head and craning her neck to peer at the blurry image of the castle disappearing behind them through the water. Just as she was about to tell Nokk it was safe to surface, Elsa was able to glance oddly shaped and colored things along the steep walls of the fjord, squinting her eyes to try to see through the fast-moving water. Sensing his mistress's desire, he drastically slowed his breakneck pace to a leisurely movement, going just fast enough to make some headway against the current.
Elsa opened her eyes wider, leaning away from the water spirit's broad neck to glance around at the mysterious world she had only ever read about in wonder. Nearly the entire surface of the steep rocky cliffs were covered in anemones and large corals, many of them larger than the queen was tall. A giant school of mackerel flitted to and fro nervously in the narrow corridor, leisurely stalked by a sizeable barracuda with protruding fangs that made even the winter spirit just a bit apprehensive. Still, she looked around in fascination at this unreachable alien world that had captured countless imaginations across the globe and drawn scientists itching to study the unique bodies of water to Arendelle for years. Finally, when she could stand the burning in her lungs no more, Nokk leapt above the surface of the water where his mistress drew a huge, gasping breath, filling her starved lungs with cool air.
Elsa immediately turned as well as she could on Nokk's back and breathed a sigh of relief to see that the castle was well behind them, barely visible through the trees. "Thank you, my friend," she panted, smiling as she wiped the water from her face and began to wring out her hair as Nokk settled into a comfortable canter down the fjord. "I need to make sure everything is perfect for Maren." Nokk craned his neck and head slightly to look at the winter spirit as he ran. *It is a wonderful thing you are doing for her, but you know as well as I that the only thing the firefox needs to be happy is you, mistress.* Elsa blushed, a small smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. "I appreciate that Nokk, but I'm not so blind that I cannot see that Maren is struggling to come to terms with having to keep one foot in two different worlds. I just…want her to love Arendelle as much as I do," she said with a sigh, biting her lip worriedly as they approached the shores of the Northuldra territory. "She swore an oath to protect and serve a kingdom that nearly destroyed her people's way of life. Arendelle is the reason she was trapped in that mist her whole life, and she swore to protect it because she loves me. I need to do anything and everything I can to make it worth her while."
*Might I give you some advice, mistress?* the powerful water spirit's soothing, ethereal voice asked as he bowed low to allow his mistress to slide from his back. Elsa dismounted gracefully and turned to face her friend, fingers nervously running down her braid. *Mistress, I cannot pretend to understand everything about humans, but I have watched over them for hundreds of years,* he said as he straightened, turning to walk slowly along the rocky shore. He waited for Elsa to begin walking alongside him before he spoke again. *In the centuries since the other spirits and I have watched over mankind, never before have I been privileged to see a love such as the one you share with your firefox. You know, now, that your love was preordained long ago, but this doesn't change the fact that it is real love – living, changing, human love that follows the ebb and flow which makes humanity so beautiful.*
Elsa turned to look at her loyal companion, her brow furrowed in confusion. "What are you trying to tell me, my friend?" she asked quietly as they stopped at the forest's edge. Nokk turned his head to face her, watery ears flicking forward as he focused solely on her. *The way you speak, you act as though the fire spirit is settling for a life that is less than. If you do not wish for this to be the case, then you must learn your own worth, mistress. The firefox did not swear that oath because she had to – she swore it because you are worth it to her. To question if you are worth her noble deeds, if you alone are enough to satisfy her, is to question her love.* The queen turned her head away, chewing her bottom lip worriedly as she gazed at the trail that would lead her to the Northuldra.
