Voices murmured, barely audible from the other side of the large walls enclosing the grand castle that Elsa once called home. Emma, Killian, Elsa and Red walked across the bridge towards the courtyard entrance hesitantly, not sure what they would find on the other side of the door.
"I can hear them, there are survivors".
Elsa's first instinct was to raise her hands in fear, as she did little snowflakes began to fall down around them, while they approached the heavily fortified gates.
"Oh my, you were right, it is her". A shocked man called out.
"The Princess… Elsa, she's back" another voice called out in glee.
More people began chattering from every direction, the chatter grew and grew as more people came out of hiding spots, to see who was making their way over the bridge.
"Open the gates"
The large gates towering over them, opened with a loud creek followed by a secondary gate to reveal a crowd of people forming on the other side. Their broken expressions now of hope, as Elsa and the others were granted entry into the square. It seemed all was not lost, some managed to flee the city and seek refuge in the confines of the castle as the curse ravaged the land. There were many different faces in the crowd some familiar to Elsa, although unlike her, they had aged.
"It's like there refuges". Emma said confused.
"I can't believe it, we hoped, but your actually here, your back".
"You were expecting us"?
"We need help"?
As they walked in there were some frightened eyes focused on the wolf strolling beside them, most weren't accustomed to seeing such a large beast so docile.
"What happened here"? Killian asked.
"You don't know"? A man said with a frown confused.
"We were in another world, one without magic, our memories taken, but I thought Arendale would be safe in our absence". Elsa Explained.
"Yes, we know about the Evil Queens curse of course, has it been broken"?
"Emma, she broke the curse months ago". Elsa said pointing to her.
"We didn't know it had been broken, but the curse was just the start of our problems here".
"If you didn't know, why did you bring us here"?
"We didn't, rip you from your home to help us, your just kids".
"Were not just kids, I'm the saviour, I can help". Emma was trying to sound strong, but her voice wavered, and her eyes still filled with tears.
"Let's get you inside"
They made their way into the main foyer while the crowd only grew in size, the people of Arendale flocked to see their lost princess returned to them. Many voices shouted confused and hopeful. Wondering if all that had been taken in the curse, had been returned or if they'd seen their loved ones. Giving the teens a sense of DeJa'Vu back to chaos of when the curse first broke in Storybrooke. These highly emotional people surrounded them, some overjoyed others just scared and confused wondering about for answers, but they didn't have them.
"Have you seen my husband"? A women gasped grabbing Emma's arm, desperate her voice becoming unintelligible.
"You have to stop them, stop the deaths, help us" another yelled.
"You haven't aged a day" A women exclaimed reaching out for Elsa, confused and emotional.
"Where is princess Anna"? Another called out accusatory.
The growing crowd filled the great hall, making it impossible to move further, quickly overwhelming them, the air became frosty, and Red began to growl quietly.
"Stop! Leave them..." A women's voice called out from the staircase above.
Silence fell amongst the crowd abruptly, their heads ashamedly looked up the top of the stairs, standing tall on the balcony in a gown was a woman.
"Leave them, don't you all have something better to do".
After that there was nothing but a quiet murmur, as the crowd slowly dissipated, back to the rooms they came from, using every inch of the large castle as boarding. The four of them stayed, until the hall was empty looking up at the woman in a gown, her red hair tied up in a bun.
"You'd probably be comfortable sleeping in your human form"
That was all she said to them, while gesturing with her hand for them to follow as she walked off, down a long hallway.
"I guess, we should follow". Killian said one eyebrow raised.
"I was hoping to at least spend the night in my room, but we are heading in the opposite direction". Elsa replied disorientated with her familiar yet strange surrounds.
Elsa handed Red back her clothes and she ran into an empty room to change back, while the others continued to follow.
"Do you know who this woman is?" Emma asked Elsa.
"No, I have never seen her before, but…" Elsa said.
"She seems familiar". Killian said finishing her thought.
"Yeah, you noticed that too". Elsa said.
"I have a bad feeling about this" Emma said.
Although cautious the four of them continued down the dimly lit hallway to the end, before entering a small room, something that was once used for storage. It was coated in colourful wallpaper but hadn't been cleaned in years, the smell of dust and body odour filled the air.
"I only have two beds left; you kids are going to have to share".
"You want us to sleep in here"? Elsa asked confused about being a guest in her own home.
"No, we need to find a way back, or find out what's going on"? Emma said her mind racing.
"All things, that will have to wait until morning" The women said calmly, placing her palm on Emma's cheek warmly as she looked into her exhausted eyes. Before glancing down at the pendant around her neck, that Snow had passed down to her.
"Your right, thanks" Emma replied sheepish.
The women nodded giving them a polite smile before making her way back out of the room without another word. Before she could go, Red appeared walking through the doorway, her expression was confused as the rest of the gang.
"Wait, what's your name"? Emma asked.
"Cora"
Emma frowned hesitating for a moment lingering in the doorway, the name ringing with familiarity, but she couldn't quite grasp, who she was.
"Well, goodnight"
The women nodded giving a small smile before closing the door, leaving the four of them alone once again. Honestly, they were all exhausted it had been an exceptionally long day, and that was before they got sucked into a vortex to another world.
"Alright, me and Elsa dibs the one on the left" Red said collapsing into the bed.
"I never imagined our first time sharing a bed would be…" Killian said scratching his head unsure how to proceed.
"I can't imagine sleeping alone right now though" Emma
"You two better keep it PG while were sleeping just metres away". Red
"Right, thanks for that Red" Killian
"Anytime" Red
Emma felt a chill wrapping her red jacket tight around her, before delicately reaching for Killians Hook she pulled him towards the bed.
"I'm exhausted, but I don't think I'll be able to fall asleep..." Elsa said.
"Same". Emma
"We can help the people of Arendale, and I bet we'll still make it home in time for the math quiz on Tuesday". Red
"Oh crap, I haven't studied at all". Elsa
"I think that is the least of our problems". Killian
"Right, priorities". Elsa
The four of them fell silent, but not much sleeping was happening, as they tossed and turned in their beds more and more awake as the hours ticked by. Wondering what they would have to face next, their anxiety forcing their thoughts to run in circles, knowing they needed rest, while restless wanting to act now.
"Killian, you awake" Emma whispered.
"Yes"
"I just, are you still mad, I'm just so used to being alone, when I'm in crisis my automatic response is to face it by myself…" Emma couldn't stop dwelling on the choices she made on her birthday, her inability to rely on others worsened there situation.
"Emma, hey its ok, I'm sorry to, I was upset, I wasn't really mad just… sad".
Emma didn't say anything just wrapped her arms around Killian letting him know that she was ok, that they were ok, and he squeezed back.
"Hey, you two, hands off" Ruby said with a slight giggle.
"Were just hugging". Emma rebuffed.
"I know what that can lead to". Red said.
"You do"? Killian inquired.
"Well not from personal experience" Red replied.
"So, were all virgins"? Emma asked, her eyes on Killian.
"Yes love" Killian replied.
"Cool, that's a cool". Emma said her face now red.
"Can we try to sleep now please"? Elsa asked frustrated.
"Sure" Emma replied.
"Goodnight" Killian said closing his eyes, still holding onto Emma.
Eventually their exhaustion overwhelmed them, the crushing weight of what they had to face tomorrow wasn't so bad, because they had each other.