A Queen and her knight.
What was this story?
And why was it them?
Was his brain messing with him?
Was it a psychological disorder?
"Jack, what do you want for dinner?" Standing in the door, she asked.
"Oh, hey Elsa," Jack flinched, coming out of his thoughts. "Nothing. You pick." Elsa went down and told Elena to make anything that she was good at as Elsa herself wasn't in the mood for anything special.
When she returned, she saw Jack's lingering gaze. "What?"
He sighed and questioned with shut eyes, "Do you believe in past lives?"
As she wandered to their bed, she chuckled a bit that she considered it theirs and not his. "Not really."
Dramatically, which he is a lot, he sighed again. "Why not?"
"Sounds impossible and preposterous. I mean, you're telling me that a version of me has already spent a lifetime. It's not some comic; this is real life, babe. Simply as time travel is illogical, so is this." Elsa spoke her opinions as she put cream on her hands and arms.
It only bewilders him further because she had a point: "Yeah, you're right."
"Why do you ask?"
Jack untangled himself and sat on the bed. "You know when I got sick today."
Elsa nodded. "Yeah"
Pausing for a few seconds, he scratched his chin, trying to put together some reasonable words: "When I...well collapsed, sort of. I saw this dream or…a flashback of us lying on the grass. What if it's our past life?"
"It must be some sort of dream or hallucination." This was amusing to her, so she chuckled a bit.
Firm on his belief, Jack quivered his head. "I don't know, Snowflake. I think there might be something important to this. I was considering asking Gothi; I heard she is quite smart from Hiccup."
Thinking confused, Else tilted her head to the side. "Sure, you could ask her. I've not met her, but she's quite well-known because she's always accurate. It's kinda unbelievable how wise she is, just like how unbelievable past lives sound."
Jack rolled his eyes jokingly. "You still don't think it might be something else."
"I don't, Jack. But what did you see? Do tell me."
Smiling dazzlingly, Jack shifted closer and held her in his arms, enthusiastic to tell her. "You were a princess, and I was a knight. We looked so in love with each other. You called me 'My love,' and I called you 'Your Majesty'." He chuckled and proceeded with, "You said I was brave and had won wars. Then it was almost sunset, so I had to take you back as per the king's, your father's order, and you kept laughing. Eventually, we galloped back on a beautiful white horse while you kept teasing me."
Touched, she asked him further, "Was there more?"
He nodded and added to his story, "We looked different. You had blonde hair, and I had brown hair. And we talked about how I want to grow old with you and see your hair turn white." He murmured the following sentence: "How ours is now."
"Anything else?" Elsa had her eyes locked.
Jack shut his eyes, too. "And we talked like they did in old times with all those fancy words shown in the movies. That's why I guessed it might've been our past life, not the future."
"Anything else?" Elsa repeated, her eyes remained sealed.
Tears fell as he opened his eyes abruptly. "I saw our faces and eyes…they were full of love."
Hearing the trembling voice, her eyes opened, and she asked worriedly, "Why are you crying?"
"It was beautiful. We were so happy, but I have this feeling…this…in my stomach that we didn't have a happy ending." With his sleeve, he tapped his eyes. "And look at me. I'm crying; God, this is ridiculous."
She wiped his eyes with her soft, fluffy sleeve and touched his cheeks. "It wasn't real, babe, so stop being sad. And second, it's frankly funny that you're a crybaby, but at the same time, it doesn't surprise me." It was so Jack.
Jack snorted and brooded, offended when she laughed. "Even when I'm crying, you're making fun of me." He groaned and inclined back. "Now I know what my life with you looks like in the future."
"Don't be overdramatic, Jack." She swatted his chest and nestled closer, and his scent comforted her. "I don't believe in this, but if there is another life, I want to be with you."
Plopping his chin over her head, he mumbled, "Yeah, me too." Then he grabbed her hand gently, avoiding the bandaged fingers. "Does this hurt?"
Chuckling lightly, she wrapped an arm around his middle. "Stop worrying about me." There was a hesitation before she asked, "What happened after I left the house? I know how you got hurt, but what really happened?"
"Nothing you should be concerned about. They were just being an asshole."
No one stood up for her; this was new to her, so Elsa gulped, not knowing what to say next. "Next time, don't give them a reaction. They'll eventually stop and walk away."
He gently skimmed his thumb over her knuckles. "No, Elsa, you must stop them before it worsens. Sometimes ignoring works, but in your family's case, I don't think it does because you ignored them for years, and they still haven't stopped."
An unbearable quiet; it ached more because she comprehended he was right. "Can I tell you why they call me a witch?"
"Of course." Jack sat up straight and held her hands carefully with a sorry phrase. "But only if you want to."
"I do."
"Ok, I'm listening."
As it was too painful for her, she closed her eyes and began her story: "When I was born, my mother got sick to the point she was bedridden for two months. My father started cursing me; he believed it happened because of me. And then I was always sick with one disease or another. Whoever was around me also got sick, so they started to isolate me. My white hair...I guess it was an excuse to call me a witch...they just hated me for the bad luck I brought to the family. And, well, my hair fueled the accusation. I mean, who the hell is even born with this hair colour?" She somberly spoke out, "Maybe I am a witch."
