Well, I made a mistake. Southern Isles wasn't in the Mediterranean after all. Oops. still no damage done.
Thank you for everyone who reads and reviewed this, it's been helpful. So, without further a due, I present to you, chapter 7...
"Hey! Wait! LET ME GO!" Protests Anna as two men held her arm and threw into a room, before locking her inside.
" .GO!" she demands furiously as her hands banging on the locked door. It was no use, and what she did only irritates the guards even more.
The guards however, ignored her. As much as they want to shut her mouth, they wouldn't dare hurting her whilst she was in THAT room.
"You know, ruining my door won't make those men unlock the door." Came a voice behind Princess Anna.
She turned around, only to find an old man with white beard and hair sitting behind a table. The table was full with food, all kinds of food. Anything from roasted pig, fruits, salad, and variety of sea food, not to mention a bottle of red wine.
"Why don't you join me for dinner?" He offered in a polite tone.
Princess Anna cautiously let go of the door. Full of nervousness, she slowly walked into the table. The sound of woods being dragged against the wooden floorboard can be heard as Anna pulls her chair.
The old man can see the nervous sweat of the young princess, the same goes with the princess being able to see his red blood-colored eyes observing her.
It took her a while before she finally have the courage to say her first word of complaint.
"Do you have any idea who you're dealing with?!" she taunt, using her status as her bargaining chip.
"Of course. Anna, was it? Princess of Arendelle." He said with no effect from Anna's words.
Anna gulped. "That didn't work" she thought.
She tries another tactic of scaring him, this time using her sister.
"My sister is going to-"
"I'd stop trying if I were you. Your method of scaring me isn't working now, and it won't work for another hundred years." He said with a menacing voice.
Anna stopped dead in her threat. She decided that it's not such a good idea to provoke the old man even more.
"I am sorry if those men hurt you in any way. Why don't we forget all this and eat. Fancy the pig? It's sublime..." he said offering Princess Anna the food.
Anna opens her mouth, about to say something, but then she closes it again as if she's hesitated. Eventually she steels herself and asked.
"Aren't you supposed to be the bad guys?"
"Bad guys?" he retorted with a smirk on his face. "There's no bad guys here princess. There's only sides with interest."
She has no idea what that means.
The room was dark, with only a few candle in the dinner table lighting up the room. Creeks and noises can be heard as the room is tilting left and right. She is after all inside a ship.
Anna clears her throat and grabbed the knife and fork just next to her plate. The food was already prepared in front of her. The cautious girl started cutting her food and placing them in her mouth in a polite manner, without forgetting to be wary of the old man.
The old man, was eating his dinner, then he began to notice the princess's eating manner. With that, he commented.
"Oh, no, no, no. You don't have to be so formal here. I can tell, you must've been very hungry."
She is.
With a thought she looked at the old man. The old man was smiling, with his red crystal eyes staring back in an inviting manner. She then looked at her food.
It looks tempting.
She eventually puts her silverware away and dug in on the pig chop.
"There you go..." said the old man. "Why don't you try the wine while you're at it." he said as he poured one to her glass.
Without saying a word, the princess drank the wine. She finished it in one straight go.
"Try the scallop too." Offered the old man again, as he push the scallop-filled plate towards her.
Anna puts the scallop on hold as she still chewing pieces of the pork meat.
The old man smiled and stands up from his chair. Anna's eyes are still watching him, but her mind was focused on quenching her hunger.
The old man walked towards a hat rack. There was nothing on it, other than the notorious leather satchel hanging from it. He puts his hand inside, he later draws a certain purple gemstone from inside of the satchel. He held it high, and looked at it with sheer admiration.
"Do you know what this is?" He said, asking Anna, without even looking at her directly.
Anna quickly gulped down the piece of food in her mouth.
"A... gemstone?" she bluntly said, but still doubting her own judgment.
"That's right, a gemstone. But this is not an ordinary gemstone, you see." He explained walking towards Anna.
Calmly, he glanced the red-haired princess. "Have you ever heard of the legend, 'stone of portam' before?"
Anna simply shook her head slightly.
"Well, it was an old legend. I won't be surprised if you never heard any of It." he shrugged.
He began walking to his side of the table, but stop and glanced at Anna once again.
"It is said that the 'stone of portam' is an enchanted stone. Enchanted with an ancient spell. The legend said that the stone allow whoever its wielder it to open a gate to another world. Sometimes, a gate to heaven itself."
"And you expect me to believe that?" said Anna smug.
