Chapter 16

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

R udi stared out at the fog, the glow from his antlers casting strange shadows, ghostly shapes that danced at the edge of his vision. He’d spent his whole life trying to hide this part of himself, and now Clarice was encouraging him to embrace it.

“I don’t know if it’s enough,” he muttered, his fingers tight around the controls. “The fog’s so thick. We could end up lost, or worse.”

Her small hand slipped into his other hand, her touch sending warmth through his body. His mating marks tingled beneath his clothes, a constant reminder of their connection.

“You can do this,” she said firmly. “I’ve seen what you’re capable of.”

Niklaus leaned forward and put his hand on his shoulder.

“She’s right, Rudi. Your gift isn’t something to hide—it’s exactly what we need right now.”

His chest tightened as he remembered the number of times he’d pushed away similar encouragement from Niklaus. He’d been so determined to prove he didn’t need anyone that he’d rejected every attempt at connection.

He wanted to argue, to protest that it wasn’t reliable, wasn’t something he could control. But the conviction in Clarice’s eyes held him back. He’d never known that kind of acceptance or faith before. It was almost terrifying how much he wanted to live up to that belief.

“But what if—” he began, and she squeezed his hand.

“No what-ifs,” she interrupted. “Just trust yourself the way we trust you.”

“I know you can guide our sleigh tonight,” Niklaus agreed.

He looked at the two of them—Clarice with her unwavering faith, and Niklaus who’d never given up on him despite years of rejection. The fog pressed in around them, but the glow from his antlers remained steady, pushing back the darkness.

He took a deep breath, straightening his shoulders, and nodded abruptly. He gripped the sleigh’s controls and slowly started to guide it along the trail. As he drove, he concentrated on the energy flowing through his antlers. The familiar tingling sensation intensified, and the glow strengthened, cutting through the dense fog like a blade. His breath created swirling patterns in the frigid air as he slowly guided the sleigh forward.

The presence of Clarice and Niklaus anchored him, their unwavering trust an almost physical support. He’d never had anyone believe in him this way before—had never allowed it.

The fog parted before the light of his antlers, creating a tunnel of visibility that stretched ahead. The crystalline particles in the air caught the glow, transforming the dreary gray into something almost magical. His chest swelled with an unfamiliar feeling as he watched the effect.

For the first time, he saw his difference not as a curse but as a gift. The same light that had marked him as an outsider now carved their path to safety. His antlers weren’t just exposing him—they were protecting them all.

The realization struck him with unexpected force. All these years he’d hidden away, ashamed of what made him unique. But here, in this moment, his difference wasn’t something to fear or hate. It was exactly what they needed.

The steady hum of the sleigh’s engine mixed with the soft breathing of his companions as they traveled through the ethereal landscape. The light continued to push back the fog, reflecting off the snow and ice in shimmering patterns. With each mile they covered, his confidence grew, and the glow from his antlers brightened in response. No one spoke, but their trust and gratitude wrapped around him like a warm blanket in the freezing air.

Hours passed and his arms began to ache from maintaining control of the sleigh for so long, as well as the constant strain of keeping his antlers lit. The latter drained him in a way he’d never experienced before, and his vision began to blur at the edges.

The fog started to press closer, and he blinked hard, trying to clear his head. The controls felt heavy in his hands, and his shoulders cramped from the tension of maintaining their course.

His antlers flickered, their glow dimming for a heart-stopping moment. Panic seized him—without their light, they’d be lost in this impenetrable gray void. He struggled to focus, to maintain the energy needed to keep them burning. His breath came in ragged gasps, the cold air biting at his lungs. His head throbbed in time with his heartbeat, and black spots danced at the edges of his vision.

He couldn’t lose consciousness. Not here, not now when they depended on him. He gritted his teeth, fighting against the exhaustion dragging at his limbs.

Just a little further, he told himself, his fingers numb around the controls. Just a little longer...

The world tilted around him, and he had to blink away the darkness closing in. His antlers glowed weakly, barely enough to light the way. He could feel the others looking at him, but he didn’t dare glance their way.

He had to keep going. They were counting on him.

Then a small, warm hand touched his arm. Clarice. She didn’t speak, but her presence beside him strengthened his resolve.

