The Storm Rages On
Chapter Twelve
Power, Part Two
The long corridor beckoned, the smooth rock inviting the trio of chosen warriors to proceed down its narrow pathway. Torches lined the walls, their flame casting dull illumination upon the ancient stone.
"What do you think?" Elsa whispered, looking at Arberish. "It's too easy, right?"
"Of course it is," Arberish replied, his eyes darting around the hallway. "Something's not right about this corridor. I'm just not sure what it is."
Kristoff frowned. "What if the two of you are just being paranoid? It looks fine to me."
"That's why I'm worried, son," Arberish said.
Elsa gazed down the path. "We move slowly. Don't take a step unless you are absolutely certain it's safe."
Carefully, gingerly, the trio proceeded down the corridor. Each step was preceded by several intense seconds of analysis, leaving nothing to chance, not willing to risk setting off some form of ancient entrapment.
Halfway down the path, Kristoff exhaled. "We've made it halfway! Not much further now."
"Watch yourself, son," Arberish warned. "That's usually when—"
Before Arberish could finish his statement, Kristoff felt his foot depress something in the floor, something that began slowly sinking. "Um . . ."
"The ceiling!" Elsa cried, gesturing upward. "It's collapsing!"
Arberish and Kristoff followed Elsa's hand, gasping in horror as they realized the ceiling was, in fact, moving closer and closer to them with each passing moment.
"Quickly!" Arberish cried. "To the exit!"
The trio abandoned all pretense of subtlety. They flew down the corridor, rushing through ancient tripwires, stepping on hidden switches, unveiling hidden traps with every misstep.
"Watch out!" Elsa screamed. Kristoff just barely avoided running headfirst into a row of sharpened spears that had suddenly appeared from the ground.
Kristoff glanced over his shoulder to thank Elsa, but cried out instead. "Jump!"
Elsa barely had time to react as the ground in front of her disintegrated, falling into the bottomless chasm below. Not thinking, she leapt over the gap, just gaining enough clearance to grab hold of the other side with her arms. Grunting, she struggled, desperately trying to pull herself back onto the path but unable to gain enough traction to do so.
"Here!" Arberish extended his hand toward her. "Hurry!"
Elsa stretched out her hand, just grasping Arberish's wrist. The brann wielder pulled with all his strength, returning the Snow Queen to the path.
"The door!" Kristoff pointed ahead, his voice betraying his desperation. "We're not going to make it! It's too far! We'll be crushed first!"
"No, we won't!" Elsa responded. She closed her eyes, willing the ice and snow to leave her body.
Arberish and Kristoff watched in amazement as a thick layer of ice formed above them, swirling and thickening until it stood five feet thick. The ceiling made contact with the ice, straining against it, but the ice held its own, refusing to give.
"Move!" Elsa yelled, gesturing toward the door.
The trio raced forward, a loud creaking sound ringing in their ears. The ice above them was beginning to crack, fractures forming in its reflective surface. Finally, it could withstand the pressure no longer. The ice erupted into large shards of solid water, pieces flying about the corridor. The ceiling wasted no time in continuing its descent, now in total freefall, rapidly speeding toward the floor.
"Dive!" Arberish cried. "It is the only way!"
Without thinking, without hesitation, Elsa, Kristoff, and Arberish flung themselves toward the narrow opening that was the door. Kristoff and Arberish pulled themselves through, quickly gesturing to Elsa to do the same. Her foot barely cleared the entryway when a loud "thump" echoed behind them, the ceiling now resting on top of the floor.
Panting, the three looked to each other, smiling in relief.
"Well, that was exciting!" Kristoff said. "What do you say . . . we do it again before we leave?"
The trio erupted into spontaneous laughter, their fear and tension evaporating.
"Nicely done," came the voice. "Your persistence continues to amaze even me."
"Yeah, we get that a lot," Kristoff called out, his face displaying unbridled contempt. "Now, where are these guardians? We're on a tight schedule here. Let's get this over with."
"Follow the path," the voice commanded. "You will soon encounter them. I can hardly wait . . ."
"Come on," Kristoff said, rising to his feet. "I can't take this anymore. Let's go."
Arberish extended his hand, helping Elsa to her feet. "Your injury . . . It . . . It looks worse," he said, his hand brushing across the swollen bump on Elsa's forehead.
"I told you, I'm fine," Elsa said. She paused, allowing the brann wielder to run his fingers across her wound again. "But . . . thank you. For caring, I mean."
Arberish nodded. "I . . . I always care when you are involved, Elsa. Always."
An awkward silence fell upon them, each unsure of what to say. Finally, Elsa spoke. "We . . . We'd better catch up with Kristoff. He'll be wondering where we are."
"Yes . . . Of course," Arberish said, uncertain of how to proceed next.
"Elsa! Arberish!" Kristoff's voice echoed from the chamber up ahead.
The two moved into the next room, catching up with Kristoff.
