A/N: First thing's first – I can't believe I forgot to do this multiple chapters ago, but I need to give a special shout-out to kittehkitty2 for her (I'm assuming you're a girl? Correct me if I'm wrong!) advice about writing dialogue. It really helped, and you totally deserve a public shout-out. :)
Secondly… You guyssssssss. You're making me blush over here with all of these follows (over 100?! Seriously?!) and lovely, lovely reviews. THANK YOU! (I know I say that every time, but I'm going to continue because I really, genuinely appreciate you guys!).
Here's chapter 7. Enjoy!
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Splash! The little gray pebble vanished beneath the cool blue surface of the tiny pond, sinking away into the hidden depths below. Kristoff lifted another of the small rocks from the ground beneath his feet and sent it flying as well, crashing into the water and meeting the same fate as the countless stones before it. By the time it was completely out of sight, a new pebble already sat in the man's large hand, waiting to soar through the air like the rest.
Sven stood a few feet away from his friend, watching uncertainly as the rock-throwing continued. Kristoff had just finished explaining to the reindeer what had happened with Anna and the trolls, and the poor creature's somewhat simple (and still-weary) mind was having a hard time processing it all. Maybe he was still dreaming? His empty stomach and the lack of juicy carrots suggested otherwise.
Kristoff sighed softly as he threw the last stone and turned to face Sven, breaking the silence at last. "I mean, isn't it weird?" He asked. "They won't stop going on and on about all this stuff with me and Anna, and then they're talking about messing with my head or something… It's crazy!" Kristoff paused for a moment. "But I guess I'm the one who feels kind of crazy right now." He admitted quietly, shaking his head. "They keep telling me I forgot all this stuff… But I couldn't, could I? I mean, how could I forget..." He faltered for a moment. "Loving someone?" It was a struggle to choke the words out, and hearing them aloud just made the whole thing seem even more impossible. "It's all gotta be some kind of weird joke, right?" His voice was far from confident as he spoke.
Sven appeared to be considering the question for a moment, then shrugged his large shaggy shoulders, gesturing back toward the valley with his antlers. "Why would they lie about something like that?" The words came out of the young man's mouth as they formed in the reindeer's mind.
"I don't know… This isn't like them." Kristoff replied, furrowing his brow. Yes, his family's sense of humor could be a bit unusual at times, but would they really go this far?
"And what about Anna?" Sven continued. "You said she was really upset."
The man's voice returned to normal. "I know." He agreed. "She was crying…" Kristoff could still picture her, kneeling on the ground in front of him with tears sparkling in her eyes. She had looked so devastated, so lost. All that over a joke? It didn't seem right…
"You must know, Sven." Kristoff looked up at his friend, the realization finally dawning on him. "You wouldn't lie to me…" He hesitated. "Is it true? I mean, Anna and I… Were we…?"
The reindeer nodded his head slowly.
"Seriously?" Kristoff's eyes widened.
Sven nodded yet again.
Could it really be true? Kristoff groaned softly, dropping himself down on one of the small boulders near the water's edge. "This just doesn't make any sense…" He held his face in his hands for a few moments, thinking. How could it be? Me… and Anna? She was a nice girl, sure… And pretty cute, he had to admit. Beautiful, even. But she was his friend, and, try as he might, he simply couldn't think of her as anything more than that. This has to be a mistake. He told himself firmly.
Kristoff got to his feet, beckoning Sven closer to him. "I think we've been gone long enough… Come on, Buddy. Let's head back." He let out a slow, deep breath. "We need to figure this out." He said, resigned to the fact that he could not simply brush this aside. There was definitely something serious going on, that much he was willing to admit. Now the only questions that remained were what exactly that 'something' was, and what he was going to do about it.
It took several minutes for the pair to make their way back to the valley, and they spent it in total silence – Kristoff lost in his racing thoughts, and Sven wondering when it would finally be time for lunch. Kristoff fidgeted uncomfortably as he walked, silently rehearsing exactly what he would say, again and again. Just stay calm, he kept telling himself, and explain that this is all a huge misunderstanding. They've got to understand…
When they finally reached the clearing, Kristoff was surprised to find it nearly deserted. Most of the trolls had gone back to sleep, and Anna was nowhere to be found. Is the joke over? He wondered as he crossed from the shade of the tall trees into the bright light of the afternoon sun. Or maybe they've finally come to their senses… His brown eyes quickly searched the tiny group of still-conscious trolls before they fell on Grand Pabbie's weary form.
