Chapter 7 Dark Descent.
Jagged spikes on the ceiling threatened to bury them, the cave itself was eerie least of all to say what creatures lurk in the dark, waiting for the right moment to ambush them, everything was so dark even Anakin's lightsaber looked like a mere fickle in the dark, The light emitting from it gave away their position to any creature they seem like perfect targets.
"I know this cave, the bottomless hallows once a few explorers went in to search for gold, but somehow they never returned however after the third day their arms were found outside the cave entrance!"
Elsa vigilant of any sudden movements, her eyes looking at the front, left and right all at the same time she expected something to popped out of the dark and when it did, she will instantly react to the threat.
"There is something following us, we are not alone here, I sensed we may have attracted some unwanted attention."
"They are welcome to try and stop us Anakin, but we will deal them promptly!" Elsa sending their approach seeing if they would get any closer.
"Tinnnn! Tinnnn, Tinmnmnniiinn.."
"Hold up! There is something in front of us, and I believe there is more of them."
No sooner were the words out of Anakin's mouth, three sets of red eyes appeared before them with razor sharp claws, black lumps on their brown furs and drooling with hunger they bare their teeth at them both.
"Mutant bears! They were experimented on by powerful warlocks when they serve their purpose they were tossed away like trash."
"GGGGEEEERRRRRRRR RAHHHHHHHHH!" they suddenly sprank towards Anakin and Elsa.
Elsa mustering her powers froze them both in solid ice, she turned to Anakin to see how he was coping. Anakin use the force and knock the bear back into the cave's wall, the bear sprank again at him. "I VE WARN YOU!" He jumped and with all his might he severed the bear's head from his body, the body and head falling harmless to the floor smoke rising up from the severed points.
Anakin landed safely on the ground and regrouping with Elsa. "That was easy!" Elsa clapping and smiling looking back at the other two she knew they were not going anywhere.
"Hahaha! Nobody is going to mess with us after what we have done here!" Anakin eyes sparkled feeling victorious.
Elsa looked into the darkness, "I highly doubt this is over, we still need to cover a lot of ground."
As they walk through the darkness of the cave, they saw there was some light flashing down at the narrow way of a cave like bridge that stretch across to the other side.
"It's beautiful, most caves don't have this at all, let's savour this moment before crossing over to the other side." Elsa gleamed at the light she had never seen light so radiant and focused before.
"Elsa we are still in a cave with creatures who want us dead, we should get moving but I sense nothing like they have stop hunting us."
Elsa walked towards Anakin putting her hand on his shoulder, "sit down with me Anakin, let's enjoy this together, we should savour this moment."
Anakin nodded and sat down turning off his lightsaber, they both look at the light so beautiful. "Look Anakin diamonds! They are glittering! Not many people see this in caves, we are truly.. truly.. fortunate!" Elsa looked at Anakin he was awestrucked like she was too, she placed her hand in his, holding it firmly this memorable moment she will keep it in her heart and remember it forever.
"Anakin, I just want you to know that you are the best consort I ever have, you brought a new meaning to my life." Anakin turned to look at Elsa, both of their eyes lit up like fire in their eyes they looked at each other and continue to look at the diamonds.
Above them there were diamonds too, but one particular diamond was set apart from the rest, it was blue and glowing the ceiling started trembling, the diamond fell right down on their laps along with a small few diamonds.
"Anakin looked at this blue diamond it's very rare to find a diamond like this, I think I will keep this in case one day I might need it."
"You are very fond of diamonds as you are with snow Elsa, I should call you the diamond queen too!" Anakin smiled he could see Elsa wearing the blue diamond as her necklace.
"How flattering! But flattery won't get you far with me Anakin, the blue crystal is still mine use the force and another one might drop down on your head!" Elsa blushed nervously almost wanting to laugh, was Anakin fond of crystals like she was.
Suddenly the earth started vibrating violently.
"It's a mini earthquake! We need to move now!" Elsa looked at Anakin with a urgent look.
Anakin looked around the only way was across the cave like bridge which had collapsed entirely.
"We must run to the bridge if we are to survive!"
"There is no brigde Anakin! Its… Its… gone! Wait I have an idea! I will make an ice bridge and you will use the force to get us across the bridge."
"That's a great idea! Let's go! Elsa stepped forward using her powers she made a ice bridge halfway, running back to Anakin she crossed her shoulders across his neck and her boots across his, "Alright Anakin this is it, use the force to get us across!"
Anakin nodded and with lightning speed he raced across the bridge, closing his eyes he focused and jumped across the bridge, he landed his boots absorbing most of the impact.
"We did it! This is the longest jump I ever attempted!" Anakin smiled enthusiastically. "I can't believe~~~we did it!" Elsa gazed in shock the cave entrance right in front of them, "we are still not out of the woods yet, we must get in, the whole cave is collapsing around us!" The jagged spikes were falling down fast on them like sharp spears of death.
Elsa knew what it meant, they were descenting into the heart of the cave and there was no telling what vicious creatures awaited them, having read tales and legends of caves holding secrets and monsters she wanted both to escape and wanted to know what lies in this caves.
