Into the Eye of the Storm (part 2)
Arendelle, 1819.
It was already dawn when the King and Queen arrived in the Valley of the living rocks. The Queen carefully dismounted her horse, as she held her sleeping daughter in one arm. It worried her a lot; Elsa hadn't cried since that witch cursed her. She was luckily still breathing.
"Hallo?!" the nervous King looked arround before looking back on the parchment the Ice harvesters had given them. It should be here, without doubt.
"Hallo? Please! It is for my daughter, something quite terrible has befallen upon her!"
The rocks began to move towards him and his little family, and Agdarr's hand went for his sword. After all what had transpired this night, he had become quite fearful for his family. He quickly put his arms arround his wife protectively while he held the sword before him.
"There is no need to draw your weapon, Your Highness" said Gran Pabbie as he gestured the other trolls to shuffle backwards. "There will come no harm to your family, if you don't harm mine."
Agdarr slowly put his sword back into his sheath, amazed by the mystical rock creature. "Forgive me for appearing so threatening. It was not my intention to anger you or your folk."
Gran Pabbie nodded, accepting the man's apology. "Why have you come?"
The Queen knelt by her husband and showed her sleeping daughter to the ancient Troll. "Last night, a witch appeared in my room...It looked like she wanted to take my daughter away, just when I woke up. When I yelled at her, she cursed her with her magic. Can you take it away?"
Gran Pabbie stiffened when he saw the same blonde hair that he had seen by Ingrid. Like all magic, it was unique for every wielder, like a fingerprint on a glass. But to be sure...
The Troll waved his hand across the young baby-girl and sighed heavily. "I'm terribly sorry, my dear. But I'm afraid I can't perform what you ask of me. In fact, I don't know anyone who could do such a thing...Magic is tricky and dangerous. To try to take away someone's magic, even from a cursed one..." The Troll King shook his head gravely. "I'm afraid that, even if it was possible, it would do more damage then it would mend." The old troll sighed with a heavy heart; and wondered about what happened to Ingrid. He almost asked the couple; but refrained from it. It would only cause more questions and distrust towards him and his people...
The royal couple sighed discouraged at the Trolls words. The Troll saw how affected the King and Queen were by the news, and so, he waved his hands, to conjure up two beautiful blue gloves.
"I can however, give you these gloves. They will keep the magic inside, as long as she herself believes in it."
"We can't do that to her!" said the shocked King as he stared at the gloves. "She would see herself as a freak!"
"We'll take it" spoke the Queen with tears in her eyes as she took the gloves with her left hand.
"Idunn!"
"Agdarr, please" Tears dripped from the young woman's face. "I hate this as much as you. But if it is to protect her from the kingdom...or even, herself, then I'm willing to make that sacrifice."
"The sacrifice SHE has to make" barked Agdarr at his wife, causing their child to stirr at the loud sounds.
"Look..." shushed Idunn as she put her head on her husbands shoulder. "She doesn't have to wear it all the time..."
The King sighed heavily and looked again to the Troll King. "Thank you for your effort, Troll. We won't forget this."
"It is Gran Pabbie." smiled the troll to the King, who looked suprised to the little creature. For a troll, knew the King, to give someone their name, was considered as huge amount of Trust.
"Agdarr" smiled the King as he bowed once again before retraiting to their horses. "I pray we don't need to meet again."
The wise Troll King looked sadly to the young couple. Glimpses of the future were often given to him. It was both a gift and a curse, as it was for Little Elsa. Pain and grief was arround those two bright people, following them through the course of their lives... They would meet again. "I hope for the same, King Agdarr."
"Duck!" Anna felt the large hand of the prince on her back and she did as she was told. the large arm of the golem nearly cleaving her head off.
The two royals sprinted quickly between the creatures legs or arms, to get to the other side, but a fight couldn't always be avoided. Hans swung his sword into creature on their left, causing it to shatter. The sword the prince carried, consisted of thornes and vines, and created by the man himself. He didn't want to use his magic as he had done before. There were many reasons why he didn't use his potentials now to the fullest. First was Anna. The prince feared she would get hit by him accidently when they were too cramped up. He didn't have such a great aim and precision as Elsa or Gerda had already acchieved. Second reason was for the Duke; If he noticed his magic, he would quickly see where they were headed. And that would blow their plan. So, the prince was left with his sword skills.
