Hello again people, and welcome back to Frozen: Lords of Storm and Stone. Let's see what other mysteries get awoken or unraveled this time.
Review Response: I'm probably taking this too seriously, but I have to talk about this...
First off, I and many other people do like Frozen for what it is, and not without good reason. Yes it has flaws, but they're no where near bad enough to ruin the whole thing for us. If you don't approve, fine, don't approve, but saying it's a letdown is an overstatement, period.
Secondly, and far more importantly...Anna did originally want to be the free one, but there's a 3-year time skip between the 1st and 2nd films, which is well beyond the amount of time required to learn a thing or two, especially considering all the hell Anna herself went through. As for Elsa...I have to admit that Anna becoming queen was originally a huge question mark for me, but it does make sense considering how she most likely watched Elsa be queen during all that time.
To finish the point about Anna wanting to be the free one, which goes hand-in-hand with her witnessing Elsa being queen...well, Anna actually proved her competence on multiple occasions, like asking the trolls to look after the people while she and her family went to the Enchanted Forest, which you'd think Elsa would do, but no, Anna did. Character development for the win.
As for Elsa being the 5th Spirit...well, Anna being the 5th Spirit doesn't make a lick of sense; Elsa's the one with powers, not Anna. Elsa is the one who, by default, had the connection to the spirits, not Anna. Like I said earlier, Anna becoming queen was a head-scratcher at first, but it does make sense upon inspection, especially consider how much growth she's gone through. On top of all that...Elsa is Anna's sister for crying out loud; them switching roles isn't entirely out-of-place, and Elsa watches Anna like a dozen hawks. If she says Anna deserves to be queen, she deserves to be queen.
As for Anna and Elsa having different homes...I don't even know what to think about that...
Ultimately...if you don't like Frozen, why are you reading a fanfic about it, instead of looking at what you do like, or better yet, writing your own stories? And don't accuse me of being butthurt; I have a right and a reason to be curious.
"...and then he restored every cart with his fire." Anna said as the group neared Sigmund's fortress.
"He what?" Sigmund asked.
"That's incredible! Why didn't he come with us?" Kristoff asked.
"He said the whole country needs him as much as it needs us." Anna said.
"Well, there's likely quite a bit of damage to repair thanks to the storms." Elsa said.
"That is true..." Anna said.
"I'm more curious about what would happen if this power was used on a person, alive or dead." Sigmund said, and everyone started thinking.
"That kind of power could save countless lives..." Elsa breathed out.
"My thoughts exactly." Sigmund said.
"Did Saint William say anything about how he got his power, or if it's unique?" Kristoff asked, then Anna facepalmed.
"That's the one thing I didn't ask..." She said.
"It doesn't matter. It's likely we'll see him again." Sigmund said.
"Oh that's right, he said he'll be here if and when we need him again...and he told me to tell you to send people to retrieve the goods in those carts." Anna said, and Sigmund hummed in acknowledgement.
"Not a bad idea." He said.
"While you have some people do that, I'm going to check on Sven." Kristoff said.
"We should also see Olaf." Elsa said.
"By all means. Gunjar should have our dinner cooked by now, and quite a few other people's dinners for that matter." Sigmund said.
"Alright, so, we'll go see Sven, and...I take it you're going to fetch our dinner?" Anna asked.
"Chances are Ingmar will have delivered it to my fortress, but do as you will. I will let Captain Lars know what we found, then go home...and maybe check with Dietrich." Sigmund said.
"Here's hoping he hasn't blown anything up." Kristoff said.
"Not likely." Sigmund said as seriously as ever.
"Well...see you at dinner." Anna said, as Sigmund went to Captain Lars' barracks, as the family went to the village to check on Sven.
When they were done with Sven about an hour later, the group returned to Sigmund's fortress for dinner...and everything was set up. Ingmar himself already sat down and was preparing plates of meat, bread, and vegetables for them.
"Ah, perfect timing my lord, and friends." He said.
"Were you waiting long?" Anna asked.
"Actually, Gunjar was in the process of cooking the food before you returned, and I delivered it here minutes ago." Ingmar said.
"O.k..." Anna said.
"Oh, and Gunjar included that wheel of cheese Lisa gave you, and he extends his regards." Ingmar said.
"Then we'll have to pay him a visit at some point in the near future and thank him." Elsa said.
"He would be most pleased to see his work bare fruit good lady." Ingmar said with a bow.
"How's Sven?" Sigmund asked.
"He's alright, although he's getting pretty bored being stuck in a stable for so long." Kristoff said.
