Chapter 3: Rediscovering Arrendelle
Elsa was sick of being locked away in her room. It was so lonely she knew it was to protect Anna but she was just so bored. For the past six years she had been staring at the same walls. She knew at this time of day Anna would be on her way to her piano lessons so Elsa decided to be a little adventurous. She slowly opened the door and looked both ways before running down the hall. She loved the way her hair flew behind her as she ran and she let out a laugh. It had been so long since she had felt any kind of joy. She ran through the halls and she knew she wouldn't be discovered when she heard the music coming from the piano room. Elsa decided to visit her favorite place the garden. As she entered the garden her smile faded. The garden that was once so full of life was completely destroyed. Elsa had been the one to make the garden and tend to it but she had assumed that someone would have taken care of it while she was learning to control her powers. She walked around the garden and started to pick up the dead flowers and plants. She decided she'd start from the back of the garden and make her way to the front. As she started to clean up her garden she noticed something buried under the dead leaves. Elsa bent down and picked it up. She saw that it was a book and she blew the dust off of the cover. She examined the cover and realized it was the book about ice magic she had tried to read all those years ago. She smiled as she remembered the conversation that took place in the garden between her and the green eyed prince she had all but forgotten. Elsa took the book with her back to her room leaving behind the garden she once treasured. As she locked the door once more she didn't notice the same walls but instead she was completely focused on the book that was now in her possession and as night fell Elsa tucked the book gently under her bed where her parents wouldn't find it. Elsa closed her eyes and snuggled into her pillows. That night the room didn't seem so lonely.
Loki was mad. No he was furious. He couldn't believe what just happened. The day had started out normal he had gone down to breakfast but while there Thor asked him to spar with him. Loki had agreed since they hardly got the chance to spar with each other with Thor being so much older than him Frigga had always feared that Thor would hurt Loki. As Thor and Loki got ready in their armor Odin decided he would watch. Thor had stepped on the field truly looking like a god in all his armor. Loki looked far less impressive. Because of his young age he still had not matured like Thor had and was swimming in his armor. Thor had chuckled when he saw his brother struggling to keep his armor on. Thor had remembered when he went through the same thing. He knew in a year or two that same armor would be too small for him. The matches had gone well each winning one but Thor had insisted on a third round to decide the winner. The battle was long and hard as neither brother seemed to have the upper hand. Loki decided to try a trick he had been practicing for sometime now. He used his magic to create a double of himself and as Thor attacked the double Loki attacked Thor. Thor fell to ground in defeat. Loki offered his hand to Thor as he lifted him up off the ground.
"Well done little brother!" Thor boomed. Patting Loki on the back with a look of pure pride on his face. "I guess that makes you the winner."
Loki smiled and was about to respond when Odin spoke up. "No Thor. It is you that has one. Magic is an act of cowardice it is not to be used in the battle field. Therefore you have won and Loki has lost."
"What do you mean father? You always taught us to use our talents to give us the upper hand and magic is my talent." Loki said getting angry.
"Loki is right father." Thor said fully agreeing with Loki.
"Not when you use it to hide from the enemy." Odin stated simply.
Loki would not stand there and take this. He threw his helmet off and walked away. He knew that Odin had always favored Thor but he never thought it was that extreme.
Thor shook his head. "I believe his talents should be embraced in battle not hidden away where they can do no good."
"That's not the point Thor. He must learn to face his problems and not hide from them." Odin said.
"Why! When one of his tricks could save thousands of men's lives!" Thor yelled.
"I only hope you'll understand when your king Thor." Odin said as he walked away. Thor picked up Lokis helmet and walked in the same direction that Loki had. It was best he found Loki before he got himself into trouble.