The old man paused for a sec and thought about acting towards the princess's show of pride. But he calmly holds it in, ignored her, and continues with his story.
"However, the legend didn't say everything." He smiled. "What the legend forgot to mention was the stone is not just enchanted. As powerful as the stone might be, it still needs power to feed from, an enormous amount of power."
Anna can't help to feel the amount of discomfort residing on her right now. She has a bad feeling about where this conversation is going.
So, with what's left of her bravery, she snuck a steak knife and hid it behind her back just as when the old man is still admiring the beauty of the stone.
The old man, oblivious to Anna's backup plan, continues his explanation.
"Conveniently." He said smirking. "This gemstone is also a soul gem."
Now, Anna can tell for certain this is not going her way. She may have to kill him, or at least wound him with the knife she has on her back. She was scared. In her mind, she wasn't sure if she can do this or not, even though her safety might be depended on it.
Anna worries grew even larger as the old man closes in on her.
"A sacrifice will have to be made, dear princess. It is, after all, a fair price to open the gate to-"
JAB!
Anna plunges the knife straight into his heart. The princess herself was unaware of this as she closed her eyes. She opened her eyes, only to find the old man stumbled backwards with the knife still in his chest and eyes opened wide. The old man didn't say a word.
Anna was still in shock, thus she didn't say a word, and neither does the old man. The room was quiet for a few seconds, that is until...
"He he... AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
"The old man was... laughing?" she thought. Now, the situation is beyond creepy for her.
Soon after, the laughter died down. "There's no sense in killing you now, princess. After all, The price is more than just one soul."
With the princess stared with a frightened look, the old man grabbed the handle of the knife and simply pulls it out. Anna saw the knife, it was... clean, no blood, no anything. The same can be said to the man's chest, there was no blood, no wound at all.
This was certainly baffling to Anna, not to mention scary.
The old man dropped the knife onto the wooden floorboard, and proceed with walking towards the princess. The princess stepped back, further and further, before she stumbled and fell. The old man crouches, he puts his face directly in front of Anna's. With a psychotic smile, the old man said...
"13 souls are the equivalent price to open the gate to heaven." He paused, "Well, the gate to heaven, or hell..." he finishes with a menacing smile and a pair of bright red Irises looking back at the scared princess.
Anna can only stutter whilst asking, "W-what are you?"
"Now, your worst nightmare."
Anna can only pause in fear to the presence in front of her.
The old man stood up, and shout. "Men!"
As soon as he yelled out, two men came rushing into the room. Anna can see that these men were also equally frightened.
"Take her to the other ship and lock her up with the other... 'Sacrifices'."
"Y-yes sir." Responded both men, being obedient.
Only then, Anna truly knows the gravity of her situation.
Morning came, the sun shines bright upon a certain ship. On it was a group of people with one task at hand. That task is rescuing 13 people who were recently taken from Arendelle by a group they called "the men in cloak". Amongst the 13 victims, one of them is someone close to the queen, her sister, Princess Anna of Arendelle.
This was the 5th morning of their journey. The group, which consist of a few royal guards, Kristoff, Svan, Olaf, Seff, and Queen Elsa herself, is closing in on their destination. Kristoff can't wait, he's not excited about visiting new land, he's just happy that he can finally leave that wooden floating nightmare of a structure.
The town port of Hackwald, it was a quiet little town located at the edge of the Southern Isles territory. It was only a small town, housing a little less than 400 people. The populace was mostly dominated with fisherman, whilst some started business in that town. There was nothing special about that town and not many outsider would bother visiting it. That is, with the exception of one special day.
As the ship reach the bay on which the short stretch of harbor, the group struggle to disembark due to the bay being crowded by other ships. Those ships weren't trade ship, they're just a normal transport ship. The crowd however, wasn't the only thing greeted them that morning. The sound of music was heard, followed by cheers that is so loud, it can be heard even from their own ship. Only then Seffiroth knew, something is not right.
It took them a while to find out what's going on, as the ship took nearly an hour to make port and letting them disembark. A man was waiting for them and greeted them with a smile.
"Welcome to Hackwald."
Due to personal safety of the queen, it was decided that Seffiroth will do all the talking. He also told the queen to not come as queen. She is now Elsa, a normal girl, accompanied by a handful of her royal guards dressed in civilian clothing. Kristoff and Sven is off the hook, although bringing a reindeer would be a strange idea, Seffiroth thought it could distract everyone from the hooded Elsa. Olaf in the other hand, well, he's staying in the ship as an out roar because of a talking snowman is the last thing they need.
