Akerskm! Where you at? Missed you in the last chapter.

I won't lie to you all. I was expecting to get a lot of hate when I reviewed Frozen 2, against my expectations though everyone was very civilized about the whole thing. Also super grateful for all the positive feedback from this last chapter and I'm back once again with another.

Before you begin there are a couple things I want to clarify.

For those who don't watch Tangled the series, the leader of the Separatists of Saporia "Hubert" is an antagonist from the show that I chose to integrate hence why he is...the way he is.

The song featured in the last chapter is my own as in I created the lyrics but I based the melody off of "Jenny of Oldstones" from Game of Thrones season 8 for those who are curious.

"Ancient Arendellian" is a mix of Scandinavian tongues including Norwegian, Danish and Icelandic. While Alfar is modeled from irish Gaelic and Naga from Scottish Gaelic, once more for those who are curious.

please enjoy the chapter.

Chapter 50: Forgiveness

Thunder rumbled over the vast forests of Arendelle, the dark clouds blotting out the light of a rising sun. Above the trees the ice dragon glided, his head scanning from left to right along with the heads of those atop his back. The weather had made the search more difficult than they had hoped, Trolgon struggled in the harsh winds while the rest had a hard time seeing anything in the gray and black haze that had become the sky...they were starting to realize that they were lost.

"Stay close Pascal!" the princess shouted to her small reptilian friend who remained hidden in the collar of her coat.

Cassandra shielded her eyes, calling out to Rapunzel above the storm, "If we don't get out of this storm soon we won't find the way back let alone find Aldren!"

"Maybe-Maybe if we can get above the storm!" she said pointing up.

Trolgon attempted to veer upward but was met with another gust of wind that nearly knocked his riders from his back, the dragon snarled in annoyance.

Olaf was struggling enough just to keep all his body parts from flying away, "I don't think that's an option!"

"We have to land!" Cassandra shouted.

Rapunzel looked in every direction until she spotted it; a break in the storm, "There! Go Trolgon, Fly!"

The dragon dove, making for the gap in the clouds and once through his wings spread again, halting them to a very close stop just above the trees. Everyone took a moment to catch their breath and look back at the cloud from it's flank. It was so immense they could not see above or beyond it, only the trees below.

"That's no natural storm..." Rapunzel said aloud.

They flew north and as they did a new sound came to their ears; metal shifting in near unison so loud they could hear it over the wind and Trolgon's wing beats. Beneath the cloud at ground level they saw a massive stretch of bright light... like fire! They looked to one another, hopeful but cautious. Trolgon flew lower to a clearing in the tree line a good distance from the source of the light, as he landed the trio dismounted and made their way towards a broad hill that would overlook their target.

Trolgon initially moved to follow them but Rapunzel put her hand on his snout, "Wait here Trolgon." she said, baying him to stay.

He snorted grumpily, sitting like a discontented dog at the base of the hill while they pressed on. Now they could hear another sound in the mix, a deep rhythmic pounding like drums. They moved low and quiet (Olaf a little less gracefully), up the hill until they reached the top and peered over.

"Get Down!" Cassandra gasped and pushed the other two below the outcropping, what they saw put greater fear in their hearts than they had known in a long time. Rank upon rank of Naga Ai soldier marched through the many paths between the trees. The torches, in the hands of some, was the source of the fiery light they had seen. Rows of wicked, barbed halberds towered above their battle lines, some bearing the black banner of the Witch king along with all manner of other cruel weaponry in the hand of every crimson clad individual. Every horror the Arendellians had warned them of marched along in the spaces between their ranks; packs of bloodthirsty tatzelwurms carted in cages that barely contained them, massive tyranite canons pulled along by armored war trolls whose bladed gauntlets covered their huge forearms and spikes protruded from the ends of their tusks.

"There's so many..." Olaf whispered, peering a little higher, Cassandra gently pushed him back down.

