The Vikings felt a chill when they crossed the edge of the forest.
"How are we gonna find your friends here? It is a huge forest and you said they're nomads."
"Oh! Don't worry about this."
Elsa whistled and, a moment later, an air burst which seemed to be alive ruffled their hair and clothing, making a high-pitched sound.
"Do you have air magic as well?" Astrid asked with surprise.
"Let me introduce you Gale, the wind's spirit," Elsa answered laughing. "Gale, do you know where Northuldra people are?"
The blast of air stirred and whistled.
"I see. Alright. Would you mind going there and letting them know we are on our way?"
Gale stirred even more.
"Thank you."
Then, the burst left to the North.
"Wow... That was amazing," Astrid said, fascinated. "To be honest, I wasn't expecting spirits to look like this... I'm looking forward to meeting the others."
"You will meet them as soon as we arrive. Except for Gale, the others should be with Northuldra, protecting them. It is not that Gale can't do it, but since she is the fastest of all of them, she is most useful as a lookout and messenger."
"Do you think we're still in danger?" Hiccup asked.
"I think it is better to be cautious. We don't know what is happening in Arendelle and, even I don't think they could find Northuldra in their own forest, it doesn't hurt to take some precautions, just in case. What?" said suddenly, uncomfortable at Astrid's gaze.
"No, nothing..." the Viking answered, smiling and grabbing Elsa's hand. "I'm sure you were a wonderful queen."
Elsa stuck wordless and smiled grateful, feeling a pleasant sensation in her stomach.
"They must be around," Elsa said a few hours later.
They were in a dense area of the forest, with tall bushes that surrounded them and blocked their vision.
"Elsa!" somebody said suddenly at their back.
"Ah!"
Astrid, scared by the sudden presence of a snowman, reacted without thinking and kicked it in the head, sending the head through the air to Hiccup's arms, who stared at it with curiosity.
"Hi!"
Surprised to see it speak, he threw back the head back to Astrid.
"You must be Elsas' fellows who Gale talked about."
Astrid returned the head to Hiccup with an 'I don't want it!'.
"I hope you feel comfortable in the forest. It's a bit cold, but people here are very warm."
Hiccup returned back the head again with a 'Me neither!'.
Elsa caught the head mid-air and put it in its place.
"Guys, this is Olaf."
"Olaf your friend?" Astrid asked wide-eyed. "You never mentioned he was a snowman!"
"Oh... Surprise?"
Elsa smirked.
"It was a good game," Olaf said, happy, grabbing Vikings' hands and pulling from them. "C'mon, you need to meet the others."
They followed the snowman and arrived at the Northuldra's camp where, for the Viking's relief, they were surrounded by normal people who effusively greeted Elsa or politely welcomed Astrid and Hiccup.
An old woman with a crude cane appeared through the crowd.
"Yelena!" Elsa said, blissful, grabbing her hand.
"Welcome home, Elsa. And welcome, newcomers. We are called Northuldra. We are the people of the Sun, and we hope you feel at home.
Hiccup and Astrid nodded, appreciatively.
"You sure have a lot of things to tell us, but we better wait 'til the night. Ryder and Honeymaren are still outside, so do recollectors."
"Thank you, Yelena," answered Elsa.
They wandered through the camp, greeting and meeting people. The Vikings saw they were simple and pleasant people, busy with their chores, and Hiccup felt a sting of nostalgia remembering their village: they seemed each other more than he could have imagined.
They met the fire spirit as well, who got charmed on Hiccup's flaming sword; the water spirit, who Elsa froze to be able to join them; and earth giants, who put the Vikings in their shoulders. Even their lashes froze, but the views they enjoyed were well worth it.
At night, all the Northuldra reunited around a big bonfire. There, Elsa told them everything that had happened since she left, and a frown of concern appeared on Yelena's forehead as the Arendellian spoke.
Hiccup took the opportunity to ask about Fury and Toothless as well but, as he expected, no one had seen anything like a dragon.
"Certainly, this is disturbing news," Yelena said, taking the floor, "but the forest has always protected us, and it will keep protecting us. Let's rest tonight and meditate about all of this, which is not a small thing."
The Northuldra understood this as a dissolution of the meeting since most of them rose and dispersed.
Hiccup stood a bit longer near the flames, taciturn. Furthermore, he was playing with some branches and pieces of cloth.
"A new toy?" Astrid asked.
"I guess..." Hiccup answered, discouraged.
The Viking took a look and saw how Hiccup was trying to attach a small harpoon to a bracelet, although she didn't quite understand why.
"Interesting... What's this?"
Hiccup didn't answer.
"C'mon," Astrid said, giving him a small push with her shoulder, "we'll find Fury and Toothless, you'll see. Besides..." she got closer to whisper to him, "tonight we have the tent all for us."
The idea of regaining intimacy with his wife encouraged him.
"I'm so sleepy!" he said shamelessly, stretching out and putting away the invention he was working on.
Astrid laughed, took his hand, and pulled him up.
Elsa saw how they left the heat of the fire towards their tent, giggling, and she felt a stab of pain that puzzled her. She took a stick and began to beat the burning logs of the fire between angry and sad, lost in her thoughts.
"What is bothering you?" a voice asked suddenly at her side, startling her.
It was Honeymaren. Elsa was so engrossed that she didn't realize that the Northuldra had sat next to her, staring at her.
"Oh! Hi... Since when have you been there?" She tried to change the subject.
"Elsa..." Honeymaren crossed her arms.
Elsa sighed, accepting her defeat.
"Actually... I don't know."
And it was the truth. She didn't quite understand everything she was feeling.
Honeymaren, reading the bewilderment in her face, hugged her caringly.
"When you don't know what to do, we usually say let yourself be guided by life."
"And what does it mean?"
"I guess it's a way to say you must do whatever your instinct is telling you to do."
"What happens when your instinct doesn't tell you anything?"
"Then you must stay alert to hear it at the moment it tells you something."
Elsa remained confused, feeling a bit better though.
"Not the instinct, but I'm going to hear my body and call it a night. I'm tired."
"Sure! Night. And remember, I'm here for whatever you need."
"Thank you." Elsa pressed her hand. "Good night."
She entered her tent and found Olaf sleeping soundly, occupying all the space. She moved him, taking care of not awakening him, and lied on her bed, trying to think of nothing. It was easy because of the trip and her mood so she fell asleep soon, but the dreams reflected his inner storm.
She dreamed with dragons and giants, with shadows and spirits, with Vikings and Northuldra... agitated dreams full of fast images passing before her eyes which made her uncomfortable. That's why, when near dawn she felt someone shaking her with urgency, she almost felt relief.
"Elsa, wake up! Elsa!"
The Arendellian opened her eyes. It was Olaf.
"We're under attack!"