3/10/22: Started
6/6/22: Completed
LIGHT YURI
Chapter Summery: A day later, Emory settles into her new life with the Northuldra, and becomes rather close with two of them.
Disclaimer: I don't own the characters of Frozen, Tangled or any other Disney characters or locations that appear or are mentioned in this work of fiction, Disney does.
NOTE: Starting from this chapter, I will be changing Elsa and Anna's last names to Aronsen, previously Arendelle, (credit to smc-smfan1). Having their last names be the name of the kingdom did kinda feel weird to me, so I was open to a reviewer's suggestion with different options. The reason I even decided to include their last names was because it felt weird to me if Elsa and Anna introduced themselves with just their first names, or (Title) Name, when others introduced themselves with their first and last name, such as Silva. You could argue that their royalty, they don't need to introduce themselves with their last names as well, you may be right. But I figure for people they consider friends, or would like to be friends, and not just 'allies', they'd include their last name, so Silvia and Edith specifically.
NOTE 2: This is the first of 4 parts. Don't have an eta on posting the next part though.
- The Following Morning, September 8th, Wednesday -
- Enchanted Forest, Northuldra camp, 6:40 a.m. -
Waking from her slumber, hearing the birds chirping and the sounds of activity outside the tent, Emory remained where she lay. A smile coming to her face as she briefly thought back to the previous day, and the beginning of her new life. In particular, near the end of the day which lead to her current sleeping arrangement.
- The night before -
Activity was dying down in the camp as people headed to their homes for the night. Emory was part of the lingering few still out. A group of dwindling young adults had previously invited her to sit with them at a campfire to chat away the evening, which Emory was quite eager to do. On their feet to depart as well, only four others remained; Honeymaren, her brother Ryder, who was snuffing out the fire, and a pair of female twins, Ella and Asta, who were the youngest of the group that remained at nineteen.
Emory gave a goodnight wave of the hand as the twins left them, leaving her with the other pair of siblings. Upon the fire being sufficiently snuffed out, Ryder walked to Honeymaren's side in front of Emory and commented...
"Well, we'll see you tomorrow morning."
"Ok." replied Emory; however, Honeymaren asked...
"Wait, Emory, where are you going to sleep?"
The question prompted a brief, blank look on Emory's face before she groaned, and placed a hand on her forehead.
"Aww, dang-it! With all the excitement, I forgot to build a shelter!"
Ryder and Honeymaren chuckled at Emory's dilemma before Ryder commented...
"You can spend the night with us."
The remark was quickly, and happily followed up by Honeymaren...
"Oh, yeah. Come stay with us!"
"Thanks, but no." replied Emory with a smile. "I don't want to be a bother. I can just get the spirits to-"
"It's no bother." interrupted Honeymaren.
"Yeah." added Ryder. "Our homes are big enough for multiple people to sleep in together, and since it's just Maren and me, we have plenty of space for a third."
"Really?" asked Emory with an embarrassed smile. "It's not a bother? I'm fine with sleeping outside."
"Of course, it's fine!" declared Honeymaren before she stepped to Emory and draped an arm over her shoulders. "Even if you weren't Ahtohallan, we couldn't just leave you to sleep outside and unprotected from the weather or wondering animals when we can offer a safer place to sleep."
Emory smiled at the kindness of the two in offering her a place to sleep.
"Well if it's really not an inconvenience, I accept."
The reply prompted a chuckle from Honeymaren as she looked to her brother and commented...
"The only inconvenience will be dealing with Ryder's snoring."
Ryder smirked from the tease and answered back...
"Doesn't bother me; I sleep just fine."
Following a little chuckle from Emory, the trio then departed, Emory following the two before she asked...
"So, does everyone sleep together in one tent?"
"Pretty much, yeah," answered Honeymaren. "Every tent here is a family home, so they all sleep together."
"Oh, then there are a lot of families here," commented Emory, taking a brief look around. "Certainly saves space, along with time and materials." she added; before Ryder commented...
