Chapter: 4 The Pain of the Past
Anna's life has become a blur. What was once a struggle beneath surging rapids is now reduced to nothing more than bubbling darkness. She's neither seeing nor blinded...dead nor alive. The young queen's mind wanders throughout a vacuous void. In which the sound of her heartbeat thumps louder than all others. Echoes of a world left behind try to reach her as Anna feels a pressure against her chest. A slight tingle pries at her lips before the rhythmic pressures return. And then...Anna is pulled from such spacious blackness. As she opens her eyes, she finds herself gasping and choking for air.
Sensation returns to Anna's fingertips as they clench clusters of loamy soil. River water bubbles and seeps from her mouth as she coughs it up in globs. Her face is drenched as her body quivers against Arendelle's wintry winds. She shudders at first and observes a distorted silhouette as it leans away. As Anna coughs and wheezes, her vision slowly starts to return. She focuses intently on the black-haired being until a woman's face takes shape. Lynn catches her breath as they sit beside the river. She's just as soaked as Anna is and raises a calming hand.
The queen's ears are still ringing when a set of bold hooves stomp towards the downed queen. While Anna's still recovering, she can faintly make out an exchange as Lynn backs away from Sven. Ever the loyal reindeer, Sven stands guard over Anna and snorts at Lynn. He flails his antlers at her as her muffled words are barely audible to the queen.
"Easy," Lynn urges. "Easy!" She's forced to raise her voice when the reindeer doesn't back down. While Lynn's merely trying to be heard, her outburst only makes Sven more defensive. "Hey," she sternly intones as Sven tilts his head. "She was-" The reindeer's profuse snorting makes Lynn raise her voice again. "She was drowning!" she snaps. "I just saved her life." Much to Lynn's surprise, the animal appears to actually understand her. His nostrils stop flaring as he worriedly looks at Anna.
The queen weakly pets Sven's hoof and whispers, "It's...true."
Further concerned, Sven lowers his head to give Anna a gentle lick across her cheek. She smiles softly and scratches under his chin. Clasping his antlers for support, Anna holds on as Sven helps her to her feet. Lightheaded and nauseous, Anna takes her time to fully stand. She then glances over at Lynn and whispers, "Thank you."
The huntress nods, only to immediately take cover as a monstrous roar echoes throughout the woods. "What the hell is that thing?" Lynn shivers as the coldness catches up with her. In an effort to make up for his defensive hostilities, Sven steps closer to Lynn. He offers his damp fur for whatever warmth it can offer her and Anna.
As the women hold on to Sven, Anna thinks over Lynn's question. "I have no idea," she says. "But frankly, I'm confused about a lot right now. I had a feeling the Southern Isles was up to something. But I expected thievery...forgery...I don't know! I would've considered mail fraud before a Southern Isles servant lit himself on fire and turned into a monster." Anna leers at her rescuer from head to toe. "Who are you?"
"You can call me Lynn," she answers.
Feeling cautious, Anna clenches Sven's fur and asks, "And what was your purpose for coming to Arendelle? Are you a princess? A diplomat of some kind?"
"No no no," Lynn is quick to respond. "I'm a huntress back on the isles. I came to be supportive of my fiancé."
Anna notes the silver engagement ring glimmering on Lynn's finger. Its noble beauty fades as a dreadful realization dawns upon Anna. She considers who Mattias brought Lynn in with and who she'd jumped aboard their sled with as well. "Wait," the queen utters. "Wait wait wait...she is your fiancé-" Anna can hardly even bring herself to say his name. She almost doesn't want the obvious to be true. "Is-...are you engaged to Hans?" Anna chokes more on his name than the river water she was drowning in.
"I am," Lynn proudly affirms. She knows not what lies King Victor has spread about her future husband, but she has nothing to prove to anyone. Instead, she stands tall beside the bewildered queen. Anna's eyes teem with concern and astonishment as Lynn carries on. Thinking of their survival, the huntress runs her fingers across the icy terrain and observes their surroundings. "The river carried us for some time before I was able to get you out," she says. "We could head back towards the initial crash site, but that risks whether or not Hans and your sled driver are still there. It also leaves us exposed and open if this creature's still lurking about."
