The Redemption of the Snow Queen

A Once Upon a Time WHAT IF Tale

Part 3

Mysthaven

Dark Ones Castle

24 December

There was venom in her eyes, Rumplestiltskin could see the pure anger boiling behind the beautiful brilliant sapphire blue of the young queens eyes. Anger directed at none other then himself. The dagger against his chest as he spoke he asked her what was in it for him if he agreed to her terms. OK, that was not exactly the best thing to say to the person holding the only thing that can kill me. He thought as the dagger moved from his heart to his neck as Elsa came dangerously close to him.

"What is in it for you ?" Elsa growled softly; fighting the urge to slit the mans throat and walk out. Rumplestiltskin was scared stiff in front of her, she could tell. She leaned closer, the knife to his neck. "What you will get, is to find what you lost. But all you have to do, is forget about me, forget about my kingdom, forget about my sister, and most of all, forget about the hat." She lowered the dagger. "I wont even force you into doing anything either, I just want your word that you will let me leave here, with what I seek, and that you will never try to follow, or search or haunt my kingdom, ever."

She held out the dagger, as if offering it to him. "You know that I can freeze you were you stand and walk away, leaving you alive but frozen solid." She told him. "Because right now, I can simply do just that, freeze your heart, freeze you into ice... and leave without worry or care. But what would you gain being a statue ? Nothing! You lost something, something important enough to become this to try and find what you lost. I am giving you that chance, so long as you agree with my needs."

Rumple stared at her, she was not forcing him to do anything, though she held the dagger, she did not want to foce him into any deal whatsoever; which meant he could accept, or even make a contract, but her terms, forget about her, forget about Arendelle, forget about the hat... there had to be a way to get the hat or even a means to get rid of the darkness, he did not want it, he wanted his son! He thought a long moment, turning briefly to Regina, the Friar before turning back to Elsa, who now held out his dagger as if giving it to him directly.

Rumplestiltskin thought very carefully on his words, and nodded. "Deal. I accept your terms dearie." In his hands appeared a small vial, "She stays with me as offered, I can teach her yes, that was deal ?" Regina nodded, Rumple turned back to Elsa, "As soon as you are gone, I will drink this, she will make sure. Deal ?"

"I take what is mine and leave, you drink this, forgetting everything that transpires here. And should we meet again, I will freeze your heart upon sight of you." Elsa said

Rumplestiltskin nodded in agreement, "Deal!" He said, he could continue his search for Baelfire! "You take what is yours and go. And so I wont forget, I'll see you to the door, and drink this as you leave." Elsa did just that, tossing the dagger to Regina, who hastly set it on a nearby table, acting as if it was about to bite her, Elsa picked up her aunts urns, and the chest containing her aunts heart. It was time for her to leave.

Rumple escorted Elsa to the door. As soon as she stepped off the drawbridge he drank the potion. Not that he wanted to do it. But because he wanted to find his missing son. He wanted Baelfire, and he knew that if he tried to cross Elsa, or even Ingrid, he'd pay dearly. Undeath was a horrid way to go. But what confused him was that she never forced him into a deal with his dagger. For that he was thankful. Though as she left his view, he had to wonder who she was.

Mysthaven

Davids Farm

Six hours later

Six hours later and Elsa slowed the muledeer to a steady walk. Holding in her hand her aunt Ingrid, trapped within the urn until her release. Which was going to be soon. Elsa knew it to be true. David should be of help; I hope Elsa had made a proper deal and Rumple merely wanted to find his son, nothing was signed or anything.

She traced her fingers on the runes along the top of the urn; her aunts name pulsed with the life within the urn. The heart continued to beat steadily. She had what she needed, well, almost, she needed a way home good and proper. But how to get that she had no true idea. She had no idea where she was as she came upon a well kept farm. Her heart burned to free Ingrid properly, in a peaceful happy location as well. And the only place she could think of was home. In her bedroom.

A safe, happy, joyful loving place.

But how was she to get there ? She had no idea where she was!

Coming upon the gate of the farm she halted her muledeer as she spotted a young man with long dirty blonde hair come from the barn towards her. Slightly nervous Elsa watched him. The man seemed oddly familiar. And then he spoke and she knew why he was so familiar!

"Prince James ?" Elsa asked confused, why was he dressed like that and how had his hair grown so long so quickly since she saw him that morning ?

"Ah, no, that's my brother." David replied, "I'm David. You must be from Arendelle" Elsa stared at him, how did he know ? So he replied "your stature, your accent maybe. And the fact you got an Arendelle burial urn there on your muledeer. And the fact that you are using a muledeer instead of a horse." David pointed out.

So she had met his twin brother, ok that made sense, plus he was right. So she calmed and nodded, "Yes, I am from Arendelle, you must be David then right ? My aunt said to stop and speak to you. I already saw your brother, he... helped me with something important as you can see." She had two urns, and a chest that echoed with a steady heartbeat.

"So that would make you the fourth person I have met from there." David said, Elsa stared at him.

"The fourth ?" She asked him, clearly confused.

"Yup, there's Kristoff, he comes by to sell ice every now and again. Then there was Joan..." He said, using Annas favorite name. Almost always used it when going out or faking it, Mark must have taught her Elsa surmised as David continued "Then there was a lovely lady named Ingrid, she was here I think about four days, maybe five days ago. And now yourself." He then looke around her "Where is Ingrid anyway ?" Elsa tried not to smile, not wanting to talk about it. That horrifiying feeling of turning into nothing but thick blue water and pulled into the urn.

She tried not to think about it. "You are right" She said at long last. "I am indeed from Arendelle, and I need to get back there, do you know where there is a dock or a ship I can charter to get home ?"

David nodded; "I think I can help you with that. But, have you eaten ?" Elsa shook her head. No she hadn't, heck she hadn't had anything to eat since breakfast, and it was nearly sunset! Her stomach growled as David nodded. He reached up a hand "I think Mother has something cooking, you're welcome to stay the night as well."

"But I..." Elsa started to say, but then she felt something in her heart, she felt it was alright. She nodded again at the feeling "Alright, I'll stay for one night, but I want these within my reach at all times" She meant both urns, and the chest containing the heart. David agreed.

"Fair enough." He said helping her off the muledeer.

"Thank you" Elsa said to him as he gently almost reverently lifted the burial urn from the sack that held it as she held the pale gold one in her arms tightly, as if she did not want to loose who or what was in it. David did his best not to focus on it. And for that Elsa was thankful.

