Chapter: 26 The Secret of Ahtohallan

Freedom isn't limited to the Animus. I find myself perched atop a luminous rooftop. While I can tell that night has descended over whatever town I'm in, my surroundings are a blur. There's no breeze despite my peculiar altitude and there isn't a star in the sky. A distinct ringing makes its way to my ears and departs periodically. What is this place? I think. Serenity and confusion wrestle for control over my mind until curiosity conquers all. A golden-hued figure steps beside me and I lean in for a closer look. Its hooded visage and armored stature is familiar to me as I utter, "Anna?"

The Assassin Queen doesn't look at me, yet I can tell she knows I'm there. She bows her head towards the ethereal city below us...and steps over the ledge. I gasp when she takes the plunge but see that she's landed on an adjacent rooftop. Curious, I give chase and lunge after her. It's like her golden figure is guiding me somewhere as I dash to keep up. "Wait!" I pant. "Where are you going?" Either she's slowing down or I'm catching up as I jog alongside Anna. My heart races and I notice her slowing down. The world around us pulses in vibrant, iridescent hues as she slowly turns to face me and says-

"Wakey wakey," a voice calls as I feel something tap my face. I furrow my brows and groggily stir with a groan. "Rise and shine, Abigail." Mom beckons. I open my eyes as she flings another pen at me. It patters against my cheek and has me swatting at the air.

"Hey!" I snap. "What the heck? I'm up!"

"Now you are," Mom snickers. "You were out cold and mumbling to yourself. It must've been one crazy dream. Had to yeet something to wake you up."

"First of all-" I assert. "Never say 'yeet' again. Secondly, I was dreaming and I'm pretty sure the Bleeding Effect took hold again. I saw Anna. I think she was trying to lead me somewhere. I want to connect with her again. It's the only way to find out more!"

Mom scratches her chin. "Well we are getting ready to take off," she says. "You've got to trust your instincts, Abigail. Reconnecting with Anna's memories could only prove useful for the mission ahead. I'll pull you out if things get chaotic again."

I nod to her as we head for the Animus. As she helps get me situated, I can hear Shaun hollering from the cockpit. "All set for takeoff!" he calls.

"Just try not to get us killed," Mom quips. "No pressure!"

"Of course not!" Shaun shouts.

His words are the last I hear of my world while I sink into my seat. The neural interface is fastened to me and I relax my still groggy body. As I shut my heavy eyes, I feel myself drifting further and further back...

SYNCHRONIZATION IN PROCESS

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There's a frigid chill in the air as I return to a familiar locale. In a single, swift motion...I remove my hood.

"Anna?" Elsa nearly chokes and Gale finally releases her. Her gaze is wide and her mouth remains agape. As my eyes swell with tears, I can't even bring myself to answer yet. All I can do is nod amidst the pulse-pounding silence. "I-I...I don't understand," Elsa utters. "How could...why would...you-" Her stress is reflected through her powers as the winds pick up. I've seen her might before and experience a deepening chill as frost coats the nearby trees. Snow plummets around Elsa as she stressfully rubs her temples. She tugs at her hair while tears fill her bloodshot eyes. "No," she murmurs. Elsa collects herself in whatever way she can and looks to me somberly. "Anna," she says. "How could you?"

I struggle to find the right words amidst the silence as all eyes fall upon me. As the tension builds around us, I look within...and speak up. "Do you remember our conversation all those many months ago?" I ask and she nervously raises a brow. "I had struck a real low and we spoke about accepting our true selves. You told me I was strong enough to find the parts I was missing."

"But this wasn't what I meant!" Elsa snaps. "Becoming a...murderer?"

"No!" I refute and glance back at Olez's body. "I mean...not...well-...I'm an assassin but-"

"Assassin?" Elsa blurts. "Anna!"

"It's not what you think," I intone. "I have become a protector of the people and that man, Olez? He was going to betray you. He was working for Hans all along and if I hadn't intervened, he was going to use your trust to take your life. I couldn't let him harm you."

Elsa shakes her head in shock and disbelief while Kristoff slides to my side. He spreads his arms and throws himself in front of me. "She's no criminal!" he yells. "Believe her, Elsa! It was a lot for me at first too, but Anna is defending Arendelle."

"All of this-" Elsa began. "-and you told Kristoff. You kept me in the dark-"

"Elsa," I insist, but she cuts me off again.

"You kept me in the dark!" she exclaims.

"I was trying to protect you!" I defend. "I did exactly what you did to me when you couldn't control your powers. Even when you had to cross the Dark Sea. So I'm sorry that I tried to do the same, okay? I...am...sorry!"

Elsa's nostrils flare as she considers my reasoning. "I don't know how much I can trust you," she mumbles. "And I hate that, because you're my own sister."