"What if I'm not, Nokk?" she whispered after a long moment, her gaze becoming unfocused as her mind began to race. "What if-" Elsa jumped slightly mid-sentence when his watery muzzle pressed into her neck, the mighty spirit nuzzling her affectionately. *If there is anyone in this world I believe worthy of Ahtohallan's gifts, it is you, my mistress,* he reassured her in a confident, soothing voice. *When you doubt yourself, remember all those who believe in you with their entire being. The other spirits, your sister, your betrothed, Ahtohallan herself – each loving you unconditionally without fail or a hint of uncertainty amongst us. Should you ever forget your worth, know there is no shortage of souls willing to remind you.* Elsa smiled tearily up at her companion, throwing her arms around his broad and powerful neck in a tight hug. Nokk craned his head and neck around to press his beloved mistress against him, whickering affectionately. *Go on, mistress,* he said gently after a long moment, playfully nudging her forward with his muzzle. *Your people await you. I will meet you on the fjord when all is ready.*
Elsa smiled gratefully at him one last time before she turned and jogged up the bank toward the Northuldran camp, her spirits lifted by Nokk's steady confidence in her. She smiled brightly as she entered the camp, the Northuldra buzzing with excitement as they ran to and fro making last-minute preparations for their journey. The lavvos had been broken down and bundled together with thick lengths of rope, carried by small groups of the adults while the children and elderly carried baskets of supplies to the edge of the fjord. "We are almost prepared to leave, Your Majesty," came a voice from behind Elsa. The queen turned, smiling when she saw a familiar old woman walking up behind her. "I can't thank you enough for doing this, Yelena," Elsa said sincerely. "She would never admit it, but I know it would break her heart to not share this day with all of you." Yelena smiled and nodded, coming to stand next to Elsa as the pair watched the remainder of the nomads scuttling about. "I assure you, the feeling is mutual, spirit. It warms my heart that you would go to such lengths for my granddaughter and our people. Honeymaren is a lucky woman," she said with a small grin, peeking at the blush she knew would spread through the queen's cheeks like wildfire.
The queen smiled and shook her head at the mischievous old woman before turning her gaze back to the camp, a warm feeling of contentment washing over her. "Thank you, Yelena," she replied softly. "But it is I who am the lucky one. The Northuldra had every reason to turn their backs on Arendelle and myself, yet you accepted my sister and I with a grace and love that is too often forgotten in the so-called 'modern world'. If it wasn't for Honeymaren, I fear I may have spent the rest of my life wondering who I was and where I truly belonged." Yelena smiled softly, turning to regard the young leader with wise, knowing eyes. "And where is it that you belong, spirit?" she asked, quirking an eyebrow at the queen expectantly. Elsa's smile widened into a full-on happy grin when she saw several of the Northuldra waving their arms at her, indicating everything was ready. She walked several steps toward them before turning to face Yelena, walking backward excitedly. "At my wife's side," she replied simply, her crystalline eyes sparkling happily as she turned and began to jog toward her eagerly awaiting people, magic flowing from her hands and forming a giant, majestic ship made of the most flawless ice imaginable on the fjord, a long and wide bridge forming a solid path from the shore to the frosty deck. Yelena chuckled as the Northuldra cheered in excitement at the amazing display, the children running up the plank excitedly with their smaller loads while the adults, their own eagerness barely restrained, lifted the bundled up lavvos once more and began to carry them aboard. "Your love will never fail you, spirit," Yelena said to herself with a small smile, adjusting her own pack over her shoulder as moved to join her people. "Nor will my granddaughter."
Less than an hour later saw the last of the supplies unloaded from Elsa's icy ship, the beginnings of a comfortable temporary encampment easily visible. Elsa smiled at how the events of the enchanted forest had come full circle as she watched the Northuldra make camp on the same cliff where her people had taken refuge from the elemental spirits many months ago. As the last of the supplies were unloaded, Elsa waved her hand in the air and allowed her frosty vessel to dissipate. She smiled when the Northuldra children groaned sadly as they watched it disappear, only to giggle when the queen redirected all of the snowflakes into a large pile of snow and dropped it atop their heads. Elsa covered her own giggle with a dainty hand as she watched them play enthusiastically in the giant snowdrift before she glanced Yelena standing at the edge of the cliff, looking out over the landscape in the distance. With a quick flick of her wrist, several large piles of snowballs formed around the children, eliciting several cheers of excitement and making Elsa smile – a well-supplied snowball fight ought to keep the youngsters safely occupied while their parents made camp as she walked over to the elder Northuldran.