"Hans, watch out!" The prince turned arround, and rolled quickly out of the other's creature's reach.
"You shouldn't be watching me!" called Hans out as he saw that the girl had turned back towards him. "Focus just on getting to the Mirror, I'll cover you."
"I won't let you fight them alone!" said Anna stubornly.
"Anna, the longer we wait, the stronger the Duke and his army becomes" said Hans as he raised his hand to blast one of the golem's arms off.
"Woah!" Anna cried out in fear, and Hans saw a gigantic fist come their way, ready to crush them. He quickly waved his hand above his head, like a scholar would do when he crawled into the water. A strong roof, made out of earth blocked the fist just in time, and the prince gritted his teeth to keep the construction up.
"Anna! I cant use my magic, I'm afraid I might hurt you when you're too close... Just get to the Mirror, and don't look back, whatever happens to me or Kristoff!"
"But-"
"Go!" snarled Hans as he crashed his fist into the self-made roof, causing it to fly into the golem's face. He glanced backwards, to see Anna run and fight herself towards the Mirror. Good...She was progressing. The auburn haired man turned arround to face the creatures that had noticed the duo. "Right..." the prince swirled his thorned sword one more time in his hand, to feel and calculate the weight his weapon had. "Let's see how strong ice truly is."
Arendelle, 1823. (4 years after Gerda's death.)
"Agdarr...What are you doing, Love?" asked the Queen to her husband as she still saw him looking into the library books at this late hour.
The tired man sighed. "I'm searching for something that will enable me to take on that witch."
"Agdarr, no! I thought we had dropped this subject! Why going after that devil's spawn?!"
"Do you have a better solution?" asked Agdarr while he stood angrily up from his table to take some other sea maps with him.
"Agdarr...Elsa seems happy with powers. You saw her today, playing with her dolls...And there doesn't seem to be any danger..."
Agdarr scoffed at his wife. "Yet that witch still wanders free, Idunn! What if she decided that it wasn't enough suffering for us? What if she came back, to bewitch our second child too?" He looked at the again pregnant belly of his wife. "I don't want the same thing happen all over again with him."
"Or her" corrected Idunn as she put her hands across her belly. Agdarr waved his hands impatiently.
"Or her. " said the King now softer as he gently rubbed his hand across her belly. "I'm doing this for you, Elsa, and this little kicker over here..." smiled the King to his unborn second child.
"Agdarr, I don't want to loose you!"
"And then what?" said the King as the tension between them began to rise up once again. "Unless you have better suggestions, I like to hear them!"
"I'm giving you suggestions" snapped the Queen angrily. "Stay. With me and Elsa. Let the past in the past, Agdarr."
"Do you even care about Elsa? It seems not to be the case" bit her husband back. "At least I try to do something about this situation! Seems you have already your new favorite!" and the King pointed to the pregnant belly of his wife.
"How dare you!" fumed Idunn at her husbands insults. "I don't pick a 'favorite', Agdarr! I'm thinking about our future together!"
"A future with a second cursed child?"
"I'm thinking about a future with my husband!" shrieked Idunn to the man. "I won't let you go alone!"
"You stay here!" barked Agdarr back. "That's an order!"
"I'm still your Queen, so you bet-"
"Mommy?" The couple turned arround to see their daughter with wide eyes standing into the doorway. "Is...is everything okay?"
Agdarr was the first to react and he took the child up, his dispute with Idunn forgotten. for now.
"Elsa? How are you still awake?" asked her father while avoiding his wife's eyes.
"I didn't have my goodnight kiss..." said the child, with her mind still occupied by the fight her parents had before. It seemed so stupid to ask for something like that... "Daddy?" asked Elsa with tears in her eyes. "Why were you two yelling? Did I do something wrong?"
"Oh, little angel..." Agdarr placed a kiss on his daughter's wet cheek. "No, we weren't mad at you..." His breath came in short gasps, as he was on the brink of crying. "Mommy and I had a little dispute, thats all..."
"What's a..dishphutey?" asked 4 year old Elsa as she struggled with the word. Agdarr chuckled softly.
"Dis-pute." said the father clearly. "Its when two people don't agree with each other and they fight about who's right."
"Why?"
