Work Text:
It was another cold night in the ever snowing kingdom of Helfimheim. Laying down sideways on her icy throne. her short, messy, blue hair almost touching the floor.
“Jolaaaaaa, is there nothing to eat??” The young princess Elliana groaned. Her childish voice echoing endlessly within the empty castle.
“Why don't you look in the library, see if you can find a cooking book!!”
Elliana’s caretaker for as long as she could remember, yelled from across the castle.
Her mouth and eyes opened wide open at the sound of that wondrous idea!
“Jola! That's an amazing idea! take me there and i'll do the rest!”
Jola walked over to the cold ruined throne room. Elliana raised her arms to be carried as Jola gently picked her up, and slowly made her way to the old library, through charred pieces of tables and curtains, through the long desolate hallways brimming with sunlight that entered from the massive broken windows that lined the walls of the hallways, pieces of stained glass that once told the tales of a land long dead as snow piles up on the floor, creeping in through those same windows.
The young princess of Helfimheim browsed the old, dusty library. It was a massive library, settled in a far dark corner of the lonely icy castle that Elliana calls home. Shelves as tall as your eye could see.. The shelves that were left anyways. Most broken and burned to the ground. Every standing shelf was completely empty. Any books that survived the attack were neatly placed on the floor. All within Elliana’s reach. As she sat in silence going from one book to another on the dirty ashy floor. rummaging through dozens of cooking books, filled with unappetizing receipts, she was thinking of just giving up and letting the hunger consume her. …and she did just that.
“Hey uhh it's been 40 minutes, any luck- ELI? WHY ARE YOU LAYING DOWN??!”
“This is the end, Jola… THERE'S NOTHING TO EAT!”nshe slammed her fist to the ground, as if demanding the world to hand her something to satisfy her stomach.
“HEY WATCH OUT!”
A book had somehow remained way up high in the seemingly empty bookshelf. Now quickly making its way down straight to Elliana’s face. covering her face with dust, and a huge sore.
“Owww… *Cough* *cough* …huh? Hey Jola? Do you know a person named Ithuna?”
“Hmm, my memory is hazy but I think she was part of the royal family.” Elliana quickly sat up and outstretched her arms to fully read the book with her widened eyes.
“I see.. this book here, it talks about her… how she grew these amazing big golden apples! everyone in the kingdom used to eat them! the way the book describes them.. Jola, would you have any idea where the apples ended up?”
“Eli.. we both know it's unlikely they still exist…. Eli? Helloo? *sign..*”
Elliana was too focused on the book to notice if the world was crumbling around her. While she waited for Eli to finish reading she prepared a damp towel to help Eli with her forehead bump. After a few moments of deep reading she popped her head out of the book with a smile on her face.
“I must try these apples! Jola! Please tell me you know of a man named Thialze!”
“Thialze..? He used to be a folktale to scare kids from not venturing to the mountains. He was a man who could turn into a monster and gobble you up. It never stopped me when I was young though. He was just that. A fairytale.”
“Well miss know-it-all it seems I know something you don't! look!! This book tells of a story of a man named *Lycil* who gave the apples to Thialze! It seems it was some kind of twisted joke?.. It says Lycil was punished for this.. Ouch..But oh man there is so much history here!! It talks about the previous king.. Could he be… B-but look look!! it says here that Thialze lives in The Hall of Orn we must go Jola!”
“Eli… Neither of us know the names of anyone who used to rule here. How can we be sure this book isn't just more fairy tales… or stories so old that they might as well not be real anymore. Big golden apples?... be reasonable Eli, even if the apples existed.. They wouldn't have survived The Destruction.. I'll see what I can make you, ok?”
Elliana looked desolate, all the joy in her eyes she had a moment ago disappeared, she nodded, and continued reading the book in silence.
Jola signed, gently approached her and sat down.
“Eli… This isn't about the apples anymore is it?”
Elliana softly shook her head.
