The Storm Rages On
Chapter Ten
Wisdom
The six travelers pressed forward into the bowels of the cave, the sounds of their footsteps echoing throughout the expansive chamber. Light, which had already been practically nonexistent, faded as they moved forward, darkness consuming their vision, obscuring the trail before them.
Wordlessly, Alúvelin held out her hand. A ball of flame appeared in her palm, resting just above her skin. The light grew far more expansive than a fire of its size could be expected to produce, filling the cave with lustrous illumination.
"Look!" Anna whispered, gesturing to the ceiling.
Elsa and her companions looked upward, marveling at the massive stalactites hanging from the ceiling. The ancient rock formations cast a hallowed pall upon the chamber, reminding the six of the enormity of the task ahead.
"First, thy wisdom thou must show," Valanda murmured, recalling the words of the ancient poem. "To answer three riddles is thy goal." She turned to the others. "Is anyone here really good at solving riddles? Puzzles? Mental challenges?"
No one said a word. "Wonderful," the princess sighed. "Well, I hope whoever is chosen is able to figure something out. For one mistake and thou will surely—"
"We know," Elsa said, holding up her hand. She looked at Arberish. "Do you know anything about the kind of puzzles one of us will have to solve? Any information at all?"
Arberish shook his head. "I'm sorry. All the myths, all the legends were intentionally vague. Whoever hid the Jewels here clearly did not want it to be easy to retrieve them."
"What about you, Mother?" Alúvelin asked. "Do you have any suggestions from the ancient scrolls?"
Valanda shook her head. "No, I . . . I'm afraid not. Whatever we have to face, we're going in unprepared."
"I don't like the sound of this," Kristoff said. "Can we double back? Is there any other exit out of the caves? Now that the path is blocked, the invaders surely will be unable to get in here. Why don't we just find another way out and leave the Jewels?"
"No," Arberish said. "The invaders have come too far to let anything stop them. They will simply move the rocks once they arrive. With five hundred men, it shouldn't take long for them to do so. They will be in here well before the equinox arrives tomorrow night."
Anna grimaced, another wave of discomfort washing over her. "Whoever is selected . . . is just going to have to remain calm and think. We're all fairly clever. We should be able to answer a few riddles."
"I hope so," Elsa said softly. "We really do not have any choice in the matter."
They had reached the end of the path. A massive wall stood before them, carvings and engravings lining its face. The six studied it, searching for a door, any sign of where they should travel next.
"The torches," Valanda said, gesturing to three unlit torches before them. "Let's light them and see what happens."
"Be careful," Alúvelin said.
Valanda closed her eyes, allowing a line of flame to cross the three torches, lighting them simultaneously. The chamber was suddenly filled with an unnatural brightness, every detail of the room now fully visible.
"Who dares disturb my ancient solitude?" A voice echoed throughout the cave, ringing in each member's ears, filling them with dread.
Elsa stepped forward, bowing before the wall. "I am Queen Elsa of Arendelle. We . . . We mean no disrespect. We have come simply to protect the Tritastónende, to safeguard them from those who mean to wield them for their own selfish ends."
A mirthless laugh filled the chamber. "How noble! Such an unselfish gesture, risking your lives to keep others from acquiring their power." The voice turned cold, harsh. "Lies! I know the truth that burns within your heart, daughter of Man! You want what all Men desire. Power. Glory. Riches. Authority."
"No!" Elsa protested, lying prostrate on the ground. "I swear! We . . . We do not desire this power for ourselves! We only—"
"SILENCE!" The voice was livid, infused with rage. "The race of Men proved long ago that they were wholly unworthy of ever wielding the sacred Jewels. Their lustful urges are incompatible with the purity of heart the Tritastónende demand. How dare you approach me?! You shall pay for this insolence! Prepare to die, Queen Elsa of Arendelle!"
"NO!" Anna cried, throwing herself upon her sister. "You can't! Please!"
"Anna, get off of me!" Elsa commanded, her voice tinged with terror. "The babies!"
"Wretched girl!" the voice roared. "You and your offspring shall share her fate!"
"You don't understand!" Anna cried. "She is worthy! Her father was an ice bærer! His blood, his power flows through her veins!"
Silence fell upon the chamber. Every member of the party stood unmoving, hardly daring to breathe.
"Is this . . . true?" the voice asked. "Are you one of them?"
