Chapter 10
~ The Demon II, Goddesses ~
Kristoff felt a twinge of relief as the mouth of the cave came into view; standing guard were the mismatched pair from yesterday; the lanky sentry, Gaunt, and his partner, Midget. A pair of louts to be sure, but they knew Anna and him. In the Belly of the Beast, this small comfort was better than none.
"Please halt, Your Highness." Midget squirmed, as if undecided between bowing or not. His crossbow remained slung on his back.
"Good morning, guys!" Anna beamed.
Just as the skittish man dipped his head, Gaunt stalked past and Midget jerked back up.
"Your Highness." Gaunt stood to his full height, crossbow raised though it wasn't pointed at them. "Weren't told you two were coming. Where's the Duke's hound?" His scowl hid none of his surprise.
The map rustled within Kristoff's shirt. Through the trail of snapped branches he left yesterday and a bit of blind luck, they'd navigated their way back. Never underestimate an ice harvester.
"He's not here. It's just Kristoff and I."
"You've had your visit already, Your Highness. You aren't supposed to be here."
"Why not? What about the Duke's letter?"
Gaunt shook his head. "A one-time thing."
Kristoff was tempted to whip out the authoritative voice that Elsa had drilled into him. Words were already forming: Princess Anna here is on a diplomatic mission. Dare you stand in her way? But he held his tongue. Let Anna work her charm.
"Once isn't enough!" Anna said.
Gaunt waved in the direction of the town. "Look. This is beyond my jurisdiction. I could detain you for trespassing, mind you. But I won't. So you got to go. Now."
"I knew it! You're a nice guy, aren't you?"
The sentry's weapon lowered just a little.
"It's just a visit! We won't disturb anyone else. Please?" Anna bit her lips and pressed her palms together. Gaunt's face grew flushed and he looked at his partner who shrugged. A smile tugged at the corner of Kristoff's mouth.
"Wait here." Gaunt jogged to Midget. As the two muttered, they stole occasional peeks at Anna.
"Y'know, they really need to lighten up. This place could use a little more–" Anna whirled around. "–cheer? I know! Next time, I'll bring Olaf along."
"…Olaf. Here."
She grinned. "Yes, here."
Kristoff clicked his tongue.
"Why not?" Anna said.
"Then Sven should come too."
"Good idea!" Anna snapped her fingers. "They can perform a duet!"
He rolled his eyes. "A duet? What'll the two of us do then?"
"We could dance!"
"Anna. That was sarcasm."
"Oh… I mean, I knew that!"
Kristoff coughed to halt his laughter at the sentries' faces. "Guys, relax. We do this all the time." He paused. "Where's your Warden?"
Midget twisted, searching their vicinity. His voice came out softly, "Inside, I think."
Kristoff released his breath. He doubted the Warden would've been opposed to them returning, but that was best left as speculation.
"Well, too bad for him then." Anna advanced on Gaunt, her basket raised. A cloth concealed its content.
"What's that?" He drew back.
Anna's fingers pushed under, and the cloth jutted up from something sharp. "Hold!" Gaunt snapped his crossbow up. His jaw dropped when a baguette emerged.
"Whoa whoa!" Kristoff's hands shot up. "Calm down man. It's just bread."
"Breakfast for you actually." Anna cleared her throat. "Can you, like, take this dangerous-looking thing away from my face? Please?"
"…Your Highness, I don't understand." Gaunt lowered the crossbow, though he eyed the bread as though it was full of thorns.
"Best picks from the market! It's really delicious, you know?" Anna said.
"I mean– Why are you giving this to me?"
"Well, you look like you've not eaten in days. Thought it'd be a good idea to bring something. There's other stuff here." She held the basket out. "Want some bao? Or kifli? Or muffins? Oh wait, I got chocolates too!"
"Had breakfast already." Even as he said that, his gaze was drawn to its contents.
"Was it the best picks from the market?" Anna teased.
