Apologies for the lateness of this chapter but I'm sure you'll forgive me considering the gravity of it's content. As well I've had a lot happen in my life this past week and half, not all of it good. So just trust that despite my problems I've continued to commit to turning out the best possible work I can for these last chapters going forward.

Anyway, I won't take up anymore of your time. Please enjoy :)

"We come to it at last...the great battle of our time."

Chapter 51: Beneath the Thunder

The doors of the royal palace opened and from the comfort of it's halls emerged the queen. Elsa stood in the doorway, dressed for battle with her helm tucked under one arm and from here she looked upon her birthplace. From here the sun still shone brightly on Arendelle, it's light danced on the water and she allowed herself to remember. From here she had watched as trade ships docked with fine fabrics, exotic foods and visitors from far away. From here she had heard the sounds of the market and children laughing as they played in the square. From here she and Anna had celebrated their victory over fear and promised their people that Arendelle would never again be marred by it's darkness. And from here...from here she had rallied Arendelle and the nations that stand with them to war.

She heard steps behind her and turned to see Anna and Kristoff coming thru the doorway, hand in hand one last time, Kristoff was not a soldier and therefore his place was here...away from Anna. A different sort of guilt plagued Elsa when she looked at her little sister. She had allowed Aldren to train Anna with the hope that she would be able to defend herself but Anna was no longer just a princess, she had come to hold a place as a leader on the battlefield in the eyes of many. For this reason she could no longer remain behind in the safety of the palace walls (Not that Elsa could ever hope to convince her anyway), people now depended on her just as much as they did Elsa...she was a soldier.

Elsa looked to her future brother in law, but before she could say anything he raised his hand, "I know-I know; I stay home and cook...while the women go off to war." he said with a grin.

She grinned back, "If you actually did cook anything, you know I wouldn't eat it."

They all laughed quietly, their smiles faded as reality sat back in...she took Kristoff's hand and gave it a last squeeze before turning to walk down the steps, giving the fiances a moment alone.

She was met with lieutenant Barec who bowed his head and handed off the reins of her horse to her. She nodded and looked past him to see two others approaching; Lord Mane in his full battle dress along with Gillian who now wore armor of his own and bore a crossbow. She looked at the bow in his arms, noticing that it held not just one arrow but three.

"That's new." she said

He held the weapon up for her to see with an accomplished smile, "Took a few cues from the naga weaponry we salvaged. Obviously I haven't been able to mass produce it...but what better test than putting some bolts thru a few snakes?"

She raised an eyebrow, "I do hope it is as accurate as you seem to think."

He leaned his crossbow over one shoulder, gesturing to her, "Well, if I could shoot ice from my hands."

She chuckled at his usual terse attitude and then looked to Mane's side-seeing a small hand crossbow in it's holster...the one that Aldren had used in her throne room.

"That belonged to Aldren." She said quietly.

He shrugged, "Gillian said it wasn't doing anyone any good sitting on a shelf."

"Well...at least I know that bow is accurate." she said and raised a hand to his shoulder, "Guard the fort while we're away?"

"Your majesty."

"And try not to sneak out again."

He chuckled, "I'll try."

"Stay safe...my friend."

He smiled, lifting his hand to grasp her shoulder in return, "We're family...just because he's not here doesn't mean he's not connecting us."

His words were kind but did not bring the comfort she'd hoped for. She said nothing, only giving his shoulder a reassuring squeeze before releasing him and she moved to mount her horse. Barec gave her a leg up into the saddle and she looked back to her sister whose hands reluctantly left her fiance's as they shared a last sweet kiss. With that she turned away and watched as Barec mounted his horse to ride next to her, "Ready?"

She sighed, "As I'll...ever be."

He nodded and they started their slow ride out towards the gates of the courtyard with Elsa leading, twenty more riders following behind them. The short distance between the palace and the gates seemed immense as they rode past the four hundred soldiers that would defend the courtyard; a hundred from each army of the alliance. Behind them Kristoff, Mane and Gillian watched as their queen and princess departed for the battlefield. The would do everything they could to defend the city should the fight come to them.

As they crossed the threshold of the gates a sour thought crept into Elsa's mind; not so long ago it seemed she had told her sister that those gates would never close again. She looked behind her and as the last of their escort passed through, the wooden doors shut closed with a resounding thud...and that broken promise sat heavy in her heart.

Continuing onward they passed by several buildings that had been damaged in the naga's preliminary attack on the city...the night that Aldren was taken. Many people's homes had been destroyed though thankfully no one had been in them when they were...still, that left possibly hundreds of people without homes. She imagined Arendelle as she desired to see it after the Naga Ai were defeated, rebuilt-greater and stronger than it had been before...but the image didn't linger long.

Their path took them by a burnt-out building the battle had destroyed, close enough that Elsa could reach out and touch it. She extended her arm and began dragging her palm against the blackness of the ash to remember what happened here. This is what the Naga wanted, to tear her world asunder, to destroy everything and everyone she held dear. A world of their darkness with no real beauty, no light and no freewill. Their journey continued and, as they left the desolated structures behind, she looked to her ash coated palm. She closed her eyes, reached up with her finger and thumb and dragged them down from her forehead, over both eye lids, cheeks, over the outer corners of her mouth and finally to her chin. When her eyes opened again they were harder than before, emphasized by the new 'war paint'. She would not forget her enemies goal, and she would not forget hers.

