Chapter 10: A new wave

"That was AWESOME!" Exclaimed Eydis, bouncing in joy.

Anna scoffed. "We could say that..."

Elsa turned to the people assembled in the hall while Eydis leaped around. "Is everyone alright?"

"We are, Your Highness. Thank you." Said the leader of the guards.

The blonde laughed nervously. "Thank us? For what?"

Kai approached with a grateful nod. "Your control of the situation saved us all."

The sisters looked at each other, and smiled humbly.

Elsa suddenly startled, and rushed outside, to everyone's surprise. It looked like she was running away from something, but in fact, they soon realized that she was going outside to join the awaiting Spirits of Wind and Water.

Anna grinned as she jogged behind her, then followed by Kristoff, and Eydis who just wanted to follow the joy that her parents suddenly had and thought it would be a good thing to run outside to celebrate the return of the sun.

The servants watched with a smile as they all ran through the courtyard, passing the gates which they now opened.

"Elsa, wait for me!" Giggled Anna.

She may not have a mental connection with her sister, yet she could feel how excited the blonde was.

Elsa laughed openly in the warm and sunny light of day at the thought she would soon see her fellows, and she could feel deep in her core that they were happy to see her as well.

Just as this sensation was seizing her, a sudden gust of wind twirled above her and swooped down, and something physical grabbed her.

With a gasp of surprise, and Anna and Kristoff did the same as they stopped running when the blonde was briskly propelled up in the sky, Elsa felt the Wind Spirit twirl around her and tighten on her arms with the same sensation than a hug, which the woman immediately gave back.

"Gale! I- Hey, ah ! Stop!" Chuckled Elsa, as the Spirit now poked her belly to tickle her. "I missed you two, dear."

They twisted like that for a moment, the Snow Queen laughing out loud as Gale made her turn and turn – Anna wondered how she didn't feel sick – then deposited her on the grass a bit further, a patch of green separating the castle from the fjord.

Elsa sighed of pure happiness when the Spirit made a salute circle around her, ruffling her short hair and carrying a pleasant smell as they were filled with colorful flowers and dew. A tear fell from Elsa's eye as she was overwhelmed to know that Gale was safe and sound, and the Spirit picked up the tear at her cheek to make it fly away. The blonde smiled at the cute gesture.

"Gale?" Asked Anna once she joined them, a bit timidly.

A big sensation of excitement coming from the Wind Spirit filled Elsa's heart as they hurried to the redhead, and slipped inside the sleeves of her jacket to tickle her. Anna chuckled in joy and relief, and understood Elsa's words earlier when she had said that the two were combined now that they were back.

A flower floated in front of her nose, and her eyes crossed before she picked it up.

"For me?"

Gale floated up and down as a nod.

"That's really cute. Thanks."

Elsa smiled tenderly at the scene. "They say it's to congratulate you for being an incredible Queen those past days."

Anna bit her lips as she smiled, and her eyes were glistening. "Aw... Thank you, Gale. I'm really touched."

A silence passed as the Spirit tingled, and Elsa stared as she listened.

"They would have loved to give you a better gift, but this flower was the biggest they saw on the way as they and Nokk came down from the clouds." She translated.

"It's alright, Gale. It's a really nice touch." Said Anna, stretching her hand to touch the gust.

Elsa's attention had been driven somewhere else. She had turned around, staring at the fjord. Suddenly, she ran again, rushing to the shore. Anna knew what was going to happen next. Indeed, clouds were made of wind and water, and Elsa hadn't seen her horse friend for a long while.

Kristoff finally joined them, for he had stopped running to pick up Eydis who now was in his arms.

"You're not joining her?" Asked the King, seeing that his wife was standing still.

"No, I think I'll let her have a private moment first." Smiled Anna.

While Eydis played with Gale and tried to catch them with her tiny fists, the Queen stared at how her elder had approached the water flows, now calm and serene as the storm had disappeared.

Elsa's hand hovered on the water, coming in waves on the shore and brushing her ice sandals and toes as she was crouched.

"Playing coy? Come on, you and I know you really aren't." Smirked the Snow Queen on a teasing tone.

She could sense Nokk just below the surface, and curled her finger in the water. "Come on, hop out, or I freeze the whole fjord. I've done it once, may I remind you."