"What is it?" Elsa asked. "What's wrong?"
Kristoff merely gestured. "Take a look at this!"
They were standing in a hall of carved rock. Every crevice, every inch of the chamber had been meticulously chiseled, sculpted, to form a room of unparalleled beauty. Giant columns extended upward toward the ceiling above, the top of the chamber disappearing into the darkness. Adorning the walls, carved into the very stone itself, were countless statues of great kings and warriors of the past, each gazing upon the trio, silent sentinels standing guard.
"Look!" Elsa said.
In the center of the chamber stood three large statues, each eight feet tall. Their forms were perfectly formed, every detail designed to give the impression of mighty warriors, armed, at the peak of physical perfection.
"Who do you suppose made these?" Kristoff asked in amazement, moving toward one of the statues. Elsa and Arberish did likewise, each standing before a statue, marveling at them.
"Whoever it was," Arberish said, "they clearly wanted to express the strength of their fathers through sculpture. This . . . This is truly remarkable!"
"Indeed," the voice said, interjecting itself once more into their conversation. "This is by far my favorite room in these caverns. So much effort went into creating it. I can hardly look upon it without being moved to tears."
"Enough!" Elsa said. "We are ready. Where are the guardians?"
"All good things to those who wait," the voice chided. "I have seen how well you work together. Now, however, I must see how well you fare on your own."
Walls rose suddenly from the floor, trapping each of the three in their own enclosed space, alone with only one of the statues for company.
"Wait!" Elsa cried. "That's not how this works! We fight together!"
"Not this time," the voice replied. "This time, you are each on your own."
"Kristoff? Arberish?" Elsa called out, trying to conceal the worry in her voice. "Are you all right?"
"Just fine," Arberish replied, staring at the walls surrounding him.
"Never better!" Kristoff called out.
"May the final battle begin," the voice cried. "Now, we shall truly see you prove your worth . . . or not!" The voice bellowed suddenly, louder than ever. "Awake, guardians! Arise and defend this place from the interlopers! May their deaths be swift, their pain excruciating! ATTACK!"
Each of the statues rose suddenly, their eyes glowing red. Slowly, deliberately, they advanced upon their prey.
Elsa did not have time to think. "Stay back!" she ordered, coating the floor before her with ice.
The statue slipped momentarily, coming close to losing its balance. It quickly recovered, swinging its stone sword toward Elsa's head. The queen fell to the floor just in time to avoid losing her head.
Meanwhile, Kristoff had backed into the corner of his arena, at a loss at how to defend himself. Wielding his knife, he rushed forward, driving it into the statue's leg. The blade disintegrated, the iron no match for the ancient stone. "Damn!" Kristoff muttered. "Now what?"
Arberish was having the most success of the trio. The moment the statue came to life, he had unleashed an intense wave of flame upon the creature. The shock of the attack had been enough to drive the statue backward. Now, Arberish had the creature trapped. Not stopping, he hurled flame after flame upon the creature, the intensity of the fire growing stronger and stronger. Before long, the statue roared in agony as its legs glowed orange, rock becoming molten, liquefying, disintegrating. Arberish showed no mercy, not relenting until the statue was no more than a small pile of liquid rock.
"I'm finished!" he cried. "Let me help them! Please!"
"That's not how this works," the voice replied. "They must face their enemies on their own. Just wait. They must prove themselves."
Roaring in frustration, Arberish pounded his fist into the wall, desperately hoping that Kristoff . . . that Elsa would be all right.
For her part, Elsa had managed to stymy her opponent by encasing its arms in ice. Unable to attack with its weapons, the statue had resorted to trying brute force against her. Letting out an inhuman roar, the creature rushed forward, hoping to crush Elsa beneath its massive legs.
Elsa leapt to the side, using the opportunity to freeze the statue's right leg. Roaring in frustration, the statue limped toward her, hardly able to move. Elsa turned to freeze the remaining leg, but, in her haste, lost her balance. The statue did not hesitate. Sensing an opportunity, it swung its free leg, driving Elsa across the arena into the wall.
The statue crowed in triumph. Smashing its arms against the wall, it broke free from the ice. Liberated, it charged, sword swinging, prepared to impale the woman who dared to attack it.
Elsa saw the statue approaching, realizing she had no time to move, that she had but one option if she was to survive. Concentrating, she reached within the depths of her being. Come to me, she whispered to the coldness. I need all of you one more time. I need everything you have. Please!
Her hands glowing brighter than ever before, Elsa brought her hands to the ground before her just as the statue reached her. Ice exploded from her in a circle, rapidly expanding outward.
The ice froze the statue's legs in place. Not stopping, the blue glow coursed upward, coating the statue's entire body. Roaring one final time, the statue ceased moving, its entire body now turned to solid ice.
Exhausted, Elsa rolled to her side, hoping against hope that Arberish and Kristoff were holding their own.