Elsa nodded. "Yes." Her hand trembling, she allowed a wave of ice and snow to flow from her fingertips, swirling, coalescing around her.
"I see. Well, then, ice bærer. Your race has shown itself to be worthy of the Tritastónende in the past. We shall see if that may be said of you as well. And . . . your companions? To what race do they belong?"
Alúvelin, Arberish, and Valanda bowed before the wall. "We are brann wielders," Alúvelin said. "Bearers of the Sacred Flame."
Anna rose, gesturing for Kristoff to join her. "And we are merely the children of Men. But we swear, we have no desire to use the Jewels for our own gain. Please! Believe us! We only desire peace."
The unearthly silence filled the chamber once more. Finally, the voice spoke again. "Very well. If Men, ice bærers, and brann wielders can ally themselves for a common cause, then I will permit you to pass. But be warned. Each of you will be tested to prove your worth, each in his own time."
Elsa stood, bowing profoundly. "Thank you," she said. "We will not disappoint you."
A laugh filled the chamber. "I hope not, for your sakes."
A large crack appeared in the wall. Rock that had stood undisturbed for ages moved forward, opening into a large doorway.
"Inside the next chamber, you will face the first challenge: the Challenge of Wisdom. Pay close attention! One of you must answer three riddles. You will be unable to receive assistance from your companions. You must rely upon your wits alone to succeed. Should you answer the three riddles correctly, you and your companions may proceed to the next challenge. If you make but a single error, however . . ."
The voice paused. "YOU!" it suddenly commanded. "Young woman with the fiery hair!"
Alúvelin stepped forward, uncertain.
"No, not you!" the voice said, irritated. "The younger one! You have been selected for the challenge."
Valanda's face turned deathly white. "I . . . I can't!" she protested. "I'm not good at puzzles. I can't—"
"Either you make the attempt or your companions remain trapped in here until they die from starvation! Now, proceed!"
Trembling, Valanda moved into the next chamber, the rest of the party following her.
"I can't do this," Valanda whispered, her hands shaking uncontrollably. She looked at Alúvelin, terrified. "I'm going to fail! You are all going to die because of me!"
"No," Alúvelin said, taking her mother's hands. "No, we will not. You will succeed, Mother. I have faith in you. Just relax. Think before you speak. Have courage!"
The Empress kissed her mother's forehead, brushing a stray lock of fiery red tresses from her eyes. "Now, good luck!"
Elsa, Anna, Kristoff, and Arberish embraced Valanda, reassuring her, desperately trying to give her strength, to pass on confidence they knew she did not possess. They watched as Valanda moved to the center of the chamber, waiting nervously.
Without warning, bars appeared from above and below her, trapping her within a six-foot circle. A strange blue light surrounded the bars. All sound disappeared. The princess's ears rang, unaccustomed to the total silence that descended upon her.
"Mother!" Alúvelin cried, rushing forward.
"Step back!" The voice was firm, commanding. "Do not approach, or she will die!"
"You bastard!" Alúvelin whispered. "What are you doing to her?"
"She must be kept here, unable to hear any helpful suggestions you may provide." The voice paused. "Now, you three women. Move toward the platform."
Elsa, Anna, and Alúvelin silently processed toward the platform in front of Valanda's prison, their eyes never leaving the terrified princess. Before them, they saw three manacles, firmly chained to the platform.
"Place your wrists within them," the voice commanded.
"Why?" Elsa asked, suspiciously. "What do you want from us?"
"Do it NOW!"
Wordlessly, the three women placed manacles around their wrists, the restraints closing of their own accord as they did so. Arberish and Kristoff stood close by, helplessly watching, powerless to intervene.
Valanda suddenly heard the voice speak to her within her small cell. "Now, are you ready to begin?"
"Yes," she stammered, desperately trying to quell the fear within her.
"Good. You will be provided with three riddles. You are to answer them before I tell you time's up. Do you understand?"
"What . . . Why are they restrained?" Valanda asked, gesturing toward the platform. "What is this?"
"Motivation," the voice responded. "Now, the first riddle: A cloud was my mother, the wind is my father, my son is the cool stream, and my daughter is the fruit of the land. A rainbow is my bed, the earth my final resting place, and I'm the torment of man."
Valanda stood, overwhelmed, her mind reeling. "Can . . . Can you repeat that, please?"
