Prologue
The small cabin shook angrily as the wind howled outside. Inside, a woman looked out the window of the cabin, holding her infant son. She looked down at him, tracing his fat, rosy cheeks. He looked like his father, blonde hair and flattened nose, but had her light brown eyes, like her father and his father before him. The birth had been painful, but successful. She had pushed and strained for hours, the babe's father by her side the entire time. But for now, she waited by the window for him to return from harvesting ice, an unusual task for a Sami.
But the babe's father was not of Sami heritage.
Espen was a Norwegian man, from a kingdom called Arendelle, searching for work near the Sami village where the woman lived. She was an apprentice to the local healer, but yearned of the knowledge he had. The woman, named Nadija, knew that herbs and roots could only go so far when it came to healing the wounded and sick. The Norwegian man, even though he had limited knowledge, could tell her basic first aid procedures. After all, he was only an ice harvester. But he had intrigued her and she intrigued him.
After a while, the two had fell in love. He admired her feistiness and intelligence and she admired his bravery and good heart. However, the people of Nadija's village did not approve. Her grandfather, the chief, told her to stay away from him, for he would only take advantage of her. Her father, who cared deeply for his only daughter, said the same thing, but also to follow her heart.
Nine months later, she was holding her infant son in her arms, waiting for Espen to come home. The door flew open, snow flying into the small cabin. The figure closed the door and began to shake off his boots.
"Espen!" Nadija scoffed. "Be careful when you open the door! You'll get ice everywhere." She walked over to him, pecking him softly on the lips.
"Nice to see you too, dear." Espen said, kissing her back. The baby cooed, looking up at his parents. "And hello to you too, Kristoff." He said, kissing his son on the forehead. Nadija smiled at her boys, happy that they could be together. "How was your day? Anything exciting happen?" He asked.
Nadija sighed. "Oh the usual. Fed the baby, read some books, fed the baby again." She said, putting Kristoff in his crib. "How about you stud? How's the manly world of ice harvesting going along?" She teased. Espen hung his coat up by the door and shook his boots off.
"Oh it was quite manly. You know, me and the boys hauled a good lot for the celebration of the new princess." Nadija, looked up from stirring the stew on the fireplace.
"Really? Of Arendelle?" Espen nodded. "That's nice for the King and Queen, I suppose." Nadija continued stirring, the smell of the herbs filled the small cabin.
Suddenly, there was a hurried knocking at the door. Espen rose from his seat at the table and opened the door.
"Issko! Come in, quickly!" Espen said, rushing the older man in. Nadija quickly got up from where she sat in front of the fire.
"Father!" She cried, embracing him. "Why are you here at this hour? Is something wrong?" Issko pushed his hood back, his eyes full of sorrow.
"The chief is beginning to get suspicious of your whereabouts. He's threatening to send search parties. He might even..." Nadija gasped, her hand flying to her mouth.
"He can't!" She cried. "He won't! He won't take Kristoff away from us." She looked to Espen, who was as worried as he was. "Espen?" She looked at her companion. "What are we going to do." Espen sighed, running a hand through his blonde hair. He looked to Issko for an answer, an answer both of them knew.
The next morning, Espen left for work as usual, this time he had a small bundle in his arms. He had all the supplies he would need for his son and knew of a cabin near the ice harvester's lake. He would miss Nadija and Issko, Nadija mostly, and hated to see his son grow up without his mother.
"We'll see her again buddy." He said to the small bundle. "We'll see her someday."