Why indeed...Agdarr glanced to his wife. "I don't now, Angel. But they do it, because they really, really love-" His voice cracked up now. God, give me strength! He coughed. "Because they really love each other, thats why."
"Oh..."mumbled the small child and she yawned against her father's strong chest.
"Come on angel...Let's get you to bed."
Elsa groaned, as her ears peeped an annoying sound. "God..." She blinked again, to see her surroundings better. Or rather what she could make out of it. It was utter chaos before her: golems were stamping everywhere, causing light snow to fly up everywhere they set their giant feet.
"Anna?" yelled Elsa hoarshly as she stood up again. She doubled over when she felt a sharp pain in her stomach, as her wound began to scream in protest. She still wasn't fully recovered yet. Too many brisk moves, and the stitches wouldn't hold...
"ANNA!" she tried again, at a much slower pace to stand up. step by step... she braced herself, but it seemed it wasn't bothering her wound now...good. The Queen shuffled forward, often wincing at the sharp pain in her chest by the too sudden moves, searching for the limits she could reach.
"Elsa?" it was her brother-in-law who was plunging his axe in one of the golem's arms. "What are you doing here? You should rest!"
"I have rested long enough" commented the Ice queen as she destroyed the golem Kristoff was dealing with. "Where is Anna? What happened to Hans?"
"They are trying to get to that Mirror to destroy the Duke!" said Kristoff as they stood back to back.
"Wait what? the Duke of Weaselton?" asked Elsa unbelievingly as she gestured her hands. A huge chasm appeared, making two golems sink into the ground. the Queen flicked her hands again, and the golems were crushed to pieces as the chasm closed once more.
"No time to explain!" said Kristoff as he pressed her against his chest, to avoid being hit by one of the golem's hammers.
"We got to help them!" said Elsa as she tried to run back. She was stopped again by the strong arms of the Ice harvester.
"Emma is already helping them. You must stay put. You would have died if Hans didn't heal you..."
"What about you? You aren't helping!"
"I'm supposed to watch over you!"
"Well..." smirked the Queen as she skillfully went out of the Ice harvester's grasp. "Then I suppose you are to watch me when I go to help them."
"Wha-" Kristoff groaned as he was set check mate by the Queen's clever words. "Elsa wait!" He ran behind the Queen to the eye of the heated battle.
In the end, Idunn admitted defeat to her husband, who went now alone to Misthaven. The voyage, especially with the Queen so close at the end of her second pregnancy, would be very dangerous for her.
"Hallo?" The Young King walked into the beautiful decorated room. "Rumplestiltskin, are you here?"
"There is no need to shout, King of Arendelle." The King swirled arround, to see the famous sorcerer stand where he wasn't before.
"I come for-"
"I know why you came here, King Agdarr. You want something to take on the Snow Queen..." giggled the dark one.
"Yes." said the King while hiding his shock. How powerful must that man be if he could just take out his name and desire out of his thoughts? "I can pay you. Gold, diamonds..."
The dark one giggled even louder. "Maybe you are a bit slow, dearie... but it isn't riches what I desire."
"Then what would you possibly want in return?" asked Agdarr.
"mmmm...that ring on your left finger."
Agdarr frowned but then looked downwards to his left finger. He had worn it for so long, he had almost forgotten it was still there. "Why would you want such an ordinary ring? It is just an old gift from a peasant girl.." it was made out of wood, with beautiful, detailed roses on it.
"Sometimes, ordinary objects can possess powerful magic." said Rumple as the King fiddled uncomfortably with the ring.
"if it is to protect her from the kingdom...or even, herself, then I'm willing to make that sacrifice."
The King sighed when he remembered his wife's words and thought again of his child. He couldn't even be debating this... It was just a token, a wedding gift from Gerda. if he had to weight that little thing against his child's happiness...
"Done." THe King quickly gave his ring, before he could rethink or come back from it. "Now, keep your end of the bargain. Give me something that enables me to take on the Snow Queen."
The King watched as Rumple took out a little strange, copper looking object. "This..." said the Dark one mysteriously. "Can strip her powers away. Once you lift up the lid...FLUP!" the King winced at the man's sudden cry. "In she pops."
"Thank you." Agdarr put the object carefully away in his sack and bowed politely. "Thank you for your help."
"O it was nothing my dear..." cackled the dark one. "See you soon..."
