Chapter Four: Arendelle
That night I left the castle. No one knew of my escape, except for Celeste who now lived in a nearby county. Her husband, Duke Richards took care of a small village there. I had written to her days before to tell her of my plans. She had sent a response back quickly. She told me, she did not agree with my plan, but knowing how stubborn and determined I could be, she would help me.
I traveled at night. I did not want to chance of being seen out during the day until I was safely within the borders of Arendelle.
Celeste was waiting for me in the stables on her and her husband's estate. She had a horse ready for me. It was too risky for me to use Philippe. I did not want to be recognized and if I was not recognized, I was sure that one of my father's prized studs would have been.
"Thank you so much," I said hugging her. Then gasped when I felt an odd movement against my stomach. Celeste was pregnant. "Congratulations. Why didn't you tell me?"
Celeste showed off her round middle proudly.
"You already had so much going on," She said. "I didn't want to add more."
"Well, this is happy news, isn't it?"
"Yes," Celeste said. "Guillaume and I are happy."
"Are you truly happy?" I asked wanting to know for sure.
"Yes," Celeste said honestly. "I got lucky with my marriage. Guillaume treats me well. He's kind and I have grown to love him."
I smiled and hugged her again. We did not talk about my engagement with Gaston. I never told her. I was still hoping to find a way out of marrying him.
"Well, enough of that," Celeste said wiping her happy tears away.
"Now, I've made sure you have enough food to last three days. There's a tent and a blanket."
"Again, thank you," I said.
"I hope you find the answers you're looking for."
We hugged one last time and I was off.
For days I traveled. At first, I only traveled at night and as I got closer to the borders of Arendelle, I traveled during the day. I was able to avoid the ogres nearby by remaining silent. (Ogres are blind). Thieves were also avoidable. They usually stayed on the main roads. (Easier to find victims). I only stopped to leave Celeste's horse with her cousin and stock my previsions. After leaving the horse, I hitched a ride on a wagon that took me across the border and into Arendelle.
I was very close to finding the answers I needed.
I stopped by a lovely shop when I needed further directions. Entering the shop, I was greeted by the very friendly owner. I smiled warmly at him and asked for the directions I needed as I placed the map of Arendelle on the surface of his counter.
"I am looking for trolls," I said.
"You want to find trolls," the shopkeeper asked. "You know they're dangerous, yeah?"
"Oh no, no, no, no, Rock Trolls, not Bridge Trolls," I clarified.
"Oh yeah, they're quite nice."
"So, you can direct me to them?" I asked.
"No, I've never met them."
He paused to wave to an entering customer.
"You just said they were nice," I said.
"I've heard."
"Please help me," I pleaded. "I just lost my mother."
"I'm so sorry. Trolls can't bring life. But I can help soothe you. Have you tried the sauna?"
I stared at him strangely.
"No," I said. "No thank you."
I took back the map. I began to leave with my head hung low.
"Need some help," the customer asked.
She was a friendly looking girl. Taller than me. She wore her long reddish hair in two braided pigtails that hung over her shoulders.
"Uh," I said. "Well, I was trying to find my way to the Rock Trolls, but this map is not being too helpful."
"Oaken means well," the girl said. "But you don't need him or a map. I can help you. I'm on my way to see them. Come with me."
"Really?" I asked a bit flabbergasted.
The girl nodded.
"Thank you," I said accepting her offer. "I'm Belle."
I offered my hand to her.
"I'm Anna," she said shaking my hand.
"Friend of Anna's half price on the sauna," Oaken said.
We gently turned down his offer and began our journey
"So, Belle, I couldn't help overhearing, well actually I could but I'm naturally curious," Anna babbled. "Anyway, I heard you lost your mother."
"Yes," I said fighting back my tears. "In the ogre's war."
"I'm so sorry," Anna said. "I lost mine too. There are no words."
"No there aren't. Especially when you don't know what happened. I was hoping the Rock Trolls can restore my memory so I can finally be at peace."
"Sometimes the answer isn't what you want," Anna said.
"Which is what?" I asked.
"One that makes you feel better, but if Grandpabbie help you get what you need, I'll make sure he does."
