Winter Moon (Jelsa)

Chapter 26: Jack

Jack was careful not to wake Elsa as he laid her on an empty bed. Asleep in his arms, she seemed younger, quieter.

He remembered the way she had acted around the Elites. The way she had stared down Stoick in Berk. Even the way she had looked when Pitch possessed her. Jack recalled the rush of her power.

In those moments, Elsa had seemed so... fierce. She was like a icy star, a determined queen, a vengeful goddess. It was both terrifying and beautiful. 

But now? 

Asleep, Elsa was young, quiet, a child. She was a mere fourteen-year-old student at New Dawn, who had been battered by the world. When Jack had first met her, she had assumed the false name Ella, to protect her identity.

She could have been Ella now. Quiet and shy. Fearful of her power and herself.

But this was not Ella. This was Elsa. The Crown Princess, soon to be queen. The Student Who Became a Warrior. 

But underneath those masks, deep in the lines of their soul-bond, Jack could see her. The real her. The girl who just wanted to keep those she cared about safe.

The girl who was his friend, his soul-bonded, his soulmate.

Jack wondered if he was like her. If he put up facades and ruses to hide who he truly was at heart. He'd have to ask Elsa sometime. She knew him better than anyone. Even himself.

Reaching down, Jack tugged off Elsa's shoes and then pulled the blanket over her. 

"Sleep well," he said softly, though Elsa could not hear him.

~ ~ ~

Jack woke to a tug on the bond.

Wake up, Elsa demanded. The Elites are here to talk to us. They're being... difficult.

They're being a bunch of pompous asses, you mean, Jack responded. You could have woken me up earlier, you know.

I was trying to let you sleep.

Jack rolled to his feet, cutting off the mental connection. He pulled on a fresh pair of drab pants and a clean t-shirt before jamming his feet into sneakers.

Breakfast had been laid out on the tables, but only Elsa, Rapunzel, and Hiccup were there.

Along with another guest.

"What a wonderful surprise, Kayla," Jack deadpanned. "So lovely to have another chance to talk with you."

"Likewise," Kayla answered in the same flat tone. "I'm delighted."

Hiccup cleared his throat, and in an effort to diffuse the tension said, "Jack, why don't you join us. The, uh, soup is delicious."

"So good," Rapunzel nodded emphatically.

"Since when did you like tomatoes?" Jack asked, eyeing the tomato bisque.

"Since now," Rapunzel said and then mouthed I don't. 

Elsa held back a laugh. "We can decide whether or not Rapunzel likes tomatoes in a minute. For now, I think Jack should hear the proposal."

"Proposal? Who's getting married?" Jack replied without missing a beat.

Kayla rolled her eyes. "Sit down and shut up, Frost."

Jack mimed locking his lips shut as Elsa kicked him under the table.

"Solen has been informed of everything that has... transpired these past few days," Kayla began. "Since it seems that, well, the Elites are incapable of keeping you several under control and because Elsa is too valuable of an asset to be disposed of, Solen has ordered a mission. Your commoner friends will be allowed to come... at their own risk."

"What about everything else?" Hiccup asked. "The darkness thing Elsa did and the aegis."

"The Elites will deal with the aegis. As for the darkness thing..." Kayla trailed off and removed a small, cylindrical metal object with one sharp end from her pocket. She also pulled out a glass vial.

"What are you doing?" Jack demanded.

"Do you mind if I?" Kayla said to Elsa.

"Um, sure?" Elsa looked baffled. Jack wasn't sure that was the smartest thing to say.

Kayla grabbed Elsa's arm and flipped her wrist over, exposing the faint lines of veins her wrist. With brutal efficiency, Kayla shoved the sharp end into Elsa. Jack felt a twinge of pain down the bond. He stiffened in his seat.

"What was that for?" Elsa yelped. 

Calmly, Kayla held the vial under the other end of the metal needle. Sure enough, a thin stream of red began to trickle from the metal into the vial. "I'm taking a sample of your blood that can be studied. Perhaps our scientists will figure out why you were able to do that."

"A little warning would have been nice," Elsa grumbled.

"It would have," Kayla surmised, pulling the metal needle from Elsa. "Unfortunately, I'm not nice."

"I can see that," Elsa said with a sigh. Rapunzel reached over and wrapped Elsa's arm in her hair. She hummed softly as her healing power took over, lighting up her golden locks and knitting Elsa's wound back togehter.

"Thanks, Punzie." Elsa smiled.

"No problem."

"Anyway," Kayla interrupted. "Back the point."

"What kind of mission are we going on?" Elsa asked.

"Solen vetoed North's orders. He wants to send you to find the Immortal Sword without letting the gods know," Kayla answered. Glancing between us, she rolled her eyes again. "But you were already planning on doing that, weren't you?"

"Guilty as charged." Jack shrugged.

"But we don't have to have our memories wiped, right?" Hiccup clarified.

"Your memories will remain intact," Kayla promised. "Solen, I suppose, is taking drastic measures against Pitch. Including sending Experiments and commoners on missions."

"Enough, Kayla," Jack growled.

Kayla shrugged. "Jack, Elsa, and Rapunzel have been headed with the mission, but you're welcome to expand." She pushed a pile of papers over to them. "If you're willing to accept, this is the case file for the mission."

Jack caught Elsa's gaze. Her blue eyes were as still and cold as ice. Star. Queen. Goddess.

We have to. This will only make our mission easier, she said down the bond. 

Jack responded with a curt nod.

"We accept," Elsa told Kayla in a voice that felt like the toll of a mourning bell.