He could do this, he would do this. For her. For all of them. The thought of Eldrik controlling everyone’s lives, using fear to bend them to his will, strengthened his resolve. His own experiences had taught him the cost of letting fear rule.

His antlers blazed brighter, cutting through the murk with renewed intensity. The fog still surrounded them, dense and oppressive, but it no longer seemed as threatening. With her hand steady on his arm and their mission clear in his mind, he managed to keep the light steady enough for them to continue.

The fog finally began to clear and he watched through bleary eyes as it dissolved into wisps of gray, revealing the village below. It was Wintertide Eve—they had made it back in time. He finally allowed his antlers to dim as the natural light took over.

The sleigh glided to a stop in the village square, but instead of the usual pre-festival excitement, a heavy silence blanketed the square like the fog they’d just escaped.

A few early risers noticed their arrival first. Their eyes widened at the sight of Niklaus, and they rushed forward, calling out to others. Within moments, people emerged from their homes, gathering in growing numbers around the sleigh. Their faces held a mixture of desperation and hope as they looked at Niklaus.

He tensed as the crowd pressed closer, exclaiming excitedly about the journey. He usually hated being the center of attention, but there was something different in the way the villagers looked at him now. Gratitude, perhaps even respect.

Miran came to join them, beaming at him.

“I knew you could do it. Thank you, Rudi.”

He ducked his head, unexpectedly pleased by her approval. She handed each of them a mug of steaming tea, and he drank thirstily, some of his strength returning.

Niklaus drained his mug, then stepped down from the sleigh with the grace of someone half his age. The morning sun caught his white beard, making it sparkle like fresh snow. He strode confidently to the meeting area in front of the hall and turned to address the villagers, his presence filling the square.

“My friends,” Niklaus’s voice rang out clear and strong. “I know we have faced uncertainty, but we will not surrender our land to fear. We shall unite and stand against Eldrik’s threats!”

The crowd shifted, and he felt something stir in his chest as he watched faces transform from worry to determination. Garrick caught his eye and nodded firmly. Clarice squeezed his hand and he realized that for the first time, he truly felt part of the village. He’d spent so long believing he had to stand alone, but now he saw the power that lay in standing together. His antlers tingled with a faint glow, responding to the surge of emotion in the square.

The villagers drew closer to each other, shoulders straightening as Niklaus’s passionate words washed over them. Where before there had been division and suspicion, it had been replaced by a shared determination to resist Eldrik’s manipulation.

A harsh laugh broke through the murmurs of agreement as Eldrik strode forward. The Frost King towered over the crowd, his antlers casting menacing shadows across the snow. The morning light caught on his expensive furs and the jewels that dripped from his neck, making him shimmer like an ice sculpture come to life.

He held up a glowing crystal, its light cold and artificial but bright in the morning light.

“This is the only thing that matters. Without it, your village will freeze. Your children will suffer.”

His words struck like a knife through the fragile unity that had been building. Fear rippled through the crowd, and people began to step back, looking at each other with doubt and uncertainty.

Eldrik’s eyes gleamed with malicious glee as he watched the effect his words were having. But then Miran stepped forward.

“You’re wrong,” she said firmly. “You’re trying to control us with fear. But we won’t be intimidated.”

Clarice joined her, her expression calm but determined.

“I’m not from here, but I know what I’ve seen since I arrived. You are strong, resilient people. And together, you can overcome this threat.”

A few people nodded, and some even took a small step forward. But others still hesitated, their eyes fixed on Eldrik and the glowing crystal he held.

“Eldrik is using fear to manipulate you into submitting,” Niklaus added. “But together, we can resist.”

His voice carried a note of command, and more of the villagers seemed to rally. They began moving closer to the platform, their expressions hardening.

“We’re stronger than you think,” Garrick said firmly. He stepped up beside Niklaus. “I’ll stand with you.”

A few more villagers followed suit, adding their voices to the growing defiance. Others wavered, their eyes darting between the determined group and Eldrik. The wealthy male’s face twisted in anger, and he raised the crystal higher.

“You think your defiance is going to stop me from turning off the power? It won’t, even if every one of you stands against me. And without me, your children will starve and freeze. Is that really worth your pride?”

