Chapitre 36
War of the clans

Since the beginning, the merfolk people had been divided in two different clans. On one hand, there was Santaklaussen, living in the great reef city. On the othe hand, there was Sinterklass, the enchantresses, living in the glaciers. Both clans were jealous of the other. Enchantresses had amazing powers, wielding water, wind and ice. Reef merfolk had the ability to breath both water and air, turning their tails in legs as they wished, while Sinterklass needed magical totems to do so.

Through the years and generations, jealousy and envy turned into tension and irritation, the clans growing apart further more. None wanted to even hear from the other clan, none save from the young prince Nörth, who was twenty five of age at that time.

Since his childhood, he had been fascinated but the enchantresses and their magic, and he was convinced there was a way for the two clans to get along and even live together. Since he was the heir of Santaklaussen's throne, he thought he could establish peace between the clans. Yet his father was vehemently opposed to this idea.

One day, the prince, despite his father's warning, went to the glaciers to meet Sinterklass. Their queen was kind and tolerant, she accepted to hear him out and was pleased by his peace speech. It could have work out, peace could have been establish thanks to these two sovereigns. But the tension within the people was still there, and anything was enough for everything to go down.

And the 'anything' was Nörth falling in love with Sinterklass' princess, Alizee. If the queen accepted their love and mariage, it was not the case of Santaklaussen's king. Convinced the enchantresses had cast a spell on his son so they could claim his kingdom, the king waged war.

A full-blown war started, a disastrous and murderous one. Both clans suffered heavy damages and lost countless lifes. In the middle of this chaos, Nörth, Alizee and their new-born baby tried to survive under the protection of the queen. However, they were found out, and both clans reacted violently. For once, both agreed. Both agreed they had to kill the child, both considering him an abomination. He was the very first hybrid, after all.

The queen helped her daughter and family to escape, but the enchantresses denied her and punished her for treason before designate a new queen. Nobody knew what happened to the former queen, but most assumed she was dead. Nörth hopes he could find help and shelter from his father, but the king proved even less compliant. He executed Alizee publicaly and forced his son to kill the baby himself.

It was all Selina could tell the vikings about the two clans' history. She had heard so many stories when he was a child, her sisters and brothers from the clan were still as angry and resentful towards Santaklaussen. In their opinion, the reef merfolk had stained and destroyed their beloved princess and had corrupted their admired queen, forcing them to punish her and replace her. The enw queen was even more spiteful towards the reef city.

Selina had never believed in this story, for her the tension between the two clans made it impossible for two foe merfolk to fall in love. However, when she had seen Frost in his true form, she had been made a believer. He was the hybrid, the prince of the two clans that everyone thought was dead.

The vikings felt bad hearing this story. All of them sitting on an ice block, wrapped in warm furs and squeezed against oen another to keep themselve warm, they kept on listening to Selina's tale.

''I suppose king Nörth couldn't kill his only child, and that's why he kept him locked in. So he could stay alive.''

''Oh no…'' Zephyr gasped. ''Poor Frostie… That's not a life.''

''We have to get him out.'' Nuffink stated.

''That won't be easy.'' The mermaid assured. ''Even if she manage to break in the palace, we have to find a way to get him out without anyone seeing him.''

''But the war is over for years.'' Birdlegs proposed. ''The situation is different now, isn't it ?''

Selina shook her head.

''Merfolk are quite resentful. Especiallt the reef ones. If they find out Frost is still alive, he will be executed on spot. The king might be too.''

''So what are we supposed to do ?'' Sneezelout grunted, crossing his arms. ''Do you know how to break in ?''

''No… I've never been to Santaklaussen before, that will be the first time.''

''Oh great ! The only mermaid we know can't even serve as a guide- Ow !''

The dreadlock viking stopped as he was punched in the arm. He was about to grwol after his siter but ate humble pie as he realised it was the chieftess who had punched him and was now glaring at him. Selina wasn't offended and looked at the beluga next to them, jumping and squeaking to get ehri attention.

''Baby Tooth says she know a way out. Frost and her used secret pathways to sneak out.''

