41
"You can save her…" Marie's eyes flickered behind her eyelids as a small creature made its way up her side. "A life…for a life."
A small, raspy coo echoed in her ear. She jolted awake. The room was alive with warm sunlight, and the window, despite being shattered, brought in a gentle summer breeze. Marie breathed in heavily, taking in the air and smiling. Another coo sounded next to her ear, and she slowly moved her gaze towards the source. A small blue salamander blinked curiously at her, its mouth open in glee. Marie's instinct was to hurl the creature across the room, but it suddenly sneezed, causing a light puff of orange flame to escape from its little mouth. Marie's own mouth fell open. "The fire spirit from the forest?" It leapt from her shoulder onto the bed behind her. She turned over to see it motioning towards a folded piece of paper that was resting on a pillow. She rubbed her eyes and sat up to read it.
I left some fresh bread and milk for you on the nightstand. There should be fresh garments for you to wear and a nurse is going to check on your head when you wake. Bruni might pester you, but he means well. Try to rest so you don't scare me like that anymore.
On the bottom, a shining snowflake spread across the parchment. Marie ran a finger over the cold signature. "Cool…Such nice handwriting, too." She rose and stretched with a yawn. The maroon dress slid up her waist as Bruni leapt onto her back. "You know, I almost trained my birds to do that." She smiled at the amphibian as he settled on her shoulder. "Minus the fire breathing." Her feet naturally strolled to the window. The breeze greeted her and tousled her long brown hair and the sunlight shone upon her pale face. Marie breathed in again and sighed. Beneath her was barren land that was littered with stray stones from the castle, but it soon dove into the expansive fjord. She had grown up around lakes, but none of them could compare to the water before her. Houses and other rustic buildings splattered around the shores of the fjord and an array of boats and ships floated idly in the water. Disembodied shouts sounded from their decks. Marie spread her fingers across the windowpane. "It's so beautiful," she said breathlessly. "They didn't show this in the movie."
A strong knock sounded on the door behind her. She turned to see a tall, dark skinned man push the door open and place his hands behind his muscular build. "Good afternoon, Miss," he said firmly. His brown eyes flitted towards the window before landing on Marie once more. She lifted her hands and faced him nervously, dipping her head as a greeting. "I am General Mattias and I have been instructed to inform you that Your Highness would like to speak with-"
"You're awake!" A head of red hair shot in front of the man. Anna smiled widely. "Good morning, Marie!"
Mattias took a breath in. "It's past noon, Your Grace."
"Lighten up, Destin! I woke up not too long ago, too! Give us girls some slack?" Her large eyelashes fluttered over her greenish blue eyes coyly.
The General lifted a corner of his lips in a fond smile. "Let me know if you need anything."
"Always!" she chimed. Mattias turned and left the room. Anna strolled into the room, her dark green dress gliding effortlessly across the stone floor. She stopped at the side of the bed and peered down while cupping her chin. "Hm…so that's why I didn't hear her go into her room last night."
Marie followed her gaze and felt her chest tighten when she saw that next to the covers was a slender body imprint. "What exactly happened?"
"She was worried about you." The Queen's hand ran over the imprint in adoration, a warm smile on her lips. "Last night, she came down and told us you had fallen unconscious. She came back up and watched over you for a while, even after we all went to sleep. If a friend of mine was hurt, I'd probably stay by their side, too."
Bruni licked Marie's ear, causing her to smile. "Yeah, me too. You both are very kind, especially after the stunt I pulled last night." Her fists clenched momentarily. "I'm still trying to take it all in. Can you tell me more about what's going on?"
Anna was now in front of the wardrobe, her eyes narrowed as she searched for something. "I've only seen Elsa that upset a couple of times. Ah!" She reached inside and pulled out a neatly folded light purple outfit with what appeared to be a bar of soap on top. "Hm…lavender soap and a sash to tie your hair back…" Anna lifted a fold of the outfit up. "It has a slit in the front and she even decorated it with her magic." The royal shot Marie a side glance and raised her eyebrows coyly. Marie felt confused when she blushed. Anna set the pile down on a nearby vanity. "For a few months now, there have been reports of what people are calling "the dark wind." No one knows where it came from or why it's here, but we think it might be coming from The Enchanted Forest. Elsa's meeting with the Northuldra now to find out if there has been any more sightings or attacks."
Marie nodded, trying to take it all in. So, they were all real, too. "Has the dark wind…talked before?"
Anna replied with a half frown. "Not that I know of. Why?"
