oO The Black Sea Oo

"I told you I would do whatever it takes." Alrik snarled, his giant-like body poised over Elsa's own, his large hand pulling on the chain forcing her arms over her head and out of his way. Anna couldn't think to breathe, her eyes wide as she pulled harshly against her chains, her skin chaffing and bleeding as she called for him to stop, begged him, pleaded him.

"Elsa! No!" Anna pulled harder on the chains, her eyes never leaving her sister's face as it twisted in agony, her own mirroring her pain, "Elsa! Look at me! Okay? Don't look at him...Look at me!"

'Anna!'

The distinct tearing of fabric that reverberated throughout her entire being was nothing compared to the sound of Elsa's voice as she called out, so clear, so real.

'Anna! No! Ah-!'

Anna woke with a heavy jolt, her heart somewhere in her throat. Light flooded into her eyes, blinding her temporarily. When her sight returned she found herself in a whole new nightmare.

"No! Elsa!"

"Don't hurt her, please!" Elsa's voice was weak as she tried to put her feet beneath her, the men that held her under her arms pulling her from the bed, her head turned back, eyes wide, "Anna!" Her legs would simply not support her, and the weight of her body dragged against the floor, her head falling down to her chest to just focus on breathing as she was forcibly pulled through the door.

Anna's head turned to Alrik who had moved to follow them out, his eyes cold and sharp, a feral grin curving his lips. He made sure to slam the door hard as he passed through, the sound of Elsa's cries carrying through the hallway of the ship, her struggled, straggled breaths echoing down through the wood.

Anna pulled, she pulled as hard as she could possibly do without actually losing an arm. Though the metal cut in deep the pain was nothing compared to what she felt in her soul. Her head turned up as the sounds increased, her eyes tracking unseeing through the floor where they were taking her sister.

The sound of dragged limbs shuddered her heart, the grinding of metal against wood and the heavy footfalls of a man who held no humanity. Anna forced her breathing to go quiet, her ears straining to hear, anything at all.

"The dawn has broken to a new day." Alrik took a deep breath of the cold sea air, his eyes turned out towards the horizon that held no barring, "Isn't it beautiful?" His words were mocking and cold as he turned to face the Ice Queen.

Elsa raised her head to his words, her body bent but unbroken as she sat upon her knees. The men who had dragged her having released her to collapse onto the deck. The voice that had called her back to the spirit realm still echoing in her ears as she found the courage to stare him down.

Alrik turned to face his captive, his chest puffed out like a peacock, "Take me to Ahtohallan."

"No." Elsa could feel her body trembling but her voice was firm. The pain they'd sent through her frame leaving her muscles weak.

Alrik grinned slowly and nodded to the men who stood behind Elsa, "You speak as though you have a choice."

Elsa let out a grunt as the men scooped her up once more, this time they dragged her towards a wooden pillory that sat nearly center of the deck. Though they didn't attach her head, they dragged each of her arms through, the manacles they'd placed at the ends keeping her from slipping out. Her knees bent together to support her weight and her breath hitched from the position.

"Bring me the other." Alrik motioned for the men to go back below decks, his eyes gleaming, "She's going to want to see this."

"You're...wasting your time..." Elsa took in slow deep breaths to keep her vision from going dark, "I don't have any power..."

"Oh, I know." Alrik grinned darkly, his fingers slipping under his shirt to pull out a necklace that held not only the arrow that felled her, but five other arrowheads as well, "I do."

Elsa's heart pulsed in her throat, her brow furrowing as she tried to understand. Tried to put all the pieces she'd found together. Her head pulsed making any sort of ability to think exceptionally difficult but when the profane cries of her sister met her ears she gave a weak pull against her binds in a bid to turn and see her.

Anna growled and lifted her feet, trying to kick out her legs in a vain attempt to use her weight to pull herself free. All it managed to do was make her head feel like it was going to split down the middle like an egg but a feral sneer pushed away the feeling, "Let her go you, monster!"

The men holding her shared a glance at the subtle command given to them by their master and each one released at nearly the same time causing Anna to stumble forward onto the deck before she tried to push herself towards her sister. A well placed boot on the chain that connected her manacles, however, insured that she didn't get too far. The force of her steps and the resistance of her chain pulled Anna comically backwards and hard onto her bottom where she let out a low groan but refused to let herself fall completely back, her hands thankfully coming out to save her head.

