The next day, Elsa was dragged to the Lord Kalt's room early in the next morning by Erik.
"Hey, I can walk, you don't have to pull me," protested Elsa.
"Oh really? Then walk quickly, please," said Erik and he stood aside.
Elsa walked pass him and rolled her eyes. As soon as she reached the door, she began to fret and did not know what to do. Her knuckle hovered on the door but she did not have the courage.
"Stand back," ordered Erik.
Elsa retreated and Erik knocked at the door, then he entered the room and bowed,
"Dad, Princess Elsa has arrived," said Erik.
Elsa frowned at the awkward greeting, Erik signalled her to get in and Elsa stepped into the room. The room was more like a lair, warm and dark, with only a couple of fire torches hung on the walls. There were cabinets everywhere and the fireplace was burning brightly, with flames thrashing wildly.
"Come here, child, and let me see your heart…"
Elsa shuddered, wondering if the Lord Kalt was going to eat her heart. Lord Kalt had a similar face to Erik, only it was older and more experienced.
"Lord Kalt, I have heard of the first part of prophecy," said Elsa, trying to keep a fair distance from the creepy old man.
"For years we have tried to pursuit it, but unfortunately our Survivor of Prophecy Friggamall cannot say a word about it," said Lord Kalt.
He pointed at a shrunken and shrivelled shadows beside him on the floor. As Elsa walked closer and knelt down, she could see the face of an old woman. She could not believe what she had seen, the face was wrinkled and crusted like old sand paper, it was so thin that the cheekbones were prominent, the eye sockets were sunken and heavy. The silvery white hair illuminated her face a little and Elsa could see the grey blue eyes staring at her. The old woman raised her shaking index finger and pointed at Elsa with her eyes shining.
"Please inform us about the prophecy," said Lord Kalt.
"Arendelle will suffer from great pain, and the Survivor of Sentiment has to rescue her subjects from the pain and rises to be the Queen…"
The room was silent, with only the burning woods creaking.
"Who inform you of this?"
"My father," answered Elsa. "But his paper was burnt down by the people in mask."
"The Fire Eaters," said Erik. "We have received news that they are trying to get you."
"The second part was reduced to ashes, and I can only figure the first part," said Elsa.
Friggamall's hand placed at her chest as though there was pain.
"Is there anyway to recover the prophecy?" asked Elsa.
"The Survivor of Time," said Lord Kalt. "He can go back to history and clear out the mystery."
"But he is in the Fire Eater's hands," added Elsa.
"We have met before and he was a nice and courageous gentleman, surely he won't give in to the Fire Eaters. But as time passes, it becomes more obvious that we need to go back in time."
"I'm sorry that I can't help much."
"Well at least what we can do is the find the Survivor of Sentiment," said Lord Kalt.
"So I think I have to go back to the castle, my sister needs me," said Elsa.
"No, you are not safe in outside," said Lord Kalt.
"But—"
"Stay in Erik's place, until everything is cleared out and the Fire Eaters are defeated."
"But—"
"That's it for today, I think Friggamall needs some rest."
Elsa looked the old woman, she was still gazing at her for an unknown reason. Erik pulled her out.
"Hey, let go!" yelled Elsa and she struggled.
Erik let go of her wrist and Elsa massaged her wrist.
"Can't you be nicer?"
Erik bit his lips and turned his head, then he showed a grin that Elsa reckoned there was something up to no good.
"Are you sure you want me to be nice?"
His tone was so quirky that Elsa shuddered.
"Erm…keep your coldness, I am fine with that, I will just go."
Erik held her wrist again and Elsa wriggled.
"I have taken enough consideration of your suggestion, and I have decided to act with the suggested kindness for just a couple of hours."
"No, it's okay, you can keep your coldness, just—"
Before Elsa could finish her sentence, she was pulled back to her room and Erik locked the door. Elsa went to the door and twisted the door knob.
"Hey, let me out!" yelled Elsa.
"In order to protect you from danger, I have decided that I will have you staying in the room until dinner, that's a nice act, isn't it?" said Erik and he sniggered.
"Stop it, just let me out!"
Elsa tried to use her power to make the bolt bulged, but somehow there was a strong force forbidding it to bulge.
"No use, your power is too weak compare to mine," said Erik. "Don't worry, the magic should fade away after a couple of hours. Then you can come out and join our dinner. See you!"