A feeling coming from the Spirit then reached her heart. They were ashamed, not daring to take form. Elsa's smirk faded into a caring expression.

"Hey..." She now said on a calm and gentle voice. "It's okay. I don't blame you for what happened. If anything, it's Thor's fault. And yet it's not even fair. It's a chain of events."

The Spirit still didn't dare to go out, even if she could feel that they had listened to her. Some bubbles appeared at the surface. Elsa chuckled lightly.

"It's okay, you dramatic horsie. I swear I'm not angry at you."

She placed a hand on her heart, the other still caressing the fragile yet powerful layer of water. "Here. Can you feel it?"

A moment passed, then a magical neigh resonated through her skin from the surface and roamed her whole body. She laughed, and stood up, giving them space to emerge. Right away, a blob of water formed on the surface and grew taller and taller, soon a bit higher than Elsa's head. With a smile, she watched it turn into a mighty horse, and their glowing blue eyes hadn't detached from her.

Then they suddenly nuzzled her. Which, when the horse was entirely made of water, resulted in a big splash, as powerful as if someone had just thrown an entire bucket at her face. Spitting and coughing, Elsa then laughed, taken by surprise.

"I missed you too, buddy. But damn, really?" She rubbed her eyes, laughing even more, and cleaned her face.

She frowned and shook her head in a scolding way, and the horse neighed in a sound similar to a whale chant. Elsa passed a hand in her wet hair, yet she didn't make the water fly away from her. This was Nokk's salute, just like Gale had made her twirl in the air, and she respected it.

They exchanged a gaze, then suddenly Elsa's joyful smile turned into trembling lips, and emotion filled her soul as she launched herself forward. Nokk closed their eyes before she even wrapped her arms around their neck, sensing that she was about to cry.

Happy tears, that she had been holding since the moment she felt their energy in the castle, rolled on her cheeks. They fell into the water of the horse, floating in with a slightly different color. Just like Elsa was taking in Nokk's happiness with their splash, the Spirit was taking in Elsa's relieved tears. They stayed like this for a moment, Anna watching her from afar. She too had tears falling on her cheeks at the view, and she rubbed them as she sniffed. Kristoff gave her his handkerchief with a smile.

Elsa passed a hand along Nokk's face, and could hear their remark in her mind.

"Yeah, I know, it's been a wild week."

She had a nervous laugh. "The storm, the national meeting, and then I learned that my niece can lift Mjöllnir..."

Nokk blinked as they mentally insisted on something.

"No, don't be silly. I could only lift it a tiny bit. I'm not as worthy as her." Reacted Elsa.

The Water Spirit wanted to insist, but Anna was approaching, and their eyes widened at her presence. Just like Gale, their energy beamed happiness, and they urged to say hi. They splashed forward like one of the waves passing on the shore, and flopped heavily like a big one, splattering Anna's knees. The redhead grinned, feeling the way Nokk was seizing her legs, and she lowered her arms to return the sort of hug. However, she fell right into their trap.

With a yelp, she got pulled forward as the water retracted to the fjord in the natural move but with a magic force, and she lost her balance, stumbling down on all fours.

Elsa burst of laughter, bending in half and nearly falling in the water as well for how funny that was. Anna grumbled, shaking her body at Nokk's prank.

"Very funny. Very, very funny."

"They're happy to see you too." Laughed Elsa, catching her breath.

"Well, they're lucky it's sunny and warm now, or I'd have..."

"What? You'd have what?" Teased Elsa, and Nokk reformed next to her with the same sarcasm in their head tilt.

Anna stared at the Spirit with a frown and a pointed finger. "You know what?! Fishes pee in you! All day!"

Elsa laughed. "Come on, you know they meant that as a reunion gesture."

The redhead grumbled, but finally complied to smile, and she shrugged. "Alright, I missed you too. I guess."

"NOKKIE!" Screamed a child voice, and they turned to see the little princess run on the shore to get to them.

She hanged to the horse's neck, and Nokk bent their head to return the hug, the two women observing with tender looks.

An emotion exhaled from the Water Spirit and reached Elsa's soul. It was pure admiration for Eydis. Elsa smiled.

"Nokk is proud of what you've done with the hammer." She informed to the girl.

"Really? Thanks!"

The love and support from the horse wasn't only for Eydis, Elsa soon sensed. It was for her as well. The blonde was touched, and tears filled her eyes.

