Queen(s) of the Forest (elsamaren)

Confession

"Gather around everyone! Thank you. Okay we will begin the journey back home in an hour, anything you need you have from now till then to get. Meet at the gates in due time!" Yelana dismissed the crowd of rustling Northuldra. Honeymaren waited for others to finish conversations with their leader before she butted in.
"Yelana?" She asked, tapping the elder's shoulder.
"Honeymaren! We've only been here a couple days but I feel like I haven't seen you in forever. Have you been enjoying yourself?" Honeymaren remembered the mark Elsa had left on her neck and instinctively bent her head to hide it.
"Very much so, Arendelle really is amazing. There's so many people here... I never would have guessed."
"You always were a people person. Did you purchase the new outfit?" Why is everyone asking me about my clothes?
"Oh no, after the party I needed something to change into, to sleep in I mean... and um.... there Elsa's. She let me borrow them for the day." God could you be anymore suspicious?
"I see... well anyway was there something you needed?"
"Oh yeah! Um well I was hoping to hang back here for another day. Elsa promised to show me the troll's grove."
"You and Elsa want to stay behind?"
"Well yeah, just for today, we will meet up with you guys tomorrow. We can take the water nøkk in. Assuming you don't need us on the way." Yelana took a moment to consider before nodding her head in agreement.
"Sure, I remember when I was your age I always wanted to be out exploring and mingling. Ah me and Mira would go out for days on end together just having fun."
"Yeah! Thanks, if you see Ryder can you let him know? I'm going to try and track him down, but you know how elusive he can be."
"Sure thing Maren. You enjoy yourself now!"
"Thanks again Yelana!" With that Honeymaren left the plaza in search for her brother. For some reason her stomach cringed at the thought of telling him she was staying behind. It's just for one day. He won't even notice I'm gone. She wandered around the busy streets of Arendelle, the locals had come to say goodbye to the Northuldrans, as many of the Northuldran's were making trades and purchases at the shops. Honeymaren decided to start looking at the grocer, there was a good chance Ryder would be picking something up for the Reindeer. Her hunch was correct, as she could see her brother standing over the carrots, making sure to pick just the largest ones.
"Ryder!" She called to her brother. Ryder ignored her. What's got him in this mood? "Ryder!" She called again. This time he attempted to avoid her by leaving coins on the shop counter and leaving.
"Ryder!" She yelled, this time running to catch up to him. She grabbed his shoulder and pulled him back, narrowly avoiding spilled carrots.
"What do you want Honeymaren?" Honeymaren recoiled at the intensity in his tone.
"I... what's wrong? You're mad at me."
"I'm not mad at you I'm just... forget it."
"Ryder no! I'm your sister, if I did something wrong I want to fix it."
"I don't think you can fix this!" Honeymaren could feel the fear displayed on her face.
"Ryder that's not fair! How do can I tell if you won't even tell me?!" Honeymaren ignores the gather crowd who was watching their dispute.
"I'm not telling you? Really? Maren you've been gone the past two days!!! I haven't seen or had a conversation with you in almost a week! You sneak around camp, coming back late, drenched in water, you disappear after the party without a word, I mean god, I was worried sick. Than this morning in the castle, everyone acting like they were keeping something from me? Now you are staying behind!"
"Ryder it's just one day!"
"Where were you Honeymaren?!! WHERE WERE YOU?! You have that... mark on your neck and act like it doesn't mean anything! Now you're wearing strange clothes and abandoning your people!" Honeymaren felt tears sliding down her face. The heat in her cheeks told her everything she needed to know about the redness of her complexion.
"Ryder I'm sorry!"
"Are you? Are you?"
"Yes!" Honeymaren could see Anna and Kristoff our of the corner of her eye, attempting to disperse the gathering crowd.
"Just tell me Honeymaren? Is the forest not your life anymore? Why are you lying?" Honeymaren felt her insides caving. Her chest turned with turmoil and her sobbing had not eased the slightest. "It's like Elsa comes around and suddenly we aren't friends anymore!"
"Ryder please... I- I can't do this. Not right now. Please..."
"I mean you two ride here together, she lets you go into the ice palace, you show up to the party together! Don't you think it's time you had some time off?!" Anna and Kristoff's attempt at scattering the crowd was having some success, but Honeymaren could see Yelana standing afar, watching her. Is that anger? Is she mad at me too? Who else is mad at me.
"Ryder please..." she sobbed, "I didn't mean to hurt you I'm sorry I've just been dealing with stuff!"
"What stuff Honeymaren? I'm your brother, I just want to be a part of your life again!"
"Elsa stuff!"
"Elsa stuff?!! Oh yeah because that's waaayyy better than the little I knew before!"
"Me and Elsa stuff!" Ryder glared at her, she had never seen him so angry before. She hadn't even considered how much she was affecting him. I don't want to do this. I'm not ready. I- I can't. She felt her knees getting week, it took all of her energy to keep her up. Her cheeks were tear stained and flushed and she screamed back at her brother.
"What's going on with you Honeymaren? Just tell me!"
"I'm gay!" She screamed through her sobs. "Elsa and I are together! Okay!" Honeymaren collapsed to the ground, tears clouding her eyes from her surroundings. She could depicted her brothers shocked expression before he turned and ran. Lying on the ground, broken and sobbing she felt someone rub her back.
"Honeymaren I'm so sorry... I came as soon as I heard. Elsa... "I'm sorry. Shhhh, it's okay, it's okay." Honeymaren depicted sorrow in Elsa's tone and wondered if she was crying to.
"Elsa he was so mad...."
"Shhhh, I know"
"I messed up. Elsa I really messed up." Honeymaren cried. Elsa grabbed her girlfriend's head and rested it on her lap.
"You didn't do anything wrong...." Honeymaren felt Elsa's cold hands against her cheeks, numbing the swelling. The two sat there in the middle of the cornerstone for a while. Honeymaren sobbed and Elsa comforted her too, doing her best to disguise her tears from the brunette. The crowd watched in awe for a while as well, sorrowful looks graced the two. Slowly the crowed dissipated. The Northuldra left Arendelle and Honeymaren still lay on the cool cobblestone, Coates in sadness. Elsa stroked her face, combing her hands through her girlfriend's hair. Wishing she had gotten there sooner. Arendelle was silent, citizens pretended to not see anything, but they did. Finally as the sun was setting Anna and Rapunzel approached the two.
"Elsa?" Anna whispered.
"She's asleep," Elsa replied, referring to Honeymaren.
"I'll go find Eugene and Kristoff, we can put her in a cart and have a reindeer pull her back." Rapunzel offered. Instead of replying, Elsa picked up Honeymaren, cradling the girl in her arms.
"Elsa do you need help?" Anna offered.
"No, I got it from here to the castle. But I will need that cart and reindeer."
"Elsa where are you going?"
"I'm going to take her to the North Mountain. She could use some time away." Before Elsa could leave Anna grabbed her arm,
"Elsa, remember you can't stay up there forever."
"We won't, when we're ready, we'll come back."

Things have escalated quickly. Please don't hate Ryder ok I promise he isn't a monster in this story. Hope your Elsamaren heart wasn't completely destroyed in this chapter.