Disclaimer: FROZEN and its affiliated characters are owned by DISNEY. I own nothing.
Within the Hollow Crown
Chapter 1
The Broken Things That Bind Us
By: Soifon
Woe, destruction, ruin and decay;
The worst is death, and death with have his day.
The nights were long and unforgiving to those that remained in the frigid fjord. Many tried to flee but the blizzards were just too hazardous to withstand for long. The wind and snow and ice as biting as if they were people, cleaving at the faces of those longing to leave. The death toll was minimal, as many in this region knew very well how to deal with the cold. While this much is true, not many knew how to deal with the remoteness that followed its heels. Ever since the King and Queen of Arendelle fled 13 years ago with their remaining daughter, the calamitous events that followed the once bustling town morphed into a torrent of pain and misery.
Many did not realize that they left one member behind. Many did not realize the power hidden within this remaining member. But oh, did they know now. The rumors and speculation swirled around like the flurries that occasionally made their rounds in the town square. At first, it was strange how the snow started to fall. One, perhaps two or three inches coated the ground, a blanket of fresh snow every other day in the summer that followed. A timid welcome to the typically warm days and nights the residents were used to in the fjord. But it soon became treacherous.
Shards of ice so dangerous that many had to remain indoors as those shards began to gradually pierce the buildings. Blizzards blustered winds cold enough to freeze anything in its path within a matter of moments. The lush, inviting greenery of the fjord and calmness of the oceans were now dreary and somber, arduous and remorseless. The fountains turned into demented sculptures that haunted the minds of those daring to venture out into the nuclear winter. Boats trapped, motionless and ghostly in the harbor, a disparaging reminder of the torment that the small town endured. They knew now indeed the power and the inhumanity of their new queen.
The Queen of Ice and Snow.
The Queen of Exile.
The Queen of the Frozen Fjord.
The Queen of Seclusion atop her Kingdom of Isolation.
The residents that remained in the now frozen town of Arendelle had little to no knowledge of their queen. She remained hidden away in her castle of ice high upon the North Mountain. No one dared make the perilous trek to sneak a peek at the elusive royal. Those who did spun wild tales of a giant snow beast that protected its royal mistress from uninvited guests with a staunch devotion many did not wish to challenge.
Nowadays, the town made due with their new winter as it was obvious it was not going away anytime soon. The royal duties, or what was left of them, were now taken care of both Kai and Gerda, who frequented the town residents from old Castle Arendelle. They were both residents of the once flourishing Arendelle Kingdom, left to the vices of the town in tumult after the King and Queen's hasty exit.
"Kristoff? Ser Kristoff, are you here?"
An aging, stoutly man climbed off his horse, dusting off the snow that blanketed his coat. The crunch of snow beneath his boots sounded all the way up to the quaint cottage door. Several solid knocks echoed through the warm abode as a backdoor opened to a tall, snow covered being. The front door opened as Kai looked up and nearly jumped from his skin at the sight.
"Oh, good gracious!"
"Relax, Kai. It's me," The man tugged down the handkerchief that covered his reddened face, snow coating his otherwise wide body, smiling.
"Oh, don't do that, Ser. You know how shot my nerves are. Listen, I was wondering if it were possible that the wood harvest could be delivered sooner? It's gotten a tad colder these past few nights," The short man stated, wringing his hands together in hope after removing his top hat. Kristoff could only nod, sighing.
"Yes, I've noticed. The Queen must be going through some emotional stuff," Kristoff added, shaking his head free of the few snowflakes that littered his tussled, short blonde hair. Noticing Kai's delve into sudden silence, the blonde looked up and cocked his head to the side.
"Kai?"
"Well, funny you mention that, Ser. You see, this weekend, Saturday to be exact...is the Queens 21st birthday," Kristoff raised a brow, crossing his arms at the notion.
"...Nearly 13 years since her parents abandoned her. Sort of an…unofficial coronation, if you will, even though the one who's supposed to be crowned the new queen regnant isn't even here among us," Kai continued.
"I can't imagine how that must feel, being alone most of your life with no one to talk to, share stories with. Are we going to light up the town again?" Kristoff asked, leaning against the oak wood frame, face an unreadable emotion. Kai nodded, a smile painting his warm features.