"There are some who prefer to be alone, though, those are obviously the smaller tents, but the majority sleep together in one tent."
"What about your mother?" asked Emory. "You said you and Honeymaren sleep together." she added before Honeymaren answered...
"Before Grandmother became ill, we all were under one tent, but after, we decided to build another home for just us two to reduce the amount of activity in and out."
"Oh, well, that makes sense." replied Emory; she thought to ask about what happens when their grandmother passed on but decided against it, though Ryder added...
"We also rotate who spends the night with Grandma."
"I see..." commented Emory. "So you divided the responsibility and possible stress."
"Yep. "answered Honeymaren. "We all help Grandma out throughout the day though, so it's not all on Mom's shoulders taking care of Grandma. Plus, Aunt Iduna has stayed with her." she added before she lowered her gaze with a hint of sadness. "I'll be sad when she leaves us, but she won't be alone."
Emory chose not to comment on the ending remark and continued walking. The group reached the sibling's home, and Emory followed them in, and true to Ryder's previous comment, there was plenty of space for three people to comfortable lay down, and following Honeymaren offering Emory a blanket to sleep under, they all did, following a round of 'Goodnights.'
Emory was positioned on the leftmost side of the tent, laying on her left side, facing the siblings with a smile as Ryder sat to the right and Honeymaren in the middle before Emory sat up and commented...
"Thanks again for offering me a place to sleep."
"You're welcome." answered Honeymaren and Ryder in unison, which prompted a chuckle from them.
"I'll make sure to get my shelter set up tomorrow."
"You don't have to do that," stated Honeymaren. "As you can see, we have plenty of space. Just consider this your home for now."
"No, no, I couldn't. I-" replied Emory before Ryder cut in...
"Sure you can. As much as you like being around people, you're fine with sleeping alone?"
"Heh, I just don't want to intrude on what's been normal for you." answered Emory, which prompted smirks from Honeymaren and Ryder before they looked at each other briefly and giggled before they turned their gaze back to Emory and Ryder commented...
"Seriously?"
Followed by Honeymaren...
"Well, sorry to tell you, but you've failed spectacularly there, and not just with the two of us, but with everyone, since the Great Spirit has graced us with her presence."
The teasing remark brought a chuckle from Emory and a low...
"Right... with understandably varying degrees of acceptance. Although, it's mostly the older people I have to gain the trust of."
Ryder then commented...
"So just accept the offer and consider our place yours too until you settle in, and if you still decide you want your own place, alone, then we can get people to help build you one."
Following the remark, Emory looked touched by the unexpectedly generous offer to think of the sibling's home as her own as well and fought back the tears as she cleared her throat before speaking.
"... Heh, ok, ok." replied Emory before she laid back down, her back now to the siblings, just before tears of delight trail from her eyes. "I accept the invite." she added with a smile. "Thank you."
"You're welcome." replied Honeymaren and Ryder; however, given Honeymaren was next to her, she saw Emory lift a hand and rub her face, which prompted a smile from her before she and Ryder laid down as well to sleep.
- Present time -
'To think they'd offer their home to use as my own.' thought Emory with a smile. 'That's way more generous than I ever expected.' Emory then let out a lengthy yawn as she thought, 'Just one more reason to pull my weight and more.'
However, upon opening her eyes, Emory was surprised; the first thing she saw was Honeymaren lying on her side, looking at her with a smile. Not only Emory but Honeymaren gasped a little and blushed from Emory seeing her.
"O-Oh, heh, sorry." replied Honeymaren as she sat up, followed by Emory, who briefly stretched out her arms with another yawn as she spoke...
"Were you watching me sleep?"
"Hehe..." Honeymaren chuckled nervously as she averted her gaze. "Just a little. I was gonna leave when I saw you sleeping, and it kinda hit me that THE Ahtohallan is sleeping in my home! You're not a 'god,' and you're not claiming to be, I know that; you're just a person... you sleep and eat... heh, it's just amazing that you're here." explained Honeymaren, before lifting her left hand and poking Emory's right shoulder.
