Mark rode Donner up the old mountain trail to the Valley of the Living Rock. Riding past the cracks in the rocky mountain road that exhaled hot steam in soft bursts. Making the mountain seem like it was slumbering. Mark slowed down as they moved into the mossy valley. All around the valley were small caves built into the sturdy rock walls. The Trolls were so small that the entrances to their cave homes looked to be nothing more that natural formations. Slowing to a stop, Mark called out chipperly. "I'm home!" From all the holes, tiny bushy heads popped out to take a peek. After seeing him, they leapt from their holes to greet him with warm smiles. Stig on the other hand, leapt off Donner's head and scrambled into the bustling crowd as he asked around. "Grand Pabbie? Where is Grand Pabbie?" A few Trolls pointed to high point from the little Troll village where an older Troll was meditating on his own. Climbing up to him, Stig panted out to the old Troll. "I have news, Grand Pabbie." Grand Pabbie opened his greying eyes, before slowly turning his head to look at him. Stig took a deep breath, telling him excitedly. "It worked. I was right! The river of memory can be harnessed. It can be used!"

Grand Pabbie rose to his feet, the many colorful crystals around his neck jingling when he asked with intrigue. "Really? Show me." Stig's long ears drooped, before he mumbled out reluctantly. "That's the bad news. I harnessed the power... but on my way back here... I had an accident." Grand Pabbie picked up his walking stick, asking in a voice torn up with concern. "What kind of accident?" Stig hugged himself, looking away as he uttered out flatly. "I dropped the mirror... The shards... They went into the Prince of Arendelle." Grand Pabbie's voice bellowed with power as he snapped out. "WHAT?!" Stig quickly raised his hands, rushing out confidently. "It's fine! I can get the shards back." Grand Pabbie stepped forward, locking dark eyes with his as he said in a lower tone so as not to be overheard. "How? I told you that messing with the sacred river is dangerous! Its power is too great for this world! Far too great to be in mortal hands!" Stig leaned closer to Grand Pabbie, retorting firmly. "You worry too much. Getting the shards back will be easy." Grand Pabbie grabbed the strap to Stig's bag, yanking him closer, when he growled out under his breath. "Where did the shards hit him, Stig?!" Stig stiffened with disgust from being manhandled, but respectfully answered. "His eyes."

Grand Pabbie shoved Stig back off his feet, growling down to him. "Then we may have a chance to fix this before his heart freezes." Getting up, Stig dusted himself off, grumbling out under his breath. "He has become the mirror. He's fine. I pity those fools around him." Grand Pabbie pointed his walking stick at Stig's chest, snapping out bitterly. "You are the fool, Stig. You always have been! Don't you get it? He's become the mirror! The longer he looks at his own greedy kind, the deeper he will sink into himself. And once his heart freezes... There will be nothing left of his humanity. All will be lost. You'll have created a limitless monster that feels nothing and cares for NOTHING." Stig swallowed as that sank in. He hadn't thought of that. Grand Pabbie lowered his walking stick, tapping it hard down on the ground as he told him sternly. "You frustrate me, Stig... You better hope that this incident doesn't get traced back to us. I've worked too hard just to have you fuck it all up." Stig locked his jaw, grinding his teeth as he glared at Grand Pabbie's back. Grand Pabbie pointed his stick down at Mark, telling Stig sternly. "You see him? Our future rests on HIS shoulders. Not yours."

Stig walked up beside Grand Pabbie, looking down at the way Mark laughed with the young Trolls, before telling Grand Pabbie seriously. "You're the one putting your faith in the wrong person. What you hope to achieve isn't going to happen. Meanwhile, I braved the spirits of Ahtohallan. I harnessed the river's power." Stig started to step away from Grand Pabbie, before adding over his shoulder in a bitter tone. "It will be ME that surpasses you, Grandad. I'm not afraid of anything. And I'm going to be there when you realize that I was right all along. It's time to step up and claim what is ours. I'll deal with the prince on my own. Someone has to get their hands dirty." Grand Pabbie shook his head, retorting coolly. "Get some rest, Stig. We'll discuss this further after you've had time to cool down." Stig huffed, his tail flicking behind him as he snapped back shortly. "Don't count on it, old man." Mark didn't want to leave the valley, but he wanted to get back to the Ice Harvester village. He didn't want to go, but it was safer for Donner there. Otherwise, the wolves were always looking to eat a young calf like him. Reindeer were supposed to be common around Arendelle... but he'd heard they were quite rare in these parts nowadays. That didn't stop the wolves from wanting a taste though.