"Elsa," I affirm. "I would never do anything to intentionally hurt you. I promise. I'm sorry that I ever kept this a secret from you, but right now we need to work together like old times. Hans is still out there and we have yet to figure out his plan. If Olez was working for him, I fear it might have to do with the Northuldra."

Elsa hangs her head in despair. "He was one of my most trusted men," she grieves. "I don't understand how this could've happened."

Thinking on her first statement, I lean in close and ask, "Elsa...what did Olez know?" She raises an inquisitive brow until I continue. "Being so trusted, did he have access to information that only you or Yelena would know?" My sister bites her lip as she considers my question. My heart sinks as it seems hers does too. "What?" I ask as she swallows hard. "Elsa...what?"

"The Auroran Route," she says. "It's a safe passage...an icy channel I've created to help Northuldrans experience Ahtohallan."

"Ahtohallan," I reiterate and think about Olez's final words to me. "Elsa, that's it. We need to go to that route now. This has all been one distraction." I lean in close and desperately clench my fists. "If Hans gets to Ahtohallan, I don't even want to know what he has planned."

Without wasting a moment, Elsa beckons the Nokk to her side. The mighty water spirit stomps over and she freezes it with a fresh coat of ice. Elsa hastily mounts her steed and extends a hand to me. "You mentioned crossing the Dark Sea right?" she says. "Get on."

I urgently accompany her as Kristoff calls to me. "Anna!" he worries.

"There isn't a moment to waste," I tell him.

"I know that," he says. "...I love you."

"I love you too," I tell him before Elsa sends her mount onward. Kristoff and the others become a blur between the trees as I experience the Nokk's true speed.

"Hold on tight!" Elsa yells over the surging winds.

"I would," I admit. "But I don't want my hands to freeze off. My thighs are already going numb!"

"Sorry!" Elsa frets and leads the Nokk to water. From the moment her steed touches the surface, its icy hide returns to a fluid-like state. Warmer waters heat my pant legs as we speed along the fjord. I'd probably feel as free and daring as Elsa...if her 'majestic' hair wasn't smacking me in the face the entire time.

The Dark Sea is much calmer on the route Elsa is taking us. Using her mastered ice powers, she's created an artificial channel to grant safe passage to Ahtohallan. But never does she expect someone else to be using it. A sudden rumble has us gasping as we peer up ahead. I mistake cannon fire for thunder as a Southern Isles sloop blasts away.

"Look out!" I yelp and Elsa takes evasive action. We weave across the waves, dodging incoming cannonballs as they plunge into the depths. Furious with the desecration of her territory, Elsa goes on the offensive. She leans over the side of her steed and dips her hand into the water. My eyes widen as a powerful pulse of ice magic surges beneath the surface and freezes its way towards the sloop. Before its crew can fire again, ice overwhelms the sloop and freezes the ship in place.

"Nice work!" I laud but find that Elsa doesn't share my enthusiasm. I look over her shoulder to see her glaring at a set of glaciers. We're alarmed to see that a second, smaller vessel has been grounded on its frozen shore.

"Oh no," Elsa gasps and urges the Nokk to speed up. We reach what I can only assume is Ahtohallan and hastily dismount. Elsa's cautious steps and open palms have me unsheathing my sword behind her. We sneak in through a hollowed out entrance and all is eerily silent. All hope of tracking Hans is fruitless as the footprints we're following vanish into the snow. "Stay close," Elsa whispers and uses her power to shift ice pillars. "A deep magic dwells within this place."

"Magic," Hans' condescending voice echoes and we both go back to back. "Now that is adorable." His voice appears to come from all around us. "Elsa, I'm not surprised you're still alive. I take it dear Olez is no longer with us."

"Show yourself!" Elsa yells.

"I doubt he will," I add. "He's too much of a coward."

"I should really thank you both," Hans says. "You played your parts in my grand plan so wonderfully. And this place...my goodness. Beautiful...is an exaggeration. And it's the perfect site for our reunion."

"Reunions are fun," I quip. "I'd love to punch you in the face again. Trust me."

"What do you want with Ahtohallan?" Elsa asks. We continue to swivel, hoping to find where Hans is hiding.

"What everyone wants," Hans answers. "To step into my power. Do you have any idea how special this place truly is? Or have you really...barely scratched the surface? Do you honestly think all of these supernatural spectacles come from magic?"

Elsa thinks she hears Hans' voice closer than before and uses her magic to shift more ice pillars. My eyes widen as one of the pillars nearly strikes me. "Hey!" I snap. "Careful!"

"Sis," Elsa murmurs. "That one wasn't me..."

My heart pounds as I turn towards the toppled pillar. A blinding, turquoise shimmer sparks from a dark silhouette as Hans steps into view. He grins insidiously while clutching a crystalline artifact. The ice around him cracks and melts as he holds the mysterious piece up. "You pathetic fools," he murmurs. "This is beyond any of you."

"Hans," I utter. "What have you done?"