Soon after they noticed a smaller army marching within the naga, others who wore a different armor and carried a different banner. These warriors were not naga... but human. Rapunzel and Cassandra shared a knowing look and for the first time since she'd arrived in Arendelle, Rapunzel felt a twinge of anger.

"Saporia!?" Rapunzel whispered.

"Sapo-who?" Olaf asked.

"The Separatists of Saporia." Cassandra repeated, "They're allied with the Witch King...makes sense."

They spotted the banners of several other factions intermingled with the naga lines, all enemies of the alliance for one reason or another. Cassandra's expression became melancholy before she turned to her friend, "Rapunzel...there's no way we'll find him in all that-"

"We are not quitting! We're going wait till they pass by and then we'll-"

"We have no way of knowing when they'll pass by! We might not even be looking at the second half of them!"

Olaf piped, "But Cassandra, we can't give up now!"

"Well we can't stay here either, they're going to find us sooner or later if we do." she reasoned with them both.

Before their argument could go on any longer they looked back to Trolgon when he made an unusual sound; something between a purr and a growl. He was facing the trees, almost in the direction the naga were marching from. He stared intently, occasionally sniffing the air. They all slid down the hill to see what was wrong. Cassandra scanned the trees for any sign of danger and reached for her sword.

"Trolgon?" Rapunzel asked.

The Dragon remained fixed on the line of trees, he sniffed the air briefly again before suddenly taking off on foot.

"Whoa wait for us!" she called out as they all ran to catch up with the dragon. The sound of the naga's marching stayed with them and Cassandra continued to be alert for trouble. When they finally caught site of him again he had climbed the slope of another hill and continued to sniff the air. This time emitting an excited trill his spines flared up as he seemed to catch the full scent of what he was following. As they reached him at the top they could see he was pointed towards a towering mountain in the distance.

"What is that place?" The princess asked.

"The north mountain!" Olaf exclaimed, "That's where Elsa went when she ran away from Arendelle." he then pointed towards the western base of the peak, "And that's where Kristoff's family lives."

"Kristoff's family!" the girls exclaimed.

"You could've told us there were other people out here earlier you know!" Cassandra scolded, slightly irritated with the snowman.

His smile remained and he nodded, "Uh huh."

They ignored his child-like ignorance, looking back to the direction he'd pointed. "Kristoff's family...we should start there." Rapunzel said aloud.

"What do you mean?" Cassandra asked.

"Think about it; if they live out here they may be the only ones who know where Aldren could be."

"Well they knew about Elsa's magic, maybe they know something about Aldren's too." Olaf added.

The ice dragon looked back to them all expectantly. Cassandra nodded to her companions and they mounted Trolgon once again, making for the forests closer to the north mountain, leaving the sounds of the hostile army behind them. With the dark cloud no longer impeding them they reached their next stop with much greater ease but landing in a place much different than the last.

Though they were still many miles from the mountain and certainly many more from it's peak one would think there would be at least some snowfall...but there wasn't. Once again they dismounted and this time their feet met stone instead of grass or snow. They entered a small valley with great boulders, covered in moss, lining the path while small fissures in the stone beneath them spewed up warm steam at random. Trolgon pressed on ahead, his nose leading him at a pace the others were able to keep up with this time. As they ventured further Rapunzel rested her ear muffs around her neck while Cassandra removed her helm, running a hand through her hair.

The princess marveled at her surroundings, ever delighted by each new thing she had seen in this strange land far from her home, "It's really warm here...weird."

"'This' is where Kristoff's family lives?" Cassandra asked skeptically.

Olaf nodded, "Uh Huh, its warm and roomy and...and warm-"

"Like warm hugs?" she asked sarcastically.

"Exactly!"

Her eyes rolled, "Of course it is..."

Rapunzel giggled at them and then she noticed Trolgon's speed increased, his tail whipping back and forth. She smiled at Pascal who had come out on her shoulder, "I think we're getting close?" The chameleon chirped positively in response.

