I guess my hopes of completing the story within a year were not to be achieved...ah well.
Another chapter, now the good part begins...
John doubled over and clutched his chest as he fell to the ground. As though time had froze, everyone moved in slow motion as the realization of what happened dawned on them. Elsa had turned around when she heard her name and was shocked to find her love on the ground. She had completely forgotten where he was. The last she remembered, he was right behind her on the mountainside. Now he was lying on the ground hurt and unconscious because he had tried to protect her.
"John?!" she fell to her knees and gathered his limp body in her arms. It seemed as though he had passed out but was breathing steadily. As Elsa tried desperately to revive him, Hans watched on in horror. He had acted in instinct to protect himself. What he hadn't expected was for his brother to act on instinct to protect her.
"Is - is he okay?" Hans hesitantly stepped forward as his voice cracked.
"Stay back! Guards! Arrest him!" Elsa yelled over her shoulder. Large armed men came forward and grabbed Hans showing no mercy as they bound his wrists. Hans showed no restraint. All he could think about was the fact that his brother was hurt because of him.
"John?" Elsa whispered and brushed John's light brown hair off his forehead. She was panicking. She had no idea what to do. He was hit with her powers and she didn't know how to fix it. She had sworn not to let anyone get hurt because of her powers ever again since she had hurt Anna.
"Elsa?" she felt hand at the small of her back and turned to see Kristoff kneeling beside her.
"I don't know what to do. He's breathing, but he won't wake up and I don't know how to reverse what happened! Quick! What did you do when I struck Anna? Where did you go?" she looked up at Kristoff in desperation. She had to do something and if she didn't do it soon, the damage could be irreversible. Kristoff sighed and turned his head to stare off into the distant mountains.
"My family. I brought her to my family." he replied in a low voice. Elsa followed his gaze to the mountains. Mountains she vividly remembered climbing when she was a child. Covered with boulders and steam vents where there lived a clan of trolls.
"The trolls! Yes! They saved Anna when we were kids so they can save John! We need to hurry!" she was already up and signaling for her guards to get John onto a sleigh. Though Kristoff knew his family could try to help, there was one thing they could not fix. That was a strike to the heart. He feared the worse as he gathered Anna in his arms and tucked her head safely on his shoulder. He carried her over to the sleigh and placed her gently down onto the seat. Behind him, he felt a nudge on his back. Relief rushed over him when he turned around to find Sven safe and alive.
"Hey buddy. I missed you. Ran off again I see?" he pulled his reindeer companion into a tight hug and relished in the familiar feel of fur against his cheek.
"Thanks Sven." he whispered into Sven's neck. When they separated, Kristoff quickly attached the sled to the reindeer before climbing on to lead the way to the Valley of the Living Rock.
"Hang on Anna. You'll be okay." he reached over and pulled her head to rest on his lap.
Can Kristoff's family help John? Stay tuned to find out!
And Happy New Year to everyone!