Marie walked over to the bed to sit down and Anna joined. "Because I think I might have talked to it last night." She started from the beginning, explaining the tear in space and how Elsa and she had met as children. She even explained Layla's disappearance and the attack. "I'm not sure how, but Elsa was there, and she saved me. I tried bringing her back, but…"
Anna's eyes were excitedly focused on Marie. "But what?"
Marie's brow furrowed. "I'm not sure, to be honest. I nearly died, so I can't remember everything that happened. I think I had a dream about it last night."
"Did you remember anything?"
"A life for a life…" A jolt shot through the newcomer's chest.
Anna leaned over to get a better look at her face. "What is it?"
Marie contained herself. "I'm not sure. I could be wrong about it all. I want to see if I remember anything else first."
An almost comical look came across Anna's freckled face at Marie's response. She pouted before sitting up in a ladylike fashion. "I hate to do this, but I might have to use my status as Queen to demand you to tell me what you know." Marie lowered her head. Anna let out a small chuckle. "But not right now. I can tell whatever it is, it bothers you. If you say that you can't remember, then I'll trust you."
Marie grunted in surprise but simply nodded. "Thank you. I promise that I'll tell you as much as I can." She played with her hands. "There's people waiting for me, and I don't want to keep them waiting."
"A husband?!" Marie jumped at the excitement in Anna's voice.
"Ha! Uh…" Sheepishly, Marie cleared her throat when a look of confusion came over Anna's face. "No. I meant my nieces and nephews. I don't have anyone like that. But you're definitely not the first person to ask."
The former princess leaned back and looked up in thought. "Not everyone is ready. People ask Elsa the same thing all the time and I can tell that it bothers her."
Marie joined her in leaning back. Bruni ran down her arm and started playing in the blankets. The young women giggled. "It seems like when a person knows they don't need anyone else to feel whole, the right person shows up. It was like that for my mother and stepfather."
"You don't feel whole?" Anna ventured carefully.
Marie looked outside. "You'd be surprised at how many people feel the same way where I'm from." A loud growl sounded, and Anna laughed as Marie's eyes grew wide. "Sorry!" she laughed along, scratching her head. "It's been almost a day since I ate last. Oh, she left me something." Marie looked around and found the bread and container holding the milk. She reached over the bed to grab them. Ice formed around the bottom of the wooden goblet holding the milk. She picked up the bread and bit into it in earnest. "It tastes so much better here," she half moaned.
"I'm sure they baked it this morning, too." Anna tilted her head. "What's that?" Before Marie could answer, Anna reached over and picked up the goblet, revealing a note underneath. Her eyes skimmed over it before rolling behind her eyelids. "Yeah, yeah…" She reluctantly showed Marie the paper. The words, "Get your own, Anna" were written down. An enormous laugh escaped Marie. She tried covering her mouth to stifle it but to no avail. "It's not that funny!" the Queen snapped.
"I'm sorry!" Marie put a hand on her chest to calm down. "My brother and I are just like that. It reminded me of him." The laughing stopped. Anna leaned forward when Marie lowered the bread and sighed. "…I bet he's losing his mind, wondering where I am. He worries..."
A soft hand rested on hers. "You'll find your way back. I promise."
Marie smiled. "I hope so."
Anna tapped her finger on her hand. "Can I please have some?" she blurted. Marie laughed again and nodded. "Yes! You're awesome!" She raised it to her lips, only to stop right before taking a drink. "Don't tell my sister."
Water sparkled across the sun's golden rays that shot through the tall glass window that separated the bathing room from the outside world. Marie's brown hair slapped against her bony back and she let out a loud sigh. The royal's head nurse, Johanna, had fetched her to come bathe not long after Anna and her finished breakfast, which Marie was extremely grateful for. She hated body odor and had scrubbed herself vigorously with the lavender soap Elsa had left. Marie slid down in the tub and blew air out of her mouth in exasperation. Johanna had checked on her wound like Elsa ordered her to, but the nurse's reaction caused Marie to sink even farther into the warm water. "Her Majesty must have been healing it all night!" The plump, warm-hearted nurse had said. "I went in there early this morning, and she was laying by your side with her hand over your forehead, icing it with that magic of hers. I haven't known it to heal, but somehow, she found a way. That young lady…always putting others' needs before her own."
Marie's eyelids drooped in thought. A seagull glided past the window with a caw. Putting others before herself…She stood, ignoring the water that scattered down her bare skin. She knew she was a guest in their kingdom, but why did she feel like she owed Elsa?
