Chapter 9

Later into the evening, Gerda crossed an empty landscape nearing the edge of the beach, which led further into the far. Gerda sank down to try to view the area better from her perspective seeing the same surfaces. Over the beach, Gerda felt dull from not finding anything suspicious and sighed.

"You're not seeing anything as well, right?" Questioned Gerda holding the girl from above her back.

"Not really," Responded Irma.

"Okay. Do you mind, if we go down? I'm feeling slightly braced with carrying you the entire ride,"

"Put me down. You've done already enough. Sorry, I didn't ask," Apologized Irma, then Gerda moved down towards the sand and dropped Irma on her feet, then landed beside her to stretch her arms.

"Keep on moving. I need to rest my arms," Commented Gerda, then Irma walked further while Gerda stood back.

A while later, Gerda still in her dragon form walked beside the teenager on the beach. During the walk, Irma was training with one of her hands letting on the sand little branches grow out of the sand. The blonde yawned, keeping her face forward and she squinted her eyes seeming to notice something at the far of their way. Gerda stopped to check the possibility to analyze it from the distance.

"There's a campfire!" Warned Gerda making Irma squint her eyes as well, which recognized the flame and beside it she noticed someone inside an armor put wood into the flame, which seemed very dark to be recognized by the teenager.

"There's someone putting wood in the fire," Commented Irma making Gerda smile and look at the girl.

"Come on, this must be Arrog and the crew!" Warned Gerda taking off in the air to approach the location faster.

By the fire, the troll, that threw wood into it watched the flames begin to burn the stack slowly. The troll looked at the four other trolls, including their king pull out of the water the broken pieces of their ship, that got flushed on the ground. King Arrog returned with a bunch of boards on his arms to drop them on the ground, then spotted something red flying towards their direction.

"What in the name of…." Arrog mumbled watching it get closer, then he widened his eyes believing it was a dangerous creature and he pulled out his sword while the second troll in fear looked for a weapon, but took a wooden board up to place himself beside his leader.

"Come on!" Ordered Arrog watching the creature break by using her wings and move her hands forward to ask the troll to stop.

"King Arrog, it's me, Gerda," Mentioned floating in front of the two trolls, which gazed at the dragon-themed girl confused.

"Gerda? The Gerda who saved our kingdom from the Fire Demon?" Asked Arrog making Gerda nod, which landed on the ground to destransform back. "My goodness, it is really you,"

"Yes," Responded Gerda and embraced the troll king. "I had thought you were gone after you helped Kai,"

"This sounds unbelievable for you, but I think the Snow Queen was the one, who saved my life. I remember waking up and seeing her next to you…..I was seeing right at that moment, wasn't I?"

"I think you were right," Responded Gerda. "According to her, only I was meant to see her. Perhaps her touch made you be able to see her,"

"Maybe…..I'm glad to see you made it. Orm told me, you and King Harald proposed truce…."

"And freed the Snow Queen along with the other magicians. Yes," Responded Gerda. "And in time, my powers finally got revealed as well. I really thought I'd have something unique, but that I would be like uh this, was surprising," Commented Gerda making Arrog chuckle. "How did you get stranded here? I came across your letter,"

"Something blue, like a sort of ice ghost had broken the balloon of our airship when we were leaving Falsterbo. The broken ship, but was caused by a storm. We've been here on this beach for about 8 hours maybe," Calculated Arrog making Gerda nod.

"Your team at least is alright I see. Alfida left along with Kai and Rollan a few days ago by ship and they haven't returned yet. The coast guard has mentioned, that they haven't returned. I fear, that something could have happened to them, mostly Rollan and Kai," Commented Gerda with a worrisome tune in her voice, making Arrog nod, while the other troll soldier mimicked the boss with a sadder face.

"The name Rollan does ring a bell to me," Commented Arrog scratching his chin. "Do I know him?"

"He's the one, that turned into the Fire King back at your kingdom," Gerda responded watching Arrog raise his eyebrows in shock. "Don't you worry about him. All that happened only, because the Fire Demon is capable of manipulation and controlled his mind,"

"Okay, but didn't he drown in the lake inside the stone?"

