Prologue: The Shipwreck
As the dark clouds started to collect in the West the captain assured the King that the storm would blow over. By twilight it was clear that the storm was going to overtake them there was no other course of action but to go through it.
"Your majesty, there is nothing to fear. The Assurance has sailed through rough waters and she's ne'er let us down before!" With a smart salute he left for the quarter deck shouting "Get to my cabin and stay with the queen!"
The wind whipped viciously tearing at the sails. The large ship lurching as she ran with the wind. But the storm was unpredictable the King ran head long into the wind trying to reach the cabin where he had left Iduna earlier.
With the wind letting up as the ship caught a wave the sea spray washing over the amidships, he crashed into the wall of the captain's cabin, momentarily stunned. He shook himself grabbing onto the latch of the cabin door as the ship crested the wave and the prow pointed into a cauldron from hell.
Using all his strength he forced open the door and managed to slip in and shut the door securing the latch. He thought of the mariner's prayer but couldn't recall all the verses: Star of the Sea, light shining in the darkness, be a guide to those who sail amid the storms and dangers of life…
His daughters… his wife…his regrets…Elsa!
The ship was turning. The captain was fighting to point the prow into the wind, to find a miracle to survive the tempest. It was futile the waves were growing monstrous.
Ice clenched the King's heart as he instinctively knew his end was near.
He held Iduna crushing her to his chest.
"Agnarr" her voice was choked with fear, he body trembling.
The ship groaned, the thunder booming overhead. A mighty crack and thundering crash sounded as the mast was torn in two. The waves crashing over the sides drawing in the large ship, like an angry nurse bringing a screaming child into her bosom. The waves washing over the sides of the ship, dragging it under into its dark cold embrace, sealed them in its watery tomb.
Agnarr and Iduna held each other, one shaking, the other in shock, then the windows of the captain's cabin burst and the ocean came spilling in.
The king's heart clenched in fear but regret was filling his veins with icy dread. What had he done? In his life, he had the love of his wife and young daughter, but it was his eldest that filled his dying mind. Her hair white like frost in the winter morning, she was kind, and brave…or had been until that fateful day.
He had turned his back on his beloved child for fear, of what? He was dying now, what fears mattered now? Fear that she had the power to create snow and happiness in the lives of others, her beloved sister…and what had he done? He had taken everything from her.
The icy waters rose and his heart quaked. He would be dead soon. His sin, it would never be forgiven. Why? Why? Why had he done it? His eyes widened with anger, he had trusted the troll. If it hadn't been for the troll he would have never done that to her, to his precious Elsa.
The water rose quickly and he kissed his wife for the last time.
When the end came his lungs felt like fire, his skin in pain from the cold, Iduna was lifeless in his arms. Unknown to him, he was also lifeless.
Gradually the darkness became lighter and Iduna was in his arms fear frozen in her gaze. What end was this?
They were suddenly yanked further down into the abyss and she screamed, he looked at her startled. Then he saw the chain growing from her chest as he became aware of the chain growing from his. The chain was dragging them down into the depths, down to the ship, down to their bodies?!
Without thinking of the consequences and only thinking that this might be the way to redeem his sins the king did the only thing he could think of and grabbed the chain linking her to her heart and with a roar of anger ripped it from her chest.
Had he known what would have happened he would have never done such a thing but panic and fear, fear for his sin had gripped his soul and with a second burst of outrage ripped the chain from his own center.
The king's world went black.
He never saw the hole open up in his wife's chest, nor was he aware of the hole he tore open by removing the chain in such brutal manner.
The only thought that had remained was, hatred at the one who had turned his against his child, and every regret for denying her the love she had deserved. He had abandoned her, he had died.
Something else was returning.
The waters of hell churned with the bestial roar of a man and woman who had lost everything.
In their place beasts with no reason save vengeance were slowly rising through the depths.
Feeding off the souls of the fallen crew, the beasts would not stop until they found their vengeance.
As they rise there is something faint in the shadows of their existence that calls to them, a siren's song that beckons them. They are coming.