"Yes, of course, we'll light up the town, but decorate it and release balloons in her honor. She can see Arendelle clear from her castle up there. So long as she knows she's not alone and can come down here anytime, it's the least we can do. She is, after all, the only royal. Though not officially the queen, she's all this town has. We can only hope she'll bring us out of this winter sooner or later." Kristoff nodded, shaking his head.
"Who can blame her? Having to deal with that kind of thing for all her life. A lot of people here sort of understand but others are just cruel," Kai stuffed his hands into his coat pockets, biting his inner cheeks.
"Did you and Gerda have a hard time with her when she was young?" Kristoff asked as Kai looked up to meet his curious gaze.
"We...didn't see much of her to be quite honest. We left food out at night for her and in the morning, the plate would be empty. It would happen with her laundry in the same manner. Then one day, she was…gone," He said, his brows furrowing together in recollection. The silence grew deafening as Kai tried hard not to give away too much. Kristoff, taking note of his distress, stood up, patting the man on the shoulder.
"Well, I'll be sure to haul in the wood harvest as soon as possible. I was actually just coming back from a run with Sven. Should be by the end of the day tomorrow," The blonde man smiled as Kai returned one in kind. Kai replaced his top hat, tipping it slightly.
"I'll let the townies know, Ser. Much obliged in this most troubling time of year," As Kristoff waved him off, he closed the door, his hand lingering on the polished oak for a moment.
Years ago, Kristoff sold ice to this town and nearby regions. And now, he made a living off being the only one to brave the wilds to harvest wood for the townsfolk. Oh, how the times have changed. He sighed low, retreating into home for the night.
Kai pushed through the solid doors that groaned in agony, removing his top hat and scarf, shaking them both free of snow. The once grand ballroom, the talk of the town, now stood empty; with halls cold and a stark reminder of the happiness that once graced this palace. Noting the portrait of the royals as it hung proudly on the far wall, he smiled if most from fond memories. After the royal's exit, both Kai and Gerda decided to uncover the painting. This was the old castle. Their old castle. And as such it shall remain.
Though the walls were laden with frost and spikes plunging from collapsed and dilapidated ceilings, there was still an eerie beauty to be had. Kai walked the dark halls as old paintings hung, long since deteriorated from the elements and the years past. Doors ripped from hinges, barrels of snow littered about the castle halls. Most rooms and parts of the castle were simply inaccessible after the young queen-to-be vanished and left an expression of her despair that spread throughout the fjord.
Only through hearsay did Kai take note of a large glass-like castle high up in the North Mountains one day. He knew, as did Gerda. They both knew exactly who was residing in that castle. They both knew who would never been seen in this town ever again. Frowning, he paused at the door that once held the young girl prisoner for many a year. His fingers tracked some stray frost as it lie still, coated in a thin sheen of ice, dagger-like icicles protruding from the doorframe, barring any from entry. Continuing down the hall, a soft orange glow caught his eye from a door ajar.
Kai opened the door to the study slowly, aglow with the warmth from the fireplace as he saw Gerda, working on a needlepoint. Gazing up, she smiled, gesturing to the armchair in front of her. Making his way over, the look on his aged face, the lines, the crows feet, the years had not been kind.
"Tell me what's on your mind, dear," Gerda spoke softly, the cackles of the fire licking at the pair. He wrung his hands in anxiety, glancing up at the frost-covered glass and similarly decorated ceilings.
"Do you think she's ok? Up there all alone?" Gerda set down her needlepoint, reaching over and placing her hand on his nervous ones.
"She's a smart girl, Kai. I know she's ok," The balding man nodded slightly, looking over at the fire.
"It's just…so many years and—"
FUMP! FUMP!
The sound caused the pair to jump. The cackling of the flames kept it from being an unusual quiet.
"Was that a knock? Someone's here?" Gerda stood on impulse as Kai followed suit, looking towards the door then back at each other.
Opening the door, Kai didn't immediately see anyone but before closing the door, looking down he saw a small boy, no more than 6 standing, bouncing heel to heel. Excited seemed like. Blinking in confusion, Kai smiled at the boy.
"Yes, young man? How may I help you?" The boy nodded quickly, snowflakes trickling down from around his cap.
"There's someone here! There's someone here! An outsider, sir!"
"An…an outsider, you say?" Kai said curiously as he leaned back in the door, Gerda looking at him, puzzled just as he was. Poking his head back out the door, what the boy said next would cause the pit of the old man's stomach to fall through him and down through the castle floors.
"It's the Queen's younger sister! She's here! She's come back!"
End Chapter 1…