Frozen Beyond [gxg]

Unexpected Guests

Jarrah set an unconscious Keahi down on Elsa's bed below deck.

Elsa looked at how peaceful Keahi looked as she laid there. She took the time to sit on the edge of the bed and move a strand of thick black hair from Keahi's cheek.

Jarrah cleared his throat. Elsa didn't look back at him but she heard his boots tap against the wood as he went above deck.

She was thankful to be left alone. Cautiously, she curled up beside Keahi, watching the gentle rise and fall of her chest. The lingering smell of ale tacked onto Keahi's clothes but that familiar, sharp smell of citrus and spice flooded through the stale alcohol. She didn't touch her, instead, kept her hand to her side as a deep frown crested her lips. She hoped Keahi would forgive her for, er, drugging her? She winced at how awry that plan had been. But she had been so desperate to be sure she didn't go back into Crow's clutches. So desperate to get her back here, with them, to try and set a course for getting Keahi's memories back. It blinded her to everything else.

"What are you doing here?!" Jarrah voice yelled, shocked above deck.

Elsa leapt up, hurrying up the stairs by two and running onto deck. She scanned over the ship before laying eyes on Jarrah and Anna, and just past them, a familiar irritating fiery haired woman.

They were still docked in the harbor, but were going to set sail as soon as Crow moved. Which, according to Keahi at the tavern, would be soon.

"Saphire, please." Jarrah eased.

"What the hell did you do to Keahi?" Saphire yelled.

Elsa tried to reign in every ounce of bitter resentment for the woman. Tried to ignore the hurt that ebbed at her when she thought of Keahi and Saphire close together. She let anger fuel her actions as she stomped over. A stream of ice twirled around Saphire, raising her from the ground and lifting her so she was dangling over the edge of the ship and above the water.

"What do you want?" Elsa demanded.

"Wait! I have some information! But you have to let me stay on the ship!" Saphire responded haughtily.

Elsa watched her, eyes narrowing. "Well?"

Saphire squirmed in the icy constraints that tightened around her. "Crow, he was whispering about Nifelheim and someone named Hel?"

Elsa was getting ready to drop her in the water. Anna came up behind her and put a hand on her shoulder. "Elsa?" Anna whispered, putting more pressure on Elsa's shoulder as she tried to reel her back in.

She sighed, taking a deep breath and setting Saphire back on the deck. She wasn't used to this. Wasn't used to the bitter jealousy that ripped through her so violently she wanted to throw something. She only understood her carnal emotions: fear, sadness, anger, happiness, love. Jealousy? How did she reconcile and deal with that?

She used her power to toss a 50 pound sack of wheat crashing overboard. Everyone stood in silence.

Until Olaf laughed, unsure. "Well, that was violent."

"Wow, she's strong." Jarrah winced.

"Come here, Elsa." Anna ushered her away from the group and their new guest. They went below deck into the room where Keahi rested on the bed.

Anna took large strides over to the chest and pulled out the old books of Nifelheim. She pointed to the book, a frown marred her lips. "Hel is the queen of Nifelheim. She is the darkness that presides over the shadow realm. Whatever Crow is doing is going to not only affect us, but the world. We can't let him get away with this. We need to stop him."

Elsa took the old book gingerly in her hands. Running her fingers over the black, faded leather. "He's planning on unleashing darkness." She whispered, dread bleeding into her words.

"And we have the power to stop him." Anna murmured, resting her head on Elsa's shoulder.

"He's going to the land of fire to claim a giant's heart. He must need it to get into Nifelheim, it's the only explanation or else he'd already be there." Elsa put the book down, determination reflected in both of the sisters' eyes. "We can't let that happen."

The boat rocked, they must have pulled the anchor and started out of the harbor. Elsa's stomach already started to sour.

"Hey uh, do either of you have a kid?" Jarrah called.

Elsa and Anna exchanged a confused look before heading upstairs and back on deck.

Jarrah, Olaf, and Saphire were standing in front of a broom closet. Elsa and Anna hurried over.

Huddled in the closet behind an old mop bucket and mop, the girl from the alley sat and stared at everyone silent and wide eyed.

"Oh," Elsa motioned for everyone to back up. "I met her in the ally. She must have followed me back from the docks."

Elsa crouched down, smiling as gently as she could and offering her hand. The girl was clutching the small bear, which was falling apart and dingy. "What's your name?" Elsa whispered. Once more, the girl began making strange hand motions. She looked frustrated when Elsa tilted her head and didn't understand.

Anna crouched down beside Elsa, smiling cheerfully. "That's a cute bear. Do you want us to fix it for you? I'm not very good at sewing but Elsa is."

The girl made a few slower motions with both of her hands, putting the teddy bear under her arm to leave her hands free.

Elsa coiled her hands back, trying to think. Warmth flooded in her heart and she bumped Anna's shoulder before she made a snowball with her magic. "Do you want to build a snowman?"