David gently set the chests containing the heart on his shoulder as he passed to her the burial urn, his mother, Ruth came out upon seeing they had a visitor and being of help she said "Here, young lady, let me" she said, reaching for the burial urn.

Elsa, seeing Ruth coming to be of aid to her, smiled "Thank you" She said greatful for the help these two complete strangers were giving her. The clouds grew as she was helped inside the house, given food, what they could give was amazing. The burial urn was placed gently upon the bed, with it the chest, within view of Elsa herself. While Elsa continued to keep the gold urn within arms reach at all times, sometimes even cradling it in her lap as well.

She was confused at their actions, people she had never met before were helping her with their home, like they had with her aunt, and also with her sister. But it was confusing to her so she asked "Why are you helping me ? I dont even know you aside from being told to stop here."

"Well, for one thing, you need a place to sleep dry from the rain" said Ruth, Davids mother. As she spoke the sky opened up and the rain started falling quitee heavily "For another, you are not the first we have helped this week. You see, four days ago a young lady came to us, she was seeking the Dark One for something he had taken from her; I'm going to assume that was you." Elsa nodded "We had given her rest, and food while she waited out the rain."

David came in, soaking wet after stabling the muledeer as Ruth continued. "She mentioned she was from Arendelle, and said that should we see her or you, we were to give a proper nights rest. I am going to assume you got what you went for ?"

"Yes" Elsa replied after a moment of thought "I had to make a offer he could not refuse; he accepted, and forgot all about me, my aunt, Arendelle, even Anna. And he let me leave with this urn, that burial urn, and the chest."

"And he let you walk out unhindered ?" David asked as he dried his hair with a cloth his mother handed him.

"Yes; why ? Is something wrong ?" Elsa asked him

"The Dark One rarely lets anyone simply leave his castle without sending someone to hinder them in some way. I'd be aware of your surroundings when you leave for Mistviel Port tomorrow morning. Knowing the Dark One as I do, which is just so far, he will send thugs after you, maybe even killers." David explained

"I can handle myself pretty well in a fight ifI must do so." Elsa replied, even though she hated combat sh knew the fundimentals of it. Basically, defend yourself, if your enemy is trying to kill you, its you or him. Basically that helped her in most cases. But the thought of not getting away from Rumplestiltskin scot free made her slightly worried. But she did not let it show. If she had, then she'd be in trouble. So she asked "Mistviel Port ?"

David nodded "A port city not far from here were most traders dock their ships. If you like I can get a map and show where it is located from here."

"Yes, that will helpful, thank you" Elsa said. She wanted to get back to Arendelle, to home, to safety, with her aunt, and the burial urn. So she had to be on her guard until she was home. She knew that now, David was right; she had left his castle far too easily. Something was up. She was going to have to stay on her guard

Mysthaven

25 December

Davids Farm

Dawn

The rain poured for several hours, allowing Elsa to stay the night, try as she might, she was unable to sleep due to David words of the possible threat of danger to her.. At first light David was awake, as well as his mother, Elsa had never gone to bed until well after midnight when the rain had finally stopped. Keeping careful watch on the woods around the farm. Mercifully nothing happened during the night. Towards dawn Elsa managed to get some sleep, but her whiteknuckle grip on the gold urn written over in strange writing never let up.

Elsa finally fell asleep as the rainfall tapered off around two am. Which then allowed her to get some much needed rest once again, this time her dreams were filled with her happy family, her happy safe strong kingdom, and no more imp worrying her or her sister or aunts.

As morning broke through the grey clouds above, elsa was roused from a oddly thankfully peaceful sleep by David, the rain had long since ended during the night, the roads in some areas were washed out. But what confused Elsa the most was the manner of dress David had taken. But it was in his hands that got her undevided attention. "Are those ?"

"Yes, these swords were apparently made for you, or by you, it wasn't explained to me only that I was to give these two you by a hooded man. He said you would know exactly how to use them. I tried holding one of them, it felt rather unbalanced and too long for my taste." David explained holding out two pearlwhite steel swords that felt cool to the touch and yet stupidly light due to their length. Elsa for a brief moment was afraid to touch the swords in the case they'd break in her hands.

Sitting up in bed she took the twin swords, they glittered light sparkling glass at her touch. Both blades, though quite long, possibly longer than a normal longsword or even a greatsword, were lighter than she expected. She knew these swords just by their look and appearence alone. These swords were in the Arendelle Armory at all times, under lock and key!

Nobody knew who made the swords, or why they were made, nor did anyone know of what the twin swords were made of either. But somehow, the twin swords felt perfectly normal to her, as balanced as a sword should be in fact. Elsa was unable to explain it as she held both blades perfectly balanced. It felt weird to be honest, and yet. It worked out.

For long moments Elsa said nothing, holding the swords, "Thank you" She finally said after long mometns of quiet contemplation. Could she use these swords ? Did she have it in her to kill another man ?

"If you wonder of can you do it. Do how I was taught. Defend yourself, if someone is aiming to kill you, its either you, or them. Defend yourself, dont go out of your way to kill, if you must kill someone, dont dwell on it, dont let it cloud your heart. Defend yourself, even if it means having to kill another man." David said.

"Defend myself, I can threaten with my own magic if I must, but never have I used a sword." She had threatened Rumple with her magic, forcing a deal on him without use of his dagger, using knowledge of his search for his missing son. Something she could easily quickly put an end to if she desired to. But no, she let him live. And as a result, he had forgotten her, forgotten Arendelle, hell, he even forgot about the hat!

"But someone else did not forget about you." David said, At her look he explained "A man by the name of Prince Hans had made a deal with another man known as the Duke, and also some unsavory men concerning you. Hans wanted Arendelle for his own, to rule as he saw fit. Not, as he said it, mind you, 'some young woman with ice magic.' When he heard that you had gone missing, and Ingrid too had seemingly just fled Arendelle, so that gave Hans, with the Duke, the chance and they had invaded by sea, only to be forced out constantly by the Arendelle Navy, which in itself, was an insane task to even try to get past. From what I hear tell they even tried to barter a way in, it didn't work

"Nevertheless, Hans had taken control of Arendelle rather briefly before getting into a fight with a man named Mark. And Hans would never forget that fight either." As David explaoined it to her Elsa envisioned it all within her mind.