Loki was now deep within the forest. He walked as fast as he could. He could hear Thor calling after him and decided to pick up the pace. He knew Thor was further away than he sounded but he couldn't be sure with Thors booming voice. Loki decided to further the distance between them and started running. He just wanted to be alone right now. He didn't understand why Thor had to be so overprotective. Loki ran as fast as he could and he was struggling with his armor being too big. As he approached a small river he tripped over a rock and fell into the river. The armor weighed him down as he struggled to reach the surface of the water. Starting to panic Loki tried to get the heavy armor off as he sank further underneath the water. He looked down and could see sharp rocks at the bottom of river and tried even harder to remove the armor. Loki closed his eyes as he tugged and tugged at the armor. He looked down again as the rocks were rapidly approaching. Loki kicked off the boots that he had been wearing and was still struggling with the armor. Loki closed his eyes preparing for the impact against the rocks but it never came. He looked down and saw the rocks were no longer there. Finally Loki got the armor off and he started swimming towards the surface. The surface seemed farther away then he remembered and the air in his lungs was running out. Not being able to hold his breath any longer Loki sucked in water. Still he would not give in to the darkness that clouded his vision and finally broke through the surface. Loki coughed up water as he put his arms on the river bank trying to get air into his lungs. Finding his strength he pulled himself onto the bank and laid flat on his back breathing in the fresh air. He lay there for a minute in the moonlight looking at the stars. Loki sat up as he looked at the sky confused. When he fell into the river it was noon at most there was no way he could have been under the water that long. Loki decided that he would explore. There was no way he could still be on Asgard but he didn't understand how he could have gone somewhere else by falling into the river. Loki knew he must look like a commoner as he was wearing a simple green tunic and black pants. He didn't even have his boots they were still at the bottom of the river along with the armor. Loki walked through the woods he jumped slightly as his bare feet made contact with the snow. The cold never bothered him but it was a shock to his body when he'd gone from the heat of summer to the lukewarm water then to the freezing winter of who knows where. Loki summoned a small fireball to help dry himself off as he walked out of the woods. He could see a castle not to far from where he was. Unfortunately he was at the back of the castle. Loki smirked to himself. He would take this opportunity to try out the new spell he had been working on. Loki stood next to the wall and focused getting rid of his fireball and solely focusing on the spell. Loki cautiously reached toward the wall. Loki beamed with joy as his hand phased right through. He continued walking through the wall and came to the palace. There was a door in the back and he twisted the handle. The door opened and Loki stepped in the castle shaking off the snow that had attached itself to him. He walked through the castle looking for the first available room so that he might find someone to tell him where he was and get him some warm clothes. Loki came across a room with intricate patterns on the door. He tried the handle and found it was locked. He focused once again on the spell he had preformed earlier. He smiled as it worked once again. When Loki was almost through his foot got stuck in the door.
"Shoot!" Loki exclaimed. As he tugged and tugged at his foot trying to get the spell to work.
Elsa lay in bed getting the first peaceful sleep she had gotten in ages. Suddenly she heard the someone tug at the doorknob. No one bothered her at night especially not this late. Elsa quickly climbed out of her bed and hid under it. She peeked out as she saw a boy around her age walk through her door. She gasped but he didn't hear as his foot got stuck in the door. She couldn't help but giggle as he struggled to get his foot through the door. Finally he was able to pull his foot out and he tumbled. He would have landed on the bed but the spell was still active so he phased through the bed an landed right next to Elsa.
"AAAAHHHH!" Elsa screamed. She scrambled from underneath the bed and ran towards the door.
Loki rubbed his back as he felt something hard against his back. He reached underneath his back and pulled out a book his book. He looked at the book stunned as he crawled out from underneath the bed. It couldn't be her, could it? Loki saw the girl at the door getting ready to run out the door.
"Wait!" Loki said. As he got out from underneath the bed.
"Stay away! I don't know you!" Elsa yelled. Loki stood up straight and smirked.
"Oh but I think you do." Loki said as he tossed the book at her. Elsa caught the book and looked at him confused. She opened the book and on the first page written in golden ink was his name a name she had forgotten until that night.
"Loki?" She asked. He nodded his head the smirk still on his face. "Loki!" Elsa said more excitedly as she ran towards him. She dropped the book on the floor as she hugged him. Loki hugged her back. He roughly pushed her away as he noticed he was still soaking wet and she was wearing nothing but a thin nightgown. Lokis cheeks were crimson red as he realized his mistake.
"I'm so sorry! I shouldn't have I mean you hugged me but I'm sorry!" Loki said averting his gaze not wanting to see what would be now visible through her gown.
"What do you mean?" Elsa asked confused until she felt the wet fabric of her nightgown against her skin. "Oh my god!" Elsa exclaimed her cheeks now as red as Lokis. Elsa looked around for something to put on without taking off her gown. She settled for a robe she had lying on her chair. She tied it as tightly as she could.
"Ok I'm decent now." Elsa said. Loki slowly turned around and kept his eyes focused on her face not wanting to see anything he shouldn't. Elsa chuckled and she gently shoved Loki. "No need to be so rigid. We are friends right?" Elsa said. She said the last part a little quieter hoping he had treasured the little time they had spent together. Loki smiled.
"Of course we are!" Loki said excited that she had remembered him. He had spent much of his time remembering the fun they had with her magic.
"Oh let me get you a towel to dry off!" Elsa said as she ran to her closet and pulled out a towel. Loki wrapped the towel around himself as he felt the soft fabric of the towel.
"So have you been able to control your powers?" Loki asked curious if her magic had progressed any. Elsa's smile faded instantly as she shook her head.
