Chapter 4: It Ain't me, Babe!
As the threesome emerged, they found themselves in a small cave that led to an open field. As they peered out, they could see Anna being loaded into a waiting carriage, with two more Imperial Guards riding on top.
"How do we keep up with them now?" asked the Captain.
But they were in luck. This field happened to be one that Sven and Olga liked to graze in. Kristoff gave a whistle, and soon Sven and Olga were at the cave entrance.
"Good boy, Sven! Good girl, Olga! We need to follow that carriage, but not on the carriage path. We need to follow through the woods, so we can shadow them without them noticing us," said Kristoff.
So Kristoff got on Sven, and the Captain and Grandpappy on Olga. They very carefully shadowed the conspirators all the way, until they got to where the carriage path descended toward a castle. They watched as the carriage entered the castle gate.
"We have to get in there!" stated Kristoff anxiously.
"Yes, Kristoff, but we need to do it unseen. The sun is setting, and soon it will be dark. That's when we can make our move," said Grandpappy.
Until the sun had totally set, the threesome scouted around the castle from a distance, and noted a locked gate just on the other side of the moat. It appeared to be unguarded. Quietly, Sven and Olga were able to fell a tree that should be strong enough for the threesome to cross on.
As night fell, they positioned the tree at a narrow spot of the moat, and Sven pushed it until it extended three feet on the castle side and three feet on their side. Cautiously, the threesome crossed the moat and made a beeline for the locked gate.
Unfortunately, Kristoff, in his haste, snapped a twig. Immediately he and the Captain pressed hard against the castle wall. Grandpappy turned into a rock and rolled to a spot where he could observe the guard.
The guard on that side of the castle swept a torch toward the noise, but all he saw was a rock, nothing else. He went back to his patrolling.
After three minutes, Grandpappy rolled back to Kristoff and the Captain and stated, "All clear."
Captain Smith used a ramrod to set the tumblers in the large lock, opening the door. As the three entered, Kristoff placed a stone outside the door, against it, to make it look like it was still closed, reasoning that their escape may need to be quick, and they wouldn't have time to lock pick the lock again.
Grandpappy assumed rock form and rolled down their intended path. If the coast was clear, he would return to his Troll form, if not he would stay as a rock.
Following Grandpappy's lead, the threesome was soon in the castle, always ensuring that they ended up in a good hiding place.
"The dungeon should be off to the right," whispered Captain Smith.
But before they could move from their hiding place, they saw a door open. Out came four of the six traitor guards, with Queen Elsa. They were taking her to the Banquet Hall.
"We have to see what's going on," said the Captain. And the threesome carefully made their way to just outside the open door of the Banquet Hall. Soon a Masked Man (Mask) appeared.
"Well, well! We will see if our prisoner is a bit more co-operative now," stated the Mask.
On seeing the Mask, Elsa quickly made a gesture with both her hands to freeze him, but all it did was cause her to momentarily faint.
As she revived, the Mask stated, "Come, come Queen Elsa! You've tried that before, with the same result! When are you going to learn that your wintry power is gone?"
"Maybe so, but I refuse to give up!" cried Elsa as she tried again, with the same result.
"So you still won't co-operate?"
"NEVER!"
"Very well!" the Mask turned to one of the traitor guards and said, "Bring up the other prisoner. I think the Queen will change her mind!"
"At once," said the traitor guard.
Soon the traitor guard appeared with the two remaining traitor guards – and Anna!
"ANNA!" cried out Elsa.
"ELSA!" Anna replied. But both were restrained from meeting each other.
Elsa turned angrily to the Mask, "Why did you kidnap my sister? She can't help you!"
"Oh, but she can!" stated the Mask. "Because if you do not co-operate, Anna dies!"
Elsa looks sadly at her sister. She knew she could never hurt her, and she would not put her in any danger. "What do you want me to do?" asked Elsa quietly.
"NO!" cried Anna. "Don't give into him! He's bluffing!"
"Oh, but I'm not!" stated the Mask. "Run her through!"
"STOP! STOP! I told you I would do what you want me to do, only don't hurt my sister!" cried out Elsa.
"Elsa…" Anna began, but was stopped by Elsa.
"I've already almost killed you twice with my power, once as children, and once on my coronation day, Anna. I am not going to do anything to hurt you if I can stop it now," Elsa said quietly.
"Good, Good!" clapped the Mask. "Anna will remain here as my prisoner, until you do what I ask. If you try to stop me in anyway, I'll have one of my turncoat guards come back here to kill her! Is that understood, Elsa?"
"Yes," replied Elsa almost inaudibly.
"Good! Now take the prisoner back to her cell!"
But as they do, Anna stumbles in a faint. She quickly revives and is escorted to the dungeon.
Once again, Kristoff had to be restrained from coming out of his hiding place.
"It does us no good if we end up getting captured too!" soothed Grandpappy. And Kristoff stayed put.