At last I have returned!
This chapter was difficult but fun to write and I look forward to hearing what you all think of it, please enjoy!
Chapter 46: The Thirteenth Son
A sunset of violet and crimson hues painted the sky in the final hours of daylight as Aldren walked along the cobblestone of the city away from the palace with Karl beside him. Since the conclusion of their duel the prince had ceased (at least for now) his prodding criticisms of Aldren's method, allowing the two soldiers to finally coalesce. They mostly discussed the city defenses as they made their way from the palace, down through the town towards the wall. Captain Baldrek approached and joined them in stride to speak with his commander.
"How are the townsfolk fairing?" Aldren asked.
"Well nobody's happy about being crowded together in the upper city-it being cramped and all; but they know it's for their own good."
"Queen Elsa has informed me she'll allow some to move into whatever extra space we have in the palace and see to it that those that remain in the upper city receive any extra blankets or cloaks we can spare...it's going to be a cold night." He ended, halting their step and looking towards the setting sun.
"My lord." Baldrek nodded, only granting the prince an indifferent glance as he left them.
Karl turned to Aldren, "And if the naga should break through the defenses, what then?"
Their was hesitation in the Embercrow at first as he seemed reluctant to share his thoughts at first, "There is small tunnel that leads through the cliff face to the other side of the mountain; left behind from an old stone quarry ages ago. Should it appear we are unable to hold the enemy a horn will sound and they will funnel through with all haste...once they are all through it will be sealed behind to prevent the naga following."
"That's not much-"
"Arendelle city wasn't built with a siege in mind. You're right; it isn't much...it's what we have."
The prince nodded, if reluctantly so, "My forces have begun assembly along with the rest of our allies outside the wall's perimeter, as you requested."
"Good...I will take my final observations of our battle lines for the night." they resumed their steps.
"Perhaps after; you'd care to share a drink with me and my men?" Karl asked, causing Aldren to raise his brow in surprise and shock. "To celebrate your victory." the prince elaborated.
Aldren smiled and shook his head, "I don't partake."
Karl cocked his head, "You do realize how incredibly suspicious that sounds..."
"I'd wager you and your men find a great deal about me suspicious...perhaps I should find it suspicious that I am being offered a drink by my former opponent; a southern Isles prince."
"Now that's not fair-"
"No. And it's not what I truly think of you, but in my position...there are many who would."
The prince chuckled, "I see your point."
"In any case I know what you really want...ask your question."
Karl was taken aback but did as such, "Fine. Where did you learn to fight like that?"
"What was so foreign about my combat that you feel the need to ask that?"
The prince turned towards him, speaking very directly, "I've trained with a sword in my hand since I was eight, fought more opponents in single combat than I can count-from all corners of the world...and I've never seen anyone move like that before."
Aldren was silent...then he reached back and drew black Autumn, holding the handle out to Karl who after a brief hesitance grasped the handle, "lighter than it looks, isn't it?"
"Yes..."
"What else do you notice about it?"
"There's...there's not a scratch on it..."
"Can you read the runes?"
"No. they're not like anything I've ever seen.
The prince handed the sword back as Aldren went on, "Would you believe me if I told you who can?" The prince hesitated and Aldren pressed him. "It wouldn't kill you to just believe me." he said with a smile.
"I believe in what I see." answered Karl
"Some things won't ask for your belief before they are seen and you'll see quite a lot very soon." he said more seriously as he sheathed his sword. "For now simply know that the one's who made this weapon knew how to use it better than I could ever hope to and I-learned- very-well, or..."
"Or?" Karl said.
"Or...Perhaps you're just old."
They both laughed, Karl gave hm a light shove, "Not just yet, I don't intend to spend my waning days fastened to my father's throne."
"If only our places had been reversed." Spoke a familiar voice with a distinctly sarcastic tone.
Surprised, they both turned to see Hans seated on a bench, leaning against a supply building and lazily shaving a block of wood with a sleek dagger.
Karl lowered his gaze, taking a step forward "I don't seem to remember giving you leave from the war camp, brother."
The younger prince did not look up but kept his gaze upon the dagger, "You didn't."
Karl's hand moved up to the grasp the handle of his sword while Aldren's fist clenched at his side as he took a step forward, "Whatever game your playing Hans, I can assure you're going to lose."
"I only like to play games that I win." he replied, tossing the wood away and turning towards Aldren, "That was my mistake last time I was in this place. Princess Anna once told me that I was 'no match for Elsa'...she was right."
