Kistoff leaned back against the stone barrier running along the length of the bridge that connected Arendelle castle to the town proper. His heart was calmer now, slowly recovering from the scare that struck him as he witnessed the queen barrelling towards him with a dangerous glare. Her intense look of determination and irritation had made him raise his arms in defence. The first few moments resulted in a rapid blur of questions from Elsa and a series of interjections from the mountain man. The queen stood next to Kristoff, her chest still heaving from the rush but her head hanging in shame at her unusual behaviour. A soft light from the streetlamps fell from above, creating shadows that hid her features; though the mountain man had his suspicions of what they were.

Since Elsa's return after the coronation, Kristoff only had a few chances to be with the queen. At most of the occasions, her sister had acted as a bridge and buffer between the two by defusing awkward moments and always bringing in something new to talk about. Left alone, he quickly found that he had no idea how to handle Elsa. Kristoff wasn't even sure how to address her.

"Um. Do you feel better now… your highness?" he tried carefully. When Elsa didn't answer, the mountain man scratched his head pressed on. "Look, I didn't really catch what you were saying back there. But if you want to have a go at it again, I'll listen. Just… slow down a bit."

The queen turned towards him. "You can just call me Elsa," she said gently.

"Okay. Elsa." Kristoff tested the name. He was never comfortable around what he thought of as 'fancy people'. There were too many rules; what to wear, what to say, how to act. Life was so much simpler out there, in the wild. Until now, Kristoff was sure that Anna was the only exception and that the queen was merely being polite. But his image of the queen was quickly changing.

"What were you trying to ask me?"

The queen opened her mouth to speak, but stopped herself. She turned towards the harbour and surveyed the waters that stretched to the horizon. "You're good with the wild, aren't you?" she asked.

"Yeah, I've been out there all my life," replied Kristoff.

Elsa let out a huff, her brow contorting into a frown. "I've been trying to find the place elder Pabbie spoke of for days, but the maps I have are useless."

It didn't take more than a moment for Kristoff to realize the place the queen was referring to. "… Where land, sea and sky become one," he repeated to himself. Kristoff passed his hand through his hair, trying to remember the mountainous landscapes he spent so much time with. Any peak in Arendelle would join the land and sky, though it would keep the sea out of the picture. It had to be along the coast then, naturally, but the 'sky'-part of it made things difficult.

Kistoff slumped. "I can't remember any place like that. Sorry. I don't think there are any parts by the water that have high peaks. All the cliffs have been smoothed down by the sea and ice."

"I see," said the queen, dejected.

Kristoff watched as she leaned over the stone barrier that had previously supported him and let his gaze trail off unto the water. In the distance, breakwater stones disrupted the reflected patterns of the sky. A thought flickered into existence in his mind. "Maybe it doesn't have to be by the water."

Elsa looked at him, utterly confused. "What are you talking about? Elder Pabbie clearly said that-" She was cut off.

"No – I mean what if it can be out in the water?" said Kristoff. A smile grew on his face, but the queen's confusion remained as clear as day. With a grin, he explained. "Up north by the coast there's a place called the Glaze Steps. It's, uh, like a bunch of cliffs a bit out in the sea. When it's winter, the spray from the sea and air freeze on the rocks. The ice is clear as glass."

As the queen processed the tale, Kristoff could see the lines in her face melt away. "Kristoff, that's it!" she exclaimed happily.

The mountain man chuckled at Elsa's elation at the news. "I can show you the Steps. It's a bit far out there, but it's worth it. I've never seen ice that beautiful –" Kristoff caught himself, suddenly realizing what he just said, and to who. "No, wait. I- I mean aside from you… Er. I mean your ice! Aside from your ice!" he sputtered forth before groaning in defeat against his own senselessness. The mountain man slumped. "What I'm trying to say is… the ice you make is amazing. I mean, when I saw your palace up on the peak. Wow."

"Thank you," said Elsa. "You really love it, don't you?"

"It's my life," shrugged Kristoff. "Even as a kid. The look, the feel of it – It's beautiful…"

"… And dangerous," said Elsa, completing the sentence. "And all my life, that was the only part I knew." She hugged herself and looked away. Kristoff drew himself tall again beside her.

