Winter Moon (Jelsa)

Chapter 11: Elsa

Anna raced across the room and flung herself into my awaiting arms.

"Sis," she mumbled into my sweater, "what's going on?"

"A lot of things," I answered, stroking her hair. "Don't worry. You're going to be fine."

"But what about you? And Mother and Father?"

I cringed. "Anna—"

"It's true, isn't it? What everyone's saying about an execution?"

For a moment, part of me wanted to lie to her. To tell her that everything was going to be okay. 

Elsa, Jack's voice drifted warningly into my head. Lying is not going to help anyone.

Okay, I'll tell her the truth.

"Yes. It's true. I'm doing my best to stop it, but I don't know what's going to happen," I whispered to Anna, watching as her expression shattered and tears filled her eyes. What kind of sister was I?

"No! No! You'll stop it! You can do anything," Anna tore away from me, eyes frantic. 

Shit. I was not good at comforting people. 

"Hey, kiddo," Jack rose from his seat and approached Anna, gently taking her hands in his. He was much taller than the eleven-year-old, but he lowered himself down so they were eye-to-eye. "Remember me?"

"Yeah. You had powers like Elsa's."

"That's right. I'm Jack. Now, do you trust your sister?"

"Absolutely."

"Okay, then you know she is doing her best. But she's not omniscient. She's a person, just like you, and there are somethings that regular people can't do. Like controlling death. She do not get to decide who lives and who dies. That is not her job."

"But it's not fair! Mama and Papa just made a mistake! They didn't mean to hurt people."

But they did. I restrained the thought, but it bubbled up again, hideous and unwanted. They meant to kill me.

"That may be so," Jack didn't deny it, "but that doesn't mean they get a second chance. There are people in this world who don't think mistakes deserve second chances. It's a good thing that you do. Do not despair just yet, Anna. Your parents are still alive."

I could see the hope blossom in Anna's eyes. Gratitude filled my chest.

You can thank me later, Jack said down the bond.

~ ~ ~

"Do you know anything about the Hidden World?" I asked Hiccup as we strolled through Berk. We would have to leave soon if we wanted to get back to school on time. An expedition to the Hidden World would be saved until we had more information.

"Only bedtime stories," he answered. 

I frowned. "Perhaps I should pursue a different angle... but either way, all roads lead to finding Annalise's statue."

"What? You're looking for Annalise's statue, aren't you?" Hiccup interrupted my train of thought.

"Something like that," I conceded.

"But that would mean..." Hiccup trailed off as he pieced it together.

"I need to find the Hidden World. But it's just story. Even then, it's doubtful that this legend about Imora is even true."

"All stories are true," Hiccup murmured.

"I certainly hope so. Stories may be the only chance we have."

We turned down the street, our grim mood lightening when we spotted the dragons. Toothless and Stormfly were sitting next to Astrid, waiting for us.

"These two will get us back to Skyara in no time," Astrid informed us, adjusting a few strands of her blonde hair that had escaped her braid. 

Jack descended from the sky, flying right above our heads and landing in front of me. "We should leave within the hour if school is, you know, that important."

"We can't let anyone know we're missing," I reminded him. "You know, in case our absences are noted by the Elites."

"You've made your point, Snowflake."

"In that case, everyone say their goodbyes. We leave in thirty minutes."

Jack opened his mouth, probably to make another joke, but was cut off by the frantic chiming of a bell. 

"What's that?" I shouted over the clamor.

"It's an alarm bell!" Astrid yelled. "Berk is under attack!"

Instinctively, our little group closed ranks, the four of us standing back to back. Toothless lashed his tail.

And then, in the distance we saw it.

A cloud of black raced across the day sky, blotting out the sunlight, racing towards Berk.

It was my nightmare come true. Pitch was attacking us.