Agdarr felt a chill over his spine and walked a little faster, to get as quickly as possible away from this strange, dark place.
"Regina?" The Evil Queen groaned as her head felt like it had been split open.
"Regina, can you hear me?" asked Robin as he gently shook her shoulder.
"Yes..." Regina slowly opened her eyes to get them accomodated to the light.
"Careful!" Robin immediately supported the Queen's arm when she winced from the sharp pain in her stomach.
"What...Have we won?" asked Regina as she looked arround. She saw Doctor Whale and Ruby attend to the wounded. Ruby's wolf skills came quite handy in this; she could often smell if the wound was superficial or dangerously infective. Others, the ones who were still able to walk, dragged unconcious people into the hastily made up hospital.
"Where is Henry?" asked Regina as she looked for her adopted son. "What about Emma and the others?"
"Henry is safe, don't worry." shushed Robin. "But I'm afraid Emma along with Hans and Elsa are still in there..."
"And everyone is just waiting here outside till they lose?" asked the black haired woman angrily. "They don't stand a chance against that Snow Queen!"
Of course...realized Robin. she had been unconcious the whole time... The prince of thieves quickly explained what happened while Regina was knocked out.
"Still, that doesn't change anything." said Regina as she walked to the closed off entrance. "I won't let Miss swann die for Henry's sake!" But, the woman couldn't deny in the deepest corners of her heart that she was touched by Miss Swann's faith. That she tried to understand her, stood by her even when she could have walked away all those times... She still came back. always. Now, She had to return that faith..
The black-haired woman set her hands ablaze again, and with Robin keeping her still unstable body up, she began to melt the gigantic ice barrier.
Arendelle, 1823.
The Ardellians sheered as the battle at the Ice palace was finally over. As the King passed by his soldiers, giving them clasps on the shoulder for their courage, he glanced at the little urn he held under his arm, in which the Snow Queen was now captured.
He should be happy for the newfound safety of his family and Kingdom... Then why did he felt these voices inside his head, screaming how wrong this was? The Young King could still hear her sharp voice ring in his head:
"Good evening gentlemen. What are you doing on my mountain?"
"I have come to reclaim this land back to its people, witch!" had he yelled back. "You will suffer for the pain you caused me and my family!"
"This is all to blame on you, King of nothing." said the sorceress coldly. "You think you are the only one who suffered Loss and pain? I did you and your wife a favor by saving your child. As a token of gratitude, you hunt me down. Leave before I lose my patience."
He hadn't listened further to those lies...Or were they? She hadn't attacked them as they went up the North Mountain; she could have ambushed them on so many occasions. Maybe she wanted to avoid a fight...He shook his head. This was just Devil's talk, tempting him to release her in a moment of pity.
"Your highness!" called one of his captains. "There seems to be a strange, incompleted Mirror in the witch's room! What should we do with it?"
Agdarr hesitated. There had to be a reason as for why that Snow Queen held such a strange Mirror with her. An old Northern Legend came back to his mind. No. It can't be that such terrifying legend could possibly... The King shuddered inwardly. That thing is way too dangerous to be left alone. But they couldn't take it with them either. After a long pause, the King gave his command.
"Smash it into tiny pieces. But be careful, and don't let it penitrate your eyes or heart. Is that clear, Captain?"
"Yes, your highness..." The captain hesitated, as he too knew the legends. "Sire, You don't possibly think..."
"What I think is none of your concern" blaffed Agdarr to the soldier, who hastily obliged. He normally wasn't so bold against his subjects; but he didn't want the soldier to speak his own fears out loud. And so, the shards flew again arround on the winds, piercing once again the People's hearts.
When they came home, the King put the urn behind lock and key, to be forgotten by time itself. But Destiny had other plans...
"Rumple, what are you doing here?" asked Belle as she saw her husband enter. "Everyone is to the Snow Queen's liar, to battle those vicious mirror versions."
"I couldn't leave you" said the Dark one as he hugged her. The hat was already safely stowed away. Now, the only thing that he needed to do was to put Belle to sleep, and then they could leave with Henry...
"That's very sweet of you." said Belle while they parted. "But I'm safe don't worry."
"I'm afraid not. You see, those versions already made it here, in the town itself" And that was for once, no lie to make her cooperate, but a solid truth. "Hook just saw his evil version show up close to us. I managed to destroy it...but I fear there might be more on their way, and I can't defeat such great numbers."