Anna watched her sister intently, even after their moment last night she could sense that her sister was still in a very dark place...but with what lay ahead of them, maybe that was where she needed to be now.

At last they reached the ice wall and the final gates leading outside the city and here they halted their horses. A deafening silence grew between them as they stared up at the towering barrier, all of them hoping it was enough. Anna and Barec dismounted and the princess looked up to her sister, reaching for her right hand. Elsa eagerly took her hand in hers, examined it for a moment and smiled down to her, "Well...at least you'll have a good view..." she said, glancing back at the wall.

Anna tried to smile back but it ended up being more of a frown, Elsa nodded shamefully, "Yeah I know...bad joke..."

The younger sister then exhaled shakily and held Elsa's hand with both of hers, squeezing it tightly, "Good luck Elsa...I love you." she said quietly.

"And I love you Anna." she looked to the lieutenant, "Take care of her for me Barec."

He smiled and bowed his head, "Like she was my own, your majesty."

With that the two monarchs released one another; Anna departing for the inner stairway that led to the top where she and Barec would command the archers. Elsa watched her until she vanished up the stairs and kept watching for some time after until she was drawn to the sound of the portcullis opening.

Once the heavy iron gate rose the whole company moved through the momentary darkness of the tunnel and back into the light of the gray morning. Her eyes adjusted and she was gifted with the sight of her army. Here were the legions of every nation under her command, in stance ahead of the wall; The left flank was of Corona which would be led by captain Andris and prince Eugene, the right was Islander footmen that Sir Brandon alone would head while the center was made up of Arendelle's soldiers which Lady Sol and Captain Baldrek had ready to march. Shields, spears and halberds made up the entire frontal defense, archers took position behind them, cavalry from the Isles and Zaria waited further back while catapults and trebuchets had been raised behind them all.

She surveyed all these things as she made her way for the hill ahead of her and on which she would overlook the whole battlefield, waiting there were the rest of her commanders. They turned at the sound of her approach, she tossed the reigns to an escort and dismounted, her boots meeting the thin powder above the withered grass. She walked to stand in the middle of the group, Karl on her right and Sol to her left, no one said anything at first...there was nothing left to say. They had a plan and now all they could do was execute it...and fight-fight with all that they had.

"Take your positions."

Everyone save for Karl, Sol and Baldrek mounted up and rode away to take their places of command. She nodded to Sol and Baldrek who bowed and turned to walk ahead to the front of the Arendellian lines. Karl remained at her side while she watched and as she did she drew Dragon's Flight from her back-extending it to full length and stuck it into the ground beside her.

"They're ready." she said plainly.

Karl looked ahead and continued to survey the troops and their placement, he had never begun a fight he wasn't almost certain he could win. Now there was more at stake then he ever thought possible and he hoped all they planned was enough. For a moment he envisioned killing his brother if he found him on the battlefield today but that would never happen, he knew Hans to well.

"I appreciate your efforts Karl...well done." Elsa said, shaking the prince from his daydream.

He turned to her with a small smile, "I understand you may think I don't want to be here your majesty. But you should know that I consider it an honor to fight under your command...and I would have gladly fought under lord Aldren if he were here."

She nodded but was silent.

For now she let the weapon rest and turned her attention to the thing she had ignored for some time now; the dark cloud. It's edge had loomed over the forests before them, lightning flashing and thunder rumbling from within but no rain falling. She looked from the cloud to the tree line some leagues ahead of their battle lines and donned her new helm once more. All they could now was wait...

Minutes...hours...nobody was really taking count, but some time had passed; the only sound amidst the air was the quiet whipping of cloth banners, the ever present thunder above and Anna's back and forth pacing atop the wall.

All this time Elsa had refused to take her eyes from the tree line, but now it was honestly starting to become tiresome. She reached into her breast plate and pulled out the chain that held Aldren's ring, she held it in her hand and simply looked on it; the dark shades of crimson, violet and orange that had appeared some time after he had put it on. She took this moment to do so, knowing that she may not get another chance...

A booming thud drew her attention away from the ring and back to the trees, it rose everyone else back to a state of alert as well. The thud came again, accompanied by others in a rhythmic rumble that became louder than the the thunder. Closer and closer it drew until it was accompanied by a sound that she was more familiar with; the heinous shifting of iron plated individuals marching in unison...thousands of them.

She tucked her love's ring back beneath her breast plate before grasping Dragon's Flight out of the ground. Louder and louder the metallic shifting grew and then...through the groves she saw them as they emerged. Out from between the trees and into the open marched the vast crimson clad legions that the Witch King had promised. Even as the first few lines came forward it was clear that their number stretched as wide as her own army. The naga's heavy cavalry was next to emerge; heavily armored horses bore soldiers that hefted long lances on their shoulders.

Sections of the trees began to fall forward and at least twenty corrupted mountain trolls pushed their way out from the forest. They were just as Aldren and Anna had described them to her except these had been fitted with crude but sturdy armor and helms, the edges of their thick gauntlets had been honed to sharp edges while ragged spikes protruded from the ends of their tusks. Each of these horrific beasts of war had several chains attached to the back of their armor that let them haul behind them a massive tyranite cannon-the very weapons that nearly devastated the Arendelle army at Ashla's Pike. The cannons came to a stopping point near the rear of the ever growing Naga Ai army as the chains were cut free from the backs of the trolls. Without the burden of the siege engines the beasts could move more freely now as they took their place in the middle of the naga bulwark.

