Chapter 38
Merfolk's way
The vikings had no idea what was going on at Santaklaussen. They were still training and slowly getting used to their tail and fins. Selina had decided to put them to test and asked them to race. If Zephyr was determined to win, at was actually Sneezelout and Birdlegs who did. Actually, everyone was surprised.
''How did you do it ? I have always been faster on land !'' The auburn mermaid gawked.
''Now you're underwater.'' Selina smirked. ''It's not muscles that determine your speed, but your silhouette's thinness and the width of your fins. That's why enchantresses had always been faster than reef merfolk.''
''Speeking about reef,'' Nuffink intervene, his tone serious. ''when do you think we would be able to sneak in the castle ?''
''I think you're ready, actually, but we still don't have a plan.''
''Frost has one !'' Baby Tooth cheered, swimming towards them as she just got back from the castle.
Her squeak was hearable for everyone but only Selina understood her words, and she smilled brightly.
''You saw Frost ?''
''Yes !'' The beluga chirped as she swirled around the jade mermaid. ''And he's doing fine, I'm happy ! I told him about our rescue team and he knows how we could sneak in !''
She started to explain it, but they got interrupted as the vikings asked impatiently about Frost. Selina had to test their patience so she could listen to everything Baby Tooth had to say before translating it to them. Frost's plan was a good one, they simply had to watch for the hunt party to come back so they could use the hidden pathway at the right time. They went back to their drakkar and gathered their weapons before diving back in, leaving behind their dragons who were pretty upset they couldn't follow.
They were ready to start their rescue mission… when they heard a loud submarine explosion. Without hesitation, moved by worry, they headed towards the sound and only stopped when the reef city entered their field of view. But the sight had nothing to do with the great and peaceful city Frost or Selina had depicted, it was a real battlefield !
''You said you just came back from here !'' Selina scolded the beluga.
''I did, but eveything was fine when I left…''
''Queen Anissa must have send scouts.'' Selina growled.
The group swam closer, keeping a safety distance, and soon they noticed it was not a fight between merfolks from both clans… There were only merfolk from Santaklaussen, the city inhabitants were themselve attacking the castle, and the guards were trying to hold them back.
''A civil war ?'' Astrid wondered.
''Oh no…'' Selina panicked. ''They must have learn Frost is alive. If they break in the palace and find him before us-''
''Then there's no time to waste. The guards are completed overwhelmed and distracted, this is our shot. Selina, can you make one of your currents so we could get there faster ?''
''Sure. Baby Tooth, lead the way.''
The small beluga nodded with determination, even if it was obvious she was afraid. They didn't wait longer and got going. As planed with Frost, they went into the pathway leading to the library, then they had to wander the corridors to Frost's room, hoping he was still there ans had not been taken to some other place.
They managed to sneak through the commotion without being noticed, it wa scomplete chaos, but they still had to fight against a couple guards within the castle. At first ehy got surprised to see the viking, never before they had seen merfolk like them, but Selina's presence with them, an enchantress, made them appear as foes. Luckily, there were only three guards so the vikings quickly neutralized them before they could alert others.
However, despite their quick progression, when they finally reached Frost's bedroom, they couldn't find him. He was not there anymore, and what they saw at his window horrified them. Both the bars and the thick and sharp ice structure that seemed to have been shot from inside.
''What happened here ?'' Nuffink worried.
''It's Frost's ice…'' Baby Tooth explained.
''What ?'' Selina gasped. ''Frost did this ?''
''Heh ?!'' The vikings yelped.
All of them looked at the jade mermaid, stunned, though they wondered as she seemed as surprised as them.
''Why do you looked surprised too ?'' Zephyr enquired.
''I knew he had powers, but he never showed them to me, neither did I, but… I wasn't expecting it to be… that powerful.''
''It doesn't matter !'' Birdlegs intervened. ''Visibly Frost did this to defend himself from something ! We have to find him, where could he be ?''
''We should split up.'' Astrid stated.
She was about to divide them in smaller groups when they heard a sudden commotion in the corridor, male voices booming and getting closer to them.
''How could this happen ?!''