"Oh..." replied Emory, smiling nervously with a blush as well. "Well... you're welcome?"
"I won't do it again! I promise." stated Honeymaren. "I don't want you to think I'm some sort of creep who likes to watch people sleep. I'm... just in awe that you're a real person that's sleeping here."
The remark prompts a chuckle from Emory, before she asks...
"You're amazed that I can sleep? I AM human, after all. I pee and poop too after eating and drinking, amazed by that?"
"Hehe, no." replied Honeymaren with a chuckle as well.
"Anyway..." stated Emory before standing up, followed by Honeymaren. "Speaking of, I have to answer nature's call. Wanna join me?" she asked teasingly.
"Well... which call?" asked Honeymaren, which surprised Emory, who giggled nervously and answered...
"It was just a tease."
The remark prompted a smirk from Honeymaren as she answered back...
"Well, you're the one that wants to be around people."
"Heh, well, I think I'll be fine emptying my bladder all alone, but thanks."
"You sure?" asked Honeymaren teasingly. "If you just have to pee, I wouldn't mind joining."
"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine." answered Emory with a smile. "I don't need a pee-partner." she added, which prompted a chuckle from Honeymaren.
- Arendelle -
- Dining room, 7:32 A.M. -
In the Dining Room, Elsa, Anna and Agnarr sat together at the table eating breakfast; The sisters sat next to each other, Anna at Elsa's left, while Agnarr sat across from them. The trio's plates had only moments ago been laid in front of them, and they began to eat before Agnarr lifted his gaze from his plate up to his daughters and saw both of them looking at him as they chewed what was in their mouths, however, Anna, in particular, was smiling at him.
"What?" asked Agnarr with a little smile before lifting his left hand to his mouth, "Do I have something on my mouth."
"No." answered Anna. "I'm just happy that we can have breakfast together again and eventually, with Mother too."
"Ah, right." replied Agnarr with a smile. "I also look forward to our first breakfast together. We haven't had a full family meal since..." he added, before pausing and his smiling fading as he looked down. "Well... I don't need to say it."
Elsa, however, smiles and comments...
"Yep, and it's not a matter of if, but when."
"Oh!" gasped Anna excitedly, "We could make this a regular thing! Well, maybe not EVERY day, but we could have a day or two where we all start the day with breakfast together. We can talk and just enjoy each other's company."
The suggestion prompts a smile from Agnarr before he comments...
"I'd like that."
"So would I." added Elsa.
"Speaking of your mother..." commented Agnarr. "Have you two mentioned your relationship to her when you met yesterday?" the question catches Anna off-guard, and she stumbles out an...
"Oh, uh..."
Elsa, however, calmly answers as she lifts a fork of scrambled eggs into her mouth.
"No, we didn't, but she knows I have a girlfriend, not a boyfriend."
"Oh, well, are you going to tell her?" asked Agnarr, quickly followed by Anna answering...
"Of course we are! It just wasn't the right time... yanno, with Elsa's double being there and Mother worried about her own mother; there's no reason to put more possible stress on her." Anna then eyed her father and added, "Especially given your reaction, we- I, didn't want to deal with her possibly having the same reaction you did with everything else that was going on."
Following the remark, Agnarr sighs and replies,
"I see... well, how did she take learning that Elsa's partner was a woman?"
"Same as you." answered Elsa. "She'd like that the person was a man, but was happy that I was happy. So we'll wait until Mother returns before revealing the whole truth to her." she added; however, Agnarr's response was a simple hum as he lowered his gaze to his plate and continued to eat. The response prompted Anna and Elsa to raise a curious brow at the lack of response, and Elsa added, "What?"
"Huh? Nothing." replied Agnarr, returning his gaze to them. "You make valid points for holding back. It wasn't the proper time. However, when Iduna does return, if she starts asking me questions about your girlfriend, I won't lie to her."