"No. Just gruel." The pink of his tongue popped out between his lips.
"You look hungry. You are hungry, right?"
Kristoff ogled the basket. Months ago, such frivolous spending would've been impossible for him. Money was a scarce thing to ice harvesters. But that was then. Now he was engaged to the princess of a kingdom with as much gold as it had ice. He still had to pinch himself sometimes.
"Your Highness, we can't accept this," Midget said.
"Why not?"
The tiny man fidgeted. "There are well, protocols when it comes to food and gifts. Please understand; it's just a precaution."
"For what?" Anna said.
"Maybe it's poisoned." It was a lame excuse, and the sentry recognized it, refusing to meet her gaze. "Sorry."
"Hey, if they're not taking it, I will." Kristoff made a grab for the bread, only to have Gaunt snatch it. The sentry's eyes darted between Anna, who nodded encouragingly, and the bread. He risked a nibble on the tip. Midget's gaze whipped to the left and right, as though to ensure they were not being watched. Gaunt chewed for ages, swallowed, then he ripped off a bigger chunk.
"It's safe. Okay." He licked the last bits of baguette from his fingers. "Not bad."
"Wow. You really are hungry, aren't you?" Anna dug into her basket. "One more?" Food is the surest way to a man's heart, Kristoff had told Anna the night before. And what a fast learner she was.
Midget stepped forward, palms facing the sky. She dropped muffins into their hands. "Okay, no time to lose. We're going in to pass them to your buddies."
Gaunt fumbled his piece. "Excuse me?"
"You don't mind if we share these, do you?" Anna said.
"You–you–you can't just! The Warden needs to know!" Midget said.
Pure dread filled their faces. Kristoff couldn't help but be impressed. A guillotine hung over their necks constantly; such was the fear the master of the prison instilled.
Anna pushed more pastries into their hands. "How about this? We'll head in first. When you see your boss, tell him we are at the prisoner's cell."
"The demon," Midget said.
Anna stomped, startling them. "She has a name: Freya. So let me correct you. We're going to Freya's cell, and we have permission to do so, as stated on the Duke's letter!"
Kristoff squeezed her shoulder. Stop now before you offend them.
Gaunt's mouth twisted as if grappling for an excuse to stop them. Eventually though, his shoulders went slack. "When the Warden hears about this…"
"We'll bear all responsibilities," Kristoff said. "Satisfied?"
Gaunt exhaled with an air of finality. "I cannot stop you. But take heed, Your Highness. You deal with things you do not understand. Tread lightly."
"I will. Chew slowly, okay? See you later!" Anna said, but the sentry no longer heard her. His gaze locked onto Kristoff's. He was astonished to see the plea in those eyes; past this coarse exterior, the sentry really did cared. For them, or for himself, Kristoff knew not. But his fear was real.
Anna grabbed his hand. "What are we waiting for? Let's go."
It's not too late to call this off.
Kristoff peered about; the Warden was still nowhere in sight. For an absurd moment, he wished that the master of the prison would stomp out and deny them access.
But I promised her…
"Kristoff?"
Honour won out over caution, and he allowed her to pull him along. As they made for the cavern, neither sentry would so much as look at them.
"You are back!" Freya Solberg jumped to her feet.
Anna wasn't sure whose grin was wider, Olle or Freya. She hoped for the latter.
"Of course I am. Guess what I brought?" Anna rattled the basket, near weightless now. It did a spectacular job judging by the mirth and smiles she left along their trail. She felt like they'd entered a different place. The tunnels might be dark and endless still, but the sentries along the way were more than eager to guide them. Being a princess did have its benefits.
Best of all, they never saw the Warden.
Freya clapped. "What?"
"Snacks to bribe the sentries with," Kristoff said.
"It's goodwill!" She smacked his shoulder. "Come on. They guard this place tighter than we guard our vault. You don't think the Warden would buy them snacks, do you?"
