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writting-thingz · 3 years

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Request:Could I request something angsts and fluffy for Benimaru from fire force? I’m sorry I can’t give anymore detail- my mind is literally blank 😬😂

Pairing: Reader x Benimaru

Summary: You found out your younger brother is turning innocent people into infernos and use them as his army. It seems all your worst fears are coming true as you run to your closest friend and love your life for help. Can Benimaru ever forgive you for not seeing the true nature of your brother?

Warnings: ANGST… intrusive thoughts, fluff if you really squint

Forgive Me

Once again you find yourself arguing with your younger brother. The same old song and dance since you found out what he had been occupying his time with behind your back. He seemed more agitated today.

“You’re just too naive to understand Y/n. This is for the greater good of science, of the world!!” He exclaims whilst pacing in front of his ‘throne ’.

“Killing innocents by turning them into infernos and trying to use them as your puppets!? You call THAT 'For the greater good’? What about all those people you sacrificed, HUH?!?” You cried with shaking clenched fists. Your brother shoots you an icey spine chilling glare which you mirror right back at him. “Those people are innocent! You ruined their life’s for your personal entertainment!!! You’re a horrible person, you’re a mon-” in a blink of an eye you brother is behind you. You can feel the edge of his knife pressing hard against you throat; it was almost enough to draw blood.

“Finish that word and I’ll make sure it’s your last.” He snarled. Heavy, blood-thirsty breaths blow past your ear as he spoke, “Everyone has their sins, Y/n, even the most innocent ones. Think of it as a final repent for all the wrong and evil they have done. We all have to pay for our deeds one day; I’m just being a good Samaritan and helping. Keep of this act of yours and you’ll be next.” Having finally had enough of this you grab a hold of his wrist and pull it away from your neck. You maneuvers the situation around so you’re pinning his wrist behind his back and holding his dagger to his throat. He waits patiently knowing you’ll give up. You huff and whisper angrily

“you’re sick!” You chuck the dagger at the ground and storm off. As you leave you could hear his chuckle gradually turn into maniacal and hysterical laughter.

The wall to town was hardly quiet. The closer you came to town the louder the world seemed to be. His haunting laugh echoed as the intrusive thoughts that crowded you mind grew louder. They started low but now it was as if they were screaming.

’You let him slip through you fingers’

’You failed to notice what your little brother truly was and now the world will suffer because you!’

’What? Now you're going to run away? Run to HIM? Are you going to tattle on your own flesh and blood?’

’You don’t think you’re actually doing the right thing do you? Sell out your little brother to a fire force soldier? Oh that’s right you don’t love your sibling he’s just monster to you.’

’What makes you think Benimaru is going to love you after you tell him the truth?’

’He’ll think you’re brother is a monster and you are too by connection’

’You’re a monster’

’He’ll try to exterminate your brother and fail then world will suffer and it will be all your fault’

’You’re a monster, it’s all your fault’

’Its all your fault, it’s all your fault, it’s all your fault’

’Monster’

’IT’S’

’ALL’

’YOUR'

’FAULT!’

“ShuuuuuUUUUUUT UUUUUPPP!” You scream as you clutch your head. You scratch your scalp as you grip your hair. “Shut up, shut up, shut up, SHUT! UP!” You shake your head as you cry out.

A pair of screams pull you out of your head. You weren’t aware that surrounding you was total mayhem and destruction, let alone that you had made it into town. Inferno were everywhere you looked.

'What.. what’s going on?’ Your eyes widen and start to tear up.

’Oh don’t play dumb, you know who’s behind this’ the sinister thought surprised you.

“Y/NNNNN” A familiar voice calls out, no, bellows out. You just barely feel the wind blowing past your as a flaming spear skims past your cheek.

“B-Beni?” You hesitate in disbelief of the sight before you. Was the man you love axtuslly barreling towards you with ill intent? Having to dodge another flaming spear and being hit in the shoulder by a second on brought forth the harsh reality. Your heart twists and turns creating knots as you clutch your shoulder. Benimaru, the love of your life, lands a few feet ahead of you.

“How could you do this? I thought you wanted a better world for your brother!? Is this seriously how you thought you were going to get it?” He tells. The dust from his landing settles as he interrogates you. You can see tears roll down his cheeks, “Y/n… I have a hard time believing you did this. Tell me- …tell me it isn’t true.” The wavering tone of his voice causes a hitch in your breath and a twang of pain to hit your heart.

“I-I-” before you could explain an inferno busts through a building beside Beni. You sprint to push him out of the way of the debris. As you make your way to him you grab some nearby rubble and chuck it at the raging inferno. You chuck it as hard and with as much fire power as you could in those few seconds.

You cough harshly as pain races throughout your body. The pain didn’t matter to you, what matters is you saved Benimaru. After getting back up he scrambles by your side. He sends a few spears into the inferno finishing it off.

“Y/n! Hey, look at me. This isn’t the time or place to be snoozing.” He pats the side of your face and your eyes flutter open.

“Beni… I know auh.. I know we aren’t amazing close as friends but I love you. I have for a while I was afraid you wouldn’t feel the same heh heh, augh…” you admit grunting from the pain occasionally. “You have to believe I would never want harm to come to you or this town. But this is my fault. Augh-” your confession is interrupted by sudden coughs. “I-.. I wasn’t a good enough older sibbling. I had no idea he was capable of something like this ack- I promise, if you give me a chance I’ll be good. I’ll work to be better and change him, I promise Beni. Please just let me talk to him. I promise I’ll help make him better, ill be good. I’ll be good… I’ll… be.. good.” A heavy weight hits your eyes as you cry your confession and plea. Although it’s fuzzy and just barely a whisper, you still manage to hear him,

“I believe you Y/n. Rest, I’ll take care of your little brother.”

*four days later*

You had woken two days after passing out. Konro breached the news of your brother passing away during a battle against a few fire soldiers and Beni who tried to intervene when he found them. Benimaru has yet to visit you while you are recovering. You feared those awful thoughts of yours were right; that because he knows the truth he hates you. Desperately wanting to focus on something happy you convince the medics to allow you a walk. A calming stream beside you as you remember all the times you spent there with Benimaru. The few laughs you had together, and practices you begged for to better your fire power and fighting skills. You smiled watching the ghost of a memory play out before you.

“I thought I would find you here…” Bittersweet was the feeling that hit you when your heard his voice. “I’m sorry I didn’t visit.. I was too ashamed to face you after failing to take care of you brother…” he confesses. You stop walking but don’t dare look at him, How could you? He lets out a deep breath before speaking again, “I know that I hurt you. I know that nothing I can say will change the past. But…I’m hoping that you’ll forgive me in the end. I’m hoping that I can make this right.” Tears quickly swell up in your eyes. You spin around and make eye contact with him. After a few seconds you couldn’t bare it any longer and you run at him with your arms outstretched. The two of you tumble to the ground with your arms wrapped tightly around him.

“I forgive you, just please don’t leave me… I can’t loose both things I love.” You pleaded as he sat up. He cradles you into his arms as you sob. Slowly you cry your self to sleep with you face buried in his chest. Beni places a gentle kiss on your forehead and whispers,

“I won't… I love you Y/n”

~The End~

#request fic #fire force request #fire force x reader #benimaru shinmon #benimaru x reader #angst #tw intrusive thoughts #one of the ones I cried reading

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outcast-thingz · 4 years

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Hello my lovelies! I am here today with more content for you🥰 Honestly I cried while writing this this was suppose to be am angst to fluff but it's mostly angst, I'm sorry. Another note, I'm on the road starting today so this may have grammatical errors. When we stop at a hotel tonight I'll fix that.(title may change...)

Request:Could I request something angsts and fluffy for Benimaru from fire force? I’m sorry I can’t give anymore detail- my mind is literally blank 😬😂

Pairing: Reader x Benimaru

Warnings: ANGST... intrusive thoughts, fluff if you really squint

Forgive Me

"You're just too naive to understand Y/n. This is for the greater good of science, of the world!!" He exclaims whilst pacing in front of his 'throne '.