"You don't have to." commented Anna. "Just tell her to ask us about it. We will tell her about our relationship."
"We won't spring it on her when she first steps into the castle though." added Elsa. "... But we WILL tell her, I promise."
"Alright then." replied Agnarr. "I won't interfere with the reveal." he added before Anna let a sigh out before commenting, eager to change the subject...
"So... anyway, Father, since you've been back, besides Elsa and I's relationship, what else has surprised you or you found interesting learning about?"
The question prompts a knowing smile from Agnarr at Anna's intention and asks...
"In Arendelle?"
"No, not just Arendelle." answered Anna. "Any information since you've returned."
"Well, outside of Arendelle, I learned one delightful piece of news from your friend Cassandra; King Fredrick's daughter, Rapunzel was found. King Fredrick, his Queen and Corona have been our friends and allies for a long time, and I'm happy to learn that their daughter has returned to them. I intend to write him a letter about my return."
"Oh, that's right!" gasped Anna. "We haven't written Rapunzel back. We could all write them a letter and have it delivered."
"Oh, so you three stay in touch?" asked Agnarr.
"Yeah." answered Anna with a smile. "She visited for Elsa's Coronation, and since you and the King of Corona were friends and we're allies with them, we figured we could be friends with Rapunzel, and she was very open to the offer. She sent us a letter a couple of weeks ago, and with everything that's happened, we have plenty to tell her about."
"Yeah..." commented Elsa. "Especially Cassandra, I'm sure she'll be delighted to know she's here in Arendelle." she added before Agnarr asked...
"Oh, well, does the princess know about your relationship?"
Anna gave a slightly annoyed sigh as she replied...
"I get the feeling that's going to be a common question from you, isn't it?"
"Well, you consider the Princess your friend." stated Agnarr. "So yes, I'm curious if she knows."
"No, she doesn't." answered Elsa, before Anna continued...
"Rapunzel only stayed a day after the coronation, and our relationship developed into what it is now, a little after that."
Elsa then further commented...
"...And to answer what I'm sure your next question would be; Eventually, we'll tell her, but it's not a priority."
"Understandable..." replied Agnarr. "If your relationship became what it is now, afterward, then even if you wanted, you couldn't tell her until you meet again."
"And who knows when that'll be." commented Anna with a chuckle. "Certainly not going to reveal something like that in a letter."
Agnarr smiled at the comment before the trio spent a few moments eating, followed by Agnarr asking...
"So, aside from the scheduled business of the day, do you two have any plans?"
Elsa and Anna shared a curious gaze between each other, and Elsa asked...
"Together?"
"Not necessarily." answered Agnarr. "Just curious if you have anything personal planned you want to do."
"Well, I do." replied Anna with a smile. "Later today, I'm going to practice my magic. Specifically, making portals!" she added excitedly, prompting Elsa to ask...
"Already?"
"Of course!" replied Anna. "I'll be alone and away from town and near the water, so no one will be in danger if I make a mistake in my practice like what happened yesterday- unless, you wanna train with me?" added Anna with a smile.
"Heh, nah, I'll pass." answered Elsa, which prompted a pout from Anna before Agnarr commented...
"I'm happy you're so willing to train your powers, but you leaving the town alone doesn't sit well with me."
"Well, I can't have any guards with me." stated Anna. "I could cause an explosion and hurt them."
"They wouldn't need to be right next to you." suggested Agnarr. "Just in view, just in case something unexpected happened." he added before Elsa commented...
"I agree. Instead of one of the guards, though, ask Cassandra if she'd be willing to join."
The suggestion prompted an annoyed sigh from Anna.
"Really? I don't need a babysitter. I've gone out alone plenty of times."
"And two of those times..." commented Elsa with a smile. "You nearly passed out all alone and needed to be carried through town; and the other, you were poisoned by a fairy and would've burned down a huge area of the forest if I didn't rush to you."