Naga spears and halberds continued to march forward- so many that one might fear their number had no end. Emerging from the center of the tree line at last were the figurative heads of the snake; the Witch King Amicus walked up the base of a hill on his side of the great field that opposed the one that Elsa herself stood upon. To his sides several witch knights accompanied him including Venereth and Grima, at his left walked commander Sorvec and prince Hans while at his right General Tarn. Once they were all at the top of the hill Amicus clasped his hands behind him while Tarn held up a closed fist. All at once the entirety of the naga hordes, with a harsh metallic clatter, halted to a stop.

A silence once again grew, this one more dreadful than the last as the two armies faced off with each other despite there still being a great distance between them. Elsa scanned from side to side of her enemy's host, what she could see was enough to match her own, but she knew better than to assume that what was laid bare to her was all that he had at his disposal. She returned her gaze to the leaders of the naga, her attention was not however solely on Amicus at first. She looked first towards Tarn with disgust at the sight of Arendellian helmets impaled onto each of the metal spikes of his pauldrons. And hanging from a chord around his neck, with two iron nails crudely hammered into either side, was a crushed helm she recognized as Aldren's...

Even from this distance the general could see what she was looking at so he raised his hand to the helm and flicked it with his finger before tilting his chin up at her proudly. For the briefest moment her teeth bared but she stopped herself from showing her anger to them, she would not be goaded. But that did not mean her hate for the general did not grow...her spear pierced his armor once before and it would do so again if their paths crossed on the battlefield today!

She let nothing show, she exposed no tells to these monsters for them to exploit. Karl narrowed his eyes, looking over the entire enemy army with some confusion, "No siege towers...no ladders. What do they plan? Simply to punch their way through the wall?"

Elsa's eyes were drawn to the naga's heavy artillery whose power she had seen first hand, "I think that's exactly what they plan to do..." She spoke again, her voice steady and stern, "Remember. We let them come to us."

He nodded and signaled a flag bearer down the hill below them, they raised their flag and waved it to signal. The shout of battlefield commanders preceded the march of the primary infantry lines several paces forward before they formed into a single solid shield wall ,two shields high with spears pointed forward and holding position.

OoO

The Witch King watched the human soldiers form their first defensive position; the ever simple but effective shield wall.

"So...you wish for me to make the first move then is that it banrigh? As you wish." He motioned for Tarn to approach, "Send the cavalry, full attack."

"Yes, my lord."

With the order given the lines of the naga infantry parted for the heavy horse of both the Naga Ai and Hans' traitors to ride out and begin their charge to break the resistance's shield wall.

OoO

Sol stood before the Arendellian shield wall and watched as their enemy's cavalry assembled across the field. A commanding shout came from the naga lines and hundreds of armored steeds were bade forward into a charge; the horses trampled the grass beneath them just as they would trample any that stood before them. She looked to her right, standing several meters away captain Baldrek brought his hammer into both hands and nodded to her. She nodded back and breathed out slowly as she looked back to the rapidly closing cavalry line.

She tightened the straps of her shield and winced slightly, she brought it ahead of her and lined her spear up with it's edge. Her eyes narrowed and she spoke a single word to those behind her, "Hold."

The storm of thundering hooves drew ever closer, traveling with crushing force that would soon be upon them but still still they held, "Hold!" she shouted louder, the horses hoof beats growing louder.

The enemy riders lowered their lances, the charge was nearly upon them.

"HOLD!"

Without warning a line of deadly icicles materialized from the ground ahead of the entire cavalry line, the riders only just managed to halt before they impaled themselves on the deadly ice.

"NOW!"

The entirety of the shield wall broke formation, she along with every man dropped to one knee as low as possible-revealing general Zyon and his mounted warriors charging from behind them. As the Zarian riders and Sand Claws leaped over the knelt soldiers the line of icicles cleared; the smaller, lighter horses easily weaved through the naga's heavy horse as they attempted to recover into a clumsy charge. Scimitar, glaive, claw, fang and bow felled many the enemy whose lances and long spears were all but useless in close combat.

Once all of Zyon's riders were over, every man that had knelt rose back to reform the line. Any naga rider that managed to escape the chaos of the surprise cavalry clash attempted to charge the alliance infantry lines but without sufficient momentum and numbers they could do little damage. Any who tried this were swiftly knocked from their steeds by the many spears and arrows they were met with.

Sol herself side stepped the path of a armored horse, raising her shield to block the rider's lance. As the weapon splintered against her shield she thrust her spear up into their chest, bringing them from the saddle to the ground. Looking right she witnessed Baldrek step out from the lines, catching a enemy rider off guard he simply rammed his weight into the horse's side, knocking both mount and rider to the ground. The second rider he charged head on without hesitation and yelled at the horse, waving his arms to frighten it. The beast reared up and screamed, Baldrek took this opening to swing his hammer into the soldier's chest, making him fly from the saddle.

OoO

Elsa watched as their first counter move succeeded with few losses on their part, now was the time for her to get her own hands dirty. She turned to Karl, "Get your men ready."

He nodded, donning his helm and left her side while she descended down the hill to join Sol and Baldrek on the front line.

OoO

The Witch King watched as his army's cavalry charge fell victim to the surprise attack from the Zarian riders. "Very good banrigh...very good."

