HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYON! As I'm writing this it is currently 12:07 and I hope you all had a phenomenal New Years eve and are looking forward to 2025! (Whatever you're dealing with ya got this!)

Thank you, guys, for all the kind words and messages this year I truly love them all and it makes me so happy to see support for this story :) As for Michelle from December's review, I update this story every month (Typically the first of the month) and if that changes you can see updates on my bio :)

Now! Onto the chapter!

Chapter 8: A new deal.

Elsa startled at a thud at her door. Wiping her hair out of her face Elsa slowly slid out of bed. Rain pelted against the window, offering a private symphony for the snow queen. Sliding her feet into the cool satin slippers at her bedside Elsa took a deep breath. Righting herself she quickly drew a forgotten shawl around her shoulders and marched over to the door.

Before she could pull it open another more frantic knock sounded, and by the time she had unlatched it and drawn it open Kristoff had his hand lifted in preparation for another.

The king looked visibly relieved upon seeing Elsa, in fact he seemed to practically collapse in on himself upon meeting her gaze.

"Hi. Hi Elsa.." The snow queen waited a moment for the man to say more but instead he remained standing. Silent and taking up space, he reminded Elsa quite like the mountains he resided from.

"Kristoff, may I help you?" Elsa finally said as the king stared at his feet. The wind outside howled in protest, ushering the conversation along.

"Yes, uhh..so I need some help with Jack.."

Elsas face fell.

Soon though her shock was replaced by anger. An anger so hot she could feel her cold skin grow warm. An anger that just barely masked the fear that threatened to overtake her.

"You do?"

Kristoff nodded. "But..but not in a bad way, in fact it was my fault he's here and please-I-just-need-you-two-to-listen-to-each-other!"

Elsa could barely make out the last of the desperate king's plea. Inhaling sharply, she closed her eyes.

Though she hadn't been queen for several years now, Elsa managed to draw herself up to look ever the part. Calm and at peace, not a trace of fear on her features.

Opening her eyes again she noticed Kristoff was warily staring at her.

"So, I just need you to take him to.." the king swallowed hard. "To Ahtohallan..he can leave if you do!"

A large cold burst landed on Elsa's nose. It wasn't until several more white flurries appeared on her lashes and lips did she realize that it was now snowing.

"No." Her voice came out sharper than she intended and the settled snow whirled into the air. "No." she repeated again, slightly calmer.

"Please, you want him to leave and he wants to leave, if we help him it'll send him off on good terms. It'll help him stick to his end of your deal!"

Elsa very much doubted that. If anything was true about those fables and stories she'd read on Jack it was that he was too mischievous and tricking to uphold a promise. Even one that benefited him. Though she had to admit she was impressed by Kristoffs reasoning, a good trait for a king she believed.

"Then why is he here then if he wants to leave so badly!" Elsa cried, marching into the room and lowering herself into a large armchair. The spirit winced as snow landed on her head and frost escaped her fingertips.

Kristoff paused.

"That would be my fault, I took him to the trolls..but they couldn't help.."

Elsa shot up. And much to her horror, Kristoff fell to the ground. Beneath his feet was a large patch of black ice.

The king let out a groan of pain.

"I'm fine, sorry that caught me off guard." the king let out a nervous laugh. Elsa didn't answer though instead she tried to spot that pathetic spirit. That coward who attacked a man when he was resting.

"Elsa?" the queen snapped her head down to see Kristoff staring at her. He was wide eyed and was scrambling to his feet. Elsa felt her breath go short as his look. The look of pity and perhaps even fear or shock that looked back at her. Beneath her the crunch of ice sounded as she took a step. The ice was growing with her movement. Coming from her, no one else.

She felt sick. She wanted to wipe that stupid look off Kristoff's face. The look that had plagued her for years. The silent assurance that no one was truly trusting of her.

"Elsa…it's alright." Kristoff's words meant nothing now though. Sinking into the chair Elsa swallowed and pinched her nails into her palm, forcing the ice to stay in place.

"I'm fine." Kristoff's voice was calm and reassuring as if he was coaxing a child or animal, or perhaps a monster back to comfort. "I just slipped."

The wind and snow screamed at Elsa. Begging to be contained again, to reside back in the little part of her that controlled it.

"I..I'd like..you to leave…leave please." Elsa stammered. She heard the ice crack under Kristoff's feet and then the door closed. The thud it made sent her bile up her throat.
The snow on her head was now dripping down her back, soaking her hair and dress. It would've been unpleasant but it was a welcome distraction from the thoughts and feelings that overtook her head. In the distance Elsa heard a thud.