As Elsa approached, she realized it was not the landscape Yelena was so contemplatively staring at, but the kingdom of Arendelle. The queen couldn't help but be surprised at the small, peaceful smile on the older woman's face as she observed the kingdom she had despised for so many years. Elsa came to stand next to her silently, joining her in looking out over the bustling kingdom. She smiled softly as she watched her people scuttle about in flurries of excited activity. The entire town had begun to decorate in celebration of her marriage to Honeymaren, every building, tree, and flagpole decorated with ribbons and banners. Elsa's eyes were drawn to a giant flag being hoisted in the town square below the flag of Arendelle, softening when she saw the image on it. It was Elsa's signature snowflake, proudly displayed against the colors of Arendelle, but it was what was within the snowflake that caused a deep warmth to blossom in her chest. Inlaid into the fractals of her icy signature were the symbols for the elemental spirits of the Northuldra, fire, water, air, and earth each sewn intricately into the grand design.
"Before you came to us, I couldn't imagine Arendelle as anything but a cesspool of corruption, violence, and greed. Now that I am seeing it through different eyes, I find myself pleasantly surprised by its peaceful beauty," Yelena commented quietly. Elsa regarded her curiously, realizing the older woman was also watching the raising of the flag in the town center. "Different eyes?" Elsa parroted, tilting her head curiously. Yelena smiled, green eyes glancing at the queen before going back to their observations. "Before, I viewed Arendelle in my mind's eye only as a person whose people had been oppressed, tricked, and taken advantage of could. I saw it from the eyes of a leader and a protector. Now…" Yelena's smile softened as she trailed off for a moment before turning to face Elsa. "Now, I see it from the eyes of a grandmother. I see it from the eyes of an old woman who has passed on her mantle of protection and leadership to the next generation." Yelena surprised Elsa by reaching out and grasping her hand gently, giving it a firm squeeze before turning her attention back to the kingdom in the distance, gesturing across it. "I can see the good and beauty of this place and its people because I can see them through your eyes. I can see their love and generosity and acceptance in their desire to welcome my only granddaughter into their leadership and I can see their intelligence in wishing to retain yours." Another squeeze of her hand brought Elsa's attention back to Yelena, a warm and wrinkled hand coming to rest upon her cheek affectionately. "And I am reminded just how lucky my people are to have you and my granddaughter to guide them into the future."
Elsa's eyes widened at that statement. "Yelena," she began nervously. "I have no right to make decisions for the Northuldra. After what my grandfather did, I couldn't possibly-" Yelena interrupted Elsa, turning to walk away slowly. "Not only do you have the right, spirit, but the obligation, as well. Pre-ordained love or not, my granddaughter is still the noaide of our tribe, which means she is still its leader. As her wife, you will decide the fate of our tribe together," she said matter-of-factly, her hands clasped behind her back as she casually walked back toward the rest of the Northuldra. Elsa blinked and jogged after her. "B-but, Yelena-" Elsa skidded to a halt when the older woman abruptly turned back around, fixing the slightly panicking queen with a serious gaze. "Spirit or not, do you think I would have allowed you to pursue my granddaughter, let alone claim her as your life partner if I thought you were not a fitting match for her?" she asked, quirking a challenging eyebrow at the blonde with a mischievous spark in her wise old eyes. Elsa's mouth opened and closed several times, though no words would come to the normally eloquent queen. Yelena gestured for her to lean closer, gently cupping Elsa's cheeks with her hands when the monarch leaned down slightly toward her. "You are an intelligent, passionate, and brilliant leader, Your Majesty – your people's prosperity and growth prove this beyond a doubt. More than that, their acceptance of my granddaughter and your relationship with her despite the misguided teachings of your grandfather is a testament to the beauty and kindness in your heart and soul. Our people could ask for none better to lead them than you and Honeymaren - and they deserve nothing less," she said warmly. She surprised Elsa further by tilting the queen's head down to kiss her forehead with a completely uncharacteristic, grandmotherly affection before releasing her. "Now go, before my nosy, overly intuitive granddaughter suspects what you are doing and ruins the fun for everyone," she said in a much more Yelena-like fashion before turning and walking away to help her people make camp, leaving the speechless queen behind blinking in stunned surprise.