Removing his little lantern from his bag, he lit it and departed before it got too late. The Ice Harvesters village wasn't too far away from the Valley. Located by the largest frozen lake in Arendelle. Trotting down the snowy path even in the heart of summer, he reached the small village just as the sun was going down behind the snowy mountains. The Ice Farmers lived in small wooden cabins just a short distance away from the lake. The homes were cozy, and the people were friendly enough. For the most part, the Ice Farmers ignored his existence, but it was better than the way other folks from Arendelle treated him. Trotting in through the village, he saw the Ice Harvesters laughing around a bonfire that they were sharing with family. Riding Donner around to the warm stables, Mark found a nice hay filled stall for them to sleep in. The horses weren't bothered by him and never complained when he swiped a carrot or two from their food buckets. It was the easiest way to get food and fresh water. On occasion, one of the Harvesters wives would leave him things. Hand-me down clothes and tools to help him survive as he learned their trade.

He was a fast learner and was determined to do his part. For as little as he helped them with, they never turned down his efforts. Laying against Donner, Mark tried to fall asleep, when the music that was playing outside stopped abruptly. Outside, he heard approaching horses and a strong man's voice ask aloud. "My apologies for interrupting. I'm looking for the Orphan boy with the reindeer. Have you seen him?" Jumping to his feet, Mark climbed up a stack of haybales to peek out of the barn window. Outside, he saw all the Ice Farmers point to the barn with guarded faces. Biting his lip, Mark looked down to ask Donner nervously. "What did we do?" Donner snorted in response. The people rode to the barn and Mark panicked. There was no other way out of the barn, and he couldn't leave Donner inside. The barn door opened, and Mark jumped down to hug Donner's neck. The man strolled inside with a lantern, glancing in all the stalls before reaching him. Mark swallowed, hugging Donner close as he recognized the King's clothing from earlier. The King exhaled in relief, then raised a hand to tell him. "It's ok. I don't want to hurt you. I need your help."

Mark raised an eyebrow and shared a look with Donner. Giving Donner a shrug, Mark asked the King nicely. "What can we do?" The King kneeled to be at Mark's eye level, pleading with him hopefully. "My son is sick. I hear you are friends with the Trolls? Can you take us there?" Mark shook his head, firmly telling him. "No. They told me not to." The King shifted uneasily, pleading in a pained voice. "Please? I promise, I won't hurt them. I have no one else that can help me." Mark inhaled deeply, mumbling out in a small reluctant voice. "You promise?" The King nodded and Mark relented. Guiding the King's family up into the Valley of the Living Rock. Trotting back into the Valley, he called out to the Trolls hopefully. This time when they peeked out from their holes, they gasped in fright. Mark tried to calm them as their spooked voices talked over each other. Until Grand Pabbie yelled out over the crowd to silence them. "Enough! Mark... Why have you brought THEM here? You know it is-" Mark hopped off Donner, finishing quickly. "Forbidden. I know, but Grand Pabbie, he needs your help!" Grand Pabbie scoffed, prompting the King to dismount and state out politely. "It's true. My son... He's... Something is wrong."

Grand Pabbie was the first to walk out from his hole, followed by his son, Stig. Grand Pabbie put a hand out to stop Stig from following him, then moved closer to the King when he asked curiously. "Your son? What's wrong with him?" The King helped Nathan down off the horse, then placed his hands on Nathan's shoulders to keep him close. Instantly Stig's ears perked up, but Grand Pabbie calmly extended out a hand toward Nathan. Nathan removed his riding glove and reached out to touch the little Troll's small warm hand. The second their hands touched, Grand Pabbie asked the King coolly. "Born with the powers or cursed?" The King swallowed nervously, sharing a look with his wife, before answering flatly. "We're not sure. Possibly a curse?" Grand Pabbie released Nathan's hand, asking curiously. "He's as cold as ice. What happened?" The King began to explain, causing Mark to inhale softly. It had happened while saving him? Grand Pabbie grabbed his walking stick with both hands, telling the royals gently. "I've heard of this before, but I'm afraid that this curse is not one easily removed..." The King shrugged, telling him hopefully. "Do what you must. Please."