At first, Anna doesn't answer. She instead keeps staring at Lynn with the utmost befuddlement. "You're engaged to Hans? How long has it been?"
"For the love of-" Lynn scoffs. "Nearly a year now, your majesty!" Anna can practically feel the woman's defensiveness radiating off of her. "It's not our fault that he was exiled and we've chosen to take our time before a ceremony. But I don't see how any of this is relevant to our current situation. Respectfully, we should be focusing on survival."
Anna's thoughts about Hans race. She's actually engaged to him? the queen thinks. Even if he was exiled, how can she overlook everything he's done? Unless he's changed in all of these years. But that doesn't explain Mattias' arrest. Something doesn't feel right. Her thoughts subside as she considers where Kristoff could be and if he's alright.
"We should keep moving," Lynn suggests. "We'll need to find shelter."
"Kristoff can't be that far behind," Anna suggests and hobbles in the opposite direction.
"Queen...Anna is it?" Lynn speaks up to stop her. "Surely you know as well as I do that we can't help anyone if we're dead. You said it yourself, you have no idea what that creature is and neither do I. But if we want to stand any chance against it, we need to find shelter and supplies."
Anna reluctantly agrees while stroking Sven's fur for comfort. She can tell how concerned he is for Kristoff as well. "I know a place," she says and observes the trees around them. She traverses the woodlands surrounding Arendelle and longs for much happier occasions. With a heavy grunt, Anna hauls herself onto Sven's back. "Get on," she beckons until Lynn follows suit. Once they've both mounted the reindeer, Anna leans in and says, "Get us to Oaken's." At her command, Sven moos and dashes off into the night.
Rather than hold on to Anna, Lynn clutches at Sven's sides. She tries to compose herself while letting her mind wander. Although the huntress appears calm, she can't help but worry or not Hans is alright.
Hans feels as though his body has been folded into pieces. It's as if each limb has been tied into a knot as he awakens pinned beneath wooden wreckage. The remnants of Kristoff's splintered sled shuffle above him as he slowly crawls his way out. Aching muscles and a throbbing headache plague him with each movement. As he claws his way to safety, several dislodged planks collapse behind him. One of the snapped boards points towards a groaning Kristoff, and Hans is quick to move in.
The mountain man is just as burly as Hans remembers from all those years ago. Whatever strength he's imagined Kristoff having is realized once Hans rolls him over out of the wreckage. From the moment he regains consciousness and glimpses Hans' visage, Kristoff immediately clenches a fist. Just feeling Hans' hands gripping his shoulders is enough to have him throwing a ferocious punch. Kristoff strikes with enough force to get Hans off and send him staggering back. As if he wasn't in pain already, now Hans clasps his cheek as the world briefly spins around him.
"That's...for Anna," Kristoff huffs and scrambles to his feet.
Hans throws up a hand while Kristoff braces for a brawl. The blonde is all the more perplexed when Hans utters, "Please...I don't want to fight."
"After all you've done," Kristoff scorns. "How you've still come despite the laws against you. How can I possibly believe that?"
"Because I don't want to be here," Hans intones. He struggles to stand as his cheek reddens from Kristoff's punch. "My fiancé insisted and-"
"F-f-fiancé?" Kristoff stammers. "You actually-"
"We all moved on, okay?" Hans snaps. His outburst puts Kristoff back on the defensive as he raises his fists. "I'm not here for you nor Anna. I don't want your damn crown if that's what you're thinking." Hans lowers his voice and leans against a toppled tree. He feels as broken as its trunk as he sighs, "Besides, it looks like she's doing just fine as queen."
While Hans' words are meant to placate Kristoff, all they do is anger him further. "Doing fine?" he murmurs. "You weren't there for the weeks...the months even...following the Great Thaw." Kristoff shuts his eyes as if recalling each dark detail. "Anna and I were still getting to know each other, but your wounds were still fresh. She tried to not let anyone see past her smile, but they weren't around for the sleepless nights. The nightmares where she'd wake up screaming, thinking she was about to freeze to death in the room you locked her in." Each of Kristoff's accusatory words has Hans shuddering back. The fallen prince braces against the tree and angrily clenches a broken branch. Still, Kristoff continues to unload his frustrations. "So don't you dare say 'we' moved on to excuse your crimes. I've seen the damage it's done to my fiancé, and it's unforgivable."