Suddenly the dragon stopped and Cassandra motioned her over. A thick mist clouded the area ahead of them now and they all narrowed their eyes trying to peer through it.

"There. I see something." Cassandra pointed.

As they all focused in they saw...a body, the body of man lying on his back on a table of stone a few inches above the ground.

Rapunzel's smiled widened, "Aldren!" she nearly bolted forward were it not for Cassandra's arm ahead of her.

"Wait Raps! I don't like this..."

"Don't you see Cassandra? They brought him here!"

"Yeah but where are 'they'?"

"I'm sure they're just being shy." Olaf said calmly as he had walked out ahead of them seemingly without a care in the world.

They both gasped and chased after him, "Wait Olaf!"

Before they could reach him something rolled by hard and fast, cutting them off. Through the mist they watched the object circle back around them at break neck speed as it was joined by many more. Trolgon roared and moved to stand over them, his tail circling around the two women while he spread his wings and hissed threateningly at the potential threats. Cassandra drew her sword, putting Rapunzel behind her who took out her frying pan in both hands, soon after they realized the objects surrounding them were just a bunch of moss covered rocks.

"OK!...Why are there a bunch of rocks attacking us?!" Cassandra asked, her sword pointing towards any that seemed like they were getting too close.

Rapunzel watched the rocks cautiously but still curious, "They're not attacking but-" she then realized that Olaf was still waddling ahead and many of the rocks were coming close to hitting him-far too close for comfort. "Olaf! Get out of there, Run to us!" she screamed to him.

He only looked to her with a big smile, "Why? These are my friends!" he turned back to the rocks and waved, "Hi Kristoff''s family!"

"Wait! What!?" the two women exclaimed. Trolgon even whipped around to the snowman with a confused trill.

The boulders all halted to a stop, then all converging around Olaf before the most surprising thing happened. Each of the boulders unfolded into a small being; large eyes, pointed ears, grassy hair all clothed in moss garments.

The creatures all smiled to Olaf, speaking amongst themselves, "It's Olaf!"

"The little snowman?"

"Friend to Kristoff!"

"What's he doing here?"

One of them pointed to Rapunzel and the others, "And who are they?"

They turned to them and eyed them curiously, "Did the queen send them?

"How do we know we can trust them?"

"They came with the snowman."

"Are they the ones Grandpabbie spoke of?"

"Is that a dragon!?"

Olaf turned back, "Friends, these are my friends...my other friends; Kristoff's family."

Casandra and Trolgon were still on guard but Rapunzel put her frying pan away and laughed nervously while giving a small wave, "Um, hi..."

"Let them pass!" The creatures all turned behind them when a voice spoke and rolled through the crowd to the front unfurling into another of their kind. This one seeming older and wiser as he looked up to Rapunzel with narrowed eyes before smiling pleasantly. "At last, the sun's gift arrives on the wings of a dragon..."

Though Cassandra tried to protest Rapunzel moved out from behind her guard to meet this new face, "Who are you?"

"My name is Steinfar, I am leader of the stone trolls...but you may call me GrandPabbie. Welcome to the Valley of the Living Rock princess Rapunzel." he bowed his head to her.

"You...know who I am?"

"I do and I knew of your coming...for mine is the Norn; the gift of foresight. And I know why you are here-come now, it's important and time is short." he beckoned her to follow. She smiled brightly, then looked to Pascal briefly before following quickly with Olaf in tow. Cassandra and Trolgon followed suite but slower and still cautious.

As they came upon the stone table Rapunzel gasped in horror; Aldren lay motionless and his shoulder plate had been removed revealing a grisly puncture that was accompanied by a jagged wound in his leg. His armor was dented and battered from head to toe while his face was littered with small cuts and blue bruises. She quickly knelt beside him along with Olaf, Pascal climbed down her arm onto Aldren's chest, while Cassandra and Trolgon stood back. The injuries had been treated by the trolls with bandages of moss but she could see they still bled beneath the surface.