"Wait, Erik, wait—"
The footsteps got further and Elsa knew she would not be able to break out at this stage. She examined her surrounding, then she showed a smile. The windows.
For her life as a princess, she was not supposed to know how to climb out from the window. But once a while, sneaking out of the castle and into the garden with her sister Anna was a special treat.
Though it was high from the ground, Elsa knew exactly what she should do. After shooting a huge pile of snow at the ground, she climbed out of the window and jumped down. As soon as she got out of the snow, she cleared the mess and headed to the huts.
"Elsa!"
Alina rushed to Elsa and she picked the little girl up.
"Hello, Alina, have you seen Kristoff?"
"Over there, talking to my Papa and Auntie Henrika."
Kristoff was standing opposite to a man and the woman who had called for Alina yesterday. Kristoff waved at Elsa and signalled her to come over. Elsa walked towards him and Kristoff immediately introduced her to the two,
"Sir Henrik, Madame Henrika, this is Madame Elsa."
"Hi!" said Elsa and she smiled.
"Your Highness," said Henrik and he bowed. "What an honour to meet you."
"Oh, oh, please you don't have to bow," said Elsa. "I am just Elsa, after what has happened in the castle."
"Oh, that's a…tragedy, no one wants that."
"Papa, what tragedy?" asked Alina.
"Alina, follow Papa into the house, please."
Alina pursed her lips and Henrik picked her up, carrying her back to the hut.
"Where is Alina's mother?" asked Elsa.
Henrika and Kristoff looked uncomfortable as the question was raised. Kristoff tried to explain but no words came out.
"Under the hands of Fire Eaters," said Henrika. "And everyone of us know that most likely she is dead."
"Oh, sorry."
"It's fine, we have all accepted that."
"Does Alina know?"
"We haven't told her anything, we just say her mother is on a journey of finding the treasure. Alina is just seven, and I don't want her to know the terrible truth."
Elsa nodded as if she understood the pain.
"Have you met Lord Kalt and Friggamall?" asked Henrika.
"Yes," said Elsa. "Is it normal that Friggamall keep staring at people?"
"Wow, looks like you captivated her interest," said Kristoff, chuckling softly.
"Normally she does not keep staring at people," explained Henrika. "But when she has interest on something or someone, she will stare at the target."
Elsa shuddered.
"Don't worry, she is sometimes like that, as time passes by, she will stop doing it."
"There you are."
The cold voice rang and Elsa knew exactly who the voice belonged to.
"You didn't say I can't get out," said Elsa.
"I told you to stay at your room until dinner."
"But dinner is not ready yet, so that means I can go wherever I want to."
"Go back with me."
"No!"
"Elsa," said Erik with a hint of warning.
"I am not going back until dinner."
Kristoff and Henrika looked alarmed and they backed a little. The next moment, Elsa was lifted up and Erik carried her back to the building.
"Hey, put me down! Now!"
Despite of Elsa's struggles and wriggles, Erik seemed to be unaffected and he carried her up the stairs and to the room. He finally put Elsa down at the bed and his face got so close to Elsa that she felt extremely uncomfortable as she could feel his breath.
"If you ask me, I will definitely tour you around."
"Well, you seem to be working on many things and I suppose you are too busy to have a glance on me."
Erik raised his brow and he quickly went towards the door.
"I will see if the dinner is ready," said Erik and he left the room.
Elsa sighed and she stared at the sunset outside the window. The room was quiet and she could hear her slow breath.
Then, there was a knock at the door. Elsa frowned and she went to open the door, only finding that Alina and Kristoff standing in front of her. Kristoff was carrying a large vibrating carton box.
"Elsa, Elsa, we have brought you a present!"
"Present?"
"It is a gift from—"
Before she could continue the sentence, Kristoff covered her mouth and said,
"It's a gift from us, since you are our guest."
"Thank you," said Elsa. "I wonder what it is."
"I'm sure you will like it," said Alina as Kristoff put the carton box down on the floor.
"Let me see…" said Elsa and she opened the carton box and she gasped.
A fluffy white canine popped out from the box and it licked Elsa's hand. Elsa screamed a little and the animal nibbled her finger.
"Is this a North Mountain fox?" asked Elsa. "I thought they have all died out."
"Why are you saying that they are dying out?" asked Alina. "We've seen tons and packs of them and we sometimes keep them."
