The Dragon of Aiden

Chapter 2: When fire meets ice.

It had been a few days since Elsa lit the bonfires. To help ease their nerves Kristoff decided to take them to where the trolls lived to ask Papi, the head troll, for advice about what to do next. When they arrived at the valley of the living rocks it was night and the aurora borealis was dancing in the sky or as Anna would say the sky is awake.

When they arrived the trolls all came out to greet them. The trolls were as happy as can be when Kristoff came but they sensed something was wrong when they saw both Anna and Elsa with him. Papi moved to the front of the pack,

"Why have you all come to me? What is it you seek?" Elsa then explained what she knew, about Prince Richard, the impending war, and the lighting of the bon fires. Elsa continued,

"I have come to ask you of Arendelle's fate. What is the future of our Kingdom?"

"I should warn you. I can only see glimpses of the future. The future is not set, fate is what we make of it," Papi explained.

"This is fine," Elsa replied, "anything will be helpful."

Papi waved his hands towards the sky and aurora like visions appeared before them. A fire dragon flew across the sky,

"I see a dragon. The dragon will descend to Arendelle to fight for it. It will fight bravely but in the end, Arendelle will burn."

The dragon all of the sudden turned black and exploded into tiny black flames that spread over what looked like the Kingdom of Arendelle. Anna covered her mouth in shock and Kristoff looked up with mouth agape. Elsa felt her heart freeze in that one moment. The ground beneath her froze solid; everyone was silent and didn't know what to say.

They thanked Papi, said their good byes and went on their way. As they were heading back into the Kingdom on Kristoff's sled, they stopped by a tavern. Anna tried to cheer Elsa up,

"Maybe you need a drink? We can get the ones with the umbrellas and the new fruit! Umm pineapple! Ooh this place looks nice." As soon as Anna said that, a man flew out the window that was next to the door.

"Well… Looks like they already opened a window for you. That's what I call service," Anna laughed nervously as Elsa just got out of the sled without saying anything. As they all were about to enter the tavern, Anna pointed to a small group of horses that stood to the side. The white horse stood out among the rest. What looked like the Aidan royal crest was embedded on its saddlebag. Anna grabbed Elsa's shoulder in excitement,

"Elsa look! It's Aiden's royal crest! Erik's men must be here! That means Erik's coming! He can't be too far behind!"

"Great," was all Elsa could say as they entered the tavern. Once they got in, they saw drunken men all over the floor, and a group of Aiden's soldiers huddled around the bar enjoying their drinks. One Aiden soldier was causing the mayhem and seemed to be enjoying beating up the drunks. The soldier punched the last drunk and knocked him out. Spreading out his arms, the soldier asks,

"Ok! Who else wants some?" He was met with silence. All his drunken foes either knocked out or pretending to be knocked out,

"I thought so." Elsa didn't look impressed and Anna seemed to be jumping in excitement. Kristoff looked in disbelief at the scene,

"Did he just fight all these guys by himself?" Anna gave Kristoff a light punch in the arm,

"I told you! If one man could do this, think of what the rest of the army can do! Arendelle will be saved!" Elsa sighed and started to walk towards the bar. The soldier from before spoke as he passed her,

"I'm gonna go get a drink. Hey hot stuff, get me a cold one will ya." He finished that statement with a quick slap to Elsa's ass, causing her to stop and her shoulders to go stiff. Ignoring her reaction, the soldier wrapped his arm around her waist and whispered in her ear,

"You know I've got a thing for blondes, who knows maybe you can come back with me and maybe your cute friend with the pigtails can join us too."

Elsa grabbed the man's hand from around her waist and turned her head to give a sharp look towards him. He seemed shocked to see who it was before a blast of ice propelled him out of the tavern and covered him in piles of ice and snow. Elsa quickly turned to the other soldiers at the bar who had yet to put down their drinks.

"How dare you! Do you soldiers treat all people like this? All women like this?! When your King arrives I will surely give him a piece of my mind!" Elsa yelled. One of the soldiers set down his drink calmly and turned towards Elsa,

"Ma'am. That was our King."

"Your still the same Elsa," said a voice from behind them. The soldier from before, now known as King Erik, walked through the tavern doors as the excess ice and snow melted off of him. He walked back to his seat. Elsa looked shocked and said quiettly,

"Erik?" Anna almost jumped in joy and ran to hug him,

"Erik!"

"Anna!" Erik replied meeting Anna's hug with a noogie. Erik and Anna were laughing and having fun, acting like brother and sister, like there was no lost time between them.

