Fire, smoke, the smell of burnt flesh. Every step in time with a furiously beating heart. A white light, a resounding cry of unfathomable pain.

'My Queen!'

Black, red, black, red the world around flickered between heartbeats. Anna could feel the mud and slush beneath her boots but her eyes were turned skyward. The impossible arch, the seemingly endless spiral, fractal magic floating into the ether. Her own voice drowned out by the screams of the men behind her.

Trees that weren't trees, deformed bodies forced to reach for the blood-red sky, their magic gone. Rocks that did not belong there, held firm in their rounded forms. White, stained crimson. A cry of defeat.

The screech of metal upon armor.

'Elsa!'

—Thump!—

oO The Black Sea Oo

Anna rounded into conscious with a jolting spark. Her body tingling with residual memories. Her breath tight in her chest, the taste of ash on her tongue. The smell of burnt flesh searing her nose. Heat that should not have existed thrummed over her cold-numbed body, gradually awaking nerves that screamed out in distress. A low groan passed her lips as she attempted to lift her stone-heavy head.

Rocking, swaying…why did the earth suddenly feel as though it was under water? Anna winced at the low groan that left her lips. Her head pulsing as though it were being crushed in a vice. The dull echo of water hitting wood made her stomach turn and she tried to force her eyes open.

Her vision was dark and warped, her head too heavy to lift, her shoulders twisted most uncomfortably, Where was she? Why did it smell like the sea? Where was that insensate dripping noise coming from?

A blurred figure laid ahead of her, their clothes white and stained. She narrowed her eyes trying to bring whatever she was seeing into focus but it only made her head pulse harder. A slow breath left her lips and a long blink brought some semblance of order to her world. A lantern swung just out of reach, black bars distorting the picture before her.

"H-hello…?" Her voice sounded dry and cracked, doing nothing to help her headache. A small movement of her shoulders rolled her from her side onto her chest and she felt her stomach lurch.

Another series of deep slow breaths brought her arms from behind her, the loud clinking of metal ringing like the Yule Bell inside her skull. The Yule Bell…Suddenly, the last few hours flashed by in quick succession inside her inner eye.

'We must get to the center! Come on!' Anna lurched as her horse reared over a massive stone. Her chin clashing painfully against her armor as she landed. She could hear Mattais directly behind her, his commands to her soldiers to advance with great 'prejudice'.

As soon as the wall had come down, Anna had made her move. Her eyes turned towards the sky where she had tracked her sister. The smell of fire burned her throat, the ashes slipping past her parted lips as she pressed onward.

She had seen the Huldrefolk, their ever changing bodies beginning to twist and bend, freezing in place like haunted trees. Their long arms reaching towards the sky.

Then, a dreadful scream filled with a power unlike anything she had ever felt. A white light a crash of lightning.

A panting breath pushed her up from the wooden bed she now found herself on. The slow rock and sound of waves told her that she was in the hull of a ship, the bars that surrounded her small space told her she was being held prisoner. With a very cautious swallow she managed to bring herself up into a somewhat upright position, though the movement had been threatened by the painful twist inside her stomach.

"Well, Good morning."

A deep—very familiar—voice came from somewhere to her right and she couldn't stop herself from turning her head. A small sway of vertigo gave the image before her a somewhat distorted appearance.

When it finally cleared her heart thumped somewhere near her feet, "Hans?"

"You know, I thought about giving you a little kiss to see if you'd wake up but well, we remember how well that turned out last time don't we?" Hans chuckled at his own joke, raising the lantern he'd brought with him to the hook overhead before he casually leaned against the bars.

"What…How are you…?" Anna hissed as she pulled her arms from behind her only to find herself in manacles. She turned her wrists slowly, before raising her eyes back to the man standing before her.

"Well, it's a bit of a long story really but I guess we have the time." Hans pushed himself from the bars to grab a stool from the corner, in doing so he revealed to his captor that she was not alone.