Cassandra frowned, "What happened to him?"

Grandpabbie looked to her, "He refused the Witch King's offer to join his army and when he left he was ambushed...by the beast you know as 'Tarn'."

"Will he be OK?" Olaf asked worriedly.

Rapunzel placed her hand on Aldren's face before she looked to her small friend with determination, "He will Olaf. I promise."

"Is he going to...die?"

"I won't let him."

She hovered her hands above him and breathed in, "OK, it's-been a while since I've done this but-"

"Wait." she looked to the troll, "You cannot."

She looked at him in shock along with everyone else, "What?"

He moved to stand on the other side of the table, "You must understand-"

"I understand my friend is dying! And he might still die if I don't do something, I'm not going to let that happen!"

"Please, listen!" he sighed, "The future is never truly certain for none can foresee all the paths before us and where they will truly end. But in every one of them I've glimpsed, if you heal him here and now Arendelle will fall and the rest of the world with it!"

The princess looked to Aldren and shook her head, her hands resting on him, "How can that be..." she looked back to the Grandpabbie, "You said it was important for me to be here, why wouldn't this be the reason?"

He looked down to the wounded warrior, placing a hand on his shoulder, "Fate...is like a precarious pile of stones; you may add more to it and strengthen it's poise...but if you misstep, if even one of the stones falls from place...everything comes crashing down, never to be rebuilt." He reached across to place his hand atop hers, "I know we've only just met...but you must trust in what I tell you now, trust that this will be best for all."

She looked sadly upon her injured friend for several moments, thinking also of Elsa's pain and remembering her own. All she could do was trust in this wiser and older creature who obviously knew much more about this world than she. Slowly and reluctantly...her hands retracted from Aldren's body. The troll nodded and walked around to Aldren's head, "Besides, there is other healing that must be done...the kind that not even your power can help I'm afraid."

"What do you mean?"

"He is...so very near to the edge of death. It is not only his body that is letting go of it's hold to this world but his soul...his heart." he placed a hand on either side of the Embercrow's head and closed his eyes and breathed in, "He must forgive...he must, or he will never awake again."

"Forgive?"

The elder troll said nothing more, seeming to be lost in a sort of trance while his hands remained on either side of Aldren's head. Doubt and fear for her friend's life weighted heavily on her and she looked to all her friends who shared similar expressions of uncertainty. Trolgon leaned forward and whined over his wounded father along with Olaf and Pascal who stayed close to Aldren. Rapunzel stood and stepped back next to Cassandra whose sword remained out as she watched the troll leader intently and with mistrust.

She whispered to the princess, "How do we know he's telling the truth?"

Rapunzel shook her head, "We don't..."

All they could do now was watch and wait, hoping that this strange being did in fact know what he was doing and that Aldren would be saved...

OoO

Aldren's eyes opened and he could see nothing, nothing but a white haze of snow falling slowly from the sky to join the pristine white blanket he lay in. He rose uneasily to his feet, brushing the snow from himself and quickly surveying the wound in his leg, which was when he noticed...the pain was missing. He remained brutalized and dirty from Tarn's attack and his wounds were not healed but all trace of any physical pain was gone. Despite all this he felt strangely calm...if this was death then perhaps he could accept it.

Something in the haze finally revealed itself as a faint light began to build. He thought it might illuminate his surroundings but instead it grew to become the only thing he could see. He recalled the often jesting expression of 'don't go into the light'...yet he was called to it, taking a step forward. He took a few more steps, feeling more and more compelled to reach the light with every step.

"Help me!"

He stopped, his calm shattered as he whipped around in the direction of the voice, a voice like a child.

"Please!...somebody help..." the child wailed in sorrow but Aldren could not see him. The blinding light called again and he was torn between the comfort and peace the light seemed to offer and the child's cries. Would he leave...would he abandon the child?...He turned away from the light entirely and jogged towards the voice.

