NPE | Chapter 16
The North Pole Epic
More in this series: Prologue, Ch. 1, Ch. 2, Ch. 3, Ch. 4, Ch. 5, Ch. 6, Ch. 7, Ch. 8, Ch. 9, Ch. 10, Ch. 11, Ch. 12, Ch. 13, Ch. 14, Ch. 15, Ch. 16, Ch. 17, Ch. 18, Ch. 19, Ch. 20, Ch. 21, Ch.22, Ch. 23
Four bears stand ready at the main tunnel entrance. Nicholas comes flying in his sleigh completely incensed. Goblins, trolls, yetis and wolves all bar the way. Elves jump out of the back of Nicholas’ sleigh. Nicholas launches a full on assault The goblins had hardly a chance to stop.
Nicholas and his reindeer plow through the ranks Racking goblin guards with antlers and shanks. Wolves fly through the air. Trolls are mauled by bears. Elves melt the frozen tunnel archway Hacking the ice, furiously breaking it away. In a matter of minutes the elves break through And the guards lay dead at the doing of Nicholas, the bears, and caribou.
Food is rushed in because no elves come out. There’s confusion all around. Nicholas looks to his side. He looks into Klaas open eyes. They don’t blink. They remain open. Nicholas’ heart sinks. He has never felt so frozen. His good friend dead, Grief fills him again. Nicholas closes his eyes Unmoving as he lies Still in the snow Pierced by an arrow.
Nic rushed out of the archway Having come all the way from the bank. Nic looked at the carnage with tear filled eyes. So much violence and mangled lives. Tomten joins Nic. His approach silent. He rested his hand on Nic’s shoulder As Nic lost all composure, Sobbing, Choking on air. Tomten held Nic close A hard lump in his throat As he looked around And spotted Nicholas on the ground. “They’re not all dead,” Tomten quickly said. Nic looked up in surprise And followed Tomten’s eyes. Nic ran to Nicholas’ side. Tomten checked the others’ vital signs. “Why,” Nic softly said. “What was going through your head?” “I’ve got an arrow in my chest . . .” Nicholas gasped. Nic grabbed a sled. Nicholas’ breath came in gurgling rasps. Several elves whisked Nicholas to the bank While herders and elves tended to the injured. Nicholas had to be seen by surgeons. His condition critical. He was fading away.
Poor Nic.