"Thank you," I said placing my hand on her shoulder. I was truly grateful to her.
We came up to a rock wall.
"So, now what?" I asked gazing up at the tall wall before us. It looked like it would be difficult to climb. It was so high.
"Now we climb," Anna said.
She reached into my bag and pulled out my pickaxe.
"Okay," I said as Anna began to climb.
I gasped and she cried out as she slipped. I ran to help her.
"Are you okay?" I asked helping her up.
"Kristoff makes this look easy," Anna said and I wondered who Kristoff was.
I picked up an object that fell out of her satchel. It was circular as big as a jewelry box. Its outside was gold and the center was as dark as night with what looked like stars darted over its rippled surface.
"Careful," Anna cautioned taking the object from my hands.
"Why, what's inside?" I asked.
"A hat that could strip the magic from the most powerful of sorcerers," Anna answered.
"Why do you have such a thing?"
"I sort of stole it from an evil sorcerer when I was back in the Enchanted Forest. I went to him to help with my sister, but things didn't exactly go according to plan."
I picked up the pickaxe.
"Why, what happened?" I asked. "Who is this person?"
"I don't really want to get into it. The less you know the better. I just pray you never cross paths with that twisted man."
My curiosity rose but I knew that now was not the time to press her further.
We climbed up on foot as high as we could without the pickaxe and then we carefully found a sturdy place to climb.
We exchanged no words as we climbed higher and higher. We focused our time and energy on reaching the top. We were careful and kept an eye out for weak points so we wouldn't plummet to our deaths.
Once we reached the top, Anna and I dusted off our clothes.
"This way," Anna said and led me to where the Rock Trolls lived. All I saw were a group of very round and mossy boulders.
"Grandpabbie," Anna called as we approached the boulders. "Grandpabbie, it's me."
Suddenly, one of the boulders rolled towards us.
"Anna, my dear," the boulder said as he rolled out and stepped towards us with large feet. The moss, I could now see, was his clothes and hair. "You're back. Have you come to tell us the new wedding date? I have been working on my speech."
I took a few steps back as Anna continued to walk forward. I was a bit shocked. I've never seen a Rock Troll before.
"Not yet, but we can get into that later," Anna said. "First, I want you to meet my friend, Belle. She's come a long way to see you."
Grandpabbie turned to me and I pushed back my shock to step forward. I kneeled down to look him in the eye. He was only a couple of feet tall.
"It's an honor to meet you," I said respectively.
He held out his large hand and I placed my smaller one in it.
"I'm, uh, I'm here because I… I…"
"I know," he said. "I can help you get the memories of your mother."
He preceded to use his magic on me. A small light purple stone appeared in his hand.
"Take this to the place you lost your memory, then brew a tea with the stone in the kettle. When you drink it, your memories will return," Grandpabbie instructed as he gave me the stone.
"Thank you," I said gratefully. I walked over to Anna. "Thank you, Anna. I owe you as well. How can I repay you?"
"You don't have to. Having a friend is payment enough. All I need is a moment alone with Pabbie. I'll be quick."
I left her to speak with Grandpabbie. Moments later, Anna turned my way and called out my name.
"We have to go," she said urgently.
"Is everything okay?" I asked.
"I don't think so. It's my aunt. She's up to something."
We hurried back the way we came. As we climbed down the ledge to a spiraling slope I told Anna that I wished I didn't have to wait to use the stone to regain my memories.
"You'll be home before you know it," Anna said. "As soon as we get to town, you'll be on the first ship back to the Enchanted Forest."
"If any ships even setting sail," I said as the wind picked up and dark clouds approached. "Looks like a storm setting in."
"I don't think it's a storm," Anna said.
"What else could it be?" I asked.
"My aunt. I don't think my aunt wants me to tell my sister what I found out." She answered.
"If she has all this magic and you have well good intentions, what are we going to do?"
"I have more than good intentions," Anna yelled over the wind that was much wilder now. "I have this."
She pulled out the magical hat.
"She can't hurt us if she doesn't have magic."
The ground shuck then and I fell to the ground. My stone fell from my bag and hung precariously on the cliff's edge. I reached for it.
