AN: Hi…I'm sorry, writers block. *sheepish grin* This is longer chapter will hopefully make up for it...
person unknown 686: Hehe…dragons are coming
Guest 1: Yeah, her identity isn't really a secret to the readers. And if Hiccup paid attention, he'd know it was Astrid. BUT HE DOESN'T BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW XD
Frostbite711: Elsa is another character that I'm pretty sure you'll guess in this chapter…
AND HERE IT IS. THE CHAPTER THAT TOOK WAY TOO LONG TO UPDATE.
It had been about two weeks since the sudden change in temperature, and still no one knew the cause. 'Just an early winter' or 'perhaps the ice up north has set in already' was what most people were saying. Rapunzel, personally, had other beliefs. Whether it was because she had magic hair that glowed when she sang, or if she just had a wild imagination, both she and her brother believed the same thing. It was the Snow Queen. Yes, the snowflake that had fallen on Balfour's nose gave some sort of proof and that went in favour of their theory.
Thanks to Jack's big trap, the theory quickly spread among those who sided with Ashya in the rebellion. There were, of course, those who laughed at the theory. That theory was brought in front of Ashya herself, who said she would state what she thought about it at the next new moon. That sparked something inside of Balfour, for a reason unknown to anyone. Until that night, which was tonight, he had been restless. Probably because of a being who controlled winter could be alive.
Everyone in the rebellion stayed to work overtime at the castle that night, for it was the only place that was big enough to accommodate them all AND get Ashya in and out unnoticed due to the tunnels everywhere. Only Ella, who knew the place inside and out, could get through the tunnels without being lost forever. Only her, and the triplet princes who were also part of the rebellion.
Rapunzel was cleaning off the benches, Jack was mucking around with Nod and Flynn who had joined the party, Balfour was polishing a dagger that he had hidden inside his boot in case he needed to use it and everyone else was making themselves look like they were doing something. It was at this time that Rapunzel's mind started to wander a little, to when the princess and Guthrie came back yesterday…when Rapunzel saw Merida, she didn't recognise her personality. She was regal, quiet and sad looking. The cuts and bruises all over her added to the depressing state of the princess, where she got them, Merida wouldn't say. She'd just shrug it off saying she fell in the woods. Anyone was anyone would believe her, except for Ella. When Ella heard this, it was clear by the way she pressed on about it that she didn't take a word Merida said for truth. She had come to Rapunzel personally, saying that there was something going on with Guthrie that Merida wouldn't tell them. Rapunzel quietly took Ella's words and locked them inside her mouth, because after all, it was Ella who knew the princess better than anybody else these days.
A figure lurking in the shadows quickly caught Rapunzel's attention. Rapunzel simply stood and stared, hoping it wasn't anyone outside of the rebellion. The figure, who kept a black cloak with the hood up, noticed Rapunzel staring at them. The figure looked away and into the centre of the circle.
"What are you all doing? Don't you realise that you could all be sentenced to death?"
The voice was unmistakably Ashya's, and she wasn't in a good mood.
"We can't be sent to death for working, or hanging around"
Nod said, adding a bit sass to his voice. Ashya shook her head under her cloak.
The crowd, which was relatively large, started to whisper and talk a bit more. One man asked for Ashya's thought on the theory, a man with a hook and and Irish accent.
"Love, are you gonna tell us why you have called us here to state your thoughts on a theory if it clearly isn't true"
Ella, who was standing on the sidelines not too far away from Balfour, smirked. They'll find out sooner than later.
"The matter of the sudden decrease in temperature is quite relevant to everyone in Scotland, the Northern area and beyond. If temperatures continue to drop, we could be in for an eternal winter. Those who were in Arendelle a few years ago would know the hell it is"
A few murmurs and nods from the crowd confirmed Ashya's own theory that some had been involved in the Great Freeze.
"The theory that the deceased Queen of Arendelle is still alive; is one I am not totally positive on myself. They never knew if she actually died, but who could survive a jump off a balcony? When the Vikings were living together, there were creatures that lived alongside them. These creatures were none other than dragons"
A few gasps, a few nods. Ashya continued.
"I am not saying that I know everything about dragons, but there was one that blended in with their surroundings. I believe that the Snow Queen is alive, and escaped with the aid of one of these dragons"
The response was immediate.
Some were outraged that the leader of a rebellion believed in a children's tale, whilst others asked how the Queen could've used the aid of a dragon. Balfour rolled his eyes, because he knew that Ashya's theory with the dragons was beyond reasonable. The dragon Ashya talked about was a Changewing, and though they could become almost invisible, they couldn't fly just above ground blending in with its surroundings WHILE catching a girl who had just jumped off a balcony AND keep her out of sight. From Balfour's mind, it was impossible. But she did have a bit of a point; a dragon could've somehow caught her and flown off…but to know what kind of dragon that could keep out of sight whilst doing that? No. The only dragon that would be fast enough to do that sort of thing would be a Night Fury, it would have to have been a white Toothless, presuming that the ice castle she jumped off was in the snow. A white Toothless…well, there goes that idea.