Karl started to move forward, "What do you think you are doing Hans-"
Aldren moved past him to stand closer to Hans, looking him in the eye, "Your a traitor..." All Hans gave him was an indignant smile, Aldren drew his blade, holding the edge to the prince's throat, "Then I have no reason not to rend your thoughtless head from your body!"
Karl quickly moved to Aldren's side, "Lord Embercrow! Whatever my brother has done it is my responsibility, he cannot be harmed!"
"I don't need your protection." Hans sneered, flinching afterwards when Aldren pressed his blade closer.
"You're going to wish you had it..."
The islander just laughed despite the blade at his throat, "Oh I know, I know I could never defeat you-just as I couldn't your precious queen...but I know someone who can."
"You're in league with the Witch King..."
"Very astute, and with his help I will have what I came for; he will see to that."
"And what could you possibly offer the naga?"
"It was very simple to start; all he wanted was a splinter in the alliance's palm-enough to distract you from the danger already within your walls now...but things have changed."
"What?"
"Now he wants me to deliver him the one person who could change the tide of the battle to come; the one who discovered his plan and nearly jeopardized his invasion...you."
They did not have long to be surprised when a series of loud roars erupted from the alley ways around them. Aldren was caught off guard when a heavy figure tackled him to the ground, he responded by driving his palm up into their jaw and rolling them off before slashing down at them with his burning blade. He recognized the crimson armor only briefly as he and Karl were set upon by several more attackers while Hans slipped away in the opposite direction.
Aldren knocked the blade away from one naga, grasping them by the neck before swinging behind him into the leg of a second and thrusting back into the chest of the first. His head snapped back to see the wretched prince slinking away down the street, making his escape. The Embercrow snarled, shoving the dead naga off his blade and giving chase, quickly cutting down several other enemies on his way out; deaf to Karl's call of caution and leaving him alone to deal with what remained of the initial attackers.
OoO
Karl drove a knee into the gut of his last attacker, throwing them to the ground before using his sword to finish. Immediately a loud war cry alerted him to another attack from behind. As he turned to face them his opponent shot forward, face first into the ground right in front of him, with a spear protruding from their back. Lady Sol ran to Karl along with lieutenant Barec and several Arendellian soldiers, she removed her spear from the dead naga and turned to the prince, "What happened?"
Karl sheathed his sword, "Hans betrayed us."
She said nothing, only narrowing her eyes disdainfully, "Where's Aldren?" she demanded.
"He went after my brother-"
"Alone!?" she blurted out and brushed past him without another word, followed by Barec who growled lowly at him as he passed by. Karl sighed, there was not point in arguing his position, he was very aware he fully deserved the 'I told you so' that would soon be on everyone's lips. Instead he stopped one of the passing soldiers with a hand to the chest, "Tell your queen what's happened here." The soldier was reluctant to follow an islander's order but obeyed, turning back while Karl moved to catch up with Sol and Barec.
OoO
Hans had lost sight of his pursuer but Aldren had not lost sight of Hans; following him out of sight into the naval yard near the docks. As the islander ran down the street he was suddenly shoved into the side of a building, quickly he drew his sword in an attempt to defend himself, Aldren simply sliced the prince's blade in half and disarmed him of what was left before kicking him to the ground. Without hesitation Aldren drew back and thrust forward to end the traitor's life-but before his blade could pierce flesh an explosion of wood from the building was followed by a huge armored arm seizing Aldren by the throat and lifting him off the ground. The rest of the giant's hulking frame walked out from the hole, nearly stepping on Hans who had to roll out of the way. This was was none other than general Tarn, right hand of The Witch King himself.
The naga warlord threw Aldren who rolled painfully against the cobblestone as he landed, the Embercrow shook his head looking first to the naga and then behind him to see Hans' conniving smile as he disappeared into the hole the general had made. Aldren grimaced, slamming his fist against the ground as he rose to his feet to face the new threat. With a distance now between them Tarn slowly held his arms up in challenge as they started to circle one another. Aldren raised his blade but saw something out of the corner of his eye on the roof of another building. He snapped towards it and shot a fireball from his hand. The shot hit home but the figure had leaped over the projectile onto the ground, brandishing twin swords and wearing a metal covering over the right eye of his faceplate; commander Sorvec.
He looked between the two foes on either side, before their fight could begin something drew their attention; Sol, Barec and Karl rushed to his aid from down the street behind Sorvec. But before they could reach him their group was ambushed from either side by several naga warriors and they were forced to defend themselves from the attackers. Aldren exhaled, turning back to the general, he knew that this fight was now his alone. He raised his blade and dragged it's edge against his gauntlet and a long moment passed before the two killers rushed in from either side upon him...