"Killing innocents by turning them into infernos and trying to use them as your puppets!? You call THAT 'For the greater good'? What about all those people you sacrificed, HUH?!?" You cried with shaking clenched fists. Your brother shoots you an icey spine chilling glare which you mirror right back at him. "Those people are innocent! You ruined their life's for your personal entertainment!!! You're a horrible person, you're a mon-" in a blink of an eye you brother is behind you. You can feel the edge of his knife pressing hard against you throat; it was almost enough to draw blood.

"Finish that word and I'll make sure it's your last." He snarled. Heavy, blood-thirsty breaths blow past your ear as he spoke, "Everyone has their sins, Y/n, even the most innocent ones. Think of it as a final repent for all the wrong and evil they have done. We all have to pay for our deeds one day; I'm just being a good Samaritan and helping. Keep of this act of yours and you'll be next." Having finally had enough of this you grab a hold of his wrist and pull it away from your neck. You maneuvers the situation around so you're pinning his wrist behind his back and holding his dagger to his throat. He waits patiently knowing you'll give up. You huff and whisper angrily

"you're sick!" You chuck the dagger at the ground and storm off. As you leave you could hear his chuckle gradually turn into maniacal and hysterical laughter.

'You let him slip through you fingers'

'You failed to notice what your little brother truly was and now the world will suffer because you!'

'What? Now you're going to run away? Run to HIM? Are you going to tattle on your own flesh and blood?'

'You don't think you're actually doing the right thing do you? Sell out your little brother to a fire force soldier? Oh that's right you don't love your sibling he's just monster to you.'

'What makes you think Benimaru is going to love you after you tell him the truth?'

'He'll think you're brother is a monster and you are too by connection'

'You're a monster'

'He'll try to exterminate your brother and fail then world will suffer and it will be all your fault'

'You're a monster, it's all your fault'

'Its all your fault, it's all your fault, it's all your fault'

'Monster'

'IT'S'

'ALL'

'YOUR'

'FAULT!'

"ShuuuuuUUUUUUT UUUUUPPP!" You scream as you clutch your head. You scratch your scalp as you grip your hair. "Shut up, shut up, shut up, SHUT! UP!" You shake your head as you cry out.

A pair of screams pull you out of your head. You weren't aware that surrounding you was total mayhem and destruction, let alone that you had made it into town. Inferno were everywhere you looked.

'What.. what's going on?' Your eyes widen and start to tear up.

'Oh don't play dumb, you know who's behind this' the sinister thought surprised you.

"Y/NNNNN" A familiar voice calls out, no, bellows out. You just barely feel the wind blowing past your as a flaming spear skims past your cheek.

"B-Beni?" You hesitate in disbelief of the sight before you. Was the man you love axtuslly barreling towards you with ill intent? Having to dodge another flaming spear and being hit in the shoulder by a second on brought forth the harsh reality. Your heart twists and turns creating knots as you clutch your shoulder. Benimaru, the love of your life, lands a few feet ahead of you.

"How could you do this? I thought you wanted a better world for your brother!? Is this seriously how you thought you were going to get it?" He tells. The dust from his landing settles as he interrogates you. You can see tears roll down his cheeks, "Y/n... I have a hard time believing you did this. Tell me- ...tell me it isn't true." The wavering tone of his voice causes a hitch in your breath and a twang of pain to hit your heart.

"I-I-" before you could explain an inferno busts through a building beside Beni. You sprint to push him out of the way of the debris. As you make your way to him you grab some nearby rubble and chuck it at the raging inferno. You chuck it as hard and with as much fire power as you could in those few seconds.

You cough harshly as pain races throughout your body. The pain didn't matter to you, what matters is you saved Benimaru. After getting back up he scrambles by your side. He sends a few spears into the inferno finishing it off.

"Y/n! Hey, look at me. This isn't the time or place to be snoozing." He pats the side of your face and your eyes flutter open.

"Beni… I know auh.. I know we aren't amazing close as friends but I love you. I have for a while I was afraid you wouldn't feel the same heh heh, augh…" you admit grunting from the pain occasionally. "You have to believe I would never want harm to come to you or this town. But this is my fault. Augh-" your confession is interrupted by sudden coughs. "I-.. I wasn't a good enough older sibbling. I had no idea he was capable of something like this ack- I promise, if you give me a chance I'll be good. I'll work to be better and change him, I promise Beni. Please just let me talk to him. I promise I'll help make him better, ill be good. I'll be good… I'll... be.. good." A heavy weight hits your eyes as you cry your confession and plea. Although it's fuzzy and just barely a whisper, you still manage to hear him,

"I believe you Y/n. Rest, I'll take care of your little brother."

*four days later*

"I thought I would find you here…" Bittersweet was the feeling that hit you when your heard his voice. "I'm sorry I didn't visit.. I was too ashamed to face you after failing to take care of you brother…" he confesses. You stop walking but don't dare look at him, How could you? He lets out a deep breath before speaking again, "I know that I hurt you. I know that nothing I can say will change the past. But…I’m hoping that you’ll forgive me in the end. I’m hoping that I can make this right." Tears quickly swell up in your eyes. You spin around and make eye contact with him. After a few seconds you couldn't bare it any longer and you run at him with your arms outstretched. The two of you tumble to the ground with your arms wrapped tightly around him.

"I forgive you, just please don't leave me... I can't loose both things I love." You pleaded as he sat up. He cradles you into his arms as you sob. Slowly you cry your self to sleep with you face buried in his chest. Beni places a gentle kiss on your forehead and whispers,

"I won't… I love you Y/n"

~The End~

Taglist: @oof-she-needs-therapy @red-riot-rat @xsugarysweetsx

(Hope you don't mind me tagging you)

#fire force request #fire force x reader #benimaru shinmon #benimaru x reader #angst #i cried writing this

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carewyncromwell · 4 years

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[After learning that Fred and George had spotted Jacob near Hogwarts, Carewyn did some digging. Eventually she heard from Filch that Jacob had been spotted in the library (after the caretaker lugged her into his office demanding that she confess to setting off a Dungbomb in the Gryffindor Common Room -- Carewyn acquiesced just to get him off the subject), and Carewyn followed up with Madame Pince.

Jacob had been looking for something in particular -- since he didn’t find it at the Hogwarts library, there was logically only one place he’d go. But when Carewyn made it to Flourish and Blotts, Madame Villanelle told her that she’d just missed him. Desperate not to let the trail go cold, Carewyn knew there was only one thing to do -- she had to make a quick sweep around both Diagon Alley and Knockturn Alley...even if she didn’t have time to change clothes so she wouldn’t stand out.

And so, very, very warily, Carewyn walked through the arch leading to Knockturn Alley, her hand holding her wand inside of her pocket. In her powder blue Beauxbatons suit, she knew she stuck out like a sore thumb. Worse, people would be able to remember seeing her -- Carewyn -- having gone into Knockturn Alley. She didn’t like the thought of random bystanders knowing that she frequented such a place: at least when she changed her hair and make-up, most people wouldn’t know who she was right away, so there was a level of anonymity involved. Going into Knockturn Alley without a disguise made Carewyn feel exposed and oddly vulnerable.

As soon as she arrived, she stiffened at the sight of a familiar face peeking into the window of Borgin and Burkes.]

“Merula? What are you doing here?”

[Merula turned around. She looked a little startled to see Carewyn, but recovered quickly.]

Merula: “Shopping -- not that it’s any of your business.”

[She indicated the ornate opal necklace displayed in the window with her head.]

Merula: “See that? It’s supposedly claimed the lives of nineteen Muggle owners...reckon it’d be perfect for a certain ex-professor, don’t you think?”

[Carewyn frowned in unmasked disapproval.]

“Still plotting to kill Rakepick, I see.”

Why can’t you just look after yourself and stay out of the way?

[Merula scowled.]

Merula: “You’re awfully quick to judge, considering you’re slumming around down here too.”

[Her pink gaze then became a bit more curious.]

[Carewyn was reluctant to tell Merula anything, but she decided after a moment that lying wouldn’t help too much in this situation. After all, if Merula knew anything, then Carewyn wanted to know what she knew. So instead she kept her answer concise, so as to lie by omission.]

“...I heard from Madame Villanelle that Jacob was in Flourish and Blotts earlier. I thought there was a chance he could still be in the area. Have you see him?”