''The enchantresses were at his window, they must have attack him before the guards saw and captured them.''
Baby Tooth recognized the voice as king Nörth and Limönn. The king sounded furious and Limönn apologetic and worried. The vikings thanked the gods theyhad closed the door behind them, hiding them inside the room.
''Cörail and you were supposed to protect him !''
''I am terribly sorry, your Majesty, we have not been fast enough and-''
''Save your apologizes and lead me to my son !''
From their hidding spot, the vikings heard the door creak. They all tensed up realising the mermen were going in. Yet, as the light was creeping inside the dark bedroom, the younger merman's voice spoke again.
''Cörail brought him to the healer.''
''With all your respect, my King.'' A third voice said, this one from a very respectful mermaid. ''Santaklaussen is in civile war. The people is coming for your head, so your son's poisoning should be the least for your problems right now-''
A loud bang cut the sentence, even the viking jolted at the harsh sound.
''Nothing is more important to me than my son !''
Then they heard powerful fathoms echoing in the corridor, retreating. Hearing the other merfolks followed and left, they risked peering out of the room. The corridor was empty.
''What was that ?'' Sneezelout hesitated.
The other vikings had to admit they also were a bit shaken. It was rare to hear such powerful voice, a voice that earned respect and fear even if they had not seen who had spoken, though they could imagine the merman was imposing. It reminded Astrid of her husband dead father, Stoick the Vast.
''That was king Nörth of Santaklaussen.'' Selina stated. ''Frost's father.''
''His father ?'' Nuffink panicked. ''But that means Frost had been poisoned ?! We have to follow them, hurry up !''
Astrid hold him back and tried to calm him down. He couldn't lose his self-control and recklessly run around the castle… well, swim around. They had to be stealth and cautious. If they were to get caught, they would been able to help Frost nore leave the castle and would end up in one of the numerous victims this war promised to kill. Nuffink understood it and tried to hold back his panic, but it was hard. He breathed in deeply and slowly nodded, reassuring his mother.
The chieftess stroked his hair in a reassuring way, then looked at the other. Nuffink was not the only one would could freak out, she had to make sure eeryone was pulling themselve together. Aside from Nuffink, Baby Tooth, Birdlegs and Sneezelout were the most likely ones to loose it.
Once they were sure everyone was fine, they followed the king and Limönn. The booming voice was loud enough so they could stay out of sight. When they spotted the king from afar, Nuffink wondered how this merman would be Frost's father, he seemed so huge compared to his boyfriend. He was as imposing as Stoick the Vast, even his azur fins seemed dreadful. Next to him was a small and younger blue-green merman, and both were followed by a broad red mermaid dressed in reef armor.
They were quickly swimming and only stopped when they reached a door adorning a white scallop, the symbol of healers. The threesome burst in without even minding closing the doors, allowing the vikings to slip in unseen. The outsiders hid behind the bookcases – or shellcases ? – near the doors and looked at the thrre merfolk swimming to the back of the room, nearing a bed. There was laying Frost, and two other merfolk were around him.
One was a blue merman that looked a lot like Limönn but was a bit older, and the other was a vivid orange-pink old mermaid. Cörail was sitting on the dge of the bed, but he stood as the others approached.
''Your Highness-''
''What happened ?!'' The king growled.
He pushed Cörail out of his way and leant over the bed, looking down at his son. The healer had wrapped translucent blankets around him, the boy's blemish skin was perfectly visible under it.
His snowy scaled, usually bright and sparkling, seemed to have lost their shine, while his eyelids, nostrils, lips, gills, fins and fingers were strangely dark. On his right forearm was standing the bite, dark and black, the veins all along his arm up to his mid-upper arm were dark and swollen.
''Enchantress' venom…'' The kind stuttered.
''This one is powerful.'' The healer explained. ''It must be from a young mermaid. Without the antidote, he won't survive more than five hours.''
Nuffink started as he heard this, but his morther grabbed his shoulders to prevent him from reaching out.
''The antidote ?'' Limönn asked, worried. ''But we need a merfolk from Sinterklass for this ! The only ones here had been captured by the people, they must have been already executed by now !''
''The palace is under siege. We can't even get out.'' Cörail growled.