"Elsa?" Anna was on her feet near instantly, adrenaline fueling her movement when the jolt of her arms pulling sharply behind as she tried to move towards her sister pulsed like lightning through he skull.The extra light from the lantern revealed the stains on her tunic to be deep brown, a small red puddle beneath the bed having been the source of the dripping sound that had woken her, "Elsa!"

"Oh, do stop that." Hans put his finger in his ear, wiggling it about, "It's very irritating."

Anna sneered at the man as he took a casual seat on the stool. His back leaning against the hull before he let out grunt and obnoxiously stretched out his legs.

Anna sneered and pulled harder on her chains trying to press herself closer, "Elsa!"

"Elsa! Elsa!" He mocked in a high pitched voice before shooting back to his feet to press himself against the bars of Anna's cell, "You should really be worried about yourself right now. There's nothing you can do from inside there except watch her die. For good this time."

Anna stumbled back from the sudden movement, her feet still unsure as the boat rocked again. Tears sprung to the corners of her eyes but she refused to let them fall in front of Hans. So instead she chose to kick out at the bucket of water that had been left in her cell, sending it spilling all over his nicely pleated slacks.

"Ah! I'm so glad I never married you!" Hans snarled as he turned towards the exit.

"The feeling's mutual!" Anna felt her voice crack as the door slammed closed, the reverberating sound echoing inside her like every door that had ever been shut in her face.

A grating cough burned her chest and she pulled herself back towards the bars facing Elsa's cell. Her chest heaved as she tried to steady herself enough to see if she was still breathing, if there was any life left in her sister at all but the waves and her pounding head made it impossible to know.

A sob crawled up her throat and a great tremble weakened her knees before she found herself falling ungracefully down. She lowered her head to her curled knees, her heavy arms coming up to wrap around them tightly, "Mama…Papa…What am I going to do…?"

Hans stomped his way up the steps to the top deck, "Crazy b—"

"Have they awoken?" Alrik stood directly in the man's path, his sharp eyes instantly taking in the water on the man's legs.

"Anna has, Elsa is still unconscious." Hans found his previous epithet cut off by the burly man who had borrowed his ship. He had almost not answered the letter that had been sent requesting his assistance but when it had mentioned Arendelle he had instantly become curious. He had hid his correspondence from his brothers and father claiming to have wanted to go on a fishing trip. The crew were bought with silver and gold but flew his own flag. The promise of greater riches and a Kingdom all his own filling the sails.

"Do you feel vindicated then?" Alrik grinned darkly, he knew the man before him was as useful as a wet candle in a snow storm. Still, he couldn't risk using ships of his own. They would have been easily spotted by allies to Arendelle. As always, he was patient and cunning.

"Very." Hans puffed out his chest, his fists going to his hips as he turned his gaze to look out at the unusually calm waters of the Black Sea, the last light of the red-moon reflecting over it's deep waters.

"Good." Alrik's movement was faster than lightning. The blade of his dagger burying itself up to the hilt, "Wouldn't want you to die, unhappy." A sharp twist of the blade freed it from the man before him. Casually, he wiped the blade along Hans' beautiful white coat before tucking the blade back its sheath, "Get rid of him."

"Yes, sir."

Though most of the men who had followed him into battle had fallen at the hands of the spirits, his own had held their ground. Though the Northuldran's and Arendellian soldier's had taken out a most of the ones in the valley, the men he'd left hidden in the forest had remained unscathed. They had been there at the end to help him escape the Valley with not one, but both sides of the Bridge. His horses easily able to out run his spirit wounded attackers. They'd lost them easily in the deep maze that was the Enchanted woods. Though they had tried their best. He still remained victorious.

A heavy splash of a body hitting the water echoed behind him as he went below decks. Taking a small detour by the galley to grab an apple before making his way into the hold. The black arrowhead around his neck gleaming in the lamplight.

As he entered his eyes immediately went to the woman curled impossibly small on the floor. Her fire burnt hair catching in the lamplight. A deep breath filled his lungs and a raised brow turned his head towards the blond still blissfully unawares of her circumstance.

"You know, there are better ways to get what you want."