"That's Erik?" Kristoff asked Elsa.

"I guess so? It's just that…he looks so different." Elsa said.

"How is he different?" Kristoff asked.

"Well for one thing, he never liked fighting and he was just so…small…"

"Well, might as well go talk to him," Kristoff urged Elsa towards Erik. As Elsa got closer she heard Anna and Erik speaking,

"Look at you Anna, you've grown so much and you are such a beautiful young woman. I'd tell you, if you didn't have a boyfriend I would be all over you."

"Oh you." Anna responded blushing and giving Erik a quick a slap to his arm. Elsa interrupted,

"Anna, can you let Erik and I speak in private?"

"Oh right (wink) ok, glad your back Erik." Anna left the two alone to deal with each other. Erik led Elsa to a nearby table with a grandiose wave of his hand. He followed her and pulled out a chair for her to sit in. Once she had sat down, he took his own chair and uncaringly propped his feet up on the table,

"It may not be the palace, but we are both here. We might as well discuss our agreement of my helping you. Just because, I don't want to come all this way for nothing and you did light the bon fires. I'm sure you can think of way that benefits both sides."

Elsa grimaced and lightly pushed Erik's feet off the table,

"I assure you, if there was another way I would have chosen it. The sad truth is we are facing an attack because of a prince that had tried to have both me and Anna killed."

"So, that spoiled little prince wants to take your entire kingdom for himself does he? Well I think a small number of my soldiers should be enough to handle your little squabble," Erik said nonchalantly lightly snapping his fingers and letting a small flame just sit at the end of his index finger.

"It's not just him. He's joined with some of his brothers, including Prince Richard," Elsa continued. The flame on Erik's finger went out,

"Wait. Did you say Prince Richard? That changes things. I'll give you as much of my army as I can spare and I will be leading the attack, but…this isn't for free."

"Name your price."

"I want the alliance between our kingdoms to be restored, the way it was supposed to be."

"I won't marry you Erik."

"Oh please, like I would ever want to marry an ice queen like you. I got over 15 princesses in line to marry me. We start with the next generation, my oldest son and your oldest daughter."

"And treat my future child like a bargaining chip."

"Well your parents were supposed to give you to me three years ago before your kingdom tried to have my father killed at my birthday party. It kind of ruined everything for me. I didn't even get cake. Even though all of this happened, I am willing to help you. You don't really have the luxury of being stubborn."

"Fine, but after our children marry, no more arrange marriages, ever."

"Ok. Deal," Erik finished. Erik held out his hand in front of him and spat into his palm. He held out his hand to Elsa. Elsa wrinkled her nose and looked at the hand offended. Erik spoke,

"Come on. We use to do this when we were kids." Elsa just grabbed a small portion of Erik's hand avoiding the spit at all costs and awkwardly shook it. Elsa quickly took back her hand,

"So, how long till your army arrives." Erik laughs and motions towards the door,

"Why don't you all come with me, I've got something to show you."

Erik gets up from the table and Elsa follows him. As they were on their way out Erik's soldiers followed him. Soon they were outside of the bar, Erik and his men mounted their horses. Erik's horse stood out the most with the fact that it was a beautiful white horse with a red saddle that looks like dragon scales. Elsa and Anna returned to the sled with Kristoff, Sven was pulling the sled. Anna was so happy that Elsa and Erik met.

"So how was it and when can we expect the wedding?" Anna said with such excitement in her voice. Elsa gave Anna a distrusting look and said,

"Anna, in all of those letters that you got from Erik, did he ever say that he was in love with me at all?"

Anna then went into a deep thought trying to think about what she was asked by her sister. Anna then said,

"I guess I read between the lines one too many times. So I guess it wasn't that good?"

"He's a pig."

"Well… maybe that's just only one piece of him."

Erik rode atop of his horse next to Kristoff who is leading his sleigh. Kristoff decided to break the ice,

"So… your Erik."

"And you must be Kristoff." Kristoff looked surprise,

"You know me?"

"Anna's letters."

"Oh… ok. … Why does Elsa hate you so much?" Kristoff asked awkwardly. Erik sighed,

"Well this is something I didn't think I would have to answer today… When growing up, I wasn't always the nicest guy to her. I would do things like pull her hair, push her in the snow, pick my nose, and wipe my boogers on her when she wasn't looking; but over time we did grow to like each other. She was my first kiss… but after what happened to my father I told her I hated her and after that… I never saw her again… until today." Kristoff was quiet as he rode next to Erik feeling even more awkward. Kristoff spoke again,

"So they call Elsa the Snow Queen. Do they call you the Fire King?"

