Chapter 2: The Magician's Rules

The royal sled was all loaded up and while the king handled the reins, the queen held both her daughters close to her. "Mama, what is this magician like?" Anna asked.

"Well, I don't really know," she admitted. "But my grandmother told me a story about the magician once."

Seeing her daughters were listening, she smiled and continued. "Many years ago, when magic was used more often than it is now, there was a couple that had a little girl, who had strong magical abilities and not only that, she could tap into the four elements at any time, something that was unheard of at the time, though some thought that because the girl had been born on a full moon, that and the magic surrounding them had helped the little one to gain her powers.

"But sadly, there was an evil magician in town and when he heard of the child having the ability to tap into all the elements, he wanted her in hopes of making her his child and working for him. The family was alerted by another magician and they sent the child away from the village to be raised by a family that could protect her. Sadly, the one taking the child to safety was attacked by the evil magician. The traveler hid the child and faced the magician, but lost his life as the evil magician was stronger than him, but when the evil magician went to retrive the child, she was gone."

Elsa gasped. "What happened to her, Mama?" She asked.

"Well, my grandmother said that it was believed that the wind had picked up the baby and taken her far away to a place where the evil magician couldn't reach her and she was found by a tribe of beings who were not human, but took in the baby and raised it as one of their own, teaching the young one about her powers, which grew stronger when she got older. Once she learned how to use her powers, her adoptive family told her about the evil magician after her and she swore that if he stepped foot anywhere near their home, she'd face him and deal with him."

"Has the evil magician ever returned?" Anna asked a bit fearfully.

"No," the queen soothed. "And over time, the girl went to live in the mountains so that she would always have a clear view of the world around her and she would know if something evil was coming."

"Why did Papa say that she's fierce and doesn't like visitors?" Elsa asked.

"Over time, word got out about her powers and people would come to bother her, which angered her and she'd chase them off with her magic, but she never harmed them. However, if she is angered, she can be fierce."

"Do you think the bundle that nice troll gave us will work?" Anna asked.

"Well, he said it would," her mother said. "I guess we'll see when we reach the forest."

It wasn't long before they made it to the East Forest and went in, the queen picking up the bundle Pabbie had given them and holding onto it. Elsa gasped softly as she could feel the magic in the air. Anna could too. "Mama, there's magic everywhere," she said softly.

"Yes, there is," the queen said. "No doubt the magician's work."

Elsa was in awe as she saw some branches had icicles that looked spiral shaped and striped with both clear and white cloudy ice. "Look," she said in awe.

The king smiled. "The magician is very talented," he said before he heard growling and looked around, but saw nothing. The queen sat up.

"What was that?" She asked.

"We're being watched," he said. "Girls, stay close to your mother."

The sisters obeyed as they looked around, but didn't see anything. The queen held the bundle so that it could plainly be seen. Moments later, the growling stopped, but the sensation of someone watching them didn't leave them as they continued onward, soon coming to the mountains and following the trail up to a grand castle made out of white bricks that Elsa thought was snow, but as they passed under a grand archway, she reached out and touched one, finding it to be rough like rock. "It's like it's made out of rock," she said.

"No doubt very strong," the queen said as they entered a courtyard of sorts. The king stepped out of the sled and helped his wife and daughters out too.

"Stay close," he said as they walked up to a grand door, but before he could knock, the door opened to reveal a grand room that looked like their throne room. And at the other end of the room was a large throne.

And sitting on the throne was a girl who looked to be no more than eighteen and she held a long staff made of white wood in her hands. She glared at them with eyes that were icy-blue in color and her long light blonde hair hung in a French braid behind her head. She wore a white wool dress with winter boots and white leggings and her hands were bare, though she didn't seem bothered by it. She stood up, still glaring at the royal family.

"Have the warnings not reached where you live?" She asked, her tone sharp. "I don't appreciate intruders."

"Please, we were told to seek you out to help our daughter," the king said, kneeling on one knee before the magician. "The troll elder sent us."

The young girl arched an eyebrow. "Who?" She asked.

The queen bravely stepped forward. "His name is Pabbie," she said.

A definite change filled the air and the magician began to look calmer. "If he did indeed send you, he must have given you something that my guards in the forest recognized," she said.

The queen held up the bundle in her hand. While it was small, a snowflake gleamed in the light and the magician nodded, stepping down from her throne. "I am Icelina, magician of the four elements," she introduced before looking at the two children and looking curious. "I sense one of these children has magic."