Another knock.

Ice broke off Elsa's fingers as she rose from her chair. Slowly the queen made her way over to the door but another knock caught her attention.

Not from the door, but from beside her.

Glancing over Elsa saw a large sprawl of frost over the balcony doors.

A scream of anger tore at Elsa's throat but she fought it down. A few seconds later a large icy blast tore the door open.

Elsa slowly lowered her trembling hand. Outside Jack sat on the edge of the balcony.

He didn't move and instead just held a hand up gently cradling a few frozen raindrops that were suspended in the air in his palm, the only evidence of Elsa's anger that had escaped the room.

Elsa raised her hands again but Jack showed no care. Instead he just remained smiling at the little frozen droplets.

"Impressive."

Elsa refused to respond. The spirit didn't seem to expect one though as he continued to smirk his lopsided smile and jumped off the balcony. Floating a few feet away from the railing Jack folded his hands in front of him. One hand remaining firmly locked around his staff, the water above him freezing in place before they could land on him.

The queen silently marveled at how calm he was as he floated hundreds of feet in the air.

"What did Kristoff want, must've done something to annoy you, huh?" Elsa didn't answer but she felt the temperature around her drop. Clutching the chair, frost spread out from beneath her fingers.

"So did the king annoy you.." Jack muttered, Elsa glared at him and huffed in a breath.

"I am not annoyed." Elsa snapped. Jack looked very skeptical.

Neither of them spoke for a second but the wind whirled around them in a panic.

"You lied." Jack tilted his head at Elsa's sudden accusation. "You said you were leaving."

"Yeah I did, but I came back to take care of something." Jack admitted. "I was stopping a nightmare."

Elsa's blood boiled again. Who's? How had he done it, was there no limits to the magic Jack had? A nightmare wasn't a tangible thing, it only existed in your mind there was no real danger in a dream. It was merely another lie!

"What nightmare?" was the only question Elsa could manage.

"Your sister's, I stopped it and then I was gonna leave but that king tied me to a bed." Jack sounded almost humored at the scenario. Elsa surely wasn't.

"Another spirit creates the little bastards." Jack's voice grew theatrical and easy, as if he was about to recite a play to a group of school children. "So several lovely spirits are forced to stop them, stop the torment that they plague on the world." Elsa wanted to shut him up, stop this ridiculous story, but her curiosity overtook her.

"And why do they do that?" Elsa asked, her voice was harsh compared to Jacks.

"Because they're afraid of him, they want to save the world from what he can do."

"What can he do?" She couldn't squash the questions bubbling inside her.

"He takes your fear, fear of whatever you can think up and kills you with it." Jack's voice dropped to a whisper; it sounded as if he had revealed a grand secret. Elsa clenched her hands together, she had not heard of this fear hungry spirit. Though there was not much she knew about magic besides her forest and the little she had been taught by the trolls.

Nonetheless she had little interest in meeting this monstrous spirit.

"And who is this spirit? You?"

Jack laughed as if a joke had been said.

"No queeny, not me. The boogeyman." Jack's stage whisper made the name sound like it was of a king or a deadly monster, Elsa wasn't sure.

Sitting up Elsa drew back the frost that surrounded the chair. Inching it back into that secret place inside her, drawing it to her command.

"Why are you telling me this?"

Jack shrugged. "You needed a reason as to why I was here, now you have one."

"So you were fighting the boogeyman?" Elsa said skeptically. Jack nodded halfheartedly.

"His nightmares so yeah, I-I was." Jack sighed, kicking away some snow. Elsa didn't speak, but her head rose slightly.

"And you're afraid of the boogeyman?"

"No more than you are of me."

A crackling filled the air and both spirits looked up to see shards of ice and frost crawl out of the ceiling. Sharp deadly if one were to fall on them.

"I'm not afraid of you." Elsa said evenly. It wasn't technically a lie. Jack shifted in his seat awkwardly. Elsa even thought he was blushing for a moment.

"I-I really don't want to create an eternal storm or whatever Olaf called it-" Elsa shot up from her seat and Jack's words stopped.

Waving her hands together the snow and ice that scattered across the room shot into the air. Elsa heard a loud shriek as a large piece of ice shot past Jack and to her outstretched arms.

With her hands curled together the winter storm formed a sphere, whirling through the air then with a rush, shooting out the door and towards the fjord below. With a sigh Elsa heard a large crash as the ice and snow slammed into the water. Plunging itself into its watery grave.

Panting Elsa slowly unclenched her hands, her gaze focused on the door. The blow had knocked it off the hinges and a large frosty crack went down the center of it.