“…All this time spent in this gross library.. neatly going through every book i could find and reach… I thought I went through them all.. I thought all hope was lost… and this is the first one that tells of the royal family... I-i don't care if it's real or not… if it's really old! I just.. Want to see with my own two eyes.. If there's even the slightest chance a remnant of the past got left behind.. I want to see it..”
“Y’know Eli… before The Destruction… I had nothing. I was alone, fending for myself. But after… i found you… you’re the first thing i have ever cared about. I couldn't care less about the past. I only want to see the future.”
“I'm sorry Jola.. I know I'm being dumb.. I-”
“But y’know. When I was young, if someone told me not to climb up a mountain… I never let it stop me.”
Elliana stared at her with wide eyes. Knowing very well what she meant when Jola smiled and winked. Elliana got ready for their hike.
Jola stared at the teary eyed girl. Trying her best to relate. But she simply couldn't. The past is nothing but bad memories to her. But Elliana isn't her now is she. She deserves to have her own journey. And as dangerous as it might be, she won't get in her way. no matter what.
They got ready, got their fluffiest coats and started their journey. Elliana shivered as they ventured into the great winter wasteland they called home. Jola made sure Elliana truly wanted this, with a simple nod, they were off. Elliana held on tight to Jola’s back as Jola got on all fours and began to sprint with great speed. Her feline legs and arms granting her great agility. Elliana grew sadder after every abandoned, destroyed and snow covered village they crossed. She could imagine how these wonderful villages brimmed with life, how they shone in the night with candles and fires tall enough to make festivities last all night… with ale and meat… while people smiled and conversed with each other… to be able to feel the stone paths they laid down.. Uncovered by this suffocating snow. She could see toys inside these destroyed homes. She could imagine how kids would run around the town.. Playing… smiling.. She would do anything to be a good queen for them… she would learn from her forefathers before her! She would read every book on how to rule! She would try.. if only they still stood.. Now it is near impossible to see these jolly villages as they stand covered to the brim with snow. What little you can see, just rubble. She would rather have this snow cover her vision more than to witness these sights of lives lost. She hid her face in Jola’s back, unwilling to see anymore of her cold barren realm.
They arrived at the foot of the mountain, Jola sharpened her claws for the long climb. Climbing
up a mountain With her feline feet and claws was a simple task. Having to carry Elliana all the
while though… certainly didn't make the task easier.
“Hey Jola..” Elliana quietly spoke, her voice muffled by Jola’s coat where her head rested.
“Yeah Eli?”
“Thank you…” Elliana said, trying to hold back tears as she held Jola tighter.
Jola sweetly smiled and softly held Elliana’s hand resting on her shoulder. Elliana smiled back, feeling happy to have Jola by her side. Closing her eyes so as to not see the sharp rocks below. Quietly falling asleep.
3 hours had passed and night fell on Helfimheim, as they arrived at The hall of Orn.
The creaks of the massive wooden doors traveled throughout the silent mountain top. Their footsteps echoed within the vast and empty hall. Darkness and broken furniture filled the rotting floorboards of the hall. feathers the size of Elliana’s body littered the floor, enormous talon gashes across the old walls of the hall. The creaking wooden chandelier as the wind entered through the open doors, the only sound heard in this impossibly quiet peak. Elliana looked around, the sorry state of this hall wasn't due to attacks.. But abandonment… whoever lived here left a long long time ago.
“...Eli, this place is giving me the creeps. Why is it so damn quiet. Do you really think you’ll find anything here? Whoever lived here probably took everything before they left.”
“It-it certainly isn't very… hospitable haha… but we have to keep trying. There has to be something! Anything will do…”
“*sigh* Anything? Well take your pick from broken cup #12 or broken chair #2- OW” Elliana lightly jabbed her elbow into Jola’s back
“Ok fine. I'm not gonna let you go though. this place is giving me awful vibes.” Making sure Elliana was holding tight to her back, they continued walking through the eerie hall.
With what little light came in, they looked through the unkempt hall to find something that would satisfy Elliana’s curiosity. They looked through every crumbling table filled with mold filled dishes from years past. Rusted utensils laid covered by the old feathers on the floor. Through shelves and cabinets so dusty they could cough you to death. Curtains that fell apart with the slightest touch, covering boarded up windows. They stopped and shivered when they felt the breeze get stronger, colder.