"That's not who you are anymore," he said sternly, leaning forward and placing his hand on the barrier. But he could see her uncertainty. "It's not what your ice is anymore."

A tense pause reigned before the queen answered. "That's what I thought too when I came back. I never felt so free using my powers – it felt great to be in control, not being cornered by fear all the time." Elsa gestured, causing the air to chill and ice to grow from the stone before her. The amalgamation of geometric forms transitioned from opaque spears of bristled white to a rippling and transparent ice that stretched upwards.

Elsa looked at her creation. It refracted the light from the sky and from the lamps above, practically glowing in the dark. "But I'm losing that control." Cutting the air with her hand, she dismissed the ice.

"It doesn't look like it," commented Kristoff as the form splintered into shards that blew away on an ethereal wind, fading into nothingness while they moved through the air.

The queen went on, returning to her closed pose. "I'm not afraid anymore, at least not like I used to be. But I can't make my power behave – and it's getting worse." She threw her hands up. "No matter how I try to make the right shapes, to make the ice and snow last… In the end, it all becomes wrong and melts away!"

Kristoff furrowed his brows at the strange comment. "That's what ice does in summer. It melts."

"Mine doesn't!" snapped Elsa, her irritation resurfacing. "My palace still stands, doesn't it? And my dress isn't melting either!"

"You might be overthinking this whole thing." said the mountain man. He wanted to go on, but stopped himself when he saw the queen's frown. Things were beginning to go in a direction Kristoff didn't know how to deal with. Normal ice was easy, but magic ice was another matter entirely. He shifted his weight. "Anyway, have you talked to Anna about this?"

"No, I didn't want to worry her."

Kristoff smiled weakly. "You should. I don't think she would mind."


It had been several hours since the sun set. The young princess of Arendelle stalked quietly through the upper floors of the castle. Her steps could barely be heard as the made her way across the dark corridor. Earlier, Elsa had told her that she had found the place the troll was speaking about, all thanks to Kristoff. All they had to do was wait for the aurora to return.

Despite her sister's happy news and demeanour, Anna could see that there was something bothering her. When she asked Elsa about it, she became tight-lipped and blamed it on being tired from work. Anna wasn't sure if her sister was telling the truth, but couldn't find it in her heart to confront her about it.

Having spent days mulling over the situation, the princess was determined to help her sister. There was no way she'd let her shoulder all the burdens of the Kingdom by herself. With only once council meeting per week, Anna had not gotten the chance to prove her worth after her last performance. The next occasion was still a few days away. Until then, Anna would prepare.

Standing in front of the tall set of doors that led into the queen's study, Anna carefully placed a hand on the handle and pressed down. The metal submitted gently and silently. With a quick sweeping move the princess slid in between the doors and closed them behind her. Her sister's study was shrouded in darkness. Cool tones glowed weakly in the faint light that spilled in from the large, triangular windows. Far in, on the massive desk that dominated the other end of the room, stood a lamp.

A few scrapes of friction match against a striking plate later, Anna found herself ruffling through the piles of paper to the glow of an encased flame. Soon, a row of important documents took form in front of her. The princess shook herself awake. With wide eyes she grabbed one sheaf of papers. "Okay! If Elsa can do this, so can I!" she exclaimed and dug in.

Hours later, the young girl's head rested on the edge of the desk. She stared blankly into the carpet below, all strength and determination sapped. Anna had managed to push through the worst. It was still a bit blurry, but she felt that she had managed to get the gist of things.

Corona wanted trade, just like Weselton. Anna had an inkling that the latter's request would fall on deaf ears. Svea wanted to make friends with Arendelle, speaking of an alliance that apparently already involved their neighbouring states Jarlsberg and Hedland. The official letter of apology from the Southern Isles was among the papers as well. It sounded sincere and had been signed by king and all thirteen princes, but the young girl could still feel anger boil deep within when she recalled their youngest, Prince Hans.

