Jelsa Infernal Ice

Chapter 12: Sacrifices

Jack continued to follow North into the empty hallway. The music behind them gradually became more distant until it was just a soft murmur in the background. His eyebrows furrowed in confusion, wondering why North, the happiest, most spirited person ever, was acting so suspicious, so frightened, so not like himself. And why did he ask Tooth to keep an eye out for Elsa while they talked?

Judging by the way Tooth, Bunny and Sandy avoided eye contact when North pulled him aside, Jack knew that his fellow Guardians knew something he didn't, something they were all keeping away from him.

The young Guardian gulped as a feeling of worry hit him right in the chest. Whatever North was about to tell him, whatever the other Guardians were keeping from him, Jack had a bad feeling about it.

Once North decided that they were far enough into the castle, he stopped walking and turned around to face Jack. It was a good thing that his large hands were stuffed inside of his pockets, because they were trembling.

"North," said Jack. "What's going on?"

North sighed and shut his eyes. He thought back to his and the Moon's conversation that one night. The words absolutely pained him, but he knew - they all knew - that it was for Jack and Elsa's own good, for their own sake, for their own lives.

"Sit down, Jack," the old Guardian sighed.

Keeping a confused look on North, Jack sat in the nearest chair. If he still had a live, beating heart, it would probably be racing.

"There is something I need to tell you," said North, unable to look at Jack.

The bad feeling in Jack's chest just grew stronger. He already had so much to deal with; with Pitch's return, with Elsa, with their unborn child. What more could there possibly be?

North took a deep sigh before finally having the strength to turn to Jack. "A few weeks ago, I talked to Manny - the Man in the Moon."

The Man in the Moon. Yes, of course Jack is familiar with him. He is here because of the Moon, isn't he? He's the reason why all of them are who they are now, the reason to where they are now.

"I-I do not know how to explain this to you, Jack, but...but there is something that needs to happen," said North.

"North, I don't understand," Jack said in a low voice. "What's going on? What did the Moon tell you?"

The concern he was feeling just seemed to increase even more, sending a jolt of panic through his veins. All he wanted to do was to go back into the hall to make sure Elsa is alright, to make sure that there was nothing out there that could harm her.

North closed his eyes. In his many centuries of being a Guardian, this was the very first time where he felt conflicted, where he felt hurt, where he felt terrified. Not only did his heart break for Jack, but it broke for Elsa. He hated how the Moon gave him this task, him of all Guardians. How he hated how he was the one to bring this terrible news to Jack.

"Now Jack, before I tell you, I need you to listen," North pleaded. This was not getting any easier for him.

Jack sat back. He didn't know what to do. He was anxious, he was worried. He has never seen North like this - shaken and frantic - and the fact that North, out of everyone else, was speaking to him alone, worried him even more. If it was Bunny or even Tooth, it would have made more sense. But North? What could possibly be happening right now?

North sat opposite of Jack before staring at him dead in the eyes. He waited a few seconds, wondering how he was going to start, but finally took a deep breath and said, "As you know, Jack, we are immortal. You are immortal."