The crowd shifted, a cautious hope spreading through it. Garrick caught his eye and nodded firmly. Clarice squeezed his hand and he realized that for the first time, he truly felt part of the village. He’d spent so long believing he had to stand alone, but now he saw the power that lay in standing together. His antlers tingled with a faint glow, responding to the surge of emotion in the square.

Then Eldrik came forward, his face a cold mask. The Frost King towered over the crowd, his antlers casting menacing shadows across the snow. The morning light caught on his expensive furs and the jewels that dripped from his neck, making him shimmer like an ice sculpture come to life.

“Stand down, Niklaus,” he said, his voice low and threatening. “You know you’re too old for this.”

“I am not so old as you believe, Eldrik.” Niklaus’s tone held a warning edge. “And I’m not alone.”

The two males locked eyes, and the tension in the square became palpable as the crowd watched silently. His hand clenched into a fist at his side. He had to stop this, had to prevent Eldrik from taking over the village. He stepped forward, ready to defend Niklaus, but Clarice held him back. She met his gaze, her eyes filled with determination. Her voice was barely above a whisper.

“He won’t fight,” she said softly. “He wants to bully everyone into submission.”

“But-”

“Trust me,” she said quietly. “I’ve had a lot of experience with bullies.”

He hesitated for a moment, then gave a quick nod. He didn’t like the idea of standing by while Niklaus faced Eldrik’s threats, but he could hear the conviction in her voice. She’d been right about his ability to lead them through the fog—perhaps she saw something he didn’t.

“Are you prepared to lose everything?” Eldrik continued, his tone cold. “Think of your family’s legacy. Your grandchildren’s future.”

“You think you can manipulate me as you have the rest of the village.” Niklaus smiled sadly. “But I’ve lived long enough to recognize an empty threat.”

His expression hardened.

“And you think you can manipulate us all,” he said, his voice deepening. “But we will not be intimidated. We will stand against you, Eldrik. Together.”

Eldrik’s eyes narrowed. “You don’t know what you’re up against.”

“Oh, I believe I do. You’ve always thought that fear is the only way to lead. But true leadership comes from trust. And you have lost the trust of this village, Eldrik. Threats will not change that.”

“Threats?”

Eldrik sneered and held up a glowing crystal, its light cold and artificial but bright in the morning light.

“This is not a threat; it is a reality. Without the power of the crystals this village will freeze. Your children will suffer.”

Eldrik’s eyes gleamed with malicious glee as he watched the effect his words were having, but Miran stepped forward defiantly.

“We’re stronger than you think.”

The other villagers murmured in agreement. Eldrik’s jaw clenched, his eyes narrowing. He glanced at the villagers, then back at Niklaus. His sneer widened, and he crushed the crystal in his fist. It shattered with a crack, shards scattering across the snow. The crowd gasped, recoiling from the fragments glittering in the snow like sharp icicles.

Eldrik’s lips curled into a cold smile as he surveyed the shocked faces. “This is the fate that awaits you all if you continue to defy me.”

Niklaus’s expression hardened. He stepped forward, his broad shoulders squared. “You’ve made your point, Eldrik. But we will not surrender to your threats.”

The Frost King’s lips twisted in a sneer, his eyes cold and hard.

“Then you will pay the price. The power of the crystals will be withdrawn, and all the comforts they provide. And this time, there will be no mercy. Your precious village will freeze.”

He turned and strode away, leaving a trail of glittering crystal fragments in his wake. The crowd watched him go, a heavy silence settling over them. But Niklaus remained standing tall, his gaze never wavering. As he looked out over the villagers, his expression softened, and he smiled gently.

“Fear not, my friends,” he said, his voice ringing out through the square. “We have faced hardships before, and we will overcome this as well. Together, we can weather any storm that comes our way. And we will show Eldrik that true strength lies not in fear, but in unity.”

“But we’ll freeze,” someone cried out.

“No we won’t,” Niklaus said firmly. “Have you forgotten the old ways? We will cut wood to heat our houses and make candles to provide light. We survived before the crystals. We will survive without them.”

More murmurs traveled through the square, and he saw people being to nod. The older people were especially confident. They had lived before the crystals, and knew what to do. Niklaus smiled at them all.

“We will have to make sacrifices,” he admitted. “But together, we will survive. And I, for one, am tired of being bullied. I will stand for our village.”

The crowd erupted in a mix of cheers and anxious chatter.