With a groan, the princess pulled herself together and began to gather the letters and reports together. She did the best she could from memory, creating a couple of neat stacks. Anna left the study, tired in a way she wasn't used to. Her slow drift back to her bedroom brought her past one of the staterooms. Through the open doors, she could hear the scratching of steel nibs against paper.

Her curiosity piqued, the princess sneaked closer and peeked around into the room. Candelabras filled to capacity stood on the long table for illumination along with books and scrolls. A small open chest housed quills, metallic implements and bottles. Along one side of the table, in a high-backed chair sat Elsa. The queen's attention was fully focused on what looked like slabs of glass, deep in thought.

Anna pulled back and leaned against the wall, heart swelling with admiration at her sister's hard work. Maybe I should bring her something. A snack or that fancy tea she loves.

Invigorated at the idea, the young girl sped off toward the kitchens to see what she could find. As the passed a series of massive windows, she saw that the skies had cleared from their previously gloomy state. Some clouds were still sprinkled across the dark canvas. What made her stop were the bands of light snaking between the dark patches. Aurora!


The thundering of hooves on cobblestone echoed through the otherwise dormant town. A white horse blurred past, carrying two people into the woodlands. Elsa sat behind her sister, clamped down around the younger girl's waist. She buried her head into her sibling's back and held on for dear life as the powerful animal pressed on. "Do we really have to go this fast?" she yelled into the wind.

"Don't be such a baby, Elsa!" the princess called back. "Who knows how long the skies will stay awake? And those cliffs are far away, you said so yourself!"

"We should have brought Kristoff!" countered the queen.

"He's up in the mountains!" replied Anna. "Come on! We can do this by ourselves!"

Elsa merely whimpered. It wasn't the dark forests that caused her the most unease. That prize went to the horse. She did want to learn how to ride again, but the mad gallop she now was a part of didn't serve well as her first horseback experience since her childhood days. Sandwiched between the sisters was a thin leather tube containing the map that Kristoff had used to point out the location of the Glaze Steps.

The beast carried the sisters expertly over the landscape. To Elsa's surprise, the younger girl navigated the woods surprisingly well in the dark. Twisting paths led them up the smoothened sides of the fjord and into rougher countries. Elsa felt the horse come to a stop, and dared to loosen her vice grip around Anna. From atop the animal, she surveyed the landscape. In the distance, far below, was Arendelle Castle and town.

The queen turned to the other side. Large bands of trees covered the land, with small pointy tops creating a pattern among the foliage. At her sister's request, she passed the map forward. After a short deliberation, the pair set off again. Around the sisters, the foliage returned to a collection of dark shapes in the night. Elsa lost track of how long they rode. When they finally stopped she slid limply off the horse, her muscles trapped in a dull ache. Beyond the thinning treeline, the girls could hear the sound of waves splashing against a rocky beach. Anna led the horse down towards the water, closely followed by her sister.

Before them the vastness of the ocean stretched as far as the eye could see. It was a mass of blackness dotted in strips of reflected splendour of night sky. Far from civilization, the starscape unleashed its full glory – a brilliant swathe of light comprised of countless glittering points. Behind them, cracked nebulous forms were painted against the darkness. Twisting below were the celestial lights, bringing with them burning colours.

Anna had stopped dead in her tracks. Standing a few meters from the waterline, she gazed upwards. "It's amazing," breathed the princess. "I never thought…" She could feel her sister's hand on her shoulder and turned to steal a glance. Next to her stood Elsa, just as stunned at the view as she was. Seeing nature's breath-taking display, Elsa's doubts about the Steps faded.

Following the aurora with her eyes, Elsa noticed a blotch of dark against the horizon. Far out in the water stood what she assumed were the Glaze Steps. It was hard to say how many cliffs were out there. The queen pressed her sister backwards. "Move away a bit, Anna. I'm going to need some space. I… Just back up a bit. Please."

The younger girl quietly obeyed and walked back to the trees. She fastened the horse's reins to a tree and turned to see the older girl weave great motions with her arms.

