Melted [ Elsa x Jack Frost ]

Chapter 23

Jack coughed as he shuffled through more books that kicked up dust.
Everything from the Bible, to scientific manuals to theatrical manuscripts could be found here.
Both he and Elsa had decided hours ago that they'd help the keeper organize as much as possible and grouped books they found by theme.
However he was starting to lose patience.
Silence ate at him but he didn't want to risk talking and have Elsa pound him with more questions on their relationship (or lack there-of really).
But before Jack could finish that thought, Elsa beat him to it.
"Where will you go after this?"
Jack froze with his back to Elsa, unsure of how to respond.
He settled for honesty.
"I don't know to tell you the truth, my life's purpose up to now has always been to find an issue and fix it no matter the cost. I suppose I'll go wherever I'm needed next."
More silence filled the air after Jack had spoken and yet he could almost visualize the thoughts in her head running wild as he turned to face her.
Elsa did not meet his gaze however, and still continued to shift through books while forming a response.
He realized then that she was quite methodical in her sorting, confident and keeping a rhythm that Jack found almost comforting.
A comfort that was just as soon ripped away with her response.
"And if it is me who needs you after this?"
He swallowed hard, struggling to respond, when all of a sudden her excited gasp filled the cellar.
Quickly he walked toward her, weaving in between the heaps of books.
As he neared, he saw her eyes widen as she picked up a slim leather-bound book.
"This is it, I know it."
She said as she wordlessly began to flip through the pages.
Jack stood behind her and looked down, trying to read pieces of the Nordic runes written haphazardly on the pages.
Panic set in.
He thought the journal would be written in regular Norwegian however this was something different... more primative.
He let out a frustrated sigh while running a hand through his hair and Elsa looked up at him with a question in her eyes.
"I never thought about the book not being written in Norwegian, I can't read any of this, it's in some ancient script."
At this, Elsa chuckled and Jacks' frustration rose.
"How is this amusing to you?"
Elsa covered her mouth while shaking her head.
"It would appear the amazing Jack has for once found something he can't do."
Jack crossed his arms,
"Very funny, what are we going to do? Do you know of someone who can translate the script?"
Finally finished with her laughter, Elsa cleared her throat while smiling.
"Yes I do know someone actually."
Jack waited a beat for her to continue but when she did not and continued to look at him, he shook his head and rubbed his eyes.
"Would you mind imparting that piece of information upon me Elsa?"
If anything her smile grew as she nodded,
"Of course, but I warn you they'll most likely want compensation."
Jack groaned,
"Of course they do, whatever, they can have anything they want if it means we finally know the truth."
Elsa grinned,
"Anything?"
Jack returned her stare.
"Anything within reason."
Elsa nodded as though contemplating and Jack threw up his hands.
"Well who is this friend? And don't say that Finn guy."
Elsa laughed, ready to put him out of his misery.
"It's me Jack. I can read Norse."
Jack looked at her, shocked.
"Don't act so surprised, Ana and Kristoff didn't lie when they said I'd be useful, it just took a while." She huffed.
Jack held up his hands in mock surrender,
"No, I mean, that's great... about that compensation part tho-"
But Elsa cut in before he could finish, already interpreting the panic in his eyes.
"Relax, I was just kidding."
With that, she turned away with the book and walked to a cluttered desk in the corner.
Pushing some things aside, she lit a match and looked closer at the top of the worn pages.
She was looking for dates.
"About what year did the ship wreck happen?"
She called over her shoulder.
She nearly jumped at the sound of Jacks' rumbling voice, he was way closer than she had thought he was.
She didn't dare turn her head for she could feel him practically breathing down her neck.
"I don't know, look for anything mentioning a spear."
"I'm trying, but the writing has been greatly altered by water damage."
A few minutes passed as she scanned each page until she came across something.
"Here".
She pointed at a particular sentence halfway through the journal.
Jack leaned over her more to see what she was pointing out and got a whiff of lavender.
Trying to push how good she smelled out of his mind, he focused.
"I see the name Odin."
Elsa nodded,
"Yes, he mentions a gift being bestowed upon them by Odin himself."
She frowned after saying this as she continued to read.
"What is it?" Jack asked worriedly.
"I... nothing, it's just that- it doesn't make sense."
"What doesn't?"
Elsa shrugged,
"It says here that they travelled far and wide with the Kraftig until they had to part with it for safety reasons. The Viking said they did bury it and gives the exact coordinates."
Jack replied,
"That's great! What's so confusing about that?"
Elsa shot him a glance.
"It also says that the spear was found already."
Jack gaped in hearing this.
"What do you mean found? It was only a few weeks later that they supposedly all died in the shipwreck. How could someone have found it and they knew it?"
Elsa shrugged.
"That's what he wrote. A few days into their journey, word was sent by another convoy that the spot where the spear had been buried was empty and dug up."
Jack tossed a book across the room in frustration then put his hands above his head and began to pace.
He was muttering something about one step forward and two back while Elsa sat silent, thinking.
She brightened as an idea hit her.
"Look worst case, we go to the spot the coordinates indicate and see what's nearby. If someone took the spear it was because they lived or stayed close enough to possibly watch the soldiers and get it without being seen, I bet it's still in the area."
Elsa glanced at the page again,
"You were right, it's somewhere in the valley between Arendelle and the Black mountains if my memory serves."
Jack nodded while his eyes were still closed.
Without wasting another moment, they came up with a plan.
They would take the coastal way back to the Ostrovian forest where the journal generally indicated the spear to be.
This would take longer but they both knew they could have no repeats with Jerger.
All in all, it would take a week and a half but it was what it was.
Quickly, they tidied around them and bade goodbye to Aksel, thanking him for his help.
They left the original journal with the bookkeeper only after Elsa had copied what was needed on a spare paper.
As for their earlier conversation, Elsa knew it was futile to pursue it.
She would just need to see what would happen and not get her hopes up.
In the end, she was just glad that she could help Jack out like she did in translating.