Anna thought when she became Queen, that her life would become busy. That she would be buried in paperwork and not have enough time to spend with Elsa. Even though she officially became the Queen of Arendelle, she hasn't taken over the duties as Queen. Even at age eighteen, Anna was deemed too young. It wouldn't be until she as twenty-one that Anna would take over her Queenly responsibilities. Which meant, she had three years to get Elsa to Ahtohallan. That's plenty of time.

"Fear not, lovely maiden, 'tis I, your gorgeous knight, have arrived to help you with your blight," Anna said as she stood on the table and struck a pose with her sword held in the air. Elsa giggled and swatted Anna's leg.

"Quit messing around, Anna. These books aren't going to search themselves," Elsa said with a light tone. After Anna's parents' death, and Elsa's promise, Elsa made sure that Anna had enough time to mourn their deaths. She didn't think it would be healthy for Anna to mask her pain and focus entirely on Elsa. Elsa wouldn't be able to live with herself if Anna turned into a living husk. Elsa spent the last two years focused on Anna as she transitioned into the first phase of becoming Queen. Ahtohallan could wait.

"Ugh! We've been at this for months now. I swear every time I close my eyes, I see nothing but words floating around. Let's take a break," Anna assumed her ready position. "Watch out lovely maiden, 'tis a draugar approaching. I shall take them out swiftly. HIYA!" Anna swung the sword. Partway through her swing, the sword slipped through her hands and flew into the bookshelf.

THUNK!

"Oops," Anna whispered. She slowly turned to see Elsa sending her a scolding stare. "He, he." Anna strode over to the bookshelf. She grabbed the grip of the blade and pulled. "Well, the little sucker is stuck in there he, he. Wait." Anna knew the walls where solid. How could the sword be buried to the hilt? "Quick, Elsa. Help me pull move this." Anna and Elsa pulled the bookcase. The wood squeaked against the floor as the two dragged the furniture and revealed a hidden passage. The two looked at each other before they stepped inside.

Anna lit the candle to the lantern on the wall. The light illuminated the entire room, revealing what looked like a secret study. Anna walked to a desk. She picked up a map that displayed Arendelle along with its surrounding area. It even had the bordering land of Northuldra. What caught Anna's attention was her mother's handwriting on the upper right corner.

Ahtohallan holds the truth. A chance to fully unlock the fifths spirit powers?

Anna scrunched her face in confusion. Then she noticed another note in Northuldra.

Homeward bound? For both of us?

"Wait. Was Mama a Northuldran?" Anna whispered to herself. But the note said both of us. I certainly never visited Northuldra. Papa was King. So, that means… Anna looked towards Elsa. Elsa had her head buried in a tome. Did Mama know Elsa? "Elsa. Did you ever meet the person that gave you clothes and food before I met you?"

"No. The only thing I remember was a lullaby. They sang it the first time my powers got out of control." Anna's head shot up at the mention of a lullaby.

"A lullaby? Can you sing it for me?" Elsa, not sure of what Anna was getting at, sang the lullaby. Word for word. Anna was in disbelief. That's the lullaby her mother always sang for her when she had trouble sleeping. If Anna's mother had something to do with Elsa, then who exactly was her mother?

"Do you think your mother was Northuldran?" Elsa asked as Anna stuffed food into a bag. After they searched Anna's mother's hidden study thoroughly, Anna insisted that they head to Northuldra as soon as possible. Which for Anna meant that same night.

"What else could it mean? She was trying to find the connection between Northuldra and Arendelle. If we can't find anything about the fifth spirit here in Arendelle, then the Northuldran might have answers."

"I doubt we can walk in. Arendelle and Northuldra have a bad history Anna. We could be killed on the spot."

"Don't you want to know more about who you are Elsa? I can see the longing gaze you do when you think I'm not looking. The voice is occurring more frequently, isn't it?" Elsa turned away from Anna. "You see. All the more reason to go." Anna finished packing the bag for the trip. She hoped it'll last enough to at least get to Northuldra.

Elsa let out a small worried sigh. "Alright. But you have to promise me that if this journey gets too much, that we turn around and head back."

"But, Elsa!" Anna whined. Elsa sent her what Anna called 'Elsa's serious pout.' "No, don't do that. That's not fair." Anna tried to stay tough, but like always, Elsa proved too strong.

"Fine! I promise," Elsa's face lit up "That I'll try." Of course, Anna wouldn't fully commit. Elsa should have expected that.

"Looks like that's the most I'll get out of you." Elsa shook her head but smiled, nonetheless. "All set?"