"So...what now?" asked Belle fearfully as she followed Gold to the backside of their shop.
"I'm going to put you to sleep, for the time-being, and lock you up with a protection spell." said Rumple as they stood by an old seat.
"Why put me to sleep?" asked Belle curiously. "Surely the protection spell will be enough?"
"Those twisted versions are linked by the life-force of their twins. If you're asleep, they won't find you that easily." lied Rumple smoothly.
Belle nodded, completely trusting her husband in what he was doing, and laid down on the couch. As Rumple waved his hand over her head, her eyes dropped slowly and her breathing went slower.
"Wait...Still don't understand...why..." murmeled Belle, as the sleep began to weight on her eyes. "Why you aren't..." she yawned as the effects began to take more hold on her. "with others...to save Henry."
"Save Henry?" asked Gold suprised by the revelation. "Belle, what do you mean? Henry is alright..."
"No..." slurred Belle. "taken...by the Snow Queen..."
The shock was quickly replaced by anger. Luckily, Belle was already asleep as the dark one talked out loud, cursing himself that he let his grandson get captured by the Snow Queen. That woman will pay for this! He clutched his fingers so hard arround the hat in his pocket, his knuckles became white. Seems I have another embroiderie to decorate my hat with...
Arendelle, 1839 (Second day in the Big Freeze)
The Duke of Weaselton shivered as he entered another room, to search for warm blankets or wood to burn in the halls. The cold had become so severe these last days, nobility and commoner alike was now desperately searching for whatever food or warmth there was to gain. He frowned upon the room he had entered. This hadn't been cleaned for a long time, as spider webs and dust had spread a thick layer on the furniture. This must be the chamber from the late King and Queen of Arendelle, no doubt...
As he searched in the closets, clapping his hands against the wood (since the light candles were scarce), he stiffened when his hand made a completely different sound. Like the part behind it, was a hole... The Duke searched for the secret lock to activate the opening, and after searching for some good 5 minutes, it opened with a 'click'.
Now what was this? The Duke looked intrigued to the little copper urn. Why would such a strange object be hidden in the Royal chambers? Must be of great value... The man took of the lit, and looked in awe to the white liquid that streamed out of it. His astonishment quickly changed to glee when he saw the liquid transform into Gerda herself. Well, well, well... fate was truly favoring him.
"Lord Duke?" blinked the Snow Queen suprised as she took in her surroundings. "It seems I owe you again my thanks."
"Your majesty." bowed the Duke as he hid his hate and anger towards the Wardeness of the North.
"Time hasn't been kind to you." spoke the observant Snow Queen as she noticed the age on the man's face. "Tell me, how many years have passed since our last meeting?"
"Twenty, your grace."
"The Snow Queen frowned. Then that meant...Elsa had already grown up. Curse that King and Queen into damnation! Now she would have a much more difficult task on killing her...
"Your Highness...The Queen has cursed this land into an eternal Winter and lost all control." spoke the Duke as he waved towards the window, where the wind howled against the curtains.
"Really?" said the Snow Queen impressed as she took in the frozen Kingdom. She must have become more powerful then she ever thought she would be. But, it seems our little Elsa hadn't learned to control her emotions... The Snow Queen's bloodless lips curled up. She could use that... With a wave of her hand, the Snow Queen's carriage appeared, along with her four faithful Snow Horses. As She mounted her sledge, she beckoned the Duke to sit next to her as well.
"Where are we going, your majesty?" asked the Duke. He immediately averted his eyes when the Snow Queen's piercing eyes stared him down.
"Great is the reward for those who are patient." said the Snow Queen as she focused on stirring her Horses. "It seems you still have to obtain that virtue." The carriage flew off at blinding speed, towards the North Mountain...
And...yes, finally we get to see Regina and Rumple back! wohooo! Everything begins to come together so rapidly. The Storybrooke Inhabitants are coming to the rescue as well! o yeah!
As for Agdarr and Idunn, It looks like I made them black sheep... But what I wanted to show you was that they are afraid and unsure of what to do. Not to mention the guilt they blame upon themselves for getting their daughter cursed. They truly love Elsa, and they try hard to make things better again for their little girl...
Damn, now I'm cutting onions again...
Love,
TeamArendelle.