OoO
A band of naga soldiers rushed the palace gates but were hit with a wave of frost that froze them all in place followed by a sudden wind that threw the frozen bodies back. Elsa lowered her hand with Anna, Kristoff, Olaf and Sven at her side while Baldrek along with several of her soldiers rushed out past her to meet any other threats, the sisters had not had time to don their armor but both brandished their weapons.
Elsa turned to her captain, "Set a perimeter around the palace grounds and the upper city levels, nothing gets through!" He nodded and left her to give commands.
It was clear that there was fighting all across the outer limits of the city; small skirmishes in random locations..
"How did they get in the city?" Anna asked fearfully.
"I don't know but they're not getting through here so why are they still-"
She heard the sound and recognized it immediately, her reaction instant-she pulled her sister forward away from the source and caught the arm that held the blade, without hesitation she drove her forearm into the back of the attacker's elbow earrning a harsh crack and a pained cry. She followed by pinning them to the ground with an icy blast before punching their jaw and knocking them out. The haze of adrenaline wore off and was replaced with shock as she looked down and saw an Arendellian uniform, one of her own men had tried to kill her and her sister...
But then she watched as a rippling affect surfaced in his skin, causing it to become paler and dotted with scaled patterns. From her kneeling stance she reached forward and peeled back their eyelid and was met with a yellow iris with a black slitted pupil...this was not one of her men. She looked up to Anna and Kristoff who still looked as shocked as she had been before, she stood when she saw Baldrek return, having been drawn back by the commotion.
"How-"
"Bring me men that you know and trust!" she ordered.
He turned and called the names of five men over who withdrew from the front, they stood before her.
"You two; bring that creature to the dungeons, the rest of you ride out and inform the other commanders that the enemy may be within all our ranks."
They all left to fulfill their assigned tasks when another soldier ran up to them, "Your majesty!" She turned to face him, still wary from what she had just seen, "What is it?"
"Prince Hans betrayed us; he had something to do with the naga getting in."
Visible anger could be seen on all their faces, Elsa's most of all, "Where is prince Karl?"
"He's the one who sent me; he went with lady Sol and lieutenant Barec to help lord Aldren chase him down-"
"Aldren!" she gasped. All their anger was replaced with worry, Elsa grasped his collar, "Where are they now!"
OoO
Black Autumn clashed against Sorvec's twin blades, Aldren shoved the duelist back easily who then spun back towards him into a wild thrust. In response he stepped out of the way of the sword tip, grabbing the naga's arm and pulling forward into his knee before throwing him to the ground.
Before he could finish him he was forced to lean back as one of Tarn's giant fists swung at his head followed by another and then a downward punch that would carry all the way to the cobblestone. Aldren leaped backwards over a loose crate out of the way of the crashing fist, before the general could make his way around the obstacle the Embercrow kicked the crate forward making it collide into the naga's knee. As Tarn fell to one knee Aldren shot him with a powerful blast of fire that sent the brute tumbling away. The elemental vaulted over the crate with blade poised as he chased down Tarn-but the general was quick to respond; deliberately rolling with his momentum back onto one knee and catching Aldren with a blindingly fast uppercut that sent him sailing backwards and onto his back.
As Aldren slid against the cobblestone he barely reacted in time to blades swinging down at his chest. He gritted his teeth, catching the swords against the edge of his own, Sorvec hissed viciously as he bared down harder. Despite the disadvantage Aldren was able to push against Sorvec enough to get back on one knee, shoving his blades away. The naga spun back around slashing with one blade that was parried down before thrusting with the other, Aldren deflected the second blade with his gauntlet, grasped his enemy's arm and pulled him in for a headbutt. Stunned, Sorvec was not able to stop the kick to his leg that dropped him or the knee to his face that followed after.
Just as Sorvec was back on the ground, Tarn once again hurled his fist at Aldren's head, ducking under the attack the elemental then struck downward with both hands. The general swung back at the blade nearly making Aldren lose his grip on it, it only leaving a minor scar in the armor.
Before he could recover the giant naga grabbed his head and neck in either hand and lifted him off the ground, drawing back and slamming him into the side of the nearby building. Despite Aldren's struggles Tarn slammed him into the wood wall again before dragging him along it, throwing about splinters and shards and then throwing him away. Aldren rolled backwards with his momentum and now once again faced both enemies at once as they had both recovered and charged him again.