"Well….I don't know exactly, and neither does he. We found him about a few hours after King Harald's attack. He joined us and in the end, it was thanks to him, that I got us two out of a cell and…...well, I've found my magic powers thanks to him as well. It consists of me being able to transform into a humanoid dragon as you've seen before,"

"And you are sure, that he's alright? I know about three years passed more or less, but you never know,"

"Everything Rollan told me related to the situation was unfamiliar to him. He's sorry about it and wishes he could have avoided it. I got to know him very well with the time. What he was most sorry about, was for leading me on. He was very honest toward me and visibly hurt. I understand, that what happened was bad, but you all gotta know, that it was all an accident,"

"I understand you. I can't judge him by only knowing him for about one hour and that on the kingdom's worst day," Commented the king. "He had a bad history with bullies back in Spain, which the Fire Demon according to the Snow Queen took advantage of to use it in order to gain control over him. But today he knows his worth and has a few friends, that like him for who he is," Gerda stated, then heard one of the trolls gasp as a wood swum on land with the ship's steering wheel attached to it.

"Don't burn that. Put it aside," Ordered Arrog approaching the two soldiers, while Gerda stood back and Irma appeared behind Gerda to tap her on the shoulder.

"Oh Irma, I'm sorry I forgot to introduce you to the trolls," Gerda spoke watching Irma nod.

"It's fine, don't worry," Answered Gerda watching Irma nudge her own arm wondering about, what she was going to ask the adult.

"I happen to hear your conversation. Did your boyfriend really have bullies too?" Questioned Irma making Gerda nod.

"He did," Answered Gerda sitting down along with Irma. "He was around your age or maybe younger. He was fascinated with legends and wanted to be one as well. A heroic one. He used to bring himself into dangerous situations in order to become the town's hero, but the issue about this was, that most of his deeds led him into trouble or even danger. Rollan at that time didn't really acknowledge it. He just wanted to be like the idols of his books. Kids from his class mocked him about deeds, even in situations most of the citizens would fear to be around, but Rollan. He meant to help only, but he seemed to see things as a game according to the bullies. Rollan in the most aspects did so thought,"

"They were making fun of him and he was just trying to help?" Questioned Irma making Gerda nod.

"Yes. Typical for some envious people. Well, I'm not sure, if this was the case of the bullies or if there was another point behind all this,"

"The first one could be a possibility. I do understand how it feels to get badmouthed by someone, who's jealous of the higher success of mine," Mentioned the brunette girl making Gerda nod. "Has he ever talked with others, that experienced bullying like me for example?"

"Me only, but I don't have much experience with negative feelings. At the orphanage, I learned to handle things on my own. What I assured him is, that he could talk to me, whenever he needed. I wouldn't judge him,"

"He's lucky to have you as a friend," Confessed Irma making Gerda smile.

"You know….as you two have experiences with bullies, you could talk with each other about it. I'm sure you two would get along," The blonde assured making Irma nod.

The royal family sat by the dinner table along with Alfida, Rollan, and Kai eating their dessert.

"How does this Swedish apple pie taste to you? It's a family recipe passed from my grand-grandmother down to us," Explained King Larsson looking at the guests, which nodded.

"My mama used to make, when I was a kid a different sort of apple pie," Mentioned Rollan, which had almost finished his slice. "For me, hers has been the best I have eaten so far. This one is also very good. I can't say it's the best, cause I don't want to make mama sad,"

A few people on the table chuckled, then Kai moved his plate forward at the king to show his empty plate.

"It's the best one I ate so far. If it's okay, I'd like a second slice," Asked the artist making the king smile and scoop with the spatula another slice of the pie onto the table of the boy.

"We're really grateful for your offer. Bringing us back home is the best thing you could do. We have Kai's sister back home, which must be worried sick about him since the storm," Alfida said making Kai nod.

"Rollan here is going to be my brother-in-law as well in the future. I took this trip, so I could get to know him, 'cause I don't know him enough or the way my sister does," Mentioned Kai watching the queen smile amused.

"That's sweet," Confessed the queen, then looked at the empty chair beside her noticing her son wasn't present. "Peter's not back yet?" Questioned the queen watching the king shrug his shoulders.

"He just said we could go on without him," Answered the king. "Why did he leave again? Do you per coincidence remember it, Katariina?"

"I think he said he went to the toilet," Commented the daughter making the king nod.

"Hmm okay, perhaps something wasn't well with the cod," Commented King Erik. "But if that was the case it would have hit our food taster as well,"

"You guys have a food taster?" Questioned Kai curious watching Rollan nod.