[All of a sudden there was a loud CRACK just behind the two girls. Both of them gave a start, whirling around -- Carewyn seized her wand, ready to whip it out of her pocket and attack --

But her hand stilled inside her pocket when she saw who had appeared.

Standing mere feet from them was a young man dressed in stylish scarlet dress robes with long, curly dark hair and distinctive almond-shaped blue eyes just like Carewyn’s.]

[Carewyn, however, completely ignored Merula.]

“Jacob!”

[She immediately barreled forward, grabbing onto both of her older brother’s arms.]

“There you are! I’ve been looking all over for you!”

[Jacob gave her a blazing white smile.]

Jacob: “Looking all over while dressed in sweet threads, I see -- where’d you get a Beauxbatons uniform, Pip?”

“A friend gave it to me. She goes to Beauxbatons.”

Jacob: “(interested) Really? I hope I can meet her at some point. Got a few questions I’d love to ask about her school’s architecture -- not to mention its alchemy curriculum. Oh, and I’ve heard very interesting things about its headmistress -- reckon an afternoon tea with her would be rather illuminating...”

[His eyes drifted away toward the sky as he spoke, as was often the case when he was thinking.

It was almost comforting to hear Jacob going off on one of his usual tangents. Being an ex-Ravenclaw, Jacob lived in his own little world and very frequently could get sidetracked with his never-ending amount of interests and lofty ambitions. Still, Carewyn knew that in this moment, it wouldn’t do for Jacob to lose his head like a flyaway balloon -- and so she tried to bring him back down to earth.]

“(reproachfully) Jacob, where have you been? I haven’t seen you since the Cursed Vault. You never sent any letters, or left any notes...Hell, even passed along any messages for me!”

I was worried sick about you. I thought that you could’ve gotten yourself killed, after I only just finished saving you --

[She didn’t dare verbalize this, though, especially in front of Merula.

Jacob’s smile faltered, and his face immediately looked much more ashamed. Despite the guilt in his face, his voice was very low and firm.]

Jacob: “...I know, Pip. I’m sorry I ran off, but I had to try to stop Rakepick from getting away.”

[Carewyn looked down, her eyes resting absently on one of the golden buttons of Jacob’s scarlet coat.]

Jacob: “(grimly) Carewyn...I know you want things to go back to normal...but they can’t. Not as long as R exists. (murmurs) I swear to you, I wouldn’t be doing this if it weren’t important.”

[Carewyn closed her eyes solemnly.

She’d already accepted that things couldn’t be the way they were. Jacob’s second disappearance had smacked her in the face with that. But she also was painfully aware of the company they were in (namely, Merula) and knew she couldn’t say anything about her intention to find the last Vault -- to help Mad-Eye Moody while he dealt with R -- so that Jacob could come home.]

“(very softly) ...I know.”

[When she opened her eyes and looked up, she could see Jacob’s eyes had softened visibly, almost nostalgically. It was looking at his eyes that made Carewyn all the more painfully aware of how hollowed-out they looked -- how deep and dark the bags around his eyes were. It made his face look so haunted, even as his mouth unfurled into its familiar cocky smile.]

Jacob: “Don’t worry, Pip...I’ll get it all sorted. I’m a big boy, I can take care of myself.”

[Carewyn wanted to say something snarky in return, like she would’ve in the past, but once again, she knew there was much more important things to say -- things she couldn’t say in front of Merula.]

“I know you can. Come on, let’s get out of here -- we have a lot to talk about -- ”

[Jacob’s face grew much more grim again.]

Jacob: “I’m sorry, but there’s no time for that. Right now, you and I need to duel.”

[Carewyn was taken aback.]

“What?”

[Merula’s face spread into a very wide, intrigued smirk as she crossed her arms.]

Merula: “Finally, this family reunion’s gotten interesting.”

[Carewyn wasn’t even in the mood to snap at Merula -- her focus was solely on Jacob, and her gaze was very critical.]

[Jacob had already turned his back on Carewyn and started taking his ten paces from her, so as to get in dueling position.]

Jacob: “There’s a dangerous person who’s set his eyes on you. Merula too, actually.”

[Now it was Merula’s turn to look startled.]

Merula: “Me?”

Jacob: “Afraid so.”

[He turned on his heel again, sliding his white Aspen wand out of his robes and holding it in front of him as he faced Carewyn.]

Jacob: “I won’t always be there to protect you, Pip, so I need to make sure you’ll be ready, if he ever tries to corner you.”

[Carewyn’s eyes narrowed. She did not take out her wand.]

“Who is this person? What does he want with Merula and me?”

[The memory of Mundungus Fletcher telling her about a wizard in white robes -- of Madame Villanelle recalling that Mahoutokoro students’ robes went white when they turned to the Dark Arts -- rippled over her mind.]

Jacob: “(firmly) There’s no time to explain. Right now I just need you to trust me...okay?”

Trust...you have no idea how impossible that is, do you? All because you...

[Shoving down the memory of her mother and herself huddled up on the floor together sobbing inconsolably from her mind, Carewyn very reluctantly took out her wand and got into her proper dueling stance.

Jacob’s face spread into another wide, cocky smile.]

Jacob: “(earnestly) That’s my Pip.”

[Jacob wasn’t standing in the kind of “proper” stance that she was -- he held his wand over his chest with amazing swagger and confidence.]

Jacob: “Give me all you’ve got, now. Forget you’re dueling me -- pretend you’re fighting Rakepick.”

[Merula leaned up against the window of Borgin and Burke’s, her arms still crossed over her chest.]

Merula: “You hear that, Cromwell? It’s kill or be killed.”

[Carewyn shot her a cool look.]

“I’m not interested in killing anyone, Merula.”

I don’t care how awful they are.

Jacob: “(seriously) She’s right, though. The people targeting you will kill you, if they get the chance. You can’t give them that chance -- so you have to do whatever you need to, to survive.”

[Merula smiled, looking rather vindicated.]

Merula: “Well! At least someone in your family has sense.”

[Carewyn tried to ignore her. Jacob’s face eased back into his usual, cocky smile.]

Jacob: “I’m not going to go easy on you, Pip -- so come at me! Kick my arse, got it?”

[Carewyn gave a short nod, trying not to look as hesitant as she felt.]

Jacob: “On the count of three, now. One...two...three!”

“Stupefy!”

Jacob: “Substituo!”

[All of a sudden, a lamp post that had been several yards away had been moved to directly in front of Jacob, and Carewyn’s spell bounced right off it.]

Jacob: “Locomotor Lamppost!”

[Within seconds, Jacob had chucked the lamppost right at his sister. It collided with her chest, knocking her off her feet and throwing her to the ground.]

“AUGH!”

[Jacob dashed to the right, his wand over his chest. His face was consumed with his usual cocky smile.]

Jacob: “Switching Spell combination! Neat, right? Engorgio! Duro!”

[The lamppost swelled up like some infected limb, morphing and contorting into some round, boulder-like mass of iron and glass.]

Jacob: “Collyrida!”

[The iron and glass boulder began rolling down the street, straight for Carewyn. Climbing back up onto her feet, she lashed her wand at the air.]

“Bombarda!”

[The boulder was blasted into a hundred pieces, throwing smoke and ash into the air. Carewyn plowed through the smoke, thinking to use it as a screen to get closer to Jacob.]

“Cantus!”

Jacob: “Accio Glass!”

[Jacob retrieved one of the larger fragments of glass and used it to bounce Carewyn’s spell right back at her, forcing her to summon a Shield to protect herself.]

“Protego!”

[Merula watched the two siblings go at it from the sidelines, her pink eyes very wide upon Jacob.]

Merula: “(stunned) Whoa.”

[Jacob was grinning from ear to ear at Carewyn.]

Jacob: “The Singing Jinx -- too perfect for you, Pip!”

[Carewyn, however, was way too focused on their duel now to talk.]

“Incarcerous!”

Jacob: “Cordavitta!”

[The black ropes that Carewyn threw out of her wand were transfigured into beautiful, flowing rainbow-colored ribbons that floated innocently to the ground.]

Jacob: “Use all your tools, Pip! Dueling spells are lovely and all, but everyone knows those! Vitta Vipera!”

