Chapter Two: ALONE
She stood in front of a mysterious mist that had enveloped the woods since she was last here. With the scarf around her, she tried to enter the mist but was pushed back. She kept trying, causing her to panic. It began to rain hard. The harder she tried to get through the mist, the hard it would push her back into the mud. Iduna could feel her emotions building and building. She tried calling out to the Wind Spirit, "Ah-Ah-AhAh! Ah-Ah-AhAh!"
There was nothing but silence and she tried to get through again, but was thrown back into the mud next to her scarf which was covered with mud. Iduna's eyes began to swell with tears.
Promise me you'll stay at camp.
I promise.
Iduna began to weep bitterly in the mud as the rain poured down hard on her. The weight in her chest ached so much, she could hardly breathe. "Please! Please, don't shut me out! Please!"
After crying for what felt like hours, what life she had inside abandoned her and she laid lifeless on the ground, staring up at the sky where the top of the mist touched. The rain continued to drop down on her until she blacked out after the sight of a raven caught her eye and her last wish was that death would come claim her. Hello, darkness. I'm ready to succumb.
A stranger walked up to her unconscious body and picked her up and her scarf. He held her in his strong arms as he rode his horse away from the mist. She barely woke up to catch a glimpse of the man dressed in fur, a hood concealing his face and…what looked like antlers coming out of his head. When Iduna woke up, she was clean, in clean clothes and laying in a large soft bed.
She turned to see a little girl's smiling face, "Good morning, sleepy head! My name is Braelyn. What's yours?"
"Iduna," Iduna replied with a smile before asking, "Where are we?"
"We're at Diantha's Orphanage. She's a super nice lady who helps care for the orphans of Arendelle," Braelyn explained.
"Thank you, Braelyn," Diantha interrupted, entering the room. "I told you not to disturb her."
Iduna looked at Diantha, an elderly woman with white skin and wrinkled skin. Her smile was warm and calming. She reminded Iduna a lot of Yelena, which may have been why she felt safe.
Diantha sat down next to Iduna on the bed, "This is my orphanage, as Braelyn pointed out. We are supported by the Royal Palace and the people of Arendelle through donations. There are some clothes in your closet that I found for you. I was able to save your scarf, but your clothes were beyond help. I'm sorry, dear."
"You saw my scarf?" Iduna asked, a hint of fear in her voice. If she recognized the etching-
Diantha handed Iduna her scarf, "It's beautiful."
Iduna held the scarf close. "If was a gift from my mom. I don't even know if she's still alive."
Diantha held her close, affectionately like a mother would. "I lost someone too. A daughter. Her name was Elsa. No one could help her and all I could do is watch my best friend slowly die. That's why I opened my home to the orphans. So that they would never feel alone. Not only do I run this orphanage, but I bake and grow a garden here to help feed the children in my care and specialize in herbal medicine."
Iduna was suddenly surprised which Diantha noticed and smiled. "Something tells me you know you a thing or two about herbal medicine. Maybe you can teach me a thing or two."
Iduna smiled back and Diantha headed out, "There's breakfast ready for you if you're hungry."
"Who brought me here?" Iduna asked. She remembered. "There was a big man, dressed in furs and antlers came out of his head."
Diantha laughed, "Don't worry. Those aren't his own. They are attached to his hood on his fur cloak. His name is Baldur. He collects herbs for my medicine and brings the orphanage meat in the cold winters. He was the first orphan I took in after Elsa's death. He didn't talk much, still doesn't, and always had a violent side if provoked. I'm just glad he found you and brought you to us."
She hid her scarf and finally exited the room to find two other orphans who were about her age.
"Children? This is Iduna. Iduna? Meet Braelyn, Derek, and Aliza." Diantha introduced.
Iduna greeted each. Braelyn, she already met in the bedroom. She was a little girl, around 5 years old. She had curly brown hair and brown eyes. Derek was her age, but had darker hair and blue eyes. Aliza was her age. She had red hair, green eyes and her face was covered with freckles.
Iduna finally sat down next to Aliza and they all enjoyed breakfast. A few months passed before the Christmas season came upon them and Diantha took them all to the Royal Palace where the people gathered for the seasonal tradition: the ringing of the Yule Bell.
Everyone didn't seem as cheerful as Diantha described from previous seasons. The atmosphere was gloomy and practically everyone's faces were tainted with despair. No doubt a result of the incident that took place with the Northrunda. Due to the mist, no one knows if those trapped inside are still alive.
Iduna watched as the gate to the palace opened and Prince Agnarr came out with the castle staff and council members behind him. Their faces matched the crowds' and if it even possible, the prince looked worse. The Yule Bell was brought into the courtyard and raised in place. A rope was lowered to the prince who hesitantly grabbed hold of it. One of the men whispered something into his ear and the Prince forced a smile and raised a fist in the air to raise everyone's spirits. He pulled the rope and the Yule Bell rang loudly, "Let the holidays begin!"
The crowd cheered and raised their fists too before gradually began to leave to focus on traditions at home. Iduna's eyes widened when her eyes met the prince's. His eyes widened too as if he recognized her. She quickly disappeared into the leaving crowd, losing him. She gripped her beating heart and breathed deeply to calm herself.
"Iduna, Are you okay?" Braelyn asked next to her, taking her hand.
Iduna smiled and gently squeezed her hand. "Yeah, let's go home and help Diantha with the decorations and the baking."
Braelyn smiled back and they rejoined the others before heading back home.