Reverse of the Thaw (Book 3)

Chapter Seventeen: A Reminder of Forgiveness

Chapter Seventeen: A Reminder of Forgiveness

The group ran down the stairs, and out into the courtyard, there was a lone blaster shot followed by a yelp, and as they rounded the corner they found four clones surrounding a single figure.

"You're Highness! Over here!" The lead clone called out, and as they came to a stop they saw a rough, unkempt looking man on his knees, his hands on his head between the armored soldiers.

"We caught him trying to sneak over the south wall. Put up a heck of a fight." One of the younger clones commented, nudging the man's back with the butt of his rifle.

Bo-Katan walked over to the clone that was holding the man's confiscated weaponry. She examined it for a moment before turning to Elsa.

"This is the weapon that fired the dart, its an older model, very distinctive." She said simply, handing the weapon back and looking at the man with scorn in her eyes.

For Elsa's part she was seething, her hands clenched at her sides as she stared at this crimminal, she knew without words that dart had been meant for her, and if tables had been turned she would have at least partially taken into consideration this man's position. But a logical though had long fled her mind. He had hurt her family.

A clone was pulling the man to his feet, Rex had been speaking, his voice tight with controlled anger, but Elsa only snapped out of her thoughts by his last sentence.

"You have no remorse?" He barked, apparently he had asked something and the man had made a snarky comment, this time the man just looked smug and rolled his eyes, and with that all Elsa saw was red...

Withough another word Elsa lunged, her hands shooting out a blast of ice, striking the man's armored chest and sending him barreling backwards only to crash into a wall.

"How dare you." She said, her voice dangerously soft, before the man could recover small slivers of ice suddenly appeared, flying at him, and pinning his arms and legs to the wall by his clothes. Gone was the arrogant look, now he looked terrified.

"You think its funny? You could have killed her? And you think you can just get away with it?" Elsa said, her voice rising in pitch as she stalked towards him. She ignored the shouts that came from her husband and their companions.

Another shard of ice appeared, this one razor sharp, it moved forward until it was only centimeters from the man's neck.

"Please!" The bounty hunter begged, trying to press farther back against the wall to avoid the deadly ice.

"Elsa! Stop!" Rex suddenly moved in front of her, blocking her pathway to the man, holding his arms out ot stop her from going any farther.

"Elsa, calm down, this isn't you!" He insisted around them a fierce wind had sprung up, snow beginning to fly.

It was his voice that snapped her out of it. Elsa blinked slowly, for the first time seeming to see him standing there.

"Elsa..." He said again, this time putting his hands carefully on her shoulders. Her skin was ice cold, enough that he wanted to pull away, but he kept his palms against her shoulders, forcing her blue eyes to meet his brown.

The snow finally began to settle and Elsa let out a small gasp as she realized just what she had been doing...

"Elsa, we have him now, you don't have to fight." Rex's voice came to her mind, and her blue eyes snapped back to his brown.

The clones hurried up and regained their prisoner, simply edging around the royal couple, a heavy silence having fallen between the group. Elsa heard Bo-Katan slightly whisper something to one clone, and he nodded, dragging the now partially hysterical man away.

Rex released his hold on Elsa's shoulders, taking a step back and simply observing her, and she, refused to meet his eyes. He started to say something, but decided against it, sighing instead, he reached out and put his hand on the small of her back, guiding his wife back towards the palace.

Once they were inside Elsa pulled away from him, and moved off, ignoring his calls. Rex for his part let her go, he knew that she wanted space, and kept his distance the rest of the evening. He did see her occasionally in deep conversation with Bo-Katan, or with the doctors attending Anna. For what he had heard that the Princess would pull through. That the prisoner had been able to identify the posion, as well as enough about his employer to start a planet wide search, only to find he had vanished.

It was much later that night, Rex had finally turned in. He had waited up for his wife, but he finally go the message she was avoiding him for some reason and turned off the lights. Several hours later Rex awoke to what sounded like a soft curse. He cracked opened an eyes to see Elsa standing in the doorway, holding her foot in her hand. It took all of his willpower not to laugh. She must have hit it on the dresser. She always did when she came into the room and it was dark. Never mind she'd lived her here whole life, she always stubbed her toes, and in the same spot.

The light from the hall spilled into the room, and from what he could see her hair was loose, not brushed out, or combed back, just simply loose like she had pulled it free a long time ago and hadn't done anything with it. Her robe was hanging loose, barely on her shoulders at all. Another sign she was over tired, it was always tie neatly...

Slowly she shut the door and made her way over to the bed, she crawled across, thinking he was still asleep and not wanting to wake him. Once she was on the bed instead of moving to her side and rolling on her back Rex was surprised to feel her snuggle against him, her chin nestled against his chest.

A moment later his arm went around her protectivly and he felt her relax... They lay there for some time before he felt a drop of liquid spash onto his chest, and he knew she was crying. He sad nothing but cradled the back of her head, bringing it up to his lips and kissing her forehead.

Elsa's hands held onto his shoulder, clinging to him and telling of her fears even without words, Rex stayed awake until he felt her grip slacken and her breathing finally ease, telling him she was finally asleep...

Rex hoped this was the last of the stress for awhile, this needed to pause at some point... He missed seeing Elsa smile.

Okay, so SORRY this has taken so long! But with work and everything I have gotten SO behind its not even funny. Got this done for the Fourth... (may the fourth be with you everybody!!) but I am sorry, I have been writting up all sort of ideas for this, but then scrapped them. I will warn you this is probably the second to last chapter!!!