Frozen Beyond [gxg]

Choices

Her ears rang while she tried to focus on everything crumbling around her. Gritting her teeth and letting out a choked yell, she pressed the collapsing room outward with her magic.

The ice groaned under the massive weight before it started righting itself. The pressure from the collapsing ice brought her down to her knees as the weight pressed against her.

She felt like she was suffocating with each exhale, trying to fight the magnitude of the ice. Her fingers burned, ice covering them as she pushed her powers to the absolute limit.

Crow laughed, the graveling sound raking against her ears as he casually walked towards her.

Elsa whimpered, trying to stand but finding it impossible as the streams of ice started to come out weaker. She glowered once he stood over her; he tapped the knife in his hand with a smirk on his lips.

"Well, well, that's how I like to see people. On. Their. Knees." He clicked his tongue and raised the dagger.

Elsa bowed her head, she was exhausted. "I'm sorry." She whispered. She wasn't sure who she was apologizing to. Anna, for failing her again? Keahi, for not being able to save her from her curse? Even to Crow, for not being able to reason with him.

He brought the dagger down.

Elsa winced, then nothing.

A blur connected with Crow, a sickening crunch of his nose sent him flying across the room. The dagger spinning along the ice to the other side of the room.

A warm hand came to help her. She didn't realize how exhausted she was until her legs nearly buckled under her.

"How do I help you?" Keahi's voice trickled into her ear.

Keahi tried to provide some support, looping an arm around Elsa's waist.

The ice overhead let out a sharp grumble, but she felt her arms grow lighter, stronger. "You just did." Elsa breathed, giving one last push and settling the surrounding ice.

Dizziness dogged her. She collapsed but Keahi caught her.

"Are you okay?" Keahi helped her sit down.

Elsa let out a sharp breath, her hand flying to her rib cage.

"You're bleeding." Keahi gasped, kneeling in front of her and placing her hand there.

"It's nothing," Elsa winced, finally looking up at Keahi. The woman was soaking wet and dripping with water. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, but your water cow doesn't like me very much." Keahi scowled, turning to stand when Crow let out a demonic yell.

"How can you turn your back on me?" He raged, the ice melting under each heavy step he took.

"I'm tired of living like this. I'm sure Elsa and Anna would help —"

"There is no time!" He snarled, coming to stand ten feet away from them.

Keahi stood in front of Elsa, blocking her from Crows wrath. "It doesn't matter, because I won't let you hurt her."

"Loving an ice princess? What kind of warmth could she possibly offer you? She is nothing but frost and cold." He yelled.

Elsa grimaced, holding onto her ribs and taking in shallow breaths. Keahi turned to look back at her, their gazes meeting, and she watched a quiet smile spread on Keahi's lips before she turned back to her brother.

"You're wrong. She feels so much more deeply than everyone, but she shoulders it on her own and keeps it to herself. She doesn't let many in, and she's shy. But when she does," Keahi glanced back at Elsa, "she gives you everything and I won't betray that again."

Elsa choked out a sob and put a hand over her mouth to contain it. The epiphany of emotions that rolled through her couldn't be put into any singular expression.

Crows face wrinkled in smug horror. "She's made you soft."

"No," Keahi pointed at him. "She's strengthened me. Now don't make me choose, here and now, we can still have another few weeks to figure something out."

"No!" He roared, running at them both.

Elsa struggled to get up, using Keahi's arm as an anchor to pull herself from the floor. She watched in dread as Crow ran at them. She couldn't kill him, could she? Would Keahi forgive her for that? "What are we going to do?" Elsa breathed out, feeling drained physically and emotionally in that moment.

Deep down, she knew. And there was nothing she could do to change its outcome.

Keahi took a few steps forward. "Make a choice." Keahi whispered, her voice somber and thick.

Crow threw a punch when he reached Keahi. She ducked, his body twisting awkwardly from the missed blow.

But instead of jabbing back, Keahi reached up and grabbed the amulet around his neck. Crushing it in her grasp.

A shock wave of energy flew out from it and tossed everyone back.