"Olaf! Olaf, NO!"
A male tenor giggle sounded behind the door. Marie threw on the pink robe right as the wooden door swung open, a carrot sticking in the keyhole. An arm reached up and grabbed it, and Marie stumbled back as a-…She had to rub her eyes to make sure she was seeing it right…a snowman walked through the door. It looked to be around three feet tall with three misshapen parts as the body. Black pebbles decorated his chest while the stick arms adjusted the carrot back into the oblong head. Beady black rocks blinked at Marie in the place of eyeballs. Another giggle echoed through the steamy room, a sound that came from what appeared to be a mouth below the carrot. "You must be Marie!" The snowman looked around the room innocently. "Wooow! I've never seen this room before!"
"There's a reason for that!" Two small hands suddenly grabbed him by the arms and threw him out of view. Anna poked her head in and shot Marie an apologetic smile. "He's faster than he looks…"
"HE'S REAL?!" Marie blurted.
"I think so?" Olaf's white head popped into the doorway. "Are you real?"
He flew out of view yet again as Anna bumped him with her hip. "Why couldn't Elsa take you with her?!" Marie bit her lip to stop from laughing. The Queen sighed heavily. "Anyway, when you're done, come meet me in the entrance hall. There's something that I think you'll like down there."
She nodded, but before the Queen could shut the door to leave, Marie took a step forward. "Hey, Anna?" The queen leaned back to look at her. "Tonight, is it okay if I use the kitchen?" She pulled the robe closer to her body. "I'd like to make something…for everyone."
The red head formed a huge grin. "Only if you accept helpers." Before Marie could respond, she winked and left her new friend to change in peace.
After she dried off and changed into the new outfit, Marie made her way downstairs after asking for directions. As her feet padded down the smooth carpeted stairs, her heart jumped with warmth at the sound of children's voices. She reached the bottom and saw a small group of grade school aged children romping around Anna, Olaf, a large reindeer and a tall handsome young man with thick blonde hair. Marie's mouth raised into a small smile as some of the children chased him around and he laughed playfully.
Olaf turned his small body towards Marie and waved. "Hey! The tall one is here!" The children stopped frolicking and stared. Marie waved back and made her way over across dark purple carpet. Anna picked up her dark dress and met Marie halfway, her mouth falling open after eying the outfit Marie had put on.
"You look fantastic!" she said in a hushed tone.
Marie looked down at the lavender colored garment. "Thank you. She did an amazing job." The outfit was one solid color with white and light blue snow like patterns running up the arms and shawl. It was form fitting yet comfortable as it hugged her tall thin frame very well. The legs ran down to her lower calves which matched extremely well with her dark brown boots. The sleeves ran to the very end of her arms and stopped right before the wrists with a finger piece that ran over the back of her hand and connected to her middle fingers. A shawl fell to her mid thighs but was cut in the front to accentuate her waist and hips. It buttoned above her collar bone and tied neatly above her right hip. When she walked, the shawl flowed behind her and the rest of the fabric slid over her skin smoothly.
"Yes, she did." Anna leaned forward and narrowed her eyes. "I'm kind of jealous. Alright, kids! I'd like to introduce you to Lady Marie. She will be joining us today! I expect the upmost respect while we are out, understood?"
"Is that Queen Elsa's outfit?"
"Are you friends?"
"Why does your hair look like that?"
"How tall are you?"
"Why is your nose so long?"
Question upon question echoed around the group. A small smile formed on the corner of Marie's lips as she stomped loudly with her right foot. The children flinched and grew quiet. She crossed her arms and looked at them sternly. "Line up in a straight line for me, please." She motioned with her finger and moved it to her mouth, silently ordering it to be done quietly. The children looked at each other and obeyed, slowly moving into a straight line in front of her.
Kristoff's mouth fell open. "You've got to be kidding me."
Marie squatted and smiled warmly. "That was awesome! Thank you so much. I can already tell that this is a great group. Now, I want us to start at the end of the line over here, and one at a time, tell everyone your name and how old you are. After you do that, you can each ask me one question and I will answer as a thank you. Are we ready to try?" A small chorus of mumbled yeses and eager nods answered her. It warmed her heart. "Great! Let's start with you, sweetie. What's your name?"
A small girl with light brown pigtails stared at Marie nervously. "Wendy," she answered cutely, her tone going up as if she was asking a question. "I'm…fo."
"That's wonderful! Would you like to ask me something, Wendy?"
