Chapter 16
Grant went out to the docks to meet the incoming american ships. This truly was a sight for sore eyes. As the ships got closer, he saw there were even more than he requested. The first ship came to dock and began offloading troops and supplies.
"Good morning sir!" A young Captain said saluting.
"Where is the commanding officer Captain?" Grant asked returning the salute. The captain stepped aside to reveal the last person Grant ever expected to see.
"General Lee." Grant said with both disdain and respect. "This is quite a surprise."
"The pleasure is all mine General." Lee said. "The war is over, we are both sons of the same nation once again, can there be a peace between us?"
"Well normally I'd be more reluctant but I really could use some help right now. In the end we both were simply men serving our country." Grant said extending his arm out to Lee. Lee smiled as the two men shook hands.
"President Johnson and congress have declared war on this enemy. I have ten thousand men with me with fifty more on the way." Lee said.
"Good, I've seen what these bastards are capable of, we will need all the help we can get." Grant said.
Marcus decided there was only one place that could soothe his pain at this point. He made his way to the chapel to pray. He instantly felt better upon entering the Holy House. The smell of incense and the sight of low dimming candles emitted an atmosphere of peace. Marcus looked up at the statue of Jesus as He hung on the cross.
"Please Lord." Marcus said falling to his knees. "Please help me save her, even if it means my own life, I will do anything. She is so innocent, I can't let him hurt her. Please God, please.. I love her..." He said as he began to choke up. Marcus silently cried until he felt a hand gently lay on his shoulder.
"Bishop!" Marcus said standing up. "I did not see you there."
"Marcus, I have seen many couples together in my life. Most were together for money, arranged marriage, lust, and other bad reasons. But what I just heard was such powerful love. You really do care for her don't you?" Skiffsgard asked.
"More than my own life." Marcus said. "Bishop, while I am here, can I make a confession?"
"Of course my boy." Skiffsgard said sitting next to him. "What is it you wish to confess?"
"A couple days ago I was with Elsa, she was very distressed because of her sister getting captured. I was laying in bed with her to comfort her and I led her on by kissing her which almost led to sex." Marcus said ashamed. "What happened to her is because of me."
"Oh lad you did nothing wrong." Skiffsgard said with a smile. "You knew things were going to far and you stopped. To stop during the fire of such passion is a very difficult thing to do. Although Elsa did fail to restrain herself, she cannot be blamed as all of us are victim to the sin of lust."
"Wait how did you know about her not restraining herself?" Marcus asked.
"She came crying up to me begging for forgiveness." Skiffsgard said. "She felt so horrible about what happened. She was so scared you would never forgive her. I told her although God has forgiven her in His infinite mercy, whether or not you would forgive her is up to you. So I ask you Marcus, do you truly forgive her?"
"I do." Marcus said. "I know she never intended for it to happen."
"You know Marcus I have heard about what this Lord Sol can do." Skiffsgard said. "He has the devils blessing and can call up hellfire to be at his side. If you go there, Elsa and Sol WILL kill you."
"What can I do then?" Marcus asked. "I cannot defeat the power of fire and ice, nothing can."
"The Power of God can." Skiffsgard said standing up. "Follow me." Marcus followed Skiffsgard to a door which was behind the alter. Skiffsgard opened it and Marcus saw a long spirals staircase leading down. Skiffsgard grabbed a torch and the two descended.
"What is it I seek?" Marcus asked.
"In this cellar lie some very powerful artifacts. One of which I believe will help you." Skiffsgard said as they came to a locked door. Skiffsgard pulled out a key and opened the door. Inside was a single table surrounded by torches. Marcus looked and saw a set of armor, a sword, and a shield on the table, it had a large white clothe with a red cross.
"Crusader armor?" Marcus said. "Bishop, the crusades are shame on the churchs history. How can this help me?"
"Tis not crusader armor, this armor is very old." Skiffsgard said. "It was forged in the fires of the New Temple in Jerusalem. It contains metals that were said to have been blessed by Saint Peter. It was brought here when the Vatican heard of Queen Elsa's powers in the event she was cursed by the devil. Do you see that red cross?"
"Yes it looks like... blood?" Marcus said as he picked it up and examined it.
"That is the actual Blood of Christ." Skiffsgard said. "It was wiped across the cross after He was take down." Upon hearing this Marcus quickly placed the armor down.
"Bishop, you can not honestly think I am worthy enough to wear such a holy relic." Marcus said.
"Of course, no man is worthy." SKiffsgard said. "Marcus I have never before in my life came across a man as devoted and spiritual as you. Your love for Elsa is so strong I can feel it. Only those who are true at heart can face Sol and expect to win. I have seen the goodness in your heart and I bless you to wear this armor in the name of God."
"I do not know what to say." Marcus said flabbergasted.
"Put on the armor child." Skiffsgard said. Marcus nodded as he slipped on the chainmail under suit. He put on the armor piece by piece and then picked up the sword and shield in his hands.
"Now kneel before the cross." Skiffsgard said as Marcus fell to his knee in front of the cross on the table. "By the power invested in me from The Most High, I bless you in the Name of the Father, and The Son, and The Holy Spirit."
"Amen." Marcus said as he slowly stood back up.
"That shield will block Sol's fire. That sword will pierce his hellish skin." Skiffsgard said. "Keep in mind though you are not invincible, you must have faith."
"Thank you Bishop." Marcus said standing. "I will bring her back.
Sol was beginning to grow tired of Elsa being so clingy. Despite the evil within her powers having control over her, she still retained much of her old personality, including her clinginess. She always wanted to be by him, not that he minded at first because of all the sex but now it was getting to him. Oh well he didn't need to act like he loved her much longer, only until he figured out how to siphon her powers into him. A sick cruel thought came into his head as he called her over. Maybe after this she would leave him alone for a bit.