''I am just statting facts, your Majesties. The antidote is the only cure to this venom.''
''So… We can't do anything ?'' Limönn gulped.
''This is my fault…'' The king sighed.
He gently took his son's hand and let his forehead rest against the cold and still hand, starting to sob.
''I am the one who brought him back here. I should have left him back there, he was safer than here.''
''Do not be so sure about this, your Highness.'' Cörail stated. ''Sinterklass found him out back there.''
''All I wished was to keep him save…''
He sobbed again, until silver tears trailed down his face and got stuck in his azur beard, some of them dropping onto the still body of the white merman. It was heartbroken to see the usually lively and joyful boy laying motionless.
''No…'' Nuffink whispered.
''Can't we do anything, either ?'' Birdlegs asked in a hushed tone.
''You don't, but I can.'' Selina said.
''What are you doing, come back here !'' Igvid yelped in a whisper.
Without any of the viking having the time to hold her back, the jade mermaid came out of her hiding spot and swam towards the group. They had not noticed her and were still speaking with hasted worry.
''If we can not find an enchantress, then he will-''
''You have one.'' Selina claimed.
All of them jumped around to face her. In a swift and quick demeanor, the two princes and the red mermaid stood in front of their king and pointed their weapons meancingly to Selina, who remained calm.
''How did you get in, you vile eel ?!'' Amönel barked.
''What do you want ?!'' Cörail added. ''Do you not think your kind has already made enought damages ?!''
''I came to help Frost.''
''Like abyss hell you did !''
''You need an enchantress for the cure, so now you have one.''
''Why would you help him ?!''
''Because I am his friend.''
She frowned and clenched her fists, determined to help despite their threat. The king hesitated and stared at her, thoughtful, then his eyes went wide.
''Selina ?''
The princes and the guard were puzzled and looked quizzically to their king, while still keeping their attention on the intruder.
''You are Selina, are you not ? Fröstkel told me about you.''
He gestured his protectors to lower their weapons, which they did hesitantly. Selina felt a bit better but was still worried for her friend.
''If he told you about me, he must have told you about them too.''
She turned towards the shellcases, where the others were scandalized she had exposed them. They stayed hiden, inwardly cursing her, until Astrid nodded and prompted them to show themselve. She and her son were the first one to do so, quickly followed by the others. The six vikings and the beluga entered the field of vision of the other merfolks.
The princes and the guard brandished their weapons once again, but once agani the king told them otherwise.
''Who are you ?'' Limönn asked, clearly distrustful.
''We are the humans who had welcomed Frost among us.'' The chieftess explained, her voice firm and steady, imposing respect.
''Humans… ?'' Cörail wondered.
He noticed how Nuffink and Zephyr looked like the man Limönn and him had fought to get Frost. However, if they were humans, how could they possibly be standing in front of them with tails and fins ? Said attributes did look foreign, it was nothing like Santaklassen nore Sinterklass. It was obvious they were coming from another clan.
''Which one of you is… Nuff ?'' The king enquired.
He was staring at each of them with a mixture of curiosity and awe. They were his son's friends, and the genuine worry they were feeling for him was written all over their features.
One of them looked especially heartbroken while looking at Frost, and the king recognize his son's unique magic in the ice shell the golden merman was wearing as necklace.
''You are.'' He said, smiling.
He outstretched a welcoming hand to him, finally convincing his guards there was no danger. They even swam aside to let the vikings come closer. Baby Tooth didn't wait for spoken permission and zipped to the other side of the bed.
''Frost…'' She whined, gently nudging her best friend's shoulder, but the boy reamined still.
This lack of reaction broke even more Nuffink's heart, leaving him breathless. Frost looked already dead, if it was not for his short and quick breaths they could hear. It reminded the blond viking of dreadful memories he had wished to never think about again, when Frost had almost choke to death. He couldn't bare feeling such pain again, he barely paid attention to the king and turned towards Selina, his eyes sharp as he grabbed her wrist.
''If you can save him, please do it.''
She nodded and came closer to the patient. Nörth stood to leave her room and, much to everyone's surprise, he put his large hands on Nuffink's shoulder in a comforting way. Selina got a closer look to Frost's wrist and noticed how bad it was.