She nodded, her blue eyes never leaving Marie. "Are you a mommy?"
"No, I'm not a mommy. But I am an Aunty of seven! Isn't that cool?" Wendy nodded while the other kids murmured amongst themselves. They went down the line, each of the eight young children telling the new adult their name and asking a variety of questions like the ones they had asked before. At the end, two fourteen-year-old kids introduced themselves as helpers from an older class. Anna explained that there were a couple of citizens in Arendelle that were sick and needed help with small chores such as wood being hauled in or the floors swept. The children excitedly followed Kristoff as he, Olaf and Sven headed out the castle doors, Anna and Marie trailing behind.
Wendy lingered and eyed Marie's hand before looking away. The woman automatically reached out and took her little hand. She squeezed it gratefully. Anna walked closer and whispered, "How did you do that?"
"I grew up with my nieces and nephews when I was a teen, so I guess it became natural." She looked down at Wendy, who was staring at her. "It's a huge part of who I am."
Anna picked up a six-year-old named Randall as they continued down the stone bridge that connected the castle courtyard to the town. "You'll have to tell me your secrets later while we're in the kitchen!" As the afternoon went by, Marie watched as the children went around Arendelle and helped the needy, eventually roping her in. She obliged and made some chores into a competition for the older kids and a lesson for the younger ones. Kristoff was dared to carry as many logs as he could by a couple boys but was tripped by Sven. Even Anna could not help but laugh. Olaf entertained the littlest ones by rearranging his three body parts. Anna spoke with the adults that walked past and gave high fives and hugs to the children who finished their respective chores. As the afternoon ended and the evening began, the children slowly began to depart with their parents, waving goodbye.
"Lady Marie?" A pretty teenager with curly red hair and large freckles approached.
"Meghan, right?" Marie greeted the helper. Wendy clung onto her hand.
"Will you be here tomorrow as well?" she asked shyly.
"I can be!" Marie looked over her shoulder at the sight of Randall kicking and screaming in Kristoff's arms as the man pulled the child away from his fiancée. Anna looked over at her and shrugged with a bittersweet smile. She looked back at the teenager. "I had a lot of fun today."
"Half off! All flowers half off!" Marie turned towards the voice. A large man waved a yellow rose high in the air, continuing to call to the many people who walked past. Her blue eyes must have lingered longer than she thought, because Meghan grabbed her hand and pulled her forward.
"You want one, don't you?" she asked.
"Yes, but I-I don't have any money!" Marie exclaimed in a slight fluster.
"That's okay! I work for him sometimes, so he lets me have free ones!" The teen pulled. "Hey, Ron!"
The gentle faced man spread out his arms. "Meghan! How are you, dear? And who is this lovely friend of yours?"
"Her name is Wendy," Marie replied coyly with a huge grin. The girl hid her face in Marie's shawl. The man let out a deep chuckle from his belly. "Nice to meet you, sir. My name is-"
"Marie." A soft voice lightly rang behind her. She immediately felt her face flush at the tone the person has used to say her name before she even recognized who had spoken. Marie turned and blue eyes met blue eyes. Elsa stood with her hands clasped in front of her slender frame, the evening breeze lightly tossing her periwinkle dress around her. She moved her platinum hair to one side, exposing the left side of her neck and shoulder. "It's good to see that you are feeling better."
"Yes." Marie's voice did not come out right away. "Thanks to you."
Elsa's brilliant blue eyes tore away from hers. "You have a new admirer." She leaned down. "Hello, Wendy."
The little girl smiled shyly before embracing the former Queen. When she withdrew, Marie knelt and held Wendy's hand. Elsa offered her own to which the girl took as well. Marie's heart swelled at the size of Wendy's smile. "Wendy and I are best friends now, aren't we?" Marie asked, nudging her fondly. "She's a very special girl."
Elsa's eyes rested on the other woman before turning back to Wendy. "Yes."
Marie rose and turned to the florist. "I better not keep her parents waiting."
"Of course!" Ron replied cheerfully. Elsa rose and walked to the other side of Meghan, her eyes gazing at the magnificent array of flowers before her. "What do you have in mind?"
Marie looked over at Meghan, who nodded. She leaned forward and whispered in the man's ear what she desired to get. "Am I allowed to get that many?"
Ron laughed and retrieved four flowers. "Just this once."