Hans feels like Kristoff's punched him twice more without even raising a fist. From what he can recall, there had been some closeness between Kristoff and Anna. But to finally hear the word 'fiancé' leaves Hans feeling like a hollow shell of himself. Kristoff has who he could've if he'd only set aside his selfish desires. He is giving Anna everything Hans could never do, all because of those 'unforgivable' actions. Like the sparrow he'd murdered, Hans' hands are stained with the irremovable scum of his crimes. As he embraces such mental suffering, his hand continues to clench the broken tree branch. He lets its sharp bark pierce his palm as Queen Briella whispers in his ear.
"It just isn't natural," his mother says as if she's leaning on his shoulder. "A filthy peasant such as him marrying the Queen of Arendelle. And how weak you are to let him speak to you like this." Hans' grip on the branch tightens until he starts wincing. He glares at Kristoff as his mother continues. "You are stronger than him, my son. Make me proud. Take the branch in your hand and skewer this insolent swine! Remind him of his place!"
Kristoff's eyes sway to the branch as Hans is practically convulsing. Sweat trickles down the prince's temple until he finally exhales. Resisting his mental temptations, Hans releases the branch and reveals how much it's pierced him. Blood trickles from the scrapes lining his palm as he whispers, "You are right to hate me. Perhaps none of us have moved on. But either way, something is out here beyond any of our understandings. And our fiancé's are lost somewhere in these woods. Think what you want of me, but all I want is to find my Lynn." Despite his best efforts to remain stern and calm, Hans is panicking within. His heart races as he imagines Anna with Lynn in this very moment. The mere thought of her learning the truth is enough to make him shiver.
To Hans' surprise, Kristoff takes a step back and peers beyond the wreckage. "We should get moving," he says. While Hans nods to him, Kristoff throws up a hand to warn him. "Don't mistake this cooperation for trust. Once we find our fiancés and Sven, we are going our separate ways."
"Wait...Who's Sven?" Hans can't help but ask.
His question coaxes a frustrated huff out of Kristoff. "My reindeer," he groans.
"Right then," Hans mutters. He awkwardly scratches at his beard before following Kristoff through the snowy woodlands.
There is sheer panic below the forested summit. King Victor and his surviving sons flee deeper into the shadows before collectively collapsing in a clearing. As they fight to catch their breaths, it isn't long before the group erupts into utter chaos. "They're dead-" one of the older princes frets. He tugs at his auburn tresses, ruining whatever gel his profuse sweating hasn't. "They're all dead!"
"Quiet down, Cedric." Marcus intones.
"Quiet down?" Cedric blurts. "Tell that to Jakob...or Oliver! They're gone, big brother! All gone!"
"Will someone shut him up?" Damian gripes.
A lankier prince whose managed to keep his hair looking sleek approaches Cedric. "Hey," he says softly. "You've got to calm down."
"Not while that thing's out there, Otto." Cedric panics. "It's coming for us! Coming to-"
"That's it!" Rowan growls. Fed up with his younger sibling's worrying, the brute grabs him by the collar and shoves him against a tree. "Shut up!" Rowan roars as sweat coats his bald head. "Shut up! You hear me?" Cedric hangs his head and breaks down into a series of hushed whimpers. Disgusted by his little brother's sniveling appearance, Rowan throws Cedric to the snowy ground.
Marcus shakes his head at the display. As the the oldest living son, he turns to check on his king. "Father?" he inquires while Victor sits on a log. "Father?" he reiterates when the elder remains silent.
"Perhaps it was a mistake to come here," the king says. "To try and finish Anton's mission. Perhaps...I was wrong."
"Don't talk like that," Marcus assures. "You're always right, father."
Victor winces at his son's touch, for it only makes him think of those he's lost. He's still reeling from the deaths as he whispers. "I can only take so much," he whispers.
"But you need not carry this burden alone," Marcus assures while gesturing to Damian and Rowan. "We can bear it with you."
"This has to do with the Arendellians," Leo proposes. "They did something to Anton and they did something to David! I know it! They already had a snow queen."
"That's enough," Ben mumbles.