''First of all, we have to pump the poison out. It will increase the cure's efficiency.''
''And how do we do that ?'' Cörail growled.
She just glared at him and pressed her lips to the wound, sucking. Then she turned her head and spat in her elbow – surely to not disspate the poison in the water. She repeated her actions a few times, the others looking at her with apprehension, and noticed the black in the veins started to resorbe. She did until the wound was looking less bad, but still black. Then she stole Limönn's trident to cut her palm open, closing her fingers to hold back the blood. She quickly stood and headed towards the shellcases, full of medicines and other ingredients.
Realising what she was doing, the healer quickly went after her to help. In a bowl, they mixed the jade mermaid's blood with pink seaweed and some white powder, before going back to the others. Selina put a hand on Frost's nape to gently rise his head and give him the cure, but the liquid started to dissipate in the water as soon as he tilted the bowl.
''Crap.'' She muttered. ''I got too used to land gravity.''
''Usually, we let the antidote dry in the sun to turn it solid and eatable.'' The healer explained.
''We don't have time for this. He couldn't even chew it, anyway.''
She thought as fast as she could, trying to fins another way. It didn't took long before she got an idea and she gave the bowl to Nuffink, making him start.
''Give it to him.''
''What ? How ?''
''Feed him, you dumb.''
Nuffink blushed without controlling it – surprisingly, unlike other merfolk, his blush was a nice golden hue – and he even heard snickers from his sister and Sneezelout, but he quickly dismissed this. Frost needed this cure, this was not the moment to let embarassment hold him back.
Frowning with determination, he took the offered bowl and sat next to his boyfriend. He took a large sip of the beverage and kept it in his mouth. He knew he had sipped water with it, but it didn't matter since it was like air for merfolk. However, the cure was disgusting. It was the most infamous taste he had even known, it tasted like iodine, steel, and the white powder had not dissolved in it and gave him the impression of having small pieces of egg shell in his mouth. It was also strangely fizzing. It didn't know why it was fizzing, but he didn't have the leisure to wonder about it, he had to stay focused so he would loose the cure, either by swallowing of spilling it.
He leant in and gently cupped his boyfriend's face, parting his thin lips, then pressed his own on it. The feeling of Frost's cold and still body was awful and made his heart ache even more, the boy really felt like he was already dead, but the viking forced the thought away and pushed the cure in the boy's mouth and throat. He repeated the action twice, then thrice, until he emptied the whole bowl.
''And now ?'' He asked, wiping his mouth and his boyfriend's.
''We wait.'' The healer said. ''Let's hope the cure is as effective in its liquid body than solid.''
''Actually it's better like this.'' Selina assured. ''It's more efficient like this, that's why enchantresses use to take the cure out of water.''
''Why would enchantresses need to take the cure ?'' Cörail wondered. ''Are you folk not immuned to your venom ?''
''We are immuned to our own, but not to other's.''
''Then why would any enchantress' blood can be used as cure ?''
The blue merman did sounded harsh in his tone and choice of word, just like Frost had described him to Nuffink, though that seemed even more evident towards Selina. The jade mermaid didn't like the evident distrust but didn't say anything about it. She actually answered his question.
''Because it's not the blood that matters, but the magic within it.''
''Look, it works !'' Baby Tooth chirped.
They all looked back to Frost, and noticed he had gained back some colors. The black strains were fading and his breath had steadied. Nuffink sighed heavily and let his head drop on their joined hands. Selina came closer and pressed a hand on the white merman's forehead, checking fever.
''We can wake him up, now.'' She said.
Nuffink looked up at her, meeting a reassuring smile of hers. She didn't seem worried anymore, and that reassured him. He smiled and looked down to his boyfriend.
Frost was sleeping and seemed so peaceful. Now that he was doing better, Nuffink felt moved to see him in his true form again, he didn't hold back his wonder. He had not noticed how much he had missed Frost's true form. The color of his snowy scales was echoing his hair perfectly. White, silver, blue, covered in nacred highligh, frost patterns, as smooth as pearl, reflecting the light in icy sparks… He really was beautiful.