"You think so?" She answered to no sentence, and Anna understood that she was talking to Nokk.

Gale twirled around her, sending the same feeling, and Elsa blinked at the gust, her happy tears falling on her face. "Thank you, friends."

She mentally sent them all her love back, and what she felt in her mind couldn't be translated in words. The Spirits sent emotions back, all echoing in a whirlwind of 'congratulations', 'thank you', 'we're here now', 'humans are safe', and so on.

"You knew, all that time, didn't you..." Muttered Elsa, rubbing her tears. "You could sense me calling to you."

They both responded in gestures that meant yes, even to Anna's eyes, who smiled at the scene.

"And you chose to not respond to focus on Thor's power, and not endanger the human world..." Translated Elsa, her gaze passing back and forth between Gale and Nokk.

They now nodded in sadder gestures.

Anna felt bad for Elsa, knowing how alone she had felt recently. Nevertheless, the happiness that glowed from Elsa then as she put a hand on Nokk's muzzle and reached for Gale's twirls, was contagious and made her smile larger.

She let them have their moment, and joined her husband on the shore a few meters away.

Eydis played cheerfully with Nokk's waves, trying to jump over them, the magic flows teasingly splashing her. It was crazy to believe that less than a day before, she had been revealed to be worthy of lifting Mjöllnir.

"This kid is going places." Smiled Anna, looking at her with deep love.

Kristoff placed a hand around her waist.

"Of course she is. She's your daughter, feisty. Her destiny as an amazing person was all mapped out."

Anna chuckled, nudging him. "She's our daughter."

The King looked down at her as she enlaced him. "Does that make her a perfect child?"

The redhead stood on her tiptoes, and kissed him on the lips. "For sure."

They stared at each other closely and tenderly.

A new radiant laughter echoed in front of them from the shore, and they turned to see Eydis now trying to climb up Nokk and slipping on the water. Elsa was giggling, and the Water Spirit seemed to have fun as well.

"Eydis, it's time to say goodbye." Announced Anna, proceeding to explain to her daughter that Elsa had duties she needed to attend to.

"Do you really have to go?" Pouted her niece, her eyes up to her idol.

"I have to, sweetie." Smiled the Snow Queen with a pinch to the heart. "The Northuldra are waiting for me. And I have an important meeting to conduct with all the Spirits in Ahtohallan."

"Then say hi to Olaf! And Marshie! And the snowgies!"

"I'll be sure to." Promised Elsa.

The little girl laughed as she ruffled her hair. Then they hugged, or at least, Eydis tackled Elsa's waist. Kristoff approached, and gave her a head sign indicating behind him as he rubbed his beard awkwardly.

"Can I talk to you?" He mouthed.

Elsa nodded, and the others didn't mind, for Gale had started to play with them.

Once they were alone, Kristoff hugged Elsa warmly.

"Take care, okay?" He said into her ear as they embraced.

Elsa was a bit taken aback by the moment, and when they parted, she stared at him with a sarcastic smile.

"Is that why you wanted to have a private moment?"

He chuckled. "No. I need your opinion."

"On what matter?"

"Did you notice mood swings lately with Anna?"

Elsa snorted. "You mean, apart from the usual? No. Well, I mean, we did have an argument the other day, but it mainly was my fault."

Her expression changed. "Why do you ask?"

Then, at Kristoff's still face, her expression changed again, with wide eyes this time. "Wait... Do you think..."

He nodded. "I noticed the same changes of behavior when she was pregnant with Eydis."

"Could she be..."

"Pregnant again. Yes. Another child. Oh my goodness. I'm so happy, but also so stressed..." He was rubbing the back of his head nervously, his other hand shaking around. "And it's always such great news for the kingdom, but also more responsibilities, and this is amazing, but also frightening, and—"

"Kristoff! It's just speculations for now. Relax." Calmed down Elsa.

She wondered if he needed a pack of ice to calm his stress. Nokk neighed in the distance, feeling the panic in Kristoff's heart.

"Hey. It's gonna be okay. Message me if you see further signs, okay?" Soothed Elsa.

Gale had obviously followed the conversation, and tingled above their heads to say they would be ready to transfer any letter.

The King eventually sighed and nodded, stretching a smile. "Thank you. For that, obviously, and for everything you've done for us recently."