"Well, the field you went to before Dietrich attacked you is still available to him, and since Dietrich is here under probation, Sven should be safe there now." Sigmund said.
"I'll take him there in the morning." Kristoff said.
"Speaking of Dietrich, he hasn't blown any up has he?" Anna asked...and Sigmund smirked.
"No he has not, although I doubt he's in a better mood than Sven." He said.
"That's awfully blunt." Elsa said, and Sigmund stopped filling plates and sighed.
"According to Ingmar, Dietrich still refuses to talk about whatever he believes I did in a place I was never in, and until he does...I have more important things to think about." He said.
"I see..." Elsa said.
"It's not that I don't care, but I can't help someone who refuses to cooperate, even in the slightest." Sigmund said.
"He has a point, but I'm sure some things will sort themselves out, especially after we eat." Kristoff said.
"Of course...help yourselves." Sigmund said before getting out of the way.
"Thank you very much." Anna said, before the trio went to grab their plates before Sigmund grabbed his own, then they all sat down together.
"Lords and ladies, do enjoy your dinner." Ingmar said with a bow before leaving the group to eat.
"It's rather impressive you restored William's faith so easily." Sigmund said.
"Anna has a knack for getting through to people." Kristoff said.
"Apparently." Sigmund said.
"I actually found that out myself, the hard way." Kristoff said and Anna held his hand.
"And now we're married." Anna said.
"And there's also a man with his faith restored giving this country the help it should be immensely thankful for." Sigmund said.
"Sigmund...something just occurred to me. Do you think this William can interact with either of our magic in special ways?" Elsa asked, and Sigmund took a moment to think as everyone looked at him.
"I'm not sure, but if he ever changes his mind and comes here, there would be no harm in asking." Sigmund said.
"If he can, then it's bound to be something huge. I mean, I saw him restore a whole caravan, and it was used by royals, so there should be some pretty good stuff in them." Anna said.
"One can imagine..." Sigmund said, and with that, the group finished up their meal and went to the war room.
"So...did you send anyone to get whatever was in that caravan?" Kristoff asked as Sigmund went through some papers.
"As a matter of fact I have, although I have yet to receive any reports from them..." He said.
"Maybe they haven't returned." Elsa said, and Anna gasped.
"Or they were attacked!" She exclaimed.
"Even if they were, Captain Lars would never sent people without protection, and Absalom himself would never personally come here just to spite me." Sigmund said.
"Or would he?" Kristoff asked.
"No, he wouldn't. Absalom is alot of things, but impatient and spiteful are not among them." Sigmund said.
"And his army?" Anna asked.
"Composed of nothing more than spineless vagabonds and mercenaries." Dietrich said as he approached the group from behind.
"Dietrich?" Anna asked.
"Glad you remember me..." Dietrich deadpanned.
"My army has experience dealing with other soldiers, and Captain Lars is as determined to preserve their lives as I am." Sigmund said.
"Surely a military genius like yourself doesn't need to be told how cowardice can be as much of a threat to the enemy as it is to oneself." Dietrich said casually.
"Of course you don't, but that's only a threat if one does not prepare for it, and Lars does just that consistently." Sigmund said.
"For their sakes I hope it's enough." Dietrich said, and the two men stared at each other as the family looked between them.
"I take you've eaten well?" Sigmund asked.
"Of course I have, but more importantly, I can see that your mission was a failure...as I thought it would be." Dietrich said.
"Not entirely. According to Anna, this Saint William as he calls himself to aid the rest of the country...although I don't know why I'm telling you this." Sigmund said.
"Neither do I." Dietrich said.
"Anyway...it's nice to know there's someone helping the rest of the county while we're helping out here." Anna said.
"What could a single person, even with magic, do for an entire country?" Dietrich asked.
"You'd be surprised..." Elsa trailed off.
"I could make do with a surprise." Dietrich said.
"Must you-" He cuts Anna off.
"Must I what?! While you all get to run around this place doing who knows what, I'm stuck here without a single thing to do! I don't even know why I didn't melt this place to a puddle just to alleviate the boredom...!" He snapped.
"You know what will happen if-" Sigmund cuts Elsa off.
"Enough, Dietrich is right.
"What?" Elsa asked.
"As much as I hate to admit it, but Dietrich's probation has been almost unnecessary. He's been quite well-behaved all things considered, and it isn't right to leave such potential squandered like this." Sigmund said.
"Sigmund...do not speak about me as if I am not here...!" Dietrich said seriously.
"My apologies." Sigmund said.