“Brr.. Jola over there, the breeze came from over there..” She pointed at a large painting on the wall not far from where they were.
“It must be covering a window, some more light would help..”
“Eli…. it's really dark over there..” Jola looked at Eli with fear in her eyes. for the slight chance she would change her mind. She clearly wasn't going to.
“Great.. A creepy painting in the darkest corner of the emptiest hall on top of the loneliest mountain. Lovely.“
The breeze got ever stronger as they walked nearer and nearer. Their shivering bodies made it hard to walk. When they made it to the painting, it was too dark to make anything out. Elliana reached out from behind Jola’s back nonetheless to remove the painting. Her numb hand shivering whilst she got a hold of it. Whatever rusted nails held it up instantly broke at her touch. The painting crashed to the floor, its thud loud enough to deafen our visitors. The moonlight violently came through the window, destroying the intense darkness, attacking their eyes for a moment.
When they came to their senses. Their eyes slowly opened. In front of them, a closed window. There was no breeze. Only cold. Cold. breath.
“Put. it. Back.”
A slow, scratchy, dark voice echoed behind them.
Our visitors quickly turned around. Their eyes looking up high. The moonlight unshrouding the mighty owner of the hall. A mighty old eagle stood atop a rotted wooden support beam fallen to the floor. His shining brown feathers.. The few that remained.. blackened with ash and burnt marks. Dried blood covered his sharp beak, scarred and fractured. His slow, powerful breath.. cold enough to make you shiver to death. his terrifying presence, enough to freeze you where you stand.
“W-we mean no harm sir!! I would love to speak to you sir!! I have so much to ask!!” Elliana, although afraid, was still ecstatic to have met someone from the old age, who knows what stories he could have to tell. Jola stayed steady and made sure Elliana would not leave her back.
“Your half deformed facee~. You.. daughter of Lycilll~.” he quietly screeched, his voice filled with hatred. It was palpable. Elliana touched the left side of her face.. It was rough and leathery.. She was born like this, she wondered how this could be connected to her past. had never heard of the name Lycil. She opened her mouth to inquire more. Finally, something new!
“How many years… how many years have I waited. Stood here alone. Coldy Staring at these sad remnants of my daughter. At this vain reminder of what was takenn~ from me.”
The moonlight revealed the big beautiful golden apples in a neat basket. Sitting next to where the painting once stood.
“Missing her sweet voice~… The joy she brought into my home~ Longing for the day the traitor Lycil would return MYYY daughter to MEEE. How many years I've fantasized about gutting him like a pig.” the screeches he called a voice became louder. Angrier. Jola readied her claws.
“S-sir i-i don't know what-”
“And… the fates decide to make HISS daughter come waltzing into MYY hall..? I will make that rat come crawling out of his hole, no matter what.” His screech of a voice lingered in your ears akin to nails on a chalkboard.
“Oh give me a break old man. We know nothing ok. You’re fighting ghosts here. You wasted your pathetic life staring at a wall? And you want to blame her? Yeah ok.” Jola snarkily intervened, showing her claws.
“How DAREE you, you pitiful wenchh~ You will never know the pain of losing a daughterr~. Taken by monsterss~ never knowing what became of HERR” His voice had become more and more frantic. Raising his drawn out screeches at random. As if he had spent so long without saying a word, he had forgotten how to talk.
“I'll make sure I never end up like you. I won't let you put a talon on her, birdbrain.”
“I'll make you experience…. A DECADE OF SUFFERING DAUGHTER OF LYCILLLLL!!!!” his blood curdling screech shattered every window, glass and chandelier in the hall, the emptiness making it echo tenfold, leaving our visitors with a tremendously paining ringing
“Nononono!! This isn't how.. SIR PLEASE DON'T DO THIS!!..”