"Thank you." Said Seffiroth politely. "Could you help me out, what's going on here?"
"Oh, you didn't know?"
"No, I don't."
"Today is the Bronx Festival. It was an annual celebration we have here in Hackwald. That's not all, the prince himself had come to attend this very special day."
"The prince?"
"Yes, one of them at least."
Hearing that, Seffiroth slaps his right palm onto his face.
"Something wrong?" said the local being worried.
"No, nothing. Just... thank you for pointing that out." He said whilst walking away from the man.
"How could I forgot about the bloody festival." he thoughts regrettably.
The young man sighed, and walked back to Elsa.
"Alright, stay close and follow me." He said.
The group is now depends on Seff to lead the way, since none of them ever been to Hackwald. Seff isn't a frequent visitor either, he's been to the town twice. Nevertheless, his memory of the street remains clear.
The street was crowded, Elsa has never seen this many people since her own coronation. Small triangular flags were hung on strings directly above the street. People laughing, chatting, having a good time, and none of them even realize she was there. The whole thing seems unreal to the queen.
Deep in her mind, she though, "so this is what it feels like to be normal."
Of course, what she actually meant was being an ordinary citizen. With power like hers, she knew her life can't never be normal. She's not complaining, Elsa even prefers it now ever since she learned to control it. But the feeling of not being a royal for a day, does have its charms.
Despite doing absolutely nothing out of the ordinary, the group did attract quite a bit of attention. Well, to be more accurate it was Sven, the reindeer. Sven didn't care, Sven just walked away. Kristoff in the other hand, tried his best to hide his face. He attempted to call Seffiroth.
"Seffiroth! Seff!" he lightly shout.
Seffiroth turned in response to Kristoff's calling me.
"We, well, me and Sven, aren't exactly blending in." He whispers.
"Don't worry about it, they'll think you're part of the festival." Seff replied without worries.
That answer didn't help Kristoff overcome his wariness at all.
Seffiroth was right though. The people wasn't being suspicious, they're merely excited to see new content contributing to this festival. Reindeer didn't make any sense, but then again, half of the costume in that festival didn't make sense. Not for long Kristoff and Sven found themselves being stalked by kids who just wanted to play with that reindeer.
After about 15 minutes of walking, the group arrived at a wide open ground. Presumably, it was the town center. Stalls and stores surrounds it, and a fountain right on the middle. It was of course, just as crowded as the rest of the town.
"Wait here." Seff instructed the group, then he left and blend in with the crowd, disappeared from anyone from the group.
"The fountain." He thought, "This was supposed to be the place."
He looked around before sitting down on an available bench. His eyes scanning the crowd of people.
"He's not here." He thought, and sighed.
5 minutes had passed. Seff had told Elsa, Kristoff, and everyone else to wait at a cafe nearby. He will wait at his designated location for his informant. He calls him Blen, as he previously wrote in his message. A good of friend of his and a valuable ally, just like the trade ship captain, Andrew. Seff had asked for his help in this matter. Well, not ask, more like offering a chance to get even as Blen had owed Seff before.
The young bought an apple for his wait. He began biting it whilst he wait for his friend. It wasn't long until a hooded figure sat next to the young man. The hooded man said...
"Aren't you a sight for sore eyes?"
Seff glanced to his left. He recognized that voice and answered.
"You're late." With an unimpressed tone.
"Well,l I ran into some issue. As you can see I'm wearing a disguise."
"So, you weren't followed?"
He paused before continuing with, "Define followed."
Seff sighed. "Let's go, the others are waiting."
"Others?" he asked, and chuckled. "Well, well, looks like someone is tired of being a lone wolf."
"Shut up." He said as he stands up from the bench. "Follow me."
A short walk later, Seff arrived at the cafe and told the group to move out. Luckily, they were just about done anyway. The hooded man led them to an alleyway.
Elsa can't feel a bit suspicious about this hooded figure who seems to be acquaintance with Seff. She's not the only one, her guards also felt a sense of suspicion towards this stranger. Not so surprising, they are tasked with protecting the queen, being suspicious to strangers is their job.
The alleyway was damped. Rats can be seen running around the edge and eating on garbage. Elsa feels a bit uncomfortable standing in that alley. The hooded man however, casually sat on a barrel, without any sign of discomfort.