'' 'Says' ?'' Birdlegs asked. ''Do you understand her ?''

''Like I understand you. Merfolk can comunicate with some species of marine mammals.''

The blond curious viking was about to ask more questions but Igvid cut her, rolling her eyes and grumbling.

''There's something else mermaids can do that we can't. Don't you think our main problem is to get underwater without drowning ?''

Silence fell like Thor's hammer, then the beluga squeaked again. The vikings waited for her to finish, then looked at Selina, waiting for the translation.

''She says she knows someone who can help us.''

''Who ?'' Astrid asked, suspicious.

''A witch ?'' Selina hesitated, looking at Baby Tooth. ''You sure about this ?''

''Are you talking about the witch that gave Frost his totem ?'' Nuffink inquired, a small smile creeping on his face.

Baby Tooth beamed at him, she seemed suddenly filled with joy and energy, while the vikings and Selina eyed Nuffink in confusion. He really knew a lot about Frost. Baby Tooth confirmed his theory to Selina, who repeated her words to the vikings. After a short moment of hesitation and thinking, Astrid shrugged.

''Why not ? We don't really have other options. How long 'till we reach the mermai- merfolk territory ?''

Selina couldn't help but smile when the viking chieftess corrected herself.

''I hope it's not colder than here…''Sneezelout muttered, burrying his nose in the furs.

Selina grinned seeing him.

''Depends on how we get there.'' She explained. ''If it was up to me, we would already be there, but I have to wait for Baby Tooth, she can't keep up-''

The beluga, visibbly vexed, spat water at her.

''Just remember that, if I didn't come to fetch you, you wouldn't even know Frost had been taken.'' Baby Tooth grunted.

Selina just hissed in reply.

''If she's the one slowing us down-'' Baby Tooth nterrupted Sneezelout as she spat water at him too, earning a laugh from Slashlout. ''-then one of our dragons can carry her.''

''I'll leave this to you !'' Selina said before diving.

They saw her swim away, she was faster than she looked, so they quickly mounted their dragon to follow her. Slashlout was the one carry the beluga. Baby Tooth was not really fond of it, she felt like a prey captured by a predator that was about to eat her alive. But she calmed down and repeated to herself she was doing this for Frost, to get to him sooner. And, indeed, theu arrived sooner. They finally arrived in the frozne lands of the north three hours later.

Nuffink was surprise to see that, despite the months that had elapsed, it was still polar day. He told the others about the phenomena since it was their first time here. It didn't took long before they spotted the abandoned drakkar and landed on it. Without maintenance, the sails were frozen solid and countless stalactites had formes along it and the mast. They put the beluga back in the water and settled their supplied in the hold. Once it was done, the vikings didn't take time to rest and went to work right away.

''So,'' Nuffink explained, pointing towards a huge iceberg. ''this is where I rescued Frost. I found him unconscious on a ice floe near the imposing icerberg.''

All of them looked at the natural edification.

''We call it the Great Glacier.'' Selina spoke. ''I don't know if it means something for Santaklaussen, but it an important symbol for Sinterklass. This is where our former queen has been punished.''

''This is also where the with lives.'' Baby Tooth chirped. ''There is a cave near the bottom.''

Selina nodded and translated her word for the vikings.

''I'll go with Baby Tooth and see if this witch can do something for you. Meanwhile, you can finish your settlement.''

She didn't wait for permission and vanished in the depth of the ocean, the viking leaning over the rail to see the jade tail fading.

''So…'' Zephyr said. ''I suppose we can just wait.''

Nuffink clenched his fist on the railing. In silence and wait, his anguish crept back in his heart.

''I hope he's fine.'' He thought.

Selina followed the small beluga deeper and deeper, until they finally reached the cave. The jade mermaid was a bit afraid of the gloomy atmosphere, but seeing how Baby Tooth entered without the slightest fear, she followed. The small cave, only lit by blueish light reflecting in the ice, made it even gloomier. The young mermaid swam forward and heard voices coming from the cave. One was Baby Tooth, and the other sounded very familiar too…

''I remember you, my little friend. You were with Fröstkel.''