“ELI HOLD TIGHT” Thialze spread his mighty wings wide with a piercing screech. Jola quickly dodged the lethal massive talon as it came crashing down on the wooden floorboards, leaving them in pieces. His talon trapped between the boards. Jola landed on her hands and feet a good distance away. She knew she didn't have much time, bolting straight for the exit. This suffocatingly long hall made every sprint she took feel useless. Her heart raced as fast as she ran. The fear and anxiety nearly made her pass out. The terrifying presence and screeches of Thialze was immense. But she couldn't give up. She had to protect Elliana.
The giant beast freed its talon. Leaving a bigger hole on the floor. His burning red eyes locked on to his prey. Having a long broken wing would not stop him. Nothing could stop this horrific crusade. He outstretched his enormous wings. He took a vile deep breath.
*crack*
Jola, with Elliana at her back feet away from the exit, froze at the horrific sound of the sound barrier breaking. His ferocious screech of murder deafening to hear. Thialze soaring at them faster than what is possible to perceive, his talons leaving extraordinarily deep gashes on the floor. They had no time to think. The side of his body grazed them, sending them crashing to the east wall as he flew by, separating them. Stopping at the exit. Every bone in his wings broken by the force of his propulsion. He stood like a disgusting wild beast. Rapidly breathing his freezing breath, scanning the area for his prey. The disgust in his eyes was enough to make you puke.
Thialze’s body burned ever greater with revulsion as he felt Jola had climbed up on his back. How could he let this repulsive wench claw her way up his body. He felt bile formed in his throat. Without a thought of care he began to slam his body towards the walls of the hall like a rabid beast, hurting himself more, but his hatred was greater than his pain. Slamming again and again with enough force to nearly break through the walls. His broken bones stabbing inside his flesh. Caring not. Jola nimbly dodged the attacks, making her way up his head, her razor sharp claws letting the fluids of his eye puddle up on the floor. The pain so great it finally broke through his blind hatred for a moment. Sending him into a horrific frenzy. Jola dropped down and looked for Elliana.
“Hey! Hey! Hey! please WAKE up!” Jola softly slapped Elliana, her hasty breath barely giving her time to think properly. She’s been working on pure instinct this entire time.
“J-Jola?” Elliana opened her eyes slightly, with tears in her eyes.
“YES HELLO, WE’RE STILL IN THIS DAMNED HALL SO GRIP TIGHT” She threw the young princess on her back yet again.
As she was getting ready to sprint out of the infernal hall, Elliana noticed a massive long table heading their way at an alarming speed. Mere seconds before it hit them she created a sphere of black ice around them to protect them from the terrifying force. The hit sent them rolling to the very back of the hall, nearly making them lose consciousness. Freedom was once more far beyond reach.
Thialze did not skip a beat heading towards them, his bleeding eye burning with repulsive hatred. with his talon he held the ice sphere, rapidly slamming it against the floor with the entire force of his hulking body. cracks began to form on the cold sphere. Their hearts bursting out of their chests. The fear and true panic unknown to most. Trapped in a small prison with no escape. Seeing death right in the eyes. It's enough to make a person lose their mind. They almost did. Elliana’s heart broke into a million pieces as she saw the strong Jola. completely frozen in fear. was about to close her eyes and accept this was all her fault, that this was the end. but.eyes gleamed something shining.
“Jola… the apples. He… he spent 19 years… staring at those apples.”
Her shaking hand weakly pointed at them. They were close.
“Eli.. wh-what are you..” Jola noticed the dreadful gaze of the beast break for a second to quickly glance at his apples when he saw them looking at them. Jola understood.
At the height of Thialze’s deadliest slam yet, Elliana made the ice sphere dissolve, Elliana falling to the hard floor below. Jola naturally landed on her feet, and without sparing a second, she made a full dash towards the apples. Claws out ready to slice them all. Thialze couldn't care less about anything else, His full attention was on those apples. His eyes fervent with nauseating hatred. Elliana crawled to the nearest wall and began to slowly freeze the wall with her hands. Jola just needs to buy her some time.
