Frozen: The Dragon Princess
Brave Dragon Part 3
Anna woke wrapped in the mingled scents of horse and the warm green smell of Merida. She yawned and stretched and wriggled out from under the blanket. She emerged to see green glowing shafts of morning sunlight streaking down through the trees. Following her nose she found a stream where she washed her face and got a drink. She heard a snuffling sound and looking up saw a gigantic brown bear lapping at the water, two smaller cubs next to her. Anna held her breath and stood stone still as the bear finished its drink and looked up at her. The two stared each other down, equal parts excitement and fear rushing through her. The bear huffed then gently ushered the cubs away. Once they were out of sight Anna let out the breath she was holding, and smelled Merida right behind her.
"That was amazing" Anna said.
"Ay, and dangerous. Wild bears can turn nasty in a heartbeat, especially if they think their young ones are in danger" Merida said bending down to get her own drink.
"I know wild animals can be dangerous. Our game's keeper taught me that" Anna said idly.
"Gamekeeper?" Merida asked.
"Um…forget I said anything" Anna said as her stomach rumbled.
"Well, let's get some food" Merida said and aiming at the stream let an arrow fly where it embedded itself into a fish. Anna clapped in awe and Merida did a small curtsy. Anna waded out into the stream and gathering her magic formed a sphere of air around a group of fish. She raised it out of the water and moving it over to the bank dumped a pile of fish and a splash of water in front of Merida, causing her to cry out as she was splashed. Anna giggled as she waded out of the water, the arrow with the fish clutched in her hand.
"I win" Anna said brightly. They gathered wood and with a snap of her finger Anna set it alight. Soon the smell of smoking fish filled the forest. Anna gobbled down five of them before she was satisfied.
"Quit and appetite on ya" Merida said.
"Same to you" Anna replied looking at the three fish carcasses in front of the red head.
"Alright, let's get back to it" Merida said picking up her bow. They returned to the hole and gathering her power Anna expanded it across and down until she felt the earth open into a chamber.
"I found something" Anna said looking down into the pitch black.
"Ya sure?" Merida asked.
"I'm sure" Anna said.
"Okay then" Merida said.
"You should stay here" Anna said setting her hand alight and putting it into the hole. It didn't help.
"Yer jokin. I'm no letting ya go down there alone" Merida said.
"Okay then" Anna said and focusing expanded the hole even wider to where it was a few feet across. She took a deep breath and transformed.
"Get on" She said lying down. Merida looked at her for a moment before smiling and scrambling up onto the dragons back.
"I'm not too heavy am I?" Merida asked.
"I barely feel you" Anna said.
"Now hold on" Anna said and before Merida could ask why she dove into the hole. The older girl laid flat on the dragons back as Anna slithered down the hole.
"I can't see" Merida said. Anna opened her mouth and kindled a flame to help light the way, though it didn't extend out more a few feet. The tunnel seemed to go on forever, with Anna slowly working her way down, claws digging into the earthen walls of the hole, her wings flapping to keep her balanced. Eventually however they reached the end and Anna found herself falling into an open chamber. She opened her wings and flapped to slow her fall, landing softly on the ground. She conjured a ball of light and sent it into the air, and revealed a marvel. Golden light revealed a palace carved out of stone. Elegant columns and buttresses lined granite stairs that led up to a marble castle. Merida mumbled under her breath in awe as Anna walked forward. Something deep inside her told her to stay a dragon, a voice she decided to listen too. She walked up the stairs and pushed on doors big enough to allow her to walk through as a dragon. Merida hurried up beside her. The doors swung open and Anna sent another orb of light into the hall. It was empty except for a beautiful carved stone sculpture hanging from the ceiling. They walked the length of the hall, but it was empty.
"What are we lookin for?" Merida asked.
"A small crystal, like a gem" Anna said.
"Well, there's nothing like that here" Merida said.
"Hello, we're looking for the heart of earth if it's here!" Anna called out into the silence.
"I don't think anyone heard ya" Merida said when the room began to shake. Deep amber light filled the room and writing appeared on the floor.
"They who seek to bear the weight of the world alone shall be crushed by it" The writing said when a groaning rumble came from the ceiling. Anna looked up to find the stone carving on the ceiling coming down on them. Not thinking she leapt under it and rearing up on her hind legs caught it. Her legs nearly buckled under the weight as she was pressed to the floor.
"Merida run!" Anna told the other girl as she struggled to hold the carving up failed as it grew heavier with every passing moment.
"No, I'm not leavin ya. Besides, I can't exactly get outta here without ya" Merida joked.
"I can't hold this" Anna said as the carving pressed her to the floor.
"Wait, that writing on the floor, it said, "they who seek to bear the weight of the world alone shall be crushed by it" Merida said.
"If you want to help me hold this, feel free" Anna joked, though inside she was terrified that this was the end, not because she would die, but because Merida would die and her quest would be over.
"I can't die here. I still have two more hearts to find" She thought and pushed back with all her might, but the carving seemed to get heavier.