Anna jolted to the sound of his voice, her eyes widening as she pressed herself back further into the hull, her brows twitching as she tried to place the man before her.

Screech—thump—

The back of her skull pulsed and hastily she wiped at her eyes, steeled her jaw and attempted to clear her nose so as to appear stronger than what was presently possible, "What do you want?"

"I have a proposition for you," Alrik pulled out his knife after taking a slow calculated step closer. An expert turn of his wrist cut away a small piece before he stuck it to the tip of his blade to reach through the bars. When Anna made no move to take his 'peace offering' he merely shrugged and took the piece for himself. He chewed slowly as he regarded her very carefully, his tone smooth and calming, "I let you see your sister and in turn you convince her to let me into Ahtohallan. You get what you want and I get what I want. It's a win-win."

"No one like you should ever enter Ahtohallan." Anna's words were strong, stronger than she believed she could speak given the circumstances. Though her heart longed to be with her sister, especially as she was so close, she knew deep down Elsa would not have wanted her to do such a thing and from what she could remember from her own memory she wouldn't want him anywhere near the spirit realm.

"Pity. Here I was thinking you were the reasonable sister, a Queen no-less." He took another bite from his apple casually rolling away from the pillar he'd leaned against, his head turning down to look at Elsa, "You know…it really would be a shame to have to resort to my back-up plan." He took another slow and carefully timed bite. A small clinking of metal ensured him that he now held Anna's attention, "Do you think her child would be born with the same gifts?"

"Don't you dare." Anna's words were like venom from a viper's mouth, her hands pulling on the chains that kept her from reaching the bars of her cell.

"I suppose, there's only one way to find out." His words were aloof, though even as he took another bite of his apple he knew he had made his point, "And, I could even double my odds." He turned to face her then, his brow raised as he took the last piece of apple and offered it towards her, "Care to reconsider?"

"Go to hell."

"Oh, I've been there your highness. A little warm in the summer, overall not a bad experience. Picked up quite a few tricks along the way." His hand shot through the bars, his fingers twisting tight in her hair while the blade he'd been holding pressed down into the hallow of her throat.

Anna couldn't breathe, her eyes wide as she desperately resisted the urge to swallow. Her shoulders twisted dangerously, her neck stretched farther than she believed it should go. She could feel the sharp pinch of the blade breaking her skin but still she did not speak.

"I would consider my proposal." His words wafted through her parted lips, his eyes boring deep into her soul, "We have a lengthy journey ahead of us."

Anna could feel bile rising into her throat, the taste of his breath—like death—filling her lungs. Her lip quivered despite herself and when he released her she couldn't stop from collapsing back onto the wooden bed, her hands going to her heart to try and calm its furious beat.

A deep shudder wracked her frame as the man made his exit, her eyes turning towards her sister, "Elsa…please…I can't do this without you…"

The throbbing inside her skull increased as tears bubbled up the back of her throat. Her head falling back against the hull as she tried desperately to find strength. What could she possibly do? What choice did she really have? A shaking breath brought a new darkness, a deep painless darkness. Her eyes rolling closed as her mind began to lose focus. Her body protecting itself from the world around her.

oO Valley of the Dead Oo

Kistroff loaded the last of his adopted family into the sleigh bound for Northuldra. The motionless stones lovingly piled within. His heart ached for the sight around him. So much destruction, so much death.

The soldiers that had come to collect him told him all he needed to know about the outcome of the battle. Their mournful apologies falling upon his deaf ears. His heart already knew what his mind did not. Still, without a body to carry home, he held hope deep inside his very soul and led as he believed his lover would do.

A deep sigh passed his lips as he reached down to release the stakes holding the sleigh in place. The men, silently working to assist, moved towards the front of the team of reindeer and horses carrying more of the lost souls. As he stepped up into the sleigh, his eyes turned towards the blackened sky, his heart calling out for resolution.

oO The Black Sea Oo

Warm gentle hands, the soft scent of lavender, a cool clothe to ease the to and fro. Anna's eyes fluttered open into the low lamplight. Her back pulsed from the stiffness of the bed and her head rocked to the rhythm of the waves. Soft eyes looked down at her from over head, deep forest green eyes, rounded features and deep brown hair. Her brows furrowed as her chest stuttered to speak but the soft cloth that came to her brow silenced anything she had meant to say.

