Kapitel Tretton

(Chapter Thirteen)

Sven awoke to the knocks on his cottage door. He quickly arose and pulling up his pants, walked toward the door.

"I'm coming." He opened the door.

"Yes, guard?", he questioned.

"The King wishes to see you immediately. In his chamber."

"Very well, I'll be with you shortly."

Sven slowly pushed the door closed as to not awaken Ingrid. Turning to reach for his shirt, that lay on the chair not far from him, he found himself face to face with the little Brownie that had inhabited his home for several years now. He did not speak. He only handed Sven a scroll. Sven looked at the brownie, as he began to untie the scroll. The brownie began to shake his head.

"Only in the King's presence?", Sven questioned in a whisper. The brownie nodded. Sven quickly put on his shirt, and hurried out the front door where the King's guard was awaiting him.

Johan paced the floor of his chambers anxiously awaiting Sven's arrival. He must tell Sven of his dream. Perhaps Sven might have receive some word from the brownie, or the dwarfs. The doors of his chambers opened almost simotainiously with the knocks he heard.

"Sven, I must speak with you. I have seen Sophia. She is alive! I have seen her in my dreams, and I know she is alive! But, I do not know how to find her, or where she is."

"Sit now, My Lord. Tell me of your dream."

Johan sat down and began to recall every single detail of the dream that he had just had. "It was like I could read her mind. I knew what she was thinking, I knew what she was feeling. I could hear with her ears, and see with her eyes. It was like I was in her, yet watching from the outside."

"Continue.", Sven nodded.

Johan took a deep breath, and began again. "Sophia walked along the narrow cobblestone path that led deeper into the cave. Brilliant colored flowers of yellow, red and pink adorned the edges of the walkway. There were large boulders that had fallen from the walls of the cave and were now covered in blankets of soft green moss. A beautiful small stream made it's way amidst the flowers and rippled melodically over the moss covered stones. The air was so crisp. The fragrance of violets and bluebells were in the air and and the mist from the falls fell ever so lightly on her face.

she turned suddenly. Something moved. Slowly she took in all her eyes could see, but she saw nothing. Just the beauty of the cave. With an Errie feeling coming over her, she quickly made her way back up the cobblestone path. She should go back. Father would wonder where she had gone. The mouth of the cave was just ahead. Just a few more steps. She turned to get one more glimpse of this beautiful place. But, when she turned back, all that lay before her was cold dark stone. The door to the outside world was gone.

She turned back toward the cave and watched as slowly, one by one, the flowers started to sit her and die. The once brilliant hues of green moss that covered the boulders and stones, turned yellow, then brown, then black, as if they had been burned. The once beautiful towering birch were now bare and their leaves lay faded on the ground, once green with grass, now barren. The falls, once crystal blue, that flowed into a beautiful pool below, were now dried up. Nothing remained by masses of slime and mud. The light began to fade. It grew darker and darker. Soon Sophia could see nothing. It was so quiet, there were no sounds at all. No rippling brooks, no breeze. The once fragrant air, was now fowl and pungent.

Suddenly, she froze. Noises! She listened ever so carefully. It was a very faith mumbling sound. Almost as if someone were whispering, but in some dialect she didn't understand. The noises seemed to get closer, but she dare not move. She could see nothing. In one sudden swoop, her arms were grabbed from behind and tied with what felt like pieces of rough leather. She could not see what had grabbed her, but she was being drug out of the light that streamed through the top of the cave. Soon the same rough bindings that she felt on her wrist, she could now feel around her ankles. They were tight and rubbed her skin. Soon the grip of what ever it was that had her, lessened. She starred into the blackness that surrounded her and listened to the mumbling sounds that were coming out of the darkness. Gradually, she began to notice that it was beginning to get lighter. She began to blink, trying to adjust her eyes and trying to see what, up until now, had been hidden in the darkness. But, the light was not getting any brighter now. Straining her eyes she managed to make out sever small figures, gathered on every side of her. Slowly, their images began to come into view. She began to see faces, hideous little faces! She sat petrified at the sight of what she saw in front and all around her. Little people? No...Not people. They have tails. Huge noses and wide grotesque mouths. Long pointed ears that flopped, on in one direction, one in the other. They had only tree fingers on each hand. They were long and pointed with long sharp nails. Their clothes, mere rags wrapped around their queer little bodies, and held in place with worn leather bindings.

"You can't leave here. Ever!", once of them said, in a deep and rough voice.

