(A/N: If you have read Frozen Tales and have read the chapter entitled, "A Thief's Threat", this short story will explore my original idea for the character of Dracus. I couldn't use this for Frozen Tales, since according to canon, Dragons were considered creatures of myth by Elsa and Anna in Forest of Shadows. It wouldn't have lined up with the world Disney created with their franchise. Frozen Tales is meant to focus on the character development of Elsa, Anna, Kristoff and Olaf. No other character is meant to steal their spotlight. Now that I explained this, let's get started.)
CHAPTER ONE: INTO THE BELLY OF THE BEAST
All the Kings and Queens have gathered for the first time since the reign of Aren, the first king of Arendelle. In those days, a great dragon ruled over the lands and the skies and the seas. He was the mightiest of his kind and wielded unimaginable power and strength. The rulers of the Earth all gathered to oppose the beast, but his mere presence struck their hearts with an unholy fear that brought all of them to their knees. All except King Aren who wielded the Resolute Sword and confronted the monstrous beast. For his arrogance and stupidity, the king was swallowed up by the dragon. In exchange for all their lives, the rulers of the Earth all pleaded with the great dragon to spare their lives and not hold the sin of Aren against them. The dragon pitied them immensely and granted their request in exchange for an offering. Yearly since then, the rulers all brought before him gifts of great value and beauty. Silver. Gold. Emeralds. Diamonds. Gems. Livestock. Silk tapestries and more. Despite the dragon's newly accumulated wealth which had no rival, the dragon slowly became enraged for none of their offerings appeased him. He vented his rage and wrath by setting fires to the lands, crushing mountains under his feet, causing the seas to boil and the skies turn red. The wrath of the beast forced King Agnarr to summon the rulers of all the kingdoms of the world once more since it was his kingdom that lays at the foot of the North Mountain where inside the dragon dwelled.
The large banquet hall was filled with kings and queens from all over the world. All of them were panicked and greatly distressed. King Agnarr and Queen Iduna sat beside one another on the stone thrones. Queen Iduna gave King Agnarr a concerned look, her right hand rested on her belly where their first born was starting to grow and King Agnarr quickly stood to calm the crowd, but couldn't.
Queen Iduna quickly stood by her husband's side and addressed the crowd loudly. "Stop! Stop! Please! I know what you're feeling right now! I feel it too! The sense of helplessness, of hopelessness! I don't know how we even begin…to process what might happen to us right now, but there are a few things I do know! I know that this world has been through tough times and we have pulled through! We have survived the Great Darkness! We have survived wars! We have survived plagues! And somehow…someway…WE WILL SURVIVE THIS!"
King Agnarr wrapped his arm around his wife with a smile of great pride. His hand rested on her belly where their child was growing. She met his eyes and smiled warmly, resting her hand on top of his before she continued, "A friend of mine told me…that living in this world takes a special kind of tenacity, but we do live here, because this world is our home! THIS! IS! OUR HOME! IT IS OUR FRIEND! IT IS OUR FAMILY! IT IS OUR LIVES AND WE WILL NOT- WE WILL NOT THROW THOSE PRECIOUS GIFTS AWAY BY DESCENDING INTO CHAOS! We will look to each other for hope! We will cling to each other for strength! If we do that…no matter what happens…we can all stand together here…united!"
The room was quiet before someone close to the thrown replied, looking up at the King and Queen of Arendelle, "You speak of hope, but what hope is there when the dragon can lay waist to all the armies of the world?! We gave the dragon all we had and it isn't enough to appease him!"
The crowd became worried again and King Agnarr and Queen Iduna were silent because the ruler spoke the truth. King Agnarr stepped forward, "I will confront the dragon! I will come before him and speak with him! I will find the answers we seek!"
The crowd began to belittle him and chide him for his ignorance as he guided his wife away. He whispered to Kai, "This meeting is over. Send them away."
The palace steward bowed his head to the King before approaching the people. Agnarr stopped out in the halls, halted by his wife when she stopped following him. He turned and drew close to his wife, "Iduna?"
She looked up at him with teary eyes and she placed his hand on her baby bump. "If this world is going to be safer for our baby…I will go with you to North Mountain."
Agnarr immediately withdrew. "Absolutely not! It's too dangerous!"
Despite her worried, maternal tears, Iduna straighten regally and asked firmly, "Did I stutter, Agnarr? That wasn't a request, but a demand."
Agnarr stared at Iduna who was trying so hard to be brave. "You'll stay behind the whole time and you'll let me do the talking. That's not up for debate. Do you understand me?" Agnarr asked firmly and Iduna nodded. The two grabbed their cloaks and rode their horses out. When they got to the base of the mountain, the horses stopped, refusing to go any further. Agnarr and Iduna were forced to dismount and hike up the mountain, which was enormous and hollowed out by the Dragon to dwell in. The mountain was decorated with treasures. One would think thieves would just steal the treasure, but even they knew better than to steal a dragon's gold.
As they entered, the two began to shake, hearing the loud slow breathing of the beast echo in the cave's dark pathways that was only lit by the torch Agnarr had lit. The pathway was dark and long as it traveled deep into the North Mountain. Eventually, there was a bright warm light ahead and the two entered the heart of North Mountain, which as enormous. All the stone glowed with heat, burnished by the dragon's flames. There was heavy smoke everywhere. Agnarr and Iduna approached the ledge that stuck out partially over the fiery pit. Agnarr laid the torch down at his feet and worked up the courage to speak but another voice echoed lowly in the massive chamber, "That smell. I haven't smelled that scent since- Why have you come to me…Son of Aren?"
