Merry Christmas people, and welcome back to Frozen: Lords of Storm and Stone. This time I got the timing right, and boy is this special a doozy...
On Christmas, Anna woke up alongside Kristoff, looked their new window, and beamed when she saw it was daytime.
"Kristoff. Kristoff, wake up! It's Christmas!" Anna exclaimed while shaking her husband, and Kristoff stirred.
"What...?" He breathed out.
"It's Christmas!" Anna said.
"Oh! Right!" Kristoff said as he sat up, and Anna rushed to their wardrobe to grab her day clothes...and not just any day clothes.
"It was nice of Hulda to give us these new Christmas outfits." Anna said as she looked over the dress, suit, and coats.
"Here's hoping it's not too fancy..." Kristoff said before Anna rushed over with his clothes and put them on the bed.
"I'm sure it'll be fine, now put it on and let me see." Anna said, then Kristoff sighed, got up, then Anna squealed in excitement as Kristoff put his new outfit on, then she gasped when he was done.
When they came down to Sigmund's throne room, they found Elsa by herself...and she had her own change of clothes.
"Good morning." Elsa said softly.
"Elsa...! Look at you." Anna said as she looked over Elsa's gown that resembled her usual gown, combined with the gown she wore on the day she and Anna discovered Olaf was a living tradition for them.
"Like it?" Elsa asked.
"Like? I love it!" Anna exclaimed and Kristoff couldn't help but smile; he recalled saying that before his and Anna's first kiss.
"I thought you might." Elsa said.
"So...where's Olaf?" Anna asked.
"He's still sleeping. I just wanted to show you this outfit first before we go out." Elsa said.
"Alright." Anna said, then Ingmar approached.
"What about Sigmund?" Kristoff asked.
"His Lordship will not be joining you for now." Ingmar said.
"Why not? It's Christmas." Anna asked.
"He has his own share of preparations to do, but he extends his wishes." Ingmar said.
"Alright." Elsa said, then Olaf came out from behind a pillar.
"Surprise!" He yelled, and everyone simply turned to see him.
"Very funny Olaf." Anna said.
"Come here." Elsa said while extending a hand to Olaf, then Kristoff stood back and leaned against a pillar as Elsa, Anna, and Olaf group hugged.
"Thanks for keeping us together Olaf..." Anna said softly.
"You're welcome." Olaf said, and even Ingmar seemed entranced by the display before him.
"I guess we technically celebrate this tradition every day don't we?" Elsa said.
"That doesn't make it any less special." Anna said seriously.
"No...it doesn't." Elsa said.
"I do not mean to be rude, but there are a bounty of events planned for this holiday by the townspeople that could be of great interest to all of you." Ingmar said.
"We know." Anna said.
"And I've got a stew to cook, and a ballad to prepare for." Kristoff said.
"His Lordship mentioned that he looked over the tune and lyrics you showed him, and has shown more than a little interest in it." Ingmar said.
"How so?" Anna asked.
"He didn't say, but knowing him, he's bound to have something in mind regarding it." Ingmar said.
"Well, we'll just have to wait and see won't we?" Anna asked.
"Right, now let's go down to the village." Elsa said before the family walked out of the throne room.
When they got there, it was clear that the holiday spirit began to circulate through the whole valley's population. Presents were being exchanged between people, children and adults alike, and some families were being invited into other families' homes for get-togethers. Some children played together in the four-inch-deep snow, with and without their parents watching over them. Snowball fights between groups of kids ensued, with some even building small walls of snow to take cover behind, while they threw snowballs at each other from behind the walls.
"Wow...everyone's out and about aren't they?" Anna asked.
"Well not everyone. I saw some people go into their homes and didn't come out." Kristoff said.
"Eh, they can come out later." Anna said casually.
"Where should we go first?" Elsa asked.
"How about the main square? Just to see what's going on?" Anna asked.
"We might as well." Kristoff said.