"Hans was right, you are feisty." Alrik was wholly amused by the sight and a flick of his hand secured her lead to a nearby mast, "Now then, all finished with heroics?"

Anna pushed herself up out of pure stubbornness, her eyes sharp and narrowed at the man who now stood between her and her sister. Her teeth ground as she spoke, "Maybe."

Alrik laughed again, a deep bone chilling nightmare of a sound, "This is going to be more fun than I imagined."

A sharp snap of his fingers brought Agnire forward, his head bent low as he walked past Anna. He shared a private look with her that begged forgiveness before he handed over the thin beau he'd been tasked to retrieve. Alrik turned the staff in his hand for a long moment before grinning into Anna's red face. Slowly, he reached to his necklace and snapped it from his neck, six pieces falling into his palm. One by one he pressed them into the wood. With the last, he forced the rune inlaid diamond into the tip to make a spear before turning ever so slowly back towards Elsa.

"On this day, the power of magic will fall to the mercy of men." Another nod of his head and two more men moved ahead of him.

Elsa winced when they pulled on the manacles, watching as they pressed something that she could not see. There was a heavy 'pop' as the top of the dome encasing her hands released and her fingers were set free.

"Blast him Elsa!" Seeing that her sister had access to her hands brought Anna hope that maybe, just maybe, what she'd said about her powers wasn't true. That maybe there was still just a little bit of magic left inside her.

Elsa grimaced to her sisters words her fingers opening and closing without the sharp spark that had been there previous but alas, there was no power in her finger tips. I can't.

"She can't." Alrik whispered his words devilishly close to Anna's ear, delighting in the way her head snapped to the side in a bid to get away from him.

"Higher." Alrik turned his eyes towards the sun that was just finally coming over the waves, its golden rays obscured by a heavy black shadow.

Elsa bit her cheek as the pillory was raised, pulling her from a partially hunched position to more of a skyward reach. Her legs shifted to try and keep her arms from being pulled out of socket but her wounds made it difficult to breathe. Her feet slipped suddenly, and her body pitched sideways causing her elbow to crack dangerously. With a deep grimace she used the leverage of her elbow to pull herself back up, the entire experience leaving her breathless.

"There, that's enough." Alrik took a deep breath, as his men returned back towards the helm, "You're going to want to watch this."

Anna snarled and tried to stomp on the man's foot as he went past but her actions were just a little too delayed and he merely side-stepped her. A deep chuckle roiled her stomach before a gentle arm came around her waist pulling her back a few steps to release the tension in the chains. Her eyes shot towards Agnire who seemed to be just as concerned as she was causing her brow to furrow with worry.

Alrik rolled the staff made spear in his palm as he approached. Elsa's heavy breathing like music to his ears. A goddess bent on her knees at the mercy of his power. With skill only a man of war could truly possess, he used the blunt end of his staff to pull her hair our of his way before he reached forward to pull at the tear that was already in her shoulder. The sharp action split the back of her tunic and released a low moan of pain that sent a pleasurable chill up his spine.

His ear twitched to the sound of Anna's growls, her chains rattling in her protest, though he did throw her a sideways glance he paid little attention to her temper. He turned his spear around, his eyes narrowed as he waited for the sun to show him what he needed to see. When he saw his mark, he pressed the tip forward into the already present wound at the top right corner of her shoulder and twisted.

A flood of power ran through his arm, up his chest, through his heart and back down into the spear where he watched with great wonder and glee as ice shot forth from her clenched fists. The bow of the ship cracking and groaning from the flash freeze.

Elsa could taste blood in her mouth from the scream she'd held inside her chest. Her back arched at an impossible angle from the sharp point pressed against her. Her hands burned and her body vibrated, her power tainted. Her head bobbed as she gulped in air and spit out the blood that had filled her mouth.

"Is that all you can do?" Her words were weak and trembling but her mastery over her own powers had allowed her to hold him back. The power ricocheting inside her. She couldn't let him have her true gifts, her true mastery.

