The Peasant's Promise

The Nightmare King

•Elsa's POV•

"W-Who are you?" I ask, my hands growing colder.
Even if the cold never bothered me, this man in front of me, with his her black hair and golden eyes, unnerves me. Why is he even in my bedroom?

You know why, a voice in my head says, deep and not at all what the voice in my head normally sounds. If that made any sense.

Wait...he spoke in my mind?

"I'm not hear to harm you, young princess," the odd man says, his pale hand creating some kind of black sand. "I'm here to help you. I can help control your emotions. I can help you take all of this fear away."

I sigh in relief, but a feeling of dread washes over me. How can he? And more importantly, if he was so willing to help me, what did he want in return?

I eye him carefully, taking a step back as I say,"Why are you even willing to help me? What are you really after?"

He chuckles lowly, his eyes glinting as he looks down at me. He is really tall, and really skinny as well. His black cloak doesn't suit his body well, but even from the long sleeves of his tunic, I can see how well-toned his biceps are. He catches me staring and he grins. I flinch, looking away as I blush fiercely.

He hummed as he sat down on my bed, touching the frost that covered it. "You know, you and I would make a great team. Cold and dark...oh, the wonderful things we would accomplish!"

Oh. That's what he is...he's a dark spirit. Okay, he needs to get out of here. I need to get out of here. Now.

"Well, it was nice to stay and chat, but unfortunately I have a meeting to attend to. Bye!" I try to rush out the door, but somehow he gets in front of me quickly, blocking me from my only exit. "Leaving so soon? Why don't you sit down? Honestly, I promise I won't hurt you. I'm just trying to help you. You see, I went through the same thing you did. I was being cursed with this...this power." He showed me his black sand once again, and I shuddered. He led me over to the bed where we sat down, me still a good distance away from him.

He told me his story. When he was born, the Man in Moon had gave him a power. It was the power to heal. With this sand, he said, he could heal any sickness or disease.

"But," he said sadly,"one day, I discovered that my mother has had an affair with this man, and I didn't know why. I always thought my father had died early on, because that's what she told me. She had lied to me. I became angry because all of this time, all of my life, I had been told he was a great man, that he had served his country well before he had died in a war. But...it was all a lie." I remain silent the whole time, I rent on listening to his tragic tale. "And...I'm ashamed to admit this, but I became so angry my power turned dark. I hurt many people, and I...I'm ashamed." He said, a tear falling down his cheek. I look at him wide-eyed, not expecting a man like him to be like this.

"I'm sorry," is all I manage to say. He looks up at me smiling as he continues to talk.

"But no, little one," he said gently,"I am not finished. You see...I died, about ten years ago. I didn't even know who I was until I found Arendelle. That's when all of the pieces of the puzzle came together."

He rubs the back of his neck as he adds,"For years, I have been searching for a way to make amends, to right my wrongdoings. And I think you're the ticket to help me."

I look away for a moment, then back to him. "What do you want in return? I know you can't just be wanting to help me unless you want some kind of payment."

He shrugs. "My girl, all I ask is that you let me help you. And once I do that, I'll be free."

I nod, but then he says,"You would also have to pledge me our loyalty and allegiance. People like me, we need a friend. I need you to promise me you will always be by my side, no matter what."

"And if I don't fulfill that promise?"

"Then your powers will simply grow worse, like mine did. Now, what do you say?"

I sigh, weighing my choices. Trust a man I don't even know to help me with my powers, or remain helpless and alone? It was obvious I would never see Jack again, and it wasn't like he could help me anyway.

I extend my hand, shaking his. "Deal."