"Your Highness, you humble us!" Olle approached, pressing a fist to his heart as he bowed. She cringed.
"You don't get out much huh?" Kristoff stared daggers at him.
Olle's miserable expression was the answer.
Anna turned to Freya, running a hand through her hair. "Um… I wanted to bring more, but the sentries kinda ate most of the stuff. Don't worry though, I saved the best for you. Behold–" She flung the cloth aside. "Chocolates!"
Freya's eyebrows crinkled. "Thanks, Anna. But I'll pass."
"Wait, what?"
Olle loomed behind, his intention too obvious.
"Freya, are you sure?" Anna said.
"Yes."
"Really, really sure?"
Freya smiled patiently. "Yes."
Anna sighed, shoving the basket towards the jailor. His fingers trembled as he grasped it. He scampered to the table, easing it down like a priceless vase. Kristoff met her eyes, his nostrils flaring.
Anna shook her head slightly, mouthing 'calm down'. It took a moment before Kristoff unclenched his fist. She glanced at Freya. "My fiancé's protective."
"Lucky you," Freya said.
"I can't believe it though. Chocolates! How could anyone dislike it?"
Freya grimaced. "Heard of Belking?"
Anna sat up straighter. "That's where Weselton chocolates are made."
"My hometown. Seen so much of that brown thing everywhere that it made me sick."
"Okay… I get that," Anna said. "No wait, I don't. Isn't that the point? Don't they remind you of home?"
"That's precisely why I don't want any. I don't want anything reminding me of Belking."
"Isn't there anything you miss? About home?"
Anna flinched when Freya laughed harshly. "Home? Weselton is no home of mine. What's here for me? Nothing. Nothing at all. No, silly. I'm not as fortunate as you or your sister. I have no home. Except–" Her hands spread outwards. "This."
"Freya, I think you– Whoa whoa whoa." Kristoff's widened eyes fixed on the wall behind Freya. "How long have you been here?"
Anna followed his gaze. Was there something hidden there? Granted, the lines made for a strange pattern, but she spotted nothing that could–
Her jaw fell. Those were scratches. There was a startling consistency to them; four vertical scratches in a row, and a line slashing through. These were day markers – Five counts each. She'd read about this often in her books. In one, it'd be a man stranded on an island. In another, a girl trapped in a cave. Marking every night's passing as a promise that the days still mattered, and that there was hope.
Not an inch of the wall was left untouched. "There must be hundreds," Anna whispered.
"Over a thousand." Freya indicated with the finger she must've used to carve them. "That's not all, you know? I stopped for years. Don't even remember how long."
"Oh Freya… You've been alone all this while?"
Freya grinded her lips under her teeth. "Now you know why I call this–" Her knuckle flashed green. "–a curse."
"What about your family?"
"They can't help me anymore," Freya said it so easily, yet Anna sensed a deep pain underneath. It was the haunted light in those eyes; Anna recognized it from Elsa, Kristoff, and even her own; the anguish born of personal loss.
"I'm sorry to hear that. You said that your mother gave you your name. Tell us more about her," Kristoff said. Anna could've kissed him right there for his choice of words.
For a minute Freya composed herself, peering at her hands. Olle's munching provided a strange distraction to the silence.
"My mother was amazing. So beautiful and kind that you'd believe that she was a goddess. She loved singing, and her voice would make even the naughtiest child stop pouting. Like me," Freya chuckled then gasped suddenly, clenching her chest. "Her stories were the best. She was the village storyteller. Commoners became heroes! Peasants became kings! Mortals became gods! Those were our favourite. That's why she named me 'Freya'. She thought I could achieve great things in life." Freya's lips quivered. "Now she'll never see it happen."
"That's not true! You'll be free one day," Anna said.
"My mother is dead."
Anna wasn't surprised, but that somehow made her feel worse. It was the selfishness in her, she realized, somehow hoping that Freya's parents were dead… so it'd be one more aspect she could link to Elsa. She rolled words in her tongue, but her mind could offer no appropriate ones for this situation, and Kristoff was unhelpfully quiet.