"Shh…just be still."

"W-ho…?" Anna's eyes closed once more, the gentle rocking of the waves like an alluring lullaby. Her hand rose and was quickly taken, her fingers twitched as her brow furrowed, desperately clinging to reality.

"It's alright. Just rest."

Should she have known this voice?

'Honeymaren!'

Anna's feet slipped in the mud, but it wasn't her own voice that had called out. No, it was another's. A man, small and lean coming up from behind her Northuldran friend. His body blocking the blow from an arrow sent to end her life before he collapsed to the side in agony.

Honeymaren had turned to the voice, but only just. Her hold over her sister ever tightening as she held her limp form in her arms. The magic of her armor gone, her beautiful tunic that brought life to ice, vanished. Only lain in the pure white cloth that she kept underneath, the blue sash glowing purple in the light of war.

Then she saw the gleaming of a blade, the red-moon making it shine like a demon's tooth.

"Y-you…you were there…" Anna did her best to force her eyes open once again. The hand that she had taken coming free to rest her own upon her stomach.

"I was."

"How…how are you here?" Anna raised the hand that had been laid to rest to the man's chest, her fingers curling into the fabric of his worn tunic.

"I know what others do not."

"What's your name?" Anna could feel her voice growing stronger, though she still tasted ash, her desire for answers gave her a strength she didn't now she could conjure.

"Agnire." The man smiled gently before placing his hands over her eyes. The action released a deep shuddering sigh before she finally relaxed down completely. Sated that she would remain calm he turned his attention back to the gash along the back of her skull, his fingers gingerly turning her head away for him to continue his work.

oO Northuldra Oo

"We've all been played…" Honeymaren's voice felt so detached that it might as well have come from someone else. She stood—barely, holding her waist tight, "What do we do now?"

Yelena didn't answer, the elder having been brought back to the village in great need of healing. The aged and wise woman having taken a significant blow. Honeymaren herself had only woken a few hours ago, her body sewn up and wrapped up to prevent infection. One of the many who had come in with injuries.

Her eyes turned to the white sheet over the man who laid beside her, his wounds too severe to be helped despite all the efforts that had been made. She had grown up knowing him and his people. Though the stories had warned of their treachery they had eventually—over time—met to trade theories and work together to find a way out of the fog. He was a good man, an honorable man.

"We go after them." Kristoff hadn't meant to intrude but he couldn't have helped overhearing her words. As acting regent he had come to pay his respects to his fallen guard.

"How?" Honeymaren turned to face him properly, the agony on his face mirrored on her own, "There is no wind and we have no boat that can make it across the Black Sea."

"Then we need to make one…"

"That would take weeks." Honeymaren appreciated his desire to try something but truly was there anything to be done aside from licking their wounds?

"It's better than nothing…" Kristoff knew his idea was pointless. Even if they could somehow man a vessel capable of sailing the Black Sea there was no way to know how to find Ahtohallan and if they could, what then?

"Guys, think I found something…but I can't read it." Ryder had poked his head through the tent flap, his normal carefree attitude turned serious, "Kristoff can you read Arendelle script?"

"Yeah, I can." Kristoff could feel the hope in Ryder's tone, it was enough to lift his heart even just a little; for hope was all they had now.

oO The Black Sea Oo

"Ah…ow…oh…that feels loads better…" Anna sighed heavily as she laid her head back on the rolled up towel that kept the pressure off of her skull. The wound now cleaned and sewed closed. While the sewing process had been a trying experience she had done her best not to scream out in pain. The balm Agnire had used had helped but only enough to keep her from wishing for death. As it was, the pain and throbbing was starting to recede enough to give her some semblance of clear thought.

"Why…why are you…?" Speaking was so tiresome. Her eyes blinked slowly as she turned to watch the man come back to his feet, her question hanging unanswered in the space quickly growing between them.