[The rainbow ribbons abruptly twisted together and transformed into a single, massive cobra, which bared its fangs at Carewyn. Her heart racing with fear, Carewyn backed up, racking her brain -- ]

“V-Vipera Evanesca!”

[A blast of light hit the snake, making it dissolve away into a writhing line of gray smoke.]

Jacob: “(excitedly) Yes! Sicafumos!”

[The smoke that had once been snakes abruptly transformed into a hail of daggers hurtling through the air. Carewyn struggled to dodge them, but one sliced through her hair, just barely missing her ear.]

Jacob: “Good move, Pip! Don’t give up now, come on!”

[Carewyn dashed around Jacob, trying to stay out of his reach as she struggled to think up a strategy.

Jacob hadn’t used a single classic “Dueling Spell” since they’d started. Everything he’d used was something he must’ve learned in class or in a textbook -- most notably Transfiguration, which had always been Carewyn’s most difficult subject...]

Use all my tools, huh...?

[Carewyn knew she couldn’t compete with Jacob’s spell knowledge -- he easily knew more spells than she did. But maybe...

Remembering a trick she’d used in a duel with Bill, she aimed her wand at the ground at Jacob’s feet.]

“Bombarda!”

Jacob: “Crescomurus!”

[Jacob expanded the wall of a nearby building to create a shield to protect himself. However, since Carewyn had been aiming for his feet rather than properly at him, the ground broke apart, slamming Jacob off his feet and roughly in to the ground.]

Jacob: “Ugh!”

[Carewyn slashed her wand at the lengthened wall Jacob had created.]

“Reducto!”

[The wall blasted into pieces, leaving nothing but a smoky mist behind. She used the mist as cover to get closer -- Jacob, however, had already rolled onto his knees and raised his wand again.]

Jacob: “Sicofumos!”

[Once again, the smoky mist transfigured into daggers, but this time, Carewyn was ready.]

“Reparifarge!”

[In an instant, she’d undone Jacob’s Transfiguration, and the dozen knives faded away into dust again, grazing her skin and clothes with a light puff.

Carewyn noted a limp in Jacob’s step as he straightened up -- he’d landed on his ankle funny, when she’d thrown him to the ground -- ]

“Levicorpus!”

[Jacob was suddenly snatched up by his ankle and hoisted up into the air.]

Jacob: “Ack!”

“Immobulus!”

Jacob: “Carpe Retractum!”

[Jacob yanked a jagged fragment of brick out of the ground under his head, hoisting it up in front of him like a shield to block Carewyn’s spell.]

Jacob: “(fiercely) Yes, yes, YES! That’s it! Finite!”

[He fell back to the ground in a messy heap and stumbled back onto his feet.]

Jacob: “Avis!”

[A flock of angry-looking birds flew out of Jacob’s wand, straight at Carewyn.]

“Evanesco!”

[As quickly as her brother had conjured them, they’d disappeared.

Jacob suddenly looked overwhelmed by his excitement, his eyes brightening with positively boyish glee.]

Jacob: “You mastered Vanishing!”

[Carewyn knew why he was excited. Jacob had mentioned in one of his letters during his OWLs that Vanishing was one of the hardest branches of Transfiguration -- and sure enough, it was something she’d had to work very, very hard at to get right.

She couldn’t fight back a tiny, proud grin.]

“Got all O’s, just like you...”

[Jacob looked like he wanted to throw down his wand and hug her -- but Carewyn sure as Hell wasn’t going to let that momentary distraction pass her by.]

“Gliseo!”

[The ground under Jacob’s feet abruptly froze solid. With a yelp, Jacob slid right off his feet.]

“Depulso!”

Jacob: “Substituo!”

[In a second, Jacob had vanished, leaving a rubbish bin in his place. Carewyn looked around, trying to figure out where he’d Switched himself to -- ]

Jacob: “Fulgari!”

[Hearing Jacob’s voice behind her, Carewyn whirled around -- she quickly stowed her wand inside her jacket --

Just before Jacob’s glowing yellowish-white ropes could bind her, Carewyn had transformed into a robin. Taking flight, she soared over Jacob’s head.]

[Jacob gawked up at his little sister, his mouth open in shock, as Carewyn transformed back into a human in mid-air. As she quickly started to fall, she whipped out her wand again and pointed it at the ground.]

“Spongify!”

[She bounced back down to the ground as easily as if she’d landed on a trampoline. Still visibly stunned, Jacob began lashing out at Carewyn in turns, his mouth spreading into a positively manic grin.]

Jacob: “Venio Saggita! You’re an Animagus, Pip!?”

“Evanesco! Ugh...yes, I am!”

Jacob: “(positively bouncing) DUDE! Fulgari!”

[Carewyn evaded Jacob’s blast of light by ducking behind a wall. Jacob’s ankle was clearly still hurting him a bit -- he’d stayed rather stationary since she landed that hit on him --

She pointed her wand to her own chest.]

“Wingardium Leviosa!”

[As planned, when Jacob’s next spell collided with the wall, Carewyn had perfectly dodged it. Hovering over the spell, she aimed her wand down at her brother.]

“Stupefy!”

[Jacob looked up, startled.]

Jacob: “Stupefy!”

[The two Stunners collided in mid-air, canceling each other out in a small scarlet boom.]

Jacob: “(with a huge, cocky grin) Now, Pip, you’re supposed to look up to me, not the other way around! Conripio!”

[A rope burst out of his wand, winding around Carewyn’s leg. Jacob gave a yank and Carewyn yelped as she felt herself being pulled sharply back down to Earth.]

“Diffindo!”

[Just before she reached the ground, she successfully cut the rope Jacob had conjured. She landed roughly in a heap, but she forced down the aches in her shoulders and sides as she leapt back onto her feet.]

Jacob: “Ectomatic! Aqua Eructo!”

[Although she was able to block his first spell with a Scouring Charm, Carewyn wasn’t quite fast enough to avoid getting splashed with a gush of water from Jacob’s wand. Fortunately, as much as she didn’t like that her clothes and hair had gotten all wet, she was feeling much too competitive and focused to dwell on it.

Unfortunately Jacob used the water on her to get the upper-hand.]

Jacob: “Glacius Duo!”

[Carewyn felt her wet clothes suddenly constricting and her body suddenly chilling -- she raised her wand, trying to counterattack --

But it was no use. Jacob had used the water on her to encase her limbs in a thick layer of ice, making her unable to move.

Jacob lowered his wand at last, walking slowly over to his sister’s side with a broad smile.]

Jacob: “Incendio.”

[He thawed Carewyn out with a controlled flame from his wand. Her shoulders numb and shuddering from the cold, Carewyn peeled her wet bangs out of her eyes and glared up at her brother.]

“Freezing me in ice? Seriously, Jacob?”

[Jacob chuckled awkwardly.]

Jacob: “My bad, Pip...reckon that doesn’t bring back good memories, does it?”

Merula: “(laughs) Well, now you know it feels, Cromwell!”

[Carewyn shot Merula a glare over her shoulder.]

Don’t make me wish I’d left you frozen in that ice.

[Grinning from ear to ear, Jacob pointed his wand down at his foot without even looking down at it.]

Jacob: “Episkey.”

[Once he’d fixed the minor damage to his ankle, he grabbed one of Carewyn’s shoulders, squeezing it tight.]

Jacob: “That was out of sight, Pip -- you were brilliant!”

[Carewyn couldn’t meet his eye.]

“(lowly) I lost.”

Jacob: “(laughing) Not for lack of trying! You really gave me a run for my money there.”

[Seeing how surly his sister still looked, he offered her a slightly more reassuring look.]

Jacob: “Oh, come on -- perk up. I don’t duel like most people do -- it’s only natural I had the advantage. And even with that, you still held your own! You were able to change up your style, to match mine. You even started predicting my moves before I made them -- and without using Legilimency!”

“What would’ve been the point? I knew you could block me.”

Jacob: “Yes, but most others couldn’t.”

[He brought his fist gently under Carewyn’s chin, encouraging her to look up at him.]

Jacob: “You’re a force to be reckoned with, Pip. I’m so proud of you.”

[Carewyn felt a proud, encouraged warmth spreading all over her. Even as she looked Jacob in the eye, though, she couldn’t make herself smile.]

