For LeAnn, a person of inspiration, loyalty, and redemption.

Chapter:1 Prophecy

Thunder boomed and echoed throughout the kingdom of Arendelle. Inky clouds of darkness loomed over the North Mountain's peak and draped over the surrounding landscape. A lone raindrop struck against the mountain's face, and soon a torrential and copious downpour came to be. The rainstorm swept across the kingdom, accompanied by the flash of lightning flaring behind it. Thunder roared like a mighty beast prowling from the skies above. The shower increased intensity, and soon the ground was a muddy mess that reeked of a cringing odor. There was a moderatley-sized encampment just passed the North Mountain's noble base. Its tents flailed about as winds reached extreme levels of speed. A flag prevailed against the ominous weather conditions. Lightning streaked across the sky, illuminating the flag's emblem. It was a darkened swirl with the Norse words, "Maelstrom" woven across the banner.

While most of the clan's members had sought shelter from the rain, others could be heard outside. Both men and women were heckling and chortling. They shook their fists and jeered at whatever event took place between them. There, a sixteen-year-old boy had just been punched to the ground by a much larger youth. The superior was a stocky, bald warrior in his twenties. His blonde facial hair was drenched, gaining a darker pigment as he mocked. "Is that the best you've got?"

The teen whom he had inflicted such a crushing blow upon crawled forward. He had landed face first, causing his frontal half to be coated in dripping, clumps of mud. He wiped his face and lunged at his attacker, only to be punched down again. "Hahaaaa!" laughed a woman from the crowd. "Finish the runt!"

The bald brute gave the teen a kick to his hip, causing him to growl and cringe. "Lone loser," he spat. "No one ever loved you." Enraged by his remark, the teen leapt to his feet, causing his growing brown hair to whip around. He threw a punch at the bully, but he countered with a jab to his face. Once more, the teen fell over, dazed from such a brutish impact. The crowd around them loved every bit of the violence as the bully brushed the rain off of his head. "You think your one of us? Eh? Is that what it is?" He knelt down and painfully grabbed the teen by his hair, proceeding to pull him upwards. "Lemme tell you something. We FOUND you. You're not of our kin. You're not of our blood. You will never be one of us." With his final heckle, he shoved the teen back into the mud. He was about to turn when he saw the teenager rising once more. "You don't give up, do you? You should take after your parents and give up, just as they did you."

"AAAAGH!" screamed the teen before dashing at the bully. The brute punched, but he ducked under it and uppercutted him in the jaw. The teen proceeded to mount his antagonist and pin him to the ground. Once this feat was accomplished, he began to furiously wail on him until drawing blood. He picked up a nearby, jagged stone as the onlookers around him cheered with bloodthirsty excitement. The teen raised the stone and prepared to smash his bully's skull to pieces when a hand grabbed his arm.

A man scolded, "TOMAS!"

The teen froze up and struggled to break free of the man's grasp. With a painful squeeze of his arm, Tomas dropped the stone, causing it to plunge back into the muck below. He turned to face a stern and respected man. Rain clamored against his distinguished armor. "Master," bowed the teen. "He insulted me and my heritage."

The master turned to see the bloodied bully crawling away, "Is this true?" his voice bellowed louder than the thunder above them.

"Yes, Master Marius." The boorish oaf gave a slight nod, causing the master to pick him up and shove him away.

"We have enough enemies in other lands. You want to fight here, you're in the wrong clan!" He gave the instigator another forceful shove. "You shame yourself." He turned to the crowd. "And all of you, egging them on like this is some sport. To bed! Now!" The onlookers dispersed to their tents and the master approached Tomas. He placed his armored hand on his shoulder, "Are you alright, boy?"

"Fine," grunted Tomas, averting his gaze.

Marius scowled, "You will look at me when I address you, Tomas."

Tomas stood up and trudged away from his grasp. "I'm done!"

"Tomas? Tomas! Get back here this instant!"

Tomas ignored his shouts and disappeared in the extreme downpour. Without wasting a moment, Tomas ran for his tent and grabbed whatever essentials he could carry. He fought through the irritation of his aching joints and grabbed hold of his satchel. Running back into the rain, Tomas made for the stables and picked the first horse he came into contact with. He grabbed hold of the chestnut steed's reins and mounted it. "Ya!" He spurred it forward.

"So you're running away? That's it."

Tomas turned to see Marius at the stable's exit. "Yes," he intoned. "I can't stay here any longer. Everyone hates me."

"Everyone?"

"I don't belong here."

"You don't?"

"This is all so wrong for me!"

"Is it?"

"Would you stop that!" snapped Tomas. "Is this just all a joke to you? Am I just all a joke to you? Everyone else certainly thinks so."

"And since when does 'everyone else' have a say in how you live your life? Hmm?"

Tomas remained just as tense. "They don't! It's just...I...They just...I don't belong here."

"Only because you deem it so," nodded Marius.

Tomas glared at his master. "Look, I appreciate all you've done for me. You wanted to give me a chance. You wanted to be the closest thing I've ever had to parents but it just won't work. I don't belong here. Everyone in the Maelstrom was born into it. I...I don't even know if I'm Arendellian. I'm just a missing link." Tomas scowled with a nasty thought, "The product of cowardly and neglectful parents."

Marius became enraged by his words. He ran over, pulled Tomas off of his horse, and gave him a fierce shaking. "Don't you EVER say that of your parents again! They loved you more than anything, you hear me?"

"Then why did they abandon me? WHY?!" retaliated Tomas. Marius stared his teenage pupil down, but remained silent. "That's what I thought."

"Now you listen to me, boy." Marius cleared his throat and breathed deeply. "I don't know why your parents left you as a child. I don't. But I have to believe it was for a reason. A reason that you'll be throwing away if you leave the clan."

"What do you mean?" wondered Tomas.

"I believe that we discovery our destiny on the path to self-improvement. It's the little moments that shape us into who we are, and only through that shaping, can we fully understand our destiny. If you walk away, you will never hone the skills you've been learning in the Maelstrom for years. You're a brilliant swordsman, and a damn fine blacksmith. You can be the best, if you just...stay...here. You want purpose in your life? Make becoming the best your purpose. Arendelle needs you. You dedicate yourself to your country, and not only will the people love you, but you will love yourself. And on your journey of self discovery, you're past will come to light, but only when you're ready."

Tomas sighed at his master's words. "Dedicate myself to my country..."

"And don't you dare tell me you're not Arendellian. I know you are."

Tomas looked up, "How could you possibly?"

"Because you're a fighter. Because you don't let anyone smack you to the ground unless you take them down with you. The ferocity, the pride, the honor. All of that is running through your blood. Mark my words, Tomas. You're going to be a hero to this country someday."

Tomas began to smile as he dropped his bag. "I don't get it. I'm the first outsider to ever be in this group. You found me when I was a baby and took me in just like that. Why? Why put so much effort into...just me?"

Marius smiled down and replied, "Because everyone needs a hero. Someone to guide them to the light. To become a symbol. To become hope. I've done it for you, and someday, you...will do it for everyone. The world needs you, Tomas. Be its hero."

A tear escaped Tomas' eye before he hugged his master tight.