"On the contrary," Alrik pulled back the staff taking the tip and swapping it out with another, "I'm just getting started."

Elsa's scream echoed over the waves as fire flared from her finger tips, her fingers bending back as she could do nothing but yield. The ice that covered the bow began to melt, sending rivers of water over the deck. Her breath hitched as her foot slipped but her other leg saved her from loosing her footing completely. Her breath felt hot in her chest, a heavy smoke settling on her tongue.

Once more the pressure, the cutting sting released and Elsa tried to lift her head, to turn back to look at her sister, to reassure herself that she was alright, that she was there with her. Her wide blue eyes shined with love when they met, before Alrik moved between them turning her face into a sharp snarl. She would not bow to him, she would not allow herself to stand beneath him.

Alrik grinned at her resistance, his fingers blindly switching out the spear tip once again. His movements slow and precise as he gave her one more chance to reconsider her position. When she merely turned her head away he could feel his pride pressing against his chest. A deep growl rumbling through his teeth.

Anna felt her heart jump completely out of her chest when Elsa's body went rigid from the bolts that came from her hands. Her hoarse scream echoing endlessly out around them as lightning shattered the newly made ice sending it exploding out in large chunks; large piece crashing into Elsa, taking her feet completely out from under her before spinning with great speed towards herself.

Anna felt herself being pulled to the side and the unmistakable sound of shattering glass filled her ears but her eyes were turned towards the great white lights that roared over her sister's body before reaching to the sky in the shape of a demon's fingers, where they exploded with a righteous thundering crack. She could feel Agnire's hold growing tighter as she pressed forward to do anything, anything at all to make this end. Yet again, she was powerless to help her sister.

Anna felt her heart jump completely out of her chest when Elsa's body went rigid from the bolts that came from her hands. Her scream echoing endlessly out around them as lightning shattered the newly made ice and roared over her body before reaching to the sky where it exploded with a righteous thundering crack. She could feel Agnire's hold growing tighter as she pressed forward to do anything, anything at all to make this end. Yet again, she was powerless to help her sister.

"Stop this!" Anna pulled fruitlessly against Agnire, her nails digging into his arms as she tried to pull herself free, "Please!"

Once again, Alrik switched out the tip of his spear, his eyes watching as Elsa's body jerked with the residual power, "Take me to Ahtohallan."

Elsa could no longer see clearly, her world nothing but bright sparks and deep blacks as the power that had been forced through her body released into the wood below. Her head fell forward as she tried to catch her breath, her legs quivering as the last of her strength kept her on her feet. She turned her head just enough to look through the fog, "Ne-ver."

"Wrong answer." This time he was not so reserved, his eyes flared as he pressed the tip of the captured wind spirit hard enough to draw blood, the large gust that roared forth filling the sails and rocking the seas. The ship pitched high crashing into the waves with a heavy yaw that sent some of the men on the deck scrambling to hold on. Alrik steadied his stance with a rope that was tied down to the deck, the spear in his hand dinging in just a bit harder under her skin, "Yes...yes!"

Elsa could do nothing to ebb the power that flowed from her hands, it felt wrong, the power did not belong to her. She did not communicate with the spirits this way. She spoke to them, asked them for their help, never controlled them. They were free to be who they were, as they were. They were never meant to be held inside her.

Alrik pulled back the spear with great ecstasy. The residual wind pushing them forward through the sea, his eyes searching the horizon. He knew the frozen river lied to the north, though he wasn't entirely sure of its size or bearing he was now one step closer.

Again he changed the tip of his spear, his eyes gleaming. Without preamble he aligned himself and turned his head toward the waters around them. A sharp twist—a deep anguished cry—and another rush of unbelievable power flowed through his veins. He could actually feel the waters beneath them as though it were the ground beneath his feet. As the water raised them up, his eyes spotted what he had been searching for all this time. With his will alone he forced the water beneath them to push them forward like a hand. The sight of Ahtohallan growing ever closer a the ship near seamlessly glided forward.

A raucous laugh lifted his head towards the sky where he raised his spear high in triumph; unconcerned as Elsa collapsed down against the pillory, "I am a god among men!"

