The next day it was almost noon, but Princess Elsa, walking around the castle corridors, could not throw away the memory of the day gone by, or the dreams that came back every moment that night when she closed her eyes, those thunderbolts, a threat, a man from another world extending his right hand to her in a gesture of help, these memories kept coming back, Elsa was so busy remembering the past day that she didn't even notice her sister, dressed in a green dress with orange accessories, running into the corridor today, and Anna, seeing the deep thoughtfulness on the face of her sister walking in a white-blue dress, knew immediately that something happened, changed, she too felt fear of the evil that came from the east, the fear deepened even though the mysterious visitor was helping them, but the image of a thundercloud who could destroy the whole city made Anna tremble at the thought of such a possibility, this nightmare made her awake Anna shivered and her brown hair stood on end, finally Anna shouted to her sister as she entered her bedroom and stopped at the window overlooking the whole city and harbor.
- Elsa, wait!. Anna screamed but her sister didn't hear, she was too busy with everything she saw through the window, hope and fear, faith and uncertainty.
Currently, Arendelle was more developed than ever, a wooden palisade was quickly erected around the city, reinforced with new wooden prides currently occupied by the army of the Kingdom of the Southern Isles, on the orders of Aldrich, his army as well as the ally's fleet remaining in the port in need, and the soldiers like and all the inhabitants were talking now, and not about the barbarians, but about him, about the thunder lord who had smashed two armies of barbarians to dust and driven them to the great eastern steppes, now it was probably the most common topic of conversation, but Elsa understood fear and fear of the unknown, she herself had once seen and understood the fear she caused when she first used her ice powers, now she saw the same fear cause the hearts and minds of many citizens and soldiers to tremble in fear of something much more powerful, but there were those who sincerely they believed in the good intentions of a madman from another world.
- you've seen so much, no wonder you're special. Elsa said to herself as she stared at the city, soldiers and ordinary citizens gathering in the Maoist streets and the bridge leading to the castle.
- who is special, sister what are you talking about. Anna asked entering the room, standing between the big bed and the wardrobe with clothes.
- Anna, good to see you again. said Elsa turning quickly behind her pulling her white hair behind her and looking into her sister's uncertain trembling blue eyes and cuddling up to her.
- you too, it's a pity that our peace is broken again by everything that hits us, first the barbarians trying to implement the plan of some emperor from a thousand years ago and now this, thundercloak, it's amazing that someone wields such power, man I saw it today Pabbie , he is in total shock, I think it's the first time I've seen a troll who was so afraid. Anna said, sharing her smile, wanting to find strength in herself and give it to her sister, but this strength and even confidence was painted on the older sister's face.
- the fact that he wields such powers does not mean that you should be afraid of him, he is a strange man, on the other hand, he saw a lot in his world, he told me a lot. Said Elsa recalling the past day and stories about her life and what Anders saw.
- you told me about it, his world is really sad, I'm not surprised that he also feels sorry for everyone, but why and anger. Anna asked.
- he feels anger towards those who mistreat their children, but what he will do, as he called himself, he is a madman, he can do anything, counter his own counters. Elsa said, looking again at the window overlooking the city and the bridge.
- and attack us too. Anna said leaning on the sill looking the same as her sister at the city below.
- no!, he won't, I'm sure, even though he's a madman, Anders won't, he won't be like our barbarian enemies from the east, I'm sure, and why he would save me today and destroy everything in front of my eyes. he may be crazy but he is not like the people he saw in his world. Elsa said confidently, now looking at the city and the sky in the hope of seeing a flash or lightning, but the dense clouds covering almost the entire sky was too calm and quiet, there was no sight or sound of thunder.
- Elsa, please don't be naive, just because he saved your life two days ago doesn't mean he did.
- that's enough, please Anna, I know, I'm sure, he won't do it, even though he didn't promise me, I'm sure of it, I probably got to know him even more than he knows himself, and why didn't I thank him more. Said Elsa now looking at the windowsill with a slight anger to herself and standing next to her Anna widened her eyes and looked at her sister not recognizing her that day.
- dear sister, I don't recognize you, could this Anders have made a bigger impression on you than I thought, you know, I haven't seen you like that yet. said Anna and her eyes saw the sudden rising blush on both cheeks of her sister and Elsa immediately stepped back from under the window.
- what, how, me, this, no, I'm thinking, I know, I must believe in something, because today everything, you know.