"Anyway...it would be nice to have you on our side Dietrich." Anna said, and Dietrich stared at the hopeful look on Anna's face, then shook his head before they watched him leave.
"Nice to see he's still in such a good mood." Kristoff said, and Sigmund looked out the window.
"Anyway, the sun is going down soon, so if you have anymore business to take care of, it's time to do it now." He said.
"Well, I'm going to see Sven one more time, and then I'm taking him to that field again in the morning." Kristoff said.
"Here's hoping he doesn't freak out too badly because of the fire Dietrich attacked us with." Anna said.
"He'll be fine...I hope." Kristoff said.
"Maybe I should go too so he knows he's well-protected." Elsa said.
"That should do it." Kristoff said.
"It really should do it." Anna said.
"Will you come with us Anna?" Elsa asked.
"Eh, might as well." Anna said.
"What of Olaf?" Sigmund asked.
"Good question...would you mind keeping him here?" Anna asked.
"I don't see why not." Sigmund said.
"That would be nice of you." Anna said.
"So...good night?" Kristoff asked.
"Yes, good night to you all. If anything come up in the morning, I'll let you know as soon as I can." Sigmund said.
"Alright. Good night...Your Lordship." Anna said, and Sigmund smirked before everyone went to bed.
True to the former's word, Kristoff, Anna, and Elsa took Sven to the same field they went to before Dietrich ambushed them. At first Sven wasn't keen on being in a place where they were put in grave danger, but not only was that no where close to the only time they were in situations like that, but the trio more than capable of easing Sven. Of course, they brought a bucket full of vegetables, especially carrots to ease the pressure even further.
Once Sven got to the fields, it was the first time they came all over again, minus the ambush by Dietrich. Sven ran around the grasslands while clearly enjoying himself as the family that escorted him there watched him. Kristoff in particular watched from the front of the group while smiling and crossing his arms as the sisters behind him stayed together. He then shared a glance with them, especially Anna, who was as thrilled for Sven as Kristoff was.
Kristoff then walked after Sven, who was still running around taking in the scenery, and the freedom of not being restrained by a stable. Of course Sven wasn't opposed to being in a stable; he and Kristoff stayed in countless barns before, but not for days on end. While Kristoff followed Sven, Anna sat on a nearby boulder with Elsa.
"We should do this with Sven more often..." Elsa said.
"No kidding, just look at him go." Anna said as they kept watching Sven run around having the time of his life.
"If he keeps this up he's going to get tired." Elsa said.
"Yeah, what are the chances of that?" Anna asked.
"He's not you for one thing." Elsa said.
"Huh?" Anna asked.
"Come on, once you get going, there's no stopping you." Elsa said, and Anna smirked.
"Right..." She breathed out.
"To an extent, you still have that trend." Elsa said.
"Some things never change do they?" Anna asked.
"Not at all...although, you wouldn't be the Anna I love without it would you now?" Elsa asked, and Anna looked at her funny.
"Hey, you're the Fifth Spirit for crying out loud, and you're still my sister,, and even if I wasn't so energetic, I'd still be- O.k. I'm taking this too seriously, but...still...we're still sisters even if we do change somehow." She said.
"That is very true." Elsa breathed out, before Anna leaned on her shoulder, and got Elsa's arm around her side. The pair then stayed like that, sucking in the fresh, chilled air until Kristoff and Sven came back.
"I take it he's fine now?" Anna asked.
"I sure am Anna." Kristoff said on Sven's behalf.
"And we're coming here soon Sven, I promise." Kristoff said normally.
"That's right." Elsa said.
"But until then, let's go check back with Sigmund." Anna said as she and Elsa got up.
"You think he has something in mind?" Kristoff asked.
"Who knows?" Anna said before they went back to Sigmund's fortress, then went to his war room.
"...and then next thing I knew, I was back to the way I am now, looking at Anna, Elsa, Kristoff, and Sven." Olaf said...as Sigmund stared at him incredulously from the chair he sat on at the large table in his war room.
"You really are the most peculiar group of people I've ever met..." Sigmund said as the family walked in.
"We're back." Elsa said.
"I hope Olaf hasn't been too much of a hassle." Anna said.
"Not at all, in fact, he was just informing me of something." Sigmund said.
"Olaf, are you telling more trivia?" Anna asked.
"Actually...he was telling me of your time in the Enchanted Forest..." Sigmund trailed off, and everyone looked at Olaf with wide eyes.
"You told him!?" Anna , Kristoff, and Elsa asked at the same time.