"Alright, let's go." Elsa said, and they went towards the main square.
On the way there, they looked around at the red, green, and sometimes blue decorations around. Wreaths, bells, ornaments, even patterns of twigs and leaves that clearly had an artist's touch, all lined the houses to varying degrees. As they neared the square, they saw Askel and Lisa as the former strummed his lute, and Lisa swayed from side to side while humming
Eventually, Lisa spotted the family and waved at them, was waved at in return, then shared a look with Askel before rushing over to see them.
"Hey!" Lisa exclaimed.
"Hi Lisa." Kristoff said before Lisa stopped running before catching her balance.
"Careful. Ice tends to be slippery." Anna said.
"There's not that much ice here." Lisa said.
"There's still- Nevermind." Anna said while shaking her head.
"You three look great." Lisa said while looking them over.
"So do you." Elsa said, and Lisa looked herself over while twisting her body to make her dress spin.
"Hulda made it a week ago for this occasion." She said.
"It fits you like a glove." Anna said.
"Thanks." Lisa said.
"So what's new?" Anna asked.
"I was just allowed to listen to a piece of Askel's new song." Lisa said.
"Did you now?" Elsa asked.
"It's more of a musical number rather than a song, and get this, he talked to Captain Lars about getting the army's choir involved." Lisa said, and the family's eyes widened.
"Wow...that's big." Anna said.
"Very." Elsa said.
"What's big? Aside from these houses..." Olaf asked.
"It means that the army getting involved is nothing to make fun of." Lisa said.
"O.k...so when is Elsa making the tree?" Olaf asked.
"Oh, right. Thanks for reminding me." Elsa before stomping on the ground, then a trail of ice shot out from her foot, and Lisa gasped as the ice gathered in the middle of the town square. A tree made entirely of ice rose out of the ground several feet at a time, and every worker in the area stopped what they were doing to marvel at the colossal tree growing in the middle of the town. In the end, the tree was the size of a tower, and wide enough at its base to encompass half of the square itself.
"That...that's...you..." Lisa trailed off.
"Yep...welcome to our world..." Anna said casually and Lisa continued sucking in deep breaths and grinning at the sight of the monolithic tree made of ice in front of her.
"And you did it so casually too...and how are you not tired?" Lisa asked seriously, and Elsa grinned.
"I've done worse." She said simply.
"You're as strong as Sigmund aren't you?" Lisa asked.
"Apparently, I'm stronger." Elsa said.
"What?" Lisa asked.
"According to him, it took hours to make his fortress, but...I made a palace of similar size without even knowing I could." Elsa said, and Lisa stared at her.
"Oh...Absalom is done for..." Lisa said while shaking her head.
"I wonder what he's been doing all this time?" Anna said.
"Who knows, and right now...who cares?" Kristoff said.
"Well, considering what we've been doing since you've been here, if he or any of those bozos that work for him show their faces, we'll be ready for them." Lisa said.
"Here's hoping." Elsa said, then Anna's stomach rumbled.
"Well, I'm off to make the stew." Kristoff said.
"Stew?" Lisa asked.
"Yeah, one of my personal traditions, aside from a ballad I have in mind for later-" Lisa cuts him off.
"You have a ballad too?" She asked seriously.
"Yes I do." Kristoff said.
"I would love to hear it...well, as long as it's at a different time as Askel's." Lisa said.
"When is he going to perform?" Elsa asked.
"Just before sundown." Lisa said.
"I can do the ballad long before then." Kristoff said.
"Let me know when you're about to start." Lisa said.
"Not a problem. Now, I'm off to make the stew, and feed Sven." Kristoff said.
"Wait...do you do anything with Sven?" Lisa asked.
"Not really, what do you mean?" Kristoff asked.
"Really? You don't paint his nose red and call him Sven the Red-Nosed Reindeer?" Lisa asked casually.
"Why on earth would I do that?" Kristoff asked.
"Just asking." Lisa said.