“...Thanks.”

[With a smile, Jacob lowered his hand and turned on his heel.]

Jacob: “Take care now, you hear?”

[But Carewyn, having predicted he might try to walk off at that exact point, had already seized hold of the back of his sleeve.]

“Jacob, stop. We need to talk -- alone.”

[Jacob glanced over his shoulder, startled by Carewyn’s urgency.]

Jacob: “I don’t have time, Pip.”

“(sharply) Make time.”

[Still holding his sleeve, she yanked him aside, putting some distance between them and Merula. She then whirled on him, her face much more desperate and her voice much more hushed.]

“Jacob, don’t disappear again. Let me help you -- ”

Jacob: “(very firmly) No.”

“You can’t fight R alone!”

Jacob: “I already told you, this is my fight.”

“You just told me you thought I was good -- was that a lie?”

Jacob: “(startled) What? No!”

“Then why won’t you let me help you? I’ve always helped you before!”

Jacob: “(bursting out) That’s exactly why I can’t let you help!”

[Jacob’s voice was shaking with anger, but it was a kind of anger that Carewyn could tell was wrought more from frustration and anxiety than any sort of wrath toward her.]

Jacob: “You got dragged into this mess because of me -- it’s my fault, entirely my fault, that you’ve been put in this much danger! I refuse to let you get involved more than you already have! I refuse to let you get hurt!”

[Carewyn’s heart ached.

She understood that thought process. It was exactly how she felt about her friends...why she’d stopped telling them anything about the Vaults...but...

His expression very solemn, Jacob brought his hand down onto Carewyn’s on his sleeve and gently pried her off.]

Jacob: “I’ll explain everything when I can, Pip, I promise. I just don’t -- ”

“ -- have time.”

[Carewyn wished that her voice hadn’t dripped with so much ice.

Jacob seemed to recoil slightly, his hand absently clutching at the sleeve she’d just been holding. His blue eyes were full of shame -- mirroring the expression he’d had back in the Vault -- ]

Jacob: “(very softly) ...Please be safe.”

[And in an instant, he was gone.

Carewyn’s eyes bore into the place he’d been standing on but barely registered it. Her gaze was endless and unfocused.]

You don’t want me involved...but I’m already involved, Jacob! R has already targeted me! I’m involved, but I’m fighting with blinders on, all because you won’t let me help you!

[She felt like she wanted to cry, but she stubbornly refused to.]

It’s one thing, for me to not want my friends involved -- R only targeted them to threaten me. But R isn’t just targeting me to threaten you, Jacob -- they’re after both of us. And what if it’s too much for you to handle alone? What if you get in over your head again -- just like you always do -- !?

[Carewyn hadn’t even realized Merula had come up beside her until she spoke.]

“Shut it, Merula.”

[Hating how harsh her voice sounded, Carewyn struggled to regain control of her temper.]

Detach -- forget -- detach --

“...Jacob will be back once this is all over.”

[Merula raised her eyebrows, smiling slightly.]

Merula: “He’s surprisingly cool, for someone related to you.”

[Carewyn gave Merula a rather piercing look.]

“‘Surprisingly cool?’ You taunted me about him being dead, in the past. Rather frequently, in fact.“

[Merula flushed darkly and she looked away awkwardly.]

Merula: “Well, yeah, but -- well, I didn’t know him then, did I? And we have...similar priorities, that’s all. He’s not bad at Dueling, either...wish I could’ve had a crack at him...”

[Carewyn’s eyes narrowed very sharply. She thought she knew exactly why Merula was blushing, and she really didn’t like it.]

“(very dully) Sorry, Merula, but you’re not Jacob’s type.”

Jacob may be an idiot when it comes to people, but even he’s not that dumb.

[Merula flushed an even darker shade of red.]

Merula: “What?! Who ever said I -- ?! Ugh!”

[She crossed her arms irritably.]

Merula: “At least your brother understands that when you’re up against Rakepick, or the person that’s after us, nothing’s off the table.”

[Carewyn looked straight ahead and away from Merula as she started to walk off, her nose slightly up in the air.]

“My brother is also clever enough to figure out a way to stop someone without killing them.”

[Carewyn had fully expected the conversation to be over, but Merula actually followed her out of Knockturn Alley.]

Merula: “Honestly -- I’d say your social life’s going to be a lot more interesting than mine, soon enough.”

[Carewyn raised her eyebrows.]

“Oh?”

[Merula only smirked.]

Merula: “Haven’t heard about the new ‘star’ at Hogwarts yet, then? Heh...well, you will, soon enough. Better hope he doesn’t steal your spotlight, Cromwell.”

((OOC: Whew! That duel took forever to write! But yes, Jacob Cromwell is a dueling prodigy, so Carewyn had to lose this one. It’s his single greatest talent, largely because of his exceptional Transfiguration skills and his creativity. If Carewyn’s good at dueling because she can read her opponent and use common sense, then Jacob’s good at dueling because of the astounding amount of spells he’s mastered and how he applies them in unique ways. I do see Carewyn being one of the very few opponents that’s ever made Jacob sweat, even though he was trying to train her in his own weird way -- usually he takes down his opponents pretty quickly, taunting them the entire way. Arrogant little bugger.

Ah, Jacob Cromwell, I love you, my boy -- I just wish the game gave me the option to customize you so you don’t look like a shaved version of Ronald McDonald with black lipstick in your official screenshots... *snorts*

A lot of Jacob’s spells’ incantations were made up by me, often as a direct Latin translation for what they do. For example, “Venio Saggita,” means “air arrows,” which would be an incantation for a spell (originally cast non-verbally in canon) that conjures arrows out of thin air. A few others I found through HP Wiki and belonged to other HP properties like the PC games made back in the 90′s.))

#carewyn cromwell #jacob cromwell #jacob's sibling #jacob #hphm #hogwarts mystery #roleplaying #gameplay #my art #merula snyde #patricia rakepick

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myscalesofjustice · 7 years

Note

I really like your Helsa You're not a monster story, but are you ever gonna write the whole thing it goes with? Can you write the part where Elsa stops whatshisname from hitting Hans or sumthin?

First, I am so sorry it took me a month to answer, Anon! Second, that one-shot is one of thousands in my jigsaw puzzle of what I hope to see in Frozen 2. Trust me, the movie will be released by the time I figure out what to keep and what to toss. Third, if you really are taking about when Elsa was thinking about one of Hans’ brothers whipping him, thanks for the request!

This chapter is less Helsa and more of the Arendellers getting a look into what I think Hans’ family is like, so this might make some people sad, but please enjoy this readable storyboard! New readers, the sequel can be found here.

The next morning, Elsa first felt as if some nocturnal phantom had cut into every muscle in her body and filled them with sand. Next, a monstrous rumbling like thunder upset her brain until it was pounding against her skull, trying to charge on its assailant. Finally, sunlight from the window climbed onto her face and threatened to cook her eyeballs like campfire eggs.

Go away, she moaned inwardly.

Elsa twitched the hand not stuffed under a pillow to life, and patted the bed in search of her comforter and pillow. Her fingers found a blanket, and pulled it over her eyes. Much better. Her hand continued to wander, and this time poked something soft, but when she tugged its cloth, it wouldn’t move. Why was this pillow so heavy?

Squirming her head out of the blanket, Elsa forced her aching, heavy body up and opened her eyes. Once they adjusted to the light, she discovered the source of the thunder, or better said, snoring: Her sister’s large, blond, male friend, wearing only a green nightshirt.

“EEEEEAAAAAAHH!” the Queen shrieked, and a reflexive blast of frost forced a screaming Kristoff off the bed.

Yowls of, “OW! Augh, what? Who?” followed by a higher pitched, “AAH, cold! Why?” erupted from the floor. Elsa was in shock of finding a man next to her, but then she was reminded of the splitting headache she had woken up with when another throb of pain pulsed in every nerve from the jaw up. “Wait…” she heard Kristoff mutter. One of the ice master’s hands gripped the bed sheet and pulled him up. With his top half back in her sight, Elsa could see the other hand was holding his head.

“Elsa?!” he exclaimed, incredulous. “What’re you doing in my bed?”

