Frozen Beyond [gxg]

Ahtohallen

Keahi was walking ahead of her, Bruni scurrying up Keahi's leg and attempted to get under the woman's shirt.

Keahi swatted at the salamander, shivering and dancing around in an attempt to get Bruni out from her clothes. She ended up tripping over a twig and getting a pointed look from her brother.

"You got ants in your pants, Ki?" Crow growled.

Keahi shrugged, saying something that Elsa couldn't hear.

Bruni loved her. Could she trust Keahi now to help her now? Even if she tried, could they succeed? She wanted to, so bad. The hurt ebbed painfully, but she was trying to understand Keahi's precarious position. The love that siblings share is strong, if Anna gave up her empathy, could Elsa still love and protect her? She wanted to say yes, always yes. But what did she really know of the position Keahi was in?

The crashing of waves and the smell of the sea had her steps stuttering and fear overcoming the hurt that she felt moments before.

The sky darkened and thunder tumbled in the distance. As they crested the hill, they all stopped to look over the dark sea. The waves crashed against the black pebbles of the shore as the wind whipped through, howling and bringing with it the smell of salt.

Crow waved his hand towards the men behind her. They cut through the line, carrying a small rowboat.

She wrinkled her nose. Did they really think they could get there in a rowboat?

Crow was marching back to her, and she angled away from him. He grabbed her elbow, "Call the Nokk and get us safe passage."

She swallowed hard; he went on to say something and she jerked her arm away to cut him off. "I know, if I don't you'll burn Arendelle."

"Smart girl."

She felt the smooth stones under her feet as she made her way on the shore. The small boat rocked back and forth in the water under the ebb and flow of the waves.

Crow was getting into the boat, motioning for Keahi to get in. It looked like no one else was coming.

She glanced over at Keahi, who held her elbow and put a hand on her waist to help her into the boat. Teetering, she got in and sat, Keahi sitting behind her.

Elsa closed her eyes before taking a deep breath and letting out her call to the spirits. Her voice drifted over the waves, powerful and enchanting. She called out for a minute before stopping.

From the depths, Nokk exploded from the waves. Letting out an aggressive whinny and tossing his head. He started towards the boat and Elsa leapt up, the chains on her hands rattling with the motion. "No! Nokk, you have to do this for me!" She pleaded.

Nokk paused, tossing his head and batting at the water before pacing, distressed.

Finally, the waves started to settle enough for Crow to take hold of the oars and move. Nokk circled the boat, calming the sea and trailing behind them.

Tears started to brim her eyes and she willed them away. She wouldn't cry, she wouldn't succumb to the hopelessness that started to shroud her. She couldn't allow Crow to see her like that.

She was a fortress. She was a pillar. She was a block of ice.

For the love of Ahtohallen, why couldn't she be that block of ice anymore?

Warm hands covered her own as Keahi worked on the cuffs. Sweat beaded on the woman's forehead, her hands shaking.

Keahi was nervous.

Her heart sped up and Elsa glanced up at Crow. His back was to them as he rowed the boat, entirely too focused on what he was doing.

A metallic click caused Keahi's hand to still momentarily before she continued to work on the lock. Keahi adjusted just as the boat scraped against the frozen island of Ahtohallen.

"Shit." Keahi seethed, the cuffs weren't off yet. Bruni crawled onto Elsa and onto the cuffs. Elsa pulled her hands to her lap to hide him.

"Ugh, finally." Crow grumbled, jumping over the edge of the boat to pull it more securely onto shore.

Keahi took hold of her elbow, the touch soft as she helped her onto the shore. Keahi glanced up at the large ice palace. Looking mesmerized by it. "Wow. This place really is magical." Keahi breathed out.

"Yeah, yeah. Let's get this over with." Crow shoved Elsa towards the river of ice. From his belt, he took a large knife decorated in rune symbols and pointed it towards Elsa.

She angled away from him, sweat began to bead on her forehead. She could feel Bruni working on the pick in the cuffs.

Just as Crow started towards her, she tilted her chin up and squared her shoulders. She couldn't, wouldn't, cower in front of him.

But before he reached her, Keahi stepped in front of her. "Crow, please reconsider. We still have time to find another fifth spirit." she pleaded.

He wrinkled his nose, pausing his stride and gripping the knife. "We have a few weeks at most. There is no time. Move."

"I can't," Keahi's voice broke. It was the first time Elsa heard emotion break her down. "I love her." She whispered.

Crow stared at Keahi like she had grown two heads before laughing. "Oh please. You have a different person on your arm every week. You'll get over it. Move."

"No. It's not right. We need to stop! If I would've known this is how things would always be, you should have let me die."

Crow's eyes nearly flowed as hot as an inferno. "I did all of this for us. You owe me everything!" He reminded her, pointing his dagger at them both. "Need I remind you little sister, if we don't do this, we are dead."

"I'm okay with that. I've made my peace." Keahi retorted instantly.

Elsa watched the two, coming to stand beside Keahi. "She doesn't owe you anything! Doing something for love and family should have no repercussions!" Elsa yelled, finding anger flaring in her. How dare he guilt Keahi when she had followed him out of nothing but love?

"Ah, the enchantress has spoken. You realize her love has an expiration date, right, princess?" Crow sneered, marching forward. "Now move, Keahi!" He roared.

A flash of fire and heat exploded on the shore and Crow shot back, sliding along the ice.

His eyes burned brightly when he looked at them and fire as black as night flashed against fire so blue it reflected the ice.