"It's not!" Leo fires back. "Who knows what other supernatural secrets they're hoping to use against us here? This is all Hans' fault!" Leo accuses. "Arendelle wants revenge because of his actions!"
"While Hans has indeed complicated things-" Victor tries to speak over his sons. "-we must leave Arendelle be. Anton just started reforming relations. How can we possibly break them down now?"
"It-it-it's too late," Cedric stutters as all gazes fall to him. "Too late for all of us."
Rowan rolls up a sleeve to punch Cedric when Otto holds him back. "I'll see to him," the lanky prince insists and puts an arm around Cedric. He walks his sibling away from the group to help calm him down.
Although she's riding Sven with Anna, Lynn can't help but keep checking their surroundings. Perhaps it's the huntress in her that keeps her so vigilant. Her rapid twists and flinches have Anna glancing back. "Are you alright?" the queen asks.
"Fine," Lynn assures. "Just keeping an eye out. Watching every shadow."
"You remind me of my Kristoff," Anna mentions. "He just has these certain instincts when it comes to the outdoors. It's admirable really."
"Then he's a survivor too," Lynn replies as her eyes scour the treelines. "Illness claimed my parents when I was just a girl, but they'd taught me to fend for myself and live off of the land. You quickly learn what you can eat and what wants to eat you out here."
Sven's ensuing snort catches Anna's attention. Both she and Lynn look beyond their snowy hill and observe a cozy cabin. A warm glow emanates from the log structure's windows and beckons the travelers closer. "This is it," Anna says. "Wandering Oaken's Trading Post." Sven moos and gestures to the cabin's lower sign. "And Sauna," Anna mumbles. As they dismount, the queen directs Sven to the same storage room he and Kristoff once slept in. "Best keep out of sight," she says.
While Sven goes to hide, Anna and Lynn enter the cabin. Bright-eyed, bearded, and eager to serve new customers...Oaken himself emerges. "Hoo-hoo!" is all he's able to greet them with before he drops his spiel entirely. He grows concerned at the sight of two disheveled ladies, especially considering that one of them is his queen. "Your majesty?" Oaken worries. The tall and bulky vendor rushes over from beyond his desk. "Whatever happened to you and this lass?"
Anna rubs at one of the scratches on her face while Lynn feels her bruises. "It's kind of a long story," the queen answers. "But it's an emergency and we need your help."
If there's one thing Oaken has come to learn amidst Elsa and Anna's reigns, it's that the royals are always getting into trouble. Given Anna and Lynn's harrowing appearances, he knows better than to start pitching one of his special deals. Resisting every urge to add a fee, Oaken relents in the name of better judgement. "Take whatever you need. Desperate times, yes?"
"I promise I'll pay you back," Anna assures as Oaken nods graciously. Lynn gets to work, darting down aisles and scouring them for vital supplies.
"So who's you're new friend?" Oaken asks and Lynn instantly freezes. "Never seen her around these parts." The huntress is starting to gather that there's some form of deep-rooted animosity between Arendelle and the Southern Isles. She deduces that such discontent was likely spurred by King Victor.
"She's-" Anna answers and nervously bites her lip. "-an explorer! From...um...Corona?"
There's a daunting pause as Oaken observes Lynn. His eyes suddenly widen with his grin as he says, "That's fascinating! I've heard wondrous stories about your kingdom. So beautiful. So surreal."
"It's something alright," Lynn plays along while grabbing a pair of hunting bows.
"I heard a rumor," Oaken adds. "That the kingdom once fell under a terrible curse. One in which the dead rose to attack the living. Sounded a little too unbelievable for my tastes."
"After what's happened in Arendelle-" Anna replies while plucking a pickaxe from the wall. "-nothing's unbelievable to me." Her remark unfortunately takes her back to all which occurred with Elsa. She recalls the horrors of demonic possession brought on by a powerful runestone. Anna paces for a moment and ponders about David. She visualizes the clawed stone he held before setting himself on fire.
Could that have truly been another runestone? Anna asks herself. Her heart sinks when she remembers that Olaf even brought a runestone home from Oaken's all those years ago. While she, Kristoff, and Elsa had smashed it to pieces...Anna still wonders if there were others.
"Oaken," the queen beckons. "I know it's been quite some time, but that stone you gave Olaf when he stayed with you. Were there any others?"