“This is my bed, Kristoff!” Elsa squeaked as she covered her white nightgown with a blanket. “What are you doing here?”

Kristoff rubbed his eyes then squinted around, and realized this was indeed not his assigned suite. “Um, I was sleeping,” he said through a yawn. Apparently, he was too tired to care that he had shared a bed with his monarch and girlfriend’s sister. Suddenly, he whimpered and placed both hands on his head. “Now, ow, my head is trying to kill me.”

“Mine too,” groaned Elsa. Forgetting modesty, she lowered the blanket and massaged her eyes. The Queen heard the pounding inside her brain speeding up, prompting a fresh groan. She didn’t notice the throbbing was frantic footsteps before the doors burst open.

“Elsa, are you okay! I heard a scre-!” a beloved female voice yelled, sending a new pulse to rattle Elsa’s teeth. She turned to the doorway and saw Anna standing there, wearing a pink housecoat with strawberry vines decorating the fringe over her nightie and slippers, with Olaf in a blue nightcap at her side.

“Uh, Kristoff?” Anna said, awkward as her frozen face. “What are you doing in Elsa’s room?”

“As soon as I figure that out, you’ll be the first one I tell,” he answered, rubbing his temples.

Olaf made a dramatic gasp. “Did you guys have a sleepover without us? Are there any cookies left? Oh no! Did you already take apart the pillow fort?” The snowman started waddling around the bedroom in search of the party he had missed.

Kristoff moaned as he forced himself on his feet, and almost fell back down before grabbing the bedpost. “Seriously, what do they put in that rich people food?” he asked the room. “I haven’t woken up like this since New Year’s.” That memory gave him an idea, and he patted his stomach. “Well, I don’t feel like I’m gonna be sick this time.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Anna said, her usual cheer renewed. “I slept like a baby.”

“Me too!” Olaf chirped while closing a drawer he had thought midnight snacks might be hiding in. “I wonder what the Southern Isles stuffs their beds with. D’ya think it’s water, ‘cause mine had a wet spot when I got up this morning.”

“What about you, Elsa?” Kristoff asked. “If you don’t mind me saying, you’re not looking too good.”

“I have the worst headache in history, but just that,” said Elsa.

Anna aw-ed, and walked over to pat her sister’s head. The gentle touch soothed her aching cranium ever so slightly. Enough to let her use it again, and she remembered the night before. “No, I had a strange dream last night too.”

Kristoff chuckled in spite of his throbbing head. “Betcha it wasn’t stranger than mine,” he said. “There was creepy music, and Hans and his brothers were dressed up for the ball, but they were half asleep, so they looked like this.” To demonstrate, Kristoff lifted his arms and moved the joints in spasmodic throws like a toy marionette.

“What?” whispered Elsa, too quietly for her company to hear. She and Kristoff couldn’t have had the same dream. Yet she remembered it all exactly as he said: The music that called her from her bed, the eleven princes all dressed in silk and jewels in the middle of the night, and Hans waltzing with thin air instead of locked in his tower room.

“Hey!” exclaimed Olaf. The snowman was crawling out from under the bed. “If you two are feeling funny, maybe Hans’ brothers did too, and that’s what they’re meeting about!”

“What about a meeting?” asked Kristoff.

Anna’s eyes went wide as pinwheels with the realization that she’d forgotten something. “Oh! Right, right, right!” she declared, waving her hands. “One of the princes, the smiley one with freckles and crazy hair. What’s his nammmme? Oh yeah, Jakob! Anyway, he was lost, and came into my room looking for the King because everyone is having a meeting in the throne room.” Her excitement deflated when she added, “Something about…Hans.”

“Hans?” asked Elsa.

The picture of the former prince dancing like he was tied to puppet strings faded to the way she knew she had seen him yesterday. His thin face, paper-white skin, dark circles under his eyes, stringy hair, filthy clothes, and his dark room in the top of the palace from which there was no escape. The dark room which had children’s drawings upon the walls, and children’s toys on the floor. And now his brothers were going to talk about him first thing in the morning? Elsa didn’t know what it was, but something inside was prompted by the memory to get out of bed and step into her slippers.

“Elsa?” Anna tried to ask, but her sister was already sprinting out the door and down the corridor. “Elsa, where are you going?” called the princess, and she hurried after the Queen.

The confused ice master and snowman still in the room exchanged a glance. “I guess where ever we’re going,” Kristoff said with a shrug, and the two ran to catch up with the girls.

By the time Elsa had found the staircase, climbed down, and reached the throne room, the Westergaards were already there. Only King Klaus was immaculate as he had been yesterday; Perfectly coiffed head of raven hair on which sat his crown, perfectly trimmed beard, and perfectly clean raiment. Everyone else was exhausted and in various states of undress. Radulf, who was holding his pen and notebook, had one arm in the sleeve of a fancy coat and the other in a casual jacket’s. Noah was wearing only one boot and a waistcoat over his nightshirt. Either Teddy or Tommy (Elsa couldn’t begin to guess which) was shirtless and had a blanket draped over his shoulder, which his twin was falling asleep on. Isak had the same spiky bird’s nest of hair and dirty white coat from yesterday’s dinner. Even Philomène was standing next to Magnus in her sleepwear, and her once spectacular undo was hanging loose like a butter-yellow shower, all the way down to her knees.

Strange, the back of the Queen’s mind considered, that Duke Carl the Weasel was not lurking in the corner. Prying on this meeting must not be worth showing himself without proper apparel or business-like wig, but whatever purpose the Westergaard sons (and one daughter by marriage) had gathered for clearly could not wait for them to get dressed. It made Elsa worry all the more.

“Geez, am I the only one who got any sleep last night?” said Anna. Having caught up to Elsa, she was surveying the crowd of disheveled royals.

Kristoff, appearing beside her with Olaf behind him, bemusedly answered, “Looks that way, doesn’t it?”

“Hey,” a voice called calmly, but the bass in it caused the Arendellers to jump. Gunnar, dressed modestly in a wine red shirt that exposed his chest, brown trousers and slippers, with only half his black hair combed and a sandwich in hand, marched up to Elsa. His reddish-brown irises looked nigh demonic in eyes turned bloodshot from fatigue, and the scowl on his face made the mighty Snow Queen of Arendelle feel like a mouse staring down a tiger.

“What do you think you’re doing here?” growled the seventh prince. “We are here to discuss a matter within the family. And are you family? No.”

Anna stepped in between him and Elsa. “Hey, don’t be like that,” she retorted. “We were just curious.”

“You would do well to remember you are not the authority here,” added Vilhelm emotionlessly.

“It’s certainly no excuse for them to come barging in here, dressed like that!” declared Noah with a theatric toss of his (still probably fake) blond bangs. “Scandalous!”

“It hardly matters,” Klaus announced from his throne. Like a fine sword’s blade, his tone was even but carried a threat. “They are staying in our house, and would be made privy to our business sooner or later.” The King looked to Radulf at his side. “This stalling is a bother, Radulf,” he said. “We may as well have it over with, given the state all of you are in.”

“Respectfully, my King,” Radulf said in his nasally voice, trying to shake off his coat sleeve. “Jakob has not returned, and therefore we are not all of us.”

Olaf raised his twig arm. “Ooo! Ooo! We saw him! He was looking for the King right over there!” The snowman pointed to Klaus, proud of his deduction.

Radulf rolled his bespectacled eyes. “Well, he’ll be doing that for hours,” the third prince muttered under his breath. He scribbled something down in his book, then turned back to Klaus. “As you said, Majesty, we will begin.”

“Perfect.” The King snapped his fingers and pointed to the adjoining corridor. “Gunnar, fetch the accused.”

A hideous grin like a reopening wound formed on Gunnar’s face. Elsa half expected to see fangs dripping with blood. “I’d be happy to,” he hissed. He shoved the rest of his sandwich in his mouth, and sprinted to the direction of Klaus’s finger.