He saw as she made her way down the hill with spear in hand, her soldiers parting for her to take place at head of her army. "Let us see if the young dragon's talons are half as fearsome as her tongue...Infantry!"

The rows of naga halberds and spears, followed by those that wielded sword, mace and shield-far more numerous than the failed cavalry charge began their march forward to the wretched drum beats.

OoO

Elsa at last reached the front, Sol and Baldrek turning briefly to bow their heads before returning to their defensive positions. She herself stood calmly, she was ready for any that came her way, but Zyon's riders had made quick work of the naga and Hans' cavalry. The sound of shifting metal returned faintly over the sounds of battle, looking past the fighting ahead of her now she saw the naga infantry had begun their march. She looked to the captain and nodded, he took up the horn on his belt and put it to his lips and blew hard.

At the sound of the horn general Zyon called for his soldiers to fall back, gaps in the shield wall opened up for the Zarian army to ride thru and be behind the infantry lines once more. The general waited for all his men before nodding to the queen and riding back through himself, the shield wall reforming behind him. What was left of the naga cavalry had no choice but to fall back.

OoO

Zyon broke off from his forces and rode for the hill that Elsa had stood upon moments ago, quickly dismounting he snatched the tall flag from the bearer and turned towards the wall. Looking up he raised the flag and waved it back and forth.

OoO

Atop the wall Anna saw the general's signal and looked out to the advancing naga infantry; their number was as great as the whole of their own infantry if not greater. She exhaled long and deep through her nose before turning to Barec and nodding, he bowed his head, "Archers make ready!"

Every man atop the wall knocked an arrow in their bow and drew, aiming at a high angle. Anna followed the motion, slower and more deliberate, "Hold."

"Hold!" the lieutenant repeated.

Nearing the halfway point of their march the naga soldiers roared and lowered their pole weapons as their speed increased to a running charge. Behind the alliance infantry lines bundles of oil slicked rocks and debris were set alight via torch before being launched by catapult and trebuchet. The flaming projectiles soared over and impacted into the advancing naga lines.

"LOOSE!" Anna shouted.

An arrow flew from every bow atop the wall, following in the wake of the siege engines. This process was repeated again and again to thin out the enemy's numbers.

OoO

Elsa lowered her gaze towards the crimson horde of fang and blade that was nearly upon their own ranks. Their number had been lessened but that made them no less blood thirsty or their charge any slower despite the fire that still rained on their backs from above.

With Traitor's Bane still in his right hand Baldrek reached back with his left to take out Beak Splitter, he narrowed his eyes and growled, now wielding hammer and axe.

Sol stamped her spear against the ground, shouting to the soldiers behind them, "De vil lage et fint par! (They'll make a fine couple!)"

"Spydene vare! Hjertene deres! (Our spears! Their hearts!)" They responded.

Just as the naga halberds neared striking range Elsa extended her hand outward, a wave of icy force rippled across the ground ahead of the entire naga line. The ice collided into their legs, making many slip, trip and fall, ultimately robbing them of their forward momentum. The archers behind the shield line fired a quick volley of arrows into the disabled naga, catching most off guard before they could raise shields.

"CHARGE!" Elsa cried.

She and the whole of the infantry line cried out with her and rushed the dazed naga infantry, Arendelle, Corona and the Isles met their foe with shield and spear about face. Elsa was first to meet the masked viper, both hands firing a direct blast of her magic-sending several rows of enemies ahead of her flying back. Afterward those that managed to get within striking range of her saw only the bright blue of either end of her spear before they died. Dragon's Flight revolved back and forth around her in her hands faster than any could hope to block or avoid, leaving icy gashes in the armor of every naga crossing the snow queen's path.

The alliance's infantry line barreled over the first row of disoriented enemies they met, their momentum now greater than the naga's. The sounds that Elsa had become all too familiar with rung out all around her; swords crashing against one another, spears splintering against shields, maces crushing steel, axes cutting through iron.

The queen of Arendelle fought hard alongside all those beside and around her-harder than she'd ever fought before. Her rage and anguish expressed through every strike-every attack dealt out whether it be with her spear, fist or ice.

OoO

The alliance siege engines were moved up along with the infantry lines to continuing firing past the enemy's, Anna's archers along with the ones on the ground continued to rain down arrows at the naga's middle away from their own troops. While the fighting continued at the front lines prince Karl and sir Galen led a dual pronged islander cavalry charge out from behind and around the alliance lines. The naga soldiers in the rear were forced to turn outward as the islander heavy horse collided into either flank. The armored war horses crashed through the unprepared naga, lance and broadsword brought low hundreds before they could even mount proper defense.

OoO

Amicus was unmoved at the sight of the battle that had commenced in favor of the queen's army, the hollow sounds of the fighting echoing in the distance. His head barely turned towards prince Hans, "You seem troubled, your majesty." he said, "Is it different, when you see the consequences of your betrayal?"

The prince's grimace was plain to see though he did not look to the naga king, "You sacrificed my soldiers in that charge..."

"I sacrificed my own as well. Sacrifice is part of winning wars, surely even your brother would have attested to that."

He snapped towards him, "From here it looks like they're winning this war!"

The Witch King folded his arms, "Yes...and that's exactly what I want them to keep believing for now. They've shown us all that they have to offer...now, there will be no more surprises." he looked to Sorvec, "Commander, proceed."

The commander bowed his head and drew his duels swords as he craned his neck from side to side. He brushed past Hans as he made his way down the hill, "Feel free to join in on the fun anytime, your highness..."

