Chapter 14: Master of ice
"Before the coming of the great sorcerers our race did not exist. It wasn't until magic flourished that the rock trolls were brought into this world. The great kings and queens of old gave life to mythical beings such as dragons, great serpents, unicorns, and of course, the rock trolls. While other sorcerers opted for larger, more majestic beings, Havel, master of earth created a more simplistic race. So the great lord Havel gave life to small trolls that could take the shape of stones. And in doing so he imbued our race with fragments of his very own power."
"That's how you do your magic Grand Pabbie." Exclaimed a young troll.
"Exactly."
"What happened to the other magical creatures?" Another curious troll inquired.
"Ah yes…" Grand Pabbie continued. "When the great sorcerers were overthrown and the age of ancients ended, magical creatures were hunted into extinction. Our species, being able to camouflage ourselves as rocks went unnoticed by man. However to this day, some believe that dragons and unicorns still exist. Perhaps hidden away? Somewhere in a distant land?"
The young trolls all looked to Grand Pabbie in awe and wonder, mystified by his tales of old. "I love your stories Grand Pabbie." One quipped.
"Are any of the Greats left?" Another asked,
"No, no." Grand Pabbie reassured, smiling in amusement. "The great sorcerers died out long ago, the only one I know of is Queen Elsa."
"What about Nito? I thought he couldn't die?" Another young troll asked.
"No… not even reapers were immortal…" Pondered Grand Pabbie. "The rumors about Nito are no more than tall tales, I doubt there's any real truth behind them."
A few of the troll children looked down in disappointment, Grand Pabbie didn't blame them. He too yearned for the day magic would once again flourish in the world, perhaps there was hope with Elsa? The trolls were quickly alerted by the familiar sound of hooves trampling through the woods, Kristoff and Sven had ridden out to the troll's encampment. As he disembarked from his mighty reindeer Pabbie noticed that his adoptive grandson looked exhausted, his limbs dragged heavily, and there were dark circles underneath his eyes. Grand Pabbie immediately knew something was wrong for Kristoff to have rode so quickly. "Kristoff! Is everything alright?" Inquired Grand Pabbie nervously.
Kristoff quickly told the trolls of what had transpired over the past several weeks. The attempted assassination on the Queen, the revelation of Alexander's identity and his powers. Arendelle's poor militaristic status, the impending threat of the Summer Isles, everything. The entire troll family had become uncomfortably silent, seemingly horrified and bewildered at this new development.
"This is beyond what I expected Kristoff." Murmured Pabbie finally breaking the silence. "Even with people as powerful as Elsa and Alexander, five thousand cannot hope to win against an army six times larger." He concluded despairingly.
"That is why I've come. I realize the enormity of what I'm asking but we're desperate. Arendelle, my home, my family, my unborn child is in danger… Will you help defend it?" Kristoff begged.
It did not take long for Grand Pabbie to deliver his answer. "This kingdom is our home as well. Kristoff you are our family, your wife and sister-in-law are our family. We are trained in archery and pyromancy, we have two hundred trolls who can fight." The old troll explained. "Kristoff, it would be our honor to help defend Arendelle."
The mountain man's face quickly filled with joy. Even if it was only two hundred trolls, hope was quickly dispelling his disparity over the situation. He thanked them all profusely as he quickly returned to his trusted reindeer Sven. "Gather yourselves at the Eastern Mountain overlooking the city." Ordered Kristoff as he mounted his saddle. "I need to find others who'll join us, I should regroup with you by dawn." Kicking his boots into Sven's sides the large reindeer galloped further north up the mountain, leaving his family to prepare themselves for combat.
Mole's Town was mere kilometer's ahead. It was a small community established by minors and ice harvesters so the men could live closer to work, as few families were fortunate enough to have animals for transportation. The ice master hitched Sven outside of a local tavern, evening was fast approaching, he suspected he'd find at least some of the men here. Unsurprisingly he found Royce, Bertram, Thomas, and many other ice harvesters he had worked with over the years drinking at a large table in the back. The place was small, bleak, and dank, most of the people there had grungy, menacing looks, and gave Kristoff odd stares as he crossed the tavern towards their table. Kristoff wasn't surprised, this was a poor town, and everyone here worked hard labor to sustain a living, it wasn't every day the prince consort strolled in for a mug of ale. He was going to have a much harder time here than he had with the trolls. Nonetheless he pleaded his case to the men. He tried vainly to persuade them that their homes and families were in jeopardy as well, that the Queen had allowed their business to thrive, and that they owed allegiance to Arendelle. However the men would have none of it.