The vendor has to sit down and take a moment. He hums in deep thought and shuts his eyes in an effort to return to the past. "Now that you mention it, ya." Oaken says. "There was one more. I found it along with the other I gave to your little snowman."
"Where?" Anna asks as she leans against the counter.
Her intensity catches Oaken off guard. "Well," he frets and drums his fingers. "I had been traveling the countryside at the time and met up with some other wandering traders. They found them at a viking burial I believe, and said the stones granted good fortune."
Oaken's words have Anna staggering back. "What?" Lynn asks. "What's wrong?"
"Those things bring anything but fortune," Anna laments. "I've seen it firsthand. I knew we should've spoken out-" The queen pinches the bridge of her nose and huffs. "That's why we rid ourselves of the first stone. That's why we smashed the one you gave Olaf!" Oaken gasps as Anna's exasperation increases. "This third one," she queries. "Did it have...scratches? Claw marks on it?"
Oaken gulps. "I think so, ya."
A shiver surges through Anna as she barely utters, "And...who bought it off of you?"
"I never forget my customers," Oaken assures. "It was a fair-skinned lass. Short blonde hair and light eyes. Looked a little older than me." Anna's heart pounds with each added description. "I get a lot of regulars, but she was new."
"Because she's not from here," Anna realizes. "Naomi," is all she can utter before something rumbles outside of the shop. There's a brief pause before the rumble returns and all eyes fall upon a jar of lutefisk. The chopped fish within bobs when something causes an impact tremor. Another heavy stomp sends the lutefisk liquid rippling across the jar.
"Oh god," Lynn utters. "It's coming."
"W-what's coming?" Oaken asks.
Without wasting a moment, Anna dashes to the nearest lantern. "Get the lights!" she whispers sharply. Lynn darts to the opposite end as the stomps get louder. Smaller trinkets and knickknacks rattle from their shelves as Oaken worriedly locks his door. As Lynn blows out a candle, darkness consumes the cabin. "Get down!" she urges before dropping against a shelf. Despite being such a huge man, Oaken collapses behind his counter and crosses his arms. Anna doesn't make it behind cover in time as the stomps echo from just beyond the door. A heavy snarl makes the queen turn away from the window and strike an elegant pose.
The moonlight shines through the frosted window and illuminates Anna, who's desperately trying to pass as mannequin. She holds her breath as she can already feel her aching muscles tightening up. Just when she starts to slowly exhale, a monstrous silhouette emerges in the window. Anna's heart rate escalates as she struggles not to budge. All she can do is stare at the floorboards and observe the figure just outside the window. Colossal claws scrape at the ceiling as the creature snarls and snorts.
Sweat droplets strike the moonlit boards and Anna swallows hard. Her knees ache from the poorly placed pose she's struck. Anna's racing heart feels like it could explode out of her chest at any given time and still the beast doesn't depart. It lingers by the window, sniffing and growling.
Anna's stomach drops when the backdoors to Oaken's sauna suddenly creak open. A member of his family emerges to figure out why all of the lights have been turned off. "Hoo-hoo-" is all he can say before Lynn lunges for him. She aggressively throws her hand over his mouth to shush him. Any alarm disappears when he notices his husband also hiding behind the counter. Oaken urges him to quiet down and the creature's roar is enough to have him fleeing back into the sauna.
While her spirit is willing, Anna's achy body is tiring. She can't hold the mannequin's pose for much longer as the creature sniffs about. As she feels herself about to slip, a sudden scraping echoes from beyond. The creature's head angrily turns away, buying Anna time to duck down out of cover. She and Lynn poke their heads out towards the window sill and discover who has caused the distraction.
Having emerged from the storage room, Sven finishes scraping his antlers against a nearby tree. He moos profusely before dashing deep into the woods. Lured by such bizarre sounds, the monster gives chase. Its massive, furry blur lunges back into the shadowy forest.
"Sven," Anna worriedly whispers. "No..."
"If we hurry, we can help him." Lynn insists and tosses Anna a bow.
"I'm not the best shot," the queen admits.
"Never too late to learn," the huntress adds while gathering a bushel of arrows. As if thinking alike, Anna and Lynn shred the hems of their dresses. With their legs freed for greater mobility, they unlock the door and head outside.