"No. You will answer. Now."
"What?!" Valanda was beside herself. "You haven't given me any time. Please, I need time to think!"
"Time? How much time do you think you need, girl? Perhaps this will inspire you."
Valanda's eyes widened in horror as, on the platform, Anna suddenly began to shake, her face contorting in agony.
"What are you doing to her?!" Valanda cried. "What are you doing?!"
"She will suffer until you answer," the voice said. "Answer, and she may go free."
"Stop, please!" Valanda protested. "She is with child! You can't—"
"I suggest you stop wasting time and respond before anything serious happens."
Valanda saw Kristoff and Arberish fighting to pull Anna free, her mouth open wide in what Valanda was certain was a scream of agony.
All right, all right. Think! 'A cloud was my mother, the wind my father . . .' What does it mean? 'My daughter is the fruit of the land . . . The earth is my final resting place, and I'm the torment of man . . .'
The princess covered her head, forcing herself to calm down, desperately trying to determine the solution. Suddenly, a thought flowed through her mind. Of course! It couldn't be that simple . . . could it?!
"Rain!" Valanda cried. "The answer is rain!"
As quickly as it had begun, Anna's suffering ceased. The manacle around her wrist opened. Kristoff and Arberish pulled her from the platform, carefully taking her to the side, lowering her to the floor.
"Anna! Anna, are you all right?!" Kristoff held his wife, desperately trying to return her to consciousness.
Anna's eyes fluttered open. "Let's . . . Let's not do that again, all right?"
Kristoff and Arberish smiled. "She's all right!" Kristoff cried. "She's a little weak, but she's fine!"
Relief washed over Elsa and Alúvelin. Turning to Valanda, they nodded to her, smiling. "She's all right!" Elsa called, knowing the princess could not hear her, but still trying to reassure her.
"Thank goodness you answered in a timely manner," the voice said. "I hate to think what would have happened if you took any longer."
"Just ask me the next riddle," Valanda snapped. "I'm ready."
The voice laughed, its voice devoid of humor. "Are you, now? Well, then. Here you are: There are four brothers in this world that were all born together. The first runs and never wearies. The second eats and is never full. The third drinks and is always thirsty. The fourth sings a song that is never good."
Valanda frowned, thinking. Four brothers . . . What . . . What does it mean?
"I . . . I . . ."
"You may want to answer before your ice bærer friend begins to suffer any . . . discomfort."
"No! Leave her alone! Just give me a moment!"
"If you are truly worthy, you will answer shortly. I showed mercy to the last one for the sake of her offspring. This time, however, I will not stay my hand."
Valanda watched, helplessly, as Elsa fell to her knees, her face betraying the agony coursing through her body. The Snow Queen grit her teeth, forcing herself back to her feet, refusing to give the voice the satisfaction of watching her suffer.
"This one . . . This one is strong! Very strong!" the voice said. "Unfortunately, not strong enough!"
Valanda could see Elsa scream in unquenchable torment as she collapsed, her silent screams overwhelming Valanda's mind. She saw Anna crying out, trying to move to her sister, Kristoff holding her back, Alúvelin screaming and cursing the voice for its cruelty.
I don't know the answer! I don't know the answer! What on earth could it be? I have no clue! What on . . . earth?
Something about that phrase triggered a train of thought in her brain. Earth . . . The soil drinks and is never satisfied . . . 'Runs but never wearies' . . . What runs? Animals, people, water . . . Her eyes widened. Eats and is never full . . . She looked at her hands. Consumes everything! Just like . . . Just like . . .
"I've got it!" she cried. "Stop! Don't torture her anymore! I have the answer! It's the four elements! Water, fire, earth, wind! That's the answer! STOP!"
"Very good, girl!" the voice said. "You're almost there."
Valanda saw Elsa slowly pull herself to her feet, her hand freed from her restraints. Arberish moved to help her, and, to Valanda's surprise, Elsa permitted him to assist her in stepping down from the platform. She saw Elsa say something to Alúvelin, saw her daughter nodding in agreement.
"One more riddle, brann wielder girl," the voice said. "Are you prepared?"
"Yes," Valanda whispered, silently praying that it would be easy enough that she could solve it quickly.
