Chapter 15 - The Ice Lands
"Sally?"
The ragdoll turned to face Hallow just as the young girl was finishing her drink, "did anyone need me while I was sleeping? And don't lie to me, someone always needs me." Jack chuckled from his seat next to her, looking up at Sally's sheepish smile as she took Hallow's cup from her,
"The ice drakes and the Snow Elves have been having a territory dispute for three months..."
"Again?" Jack looked from one to the other in confusion,
"Wait, ice drakes?" Hallow turned to Jack,
"Drakes. Dragons…it's around about the time for them to begin nesting, so they look for the widest territory they can. Unfortunately, there's only so much space in the icy mountains, and the frozen forests and tundra that surround it were given to the elves when I first created this world. So the Elves are complaining that the Dragons are taking over their territory." She explained quickly.
"Well that makes sense." Jack rolled his eyes, resting his jaw on the heel of his hand and watching the conversation. Hallow had not only created this world, she's designed it specifically so everything could have a place. Every time he thought that Hallow couldn't impress him further, she managed it.
"It seems the only option is to expand the lands again…" Hallow murmured with a sigh. Sally's eyes widened in…was that fear?
"Hallow, wait, maybe they'll agree to find other grounds, at least for this season?"
"The Elves and Dragons are too stubborn and prideful. By this point either side will refuse to back down. It will either be war or expand the lands again." Jack piped up,
"What do you mean 'again'? How long have they been arguing over this?" Hallow scoffed softly under her breath,
"Long enough. I should go and see what can be done. You can stay here or explore as you wis-" Jack stood up, crossing his arms in front of his chest and staring down at Hallow,
"I'm going with you." Hallow's mouth turned into a frown, but Jack held up a hand, "don't try telling me I'm not or I can't. I'm going with you. Ice and snow is my area after all." He reminded her. Hallow gave a sigh, but the soft smile had returned, so Jack assumed it was just mocking.
"Alright, fine. But we're travelling MY way. Sally, I'll be home before the wolves' howl." Hallow said, standing up and motioning for Jack to follow.
"Good Luck! Both of you…" Sally whispered, clasping her hands over her heart. Only a few moments later did a white skull look around the door,
"Sally, dear? Is something the matter?" Jack (S) asked, reaching out a hand to rest on Sally's shoulder. The ragdoll raised her head,
"I'm worried for Hallow. This world is destroying her, Jack. And the world beyond the gate will split her in two. What if we're already too late to help her? What…what if They come back?" Jack placed a consoling hand on her cheek, raising the ragdoll's face to meet his own,
"Sally, Sally, Sally. Hallow has run this place for centuries! And she will always have us if she asks. You must stop worrying so, it will only wear you out as well." He told her. Sally looked away, towards the crackling fire of the torches. She couldn't help but feel that there was something so very, very wrong that was going to happen.
Jack kept his hands in his pockets as he followed Hallowthrough the castle. The two walked in silence although there were a lot of questions Jack wanted answered. Eventually, the pressure became too much for him,
"So…what exactly is involved with 'expanding the lands'?" He asked. He saw Hallow's shoulder twitch but she didn't turn to face him, continuing to walk directly forward. Around them, the torches in the stone corridor flickered, making Hallow's already orange hair seem even brighter.
"Remember what we JUST spoke about? With opening up to each other a little more?" Jack added. Hallow sighed, one of her hands reaching up to push her stray hairs back,
"It's exactly what it sounds like. I can't describe how it's done…it'll be easier if you see it." Hallow replied. She pushed hard against the heavy oak door that made up the entrance to her castle, stepping out into the darkness until the pale moonlight illuminated her again. "The wind will not work for you here, you'll need to ride me with."
"Ride? Ride what?" Jack asked, looking around. He hadn't seen anything earlier. "Wait, you said your favour animal was a dragon, are we going to ride a dragon?!" Hallow looked at him in surprise, before her mouth turned up in a smile. She giggled, then full on laughed, her body bent over as she held her ribs. "What'd I do?" Jack asked, flailing his arms slightly in embarrassment as the Halloween Spirit laughed in his face. Of all the things to make her laugh, and Jack didn't even know what he'd said!
"Ow, ow, phew…" Hallow said, her laugh trailing off into faint giggled as she raised her head straight again, rubbing at her ribs, "No, we're not riding a dragon. They'd never let us both ride one. And you've never gained a dragon's trust. No, we're taking my favourite, prized steed." Hallow fished for something in her shirt while Jack stared on in confusion. He didn't remember seeing a stables or anything earlier, so what exactly was her 'steed?'
"Don't worry, he's nothing dangerous, I just like to keep things traditional." Hallow said, drawing out a thin, golden chair with a small whistle on the end of it. One of those long ones, 'penny whistles' or something like that. "But you might want to step back a little." She added, raising the tiny copper whistle on the golden chain and blowing hard through it.
It was silent.
Jack looked around for a moment after waiting, expecting something magical or huge to appear in a burst of sparks or something. "So, what're we waiting fo-"he was cut off by the sound of pounding hooves, and the deep, rumbling bass of Thunder through the sky. Jack turned, looking at Hallow's grin as she looked out towards the huge black cloud moving towards them at an alarming rate. Jack staggered backwards just before the cloud circled around, taking on a corporeal form.