"I want to go home to my Father!", she said, trying to make her voice forceful, and demanding, as if she weren't afraid.

"You had better just get use to staying here, forever. You will be our slave, you will cook and wait on us."

"Never! I will never be your slave! Do you know who I am? I am Princess Sophia, heir to the throne! Do you have any idea what will happen to you when my Father finds you?"

"Your Father will never find you. He may return here, many a time, but he will never find the entrance to our cave." Another one soon spoke up. "We have ways of making you do what we wish. Do you not realize who we are and the powers we possess?"

"I do not know who you are and neither do I care to know. My Father will find me."

Johan wept as he continued his story.

"The dirty little men scurried around her, doing some curious lop-sided kind of dance and making odd chuckling like noises. Sophia just sat and watched, for what seemed like forever. Finally, one of the little creatures came to her with some form of drink. He desperately tried to get her to drink, but she would only sit it out. He shouted a few odd sounding words to his companions, who hurriedly pounced upon her, binding her to the floor of the cave. The one with the drink, rapidly began to pour the mixture down her throat. They got up and left, leaving her to sit alone. Going to the far side of the cave, they gathered dead sticks and branches and began lighting small fires, scattered here and there. A somewhat larger fire was being made not too far from Sophia.

She began to feel strange. She didn't even know how to describe it. It was almost like floating, or feeling like she was full of air. So light that at any moment, she felt like she would just rise from the floor of the cave.

Two of the spiteful little creatures went to her side. Bending over, they began to pike, and jab at her with sticks. She did not reason, for she couldn't feel anything. Her body just rocked and bobbed, one side to the other.

"She is ready to do our bidding.", one snickered nastily.

"She is quite a lovely one, isn't she? Such a lovely young thing we have not seen in some time. She should be a pleasure to have around. Get up!", he shouted, as he kicked her. "Cook our food!"

Slowly she rose from the floor, as the ugly little men began untying her ankles and wrists. They took her arms and practically dragging her, led her to the fireside. They pushed her, pointing to the fresh meat that lay on the ground at her feet. She bent to her knees to willing begin her task.

There is no time to her. It stands still. Days are endless and nights sleepless. It is always dark and she works when the little men tell her to, just as they tell her when to sleep. She does not know night from day. They keep mixing their strange potions for her to drink and it leaves her in a sort of unconscious state. It is as though she cannot think, much less comprehend the time she has been here. She is confused. Is it days, weeks, months....Or has it been only a few hours. She does not know. She sits in a daze and these words hang in the back of her mind. "Father....Where is Father?"

"I am sure it is the trolls that have Sophia.", Sven declared. "However, I have this scroll that was given to me by the brownie, even as I was dressing and preparing to make my way to your chambers. He said I was to open it only in your Presence." Sven began to unwrap the scroll. Unrolling it, he began to read aloud to the Kind.

"The evil trolls hold your

daughter. They will hold her

as a slave. As long as she

is young and beautiful, they will

keep her. When she begins

to turn old, they will

do away with her and you

will see her no more.

Summon all young gentlemen

to your kingdom.

Speak with every one of

them. Look for strength

and wisdom, honesty and

purity. Your wisdom is

great and you will know

him when you see him.

Give him the sword that you

will find by the rose garden

in your courtyard. The

power of the steel will be with him. He can break

this evil spell and

return your believed daughter

to your arms.

Handing the scroll to Johan, he slowly began to roll it up, as he turned towards the doors of his chambers, and summed the guard to bring his scribe to him immediately, and to retrieve the sword that was to be found in the garden.

"I shall offer half my kingdom, and my daughters hand in marriage to the man that can return her my daughter to me."

Johan turned toward Sven. "We must find her!"

"We will. We will My Lord!"

By morning, decrees had been made to all neighboring villages. News traveled quickly. Before long, young gentlemen and noblemen from all over the kingdom were arriving at the castle, in hopes that they would be the one chosen to find the princess Sophia. Johan knew that the task before him was a great one. How would he be sure he had chosen the right young man? He must have faith in the dwarfs. That he would know home when he saw him. He must believe that what they say is true, for he knows not where to turn next.

Kapitel Fjorton

(Chapter Fourteen)

Sven had been spending long hours in the blacksmith shop. Ingrid had pleaded with him time after time to slow down and not work so hard. But, Sven could be a very stubborn man and he so enjoyed his work. But Sven was no longer a young man, and Ingrid so feared that his aging body would soon give out on him.

