Chapter Four

Broken Warriors

JANUS

Everything had stung, even in the depths of his oblivion. He'd heard the frantic voices of the regimental surgeons and the screams of the wounded around him. He could even smell the stench of rotting flesh and blood, but he'd seen nothing. It was as though his consciousness had been submerged just beneath the water's surface, keeping him anchored to the ocean floor every time he tried to come up for air.

And slowly, he'd felt his heightened senses fading away. Tracy's spell must have reached its end, for slowly he heard, smelled and perceived less, and the agony of his wounds began to intensify. Before, the pain had just been a dull throb held at bay by his supernatural tolerance, but when Tracy's magic had disappeared, the full brunt of the pain manifested itself, making his unconsciousness a small blessing.

But he'd weathered the cycle of pain and was up and about now. It didn't matter that he'd had his eye slashed and his shoulder wounded among many more injuries. Whatever Holli had given him had restored his strength and the pain had mostly subsided. Clothed in civilian attire, Janus raised both fists, staring straight ahead at his target - with one eye, since his left one was still bandaged heavily.

"You really sure you want to do this?" Hansel asked, his stance emanating uncertainty and doubt.

"I don't need my gear to take you on," Janus said.

"That's not what I meant," Hansel looked uncomfortable.

"What he means," Gretel said from the sidelines. "Is that you shouldn't be training so soon."

"I'm fine," Janus said. "Holli's magic did what it was supposed to."

"Yeah, but…" Hansel trailed off.

"But what?"

"Your eye, you-"

"I don't need both eyes to take you on either," Janus said irritably. He despised the fact that the Witch Hunters were being so squeamish around him now that he'd sustained a severe injury. He knew what it meant though, and it angered him to even contemplate his future. No, he gritted his teeth and tightened his fists. I'll show them. I'm not out of the game. I'll show them all.

"Look, hold on," Gretel walked over to a pack which lay on the other side of the small training room, which was empty apart from the trio. It was evident that the soldiers wanted a break from the action after all the madness they'd been through during the winter campaign, and who could blame them?

"What are you doing?" Hansel asked accusatorially.

Gretel rummaged through the pack - which was probably his - and fished something out. She walked back to the duo and held it out to Janus. "I'll feel a lot better about this if you just took it."

"What is it?" Janus took it from her and stared at it. A black eyepatch?

Hansel's face stiffened. He spun to Gretel. "The one we took from the Gatroc smugglers?"

Gretel nodded.

"Aw, hell. I always liked that souvenir," Hansel swore. "Fine. Guess it'll do you more good than rotting in my pack."

"Thanks, I guess," Janus removed the bandages that covered his left eye and replaced them with the eyepatch. It fit snugly over his left eye, which was still shut, bearing the scars of the Soulless' scratch. He tossed aside the bandages which were crusted over with dried blood. "Now can we start?"

Sighing, Hansel raised his fists. "Never one to back down from a challenge but this…makes me uncomfortable."

"I hope you don't hold back because of that," Janus lunged forward and Hansel slipped out of the way. "Because I won't."

"It's your funeral, Prometheus," Hansel jabbed, feinted and dove out of the way again as Janus spun and aimed a kick at his knee. "Always did want to find out who was better between us."

"You both better take it easy," Gretel warned.

"Relax, sis," Hansel grunted as Janus clashed with him again, the both of them trading experienced blows. "We know what we're doing. I think."

Janus swept the Witch Hunter's legs out from beneath him. "So you said there's another descendant besides Peggy?"

Hansel broke his fall with his hands, rolling backwards and leaping to his feet, just in time to fend off another assault from Janus. "Yeah. Called herself Talya. Said she was Anna's descendant."

"And they both left this morning? Just like that?"

"Well, yeah. It was weird. Seeing them disappear just like that before our eyes."

Janus pressed the attack, forcing Hansel to backpedal and corner himself against the wall. "Disappear?"

"Don't know how to explain it, but that's the best I know how," Hansel slipped beneath Janus' guard, springing up and catching him clean on the jaw with an uppercut. "They sort of faded away and it was like they were never there. I-Oomph!"

