Allllllrighty! Arisu is BACK IN ACTION! Apologies if my writing style seems a lot different than before…it's been five years so I may be a bit off in some parts. I also decided to be a lil' more spontaneous and throw in some references in this chapter because its MA FANFIC AND I DO WHAT I WANT (jk plz don't sue me). Lol lemme know your thoughts and enjoy!
Also- shout out to Avalongirl55 because bless her soul she's still here after 5 years of me being MIA LOL! Thanks girl for sticking around :')
"Well…here we are…"
Jamie, Cedric, and Jack stood at the steps of a large, daunting mansion that looked like it had seen better days. It was at least three stories tall with ivy clinging to the outside – if you really stared hard at it, you could tell that it used to be a beauty with a bright yellow exterior and a dark blue roof. But after years of abandonment, its once vibrant walls were now peeling due to dry, crusted paint. Some of the window hinges were barely hanging on and most, if not all, the windows were pretty much broken. Jack rubbed his eyes to clear his vision because he was pretty sure there was a dead squirrel hanging upside down from the rusted rooftop gutter-
Cedric was in Jamie's arms and he hugged the teen tighter while Jack slowly turned to look at Jamie. "…you know Halloween was two months ago."
Jamie playfully kicked at his shins, but in vain since the Winter Spirit was much too nimble. "Shut up." He sighed. "Look, I know it looks scary but if your staff can be anywhere, it's gotta be here."
He lowered the child in his arms to the ground and kneeled so he was at the same height. "Listen Ceddy, if you're scared, I can take you back to your mom's house- okay?"
Cedric gulped as he looked at the house with wide eyes. "I-I'm not scared." He stammered, darting his eyes between the two men.
Jack admired the kid's attempt to act tough and smiled sympathetically. "Cedric, it's okay to be-"
"No!" The boy shook his head. "I promised I would help Jack, and Mom always told me to never back out on a promise!"
Jamie chuckled and ruffled his head. "…alright kiddo. But you have to hold either my or Jack's hand okay? Don't wander off." Cedric nodded and immediately grabbed both their hands- much to their amusement. They started up the steps and Jack looked up at the porch entrance.
"Remind me why you think my staff will be at the Shrieking Shack?"
"Okay for one thing, It's not the-" Jamie stopped in his tracks and turned to stare with a quirked brow. "…You read Harry Potter?"
The white-haired teen shrugged. "Who hasn't?"
The brunet gawked. "I mean…can you even touch books?"
Jack rolled his eyes. "Just because I can't touch most people, doesn't mean I can't touch inanimate objects."
"But…" Jamie sighed. "Never mind. This is good actually because…ah forget it. Just…follow my lead alright?" He let go of Cedric's hand and held his hand up to the front door. He hesitated for a moment.
"Just so you know…the guy's a bit uh…" He twirled his finger around his temple to mimic the *coocoo* motion. "So just, go along with it." He tapped his knuckles three times against the wood.
"Wait-! You never told me there was someone actually living here!" Jack hissed.
"Relax! I doubt he'd be able to see you anyways." Jamie knelt to the floor.
"If he can't see me, how do you expect my staff to be here-"
The door slammed open and a hunched old man wobbled in view. His long, wispy grey beard dragged across the floor with every step, his gray cloak fluttered in the winter breeze. His balding head had a couple of stray grey hairs and with a wild eye, he looked at Jamie and Cedric and bellowed in a loud, raspy voice. "WHO GOES THERE?"
Cedric gripped Jack's hand tighter and Jack clenched his jaw. Jamie on the other hand, remained relaxed as he remained kneeling before the man. "Jamie, what are you doin-" Jack whispered fiercely.
"Gandalf, it's me! Frodo Baggins!" Jamie cried as he hobbled on his knees over to hug the man.
Jack's jaw dropped as the man hugged Jamie back. "Oh my brave little hobbit, how do you fare today?"
"I bring good tidings, kind wizard!" Jamie cried. Jack almost choked with laughter as he noticed that Jamie's voice was considerably higher pitched. "Sauron's remaining forces have all but disappeared from the land of Middle Earth. All that's left is a few stragglers…but alas…I've lost my trusty blade. I request for another weapon. I plead for your aid!"
"Of course, come! Come!" The old man hobbled back inside and Jamie gave a knowing grin before following. Jack and Cedric followed suit.
Lo and behold, as they entered the living room, Jack felt like they transported back in time. The walls were filled with glistening blades of all kinds, swords, knives, daggers, you name it. Cabinets were full of odd-looking trinkets, and in one corner, there were large branches and wooden sticks shaped like wands and staves. He breathed a sigh of relief when he recognized his Shepherd's Hook on display amongst the others.
"Now my dear hobbit, select any weapon you please!" The man trudged to the wall and plucked off two daggers. "If you would like to use another blade, I must recommend either Anduril or Garudin. They may not be as enriched with magic as Sting was, but they remain sharp and lethal for any foe laced with black magic."