Sorvec led another legion of naga infantry, this one being bolstered by brutes and the war trolls, to join the battle. Meanwhile lines of naga riflemen set up behind them along with several large canons, the giant artillery pieces in the very rear took aim at the alliance's siege units... and the wall.

OoO

Elsa swung back and forth to either side with both ends of her weapon, every enemy within the radius collapsed to the ground around her. Having bought herself a brief reprieve she peered past the battle at her enemy side of the field. Naga reinforcements were making their way down the hill, fiercer and more feral things marched their way now; brutes and war trolls.

She twirled her spear and huffed, she would not allow herself to doubt now, they had a plan and as long as they held the line and kept them from breaching the wall they could beat them. She turned and growled, firing another blast into the enemy-sending more naga flying back. Their strategy had prevailed thus far, all they could do now...was fight.

OoO

Miles from the battle of Arendelle, Trolgon dropped his riders atop the north mountain and they worked their way towards the ice palace. Aldren and Olaf led the way, neither of them affected by the cold, meanwhile Rapunzel and Cassandra struggled to keep up. Up here the snow was deep, the wind a cold constant and tiny Pascal kept himself hidden under the collar of Rapunzel's cloak.

Aldren had only heard stories of this place and what happened here while the two women knew even less so, as it stood, Olaf would be their expert guide. (Heaven help them.)

The princess shivered, "So when we need Trolgon again...how do we call him?"

"I'll whistle for him." Aldren replied plainly.

"Just like that, he'll come?"

"Just like that." he looked down to Olaf and noticed him struggling in the deep snow and so he gently lifted the snowman onto his shoulder. "Olaf, why don't you tell me more about this 'Marshmallow', If we're to convince him and...whatever else is up here to fight with us I'd like to know more."

"Oh you'll love Marshmallow! He's so big and so strong and he would do anything for Elsa." Olaf thought for a moment, "Well actually...he does have a.. bit.. of.. a temper."

"Well, at least I can relate."

"Oh! But he's friendly once you get to know him!" he replied more eagerly.

"Alright then. We're off to a good start."

While Aldren continued to listen intently to Olaf, Cassandra's owl had at last caught up with them and landed on her shoulder. Rapunzel looked ahead to Aldren, searching in her heart for what the right thing to do was in this moment. Her strongest natural impulse was to help someone in need, especially a friend, and this thought clawed at her mind. Though his stride had been steady as they progressed further up the mountain she noticed small tells; how he'd occasionally roll his shoulder or limp ever so slightly...it felt fiercely wrong to do nothing when she could do something.

On the other hand the troll shaman had revealed to them that fate had a plan for them all, one that evidently needed to be followed to the letter. If they did not...then the enemy had already won and their struggle will have been in vain. But why? Why would healing Aldren jeopardize the future, that much had not been revealed and left her with burning questions.

She looked down to her shoulder when Pascal peaked out from her coat collar and motioned towards Aldren with his head before ducking back into the warmth.

Hesitantly she moved to catch up with him, "Aldren?" He turned to her with Olaf still on his shoulder and she was lost for words now that he was looking at her, "Maybe" she said hesitantly, "we should...take a break?"

He cocked his head at her, "You need rest?"

She shook her head, "No no, I just...I should take a look at those wounds-not that I don't trust that the trolls-Kristoff's family I mean-" Oh boy! She was really failing at this.

He smiled and sat Olaf back to the ground before walking to her, "It's not a problem, I'm actually feeling better since-"

Cassandra shot him a disbelieving glare, "You're shoulder was crushed by a mace...most people wouldn't have even survived that, let alone still be walking."

In response to this he peeled away the bandage on his right shoulder, "I heal faster than most." he revealed to them the wound and it had indeed healed some since they had first found him...but it still looked painful.

Rapunzel looked up to him from the wound, "And...your leg?"

He looked down at it briefly and shook his head, "By the time we're back in Arendelle I'll be good as new, I promise." he said with another reassuring smile.

She looked to the ground, "Yeah but-"

"You needn't worry yourself over me, I may look a little worse for wear but I'm still whole."

She looked up at him, somewhere between guilt and uncertainty, "Aldren, I think maybe...there's something...That-"

"Hey you guys!" they turned to see Olaf peering from around a rocky corner with a big smile, "I found the staircase that leads exactly where we need it to go!"

Aldren chuckled slightly, "Did you now? A staircase?"

"Yeah-Yeah-Yeah-Yeah! Come on!" he replied giddily as he vanished around the corner.

Aldren looked back to the two women, "Time is short I'm afraid...and in any case it seems we are near the journey's end." When he saw how melancholy Rapunzel still looked he did the only thing he could do at this moment to comfort her, he pulled her in for a tight hug.

She was surprised by the gesture at first but quickly responded, hugging him back even tighter. When they parted he nodded to her before turning away to follow Olaf, he was good at hiding it but behind his smile she could tell something else was eating away at him, something other than his injuries...something he'd seen back in the valley. The princess and lady looked between one another before pressing on to follow the boys.

Olaf directed them along their path and as they rounded the corner, whatever else may have been on their minds was cleared away by what they saw. All three went wide eyed and slack jawed at the sight of the magnificent structure of ice, perhaps dwarfed by many of the world's castles in size but not so in it's complex detail and icy beauty. Against the plain grays and white of the mountain the palace was a pure beacon of translucent azure and teal that shined even in the little sunlight that made it through the clouds. And just as Olaf said, there was a staircase that led up to the double doors at it's entrance...convenient.