"You are not the ruler of Arendelle" Mark said softly, his deep voice echoing in the throneroom calmly. Ulnaus barely fit in the throne room, the massive Eagle screeched loudly, Hans cast a glance the birds way, already thinking of the dinners the massive bird could make.

Hans smirked and drew his sword. "You chalenge me, shipman ?" He asked to Mark, who did not draw a weapon. He did not need one. As a Master and Mentor assassin, even unarmed Mark was quite dangerous.

"No, I do not challenge, I warn" Mark appeared completely unarmed as Hans screamed something and charged, Easily sidestepping the flailing princling, Mark blocked first one, then two, then three strikes before sending a solid left cross dead into Hans nose, splattering the appendage all over his face. Hans reeled back, his hand to his face screaming in white hot anger, as Mark repeated himself calm as ever. "You are not the ruler of Arenedelle. Nor will you ever be."

Hans screamed again and charged once more, this time slightly more clumsy then the last. Mark easily ducked out of reach and then struck solid with both fists into Hans side, sending the man smashing into the kings throne, breaking it apart. Hans pulled himself to his feet and ran at Mark a third time, Mark stopped him dead in his tracks, sending a solid uppercut dead into Hans chin, the man lifted a meter into the air and slammed down hard on his back. He was not getting back up from that strike.

"Care for the fourth round... citizen Hans ?" Mark said softly, never breaking a sweat. Hans swore and started to get to his feet as armored soliders from the Whitesparrow entered with a young black haired woman. The woman held something in her hand, a hand crossbow ? Hans had barely two seconds to figure out the danger he was in before he passed out from the sleeper dart.

The last voices he heard was a woman and man. "Take him away, the effects will last four days. Issue the pracliamation, anyone from the southern isles stepping foot in Arendelle are to be killed without mercy for they bring their own death upon them." The man said

"No that is too harsh, I suggest arrested and thrown into the dungeon" It was clearly Anna that spoke sense. As much as she wanted Hans dead, she could not bring herself to harm the man other then punching him in the gut, the face, heck even kicking him dead in the crotch

"I agree," Said the dark haired woman, "Death is too harsh, especially for a man that wanted to prove himself. No, I have a better plan. We will banish any and all from the Southern Isles from setting foot within Arendelle" Anna however seemed overjoyed and somewhat shocked at the sight of the dark haired woman.

Reality came back for Elsa as David finished explaining. "Hans was shipped out of the kingdom and the proclamaition was made public, But it wasn't Anna that made the proclaimation either, it was someone else. Someone who was queen before." David said

Elsa stared at him. "Queen before...you mean my aunt ?" No that was impossible Elsa mused, Ingrid was in the urn next to her, "No, that's not possible, Aunt Ingrid's in here." She tapped the sealed urn next to her on the bed gently. "So who could... Wait... Did you say that a dark haired young woman had shot Prince Hans ?"

"Yes, and by the sounds of things of what I was told, Anna is rather happy that the woman was there to begin with. Word of mouth says that upon your return you will be happy too. And not just to be home." David said. Elsa started thinking, who could make her so overjoyed aside from her aunt home safely ?

"Who ?" Elsa asked "Who aside from Anna would make me happy to see her again ?"

"That you will have to find for yourself. I can't answer that." David said, Elsa took the swords and they seemingly disappeared as she set them to her side, as if put into sheaths of some form. It was hard to explain. Thankfully David did not ask where the swords went as their hilts seemingly appeared out of thin air at her left side. Apparently they felt the most normal for the moment at that location.

Standing up Elsa picked up the urn as David helped her repack and properly place the burial urn into a saddlebag of a sort before getting his own horse and getting upon it. Elsa tried not to look at the animal as she absently rubbed her right arm below the elbow, remembering the intense pain. David never asked what was wrong. Instead the two left the farm and headed for Mystviel Keep

After a few hours David had to split off from Elsa, for he had things to attend to elsewhere. He pointed out the directions to Mystviel Keep and wished her luck on her journey. "I wish you the best of luck in finding what you lost." He said, Elsa smiled and thanked him before moving on.

An hour later

It started to rain. The trees were thicker here on both sides of the road. Unknown to Elsa there was a large group of men preying upon travelers in this stretch of roadway. Oddly so at that in long moments she just rode along on the muledeer for a long quiet hour, just listening to the rainfall around her, the hoofs of the muledeer hammering on the paved stones. All in all it was a peaceful afternoon.

But she thought carefully on David's words, it was a strong possiblity that she'd gotten away from Rumplestiltskin too easily. David was right, Rumple however knew that going after Elsa was a bad idea. He however still wanted the hat. He wanted his son. It was the only way to get his son back in fact. Finding the hat meant getting back his son.

But Elsa was scared of it greatly. So much so at what it could do. And after her aunt explained how it truly worked, it made Elsa even more scared of the thing. Ingrid had asked Anna to hide it somewhere, anywhere. And not tell them, heck give it to the trolls Anna even suggested it. Which oddly she had. Pabbie at her simple request to return it to where it properly belonged, in the care of the Apprentice. Had easily done so.

Elsa mused on what her sister had done, for her. She had snuck out, found Rumplestiltskin, the hat he wanted, and got herself home in one piece. And then apparently had made a deal with Rumple never to come to Arendelle, but he came anyway. Thankfully Elsa had found Ingrid and the urn holding her trapped the time Elsa was intending to destroy the urn, to keep herself safe, not knowing her mothers elder sister was trapped inside. Hans showed up intending on taking the urn, opening it, and trapping Elsa inside it

Amazingly, to Elsa's delight, her aunt froze Hans into a corpsicle after he made a reference of having a proper king on the throne, not some monster as he called her. Ingrid had taken offense at such a notion and when Hans asked who she was, she said simply to him, not a monster. And froze him solid. Her life saved, Elsa took Ingrid home, and it was there when Ingrid informed her who she really was. Which made Elsa all the more happier. And seeing the love between Anna and Elsa made Ingrid want to be part of their family as well.

Originally she had thought, with Anna having no magic, that Anna was the odd woman out, but instead Ingrid soon saw how the two acted, and how the kingdom adored them both and she could visibly see the love the two had for each other as sisters. That bond was strong.