''Yep !'' Baby Tooth chirped. ''And this time I brought another friend !''

Selina entered shyly, and froze as she saw the 'witch'. Both mermaid looked at each other with wide eyes.

''Selina ? Well, you have grown up in a stunning mermaid. Last time I saw you, you were three years at age.''

''M-Majesty ?''

'' 'Majesty' ?'' Baby Tooth gawked.

Selina tried to pull herself together and came close while Edelweiss smiled kindly at the stunned beluga.

''I am not royalty anymore, but it had been a time when I was queen of Sinterklass.''

''You… You were the queen ? So that means-''

''But I thought you were dead.'' Selina said, still disbelieving.

Her jade eyes stared intently at the mauve-pink mermaid. Despite the seaweed blanket covering her, it was noticeable her tail was too short and that the fins on her forearms were missing. Selina hesitated, then realisation slapped her in the face.

''You… You have been disgraced ?''

Cut a merfolk's tail and fin was the worst punishment ever in their culture, it was a shame, it was hurting the merfolk's beauty, dignity and even mobility. It was like disfigure them, and usually it was followed by the merfolk's banishment. Baby Tooth didn't know about this, so she didn't really understand Selina's shock, and actually she was thinking about something else.

She was making connection between Edelweiss and the story Selina had told them. She knew why Edelweiss had been punish, and who she was.

''They did this to you because you helped Fröstkel's parents to save him ?'' She said, her voice faint and shy.

''Fröstkel…'' The pink mermaid smiled, thoughful and a bit dreamy. ''With king Salmönn claiming the child had been executed, and with all these years, I would have never thought I could have the chance to meet him. He looks so much like his mother.''

She smiled fondly and lowered her hood, unveiling her blond and blue hair. Despite her mauve skin, the light color of her hair and eyes made er common features with Frost stood out. The slim nose, the eyes' shape, the thin lips… Baby Tooth didn't even understand how she had not noticed before.

''You're his grand-mother.''

''How is he ?'' The former queen asked. ''Does he like this place he left for ?''

''Actually…'' Selina said, anxious to waste her joy. ''This is why we came to see you.''

Edelweiss' smile dropped and she asked details. She may had met Frost only once, bood bounds were strong and the fact he was looking so much like her precious daughter made her worry for him. Selina and Baby Tooth explained the situation, the princes of Santaklaussen taking Frost back to the palace, and how they had not heard from him for days.

''Oh no…'' Edelweiss said, her face filled with worry. ''He can not stay there. I heard rumors from the glaciers. I do not know when nor how, but Sinterklass knows he is still alive. If they think Santaklaussen has saved and protected him, there will be another war. It is only a matter of time before they will send scouts to check it out. And if they find him…''

''It's all my fault…'' Selina sighed, burrying her face in her hands.

Her shoulders saggered in guilt, making the two other confused. Both looked at her waryly, silently asking an explanation.

''When I realised who is Frost, I came back to report to queen Anissa. She asked me to bring him to her, I suppose she wanted to excute him by Sinterklass' tradition.''

''You ?!'' Baby Tooth snapped, her face tunring a deep pink of anger. ''How could you ?! He trusted you ! You were supposed to be his friend !''

She lunged at the mermaid, but Edelweiss hold her back. Selina lifted her hands in surrender, clearly ashamed.

''No, I wouldn't betray him ! I didn't know what she was planing to do and I decided to not follow her command !''

''You risk the disgrace if you don't.'' Edelweiss stated.

''The queen doesn't need to know. We'll free Frost, and then we'll leave far away from here.''

'Free Frost.' These words reminded Edelweiss of the serious situation. She let go of Baby Tooth, who had calmed down, and sighed dejectedly.

''We have to protect him. I already lost Alizee, I can not loose him too. This is why I helped him to the surface ? I thought he would be safe there. But how are we going to do it ? The reef palace is huge and well guarded. The three of us, especially with me in this state, he could never-''

Selina didn't let her loose hope and gently took her hands.

''Calm down, Your Highness. We have help, we have brought reinforcements.''

''Have you ?''