OoO
Karl plunged his sword through another naga, with a slight reprieve he spotted lord Aldren locked in battle with two of the Witch King's most dangerous lieutenants, Sol and Barec were still preoccupied with the naga ambush along with the rest of her men. He spotted the naga general stumble backward as he was hit in the chest from one of Aldren's fireballs, barreling past anyone else in his path he charged him with sword poised. But as he hit his back, instead of his target falling forward like a man he simply stood like a wall that Karl nearly knocked himself out against. The general swiped behind him in response and Karl ducked but had to raise his sword to block the other fist that nearly knocked him to the ground from the force it carried.
Seeing an opening he struck down at the naga's head, but the brute was quicker than he would have imagined-having caught his sword in his armored hand. Tarn lifted the sword and Karl with it who still held on off the ground
Tarn cocked his head at the sword, "Cute." he mused.
With a disgruntled growl he drew back and tossed the prince and his weapon away, Karl's back hit hard against the wall of a building before he fell to the ground motionless near the alley skirmish.
OoO
Sol raked her shield's edge across the face of one foe, ramming it into the chest of another in one swift motion. Then thrusting her spear into the chest of a third before uppercutting them, the next she simply swiped away with the face of her shield.
She turned when she heard someone grunt in pain, she saw Karl land to the ground-his weapon sliding away from him and a naga soldier moved to finish him off while he was down. She rushed past anyone in her path and rammed the naga-knocking him to the ground before killing him with her spear.
She was caught off guard when another, wielding a mace, swung for her side. She brought her shield up to block the attack but a spike on the weapon's head pierced through the steel and into her arm. She screamed in agony, attempting to thrust over her shield at the enemy but they were just out of her reach.
She was saved when a recovered Karl slashed down at the naga's leg from behind and stabbed him through the back. She fell back against a barrel, the weight of the mace that was no longer being held was too much to try and hold. The prince dropped his sword and grasped the weapon's handle, looking her in the eyes; her response was a pained nod. He pulled as hard and quickly as he could, she screeched in pain but breathed out in some relief when it was out. Karl tossed the mace away and went to remove the shield but she shrugged him off and shook her head, with no time to argue he grabbed her arm and helped her to her feet.
"There aren't enough troops here to take the city...they're trying to distract us from something!" Karl shouted to her, above the fighting.
More naga broke off from the main group to attack them, they readied their weapons and the lady of the Glister lands huffed angrily, "Congrats to them; I'm distracted!"
OoO
Aldren grunted as his back hit a nearby wall, his sword flying from his grasp. He reacted quickly as Sorvec spun towards him swinging a blade at his throat; catching his arm with one hand, elbowing the commander across the face before throwing behind him into the wall and kicking him in the back-breaking the wall in the process. The sound of a harsh metal ring drew his attention away from the downed assassin, he turned and saw Tarn throw prince Karl away like a small toy.
His eye caught sight of a long chain lying on the ground amongst the debris of their battle, thinking quickly he took the chain and swung it overhead at the general. The general's reflexes were quick enough that he turned and caught the chain before it reached the back of his head; just as Aldren thought he would. Tarn yanked the chain and Aldren with it, who let himself be pulled along towards him. Tarn grabbed for Aldren's head as he drew close but against his expectation the elemental ducked past his arm and ran behind him. It was already too late and the naga was not fast enough to catch his opponent who ran circles around him at several different angles with the chain.
Like an oversized fly in a spider's silk; Tarn's movement was now greatly restricted, Aldren pulled his end of the chain tight, bringing him to his knees. Tarn growled fiercely in pain and frustration as the chain pulled in between the gaps and weak points in his armor. Aldren had him trapped but knew he wouldn't stay that way, he reached out for Black Autumn- his sword flew to his grasp and he swung forward towards Tarn's neck. But all he struck was metal; the general had managed to bring his arm up enough to block the attack. It was then that Aldren noticed the chains beginning to crack and stretch apart from the monster's struggling, he quickly got back as the naga exploded from his bonds and swung wildly at his enemy.
Tarn's rage had unbalanced him, Aldren used this- ducking past his wild swing and ramming his weight into the brute's side causing him to fall into a nearby support beam. With a brief moment to breathe Aldren looked to the opposing beam, slashing it with his sword; both beams fell onto the general along with the roof they held-burying him.
His moment was gone however when once again Sorvec charged him, attacking with a rapid whirlwind of his duel blades from every possible vector. The assassin's swords bounced off of Black Autumn's edge at every turn, Aldren deflected both weapons before swiping low at Sorvec's legs. The naga leaped over the sword and got behind the elemental who spun as well to stab at him. The commander side stepped the thrust and caught the blade in the hooks of his own then swung with the other at Aldren's throat.