A bond strong enough that Ingrid knew she could never break it, So she wanted to be part of it. Anna was right to contact Pabbie about her. Ingrid did not blame her for it. Naturally curious and scared Anna did the only thing she thought right, go to Pabbie about Ingrid and find out if what she said, being their mothers elder sister, was true or not. Pabbie said it was, but he had no idea what happened to her other then her mother wanted any mention of her removed.

Ingrid however met up with Anna as she too wanted to see Pabbie, she wanted his advice. The wise old troll gave both women their advice, and welcomed Ingrid home after many years, he said to give his regards to Elsa as well since she wasn't there. Ingrid mentioned teaching her, and Pabbie looked to Anna, as if asking the Princess for permission, which she gave, but she wanted Pabbie to make it known that if Ingrid tried to harm either of them, death would quickly follow Ingrid. Ingrid agreed, the two women then went back to Arendelle. It was then that Ingrid inqired about the hatbox and whence it came, and what it was for. Anna explained it.

That was when the trouble started. Elsa was mad about the truth of the hat being kept from her, but Ingrid insisted Anna was trying to help Elsa not harm, and once Ingrid had found out more of the hat and what it was able to do. Elsa was visibly shaken, and knew in her heart Anna did the right thing in keeping the truth about the hat from her.

Elsa shook her head, getting back to the present as a raindrop the size of the Whitesparrow landed on her forehead with a sudden PLIT, causing her to look up, as she did so more rain started falling in the loud sounds of water on rock. Within moments Elsa was drenching wet and barely able to see the road ahead or behind as she tried to shield her eyes from the heavy rainfall.

Barely able to see the road ahead Elsa found somet5hing of brief shelter under a rock outcrop, still barely able to see anything within feet of the brief shelter she had come upon she chose to wait out the storm, even though the cold never did bother her to begin with, Elsa huddlded on the ground her back to the rock as she watched, and waited, for the rain to stop. She had no idea how far she was from David's farm, possibly too far to try and make it back nice and dry. She looked the direction she was to go. Mystviel Keep, she found herself wondering what that port was like.

25 December

Mysthaven

At that same moment

"Where is she ?" Anna wondered aloud as she paced the main deck of the Whitesparrow, the largest ship in the Arendelle fleet, Anna was finding it hard to keep her excitement in, she had been reunited with her mother in Arendelle, and it was her mother that took down Prince Hans from the throne! Now there was serious catching up to do.

"She should be here soon. She has your instructions to see Prince James, and then see his brother David, I did not see if Ingrid was with her" Mark reported, the man had shed his sword seller outfit for his more comfortable and neatly fitting dark green hooded robes of the Brotherhood he belonged. "However, I traveled briefly in the rain, and more was coming, I barely got into the port here before the sky opened up behind me."

Idun smiled, Anna had explained everything to her, how Elsa had jumped to Ingrids defense, how Ingrid had been teaching Elsa how to properly control her magic, the stories Ingrid told them of when she was a child. How she wanted to be a part, a proper part, of their family. How Elsa had defended her aunt, only to get taken away in her place. And how Ingrid had gone after Elsa. And now according to Captain Wolfe, Elsa was freely roaming Mysthaven looking for something, and at this moment, most likely lost in the heavy rain.

"Elsa is most likely caught in the rain at this time, very well, have some towels and food ready for her arrival in my cabin." Idun said quietly, Mark nodded and gave the order. Elsas favorite meat. Fox, wasd to be cooked and made ready. Mark himself saw to it of the towels and also some extra blankets. Based on what he was told by Regina, who had three days to get important things tied off with deals and friends before going to the Dark One to live with him as a student, he had learned that Elsa had both of her aunts. And that Rumple had completely forgotten the girl. Heck if he showed up in Arendelle, they didn't even have the hat to begin with either.

Anna nodded at her mothers words, "Well, it is quite warm out too, so a little rain wont harm her. Besides she always liked storms!" She said with a smile "Worse that can happen is she gets totally soaking wet, then again she can turn that into ice too I think."

A few moments passed in thoughtful silence and as Mark stepped back into view and spoke did anyone begin to really worry "Shall I send a few of my men to look for her, she may have lost her way in the storm, and what is worse, she could be waylaid by bandits in the area as well." He had a notice of warning of bandits preying upon the Great Road that lead to the main core of the many kingdoms.

"I have a better idea" Idun said when Anna didn't say anything and was about to grab a sword to go after Elsa to bring her to the ship safely. Anna halted her movement and looked to her mother as Mark respectfully remained quiet where he stood. "Captain Wolfe, I have a request of you."

Mark stood ramrod straight as Idun spoke to him, bowing slightly he said in reply. "Name it my lady, what will you have me do ?"

"What I want is for you to do something for my daughter, Elsa is out there, somewhere, lost in the storm, or worse, set upon by bandits, I want you to go to her, bring her here, to safety, and then when she is here, with us, I want you to take us home to Arendelle. Can you do that ?" Idun said

Mark bowed deeply "My lady, Yes, I can do that, not just can I do it, I will do it, I will see to it personally that Elsa is safely aboard this ship and bound for Arendelle." he said with a very regal bow before leaving the vessel. Quickly disappearing into the crowd on the peir.

"I wonder how he does it" Anna said thoughtfully as she failed to see where Mark disappeared into the throng of people.

"Does what ?" Idun asked stepping up next ot Anna and looking out over the peir, it was only five years before when she and her husband had made landfall there to try and help Elsa with her magic, well, her husband wanted to remove it, but Idun wanted to find a proper teacher for her daughter. And it was on the way home when she made up her mind and wrote the letter. But did it ever arrive ?Amazingly enough it did. Elsa had found it right after Anna had left for Mysthaven. The bottle knocking gently against the dock at her feet.

Elsa had read the letter, but hid it, and waited until Anna had returned, and by that time she had forgotten completely about it after Ingrid and Anna began t oreally enjoy each others company as well. But now however, when Idun voiced the thought, Anna looked to her mother confused "What ? Was what found ?" Idun had no idea how to reply.

Mysthaven

Along the road

At that same moment

Slowly the rain let up from extremely heavy rainfall to lighter steady showering, it was still raining, but something that Elsa knew she could not avoid, she was however happy, she could at least see the road ahead by then, Elsa figured that getting wet was not something she could avoid at that point since she was already drenched as if she went swimming in her dress, so she decided to keep going as soon as the rather heavy rainfall subsided, a gentle or steady but light rainfall was fine, just so long as she could still see the road ahead. Too heavy and she'd halt again. The heavy rain finally let up only so far and thankfully it was enough, taking the muledeer by the antler, she was off once again. This time on foot, leading the muledeer at her side as they moved along.