"Why should we risk our lives to defend the city?!" Bertram asked drunkenly.
"You have friends and family in Arendelle, do you not?" Kristoff implored. "Besides if the city is sacked that leaves all of you without clients."
"Most of our families live in the mountains." He rebuked.
"And I think we'd rather be poor men than dead men!" Another protested.
Kristoff's heart sank as the men half-drunkenly roared in approval. He should have expected that they would be less likely to help his cause. However we still expected better of them. Much to his astonishment Royce finally intervened, the old ice harvester had been so quiet up until now, Kristoff had believed he was asleep. "Are you yellow-bellied ice peckers so afraid that you'd piss yer britches at the thought of a few southerners?!"
"We'd be damn fools if we weren't afraid Royce." Bertram rebuffed. "They have far more men than we do…"
"And every one of us is worth ten of them!" The old man interjected. "Tell me, what will you do with no homes? No work? No livelihood? If they sack the city they'll sack the other towns as well!" The unruly mountain men had grown silent in realization that he was right. They may not have listened to Kristoff's argument, but every man here had unparalleled respect for Royce. "Tell me, where will you go? Will you shepherd your families up the North Mountain? To go live with the bloody ice monster!" Royce bellowed. "When you and your kin sit starving in the cold, and they ask where were you the day Arendelle fell, what will you tell them? That you were running scared while the South took the city?!" The entire tavern had gone deathly silent, Royce turned to face an astonished Kristoff, placing a strong hand firmly on his shoulder. "Kristoff… I will ride with you. Now unless you wanna be shamed by an old man, I suggest you pull your thumbs outa yer arses! And ready your axes!" The old ice harvester roared. The men erupted in approval, what was mere moments before a crowd of unorganized, scared mountain men, had now converted into a battle hungry militia.
"Royce, gather the men at the Eastern Mountain, you will meet the rock trolls there." Kristoff ordered.
"Very well lad, if I'm going to die, I'd sooner die with a bloodied pickaxe, and my arse on fire, than hiding in the snow!"
"Thank you. I'll meet you there at dawn." Called Kristoff as he left the miserable tavern.
Looking out across the fjord Kristoff was suddenly blinded by a glistening light in the mountain pass. He saw a massive wall of sheer ice standing roughly fifty feet high, and several feet in thickness. The mountain man smiled to himself, Elsa must have created the barrier to shield Arendelle from any oncoming ships. However he knew that this wasn't the only entrance, the Southern Isles could enter through the mountains, the fjord was merely the most direct route to Arendelle. Even if the barrier held it would only buy them time. Panic quickly set in as he saw Sven had been unhitched from his post, reindeer tracks were scrambled around the area before leading up towards the mountain.
"Sven!" He called out desperately.
"Sven!" He cried racing up the mountain, into the thick woods.
Kristoff found no signs of his reindeer other than the occasional hoof print. This deeply unnerved him, Sven had never wandered off, someone must have taken him, or spooked him enough to run. A chill went up his spine as he heard a branch snap in the distance. "Sven!" He called hopefully. Kristoff realized whatever had made the sound was not Sven. The woods around him had become still, and quiet, there was no indication that a large animal, or any animal nearby. His head jerked in the direction of a rustling sound to his right. Someone or something had very quickly darted past him, too quick for him to catch a glimpse. His heart pounded with adrenaline, and he unsheathed his pickaxe as he realized with terror that something was stalking him. This was all a trap, someone, or something had released Sven to get him to wander up this far into the mountain. Kristoff barely had enough time to raise his arms in defense as a dark hooded figure tackled him violently to the ground. His pickaxe had been knocked from his grasp but the mountain man fought ferociously against his attacker. Using all his strength he heaved the hooded man off of him and pinned him to the forest floor before delivering a devastating punch to his head. The attacker hollered out in pain as his nose snapped underneath Kristoff's massive fist. Suddenly as he finally had his opponent subdued two more hooded men grabbed him from behind, forcefully dragging him away from their assailant. Kristoff fought viciously against the two, trying in vain to wrench his arms away from their grasp. Suddenly he felt his strength and energy begin to leave him as one of the men covered a damp rag over his face. As he desperately inhaled for air Kristoff smelled the potent foul odor. He realized in horror that he had been drugged, he could do no more than battle to stay conscious as he slowly blacked out.
Author's note: Hey guys, sorry about the delay but I've been quite busy these past few days. I know some of you might hate me for this but I'm going on vacation until July 8th, so this might be the last chapter for a while. I'll try and write some more during the flight but if you don't get any updates for a while you know why. Thanks for following my work, and until next time, stay frozen.