Elsa was still unsure whether or not her powers would obey her fully. Gathering as much as she dared with Anna still around, she let it flow through her being, moulding it with her will as it passed. High above, ice began to form and grow. It stretched into the form of a giant, intricate snowflake, one petal at a time. As the shape and power peaked, the ice began to glow with an eerie light. Elsa could feel the magic flowing over, putting her under more and more strain. She hurled it towards the cliffs with all her might.

A blinding flash filled Anna's vision as the snowflake slashed across the ocean. She could hear the cracking of ice and the pulse of cold that spilled forth from where her sister stood. When her eyesight returned, a frozen path had been formed from the beach all the way out to the cliffs. The crystal ice were a shining blue upon the black sea. She then saw her sister lying on the ground in a radiating spiral of frost.

"ELSA!" the girl yelled, her voice wracked with fear. Anna rushed to her sister's side, sliding the last stretch. She took Elsa by the shoulder and turned her over.

The older girl jerked into consciousness and inhaled sharply. A moment later she felt the press of Anna's body against hers. Elsa couldn't help hugging back. "I'm okay… I'm okay," she whispered. With the help of Anna, she rose and examined her creation. Not quite what she had imagined, but she was content.

The princess turned the older girl's face in her hands toward her own. "Elsa…" she began, clearly distressed.

Her sister's hands stopped younger girl as they touched. "Please, I'm fine," emphasized Elsa. "I just went a little bit far, that's all." The princess did not seem happy with the answer.

The pair made their way across the waters.

With every inch closer to the cliffs, the icy path rose slightly. It eventually broke free of the sea and bridged up towards the top of the rock formations, spiralling around them. Elsa's magic had encased the uppermost parts in a thick sheet of clear ice that bloomed into a large, angular platform. Beneath the surface of the ice, she could gleam repeating snowflake patterns.

Elsa was worried. She hoped that her conjured ice would last until they returned to land. At least so far, her magical creations lasted as long as she was around. Standing on the platform, she looked around.

Anna leaned closer. "Is something supposed to happen?"

"I don't know," Elsa whispered in reply. Aside from the spectacle of light above them and the roaring ocean beneath, there didn't seem to be anything special about the place they were in. A moment of calm and retreating waves were followed by a deafening crash and deep rumbling. Somewhere in-between the noise, there were words to be found.

Well Met, Daughters Of Arensdal, formed the crashing of the waves.

Elsa didn't know what to do or say. She was still busy grappling with the reality of the situation, and it was not going well.

The aurora overhead pulsed. Why Have You Come To This Place, Twixt Heaven And Earth?

Is It To Seek Aid Or Counsel? asked the rumbling below.

Still unable to find her voice, the queen saw her sister step up. "We're here to find the next part of the story!" Anna shouted. Catching Elsa's glance, she then added "The story about the first humans that came up here… please?"

There was a conference of sound, before it once again gathered into something comprehendible. The rumbling returned. If The Vættir Has Shared Their Tale, Then We Shall Do The Same. The words formed in unison.

When Man First Set Foot In The Nordlands, They Were Harsh.
When Man First Sailed Upon My Waves, They Were Brutal.
When Man First Took To My Winds, They Were Cruel.

Elsa and Anna shared a worried look at this. The brilliant pulses from above simply continued, oblivious. Then Came The Plea, And We Saw What Sorrow We Have Made Man Suffer. We Saw The Good That Dwelled Within Man.

And So I Shone Down My Lights.
And So I Made My Depths Bountiful.
And So I Brought Forth My Riches.

And So We Had Given Our Blessings,

For We Wished To Give Man A Chance To Grow.

The sound died down. The older girl stood staring, her hands clasped protectively over her chest, as she processed the display she had just experienced. Her sister was quicker on the uptake and again, it was Anna that took the lead. "So… Was that it? Is that the end of the story?" she asked boldly.

Waves crashed against the base of the pillar, causing it to shake. No. There Was One More That Answered The Pleas Of Man. Though It Is Not Our Tale To Tell. Seek The Frozen Heart.


A/N: Since this was written in a rush for #100, it might suffer some minor edits soon. Sorry about that.