Johanna

"Well?" I tap my foot impatiently. Little ice crystals spurt across the ground each time I tap. We're standing in a shallow vale just on the other side of the mountain from my Palace. Shallow enough that no shadows will block the light of the new moon, but deep enough that the wind won't reach us.

"This is perfect," says the Head Goblin. "We'll set up here."

The other goblins begin to unload their knapsacks. They set up little tents around the perimeter. The troll-goblin unloads a set of strange little objects: stones of varying sizes, a holly branch, dried ligonberries, thyme, and a little container holding a mysterious brown liquid.

"What idiocy is this?" I ask him.

"Troll magic. For the spell."

"It had better work."

"It will." He pulls a string of mushrooms out of his bag. Mushrooms, of all things! "Where is the sacrifice?"

"Back in the Palace," I say. "Safe."

"And the one we're resurrecting?"

"Same place as always. Also safe."

He raises a prickly white eyebrow. I wasn't aware that goblins could do that. It looks ridiculous.

"I'd recommend bringing him here as soon as possible," says the troll-goblin. "The more we can prepare now, the less we have to worry about last-minute difficulties."

"What kind of difficulties? I thought you knew what you were doing."

"Magic of any kind can be finicky. It can develop a will of its own if you're not careful. Even a mage of your caliber must have experienced a spell that's grown beyond your control."

In my mind's eye, I see Aunt Anna and the woman whose daughter fell in the fjord, crying together in the front hall. The little girl sucks her thumb. Her still-wet hair drips thawed ice onto the floor, forming a puddle at her feet.

"Never," I say.

"My apologies then." The goblin goes back to his work.

I hate it when the goblins are right, but he's right. I don't want any unforeseen circumstances interfering with the spell. Tonight is as good a time as ever. I might as well go.

I think about checking in on Kai but decide against it. When I left, he was still engrossed in moving the ice shards around. That should keep him entertained for a few more hours. Plus, he's not expecting me back anytime soon. I told him I was going to Iceland to freeze some volcanoes.

I have no idea why I lied. It's not like he cares any more than I do.

I lift my hands to the sky and beckon. My snow horses descend from above, pulling the white sledge behind them. It's much improved since the first time I used it. I've smoothed the rough edges and drawn patterns on the side that catch the light from each street lamp and window and reflect it back. I don't go down into Arendelle-Ciera very often, but I make the trip a few times each year. It's good to remind the people that I'm still there, that I still have power over them.

I climb into the sledge. "I trust you will have no more need of me tonight?"

The troll-goblin shakes his head.

"Then I expect things to run smoothly until I get back. No difficulties."

"You have my word," the troll-goblin says.

I crack my whip and raise a wind. The horses leap up, pulling me into the heart of the storm, until the goblins and everything else vanish beneath the clouds.

A/N – Just got done dying my hair blond so I can wear an Elsa braid to Disney World! My hair's not as long as hers, but I think I'll decorate it with snowflakes so people can see what I'm going for. (The snowflakes are still in the works so we'll see how they come out lol.)

Thanks for reading and reviewing!