"Well that's one of my nick names. I prefer 'The Dragon of Aiden'. It just fits me more," Erik replied. Kristoff asked,

"Does that mean you can breath fire?" In response Erik tilted his head up and put his hand next to his mouth with a small flame in his palm and blew out a small burst of fire,

"Does that answer your question?" From the back Elsa called,

"Stop show boating Erik and all this time I thought it was Anna who had wiped her boogers on my dress."

"Hey," Anna called out a little offended. Erik shrugged,

"Oops?"

For the rest of the ride Erik left Elsa alone.

In the Southern Isles throne room Richard kneeled before his father, the King of the Southern Isles. Hans kneeled behind Richard trying to make his head as low as possible. The court and the advisors sat in the back observing the Prince's plea. Richard called out to his father kindly,

"Father, all I ask is that you forgive Hans. Yes he made a mistake but it was merely made in a moment of weakness. He saw what she could do. He feared the Queen's power and thought if he were to slay her, he could stop this eternal winter. Hans was wrong to do so, but his fear of the snow queen is valid. When I asked to meet with this Queen to apologize for Hans' actions, she threatened to freeze our land and plunge us into eternal winter if I ever spoke to her again. You see father she is a monster! The people are only loyal to her out of fear."

The King looked at Richard with interest,

"This Queen you speak of stopped the winter."

"She said it was merely practice! She plans to do so again with other nations. She said we were next! Imagine eternal winter, many of us would die of cold and hunger alone," Richard turns around towards the people in the court,

"I ask you father, I ask you the people of the glorious Southern Isles! Will you let this Queen…. This Snow Queen! Take our wonderful nation away from us! Do you wish to see eternal winter destroy us! Destroy our army! Our way of life! Well I do not! I will gather an army, take up arms, and bring an end to the evil Snow Queen! Who is with me!?"

The people roared with cheers and the King, although not happy to go to war, felt his trust in Richard just as the people trusted him. The King spoke,

"Richard, I have heard enough. Hans' actions are forgiven and he shall join you in your campaign. Rise my sons."

Both Richard and Hans rose and looked at their father,

"Defend our proud home, my sons. I place my faith in you and your victory." Richard bows deeply and humbly,

"Thank you father."

"Prince Richard! I bring a message!" a soldier called out as he ran into the throne room.

"Please tell me, what is this message?" The King asked

"Please. Let everyone know of this news!" Richard replied.

"One of our spies in Arendelle reported that a bunch of bon fires along the mountain have been lit!" the messenger reported. Hans replied shocked,

"What do the bon fires mean?"

"I'll explain," Richard said calmly,

"Over a thousand years ago Arendelle was a young kingdom. The King had four children, two sons and two daughters. The youngest son wanted the crown for himself. He gathered an army to attack his father, which would have been easy, as Adrendelle did not believe they needed an army. The king had to find a way to protect his kingdom and hired a group of mercenaries.

The mercenaries came as far as Rome to Russia lead by a fearsome warrior named Aric. Aric demanded that they be given a kingdom of their own instead of money. The king accepted as long as Aric won. Aric also demanded that he would receive the hand of the eldest daughter. The king, once again accepted under the condition that Aric had to win.

The battle began and the mercenaries fought like animals. For every one of them killed, ten of the prince's men took their place. The battle ended with Aric beheading the prince and the king honored his word. He gave these warriors a land beyond the mountain and his eldest daughter to Aric. They became the nation known as Aiden.

To honor their alliance, a set of watchtowers, each with their own pyre was set up between the two kingdoms along the mountain range. As long as Aiden existed, Arendelle would have no need of an army. They would just need to light the bonfires and Aiden would come to their aid. Aiden only asked that every few generations Arendelle would give their eldest daughter to the king of Aiden in marriage."

"So Arendelle is calling Aiden for aid?" Hans questioned.

"Yes! You see everyone! The Snow Queen is making an army to attack us. She is calling upon the Dragon of Aiden, the one who burned my face. I say we have more to fear from him! She may freeze us in our homes, but the Dragon will make our streets run red with blood! Our palace will burn to the ground! He told me that our infants will be impaled upon spears! These monsters and savages must be destroyed!"

The crowd cheered at Richard's proclamation.