"Thanks for everything, Oaken." Anna says before they head out. "Stay indoors."
Oaken shakes his head in disbelief as the women depart and track monstrous footprints in the snow. All Oaken can do is uncap a bottle of his finest liquor and pour a much needed cup. "Hoo-hoo indeed," he grumbles.
Sven has raced across frozen fjords and forest fires. He's braved being chased by Earth Giants, and yet none of his experiences compare to the creature on his tail. It's following the sound of his scraping antlers...or at least it was. By the time Sven looks back, the reindeer finds himself all alone in a quiet clearing. The air is frigid as his hooves kick up snow. The silence is pulse pounding as two possibilities cross Sven's mind. He's either lost the creature, or it's merely hiding and waiting to pounce. Both are equally terrifying as a twig snaps behind Sven. The reindeer's ears twitch and he spins in alarm. To his surprise, he finds himself in the company of a startled stallion.
Sven and Sitron snort at one another before realizing that neither is the beast. They look each other over and slowly step closer. The animals are like a mirror's reflection, tilting their curious heads in unison before sniffing each other's tails. Sven snorts and Sitron whinnies, and it's as if they're speaking their own intricate language.
Cedric stumbles through the snow as Otto tries steadying him. "Slow down," his older brother insists.
"You heard David!" Cedric pants before collapsing against a tree. "He said our sins will be paid for in blood. By tooth and claw! Like what happened to Jakob, like-"
"Get a hold of yourself!" Otto asserts while shaking his younger brother. "We are free of sin."
Cedric whimpers and slowly shakes his head. "You know that isn't true. All that we've done-"
"Was for our kingdom," Otto assures and helps straighten Cedric's posture. "Stand with me, brother, and hear what I say now more than ever. We did our duty to the Southern Isles. Our action were just. Say it." Cedric stares into Otto's dark eyes, but cannot stop sniffling. Otto's calm demeanor fades as he angrily shakes Cedric. "Say it!" he demands.
"Our actions...were just," Cedric snivels.
"That's it," Otto responds and brings his voice back down to a whisper. He pats his brother's head as one would a trained animal. Suddenly, Cedric's body goes rigid. Tears drench his cheeks as Otto rolls his eyes. "For heaven's sake, little brother. Men of the Southern Isles don't cry. Mother taught us better than-" A persistent growl has Otto's breath shortening. Only then does he realize that Cedric is actually frozen in fear. He follows his younger sibling's gaze to the tree above them, where a set of branches have started descending. As they creep into the moonlight, any hope of them being branches fades into nothingness. Daunting claws extend and the beast lays perched against the trunk. "Run," Otto gasps and shoves Cedric away. "Ru-" The beast scoops a hand downward, impaling Otto's back with several of its claws. His dress shirt dampens with thick scarlet splotches before the creature claims him.
Screaming for his life, Cedric sprints away and immediately tumbles down a slope. Snow collects within his vest, making him pick up speed before he crashes into an icy pathway. The commotion brings Hans and Kristoff running over as they glimpse the fallen prince.
"Cedric?" Hans blurts.
The prince has reverted to a cowardly state. One of which Hans has never seen any of his older brothers display. There is fear and brokenness in Cedric's eyes as he slowly raises his head. In an effort to make himself believe, he reiterates Otto's words. "Our actions were just," he weeps. "Our actions were just." Hans and Kristoff freeze as a titanic silhouette lurks behind the trees. As it closes in on Cedric, he raises his hysteric voice. "Our actions were just! Our actions were just!" With tears on his cheeks and blood trickling from his nose, Cedric raises his hands as if to beg for mercy. "Please!" he screeches until his throat runs raw. "Our actions were just!"
The beast lunges upon him, substituting claws for its jagged maw. Cedric flails as the monster chomps down on him. Fresh crimson splotches paint the snow as Hans and Kristoff make a run for it. Once the beast is done mauling Cedric, its horned silhouette rises. With a mighty lunge, it charges after Hans and Kristoff.
"It's on us!" the latter warns.