"That would be funny though." Anna said.
"I'm not sure how he'd take it though." Kristoff said.
"You don't have to do it. Sheesh..." Lisa said.
"O.k. o.k...now can I go make-" The three ladies all cut him off and pointed to the stable.
"Go!" They all said at the same time, then Kristoff ran off.
"Anyway, I'll let you get back to touring this place for the umpteenth time." Lisa said.
"We don't mind looking around, quite the opposite actually." Anna said.
"Olaf? Would you like to look around this place?" Lisa asked.
"Alright, I'll go look around now." Olaf said casually before waddling off.
"I'll keep an eye on him." Lisa said.
"Alright, see you later." Anna said before Lisa went after Olaf.
"You want to go check on Captain Lars?" Elsa asked.
"Why not?" Anna said before they went to the barracks.
When they got there, Captain Lars was there at the table as he usually was, and stopped looking at the papers when the two sisters approached.
"Ah, Anna and Elsa. Merry Christmas." Lars said.
"And a Merry Christmas to you captain." Elsa said, as Anna looked around.
"Where is everyone?" She asked.
"Spending time with their families, or keeping an eyes out for any surprise attacks." Lars said.
"Oh...right." Elsa said.
"Yes. This may be Christmas, but that means little to some people. I wouldn't be surprised it Absalom's forces were keeping an eye on us to find any weaknesses to exploit. So we much be ready at all times." Lars said.
"That's...kind of sad." Anna said.
"None of us asked for this my good lady." Lars said.
"Well, what do you have in mind for Christmas?" Elsa asked.
"This is what I have in mind. It's not pretty, but...it must be done." Lars said.
"Right..." Elsa said.
"The ice harvesters and some miners were pulled away from their tasks to rejoin the army for that reason as well. Their jobs are quite slow this time of year as well." Lars said.
"Alright, well thanks for your service." Anna said.
"Think nothing of it." Lars said before Elsa and Anna walked to the stables...and could smell the stew.
After each of them finished a medium-sized bowl, Kristoff donned the traditional cloak he wore each Christmas, and prepared his lute.
"Wait! We promised Lisa we'd let her hear it too." Anna said.
"That's quite kind of you." Sigmund said, then the group turned to see him...without his armor. He had a green and black suit that had hints of inspiration from Renaissance dublets, but it was clearly designed for winter. He kept the cloak he wore as all times, but it wasn't enough to keep him from looking the part.
"Sigmund...?" Elsa asked.
"Don't you look handsome..." Anna said with a smile.
"I'm sorry I couldn't come with you before. I was rehearsing." Sigmund said as he walked in.
"Rehearsing?" Kristoff asked.
"Yes. I want to play with you." Sigmund said before taking out a flute.
"You play?" Anna asked.
"I have this flute, a harp, and an organ in my room." Sigmund said.
"Why haven't we heard you play before?" Anna asked.
"Because things have been quite calm recently, and I use music to increase my tolerance for stress before and after battle. That being said, I have not played in some time, and wanted to get back into practice before this." Sigmund said.
"Ingmar said you likely had something in mind involving this." Kristoff said.
"He was not wrong." Sigmund said.
"But why?" Anna asked.
"I looked over the ballad, and I see that it was more than just a cautionary tale...it's also one of honoring a lost friend, and I feel somewhat guilty for being dismissive of it." Sigmund said.
"It didn't seem that way." Anna said.
"But it did feel that way. Besides, even if none of that was the case, I'm still interested in doing this with you." Sigmund said, then the family all looked at each other.
"I'll go get Lisa." Anna said before running out, then Sigmund took Anna's spot.
"Can we hear a piece?" Elsa asked.
"Alright." Sigmund said before sucking in a breath, putting the flute's opening in his mouth then playing a slow, steady tune that went higher and lower in just the right amount at the right time.
"That was nice." Kristoff said.
"I believe the ballad goes something like that?" Sigmund asked, as Elsa checked outside.
