Chapter Thirty Eight

The New Snow Queen

TALYA

The skies were clear and blue, and it was a beautiful afternoon. Clutching Nokk's reins, Talya rode him across the waves of the Dark Sea, which was now a perfect calm with not a sign of aggression in sight.

It'd taken Peggy, Val and herself a while to navigate through the forest. This time, none of them dared to fly a plane across, seeing as how things turned out the last time. They had passed by the Northuldra settlement in the forest, and the tribe was happy to see them again. She'd found time to give Aslak her condolences once again, and the old chieftain had accepted them graciously. He'd also told the trio that they were welcome to come back to the Northuldra settlement any time.

Talya had managed to somehow connect with the elemental spirits, and Nokk had surfaced from the Dark Sea, as if responding to her sorcerous call. It still surprised her, after everything she'd seen and been a part of throughout the past few days. Nokk was tame now, and as Talya rode him, she could sense a supernatural connection with the horse as if she could hear and feel his thoughts.

"Talya," Val shouted over the whistling of the summer wind that blew in their faces.

"Hmmn?" She turned to regard her brother and Peggy who were seated behind her.

"Do us a favour and get us across in one piece." Val gritted his teeth as he clung to Peggy for dear life. "Some of us here want to get home safely."

Peggy snorted. "We've survived worse."

"We're almost there. Just hang on." Talya leaned forward, spurring Nokk faster. Her shoulder, which had been injured by Bjorn, was no longer numb or burning. It seemed her sorcery was capable of accelerating her healing as well.

As Nokk galloped across the waves, the island of Ahtohallan soon came into full view. She heard Val heaving a sigh of relief and couldn't help but grin.

Upon reaching Ahtohallan, Talya slowed the Nokk into a canter as he skidded gracefully across the surface of the water, stopping just at the edge of the island. Val was the first to disembark, scrambling off the horse and gratefully touching down on solid ice.

Peggy and Talya climbed down next, and Talya thanked Nokk by tenderly stroking the side of his head. The horse gave a pleased whinny before turning to trot off into the water. He disintegrated into the water, vanishing once again.

"I don't think I'll ever get used to that." Val mused.

"Frankly, me neither." Talya agreed. She padded across the ice towards the ice sanctuary where Elsa was holed up in. The first time she'd been here to find the Snow Queen, she remembered feeling nothing but excitement, anxiety and trepidation. Now, she felt a sense of melancholy, plagued with the knowledge that though she hadn't known Elsa for more than a couple of days, this was going to be the last time she would be seeing her mentor and ancestress.

Walking up to the ice sanctuary, she located the entrance, hidden by large blocks of ice as it had been before. But this time, she tried something different. Talya placed a hand on the ice, closing her eyes. She reached out with her sorcerous senses, trying to connect with the ice. It began to move, and the large blocks began to part, revealing a sizeable hole that actually resembled an entrance to the sanctuary.

"That's new." Peggy said, evidently trying not to sound too awed.

Carefully, Talya stepped through the entrance she had created, and the others followed closely behind. Once inside, Talya began to survey the large hall in search of Elsa.

"Elsa!" She called out, cupping her hands to her mouth to amplify her voice. "Elsa, it's us!" A part of her was overcome with worry that Elsa had already departed from this world. That they were too late to say goodbye. Forcing down that horrible feeling, Talya lifted her voice.

"Elsa!" She shouted. "Where are you?"

Nothing. Talya could feel the desperation clawing at her. What if we really are too late? No. Deep down, Talya knew that wasn't true. She could sense that there was another sorcerer's presence with a sorcery signature akin to hers. Acting on instinct alone, she gestured for Peggy and Val to follow her deeper into the sanctuary.

She retraced her path to the deepest part of Ahtohallan, the place Elsa had taken her to show her all her memories frozen in time. The one place closest to Elsa's heart. Talya was confident she would find her there. Reaching the large cavern deep within the sanctuary, the trio found it to be empty except for the ice sculptures.

"Elsa! It's us!" Talya shouted, hearing her voice echo throughout the enormous cavern. "Where are you?"

"Here." Elsa had seemingly appeared out of nowhere, now situated at the other end of the cavern. She began to walk across the cavern towards them, still wearing the white dress she'd worn in battle, her dark grey cloak was nowhere to be seen.

As Elsa got nearer, Talya took a good look at her. She didn't know whether her eyes were playing tricks on her, but it looked like Elsa had aged a few more years in the short span of a mere day. Her hair sported more grey than before, and her features more weathered. Her body seemed more frail too, with the air of a woman in her seventies.

"Elsa," Talya whispered in shock. "You-you look…"

"Older?" Stopping, Elsa looked down at herself. "I do."

"What happened?" Peggy asked.

"I think it's a sign that the end is near." Elsa looked peaceful even as she said the words. "I've been waiting for this day for a long time. I suppose I'll get my happy ending after all."

"What's going to happen?" Val asked anxiously. For someone who never wanted anything to do with sorcery or mythical legends, he had certainly come a long way.

"I don't know." Elsa admitted. "I've never experienced aging like this before. I feel…different now. As though the curse of immortality is finally lifted. All thanks to you all," she smiled in particular at Talya. "And especially you."

"Me?" Talya gestured at herself. "I…I didn't even manage to defeat Bjorn. It was you who beat him. I…I wasn't good enough."

"But someday soon you will be. I can foresee it." Elsa put a hand on Talya's arm. "I see your shoulder's already well. Even your accelerated healing has set in." Her smile widened. "Yes, you are ready."

"Ready? For what?"

"To inherit the mantle of the Snow Queen. To become the Fifth Spirit, protector of this land, and the Eighth Pilgrim, leader of the League of Sorcerers."