Marie held out her hands while Wendy clung to her shawl. "Um…which ones are which?" she asked innocently. When the florist leaned forward to clarify, she thanked him and turned to Wendy. "For you." Marie handed her a yellow rose. She held it up to her nose with a huge smile. The woman turned to Meghan, who was having a conversation with Elsa. "For you, for all your help today," Marie said with a smile. Meghan grabbed it and turned to the royal with a look of surprise and glee. "And I'm saving these two."
Meghan caught sight of the flowers and gasped. "Who are those for?"
Marie hid them behind her back as Elsa peeked curiously, her blue eyes searching for the cause for the teen's reaction. "That's for me know and for you to-"
A strong wind suddenly blew through the courtyard. Wendy let out a terrified scream as the gust nearly blew the girl over. Ron desperately tried to hold his flower stand down. "What is going on?" he grunted.
Elsa stepped in front of them and held out her arm as a shield. "Ron, get them out of here." The command rang out effortlessly from her mouth. Marie guided Wendy to Ron and grunted when the wind continued to cause havoc. People yelled and sprinted past them, heading for shelter as tree limbs and light objects from around the square flew around like bullets. Marie placed a hand on the ground to steady herself, blocking incoming debris. Elsa conjured an ice shield in her right hand and knocked away a large branch. "Marie! Get out of here! I can't protect us both!" A strong blast of air hit the shield. Elsa let out a scream of alarm as she lost her footing. Marie grabbed her hips and pushed into the ground, rebalancing them both. It took Elsa's strength and Marie's support to keep them both upright.
Marie managed to move her hands up to Elsa's shoulders. "If I didn't leave you to those damn wolves, I'm not going to leave you during a storm!"
Elsa turned her face towards her, some of her blonde hair hitting Marie in the face. "You got hurt because I didn't stop you. I'm not letting that happen again!" she yelled over the howl of air.
They both winced as a large barrel slammed into the shield. Elsa lost her footing and fell into Marie, but she pushed the mage back to her resilient feet. "I thought I was dreaming up until around twelve hours ago! Do you blame me?! And don't stay up all night just to heal me!"
"You must…!" Elsa was interrupted as something crashed through a window in a house behind them. She gritted her teeth. "…argue with helpful people often!" Marie could not help but let out a frustrated laugh. An oar hit the shield and ricocheted above them, following the air current and slamming down directly behind where they stood. Marie instinctively shielded Elsa's body with her own. She gasped and pushed forward with her creation. "Are you okay?" Marie nodded into her back, her body starting to shake. The mage shifted her stance. "We need to do something!"
Marie pushed against her small but lithe shoulders. "Maybe we can go far enough away to shield the town!"
"So I can make a barrier without worrying about the wind!" Elsa gripped her shield tighter. "Good idea!" They both cried out when the wind became even stronger than before. It almost blasted them off their feet. "Marie! Get out of here NOW!"
"I'm taking you with me!" She yelled in Elsa's ear. A crack filled the small pocket of space where they were sheltered, and they both could only stare in horror as the top of Elsa's ice shield was chipping away.
"No…" Her hair stuck to a part of her face as she looked at her kingdom's newcomer. "Marie! Let go!"
Marie groaned as she walked forward but did not move an inch. "Don't…give…up!" Suddenly they both fell forward as the wind died. Elsa slammed into her shield as Marie fell on top of her. The air was forced out of Elsa's body and she let out a groan. Marie coughed. "You okay?" she gasped in between breaths.
Elsa never got to answer. A swirl of wind surrounded them, trailing into the sky like a dark torpedo. Marie placed her hands on either side of Elsa as she conjured a thick rod and stabbed it into the ground. A deep rumble surrounded the two, echoing within the gust of darkness. They froze. It was not the wind. It was a laugh.
"Y-you can hear it, too, right?" Marie managed to get out. Elsa nodded. The darkness dripped down and, to their horror, began to form the shape of a human. The torpedo dissipated, but they were too terrified to move. Debris began slamming into the ground and onto the roofs of houses. Marie hovered over Elsa, her eyes shaking. "It's him. The one that brought me here."
Elsa lifted her upper body up shakily. "It's the dark wind."
More evil laughter filled the air, but this time it was emanating from the mouth of what appeared to be the form of a young woman. Darkness oozed and spat out of the figure, which pointed a black blade straight at them. Marie slammed her fist into the ground in pure anger. "What do you want?!" she screamed, throwing her arm to the side. A firm yet soft hand pressed into her chest. She looked at Elsa in confusion. She stared straight at the figure while ice glowed from her hand, forming armor over their bodies. The figure titled its blade and dove straight into Marie's chest.