The fox's black eyes gazed at Elsa, then it barked and licked its nose.
"We can keep it?" asked Elsa.
"Of course," replied Kristoff.
"But won't Erik complain about its presence? I think we'd better ask him first."
"It's okay, he knows."
Elsa frowned but then she petted the fox.
"Elsa, what are you going to call her?"
"Hmm….what do you say?"
"What about Nastya?"
"But it sounds so much like nasty," said Elsa. "She's such a cute little thing."
"Oh…then Sonya?"
"Hmm…that's a good name. Okay, Sonya, our little North Mountain fox."
"North Mountain fox eat hares, fishes and eggs, but you can feed them deer and berries if you want to," said Alina. "I brought some deer meat from house."
Alina took out a piece of roasted meet and Sonya immediately grabbed it and chewed it. Elsa smiled and she stood up as Kristoff informed her that dinner would be ready by this time.
"Okay, Alina, go back to your house or else your Papa will be worried," said Elsa.
"No, Papa and Auntie Henrika are coming over for dinner tonight," said Alina and she headed out of the room. "Come on, I smell salmon and roasted deer."
Alina clutched Elsa's hand and they headed down to the dining hall with Kristoff following behind.
"Good evening, Lord Kalt!" chanted Alina.
"Good evening, my little Alina," said Lord Kalt as Alina went to him.
"Good evening, Lord Kalt," said Elsa politely.
"Good evening, Elsa," said Lord Kalt. "Please, take your seat."
Alina chose the seat beside Elsa and Elsa found that the only empty seat was the one next to Erik. Unwillingly, she sat down and the Elementers placed the dishes onto the table.
"Do you like the fox?" asked Erik.
"What?" said Elsa with puzzlement. "You give me the fox?"
Erik did not answer, all he did was cutting up his meat.
"I thought it is a gift from Kristoff and Alina," said Elsa and she looked at Alina.
"I want to tell that to you but Kristoff covered my mouth," said Alina and she pursed her lips while glaring at Kristoff.
"It's okay," said Erik. "It doesn't matter who gives you the fox, as long as you like it."
"Oh, my son," said Lord Kalt. "It is very rare of you to send a present to any girls."
Erik cleared his throat and said,
"I just treat it as a housewarming gift."
"Oh, really?" asked Lord Kalt as he raised his brows. "You know how much I want a grandchild like Alina. And you are now twenty-four."
Elsa blushed as she heard his wishes on Erik. Erik coughed and Alina immediately said,
"I will definitely be Lord Kalt's god-grandchild. You are a Grandpa to me."
"Of course you can call me Grandpa," said Lord Kalt and he smiled at Alina.
"Really? Can I?" exclaimed Alina and she looked at her father, who nodded. "Yeah! Grandpa Kalt!"
"Good girl," said Lord Kalt.
"I am full now, please be excused," said Elsa and she got up.
"Oh really? Don't you want to stay a little bit longer with my son?"
Elsa blushed again and she replied,
"I am quite worn out for today, perhaps tomorrow. Your son Erik is a busy man."
She left the room and headed back to her room. Sonya was lying on the floor, showing its belly to Elsa. Elsa bent down and massaged the abdomen. Sonya wagged its tail and wriggled. Then Erik came in and Elsa jumped a little, wondering what brought him.
"What is your purpose…Erik?"
"I just want to warn you not to go out into the forest for the night," said Erik. "I don't think I will be able to save you for the second time, though I will try."
"Thank you for your reminder, but I am quite tried today, would you please?"
Erik smirked and he went towards her, Elsa could not help staggering backwards until she leaned against the wall.
"You are scared of me?"
Elsa shuddered and bit her lips.
"No."
"Don't lie! Don't lie to me."
Elsa bit her lips even harder.
"One more bite and your lips will bleed."
"Oh, erm…"
"Are you afraid of me?"
"A little."
"Just a little?"
"A little more than a little," said Elsa, not knowing what she was saying.
Erik smiled a little.
"You don't have to be afraid of me, just remember that."
His finger tipped her nose and he went off. Elsa touched her nose and she could feel the tip of her nose was burning hot.
I know Erik is somehow having split personality and that's what I characterize him...only for the beginning of the story. Later he will be somehow...different.
Is this good enough to earn your favourite and follow? I wish it does. See you next Sunday, same time, same website.