It was a few minutes until Elsa felt something she had not felt since the night before, she felt eyes on her, But try as she might she was unable to see who was watching or even following thanks to the rain, absently her hand went to the swords at her side, something from that subtle movement made her feel safer. iI have never handled a sword of such beauty before, yet these feel as if I had made them to begin with./i Elsa was unable to explain the strange pair of glasslike white swords that were cool to the touch, David's hands were bound in thick gloves she had noticed when he gave her the swords.

Soaking wet from the rain Elsa failed to notice two men in thick raingear of palm fronds and straw hats were waiting for her to near them. Behind her six more men appeared similarly dressed as the rain fell. "Hold a moment traveler" Said one of the men calmly holding up a hand, Elsa halted a few paces off from him, looking at him confused.

"What do you want ?" Elsa asked him

"There is a toll to pay traveler, the roads are not safe, paying the toll will ensure safe travels for you." Said the first man to speak

"And if I dont have the means to pay ?" Elsa asked carefully.

"Then we will beat you and leave you for dead." Said the man in reply

Elsa smirked, iGreat, these guys must have taken lessons in stupidty with Prince Hans,/i Elsa thought. She shook her head "Then you made a mistake to stop me." She said

"A mistake ? One as pretty as yourself ? Ha! Dont make me laugh" The leader of the troupe replied to her. "Do what you want with her, but take your turns" He said to his men as Elsa stared at him horrified

The first man who had circled her to her left, who was by then directly behind her, jumped the muledeer and made to tackle Elsa, reacting quickly she brought out her lefthand sword and struck in defense, the man fell screaming, his left arm bleeding but still usible. Elsa had to grab her second sword as the first felt too unbalanced for her liking, with both swords ready in her hands she could fight. She saw trails of ice form on the wounded mans arm where her sword cut him.

It was that icy wound that angered even the leader of the group "Get her! I dont care what you do to her either!" They all ran at her at once, Elsa merely defended herself as best she could, within moments two men were dead, and her swords were stuck in their bodies. Forced to fight with only her fists she spluttered as one of the men threw a bottle at her, it was ale of some form, alcohol made Elsa both ill and very drunk very quickly. Thankfully however the rainfall helped slow the effect of the strong drink splashed into her face and hair. However thanks to the rainfall, Elsa was quickly soaked in thick rum

The road, by then extremely soaked with rainwater, was quickly becoming quite muddy if more then that. If it were possible to become more then mud. It was also close to a river. Ducking a strike Elsa lost her footing on the muddy ground and slipped, tripping up one man sending him dead into the drink with a splash, quickly scrambling to her feet in the ankle deep mud she could feel it creeping up her legs, coating her dress in dull brown clay. It was getting hard to move, and to focus. The alcohol was starting to take effect!

Blinking rapidly Elsa struggled to keep her feet, ducking another strke from one of the four remaining bandits she fell face down in the mud, reacting quickly, though starting to feel tired and sluggish she rolled onto her back, now drenched in both rainwater and brown claylike mud Elsa strugled to keep the men at bay. It was time to use her magic.

Or not.

She was drunk. Slam drunk, she hit the muddy road, dead on her back, barely able to focus. She blinked, trying to clear her vision, it did no good, she laid flat on her back in the thick mud, unable to move she laid still.

"Is she dead ?" One of the rtemaining nine bandits asked

"Go check!" The leader said, grabbing the one that asked and shoving him forwards towards Elsa.

Elsa faked it, laying in the thick mud flat on her back the man came up to her and looked her over. "I think she's dead" The bandit said, Elsa smirked and flicked a finger. Out of nowhere a shot of ice shaped like a fist hammered into the bandits crotch dead on. The man screamed a high pitch and fell backwards screaming.

As she was about to strike with her ice a second time at the man, another voice cried out, one she faintly recognised. Through her drunk fogged vision Elsa barely took notice of another man riding up on muledeer back and sending two of the remaining bandits flying into the trees. Elsa struggled to her feet, drenched in wet clay she had a hard time moving as it coated her dress completely and weighed her down greatly. Trying to focus on cleaning herself off, she took a wrong step and she too fell into the river with a colossal splash, for about a minute she thrashed crazily in the river, trying to stay above water as the mud was heavy on her already soaked body.

Breaking the surface she took in what was happening on the road, her muledeer that carried her aunts was safe, a little wet but safe at least. For the moment, she looked to the men fighting, another man had arrived, quite drunk apparently as she still smelled alcohol, but much stronger than before. The new man to arrive however seemed to reek of it as he fought so perfectly against the bandits, aside from the two she had killed at last.

Mark had taken the preemtive and drunk down two bottles of ale. And not just any weak stuff either, but the strongest stuff that could knock anyone down slam drunk. Mark had a high tolorance for it. And yet, this worked out better. Totally zirked, Mark took on the remaining bandits in a drunken free for all. Intending to keep the men's attention on himself as Elsa struggled in the water to get out of the river and to her muledeer.

Within moments of his arrival Elsa still in the river, everything was quiet, the bandits had been beaten, one of them was screaming holding his crotch in extreme pain, the others were just beaten to a pulp. Elsa swam to the edge of the river and grabbed at the rocky side to pull herself up and out. Sadly with her alcohol affected mind she was unable to do much if at all except weakly hold onto the riverbank and attempt to get herself out of the water.

She heard a hiccup, apparently the drunken man she might have known at some point was satisfied with how the fight turned out as he staggered over to the riverbank and hopped in next to her

"It is good to see you still alive my lady" Mark said, a joker to be sure, he was already soaking wet from the rain he had to go through to get to her inside an hour. It was actually only a few minutes to get to where Elsa had been waylaid. "Would you like a hand out of this river ?"

Elsa looked at him, at first not recognising him and then it clicked "Were'nt you the shwordsheller ?" She asked, her voice quite slurred as she spoke.

Mark raised an eyebrow recognising the strong slurr, and worse, the scent of alcohol all over her, Oh... Fuck He thought, Elsa was drunk.

This was not good.