"Grand Pabbie," the young man approached the old troll, crouching down in front of him. "What happened? Where's Anna?"
"On her way back to Arendelle." Grand Pabbie replied simply, his expression difficult to read.
"Oh." Kristoff muttered uncertainly. "So… I guess she figured out this was all a mistake?" He asked, hopeful.
Grand Pabbie sighed. "No," He said seriously. "She's gone back to the palace to gather supplies."
"For what?"
He sighed softly. "Kristoff, you have to listen to me." The old troll said urgently. "Anna is about to undertake a very dangerous journey… For you."
Kristoff raised his eyebrows in surprise. For me? "What are you talking about?"
"I know you're still struggling to accept all this, but please try to understand. Your mind has been affected by very powerful magic."
"But –"
Grand Pabbie raised one stony hand. "Please, hear me out, Kristoff. Anna blames herself for what's happened, and she wants to make things right again. I know I should not have said anything…" The guilt was apparent on the old troll's face. "But I shared with her a possible way to restore your memories." He paused. "Kristoff, you cannot let her do this alone."
The young man's brow furrowed. "Okay, back up. Let's just… pretend for a minute that something weird did happen with my memories, or whatever. I thought you said you couldn't fix it."
"I cannot, it's true." Grand Pabbie replied. "But there is someone else who, I believe, may be able to… Though the risk is great." He admitted sadly.
"I don't understand."
"I suppose I should start from the beginning..." The old troll took a deep breath and told his grandson exactly what he had told Anna.
"Kristoff, I'm sure you are aware that ours is not the only settlement of trolls that exists in these mountains."
"It's not? I mean, I always wondered if there were others… But I wasn't sure." Kristoff confessed.
"There are dozens." Grand Pabbie explained. "Deep in the forests, high on the mountains, in deep caves and underground caverns… They are much like us, in many ways – the way they live and work together, their customs and traditions… Here we are quite unique, however, in our dealings with humans."
The man furrowed his brow in confusion. "Okay… So how do these other trolls handle humans?"
"Most don't." The troll shrugged. "They are so hidden, so secluded, many have remained undisturbed for centuries. Those unlucky enough to be discovered, however…" He hesitated. "Well, I suppose it's the humans who are the truly unlucky ones."
Kristoff remained silent, understanding immediately what the old troll was implying.
Grand Pabbie could read the look on the young man's face easily. "Please, don't misunderstand – They are not complete monsters, though it may seem that way to you. It is simply our way. Trolls have never been welcoming to outsiders… Those of us in this valley are the exception." He paused, as though waiting to judge the human's reaction.
Kristoff simply shook his head. "Grand Pabbie, why are you telling me this?"
"Because I did not always live in this valley, Kristoff. None of us did." The old shaman paused, taking another deep breath. "I was born many miles from here, in an ancient troll stronghold, deep in the caverns beneath the North Mountain." His expression was suddenly very thoughtful, wistful, almost, as his mind travelled far back to a time long ago.
"It is the largest of the troll settlements in this land, and by far the most powerful. There were hundreds of us, and I'm certain their population has grown even more in the years since I left. Our numbers were great, but our wealth was even greater. We would mine the gold and gems from deep within the heart of the mountain, and use the riches to trade with surrounding troll settlements. What we did not trade, we used to build – dwellings, temples, statues – anything you could imagine – crafted from pure gold. It is unlike anything you've ever seen, believe me."
Grand Pabbie gestured to the empty expanse of the valley around them. "We live a simple life here." He said slowly. "It's a good life, one that I enjoy immensely… But it is nothing like the life I once knew." He shook his head almost sadly before continuing.
"I was the apprentice of our shaman… Just as Stent is to me. Young though I was, I was highly respected and loved by our people… But not as much as her – our healer, our leader. She taught me everything I know… I would not be who I am today without her." That strange, wistful look came to his eyes yet again as he spoke. "Raaza is her name… She could do incredible things – things that I could never dream of, even today. Great things, powerful things… and horrible things."