The child's calls grew louder as he seemed to get closer though all he continued to see was the haze and snow. He halted to a stop and stared in confusion at where the snow ceased and was replaced by a carpet of ash. He was just on the other side of the much less appealing substance and an all to familiar one. He looked over his shoulder when the light gave one last beckoning call, then he frowned and turned away, his foot hovering over the ash briefly...before stepping onto it.

And with that one step, all the snow and light, vanished...it was all ash now. He did not hesitate here long when the child's voice called out again. He now took off in a full run, his feet kicking up the powdery gray with every stride. For a moment he feared he was running in the wrong direction when the child did not cry out again but at last something came into view and he came to slow stop, shuddering at the sight of it. His family's hall stood before him in the sea of ash. It was his own cries he was hearing, his own fear and helplessness. He was the child he was running to help.

"Help...", the child cried out again and he shook himself of his hesitance and tried to focus... How could he help? He knew better than anyone what happened here, something that could not be undone. The light that beckoned him was gone and all he could do now was stay this path.

Again the boy called out and Aldren moved to the doubles doors, he pushed but they gave no ground. Instinctively he reached for his sword but the only weapons he was left with were his hands. With some hesitation he kicked forward hard into the door but was only met with sudden searing pain in his leg. He shouted, nearly falling to his knees, as the wound on his leg began to ache again. He growled and looked back to the stubborn doors, this time he set his right fist aflame and struck the door as hard as possible. He felt even greater discomfort that brought him to one knee as he cried out, his hand seizing his right shoulder, that pain returning as well. Something worse was happening as he saw the flame from his fist began to spread up his arm. He was no longer in control. Frenziedly he attempted to smother the flames with his opposing hand but they only spread to his other arm, both his limbs up to his shoulders now crackled with flame. Again the child's woeful cries distracted him, he had left a mark in the door this time...but it would take more to get through.

Breathing heavily, stuffing down his anguish he threw another punch, another, and another, faster and faster-harder with each blow-no matter how much it hurt until with a last strike of both fists the door shattered apart. He stumble forward and looked up to see that the door-not even remnants of the door were there. In fact the whole of the structure was gone, just charred walls and empty dorways were what remained...the ruins he last looked upon the day his family died.

The child's wails had faded to quiet sobs and breathless, choked screams from a strained throat that had little volume left. Aldren's arms were still alight and his injuries were agonizing but he pressed on inside, he knew where to go-he knew where his parent's room had been. His arm rested on what was left of the door frame while he caught his breath...and there he saw him, he saw himself. The young boy kneeling in the ash, crying into his hands with no one there to comfort him...

Slowly he moved to the boy and knelt before him. He would do now what he had failed to do when Amicus had invaded his mind. Though his hand was still on fire he didn't stop himself from gently grasping the boy's shoulder...he knew it would not hurt him.

"Father?" the child asked, barely audible as he slowly looked to the man kneeling in front of him. Ash coated the boy's body and hair while tears streamed from his red crimson eyes.

Aldren slowly shook his head, "No...I-"

The boy shied away from his touch, "You blame me...don't you?" he asked, almost terrified.

He held a hand out to him, "No..."

The boy turned away, hugging himself tighter, "But it was my fault!...they're dead because-...because of me..."

"No. You were a child, you are not to blame for what happened to them...we are not to blame."

"Why would you say that?...you've hated me ever since that day..."

"Not anymore..."

"Why?...what's changed?"

Aldren breathed in, "Because I learned what it is to be loved again..."

"The people we love are always the one's who suffer the most because of us!" the boy attempted to scream.

"Not this time. This time we're going to keep them safe-all of them."

The boy wiped his eyes and turned to him, "How do you know that!...why would things be any different now?"