"I didn't tell him everything." Olaf said.
"What did you tell him?" Anna asked.
"Just...you know, what happened there from where I was standing...and walking...and sitting...and laying down." Olaf said.
"Yes, yes, I can tell there are things you didn't say, nor do I want to know before the right time. Although, I must say I am impressed with what I heard." Sigmund said.
"We still don't know what you heard." Kristoff said.
"Just that you dealt with the spirits there, on top of the natives, and some lost Arendelle troops, all the the same time. I almost wish I was there to see it all happen." Sigmund said.
"O.k...well, there were things that happened aside from that, like you said, and...I know the whole, we-say-things-at-the-right-time thing was tossed around alot, but that point has to come some time." Anna said.
"Maybe...but we're not there yet." Sigmund said.
"Well, until then, what's next?" Elsa asked.
"I was going to check in with Captain Lars, but I wanted you to be here when I got the news, so I waited here with Olaf, and he...proved how well he can entertain until you got back." Sigmund said.
"Yay! I can entertain! Wait...is there such thing as exit-taining?" Olaf asked.
"What? What does that even mean?" Kristoff asked.
"That's what I want to know..." Olaf said.
"He meant, that's not even a word." Sigmund said seriously.
"Oh...well, in that case, glad we learned something new." Olaf said.
"Anyway, shall we head down to the village?" Sigmund asked.
"Lets." Anna said before they went back the way they came, with Sigmund and Olaf behind them.
"Should Olaf come with us?" Sigmund asked.
"Eh, let him have some outside time too. It wouldn't hurt." Kristoff said.
"Not to mention he's not a stranger." Anna said.
"Alright, fair enough." Sigmund said before they continued to go down the halls until they exited the fortress.
When they reached the village, people were just getting started with their personal mornings in various ways, from opening the curtains, to getting their working tools ready. Of course, countless people noticed the group, especially their lord and guardian Sigmund, and either waved at them, or said their good mornings to them, which were returned with equal enthusiasm. Nothing stopped them from getting to the barracks the whole time; no one needed a hand, and even if they had moments where help was welcome, the people's neighbors pitched in before the group, particularly Anna, got a chance to offer their aid.
Once they reached the barracks, Captain Lars was awake and looking over some papers at his desk, when he noticed Sigmund approach.
"Oh, good morning my lord." Lars said.
"Good morning captain." Sigmund said.
"I was just going over the list of items the scouts retrieved from that caravan you mentioned." Lars said.
"And what did they get?" Anna asked.
"What didn't they get? Jewelry, silk, figurines, all kinds of things one would find in a palace." Lars said.
"Really?" Anna asked.
"Yes, really." Lars said.
"Any plans for them?" Sigmund asked.
"In fact, I've taken the liberty of having them sent to the market, to help fund the war effort in some form or another, and made sure the security there is tightened to prevent any...incidents." Lars said.
"Very good." Sigmund said.
"I also have some addition scout reports if you are interested." Lars said.
"I will look over them later, but first, we should pay Gunjar a visit." Sigmund said.
"He and his helpers are working inside as we speak my lord." Lars said.
"Oh great, because I'm hungry." Anna groaned.
"Then let me waste no more of your time." Lars said as he bowed and waved to the door. The group then went inside, and saw soldiers aplenty roaming the inside of the barracks, talking to each other, sorting out their weapons, and taking food from the cooks. Once Sigmund showed his face, the soldiers looked at him, and began murmuring, raising their mugs, and cheering.
"Hail the Lord of Stone!" A soldier yelled and others repeated the same cheer multiple times before Sigmund raised his hands.
"Alright! Alright! Settle down! I wish you all the best of mornings, but we are here to see Gunjar." He said.
"Gunjar my leige?" A man asked, and the group turned to see a blonde man in his early 30's approaching.
"Yes Lief. Is he here?" Sigmund asked.
"Yes my lord. Right this way." Lief said as he lead the group to the rear of the barracks, and they saw multiple people preparing food of every type, with every method, all around the room. The smells were as intense as one would expect, but eating was in fact part of why they were there, so there was nothing to complain about. Lief then wove his way around several cooks, until he got to a large, strawberry-blonde man with a beard talking to several cooks.
"Alright, now back to work, the lot of you." The chef said.
"Chef Gunjar? Lord Sigmund is here, with company." Lief said.
"What?! His Lordship has arrived!" Gunjar yelled, and then spotted Sigmund before lumbering over to engage him while letting off hearty laughter.
"Good morning Gunjar." Sigmund said.