"No they've only gotten stronger and harder to control. I fear I'll never be able to control them." Elsa looked at the gloves that were on her hands and shook her head.
"Well show me! I want to see what you can do now! It must be really impressive!" Loki said wanting to see how powerful she had become.
"No Loki! It's too dangerous! Don't you remember what happened to Anna?" Elsa said stepping away from him.
"Of course I remember." Loki said as he noted the hurt in Elsa's eyes.
"I've been locked in this room ever since. Both me and my parents are afraid I will hurt someone like that again. So I'm staying in my room until I can control it." Elsa said hanging her head. Loki placed a hand on Elsa's shoulder and led her to the bed. He sat on her bed placing the towel first so he wouldn't get the bed wet. He gestured for Elsa to sit as well. Loki gently took her hand in his. He moved one hand to her wrist as he held it in place as he removed her glove.
"No!" Elsa said trying to pull her hand away but Loki held it firmly in place.
"Your not dangerous Elsa. You won't hurt me." Loki placed his hand on top of her bare hand and watched as frost instantly covered his hand. The frost spread rapidly up his arm and Elsa tried to pull away panicking. Loki held her hand in place.
"Watch." He said as he watched her lower her gaze to their hands. She gasped as she saw a thin layer of frost coat her and started to make its way up her arm. It wasn't as thick as the frost on Lokis arm it was barely noticeable but it was there. She looked up at Loki and saw that the frost was starting to cover one side of his face. She gently pulled her hand away and placed her glove back on.
"I see you've learned to use ice magic." Elsa said as she silently breathed in relief as the frost left Lokis face and was slowly fading.
"Well not as well as you but a little bit yes." Loki said happy he could summon ice but he knew he still had much to learn. They sat on Elsa's bed talking through the night. As the first rays of the morning shone through the window Elsa began to yawn. Loki laughed as she stretched out on her bed. Loki stood and stretched his arms.
"I should be going." Loki said looking at the rising sun. Elsa looked out the window and sighed.
"I suppose so." Elsa said not wanting him to leave.
"Well we wouldn't want your parents to find me in here now would we?" Loki said raising an eyebrow suggestively at her. Elsa pushed Loki and laughed.
"Your right. You should go before they wake up." Elsa said. Loki nodded his head and walked towards the door. Elsa reached out and grabbed Lokis arm.
"Promise you'll come back." Elsa said hoping he would come back. She was sick of being lonely all the time.
"Promise." Loki said as he walked through the door. Elsa sighed as she flopped on her bed closing her eyes. She hoped more than anything he'd keep his promise.
Loki ran through the halls and out the castle. He easily phased through the wall and made his way through the forest to the small river. Loki took a deep breath as he dived into the frigid water. He hoped it would work and take him back to Asgard. As Loki reached the surface he saw that it was night. He sighed as he climbed onto the bank. He saw sure he was in Asgard as the sun had been rising on Arrendelle. Loki looked into the river and saw his armor and boots still at the bottom they would have to wait. He ran back to the palace. That had been the best day of his life. He had been fond of Elsa when they met when they were little but he had never expected them to still have that much in common. He meant what he said when he'd promised go back to visit her. Maybe even tomorrow if he could sneak away for a little while. As he was running he saw Thor leaving the castle. Loki ran up to Thor to see where he was going so late. As soon as Thor saw Loki his face lit up.
"Loki! Where have you been? We've been searching everywhere for you!" Thor exclaimed as Loki approached.
"You'll never guess." Loki said as he stopped to catch his breath. "Where were you going?"
"To find you Loki! Where did you go? And what happened to your armor and shoes?" Thor asked noticing the absence of Lokis armor and boots.
"Arrendelle." Loki said barely speaking above a whisper. He knew how their father felt about the place and he had even refused to ever go back.
"You can't be serious. How could you have possibly gotten there? The bifrost never went off." Thor said still speaking very loudly.
"Shhh! Thor learn to whisper! I'll show you tomorrow but right now I'd like to eat I'm absolutely starving." Loki said rubbing his stomach. Thor patted Loki on the back as they walked towards the dinning hall. "Oh but make sure to dress lightly heavy armor will only weigh you down." Loki said as he smirked. He saw the confused look on thors face.
"What do you mean by that brother?" Thor asked. Armor had always been a good thing and now Loki was requesting he didn't wear any. It didn't make sense to Thor and he never got his answer as Loki waved and walked in the castle.
"You'll see tomorrow!" Loki yelled at Thor as he ran towards the dinning hall. Thor couldn't help but smile as he watched his little brother run down the hall. Tomorrow was going to be an interesting day.