"You are a demon!" Anna pulled herself free of Agnire, her eyes shining with tears as she bared her teeth. Her narrowed eyes suddenly went wide when he was near instantly upon her, his hand ripping through her hair in a tight hold that raised her to her toes and sent sparks down her spine.

"A demon, am I?" Alrik made sure to catch her eyes, "Tell me you've never wondered what it would be like to have just an ounce of what she carries inside her."

Of course, she had wondered what it was like. Wondered desperately why her sister had been given such gifts, why she had been left out, on the other side of a door that would never open to her. It was only in her darkest nights when she felt this way, her love for her sister and all they'd been through breaking through to who she really was. Who she was meant to be.

His words were like a devil's breath, taunting, hypnotizing, "And here I stand before you taking it all. I should...share."

Before Anna could fully process his words he'd hulled her up to her tip toes, the chain that had held her in place released so that he could half-drag, half-carry her to stand behind her sister. The blood that was beginning to drip down her back from the different points he pressed the spear into searing itself into her soul.

Like a toddler, she pushed and kicked out but he stayed just out of her reach, his hold twisting tighter to steal away her breath. When he moved behind her, she felt as though Nattmara was once again breathing down her neck. She tried to keep his hands from taking her own but he was so much bigger, so much stronger.

"Let's connect the dots shall we?" His hands nearly crushed hers beneath as he forced them around the staff. The small pops and cracks her knuckles made as he forced his will over hers.

"No, Elsa!" Anna cried out desperately, though her sister did not seem to hear her. Her head was down between her shoulders, resting awkwardly against the pillory as her legs no longer supported her. Anna pushed and pulled on her shoulders trying to do anything she could think of to pull her hands free. She didn't want to do this. She didn't want this.

Alrik forced the spear forward, the tip missing it's intended mark as the boat yawed, the tip of the spear once more holding Elsa's power hitting dead center on her spine. What happened next, was the things of myth and legend.

oO Enchanted Forest: Coast Oo

"What is that?" Ryder narrowed his eyes and put his hand on his forehead to combat the glare of the sun over the sea.

"I don't know..." Honeymaren let out a shaky breath. She'd led her brother and Kristoff through the forest to stand upon the beach she always found Elsa on. A hope that she could some how find her there again.

Kristoff held his breath as the dark clouds grew larger, wider. A sharp hurricane-like wind filled with fire, ice and sand seeming to stretch out in every direction. If he'd not seen it with his own eyes, he'd never would have believed it. Then a roll of thunder shook the ground beneath their feet and lightning stretched impossibly far across the sky in every possible direction, "It can't be good..."

"It's coming towards us..." Ryder knew that there would be no way to outrun such an impossible storm

oO The Black Sea Oo

Anna couldn't breathe, couldn't see, the wind around her stealing the breath from her lungs, the sand and ice wiping around her with dangerous speed,the fire searing her hair as it threatened to blind her completely. Her stomach dropped, the feeling of something pulling her down hard to the deck where her head bounced dangerously off the wood before small strong arms wrapped around her frame dragging her forward. She reached out blindly and small rough hands wrapped around hers pulling her further.

A daring effort was made to open her eyes. The world around her was nothing but a mixture of black and white before she felt a cool body pressed to her front and a warm firm body at her back. The chains around her wrists pulled as the lead rose skyward and the arms that held her in place pulled it back down before wrapping the metal around what she could only guess was the pillory as blond hair cut across her face with a furiosity that was sure to leave cuts along her freckled cheeks.

"Hang on!" Agnire's voice was nearly taken by the wind, had it not been right against her ear she knew she'd never had heard him.

Another dip, another sway and she could feel the entire ship being ripped from the sea. Picked up as though it were merely a child's toy in a bathtub Her body pulled as the wind and water brought the entire ship around in a wide circle. The force pulling her away from what she could only assume was Elsa before the chain around them gave a dangerous shudder, the metal screeching as it threatened to be torn apart at the links. Her hands scrambled to find purchase in front of her. Her nails digging into her sister's skin as she found herself being pulled further away.

The horrific sounds of wood splintering filled her ears, then a sharp jolt turned her entire world upside down, giving way to darkness. The last sound to grace her ears was the twinkling of the chain that had snapped.