The Arendellian struck the second blade with the forearm of his gauntlet hard enough that it flew from the naga's grasp, he then ripped his blade away from his enemy's-breaking off some of the hooks from it's edge. He grabbed Sorvec's wrist to pull him in but the naga leaped up and pushed off of him with both feet, before Sorvec could fully recover Aldren charged-tackling him into a wall. He pressed on his enemies faceplate with a heated hand, then ripping it off-revealing his face and missing eye.
Aldren swung across to slice the naga's face but his foe only just managed to bring his blade up and block the strike. They both gritted their teeth as the north man bared down on him; hatred burned in both their eyes for different reasons. The angers of Ashla's Pike came flooding back to Aldren's mind as he remembered who killed his friend, he angled his weapon to aim at the remaining eye, "You'll die for murdering Krar!"
Sorvec only slowly grinned, "Who?" he sneered.
Aldren growled pushing hard, cutting through his opponent's sword-but in his fury he had overextended himself and the naga ducked around the burning blade and stabbed Aldren's thigh with what was left of his own sword. The Arendellian cried out in pain and swung at Sorvec who rolled out of the way.
Aldren only had time for one limping-step before he heard another sound. Turning behind him he saw a third enemy jumping down from the roof behind him wielding a spear; Venereth. He brought his sword up but she struck down hard as she landed, batting his sword away and then spinning to hit his side with the shaft.
She drew back and thrust at his chest, he spun out of the way and struck down on the point of her spear-forcing it to impale into the wood behind him before swinging down to break the blade from the rest. But the assassin's weapon shifted to it's sword form so that all he struck was steel, she parried upward and slashed across his free arm. He swung back and forth in a wide arc to create some distance between them, he breathed heavily as he looked between the two opponents he now faced; Venereth and Sorvec with his remaining sword.
He groaned, leaning a hand back against the wall briefly, then balling it up into a tight fist before reaching down and with a pained grunt-pulling Sorvec's broken blade from his leg. Planting his injured leg firmly in front of himself he brought both weapons up, exhaling slowly-shakily as he lowered his gaze as they both prepared to charge him.
OoO
Tarn's arm clawed out from beneath the debris, followed by the rest of his body as he violently ripped his way out from the splintered wood with a vicious snarl. His armored head snapped in the direction of the sounds of fighting; his wounded prey defended himself against both Venereth and commander Sorvec. He started to rise to rejoin the battle but stopped, looking to his hand he saw the chain tangled in his armored fingers...he looked back to his prey, growled lowly as he grasped the chain and made his way back towards the Embercrow.
OoO
Aldren swung towards Venereth, she deflected the blade away with her own but was forced to erect a magical ward when he followed with a blast of flame that pushed her back several feet. He then turned to Sorvec who leaped forward, thrusting down at Aldren who side stepped the attack and redirected it downward with the broken blade. He followed with a downward swing that the naga only just managed to raise his sword to block. Aldren then kicked him hard in the chest making him fall back into a barrel. But even from the ground the feral assassin took a wild swing at the Embercrow's legs, Aldren leaped backwards from the frenzied commander-his hand shooting to his injured leg for a moment.
He turned back when Venereth lunged towards him, locking sword with him as she threw her whole weight into the attack-knocking the broken blade from his other hand. She was close enough that their faces would nearly touch if she wasn't wearing her helmet, she pressed her raised shin down hard against his injured leg earning a pained yelp. Aldren grunted as he shoved her away-nearly falling forward from the pain in his leg, he recovered quickly enough to spin out of the way of her spears tip and to block behind himself when she followed up.
He managed catch her sword arm as she came in for another attack, gripping hard enough that she felt some pain he pulled her in for a hard knee to the stomach that sent her falling backward to the ground. Aldren drew back for a thrust but was stopped when suddenly a chain wrapped around his sword arm and he was yanked forward past the witch knight on the ground. Being caught off guard combined with his injured leg he was unable to avoid Tarn's extended arm which he rammed into as the general close-lined him.
He hit the ground-his ears ringing and his vision blurry as he tried to scramble back to his feet, he could only just make out the shape of Venereth and Sorvec as they strode towards him. He slowly stood and raised his sword but his arm was yanked down by the chain, Venereth spun her weapon overhead and struck him across the face with the blunt end. Sorvec then hissed and kicked his injured leg hard, making him scream in pain and fall to one knee, the commander followed with an uppercut and hard punch to his jaw that made him fall to his hands.
Aldren could feel himself losing consciousness with every blow, he looked back up only to be kicked across the face by the witch knight. He was then lifted back up to his knees by the chain, only just lucid enough to see General Tarn draw back with his free hand and punch him hard in the face, making everything go black...
