The Big Four

Chapter 7

As soon as the imminent threat has ended, I expected that the Vikings would disarm us and take us back downstairs.
Instead, they do the strangest thing ever.
They bow… To Jack.
I give Hiccup a confused look. At first, he looks just as bewildered as I am. Then a look of recognition crosses his face, followed by amusement.
I run over to him. “What’s going on?”
“They think that he’s Höðr, the Norse god of winter. I suppose that’s how they saw him.”
I just nod. It’s actually kind of funny to see all of these powerful, menacing Vikings bowing to… Well, Jack.
Jack seems to find it funny, too, but he tries hard not to show it.
“Great and Mighty Höðr,” Hiccup’s dad begins. “We are honored by your presence. What can we do for you?”
I stifle a laugh. A nearby Viking notices. He glares at us. I sidle up by Rapunzel and Jack, and his stare ceases.
“I require nothing but to allow me and my companions to leave in peace.”
I can’t stop myself; I run up to him. I’ll probably end up as some nameless princess in Norse myths someday, but I don’t care.
“My parents are somewhere on this ship.”
Jack just nods, then turns back to the crowd. “Actually, I do request one thing. Bring me the Gaelic King and Queen.”

---

I can’t believe that this is happening. All of these people… They see me because they believe in Höðr, not Jack Frost. I suppose that, in some way, the two must be related.
The Chieftain nods to some Vikings nearest the stairs, and they scurry out of sight.
Just minutes later, they lead two people up from the hold. They’re bruised and bloodied. The woman is tall, with long, dark hair streaked with white. The man has a short, red beard to match his hair.
Merida runs straight towards them, followed by Rapunzel.
They reunite and hug. Rapunzel sings, and the injuries fade. The parents look astonished.

---

I’ve never been happier.
Ever.
Maybe.
“Mother! Dad!” I hug them. Rapunzel heals them. The astonished looks on their faces make me laugh.
“What are all of these Vikings bowing to?”
I glance back at Jack. He just nods, like he expected this. “It’s really complicated…” Ugh. Now I sound like Jack. “I mean, it’s not really. He’s a spirit. Jack Frost. You can’t see him unless you either have magic or know of and believe in his existence. The Vikings have a winter god - Höðr - so they see him. I don’t know quite how Hiccup and I can see him.”
A smile plays across her face. “Hiccup?”
I turn and wave to him. He hesitantly walks over.
My parents’ smiles vanish. “A Viking.”
“Well… yeah. So? We’ve got a Gaelic princess, a Norse god -” I chortle at the second bit “- a magical girl who’s been locked in a tower since childhood, and a Viking. Why single him out?”
I can see the distrust on their faces, so I decide to clear it up a bit more. “He saved my life. Several times.”
They seem to loosen up a bit after this declaration, but they’re obviously still tense.
Jack walks over. “Hey, guys. Just making sure - can the two parents see me?”
“I can,” Mother announces. Dad doesn’t seem to be aware of Jack’s existence.
“Can what?”
“See him. The Jack Frost. Right there. Don’t you see him?”
He hesitates. “No…”

---

Jack raises a hand. “It’s not important,” He says. I can tell it’s not true, though.
Hiccup is shifting uncomfortably. Merida is lost deep in thought.
“So, exactly what had the plan been after this?”
Jack grins. “We need to get back to the Haunted Islands. Not the same one as earlier; that was Bear Island. We need to get to the Haunted Island, in the very center.”
“How do we get there?”
“I’d call on Wind, but he can’t help Merida’s dad. Unless he believes in me, there’s no way for me to help him.”
Merida’s parents start talking in hushed voices.
“But they can’t go to Haunted Island with us. We need exactly four - no more, no less.”
Merida’s mother looks up. “Then replace this Viking with me.”
“No!” Merida crosses her arms and glares at her mother.
“Don’t speak to your mother that way!”
“Everyone, calm down.” I hum a low, soft note, and the tension eases considerably. Jack throws me a grateful look.
Jack takes control of the conversation again. “Merida, Hiccup, Rapunzel, and I are going to Haunted Island. Merida’s parents are going home.”
Merida’s dad glares at Jack. “We aren’t leaving our daughter.”
Jack just smiles. “So you can see me now!”
“Once I saw you all talking to thin air, I figured that that many people couldn’t be crazy and talking to and about the same thing. But more to the point - we’re going with you.”
Jack doesn’t respond. A soft wind lifts them right off of the boat. Before they zoom away, Merida calls out. “See you when I get home!”
And then they’re gone. Just like that.
“Let’s go find a Haunted Island.”