The Rift

Chapter 4 Part 2

*This chapter contains mentions of domestic abuse and other forms of abuse. Reader discretion is advised. *

Elsa thought her stomach was going to drop to the floor. She could barely contain her relief which bubbled under the surface of her eyes as trapped tears. "You remember?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. She sat down on one of the queen beds, her movements slow. "I was afraid that your memories were gone forever." Elsa looked up at Marie. "What do you remember?"

Marie looked her in the eye, and Elsa could not help but notice that her expression was much more relaxed. She was not afraid to look Elsa in the eyes for more than a couple of seconds now, and Elsa missed that. Unflinchingly, Elsa returned her gaze and awaited Marie's answer, her heart racing. "I remember the wolf cub and their mother, and everything before that. And I remember having this." Elsa watched as Marie took a deep breath and spread out her hands again. Much like water flowing down a hill, darkness flowed from Marie's hands and formed another dark sword. Elsa rose and faced Marie. She held out her hands and Marie gave her the blade. As soon as it touched her skin, Elsa could feel Marie's raw essence and emotion within the darkness.

Elsa shivered. "I can still feel what you're feeling through your magic..." She pulled the blade close to her and closed her eyes for a moment.

Marie blushed and grabbed the sword. "I forgot about that," she muttered, ushering a light laugh from Elsa. Marie dissipated the sword and sat down on a bed. Elsa joined her. Marie rubbed behind her eyes and sighed. "Nothing about this makes sense. You're from a Disney movie."

"And you're from a children's book."

Marie let out a huff of frustration. "That's right..." She gestured widely with her forefinger. "Wasn't it written by a character I made up? Nevaeh Scott?"

"Yes!" Elsa exclaimed excitedly. She cleared her throat and assumed her former refined self. "Yes. She unfortunately passed, but you got to meet Henry."

"I got to meet HENRY!?" Marie did not try and hold back her excitement.

Elsa laughed as her chest swelled with pure fondness. She gazed softly at Marie. "I missed your laugh..." Marie immediately froze, and Elsa cupped her face in embarrassment. "Forgive me. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable. I just-..." She paused as tears threatened to escape her eyes once more. "I thought you were dead. I had always hoped you weren't, but..." She trailed off and shook her head. "Forgive me."

Marie stirred but was still tense. She leaned on her elbows and knees, a pensive expression covering her face. "It's okay. What I don't get is that I was only gone for a few hours in this world. How could I be in Arendelle for as long as I was?"

"Time flows differently between our worlds," Elsa explained. "Only a year has passed since you were-" She paused to distract herself from growing emotional. "Since you were pulled back," she finished quietly. "But here, two years have passed, making you 27."

"And you 26," Marie said, her gaze steady.

Elsa felt herself blush. "You remember," Elsa murmured. She smiled. "Do you remember anything else?"

Marie looked at the door. "I want to bring you somewhere to answer that."

Surprise pricked in Elsa's heart at that statement, and she found herself automatically packing up her things in response. "When do we leave?" Within minutes, Elsa had checked out of the inn, and they were inside Marie's vehicle. Elsa marveled at all the other vehicles on the roads and parking lots, and she turned to Marie as they started moving, her spirits immediately lifted from being in Marie's presence. "Do most people have carriages like you?" Elsa asked excitedly, her gaze jumping from vehicle to vehicle.