"Why don't you take a rest, Sven, and let Karl do some of that work? You are so tie."

"I'm not tired, Mamma, just a bit slower than I use to be. Work is good for the soul, as well as for the body. I must keep working, it helps me keep my mind off my darling granddaughter, Sophia. Where is she and why can't anyone find her?"

"I don't know Sven.", Ingrid said, as tears started to form in her clear blue eyes. "I do not understand it, but the King will find her. Johan is a wise King, he will know what to do."

"You don't understand, do you Ingrid? The trolls have Sophia. There is nothing the King can do. We do not know where they are keeping her, or if and when they will release her. Maybe never. They are evil little creatures. They are of the devil himself. My darling granddaughter is being held captive by those terrifying little beings. I fear with all my heart that I may never see Sophia....Ah........", Sven suddenly grasp his chest.

"Sven, Sven, are you alright? Oh my!" She ran to his side, as she began to cry out. "Karl! Karl! Come quickly!"

Karl ran into the small cottage.

"Oh no, Ingrid! What has happened?"

"I don't know Karl. Go at once to the palace. Inform the guards of what has happened. They will send the physicians, and inform the King and Kirsten as to what has happen."

"At once. I shall hurry."

Karl raced his way across the courtyard toward the castle. A guard standing at the out get, saw Karl coming.

"Inform the King and the physicians, immediately!", Karl shouted loudly, as he approached the guard. "Sven the blacksmith has taken quite ill. Quickly! Quickly! I am returning to Sven's cottage to see what help I can be to Ingrid."

When Karl returned to the cottage, Ingrid was sitting on the floor, her husband's head cradled in her lap.

"How is he Ingrid?"

"He is very weak, Karl. His body is tired and worn out."

"Karl?", Sven said in a very strained and weak voice. "Is that you Karl?"

"Yes Sven, It is me. Try not to talk, the physicians are on their way. His Majesty and the Queen are also coming."

"Karl, it may be you."

"Try not to talk Sven, stay silent."

"It may be you that can save Sophia from the evil that is holding her."

Sven's voice was so faint and weak. Karl had a hard time understanding exactly what it was that he was trying to say.

"The dwarfs, they're helping us find Sophia. Only a man of honesty, and wisdom, strength and purity, can rescue the Princess. They have spoken these words. Somehow...I feel they are speaking of you."

"But Sven, I am only a simple blacksmith. I may have strength and honesty, even purity, but I am not a man of great wisdom. I would not know how or where to begin to look for the Princes."

"The dwarfs have chosen you, My son. Speak to the King. Then you will know."

Sven's eyes closed slowly, just as the physicians and Kirsten came running through the door of the cottage.

"Pappa!" Kirsten wept, as she knelt on the floor by her Pappa's side.

The physicians, slowly nodding their head's, spoke softly. "He is gone, My Queen."

Ingrid wept like a child. "No!", as she threw her body on top of her beloved Sven.

Kirsten turned to the sound of Johan coming through the front door. "Pappa,..He is gone." Kirsten rose quickly to her feet, and ran to Johan's side.

"My darling Kirsten," he whispered, as he held her tightly in his arms. He knew how she felt, for it had not been so long that he had forgotten, when his own Father had laid before him. Gone from this world, forever. "Guard." Johan turned to speak with him, then he thurned to Kirsten's side. "Take your Mother to the castle. She will come live with us now, in the palace. There will be too many memories here for her now. The guard will help you and I will return to the castle shortly.

Kirsten helped her mother from the floor of the cottage, across the courtyard and back to the palace. The guards removing Sven's body from the cottage, carried it back to the castle to prepare it for burial. Karl stood, looking out the cabin window.

"Karl, I must speak with you no."

"Yet your Majesty?", Karl answered.

"The blacksmith shop is your responsibility now. Ingrid will remain in the castle with us, so you many now occupy this house of you wish. It will put you closer to your work. Which, I might add, I have been very well pleased with."

"Thank you, Your Majesty.", Karl paused, thinking about what Sven had told him.

"Is there something else Karl, that you wish to speak to me about> I may be King, but you can talk to me as a friend. Sven was my friend. We talked many times and I respected his words as words of wisdom and kindness."

"But that is what troubles me, MY Lord. I have no words of wisdom. How could I be the one?"

"Whatever do you mean Karl, the one to what?"

"My Lord, before Sven,...died, he told me that he was sure, I had been chosen by the dwarfs, to rescue the Princess Sophia."