The viking gently stroked his boyfriend's cheek and hair, then started to shake him lightly.
''Frost ?'' He asked, his voice soft and full of love.
Visibly, the boy was too fast asleep to hear him since he didn't react.
''Hey, babe ?''
Nuffink ran his hand along the boy's arm, stroking him tenderly, but it wasn't enough. So he bent and planted a kiss in the snowy hair. He kept his face next to his as the boy started to stir.
''Wake up, Snowflake.''
''Hmm, leave me alone, Father…''
Frost frowned a bit and turned on his side, placing an arm on his still-closed eyes. Nuffink smiled and heard a light chuckled coming from behind him, thought the voice was deep. It was the king.
''This is Nuff, my boy.'' The man said, half amused and endeared.
The icy blue eyes snapped open.
''Nuff- Ow !''
When the white merman jolted to sit up, his head bumped into the blond viking's. One fell back in back while the other bent his head backward, both of them pressing their hands on their forehead, surrounded by laughter from the others.
''Just like a dragon, never waking up a merman…'' Nuffink mumbled, half amused.
He looked down and met the crystal eyes he loved so dearly, which looked back at him wide.
''Nuff… ?''
''Hi babe.''
They stayed like this for a moment, looking at each other, until the viking leant in and wrapped his arms around his merman. Frost started at first, not really expecting this to be real, and even less believed it as he looked over the viking's shoulder to see all the others. Astrid, Zephyr, Selina, Sneezelout, even Igvid. They were all here… and were all weirdly turned into merfolk.
''H-How ?'' He stammered.
'' 'How' is not important.'' Nuffink assured, still hugging him close to his heart. ''All that matters is you're fine and we found you.''
''But-''
''Hush…''
The blond viking stroked the back of his head and nape, though it didn't soothe the white merman. He pushed his boyfriend's shoulders and forced him to break the hug, looking at him with dejected and pleading eyes.
''No Nuff, why did you guys come ? After what had happened… You… You lost your father because of me…''
Nuffink froze, stunned, then felt his heart break seeing the silver tears streaming in Frost's eyes.
''He… I tried to stop them but they wouldn't listen to me. I couldn't stop me from-''
''It's okay, babe.'' The viking said, stroking his boyfriend's cheek. ''Dad is alive, he's the one who told us what happened.''
''He's alive ?'' Cörail wondered.
Frost looked up and was surprised to see his two worlds reunited. The vikings and his family. Even Amönel, whom he considered as a annoying nanny, was there.''
''Don't worry.'' Nuffink assured. ''Now we'll get you out of here, and we'll go back home.''
''… You really came for me, then.''
''You are part of our clan, remember.'' Astrid smiled.
Her smiled warmed him up to his very core. The vikings were accepting him, as he was, even if he was from a different specie
''Come on, babe. We get back to Berk.''
Nuffink stood with his hand in his, but Frost stopped him.
''Wait, that won't be possible.''
''Of course it is, we can get out the same way we got in and-''
''No, I mean… I lost my totem, Nuff. Without it, I can't get back my legs.''
To the simple mention of 'totem', they heard Cörail grunt. Nuffink decided to ignore this and focused on his boyfriend and tried to find a solution. It was true there was no sign of the shepherd crook.
''Where is it ?''
''I lost it when… when…''
The boy hesitantly glanced towards Igvid. He couldn't really put words on the incident that happened with her. True he had nearly died, but he still couldn't believe she wanted this happen, she had just lost it to anger. The fact she was here was proof enough for him, it meant she was regretting it, right ? As he was searching his words, she sighed and talked in his stead.
''When I tried to kill you.''
Frost felt Nuffink's hands tighten his own, and saw him frowning and glaring at her. He seemed to be trying to hold back from killing her, which was not the case for the princes and king.
''You what ?!''
The king stood and towered over the brunette, he seemed ready to kill her right away but Astrid stepped between them.
''Our clan stated on her sentence. She had been judged for her crime and, if it can sooth your wrath, she volounteered to be part of this rescuing mission to save your son.''
