Winter Moon (Jelsa)

Chapter 30: Elsa

"Is there really no other way?" Merida moaned.

"We better get started," Astrid sighed. 

I mumbled something about never wanting to read another book again but followed the two girls into the library. This was the seventeenth time we'd been here in the two weeks after my kidnapping. I didn't have anything against the library. It was a cozy place, filled with bookshelves, tables, and comfy armchairs. New Dawn students often came here to do their homework. Jack, Rapunzel, Astrid, Hiccup, Flynn, Merida, and I had been coming here as often as we could, scrounging for information about Pitch. 

Jack had been using his power as an Elite to keep me in the school, despite them finding out I lied about who I was. North was feeling lenient, however, and I suspected he was caught up in finding Pitch. 

Rapunzel had been going through the official archives of the Elites for the past few weeks, searching for information about Pitch. So far, none of us had any luck. 

I walked among the library shelves, pulling books that seemed like they might be vaguely useful off the wall. After I had a sizable stack, I returned to a large circular table where everyone else was already gathered.

"Where's Eugene?" Rapunzel asked as I sat down.

"He's at the Cistern, asking around for information about Pitch's secret cult," Hiccup replied.

"Help me go through these," I said, passing a few books to Jack, who took them with a minimal amount of grumbling.

"I feel like this isn't getting us anywhere," Hiccup commented adding another book title to the long list of the ones we had gone through. 

"There's nothing useful in the books the librarian recommended," Astrid informed us, as she skimmed the pages of a huge tome about the gods. 

"We should be out there gathering information," I muttered. "There's not enough time to search every book in the library."

"There's been no sign of Pitch in weeks though," Rapunzel pointed out. "We still have time."

I shut the book I was reading with a thump, catching everyone's attention. "Why don't we split up? A few of us can stay here and keep looking, while the rest of us can wander around the city, stopping by restaurants and stores to pick up some gossip. Rapunzel and Jack can go back to wherever Elite HQ is and search for answers there."

"Good idea," Jack agreed, eager to escape. "Astrid and Hiccup and can stay here and keep looking. Merida and Elsa can wander around town. Stay together everyone."

"What?" Astrid and Hiccup complained. 

"Just think about it as spending quality time together," Merida smirked.

Astrid scowled at her, but Hiccup seemed rather satisfied with the thought.

"I'll meet you at the East Gates," I told Merida, even though it was a lie. There would be guards and plenty of people around. She wouldn't be abducted by Pitch on a Friday afternoon in broad daylight.

Besides, there was something I had to do alone.

As I turned to leave, I bumped into someone.

"I'm sorry," I yelped, stumbling backwards. However, my apologetic expression quickly morphed into a scowl when I spotted who it was. 

"Oh," I mumbled unenthusiastically. "Hans."

"Ella! What an absolute surprise! I was just looking for you," Hans gave me a sickly sweet smile.

History had been an absolute train wreck because of him. "You were?"

"As a matter of fact, I am supposed to escort you to the principal's office. North says you have a visitor," Hans informed me with a pompous air of self-importance.

"I don't need an escort," I answered icily, surprising myself. Usually, I didn't stand up for myself in situations like this. Not when escape was better option. But what kind of visitor could I have? Perhaps one of Pitch's priests? I would go, but most definitely not with Hans.

"I insist," Hans answered, handing me a note.

It was most definitely the principal's handwriting. I had seen it a million times in classrooms and the mess hall.

Dear Elsa,

I have sent a messenger to escort you to my office. You have a rather peculiar visitor.

-Principal North

"Interesting how he misspelled your name like that," Hans mused.

"I shall point it out to him," I smiled curtly. "Now, I have very important things to attend to. If you'll excuse me..."

"I am supposed to escort you," Hans reminded me.

Resisting the urge to roll my eyes, I followed Hans out of the library. Once we reached the skybridge, however, I spotted an opportunity.

"Isn't the sunset beautiful?" I asked, pointing towards the blood orange ball that was slowly sinking beneath the horizon.

When Hans turned to look at what I was pointing at, I took my chance. Diving through a group of people, I glanced back to spot his infuriated expression. I sprinted down the length of the skybridge, weaving in and out of people, until I joined the back of a group of girls. None of them took notice of me, but to the passerby, I was just another girl part of their group. 

"Have you seen what Jasmine was wearing?" a red-headed girl asked one of her companions. They were probably in classes a year above me.

The blonde companion shook her head. "What was it?"

"She showed up in class out of uniform," the red-head grinned. "In harem pants!"

"You're kidding," Blondie gasped.

Idle gossip. 

I hurried around the group before Hans could catch up to me and entered the tower that would take me to the principal's office.

The office was at the top of a long set of stairs, past the teacher's quarters. I sprinted up the steps, moving even faster when I heard the doors open again. Hans was catching up.

As quickly as I could, I flung open the door to the principal's office, slamming it shut behind me.

I froze in shock as I spotted the person sitting in a chair in front of the desk. A person I thought I left behind.

My mouth opened, forming her name. 

"Anna?"