"And a good morning to you sire. To what do I owe this great honor?" Gunjar asked.
"My guests wanted to meet you for one thing." Sigmund said, and Gunjar looked over to see them.
"Ah...the good lad and ladies that arrived at my lord's request. I do trust you enjoyed your meals?" He asked.
"Yes we have." Elsa said.
"Some of the best food we've ever had." Anna said.
"From the lowest peasant, to the richest king, no one receives any food that isn't the tastiest. Not just my motto, but my oath." Gunjar said.
"One you have not broken thus far." Sigmund said.
"Nor will I soon my lord, and esteemed guests to the Valley of Stone." Gunjar said.
"We noticed you included the cheese Lisa gave us in our dinner last night." Kristoff said.
"Ah...the lovely Lisa, a true daffodil that one is. It comes as no surprise she'd offer a wheel of cheese to the lot of you." Gunjar said.
"She was quite friendly when we visited her at the dairy farm." Elsa said.
"Aye, and the lad who wins her heart will be a lucky one indeed." Gunjar said.
"It's no secret why either." Kristoff said.
"Now, enough of the chit-chat, shall I fetch your breakfasts?" Gunjar asked.
"That would be appreciated." Anna said, and Gunjar snapped his fingers.
"Right away." He said, then he grabbed a series of plates, and handed them to several other cooks, who filled them with the same food the group always had, but in smaller amounts to fit the breakfast theme. Gunjar himself also prepared a plate of food, which he offered to Anna after the others had their plates handed to them.
"Thank you very much." Anna said.
"Bon appetite." Gunjar said with a bow, as the group left to eat their meal at a table of their own.
"Well, he was interesting." Kristoff said.
"I'll say." Anna said.
"And he's the one who made our meals." Kristoff said.
"And he will continue to do so, so get used to it." Sigmund said, as the trio with him took several bites.
"That won't be a problem; this is exceptional." Elsa said before continuing to eat, as the others watched.
"Apparently..." Kristoff said.
"Slow down Elsa! Yikes..." Anna said, and Elsa giggled.
"Sorry." She said.
"Anyway...once we're done here, I'll take Captain Lars' report, and read it at the fortress." Sigmund said.
"Alright then." Kristoff said, and with that, the group continued eating in relative peace as the troops around them continued socializing.
When they were done, Sigmund took the report from Lars, and went back to the fortress...and Anna brought some food back for Dietrich, who was in the dining room sitting by himself. When she approached, Dietrich paid her no mind, until she set the plate down.
"Hungry?" Anna asked, and Dietrich side-glanced at her, then the plate, then took it before eating. Anna then spotted Kristoff coming in, along with Elsa and Sigmund.
"Subtle as a bull that one..." Kristoff said.
"Sigmund? Did you find anything out?" Anna asked.
"Yes I have, although it's not much to go on." Sigmund said.
"Well, what is it?" Anna asked.
"It turns out that there's a log cabin in an unexplored part of the Valley of Stone's outskirts." Sigmund said.
"Well, it's not unexplored anymore. Wait...what's a log cabin doing there?" Anna asked.
"I don't know, but from the report, it's more than just a pile of logs thrown together haphazardly." Sigmund said.
"And this cabin is just...right there, in the woods, without any history behind it?" Anna asked.
"Apparently so, and there's no mention of anyone living there." Sigmund said.
"Why would someone live by themselves in the woods at a time like this? Doesn't seem very smart considering the war going on." Elsa said.
"Who cares? Only animals and barbarians live in the woods." Dietrich said, and Kristoff tapped himself with a finger.
"I lived in the woods...!" He said seriously.
"Your point being?" Dietrich asked casually, and Kristoff snarled.
"Enough. We should see what this place has to offer, whether it's worthwhile or not, we won't know until we see for ourselves." Sigmund said.
"Shouldn't those scouts have looked into it?" Anna asked.
"They could have either not thought about it...for some reason, didn't want to take any risks, or they were stopped. Either way, I suggest the two of you bring your sabers in case things get nasty." Sigmund said before leaving, and the trio shared looks before readying themselves and joining Sigmund outside before they went through the forest.
"...and when everything was done thawing out, we spotted Hans waking up, then I told him, and I quote, the only frozen heart around here is yours." Anna said.
"Technically I was going to give him a piece of my mind, but you beat me to it, and he questioned why you were walking around when your heart was frozen...just saying." Kristoff said.
"Right...and then I punched Hans so hard he fell off the boat." Anna said.
"Unbelievable..." Sigmund groaned.
"Hey, he had it coming." Anna said seriously.