Nörth's anger seemed to diminish, though he still kept his fists clenched and silvery-blue eyebrows frowned. That's when they heard Selina chuckle.
''There you go.'' She teased.
All of them turned their attention to the jade mermaid and noticed she had just caught a dizzy-looking Frost.
''What's wrong ?'' Nuffink worried, taking his boyfriend in his arms.
He brushed the boy's forehead, pushing away a few snowy strands from it. Frost would have lied saying this didn't feel nice, but his head was a bit dizzy and he felt like his limbs were too heavy for him to lift them.
''Why do I feel so tired, all of a sudden ?'' He mumbled.
''That's the cure's aftermath.'' Selina explained with an amused smile. ''You should rest, it won't take too long 'til you get your strength back.''
Nuffink smiled, relieved, and leant his forehead against his boyfriend's. However how touching this reunion was, they were brought back to reality as they heard a sudden explosion, quickly followed by roaring screams. It sounded like the furious people had breaked in the palace. Frost panicked. Since he had been knocked out by the poison, he had no idea what was going on. Cörail clenched his trident and moved in front of the king.
''We can not stay here, your Highness. They are coming.''
Nörth frowned and turned around to face Nuffink and his son. He met concerned blue eyes, then he looked into grass green ones, and rested a hand upon the golden merman's shoulder.
''I entrust my son to you. Take him as far away from here as you can.''
''What ?'' Frost gasped.
''What about you… sir ?'' Nuffink added.
''I have to put an end to all of this madness. This is all my fault, so I will buy you time and-''
''Majesty !'' Cörail protested. ''You can not !''
The prince tried to hold him back, but Nörth easily pushed him away. The king seemed resigned and ready to sacrifice himself so the other could escape, yet Zephyr was not going to let him do so. She stood in front of him, blocking his way even if she was smaller and thinner than him – which was not difficult considering the merman.
''No !'' She claimed, her voice firm and leaving no room for agument. ''I nearly lost my father because of your… chintzy princes !''
She didn't hesitated before pointing at Cörail and Limönn, but she didn't let them room for reply as she kept on speak.
''This is something I'd never wish even to my worst enemy. You want to protect Frost ? Then stay with him ! He needs you, for Gods' sake ! Your kingdom is against you because you choose to be a father rather than a king, now is not the time to come back on your decision !''
Astrid's first reflex was to grab her by the arm – short from collar – and scold her for her insolence, but she didn't do so as she noticed the king's face. He seemed chocked, as if realising the young viking was right. Because she was right. Nörth had refused to kill his own son despite it was what his people wanted. All of his life, he had done nothing but protect his son, and all his decisions had been made in this very purpose, not for the people's sake.
His choice of heirs of the throne, both great warriors risen to guard and defend Frost's secret existence, the building and condamnation of the north wing, keeping Santaklaussen isolated from Sinterklass… All of this to protect Frost. Never for his people. He had never really been a king, he had always been a father.
Nörth looked wide eyed to his son, still in Nuffink's arms, who was looking back with pleading blue eyes, pleading him to stay. Then the king made his decision.
''Cörail, Limön, Amönel, Öystar.''
''Yes, your Majesty ?''
The four merfolks straightened, looking intently to their sovereign.
''None of you knew I was keeping Fröstkel in the north wing. None of you had even known he was alive all along. After the beginning of the siege, you spotted me trying to escape with him. You tried to stop me in vain.''
They realised he was making up a story to cover them. Cörail and Limönn nodded, then looked at each other.
''We will need wounds to confirm this statement.'' The blue merman stated.
Both princes and the guard spun their weapons and faced each other, ready to fight to they could adorn such wounds.
''It was an honnor to serve you, king Nörth.'' Cörail added solemny.
''Santaklaussen is lucky to have you as princes. Cörail, Limönn, I entrust the kingdom to you. May you bring it the peace it deserves.''
''Be careful.'' Limönn said.
Frost looked at them intently, mouth agape. It felt like he was discovering them all over again. Granted they had never really got along, his two brothers always made fun of his scrawny frame and called him shrimp or prawn. He also had discovered they weren't their brothers at all. Still they had spent their life protecting him and guarding the secret.
