Elsa quickly willed the storm to cease as she looked at the man in surprise.

"You surrender?" she asked, hoping she heard correctly.

He raised an eyebrow. "Yes."

"Why?"

He let his hands fall to his sides. "Because it's the right thing to do."

"Since when do you care about what's right? You stole the pendant!" she said.

Hiram sighed tiredly. "Would you mind if I sat down? I am rather spent." When Elsa didn't answer, he slowly eased himself onto the stump of what was once an ice pillar.

Elsa heard a shout behind her and saw some of the guards, led by Captain Jokkon, making their way toward her through the maze of debris. She saw the worried look on his face and felt pity for the man - whose duty was to keep her safe at all costs - at being forced to watch his queen fight alone. She raised a hand to indicate all was well and turned back to her prisoner.

"You were going to say something?" Elsa prompted.

Hiram sighed again.

"Why is he sighing so much?" Elsa gave a small cry in alarm and spun around to find that Olaf had snuck up on her. She turned back to Hiram and saw that he wasn't shocked like most people were at seeing the little snowman, just curious.

"Living snow people, I should have guessed," Hiram mumbled.

"You're not surprised?" Olaf asked matter-of-factly, as if he wasn't surrounded by the chaos from the battle.

"Only a little. When you've grown up being different like I have, it takes a lot to shock you."

"Ohh," Olaf said. "So what kinds of powers do you have exa-"

"Olaf," Elsa gently interrupted the little guy.

"Yes, Elsa?" Olaf said.

"Can you go find Anna and see if she is alright for me, please?"

"Sure thing!" Olaf happily waddled off to the castle.

There was a moment of silence as they watched the snowman leave.

"Should I sigh again?" Hiram asked.

Elsa gave him a smirk that held no humor. "What were you going to say?"

"I was going to tell you that I did not steal the pendant. It is rightfully mine."

"You've said that before."

"Doesn't make it any less true.

"This is pointless," Elsa turned to the arriving guards. "Return him to the dungeons."

Hiram slowly stood up and allowed himself to be led away. Elsa followed closely behind, thawing the ice as she went. By the time they reached the shore, no trace of their battle remained. The fjord was as peaceful as ever, pristine and welcoming.

They circled the walls and entered the courtyard through the front gates. Servants, guards, and civilians had gathered and watched Hiram with fear and anger as he was led inside. More guards lined the walls in an almost too-obvious attempt to intimidate the prisoner. More than a few gripped their weapons tighter as he was led away.

Elsa barely registered them entering the castle and making their way toward the dungeons. She was so deep in thought that she didn't see that the group had stopped and almost bumped into one of her guards. She could feel the blood rush to her face at the embarrassing situation she nearly caused. Fortunately for her, the guards were preoccupied with the prisoner so they didn't see their queen's expression.

Curious, Elsa walked to the front of the group to see Hiram staring at the portrait of her late grandparents. Then Elsa saw something that she didn't expect. She saw sorrow, and most surprising of all, love. She could tell that this was not something born of a few days or months. His sorrow was so deep that it almost hurt for her to look at him.

"Hey!" Captain Jokkon yelled as he shook Hiram.

The young man jerked as if surprised and looked at the captain. "Who are they?" he said hoarsely.

"Recognize them?" the captain asked. "They are the queen's grandparents. The pendant you stole was theirs. We don't take kindly to people who see others as opportunities for riches." The other guards nodded.

"I say again," Hiram's voice almost cracked. "I did not steal it."

The captain looked like he was about to say something else so Elsa decided to intervene. "Let us continue captain," she said. "Grand Pabbie will search his mind for the truth." She turned to one of the guards, ignoring the panicked look on Hiram's face. "Please send for him."

The guard nodded and left. They soon reached the dungeons once more and placed Hiram in a larger room meant for interrogations. Because of the lack of crime Arendelle had experienced since Elsa's great-grandparents' time, the only device used for extracting information was a chair with bindings, but that was moved so the prisoner could be lowered to the troll's height.

There was a short debate on whether they should bind the prisoner. Fortunately it was resolved when he collapsed on the ground, his breathing strained. The captain simply posted two soldiers on either side of the prisoner. A moment later, the guard returned with Grand Pabbie, followed by Kristoff and Anna.