The Snow Queen beamed in the sun light. "You're very welcome."

While Kristoff and Elsa were away, Eydis tugged on her mother's dress.

"Mama, will I ever be allowed to do handiwork again? Will you punish me and forbid me to use tools for all my life?"

Anna blinked in shock, and saw that her daughter was serious. She had genuine worry on her face and her normally red cheeks looked a bit pale, enhancing her freckles in the saddest way.

"Oh, baby, no. Of course not." She hurried to say, her voice cracking with emotion. She crouched to look at her in the eyes. "Never."

"But with what happened..."

"Eydis, I'll never get in the way between you and your passion. I promise."

The girl stretched her lips. "Olaf once said that talent is passion with practice!" She recited.

"He's right." Smiled Anna. "And you'll be the best handywoman there is if that's what you want to be."

"Of the entire world?" Beamed the girl.

"Of the entire world." Grinned Anna, nudging her nose with hers.

They giggled, and Eydis tackled her mother in a hug. The redhead tightened her with just as much love.

Above her shoulder, she saw that Elsa was walking back to Nokk.

"I'm gonna say goodbye to your aunt. Stay here, okay? Little worthy one."

The girl giggled once again.

Anna walked to Elsa with endearment. Her elder was smiling widely, exhaling pure joy, leaning against a Spirit and being surrounded by the gust of another one. To the redhead, it was impossible to deny that she looked like a goddess right then. Being her sister filled her with pride.

"I'm gonna miss you."

"We had quite an adventure together, though." Snorted Elsa.

"Yeah, but still. Have a safe way back, okay?"

"You know Nokk. Even if you two still fight a bit, they'll always be careful with me."

Anna nodded. She then looked at Elsa with a sly smile.

"Say hi to my sister-in-law for me."

"Sure, she—"

Elsa suddenly froze.

"Wait, what? What did you just say?"

Anna grinned. "You seem to have understood."

Elsa blushed furiously. "Why do you— How do you— Honeymaren... How—"

The Queen now beamed at her sister's rare blabbering. "So I am right! You do plan to ask for her hand!"

Elsa blushed harder, reaching impossible colors. For someone with pale skin, her face was as red as a tomato. Anna had never seen her being this embarrassed for her whole life, and yet they had lived many awkward situations.

The blonde lowered her eyes and gulped. "How could you tell?" She muttered.

Anna eyerolled.

"Elsa, please. You're my sister. I can read the signs. I've seen the way you look at her. Especially when she came to Arendelle last week. You were extremely relieved to know that she was alright once she crossed the storm. In a matter of fact, you're always in better mood when she's in the room."

Elsa scoffed, her blush fading a bit as she gulped again, and her eyes, still down, looked away as she smiled shyly.

"I do feel amazing every time I'm near her. Or rather, every time she's near me."

Anna smiled tenderly at the nuance.

"You're adorable."

The blush that had left Elsa's cheeks returned entirely. She lifted her eyes and saw Anna's wide smile, then bit her lip to hide the joy that invaded her mind.

"You're right. I do plan to ask her to marry me. This won't be easy, though. I need to ask for Yelena's blessing, and she was very busy training Honey to be the next tribe leader, so on her free time, she's either grumpy or with her. It's a headache."

The younger chuckled. "If that can reassure you, on this side, you have my blessing already."

Elsa had a sarcastic smile. "That's not how it works."

"I know." Smiled Anna. "But if Honeymaren comes to ask me for opinion before you get to propose to her, I am ready to give her."

Elsa's eyes started to glisten, and Anna continued before she would cry. "I wish you two the best there is."

The elder got speechless for a moment. "Anna, I... Thank you. I love you."

"I love you too." Winked the redhead.

She took the hands Elsa had been lifting. "You know, I've never seen you happier in your life than since you two met in the Forest that day. Those past years... She truly brought to light a side of your personality that only asked to be shown, and deserved to be. To see you this complete today makes me overjoyed. All is found... And in the Forest, you found your soulmate."

Elsa smiled, and was flustered at the last word. She wanted to tell her sister to not say it, but then retracted.

"Do you really think that she's my soulmate?"

"Honestly? You're a match that was meant to be. And I'm not saying that because I'm a huge fan of True Love."

The Snow Queen laughed, but fidgeted with her hands.

"Please don't tell Kristoff."