When Cörail met his eyes, for the very first time he smiled at him.
''Hey Fröstkel.'' His voice was surprisingly friendly. ''I know I have been rude to you, but I want you to know that, even if Limönn and I do not have the same parents as you, I did consider you as a brother.''
Frost froze even more. That sounded so not like Cörail, but still it was really him, especially when the smile turned into a smirk.
''My unbearable prawn of a little brother.''
He winked at the younger merman, while Limönn smiled warmly at him, nodding in respect.
''Now go.'' The blue-green merman hushered them.
Nuffink gathered his boyfriend in his arms and lifted him, letting him bet silent farewell to his brothers, then all the vikings followed the king. As they left the room, they heard the first clashes of the princes and the guard's fight. Just before they left, Nörth removed his reef crown and dropped it to the ground, then he took the lead of the group. They watched every corner and listened intently to the commotion and screams, trying to determine where the invasion was exactly, allowing them to avoid it.
They went back to the library and used the hidden pathway Frost and Baby Tooth knew by heart. Of course Nörth knew it too, but he had never thought his son had discovered it.
''So this was how you sneaked out of the palace.'' He mused to his son.
Frost noticed his small smile that seemed proud, and smiled back. Nuffink smiled too, moved to see his boyfriend interact with the father he had heard of but never met before. Though they had to stay focus and escape.
The tunnel was going deep down into the sand, going under the city and leading them away from the terrible war, far enough so they wouldn't be seen. While they were making their way, Nuffink was keeping his boyfriend in his arms, feeling his chilly arms around his neck holding on with more strength than before. The aftermath of the cure seemed to fade away, which was good news.
The blond viking slowly became thoughtful. Now that the others also knew Frost was a merman, it felt like nothing would ever be the same back at Berk. Frost didn't need to hide anymore and would have even more chances to fit in the clan. However, there was still the problem of the totem to solve, and it wasn't even what was occupying his mind at the moment.
The firs time he had come to the frozen lands of the north, he had been fascinated by the area and the creatures living there, including merfolk. Now, he was only filled with animosity towards this people. Both Santaklaussen and Sinterklass. Their hatred for Frost was making him so angry. The boy had done nothing to them, his only crime was to exist, but still everyone was trying to kill him because of this.
Will this really end with their escape ? Will Frost really be safe at Berk ? After all, Selina was a mermaid and had reached their island. Who could know who else could find out the hybrid at Berk, or try to kill him ? Nuffink hated this anguish growing within him. Was he going to spend the rest of life fearing for his beloved's life ?
He abruptely came out of his thoughts when he nearly bumped into his sister. He looked up and norticed they had came out of the tunnel, but had also stopped. He stepped aside so he could see pass Zephyr and noticed five merfolk in front of them, blocking out their way.
Enchantresses. There was three mermen and two mermaids, all of them carrying weapons carved out of ice. They were also wearing armors made in the same material.
''Selina.'' A mermaid snickered, stepping forwards as if she was their leader.
''Ocarina.'' The jade mermaid greeted back, though she was on guard.
Nuffink looked closely to the mermaid and noticed Selina and her looked alike. The mermaid was a light green and was older but her face looked a lot like Selina's, and her hair ad the exact same color. Were they sisters ?
''It took you so long to come back I started to think you had turned your back on us. But you outpassed our expectations : not only do you bring us the sacrilege child, but also the reef king. Seize them.''
She gestured the other merfolks who got closer, but Selina stopped them as she brandished her axe.
''No !'' She screamed.
''No ?''
''You heard me, Ocarina.''
''Oh, I see. So you did betrayed us. You know you risk the disgrace for this, little sister.''
''If you want them, you'll have to get through me first.''
''With pleasure.'' Ocarina hissed, her eyes turning a darker hue of green.
Her mouth twisted in a crooked smile, showing off dark teeth dripping of venom, then her and her group struck. The vikings fought back, gathering around Nuffink and Frost, who Nörth was protecting closely. The blond viking had not kept his weapon, giving it to his sister so he could carry his boyfriend, but now he was regretting it. It would have been useful, right now, even if he doubted he could have ignited it underwater. He couldn't do anything but keep his arms around Frost.