He moved closer to the boy and took his hand into his own and spoke softly, "Because I know that this love we earned, that we no longer have to fight for it alone...and that it will stay with us." The boy seemed to be comforted by this though he still looked uncertain. Aldren did not realize it at present but the flames on his arms were starting to die down. He moved his hands up to either side of the boy's face, "You don't deserve this pain...but least of all you don't deserve your own hatred; my hatred..."

"I-...I don't?"

"No...but more importantly, you need to know something...you need to know that I-am-sorry. I'm sorry I've tormented you for so long, neglected you...hurt you. Can you forgive me for what I've done?"

"Why...why are you asking me this?"

He leaned his forehead against the boy's and sighed, speaking in a kind whisper, "Because I forgive you for this...I forgive you..." it was hard for Aldren not to cry himself, the great swell of relief he felt hearing those words at last.

The boy exhaled slowly, closed his eyes and as his arms reached up to grasp Aldren's the waning flames at last dissipated. And in that moment Aldren knew in his heart that his apology had been accepted...that he had been forgiven...

OoO

Aldren's eyes shot open as his chest heaved, painfully sucking in air before coughing violently-rolling to one side. He felt someone grasp his body, cradling his neck with their arm and helping him to sit up. As his vision cleared he was greatly surprised to see Rapunzel's relieved smile beaming at him, he narrowed his eyes and shook his head, "Rapunzel..."

"He's Ok!" another familiar voice cried, he looked down to see Olaf smiling giddily. He smiled back, "Olaf...but-how are you both here?"

His question was answered when a excited trill was followed by Trolgon putting his snout into the mix and pushing Aldren back slightly. He laughed, slightly in pain still, "Easy you great brute-gently with me now!" he gently pushed the dragon's snout back before running his hand down it's length, "It's good to see you too."

He noticed Pascal on his shoulder and then looked past Trolgon to see Cassandra walking up to join them, she smiled and nodded to him. "Lady Cassandra" he said, nodding back He started to stand and Rapunzel helped him by placing his arm over her shoulders. He looked to them all, "Why are you all here?"

"We came looking for you of course! We-...might've-kinda-sorta...'borrowed' Trolgon to sneak out of Arendelle..." the princess explained a little guiltily.

He grinned and squeezed her shoulders before removing his arm to stand on his own. "Well...I'm glad you did" he said smiling. He then looked to the crowd of stone trolls surrounding them, "I suppose I have you all to thank for sparing me from whatever torturous death Tarn had planned for me and...the boy..." he turned to Steinfar who now stood on the stone table, "That was your doing...?"

The elder nodded and Aldren nodded back humbly, "Thank you."

He smiled, "My pleasure."

Rapunzel looked back and forth between them curiously as she was clearly out of the loop, "Uh...-"

"I'm glad to see that you're...alright, lord Aldren." Casandra spoke before her expression dropped, "But as much as I hate to break up the reunion we don't have the luxury of time."

The princess nodded, "She's right. Aldren...we saw them."

He looked to her, "Naga?" She nodded, he narrowed his eyes, "How many?"

"Thousands." she uttered.

Olaf nodded, "Yeah! And they had those lizard cat things! And trolls-" he turned to the stone trolls around, "Oh but not you guys! You guys are much more pleasant than those other trolls." he said with an apologetic chuckle.

Cassandra stepped forward, "But not just the naga-"

"The separatists of Saporia?" Aldren asked.

She blinked in surprise, "Ye-how did-"

"When I was brought before the Witch King I saw him speaking with a man called 'Hubert' who led them. But he and Hans are not the only ones aligned against us; other enemies of the alliance have also pledged themselves to the Naga Ai."

Rapunzel furrowed her brow, eyes to the ground, put her hands on her hips and took a few steps forward, "But why? The Naga Ai want to destroy all of humanity, why would they join Amicus?"

He folded his arms, "They likely do not know the Witch King's end game and even if we told them, they would sooner believe the one who promises their enemy's demise than hear the truth...but there is something else I learned."

"What?"

"Amicus...is an elemental, like me."