Kristoff had given up on fighting back. Unarmed, he ran about his small arena, dodging attacks from every direction, not daring to stop lest he be crushed by the massive rock creature that was currently aiming for his head.
"Will you just stop already?!" he cried, ducking as the statue swung its sword at his head once more. The sword struck the wall, shaking the chamber. Pieces of rock fell from the ceiling, landing at Kristoff's feet.
Wait a minute, Kristoff thought. Hold on . . . "Hey!" he shouted. "That was pathetic! You didn't even come close! And I thought you were supposed to be terrifying! Hah!"
That had upset the statue. Bellowing, it swung at Kristoff's head again and again, each time striking the wall with its blade. Kristoff's eyes darted back and forth between his opponent and the slowly-loosening stalactites dangling from above.
"Come on! That's the best you can do? Really?!"
With a scream of outrage, the statue swung its sword one final time, determined to teach the impudent man before him a lesson in humility. Kristoff rolled to the ground, moving away as the tremors from the impact shook the chamber.
The stalactites that had hung for centuries finally gave way. Too late, the statue realized that it had been tricked. Crying out in astonishment, it crumbled under the onslaught of the massive rocks falling upon it, shattering it into small, harmless fragments.
The walls separating the trio descended back into the ground. Exhausted, they looked at each other, too tired to even speak.
"Excellent work!" the voice crowed. "I am truly impressed. You have succeeded! Now, rise and proceed. Your companions await you on the other side of this door."
Kristoff rose, shaking his head. "Are you two all right?"
Elsa nodded, as did Arberish.
Kristoff laughed. "We did it!" He pointed to the door. "I'll . . . I'll meet you on the other side. I'm sure Anna and the others are worried sick about us." He set off, eager to see his wife once more.
Elsa finally pulled herself to her feet, staggering toward Arberish.
"Are you . . . Are you hurt?" Elsa asked, gently taking the brann wielder's hand. A rush of thoughts flowed through her mind. What are you doing? Why are you so concerned? He's fine. Move on.
"No," Arberish replied. "I'm just fine." He smiled, losing himself for a moment in the Snow Queen's eyes, her platinum blonde hair shimmering before him.
"Good," Elsa said. "Because if anything happened, I . . . I mean, I . . ." What's happening to me? Why am I so flustered?
"It's all right," Arberish said quietly. He looked ahead. "We'd better meet up with the others. I'm sure they've been worried about us."
"Of course," Elsa said. "We . . . We should go. Now."
As she followed Arberish, a stream of unfamiliar thoughts rang through her mind. What was that? You don't think you're developing feelings for him . . . do you? He is too old! What would people say?
He's not that old! she found herself thinking in reply. He was a mercenary . . . a warrior! He looks older than he really is because of the stress he's endured over the years. Besides, it is not unheard of for older warriors to take younger women as their wives.
It's unheard of for you, she thought, arguing with herself. You can't! Forget about it! He wouldn't want you anyway! To him, you're only a girl, not even one of his own people.
Her thoughts on the matter evaporated as she was smothered by three women simultaneously.
"Elsa!" Anna cried. "You're all right! We were so worried—"
"I can't believe you did that!" Valanda said, excitedly. "You were amazing! I saw the whole thing! How you—"
"Are you hurt?" Alúvelin asked. "Your forehead looks like it's throbbing. Let me—"
"Didn't . . . we . . . discuss this . . . already?" Elsa choked out. "No . . . more . . . smothering!"
"Sorry!" the three women said, pulling back.
Elsa looked at each of them, smiling in relief. "You're all right," she said. "It didn't hurt you?" She looked at Anna, her eyes widening. "You . . . You look . . . You've grown . . ."
"I know," Anna said, her hands resting on her expanding abdomen. "A lot's happened in the last few hours. We . . . We need to talk about the babies. Not now, but later . . ."
"Congratulations!" the voice said. "You have completed the second Challenge. Now, only one remains: the Challenge of Courage." The wall before them receded into the ground. "Proceed. Each of you will be tested in this last, greatest challenge."
"'Thy deepest fears thou must overcome,'" Valanda said. "What do you have in mind for us?"
"'Fears'? I suppose . . . I suppose that is one way of translating that word," the voice said. "Not entirely accurate, however. You will just have to see . . ."
Elsa looked at the others, forcing herself to find energy she did not possess. "Well, are we ready?"
"Yes." Each of the companions answered in the affirmative.
"Then let's finish this," Elsa said, "and find those Jewels. Let's go!"
AN: Hopefully, with the next chapter I can have something that will be truly impressive for the last challenge. I've worked really hard on it, and I hope you find it worthy. A quick word about Elsa and Arberish: No, I did not set out to do this intentionally. The possibility of a relationship has just emerged from allowing the characters to interact; I have had no control over it. I am simply letting the characters take me where they will go. At the very least, they have a deep, mutual respect for each other. Elsa, after all, has never been in love before. It only seems natural that she would feel something toward someone as powerful as Arberish. We shall see where this goes. More to come!