Janus slammed his elbow into the side of the Witch Hunter's head, a tradeoff of getting his own chin decked. Both of them reeling, they took a moment to catch their breath and regain their stability before engaging again.

"Easy," Gretel warned again uncomfortably.

"And Peggy left without saying goodbye," Janus mused as he blocked a fast blow from Hansel.

"Sounds like you two were close." Hansel jabbed and Janus countered again.

"Hmmn." Janus caught the Witch Hunter's fist as he launched a right cross, and returned with a twist that had Hansel grunting in pain as he forced his arm behind his back. He kicked the back of Hansel's knee out from behind him and forced him to kneel.

"They said they would be back," Hansel slammed the back of his head against Janus' ribs, slithering out of his iron grip with practiced speed and precision. "Whatever that means."

Janus ducked as Hansel launched a roundhouse kick at his head. "I can't pretend to understand any of this time travel shit. I don't."

"That makes two of us," Hansel switched up the pace, barrelling his shoulder into Janus' midsection and tackling him to the ground. "I still can't believe the two of them are time travelling descendants from the future and the queen's actually been pregnant for a while now."

"You're right," Janus shifted his weight, turning the tables so that he sat atop Hansel now, socking him once across the jaw. "It's hard to believe."

"What are you doing?"

Elsa's hiss made Janus stiffen, and he turned to see her marching across the small training room towards them. This was the first time he'd seen her since the siege. And she looked as angry as he felt.

Gretel immediately averted her eyes. "They…they wanted this."

"Wrong," Hansel argued as Janus got off him and pulled him to his feet. "Your boyfriend insisted on sparring. What was I to do? Just let him beat my ass?"

The deep frown on Elsa's face was unsettling. "I need to speak with Janus alone."

"Uh, right," Gretel looked glad to leave as she took Hansel's arm.

"Stalemate?" Hansel called out to Janus and got no reply.

Janus waited till the Witch Hunters were out of the training room before turning back to Elsa. "What is it?"

"You know damn well you shouldn't be up and about yet," Elsa's hissed. "Let alone fight again."

Janus narrowed his good eye.

She stared at his new eyepatch. "You removed the bandages."

"I'm fine," he said shortly.

She shook her head angrily. "You should've stayed in bed."

He stared at her indignantly. "Why? It's not like my left eye's ever going to heal."

Elsa froze, evidently taken aback by his retort. "That…that's not true. Maybe Holli can-"

"Stop lying," he growled. "You think I don't know a permanent injury when I see one?"

"I didn't want you to lose hope."

"So you thought you could try to lie to me to keep me in bed?" Janus felt rage rising. "Sugarcoat things and feed me false hope that I would eventually recover and be whole again? That I wouldn't be half-blind forever?"

"No!" she cried. Tears were welling up in her eyes as she looked at him with a mix of anger and despair. "I..."

"Don't bother," Janus snarled. His heart was slamming hard in his chest, but it wasn't because he was winded from his fight with Hansel. No, he was furious. Incensed that she thought she could keep him down.

"I didn't want you putting yourself at risk again, not after what happened during the siege," she said angrily. "I wanted you to heal and get better. It was never my intention to-"

"No," his features hardened, his blood boiling. "You don't get to take pity on me. I don't want it."

A tear rolled down Elsa's cheek as she lifted a hand to his face. "Janus-"

"You self righteous little…" He snatched her wrist before she could touch his cheek. "How dare you try to preach to me? After all the times you put yourself in danger and left me worrying for your safety…and now you want to stop me from doing what you've done a hundred times over?" He leaned in close with acid in his voice. "I've been doing this long before you ever met me. I don't need your pity or lies."

"Janus," Elsa's voice wavered. "You're hurting my wrist."

Stunned, he let go of her wrist and staggered back. The one she'd injured at the Siege of Steinfall, evidently, by the way she was nursing her wrist. He stood in the middle of the training room, shame and guilt overwhelming him.

How could I?

He turned away. "I…I'm so sorry. I never meant to hurt you."

"It's alright," she tenderly put a hand on his back. "I-"

"I think we should stop seeing each other."

There was a pregnant pause as tension filled the air. "You can't be serious."