All three of their jaws dropped, Cassandra shook her head and held her hands up, "Hold on! You mean he can control fire like you?!"

"But he is more than that, he has a greater understanding of the power than I likely ever will and...there's worse."

"There's worse?" Olaf asked frightfully.

"Yes. Amicus' power is not only greater than we anticipated but as far as I know...he cannot be killed." they were all silent, no good reply came to mind from any of them before he continued grimly. "When I saw an opening, without hesitation I drove my blade through his heart...but it did nothing-he barely seemed to care, and even if we defeat his army I know not how he will be vanquished..."

"But what we do know is that if we stay here we're not doing anybody any good!" Cassandra offered.

"Agreed. The naga army is not far and the alliance must be warned of the Witch King's true power and the new servants he has in his service, we'll head back to the capital at once-"

"Wait." they all turned to the troll Shaman.

Cassandra grimaced, "Let me guess; you're about to tell us we can't go back yet?"

"That is exactly what I'm telling you." he said very seriously.

Aldren looked at him disbelievingly, "But why?"

"Because you are outnumbered. With these new puppets the Witch King has enthralled he has bought himself the advantage of superior numbers and If you return to Arendelle now then I will have denied you your final peace for nothing. You need more fighting with you."

Rapunzel sighed exasperatedly, "GrandPabbie we!-...we don't understand."

Aldren shook his head, speaking desperately, "There are none! The Sons of the Jackal burned the Chatho fleet, the naga have completely cut us off from the rest of the world! Where would you have us find more to fight with us!? Elsa has no idea what Amicus is capable of and if I don't warn her she'll-...she'll..." he couldn't speak the word.

The troll smiled and breathed in, "Your path does lead back to Elsa...but it will not be a straight line." he turned towards the mountain, "Your path leads north."

They all narrowed their eyes at the tallest of Arendelle's peaks in the distance, "The north mountain?" Aldren asked.

"That's where Marshmallow lives!" Olaf piped up excitedly.

"Marsh-...mallow?" Rapunzel asked."

"A giant snowman that Elsa created during her isolation in that place some years ago to guard her from intruders...a frost giant if you will." Aldren explained.

"Huh. He sounds...cute?"

He looked back to GrandPabbie, "But what help could one giant snowman be?"

"There is more to that place than appearances suggest my boy. Ever since the snow queen took residence there something has awakened...and it may be the only thing that can help you now."

"Why?"

"By killing you Amicus believed he would remove the one unexpected variable that could have upset his plan-but not so. As far as the Witch King knows you are very much dead, which means he has now turned a blind eye to all that is not ahead of him...including the mountain."

"The tactical advantage is ours! His overconfidence will be his undoing." Olaf said unexpectedly, they all looked at him slightly shocked.

Steinfar nodded, "Your young friend speaks true."

Aldren sighed, "I want to believe you-and I know you can see the future...but what guarantee do we have, what certainty can we carry that you are right about this?"

"Well. If it's certainties you desire...I will show you." the elder climbed down from the stone table and beckoned them to follow him deeper into the mist behind him.

Eventually he led them all to a large wall of stone that encircled the area ahead of them, curtains of moss hung from the tops with pale green crystals dangling randomly from the vegetation. The elder troll stopped and raised his hands, the curtains of moss retracted upward as he did, exposing the wall to them. They looked on in wonder at what was carved there; a stone mural that spanned it's entire length, simple but detailed and colored enough that the images were clear to them.

Aldren approached the first of the images; a royally dressed man and his wife looking upon a baby in their arms...a baby with white hair, "Elsa..." they all followed him as he walked alongside the mural; King Agnar and queen Iduna bringing their daughters before the trolls, their ship sinking at sea, Elsa's retreat from Arendelle to the mountain, Kristoff and Anna's journey to bring her back...Anna's sacrifice to save her sister from Hans.