"Just keep running!" Hans shouts as they flee down the icy pathway. Every step feels like their last as their heels skid across the glazed terrain. Their legs are giving out on them as a set of familiar hooves has them looking across the slope. To the mens' amazement, Sven and Sitron come sliding downward. Having been drawn in by the commotion, both animals dash to their respective owners. While Kristoff is able to mount Sven, the creature catches up with Hans. Sitron screeches as the beast lands in front of them and impulsively rears. While Hans tries clinging to Sitron, a white-feathered arrow strikes the monster's arm. Although it doesn't harm the beast, it does serve as a distraction.
"Up here!" Lynn hollers from the slope's adjacent side. She fires a second shot, trying to lure the monster away from her fiancé. As the arrow strikes its thigh, she buys just enough time for Hans to mount up and speed away.
Anna sets up beside Lynn. Taking aim with her bow, she launches an arrow across the slope...and into a tree. "Told you I wasn't the best shot," she gripes.
"Anna!" Kristoff calls to her and guides Sven upward. Just seeing her love and Sven alive sends a wave of relief over Anna. As he rides towards her, he lends a hand to help her up. Lynn keeps shooting, turning the beast's forearm into a fuzzy pincushion for her projectiles. In a similar fashion to Kristoff, Hans rides by and scoops Lynn onto Sitron.
The men spur their mounts as the creature gives chase. Lynn doesn't let up, shooting her arrows from atop Sitron. "Where are we going?" she shouts.
"Away from that," Hans blurts.
"I've got an idea," Kristoff says and steers Sven leftward. Hans follows him through as they enter Arendelle's Western Gullies. Jagged, icy ravines provide a unique maze of cover as the riders speed through. The monster persists, pouncing between each gully's opening. It's still a rapidly traveling blur, one of which Lynn struggles to get a clear shot at. As the group races through the gullies, the monster's claws smash through ice overhead. Each impact sends icicles spewing out from overhead. Lynn observes the creature's clawing pattern and times its next jab. Once its palm smashes through the gully up ahead, Lynn launches an arrow directly into it.
"I don't think it's working, dear." Hans laments.
"Yeah, well it makes me feel better." Lynn insists and keeps shooting where she can.
As they exit the final ravine, the group is surprised to find the creature waiting to pounce. "Turn! Turn! Turn!" Anna blurts as Kristoff quickly obliges. Both Sitron and Sven slide out of control while their riders narrowly avoid the beast. "Go left!" Anna yelps.
"Towards Oaken's?" Kristoff frets. "Are you sure?"
"It may be our only chance to hide now," Anna intones.
Back at the trading post, Oaken and his spouse have just finished reorganizing the shelves. "What was that thing?" his husband asks.
"I'm not sure," Oaken replies while relighting a lantern. As he does so, he catches a glimpse of two riders outside. "Now what?" he fears as they close in.
Oaken cautiously cracks his window open to see Anna practically falling off of Sven. "Turn your lights off!" she yells.
"Again?" Oaken sputters.
"Just DO IT," the queen asserts as an ear-splitting roar sounds from the forest. It's enough to send even a pack of wolves fleeing as trees topple over. Oaken reluctantly douses all candles and lanterns. He hides with his spouse again while the others seek refuge in his storage room.
A single lantern swishes from a hook as Anna gets Sven deeper into the room. Hans ushers Sitron back as well before helping Kristoff shut the door. "We need something to barricade that," Lynn says. As the creature's stomps intensify, so too does the swaying lantern, producing a harrowing strobe effect. "Quickly!"
Hans' eyes dart towards a nearby set of roped barrels. "There," he says. With a mighty grunt, Hans starts heaving the barrels in front of the door. Kristoff is about to reluctantly assist him when the monster's fist comes smashing through. Both the door and barrels splinter on impact. Insidious claws accompany the frigid chill as the creature reaches inside. Hans backs away and searches for anything to defend himself. While Lynn fires another arrow, Anna swings her pickaxe. As the queen does so, a bronze item plummets from her dress pocket. The beast remains relentless and continues to reach within. Running out of options, Hans unhooks the nearby lantern and smashes it against the ground. To the group's surprise, the creature emits a profound hiss as flames spew from the lantern's remains. It retracts its claws and flees back into the darkness from whence it came.