"Very well. Listen carefully: I am the beginning of sorrow, and the end of sickness. You cannot express happiness without me, yet I am in the midst of crosses. I am always in risk, yet never in danger. You may find me in the sun, but I am never out of darkness."
Valanda stood in silence, confounded. "What . . . What does that even mean? Say it again! Please!"
"No. One chance is all you get, girl. I hope for her sake that you can answer quickly."
Valanda's blood ran cold, her face drained of color. "No," she whispered. "Please. Leave her alone. She has done nothing to you! Don't punish her! Punish me! Let me suffer instead!"
"Interesting," the voice said. "Interesting how you are so quick to offer to take her place. It is truly touching. Unfortunately, that is out of the question. You have one opportunity, girl. Answer, or watch your companion die."
Valanda thought furiously, desperately trying to figure out the answer. "I . . . I . . ."
"Too long," the voice said. "You could have spared her, you know. Oh well. Perhaps this will give you some incentive . . ."
Alúvelin flinched as the pain began to overwhelm her. Her eyes narrow, she remained on her feet, refusing to let her mother see her suffer, determined not to upset her.
"Stop!" Valanda cried. "Please, take me instead!"
"Give me your answer!"
Alúvelin's head flew backwards involuntarily as the full fury of her tormentor washed over her. Unable to contain herself, she screamed unceasingly as pain as she had never experienced before ran through every fiber of her being. Thousands of invisible needles tore into her flesh, into her muscles, her bones. Elsa ran to hold her, to give her strength, but was thrown from the platform by an invisible force.
Valanda was beyond reason. "NO! NO! NO!" she screamed, pulling at the bars that restrained her, desperately trying to let her voice be heard through the blue cone of silence that surrounded her prison. "STOP IT! LEAVE MY DAUGHTER ALONE!"
"Your daughter . . .? Interesting," the voice said. "It would seem there is more to you than meets the eye, girl. You know what you have to do to end her torment. Just answer . . ."
Valanda inhaled, forcing her panic and anxiety to exit her body, calming her mind. The beginning of sorrow . . .The end of sickness . . . The midst of crosses . . . In the sun, but out of darkness . . . What does this mean? Nothing seems to be connected! They are just random words!
She sank to the floor, unable to solve the puzzle, tears flowing from her eyes. It's hopeless! Alúvelin is going to die, and it's all your fault! You couldn't even solve a simple riddle to save her! Why can't you see what's right in front of you? Why?!
An idea suddenly rang in the back of her mind. What if . . . What if it's not a metaphor? What if the clues are . . . are literal? The end of sickness . . . The midst of crosses . . . In the sun . . . Out of darkness . . .
"I've solved it!" she cried, leaping to her feet. "Do you hear me? I've solved it! Leave her alone! It's the letter 's'! Do you hear me?! It's the letter 's'!"
She saw Alúvelin's body cease its flailing, watched in jubilation as her daughter slowly pulled herself to her feet, gingerly moving from the platform.
"Well done, brann wielder girl," the voice said. "You have answered all three riddles correctly. You and your companions may proceed to the next chamber."
The blue light disappeared, the bars returning to the ceiling and floor from whence they came. Valanda rushed forward, beyond the platform, wrapping her arms around Alúvelin.
"Where does it hurt?" she asked, frantically looking over her daughter's body. "What did it do to you? Show me!"
Alúvelin looked at her, a faint smile on her face. "I'm fine, Mother. Really, I am. You . . . You did it! You solved the riddles!"
Mother and daughter held each other tightly, each feeling fresh tears fall from their eyes, unconcerned with anything but being with each other, reveling in each other's safety.
After several minutes, Valanda turned to the others. "Anna? Elsa? How . . . How are the two of you? Are . . . Are the babies all right?"
Anna nodded. "I didn't experience anything nearly as bad as you and Elsa. It started out very intense, but then . . . then it stopped, like whatever it was took pity on me."
"Perhaps it does have a soul after all," Elsa said quietly. "It showed Anna mercy for the sake of the babies. Maybe . . . Maybe we can survive this after all."
Arberish looked to the now-open door before them. "Valanda has shown her wisdom in solving the riddles. But now . . . Now we must show our power." He looked to Elsa, his face grim. "We must confront the guardians awaiting us in the Hall of Death."
Elsa met Arberish's gaze, her eyes fierce. "Well, let's not keep them waiting."
AN: More to come!