“Bleg.. So pristine and gaudy. How old are these things anyways? You shouldn't keep rotted fruit around, old man.”
She said with a sly smile, completely crushing a whole apple, her hand dripping with the sweet juice of the perfect ripe apple.
“NO! NO! NOOOOOOO!!! DON'T YOU DARE LAY A FINGER ON MY DAUGHTER YOU DISGUSTING WRRRETCHHH!!!!” his vile screeches were unfathomable to bear. The awful revulsion, so thick you could feel it bubbling in your throat. Dashing towards Jola he struck down with his jagged beak. She nimbly dodged to a nearby shelf, taking the apples with her. His beak stuck on the floor for a mere second, his pure rage easily breaking through like butter. Quickly turning his dreadfully sharp gaze towards her. She sliced two more apples, making sure he saw how quickly they ceased to exist. In a tremendous rage full screech he rammed at the shelve at full speed, utterly demolishing it. He looked for Jola in the rubble and was met with another sliced apple thrown at him from above. She had made it to the ceiling beams, taking a bite of another apple and spitting it on the floor below. just an apple remained.
“Blegh. They’re not even worth all this you’re doing y’know? Quite bitter.” Jola spoke in a tone enough to make him go insane with vile, putrid, revolting disgust.
“AAAAAARRGGHHHHH!!!!!!!! YOU DISGUSTING EXCUSE OF A SOULLLLL!!!” His piercing shriek sickened Jola to her core, freezing her in place, her ears rang and her stomach heaved. He swung his body to propel his broken wings to swat at the ceiling beam with immense force. Knocking her hard to the floor.
“I WILLLLL NOTTTT LETTT YOUUU TAKEEEE EVERYTHINGG AWAY FROM ME YOU WENCHHHH!!!!”
The room had grown colder. Elliana had finished. It was time to finish this nightmare. With a mutual nod, Jola grabbed the last apple and threw it with the last of her strength towards the frozen wall. Thialze’s heart stopped. He knew it was a trap. He knew this was the end. None of that mattered in his cold broken heart. He couldn’t allow that apple to cease. No matter what.
“NOOOOOO!!!! MY PRECIOUS DAUGHTERRRRR!!!!” he cried. For once in this horrible night, he cried not with hate. But with agony and sorrow in his voice. As he ran full speed into the frozen wall to catch his precious apple. Crashing right through the fragile ice. Falling into the sharp rocks below. The beautiful golden apple remained unharmed, safely on his broken wings.
Jola slowly made her way to the massive hole in the wall, looking down, making sure he was dead. Her body ached everywhere, she held herself up, fighting through the pain whilst walking to Elliana who still remained beside the destroyed wall, not looking too good herself. Afraid and frantically gasping her panic away. She held her tight, they had survived. Neither wanted to say a word. Jola didn't want to reprimand her for simply wanting to know who she was. Elliana didn’t want to apologize, She knew Jola would just tell her to shut up and hold her. So she did. All of her emotions came crashing down, she cried for a long time, Jola holding her tight. What felt like hours passed, she wiped her tears and softly spoke into Jola’s ears with a sad tearful voice…
Elliana asked Jola to carry her to the painting. Jola was tired and couldn't think why she would want to go back. But she did it anyway. She laid Elliana on the wooden floor. She picked up the empty basket of apples, there was a note inside.
“To my dearest Dad.
I'm sorry for what I said and for leaving you like that… I truly wanted our farewell to be better than this you know.. I always dreamed of the day i would get married.. Get your blessing and live happily ever
after like in the books. I really still want that.. Please change your mind… open your heart to your daughter… I would like to see you one more time at least… you’ll be able to find me here” a location was written down, really far from here.
“That's all I can say I suppose. here's some delicious golden apples… I helped grow them with Lady Ithuna hehe. I hope you can enjoy them, I really put a lot of love into them!
I miss you dad. I love you, no matter what.
Love, Skani”
Elliana tearfully read the note. Her eyes gently gazed at the painting on the floor. The moonlight beautifully illuminating a pretty picture… of a young girl happily hugging a smiling Thialze.