Balfour was so engrossed in his thoughts that he didn't notice a young woman a bit smaller than him seem to appear in front of his face. Once he noticed, he jumped back, hitting a wall and falling on his prosthetic leg. The girl laughed a laugh that Balfour knew, it was Ella.
"Fighting with Red Death was a brave thing you did, but losing your foot in the process seems like it might not have been worth it"
Balfour rolled his eyes at the girl and pushed himself up onto his feet-well, foot. Ella had been seeing him every day since the cold set in. Originally it was only to talk about arrangements with his escape plan and necessary things like that, but the pair had started to become magnets. They were simply stuck to each other, and it was something that they both liked. Not being as alone as usual, having someone to talk to. To Balfour, it was a break from the bickering between the twins he lived with. For Ella, it was a break from her two jobs.
"Someone had to help; everyone else was wanted to stick daggers into its skin"
Was the sarcastic reply from Balfour.
"That sounds exciting, how about we throw some carrots in there too?"
. . .
"Dork"
"Nerd"
"Princess"
"Viking"
"Queen's pet!"
"Weirdo!"
"Softie!"
"Dragon rider"
Balfour opened his mouth to retort at Ella's whispered reply before he realised what she had said. He tilted his head to the side and gave her a questioning look. Sure, he'd snuck into the forge and taken a few pieces to recreate Toothless' tail and saddle…and he had ridden him a couple of times but…
"How do you-"
CRASH.
A couple of the servants who were obviously arguing about the subject of the Snow Queen had pushed one of the guards over a table and into Ella. The force of the collision knocked Ella off her feet and straight into Balfour, who caught her before he fell over herself, unfortunately when you have one leg, balance is something you lack when you aren't riding a dragon. The pair toppled to the ground, everyone in the room with eyes on them.
"Are you okay?"
Rapunzel quickly scooted over the two, helping a dazed Ella to her feet. The brown haired girl quickly nodded and held her hand out to her friend. Balfour gladly took it and hopped onto his feet. It was at that moment, both Balfour and Ella noticed something. Ella's hand was unreasonably cold, so cold that Balfour looked at Ella as if he was asking what was going on. Ella, instead of noticing his face, was staring at his arm. When Balfour looked at his arm, he saw nothing. When he looked back at Ella, she was avoiding his eyes.
"Are you both okay…?"
Balfour looked at Rapunzel whilst Ella did not.
"We're fine Punzie; I-I just need to speak with Balfour"
. . .
Once Ella and Balfour had exited the castle, the room became quiet once more. All eyes were on Ashya, because one question remained; why would she call all of them if it was a mere theory?
"Look, I know you all-"
A piercing scream filled the air. At the back of the room, Hans, a red-head royal outcast was holding none other than the princess by the hair. Her eyes were full of fear and her hands were shaking. One thing was for sure, she wasn't meant to be there.
Hans looked to Ashya. Ashya looked at the princess.
"Kill her"
She whispered.
Hans looked at the princess who began screaming and kicked around. Some of the others around them held her while Hans grabbed a knife off a nearby table and held it to her neck, ready to kill.
"Don't!"
A voice echoed throughout the room and footsteps ran across the floor, silencing everything. A mop of silver hair snatched the knife out of Hans' hands and threw it at a nearby wall. Jack tore the hands off of Merida and stood in front of her, arms out either side of her, protecting her. He was her guard after all.
"You cannot kill the princess! Don't you know what might happen if we do?!"
"I am well aware of what might happen if we don't Jack. Step away from the brat"
Ashya gritted through her teeth. Jack clenched his jaw and locked eyes with the shadow.
"No"
The figure lifted her head a little before stepping out of the shadows and over to the pair. Everyone around them moved away and waited. Waited for what exactly? Death. It was the only option.
"Jackson Overland. Step away now, you know the consequence if you do not. I really don't think you want an axe through your head"
Jack lifted his chin and glared at Ashya, or at least tried to. Jack was a bit taller, and if Ashya met his gaze her hood would fall off. Her identity needed to remain hidden.
"Go ahead. Find someone else to replace me. At least I'll die knowing I've done my job"
"Your job is to protect the Vikings and those who hide them, not the princess"
"I also protect those who are part of the rebellion, Merida is one of them"
. . .
Crunch. .
The sound of feet meeting frosted grass repeated for more than an hour. The journey had started from the castle and had been silent the whole way. Where they were going, Balfour didn't know, what he did know though; was that they were far into the woods…for all he knew, they might run into a witch. When Ella suddenly stopped, Balfour almost tripped over his own feet. Picking himself up, he turned to his companion.