"Most of the kings have," Answered Rollan. "If you're okay with it, your majesty. I could go out and check on him. Perhaps he's stuck in a conversation with one of the castle staff or anything else,"

"If you don't mind it, I'd be happy to know," Responded the king making Rollan smile and leave the table to leave the hall to cross the corridor.

Upon arriving at the next corner he spotted Peter talking with a slightly shorter woman, which was dressed as a house maiden.

"Hey she must be from his age," Rollan murmured to himself watching Peter hold the woman's hand with a sad expression on his face. The woman copied his facial expression as well, then leaned her forehead on his.

"Of course, your father would never want you to put the kingdom over your feelings for me. Mostly a simple girl from the suburbs,"

"If my father just wasn't so focused on the deal with the neighboring country, I'm sure he would. You're one of the friendliest and smartest women I have ever met. I wish there was another way," Peter spoke sensing the woman caressing his cheek. "We could try and talk with him together, but I fear, that this might not work and you're kicked out of here,"

Rollan stepped closer, then knocked on the wall to obtain their attention.

"Sorry for interrupting you two. I heard you two talk about putting the kingdom over someone's feelings," Rollan commented watching Peter nod and present the brunette at the Spaniard.

"This is Mille. The one I'm in love with for real," Introduced Peter making Rollan nod and bow down at the house woman.

"I'm really sorry about that. If I had the chance I would help you. No one deserves to be used for a marriage, where there is no love,"

"Unless you could convince my parents or the others to look for another way to solve their issue," Commented Peter shrugging his shoulders. "My father doesn't to listen to me about it anyway,"

"It's worth trying," Commented Rollan. "Come and get in. He was wondering, why you didn't return yet,"

Peter looked at the brunette, which shrugged her shoulder and Peter nodded.

"I won't say your name for now as long as I don't know my father's reaction," Spoke the prince making the woman nod and Rollan walked along with the Swedish man back into the hall to spot the guests on the table laugh. "Father, can I talk with you about something?"

"There you are. I thought you'd be troubled somewhere," Spoke the king making Peter nod.

"I'm fine. It's just…...I've been thinking about our deal with the family of the princess you have engaged me with,"

"Just two more months and we will be able to find the peace both kingdoms have been seeking for. Just thanks to your sacrifice and their princess,"

"That's the problem father. We two can't throw away our happiness in order to reunite our kingdoms. There are tons of other ways, that we could solve our fight. This one isn't so good for us, but the rest,"

"We all had agreed on this term already, Peter. You two will be able to reunite our kingdoms and bond them. Do you know how long our ancestors have been arguing about this? You two are the start of a new legacy. A new era. You should be proud of it,"

"I would be, if I didn't know how painful real love would be, If I would lose it because of this," Mentioned Peter. "I'm in love with someone else. I would love to look for a plan B to solve our issue as well. I'm certain, that it is possible,"

"Why are you suddenly talking about this?" Questioned King Erik, then Rollan stepped forward towards the king.

"Your majesty. You could do the enemy kingdom another kind of offer to solve this situation. Do you even know, what the point of this rivalry is?"

"Our ancestors stated, that their ancestors had stolen the golden armor, that lied in the Larsson family for years. It was seen by one of the employees and reported to my great-great grandfather. The others on the other hand refuse to admit it," Explained King Erik to the Spaniard.

"Which employee told that? Isn't that like over 100 years ago? Isn't it kind of ridiculous?" Questioned Rollan making the king frown.

"Ridiculous is the fact, that they haven't apologized nor admitted anything related to that," Erik mentioned crossing his arms. "You're not blaming us for all that?"

"No, no, no. I just wanted to say, that this all happened years ago and nobody of us was there to judge the situation. This could have gone differently and we misunderstood it. Don't you think?" Questioned Rollan watching the king shake his head.

"No. My grandfather told me the story in very detail. I'm certain he and his ancestors heard this all very well," Warned the blonde watching Rollan sigh and look at Peter, which nodded disappointed at the expected result.

"It was really friendly from your side to help me, despite knowing it wouldn't end up well," Peter answered making Rollan nod and return to his seat.

"Peter, you know very well, that this is our only chance. We have dealt with the issue for years. This will end with your matrimony with the princess. You will see, that soon or later you're going to love that woman. If that happened between me and your mom, there's no way the same won't happen to you," Spoke the king watching the prince nod, unconvinced and he returned to sit down on his seat as well, while Rollan glimpsed at the prince sad. Rollan looked down at his plate thoughtful about the current situation, then began to imagine something, that could help them out.