All is silent apart from the ongoing crackle of flames in the doorway. Once they're confident that the creature is gone, the group moves in to douse the fire. Kristoff snatches a nearby water bucket and pours it over the broken lantern. As the flames extinguish, Hans and Lynn shove a crate to temporarily barricade the doorframe. Catching their breath, the couples rejoice betwixt their survival.
Kristoff holds Anna in a tight embrace and plants a gentle kiss on her forehead. "Are you alright?" he worries.
"I'll live," she mumbles. "You?"
"That was too close," Kristoff laments. He and Anna glance over at their Southern Isles company. Watching Hans and Lynn hug leaves a bitter taste in Anna's mouth. "It's weird, isn't it?" he mutters.
Anna shakes her head at the sight as Hans squeezes Lynn. "Good to see you're still in one piece," the huntress remarks.
"Did anything happen?" Hans blurts. His concerned tone has Lynn furrowing her brows until he continues. "With Queen Anna or anyone for that matter. Did they try and-"
Lynn calmly takes Hans' hands in hers. "Breathe, my love," she assures. "There were some suspicions at first, but it's alright. I think whatever this creature business is just has the queen on edge."
"But she didn't speak of me?" Hans questions.
"Not really no. She was just surprised that we were engaged, but that was it." Hans nods while breathing a subtle sigh of relief. "However, I did overhear something about a runestone. The queen thinks it's somehow connected to someone named Naomi." Hans scratches at his beard while Lynn continues to explain. "All I know is that those lantern's flames were promising." She raises her voice so that the others will hear her. "It appears that the creature's repelled by fire. And if it can be repelled, it can be killed."
"What are you proposing?" Anna asks as Lynn approaches the doorframe.
The huntress moves the crate to give herself just enough room to slip out. "We defeat this beast the same way we would a bear or troublesome wolf," Lynn explains. "We lure it into a trap. I need to get back to the trading post," she adds. "We'll need as many flammable materials as we can find."
While Kristoff sees to Sven, Hans steps away for a moment. The prince's break is only hindered by a heavy bump beneath his heel. Hans' raises a brow and kneels down to investigate a bronze stamper. He plucks it from the charred flooring and runs his fingers across its bold, Arendellian crest.
"That's mine," Anna intones and Hans stiffens.
He briefly bumbles in the queen's presence as his eyes wander across the room. "Right," Hans murmurs. "Of course." He hands the stamper back and she swiftly snatches it.
"I never put it away," Anna admits. "Between all of the multitasking these days, it's better to just keep it on me."
Hans firmly nods. "It looks like you're ruling well."
"You're damn right I am," Anna can't help but blurt. Her scoff becomes a brief chuckle as she shakes her head. "You know...I always kinda hoped you'd find out I was queen someday. Just to see what you lost...what you failed to seize."
"Anna," Hans tries to placate.
"No," the queen asserts. She squints and sternly approaches him. "You don't get to just move on from what happened."
"Why not?" he asks. "You did."
"It's not the same-" Anna angrily purses her lips. Her frustration catches Kristoff's attention, but she assures him that she's alright.
As he returns to Sven, Hans dares to speak up. "If you think there weren't consequences for my actions...there were. I was exiled."
"Hmmm...I don't know why it's so hard to trust you," Anna jeers. "Is it because you came here with your family or because you almost killed my sister and I the last time I did?" Hans winces at her tone and glances outside. He's relieved that Lynn is still out of earshot and conversing with Oaken. "But maybe you were exiled," Anna considers. "I mean...that would explain the fiancé, right?" Anna shakes her head in disbelief. "You'd have to go through some serious reconciliation to even dare to pop the question again." The queen's blood suddenly runs cold. Any wishful thinking stems from her childhood self and the storybooks her mother would read to her. But as she looks at Hans' face, a sinister apprehension takes hold. He barely makes eye contact with her after mentioning Lynn. "Unless-" Anna utters and Hans' eyes widen. A wave of shame crashes down upon Hans as he looks up at the queen. "She doesn't know anything," Anna realizes. "Does she?"
Author's Note: Thank you so much for reading the fourth chapter of "Haunted Arendelle!" Your support of this story is greatly appreciated and it is an honor to entertain you all. Tune in on Halloween for the conclusion of this chilling tale!
Long Live Imagination!
~ Michael