OoO
The Embercrow's helmeted head hit the cobblestone and he finally laid motionless, the three naga stood over their conquered foe and regained their energy. Venereth lifted her face plate and smirked at Sorvec, "You played your part well commander...for once."
He hissed scornfully and drew back to impale Aldren to the ground but his arm was caught by the general, "Not-Yet!" he growled.
He released the commanders arm and dropped the chain before turning to the alleyway and giving a commanding grunt. In response two naga soldiers entered the clearing, carrying a crystalline pad, surrounded by metal spikes. They set the pad against the ground, the metal spikes clamping into it and the crystalline material beginning to glow before a rift opened that arced and pulsated in bright and dark shades of red; like a bleeding wound torn in reality itself.
The general pointed to the unconscious human, "Bring him." he ordered, "We have what we came for..."
OoO
Sol and Karl had been forced to continue fight more naga alongside Barec, but as a naga struck down at her with his blade a horn call sounded above the fighting and all the naga suddenly stopped fighting them. They watched cautiously as the naga backed off and faded into the shadows of the nearby alleyways. Sol's attention immediately snapped back to where her cousin was fighting; she only just saw as two naga soldiers carried his body through the glowing rift and vanished out of sight, followed by the witch knight Venereth.
She glared and charged forward with the others following her in a enraged battle cry, Tarn and Sorvec turned back to see them coming for them but both seemed entirely unconcerned-even as sol threw spear forward at the general. The weapon bounced off his shoulder and as a final insult he wiped a hand over the spot she'd struck as if a speck of dust had offended him before walking through the rift. Sorvec only grinned snidely, giving a mocking bow before backing into the rift and vanishing as well.
She drew her sword but just as they reached the portal it closed and the crystalline pad shattered like glass. They halted to a stop and Sol searched desperately for some kind of sign-anything..., "He's...he's gone..." she whispered.
Her adrenaline faded and the searing throbbing in her shield arm returned, so much that she had to sit down on a nearby crate. She hissed in pain, Barec knelt beside her to help her remove the shield while Karl observed the aftermath, "This was their plan; to occupy us on all fronts so that they could capture him."
Sol and Barec both glared at him, "You don't say." she muttered past her pain. Her shield now removed revealed a large gash that had pierced her gauntlet and forearm.
"But what else..." Karl said more to himself, evidently missing what she had said.
All three of them turned to the sound of others approaching, initially on guard until they saw it was queen Elsa and her entourage. The queen surveyed the madness around her briefly before she looked to lady Starlon, "Sol, what happened?"
She growled in pain, before looking up at her, "They attacked out of nowhere, we fought them for a bit and then...they just left."
"The same thing happened to us; they attacked all over the city, then that horn sounded and they just...stopped fighting and fell back." It was then the queen looked around the different faces, worry crossing her own, "Wh-...where's Aldren?"
Sol only looked towards the ground, but Barec glared in Karl's direction, "Ask him."
Elsa lowered her gaze towards the prince, gripping her spear tightly, "TALK!"
He breathed out softly, "They took him."
Her anger remained, but it was shared with immeasurable dread, "How?" she hissed shakily, ice creeping out from her feet.
He gestured to the shattered crystal rift on the ground, she looked upon it for a fleeting moment before taking a few deliberate steps toward the prince with her weapon raised, "Your-brother!-"
"Your grace I-"
They were interrupted by a horses neighing, behind Karl road a corona rider, she pushed past the prince, "What's happened?"
The soldier held a wounded arm as he spoke, "The naga attacked the war camp but we held them off; the rest of the attackers are being pushed back but...they didn't seem to have a plan, they just wanted to fight."
"Hans' soldiers." Karl spoke aloud in realization.
Elsa bared her teeth, looking out angrily towards the wall before she rose herself up with a pillar of ice to the roof of a nearby building and whistle loudly for Trolgon. Immediately her dragon descended from the clouds with a bellowing cry, she ran along the edge as he sailed by and slung herself into the saddle.
"Elsa wait!" Anna called out but Elsa was deaf to her sister's voice and the dragon's hard wing beats had carried her too far out.
All of them watched her leave for a moment, then Karl's focus was shattered when he was punched hard across the face, nearly falling to the ground. He looked to see the furious princess pointing her finger at him, "IF ANYTHINGS HAPPENED TO HIM I'll...I'll-"
Kristoff grasped her arm gently, "Anna, that won't help..."
She backed off, but her angry eyes didn't fade, "We need to catch up to her."
"Right. Come on Sven."
"Stay here Olaf." Anna ordered.