Anna was a bit surprised by the request, but was willing to help her no matter what.

"Okay. It's better to make it a surprise anyway."

"Yeah, and that's why I avoid telling Ryder as well, because him and Kristoff spend too much time together for the secret not to leak..."

"Now I get it." Laughed Anna. "Wait, Ryder doesn't know?"

"If I tell him, he'll insist that I do my proposition with reindeers and butterflies." Sighed Elsa.

They cackled together.

"Then I'll let you talk to her. But you must message me as soon as it's done, hmmm?"

"I will." Smiled Elsa timidly.

Anna saw her sister's embarrassment, and changed the topic.

"Say, will you be able to explain to Honeymaren that the actual god of thunder landed into our hall and that we casually talked with him?"

Elsa laughed, then shrugged.

"As you know, the Northuldra don't have the same legends and beliefs than us. I'll spend a hard time introducing her to Norse mythology, and how we use it to explain lots of stuff in the world, which they justify by Nature's magic... Then I'll have to tell her what Mjöllnir is, then how it's exceptional that Eydis got to wield it..."

"Maybe you can show her a memory of it in Ahtohallan, as a proof?"

"She'll think that I crafted it for a joke."

Anna chuckled, and sighed.

"Indeed, it's tricky. It's a good thing that Thor went back with Mjöllnir, to be honest."

"Really? Don't you think Eydis would have loved to keep it? She would have been super epic." Smirked Elsa.

"Yeah, I can tell that you're not the one getting awake at 3 in the morning because she decided to build a desk."

She saw her sister's smile. "I'm serious. Sometimes she decides to nail stuff in random places. Imagine if she moved around a hammer that is capable to producing thunder.

Elsa laughed, feeling sorry for her sister and patting her shoulder.

"Well, if she develops powers, let me know."

"You'll obviously be in the first ones to be informed." Winked Anna.

It led to another thought of hers.

"Will you handle things well with the Giant that started it all? Do you need any help?" Proposed Anna.

Elsa smirked.

"Main advantage of being the Fifth Spirit? I'll scold Ruckus so hard he'll crumble."

Anna laughed. "Okay. See you then."

"See you next Friday." Smiled Elsa.

They hugged deeply, taking in the other's kindness and admiring her to no end. With their eyes closed, they stayed like that for a moment, enjoying the closeness, until Anna gently parted.

She huffed. "It's crazy to think that all this mess finished on the day we do game nights, uh?"

Her sister puffed. "Yeah. What a game. I'm happy I'll get a whole week to assimilate what happened. Please don't add 'god encounter' or 'Thor' to the charades papers, uh?"

"No problem." Laughed Anna.

They chuckled, and the redhead stepped back as Elsa skillfully climbed on Nokk's back in one swift move and placed them in direction. After a final glance at her younger, she gently tapped her ankles on the horse's belly, and the Water Spirit neighed cheerfully as they dashed to the North.

The family assembled on the shore, enlacing each other. They watched Elsa go, keeping their eyes on her until she disappeared on the faraway horizon line of the fjord.

Eydis lifted her head.

"Mama?"

"Yes, sweetheart?"

"Can I have a saw?"

Both of her parents widened their eyes. After a moment, Anna chuckled, and tapped her shoulder with a smile.

"I'll let you take it up with your father."

Kristoff startled. "Wait, what?"

THE END

Author's Note:

Annnnnd done! Waow, what a fanfic. I've done many short-length fanfics like those (my account attest of it) but "In the eye of the storm" truly took my soul and time. HOWEVER, as it miraculously dropped in a moment in time where we all got stuck indoors because of the quarantine / confining / social distancing period, I got all on my side to make neat and proper drafts.

Little advice while I'm at it: if you write down drafts manually with a pen and all, sort them by colors! This is how I was able to carry on with all that plot with Thor and Mjöllnir. In the margin, at every note I took, I added a color. Anyway, if I can be of help to other writers... ;)

Thank you so much for the support on Tumblr and guys, I truly appreciate it and it touches me a lot.

When you give compliments like 'oh this is so in-character!' or 'I laughed so hard at this scene!' or 'I totally picture this in my head waow!' it adds ten years to my life span, 500XP and a long happy giggle from me. So THANKS!

If you love my work and want to support me, type "Untangling the Frozen Knots novel" on Google and check out my book! ;)

Have a beautiful day!