"Hiccup!" Eugene called, barreling down the hallway. The lanky viking turned, holding a box in his arms. "There you are, come with me."
"Eugene? Hans was- Whoa, where are we going?" Hiccup asked, as his friend caught his arm and dragged him along down the hallway.
"I need to tell you something. Where is Merida and Rapunzel?"
"Um… In the ballroom, I think." The last he saw of them, Merida and Rapunzel were helping distribute breakfast to the guests. Hiccup had been sent to get more supplies from the storage closet. "Where are we going?"
Suddenly, Eugene froze. He looked back down the way he had come and cursed quietly to himself. He turned down a corner and picked up the pace, still dragging the viking along. Hiccup looked over his shoulder but saw nothing. Was Eugene being chased? He wondered. But who would be chasing him here, in Arendelle, during this summer/winter?
The former thief opened one of the doors that lined the hallway and pulled Hiccup inside after him, closing and locking the door behind. "Shh." He held a finger to his lips and listened at the door. Hiccup put the box he was carrying down, and put his ear to the door as well.
"What are we hiding from?" He asked quietly.
"Nightmares." Was the answer. Hiccup raised an eyebrow at that. For a moment he pictured a Monstrous Nightmare crawling down the corridor covered in flames, but dismissed it remembering that dragons don't come down this far southeast on their own, and that there would be a big commotion if one was ever seen flying around.
Hearing nothing, Hiccup looked around the room. It was some kind of unused sitting room, with a couch sitting in front of a fire place, and chairs lining the walls. Sheets covered the furniture, creating ghostly shapes in the morning light that shone dustily through a single window. After a moment, Eugene crossed the room and closed the drapes, leaving the room dark.
"So, um. This is rather ominous." Hiccup said. "Mind telling me what's going on here?"
"It's a bit hard to explain everything." Eugene started, quietly. He looked nervously at the door as if he expected something to barge through at any second. "Rapunzel, Merida, and Jack need to know what's going on as well, but we don't have time to get them right now."
"What do you mean we don't have time?"
"Okay, let's see, um." He started to pace. "How do I explain it? Alright. Do you remember how that evil witch who kidnapped Rapunzel as a baby, Gothel, disappeared when she went through the tower window last year? And how we all assumed she was dead, even though we didn't find her body?"
Hiccup nodded, not liking where this was going.
"Well, she's still alive, ancient looking, and is here in the castle. And that old viking that came with you to Corona last year, Mildew? He's here, too. He stowed away on your ship. And together, they've been keeping eyes on you, me, the girls, and Queen Elsa."
"Mildew?" Hiccup asked, incredulous. That nasty old grump was here? Why? "Watching us this whole time?"
"Yeah. But that's not even hardest to believe in all this." Eugene paused and looked at the door. He crept to it and put his ears against the wood for a second, then came back to Hiccup. He began to speak faster and in a quieter tone. "Apparently they're using this unscheduled winter, which the people are saying is cursed, and eternal, and foretold and all that, to get people scared; something to do with the boogeyman, I think. And they have all these creepy looking black horses around them that they said could smell fear."
This was a lot of, surprising, information. "How do you know all this?" Hiccup asked, rubbing his head. The boogeyman? Mildew and Gothel? Something larger than he had thought was happening here.
"I followed them and overheard their conversation with another one of their partners. His name is Mor'du, also known as the bear Merida fought with last year. But it looks like he's human now or something like that."
"And that's where you went off to in a hurry then." Hiccup guessed. "So let me get this straight: you saw one of my people with an ancient Gothel and followed them to overhear a conversation with Merida's demon bear and learned that they are using the winter to make everyone afraid for the boogeyman?"
"In a nutshell, yes."
This was a strange turn of events, Hiccup thought to himself. Though really, after Elsa revealed her secret ice magic and froze everything, what could be expected to go according to plan? "So what now?"
Eugene looked back toward the door, and scratched the back of his neck nervously. "Well, they kind of realized I was spying on them, so now they're probably trying to find me and stop me from telling you guys. And there's a good chance they sent those fear horses after me as well. I keep hearing their whinnies everywhere. So I guess we try to get to Merida and Rapunzel before they do, and then we get out of here. Or try to stop them. I don't really know."
Hiccup frowned in thought, the wheels in his head turning around this new information. After a moment he nodded. "First things first, we have to get to the ballroom without being spotted. Any idea what would happen if those horses of yours find you?"
Eugene shook his head. "They give me the creeps, though. I don't want anything to do with them."
…..
"Well? Do you see thief boy anywhere?" Gothel squinted around the ballroom. Her eyesight was getting worse, everything past a certain distance was all blur. And her bones ached from the winter weather, and her hands were shaky. How she hated this aged body. For a moment she remembered how beautiful and young she looked only last year.
"No. Or Hiccup." Mildew interrupted her thoughts with his ornery voice. "But I do see the warrior and the healer; still helping out the common people like servants."