He reveal his face. Previously wearing the hood, a face of a young man was revealed. He's about Seff's age, with brown hair and a noticeable sideburns. Unlike Seff, his eyes were light green color. For some reason his face seems rather familiar.
"So, Seff, what brings you to Hackwald? I'm guessing it's not because of the festival... or the fish."
"No, we're not here for fun unfortunately."
"Still, good to see you again though mate. Still carry that bloody sword, I see." Blen said, referring to the sword Seff has on his waist.
Seff smiled, "never leave home without it."
"So..." Blen paused before continuing, "About your friends."
"Ahh, of course." He looked at the group as he began introducing them one by one to Blen.
"This is Kristoff and that's his reindeer, Sven."
"Hello." Kristoff greeted followed by a friendly groan from the reindeer.
"How do you do, man." Blen responded whilst offering a handshake.
Seff watched the two young man shook their hands, before moving on to Elsa.
"And, this is Elsa." He said as he introduced her. He wouldn't share her real name if it was someone else other than Blen, he trust him enough to let him know her real name. Besides, he never told her she was the snow queen, although he might figure it out on his own.
"Nice to meet you." Was Elsa's response.
"Pleasure is all mine." Retort Blen being polite. "Who's these fine gentlemen, then?" He follows, referring to the three royal guards dressed in civilian clothing.
"Ahh, I actually don't know their name." Said Seff. "Ahh..."
Elsa eventually told them to stand guard the entrance of the alleyway, after they were introduced, of course without mentioning their identity. The guards said nothing and only responded with a light nod before obeying her order.
The clueless Blen, still oblivious to the royal presence in front of him, turned back on Seffiroth. With a chuckle, he commented.
"Well, she's a pretty one." He refers to Elsa. "Funny how her name is exactly the same as the Queen of Arendelle."
Seff answered with a smile on his face. He looked at Elsa. Somehow Elsa understood his signal. She nodded, unconsciously saying, "You can tell him."
So, Seff did just that.
"She is actually her." He said whilst smiling.
"Who?" Blen obliviously retort. Seff was surprised. Of all people, he expected Blen to be one of them to realize, apparently he was wrong.
Seff chuckled. "She's the queen, donkey."
Blen eyes widened as he looked back at the recently revealed young queen. Elsa respond with just a...
"Hi." As she smiled fairly.
Blen glanced back at his mate, Seff. "You're joking?"
Seff responded by shaking his head. Awkwardly, Blen glanced back at Elsa and immediately bow down before raising up again.
"Well, since there was a queen involved, I supposed we need to find a better place than an alleyway to talk."
15 minutes walk led them to what Blen described as 'the perfect place for private conversation'. It was of course, unexpected to Seff, Elsa, and Kristoff. The guards, of course, stand by outside.
"A pub? Really?" Seff questioned his friend's judgment.
"Yep." Without saying another word, the hooded Blen walked in and he was followed by the group.
Inside was quiet. The pub was barely opened, there was only a few people inside. It was, technically, still morning, as it was slightly past 9 o'clock.
They sat by the bar table. A bartender walked in on them. Whilst wiping the glass he said.
"What can I get you?" he said politely.
Blen's response was to put down his hoodie and reveal his face to the bartender. The bartender was startled seeing his face.
"Sir!" he said as he trembled.
"Hey! Shhh..." said Blen, signaling the bartender to be quiet.
Elsa saw what happen, and she can't help to feel rather curious about it.
"I'm sorry, what can I get you?" re-asked the bartender.
"I'll take the usual."
"Wow, you still drink in the morning."
"Shut it, don't tell my brothers about this. They'll go mental if they know."
"Hey, I don't want anything to do with your brothers."
"Fair enough." Blen paused, before turning his attention to Elsa and Kristoff. "Do you need anything? Drink? Food?"
It can be expected that their answer went in a line with "No, thank you." As they refuse to drink whilst still morning. Of course, Elsa wasn't to keen on getting drunk at all.
"How about you, Seff?"
"I'm not drinking while on the job, mate. You know that."
"Ahh, right." He says as he took a sip of his wine. "So tell me, what is this about?"
"Uhm... maybe it's best if you're the one explaining, Elsa."
Elsa nodded, and began telling Blen the whole story.
A few minutes later, silence came.
"So, that's why you wanted me to find out about it." Blan said.
"Yeah." Said Seff, confirming Blen's guess.
"This is why, you need to help us." Adds Elsa.
"Well, I didn't know much." As Blen frowned.
Hearing that Kristoff, Elsa, and Seff almost lose in despair, until Blen continues...
