2. Vinter

The sleigh stopped before an elegant ice bridge spanning a deep chasm. Across it, crystal spires sparkled in the sun.

"So much for children's stories," said Anna.

"That's one hell of an ice hall," said Kristoff.

"It's beautiful," said Ida.

As Sven stepped forward the ground started to shift. Ice crackled as a giant snowman rose before them, blocking the path to the bridge. "Go away," it growled.

"The stories failed to mention the giant angry snowman," Kristoff whispered.

"I'll handle it," said Anna, standing. "Stand aside, minion! I have frost blood – or something."

"Yeah," said Ida, firing a jet of frost at the snowman. "Let us through, you big bully."

"Ida," said Kristoff, "I really don't think we should be antagonizing the…"

The snowman roared, extending ice spikes throughout its body. It charged towards them.

"Well handled," said Kristoff, turning Sven around. "Hold on!"

Sven galloped downhill, the snowman plowing towards them. Until it suddenly slid to a halt.

"Why did it stop?" asked Anna. "Oh."

The sleigh careened over the cliff edge.

Everyone screamed.

#

"Ida? Ida!"

"Here, mommy. Can we go again?"

"Thank goodness," said Anna, embracing her.

"I'm fine too, by the way," said Kristoff brushing off the snow. Sven assisted with his tongue.

"I don't feel too good."

"Who said that?" said Anna and Kristoff, looking at each other.

"Has anyone seen my butt?"

They gasped as they found the source. A noseless snowman head smiled back at them.

"Hi, I'm Olaf and I like warm hugs," it said brightly.

"Hi, Olaf, I'm Ida," said Ida, picking it up. "Where's your body?"

"Sweety, get away from the talking head," said Anna.

"Don't be silly, mommy, it's just a snowman."

"A talking snowman," said Kristoff.

"Yep!" said Ida. "Isn't he great?"

Olaf's body plodded up to Ida, who attached his head.

"Ooh, thank you!" said Olaf. "Now I'm perfect."

"Well, almost," said Ida, rummaging through the wrecked sleigh. "There!" she said, plunging a carrot into Olaf's face.

"A nose!" cried Olaf. "I've always wanted a nose! How can I ever repay you?"

"Can you get us into the palace?" asked Anna.

"Excuse me," said Olaf, "I'm talking to Ida here."

"Could you get us into the palace, please?" said Ida.

"Anything for you, dear. Come on, my pal Marshmallow will let us through."

"You seem very familiar, Olaf," said Anna.

"Oh, I get that a lot. I have a very common face."

#

Sunlight shone through the walls in reflections and rainbows.

"Wind lords live pretty well," said Kristoff.

"Wind lords?" asked Olaf.

"Your creator," said Anna. "Perhaps you use a different name."

"Oh, I see," said Olaf, entering a great hall with a frozen lake. At the center, a beautiful ice statue sat on a throne. "I just know her as…"

"Snow Witch," said the statue, smiling.

Anna pulled Ida closer. "Apologies, great lady. We mistook your ice palace for Noatun."

"Noatun is a lie."

"Glad we got that sorted," said Kristoff. "We'll be on our way then."

"Not so fast," said the Witch. "The child. The wind howls in her blood."

"Long story," said Anna. "We really need to get going."

"She does not belong in the world of men," said the Witch. "She belongs here."

"She belongs with her mother," said Anna.

A crystal tear ran down the Witch's cheek.

"E-Elsa?" said Kristoff.

"Elsa is dead, Kris. There is only the Snow Witch."

"Elsa, it's Anna. Your sister. We came to bring you home."

"Anna? Anna… No. I am home. Now leave me… alone!"

The Witch's façade shattered in a blast of ice, knocking Anna back.

Kristoff ran to Anna's side. "Elsa, what have you done?"

"I didn't mean to…" said Elsa. "For your own sakes, leave!"

"Not without Ida," said Anna.

"It's for her own good," said Elsa, trapping Ida in icicles as Marshmallow grabbed Anna and Kristoff.

"Mommy!"

#

"We have to go back!" cried Anna.

"Elsa won't hurt her," said Kristoff, digging himself out of the snow.

"She has my daughter."

"And we'll get her back," said Kristoff. "Right now I'm more concerned about you. Your hair is whiter than usual."

"It doesn't matter."

"It does if it means you'll just be dead weight," said Kristoff. "I'll get you back to the Valley, Grand Pabbie will fix you, then we come back for Ida. How's that for a plan?"

"Ida…" mumbled Anna, drifting into uneasy sleep.

"Don't worry," said Olaf. "Ida would want me to protect her mom."