"I know, and I do not blame you for one moment." Sigmund said.
"It's a shame it had to end like that though." Elsa said.
"Lust can drive a person to do the unthinkable, especially a lust for power." Sigmund said.
"Apparently." Kristoff said.
"May I ask what became of Hans since you sent him home?" Sigmund asked.
"We haven't heard from him since, but he's no longer welcome in Arendelle for obvious reasons." Anna said.
"Another thing you cannot be blamed for." Sigmund said.
"Although...he did tell me once that his twelve older brothers weren't nice to him...but I still don't know if he was telling the truth or not." Anna said.
"It's quite likely he did. With all due respect, having one sibling neglecting you for years on end is one thing, but a whole brood of siblings actively treating you like the scum of the earth? If that really is the case, it's no wonder Hans turned out so horribly." Sigmund said, and everyone started thinking.
"You know...that's not a bad point..." Anna said.
"No it's not." Kristoff said.
"It doesn't excuse him however, but I am pleased to have helped you overcome a milestone...if it can be called that." Sigmund said, and with that everyone continued walking through the woods, until Anna sighed.
"Sigmund...Saint William told me that Adrianna came after him and the other monks he was with." She said.
"I'm not surprised..." Sigmund groaned.
"He...didn't go into details, but I can tell she didn't do anything good." Anna said.
"Again, I'm not surprised." Sigmund said.
"Dare I ask?" Kristoff asked.
"Let's just say that what I thought of lead me to saying, and again I quote, she sounds like a monster." Anna said.
"What? You think she killed them? With the same kind of power Dietrich has?!" Elsa asked seriously.
"I...think so..." Anna said.
"Wow...this Adrianna lady does sound like a monster." Kristoff said.
"Kristoff...you do not know the half of it." Sigmund said seriously.
"You've seen her work...haven't you?" Anna asked softly, and Sigmund sighed and looked down.
"Yes...before I even became the Lord of Stone, I've seen her destroy entire towns just because they wouldn't give her what she wanted, without any regard for how much fear she was causing." He said.
"What?" Anna asked, and Sigmund's face soured even more.
"I will never forget the aftermath of each time Adrianna ravaged an area; she left only destruction, and a trail of pitch-black corpses in her wake. I've only been burned a handful of times in my life, but...the idea of one's final moments being spent feeling their entire body burning is just heart-crushing." Sigmund said.
"Why did she do that?" Elsa asked seriously.
"To prove a point; I don't know how she became the fiend she is now, but...she thrives on fear, and uses it as a means to an end more often than she has any right to." Sigmund said.
"What do you mean?" Kristoff asked.
"I mean she uses fear to control people, and on more than one occasion, she's given people an ultimatum: surrender, or burn. Although in some cases, the choice was hers alone to make." Sigmund said.
"You mean she just burned everything and left?" Kristoff asked.
"Yes...and it's just as reprehensible as it sounds; be happy you weren't there to see it." Sigmund said seriously.
"Right..." Kristoff said.
"Granted, I've used fear myself, but not because I enjoy it, unlike her." Sigmund said.
"Fearing someone because they're a threat, and fearing someone because they want you to are two different things." Elsa said.
"And that is precisely why Adrianna is probably more of a threat than Absalom himself." Sigmund said.
"But what would drive Adrianna to do any of this in the first place?" Anna asked.
"Like you told me before Anna, anger leads people to make bad choices...but Adrianna does not have that excuse." Sigmund said.
"In other words, she's heartless." Kristoff said.
"That's probably the best way to describe her, yes." Sigmund said.
"Well, at least Dietrich never went down that road...I think." Anna said.
"Not likely, he doesn't seem at all interested in whether or not people fear him. All he seems to care about is his revenge, despite being significantly calmer, at least on the surface." Elsa said.
"We should still keep an eye on him; he might be getting better, but appearances can deceive." Sigmund said.
"Just like with Hans..." Anna groaned.
"I highly doubt Dietrich and Hans can be compared, but point taken." Sigmund said.
"Well, things have gotten gloomy enough. Let's go check out that cabin, and get back." Kristoff said, and with that, everyone continued going through the woods without a word, while taking the scenery.
Next thing they knew, they reached a large stream flowing through a series of rocky cervices that lead to one another, with a small wooden bridge over them. Once they walked over the bridge, and marveled at the minor natural wonder beneath them, they continued their trek through the woods. While they marched, even Sigmund was interested in the scenery, and to a degree not seen before. It was clear he had not been through this part of the forest before, or at least very often.