"I have good news, your Highness," the troll said. "The children should be awake within the hour."

"Olaf wanted to stay and be the first thing they see," Anna said. Her gaze fell onto the prisoner sitting on the floor. Elsa watched with growing alarm as her sister's face contorted in rage. For someone with such a positive personality, it was strange to see her so angry.

Grand Pabbie approached Hiram with Elsa and Anna not far behind and held out his hand. "As I said before," he explained, "this will not harm you."

"You'd be surprised," Hiram said.

Grand Pabbie hesitated. "Wh-"

"You'll find out soon enough," Hiram said in resignation.

In her rush to get a good view, Anna accidently bumped into Elsa. She didn't know how or who made her loose her balance, but Elsa found herself falling. She groped for something to hold onto and found Anna's wrist. Unfortunately, the princess was still trying to regain her footing and ended up being dragged down along with Elsa.

It happened so fast. Elsa saw Grand Pabbie raise his right hand, a soft glow on his fingers. Anna latched onto Grand Pabbie's other hand and the troll was dragged forward the rest of the way. Once his hand made contact with Hiram's forehead, a flash of white flooded Elsa's vision. She barely registered the guards and Kristoff yelling before all awareness escaped her.

-(]{-}[)-

Anna felt herself floating, falling, and rising all at once. It was so disorienting she felt like throwing up, even though she felt no nausea, didn't feel cold or warm - she was simply aware.

Her sister's voice entered her thoughts. Anna.

What? she thought.

Anna, follow my voice.

How can I when you're inside my head?

Ohh, right.

Anna thought for a moment. How could they find each other? They couldn't see or feel anything and they appeared to be in some sort of limbo.

Maybe we don't need to find each other, Elsa, Anna sent.

Because we are in the same place, Elsa stated, catching onto her train of thought.

Anna felt her excitement rising. Okay, where should we go first?

And just like water on a flame, Elsa's logic doused it. Nowhere at the moment because our minds are trapped. Anna could feel her sister's frustration.

I can feel your emotions, Elsa.

Sorry. But you are kind of like a bright campfire, Anna.

Ohh. Don't think there is anything I can do about that.

Nope.

Aren't you supposed to be encouraging or some other type of big sister thing?

When I feel like it.

Anna huffed.

I heard that.

Anna was starting to not like reading other people's thoughts. Where do you think Grand Pabbie is?

I don't kn – Ahh!

Elsa? She could no longer hear her sister's thoughts. Elsa!

Wind started buffeting Anna and she felt a falling sensation. All was black, yet she could feel herself falling faster and faster, the wind pulling on her hair. Wait. Anna reached for her face and relief flooded through her. She had her body again!

"All right!" she cried for joy, happy to hear her own voice again.

Suddenly, she was standing on the ground, if that's what it could be called in whatever this place was. All around her, fog blocked her sight. It rolled and shifted without the aid of wind and seemed to have a kind of intelligence to it.

"Anna!" Anna turned to see a figure running toward her. It was Elsa! Anna found herself pulled into a tight hug, which she returned eagerly.

"Anna, Elsa." They turned to see Grand Pabbie slowly walking toward them through the fog with Hiram not far behind.

Anna did a double take. This Hiram was vastly different than the one in the real world. While the other one was slightly stooped and dressed in old clothing, this one stood straight and proud. His clothing, while not new, looked to have been selected by some of the best tailors in Europe. Every item was well designed but practical. The way he looked at them brought to mind how a king would view his subjects, searching for ways to help make their lives better. She resisted the urge to bow.

"I am glad you are safe," the troll said. "It was a surprise that you joined us in the world of minds though."

Elsa gave Anna a mock glare, which she ignored.

"So," Anna said. "Can we go back now?"

"Not yet," Hiram said. His tone was soft but firm.

"You don't have the authority to keep us here," Elsa said, more used to dealing with people of his stature.

Anna was surprised when Grand Pabbie supported him. "I have seen his memories. It would take days to tell all that happened. However, there is one that nicely answers your accusations."

Anna and Elsa looked at each other, confused. How can one memory answer for all that he did?

"Come," Hiram said as he turned and walked away, clearly expecting them to follow.

Anna hesitated. But she saw Grand Pabbie walk after him without a second thought and started to follow. She heard Elsa give a huff and turned to see that she hadn't moved from her place.