"Like what?" Kristoff asked softly, completely immersed in the fascinating tale. Why hasn't he told me about this before?
The old troll hesitated. "I do not like to speak of it… But you need to understand." It seemed to be a struggle for him to keep his voice calm and even as he continued. "She could rip a man's heart from his chest without a single incision, simply by speaking a few ancient words of an old incantation… I saw many unwitting human explorers meet this fate, right before my eyes." He shook his head.
"When I was very young, we were at war with another settlement of trolls from the Eastern forest. She handled all of our prisoners personally and… Well, it was what she did to their minds that was the worst. It was like she could control their thoughts, manipulate them, convince them to tell her anything she desired… I could go on." He said softly. "But I believe my point has been made.
"All trolls are born with magic in our blood. Some are more gifted than others," he explained, "But she is, without a doubt, the most powerful of our kind I have ever known… And the most dangerous." Grand Pabbie did not speak for several moments. Kristoff said nothing, struggling to take it all in.
"Eventually, it became too much." Grand Pabbie finally broke the silence. "I was grateful for everything Raaza had taught me, but I knew that I could not continue living in a place with such violence and brutality." He sighed. "So I gathered up a handful of others who shared my views and… We left." The old troll finished simply. "And you know what?" He asked, almost amused. "She let us go, no questions asked. In fact, most of the supplies we took with us were a parting gift from her… After everything we'd gone through, all of the horrible things she'd done, all of the times I'd questioned her, she still respected me. And I respected her as well... That was nearly three hundred years ago, and I still think of her, from time to time. I suppose you could say I miss her." He shrugged. "Friendship can be a funny thing."
Kristoff's eyes widened as the story finally came to an end. "Friendship? How could you be friends with someone like that?"
"Magic is all about both darkness and light… Most trolls choose darkness. It is in our nature." Grand Pabbie replied simply. "Just not in mine. I could never justify the horrible things she's done… But that does not diminish all the good she did for me and our people."
Kristoff was silent for a few moments, trying to understand. "So… the reason you're telling me all this…" He began, fearing what Grand Pabbie was about to say.
"As I said, Raaza is the most powerful troll I have ever known… And, I believe, the only one capable of setting your mind right again."
The young man's heart sank. I knew it… "You have got to be kidding me." He groaned miserably. "So Anna…"
"Is gathering supplies," Grand Pabbie finished for him, "To prepare for her journey to the North Mountain."
"Is she crazy?!"
"She's in love." The old troll replied with a small smile. "Which, in my experience, is almost the same thing."
Kristoff go to his feet, shaking his head. "Just… Just hold on, okay? We need to talk about this, figure this whole thing out before we do anything crazy." He looked around at the empty valley, frustrated. Why isn't she here? "Why'd she go rushing off like that?" He asked, annoyed. "Can't she just talk to me?"
"She doesn't have much time." Grand Pabbie replied simply. "The Summer Solstice is only a week away."
"The Midsummer festival? Yeah, I know." Kristoff replied in confusion. "We've been getting ready for it for weeks back in Arendelle."
"You know that the Summer and Winter Solstice are the two most important days for our people." The troll said softly. "In the Winter, our power grows because of the moon's prolonged presence in the sky. At the Sumer Solstice, the night is very brief, but the sun is strong and bright in the sky."
"But... I thought your power came from the moon."
"It does… But where does the moon glean its own power?" Grand Pabbie paused. "The sun."
Kristoff's brow furrowed. "So… the sun has more power, which gives the moon more power, which…"
"Gives us more power in return, yes." The shaman replied. "Raaza is already incredibly powerful, and the Summer Solstice will only strengthen her abilities. If you can reach Raaza on the solstice, your chances of success are greatly improved."
"Okay… But how does Anna expect to do this on her own? I mean, how is she supposed to 'cure me', or whatever it is she's trying to do?"
Grand Pabbie shrugged. "I think she is hoping for a potion, or enchanted object – something she can bring with her. I warned her it was unlikely but… She is determined."