"Elsa." He called.
"Yes my love?" Elsa said coming to his side. Sol smiled as he chanted a dark spell in a forgotten language. Elsa's eyes momentarily turned back to blue as she had control again.
"YOU!" Elsa yelled jumping back in fear. "How did I? What did you?"
"Oh my dear, you agreed to marry me see?" Sol said holding up a ring made of ice. Elsa slowly looked down and saw a fiery ring on her finger. Suddenly all her memories flushed back. When she tried to kill Marcus and killed Eli.
"No.." She said falling over. "I couldn't have."
"It's true and as for that american boy." Sol said grinning underneath his mask. "He killed himself out of grief but not before saying how he hated you and that you truly are a monster." Elsa's heart and spirit were breaking. Sol smiled as he fed off her fear and guilt.
"You're lying!" Elsa cried as icicles formed around her but melted immediately due to the heat.
"Am I? You tried to kill him and then you murdered his best friend. How could anyone love you after that?" Sol asked. Elsa let out a somber painful cry that was heard across the castle. Elsa didn't want to live anymore, she wanted to die. She looked at the firepit in the distance and wondered how long it would take her to burn to death. Sol saw the look on her face as she stared at the firepit and knew what she was thinking. He quickly grabbed her and kissed her again before her powers died along with her. Her eyes turned red again as she fell under his control. Despite being under evil influence again, she was still shaken up for reasons she did not know.
"You don't look so good maybe you should go rest." Sol said sweetly.
"I think so too." Elsa said as she walked away.
"Finally some damn peace." Sol said as made his way to his study.
Anna and Kristoff sat outside arguing with each other. Kristoff was about ready to blow a gasket. Why couldn't she just get it?
"Kristoff I can't leave her!" Anna cried.
"I know you love her Anna but Marcus is right, we will only get in the way! You've never been in combat before and I can't even run!" Kristoff countered. Why was she being so damned stubborn?
"I never knew you to be a coward." Anna said coldly. Those words really stung Kristoff.
"I'm a coward?" He said lifting his prosthetic leg. "Please look at what used to be my leg and tell me I'm a coward! Why am I coward for wanting to protect you?"
"I'm sorry Kristoff." Anna said as she gave him a tight hug. "I love her, I don't want anything bad to happen to her."
"So does Marcus, and he has more reason to hate Sol that any of us." Kristoff said. "He won't leave Elsa I promise you that."
"How do you know?" Anna asked.
"Because when you love someone you will do literally anything for them. Like how you sacrificed yourself to save Elsa from Hans." Kristoff said.
"Or when you carried me all the way down the mountain during that storm." Anna said smiling. The two were interrupted when the doors opened and there they saw Marcus clad in ancient shining armor. His once innocent young eyes now carrying a look of sole determination.
"Marcus?" Anna said not recognizing him.
"I'm leaving tonight to go get Elsa. Tell the generals to organize their men." Marcus said without emotion.
"What do you mean?" Kristoff said. "I can't just order a general to do something like that!"
"Fine, I will." He said making his way to the castle.
Johanssen, Grant, and Lee discussed their plans in the war room. Johanssen was hesitant to trust Lee at first but found him to be a rather remarkable man.
"I think we should move three regiments to the north whe-" Lee began to say as Marcus burst in through the doors. The three generals looked in shock and confusion.
"Ready the troops, we attack now." Marcus said.
"Excuse me Private!" Grant said emphasizing Marcus' rank. "You are speaking to officers!"
"Well then I guess you don't want to know where Sol is hiding." Marcus said. This got their attention.
"Wait!" Johanssen said. "Please explain!"
"I met with an old sage in the woods who like Elsa has magical abilities. He showed me where Sol's lair is. It is up north on a remote archipelego, the mountain where he lives never sleeps and fire and ash burn at all times." Marcus said.
"And you plan to attack him?" Grant asked. 'What good are flesh and blood against fire and ice?"
"Leave Sol and Elsa to me." Marcus said. "The army would only have to fight against his followers."
"And I suppose you think you are invincible then." Lee said. "Tell, what good is ancient armor that can't even stop bullets going to do against fire and ice?"
"This is no regular armor sir." Marcus said grabbing Grant's pistol.
"Hey!" Grant said. What do you think you are doing?" Marcus aimed the pistol directly at his own chest and fired. The generals shrieked at Marcus' apparent suicide. They were shocked to see him still standing. They looked to see the bullet had literally crumbled trying to penetrate the armor.
"What is that armor made of?" Lee asked shocked.
"Regular metals sir." Marcus said. "It is not what is made of but how it was made."
"Explain." Johanssen ordered.
"This armor was forged in the Temple of Jerusalem thousands of years ago. The metal was blessed by Saint Peter and this red cross you see." Marcus said pointing to the red cross on his chest. "Is the actual Blood of Christ from the cross."
"Normally I'd say you have gone crazy." Grant said. "But no armor, not even modern armor, could have stopped a bullet at such close range."
"What is your plan?" Johanssen asked.
"I will save Elsa and kill Sol, then have you will destroy his army and his fortress." Marcus said.
"You make it sound as if this is an everyday task." Lee said. "Have you taken into account the heavy loss of life on our side?"
"With all due respect sir, if we don't do something now. Sol will literally conquer the world." Marcus said. "With Elsa at his side he will be unstopable."
"Very well." Grant said. "We will attack."
"General are you serious?" Lee asked. "It will take days before we can mobilize everyone."
"Than we better get started now." Johanssen said. "Gentlemen, its time we took the fight to them."
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