When Estelle woke up, it had five and the sky had turned orange. She torso ached and it took her ages to get off from her bed.
Elsa and Erik still had not yet return and most of the guests had left Arendelle. The castle was lifeless and the servants lowered their heads and had neglected the princess's presence.
Kristoff had temporarily stopped his ice business and assisted Anna to rule Arendelle. Anna was worn out whenever Estelle saw her, and she had stopped talking to anyone besides her husband.
Down in the garden, Estelle roamed around, and finally settled in the gazebo, watching the sun slowly went behind the castle walls.
"Estelle."
Jonas sat beside her, looking into her eyes.
"Are you still alright?" asked Jonas. "Last time you locked yourself in your room."
"Mama and Papa haven't come back," said Estelle. "Erika was not more than one, she's just a baby, how could she survive on her own for more than a week?"
Jonas did not have the answer.
"Shall we go out and find her?" asked Jonas.
Estelle eyed on him, and she frowned.
"Is there another alternative?"
"So far, I think this is the best option and the only option we can choose."
"I'm coming with you," said a voice.
Willem walked out from behind the trees, his face was slightly red and so did his ears.
"I can help you to find your sister."
Estelle was about to nod, but then she frowned.
"How'd you know that?" asked Estelle. "Who tells you about that?"
"I…I…heard that from some servants," said Willem, hoping that the excuse would be strong enough to persuade both of them.
Estelle frowned and hesitated, Willem's face had gone completely red and was on the brink of crying. Estelle sighed and faced at the sky.
"Perhaps we should go, tonight," said Estelle. "I need to find Tara, and we can go."
Willem was relieved to hear this, he nodded and glanced at the shadow behind the tree trunk, knowing that he was on track and the plan would go smoothly.
After Estelle had packed everything, she sneaked out from her room and went downstairs. She heard footsteps coming from the corridor, so she hid in the darkness.
"It has been a week since the King and Queen went out," said a servant.
"Hope everything's fine," said another servant.
"Please don't go forever, Princess Anna is extremely worn out these days, she cannot hold on anymore," said the first servant.
Their conversation soon faded away and Estelle quickly went down to the garden. The stable keeper was fast asleep and the stable keys were just lying on the floor.
"Jonas," whispered Estelle as she grabbed the keys. "Jonas."
Two shadows came out from the darkness and revealed themselves.
"All packed?" asked Estelle.
The two shadows nodded and Estelle opened the stable gates. For convenience, the three took the nearest horses. Estelle took out the note and pinned it onto the board. As she got up onto the horse, the horse trotted out of the stable and galloped away.
"But Estelle, the gates are closed," said Willem.
"Don't worry, we can use the secret passageway there at the wall," said Estelle and she charged at the castle wall. She got off from her horse and went to open the lock.
"How'd you get the key?" asked Jonas.
"From the servants' headquarters," replied Estelle and the lock bulged.
After Estelle closed the door, she got up on her horse and galloped away to Tara's place. She climbed to the second floor and knocked gently at the window, alerting Tara. Tara woke up and eyed on Estelle, unbelieving what she saw. She swiftly opened the window and let Estelle got in.
"Have you seen my note?" asked Estelle quietly.
"Yes, let's go," replied Tara and she grabbed her pack.
The two climbed out of the window and got down to the ground with the boys' help.
"Does your parents know about it?" asked Estelle.
"I tell them that I need to go to elsewhere to take a look at the latest fashion," said Tara. "They don't know anything about this trip."
"We only have three horses here," said Willem. "We…we…"
"Here, Tara, got onto my horse, I will ride with you," said Estelle and the girls got up onto the horse.
The horses galloped towards the North Mountains. Estelle could see the mountain top was covered with thick snow and a snowstorm hovered above it.
"Estelle, where do you think your sister is in?" asked Tara.
"I think I know," whispered Willem. "The top of North Mountain."
"How'd you know?"
"Erm…blind guess, but I think it is true."
"Let's get into the inn first, we'll plan everything there," said Estelle.
"Tomorrow we need to get to the top," said Jonas and he lay out the map. "I think we need the whole day to get there."
"But first, I think I need some sleep," said Tara and she tucked in her bed.
"Right, it's late now," said Jonas. "We should go to sleep."
"I need to go out and do something," said Willem.
"Okay," said Estelle and she went back to bed.
Willem got out and hid himself at the horse stable. He opened a high-tech object and a voice came out.
"Papa, I've come out."
"We need to hurry, the prince from Naraska is pursuing the King and Queen, we cannot let him get there first, do you understand?"
"Papa, how can I fling them away?"
"Just use your brain, you useless thing!"
"But Papa, I don't want to hurt them."
"Do you want to succeed?"
"Yes, but—"
"Then do what you are told and that's that."
The voice faded away and Willem gazed at the night sky hopelessly. He certainly did not want to follow the orders, but what could he do?
"I'm his son, that's why I have to follow his orders," muttered Willem. "If it wasn't for both of them, I won't have to suffer, I will be now playing in the garden happily, and go out to the streets as much as I can. I don't have to learn them."
He went back to the inn and saw his friends sleeping soundly.
"I'm sorry, but that's what I have to do, to keep her from troubles," said Willem and he went to his bed.