No one believed in witches because they didn't exist, so it was just a word used to label people who everyone hated or brought bad luck, as the illiterates thought. It was an excuse, a misconception, a misunderstanding.
So Elsa was the witch as the word of her family spread.
Jack lifted his head and stared into her eyes with a loving gaze. "You're not a witch, Elsa, you are not. It's plain stupidity. I'm sorry you went through that. I'm truly sorry. I wish I had...the words to heal your pain. Recognizing the pain is the first step to healing; you're way past it. I'm proud of you and want you to understand this."
Breathing heavily, she waved her tears away and was shaken. "Wow, I never knew how much I needed to hear these words."
"These are good tears." He clasped her hands and stopped the air flowing to her dried eyes. "Let these tears out. Cry like you've never before. I'll hold you until the very lost drop of pain leaves you today and forever. I promise."
And so she did; she cried like a child. All the pain that was stuck inside her for years flowed out of her. It was tough because she had never cried so freely before, and she felt her throat close up and hurt. The distress was intolerable, but the tears freed that little girl inside of her.
Crying felt good but also agonizing; it was a hurtful emotion. Her sentiments got the freedom they needed. The hiccups and the rope around the neck sensation were excruciating.
But, lucky was she, Jack held her.
After a few minutes, she ceased and dipped her head on his chest, gripping his shirt tightly. "I'm scared of love, Jack. I didn't receive any in my life; even when I did, they left me. What if I hurt you too, Jack, and you leave me? I don't think I can survive."
"Elsa, I will not leave you, and you can't possibly hurt me. Ever." What the hell did they put her through so that she would believe she was a witch?
The grip on his shirt tightened, and tears rolled down her cheeks. "Love is a strength, but it has weakened me, Jackson. Loving you hurts more than hating my family. It's a harsh thing to say, I know. I know what's coming with them, but with you, I'm scared of the unforeseen."
He sighed and gently slanted his cheek on her soft hair. "I know the feeling well enough, not to your extent, of course, but I can understand. Loving you is also scary because I'm afraid to lose you."
"It relieves me that you get it."
It was unfortunate because he didn't know what to do. Jack furrowed his eyebrows and shook his head. "If I promise I'm not leaving you, I'll stay with you forever. Does that...does that make you, believe me…believe yourself?"
Elsa stayed silent; she truthfully couldn't comprehend what to say, so she changed the topic. "I'll go check if dinner is ready."
But he didn't want to force her, so he said, "Yeah, umm, I'll take a nap then. Alright." He later mentally scolded himself for saying such a bizarre phrase.
Witch. What a funny and painful word.
Messages
8:32 pm
Jack - What's up?
Hiccup - I'm sketching right now. You?
Jack - Thinking something.
Hiccup - What? I'm concerned you NEVER think.
Jack - Do you believe in past lives?
Hiccup - Yes! The entire Berk does. We even have stories based on past lives. It's part of the Norse religion.
Jack - Right.
Hiccup - But why do you ask?
Jack - Just cuz.
Hiccup - You bothered me for nothing let me sketch now.
Jack - What are you sketching tho?
Hiccup - Astrid.
Jack - Is she there with you?
Hiccup - Oh no I'm just sketching a childhood pic of Astrid and I.
Jack - You are lovesick.
Hiccup - Jealous? I mean I do have a better love life than you.
Jack - Says the one who couldn't confess for almost a decade.
Hiccup - At least I didn't marry the FIRST girl I liked when I was drunk.
Jack - Shut the fuck up. It was that Nut's fault.
Hiccup - I have known the Nuts my whole life but I NEVER married anyone. Just say you're dumb.
Jack - Ughhhh you're annoying. Go back to your sketch weirdo.
Hiccup - Ass you texted me and now I've lost the motivation to draw.
Jack - Then you shouldn't have replied to my text.
Hiccup - Excuse me! I thought you died. Didn't Elsa just try to murder you? Well I'm sorry for worrying about my best friend.
Jack - It was a mistake and it was just food poisoning. Yeah yeah yeah.
Hiccup - You're so lovesick! Came back at you didn't it? Lol.
Jack - I hate you. Bye.
Hiccup - Love you too my honey bear.
Messages
6:23 pm
Astrid - Elsa how did your family gathering go? Everything fine?
Elsa - It was a disaster. I should've never come.
Astrid - Who do I need to kill?
Elsa - All of them lol.
Astrid - I'm sorry girl. I'm telling Gobber to sharpen my Axe so I can kill them.
Elsa - Lol. You never change.
Astrid - Seriously are you ok? Is Jack with you?
Elsa - Yeah I'm fine I'm used to this. No Jack is inside I don't know what's taking him so long.
Astrid - Poor guy is probably lost. Where are you?
Elsa - Parking lot just waiting for the car so I can leave this horrible place.
Astrid - I'm sorry Elsa. Thor I fucking hate your family for treating you this way.
Elsa - Astrid Jack's coming I'll text you later ly.
Astrid - Don't worry too much and take care. Bye. Ly more.