The healer. Rapunzel. Her flower. Gothel's heart jolted. That golden hair so close. If only she could use it and return to her beautiful self again. But Pitch had said to stay undercover, to gather the NightMares in secret. He didn't know what it was like to be trapped in an aging body like she was.
"At least it looks like he hasn't told them about us yet." Mildew continued. "That's at least two out of four, and the spirit still who knows where. Have ye even seen the lad, yet? I mean, I catch glimpses of blue from time to time, but with all those dragons flying about, it's hard to-"
"Will you be quiet for a moment. I'm trying to think. " Gothel interrupted, how that man liked to go on. She looked around her to see if any of the other people loitering around the ballroom had overheard her. "There's a good chance Eugene already found the leader. He could be telling him about us right now, for all we know. We need to get control of this situation before it gets any more out of hand."
A new NightMare stepped out from the shadows of a column and walked unnoticed through the crowds of people toward them. Gothel absentmindedly stroked its forehead before sending it to help the others locate the thief. A plan was forming in her mind.
"What if," She turned to her colleague. "We removed these two from the picture. Isolate them from each other at the very least. Cause a little chaos to strengthen the overall fear and secure our plans at the same time."
"And how do you suggest we do that?"
Gothel looked toward her wayward daughter; the child she had raised and, despite herself, had grown to care about a little. Only a little. "How good are your acting skills?"
…..
"Would you like a drink, sir? I have glogg or chocolate." Rapunzel asked a gentleman sitting near the hearth. He had recently come in from the town among others, and was trying to warm his old bones by the fire. Hans had left the castle gates open and was out among the town handing out cloaks and inviting everyone to come inside for warmth.
The man nodded, and she passed him a cup of a warm chocolaty beverage. She was told it was a popular winter beverage here, and had tried some for herself earlier. It was delicious! The liquid chocolate mixture slid down her throat and sat warmly in her stomach. She planned on bringing some back to Corona to share. She hadn't tried the glogg yet, but it seemed to be a favorite among those native to Arendelle.
"Thank you, miss." The gentleman said gratefully.
Rapunzel smiled and nodded. "That should help you recover from the cold." She said and turned to another group of people.
"Excuse me, my lady." An old man with a greying long mustache and large nose tapped her on the shoulder. "Could I bother you for some assistance?"
"Of course. What do you need help with?" Rapunzel put the tray of cups she was carrying down on a chair.
"Well, you see. It's my wife." The old man started. He had an unusual accent, similar to Merida's but not as thick. "She's rather frail, and with the winter, it's causing her problems, you see. Well, she went off to use the toilet and tripped on some stairs." He pointed to one of the doors leading out of the ballroom. "I think she's broken her leg. And I can't move her away from the stairs."
Rapunzel felt her heart reach out for the poor old woman. What pain she must be in. "I'll see what I can do to help." She promised the man.
What could she do, though? Use her hair? She was hesitant to let anyone know about her healing ability, in case everyone wanted to use it. It was the one fear that has stayed with her from her childhood, despite Eugene's assurances that no one would force her to do anything she didn't want to do. But then, she had to do something, if someone was in pain and wasn't able to be moved.
"Take me to her." She said. "Merida!" She waved across the room. The red-headed princess finished with whatever she was doing and came over to her.
"What is't?"
Rapunzel indicated the old man standing next to her. "He says his wife fell down some stairs. Will you come with me to see if we can do anything to help?" Merida nodded and the man led the way out of the ballroom.
"Yeugh look familiar." Merida said at one point. "Have I met ye before?"
The old man coughed. "No. Um no, I don't believe so. My wife and I have never been out to a fancy function like this. Dear soul, I hope she's alright. She's just around the corner now. There she is."
They came to a small set of stairs and at the bottom was his wife, wrapped in a blue cloak and leaning against the wall, one leg splayed out. Rapunzel could hear quiet sobbing coming from the woman.
"Here, let me see. I'm here to help." Rapunzel kneeled next to her. She gingerly touched the leg and received a sharp intake of breath. "What is your name?"
"You can call me Granny, dear." The woman said through gritted teeth. Her blue hood covered most of her wrinkled face and had strands of grey, curly hair poking out from underneath, and her body was thin and frail.
"How badly does this hurt, Granny?" The princess asked, touching the leg softly again, in the same place below the knee.
"Excruciating."
"And this?" Rapunzel touched a little further down.
Granny cried out at the touch. "Even worse."
Worried, Rapunzel looked at her friend, who knelt down as well.
"Where else do you hurt?" Merida asked.
"My arms, from trying to catch myself. My hip, my shoulder here, my ribs and my back. My feet. My other leg a little as well. And I have a headache."
The girls exchanged a glance. Rapunzel's heart was breaking for this poor woman in so much pain. She looked at her braid lying on the ground next to her. She should sing for the woman, use her hair to help get her up and about, shouldn't she?
"Is there anything you can do?" The old man asked, still standing at the top of the stairs.
"Ay don't know if there is a lot we can do." Merida answered. She was protecting Rapunzel, knowing that she was afraid of people using her for her hair. Rapunzel felt grateful for her friend. "Did ye call for a doctor, or one of the servants?"
