Present Time
Jane – And so here we are…
Tarzan – So I've been out for three days…
Jane – You had extreme cold, flu and fever….
Tarzan thinks 'I guess all that cold from Ahtohallan came to effect'
Jane – You nearly died…
She whispered that part, though he did hear it regardless…
He noticed Jane looked quite worried, she didn't look like that ever since she was poisoned… he decided not to press on that for now…
Jane - They said you're lucky. Cold symptoms usually last anywhere from 3 to 10 days. You're quite healthy so that, plus some of the potions have helped too.
Tarzan sneezed strongly
Jane – Still you should get dressed warmly. Others are waiting too…
Tarzan – I see. Alright then.
They'll talk later…
He got up with the sheets still wrapped around him as he then picks the lounge jacket and wore pants with Norfolk.
Jane – As stubborn as ever… exactly why I asked for the clothes.
Tarzan still doesn't like dressing, his headache reminded him though that he had to bare with it for a while. Luckily he may get used to this…
Jane – Earmuffs and scarf too.
Just not that much.
Someone knocks on the door as a handmaiden in a coat spoke behind closed door
"Ms Porter, I hope I'm not intruding"
Jane – No, actually… you can come on in.
Her line of thought changed when she saw an empty bed and a man dressing while upside down
Tarzan approached her on his fours, examining her much
Jane – Don't worry, that's how he usually acts. He doesn't mean any harm…
"No, I've seen weirder things through my career here as her majesty's handmaiden"
Tarzan – Your majesty… wait, Jane I didn't ask. Where are we?
She kneels down and checks on his temperature as he sniffs her hand
Tarzan – And who are you?
She giggles
"Well, an answer to the question. Looks like you're mostly good. But first, allow me to introduce myself… I'm Faith, as I said I'm one of the handmaidens of their majesties Queens Rapunzel and Cassandra"
Something clicked in his mind when he hears these names.
Rapunzel and Cassandra…
Mostly from Anna and Glacia.
" Rapunzel… the sun queen?"
Faith - *giggles* Well, you are half right.
They stood up and left the room afterwards, heading to the throne room
Along the way, they see everyone closing all the windows.
Tarzan could still hear sounds from outside though. Wind whistling, snowdrops flying, some were coughing while babies were crying…
Tarzan could still feel his head splitting.
Like it's cracking up his skull.
That's just his physical condition, emotions are up too.
He's worried about Anna, not to mention Jane acting weird and now hardships of people outside and he didn't even meet them yet
Tarzan thinks
'You can't do anything about it right now, focus'
Jane – You okay? I don't like your sweat…
Faith – I suppose I was correct when I said 'mostly good'
Tarzan breathes in and out
"This isn't the first time, nor will it be the last…"
Those words shaken Jane on the inside, she said nothing though.
Tarzan – So, what kind of person is she?
Faith – Queen Rapunzel? Kind, wise… sometimes sad.
The last part she said with low sound
They heard it though, Tarzan didn't understand but Jane remembered what Anna has told her.
About her daughter's kidnap… that it was one of her most depressing times of her life.
Which only added more sorrow to her already downing heart…
Faith – You should find that out for yourself soon. Lord Bjorgman is also with them at the moment.
Tarzan – Who is… Borgan?
Jane – Ouh right. You only heard his first name, that's Kristoff's last name like my own is Porter.
Faith – I don't yet know all the details but who is she to you if I may?
Tarzan simply said "She's a family too…"
Faith looked at him confused
"A family?..."
Tarzan – The way Anna told me and the way Jane put it, she is a child of my parents siblings… Kind of like Terk but with less of her hair
Faith didn't know who Terk was but was confused on how he knows about Rapunzel's once golden hair?...
Looks like there will be much to discuss soon…
Meanwhile while they were talking, people around noticed him walking bare foot leaving trails…
"Uhm should we tell then?"
"We have work to do. Plus let's see how long it will take for then to notice"
Tarzan suddenly turns his head to look around, eyeing something
They immediately turned back to work…
But it wasn't them he was looking towards…
There was an eerie whistling music coming out from somewhere, which was alarming…
He kept going while it played though, thinking that perhaps it's just another wind blowing…
Then why does his heart feel... sorrow?...
Meanwhile outside there was a little girl on the snowy street, sitting against a wall...
She spend the whole day there, determined to get some money...
But it was very difficult for her to breathe now...
She was eventually met with a new voice, somewhat haunting yet strangely comforting...
"Are you cold, child?...
She looks up at him, not answering yet
...You should come with me, then"
She held matchstick lit up, a fourth one already... Trying to stay warm.
And with many more matches yet to sell.
"But I can't leave yet... I haven't sold a match yet... I need to give mother the money"
She ran away to try and get money indeed, to impress and make her mother happy... She's so close, she feels she's so close...
"Hmm... I know, and I understand but, I'll be completely frank...
He held out a hand to her
...Your time is up, dear"
She can feel tears flowing down her cheeks
"Come, I'll take you to a better place"
She then looked up at him, now wondering back to one person...
"Will...will I see my grandma?"
"She's waiting for you on the other side"
A final matchstick gone off...
"I shall take you to her"
...As she left her old world behind... forever
The last part was quite saddening but there are simply times when you either die in war, or pass away at old age, or just go earlier than you should... Not always can magic help. Reality is what it is.
Who was the one talking with that little girl? Well, I think you can guess that
Note : Also Bjorgman or Bjorkman is a Swedish surname, meaning 'birch tree dweller'. It is derived from the word björk, meaning 'birch'.
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