Night had fallen by the time Elsa was able to sneak back into the castle undetected, her braid half undone and her face and hands smudged with dirt and dust from helping the Northuldra set up their camp. She crept through the halls and up to her bedroom door, listening carefully for movement inside. Hearing nothing, she slowly opened the door and poked her head inside the room, blinking in surprise to find it empty. Not one to miss a chance opportunity, the queen immediately asked for one of the castle staff to bring her some hot water and cleaned herself as quickly as possible. Less than twenty minutes later, Elsa sighed in relief as she dried her hair, having washed the evidence of the day from her countenance and kept her secret safe for another day. She came out of the bathroom in her favorite silken nightgown, a concerned frown tugging at her lips when crystalline eyes scanned the room for her noaide only to come up empty, glancing worriedly at the moon already high in the sky. The hour was growing late – where could she be?
"She's a grown woman, Elsa. You worry too much," she chided herself, forcing herself to sit at the vanity and brush out her damp tresses. The queen found herself glancing at the window every other minute, imagining she had caught a hint of movement on her balcony from the corner of her eye, but finding it only to be a trick of the moonlight each time. Elsa nibbled on her bottom lip anxiously as she finished weaving her hair into her usual braid. "Maybe I'll go ask Anna if she's seen her," she murmured thoughtfully, nodding in agreement with herself as she stood from her vanity and made her way to the door, grabbing her simple white silk robe as she did and wrapping it around herself. She was making her way down the hall to her sister's study when an odd light shining outside caught her attention through one of the windows, appearing to be coming from the stables. Her brow furrowed in confusion as she stepped closer, squinting her eyes at the orange-red light to see more clearly before they flew open in alarm.
Fire!
Elsa immediately turned and ran down the hall to her sister's study, throwing the door open wide. "Anna!" she shouted, making the redhead jump and backhand her bottle of ink from her desk across the room. "GAH!" she yelped in surprise, teal eyes wide with shock as they locked on to the blonde. "Quick, alert the guard, I saw a fire in the stables!" Elsa blurted out before disappearing and running down the hall again. Anna's eyes grew wider as realization dawned on her and she scrambled around her desk, tripping over the mess of books and papers piled messily around it. "Elsa, wait!" she cried, cursing herself as she stumbled over the disorganized chaos. Both Elsa and their father had always chided her about keeping her workspace clean, but in typical Anna fashion it was a habit the feisty redhead could simply not form, even as a queen, and she was paying the price in that moment. Finally, she managed to weave her way through what she liked to call 'organized chaos' and stumbled out of her study door, Elsa already making her way down the stairs. "Elsa!" she called again, racing after her sister.
By the time Anna reached the stairs, Elsa was already nearly at the bottom. Anna hiked up the skirts of her dress, her freckled features set into a frown of concentration. Without a second thought, the redhead mounted the ornate banister as she had done countless times in her youth and began the long, spiral slide down. Two young maids at the bottom of the stairs jumped out of the way as the normally calm and reserved Queen of Ice and Snow dashed past them at full speed. They peered after her curiously before a sustained cry that was growing rapidly louder alerted them just in time to jump out of the way again as the younger of the siblings expertly dismounted the banister just before the ornate finial of the crest of Arendelle at the end of it. Anna hit the ground running and made a mad dash after her older sister, never blinking an eye at the two bewildered members of the castle staff. The maids blinked after the pair for a moment, glancing between each other and the direction the royal siblings had gone before shrugging and going back to their duties – there was never a dull moment around Castle Arendelle.