- I know, I know, but there's something else in all this, well, what happened last day, come on little sister, tell me exactly what, hey where are you going, come back here, you won't run away from me. Said Anna walking and then running her older sister who had burst out of the bedroom and was running from her sister but more from something she had just glimpsed deep behind the thickest mist.
- hey, Elsa come back here but now, oh. Anna said as she suddenly stopped in front of her sister and the black captain in the green uniform standing in front of them.
- Destin?, is something wrong?. Anna asked.
- my lady, nothing really, but our scouts sent last day came back from the steppes, and they reported bands of barbarians roaming there, the enemies sent many of their soldiers who patrol the area when one of us was spotted he had to flee, they are wild people, really wild ones, there was no way to get near the camp but I know for sure the enemies are still holding their positions. Said Destin being a bad seed.
- so the enemies are not gone, like Brandon said, they are close, even though they are afraid of thunder, if Anders were here with us. Elsa said, and Anna, listening to her, immediately heard the regret in her voice.
- here I don't know if it would be good, many citizens are terrified knowing that something so dangerous can appear here in Arendelle, Pabbie is probably the most terrified here, man I've never seen a troll in such a state. Destin said.
- that's how I see it too. Anna said but her main goal was to provoke her older sister and she immediately responded.
- Destin, what is your opinion about this man, Anders, what do you think he is to us. Elsa asked, wanting to find an ally.
Destin thought for a while, his intense thinking had him scratching his black hair a couple of times and his brown eyes glancing nervously across the red carpet, finally the general looked at the princess and queen and spoke.
- I don't know who he is but I know what we owe him, he saved us, me, Kristoff, Aldrich, Hans.
- it was the only thing he could give himself. Anna said with a sneer as soon as the name Hans was mentioned.
- well, he could have, but he did otherwise, it does not change the fact that he saved us all, in the south and in the north, without him the Northuldran tribe would have been destroyed, and you, my lady, it's scary to think but for him, that's for sure we owe him gratitude but whether fear, I don't know. Destin Mattias said.
- you see, sister, you don't have to be afraid of him, even though he wields indescribable power, you have to believe. Elsa said as she lifted her head.
- I don't know, madman. Anna tried to say but her older sister quickly interrupted her.
- a madman but not a madman, not a psychopath, he's a madman and a good man, I know it for sure, I believe, and fear if you're afraid of me. Elsa asked and her sister looked to the right slightly embarrassed because she suddenly realized that being afraid of someone like Anders with extraordinary powers is like being afraid of your own sister who wields the powers of ice.
- I'm sorry, I think it's too much for me, you're right, General, we owe him a lot, and we shouldn't be afraid. But if he attacked us. Anna said, still unsure of the actions of the newcomer from another world.
- it won't come to that, you have my word. Elsa said confidently.
- and how are our friends from the south and north, or. Elsa asked what Destin stood up straight and answered with a raised forehead.
- our friends from the north and south found shelter, our friends from the south shared their rations with us and we gave them food and lodging, and our Northuldran friends lived on the other side and are now exchanging unusual stories with the trolls. Destin said.
- how good it was that we managed to accommodate everyone. Anna said, pleased with the first success.
- what about the preparations for a possible repulse of the attack. Elsa asked.
- we're ready, I believe it, palisades, I believe, we're all ready, let's hope, most importantly, that our friends, Aldrich said that he won't leave us alone until our enemies give up. Said Destin Mattias, then returned to his duties and both sisters went to the castle courtyard with a view of the fountain and marching soldiers in green and brown uniforms, which was rather impossible every few days, but today after the attack of the barbarians and the help of the thundercloak, so much has changed .
- Anna, tell me you're not mad at what happened, after all your big day was ruined. Elsa asked, come on, her question was aimed at escaping another topic, more difficult for her.
- sister, come on, we've already talked about it, better not run away from a more important topic because I haven't forgotten about it. Anna said.
- oh sister, you're still the same. said Elsa and shook her head going back to the castle because the previous day Elsa was practically a prisoner in the castle for fear of being attacked by the barbarians and kidnapped to a place called the forge of dark times.
A day later, Arendelle was strangely calm, the clouds in the sky had completely disappeared and the sun was shining again in full force, and the inhabitants, soldiers, visitors from three directions were getting better and better, Northuldran now mostly talking with trolls about magic and old stories, the inhabitants of Arendelle with curiosity they listened to the conversations and watched the soldiers working together, while the soldiers from the south and Arendelle took care of everything around, fortifying the palisade and preparing the two combined fleets for a possible naval battle should there be an assault from the sea.