Clashes of weapons, roars, war cry and hiss of pain echoed, along with the sound of beating fins. The fight was really harsh. Despite the merfolk being less numerous, they were more ferocious and the vikings had troubles fighting back, so Frost ended up using his powers. Even though it was frowned of, even more so by Cörail, Frost had still used his spare time to practice his magic and learn how to control it, and he was glad it came in handy.
Nuffink jolted back as his boyfriend suddenly let out a blast of ice out of his hands. At first it was just a spark, then it turned into a wave of blueish white light that morphed into ice shards. It struck and forced appart the enchantress. The strength of the blast even pushed the viking backward. He lost his balance but managed to catch himself.
''You okay, Nuff ?'' Frost worried.
''Yes, just a bit surprise is all.''
He looked back at the silver sparks and ice debris floating boce the ice trail on the ground, chuckling as he was impressed.
''Remind me not to make you angry.'' He teased.
Frost smiled and shook his head. The fight was still going on even if some of the enchantresses seemed to have fled. However, a voice suddenly boomed and seemed to silent all the surrounding noises.
''Enough with this, let's put an end to it.''
''Ocarina, no !'' Selina yelled.
As the armored green mermaid's eyes started to glow, a violent current suddenly smashed into the vikings, dragging them into a infernal helix. All too soon, the vikings foudn themselve trapped into a maelstrom. Nuffink and Frost tried all their might to hold onto each other, but it felt like there was an invisible force tearing them appart. They were tossed into the water like lifeless dolls, occasionnaly bumping into the other vikings or the small beluga. They were completely helpless, even Frost's ice blast were crushed by the strenght of the current. This whirlpool was another kind of magic, a powerful and dreadful magic.
Nuffink was still holding desperately onto Frost's wrist, but he could feel his boyfriend slip from his grip. Then, all of a sudden, everything turned black.
The viking jolted awake, sitting up and panting with panic as memories rushed back his mind. He noticed he was back to the surface, sitting in a ice floe. The first person he saw was his sister, in human form, soaked wet, sitting next to him and looking at him in awe.
Actually, it was not him she was looking at, but his necklace. Nuffink blinked and looked down, noticing a faint blueish white halo around the ice shell. Zephyr lifted her hand but didn't dare to touch it.
''Well…'' She gulped. ''I don't know how it works, but this charm of yours is impressive. You're perfectly fine, no wound at all…''
Nuffink shook his head and wrapped his fingers around the shell, trying to break the spell hypnotizing his sister. She blinked and looked up at him when he asked her where was Frost.
''They… They took him, along with the king and Selina.''
''What happened ?''
''This freaking maelstorm, that's what happened ! I even lost my totem !''
''Hey,'' Igvid grunted. ''you're not the only one who lost yours !''
Nuffink looked to his left and spotted Igvid and Sneezelout a few steps away. Both were soaked wet too, Sneezelout was sitting with his legs outstretched, holding his ribs with pain and shaking like a leaf while his sister was rubbing his back.
''Where are mom and Birdlegs ? And Baby Tooth ?''
''Don't worry, they're fine. They left to fetch the drakkar.''
''The drakkar ? But we have to find Frost, his father and Selina !''
''Well duh.'' Sneezelout whinged. ''And how do you wanna do this ? We don't even know where they have been taken, and I don't wanna drown again. She smashed my ribs to revive me-''
''Next time, I let you die !'' Igvid snarled, whacking the back of her brother's head.
''Ow !''
If Zephyr laughed at her friend's misery, Nuffink stayed serious and worried.
''We perfectly know where they went, Selina told us the enchantresses live in the glaciers.''
''Huh, the glaciers ?'' Igvid hesitated. ''Why does it sound like a bad idea ?''
''We'll get them.'' The cheif's son insisted. ''But this time, we won't use merfolk's way. We aren't merfolk, we are vikings. And we have dragons, for Gods' sake !''
Just hearing the word, Zephyr and the Jorgenson felt their determination grew back with full strength. Firebreathing dragons against merfolk wielding water, air and ice… that promised to be quite the fight.