Val whistled. "Not bad. Taking on the mantle of both the Warrior Queen and the Snow Queen. Not bad for a day's work."

"Anna's title." Elsa paused. "It's been a long time since I heard that title. The Warrior Queen." She nodded at Talya. "You deserve it too."

"I…I don't think I'm ready for all these responsibilities." Talya admitted, trying her hardest not to break down and burst into tears. She suddenly felt overwhelmed by the idea that she was to be the new Snow Queen as well. "I'm not strong enough."

"Yes you are." Elsa gripped her arms firmly with both hands. "I've seen your skills. I've seen your potential. One day, you will be even more powerful than I ever was. I know it. Look at me."

Holding back her tears, Talya forced herself to look into Elsa's eyes. She saw only confidence there.

"You will make a great Snow Queen." Elsa said reassuringly. "Carry on my legacy. Find others out there like yourself. Train a new League of Sorcerers and pass on what I've taught you."

"It's too soon." Talya protested. "I've barely started learning about my powers."

"And yet you already know so much. The rest you will pick up along the way. Carry on the legacy of the League of Sorcerers. You mustn't let it die with me." Elsa dipped her head. "My greatest regret is that I stopped training sorcerers for so many decades. There's so many of them out there who need guidance. They need someone like you."

Helplessly, Talya glanced over at Val and Peggy, who were both watching silently. Inside her, she felt resolve take hold. She had to let Elsa depart with her mind at peace, knowing that she would carry on her legacy faithfully. The "how" of it all could come later.

Inhaling deeply, Talya nodded. "I'll do it. I'll take on your mantle and find the others. I will revive the League of Sorcerers." She lowered her voice. "I will make you proud."

Elsa hugged Talya tightly and for that few seconds, Talya felt as though it was her own mother embracing her. "Thank you," Elsa whispered. "Thank you for everything."

Blinking away tears, Talya backed away as Val stepped forward to bid Elsa farewell.

"You proved me wrong, you know." Val said half gruffly, half sheepishly. "I never believed you were real. I never believed in sorcery or any of this," he motioned at their surroundings. "But you've shown me that the world is a much bigger place than I thought."

Elsa opened her arms, welcoming Val for an embrace. He hugged her, then stepped back to join Talya.

Lastly, it was Peggy's turn. She immediately embraced her ancestress. "You saved my great grandfather all those years ago." Her voice wavered uncharacteristically. "If you hadn't, I wouldn't even be here today. I've always believed that all sorcerers were evil because of what happened to my parents, but you've changed all that for me. You are one hell of an ancestress."

Elsa chuckled lightheartedly and patted Peggy on the back. "And I'm proud to have you as a descendant. Janus would be proud. Just like I am."

Peggy extricated herself and glanced back at Val and Talya. "What now?"

Talya looked to Elsa for answers. "So what happens to you now?"

"The time has come for me to be reunited with my loved ones." Elsa closed her eyes. "I can feel it. I know how this ends."

"How?" Talya whispered.

"You'll see." Elsa smiled, standing tall before the trio with her eyes still closed. "Thank you. For everything."

Before Talya could say another word, something started to happen. It began as a cold draught of wind, gentle but prominent. Then Talya watched as Elsa's skin grew very pale, gradually frosting over. Soon, ice had formed on every part of the Snow Queen's being, and she became one of the many frozen sculptures in the cavern.

Minutes passed in silence. Or perhaps it had been hours. Talya didn't know. As she stood there, staring at the frozen sculpture of the Snow Queen, she felt not a deep sadness in her heart, but one of relief and melancholic happiness for Elsa. She'd been through so much, lived for over two centuries, and suffered so much pain and tragedy. It was only fitting that she be allowed to finally depart from this world in peace.

The trio departed from the cavern, still in silence as they all honoured the end of a legend. They made their way back to the surface and exited the sanctuary. The sun shone brightly on them, casting a warm glow across their bodies.

"It feels like a dawn of a new era." Peggy finally broke the silence.

"It is." Val said. He turned to Talya. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah." Inhaling deeply, she glanced out at the horizon. "I just can't believe that she's gone."

"No, she isn't." Val said. "She's not gone."

"What do you mean?"

"The legend of the Snow Queen lives on in you. And so does the legacy of Queen Anna." Val told her, offering a small smile. "You are the future."

"We are." Talya returned the smile. "You've come a long way too."

Val averted his eyes, once again fiddling with his spectacles. "We should get back to Arendelle. They're going to bestow upon you Anna's mantle in a few hours time."

"Right."

"I have no idea why the hell you decided to take up the mantle of the Pilgrim when you're already Queen of Arendelle." Val muttered. "Don't you have enough work to do?"

"I like to have my cake and eat it too." Talya grinned at him. "Don't worry, I'll manage. I have you to handle all my paperwork."

He made a disgruntled sound.

Chuckling, Talya turned to Peggy. "What about you?"

"I've got to get back home to see my great grandfather." Peggy said with a sigh. "And to get back to work if I ever want to keep my job at ERI8."

"Will we get to visit you?" Talya asked.

"Of course. But probably not while I'm at work." Peggy grinned. "I'll send you the address to my real home this time." She chuckled. "So, get us back to the mainland?"

"Yeah." Talya reached out with her sorcery and found the connection with the Elemental Spirits. The Nokk leapt out of the water, spraying droplets of water every which way. He trotted towards the trio by the edge of the island, braying loudly.

Mounting the Nokk, the trio began to ride off towards the mainland. Holding the reins, Talya breathed in deeply and shut her eyes. Everything felt so clear to her now. Her sorcery more attuned than ever before. Her new role in the world. A new purpose. A new calling. Legacies to live up to. And her family by her side to support her every step of the way.

Yes, Talya opened her eyes and smiled. Like Peggy said, this was the dawn of a new era.