"Elsa, wait! Don't go in there!" Anna cried, panting as she ran. "Are you crazy?! I can stop it before it gets out of hand! We have to save the horses! And what did I tell you about following me into fire?!" Elsa called back as she poured on more speed, her hands glowing blue with her magic in anticipation as she neared the stables, the orange glow brighter than it had been through the window. From this distance, Elsa could see how it flickered as it waxed and waned – it was definitely fire. Anna sputtered as Elsa began to pull away – when had her sister become so athletic?! The redhead made a note to spend less time in her study and more time with Kristoff wandering about town. She clearly needed more exercise if her socially proper, non-banister-riding recluse of a sister was able to outrun her so easily, she thought wryly. The redhead made one last, valiant effort to outpace the blonde as she reached the stable doors. "Elsa, NO!"
Elsa threw open the doors of the stable, several of the horses whinnying in surprise in their stalls. Elsa's hands were raised in the air and ready to douse any flame she saw as she looked about wildly for its source, blinking in surprise when she saw not flames but-
"Honeymaren?!"
The dark-haired woman in question whipped around in surprise upon hearing the stable doors slammed open, eyes swimming with the bright pinks and purples of twilight wide with surprise. "Elsa?!" Honeymaren put her hand over her heart, taking deep breaths and muttering what sounded suspiciously like a string of curses under her breath as she bodily blocked something from the queen's view. "What the hell are you doing here?" she questioned the confused winter spirit, the blonde's softly glowing hands still poised and at the ready. "I saw a light from the window and could tell…it was…fire…" she finished slowly as she lowered her hands, a bright blush filling her cheeks. "It…it was you," she murmured in embarrassment, opening her mouth to apologize before the oddness of the situation caught up to her frazzled brain. "Wait, what are you doing out here? Playing with fire in the stables, no less?" she questioned suspiciously, noticing for the first time all the soot smudges on Honeymaren's face and hands. She tried to peer behind her lover just as Anna reached the open stable doors, huffing and puffing in exertion as both Elsa and Honeymaren turned to look at her. "Don't…go in…there…" she gasped out, leaning heavily on the door frame. Honeymaren gave her a deadpanned look. "Yeah. A bit late, Sugar Rush. Thanks, though," she said sarcastically, folding her arms over her chest and rolling her eyes at the redhead, though she was unable to help the adoring smile that tugged at her lips.
"Listen here, Nattura," Anna rasped out indignantly, using the thick wood of the door frame to pull herself upright. "If you hadn't given her the endurance from hell with your constant sexcapades, I would have caught up to her and this whole mess could have been avoided! So, really, you've only got yourself to blame, Sparky." Anna looked as though she was going to say more, but instead decided it wasn't worth the precious oxygen her lungs craved and waved her hand dismissively instead, stumbling away from the door frame and leaving them to themselves. "Enjoy the fight and subsequent makeup sex," she grumbled as she walked away. Elsa blushed bright red as she blinked after her sister, her face a mixture of confusion and pure mortification. "Sexcapades, huh?" Honeymaren asked with a smirk, drawing Elsa's gaze to her once more as she cocked her weight to one hip. "Just how are you describing our sex life to your sister?" The queen's blush bloomed impossibly brighter as she folded her arms across her chest defensively. "What makes you think I discuss our sex life with my sister?" she asked incredulously as her voice cracked, much to her added embarrassment. Honeymaren's grin grew wider as she shrugged innocently, gesturing after Anna. "Well, clearly she has some idea of what goes on behind those thin doors you were so upset about a few days ago," she teased. Elsa threw her hands up in the air in agitated embarrassment. "Alright, that's enough! I would like some answers, please! Why are you out here all alone so late at night and what are you doing with fire in a stable, of all places? Why didn't Anna want me to come in here? What are you up to?"