Olaf giggled gleefully, looking back and forth between them and the palace, "Isn't it great!?"

Aldren was completely mesmerized by the structure his queen had made, "It's...more than great...It's amazing", he whispered.

"Yeah no kidding." Rapunzel added.

Cassandra cleared her throat and shook herself of her awestruck expression, "Well...it's not as impressive as the wall she made but-yeah, it's nice."

The others paid no mind to her, Olaf beckoned them to follow, "C'mon! Let's go knock!" he waddled his way excitedly towards the staircase.

As the others followed behind their awe was replaced with concern as they looked around at the area leading up to the palace. Several discarded sword and spear were strewn about, many of them broken or completely shattered. As well...there were several curiously large mounds of snow lying about that seemed out of place. Cassandra stopped when she felt something crunch beneath her feet and looked down to see what was left of a tall green Arendellian guard's hat that had been crushed into the ground, frozen stiff after many years. She knelt down and with little effort dislodged it from the snow to look it over.

Rapunzel looked between the hat and the many weapons, "What happened here?"

Aldren grasped the shaft a spear impaled in the ground, lifting the blade end for her and Cassandra to see, a small green and yellow Arendellian banner waving in the wind beneath the head. "When Elsa froze Arendelle and Anna did not return from her search, prince Hans led a group of volunteers to find them and when they reached this place...Marshmallow did what he was created for." he tossed the spear to the ground, "And you both know the story from there."

Cassandra stood and dropped the hat, "Yeah, remind me why Elsa and Anna agreed to let that lying creep set foot here in Arendelle again?"

"Well...that is more complicated. Rest assured should my path cross with Hans' again I won't hesitate to do what should have been done all those years ago." He replied with hard eyes towards the weapons on the ground, weapons that had once threatened to harm his queen...

"Uh you guys?" they looked back to Olaf who waited expectantly before the doors, "We don't have all day-do we?"

Aldren shook his head, "No. You're right Olaf, we should hurry."

They bypassed the remnants of the old battle for the palace, Aldren was first to step foot on the stairs, his hand met the railing and he smiled, taking a brief moment to admire his love's creation. He believed her when she told him his power was beautiful...but he had nothing on her and he would tell her so when they met again. He continued up the stairs, meeting Olaf by the door, "So...we just knock?"

"Uh huh! Go ahead-go ahead!"

He shrugged, Very well..." and raised a hand to-

The double doors exploded outward, the force of whatever had shattered them sent Aldren and Olaf flying back into Rapunzel and Cassandra. Their entire group was scattered amidst the snow and as they pushed themselves to their feet they saw what had destroyed the doors. A massive snowman-nine feet tall roared furiously and charged down the stairs, making a b-line straight for Aldren.

The embercrow managed to scramble to his feet but was unable to reach for his sword before the giant rammed it's massive forearm into him, he only just brought his hands up to brace against it. The force pushed his back against a nearby boulder, the giant growled and pressed against him. Aldren gritted his teeth and strained, it took all his strength to keep the creature from crushing him against the rock. The beast's head leaned down, it's glowing blue eyes glaring at him as it uttered words from it's toothless maw in a gruff, gravely voice, "Du reek av ild...och doden! Svart! (You reek of fire...and death! Black One!)"

Aldren blinked in confusion, "What..."

Rapunzel rubbed her head and looked up, she saw pascal shivering in the snow and gasped, quickly she picked him up and placed him back inside her coat. She then turned to Aldren and the giant snowman that would eventually overpower him. She looked to Cassandra who was still recovering from being hit with Aldren's body, quickly the princess snatched a broken off spear head from the ground and bolted towards the assailant. "LET HIM GO!" she threw herself at the giant and plunged the small blade into the side of it's jaw.

The beast roared and reared it's head, taking her in the air with it. The giant quickly grasped her and threw her back the way she'd come. She slid against the snow and remained unharmed, her actions had freed Aldren but now the giant was looking at her. It wasted no time charging her next so Aldren drew Black Autumn and bolted for the princess. Pushing her out of the way he turned to swing his sword into it's head but instead found his arm seized in it's mouth. He screamed in pain as the creature bit down, though it bore no teeth it's bite still carried enough force that it felt as though it might tear his arm off-as if his previous injuries hadn't been enough.

Before it got the chance Cassandra snatched a spear from the ground and with a wrathful scream thrust it past Aldren's shoulder into the giant's eye. The creature screamed and stumbled back, a hand grasping it's head. Aldren was once again free and he took no time to nurse his arm-only looking back briefly to make sure the others were behind him. Even angrier than before the snowman charged once more but this time Aldren gripped his weapon in both hands and growled, swinging hard into the beast's jaw-knocking it back into the stairs.

The giant laid motionless for a moment but then slowly rose to it's side, it's hand rubbing what was left of it's jaw. Olaf finished putting himself back together and hurried over to join the others, Aldren huffed and pushed Olaf and Rapunzel behind him, "All of you! Behind me!" he glanced over his shoulder to the smaller snowman, "Olaf! I thought you said he was friendly!"

The snowman shook his head, tapping his fingers together worriedly, "That's not Marshmallow! I mean it looks kinda like him but-...I confess I haven't been up here for a while-so maybe some things might've changed-"

"Olaf! Are you kidding me!" Cassandra shouted angrily, making him flinch in guilt.