''Yeah !'' Baby Tooth beamed. ''They are humans and really like Frost. They're ready to rescue him but they can't follow us underwater.''

''This is why we need your help. I don't know if this is possible, but do you think you can create totem for them ? ''

Edelweiss thought about it, her face squinting in a way that reminded Baby Tooth of Frost focusing hard on something.

''Humans are less receptive to magic.'' The former queen explained, unsure. ''But I think I can do something about this.''

Selina had explained the war to the vikings basing on stories she had heard and hypothesis of her own, but Frost had learnt it from his father, who gave him several explanations.

When Nörth's father, king Salmönn, had ordered him to kill his own baby, he had first wanted to refuse and try to escape, but he had known better not to. Fleeing away with his son meant they would have been chased by both the reef merfolk and enchantresses.

Both clans wanted his son dead, none was ready to help them nore shelter them. Fleeing meant fleeing into the unknown and towards certain death. So he found only one solution. Obey. Or, rather, make everyone believe he obeyed.

Thanks to a close friend, the only one he had told about his relationship with Alizee, he managed to fake the baby's death. The king, deadly wounded during the war, had been reassured before his passing and had forgiven his son if said son would marry a mermaid from their own clan and keep on the blood line. Since the people was against him, Nörth had to scheme. So he married his friend, who had lost her husband during the war, and they made everyone believe her two sons were Nörth's. Cörail and Limönn were made princes and heirs of the throne, but they also became guardians and defenders of Frost's secret existence.

Since he was supposed to be dead, for both Sinterklass and Santaklaussen, no one had to know he was still alive. Ever.

''No one must know.'' Nörth insisted to his overwhelmed son.

Frost didn't know what to say, what to think. He had just learnt his whole life had been a lie. His brothers were not his brothers. He was part of both foe clans, torn between the two while none of them wanted him.

''So… Cörail and Limönn are really not my brothers…'' He whispered.

''No.'' His father said, his voice had sad as his son. ''But they do are princes of Santaklaussen. They are a cover to hide your existence, and are also in charge of your protection.''

''Now I understand why we never got along… And why they never wanted to hear about my powers.''

Nörth patted his thin shoulder, faking a smile he hoped was reassuring.

''Because this magic comes from Sinterklass. You look more like an enchantress than a reef merfolk, and it fed the people's anger.''

''But if I am in danger even in the palace, why bring me back ?''

''Because I can protect you here. By the way, where exactly have you fled ?''

''It doesn't matter-''

Frost couldn't argue anymore as his father shook him, a muted anger burning in his azur eyes.

''Of course it matters ! You could have met merfolk, they could have seen you ! Enchantresses, and even reef merfolk ! If they know about you, they-''

''Well yes, I did met an enchantress back there ! But even when she recognized me, Selina had not tried to hurt me ! We became friends !''

''With an enchantress ?!''

The king's face turned a deep purple of rage, though he pinched his nose bridge and breathed in deeply in try to calm down. He couldn't really blame his son, he could only blame himself for not preparing him for the outside world and never telling him about this whole story. If he had, maybe his son would have been more obedient and careful ? Well now it was too late to tell.

''Enchantresses have to obey their queen, Sinterklass has barbarian and cruel traditions… Even if this mermaid was genuily friendly, she had reported to her queen. Do you understand what it means, my boy ? Sinterklass know you are still alive. As we speak, they surely are preparing an attack on the palace…''

''But why ? Why would they pick on me ? I didn't do anything to them !''

''Of course you did not…''

Nörth sighed dejectedly and gently wrapped his buffy arms around the thin merman. He hugged him carefuly, as if the boy was the most precious thing in the world.

''Our clans hate each other since forever. To Sinterklass and Santaklaussen, your very existence is the worst crime of all. I am so sorry, my son, this is all my fault. It is because your mother and I fell in love this war had blown and tore the clans appart once and for all.''

He was shaking while hugging his son, who felt lifeless as he listened silently.

''If both clans realise I have not executed you as I should have, another war can start, and it would only end with your death.''