"Our friend is down there, I sensed he is moving deeper we should follow him." Anakin implied knowing this wasn't his best decision yet but there was choice.
They both went in, the collapsing rocks seal the cave in, no way out but forward both of them exhausted due to the lack of food and water.
"We now have one choice we have to face the long dark of the caves." Anakin sighed briefly activating his lightsaber illuminating their surroundings. Skulls littered the floor, along with skeletons of fallen footman still holding their weapons in hand, slain by an unknown foe.
"Elsa what are these soldiers doing here? I thought only monsters live here?" Anakin looked at her inquisitively Elsa was the only who had knowledge of the caves like this one.
Closing her eyes snow formed in her palms and she realised it into the ceiling, like a flare it lit up the darkness around them. Elsa stood down and upon closer examination she saw the crest of Sweden, "these were Swedish soldiers no doubt deserters, they died to lack of food and starve to death."
"Hold on what's this?" Elsa took the small dagger from the chainmail, looking closely she recongnised this was a goblin dagger and this was bad news, an entire army could be hidding down here they can't linger here any longer.
"There are goblins here Anakin we need to move, let's be careful not to awaken them." Blood pumping to her face, fear was beginning to crept in but she dismissed it, they were getting out of here by hook or by crook.
"It can't be that bad, we will just slay them all like we did with those bears." Anakin trying to assure her.
Elsa shooked her head, Anakin wasn't aware of the gravity of the situation and how much danger they were in, the thrill of victory was getting to his head.
"Anakin, we still have a long way to go and goblins have defeated armies before, don't let your pride cloud your judgement. Come along we need to move."
As they were walking, Anakin sensed something big was approaching dead ahead.
"Get ready something big is approaching us! It's huge!" Both them stood ready waiting for the figure to appear out of the darkness.
It stopped right in front of them and began to speak.
"Queen Elsa of Arenedelle I presume! I mean you no harm, you are seeking a way out yes?
"Who are you? Step into the light let's us look at you!" She demanded in a commanding voice Elsa was taking no chances.
The figure stepped into the light, it was a giant tarantula with gigantic legs and with huge fans along with its eyes it survey them with curious intent, humans were a rare sight down here, it wasn't going to eat but to know why are they here.
"Queen Elsa of Arenedelle! My name is Grogon and you are about to cross into my lair, I will be happy to grant you passage if you kindly answer my questions."
"Speak!" She commanded.
"Calm down, I am not going to eat you or your companion, I have an abundance of food here in this caves I just want to know what you are doing here."
"Alright Grogon, what's your first question?"
"Why are you here? You should be aware the deeper you go, the worse it gets there are horrors down at the heart of this cave."
"We are trying to get out of here, but there is one particular creature that's been following us and lead us here, we want to know what is this creature and what it wants." Elsa cautiously being on guard a giant talking tarantula wasn't reassuring at all.
"Ah the cursed creature, he has been wandering around here for months he feasts on stray goblins. He seems to be looking for someone."
"Where is his lair? We need to know what's he is after." Anakin looked at Grogon suspiciously.
"He is right beyond my lair deep down in the bottom of the cave, but I must warn you of the of an ancient horror terrorising the caves below."
"What is it?" Anakin asked impatiently the lack of food and water was starting to get to him.
"Queen Elsa I can see your companion is famished, as I was saying there is ancient dragon blocking your way out of here, if you want to escape you both must defeat him once you slay him, take his drakes and you shall be free."
"Thank you Grogon, we appreciate it you helping us!" Elsa bowed her head.
"Hold on there, I like to provide you some aid in your quest, Children!" Grogon stomp his leg on the ground.
From the smallest to the bigger spiders came bearing with them berries and cherries, numbering to nearly two hundred they dropped the food at Grogon's leg and dispersed to hunt for more food.
"Here take this, the cave is big you will need the food on your way to the dragon's lair, beyond my lair lies a man made wooden bridge, cross it but beware of the screening banshee."
Grogon proceeded to climb the wall of the cave and disappearred into the darkness, until he was no longer seen.
"That was strange, but he left us free food and I am hungry let's eat Elsa!" Anakin reached down to eat the berries it was the best thing he had ever tasted.
"Try not to finish all of it, we will need some for the journey downwards, now we should find some water I am thirsty maybe if go through here we might find some water."
"How are we going to bring all these food with us? They will be a burden to us."
"I have an idea watch my back." Elsa wave her fingers together forming a small ice pouch with a few strings. "There we go, now we won't need to worry about food." She reached down to pick up the cherries and berries putting in her pouch and tied to her waist.
"You are so creative Elsa! What would I do without you?" Anakin blushed slightly unlike most his comrades who lack creatively Elsa was full of it.
Elsa smiled looking at her consort she blushed too, "what happened to you Anakin? One minute you were hungry and impatient now you are like a gentleman and so sweet, was it those berries?" She couldn't tell but was amused, all Elsa wanted was to find the creature, slay the dragon and get out of this eerie dark cave.
After walking for an hour, they finally stumbled upon the wooden bridge it look like it can stretch for a mile across a bottomless hole right down in the middle, no telling what lies at the bottom they had no choice but to cross.