"Well, ok, yeah..." replied Anna trailing off as she could think of no rebuttal.
"Come on." urged Elsa with a smile. "With the explosive results of last time, I'd feel better if at least Cassandra was with you, and hey, didn't you two go out together before to practice?"
"We did, but we never actually got to practice." replied Anna. "Since that was the day we came clean to Father. Hmm, I never did re-invite her, though... ok, I'll ask Cass to join me."
"Good." replied both, Elsa and Agnarr.
- Enchanted Forest -
- 9:23 A.M. -
Standing at the edge of a river, Emory, fully clothed, smiled with a bit of nervousness and embarrassment; not at the thought of entering the river but at the five naked women that were happily walking into the water, encouraging her to join them, their clothing on the ground around her.
Minutes earlier, Honeymaren had invited her to go swimming/bathing with a small group. Emory wasn't exactly thrilled at the offer to be naked among people she hadn't even known for twenty-four hours but was able to be swayed by Honeymaren. Now, however, standing as the lone clothed one, the embarrassment began to rise.
Among the group was Honeymaren, standing to her left in the river's shallows, which reached her knees as she invited her in with a wave of the hand.
"Come on, Emory, the waters nice and cool."
Ella and Asta were joining her, who had begun to amuse themselves with kicking and splashing water on each other; They were off to the right of Emory's position, advancing a bit further in. Magna was also part of the group and even joined the twins in a bit of splashing after a dodged splash of water hit her. Lastly, another woman of similar age to Magna that Emory didn't know also encouraged Emory to join them. Still, her invite was much more apparent of what she wanted as she teasingly commented...
"Honeymaren's right. Come on, let's all see what the Great Spirit is hiding under that dress."
The remark prompted a blushing smile from Emory.
"Ok, ok..." replied Emory, before nervously grabbing at the bottom of her dress. "But what's your name, though? I haven't met you."
"I'm Kela." answered the woman. "A friend of Magna. She invited me to join her after telling me you'd be joining us. I figured a swim/bath would be a great way for us to get to know you." she added before turning around once and trailing her hands up the sides of her body with an exaggerated flourish and pose with her arms extended out at her sides, proudly revealing her nudity. "Yanno, everyone naked and free! I find people are much more willing to talk about more private things when they're naked. I wonder what sort of stuff you'd be willing to reveal."
"Heh, well, I don't need to be naked for that." answered Emory with a smile. "I've already said I'd answer any questions."
"Well, good, come join us; Show us the real you." urged Kela as she walked back waist-deep into the water.
"Ok, ok..." replied Emory with a red-faced smile.
Emory turned her back to the group and pulled up her dress, her only article of clothing, over her head and dropped it to the ground before she slowly turned around, presenting her nudity to the others as her face was bright red. Emory made nervous motions to cover the healthy bush of hair at her crotch with one hand and her breasts with the other. As she saw the eyes focus on her and Kela giving the praising comment...
"Ohhh, lookin' nice there!"
Emory quickly entered the water, feeling its cool chill on her skin, reaching waist-deep and near Kela before gasping as the woman splashed her with water. Emory quickly retaliated, joined by Honeymaren and the twins, all having a splash fight. Even Magna was not spared as Kela spotted her off to the side, avoiding the interaction and splashing water in her direction to get her in on the action.
The water fight lasted a few minutes, ample time for Emory's nerves and embarrassment to fade to nothing, replaced by her laughing and giggling with the others. The group had advanced deep enough into the river to tread water at the time.
"Well..." commented Honeymaren with a smile, now to Emory's right, whose spiked-up hair had fallen from being wet, just a couple of feet from her. "Looks like the Great Ahtohallan can handle herself well in a water fight."
The remark prompted Emory to giggle before Kela, who was about two yards in front of her, along with the twins and Magna, commented with a smile...
"To be honest, I was a little nervous about how I should behave around you; you being who you are after all, but seeing how nervous and embarrassed you were to undress, calmed my own nerves."
