Our Future

Chapter 1 - Protect Yourself

Elsa concentrated deeply on the target in front of her. Come on. Come. On! You can do this. You survived Nokk's wrath, Gales tricks and even Bruni's temper tantrums! You can take her!

"Gahhhhh!" Elsa charged the young woman before her in a frontal assault. Honeymaren raised her hands in defense and stood her ground. Elsa threw a punch at the girl who casually blocked and in return, flipped the snow queen over her shoulder and onto the grass below. Elsa felt the wind leave her lungs for what must have been the eighteenth time.

"Owwww." Elsa hissed through her teeth. She opened her eyes to see the dark-haired girl staring down at her.

"Sorry Princess. You know I'm bad at holding back." She offered Elsa a cocky grin causing the blond to blush.

"Oh no it's alright." Elsa allowed Honeymaren to help her stand. "One more time Maren. I think I'm starting to get the hang of it." Determination swelled within her. Her eyes beamed with confidence and strength. Honeymaren placed a hand on her hip and examined the taller yet thinner girl. Hair plastid to her face from sweat. Her clothes dirtied. Her skin was cut and bruised. Honeymaren could tell she was exhausted.

"Listen Elsa. I think we should call it a day. It is getting late." Honeymaren, although not as rough in appearance as Elsa, was beginning to feel her own fatigue. When she had agreed to help Elsa with combat training, she had not expected the woman to be able to keep up with her all day.

She understood the girl had great magical power but had seen how easy it was for her to get winded in the beginning if she over did it. Honeymaren had assumed Elsa's normal physical strength could not have been nearly as advanced as hers. She couldn't have been more wrong. She rubbed the bruise that began to from under her eye where Elsa had landed a blow in one of their previous bouts.

Honeymaren observed Elsa's body from head to toe. Her soft hands where now calloused from her time in the woods. She wore her simple white leggings and undershirt but had a light northuldra tunic over it. A gift from Yelena. Elsa was also usually barefoot but was wearing matching boots to her tunic. Honeymaren enjoyed seeing her in her peoples' clothes. She enjoyed anything she wore. Elsa's voice snapped her out of her thoughts.

"Please Maren. I want to keep going." Elsa pleaded trying hard not to sound desperate. Honeymaren rolled her eyes.

"Fine. One more match. But if we are late for dinner, you owe me." Honeymaren said sternly. Elsa gave a wide grin but it quickly disappeared when the dark-haired girl tackled her to the ground. "I won." Honeymaren pinned Elsa's hands above her head while straddling the former queen's waist. Elsa stared up at her wide eyed.

"That... that wasn't.... that wasn't fair." Elsa felt very awkward at the close proximity of the two. "That wasn't even the defense move you were teaching me! You just tackled me to the ground!" She struggled to free herself from Honeymaren's grip on her wrists.

"You know, you could just use your magic to free yourself." Honeymaren taunted her. Elsa stopped struggling and gave Honeymaren a serious look.

"No. You won Maren." She surrendered. Honeymaren raised a questioning eyebrow. And stood helping Elsa up again.

"Not to bad today Princess." Honeymaren shoved her shoulder playfully. And received a small smile. The two made their way back to the camp. Elsa didn't talk and was slowly dragging behind. Honeymaren slowed her stride to allow her friend to catch up with her. "Are you... sulking?" She asked amused. Elsa stopped and gave her friend a blank stare. Concerned replaced Honeymaren's amusement. "Hey? Are you alright?" She asked gently.

"I would struggle If I didn't have my powers, wouldn't I?" Elsa asked. The question was blunt and caught Honeymaren off guard.

You've come a long way Elsa. You are observant and strategic. You learn quick and you are fast. You are adapting." She smiled and tapped at the bruising under her eye. She was rewarded with another shy smile.