We All Start Out as Strangers, A Frozen Story
The first time that Elsa saw the stranger, it was the middle of summer. He was lying unconscious on the forest floor, not far from the Northuldra camp. No one here knew him, no one recognized him, at least not yet, but that would come later. And that information would come from someone she hadn't expected.
As is common for the People of the Sun, Ryder brought the stranger into an abandoned tent next to Elsa's. There was a wound to his chest; it looked a lot like a sword pierced his skin. Both of them managed to bind up the wound and place wetrags on his head to keep the fever down. Elsa supplied the ice to keep his body cool.
"The wound is infected," Yelena told Elsa when she and Honeymaren arrived to help. "It may take a few days, maybe a week to heal. I made a poultice to draw out the infection. I will leave it here. The three of us can take turns."
"Be careful, Elsa," Yelena warned. "I do not know this man, even though he is dressed as we are. Maybe there were advantages having the forest cut off from the outside for so long." She looked at me. "Have you spoken to the spirits?"
"No, not this morning, but they have warned me that something is coming. Something is upsetting the balance. After twelve years of peace, why now? This reminds me of when my Anna, Kristoff, Olaf, Sven and I arrived here for the first time."
"And the three of you brought us out of the mist and into the light. We are forever grateful to you and your family for everything."
Elsa nodded. "Since we promoted Kristoff to the post of Official Envoy and Liaison Officer to the Enchanted Lands and Beyond, he has become a different person. Anna and I are proud of the progress he has made between the Forest and Arendelle and I hope that we continue to do so."
Yelena smiled. "Ryder, Honeymaren and I are glad to be a part of your government, Elsa. It was a bit strange at first, but we have learned so much as part of your esteemed council. "
"And we are glad to have you," Elsa told her. "And I'm glad we're making a difference."
"Well, it is getting late. I will look in on the young man and then take my leave. I'll be back tomorrow. Keep a sharp eye on him, Elsa. Watch him carefully and pay close attention. I know that you're not easily swayed."
And she disappeared into stranger's tent.
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Kristoff sat in the royal greenhouse working on a project to somehow link Arendelle and the Enchanted Lands together. A new dam had been built and a new bridge would be needed as the old one was rotting away. A ceremony would be involved, not to mention funds and how to raise them. After all, he had managed his own ice harvesting business and made it work. Anna was the one who reminded him when he hemmed and hawed about it. It was then he agreed.
He was also working on new laws that were discussed at this morning's meeting. The Northuldra people were now welcome in Arendelle and their language would be no longer forbidden. Magic would be accepted and not outlawed.
Kristoff was told that many people were still skeptical of magic and the People of the Sun, especially, but these new laws would, hopefully, change a lot of minds.
He was just about close up his notes and research when he heard voices.
He recognized Francis and Erik, the Duke of Weselton's former bodyguards. The Duke had passed away three years ago and his son had taken over his duties, but, due to inaccurate records and the loss of money from Arendelle's repeated refusals to work with him, Fredrik stepped down and his sister, Briggita took over, but Arendelle still refused.
Out of money and resources, the small town of Weselton disappeared as if it never existed.
And Fredric and Briggita never forgave Arendelle for its actions. They blamed Elsa for her magic; they blamed Anna for her refusal and her acceptance of the Northuldra. Like their father, they referred to magic as sorcery and vowed revenge.
There was talk of a twin brother somewhere, but no one had any information on him at all. There were no records of a birth anywhere.
At least that's what Kristoff had heard.
But it had been three years and nothing had happened and the small village had forgotten everything, including the rumors.
The other voice, though, he had never heard before.
But the words he heard, gave him an idea on who it might be, but he couldn't be sure.
It could only be Fredric.
"Our agent is in place," the voice said. "He is delayed at the moment, but I believe that he will be ready to resume and carry out our plans."
"And when do you think that will be? We are anxious to complete this project."
"As soon as all is ready," the voice said.
"Are you sure that you can handle this? We failed in our previous attempts, as you know."
"And I'm sure that you remember that our ancestors have been trying to rid the world of magic…."
Kristoff heard footsteps and they were headed his way. If he ever wanted to disappear into the brush, this would be a good time to do it.
He gathered up his papers quickly. It was good that he had come in here often, there were so many ways to escape. There were four entrances into the Royal Greenhouse, not including a secret door that led to an underground passageway, which the greenhouse workers used to replenish the Royal Gardens every season.
The footsteps came closer, soon they would discover him. He took a chance and ran in the direction of the door. It had blended into the walls so well that no one would be able to find it, including him at times.
The footsteps stopped.
Finally, Kristoff found the door, pushed it open and managed to step in and close it behind him, but not before he heard one of them ask if the other two had seen and heard a door opening and closing.
Thankfully, none of them had.