"Heh... well, I'm glad I could indirectly help." replied Emory. "Given who I am to you all, it would be a futile suggestion that you don't need to be nervous around me, but I hope you can see me as just another person you can be around with time."
"Oh hey!" happily commented one of the twins, Asta, as she swam up to Emory's left with a grin. "Since you want to be seen as just another person, has anyone in the village caught your eye?"
"W-What!?" gasped Emory as her face reddened, before Ella and Kela both cooed in interest, while Magna and Honeymaren smiled at the turn in topic.
"Ohh, yeah, tell us." urged Kela.
"I-I..." stuttered out Emory, red-faced. "I've barely been here a day! There's not enough time for that!" she added, before Kela swam up to her with a grin.
"Oh come now, you said you were trapped and isolated for thousands of years. You claim your human, so surely you have pint up needs you'd like to satisfy."
Emory is clearly more flustered by the remark and begins to back away, averting her gaze and stuttering out...
"W-Well... y-yeah, but... I don't want to come off as some kind of pervert and asking the first person I see for that; I don't want to be 'that' person, hehe... B-besides, I don't need another person to scratch that itch."
"But what if you did?" asked Asta with a grin, prompting Emory to nervously lift her gaze to see she had swam into her personal space.
Emory only managed to stutter out an, "I-I..." before she was surprised when Ella emerged from the water to her right, grinning and entering Emory's personal space as well.
"Yeah..." added Ella, swimming right up against her, skin-to-skin. "Speaking for myself-"
"Us." pointed out Asta as she also advanced close enough to touch a flustered Emory.
"Hehe, speaking for us..." corrected Ella, before a gasp left Emory as she felt Ella's right hand under the water trailing down her side, towards her hip. "We'd happily replace your fingers with our own."
"H-Hey!" gasped Emory, red-face, reaching down and swatting away Ella's adventurous hand nearing her crotch before she felt another hand, Asta's, grope her left breast and comment...
"... Or maybe even our tongues."
"C-Cut it out!" gasped Emory, pulling away. "Stop that!" she added, splashing water at them to further her point.
However, the twins weren't deterred and only giggled as they advanced on Emory with blushing grins. However, Emory was soon rescued, by Magna, commenting...
"Ok, you two. You can have your fun later, in private; not all of us are interested in watching you attack her."
The twins giggle and back off, both commenting, "Ok, Ok..." before Asta adds...
"But our offer still stands."
"Wanna feel a warm body pressed against you..." continued Ella. "... that's more than a hug; just let us know."
"Heh... right..." replied Emory nervously before Ella gasped...
"Oh! We forgot to ask, do you like girls or boys?"
Asta gasped as well and added...
"Oh, that's right! If that's why you're so flustered right now, 'cause you're not into other women, we're sorry."
"Oh, uh..." replied Emory with a little chuckle. "I'm just surprised by how quickly things escalated. It's not that I didn't like it; it was just, a lot, so soon. That sort of stuff isn't a priority for me right now."
"Oohhh, ok." replied the twins together with a smile, before Asta added...
"So, men or woman? If you're more into guys, they're a few that think you're attractive."
"Really?" asked Emory, before shaking her head, "N-No, I'm not looking for a relationship right now, from either guy or girl; I just want to settle in and smooth out the negative opinions about me."
The remark prompted chuckles from the twins, and Ella commented...
"Who said anything about a relationship? Sometimes you just want a big-"
Ella couldn't finish her comment before water splashed her from behind.
"Ok." commented Kela. "You don't need to get graphic."
"Yeah..." added Magna with a smirk. "We don't need to hear you kids talking about body parts or your sex lives."
"Fine, fine." replied Ella with a smile, before Asta swam up to Emory and whispered to her...
"Just so you know, Ella and I have no problem sharing, but we don't do sister stuff."
"Uh, ok..." replied Emory.
Soon after, Honeymaren and Asta noticed something seemed to catch Emory's attention as she looked to her left, up the river, but upon looking themselves, they saw nothing unusual.