Eventually, they spotted a log cabin, just like the report said...and everyone stared at it.
"Well...there's definitely a log cabin out here..." Anna said.
"Cabin? More like a manor; that place is huge." Kristoff said.
"That explains why no one investigated it: a structure this large in the middle of unexplored territory could have any number of surprises." Sigmund said.
"Well...any guesses on what we can find in there?" Kristoff asked.
"Not really. Elsa?" Anna asked before looking at Elsa whose eyes were fixed on the cabin.
"No...but I can tell there's something in there. Something that's very much worth our time." Elsa said.
"Then let's waste no more time." Sigmund said before marching towards the cabin with the trio behind him.
When they got inside...their eyes widened, and Anna gasped. The whole place was mildly decorated from top to bottom, and one wall to the other. Carpets, glasses on the table, some animal had trophies on the wall...which was somewhat unsettling for Kristoff, and a fireplace, and all of that was just the main hall.
"This place looks like a hunter lives here." Kristoff said.
"Or lived here." Elsa said.
"Sigmund? Any ideas why this is here?" Anna asked.
"I can't say I'm aware...although it's clear that this building was used by hunters.." Sigmund said.
"You're telling us." Kristoff said.
"I know this place isn't explored, but do you know of any hunters that live in this area?" Elsa asked.
"The only hunters I'm aware of are the ones that hunt in the woods for my people's survival." Sigmund said.
"Maybe they built this place as a base." Anna said.
"Without my knowledge? Why would they do that?" Sigmund asked seriously.
"Good point..." Anna said.
"This is quite a mystery indeed..." Elsa trailed off.
"Nevertheless, you yourself said there's something worthwhile in here." Sigmund said.
"I...can't tell where it is exactly though." Elsa said.
"We can still look through this place; we've only looked at the front." Anna said.
"True enough." Elsa said, and everyone split up to look around.
Anna looked around in the upper floor, and searched each room as thoroughly as she could. Bookshelves, cabinets, drawers, even behind furniture, but all she found were books that talked about basic subjects, including simple stories, clothes that were so basic they were almost not worthy of note, and of course, dust bunnies. Every now and then she found a piece of jewelry, but there was no way she was going to take it; they were here to investigate the place, not rob it. When she got to the back room, she found a master bedroom...and saw a symbol over the large bed in the middle.
Kristoff for his part, looked at the back of the building, and his case was no better than Anna's. He found a dining area, as well as a kitchen which had a decent number of tools to cook with, and even saw an area outside where meat was hung to dry, and fruits and vegetables were stored. It was clear this place was being used, but nothing concrete could be thought of...yet. He then went further into the back area, and found a room with a fireplace, and a circle of chairs.
Elsa looked at the side of the house opposite to the one Kristoff looked at, and she had her own share of discoveries. A small library was found, which was filled in a decent number of books, along with some valuables that like her sister, she wasn't about to take. She then looked through the books, and one particularly large book she removed triggered a mechanism that was being kept still by the book's weight. The next thing she knew, Elsa was looked down a staircase that led to the cabin's secret cellar.
When she went down the stairs, she looked around, and with what little light was available, was able to tell it was a storage area. A wine bottle rack, some barrels in the corners, some crates stacked by a wall, and a chest or two, and that was just the first room. When she went to a side room, she found items used for construction, like nails, hammers, and a ruler on a table. She then spotted a small chest that required a key, and using her magic, she made a key that fit the lock, and opened it before sifting through it's contents...then her breath hitched when she got to the bottom.
"Sigmund!" Anna exclaimed as she rushed down the stairs, and Sigmund stopped looked through the front area to see the symbol in her hands.
"What in...?" Sigmund trailed off.
"You know what this means?" Anna asked.
"No...but I have seen this symbol before: this cabin is a lodge." Sigmund said.
"For whom?" Anna asked.
"I'm not sure, but this place was made in secret for a reason, and someone clearly wanted it to stay that way." Sigmund said as Kristoff showed up.
"Not just someone...alot of someones." He said.
"What did you find?" Sigmund asked.
"Just...a room full of chairs that resembled a meeting hall, without the hall." Kristoff said.
"O...k..." Anna trailed off.
"Did you see this symbol in there?" Sigmund asked as Anna held up the symbol.
"No I didn't." Kristoff said.
"Well, All we can do is wait for Elsa to come back with...whatever she's found." Anna said before Elsa showed up.
"I found this..." She trailed off as she held out a book...with the same symbol Anna was holding. Sigmund then slowly reached out to take it before looking it over.