Agnarr couldn't speak since the dragon's intimidating voice ripped through his soul and rendered him speechless. The dragon continued to speak below, slowly moving up to greet them, his massive reptilian body a dark shadow in the thick smoke that came off his body. "I recognize your scent, but there's another. A scent I am unfamiliar with."
The dragon's head drew close to take in Iduna's scent, but was still concealed by the thick smoke. Iduna peered into the smoke with intent and was immediately brought to her knees and she lowered her head after briefly seeing the dragon's terrifying face. Agnarr was paralyzed with fear and remained frozen in the dragon's presence and Iduna whimpered as she shook violently with tremendous fear. She bit her lower lip to remain as calm as she could as the dragon drew even closer to here and inhaled her scent deeply. "Hmmm. Such a lovely scent. Far more precious and lovely than any gold."
Agnarr was provoked to anger, shaken free from the fear before getting between the dragon and his wife. "Stay away from my wife."
There was a slight chuckle from the dragon, "There it is. The fire Aren had in his eyes too…right before he challenged me and I swallowed him whole." A sword flew from the smoke and landed in front of Agnarr's feet. It wasn't just any sword, but the Resolute sword. According to history, Aren was given the Resolute sword as a gift from the Sun when he opposed the Great Darkness.
"Take it and make me, Son of Aren," the dragon threatened with a low but angry voice but Agnarr couldn't move, which angered the dragon even more. "PICK IT UP OR I WILL CONSUME YOU AND YOUR PREGNANT WIFE AND END THE LINE OF AREN!" The entire chamber shook violent from the dragon's wrathful tone.
Agnarr quickly held his wife with one arm and with the other, pointed the Resolute Sword at the dark shadow within the thick veil of smoke.
"That's better," the dragon spoke, his tone was calmer, almost sounding amused. "Now use it. Do what you came here to do and save the world from the BIG, BAD MONSTER."
The hand Agnarr was using to point the blade at the dragon began to shake. The dragon reached up with on of its hands and touched the blade with its finger and the sword instantly turned to ashes, making Agnarr fall to his knees in disbelief. "Let me reveal a secret to you, KING of Arendelle. That sword is not magical. Aren didn't get that blade from the Sun. He had it forged and claimed credit as a political move to claim greater power over the other kingdoms."
"You lie!" Agnarr yelled. He couldn't believe it.
"No, Son of Aren…you humans are the thieves…the murderers…the LIARS!" the dragon chided and flames erupted from its mouth and it lit up the entire chamber even more, forcing Agnarr and Iduna to look away or risk being blinded.
Agnarr and Iduna, both on their knees and in each other's arms, looked up at the shadow in the smoke. Agnarr spoke up, "The people of this world have given you everything! Treasures of all the kingdoms! Our livestock! What do you want?!"
"There is nothing you can offer me, Son of Aren! I only want one thing. DEATH! DESTRUCTION!" the dragon growled.
"Take me!" Iduna pleaded and the dragon was immediately silenced.
"What did you say?" the dragon asked.
Agnarr held her tighter, "Iduna, what are you doing?"
Iduna removed the ring from her hand and placed it in Agnarr's hand, "It's the only way, Agnarr." She looked back at the dragon. "Take me as your bride and in exchange…you leave humanity alone in peace forever."
The dragon began to laugh at her offer, "You are indeed lovely but sorely mistaken if you think love and beauty will appease me, Queen of Arendelle. I remember your scent. You're…" the dragon inhaled once more and exhaled, "Northuldra."
Agnarr looked at his wife with shock. "Iduna?"
Iduna looked at him with tears, "Agnarr, I- I'm so sorry. I wanted to tell you, but-"
Agnarr kissed her on the lips and put the ring back on her finger, shocking her. "The first time I placed this ring on your finger, I made a vow…that we'd be together. Always and forever." He turned towards the dragon, "I'll die before I surrender my wife to you! Sword or not!"
The dragon was silent. He looked again at the queen's hand that rested on her belly. He drew close and inhaled Iduna again, taking in the masked scent of their unborn child. "I will not take your wife, King, but I WILL have your daughter."
"Daughter?" Iduna asked with surprise. They weren't aware since it was too soon to tell but somehow the dragon was able to learn its gender. "I'm going to have-?"
"I will allow you to enjoy your daughter, but on her twenty-first birthday, she will belong to me. Prepare her," the dragon instructed as he lowered into his dark pit.
"No!" Agnarr yelled and the dragon, quickly provoked to anger, rose and got close to Agnarr.
"Remember your place, Son of Aren! I will have her on her twenty-first birthday…or I will have her the moment she's born!" the dragon challenged, "She will come willingly as an adult or I will tear her from her mother's arms and burn the kingdom to the ground!"
"It will be as you say. Her twenty-first birthday," Iduna spoke up to halt her husband and make peace with the dragon and the dragon turned his head to her. She was close to his eye, which burned like fire.
"I always liked the Northuldra. Always humble…honest…respectful of Nature. Because of your heritage, Queen of Arendelle, I will honor your proposal. As long as I breathe, I will spare humanity and leave them all in peace in exchange for your daughter." The dragon went back down into its resting place and the two royals departed.
Agnarr held Iduna as she began to weep, looking down at her baby bump and caressing it with both of her hands.