"Sven told you this?"

"Yes,...He did my Lord."

"Then come! Come quickly, Karl! There must be no delay!"

Quickly the King turned and ran from the cottage. Karl stood still, for just a moment, pondering. "I must go see what this is all about."

While making their way to the throne room, the King began to tell Karl f the instructions given to him by the dwarfs and how Sophia would be rescued.

"They told me that I would know which man to send. That I would know him when I saw him."

"But me? Me, my Lord, I would give anything in my power if I could return the Princess Sophia to you. But I know not how."

The King turned suddenly toward Karl.

"And, what if I would give you the power you need?"

"What my Lord?", Karl questioned.

Without further delay, the King walked to a table that sat near the great stoned walls of the throne room. Turning to face Karl with outstretched arms, he held in his hand the most magnificent sword that Karl had ever seen. Johan walked slowly toward Karl. The steel was brilliant, almost blinding to Karl. The guard, adorned with one giant emerald.

"Take it Karl. If you are the chosen one, we will know."

Karl's hands reached slowly out toward the sword. His insides fluttered, like the wings of a thousand birds. What would happened when he placed his hands on this sword. Part of him wondered, part of him did not want to know. Slowly he took the sword from the King's hands, steadily increasing his grip on this magnificent piece of craftsmanship. Suddenly, the emerald began to glow.

"Look! Karl! This must be a sign. You have been chosen to find my beloved Sophia. My daughter's hand and half my Kingdom is yours, if you can return my Princess to me."

Karl stood like a rock wall, unmoved. A new sense of strength seemed to well up from inside him. Power like he had never felt before. "I will bring her to you , My Lord. If it takes me to my last dying breath, I will bring Princess Sophia back to you."

"We begin tomorrow, at dawns first light!"

Kirsten was sorrowful over the loss of her Father, yet part of her was so elated when Johan told her of what had happened in the throne room with Karl. There were many times that she feared she would never see Sophia again. Now, her hope and strength had been renewed.

Ingrid, distraught with tried, had finally fallen asleep. Kirsten had sat by her Mother's bedside, till sleep had finally arrived. Kirsten worried for her Mamma, for she knew not how she would survive without Sven. She was so devoted to him. Maybe the news of Sophia would help relieve some of her anguish. Kirsten so hoped that it would.

*****

The first light of dawn gave Kirsten a new ray of hope, as she watched Karl race speedily on horseback across the emerald green meadow, that she gazed upon from her balcony.

"Find her Karl...Find her, you must!" she whispered to herself.

"What did you say, My Dear?", Johan asked softly.

"I was wondering if today would be the day that I would see may dear Sophia again. Karl has to find her. He must find her."

"I know not how long it will take, my darling, but Karl will find her. I know he will. I have told him of the cliff where we last saw Sophia. He has gone there now."

"But how will he get in, Johan? How can he penetrate a solid rock bluff?"

"I do not know that either, Kirsten, but he will. He has the power of the steel with him. The steel will provide a way."

Kirsten turned and walked back to the balcony. Gazing across the beautiful valley that lay before her, she prayed with all her might that the gods would guide Karl's footsteps and that soon, she would be holding her precious Sophia in her arms once again.

"I must go now, Kirsten." , Johan o.

"I have much to do today and I must inform my advisors of the steps we have now taken to find Sophia."

"You will bring word to me at once, if new is heard of Sophia?"

"Yes Dear, I will."

"I will be in Mamma's room if you need me. I hope our news of Sophia will help cheer her up. She is so distraught over Pappa."

"I;m sure she will be delighted to hear that Sophia will soon be back with us."

"Will she really be back home soon, Johan?"

"Yes My Dear, I'm sure she will."

Johan took Kirsten in his arms and held her close. She felt so safe, so secure. She believed in Johan and if he said Sophia would be found, then Kirsten would believe it so. She trusted him, always, and he had not failed her yet. He would not fail her now. Johan kissed her lightly on the cheek and turned to leave their chambers. Kirsten did not take her eyes off of him as he crossed the room. She watched the large wooden doors close behind him. Now, there was nothing but silence. A silence that she could not stand. She had to keep busy today. Perhaps news of S Sophia would come more quickly if she could flood her mind with other thoughts, and tasks. Helping to care for Mamma would keep her busy. She quickly began to dress herself, not even taking time to call for her maid servants assistance. Mamma would be awaking soon. She must hurry.

To Be continued.