queenelsa-of-arendelle:

<sub>Elsa’s brows creased in confusion as he spoke. Her stomach seemed to rumble as if it had heard what Jack said, and she looked away, embarrassed. She hadn’t realized it was noticeable. Just when was the last time she ate?

“Home?“ The young woman’s thoughts were interrupted with the simple sound of one word. Home. But there was none, anymore. "Home is… it’s gone. I… I’m a prisoner of war. My home has been destroyed.” She tried desperately to keep from thinking of her family; of her mother and father, and her younger sister - all dead. Tears built up in her eyes despite her best efforts. “I’m the only one left.” Her voice cracked, but she held back the tears, refusing to let them fall.</sub> 

_{Blinking them away, Elsa turned her gaze up to him once more. “You were?” Once again, she was perplexed, unsure what he could possibly mean.}

    _{Jack respectfully averted his eyes downwards, gnawing on his lip as he tries to figure out what to say. It’s not like he’s ever been in this situation before anyways; it’s usually the others who handle speaking with the slaves they free. Something about her had caught his eye though, and he was the one who requested she be helped, but what was he supposed to say now? It’s not like he even remembered his own home.}

    _{"We’ll take you wherever you want to go, then,” he told her finally, holding onto the end of her chain with only one hand as the other came up to rub uncomfortably at his neck. “Or you could stay here with us. Who knows? You might like it here.” He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye and noticed the tears about to fall, but she seemed to compose herself before he could say anything further.}

    _{“I was,” Jack confirmed, nodding his head slightly as he pushed through the crowd of people gathered near the more ethical market stalls. “Banged my head real bad or something, and woke up on the back of a slaver’s horse. It was a nightmare. But North – that big guy you saw call the final bid – he and his friends took me in. I didn’t really have anywhere to go, so I stayed with them.” He seemed matter of fact about the entire thing as if he’s told the story many, many times, but his smile doesn’t get less sad each time he does.}