Elsa would know what to say.
Freya sniffed, and the sound drove a response out. "My mother's name is Idunn."
Freya Solberg lifted her head. "A beautiful name."
"A Nordic goddess name like yours."
"Is– is she…"
A lump rose in Anna's throat. "She died at sea when I was fifteen."
"I'm sorry to hear that." The words were not said out of mere politeness. Anna knew that Freya meant it.
"You have so much in common with my sister." I made a mistake. You should be here with us, Elsa.
Freya hugged her knees to her chin. "You asked if there's anything I miss about home? I remember now. The sea. My mother and I spent entire days at the beach. We had so much fun counting the waves, collecting seashells, throwing stars back to the water, and having picnics afterwards." Her smile was distant and pained. "I'd do anything for that again… to see the waves and the shells and–" Freya dropped her head against her knees. Her shoulders began heaving.
Anna felt her eyes burning. "Oh my God. Oh my God, Freya… I'm sorry. I am so, so sorry…"
"You know what it's like, Anna." Freya looked up, her face full of muddy streaks left by tears. "I'm sorry it happened to you too."
"How did– how did she pass away?"
Freya gripped a fistful of hair. "She was sick. I wanted to heal her, Anna. I wanted. I wanted… but they wouldn't let me. Because I am a demon. And they wouldn't let this demon out. Not to save its mother, and not even to say goodbye."
Anna clutched the bars. They were solid metal. She yanked but they would not bulge. Still, she tried. Tears ran down her cheek. She wanted more than anything to reach over and hug Freya, but all she could do now was to cry with her.
Kristoff stomped towards Olle with such sudden ferocity that Anna and Freya gasped aloud.
"Is it true?"
"True? What! Is what true?" Olle stumbled over his chair, groping for his weapon.
"Is it true?! That you let her mother die!"
Olle backed against the wall, club raised. "Not my fault! I wasn't always the demon's jailor, I wasn't! Just been assigned here for two years! It– she has never even talked to me!"
"My mother died many years ago." Freya said. "This man wasn't my jailor then."
Kristoff huffed in disgust and sat next to Anna, crossing his arms. She leaned into him, sliding her fingers into his.
"Thank you," Freya breathed.
"You don't need to thank me. No one deserves to be made an orphan. Not even you."
"Not even me?"
"Kristoff!" Anna warned.
He raised his hands. "What I mean was–"
"You don't trust me yet, do you?"
He at least had the decency to look ashamed. "Sorry. Takes a while for me to warm up to people."
Freya wiped at her face with the back of her hand. "I'm sure my body's warm enough for you."
It took a moment before Anna registered the words. "Did–did you just flirt with Kristoff?"
"Hey, I don't get much chance to meet decent men nowadays." Freya's eyes roved to Kristoff's biceps.
"Well excuse me here, but he's my fiancé!" What did I tell you, Elsa? Women do find Kristoff hot!
They matched stares for a moment, then Freya chortled. "Relax, I was joking! Gods! Do you know how adorable you looked?"
I am not! Anna whipped about, searching the room for a mirror. That was enough for Kristoff to divert the attention to her.
"Don't bother, she's right. You're adorable." His manoeuvre was as brilliant as it was maddening. "See? You are getting angrier and cuter by the second."
And to that Freya could only laugh harder. After a failed attempt to look furious, Anna joined in. In that moment, as their guffaws rang through the cavern, the worries of the world melted away. And Anna somehow knew then that this quest would bear fruit.
Contrary to belief, the Warden could move quietly if he so desired. Stomping everywhere birthed an illusion that was the only way he walked. It thus became oh, so easy to sneak up on the unsuspecting.
Boisterous laughter spilled out of the room. The chatter of youth who hadn't a care for the world.
Fools. All of you are fools. He pressed his ear against the door, absorbing every word.