"That was amazing.." Jack said slowly after a minute.

Ignoring him Elsa marched over to the door and with a wave of her hand an icy blast lifted it off the floor and against the wall.

"How'd you do that, I mean if I could- breaking a door with, how?" Elsa felt her shame grow at Jack's awed voice. Turning Elsa flinched at Jack's look, only giddy admiration and joy filled his face. No fear, no anger, not even disapproval for destroying the room. And he just continued to ramble on as if this was the greatest thing, this odd spirit had ever seen. Praising her, admiring her.

Not only her magic, but her. Her control and skill.

"Enough!" Jack quickly closed his mouth, silencing his fawning.

Taking a deep breath Elsa tried to calm her head. If she were to take Jack to Ahtohallan they could part on amicable terms. She would be in her element, in the birthplace of the forest's spirits surrounded by an icy haven only she knew. She would be safe and in control if Jack tried to do anything.

There was also the chance that Nokk would deny him, drown him before he could even step foot on the glacier.

But Elsa was no murder she wouldn't allow that.

"I have a new deal."

Jack looked surprised at her proclamation but nodded, propping himself up in a chair, his staff balanced on his lap. Peaceful looking.

"I will take you to Ahtohallen and you'll see your memories, then you'll leave." Jack tilted his head.

"My memories?"

Elsa nodded.

"Yeah queeny um, I have very and I mean very few of those, especially about my family."

"Doesn't matter, you'll see them whether you remember them or not." Elsa watched as Jack's look shifted to disbelief.

"What."

"From what I've seen it shows you anything you wish." Elsa assured. She needed him to agree, to accept so she could force him to leave.

"Anything?"

"Anything you want." Jack smiled softly.

"Awfully generous deal."

"I wish for us to be..on peaceful terms."

Jack shrugged and let out a breath, swinging his staff over his shoulder he walked over.

"Sounds good to me."

Elsa nodded and stuck out her hand. Jack quickly slid his into hers.

"Deal?"

A gust of wind swirled around them.

"Are you in on this deal Gale, stop helping me if I accept?" Jack asked and Elsa couldn't help but smile. The breeze ruffled Jack's hair and pushed him towards her.

"Deal." Jack shook her hand once then quickly dropped it, his face turning pink.

"I-do you wanna go now, then." Jack swallowed, tripping over his words. The wind picked up and Elsa blushed as she felt her hair lift above her head.

"Yes, but-" Elsa hesitated, this was a stupid request but if she was never to see Jack again she figured it wouldn't be the worst idea.

"We leave your way." Jack frowned in confusion.

"Huh?"

Gale whistled in agreement at Elsa's idea.

"Fly, fly us there."

Jack let out a small laugh and smirked.

"You trust me too?"

"When else will I get the chance?"

Jack laughed harder. The edges of his eyes crinkled at her logic.

"Fair enough."

Elsa extended her hand arching it as if asking him to dance. After a second Jack took it and Gale threw the two of them into the air. Lurching up Elsa quickly grabbed Jack's other arm as her legs went out beneath her.

Though it was nauseating and unnatural Elsa could admit it was much smoother than the first time Gale had taken her into the air in the form of a raging, defensive tornado.

Jack though had no problem as he led them out onto the balcony. He acted as if he had learned to fly instead of walk as a child.

Gale swept them out onto the fjord and Elsa winced droplets of water and ice slapped against her face.

"You're doing phenomenal!" Jack cried and Elsa gave him a wobbly smile. She felt as if the air was getting squeezed out of her lungs as Gale flew them across the sea.

Twenty minutes later Elsa was debating her choice. The rain had picked up and was now streaming into her eyes making it nearly impossible for the snow queen to see. Beneath them the sea was growing choppy with waves picking up and lapping at their feet.

Elsa opened her mouth to call to Jack but the wind stole her voice. She could no longer hear herself think and Jack was swaying in the wind One hand was firmly gripping his staff and the other hers but Elsa could see the unease in Jack's eyes.

Silently Elsa hoped Nokk would appear, to ease the storm. Another darker thought plagued her mind though, was Nokk trying to stop Jack? Would he risk killing her just to keep Ahtohallen safe?

Forcing herself to stay calm Elsa took a deep breath. Nokk wouldn't risk hurting her, despite what she thought. The spirits had to stay peaceful with each other in order for the forest to stay protected; she knew that.

Her last shred of forced belief shattered though as Jack screamed something and the wind beneath her feet disappeared. One moment Elsa was falling through the air, Jack slamming against her then the next she was plunged into the icy depths below the air knocked from her lungs.