"What are you looking at?" asked Honeymaren as she swam up to Emory.
"Felt like someone was watching me." answered Emory.
"Oh." replied Honeymaren with a blush rising on her face, while Asta gasped and stated...
"Someone's being a perv!? Where are they!?"
"Hehe, no, no..." replied Emory with a chuckle. "I don't think it's a matter of someone being a perv. I have an idea of who it might be, Nokk."
"Really?" asked Ella. "Well, he's being creepy staying hidden."
"Well, I didn't feel him watching me until after you two tried to assault me." answered Emory with a smirk.
The twins both replied nervously, 'Oh...', while Honeymaren chuckled and commented...
"Wow, he's really like an overprotective parent, isn't he?"
"Yeah..." answered Emory with a sigh, before Asta asked...
"How about calling him over? It would be weird if he's just watching us from a distance."
"Well, I wouldn't mind, but Magna, is it ok with you."
"Sure." answered Magna. "I don't have to speak to him."
"Alright then..." replied Emory as she looked upriver and called out, "Hey Nokk, if your there, come join us."
Just seconds later, Nokk's head emerged from the water to Emory's left, but looked to the twins and spoke...
"You two are lucky-"
"Nokk." stated Emory with an annoyed frown. "Be nice; they were just having fun; I wasn't in any danger." she added, while the twins looked nervous and Asta commented...
"Yeah, we meant no harm."
"Actually..." continued Emory. "I wanna make this clear; Unless I actually call for your help or, and this is unlikely, but I want to include it; if I get kidnapped or tied up against my will, THEN you can be my protector and come to my rescue, WITHOUT killing, otherwise, let me deal with things on my own."
"Very well." replied Nokk, clearly reluctant to agree.
"Good." replied Emory as she lifted her left hand to stroke Nokk's head. "You can still keep an eye on me if you want, just no 'protector mode', giving me the feeling of being watched."
"I will try." stated Nokk. "I just want you to be safe."
"I know." replied Emory with a smile as she moved to hug Nokk around the neck, prompting delighted 'Aww's' from the twins and Ella commented...
"That's sweet! You're still intimidating, but you clearly care about Emory."
"Yeah..." added Asta. "You just need to balance out the intensity."
"I will try." repeated Nokk. "I will leave you all to bath in peace."
Nokk began to turn to leave, but Ella quickly commented...
"Wait, already? You just joined us; Stay."
"Thank you, but I have to decline the offer." stated Nokk. "I have intruded enough, and as difficult as it will be for me, I must give my Mast- Emory, space. She finally has her freedom, yet my intense sense of protective behavior towards her would undermine that." he added, looking to Emory, who smiled before Nokk continued... "She is not a child who needs constant care and attention, and as she and the Arendelle sisters said, Emory has to be allowed to deal with issues herself. So, as a test for myself, I will no longer keep watch over you for the remainder of the day. Even if trouble finds you, unless you specifically request me, I will try my best not to intervene or even come near you."
"Heh, well..." stated Emory with a smile. "You don't need to go that far."
"But I must." stated Nokk. "After all, I am one of four. The Arendelle sisters suggested that I didn't need to take sole responsibility for your protection. My siblings also care for you, but are not as intense in protecting you and allowing you to handle things on your own, such as the assault they allowed you to be subjected to yesterday."
Emory gave a little uncomfortable smile as she looked to Magna, who averted her gaze.
"Well, ok then." replied Emory.
"Gale and Bruni are stronger than I am." stated Nokk. "I can't stand idle next to you while you are under attack, but my manner of protecting you is more violent than you would like, so I must make an effort to be less violent if I come to your defense. Especially since you've made up your mind to live with the people here, my actions could hinder your assimilation into their community."
Emory smiled at Nokk and lifted her left hand to stroke his head again.
"Well, thanks for being so considerate."