"This doesn't look very safe, but we don't have a choice, we need to cross I will go first." Elsa looking nervous fear was slowly getting the better of her.
Anakin sensed her fear it was getting stronger, he knew it was a matter of time before it took over. He cleared his mind and focus on the task which was crossing the bridge. No turning back now.
Halfway across the bridge a giant head on the ceiling of the cave layed there, the screaming banshee an evil and devious being, she was watching them till they reached a certain point and now was the time.
"Queen Elsa of Arenedelle! No doubt! You shouldn't be here, tell me why should I let you pass?" She hissed awaiting an answer she had the power of life and death.
Elsa calmed herself, if they were ever going to make to the other side she needed to use tact on this one, "we are trying to get out of this cave and kindly seek a way out".
"A way out? Hahaha! There is no way out of this cave! Do you think you are the first one here, none have made it out alive! Hahaha!" Her face was hideous and she smiled revealing all her teeth. The bodies of the two explorers and merchant still stuck to her teeth.
"SO YOU KILLED THEM! I WILL NOW AV~~~"
"Wrong answer your Highness!" She laughed and instantly blew fire right below them, the bridge instantly snapped in half and they fell right into the bottomless abyss.
Anakin remembering his training spread his arms and legs to stop himself from falling too fast, he saw his lightsaber and with force reached out pulling the lightsaber back to him.
Straight ahead he saw falling, he shifted his arms and legs back to propel himself forward, putting his right hand on her armoured right shoulder, he felt fear had overwhelmed her he needed to calm her down and focused.
"Elsa! ELSA! Listen to me we are going to hit the water soon! I need you to put your hands around my neck and hold on, you got it?!"
"I can't do it.. this is it.. we are going to drown.. I can't swim!" Elsa panicking she lost control of herself.
"Elsa! DO AS I SAY AND YOU WILL BE FINE, WE CAN DO THIS!" Elsa thought about it and comply Anakin was the only chance of survival she had, he had this before she just needed to trust him.
"Al~right!" Elsa looking Anakin's eyes she wondered how are they going to survive this one.
Anakin spread his legs and arms once again, and Elsa wrapped her arms around his neck tightly holding onto him like glue. "What's the plan? We need a plan Anakin?!"
"Elsa we are almost close to water, here is what I want you to do, close your eyes and hold your breath I will use the force to propel me and you out of the water!"
"No you will get the us both killed, the waters in these caves are sometimes shallow rarely is there any cave with deep waters!" Elsa clinging on to him tighter Anakin could her weight and her fear threatening to take over.
Anakin smiled, "CONCEAL, DONT FEEL!"
"What?! Worst advice ever, we are still falling!"
Anakin closed his eyes and reached out to the Force, and immediately he could feel the stillness like water pouring on him calming him down. He opened his eyes and looked at Elsa still nervous and panicking.
"Elsa! Elsa! Look at me! We are going to make it through this, you have to trust me I promised I will keep you safe! Let go of your fears and trust in me, we can do this!"
Elsa saw the calm look on his face, she knew fear was holding her back, she closed her eyes and release that fear and opened her to look at him. She trusted him before, she still trusted him now. "Anakin you are right let's do this!"
Anakin smiled, "that's the Elsa I know!" Turning to look down he saw the water, "you know what to do Elsa!"
"Here we go Anakin , do what you do best!" Elsa took a deep breath as both of them fell into the water.
The water was not too shallow or too deep, Anakin using his hands swam towards Elsa taking her left hand and placing it on his shoulder, swam towards the surface there was some light from the cave hole. They reached the surface Anakin rubbed the water off his face and looked at Elsa. "It's alright Elsa you can open your eyes we did it!"
"We are… alive?" Elsa looked at him not believing they actually made it, she looked around for solid ground.
" We are see nothing to it, this will be our first cave dive." Anakin sensed no more fear in her, he breathed a sigh of relief.
"Hahaha! I am never cave diving again next time we bring Anna along." Elsa still trying to grasp that she and Anakin did survive.
Their feet still in the water Elsa looked around and found solid ground, an idea pop up in her mind.
"Found it! Come Anakin let's go!" Elsa waved her fingers and blast the water forming an ice bridge. Anakin instinctively using the force and jump on top of the bridge, he gave Elsa his hand and she took it using his physical strength he steadily pulled her up, her feet touch the ice and it harden.
"I am beginning to see why you are a Jedi, they made the right choice in choosing you Anakin."
"People call me the Chosen One back on my planet, I am still not sure why but one day I will know why."
"I believe you are special in their eyes." Elsa thinking it just might be true, he was showing potential.
"Anakin I could use some light, somehow it's darker here than on surface how far have we strayed from our intended path?"
Anakin activated his lightsaber, illuminating the darkness around them and to their disbelief they saw a well lit cave entrance.
"We should head there Anakin, maybe it's the way out!" Elsa stomp on the ice and it stretch all the way to the ground, they made their way into the well lit entrance.
"This is… so… beautiful Anakin! I have never seen this before." Elsa's eyes awestrucked by the sight of the white glowing tree, but it was no ordinary light it was warm, she and Anakin sat down admiring it.