"Belle," Anna cried out and I looked down to see she was thrown off the cliff and was hanging on for dear life "Belle, I can't pull myself up."
"Just hold on, I'll be right there," I cried down to her as I continued to reach for the stone.
"Belle, hurry. Please."
I inched closer to the stone and just as my fingertips reached it, the stone slipped away and fell off the cliff. The stone shattered taking away my chance of ever remembering what happened to my mother.
"Belle, hurry," Anna called and I swallowed my disappointment and went to help her up.
"I'm coming, I'm coming," I said as I reached down to grab her hand, but I was too late. I called her name as I watched her fall. She fell far but not far enough for there to be any blood. We were close to the ground than I thought. I watched as a woman in white appeared next to Anna. She picked up the hat.
"Leave her alone," I shouted at the woman.
"You have to excuse us, but this is family business," she shouted back at me. It was then that I guessed that the woman was Anna's troublesome aunt. She then used her magic to transport herself and Anna somewhere. I did not know and never learned to where.
Grief struck me then and shame. I grieved for the loss of my new friend. I was ashamed of my actions. It was selfish of me to reach for my memory stone first instead of Anna. If I had chosen to save her first, maybe she wouldn't have been taken. My memories were lost to me no matter which path I chose.
With a heavy heart, I made my journey back home. I remembered I cried most of the time. I cried for my mother, I cried for my lost memories, I cried for Anna, and I cried (in anger) for myself. All I could remember were the tears.
Before long, I made it back to the Enchanted Forest and to my father's castle. I arrived during the day but knew I should wait for dark to sneak back in. I used my time to compose myself. I did not want to enter the castle in tears. I did not want to alarm anyone with my sobs. Besides, my governess taught me that a lady was always to hide her emotions.
"Do not show any weakness," she told me time and time again. "The people need a strong queen to rule them. Other states would try to conquer your land if they view you as weak."
I never really took her words to heart until recently. I could not show weakness especially with a fiancé like Gaston.
When my tears dried up and I felt ready to return, I trekked carefully to the castle. I was able to enter without being seen. Troubling, I was going to have to have a word with the guards. I made it to my bedchamber believing that I was successful only to find my father waiting for me.
"Father, I thought you'd be asleep," I said.
"I haven't slept in days," my father said. "How could I? You left without so much as a goodbye. So, did you find what you were looking for?"
"No," I said. "You were right Father. I should have just left things alone. That trip was a huge mistake."
"I'm the one who's made the mistake Belle. I've been keeping a secret from you. I know what happened during the ogre attack."
"What," I said a bit outraged.
"I didn't want to add to your grief. When the ogres stormed the library you and your mother had been working. When the guards heard the commotion, they rushed in they saw the ogres were about to attack, but your mother, she stood in the path of those monsters to protect you. She kept them at bay while the guards pulled you from danger but by the time they came to save your mother-"
"It was too late," I finished. My anger had vanished. "She sacrificed herself for me."
"She loved you so much. So do I," Father said reaching out to stroke my cheek. "I'm so glad you're back. I don't know what I would have done if the ogre's had gotten you on the road."
"They've reached the roads," I asked shocked.
"The wars not going well," Father admitted "But you need not worry about such things. We have soldiers to fight."
I knew this, of course, and I also knew that we did not have enough soldiers to win.
"Those soldiers don't stand a chance. They'll only slow down the ogres' advance. We need someone who can stop them once and for all."
"And who would that be?" Father asked.
"On my journey, I did some reading and well, there's a wizard. A powerful, powerful wizard, who may just help us. His name is—"
My father raised his hand to stop me. "I know his name," he said. "And I dare not speak it. Trust me, Belle, if we do-"
"I know," I said calmly. "Magic always comes with a price. But if mother's death taught me anything, it's that sometimes a hero has to sacrifice everything to save the people they love. And I will do whatever I can to save our land and I can be a hero just like Mother. And if that means summoning Rumpelstiltskin, then so be it."
Father sighed heavily but did not argue.
"We'll call for his help tomorrow."
END OF CH. 4