The king and queen nodded and Elsa swallowed, timidly stepped forward and curtseying to the young woman politely. "Miss Icelina, Pabbie said you could help me," she said, keeping her tone respectful. "Will you teach me how to better control my powers, please?"

Icelina smiled at the child. "You have been raised well, Elsa," she said.

The girl jumped back in surprise and the magician chuckled. "Yes, I know of the royal family," she said. "I've been watching for years, especially when the royal children are born."

Anna grew curious. "How long have you been watching us?" She asked.

"Ever since I came into the mountains centuries ago," Icelina said.

"Whoa! That's a long time," the red-haired girl said in shock.

"Anna," the queen scolded gently.

The magician chuckled in amusement. "No worries, Your Majesty. I am not offended," she said. "I may look young, but I have lived for many centuries."

She then looked at Elsa. "Before I give my answer, a pact must be made," she continued. "If the pact is ever broken, then I will not be able to teach you anymore, Elsa. Do you understand?"

The child nodded. "What sort of pact?" The king asked.

Icelina raised her staff. "This is the pact: I will teach Elsa as long as she and Anna are never separated. If they are separated, then the pact will be null."

She looked at the king and queen. "Are you both in agreement, Your Majesties?" She asked.

They looked pensive, but nodded. "But what if they are separated as in doing things on their own?" The queen asked.

Icelina gently smiled. "That's not the separation I mean," she said gently. "I mean the girls must be allowed to have their close bond and never be forced to abandon each other."

"They are too loyal to each other to do so, great magician," the king said.

She smiled, holding up a hand. "You may call me Icelina," she said gently before looking at the girls. "Do you girls agree to the pact?"

"Yes," Anna said instantly.

"Yes," Elsa echoed before gasping as strange beings suddenly surrounded the two sisters. They looked like people made of ice, but a blue fire flickered at the top of their heads. One kneeled down in front of Elsa and tilted its head to the side before lifting one hand and gently stroking the girl's whitish-blonde hair.

"Don't be alarmed," Icelina said gently, a smile on her face. "These are called icy-fire spirits, beings that represent both fire and water. They help me around the castle."

Anna was in awe and she went up to one of them, who looked curious before looking confused. Noticing this, the magician came up to them. "What is it?" She asked gently.

The spirt gently tapped a finger on Anna's collarbone before gently tapping her nose. Icelina smiled. "Well, it seems you have a small bit of magic yourself, Anna," she said.

"I do?" The girl asked. "But...I don't have powers like Elsa."

"True, but you still have magic," the magician said.

"How?" The King asked, surprised.

"I'm not sure, but I can sense it faintly in her," Icelina said. "Perhaps it is a special magic."

Anna looked happy about that and giggled when one of the spirits playfully tugged one of her pigtail braids. Another gently tugged the end of Elsa's braid, making her smile.

The queen smiled too. "It looks like your helpers are fond of the children," she said.

"Yes, they are," Icelina said with a smile before her head lifted up. "A storm is approaching. If you go now, you'll make it before it hits the kingdom."

Nodding, the King bowed to her. "Thank you, Icelina," he said gratefully. "When should we return with Elsa?"

She smiled. "I'll come to the castle," she said.

Thanking her again, the royal family got into the sled and quickly headed out. Elsa looked down at her hands, seeing them glow. "I hope I can learn from Miss Icelina," she said.

"I'm sure you can, my dear," the queen said. "Just remember to listen to her."

"Yes, Mama."

"I like her," Anna said. "She seemed to know we were friends after you said the kind troll had sent us."

"Yes," the king said as they made it to the castle and got inside just as the storm hit. "She wasn't kidding about the storm."

"I wonder what kind of magic Anna has," the queen said.

"I supposed we'll find out when it manifests as Elsa's did," the king said.

Icelina was in her castle and nodded at hearing the family had made it safe. "I'll look into why the younger princess has magic while training the older one," she said before sending a telepathic message to her guards. "Anything yet?"

"No, ma'am," one of her guards answered. "It's not him."

"Good," she said. "Tell me the moment you either see him or sense his magic."

She took a deep breath. "I just hope there's time," she said softly as she gripped her staff harder while the storm continued blowing outside.

So the pact has been made, but why is Icelina worried about something? And what magic does Anna have? Stay tuned to find out! :)

And please leave a review, but no flames!

GoldGuardian2418