A cold shiver ran donw the boy's spine. He was overwhelmed and confused with his own emotions. He had always blamed his father for being overprotective and locking him in, but now that he knew why his father was doing this, he couldn't be mad at him anymore. He was really doing this to keep him safe, it was just that Frost had not been aware of the danger awaiting for him outside of the north wing.

''I am sorry, my son. I know this is a life, but it is the only one I can give you.''

''You should have told me sooner, Father.''

''I know, but… I wanted to spare you.''

Frost lowered his head. His father let go of him and looked down at him for a moment, then a small smile crept on his lips, and he lifted his son's face so their eyes could meet.

''You know, I was relieved when you made friends with this lost beluga.''

Frost's heart ache just by hearing the name.

''Baby Tooth.''

''I did not see her since you left. You could see her again, she is welcome to the palace as she wants and-''

''No, that won't be possible. She stayed there.''

''There ? Where Cörail and Limönn found you ?''

Frost pressed his lips, lowering his head, then nodded. He was still mourning all the people he had met there.

''Where were you, exactly ?''

The boy closed his eyes. After everything he had learnt, he couldn't stay mad at his father. So he decided to tell him, even if he was still afraid the king would get angry.

''I went to the surface.''

''The surface ? The land ? You… You get in touch with humans ?!''

Even if the fact that his father knew about humans stunned the young merman, he couldn't say anything as, as expected, the king got angry.

He grabbed his son's shoulders and shook him, making the boy get angry too.

''They are dangerous, Fröstkel ! Especially to creatures they don't know nor udnerstand ! Tell me you hide your true self to them !''

''They aren't dangerous !'' He barked, pushing away his father's bulky arms. ''One of them discovered I'm a merman and he barely changed his behavior towards me. He was planing to make me part of the clan despite of that, but Cörail killed him because he wanted to protect me from Limönn and him !''

That stunned his father, the king's anger faltered and he blinked a couple of time.

''A human protected you even if he knew you are a merman ?''

''I just told you ! But since they have killed him when they took me away, the vikings may think I did it and I could never go back there !''

''You want to go back there ?''

''I…''

Frost averted his eyes, rubbing his arm in embarrassment.

''I like them. A lot. Bird-legs, Gort, Zeppy, Sneeze, Pouncer, Dart and Ruffie… and most of all Nuff.''

''Nuff ? This name sounds familiar, have I heard it before ?''

''You did. He's the one Baby Tooth and I were talking about when you eavedropped we were sneaking out. He knows I'm a merman from the first time we met. When I went to the surface, he brought me to his island, we became fast-friends and… and…''

Nörth looked closely to his son, he noticed the boy's embarrassment and also how he was running a hand on his left wrist, as if playing with something that was not there anymore.

''And… ?'' The king asked, though he guessed what his son was trying to say.

Still the boy was hesitant and lowered his head, a faint hue of blue creeping on his cheeks.

''And I fell in love with him.''

For a moment, Nörth didn't know what to do. His son seemed so sad since he had return home, and that made him sad too. Looking down again to the boy's wrist, he remembered the thin silver bracelet that had been there the last time they had seen each other, before his fugue. He also remembered the conversation he had eavedropped before entering the room.

''Nuff is wooing you, Nuff is wooing you !'' The beluga had chanted, both joyful and teasing.

''Stop it, now.'' Frost had laughed, though embarrassed.

''Who is wooing you ?!'' The king had bellowed, bumping the door open.

Silence filled the entire room for a long moment, each passing second adding to Frost's anxiety. He was afraid of his father's reaction, his whole body was tensed to the extend it was getting painful, until a large hand rested gently on the top of his head. It stayed there for a short moment, then started to stroke the snowy hair. Nörth stood from the bed and left without a word.

Frost looked at him, lost and confused. He didn't know if this muteness was better than a booming scold. Silence fell like a hammer, suddenly filling the room with a heavy and gloomy atmosphere. The young merman sighed heavily and dropped on his bed. He was so tired, and his heart was aching so much, and his memories from Berk were hurting even more. He missed his friends so much, he missed the dragons and he missed Nuffink. When he closed his eyes, a lone silver tear rolled down his cheek.