With only dawn lighting the room, it was too dark to see what was happing in the corridor. A cold clinking Elsa wasn’t prepared for came from the shadows, and Gunnar’s voice echoing, “Go on! Move it!” The seventh prince stepped back into room with a fistful of chains dragging behind him. At the end of the iron links was Hans, worse than before. He had shackles on his ankles, his wrists, and one around his neck barely loose enough to let him breathe. Chains from all these shackles interwove into the line Gunnar was holding, like a depraved dog leash. Elsa stared in horror as Hans was dragged before Klaus. The youngest brother looked upon his monarch with a flickering flame behind his eyes, but the eldest’s cloudy right eye staring back held the risk of deep mists which could smother that tiny spark. Now everyone would see whose force was greater.

“Present the record, Radulf,” ordered the King.

With one last vigorous shake, the coat fell off Radulf’s arm. He flipped to a page in his notebook and cleared his throat.

“Let the record show,” he proclaimed to the room. “That we all retired last night within the hour of ten, the Princess of Arendelle and her valet the latest at quarter to eleven.” (Elsa, Anna and Kristoff’s jaws all dropped at this.) “Followed by myself seven minutes later once I had gathered my reconnaissance on our whereabouts for that night. At approximately half past five this morning, yours truly Prince Radulf, Prince Magnus, Prince Vilhelm, Prince Bernhard, Prince Gunnar, Prince Isak, Prince Theodor, Prince Thomas, the absent Prince Jakob, and Prince Noah awoke on the floor of the palace ballroom, wearing attire other than nightclothes and with no recollection of how we got there. Amongst us was the accused, Hans Westergaard, likewise sleeping in the ballroom and not in the garret of the north tower he has been committed to following last month’s fire…”

Radulf’s voice faded to a distant echo in Elsa’s ears while inside she was screaming, It wasn’t a dream! She truly had woken up at midnight to find Hans and the Princes flushing downstairs to dance in their sleep! They must have eventually collapsed before they still had the strength to return to their beds. Admittedly, it still sounded absurd. Sleepwalking was one thing, but sleep…dancing? With twelve people at once? Yet here was Hans, on trial for it. But if the midnight ball was real, the haunting music coming from nowhere which had accompanied the scene must be real too. Elsa couldn’t help but think this strange song is what bid her and Kristoff to wake and the Westergaards to dance.

“Ce salaud a empoisonné mon mari!” interrupted Philomène, before bursting into wet sobs. Magnus pulled his wife into his arms and let her bury her head into his neck, but the look on his face implied he would rather be doing anything else.

Bernhard, whose crimson hair was oddly in perfect curls, held up a dancing shoe for all to see. “Look at this!” the sixth prince yelled. He put a finger into the shoe and poked through a hole in the sole. “My favourite Italian shoes, trash!”

Not prepared to be upstaged, Noah cut in with, “Well, do you any of you know what broken sleep does to the faculties of an artist? I couldn’t possibly tell a D sharp from a B flat right now!”

“Silence!” commanded Klaus. The word was hard and cold as stone, just like every other sound that came out of his mouth, but the echoing order stole the voices of his audience. It also startled Teddy/Tommy awake, who almost lost his balance when Tommy/Teddy caught him by the shoulders.

Klaus interlocked his fingers, and rested his chin on them. “Now, Hans,” he said, vaguely attempting at gentleness. “It is in your best interest to not be difficult. All we want to know is how you conducted this little practical joke.”

Hans’ eye and lips were twitching. It was plain to see that rage was bubbling inside him, ready to explode like a volcano. Nevertheless, he took a deep inhale and exhale. Then he said, “For the tenth time, and I have been counting, I! Do not! Know!”

A swift knee in the side from Gunnar forced Hans on his knees. He bit his lip before a cry of pain could escape just in time for his seventh-eldest brother to grab him by the iron collar and crouch to his level.

“That’s your King you’re talking to,” Gunnar hissed in Hans’ ear before he released him.

An unpredicted smirk appeared on Hans’ face. “Isn’t this just typical, Klaus?” he asked brazenly. “I finally have your attention, and it’s for something I didn’t do.”

The grip on his patience coming loose, Klaus’ hands moved from his chin to his throne’s armrests. “What is typical, Hans,” he said through gritted teeth. “Is you making a cockroach of yourself and being found where you are not suppose to. Your escape is not the mystery. It is the question of how you transported ten bodies without leaving signs of strain or resistance.”

Hans shook his head and made a noise that was half a sigh and half a groan. “Look, I fell asleep in my bed upstairs, and when I woke up, I was in the ballroom and Isak was chewing on my hair. That’s all I know, and all you’re going to get from asking me.”

Klaus glared and straightened his posture. Suddenly, Gunnar broke the silence. “Living up to your name even now, aren’t ya, Handful?” he snorted.

Faster than Gunnar could laugh at his own quip, Hans leapt to his feet and faced his brother until they were practically touching noses.

“Quit calling me that!” he snarled, earning Gunnar seizing his hair and shoving him back on his knees.

“Without willing compliance,” said Klaus. “And your inability to present an alibi or any proof to your innocence, I hereby pronounce you guilty, and invoke… Sticks and Stones.”

In a millisecond, Hans’ eyes became wide with terror. The flame behind them went out like a candle in a hurricane. Elsa heard snickering, and saw Teddy and Tommy, smiling maliciously and repeating “Sticks and Stones,” to themselves with joy.

Gunnar’s mouth again made the savage, teeth-baring grin. “Sticks and Stones, Handful,” he practically sang in triumph. The seventh prince stood and ran to the corridor. Hans did not seem to notice his keeper’s leave of his side, much less care enough to try to move away.

“Stiiiiiiicks aaaaaand Stooooonesss…” Isak’s haunting voice drawled.

Those three words spread to every tongue in the room like an airborne disease. Whispers of surprise, of satisfaction, steadily rising in volume and giving Elsa gooseflesh. She caught a glance at Kristoff as he swallowed hard, sharing her sentiment.

“What’s Sticks and Stones?” asked Anna, oblivious to the sinister haze making the air heavy. Elsa and Kristoff turned to look at the girl between them in confusion. With more excitement, she answered herself. “Oh, do you think the’ll put him in the stocks?”

Elsa felt a tiny crack in her heart. Oh, Anna. Sweet Anna, so full of light that she could not see the shadows. Whatever heinous finale of this trial Elsa knew was coming would be, Anna could not be allowed to see it. The Queen took hold of her sister’s arm and tried to pull her outside.

“Anna, we should go,” she said, halfway to panic and her hands growing cold as proof.

“What? Why?” asked Anna. Elsa desperately wanted to simply to pick up the Princess and run far away from this room, but Anna pulled away from her sister’s chilly hold.

“Because I…” How could she say this? “Because I think Sticks and Stones is a very bad thing, and Hans isn’t going to get off so easily.”

Much to Elsa’s shock, Anna made a little giggle. “Of course he will,” she said reassuringly. “This is his family, Elsa. You heard them: He set a fire and they just put him in a room with a nice bed and everything.”

While Elsa was trying to decide between telling Anna that being locked inside was a very real torment or that nothing she had seen inside the tower could be called nice, and think of a way to explain either one gently, Kristoff also laid his hand on Anna’s wrist and tugged. “Anna, maybe we’d better listen to her.”

Piercing through the chanting, the rattling of chains called the Arendellers’ attention back to Hans. He was no longer facing Klaus, but being forced by Teddy and Tommy to crouch in the centre of the room. The twins together pulled on their little brother’s shirt until it ripped right down the middle. When they saw what was underneath, Kristoff’s jaw and arms dropped limp, Anna gasped with horror, and Elsa followed her sister’s example before clamping her palm over her mouth. Scars shaped like winding rivers, at least four still healing, crisscrossed on Hans’ back, sharing territory with bruises, ranging in sizes bigger than a boot’s sole to small as fingerprints, and the patch of red waiting to turn black and blue where Gunnar had gotten him.

Speaking of Gunnar, he had returned, walking in a self-satisfied swagger. Under his arm was a rectangular wooden box, about a foot in length, and behind him were two muscle-bound men wearing uniforms and deadpan faces. The men walked to Hans, and took the place of the twins as they held him down. Gunnar strutted up to Radulf and thrust the box into the bespectacled prince’s chest. Finding the carved wood somehow offensive, Radulf grimaced, tucked his notebook under his arm, and took the box, but kept it as far as his arms could stretch.

Gunnar lifted the box’s lid, and the sight of its contents widened his smile. He pulled out a black rod, and the leather tail attached to it slunk to the ground like a viper.

