Chapter 74: Great Forest of Arendel
Chapter 74: Great Forest of Arendel
Meanwhile, deep within the Great Forest of Arendel, the majestic Great Tree stood tall, its massive branches spreading wide and providing shelter to the elven kingdom. The throne hall, nestled within the heart of the tree, exuded an aura of ancient wisdom and serene beauty. The walls were adorned with intricate carvings and shimmering crystals, casting a soft glow throughout the chamber.
Inside the throne hall, King Thandor was seated on his throne. He had long, silver hair and a regal presence. His daughter, Princess Elara, stood beside him. She had beautiful, lustrous platinum silver hair that fell in waves around her shoulders, and her eyes were a striking shade of green.
Their conversation was interrupted as the doors burst open. A soldier rushed in, his face pale with urgency.
"Your Majesty, Princess Elara, forgive the intrusion," the soldier said, bowing quickly. "There is an urgent matter."
King Thandor sat up straight. "What is it, soldier?"
The soldier took a deep breath. "A Flame Dragon is heading towards our location. It has already destroyed the city of Ferm and is making its way here."
King Thandor's face turned serious. "A Flame Dragon? Are you certain?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. The scouts have confirmed it. The beast is on a direct path to the Great Tree," the soldier confirmed.
King Thandor turned to Elara, worry in his eyes. "We must mobilize our forces immediately. Prepare the archers and the mages. Every able-bodied elf must be ready to defend our home."
The soldier bowed again. "At once, Your Majesty." He hurried out of the hall to relay the king's orders.
Thandor then looked at his daughter. "Elara, you must leave. The Flame Dragon is a formidable enemy, and I cannot risk your safety. Go to the sanctuary with the others."
Elara shook her head. "No, Father. I will not abandon our people. I can fight, and my magic can be of use. We must stand together."
The king's eyes flashed with both pride and frustration. "Elara, this is not up for debate. You are the future of our people. If something happens to me, you must lead. Your safety is paramount."
Elara stepped closer. "And what kind of leader would I be if I ran at the first sign of danger? Our people need hope, and I will not leave them in their hour of need."
Thandor's frustration boiled over. "This is not about bravery, Elara! It's about survival. You must think of the greater good."
"And I am, Father," Elara countered. "Our people need to see their leaders stand with them, not cower in safety. I can help, and I will help."
The heated argument was interrupted by the return of the soldier. "Your Majesty, the forces are mobilized. We are ready to engage the Flame Dragon on your command."
King Thandor took a deep breath. "Very well. But you will stay close to me at all times. Do you understand?"
Elara nodded. "I understand, Father. We will face this together."
The king nodded, turning back to the soldier. "Sound the alarm. All forces to the perimeter. We will meet this threat head-on."
As the soldier rushed to carry out his orders, the king and his daughter shared a brief glance before following him out of the throne hall, ready to defend their home and people against the imminent threat.
Outside, the elven forces gathered, archers took position while the mages arrived and began chanting spells.
The Flame Dragon above roared, its massive wings casting a shadow over the elven forces gathered below. The mages chanted their spells, forming a shimmering magic barrier above the Great Tree, hoping to protect their home from the beast's fiery wrath.
Without warning, the Flame Dragon unleashed a torrent of fire from its maw, the intense heat causing the air to shimmer. The fire met the magical barrier with a thunderous clash, and for a moment, it seemed the barrier might hold. But the dragon's fire was too powerful, and the barrier shattered, sending shards of magical energy cascading down.
The flames swept through the ranks of elves, engulfing many in an instant. Cries of pain and despair filled the air as dozens fell, their bodies consumed by the dragon's fury. Princess Elara watched in horror as her people were decimated.
"Archers, fire!" King Thandor commanded.
The archers released their enchanted arrows, each one glowing with a magical aura as they sped towards the Flame Dragon. The arrows struck the dragon's scales but simply bounced off, unable to penetrate its tough hide.
Elara clenched her fists, feeling helpless as the arrows failed to make any impact. Determined not to let her people down, she stepped forward and raised her hands, calling upon the ancient powers of nature.
"Spirits of the forest, hear my plea," she chanted.
"Grant me the strength to protect my home and my people. Let the vines of the earth rise and strike down our enemy!"
As she continued her chant, the ground beneath her began to tremble. Energy flowed through her, connecting her to the very essence of the forest. The elven soldiers around her watched in awe as the ground began to crack and shift.
"With the force of nature, I command you," Elara cried, her eyes glowing with a green light. "Rise and defend our land!"
From the earth, a massive, drill-shaped vine erupted, twisting and turning as it shot toward the Flame Dragon. The dragon, still spewing fire and causing destruction, didn't see the vine coming until it was too late. The vine struck with incredible force, wrapping around the dragon's body and piercing its scales.
However, instead of weakening it, the Flame Dragon roared in fury. It thrashed violently, breaking free of the vines with a surge of power. Its eyes locked onto Elara, recognizing her as the source of the attack. With a deafening roar, it reared back and unleashed a torrent of fire directly at her.
Elara's eyes widened in shock. She quickly abandoned her spell and raised her hands, forming a protective barrier just in time. The fire slammed into her barrier, and for a moment, it held. But the intensity of the flames was too much, and cracks began to form in the magical shield.
"Hold on, Elara!" King Thandor shouted, rushing to her side.
The barrier shattered, and Elara was thrown back by the force of the flames. She hit the ground hard, but her quick reaction saved her life. The ground where she had stood was scorched and
smoking.
King Thandor knelt beside her, helping her to her feet. "Are you alright?"
Elara nodded, though she was clearly shaken. "I'm fine, Father. But we need to stop this dragon. Our people can't withstand much more."
***
While all of that was happening, the MQ-1 Predator was watching the scene.
"Oh, I'm sure Shadow Actual won't believe what's happening over at the Great Forest of
Arendel."
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