"Yup! Let me get my saber, and then we are ready to go."

Anna and Elsa hid behind a wagon. The one thing Anna didn't think of obtaining was a means of transportation.

"Anna, we can't just steal a wagon."

"Well, we can't exactly take a royal wagon. It's much too flashy and we'll stand out." Anna's head popped out and looked out for anyone. Once satisfied, she helped Elsa up into the seat. "And we are only borrowing it. We'll return when we get back." Even to Anna, her reasoning sounded weak.

Anna thought back on Arendelle as she settled herself next to Elsa. Kai was capable enough to handle things while Anna was gone. It wouldn't be the first time she left for an extended period. Anna hoped he wouldn't be too angry by letting him know about her departure with just a letter.

Anna grabbed the reins with uncertainty. She'd never driven a wagon before. "Alright, mister reindeer. Uh," Anna turned to Elsa and whispered, "Do you know how to make him move?" Elsa shrugged. Anna pouted as she thought about how to proceed.

"Sven, just go." Anna and Elsa jumped at the voice behind them. Both whipped their heads and stared at a mountain man with a sheepish grin. "I was going to let this go on to see how far you'd get but seeing as you haven't moved," the wagon began to move as the reindeer let out what sounded like a chuckle. "Thanks Sven. At least someone gets my jokes."

"I'm sorry, but who are you?" Anna asked with irritation.

"The owner of this wagon. The one you tried to 'borrow' from." Anna didn't have an answer for the man. Instead, she crossed her arms and let out a huff.

"Um. I'm Elsa," Elsa spoke up to break the silence. The mountain man turned to her with a grin.

"Kristoff Bjorgman. A pleasure." They shook hands. Anna looked at their short interaction with annoyance.

"Elsa, you don't have to be nice to him."

"This is my wagon! Who are you anyway." Anna looked at him, offended. How did this man not know who she was? She stood with her head held high.

"I am the Queen Anna of Arendelle." Kristoff stared at Anna unimpressed. He pointed to Elsa.

"She can go for free. You, on the other hand, I'm charging a fee."

Though Anna and Kristoff seemed like they were at each other's throat for most of the trip, Elsa knew Anna was warming up the mountain man. Elsa and Kristoff got along fine becoming fast friends. Their love of ice being the most significant factor. For the longest time, it was only her and Anna. Elsa would have thought that sharing their time with someone else might upset her, but she found she didn't mind at all. It might have been too soon to tell, but Elsa felt as if they added another member to their family. With that last thought, she fell asleep, cuddled against Anna.

Anna smiled at Elsa's peaceful face. She delicately pushed stray hair out of Elsa's eyes. Kristoff looked on with curious eyes.

"Is her dress really made out of ice."

"Of course. Elsa showing you her powers not enough?"

"Her magic is amazing. What I'm asking is, aren't you cold with her cuddled against you?" Kristoff asked. The thought never really occurred to Anna. At first, she might have felt cold. Anna was utterly speechless the first time Elsa showed her, her ice dress. The transformation was so breathtaking that Anna fainted when Elsa undid her usual hairstyle in favor of a long braid over her shoulder. The big bump on her head the next day told her as such. In time she just accepted the colder temperature as simply 'Elsa.'

"Not anymore. I guess I just got used to it."

"So are you two together."

"We've been best friends for over ten years."

"I meant are you two together, together." Kristoff steadied Sven as he turned in his seat to face Anna properly. The blush on Anna's face came instantly. Anna wasn't stupid. She knew her feelings for Elsa grew with each passing year. She wanted to confess countless times. But, the uncertainty of the future held her back.

"It's not that easy. Elsa's the Fifth spirit and I'm a queen of a kingdom. What if our destiny eventually pulls us apart?" Anna and Elsa tried to discuss it before, but the mere thought of them separating had brought Elsa to tears. They hadn't brought it up since.

"If you've been together for so long, why would you let destiny get in the way of what you two have?"

"You make it sound so simple."

"Alright, let me ask you this. What is Elsa to you?" Her best friend. The one person she could talk to about anything. The person who laughs at all her jokes. The one who, despite knowing better, encouraged Anna's wild behavior. The one who always played the princess when Anna wanted to be the knight, or the knight when Anna wanted to be the princess. The one who simply made Anna happy. Anna gazed lovingly at Elsa. Her thumb brushed lightly across Elsa's cheek.

"She's my everything," Anna's voice cracked. Kristoff smiled softly and settled back into the reins.

"You see. Simple as that." Anna let out a small laugh.

"Thank you, Kristoff."

"I aim to please," he said with a wink, before turning and focused on the road.