Rapunzel grabbed the snowman's head and turned it to look on their left, "Uh, do any of them look like Marshmallow?"

They all looked and saw that several large mounds of snow rising up from the ground were in fact more frost giants of varying size, similar to the one they'd just fought- not identical but all just as peeved looking. More appeared from all sides around them, some in the shape of giant wolves bigger than a draft horse. Aldren and Cassandra did their best to form a circle around the others, Olaf spun in place, smiling nervously for each of his new 'relatives', "Uh...I'm Olaf. You must all be new..."

The first one that had attacked stumbled towards them again, shaking it's head before roaring loudly. Deadly icicles slowly sprouted from it's mouth like teeth as well as from the ends of it's fingers and across it's back. The rest of the creatures did the same as they encircled Aldren and his friends, Cassandra held the spear out towards the giants, "Ok...any more bright ideas?"

Aldren looked to the closest enemies and lowered his gaze, igniting his blade, "Ready yourselves."

Two of the giants charged them but Aldren threw a well placed fireball that obliterated the first's head. The second Aldren met in the middle as it swung wildly with both arms, he severed both from it's body then thrust upwards into it's head. The rest he baited into chasing him away from his friends while also whistling towards the sky loudly.

So, while Aldren did battle with the majority, the others were left to deal with the remaining giants. Cassandra pushed Rapunzel and Olaf behind her as one of the wolves closed in, snapping it's jaws at them. The beast snarled and leapt for her, she snarled in return and thrust a spear down it's open maw. The creature briefly struggled before she shoved the blade out through the back of it's snowy head. As the wolf's body fell over she dislodged the spear and was immediately tackled sideways by another.

"Cassandra!" Rapunzel screamed.

The lady managed to put the shaft of her spear between her and the beasts jaws, it clamped down on the weapon and thrashed her about in the snow. With a forceful tug it ripped the spear from her grasp but before it could bite down on her Rapunzel's lasso wrapped around the wolf's neck and she and Olaf pulled as hard as they could. The wolf wasn't as much pulled away as it was now distracted by the princess, throwing it's head towards her, knocking her to the ground. It shook the lasso off it's neck, it's blue eyes flaring brighter as it growled and loomed over her.

Looking up in terror she couldn't back away faster than it was closing in when Olaf suddenly threw himself between her and the wolf, "Wait! Don't hurt her!"

Against Rapunzel's expectations the wolf stopped, looking down at Olaf and seeming to become more relaxed at the sight of him. Olaf smiled at this reaction but the moment didn't last much longer when Cassandra's owl attacked the wolf's face and Cassandra herself thrust her sword through the wolf's side. The beast howled and tried to reach around to bite her, before it could the lady drew her dagger and plunged it into the top of it's head. The icy wolf fell to the ground and she removed her weapons from it before rushing over to Rapunzel, "Are you OK?" she asked helping her to her feet.

"Yeah, I think so."

They turned to the sound of another angry roar, one of the giants bounded towards them. With enough distance between them still Cassandra recovered the discarded spear and threw it forward. The spear impacted right into the middle of it's head and the giant's body tripped forward, crashing into the ground and sliding towards them-stopping short just a few feet. While the two women sighed in relief, Olaf looked down at the dead giant sadly.

They all turned back to see that Aldren with fire and blade had dispatched most all the others. The last two fell soon after; slashing through the leg of the first and slicing down on it's head. The second swung down at him, he swung upward and severed it's arm before thrusting into it's neck, pushing forward and down to bring it to the ground before drawing upward and decapitating it.

A wolf giant attempted to charge him from behind but he turned in time and swung low, taking one of it's legs off. As it rolled to the ground he lunged for it, getting the struggling beast in a head lock and thrusting his blade into it's mouth.

Aldren dropped the final giant's body, his breathing almost like a growl as the heat of battle wore off and his shoulder began to ache again. The crimson glow in his eyes faded and he made his way over to his friend's "Are you alright?"

"More or less, you?" Cassandra asked.

He nodded, before anyone could say anything else they heard a sound behind them, quickly turning they were all taken aback by what they saw. One of the decapitated giant's rose from the ground...and picked it's head, putting it back on it's shoulders. The blue glow returned to it's eyes and it growled lowly.

"Oh...great!" Aldren muttered.

All around them they saw their previously slain foes piecing themselves together; limbs reattaching, body's shuffled back together and heads no longer severed. All were whole again as if there had never been any injury and to make things worse even more appeared from further down the mountain. The giant's all slowly closed in around them, Aldren and his friends reformed their small circle.

"I think all we did was make them angry." Cassandra spoke in a breathless tone.

"What do we do now?" Rapunzel asked fearfully.

Aldren could not think of an answer as the angry snowmen drew closer, raising all their fists above to smash them.

The assault was cut short as a furious roar sounded from the sky above and several of the giant's were crushed beneath the weight of Trolgon's winged frame. Screeching loudly he spun around and swiped several away with his tail. A wolf giant attempted to lunge at him but the dragon seized it in his jaws before it could, crushing down before tossing it's body away. With another trumpeting roar he moved over his riders,whipping his tail back and forth while snapping at any of the giant's still standing.

"Hvem brakk doren? (Who broke the door?)"