"Yes it does actually." Kristoff said.
"They're coming back." Elsa said, then Kristoff began strumming then Sigmund began playing his flute.
"There once was a troll held in highest esteem For his manner was kind and his fungus did gleam. The ballad of old Flemmingrad. Beloved by each troll girl and every troll lad. They gifted him berries and moss cake and stew, He gobbled with zeal as he zealously grew, To such a large old Flemmingrad, He always felt full and for that, he was glad, They loved to watch him roll, roll, roll, With laughter, he would roll, roll, Then one winter's day, humans crept up so fast, The trolls had to roll through a tight mountain pass, But dear old giant Flemmingrad, He tried to go through, but got stuck just a tad, The people were frightened and pulled out a sword, So, Flemmy, he blended right into the fjord, The ballad of old Flemmingrad, He never got out, and for that we are sad, Wedged...but not forgotten, For Flemmy couldn't roll, roll, roll, Oh, Flemmy, won't you roll, roll?"
"And that's why we have this tradition. Every December we all gather round. To pay our respects to a troll so renowned. In remembrance of the friend we had. A jolly old soul we called Flemmingrad. We all dig deep down and we uproot the past. We shove up its nostrils a fist full of grass. In resemblance of the dear old lad. We forged a mold of Flemmingrad. We shape his likeness, bless his soul. Oh, Flemmy the fungus troll..." Kristoff sang, and the whole time, the ladies around him swayed back and forth in-sync with the tune.
Lisa in particular was completely enchanted by how incredible Kristoff's voice was, and how versed he was with a lute. When she spotted Sigmund on the flute...she couldn't believe her eyes. When Sigmund stopped playing and met her gaze...he nodded her way and put the flute away.
"That was one of the best songs I had ever heard..." Lisa breathed out.
"It's great isn't it?" Anna asked.
"Just as great as hearing His Lordship play with it..." Lisa said.
"You're the first person I played the flute to in a long time Lisa, and I doubt you will be the last." Sigmund said seriously.
"Really? Wow..." Lisa said.
"I would like some of that stew as well. It smells fantastic." Sigmund said.
"Alright." Kristoff said before grabbing a bowl, filling it with stew, then handing it to Sigmund who shoveled a spoonful into his mouth.
"Tastes fantastic too." Sigmund said.
"Thank you very much." Kristoff said.
"So...what's next?" Olaf asked, then the group looked at each other.
For the rest of the day, the group watched the rest of the people do their tasks, and celebrate their own personal traditions if it was an option for them. Baked goods of all kinds were passed around and eaten, additional decorations were put up, and Elsa of course got involved with her own personal touch. Each time she did, the decorations were either accentuated, or were added to; she actually put decorations in places where there were none, since no one could reach those places.
Elsa's tree required some more attention since the decorations had no chance of being added to the top, so Elsa made her own decorations, or froze some decorations and made them fly to their respective place. Dozens of lanterns were added to the mix to make the tree shine brighter come evening, and Elsa gave them the exact same treatment. She even encased a particularly large lantern in a coating of ice in the shape of a star, then flew it to the top of the tree.
Come time for Askel's performance, the sound of his lute rang through the square, as did the sounds of drums, woodwind instruments of all types, the army's choir, and even a children's choir. Dozens of people took turns dancing across the square, with Anna, and Kristoff all taking the brunt of Elsa, Sigmund, and Olaf's attention. Neither Elsa nor Sigmund danced, since both were too enthralled by the event itself, or by Anna and Kristoff being lost in the moment.
Gunjar and his cooks were busy the entire time, working to feed the hungry crowd. Scores of people dined on beef, pork, poultry of all types, vegetables, fruits, cheeses, and beards, all while beverages were drunk alongside them. Soldiers, workers, children, even visiting parties from other regions came to taste Gunjar's meals, and all of his cooks were working tirelessly alongside him.
Naturally, the family, and Sigmund went to get their fill when it came time.
