"Good Sir, I do believe that we are almost to that mountain," Ella pointed to the towering mountain from far ahead that they could already see. It's peaks looked as if they were wearing a crown of white, fluffy clouds. They were truly beautiful. Billy couldn't quite focus on that aspect of them, however, as he knew what was coming. He was going to have to climb those mountains, along with Ella. And from what he could already see, the mountains didn't look very...climbable.

"Yes, you're right Ella. And do you think...um...just a question, do you think that my armor is going to hold me back while I'm climbing the mountain?" Billy questioned, working to mask the tension in his voice.

Ella shrugged and said with a small smile, "I wouldn't know. I've never climbed a mountain before. I'm excited though!"

Billy was surprised. How could Ella be excited to climb that intimidating mountain that was beckoning at them from afar? He was more anxiously excited than anything else.

After a lot of walking, the mountain became much less like a distant painting and more like a concrete object. A concrete object that Billy would have to climb.

"We have arrived, Sir Edward. We must start climbing. It would be rude of me to go ahead of you," Ella nudged him slightly, towards the mountain.

Billy held in his breath as he studied the mountain. As he looked at it closely he could see grooves in it that would make good grip as he would climb. But as he looked at how tall the mountain was, he grew nervous all over again. He would have to maintain good grip all the way until he would get to the top, and if he didn't, well, he would have to rely on his metal suit to save him.

"What's wrong, Sir Edward?" Ella had asked him with a worried look, after Billy had been reluctant to start climbing for quite a while.

"I'm fine, don't worry about me," Billy said quickly, in a harsher tone than he had meant to use. His nervousness was getting to him.

Ella stiffened a bit before saying calmly, "Sir Edward...with all due respect, do you need some help?"

"No! I don't need help!" Billy had exclaimed in annoyance, still willing to maintain the tough front that Sir Edward The Third would be expected to maintain.

Ella had inched back a bit after hearing Billy's sudden exclamation, and then said in a soft voice while putting a hand on his shoulder,

"Sir Edward...it's okay if you're a little nervous to climb the mountain. I'm nervous too."

Billy gave her a doubtful look. "I thought you said that you were excited."

Ella nodded and acknowledged, "Yes, I did say that. But that doesn't mean that I'm not nervous, too. It's okay to feel that way. We should climb this mountain together, knowing that we both are there for each other."

Billy thought about what Ella had said and allowed the words to sink in. He realized that Ella was right, and decided to trust her.

"Okay...let's go."

"That's the spirit, good Sir!"

With that, Ella and Billy started climbing the mountain. Billy focused on using the natural indents in the mountain for grip, and never looked down.

Don't look down... He reminded himself, the chant he had used back at the Goblin Bridge also applying to the situation he was in now.

He and Ella continued climbing and climbing, the support they gave each other simply by being present motivating them to keep going. They climbed and climbed, and for what seemed like hours, a small mountain path was beginning to reveal itself.

"Ella, we made it!" Billy shouted with glee, stepping onto the path.

Unfortunately, his sudden exclamation had caught Ella off guard, causing her to temporarily lose her focus...as well as her grip.

"Oh no!" Billy cried out as he saw Ella begin to slip.

"Help!" She called, desperately trying to stay on the mountain, but her panic was holding her back.

"Hold on, I've got you!" Billy reached out a hand to Ella, which she grabbed, and with a mighty tug, Billy was able to pull Ella up the mountain and onto the mountain path.

Ella was panting, overcoming the shock of the event.

"Are you okay, Ella?" Billy asked worriedly.

"Yes...I'm fine..." Ella replied slowly, and then added, "Thank you Billy...you saved my life...if I would have fallen down that mountain..."

"Don't think about that, Ella. The good news is that you're safe, and that this isn't going to happen to you again. I won't allow it," Billy said bravely.

Ella smiled gratefully. "You are such a brave knight, Sir Edward."

Billy smiled back and then said, "Come on. Let's head up the path. We just made it past our second obstacle...I think we deserve a break now."

Ella nodded, and then squinted her eyes at Billy. "Wait a minute...I thought you said that you wouldn't ever need to take a break..."

Billy's cheeks turned pink behind his helmet as he said sheepishly, "Well...I guess I just wasn't thinking ahead."

"If you say so," Ella shrugged and then laughed.

Billy's cheeks remained pink, still a bit embarrassed by how inconsistent he had been. Still, he had to admire how far he and Ella had gone. They had made it past the Goblin Bridge, and now the mountain. They couldn't be too far from the princess now.

And the trolls..., Billy had reminded himself unwillingly, looking up at the darkening sky with a hint of fear.