Night fell quite quickly, and before she knew it she was on Sven's back, riding towards the home of her future husband's family. That is, of course, if he wanted to be her future husband! Anna flushed and shook her head, cursing herself for being so silly.
It became warmer when she cut into the clearing, the springs shooting up steam around her as the trio gracefully rode into the middle of the rock formation. Kristoff emerged from his hut moments later, and grinned when he spotted Anna climbing off Sven's back.
With large strides, he swept the Princess off her feet and brought her close for a kiss. Their lips were mere inches apart when there was a giggle a few feet below them. With red faces, they glanced down at the baby troll, who was grinning up at them with glee and admiration.
Within moments, the ground rattled and the rocks all rolled and gathered together, popping into little trolls of different ages. They all made a big fuss of Anna, hugging her and speaking all at once about various different things. Marriage included, Anna noted with slight dismay. Kristoff hushed his family quickly, clearly embarrassed with how full on they were with Anna.
It was as Anna scooped up the baby troll for a hug and laughed together with the rest of the trolls, that they parted way for Pabbie. He walked through the troll crowd with slow and wise steps, his face filled with deep concern and seriousness.
Anna and Kristoff both felt the dread building in the pit of their stomachs as he stopped before them, his eyes meeting Anna's curious ones.
"I'm glad you are here, Princess Anna. I have much to tell you, and we don't have an awful lot of time."
Anna frowned, puzzled and nervous. The trolls gathered around a small fire, seating Kristoff and Anna beside each other before the wise old troll. He sighed heavily, gazing into the flames for a moment before turning back to the couple.
"There is a new threat upon us, one which could destroy Arendelle in a way that can never be fixed or replaced."
Anna's heart sank, along with her once cheerful expression. She immediately thought of Elsa, her dear sister, who had been through enough. Her thoughts then cast down to Hans, and her frown only deepened. Patiently, she waited for Pabbie to continue.
"Years ago there was a woman, a woman so cruel and vile. Her name was Adena, and she had the power to manipulate fire, like your sister can manipulate ice. She knew of your sister and she wanted to destroy her, filled with hatred and jealousy for such an admirable ability. It took much effort, but we captured her and cast her away onto an island, where she could never harm the Kingdom or you and Elsa again."
There was a mumbling among the trolls, of confusion and of lament and remembrance of this woman. Their expressions became very serious and brave, the little trolls hiding behind their parents for comfort.
Anna swallowed, thinking it through and trying to piece everything together. Could this be why there were such dramatic measures to hide Elsa's powers? Was she one of the special children, like Adena was? Born with powers without an explanation?
"It has come to our understanding in our council, that Adena has found a human weapon, and she is planning her revenge."
Human weapon? Anna glanced up at the wise troll, her mouth felt drier, was she this thirsty before?
"Human…weapon? But who…?"
Pabbie's expression didn't soften, instead it hardened further and he placed his stony hand on Anna's.
"We believe that the only weapon who would have allowed her in would have been someone looking for revenge too. So it must have…"
"…Been someone like Hans." She finished, realization sinking in fast. His boat could have crashed, enveloped in the sea just like her parents'. They had no word back at all yet, and it wouldn't surprise her if Hans had it in him to escape in any case.
The question was, what do they do now? How are they going to stop this blaze from reaching Arendelle?
As if he could see the questions in Anna's mind, Pabbie answered her with a softer and gentler tone.
"The only thing that can fight hatred is love and…the only weapon that can fight fire…is ice."
Anna froze completely, her heart pounding in her chest.
No…Surely not, please anything but that.
"What…do you mean?" She asked, even though the answer was obvious.
"It means that the Queen has to find Hans before Hans finds her first."