Her brows furrowed as he left her cell, the lock clicking loudly in her ears before she watched him move towards Elsa. A slow blink and he was knelt beside her, another and his hands were gingerly running along her side before the sound of fabric being torn jolted her heart.

"W-wait…" Her breath felt heavy, her words barely a whisper. A small shift allowed her to see better but she found herself completely powerless to do anything at all.

Agnire was mindful of his audience, his touch pure and gentle. He came back to his feet, his hand cupping the side of Elsa's cool cheek. He ran his thumb over her lashes though was met with no response. His frown deepened before he shifted his stance to look more critically at her shoulder.

The arrow that had felled her had not gone all the way through, a small press of his thumb revealed the depth to be halfway, stopped by her collarbone no doubt. He turned to wipe the blood that was still slowly seeping out from his hand before he flipped the leather away from his kit.

Anna could feel the darkness encroaching around the edges of her vision once again and before she'd known what had happened she'd found herself spiraling backwards in time.

"Elsa!" Anna's voice broke through the fog of war. No longer mounted on her horse, her shield hanging at her side, her sword gone. She had no idea where her sword had gone, whose body it now laid inside of, if anyone's. Her only thought had been to reach her sister, who she could now see clearly for the first time, laying motionless inside of Honeymaren's hold.

"Elsa?" Anna felt more than heard a wind a her back, and as she turned to raise her shield Mattais appeared in front of her, his blade deep inside the man who had come to attack her from behind. Her eyes went wide and bile ran up her throat before a sharp push turned her back towards the clearing.

"Go! We'll hold them!" Mattais rose his shield to block another attack, causing him to lose sight of his Queen.

Anna felt herself slipping in the slush and mud, her vision tunneled down. Before she'd even realized what had happened, a large man was standing in front of her. She reeled back and raised her shield but her inexperience in such matters left her open. Though before his blade met with her flesh, Yelena had appeared seemingly out of nowhere, her beau catching the blade.

"Go!" Yelena pushed hard, her eyes narrowed as Alrik turned his attention towards his true target. Though before he turned completely away he made sure no one else would stand in his way.

His fist connected hard enough to send Yelena flying to the ground, his next blow connecting sword to sword with Mattais, "Long time no see, Mattais."

"It's definitely not a pleasure."

Anna stumbled to the side, her entire body shaking with cold terror. What had she done? She couldn't do this, what was she thinking? Her vision tilted as she continued to push herself forward, "Honeymaren!"

"To Ahtohallan!"

A heavy force wrapped around her tightly from behind and sent her crashing head first into the dirt, her skull bouncing off of a stone that she lay still.

A sharp gasp brought light back into Anna's eyes, her heart threatening to jump straight from her chest. A small noise, like the sound of ones breath hitching, caught her attention. Once more she forced her gaze through the bars where Agnire seemed to be finishing whatever he had been doing.

"Elsa…?" Her voice was stronger but no less cracked as she began to push herself up from her bed, her body snapping and popping in time with the chains that bound her wrists, "Agnire?"

Agnire turned his head partially to her call but didn't answer her unspoken plea. Instead he reached over Elsa's still form, the sound of metal grinding against wood as he adjusted her arms from down by her hips to close to her chest. The next movement had him carefully pulling the tunic, he'd lifted out of his way, back down. Obscuring the dark purple skin from her sister's eyes.

A deep breath left his chest as he leaned down to collect his things, there was nothing more he could do. A solemn look towards Anna brought him across the small space, his eyes turning down to the cup of now lukewarm tea he'd poured for her, "Small sips okay?"

"Wa-it…Agnire?" Anna sat herself back up, the vertigo still pulling at her senses but before she could get to her feet he was already through the door. A heavy sigh left her chest and she sunk back down on the bed, her eyes turning not to the tea but to the now recognizable rise and fall of Elsa's side, the insensate dripping noise gone, " Elsa…"

oO Northuldra Oo

"Honeymaren?" Kristoff approached carefully, the look on his friend's face very familiar.