Grand Pabbie nodded, when Stig stepped up and blurted out. "The only way to remove it. Is to remove his eyes." The royals gasped and Grand Pabbie whirled around to glare at Stig. Stig lifted his chin shamelessly in defiance. While the Queen pulled Nathan into her arms and stated out firmly. "NO! There has to be another way!" Grand Pabbie turned back to her, raising his hands to calm them as he said gently. "I'm afraid there isn't. It's not like a weapon that can be pulled out of a wound. The stronger the curse, the harder it is to remove it. This curse has fused with him. It's become a part of him." The Queen hugged Nathan close to her chest, blurting out in a protective motherly voice. "You're not cutting out his eyes. There is always another way to remove it. What else can we do?!" Grand Pabbie shrugged, telling them in a soothing voice. "It's the only way I know of right now. Give me time to look into it and I'll get back to you." The Queen nodded solemnly, telling her husband in a shaky but determined voice. "We'll keep looking too. There has to be answers somewhere. We'll find them." Grand Pabbie reached out to touch Nathan's arm to draw his attention.

Once he had it, Grand Pabbie held out a hand to create a beautiful blue figure out of the Northern Lights. While the blue figure moved to make snowflakes, Grand Pabbie told him with an expressionless face and in a foreboding voice. "In the meantime. Listen to me, Nathan. Your power will only grow. There is beauty in it..." Suddenly, the blue figure hunched over and covered its face like it was scared and crying. More figures in red ripples of light appeared around the scared blue figure, when Grand Pabbie added in. "But also, great danger. You must learn to control it. Fear will be your enemy." The red figures then removed blades and impaled the blue figure from all sides, causing the blue figure to burst into snow. Nathan yelped, jumping back into his mother's arms, where she protectively wrapped him up in a tight embrace with a frightened look. Beside her, her husband calmed them by quickly interjecting to them all. "No. That won't happen. We'll protect him. He can learn to control it, I'm sure. We'll find ways to temporarily handle it, until a solution is found. Right?" Grand Pabbie nodded very slowly, but his look was rather grim.

Lifting his chin though, he told them confidently. "I will do the best I can. Your majesty? Would you mind excusing us. I'd like to say something to your husband. It will be brief." The Queen looked at her husband with a mistrusting look, but he waved her off with a warm smile. Taking her son back toward the horses and out of earshot, Grand Pabbie told the King more bluntly. "Curses like this take time. If you won't take my advice to handle this quickly. Then I suggest you start planning for the worst. Find a way to contain him... because if you don't... Your only other option will be to kill him." Mark's jaw dropped as the King stated back completely horrified. "What?!" Grand Pabbie gestured him to calm down, whispering to him empathetically. "I'm sorry. But this curse has a limited time to cure it. If it gets too far... He'll be consumed by it. By that point, he won't be your son anymore. He'll be a monster." The King's face was torn with emotions. Collecting himself, he told him confidently. "I'll take precautions, but I have faith that he can control it." Grand Pabbie nodded, then reached out to beckon the King closer.

When the King kneeled, Grand Pabbie whispered to him in a hopeful voice. "One more thing. I'm helping you. Now, I hope you can help me in return." The King nodded, answering openly. "Certainly. Name it." Grand Pabbie glanced briefly in Mark's direction, then leaned in to whisper into the King's ear. The King jerked his head back but nodded with an uneasy look. Grand Pabbie grinned, telling the King lightly. "Don't forget. Because WE won't." Without another word the King rose and swiftly walked back to his horse. Mark quickly rushed over to Donner, hopping on to follow them back. He was only going to follow them long enough to get back to the Ice Harvesters. While trotting behind them though, he overheard the Queen ask the King anxiously. "Agnarr? What are we going to do?" King Agnarr straightened up in his saddle, informing them in a strong hopeful voice. "Until we find a solution. We'll lock the gates. We'll reduce the castle staff. We'll limit his contact with people. Keep his powers hidden from everyone." Reaching out to hold his wife's hand, he told both her and Nathan with a bright smile. "This will only be temporary, but no matter what happens. We'll get through this. Together." To Be Continued...