Kristoff's sled pulled into what looked like a giant campsite. Tents were pitched in rows and several campfires for food were set up just next to them. From a distance you could see a few soldiers walking around either talking, eating, or just moving from place to place. Kristoff stopped near the entrance with Erik right next to him. Erik and his men dismounted from their horses and let the squires take them from them. A squire tried to take Sven but Kristoff stopped him,

"Woah there little man, where he goes I go." The squire looks at Erik questioningly and Erik gives a nod. The squire hurries away. Kristoff helps Anna down from the sled while Erik tries to do the same with Elsa. Elsa just turns her head and politely said,

"I can get off myself. Thank you." She briskly walks down some ice steps she made and walks off. Erik melts the ice steps afterword and mumbles to himself,

"Yes your highness." Erik walks in front of everyone to lead the group,

"Welcome to the Dragon's Den, filled with 500 of my best men. Watch your step, my men aren't always the cleanest. Also watch who you bump into, they'll start a fight at the drop of a hat." Elsa looked over the camp and asks Erik,

"How did you set up this camp so fast?"

"We got here two nights ago."

"Impressive." Kristoff said

As if fate had decided, Anna walked into the back of a soldier. The soldier looked up and saw another soldier who had just walked by,

"Hey! You ran into me! Watch where you are going!"

"Oh yeah?!"

"Yeah!" Next thing Anna knew the two men were throwing punches at each other. She stared at the two in shock while Erik pulled her away from the scene.

"I told you to watch who you bump into. Now let's get going." They continued to walk through the camp and the soldiers would stop and stare at them. Some whispered to each other. Kristoff heard one man say,

"Why is a reindeer in the camp?"

"That's a moose idiot"

"It looks yummy either way" Kristoff moved closer to Sven and whispered to his friend,

"Just keep close buddy. I won't let them get you" The group finally reached Erik's tent, which was obviously bigger than the rest. Outside of the tent were two men, the first looked like Erik but with blonde hair and blue eyes. The other had black hair, brown eyes, small circled rimmed glasses, an athletic build, and a nervous look on his face. Erik called out to the two,

"Father! Cousin Danny!" The rest of the group walked up and gave their greetings. Elsa bowed politely,

"King Jamie, it's nice to see you again." Jamie smiled,

"Please, it's Lord Jamie now. I abdicated the throne to Erik when he turned 18. It's good to see you again Elsa. You look so much like your mother."

"Thank you Lord Jamie, You know Anna. This is her boyfriend Kristoff and his reindeer Sven."

"Anna, it's been so long and you've grown up so much, you also possess your mother's beauty," Jamie turned to Kristoff,

"Give me a hug Kristoff, as Anna's boyfriend you are like a son to me." Kristoff, bashful, accepts Jamie's hug but felt fear right afterword as Jamie's kind demeanor turned deadly. Jamie whispered,

"If you ever hurt her, I will make sure you burn at the stake and your reindeer will hang over my fire place." To complete his threat, Jamie snapped his fingers and created a small black flame and held in front of Kristoff's face. Kristoff gulps and quietly responds,

"Got it. …. Sir." Jamie's returned to his calm, sweet self,

"As long as you understand." Kristoff laughed awkwardly and tried to change the subject,

"So, you can make fire too? Can everyone in your family create fire?" Jamie shook his head,

"Just Eric and I. I learned it. He was born with it." The other man walked forward and introduced himself,

"I'm Lord Daniel, Erik's cousin. Anna and Elsa were good friends of mine." Kristoff asked,

"Oh, do you come from his father's side?"

"I'm actually from Erik's mother's side." Anna rushes over and gives a full hug,

"Cousin Danny! It's so good to see you."

"It's just Daniel now."

"You'll always be Danny to me and wow! You lost weight."

"Being a Captain in the royal army does that to you." Erik, motioned for everyone to enter his tent,

"Come, now that we have all caught up, we should go in and discuss a plan." Everyone shuffled in and looked around. Erik's tent was huge a seating area to the left and a sleeping area to the right. In Erik's bed were three women sleeping covered in nothing but the furs atop the bed. Clothes, weapons, and armor were scattered around. Eric remembered,

"Oh boy. I knew I forgot something. Soldiers!" The women woke up with a start and stood up, with one hand saluting and the other holding the furs in front of them.

"Return to your posts immediately"

"Yes, Sir!" The three women gathered their armor and weapons.

"You ladies can keep the fur."

"Of course your majesty." As the three walked out one woman said,

"If you ever need us again, just call." When the women left, Erik looked at the group and smiled,

"It's good to be the King." Kristoff and Anna helped each other close their hanging jaws and Elsa messaged her temple. Daniel looked uninterested and Jamie looked proud,

"Like father like son." Erik sat the head of the table and motioned for everyone to sit down,

"Now. Let's talk about this war."

To Be Continued.