He turned round to face her again. Anger still simmered within him, but he kept it below the surface, balanced by his guilt for hurting her. How could he not be furious after what she'd done? Trying to stop him under false pretenses of wanting him to heal when there was no hope left for him ever using his left eye again?

There was growing despair in Elsa's eyes as she waited for a response and got none. She wiped away great drops of tears from her cheeks. "After all we've been through together?"

Janus steeled his features. "After all we've been through together, I can't help but wonder if things would've been better for both of us if we'd never met. Maybe you would be happier with a noble of your standing. And maybe I would still have my eye."

The tears crystallised on her cheeks. "You don't really mean that," she whispered in a shaky voice.

"I do." Afraid to meet the hurt in her eyes, Janus hurried past her and headed out the door. "I'm sorry."

ANNA

"And with that said, I think we should be accountable," Anna said before the Confederation members - which technically only comprised of Prince August Windsor of Vjorman, Marquess Norman Horatio of Xerflorn, and herself at this point.

It was quite unsettling really, to think that this was all that remained of the Confederation. King Uxzas of the Molcorrans had vanished one night, thanks to the Crimson Order's wrath. Then there was Duke Helmsley, the by-the-book noble who'd commited high treason by attempting to have Anna and Frederick killed. He was still in custody in the brig of one of the other Highlander ships, being watched closely by the Xerflorians. And Melody, who'd left them all of a sudden yesterday. Elsa had told her the Danish princess returned to the sea - for personal reasons. She knew that Melody was facing a lot of pent up guilt and trauma, but she'd never expected the most level-headed, rational Warrior who'd kept them alive on so many missions to just up and leave.

"Accountable?" August echoed.

"I'm not liking the sound of this," Horatio muttered.

Kristoff squeezed her hand. She looked sidelong at her husband who gave her a small nod of affirmation. It was evident that he didn't want to be the one to break the news, judging by the way he was fighting to keep his face from colouring.

Anna breathed in deeply. "Kristoff and I are expecting."

Horatio's eyes widened. "You're pregnant?"

"I am," Anna said. "One of the League's sorcerers who has background in medical practice confirmed it."

"How long have you known?" August's tone wasn't accusatory, yet it didn't betray his true thoughts, though he was evidently just as taken aback as Horatio was.

"A day," Anna said. Which was true. She and the others had literally found out last night.

"That means you would've been pregnant during the siege, and maybe even before that…" August trailed off, his face turning ashen. "Oh, god."

"Look, we survived. I'm fine. The baby's fine, as far as I can tell," Anna tried to put his mind at ease, though she too felt a chill running down her spine at the thought of having put her unborn child at risk during the winter campaign.

Horatio crossed his arms. "So why tell us now?"

"Like she said, we wanted to be accountable," Kristoff broke his silence. "Besides, it would've been harder to explain in a couple of months if we'd chosen to keep things quiet."

"Fair enough." Horatio looked pensive.

"That's all," Anna said. Frankly, it'd gone a lot smoother than she thought it would've. But truth be told, she was on decidedly decent terms with August and Horatio, so she didn't have anything to worry about. "We just wanted to let you know ahead of time."

"And we appreciate it." August nodded.

"Right," Horatio stood up. "You know where to find me?"

"We do," Kristoff exchanged a nod with the marquess as the latter excused himself.

August sat at the table quietly, looking to be deep in thought.

"You alright?" Anna asked him.

"Actually, can I have a word?" August glanced at her, then apologetically at Kristoff. "In private?"

"I'll be outside." Kristoff squeezed her hand and left, leaving Anna and August alone in the war room.

"What is it?" Anna asked, walking round the table to sit beside him.

"It's nothing official," the prince looked at her and dropped his voice. "Just between us?"

She nodded. "Yeah, of course."

"How is the Danish Princess?"

Anna resisted surprise from showing on her face. "Melody? What do you mean?"

"It doesn't take a sorcerer to figure out that something's not alright with her," August's forehead was slightly creased. "She hasn't exactly been the same since she returned from wherever she'd been before the siege."

"She's been through a lot. The pressure, the stress of battle, you know."

He nodded. "I couldn't help but notice her absence today. Is she still with us?"