25 December

Mysthaven

Mystviel Port

Twenty minutes later

Mark pulled Elsa from the river as he got himself out first, drenching wet and still a bit muddy, Elsas ice slowly started to clean off her dress, her shoulders were clean and sparkly blue and it continued down her dress, her arms at the wrists were dirtiest, as well as past her waist. With Marks help she got cleaned up and mostly dry and back onto her muledeer and the two went into Mystviel Keep. It was time to go home.

As they neared the docks Elsa started to lean off the muledeer as the alchol and swim took hold, or rather the swim did, the smell of alcohol slowly faded and Elsa's ale laden mind started to wake up as she leaned off the muledeer briefly and jerked herself awake, turning quickly remembering the brief fight and getting drenched she looked at the man beside her and stared. "Do I know you ? You didn't have to save me, I could have handled myself back there"

"Sure, and hold in your alcohol ? Not really possible" Mark replied calmly, she was right, he didn't ihave/i to save her, he simply iwanted/i to save her in the first place.

The imp had been dealt with, he learned that much from Regina, he'd given the Friar a week to get her stuff together, make all goodbyes and whatnot before moving in with him as his student, which meant Elsa was indeed free and clear to return home peacefully for once. And the best part, Rumplestiltskin would never bother them again, and the hat was safely in the hands of the Apprentice at Anna's request. So at that moment Elsa had no idea the hat was long out of Arendelle for once the way it should be.

They soon came to a halt within the town near a stable and for a moment Elsa was hesitant to dismount from her muledeer, she finally spoke up softly "David mentioned that someone important wanted to see me aside from my sister Anna, who did he mean ?" There was no one else whom she could see to make her happy wasn't there ?

"I think you will need to find out for yourself" Mark replied calmly, he held up a hand to help her off the muledeer before helping her with the two urns and the strange chest. He never asked what was inside, he knew in the back of his mind who the urns contained.

Elsa dismounted the muledeer with Marks help and went into the city, carring the pale gold urn containing her aunt Ingrid in her hands in a white knuckle grip. Practically hugging the urn close to her chest, afraid to loose sight of it it seemed. Mark noticed this and said "Hey, Elsa, please, relax, nothing is going to harm you, or your family ever again, trust me on that. Anna's waiting for you on the Whitesparrow right now, along with someone extremely important to you both. I was asked to bring you to them safely. And that is just what I am going to do" Mark carried the burial urn and small chest containing Helga's heart while Elsa carried the urn that contained Ingrid.

It took a bit, but his words rang true, She never relaxed her grip on the urn fully however but she did still relax a bit so her fingers didn't appear broken or white knuckled as she held the urn close. "You're right" She said at long last. "I cannot be stressed out like this, you say Anna is on my falgship with someone important ?" She asked Mark

Mark didn't say a word as they came to the dock where the gangplank to the Whitesparrow waited. He waited for her to go up the gangplank first, Elsa, barefoot, scampered up the gangplank, ahh! This was familar territory for sure! Now who was ? Her heart stopped when she heard that voice.

"Elsa ?" Elsa turned at the sound, Impossible. She stared, slackjawed. Her mother, Queen Idun, stood near the captains cabin door. "Is that really you ?"

Elsa choked on her own breath, handing the urn to Mark who gracefully held it she darted to her mother, shouting a word she hadn't said in five years "MOMMA!" Elsa crashed into her mother, and the two women hugged tightly, Elsa was crying tears of joy as was her mother holding her close as Anna came into view. Elsa saw Anna standing a few feet away and reached a hand to her to join them in a hug. They were back together again.

After a moment Idun pulled Elsa to arms length "My little girl... Elsa, you've grown up to be a beautiful woman" She said, a bright smile on her face as she gently wiped a tear from Elsas face.

Elsa smiled "Anna helped me Momma, she showed me how to do it! I didn't have to hide in my room like we thought, I just had to embrace my magic, its who I am." she said, Idun smiled and hugged her daughter again. A few moments passed and Mark cleared his throat, which then Elsa remembered he carried the two urns and the chest. "I nearly forgot, Momma, can we go into the cabin ? There is something important I need to do"

It was then that Anna asked "Where's Aunt Ingrid ? Did she find you ?"

"She found me yes, but... she took my place in it." Elsa said softly, "I promised her I'd set her free once we're through with the imp once and for all"

"And ?" Anna pressured her sister slightly, just so.

"Regina helped, she stayed with him, and he dealed right into my own hand so to speak. He wont be bothering Arendelle anymore." Elsa said as Mark stepped forwards and handed her the pale gold urn

Idun saw it, a tear slid from her eyes as she put a hand to her mouth, remembering what happened in the past. It was her fault, all of it. She had just barely gotten Helga's heart from her sisters shattered body before it had been touched by the ice magic. But now. Elsa seemed stronger, more magical. And if Ingrid willfully took her place in the urn, that meant Ingrid truly did not mean to kill Helga! So she asked softly "Elsa, where is my sister ?"

Elsa gently took the urn from Mark and held it steady, turning to her mother "Aunt Ingrid is safe, she asked me to trap her in here, to take my place and get to freedom, but I promised her I'd set her free."

Idun nodded, she motioned then for Elsa to go first into the cabin that was normally reserved for Mark. Steping into the room, Anna, her mother, and Mark in tow, Elsa went to the rug in the middle and opened the urn, tilting it gently onto its side as her aunt poured out in white liquid, Elsa shivered, remembering briefly the feeling of turning into that same goop but of blue.

Ingrid reformed on the floor of the captains cabin as Elsa turned to Mark, trading the urn for the burial urn and chest containing her aunts heart and remains she said to him softly "Weight it, and when we're in the middle of the deepest point of the sea, drop it over the side. No more shall it haunt us."

Mark nodded, he took his leave as Idun rushed to her sisters side crying out her sisters name joyfully. "Ingrid!" the two women hugged each other tightly, when Ingrid saw Idun alive and well when Elsa had said she had passed away at sea, well, this was a miracle for sure!

Reaching up a shaky hand to her sisters face Ingrid said softly in disblief. "Idun... is it really you ?" Idun nodded as she gently wiped her sisters tears.

"Yes, Ingrid, its me. What I said in the past, I was scared, It was my fault. I am sorry I trapped you in the urn." Idun started to apologise to her sister but Ingrid stopped her.