Honeymaren smirked, a soft chuckle escaping her. "That's quite a few questions, Your Majesty. If you close your eyes, I will answer them in a moment," the fire maven promised, eyes that were now back to their soft, chocolate brown with only flecks of twilight color looking at the queen expectantly. Elsa narrowed her own crystalline blues suspiciously before slowly closing them and taking a deep, steadying breath. Honeymaren smiled adoringly at her love – she knew how much the blonde hated being kept in the dark and loved how easily the queen obliged her request. She slowly walked up to the winter spirit, biting her lip to keep from chuckling as she watched Elsa's facial features twitch with every sound Honeymaren made, the monarch's quixotic mind trying to pinpoint the dark-haired woman's every movement and action. Unable to help herself, the noaide leaned in and pressed her lips lovingly to the goddess of winter's, groaning softly at the quiet, needy whimper that escaped the surprised blonde when she did. When she pulled away, Elsa leaned after her as though beckoning the Northuldran's lips back to hers. "That…that doesn't answer any of my questions," Elsa murmured dazedly, her hands reaching out to touch her lover. Honeymaren chuckled quietly and took Elsa's hands in her own before walking backward slowly, guiding the blonde forward carefully. "No, it doesn't," she admitted as she positioned the queen, the smile clear in her voice. "But I just couldn't help myself. This will answer your questions, though," she promised as she came to stand behind Elsa. She lovingly tucked the winter spirit's white gold locks behind one ear before whispering softly to her. "Open your eyes, Snowflake."
When Elsa opened her eyes, she gasped sharply at what she saw, both hands flying to her mouth in shocked awe. Tears immediately sprang to her eyes, blurring the beautiful image in front of her. Propped up against one of the stalls was an intricately wood-burned portrait of Elsa and Anna from the Winter Solstice, the sisters happily holding each other's hands between them in their formal gowns, happy and carefree. Every detail was perfect from her sister's countless freckles to the mistletoe in her own hair. What caused Elsa's freely flowing tears, however, were the pairs of arms lovingly wrapped around them both.
Their parents.
Elsa's mother stood with one arm draped sweetly around Anna's shoulders, her other around Elsa's waist. Her father's broad wingspan encompassed all three petite women, though his hand rested proudly on Elsa's shoulder. The incredible detail of the wood-burned portrait was fantastically lifelike from the pride shining in Agnarr's eyes as he held all the loves of his life safely in his arms to Iduna's soft, sweet smile that made Elsa's heart skip a beat. Slowly, Elsa reached forward, her fingertips barely brushing the still-warm surface of her parent's faces before she began to sob softly. "Mama…Papa…"
When Elsa felt Honeymaren's hand on her shoulder, she immediately spun to face her and threw her arms around her neck, burying her face into her lover's neck and hugging her tightly. "I love you," she whispered through her tears. "I love you, so much…" Honeymaren smiled and wrapped her arms around the crying queen, holding her close and stroking her hair soothingly. "They're so happy for you and Anna," she whispered softly to her. "And they're so, so incredibly proud of both of you." Elsa stilled, pulling back slowly to regard her with tear-filled eyes. "W-what?" she asked in a voice barely above a whisper. Honeymaren smiled softly and guided Elsa to sit on a farrier's stool that she had been using while creating the portrait, taking a knee in front of the tearful queen.