"Are you sure she wouldn't want you to stay?" Kristoff said hopefully.

"Nah, I'm sure."

#

"You must eat something, child," Elsa coaxed. "Living on morning dew is possible but not really worth it."

"You're trying to fatten me up to eat me," said Ida.

"I'm not," Elsa protested, "I only eat children who refuse to eat their food."

Ida seemed about to cry again.

"Sorry, sorry," said Elsa, "that was in bad taste. Get it? Bad taste?"

Ida did not.

"Mommy said witches preferred chocolate," said Ida.

"Your mother was totally correct," said Elsa.

Ida brightened up. "Can you make chocolate?"

"Sorry," said Elsa, "we'd have to find a chocolate witch. I'm just a snow witch, and snow cones get old."

"Oh," said Ida.

"But I should have chocolate somewhere," said Elsa, fishing in her pockets. "Would you like some?"

Ida took one cautiously. "Why did you take me away from my mommy?"

"I'm sorry, Ida. There is great beauty in your magic, but also great danger. I can teach you to control it."

"Why can't you teach me at home?"

"You don't want to accidentally hurt your mother, do you?"

Ida shook her head.

"To protect the people we love, we need to stay away. When I was your age my mother sent me to live with the trolls."

"I met some trolls," said Ida. "They were nice."

"They are great. They tried to help me not be afraid, but I was too stubborn to listen. I wanted to learn about my power, not about my feelings. As soon as I was old enough I left to find my grandfather – your great-grandfather."

"Did you find him?" asked Ida.

"Yes, but it wasn't what I was looking for. They live in a crystal palace in the far north. I learned more about my power, like how to build a crystal palace. I was also the loneliest I had ever been my whole life. It's like they don't care about anything at all. After a few years I left and came here."

"But you're still alone," said Ida.

"That's my point. We don't belong, Ida. Not with people, not with trolls, not with wind lords."

#

Grand Pabbie frowned as he examined Anna. "There is ice in your heart."

"Can you remove it?" asked Kristoff.

Grand Pabbie shook his head. "Only an act of true love can thaw a frozen heart."

"Husband?" asked Bulda.

"Douchebag," said Kristoff.

"The only thing I love in this world was taken by Elsa," Anna murmured.

"I'll get her back," said Kristoff. "I promise."

"She doesn't have much time," said Grand Pabbie.

"I'll take her to the castle," said Kristoff. "That will be much closer to Elsa's palace."

#

"Do you want to build a snowman?" Elsa prodded.

"Okay," Ida snuffled. "Can we make it walk like the other snowmen?"

"Sure," said Elsa, pulverizing the floor into soft snow. "You first have to shape it yourself. What will you make?"

"A chicken," said Ida.

"Younger winds often choose ice drakes or…"

"I like chickens."

"A chicken it is, then."

"There," said Ida, presenting her slightly misshapen result.

"Excellent," said Elsa. "For the final step, picture the chicken moving, flying, pecking, cooing."

"Okay."

"Now blow into its mouth."

"Ew," said Ida, "I don't want to kiss a chicken!"

"You don't need to touch its mouth, just blow. Its the easiest way."

Reluctantly, Ida approached the snow chicken and blew into its beak.

"Nothing happened," said Ida.

"Give it time," said Elsa.

Slowly, a wing twitched, then flapped. The chicken stood and bobbed away.

"Well done," said Elsa.

"Do you think it's a happy chicken?" asked Ida.

"Um, I don't know," said Elsa. "Do you think it's a happy chicken?"

"I think so," said Ida. "I tried to think happy thoughts when I was blowing."

"I'd never thought about that," said Elsa.

"Maybe that's why Marshmallow is sad," said Ida.

"How do you know Marshmallow is sad?" asked Elsa.

"I asked him," said Ida. "You didn't know?"

"I never thought to ask," said Elsa. "Marshmallow!"

The giant thundered into the hall, crystal spikes extended. "Intruder?"

"There is no intruder," said Elsa. "Why are you sad, Marshmallow?"

"Not like hurting people," said Marshmallow. "Just want to be alone."

"Are all my snowmen sad?"

"Not all," said Marshmallow. "Olaf was happy."

"Why?"

"I don't know."

"Thank you," said Elsa.

"Marshmallow, wait!" cried Ida, running to hug his leg. "You can have one of my memories from dance class. It's one of my favorites."

Marshmallow's spikes slowly retracted. "Thank you." He left with a perceptible spring in his step.

"I was wrong," said Elsa, raising an ice sleigh from the floor. "Let's go see your mother."

"Oh, thank you, Aunt Elsa!" cried Ida.

"Now all we need is something to pull the sleigh..."