"Merry Christmas sire!" Gunjar exclaimed as Sigmund approached.
"Merry Christmas Chef Gunjar." Sigmund said.
"My thanks to your guest Elsa for setting up this grand affair with the tree. Never before have I seen such a marvel." Gunjar said.
"Indeed." Sigmund said.
"Do you have an event in mind my liege?" Gunjar asked.
"Not yet chef." Sigmund said.
"I trust you had a hand in Elsa's birthday?" Gunjar asked.
"I gave her a bottle of strawberry wine, that I personally commissioned weeks prior to her birthday." Sigmund said.
"Does your generosity know no bounds my liege...?" Gunjar asked.
"She did not consume it alone, and she still has the rest of it." Sigmund said.
"Well...can I get you?" Gunjar asked.
"A duck, some cheese bread, and some apples." Sigmund said and Gunjar set up the plate as Sigmund watched, then handed it over.
"Enjoy your meal my lord." Gunjar said as Sigmund took the plate.
"Much appreciated chef." Sigmund said before walking away and watching the rest of the performance. Askel then spotted Lisa, and he gave the people a solo with his lute, then Lisa became practically consumed by. Her feet covered every inch of the ground beneath her, and her dress moved as if it had a mind of it's own given how vigorous and fast-paced her movements were. As usual, the people watching her were as hopelessly entranced by her graceful movements and she was by the music itself. When Lisa finally got too tired to continue, she noticed Sigmund watching her, then smiled brightly.
Even the monks got involved by walking around the tree in an organized fashion, and kneeling before it as Leonid approached Sigmund and offered him a book.
"Please, Lord of Stone, accept this as a token of good faith from myself and the brothers." Leonid said, before Sigmund took the book and put it in his bag.
"Thank you father." He said.
"And thank you for your bountiful services." Leonid said before bowing and leaving with the monks following him. When they left the people continued to talk among themselves, and continue to feast. Sigmund then went into the center of the square, and all eyes were on him in moments.
"My good people, I must personally inform you that I was very much looking forward to this day. Ever since I became the Lord of Stone, my spirits have been tested and weather, and now that Christmas has come, my spirits have been lifted, and I have all of you to thank. Not only is this a day to be together, but also to prepare for what still lies ahead of us, but from what I can see, there is nothing to fear. We have come a long way, and I can see many more miles behind us in the future. Rejoice everyone, and continuing giving all of the love you have." He said, then the people cheered and applauded as Sigmund went back to his chair.
"That was quite a speech sire." Lisa said.
"Thank you very much." Sigmund said, then Lisa sighed.
"My lord...about you and Dietrich..." She trailed off.
"No...now is a time for celebration. Everyone here has more than earned it, including yourself." Sigmund said, then Lisa smiled.
When the feast was over, everyone went to bed, including Sigmund and the family. When they got to their rooms, Anna went to the window and looked outside...just as an aurora enveloped the sky. Kristoff then came up behind her and shared the moment with her, much to their mutual delight.
In the morning, they began to pack their bags and went for the door as Sigmund came out of his room.
"What's going on?" He asked.
"We're going back to Arendelle." Anna said.
"So soon?" He asked.
"Yes, we want to spend the new year in Arendelle, but we will come back afterwards." Anna said.
"I see..." Sigmund said.
"We're not leaving you for good." Anna said.
"I know...I know. You've been away from home for quite some time now." Sigmund said.
"We'll be back before too long, and it did take us a few days to get here." Anna said.
"I understand. Your rooms will be the same as they are now when you return." Sigmund said.
"See you next year." Anna said.
"Safe travels Your Majesty." Sigmund said and Anna joined the rest of her family in the sled before Kristoff moshed Sven.
And now that that's a wrap, I'll give myself a rest before posting the next chapter on New Year's Day. As for my audience, do enjoy the rest of the year until then, and please continue to Rate, Review, and Share until then. Stay tuned.