"I met them, Elsa," Honeymaren said quietly, taking Elsa's hands in hers. "When we were at your ice castle and you gave me the rest of my memories, I remembered my short time in the afterlife right after I died before Ahtohallan had imbued me with Tōll's essence. I saw my parents, Elsa. They were waiting for me…with yours," she said quietly, her hands shaking ever so slightly at the emotional memory. "I…I remember hearing you say something about it to Ryder when we went back to the forest that day," Elsa said slowly before looking at Honeymaren with confusion. "But why didn't you tell me? How…how could you keep something like that from me?" she asked, the slight hurt clear in her voice. Honeymaren reached up to cup Elsa's face with one hand, looking imploringly into glassy blue eyes. "Because, my love, you deserved to see them for yourself," she said earnestly. "Look at them," she insisted, gently guiding Elsa's chin up to gaze into her parent's faces. "You deserved to see the unbridled love in your mother's eyes, the unbelievable pride in your father's shoulders because it's real. This isn't a sweet fantasy I dreamed up, Elsa – this is them, as tangible and true as you and I. They made me promise to find a way to show you how much they love you and miss you both, how proud they are of the women you and Anna have become." Elsa stared into the incredibly realistic faces of her parents and found her lover's words to ring true – she could almost feel the warmth of her mother's loving embrace, the comforting weight of her father's proud gaze. A sudden light dawned in her eyes as she turned to look at her lover. "Is this why you've had so many 'fittings'?" she asked incredulously as her sharp mind began to put the pieces of a puzzle together.
Honeymaren chuckled and nodded in affirmation. "Yes, Snowflake. They asked I find a way to convey to you their blessing and their wish to be there for you on our wedding day. It was supposed to be a wedding present," she said with a playful glare at the queen who had the decency to look bashful. "Did...did they really say all of that?" she asked hopefully, her eyes searching Honeymaren's. The noaide smiled warmly and nodded. "Even in life I think they knew that someone was out there somewhere just waiting for the day they would meet you," Honeymaren said reassuringly, stroking Elsa's cheek with the back of her fingers. "They knew your heart was too deep and too pure to live your life without love." Elsa smiled tearfully, looking back up into her parent's faces and imagining their voices telling her lover that they were proud of her. "I'm sorry, Maren," she murmured, lowering her head guiltily. "I didn't mean to ruin such a wonderful surprise," she said, her eyes gazing once more upon the impossible piece of art. "But I absolutely love it. I couldn't imagine anything more perfect…or more thoughtful," she said, smiling sweetly and reaching out to wipe a soot smudge from her lover's beautiful, heart-shaped face. "I'll treasure it, always." Honeymaren smiled and grasped Elsa's hand on her cheek, pressing a sweet kiss against her palm. "Álo ovtto," she murmured against it. Elsa blinked, tilting her head curiously. "What was that?" She could feel her lover's smile growing against her palm before Honeymaren stood and gently tugged the queen up with her, guiding her closer to the portrait. "That's what I named it," she explained, pointing to the runes beautiful scribed across the top of the intricately carved frame of the masterpiece. Elsa reached out gingerly with one finger, slowly tracing the runes of her mother's native tongue before turning her eyes to the loving does of her noaide. "What does it mean?"
"Álo ovtto," she repeated, wrapping her arms around the queen's waist and holding her close as they gazed at the happy family in the portrait together. "It means 'always forever' - just like their love for you and Anna," she explained quietly before pressing her lips to the blonde's temple. "And my love and devotion to you." Elsa bit her lip as she remembered her conversation with Nokk on the shores of the fjord. He had told her she needed to know her worth to make Honeymaren happy, but when all was said and done...what about her drew the charming noaide to her in the first place?
"Maren?" she asked in a quiet voice, pulling back just enough to search the twilight flecked eyes she loved so desperately. "I need to ask you a question." Honeymaren smiled reassuringly and reached up to brush a lock of white-gold from the queen's face before cupping her cheek and brushing her thumb lovingly across it. "I'm listening," she said gently, giving Elsa her full attention. Elsa took a steadying breath and placed her hand over the one on her cheek, a memory of seeing her mother and father in a similar embrace when she first found Ahtohallan flashing through her mind before she looked at her lover through her long, thick lashes. "Why do you love me, Honeymaren?" The noaide tilted her head in confusion, the small frown tugging at her lips at the question immediately sending the queen into a nervous, slightly panicking mode. "I-I know you love me, you've proven that a thousand times over, I just-" Elsa tightened her hold on Honeymaren's hand, lowering her gaze. "I just want to make you happy...keep you happy, all your life, and...I'm afraid I don't know how…" she trailed off. Honeymaren smiled softly at the flustered queen, pulling her hand from her face in favor of wrapping both arms tightly around her, her smile widening when she felt Elsa melt against her.