"No, Idun, what happened happened, we can't go back on it, and lets not dwell on it, We're together again, that is what counts." Ingrid said hugging Idun tightly, Idun nodded, the two hugged, tears came to the former Queens eyes as she held her sister again. They broke apart

"If only Helga were here with us, we could be together again." Idun said softly.

"Momma, she can be. I learned about something, someone actually, taught me something important." Elsa said, looking to her sister who was smiling bright as Elsa motioned Mark to bring the urn and chest forwards. "I learned, that love can remove barriers, overcome fear. Unite families." As she spoke she held out the chest to her mother and aunt. Opening it to show them the heart still beating within. "This is Aunt Helga's heart. He saved it, he saved her from certain death, to fulfill a promise"

Ingrid stared, how did she know of that promise ? Then she smiled ad nodded, "That's right. At the last second, I heard everything, Dastan was there, wasn't he ?"

Idun nodded. "He was there yes, but he said he may have been too late, her heart he was barely able to save, but not her body. Her body is gone, frozen, broken." Idun said softly as her older sister hugged her tight.

"Her body is in this. The imp had both. But I forced a unique deal on him. And I think it worked." Elsa replied she opened the burial urn, gently tilting it over she poured out her aunts frozen broken icy body. It reformed due to some magic, some form of powerful magic, the love of family, true love, Love that thawed. The only problem was, she still needed her heart.

Elsa held out the small box holding the heart to her mother "I think you should both bring your sister, our aunt, back, together. It just takes a little love." She said, at this point Idun stared at her eldest daughter, a grown woman, yet, giving the knowledge of a young child.

Idun nodded, "You're right Elsa," She said, hugging her daughter close, pulling Anna into the hug as Ingrid watched, a soft loving smile on her face. "fear is our enemy, but love thaws." Idun reached to her sister, Ingrid took her youngest sisters hand in hers, and held their sisters heart together as they knelt over their frozen sisters body in the captains cabin of the ship.

The heart of Helga barely touched her body before it was sucked into its proper place with a soft heartbeat. Seconds passed and Helga sat up with a sudden gasp of air clutching her chest as she stared at her sisters in shocked confusion. "Idun, Ingrid ? Where are ? What happened ?"

Ingrid broke down and hugged her sister tightly, crying as she did so, tears of joy. Helga, at first shocked, soon quickly realised what happened and hugged Ingrid just as tightly, also crying with joy as Idun joined them. They were together again. After so many years apart, they were back together once more.

Elsa stood by her sister, their hands together, Anna smiled as Elsa tried not to cry seeing their mother so happy. And after so long! Five years since either of them saw their mother, and yet their father gave his life to save hers! And she was a prisonor of Weselton all that time!

Finally Helga noticed the two girls, and saw the startlingly resemblence between Elsa and Idun, softly she asked "Idun, Who are these young ladies ?"

Idun smiled, "Helga, I'd like you to meet your nieces, Elsa, and Anna, they are my daughters. Girls, this is your aunt Helga, my older sister. You already know Ingrid."

Helga smiled and reached out to Elsa then to Anna as Elsa hugged her aunt tight, Helga held both girls close as Ingrid and Idun stood to the side; within moments the happy family was in a massive group hug.

Finally after a few moments of reunion, Elsa asked the ultimate question, "Momma, can we go home ?" She wanted to be back in Arendelle, she wanted to be home again.

Idun nodded "Yes" she replied "lets go home" she nodded to Elsa who qent to the door of the cabin and opened it, Mark stood outside it waiting for his orders.

Seeing Elsa in the doorway he stood at attention waiting for her orders. "Are we ready to sail ?" Elsa asked

"At your word" Mark replied calmly; his first mate stood not far off near the helm. Soon it'd be time for the fun to begin indeed. But he waited for her orders.

"Then let us away, it is time to return home. We're ready. Sooner the better." Elsa said, Mark nodded

"At once my Queen" he said bowing, giving off as he turned from her a swift whistle as an eagle flew into view as the crew worked quicker and more efficent then before. Men scurried about getting the ship ready to sail. Within moments they were off.

Four Days Later

29 December

Aevon Sea between Mysthaven and Arendelle

It had been a long time in coming, Elsa standing at the rail looking out to the open sea unafraid. Her mother's apparent death made her scared of the sea. But with her mother alive and home. Along with both of her aunts. Elsa chose to face her fears. And so it found her watching the sun slowly set in the west.

Mark stepped into view, he had carefully wrapped in heavy linien cloth the urn that held Elsa at one point not too long ago. It was weighted with lead and broken glass. "It is ready my queen" He said calmly stepping up beside her. He held the wrapped item out to Elsa. "I think it best that you do the honor of making sure it is never seen again."

"As much as I want to freeze and break this cursed urn to pieces" Elsa said ruefully as she took hold of the urn, her heart hammered as she held it. She had thrown snowballs before, which had given her a pretty good arm at the time. "Are we at the deepest point ?"

Mark nodded "Yes We are four days from Mysthaven, and with this wind, we'll be four more days before we reach home."

Elsa smiled, "As much as I once thought my magic a curse. This is far worse then any curse upon a person" She reeled back to throw it "This urn can take its curse to the bottom of the sea!" She said, throwing it out over the water as hard as she could.

Idun watched from the poop deck near the helm as the urn went flying into the sea by her daughters hands. A good throw, Idun smiled, she was happy, she had Ingrid and Helga back in her life after her mistake so long ago. And Elsa and Anna had her back in their life as well after being a prisoner of Weselton for seven years. Oddly she was treated kindly. Unlike most prisonors of other countries.

Lost in her thoughts she was unaware that Mark came and stood next to her looking out to sea off the front of the ship. "My lady, I have a request I should like to ask of you." Mark said softly.

Idun turned towards him, already thinking in her head what he was about to ask. She could see the longing in his eyes as she followed his gaze which briefly locked on her daughter's smiling face, the smile on Elsas face grew brighter when Idun and her eldest daughter locked eyes. "I am also wishing to ask you a question Captain" Idun replied softly

"Ask it my lady" Mark replied as he took the helm and guided the ship through choppy water skillfully

"Can you keep her safe ? Can you love her like a mother loves her child ?" It was hard questions yes, but they all made sense

Mark thought a long moment before nodding "Yes, I can keep her safe, it is not like I have much choice in the matter my lady. Certain... people have requested I keep Elsa and Anna both safe from harm. It is... rather complicated. But they expressed most urgent that the royal family be properly protected. But there is only so much a single man can do" Mark replied. He had a dream the night before Idun arrived in Arendelle, a woman, who looked like Elsa's great grandmother Queen Amber the second but was in fact Elsa's ancestor Queen Elena who spoke to him.