Among the inhabitants and visitors from three corners of the world, a white snowman with a carrot as a nose was marching, Olaf, who, together with the brown reindeer Sven, watched the feud between marching people and soldiers.
- interesting, there are so many of us here, everyone talks about only one thing you hear, Sven, look at it, probably our friends, trolls, they also talk about this sixth element, I wonder who it is. Olaf asked and Sven grunted and shook his head as his eyes filled with fear, because someone like that gave birth to fear in him.
Meanwhile, in front of a snowman and a reindeer, between two wooden houses sat the leader of the trolls Pabbie, who was just trembling and twirling, unable to understand anything but the visitor from another world, his power and what brought him here to this world, and listening to him the elder of the Northuldran tribe, Yelena, a white-haired elderly woman in a gray suit embroidered with symbols, stared at the trembling troll along with the other trolls who were feeling more and more apprehensive and afraid.
- I don't understand, I thought they were legends, but the forge of the dark times is real, but it's not as scary as him, that Anders that everyone told me about, Ryder, Elsa, I can't understand, after all, someone with the power of the sixth element, is someone who wields power that is not even magic, it is something else, worse. Pabbie said, trembling as did his green robe and the grass decorating his dress.
- maybe what you call the sixth element is the answer to the war that the barbarians started, it happened once before. Yelena said, resting his head on his right hand, wondering about the thunder lord himself.
- maybe it is so, but not that, this Anders told Elsa that he got here from another world, he traveled through space, a place where stars sparkle and there is no magic there, this is a place of much more powerful powers that can destroy everything! he was endowed with his power by something else from another world, I never thought I'd witness something like this, it's truly terrifying. He told Pabbie.
- so what are we supposed to do with it, he, he saved us if it wasn't for him. Yelena said.
- I know what he did, but this, no, this is something that shouldn't be here in our world. He told Pabbie.
- and it seems to me that you are as prejudiced as the old king of Arendelle. Yelena said, and all the trolls behind them jumped with a deep breath, and Pabbie, shocked by the older Northuldran's words, stopped trembling and looked down at the ground, feeling guilty now.
- maybe there is a reason for this, it's like being afraid of Elsa, but still someone with such powers can crush the whole world, not with wine alone.
- but I know. A white snowman suddenly spoke, Olaf jumped between the troll chief and the old Northuldran.
- since he saved us all, he's not our enemy, if not for him, everything would be knocked down, lost, lost, about his own lost, and would love to talk to him, hey, maybe he's on his way here. listen. Olaf said and everyone was shocked by a sudden bang.
The noise and crackle shook everyone, both the trolls, Pabbie and Yelena stood up sharply looking between the two houses overlooking the palisade looking for a visitor from another world but he was never here for the still rumbling sound in everyone's ears was caused by the brown reindeer, they all looked at the snorting reindeer who was laughing at everyone just like that, beating his hooves again on the trumpet lying on the side.
- You joker, never do this to me. One of the trolls said, holding his trembling hands.
- Ha, I couldn't have thought of it better, bravo my friend. Olaf said stroking Sven's chin.
- it was even funny. Yelena said, shaking her head but her eyes focused again on the sky rather than on the two pranksters.
- funny, man, I almost gave birth to a kidney stone, really, never do this to me. He told Pabbie.
- you're really so afraid of him, I thought we should be afraid not of him but of the barbarians. Said a man in a green suit with slicked back blond hair coming around the bend.
- Kristoff. The trolls screamed, throwing themselves at their friend and ward.
- Kristoff, it's good to see you, come on, it's a pity that in such circumstances. Bulda said as she hugged her adopted son, as did her husband Cliff.
- boy, how do you look like a real soldier, how glad I am that you came back safe and sound from the expedition. Cliff said.
- well, it was close and I would be bad if it wasn't for Anders, it would be worse, that's why I'm not afraid of him, maybe he wields indescribable power but it doesn't mean that you should be afraid of him, oh look, he's probably coming at us here! . Kristoff shouted and everyone even Sven hid behind Kristoff's back looking up at the sky except Olaf who looked up at the sky with delight.
- hey where is he, where is Kristoff. Olaf asked looking down at his friend.
- Um, I was joking. Kristoff said this time meeting the furious bond of everyone, trolls, Yelena, and a couple of marching soldiers.
- well, I was just joking about all this, besides we should not be afraid of him. Kristoff added.
- I'm not afraid, as long as you don't make such jokes on us in the future. Bulda said.