"But Anna-"
"Stay-here!" she snapped.
The reindeer walked to them, Kristoff mounted first with Anna behind him, they both shot him one last dirty look before Sven bellowed and sprinted for the wall. Olaf of course didn't listen and shot off after them as fast as his legs could carry him.
Sol stood with a groan, sheathing her sword and taking up her spear and shield-slinging the latter onto her back. She didn't bother speaking but looked directly into Karl's eyes with the unspoken language that only battle worn soldiers understand. "Let's go." she ordered her men before running to catch up with their monarchs.
Karl watched her leave with most of her men with a neutral expression until he turned back to be startled slightly by captain Baldrek who held his hammer out towards him, "I'll crush your head like a walnut if she orders me to!"
"And I'll put an arrow through your heart right next to him!" Snarled Barec on the prince's other side.
They then left to follow the others, Baldrek scooping up Olaf who was lagging behind to carry him on his shoulder.
Now alone, Karl closed his eyes, rubbing his shoulder and breathed out a heavy sigh of regret as yet another horse rode into the area-or rather two; Sir Galen with the reigns of the other horse in his hand, "Your majesty?"
"We need to get back to the war camp." he said, mounting the other horse.
"We're not out of this yet, are we?"
"No...no we're not."
OoO
The war camp was still recuperating from the sudden attack and the distraction had worked; more of the crystalline rifts had opened within Hans' section of the encampment. A few remaining naga soldiers ushered the last of the islander traitors through the portals before the rest of the camp caught on to what was happening. They all flinched at the deafening roar they'd come to know all to well, looking to the sky and seeing a large winged shape descending from the clouds upon them. Their was panic now as the traitorous islanders hurried through the portals before the queen's retribution would be upon them.
OoO
Trolgon snarled, talons extended forward as he landed hard-crushing two naga beneath his feet, a spear flew from his back into the chest of another. Elsa jumped down from the saddle and removed her spear, lowing her gaze at the few that came to face her. She bolted forward past most of them, her dragon following in her path and dealing with those she left behind. The few that she cut down were of no concern to her; she didn't need a Naga Ai fanatic-she wanted one of Hans' men alive.
But she was running out of targets as only a few remained, once in range she drew back and through her spear forward just as the last islander nearly crossed through the remaining portal. Her weapon flew past his shins and impacted into the center of the crystalline pad-shattering it and any hope of escape for the lone traitor soldier. He looked down at the spear in horror and then behind him to see the enraged queen's hard eyes focused solely on him as she marched ahead with closed fists-not to mention the ice dragon falling close behind.
He turned to run but only fell back-his foot having been encased in ice, "No! Wait-please!" he cried out as he was dragged backwards towards the waiting queen. As he neared her a gust of wind forced him back to his feet, his neck landing into her open hand. She squeezed hard and pushed him down to his knees, he grasped at her arm in vain-her strength was far greater than his. With her other hand she reached out to Dragon's Flight, the spear flew back into her grasp and she held a single icy blade to the side of his helm, "How did the naga get through our defenses? Talk!"
He gasped in her grip but did his best to answer, "They-...they used naga-changelings they called them...they used our army to smuggle them into the war camp and the city. They brought the portals that let the rest of them come through."
"What use could Amicus possibly have for Hans!" She hissed.
"I-...I don't know. All I know is he promised him you and your sister's heads and your kingdom if we helped them."
"Where did they take Aldren Embercrow!? TELL-ME!" she snarled, her patience all but diminished.
He tried to shake his head, "Please, I don't know anymore-they didn't tell us!"
She sheathed her spear, then grasped the top of his helm tightly-ice creeping out from her fingers and perforating the metal, "I won't ask you again! Talk...or die..."
Terror grew in the islanders voice and tears formed in his eyes, "Please your grace, I swear to you I-I don't know anymore!"
She narrowed her eyes and grimaced, tightening her grip on his head-the rapidly cooling metal beginning to crack and bend around his skull.
"Please! Mercy!-mercy your grace! I don't know! I don't know!" he cried as the pain began to set in.
Elsa ceased when someone grasped her arm tightly, "ELSA-STOP!" she turned sharply to see her sister's pleading eyes looking into her own. The eyes that Anna looked into were not ones she recognized; they were something darker-but Anna would never give up on Elsa. She loosened her grasp on her sister's arm and reached to her shoulder with the other hand, "This isn't you Elsa...let him go, please."
The darkness in Elsa's eyes faded, her anger was replaced with sadness and shame. No longer deaf to the islanders terrified whimpering she released his head, he fell to the ground and tried to crawl away but was knocked out when a large foot kicked him across the face. The force of the kick sent his helm flying, Kristoff looked up from the traitor and nodded to them.