"I want to show you something," she murmured against her silky tresses before pulling away and grasping her hands gently, tugging her out of the stable doors and into the cool night air. Honeymaren led the queen into the open field, pausing when they were a good distance from the stables and turning to her. "Look up at the sky, Snowflake," she said with a smile, turning her own face skyward. "What do you see?" Elsa blinked and did as she was told, her brow furrowing in confusion. "The stars," she answered, looking back at Honeymaren questioningly. Honeymaren smirked a bit, reaching out to gently tilt Elsa's chin up once more. "Count them," she said simply. Elsa sighed and shook her head in slight frustration - why wasn't she answering her? "Maren, no one knows how many stars there are – there's simply far too many to ever count. We can't even see the majority of them," she explained before looking back at Honeymaren once more, tilting her head curiously at the adorably satisfied grin on her lover's face. "What?" Elsa said with a quiet laugh, unable to help the small smile tugging at her own lips from her noaide's infectious smile. "You've just made my point perfectly, Snowflake," she answered matter-of-factly. Elsa sighed once more, running her fingers through her hair. "Maren, I-" she began but was cut off when warm, full lips captured hers in a soft kiss. She blinked dazedly when Honeymaren pulled away, crystalline eyes longingly searching doe brown.
Honeymaren smiled and slid her fingers into Elsa's hair, pulling her closer and pressing her lips against hers once more. The noaide tried to pour every ounce of love and devotion she felt for the queen into that one kiss, willing the spirit of winter to hear how she made the fire maven's soul sing. "Look at the stars again," she whispered breathlessly against Elsa's lips when she finally pulled away. While the queen struggled to open her eyes to obey her lover's command, Honeymaren moved behind her and wrapped her arms around her protectively, lifting her own eyes to the sky. "Elsa, asking me why I love you is like me asking you how many stars are in the sky," she said quietly, her heart skipping a beat at the beauty of the night sky reflected in the innocence of her lover's arctic gaze. "Every single day, every hour, every moment you exist is another reason why I love you more than I did the moment before – one more star in an endless sky. I could say it is the adorable way you laugh or that special smile you get when you are thinking about Anna. I wouldn't be lying if I said that it's because you are constantly amazing me with how brilliant you are or your unfathomable capacity to love. I could tell you that it's the sexy way you bite your lip when you're concentrating on something or the soft, happy little sighs you make when I pull you closer in your sleep. But the truth is, I could never properly explain to you why I love you...because there are a million reasons I have yet to discover."
Honeymaren smiled lovingly as she felt the blonde's heart slamming rapidly against her chest through their embrace, pulling her closer and pressing her head against Elsa's temple. She closed her eyes as she whispered into her ear. "I wasn't lying when I told you the stars themselves would fade long before my love for you ever did, Elsa. You need never worry about keeping my gaze…because you are the only woman I will ever see. Álo…ovtto." Honeymaren gently turned the queen in her embrace and kissed her deeply, holding her protectively in arms meant only for her. Elsa sighed softly as she leaned into her lover, allowing her noaide's lips to wash away her final fears and doubts of the future into the vastness of the starry sky.
AN:
So...tired. Must sleep. *curls up on a nest of Elsa/Maren fluff with her Elsa blankie*
Next up, the wedding! But first...
The stag party. *evil grin*
I solemnly swear I am up to shenanigans.
-Volchise