- Exactly, don't make any more jokes like that on us. Cliff said, rubbing his adopted son's right cheek.
- come on, you have to admit, it was fun, even, so what. Yelena said and Sven standing in front of her muttered from under his eye, looking again at the sky with slight fear.
The next day, when everyday life and the passing of time meant that there was less and less talk about the newcomer from another world and the barbarians, a black-haired Northuldran was walking quickly through the city at eight in the morning, it was Ryder dressed in the gray robe of his tribe and walking with a full backpack, heading for north to the north gate for an appointment with Ressa three days ago.
Ryder was in a hurry passing the few inhabitants and patrolling soldiers, he was in a hurry for two reasons, he didn't want Ress waiting for him, on the other hand he wanted to slip away from his sister's watchful gaze as soon as possible, finally Ryder took a deep breath seeing the palisade gate open before him and a few soldiers, but before he took another step, his sister, Honeymaren, emerged from around the alley of the newly built makeshift house, and her affectionate and suspicious brown eyes focused Siena on a startled Ryder.
- Honeymaren, what are you here, how, why. Ryder asked flustered, his green backpack slung on his back.
- I'm wondering what happened, my brother has been strange for three days, he mumbles something, he looks dreamily at the sky, it's strange, very strange, and now he wants to sneak out of the city, you're crazy, it can be dangerous there, after all, they can be barbarians. Honeymaren, vigilant to everything, said.
- I actually, I have an idea, I want to do a little scouting. Ryder said, taking a step back from his black-haired sister who, hearing and speaking, walked towards her brother with obvious suspicion.
- really, soldiers from Arendelle and the Kingdom of the Southern Isles scout every day, so why do you have to leave, I don't understand it, wait, your eyes, wait a minute, I've seen it before, Ryder, what happened. Honeymaren asked, pinning her brother's wooden house against the wall.
- this backpack, what do you have in it, what are you planning, do you want to go there alone, do you want to take risks, no one has managed to spy on the enemy, please, it's dangerous. Honeymaren said, and Ryder, listening to her, took a deep breath and his tense state quickly began to cool down, because spying on the barbarians was never his goal, because he only had his spy that way.
- listen to me sister, I'm not going to spy on the enemy, I have to find something in our house when we were running away, when I was looking for Elsa, I have to make sure that the enemies don't want to threaten us from the other side. Ryder said, and the confused Honeymaren looked at her brother trembling.
- Ryder, you think the enemies will try to use the river to attack the castle under the cover of night, why didn't I think of that, but please, Ryder, you can't go there alone, I'm going with you.
- no and please don't argue with me, I'll take care of it myself, I don't want to scare anyone and raise the alarm unnecessarily, I have to do it myself, Eve, you have to help me, if anyone asks about me, say that you haven't seen me, and maybe I'm busy with something at the port, there are a lot of people there. Ryder said as his sister hugged her brother.
- but be careful. Honeymaren whispered into her brother's ears.
- I will be. Ryder replied.
Ryder said goodbye to his sister, and with less problems convincing three soldiers, he finally left the city and Honeymaren, looking at the open gate, stared at the view of the pots of night for a while with great tension, not knowing whether she would see her brother again or not, but she believed because all she had left that day.
Ryder walked fast as he approached the Enchanted Forest, Ryder occasionally looking back for fear that his sister would disobey him and follow him, but after two hours of travel Ryder was sure he was alone on the northern plains and as far as Menhir felt only uncertainty, not of what was behind him but of what might be ahead of him in the Enchanted Forest, his sister's fears of barbarians patrolling the land made Ryder feel a shiver of fear under his gray robes, but of the other side. somewhere, there was a girl waiting for him who was no longer indifferent to him.
- I will do it for you. Ryder said to himself and ran on through the forest not realizing he was already being watched.
Meanwhile, a black raven was flying in the sky, bringing with it something more than its cawing announcing bad luck, something more and it was related to the letter from Horgan to the other barbarians hanging on its right paw, and the great plan began to be slowly implemented, according to the will of both of them chiefs.
L
Which is more justified, the fear of the Barbarians or the fear of a man from another world who wields indescribable power, it is more dangerous, the fear or naivety of Ryder in believing in Ress, and Elsa in believing in Anders, or perhaps Hans is the most dangerous here , after all, he has his scores to settle with the queen, and all of Arendelle, one thing is certain, the pawns and pieces have already been placed by two hands, the hands of Ress and Horgan as they wish.