Another foreign voice drew everyone's attention to the door of the ice palace, a few thunderous steps preceded the arrival of another frost giant, significantly larger than the rest-so much that he barely squeezed through the doorway. Apart from it's size the only thing that distinguished this one from it's kin was...a small, barely visible tiara that adorned it's massive head.

Aldren sighed and shook his head, "Let me guess...Marshmallow?" he looked down to Olaf who nodded vigorously.

The giant whose jaw Aldren had broken raised his hand shamefully, "Jeg...Jeg gjorde...(I...I did...)"

Rapunzel and Cassandra could not understand the giants but Aldren understood, he had heard every word these creatures had spoken perfectly.

Marshmallow turned his attention to Aldren and his friends, he frowned particularly at the sight of Aldren which he still didn't understand. But then he perked up when he spotted Olaf among their number, "Olaf?"

The smaller snowman ran out ahead of the group with a wide smile, "Yeah Marshmallow, it's me! I know I haven't come to visit in a while but it's good to see-"

The giant scooped up Olaf and hugged him tightly, "Lillebror! (Little brother!)"

Olaf strained slightly from the hug but managed to speak up, "Big brother- actually, but good to see you too buddy."

As Marshmallow set the smaller snowman down Rapunzel stepped forward, "Wait Olaf, you can understand them?"

He turned to her, "Yeah!...can't you?"

"Um. That's a no."

Aldren made his way to the front, speaking directly to Marshmallow, "I knew of one giant snowman that dwelt on this mountain, but I did not know of any others...how did you all come to be?"

The giant glared down at him, "Du burde vite, Svart! (You should know, Black One!)"

"Black One? I-...I don't understand."

Olaf looked up at Marshmallow, "Yeah? Why do you guys keep calling him that?"

Marshmallow beckoned Olaf closer, kneeling down and whispering to him. A few moments later Olaf was struck with a shocked expression, "Oh...Oooooohhhhh...that is awkward..."

He waddled back towards Aldren and for the first time in a while was almost at a loss for words. "Well...they-how do I put this...OK! The rest of these guys here were made by...Ash-la somebody. I think he said and they...woke up after Elsa left here?"

Aldren gripped his chin in thought, "Ashla...the giants from the vision." he looked back to the giants in realization, "King Ashla created you all, you were awoken by Elsa's power when she came here...you came here after Ashla died-"

"Etter at du drepte ham! (After you killed him!)" one of the giants shouted, pointing at him. "Han som spytter flamme drepte kongen var og star na foran oss igjen! (He who spits flame killed our king and now stands before us once more!)"

Trolgon hissed at the giant, whipping his tail.

Another daunting realization dawned on him, "Me? Kill Ashla?...you think...you think I'm Amicus..."

Rapunzel walked up to his side with a smile, "Well, you both wear black armor and 'spit' fire from your hands...I could see how they might get you mixed up."

Olaf turned back to Marshmallow with raised hands, "No Marshmallow. He's not Amicus, he's Aldren...he's my friend-family, like you."

"Hvordan kan du vaere sikker? (How can you be sure?)"

The small snowman frowned, "Because I met Amicus...I know what he is...and what he wants to do to Elsa..."

Marshmallow's eyes widened, "Elsa..."

"Yes." Aldren walked up to him, "Your creator Marshmallow." he stabbed his sword into the ground and turned to speak to the rest of the giants, "My name is Aldren Embercrow, Master of War to Elsa of house Floran, queen of Arendelle...and Ashla's descendant. Of this I no longer have doubt. We came here because the very same demon that slew Ashla, The Witch King of the Naga Ai, now seeks to do the same to Elsa and all those who stand against him...but we cannot defeat his army, not without your help." he turned back to Marshmallow, "You do not know me noble giants and all I have are my words. But if that's not enough to sway you then consider this; Arendelle is just as much your home as it is ours...and if Ashla was your king then as his descendant, Elsa is now your queen just as much as she is mine. With or without your help I intend to go back there and fight for her to my last-dying-breath! Will you help me defend her, help me defend Arendelle... help me keep the horrors of the past from repeating themselves?"

Marshmallow's brow furrowed along with the rest of the giants who all looked between each other unsure at first. It was then that Marshmallow called the rest of the giants to him, they all gathered in a large huddle where they spoke amongst themselves.

Aldren and Olaf stepped back with the two women, Cassandra leaned over to Aldren, "Are you sure about this?"

"It's our best and only hope now Cassandra. We were meant to be here for a reason...this has to be it."

A few last words seem to be spoken amongst the giants before they all turned back to them, parting away for Marshmallow to stomp his way over with a hard, determined expression. Trolgon lowered his head and snarled defensively but Aldren held a hand out to the dragon for him to stand down.

When the lead giant reached them he leaned down and spoke to Aldren, "For Ashla. For Elsa...we fight!"

Rapunzel jumped with fists in the air along with Olaf, "Yes!"

Aldren smiled and bowed his head to the giant, "I thank you mighty Marshmallow, we are forever indebted to you." Aldren looked back toward Arendelle and the others followed his gaze, his eyes hardening with the same determination that Marshmallow bore. "I'm coming Elsa." he whispered to himself and then turned to the others.

"Now...let's give the Witch King a fight he'll never forget."

The battle continues in chapter 52 which I'll have up as soon as I am able.

As always be sure to follow and favorite. Don't hesitate to ask any questions you like in your review and as always I'll see you all in the next chapter!