The snow queen's eyes wrenched shut as she hugged herself tightly and turned into her sister who embraced her. The members of her war council approached from the other side of camp along with several soldiers from each of their folds. Rapunzel had also rode down from the castle and joined her people in the crowd.
"Looks like your precautions didn't do us much good, thief!" Sir Brandon spat at Eugene.
"Well obviously they didn't sneak in through the city! I mean how did they get into war camp huh genius!"
"Well you're supposed to be the expert!"
General Zyon pushed his way to the front, "You're one to talk islander; harboring the traitor that clearly let them through our security!" he said jabbing the knight in the chest.
"How dare you!" Brandon hissed, his hand nearly reaching for his sword.
"That won't help my lords!" prince Karl's voice broke their argument up as he rode in along with sir Galen-Sol, Baldrek and Barec were following in tow on foot. "How they managed to get passed us is harder to explain and the fault of no one here." he continued as he dismounted.
Elsa's eyes opened, her head lifting up from her sister's shoulder, her fists closing at her sides and her sadness fading to anger once more at the sound of his voice and his approaching footsteps.
"Your grace, I'd recommend that we-" he was stopped when suddenly he was brought to his knees, his legs and arms bound by bands of ice that extended from the ground.
Sir Brandon went to draw his sword but was only halted when Zyon's blade was at his throat and Barec holding a drawn arrow to his head. Sir Galen was simply head locked by Baldrek who could easily break his neck if necessary. Any of Karl's other men were locked in stalemate with those of Arendelle, Zaria and Corona or Trolgon.
Elsa turned from her sister towards the prince, Anna didn't stop her; she wanted answers too and followed behind her as she made her way to him. "Where has your brother gone?" she asked, cold and low.
He looked up at her seriously, "I don't know."
She grabbed the collar of his breast plate, "Don't lie to me Karl!"
"I-Don't-Know!"
"If you didn't know that your brother would betray us then you're an idiot...and if you did then you're our enemy!" She lowered her gaze and leaned forward, "So if you know something; You'll tell me now..." she breathed out threateningly.
Sir Galen struggled in Baldrek's grip, "Your majesty! Prince Karl knew nothing of Hans' plan to betray us-none of us did! I swear my life on it!"
"So do I." Brandon followed before he was kicked to one knee by Barec who held the arrow closer to his head, "Shut your damn mouth!"
Elsa payed no heed to either of them, her eyes remaining locked with Karl's-neither of them giving ground.
"Your grace." Elsa was drawn to a voice she would listen to; Sol stepped forward holding her injured arm. "Karl saved my life. If he had wanted to betray us he wouldn't have done so as to be exposed in the end. Whatever deal Hans made with Amicus, I believe he did so on his own."
Elsa breathed out a heavy sigh that sounded more like a growl as she looked back to the prince, "An idiot then." she held her free hand out and the traitor's helm flew to her hand, she lifted it for him to see, "If I ever learn you had anything to do with this..." she squeezed hard, the frozen metal cracked and imploded before she dropped it before him. She released his collar and dissipated the ice around his arms and legs, Zyon and Barec removed their weapons from Brandon while Baldrek released Galen from his grip.
Karl rubbed his wrists as she spoke down to him in a commanding tone, "You will take a party of riders and search the northernmost borders of the crown lands for any sign of the naga."
He stood, "Very well."
She turned away from him to Zyon, "General you will search south."
He bowed, "Your grace."
She moved to Trolgon, "I will take the west." as she mounted she then spoke to Baldrek, Sol, Cassandra and Andris, "Sweep the city and our ranks for anymore of these 'changelings' and bring them to me alive, they can't have all made it out." Then to Eugene, "Take some men and find the rest of these portals; I want to know where they got in."
He nodded, "I'm on it."
While they all left to carry out her orders she looked to her sister and the rest of her family. Anna smiled, she didn't smile back but did her best to give them all a reassuring look before Trolgon took her into the sky. They watched her leave for a long time before they went back to the palace...Aldren had been taken from them, they knew not why or what might happen to him but they did their best to ignore their thoughts of the worst. A dark day had come to Arendelle once again...and darker days were still to follow before this winter was over...
So it's looking like I won't be able to finish this before the new movie comes out but it will certainly be close as we are nearing the end of this tale.
I make no promises as to when I'll have the next chapter out but I promise I WILL have it to you as soon as I am able.
Please be sure to Fav, follow and review and I will see you all in the next chapter :)