Anna paused momentarily. "With us? I'm not sure I follow."

"All due respect, but you can drop the act," August locked eyes with her. "I know she's a half mermaid, granddaughter to the mythical King of Atlantica."

"How?"

"I was only slightly older than the princess when that war for Atlantica broke out eight years ago," he said. "I've heard enough stories about the Atlanticans and it didn't take a lot of deduction to figure out that she's half Atlantican," His face was set in worry. "She's gone back to the sea, hasn't she?"

Anna relented with a small exhale. "Yeah. She said she needed some time and space to sort out whatever she's been going through."

"Do you think she'll be okay?"

"Knowing her, she will be, in time," Anna said. "She's one of the strongest people I know, and she doesn't even have powers. She'll be back when we need her."

"I really hope so."

"You care for her, don't you?"

August averted his eyes. "I do."

A small smile turned her lips upwards. "I thought so too."

"You're not going to tell her, are you?"

"No," Anna put a hand on his arm. "Now's definitely not the time's right"

"Of course," August returned an uncertain smile. "Maybe after the war's over."

"You want my advice?" Anna said. "Don't wait too long. You don't want to live in regret."

"I'll keep that in mind," August rose. "Thank you."

"I don't like it," Anna said as they walked down the narrow corridor of the ship, waving away the salutes of the soldiers they passed.

"What?" Kristoff asked.

"Something's wrong," Anna frowned. "With Elsa. I can feel it."

"What is it?"

"I don't know," Anna said. "But with everything that's been going on, I don't have a good feeling about this."

"No one can blame you. The Warriors are falling apart. First this whole descendants thing is leaving us skeptical and confused, and now they're gone. And so is Melody." Kristoff grumbled. "And with Janus injured the way he is, I don't know if he'll fight again."

"You're right, things feel like they're falling apart," Anna agreed. "But that's why we're here. We've got to hold them together."

"Don't add the weight of the world to the load you're already carrying," Kristoff said as they stopped outside Elsa's door. "You have enough to worry about now." He placed a hand gently on her stomach.

She laid her hand on top of his. "Don't worry, I know my priorities. But this is my sister we're talking about." She looked up at her husband. "I've got to make sure she's alright."

"I could come with you."

Anna shook her head. "I think this is something that requires a sister's touch. I'll see you back in our cabin?"

Kristoff kissed her. "You better."

ELSA

A series of familiar knocks came outside her closed door. Knocks that reminded her of a simpler time when all she had to worry about was making sure her sister never found out about her powers. All that seemed so small and irrelevant now.

Elsa wiped away the snot and tears from her face, pressing her palms to her eyes as though it would stop the crying. She took a deep breath and tried to compose herself. It didn't work. "Come in," she called out in a shaky voice.

The door opened a fraction and Anna poked her head in. "Yeah, I knew it. Something's not right," she muttered as she slipped in quickly and shut the door behind her. "What's wrong?"

Elsa turned away and furiously willed herself to stop crying. "Nothing."

"What happened to that pact we made?" Anna's footfalls grew louder as she walked across the small cabin. "The one where we agreed not to shut each other out? Remember that one?"

"Not in the mood, Anna." She wanted Anna to turn round and leave. All she needed right now was some peace and privacy to let her frustrations and hurt out.

"What happened?" Anna came face to face with her, lifting her face. "You look terrible."

"Thanks," Elsa tried to snap but it came off weak.

"You've been crying."

"No I haven't."

"Your red eyes and the chill in here say otherwise."

Elsa finally met her sister's eyes. "I'm fine, alright? I just need some time."

"What happened?" Anna repeated. "You know better than to bottle it all up. What was that dumb old saying Father had? Conceal, don't feel, don't let it show?"

Elsa gritted her teeth. "It's Janus."

Anna's face went pale. "What happened to him? Is he alright?"

"No, he's not," Elsa sniffled. "I…I made a terrible mistake. I thought lying to him about his eye would give him hope. Help him to stay in bed and let the rest of his body heal."

"I'm guessing he found out the truth."

"The truth that he's permanently half-blind?" Elsa clenched her fist as cold tears flowed down her flushed cheeks again. "It's no wonder he was so angry. I was stupid to think I had a right to lie to him. To try and stop him."