"But he might..." Blein followed whilst pointing at the bartender.
The three instantly cheered silently inside. Blen proceed with calling the bartender. Before saying anything Blen gave him a coin. The bartender looks baffled, and responded.
"Ah, you don't have to. The drink is on the house. "
"This isn't for the drink." Blen whispered, followed by a blink on his left eye.
"What would you like to know?" the bartender asked.
At this point, he leaves it all to Seff. Seff told the bartender his pieces of the puzzle, and it was the bartender's job to complete it. It took a few minutes of talking until the bartender remembered something.
"Yesterday, just before dawn. Two men came in just before closing time. They insisted on having a drink despite my best effort to get rid of them as the store was about to close. Eventually, I gave up and let the store open just for them. They said they're willing to pay me handsomely for doing what I did. They talked for at least an hour before they got drunk. They mention something. Stone, kidnapping a princess, things I thought were non-sense. They payed me with a sack of coin, and this." He explained before handing them something.
It was a coin, different from any other coin. It's larger and carved with a very unique carving.
Blen holds the coin on his hand. "Interesting." He commented, as he looked at that golden coin with a small chain attached to it. "it seems it has a carving of some kind of bird-ish symbol."
"Wyvern." Interrupt Seff. "That's mine, one of the content of my satchel. That was a symbol of a wyvern." He adds.
"In that case, this confirmed the people you're after really is here in Hackwald." He said as he handed back Seff's coin.
"That's great, it means Anna is here, right?" commented Kristoff
"Do you know what ship they served on?" followed by Seff.
"Fortunately, I was able to collect the name of their ship. They anchored near the lighthouse, just on the edge of the bay entrance. They won't leave until tomorrow."
"How do you know that?"
"Because they were boxed in by other ships."
Hearing that, both Kristoff and Elsa smiled, Seff can't help but to feel happy too. In truth, he doubt his prediction earlier on, and hearing this news is a breath of fresh air for him. Blen chuckled, and setting up the mood.
"So, want a drink to celebrate?" he jokingly offered everyone. He received a smack at the back of the head from Seff."
Elsa and Kristoff, still overwhelm by the sense of joy, laughed to them.
A few minutes later.
"May I see that coin of yours?" asked Elsa to Seff.
"Yea, sure."
Elsa examined the signature coin. It was strange. Elsa feels a strong sense of deja vu, like she's seen this coin somewhere before. Everything about that coin felt familiar, but Elsa can't seems to her finger on it. She tried to remember, but it was no avail.
"Strange." She commented.
"What's strange?" retorted Seff with curious tone.
"Nothing." Denied Elsa.
In an attempt to shift the topic, she turned to Blen. "Blen, was it? Thank you for helping us."
"No worries, your majesty." He calmly said.
"If you don't mind me asking, what is it that you do, exactly?"
"Hmm..." as he stops and think. "Well, I dedicate my life towards building the true greatness of the Southern Isles. I'm an idealist, although my siblings considered me as mad, a person with no ambition, and somewhere in the line of brave and stupid. Nevertheless, I am now a member with great importance that are indispensable to the kingdom of Southern Isles, especially to the royal family and the ministry of war within this fine empire." He said and ending his brief description.
Elsa, with a confused face, responded. "I'm sorry, I lost you."
Hearing that, Seff chuckled before interrupting.
"Elsa, meet Prince Blenheim of the Southern Isles, third eldest, and the notorious minister of war for the Southern Isles."
"Wait, WHAT?!"
"Well, everyone has their secret. Don't you agree, Queen Elsa of Arendelle?" smirked the young prince, whilst taking another sip of his drink.
I don't know about you, but it looks like this is going to be a very long day for all of them.
Pheew~ it's finally finish.
I kind of wanted to go back to an action sequence, although writing conversation is kind of nice.
How's the supernatural touch I wrote at the beginning? I kind of took the inspiration from Pirates of the Caribbean, the first movie, which was one of the best movie ever. The scene kind of suited for that part.
So, review this chapter if you can. is it good? bad? needs improvement? tell them all on the review. If you like the story, press that favorite button now. I tried to update this every week, but I can't guarantee that it will update every week.
New OC : Prince Blenheim of the Southern Isles, Hans's brother and 'that guy that can't die'. They won't be the last OC I introduced in to this story. I could use a name for 'that guy that can't die' though, a villain's name. It'll be great if you could help me out.
That's it, Imma going to sleep now. See you in the next installment, Legion out... Taraa~