Chapter 2
"These drawings are beautiful, Kristoff," Anna told him. They were sitting on the bed as usual, Anna at the head and Kristoff at the end. ''I didn't even know you could draw."
Kristoff smiled. "Neither did I, but Mr. Anderson assured me that I was a natural. They're only sketches."
"As long as it shows what we need to do when we arrive to sort it all out. It will be good to see Elsa again."
"Speaking of Northuldra," Kristoff said, putting the sketches back inside the leather folder. "I heard something interesting today after our meeting this morning. Seems I'm not the only one who loves being in the Royal Greenhouse."
Anna frowned. "What does that mean?"
"You remember Erik and Francis, don't you?" Kristoff asked. "Your sister remembers them quite well."
"The former Duke of Weselton's bodyguards, weren't they? Yep, I remember them."
"They were meeting with someone this afternoon. I didn't recognize the voice or the face."
"You mean inside the greenhouse?"
Kristoff nodded. "They were making plans to visit Elsa and the Northuldra. They have some kind of spy over there. I hope that they don't go after Elsa again."
Änna sat up. "Let's not forget Arendelle ," she answered.
Kristoff looked at her. "You don't think Hans is behind this, do you?"
"I hope not, Kristoff, but we'd better not take any chances. I had heard that the Duke's family was out for revenge. They lost everything, even their tiny village. I should send a message by Gale tomorrow. "
"Would you have recognized the voices or the faces?"
"Look, Your Highness, I didn't even realize that man had a wife, never mind a son."
"There were two of them, actually, Your Majesty. He also had a daughter."
"You don't think it's a good idea to send that note do you?"
"You can, Anna. Just explain you'd like to see her on an important matter that you discussed with the King Consort, that's all. Tell her she needs to come right away. I think Elsa will get the message."
"Good idea, Kristoff." Anna whispered sidling up to him, "How about a private discussion on another important matter, Your Highness?"
Kristoff smiled. "I would do anything for you, My Queen," he answered and all was forgotten, at least for tonight.
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It didn't take long for the stranger to heal, two to three days at the most. The wound was clean and free of infection, thanks to Yelena, Honeymaren, and Elsa's work.
It was Elsa's turn to tend to the stranger who, she now noticed, was sitting upright. He was looking around at his surroundings. She carried with her a bowl full of water and a fresh rag. She also had some poultice with her just in case.
"Where am I?" the stranger asked.
"The Enchanted Forest," she said, sitting down on the stool next to the makeshift bed. She placed the bowl and the rag down on the table next to her.
"And who were those people tending me?" he asked, "and what's more, who are you?"
"My name is Elsa, the other women tending you, if they haven't told you yet were Yelena and Honeymaren. This is Northuldra country after all."
"Northuldra?"
She nodded. "They are just a small part of a larger tribe, the Sami people. They settled here in this forest. The rest of the tribe, all different names, are scattered all over the Enchanted Lands and beyond."
The stranger frowned. "I'm not sure I understand. You mean that all of them are related?"
Elsa smiled. "All of us are related in some way as we are all human beings, but we all start out as strangers first. "
The stranger smiled. "My name is Henrik, Elsa. I am a magician and was on my way to a performance beyond this forest. Somehow I got lost in the dark and collapsed where you found me."
Elsa nodded, but she didn't believe him in the slightest. Not one bit. "What about your wound. Looks like a sword did you in to me."
Henrik smiled. "It was actually, mine. I took it out for protection and I tripped over a rock. I did notice it was missing. You didn't find it by any chance? "
This guy thinks I'll believe anything, Elsa thought, as she looked at him. "No, I don't believe we did. At least, no one told me otherwise."
"Well," Henrik said, sitting up. "I'd best be going,"
"No," she answered, "You will be staying here at least until you'll be able to walk again. When you are stronger in a few weeks, you can go wherever you want. In the meantime, you will stay here. It's has been put to a vote and it was unanimous." She smiled.
And she got up to go.
"Thank you, Your Majesty," he said, absent mindedly.
Elsa turned. That face, she thought. It looked familiar. She had seen it before, somewhere, but she couldn't place it. Play dumb, she told herself. Don't ask questions yet. Gain his trust and then ask.
She smiled and nodded her head. "Goodnight, I'll be back tomorrow to look in on you."
And with that, she left his tent. When she was safely inside her own, she stared at Anna's paper bird and read the message again. He had called her "Your Majesty." Well it was true. She was known as the Snow Queen as well as the Fifth Spirit and Protector of the Enchanted Forest, but she was never thought she hear that title again, at least not here, especially from someone she considered a stranger.
Well, the spirits had sent a warning, hadn't they?
Elsa clutched Anna's message and nodded her head. She'd look in on Henrik first and then ride to Arendelle to see her sister and brother in law. It had been a while, hadn't it?