I don't know where the beginning of this came from. Other than it made me laugh. So... there you go! 8D Guest-Chan and Mikey_LiS over at AO3 made me post this early. 8D I was gonna wait a few days.
Beware the Frozen Heart
Chapter 2: Concealing Her Powers
"Echo! Get off!"
A squeaky giggle rang out, followed by a thud that shook the leaves and startled the birds from the trees. An adolescent, blond haired boy poked his head out from the top of the tree. He was called Owen by those who knew him. Though many didn't. He looked down at the ground, concern on his face. "You okay?"
The small, spindly legged reindeer lifted her head from the ground. She let out a whine and nodded.
The boy slipped from the tree and knelt down beside her. He touched her nose gently and ran his hand up to her antlers. He shook his head. "I told you not to climb the tree. Reindeers can't climb trees."
She let out a snort and jumped up. Then pranced off a few paces.
"Well... you can't." Owen said, crossing his arms. "You just proved it." She looked back at him and snorted and shook her head again. Then she rushed towards him, her antlers pointing towards him. He laughed and dodged her and they practically danced around the clearing. After a bit, he pulled up and looked around. "Hey... where'd they go?"
Echo's ears flicked back as she turned her head, looking around. She let out a snort and stamped a hoof.
He turned back to her. "They were here when I climbed in the tree, right?"
She nodded her head.
Owen narrowed his eyes as he turned and looked around. They had to be somewhere! He opened his mouth to call when the sound of hoof beats stopped him. But it was coming from the wrong way. The Jurendale Kingdom was to the south. Their home was in the North Mountains. He waved towards Echo and touched his finger to his lip. "Shhhh."
Together, reindeer and boy pressed themselves to the ground as the hoof beats grew louder. Both held their breath as two horses races by, carrying riders. A road of ice followed one of the horses. Owen jumped up, and darted closer to the frozen ground. He reached down and touched one of the frozen blades of grass. "Ice."
Echo walked up behind him and let out a grunt. Owen turned towards her and smiled. "They're headed up the mountain. Come on!" Owen hopped on the small reindeer's back and she raced off, following behind the mysterious riders. "Hurry, Echo!" Owen called out. He was pretty sure where they were headed. Owen had lived on the mountain since he could remember.
Echo slowed as three other reindeer burst from the trees to join them. They moved in beside Echo and matched her pace. Owen glared at them all in turn. But he could chastise them later for disappearing. He could hear voices ahead. He slipped from Echo's back and beckoned the four reindeer to follow him.
The riders had stopped in a grove of rocks. They slid from their horses. A man, a woman, and a girl who looked a few years older than Owen. The woman was holding something. Owen pressed closer to listen.
"Owen, my boy!" A voice behind them popped up.
"Shhhh, dad." Owen whispered. "I'm trying to listen!"
-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-
"Help! Please!" Scott called out, looking around at the seemingly empty grove. "It's my son." Karen stepped up behind him, holding Zach to her chest. Claire stood close and looked around nervously.
All of a sudden, the rocks around them started rolling forward. The turned and spun and a few even bounced! And then suddenly, the rocks unfolded themselves and they were surrounded by trolls! Tiny, pudgy little gray skinned trolls! "It's the Royal Family!" One of them said and a collective gasp went through the crowd of them.
The crowd parted as an elderly troll walked up. He leaned heavily on the amber capped end of his walking stick. "Your majesties." He said as he stepped closer. Then he held is hand out to Claire.
Claire looked up at Scott and he nodded at her. She turned back to the troll and took his hand.
"Born or cursed with the powers?" The troll asked.
"Born with them." Karen answered, kneeling down. "They're getting stronger." She said, adjusting Zach against her.
"Here, here." The troll reached out and touched Zach's forehead. He closed his eyes for a moment. "Head we can fix. You're lucky it wasn't his heart."
Scott nodded his head. "Do whatever you must! Please!"
The old troll nodded. "I recommend we remove all magic." He said in a grave voice. He lifted his walking stick and the amber orb glowed as he swirled it. An image or Claire and Zach hung in the air above them. "All the memories, to be safe. We'll keep the fun but remove the magic." He swirled his staff again in the air and then brought it down and touched it to the child's forehead. "He will be okay." He breathed out.
Tears collected in Claire's eyes as she watched the old troll change scene after scene. She looked at Zach and then down at her hands. "But... he won't remember I have powers?"
Scott put his arm around her shoulders and hugged her against him. "It's for the best." He said softly.
The troll nodded. And then he reached out to take Claire's hand again. He pulled her a step forward and then lifted his staff again. "Claire, listen to me. Your powers will only grow." He said softly. "There's beauty in it. But there is also great danger if you don't learn to control it." He showed her a vision of herself being consumed by her own magic.
Claire let out a gasp and Scott reached for her. He pulled her against his side and shook his head. "No!" He said strongly. "We will protect her. We will help her learn to control it."
Karen nodded her head as he stood up. She blinked back tears as she shifted her gaze from her son to her little sister. "We'll keep her safe."
"Lock the gates." Scott said. "Reduce the staff... limit her contact with people and keep her powers hidden from everyone."
Karen nodded again as she looked down at Zach. "Including Zach."
-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-
Zach recovered quickly. He was back to himself the next day. He laughed as he pushed on the door to his aunt's room, fully intent on running to jump into bed with her. But the door was locked. Zach frowned and knocked on the door. "Claire?" He called out but didn't get a response. "Aunt Claire!" He called louder. "Hey!"
After a few more knocks and calls, he heard her voice. "Go away, Zach."
Zach frowned again at the door. "But I'm not sick anymore!" He whined. "Mommy and daddy said I can play!"
"No." Claire said. "Go away."
Zach pouted as he stepped away from the door, dragging his feet as he went. For weeks after that, he tried to get Claire to play with him. But he was always met with the same response; a no through a locked door. He just didn't understand it. He didn't know what he'd done to make her so upset with him.
Years passed much the same. Zach was given a new brother to play with and the loss of his aunt lessened. He played with his new brother Gray all the time. He told his little brother stories of the times he built Zara the snow-assistant with their aunt and when he saw the reindeer and that time he got kissed by a troll, even though his parents said that was just a dream.
Zach still missed his aunt's laughter on occasion. But he had his parents and he had his brother. And he was happy.
But that happiness was short lived. When Zach was 11 and Gray 4, their parents set off on a voyage. Just a routine trip like they'd done so many times before. The brothers were left in the care of their aunt, who was 22 then. But their parents never returned. The ship was sunk in a mighty storm.
Zach held his brother in his lap as they cried that night.
-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-
Author's Notes: Okay. I followed the movie in this a bit more than I had intended. XD But oh well. It'll change in bits from here on out.
