Frozen 3

Chapter 38

Elsa

I opened my eyes. The sun's rays, already high in the blue sky, illuminated the room. I sat up and stretched, still sore from the difficult night I'd just spent. I'd finally fallen asleep in an armchair in Honeymaren's room. I hadn't left her side since the events of the night before. I looked up at the bed in the center of the room. The young woman was still asleep, smiling unconsciously in her sleep.

I got up and silently left her room. As I closed the door behind me, I was startled to discover Ryder standing in the hallway, a glass of water in his hand.

"Oh, I didn't know you were here!" he said, just as surprised as I was. "My sister didn't look well last night, so I didn't think she'd want any visitors..."

I was speechless for a moment at the young man's naivety.

"You don't know?" I finally asked him.

He looked at me, bewildered.

"Know what?"

"Honeymaren made... a suicide attempt."

No sooner had I finished my sentence than Ryder rushed into his twin's room.

"Honeymaren!" he shouted, "Honeymaren! What have you done?"

I heard the young woman, awakened by her brother's screams, reply in a sleepy voice:

"What are you talking about?

"You know what I'm talking about! Why did you do it? Have you gone mad? I thought the problem was solved!"

Ryder's reproaches were flying in all directions. I left the cabin, letting them explain themselves.

***

The sea was calm. The rays of the setting sun reverberated off its glistening surface. I squinted to make out Ahtohallan. I could only make out the outlines with difficulty. Suddenly, Nokk appeared amidst the lapping of a few waves. He stared at me with an intense gaze, eager to know what I was doing on this beach. He gently tilted his head to one side, curious. I approached him, a smile on my lips. I gently stroked his neck. He would only let me do it. No one else. 

"Where are you going?"

The water spirit instantly disappeared into the waves, far too fearful to bear the presence of strangers. I turned around. Silja was facing me, standing in the black sand. How had she followed me?

"Uh... I..."

"Nowhere, then. Follow me."

The old woman rested both hands on her cane and struck the ground with two sharp blows. The Dark Sea split in two, revealing a passageway. I stood transfixed, just as impressed as I had been the first time I had witnessed this spectacle. The Northuldra rushed in without hesitation. After a few moments, she stopped, turned and shouted at me:

"What are you waiting for?"

I remained motionless, unable to make the slightest gesture.

"Well then! Get a move on! Preferably today!" she continued impatiently.

I snapped out of my torpor. When Silja heard my footsteps in the sand, she calmly resumed her journey, satisfied at last.

We walked silently for the few hundred meters that separated us from Ahtohallan. I took the opportunity to observe her. She looked old to me. Her features were even more drawn than the last time I'd stared at her like that. I towered over her by more than a head. She seemed curled up in on herself. Her long white hair was gathered in a messy bun at the back of her head. Numerous strands of it escaped and framed her face, turned imperturbably towards the horizon. I looked over my shoulder. Water covered our every step, preventing us from turning back.