"I thought you were servants. Passing out cloaks and beverages like you were."
The red headed princess bristled. "Princess Rapunzel is the Queen's own cousin. She's no servant, and neither am I. We're helping the Prince Hans hold this place together."
"Merida." Rapunzel said softly. "He didn't know."
"The palace physician is better suited to helping your wife than we are. Why did you even ask us to help anyway? Of all the people yeugh could have asked and you go to Rapunzel, when yeugh could have-"
Granny started to moan just then and cry. Merida stopped her tirade at the old man and looked down concerned at the woman.
"I'm so sorry. I don't mean to be a bother to you nice young ladies. My husband…" Granny hissed in pain as she tried to shift her position. "He didn't know. He was just worried about me." Tears started to run down her face.
"I went to the first person I saw that could help. That's it." The man added.
The girls exchanged another glance. Rapunzel asked with her eyes if she should heal the woman. It would save the woman so much pain, and they wouldn't have to track down the town doctor, or have to move the woman where she could be somewhat comfortable until she healed, which could be a long time from now. The princess could see those same thoughts running through her friend's head. After a second, Merida nodded.
"There is something I can do to help, actually." Rapunzel said.
"But you have to keep it quiet, yeugh hear?" Merida added, looking sternly at the man.
The old man's face lit up and he nodded. "Of course, of course. Whatever you can do to help her."
Rapunzel sighed and began to unravel her hair a little. "I was born with this power, to heal people. If I sing while someone is touching my hair, then it will remove any injuries. It'll be like your wife never fell."
"You have magic, like the queen?" Granny asked, faintly.
"Kind of. It's different." Rapunzel gently wrapped a strand of hair around Granny's leg, wincing in sympathy at the other woman's hiss of pain. "Sorry." She proceeded to wrap another strand around the woman's arms and place other hair where Granny said hurt. "Are you ready?" She asked when she was done.
"As ready as I can be, I suppose."
Rapunzel closed her eyes and took a deep breath. It had been months now since she had last done this. It was a little nerve wracking, actually. But she knew it was the right thing to do. It was selfish of her to even think otherwise, especially with Granny obviously in so much pain. She resolved to stop hiding it. If anyone else turned up needing medical attention, she'll do her best to help.
Merida placed her hand on her shoulder in support as she began to sing.
"Flower, Gleam and Glow.
Let Your Power Shine.
Make The Clock Reverse,
Bring Back What Once Was Mine
Heal What Has Been Hurt
Change The Fates Design
Save What Has been Lost
Bring Back What Once Was Mine.
She felt the healing energy run through her body and travel through her mass of hair. She willed it to heal the old woman who sat before her, to help her recover from her fall down the hard stairs. Rapunzel heard her voice echoing with the magic as she spoke the final line of the incantation. "What Once Was Mine." She fell silent and let the magic flow out of her.
The woman still had her hood covering her face when Rapunzel opened her eyes again, but the hair poking out from under the hood was black instead of grey, and the hands sitting on her lap were no longer frail and wrinkled but soft and young looking. Merida tightened her grip on Rapunzel's shoulder, indicating she noticed as well.
"Thank you, my dear. I feel so much better now." The voice that spoke chilled Rapunzel to her bones. It was a voice that still haunted her dreams occasionally; a voice she thought was gone forever.
Gothel lifted her hood to reveal a younger, prettier face than the one she had before. She gave the girls a wry smile. "How can I ever repay you?"
The old man behind them, whistled appreciatively. "I've got to try that sometime. Was quite a looker, myself when I was younger."
"Mother?" Rapunzel asked, feeling small. Her heart was racing.
"Hello, my flower." Gothel unwrapped Rapunzel's hair from her leg and arms and stood up, gripping the golden locks tight in her hands. She stretched sighed happily. "It feels good to be young again."
"But how are you…? I thought…" Rapunzel was still in shock. She barely registered Gothel slowing winding her long hair around her wrist. Instead, she though back to the last time she saw the woman who raised her; the tower, the fight, Gothel falling through the window. How had she survived such a fall?
"Drop her hair!" Rapunzel heard her friend say and she felt a tug as Merida pulled the hair away from Gothel. The witch held on tight though. Snapping out of the shock, Rapunzel realized the danger she was in, she remembered what Gothel had really wanted from her all those years in the tower. The healing properties she had just used on her. She started pulling at her hair as well.
Suddenly she heard a soft thud and Merida crumpled to the ground next to her. The next thing she knew was a flash of pain on her head as she too was knocked unconscious.
…..
"That's better." Gothel looked impassively as the healer and the warrior fell senseless to the ground. So innocent looking, yet so much trouble. "Took you long enough." She told the old viking standing in front of her.
"You were fine." He grumbled. "Now, let's get these two locked away before anyone comes. Brilliant job, by the way, those crocodile tears really sold it in the end."
"Not too shabby yourself, 'husband.'"