"Where did you find this?" Anna asked before Sigmund opened the book.
"In a small chest underground, and I think this is why I felt like we should came here." Elsa said.
"But what's so special about it?" Kristoff asked.
"I don't know; I didn't look at it yet." Elsa said.
"Sigmund?" Anna asked.
"I...I'm going to have to read this on the way back to the fortress..." Sigmund breathed out.
"Why? What's that book about?" Anna asked.
"Only one of the most gripping legends surrounding the Valley of Stone." Sigmund said seriously.
"Legends?" Kristoff asked.
"Yes. It is only called the Valley of Stone because of me, but it's been known by many names over the centuries. I don't know them by heart unfortunately, but this book tells one of them in detail, or at least it's supposed to." Sigmund said.
"But why do the people behind this lodge care about the Valley?" Anna asked.
"I don't know...but if it's important, we must find out soon enough." Sigmund said.
"And we will, I'm sure of it." Kristoff said.
"Well, let's get back to your fortress and see what Dietrich is up to." Anna said.
"Right..." Sigmund whispered before the family lead the way back to the fortress as Sigmund read the book, and followed them back.
When they returned to the fortress, Dietrich was in the throne room by himself, nibbling on what was left of a piece of bread.
"Welcome back Lord and company. Was your trip a success?" Ingmar asked.
"Yes it was. There are quite a few unanswered questions, but we did find a book that was worthy of our time." Sigmund said, and Dietrich started to slowly clap his hands.
"Congratulations. After hours of searching the woods, and an abandoned log cabin, you managed to find an old book. Your victory is assured now..." He groaned.
"It's not the book, but it's contents that are worthy of notice." Sigmund said.
"What exactly did you read about; you never told us on the way here." Kristoff said.
"It involves a story from when the Vikings were still a noteworthy presence in Scandinavia. A story from Odinism." Sigmund said as he walked over to the balcony of his war room.
"Well, what does the story involve?" Elsa asked before Sigmund pointed into the distance.
"You see that mountain? The one shorter than the ones around it? That used to be a holy site, or at least a site considered to be holy." He said.
"O.k...why does that matter now?" Elsa asked.
"According to the legend, there used to be tournaments there, ones held to earn favor from the Valkyries themselves, the servants of the Viking pantheon. Supposedly, the winners of each tournament would not only receive blessings, but everyone who so much as participates gets a one-way trip to Valhalla, no matter what. Some of the warriors involved actually fought to win the heart of a Valkyrie, while others simply fought to honor them, or to redeem themselves." Sigmund said.
"That's a lovely story..." Anna breathed out.
"It gets better. It turns out that some women got involved with the hopes of becoming a Valkyrie themselves." Sigmund said.
"You can do that?" Anna asked.
"It's not unheard of; just look at the story of Brunhilde." Sigmund said.
"O.k...what else did that book tell you?" Anna asked.
"Nothing but finer details; what I'm telling you is the main idea. This valley itself has a major historical footprint...and in more ways than one." Sigmund said.
"And it's going to get bigger I'm sure." Elsa said.
"As am I Elsa..." Sigmund trailed off.
"Well, what do you all say we go check that site out?" Anna asked.
"What? Do you want to learn more about the Valkyries all of a sudden?" Sigmund asked.
"I was just curious, but now that you mention it...I guess it wouldn't hurt." Anna said.
"Don't tell me you believe that nonsense. Legends are just that." Dietrich said.
"Again...it wouldn't hurt." Anna said.
"Fine...but don't expect to become a Valkyrie should Absalom's minions attack you." Dietrich said.
"Of course not...although that would be something else." Anna said.
"You're something else..." Dietrich groaned before walking off.
"Hey! Why don't you come with us?" Anna asked, and Dietrich stopped and turned to her.
"Why on earth would I do that?" He asked.
"You said earlier you're bored in this place aren't you? This is your chance..." Anna said, and Dietrich turned and sighed before clutching his fists.
The plot thickens...no cliche intended. Now, just to get this out of the way, I have no intention of giving Anna the powers of a Valkyrie, let alone the powers of an Aesir, which is a Norse god for those of you who don't know. To be fair, that's quite a concept, but I'm not doing that. The most I can see myself doing with Anna, and Kristoff for that matter, is giving them magic items, but only Elsa, Sigmund, William, and the major antagonists are getting magic. Anyway, there's a mysterious lodge, and now a temple that needs to be looked into, on top of the war going on, so be sure to Rate, Review, and Share while things continue to unravel. Stay tuned...