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.
"Hey, Elsa," Jack said, startled out of his reverie. "I'm not sure. You choose." Elsa descended the stairs and asked Elena to prepare whatever she excelled at, as Elsa wasn't feeling particularly inclined towards anything specific.
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 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."
The profound silence was almost unbearable; it felt even more painful because she knew he was speaking the truth. "Would you like to know the reason they refer to me as 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."
She shut her eyes, the pain evident on her face, and began recounting her story: "When I came into this world, my mother fell gravely ill, confined to her bed for months. Blaming me for her condition, my father's resentment grew. Throughout my childhood, I was plagued by one illness after another, and those around me seemed to suffer the same fate, leading to my isolation. My unique white hair became a target for labeling me a witch, symbolizing the misfortune I supposedly brought upon my family. I've often wondered if there was any truth to their accusations... Maybe I am a witch," she said, her voice heavy with resignation.
The concept of witches was dismissed by many as simply a way to label those who were unpopular or thought to bring bad luck. It was considered an excuse, a misconception, and a result of 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 brushed her tears away and was shaken. "Wow, I never knew how much I needed to hear these words."
"These tears are healing," he whispered as he gently took her hands, allowing her to release the emotions she had held inside for so long. "Let them flow freely. Cry as if you've never cried before. I'll stay with you until every last drop of pain has left you, today and forever. You have my word."
As she sat there, she let the tears flow freely, like a dam bursting open after years of holding back. The emotional pain that had been buried deep inside her came pouring out, overwhelming her with a sense of release and relief. It was a difficult moment, as she had never allowed herself to cry so openly before. She felt her throat tighten and ache as the tears streamed down her face, but with each tear shed, she felt a weight lifting from her chest. It was as if, by crying, she was freeing the little girl inside her from years of pent-up distress.
The act of crying provided a sense of release, yet it was also excruciating; it stirred up hurtful emotions within her. It felt as though her emotions were finally being set free, but the physical sensations of hiccups and the constriction of the throat were intensely agonizing.
But, lucky was she, Jack held her.
After a few moments, she stopped talking and rested her head on his chest, clutching his shirt tightly. "I'm afraid of love, Jack. I never really experienced it; when I thought I did, I was abandoned. What if I end up hurting you, too, Jack, and you walk away? I don't think I could bear it."
"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.