Winter Moon (Jelsa)

Chapter 29: Elsa

*Third Person, Elsa's POV*

Elsa felt Jack's magic surge along the bond. They worked in tandem, trying to keep the storm at bay. 

As she did her best to dissipate the clouds overhead, Elsa let herself drift deeper into her magic, trusting the bond to tether her to herself. She searched for that speck of darkness, unnaturalness, that she had felt when she'd cured Rapunzel.

Nothing.

Whatever it was that had happened earlier, it was gone now.

The best we can do is just create a shield around the ship, Elsa fired down the bond. Even combined, it would take too much out of us to stave off a whole storm. We would be vulnerable to attacks.

As an afterthought, Elsa added that she and Jack were the best line of defense against any enemies. Astrid was untested in the powers from the aegis. Rapunzel was a healer, and the rest didn't possess magic. 

If they were unable to fight, their chances of surviving would drop significantly — from low to lower.

Noted, Jack answered grimly. 

Since he was better at this than her, Elsa relaxed, letting her power flow into Jack, letting him shape the magic into billowing icy wind. 

A gust of frigid air burst from Jack's staff, whipping into the air around them. Elsa could feel it wrap around the ship, hardening, a shield of air.

Jack raised his hand, and and the wind began to pick up from behind them, blowing their ship along at a higher speed. Inside the air cocoon, it was much more still. Only a few light whispers of wind rustled Elsa's braid. 

Though it wasn't necessary, Elsa gripped Jack's hand tighter as their skyship sped north.

~ ~ ~

Dinner was a surprisingly lively affair. Rapunzel and Merida easily made Elsa smile as they distracted everyone from the dangerous quest ahead.

"You haven't heard music until you've listened to a drinking song of Dun Broch," Merida was saying, dusting bread crumbs off her red flannel.

"And a Berkian one," Astrid added. 

Merida flipped several empty mugs upside down and began to hit them in a playful rhythm.

Astrid broke into a song, something about dead sailors and black moons. Hiccup's eyes lit up in recognition and he joined in.

"Oh, teach me the chorus!" Rapunzel begged.

Hiccup and Astrid obliged, and despite the possible dangers ahead of them, Elsa found herself smiling. 

These were her friends. They were on their way to possibly... die. And yet, they seemed perfectly happy because they were all together.

Everything okay, Snowflake? Jack's voice drifted down the bond. He must have sensed her despair.

No, she admitted. We could be sailing to our deaths, Jack.

On the bright side, he reminded her, at least we're doing it together.

Cold comfort.

Well, we do control ice and snow.

Shut up.

Jack laughed aloud, gently sliding an arm around Elsa's shoulders and pulling her close. Though the movement seemed perfectly natural, Elsa felt herself blush slightly. 

We're going to be okay, Snowflake. I promise.

Elsa didn't reply, but in that moment, she could have sworn her heart felt a little warmer.

~ ~ ~

Elsa strode down a familiar hall. The walls were studded with portraits and torches, the wallpaper a stunning crimson.

"I'm coming, Mother," Elsa shouted, sprinting faster.

But she rounded the corner into the town square.

And there, lined up at the gallows were her parents.

North stood to the side, reading the list of crimes. Betrayal of their crown and responsiblities, disobedience to the Elites. Anna was in the crowd, screaming for someone to stop this.

Elsa's friends were holding her little sister back. Elsa stood there, frozen. Unable to do anything.

Her parents deserved this. They were horrible to be honest.

But did she really want them dead?

"Their punishment is death," North proclaimed, signaling for the executioner to raise his axe.

The hood of the executioner fell back, and he turned to wink at Elsa.

It was Pitch. Gray skin, dark hair, gold eyes. He grinned almost savagely, raising the glinting silver blade high in the air.

Elsa didn't think. She flung her hand out, ice flying through the air.

The axe fell.

Elsa's eyes flew open.

A dream. It had been a dream.

The door banged open, and Jack dashed inside. "Is everything alright? The bond was... I could feel you hurting."

"I was dreaming," Elsa explained, pushing strands of her light hair back. Cold sweat clung to her skin.

Jack reached over and took her hands in his, lacing their fingers together.

Elsa held on tight, feeling herself shake.

Slowly, she eased images down the bond. Enough for him to understand what her nightmare was.

"Elsa..." Jack whispered. "Do you want to..."

"No," Elsa whispered. "I don't want to talk about it."

"Okay. Whenever you're ready then, El," Jack murmured, uncharacteristically calm. "Just know that your dream will not become reality. We won't let it. We're going to stop Pitch."

Elsa leaned into him, resting her head on his chest. We're going to stop Pitch.

She let the resolve harden her.

She would kill him herself if she had to.

And slowly, her fear froze into ice and cold and clarity. Elsa would not let her nightmares become reality. No matter what.

A/N:

Sorry for the lack of updates. I've just been struggling to write a bit lately. Thanks for understanding.