Please no, thought Elsa. Her eyes darted back and forth from Gunnar, shivering with pleasure from the whip in his hand, to Hans, already so broken that one lick would shatter him into a million pieces. For something she knew he had nothing to do with. Gunnar flourished the whip and cracked it deafeningly against the floor twice, making his audience, except Klaus, jump.

Elsa couldn’t stand it any longer. She charged past Bernhard and Vilhelm, and as Gunnar prepared a lash for Hans’ back, the Queen screamed, “Stop!” and willed an icy rush from her hand. The wintery magic struck the edge of the handle, and the wicked length of leather turned bluish-white, hard and ten times colder than death. Gunnar howled in pain like a wounded animal. The weapon dropped to the ground and splintered into frozen blocks as he similarly fell, grasping his frostbitten hand. Elsa sprinted behind Hans, and spread her arms and legs wide as his shield.

The crowd gasped loudly, then held its breath while Gunnar continued to writhe and make beastly roars. Only Klaus had the mind to stand up from his throne, and approach the woman who had put the penalty he passed to a halt.

“What is the meaning of this, Queen Elsa?” demanded the King.

Her heart and mind still rushing, Elsa didn’t know what the answer was. What was the meaning of this? How had running back to her suite with Anna turned into running to rescue the man who had tried to decapitate her and steal her family’s crown just a little over a year ago. Then she heard a strangled noise behind her, and turned her head to Hans. “Go away!” he had whispered.

If Elsa had been listening, she would have elected to ignore the man’s order on principle. But Elsa was not listening because she was distracted by the vile pattern of Hans’ scars, scratches, bumps and bruises, and she understood why she had saved him. This could not happen again. Never, ever again.

“You said Hans has no proof of his innocence, but he does!” the Queen declared. “I am a witness to the events of last night. I saw…” Perhaps the truth was a bit too outlandish for a jury such as this. “I saw that Hans is the victim of another of another’s crime, just like the rest of his brothers.”

The eyebrow above Klaus’ clear brown eye raised above the other. “Would you care to elaborate?” he asked.

“With your, um, consent,” said Elsa, trying to sound more regal and less shaken than she felt. “I would prefer to do so in private, your Majesty. Until then, as you initially imprisoned Hans for crimes against me, I request that he will not subjected to harm.”

The King inched closer Elsa’s face, studying her. Then his eyes ever so slightly widened. “You care about what happens to him,” he said, bemused.

Elsa tried to keep her expression firm, but the curiosity in his voice caused a terrible feeling to appear in the pit of her stomach. As if she had just given up her one loaded pistol to this King who wouldn’t hesitate to use it.

Klaus regained his regal posture, and glanced at Gunnar, who was still curled up on the floor, though his cries had lowered to whimpers.

“Gunnar, go to the sickroom and get medical attention for that hand,” he ordered.

“Wha? But sh-!” he sputtered, but a warning look from the corner of his King’s eye silenced him. The seventh prince picked himself up, and once on his feet, he pointed to Elsa. A silent promise that the Queen would pay dearly for challenging him. He walked out of the room, mumbling angry nothings to himself.

Without paying mind to Gunnar’s exit, Klaus nodded to the men still holding Hans. “And you two,” Klaus continued. “Pick him up, for Heaven sakes.”

In perfect sync, the men lifted Hans by his biceps and planted him on his feet. He turned to Elsa slowly with apprehension, and shared a gaze with his saviour. Elsa felt overwhelmed, and she imagined her face made it apparent. However, Hans’ face was an unreadable muddle. His head was shaking in disbelief, his mouth was twitching as if to form words but without any sound, and his eyes, squinting in focus, were seemingly examining her every feature. Why, he was looking for the catch! Waiting for her to make a deal or tell him, “You owe me.” Did he really believe she was heartless enough to let a human being, even him, be tortured?

Elsa snorted and whipped her head away from Hans’ insulting look. His chains jangled, and between the clinking, Elsa could swear she heard Hans sigh, “Thank you.” She turned back around to be sure, but he was already being led away. Hans’ gratitude was a strange comfort, mostly because of who it was coming from, but Elsa felt a warmth glowing inside her and she smiled without intending to.

“Do you have any more conditions regarding Hans?” asked Klaus, bringing Elsa back to the present where there was no mysterious warm feeling.

“Treat his wounds, and get him some real food to eat, please,” she answered before considering that Klaus might have been sarcastic.

“It shall be done,” he said, fortunately. He looked to Radulf, who was still trying to understand what had happened to the trial. “Radulf, make a note of Queen Elsa’s requests, find someone to clean up this mess.” The King motioned to the remains of Gunnar’s whip. “Get dressed, then check on preparations for breakfast.”

“Certainly, my King!” said the third prince. In trying to take his notebook out of his side, he dropped the whip case with an Ulp! and tried to pick it up without losing his precious book or glasses, resulting in a humorous squatting dance. “T-today, the menu calls for pancakes prepared in the Arendellian style in honour of our guests and-”

“Radulf, don’t talk about it, just do it,” Klaus commanded.

With a bow and forced smile, Radulf scooped up the box and his fancy coat, and sprinted out the door.

“The rest of you,” the King addressed the crowd. “Go to your rooms and make yourselves presentable, now.”

The Westergaards did as they were told, and poured into the hall at the speed of molasses. The four Arendellers had yet to move, for Elsa had been staring at the frozen fragments of leather laying in a light dusting of snow since Klaus had called attention to it. Now she was dismayed at the idea of looking up, for the Queen felt weary eyes on her that she couldn’t tell were real or only her imagination.

No, she told herself as she began taking deep breaths. I’m not the Snow Queen here. I am Queen Elsa of Arendelle. No one has reason to fear me, so I have no reason to be afraid.

She was grateful to feel her flesh return to temperatures associated with warmblooded creatures, but when she was prepared to leave, she saw the state of her sister. From her feet to bulging eyes, Anna was shaking like a leaf. Her breathing was shallow, and she was frantically running her fingers through her hair. Elsa ran to her side.

“He was…but they…he could’ve…” Anna gasped. Her voice cracked from the tears she was going to shed.

Elsa wanted to hold her little sister. To steal what she had just witness from her mind and make the world look the way it should be again. What she did instead was cross her arms to hide her hands, and start making strides for the stairs. Thankfully, Kristoff’s arms enveloped Anna and rubbed her shoulders gently in Elsa’s place.

“Anna, breathe. Let’s just go,” the ice master said as her tears began to fall.

“No!” the Princess sobbed. She broke out of his embrace and took hold of his nightshirt. “No, no, no, no, no. They are the big brothers. They’re supposed to take care of him, an-and-and protect him. Not…this.”

“I get the feeling they do a lot of things they’re not supposed to around here, Anna,” Kristoff said as he took Anna’s hand and led her into the hall.

When Elsa took her first step on the staircase, Olaf called her name. She looked down at the snowman climbing next to her with surprise, as she had almost forgotten his presence. It was truly amazing how his coal eyes managed to look so much like a flesh and blood child and twice as innocent. But now, those eyes were wide with worry in a very un-Olaf-like manner that broke Elsa’s heart.

“Is Hans gonna be okay?” he asked.

“I…I don’t know, Olaf,” the Queen said. She wanted to tell him something more hopeful, but was too drained to be any less than honest. “But I’m going to try and make sure he is.” That seemed to be enough for Olaf, and he smiled as he held Elsa’s hand. The wooden touch made Elsa return the smile.

Back in the throne room, Klaus was about to leave for his study, when Jakob, out of breath and with cobwebs from parts unknown in his titian-coloured hair, burst through the corridor.

“Hey, I found him!” the eleventh prince exclaimed with joy. He skipped over to the King, and to his wrist to wave it up in the air. “I found him! Here’s Klaus!”

Klaus snatched his arm back and glared at his younger brother. Jakob, confused as always, looked around to see they were the only ones left in the room.

“Did I miss something?”

#Frozen 2 #Helsa #Hans #Elsa #Elsa the Snow Queen #Prince Hans #Frozen sequel #Kristanna #Princess Anna #Kristoff #Kristoff Bjorgman #Hans' brothers #Frozen #Disney

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