"She promised…" Honeymaren was standing in front of a small knick-knack shelf that Elsa had begun collecting small trinkets on. The one she now held in her hand of the first time Elsa had tried wood carving. It was a fond memory.

It had been the first time Honeymaren had been able to see the more carefree and spirited side of the normally so restrained woman. It always seemed that, she realized over time, when it was just her and Elsa the latter was able to just relax and be herself. It was Honeymaren's favorite side of her.

"Promised?"

"Nothing…" Honeymaren set the poorly carved reindeer next to her own more finely carved one, her heart warming at the sight of them being kept together, "What did you find?"

"Well, if Kristoff knows how to read-"

"I do!"

"Then we've got a whole 'nother thing to worry about." Ryder turned the book he'd found in Elsa's library, the first place the man had invaded once he'd gotten back to the village. While Honeymaren showed a reverence for the space, he just wanted answers. The mud he'd left on the floor of the usually neatly kept home had led to a small spat between siblings before he'd been able to defend himself with the book he'd found during his ransacking.

He had his own fond memories of the space, the nights he'd come to listen to Elsa tell stories from one of the numerous books she'd held inside. Though he knew he was the third wheel, stories about the world outside the forest had always captivated him. It didn't matter if she was reading from a history book or a fairy tale he, like his sister, wanted to know more.

Elsa had always kindly obliged, turning their Friday nights into reading nights filled with tales from far away and not so far away lands. It was this that had led him to where he was, she had so many books surely one of them had to have the answers to what they faced now. They seemed to have every other answer.

"That doesn't look like what we saw." Honeymaren pursed her lips at the drawing, though Elsa had been teaching her to read she was far from proficient, "It's black…"

"No that is the sun." Ryder turned the page backward revealing a red moon, "This is what we saw." He pointed to the picture with conviction, "This is the moon and that," He turned the page back, "Is the sun."

"It looks like an eclipse…" Honeymaren couldn't help the small swell of pride as she remembered the word and phenomenon, "Both of them do but…it's impossible to have both in the same month let alone day…" She was remembering her science lessons well now, "Elsa taught me a little about the moon and stars…" She blushed as the memory started to come to the front of her mind.

"Where are we going?" Honeymaren felt a joyous chuckle bubbling up the back of her throat as she followed after Elsa, the spring time trees in full bloom. The sky awake with the northern lights.

"It'll be great, I promise." Elsa looked back for only a moment before making a set of ice-made stairs leading up towards one of the large cliffs that sat outside the village.

Honeymaren smiled wider, it was so wonderful to see her excited about something, to see those eyes light up with wonder and delight. As she climbed up the steps her eyes widened with inexplicable joy that was the most beautiful sight she could remember. The sky was so clear, the stars so bright, the northern lights so colorful.

"Wow…"

Elsa smiled even wider as she took Honeymaren's wrist, gently leading her towards the small blanket she'd set up on the grass. A book, a telescope and a journal sitting over its surface, "That's not even the best part. Come here." She pulled Honeymaren towards the telescope with great pride and excitement barely restrained on her face, "Look, look."

Honeymaren could feel the warmth radiating off of her friend. The pure enjoyment she found in her discovery. The happiness that radiated from every part of her. A soft giggle nodded her head before she leaned in close to see whatever Elsa had wished for her to see.

"What is that?" Honeymaren found herself near breathless at the beauty presented to her through the turned glass.

"It's mars, and did you see? There's ice there! It could be a whole new world just like ours. Could you imagine?" Elsa had her hands held to her chest to try and contain herself, her head tilted towards the sky where the lights danced so beautifully off her pale skin. Like an angel come to Earth.

Honeymaren found herself staring not through the telescope but at the pure unadulterated joy on her friend's face. How the lights sparkled in her eyes, how her skin seemed to glow. It was the most beautiful thing she'd ever witnessed, "You really like astro-astra.."

"Astrology?" Elsa finished kindly, her voice soft and encouraging.

"Yeah, that." Honeymaren chuckled bashfully though Elsa hadn't made her feel ashamed she still wanted to share in her world as much as she possibly could.