Jamie dipped his head. "I humbly thank you for your recommendations. However, I have been uh…practicing magic recently and I would like to start utilizing one of those staffs if I may." He glanced at the corner. "Perhaps…that hooked one over there? That looks mighty powerful-"
"FOOLISH HOBBIT." The man bellowed. Cedric squeaked in fear and Jack tightened his hand. "You are not powerful enough to handle such a powerful artifact…I know for a fact that this-" He hobbled over to the staffs and plucked the Shepherd's Hook from its hold. He stroked it with his withered fingers. "This staff…is imbued with such power that no mere hobbit can withstand any spell that is cast from it."
"But I am no ordinary hobbit, am I not?" Jamie prodded. "I was the one who destroyed the ring!"
"Bah humbug- you gave into Sauron's seduction…you were going to keep it for yourself if it not for that pitiful creature-" Suddenly the man stopped talking. He turned and looked at Jamie with horror in his eyes. "You…" He gasped. "You're not Frodo."
Oh…shit. Jamie paled and Jack's heart thudded in his chest. Cedric was now clutching Jack's hand with both of his own, trembling in fear.
"W-What are you talking about…? Gandalf, it's me!"
"No…the real Frodo would never take sole credit for the ring's destruction! He would say that his friends were the reason for his success…he would never-" The old man suddenly opened his cloak to reveal a pistol. "You have made a mockery of me, boy…"
Jack couldn't help it- even though he knew that there was no way the old man could see him, he whispered a soft but quick apology and plucked Cedric's hands off his own before immediately standing in front of Jamie in two long strides. "STOP." He held his hands up, "Stop. Let's talk this through." He didn't really know why his body moved the way it did. Bullets are inanimate- so he's get shot…but could he die from it? It's not like doing this will help anything anyway-
"Who the hell are you?"
Jack blinked in shock. The old man was looking straight at him. He looked down at Jamie, who shook his head as if saying Not me, you! Jack looked back at the man. "I uh…I'm a…"
His face turned red with embarrassment at the thought of what he was about to say. "I'm…a… winter elf."
"HAH? A winter elf?" The old man guffawed. "I've never heard of such a thing."
"Well, I can prove you my worth." Jack crossed his arms. "Just give me that staff right there, and I'll show you how powerful I am."
That got the man's interest. "You think you can use this staff to its full potential?" He grinned, revealing yellow, decaying teeth. "Interesting. Alright, I'll play your game. Show me your worth." He lowered his arm, shielding the pistol from view as he held out the hook with his other hand. Jack heaved a sigh of relief and grabbed the staff.
"You might want to stand back a bit." He muttered as he flexed and rolled his shoulders. He took in a sharp breath. "Wind, let's show 'em what we're made of."
Suddenly, wind surged through the open windows, slamming the front door back open and jostling all the artifacts that hung on the walls. The old man gasped as he fell back from the sheer force of air and Jack began rising from the ground as the Wind caressed his form.
"Like I said." Jack grinned cheekily. "Not bad right, old man-"
He couldn't finish his sentence as a shocking pain pierced his heart. He gasped in agony and immediately fell forward, dropping the staff and thus losing Wind's embrace in the process.
"Jack!" Cedric cried as he raced towards him. The Winter Spirit was able to gently fall onto the boy with Wind's fleeting touch and Jamie rushed towards the pair. He felt Jack's forehead. "He's burning up again." He muttered while turning to look at Cedric. "We have to get out of here. Grab his staff."
He heaved Jack onto his shoulder, slinging the spirit's right arm over his neck.
"Worthy! The elf is WORTHY!" The old man babbled as he struggled to get back onto his feet. "I've been blessed by the HEAVENS to witness such a debacle. PRAY, before you leave, PLEASE TELL ME HIS NAME. This winter elf is no elf… he is a GOD-"
But the trio were already out of earshot. The old man quietly regarded their retreating figures.
As soon as they were out of sight, he let out a smirk. Behind him, the shadows began to dance and a pale being emerged from the darkness.
"So that is Jack Frost…" The old man murmured, any trace of his delusional persona gone. He now spoke with a perfect English accent.
The being stepped into the light, revealing Pitch's wicked smile. "Yes, my lord. You were right that he would personally come to retrieve it and attempt to use it."
"Of course I was." The old man sniffed. He tilted his neck and rolled his shoulders back with sickening cracks. He began to straighten his back and within a few minutes, he stood tall and proud, as if he was fifty years younger. He shrugged off his cloak completely to reveal a slim-fit suit, with his pistol tucked neatly at his right hip. He stroked his beard and slicked his hair back, both of which magically changed to a rich rusty-red color. Pitch snapped his fingers and from the shadows, a hand emerged, holding a black fedora. The man plucked the hat from the hand before placing it on his head.
"As I predicted…" He grinned sadistically, revealing now perfect white teeth. "Let the games begin."
Please comment/PM me your thoughts! Who is this mysterious man? What does he want with Jack? Why does he have so many things? HOW THE HELL DOES HE KNOW SO MUCH LOTR LORE? So many questions…muahahahaha…
Lol seriously though let me know what you think- how's my writing? Has it gotten worse? I'm all for constructive criticism so please feel free to express your feelings! Also thanks so much for those who are expressing interest in this story- it's really motivating for me!