A huge, towering black stallion, its mane crackling with lightning. It reared on its hind legs with a whinny that sounded like thunder. Its smoky dark fur held tiny, scattered streaks of white in jagged lines. The eyes were a bold, glowing blue in their face, the muzzle shot with lightning white lines. Its hooves pounded through the air, crackling with electricity. It reared back as it came closer, trotting a circle around Hallow just once as it came to stand on the ground beside them both. Hallow stood at least two inches below the great Stallion's shoulder, and yet it still craned its neck downwards to nuzzle at her throat. Jack could only stare, lost in his shock.
"That…that is…"
Hallow turned to face him with a self-satisfied smirk to her face, "THAT, would be Morpheus, he's a Stormbringer." She told him, twisting to nuzzle her face against the soft black muzzle. "He's my best friend, and my favourite steed." The horse whinnied softly, stamping against the floor in, what Jack assumed, was pride. Jack was still lost.
"A stormbringer."
"Yes."
"As in…brings Storms." Hallow laughed lightly at his confusion, reaching for him and taking ahold of his wrist.
Somewhere, Jack noticed that her tiny hands could barely encircle his wrists, but that grip didn't half bruise.
"Yes, they are the heralds of storms, and he's not going to hurt you!" the little spirit tugged him forward, Jack dragging his feet as she did so – what? It was a big horse and he has no way to fly out of range. Not that it seemed it would matter with these things. "Here…" Hallow's gentle tone caught his attention. She dragged his hand up until it was in line with Morpheus' nose. "He won't hurt you."
The guardian could only chuckle nervously. It was a very, Very big horse after all. But if Hallow said he was safe… closing one eye and leaning back slightly, ready to run in case it did decide to attack, he bridged the gap between him and the horse. Cold fingertips met soft fur, almost crackling with energy. Hot breath snorted at him and Jack turned to face the huge steed. He truly was a beautiful creature, no wonder Hallow loved him so much. He felt a grin spread across his face when Morpheus turned his nose into Jack's palm, nuzzling him as he had done to Hallow earlier. Speaking of which…
Hallow grinned at him softly from where her face was tucked into Morpheus' neck, standing up on tip-toes to wrap her arms around his neck. She looked so young, so harmless. Jack found himself grinning back without realising he was doing so. Morpheus snorted again, moving his head back and shaking his head, lightning crackling in his mane and breaking the moment of peace between the two. Hallow turned away, stepping back,
"We should get going, the elves don't appreciate lateness."
"Yeah but - aren't you a little short to ride him?" Jack couldn't help but ask. There was no conceivable way that Hallow could get up onto Morpheus' back from where she was standing. But the fiery child just rolled her eyes at him,
"I've been doing this since you were still chasing your first snowflake, buck-o. Don't underestimate me." Hallow reached for her neck again, taking off the golden chain with the whistle on it.
"Underestimate you? Never!" He teased. Hallow didn't respond, just made a noise that sounded a little like a disgruntled cat.
"Then you can just watch me"
She ran her fingers along it until she seemed to find something she was looking for. With a small click, the chain separated in her hands. Morpheus bowed his head, and Jack was left to watch as Hallow wound the chain through his mouth and over his muzzle and - was the chain that long when she was wearing it? It couldn't have been – eventually leaving some of it slack while the rest shimmered and glinted in a bridle. There was another click as the chain reconnected, and Hallow gave him a smirk over her shoulder as she bent her knees, grabbing the slack of the chain that formed the reigns in one hand and stepping back just slightly. With a quick hop, step and jump, almost too fast for Jack to catch, she was seated upon his back, smirking down at Jack.
"Planning on catching flies with that gaping mouth, frostbite?" Jack promptly shut his mouth.
"Okay. You made your point. Now…mind helping me up too? I can't exactly do that whole 'jump onto a horse from the floor' thing without the wind here." Hallow laughed again, and Jack was beginning to really like that sound. Halloween was supposed to be about laughter and enjoying yourself after all.
"Here" she said, reaching a hand down. It surprised Jack, who had expected another trick, or her leaving him behind. Was she really offering to actually help him and inviting her to ride with him as well? The hesitation made Hallow wave the hand in front of his face a little, "helloooo? Earth to Jack? I will leave without you, you know."
Jack shook himself out of the surprise, and grinned, "Sorry, yeah, I'm coming."
He reached up. Took her hand. Hoisted himself onto the horseback, was left floundering for a moment as he wondered where to hold on until Hallow took his hands and forced them into Morpheus' thick mane, "unless you want to fall off, I'd hold on tight. Oh, and brace yourself - Stormbringers are a wild ride."
With a flick of the golden chain, Morpheus whinnied, and they were off.
I literally have no words for why this story when on hiatus, but all I know is now felt like the right time to start it up again. It's been a very long time so a lot of my writing style might be better or worse or the same, I'm not sure. I still know where I want this to go, we'll just see whether or not I can get it there.