"No, it means more than a physical weight" Merida said.
"Ya said yer sister shut ya out, and ya don't know why" Merida asked.
"So?" Anna asked angrily as the column pushed her down to the belly, now beginning to dig into her back.
"But ya blame yerself" Merida said. Anna looked at her and for a moment the weight seemed to lessen.
"Ya blame yerself for yer sister shuttin ya out. That's why yer on this quest, ya want to fix yer mistake" Merida said.
"Yes" Anna said and the weight seemed to increase.
"What did ya do?" Merida asked.
"I don't know" Anna said, and the weight increased, forcing her down another few inches.
"Think" Merida said.
"I don't know" Anna cried as the weight pressed on her.
"I don't remember doing anything. One day we were best friends and the next we weren't and I don't know why" Anna cried as the weight started to truly crush her.
"Maybe, ya didn't do anything?" Merida asked.
"What if ya didn't do anything? What if it was yer sister that did something?" Merida asked.
"Elsa didn't do anything" Anna said, but the weight began to lighten.
"And how do ya know that?" Merida asked.
"Because Elsa doesn't do anything wrong. She doesn't screw up, or make mistakes, she's perfect" Anna said.
"No one's perfect lass. Everyone makes mistakes, and shutten out someone like you is a mistake" Merida said.
"What are you trying to say?" Anna asked.
"What I'm sayin is, stop blamin yerself for somthin that might not be yer fault" Merida said looking Anna in the eyes.
"Ya shouldn't stop trying to help yer family, but if ya can't think of anythin that you did, then chances are yer aren't to blame" Merida said.
"Are you sure?" Anna asked the weight beginning to lift.
"Positive. I don't know yer sister, but I know you, and I know ya would never do anything to hurt anyone, and if ya did, ya would give everything to fix it" Merida said.
"And also, ya don't have to carry it alone" Merida said smiling. Anna smiled back or at least as much as her snout let her as a warmth and confidence she hadn't known she needed filled her
"Merida's right, it's not my fault. I don't remember doing anything to Elsa. It might not be her fault either, it might not be anyone's fault, but that doesn't mean I won't work my whole life to fix it" Anna thought, and the carving lifted off her. She collapsed to the floor and transformed back, shaking and gasping in fatigue.
"Anna are ye all right?" Merida asked kneeling down and gathering the younger girl into her lap.
"I'm….okay" Anna gasped out as the carving retracted into the ceiling and a glowing light descended out of the hole it left behind. Anna struggled to her feet as the light descended and held out her hand. The amber heart of earth settled into her palm where she gazed at it. Like the heart of air it was the size of her hand, and pulsed with amber light.
"It's beautiful" Merida said as Anna stuffed it into her satchel.
"Let's get out of here" Anna said. She transformed and they began to leave when something made Anna turn.
"What is it?" Merida asked.
"I heard something" Anna said, and cocked her ears. She felt more than heard the sound coming from the back of the room. She walked over and saw a crypt she hadn't noticed before. It was in the shape of a man in full armor holding a sword.
"Looks like the tomb of some king!" Merida said looking at it. Anna transformed and climbing up on the sarcophagus looked down at the sword the carved man was holding.
"This looks real" Anna said reaching out to touch it.
"Don't. Ya don't steal weapons from the dead" Merida hissed.
"It's not like he needs it anymore" Anna shot back as her hand touched the hilt. She felt a surge go through her as a blinding flash filled the room. Anna was pushed off the sarcophagus and landed with bruising force on her backside.
"What was that?" Merida asked.
"I think I got a new sword" Anna said as she held up the blade that was on the sarcophagus now clutched in her hand, shrunk to the size of a dagger.
"Let's get out of here" Merida said standing up. Anna put the dagger in her bag and transformed. They walked back to the hole. Merida mounted and Anna leapt back up to the hole and slowly clawed her way back to the surface, much more slowly than going down due her fatigue. She was breathing hard when she finally climbed out and again collapsed onto the ground transforming into a worn out little girl.
"This is tougher than I thought" Anna said as Merida bent over her.
"Ya did great lass" Merida said.
"Thanks" Anna said smiling. They spent another knight out in the forest eating fish and talking. Once again Anna found herself falling asleep in the older girl's side. She woke up refreshed and ready to go home.
"Are ya sure ya can get home on yer own?" Merida asked.
"It's not that long a flight. I'll be okay" Anna said.
"Maybe you ken come back home with me. Rest up a few days" Merida asked. Anna thought about it looking inside of her, judging her magic, and found she was still feeling tired.
"I guess resting a few days can't hurt" Anna thought.
"Okay, that would be very gracious of you" Anna said using all the royal manners she had learned to curtsy. Merida giggled and mounting Angus reached down and pulled the girl up. Together they rode back toward Merida's home.
Yeah new chapter. Next chapter will be lighthearted and comical as Anna interacts with a yearly gathering of the clans.