"Actually," Elsa let out a soft content sigh coming to sit down on the blanket, patting the space beside her for Honeymaren to join her, "I really like geometry and architecture." She turned away then pulling her journal into her lap and flipping through the multiple drawings and fractal patterns.

Honeymaren leaned in close, though not too close to touch, close enough to smell the soft jasmine perfume her friend always wore, "Wow…did you draw all these?" Honeymaren couldn't help but stop her page flipping, her eyes wide with wonder over a particularly detailed snowflake that took up an entire page.

"I had a lot of time on my hands…" Elsa's voice had turned soft for a moment before a deep breath pushed her on. Honeymaren moved her fingers out of the way before her eyes widened at the picture Elsa had meant to show her, "Wow…is that?"

"Do you think Yelena would let me build it?" Elsa turned her head slightly, her eyes looking into Honeymaren's features though the brunette was solely focused on her design.

"Better to ask forgiveness than permission…" Honeymaren couldn't help but gingerly pull the book from Elsa's fingers so as to see better, "This is incredible."

"You…really think so?" Elsa didn't understand why her friend seemed so enamored. She captured her lower lip in her teeth for a brief moment before she began to anxiously ring her hands, "I mean…I love the hut and everything but…"

"No-no, I get it…I do." Honeymaren gave her an assuring glance over the pages, "If I had a choice, I'd definitely live here too…"

"You-you could I mean….I could ask Arendelle for builders and-"

"Let's not get ahead of ourselves." While Honeymaren was more than willing to embrace all things new, she knew some people of her tribe were more than content to leave things as they were. Her eyes turned soft when Elsa's smile fell, "Hey? You know what?"

Elsa shook her head slightly, the sudden bursting of her bubble leaving her shoulders curled and her eyes downcast. Honeymaren lowered her head down to try and recapture the happiness that had been there moments ago, "Have you ever gone swimming under a waterfall?"

—Crack—

Suddenly, the heart warming memory turned cold as ice. A piercing scream brought Honeymaren's heart to a halt. An arrow had come from no where, its aim true. Elsa's body stopped mid-air before a bright light blinded her from seeing anything else. The force and ricocheting crack of lightning making her ears ring with deafening silence that sent her body to the ground

'No…'

Honeymaren blinked away her temporary blindness. Her body screaming out in pain as she pushed herself hastily to her feet, "Elsa!"

Sound returned to her world with a resounding—thump—the sound of Elsa's body hitting the snow covered Earth where it laid twisted and still. A deep red now painted the entire valley in it's haunting glow. The moon completely overtaken by darkness, ripping the world of all its wonderful color.

Honeymaren could feel her heart in her throat as she fell to her knees just beside her. Her eyes blurred with tears as she fearfully and gingerly cradled Elsa's head, "Elsa?"

"No…no, no, no…you promised…" Honeymaren could hear more and more commotion around her but none of it reached her consciousness as she leaned over Elsa's form pulling her up against her heart, shielding her from the world. Her cool skin pressed tight to her own cheek as tears rained down, "You promised…"

Honeymaren lifted her head just enough to rip the cursed arrow from Elsa's shoulder, a feral sneer baring her teeth as she threw it away into the mud. Her hold grew tighter as she felt unbelievable grief over taking her once again. A sharp spark danced across the ground from where she'd thrown away the arrow, the sight briefly catching her attention. Her eyes narrowed as she took in the runic symbol carved into the black metal.

Before she could properly process what she was witnessing the sliding of metal against metal turned her attention behind, the red demonic gleam of a sword raised high skipping her heart before an unfamiliar battle cry from just outside her range of sight sent her would be attacker to the ground.

"Agnire?" Honeymaren could hardly breathe to talk, the small man had just saved her life. His strike true and strong, when his eyes turned towards her own, she couldn't express her gratitude.

"The battle has continued! We must go somewhere safe!" Agnire pushed himself from the man he'd just slammed into the ground and held out his hand but frowned when she didn't immediately take it.

"I won't leave her!"