"Hiccup…what do you know about dragons?"
Balfour-well, Hiccup as we now know him, looked as if a train had just hit him. He hadn't been called his real name in years. Oh the memories that came with that name…the dragon raids, working at the forge, talking to hi-
"Hiccup"
"Uh…"
Hiccup fumbled over his words and his hands. He remembered a heap about the dragons on Berk…but where to begin? Strike Class? Mystery Class? Fea-
"Do you know anything about dragons that breathed ice?"
A blank stare was the response she got. Ella sighed and looked up at the sky, muttering something in another language.
"Why do you-"
"Just forget it"
"Okay"
Ella turned and walked down to a clearing in the forest and sat down, arms hugging her sides. Hiccup sighed and walked over and sat down beside her, picking at the grass he was sitting on. The grass was cold and bitter, but it was dying anyway so it didn't matter to him.
"Do you think the Snow Queen is alive?"
Hiccup whispered, hoping for answer that he didn't get.
"Well, she is if you wanted to know. Just as the cold started, I was walking to the castle when a small snowflake bounced on my nose and exploded into dust like stuff, at the time I heard laughter a little like yours only…lighter I guess."
There was still no reply, just a girl staring into the distance with no expression.
"Ella, do you think she's alive?"
Ella groaned and threw herself backwards into the grass, arms thrown out to the side.
"She has a name. And her name is Elsa. And yes, Elsa is alive, okay? I know because…"
Ella just faded off, as if she couldn't finish the sentence. Balfour took one look at his friend and from the exhausted expression on her face, he decided not to push it. Instead, he pushed her arm out of the way and lay down too, looking at the stars.
"Does that look like a snowflake to you?"
Hiccup squinted at the stars that appeared to form…a snowflake.
"Yeah! And, what about that one! It looks like a bunny playing crazy leap frog with a hamster!"
A huge laugh came from his left, and Ella was cracking up laughing. It wasn't long before she pointed out another constellation. And Hiccup pointed out another stupid one.
This was how the pair spent the night, until dawn came of course. Just as it did, Hiccup noticed one thing. The temperature had dropped even more.
. . .
"I really don't see why you're complain Astrid, it's just a bit of cold"
"I told you before; I don't care if we're just in the tower. Do not call me Astrid. And it isn't 'just a bit of cold'; this could potentially destroy Scotland if you keep lowering the temperature!"
Two women were discussing matters in a tower hidden in the woods. One was blonde with a fancy looking braid over her shoulder, stormy blue eyes and an axe in her hand. The other was rubbing a brown substance in her platinum hair that wasn't exactly that platinum anymore. Her eyes were naturally blue, but a bit of magic from a kind witch and bippity, boppity boo. Her eyes were brown.
"Our identities are safe here. And it's not like I'm going to cast another eternal winter, it's just my timing. You see, a couple of guards from the Patterson clan have been sneaking around the twin's place a lot more. If they aren't careful, they'll be caught with those four they're hiding in no time"
The brown-platnuim whispered to her acquaintance.
"Simple, we'll just get the two out before anyone notices"
"Astrid, think about it for a second"
"Do not call me Astrid!"
"Whatever. The point I'm trying to get across, is they'll be caught soon, one way or another. If I bring in the snow before they are caught, I might just be able to get them all out alive"
"What exactly are you suggesting?"
"It's been three years since my kingdom was destroyed, five years that you've had a rebellion up and running. I think it's time we took down this maggot once and for all"
Silence echoed throughout the tower. The now brown haired girl had a face that said 'think about it'. The blonde did for a second, before practically exploding. She threw her axe across the room and clenched her fists, waving her arms around.
"Are you crazy Elsa?! Don't you know the numbers Guthrie has?! And what about those in Dunbroch who aren't with us? What about-"
"The dragons"
Elsa interrupted. Astrid stopped for a minute, taking in what the other girl said before arguing against it.
"The dragons live in the Northern area; the numbers around here are few"
"That is true but you never seem to remember what she can do around dragons"
"She might have the favor of the Alpha, but that doesn't mean she commands them"
"Do you really want push her?. Considering what both she and the bird can do?"
"The bird still can't control her magic"
"So when we leave for the Sanctuary, I can help her control it. She's perhaps one of the most valuable people in the rebellion Astrid"
Once again, there was silence, A silence stating that Elsa was right, again. Before Astrid could protest, Elsa continued.
"When we leave, we take all those against Guthrie. With our numbers added with the thousands of dragons at the dragon sanctuary, we could easily win this battle"
"Doing that will attract that crazy dragon guy you know"
"Which is why we will all be prepared"
AN: So I'm getting there…and sorry, I couldn't fit in the explanation of Jack and Rapnuzel not being twins.
Until next time!
pokeyoftheshadows