Anna paused. "I've never seen him truly angry before, what with his face hidden behind that mask most of the time."

"This is all my fault," Elsa said angrily, her ire directed not at Janus but at herself. "I shouldn't have lied to him or tried to control him."

"Hey, you only wanted what's best for him," Her sister took her hands. "Surely he can see that."

"He doesn't," Elsa's shoulders heaved. "He told me he wished we'd never met. That maybe things would've been better for the both of us."

Anna's expression changed to one of shock. "He doesn't mean that."

Elsa wiped her nose with the back of her hand. "You weren't there."

"No, I wasn't. But I know Janus." Anna said confidently. "He loves you too much to mean it. He's angry and he feels betrayed. But he would never deny the fact that his life is so much better because you are in it."

"How can you be so sure?"

"I'm an excellent judge of character," Anna said, then paused. "Apart from Hans and Talya, I mean."

Elsa pressed her palms to her eyes with a sob. "I don't blame him for hating me."

"Look, I'm not saying you lying to him was right. Because believe me, it didn't make me feel comfortable." Anna admitted. "It wasn't my place to tell you what to do because it was between you and Janus. But under the circumstances, I think you need to hear what I have to say. Go to him again. And apologise."

Elsa shook her head. "What makes you think he'll be willing to forgive me?"

"He's angry. And he has a right to be," Anna said. "But he's a good man underneath the scary mask and sword and weapons. He loves you way too much to let you go." She paused. "How long has it been since the both of you argued?"

Elsa looked out the window. It was already dark. "This afternoon."

"Then it's been a few hours at least. Go to him," Anna said. "He would've calmed down by now. Talk to him and apologise. There's nothing wrong with admitting when you make a mistake. The men love it."

Elsa tried to smile as she dried her eyes which felt tired from all the crying. "I guess I will," She gave her sister a grateful hug. "Thank you."

Anna shrugged. "What are sisters for?"

This time, Elsa gave her sister a genuine smile as she left the room. She descended down the steps to the lower levels of the ship, where many more rows of cabins held soldiers and nobles alike. Janus had been moved to a small cabin to vacate room for the mounting number of injured soldiers who needed the space in the medical bay more than he did.

Her heart thumped in her chest. She was frightened at the prospect of him losing his temper again, but reason got the better of her. He was angry, yes, but he was a sensible man. A gentle one with her, in fact. His brief hostility was one of the rare times she'd seen him truly hurt and angry, and she couldn't begrudge him for feeling how she would have felt in his place.

In all fairness, she was solely to blame. For the times she'd betrayed his trust to put only herself in danger, and then for lying to him in hopes that he would stay in bed to recover when there was really no hope for his eye.

She felt horrible. And rightly so. She could only hope that Janus could find it in his heart to forgive her for her mistakes.

He will, Elsa told herself. We've been through too much together for things to end like this. We love each other too much for that to happen. Arriving outside Janus' door, she put her ear to it, trying to ascertain whether he was sleeping. It was far too early for that, but one could never tell. Silence reigned. Then again, Janus had been trained to move quietly to mask his presence.

Would he still be angry? Elsa debated in the empty, dank corridor, going back and forth within her own mind. Would he even give her a chance to apologise? What if this was something that she couldn't fix? Adrenaline, confusion, fear and guilt all overwhelmed her at the same time, and she decided she could take it no longer. Rapping on the door briskly, she opened the door before he had a chance to answer.

Only to be met by…nothing. Her eyes darted around the small quarters in confusion. The room was dark, the flame of the lone candle on the small desk long since fizzled out. Candle wax had hardened, indicating that no one had been here for some time.

This is definitely the right place. Elsa glanced around worriedly. She'd visited him here to check on him before. This was his room. But where was he?

A moment's survey of the room brought her to a stiff standstill. The place was bare - with no trace of Janus' belongings, weapons and all - as though no one had ever been here. Which can only mean one thing.

Elsa's eyes welled up with tears again and she stifled a sob as she felt her knees grow weak. She sat down hard at the side of the cot, wrecked by guilt and anguish as she let herself be consumed by tears of despair.

Janus is gone.