"C'mon, Elsa," Anna encouraged, taking her hand.

They caught up to Hiram and Grand Pabbie, who were already in a discussion.

"I am not very good at telling time in the mind world," Hiram was saying. "How long have we been here?"

Grand Pabbie stroked his chin for a moment before answering. "Probably no more than five or seven seconds."

"It always amazes me how much can happen inside someone's head," Hiram said shaking his head.

"Wait," Elsa said. "We have been here for a very long time. How can it be only seconds in the real world?"

"I am not entirely sure why," Grand Pabbie explained. "I think that it is because our thoughts move so quickly that even though we seem to be moving or thinking at a normal speed, we are in fact going faster than anyone outside."

"Why are we walking if you can just make the memory appear wherever you want?" Anna asked.

"Every person's mind is like a giant map," Hiram explained. "Each location accesses a different part of my memories. What we are looking for is over there." He pointed a little to the left in front of them.

Anna was surprised to see a small, sparsely furnished room, materialize out of the fog. Only two of the walls were visible, allowing them an unrestricted view of what was going on inside. There was a simple bed and a chair. On the bed was an elderly couple who looked very familiar.

Next to her Elsa gasped. "Our grandparents!"

Then Anna recognized them. They were her father's parents. Though sickness and time changed their appearance, they were definitely the people in the paintings she knew so well. She looked closer and saw that her grandfather held the pendant and was looking at it closely as if coming to an important decision. Next to him, their grandmother started coughing and hacking. He turned to his wife and tried to help as best he could.

The door burst open and in rushed a younger version of Hiram. Anna guessed he was somewhere around 15 or 16 years old. She was surprised at the worried look on his face when he saw her grandmother's condition. Anna found herself slowly walking closer so she could hear what was being said.

"Here," the younger Hiram said, lifting her grandmother into a sitting position. He let her finish coughing before giving her a small cup of water that was floating nearby. Anna guessed that he was using his powers to make it hover like that.

"Thank you, Hiram," Anna's grandmother said shakily as she slowly eased herself back down.

Hiram just patted her hand and walked to the other side of the bed and knelt by her grandfather. "How are you feeling Papa?" His voice was filled with worry and pain.

Anna jerked back as if struck. He considered them his parents? She had a sinking feeling there was more going on than she originally thought. Glancing at Elsa, she saw a puzzled expression that must have mirrored her own.

"Every day I feel weaker, son," her grandfather said. "It is only a matter of time. Hey," he reached out his hand to the younger Hiram's face and wiped away a tear. "You know we all die eventually. It's in God's hands."

"I know," young Hiram said miserably.

"I know that you fear being alone," Anna's grandmother said, her voice tired yet loving. "But you will have our people to look after now."

"Wait," Anna said. "What people?"

"Listen, Anna," Grand Pabbie said.

Anna turned her attention back to the memory. Young Hiram was tightly grasping her grandfather's hand as her grandfather used his arm to push himself up. With his free hand, he removed the pendant from his neck and held it up.

"This has become a symbol of safety and hope for our people, Hiram," he said. "It now comes to you to protect them."

Young Hiram slowly took the necklace and placed it reverently on his neck. As soon as he released it, the memory started to fade. Anna could still hear them talking, but couldn't make out the words. Finally, the memory dissipated into the fog. Anna looked between Elsa and Hiram a few times trying to comprehend what she had seen.

"Does this mean he is our uncle?" Elsa asked appearing to be in shock.

"Not really," Grand Pabbie said. "Hiram was adopted by your grandparents, who raised him and taught him everything they knew."

"How come they never came home?"

"Your grandparents were captured by a person with abilities similar to mine. He was able to cloud their memories of who they were and enslave them. They found Hiram soon after."

"In that place," Hiram said with bitterness, "your grandparents were not the rulers of Arendelle, or even members of your family. All of that was stripped from them when they were taken, just like it was for me."

"That story can be told later," Grand Pabbie said. "I think now it is time for us to go back and sort this out."

They nodded and Grand Pabbie held out his hands. There was a flash of white light and Anna felt herself become weightless again.


Talk about a shocking revelation! What does everyone think?

Part one (Icebound) is starting to draw to a close. Don't worry! The story will continue...