"If you can keep Elsa safe, and happy, then what you are about to ask me. I approve" Idun said simply.

Mark was taken aback, it was that simple ? If he could keep Elsa safe by all means possible. He could court her ? "My lady, Yes, I was indeed curious of what you required of one who shall we say, is struck by both beauty and love. Elsa is a beautiful young woman. Any man would try to take advantage of her merely to obtain a place of power"

"Do you desire such power ?" Idun asked

"No" Mark replied truthfully, as the ship came to calmer waters he let the helm t othe helmsman and the two stepped to the rail watching the sunset beneath the waves. "If at all possible my lady. I merely wish to obtain one thing she does hold."

"And that is ?"

"My heart" Mark replied, "It is true, I am afraid to tell her, to ask her if she would like to become my wife. I am afraid of what she will say, I do not wish for power or a heir, nor money or trappings that come with the places of power in any kingdom. I simply want... her. Elsa. Your daughter. Being a queen is merely a bonus, it is who she is inside, A pure heart, a kind young woman." He explained the fight on the road to Idun then. "When we touched, I felt as if I was struck with energy unlike any other. A longing you may say. A longing to be with her for the rest of my days, come what may"

Idun smiled "Very good then. I approve. You may ask Elsa, you've my blessing." She told Mark. Who smiled and with a deep bow he excused himself to the various cabins belowdeck. Elsa was normally in the captains cabin, as it was automatically made the royal cabin when any of the Arendelle royals were aboard. And yet right that second, Elsa was down below deck, with Ingrid, practising her magic.

Mark saw how Ingrid taught, and briefly for a scant moment saw a bond begin to form, a bond between family, Elsa and Anna both took to Helga and Ingrid, their mothers older sisters like ducklings to water. Ingrid taught Elsa how to control her magic, and Helga told them both stories of growing up in the castle. Mark saw that Elsa was happy for once, truly happy to so far that she was not hunted, feared or hated. Or even having bad dreams of the urn or anything else. He also saw two ribbons, one in Ingrids hands, the other in Helga's hair colored pale gold. He briefly remembered the ribbon in Idun's own hair

After a brief moment of conversation with Ingrid and Helga, Mark noticed something between the three women when Elsa spotted him. Helga gave her niece a nod, as if saying to speak with Mark, Elsa nodded and hugged her aunt, Mark could barely make out the words of 'thank you' from Elsa, thanks for what made Mark wonder before Elsa went over to him, then linking her arm with his the two left the cabin and wandered the ship.

Finally after a few minutes, they were alone on the prow of the Whitesparrow, looking out to sea. Mark spoke first. "I have a question for you my Queen. If you will hear it ?"

"I too have a question for you as well Captain Wolfe" Elsa replied. Her question though concerned how close they were to home, and then some. Mark looked to her to speak first. So she asked. "Am I a good Queen ?"

"Yes" Mark said after a long moment, "The kingdom misses you. They wonder where you went, and where Ingrid went when she fled to find you in the dead of night, when your mother came home, and Hans was dethroned before he was even crowned king to begin with. The kingdom still missed iyou/i, their Queen."

Now it was time for his question when she smiled and thanked him. So he thought it over carefully and asked. "What do you look for in a man ?"

A odd question to be sure. Elsa thought carefully and replied "What do I look for in a man ? Well for one thing, if I were to find a man. I'd seek one that does not seek power, my throne for example, I'd want it to be out of love. Not as a grab for power or an arranged marraige. Why ?" Her sapphire blue eyes searched his deep green eyes.

"What if that man stood before you, and asked you the same question ?" Mark asked.

"I'm sorry, Captain Wolfe, I am confused. What are you trying to say ?" Elsa said, completely confused as to what Mark was asking.

"What I am trying to ask, My Queen, is this. I desire not power nor money, nor an heir, I simply desire to be by your side. If you will have me, would you become my wife ?"

Her answer he did not have to fear, her heart hammered as before he was even finished speaking she leaned in and gave him a gentle kiss dead on his lips. Saying softly, "You saved my life, twice now. I cannot think of anyone better, or more wanting me out of love other then yourself. But I must ask you. Do you truly not seek power ?"

"No." Mark replied "All I seek, is to be at your side, if you'll have me."

Elsa smiled and hugged him, whispering softly into his ear "Yes, a thousand times, yes." Marks heart soared. Now he just needed to make the engagement proper with a ring. But he knew that could be a while. Finally Elsa asked after watching the stars a few moments. "Do you think she is happy ?"

"Who ?" Mark asked

"Aunt Ingrid, she has her sisters, my mother, and Aunt Helga both back." Elsa replied, still thinking it a dream, this was going to take a lot of getting used to.

"I think so. When I first met her, she felt... off... to me in a way. You remember the story of those with the ablity to see and decern friend from foe ?" Mark asked

"You mean that Brotherhood, of a sort ? The Hidden Protectors ?" Elsa asked him in reply.

"Yes, them I suppose" Elsa looked at him confused as he explained, "When I first met Ingrid, that first time a month ago, when you brought her back to the kingdom. I saw, briefly, darkness surrounding her, like an evil aurora of a sort that clouded her true self. It wasn't greed, it was loss. But now, after four weeks, looking to her again instead of a dark aura about her I instead find brilliant blue, a friend, no more darkness."

"Did I manage to do it ? Embrace my magic, and redeem Aunt Ingrid ?" Elsa explained what Ingrid had confided in both girls the day Elsa learned the truth of the hat, telling them the full truth, leaving nothing out. She wanted to be loved, part of a family again. Even if it meant leaving Arendelle forever. But niether Anna nor Elsa would permit her to leave. But now that she had both sisters alive and back in her arms after so long.

"I think, with her sisters alive and well, and you and Anna taking to them both like moths to lamplight, yes. Ingrid is happy, darkness no longer clouds her heart or mind." Mark said, giving Elsa a playful look. "Now, if you dont mind my asking. Could you thaw my heart ?" Elsa did just that as Mark picked her up bridal style and carried her to his cabin, it was going to be an eventful four more days to Arendelle for certain!

The End