"Goodbye for now." stated Nokk simply before turning around to leave. At the same time, the twins, Honeymaren and Kela, gave a parting comment as Nokk headed towards the shore, rising from the water to walk along its surface and onto land before he disappeared into the forest.
"Well..." commented Kela. "That was less confrontational than yesterday."
"Yeah..." replied Emory, before she looked to Magna, who looked at her curiously and asked...
"What?"
"You ok?" asked Emory.
"I'm fine." answered Magna with a dismissive wave of the hand. "If Nokk stops threatening to kill people in your defense, that's a step in the right direction."
"Heh, this is a big change for both of us." replied Emory with a little chuckle, "There's no doubt going to be problems or confrontations here or there, but that's normal; nothing that can't be talked out."
"Absolutely." stated Kela. "We have THE Ahtohallan living with us. We can have an even better relationship with the spirits." she added, before Asta gave a little gasp...
"Oh, we've seen three of the four spirits, but what about the Earth Spirit? My parents told us that they were friendly too."
"Mou'tan's been sleeping ever since the confrontation." answered Emory. "He didn't like the conflict and wanted no part in it, so we went away to sleep through it. But he's very willing to rejoin everyone like the others."
"Wow." commented Ella, while Kela chuckled and added...
"Well, I guess wanting to avoid the conflict is better than simply not caring like Nokk claimed."
"Well..." stated Magna. "If the Earth Spirit started throwing boulders, it likely would've hurt people on both sides of the fight."
"True." commented Kela, before Asta asked Emory...
"Hey, there's a little detail I've always wondered about the spirits. Which ones the oldest, or were they created at the same time?"
"Nokk's the oldest." answered Emory. "Then Gale, Bruni and Mou'tan's the youngest." she added, before Honeymaren asked...
"Yesterday, you mentioned that the spirits were created from your emotions. Which spirit represents what emotion?"
"Well, that ties into me being trapped and isolated." answered Emory. "Nokk was born from my anger for the Sorcerer that trapped me, which manifested as an unyielding protector."
"Wow." commented Kela. "Well, that provides context for his behavior."
"Doesn't excuse his threats though." stated Magna. "But it's understandable. He's like the personification of your desire to be protected after what happened to you."
"Right..." replied Emory. "Next was Gale; She came about from my desire for freedom, to go wherever the wind blows." she added with a smile. "Bruni represents my youthful playfulness, and lastly..." Emory said, as her happier expression faded some looking down to the water. "Mou'tan represents my grim realization of the reality of my existence, at the time anyway, that I was forever trapped, unmoving, like a mountain."
There was a brief moment of silence from the bleak ending of Emory's statement, before Honeymaren smiled as she swam up to Emory and placed an arm over her shoulders.
"Well, your mountain was able to move eventually."
"Yeah..." added Asta. "You're part of a mountain range now."
"Surrounded by people." also added Ella as she swam up behind Emory and hugged her, around the waist, before Emory gasped when Asta also joined in and hugged her from the front.
"H-Hey, you're making it hard for me to stay up."
While the twins and Honeymaren continued to shower Emory with attention amid giggles, Kela swam up beside Magna, both watching before Emory squirmed free and began to swim away from the three as they swam after her, giggling along the way as Emory retreated towards the shore.
"I gotta say..." commented Kela. "She's not who I imagined her to be. She's just a normal person, with an extraordinary past."
"Yeah." replied Magna, slightly smiling and watching Emory interact with the others. "Still feels weird that THE Ahtohallan is living among us. The Great Spirit my Mother told me about, the lullaby... she's here, in the flesh, a human... at least, she claims to be."
"You don't think she is?" asked Kela, which prompted Magna to sigh and lean back to float on the water's surface.
"I dunno... this is just a lot to take in. It hasn't even been twenty-four hours since she's been here."
"Heh, yeah, but it's great too." stated Kela, as she saw the group reach the shallows and begin another water fight. "THE Ahtohallan, mother to the four spirits, human or not, living with us."
To be continued...