Of course she is…. "Fine, then how is she supposed to find her way?"
"I gave her a map," His grandfather replied simply. "Of all the troll settlements in this area. It is written in our ancient runes, so she cannot read its words… But the path to the North Mountain should be marked clearly enough. Once there, well… I do not have a map of the tunnels beneath the mountain." He confessed. "But, if my memory serves me correctly, the route to the city should not be difficult to find."
"How do you even know this will work?"
"I don't." Grand Pabbie admitted guiltily. "But it's the only chance you have."
"I thought you said these other trolls hate humans… Won't they kill her?" Kristoff demanded, his voice steadily rising. This is insane! There's no way she'd do something so stupid… Would she?
"That… is a possibility."
"WHAT?!"
The old troll lifted his hands defensively. "I gave her a token!" He tried to explain. "A trinket, from my old days beneath the mountain. Raaza will recognize it and, if she still honors our friendship the way I believe she does, she will listen, and she will help you." Grand Pabbie paused. "Please, Kristoff. Anna cannot do this alone. She needs you. "
Neither of them spoke for several long moments. Kristoff sighed heavily. "I still think this whole thing is insane… But I guess I really don't have a choice, do I?" There's no way she'd even make it there on her own, let alone negotiate with the trolls… He glanced over his shoulder at Sven, who was munching on some carrots a few feet away. "What d'ya say, buddy?" Kristoff asked sadly. "Should we go risk our lives for the princess again?"
Sven nodded enthusiastically, one long orange carrot still hanging from his lips.
Relief washed over Grand Pabbie's face. "Go quickly," he urged the young man. "You need to meet her in Arendelle before she departs. Keep Anna safe, and remember all that I told you."
Kristoff nodded slowly as the old shaman nudged him toward Sven. "If – If you say so." Wait, am I really doing this?
"Do not allow Anna to lose the token." Grand Pabbie said seriously. "That's the key to earning Raaza's trust…"
"Okay…" Kristoff replied nervously as he fastened Sven's saddle. Why can't anything ever be easy?
"And please, please believe that this is all for the best… That girl loves you more than you'll ever know."
The man sighed as he pulled himself onto the reindeer's back. "That's what everyone keeps telling me." As he prepared to depart, Kristoff glanced down at the old troll one last time. "Well… Goodbye, I guess." He shook his head. "I really hope you're right about all this, Grand Pabbie."
"As do I… Good luck, Kristoff. Be safe."
And with that, the young man and the reindeer were off, crossing once more into the trees and heading east toward the kingdom beyond. "What're we getting ourselves into?" Kristoff muttered to Sven as they flew beneath the lush, green trees.
Mountains, caverns, angry trolls… All to find something he still wasn't convinced he'd lost in the first place. That's not why I'm doing this. He reminded himself firmly. I'm doing it so that dummy doesn't get herself killed. I'm just going along with this to protect Anna… But who would protect him?
The first time he'd gone on a dangerous adventure for this girl felt like a lifetime ago, and here he was, back at it again. Why did he keep doing this to himself? He thought again of Anna, crying pitifully at his feet, and Grand Pabbie's words seemed to echo in his mind. Friendship can be a funny thing…
"He's got that right." Kristoff muttered to himself as he urged Sven forward, down the winding mountain path toward Arendelle.
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A/N: -fanfare plays - Ta da! And now everyone is on the same page about where I was going with all this… :)
This is still, at its heart, a romance story, but we are definitely going to be shifting into the "adventure" genre as we go on (especially since the romance is now one-sided… Poor Anna!). I have some interesting and (in my opinion) exciting adventures in store for Anna and Kristoff as they make their way to the troll stronghold, and I hope you will all have fun coming along for the ride :D
Thank you again for the faves, follows, and reviews! I am enjoying writing this story immensely. When I first came up with this idea, I was very excited, because I thought it was kind of unique. It's all coming together even better than I'd thought, so I'm really proud of this story! I think it's probably my favorite fanfic I've ever written. (I don't usually like to talk myself up or anything, so forgive this brief out-of-character moment from me! I just randomly wanted to share that somewhere.)
As always, thank you for reading!