The image in the middle was a scene more familiar to him, Elsa as he knew her now with her hands above her head-ice flowing from them...and standing in front of her was a black haired man with his hands above him too-but with flames coming out instead. He traced his hand fondly over the likeness of his queen as he followed the image upward to see that where the fire and ice met and in the middle above them a crimson eyed, white baby dragon flew. He looked back to Trolgon while Rapunzel studied the image closer with a smile, "That's...when you and Elsa made Trolgon, isn't it?"

He nodded, smiling too, "Yes..."

He looked back to the mural as they continued with the rest of the carvings, the next was Aldren in his battle dress with sword in hand against Tarn who charged with mace raised.

Cassandra walked up beside him, "Your fight with Tarn..." he nodded, looking upon the image less fondly.

Rapunzel had moved onto the next which was of Aldren lying on the stone table with a troll above him that could be assumed was GrandPabbie. And kneeling beside them was brown haired woman in a violet and gold dress while in the background stood a fully grown Trolgon, a black armored woman and small snowman; Cassandra and Olaf.

"That's me..." the princess said, tracing her hand against the stone, "And Cassandra, Pascal and Trolgon!...that's all of us, even you Olaf." her smile grew wider.

The snowman pursed his lips at the image of himself, "I don't think they captured my likeness very well."

Steinfar laughed, "Yes. My predecessors carved this mural into the stone here in ages past; these represent the only true events that are as we like to say, 'set in stone.' And it has served as my guide-my...certainty for many years. And if it will bring a similar security to you, then I am happy to share it."

He gestured to the last image; the Witch King with a black sword in his grasp and standing against him were a fully armed and armored Elsa and Aldren, side by side against their enemy. "It was always the two of you...together."

He observed the great mural from start to finish, "This is our story..."

Rapunzel slowly looked from left to right in amazement, "No Aldren, it's your story...yours and Elsa's. They knew all of this was going to happen-before it ever did!"

GrandPabbie nodded, "Indeed your majesty, but before one can reach the end...you must first see the rest of the journey through." he pointed to the image just before the last, Elsa's castle in the northern mountain; their small band walking up to it and standing at the door waiting for them... was marshmallow.

"You might want this" another troll said as they approached and held Black Autumn up to Aldren. He took his weapon, nodded and handed Pascal off to the princess before looking back to the elder. "Then it is as you say...our path leads to the mountain" he said, sheathing his weapon as he spoke.

Rapunzel looked around to everyone excitedly, "Come on you guys! We're so close to the end!" She raced off to Trolgon with Olaf following with the same enthusiasm while Cassandra a little slower.

But Aldren did not follow immediately, he had noticed that some of the moss curtain had remained-concealing the last image after the fight with Amicus. A wind blew past, not strong but enough that the curtain of moss moved away for him to glimpse the final image. The Witch King's helm laid on the ground without it's wearer and a short distance from it was Elsa...holding Aldren's body in her arms...

"Yes...yes we are." he said aloud quietly.

Rapunzel turned back to see what the hold up was but by the time she had, the curtain dropped. Aldren looked to Steinfar who only gave him a sad, knowing smile...he nodded and said nothing, turning swiftly to join the others on Trolgon. He walked past them all without saying a word or looking at them and the princess watched worriedly but now was not a time to ask questions. They all climbed onto Trolgon's back and the elder troll spoke to them one last time. "Go now. You do not have far to go but you have little time to get there and the fate of many depends on you to succeed."

Aldren looked at GrandPabbie one last time. "We will." he said, gripping the saddle, Rapunzel's arms around his waist, Olaf and Cassandra behind them. "Flyve. (Fly)" he spoke to Trolgon.

Without delay the dragon's wing's spread and flapped hard, taking them into the sky towards the north mountain. Together they went; all of them knowing that their course was true, carrying a sense of purpose and certainty with them...if nothing else...

And this officially marks the last moments of quiet before the storm. In the next chapter the final battle for Arendelle will begin...no pressure for me...

As always be sure to Follow, Fav and Review and I will see you all next time!