Chapter 21

Stian

He'd thought long and hard how he would propose to Elsa. He'd thought bringing her to her Ice Castle, just the two of them, alone. Maybe he wanted to do it in front of everybody. He'd approached Anna to ask her, and her first reaction was to squeal. They walked down the east wing, listening to the commotion downstairs. They were preparing for a celebratory feast, in honor of the saving of Arendell from the Ice Elves. Everybody was happy. Stian mentioned the question to the Princess, and she was ecstatic.

"Finally! When are you asking her?" she asked gleefully.

"I don't know, that's why I came to you. How should I do it?" Stian asked her. Anna went serious.

"I don't know."

"What? What do you mean you don't know?"

"I'm not getting married to her. That's all you, man." Anna said, continuing down the hallway. Stian decided. Everybody knew Elsa had chosen her suitor, nobody knew who it was though. He'd take her into the ballroom, late at night. He'd dance with her. They'd dance, and dance. Then, when Elsa finally had enough, he'd ask her.

Stian was never too good at ballroom dancing, but he was alright at it. He couldn't wait to see the look on her face when he produced the sapphire, snowflaked ring. Elsa would love it.

Stian opened his eyes. He was laying on the shore, amidst bits of broken wooden beams. He sat up. He had a pain in his leg, but nothing he couldn't handle. He stood up, and limped forward. No sign of Hodur. Stian almost tripped over something. At his feet lay the silver cane. He bent to pick it up, but when he was straightening back up, a snowball, no, an iceball, hit his stomach. The solid ball rolled to the ground. Stian, doubled over, and felt something tighten around his neck. Stian could see Kristoff, not five feet in front of him, crawling for the cane. Hodur tightened his grip around Stian's neck, and the King choked.

"Looks like checkmate, Stian." the God said.

"You've changed, Albert." Stian coughed.

"Don't call me that. I wanted to follow you. I wanted to know what power I had invested in you. You received the bad end of the deal, though. Elsa had enough power to control it, but you... I gave you everything. No mortal would ever be able to control that much power." Hodur said. He looked like Albert, only a lot taller, and with a long beard, with white furs for clothes instead of a suit. Stian saw Kristoff pick up the cane, and immediately drop it. He couldn't use it. Stian had to distract Hodur while Kristoff got away.

"You still any good at chase?" Stian asked. Hodur cocked his head, confused. Stian kicked the God in the stomach. Hodur coughed, and released Stian. The King ran faster than he ever had in his life. He rose walls of ice all around the town. One by a vendor cart, the other near a house, the other in front of the school. Hodur ran through the town, disregarding everything, but not touching the ice walls Stian had put up. Perfect. Stian looked over his shoulder, and saw the cane laying on the shore. He turned to run for it, but an arm caught him as soon as he did. Stian was sent flying into a cottage, denting the wood. Stian rose to his feet again. They needed Hodur wet. Water does not always melt ice, but it does weaken it. Stian ran to the docks, dodging wave after wave of blistering snow that Hodur sent after him. Stian jumped off the stone peer, and froze a curve into the air. Now above the water hung a curved wall of clear ice, it looked like a mountain had gotten sad. Now he needed Elsa,

Elsa

The Queen was helped to her feet by her friends.

"What's the plan?" Anna asked.

"Keep Stian alive. No matter what." Elsa said. The other two nodded their heads. They entered the storm, and Elsa saw Stian, running around town like he was trying to catch something. He kept lifting his arms, making sheets of ice raise from the ground. They all pointed towards each other. The Queen looked to the docks. Everything was broken but the pier, which had a half loop of ice hanging around the water. Elsa saw the cane laying in the dirt. She knew what she had to do.

Ignoring the throbbing pain in her stomach, Elsa dashed for the shore, along with Kristoff and Anna. They reached the cane, and Elsa lifted it up into her hands. She was thrown off balance, and looked below her. Purple ice had formed under her. She regained her balance, and saw Hodur chasing after her husband. Weaving in and out between houses and trees. Elsa swore she saw Hodur look right at her while continuing to chase Stian. Turns out, he did see her. He waved his hand, and the strongest wind Elsa had ever felt washed over her. She slid on the ground, closer to the water. She held up her cane, and closed her eyes. Nothing happened.

"Anna, quick. We need fire." Elsa said.

"What?" she asked.

"The candles!" Kristoff remembered. He raced back to the barn, and arrived with one candle. The wick was down, and it was almost melted completely.

This was her chance.

"Light it." Elsa ordered.

"How? There's too much wind!" Anna said, trying to keep the wind from the candle. Great, now they needed heat. Elsa looked around frantically. Nothing could catch a flame, and everything near her was frozen. Unless. Elsa took the wick of the candle, and pressed it to the bottom of the cane. A white flame erupted from the wick, unaffected by the wind.

"How did you do that?" Kristoff asked.

"Ever heard anybody say 'so hot it's cold'?" Elsa asked. Kristoff nodded.

"Now what?" Anna asked.

"Stian!" Elsa yelled. No answer. She could no longer see the King running around the town, avoiding a giant God. The snow was too thick,

"Stian!" she tried again. Nothing. In fact, now that Elsa listened, everything was quiet. She couldn't hear anything but the wind and her own breathing. Elsa threw her single braid over her shoulder, and shouted again.

"Stian!"

This time she got an answer.

"Gain way!" he shouted. The group parted, and out of the whiteness came Stian. Behind him, a bounding angry Hodur. Elsa looked at her husband as he passed her. Stian looked her in the eyes. He looked sad. Why? Elsa realized too late.

"Stian, no!" she tried to yell. The King leapt from the pier, into the icy cold fjord, followed by Hodur who couldn't stop in time.

"Elsa, do something!" Anna begged. Elsa looked around the town. The walls were still there. Elsa took the candle in one hand, and the cane in the other. She pointed the bottom of the cane at the flame, and lined it up with a wall of ice. She closed her eyes.

"Bring him back to me." Elsa begged aloud.

The cane vibrated, and the silver beam shot from the end. The beam passed through the flame. Elsa could feel the heat from there, as the beam traveled across the village, reflecting off of each and every wall of ice. Stian had planned this.

"Duck!" Elsa yelled. The blazing hot beam passed in between her, Kristoff and Anna, and reflected off the curve hanging over the bay. The beam shot down into the bay. Elsa saw the ice melting around town. This was serious heat. Elsa felt another wave of pain flow over her, but she tried not to show it. This baby could wait. Elsa wondered if Stian was down there. If the beam had hit him, or Hodur as he'd planned.

She could only wait.