With no one around to bear witness, Elsa groaned softly and folded one arm across her waist, pressing the fingertips of her other hand against her hot-feeling forehead. The argument with her sister had done no favors for the insistent throb behind her eyes, but she would manage. She'd grown used to working through headaches. Since the blow to her head from her own chandelier four months earlier, she'd been having headaches more frequently than ever before. Nothing incapacitating, but minor annoyances that made the rest of the day pass uncomfortably. When they were still occurring two months after her initial injury, she reluctantly went to her physician about it. Malthe gave her an herbal tea to help with the pain, assuring her it was normal after such an injury and should taper off in a few months. He also made a less than subtle comment about how the prolonged discomfort could have been avoided with proper, timely rest and recovery. Elsa had taken the comment in stride, silently accepting that she couldn't complain about the knife being dug in deeper when it was her own hand around the hilt. She was fairly certain that a second concussion wasn't helping things along, as far as healing went.

Elsa dropped her hand from her head and pulled her shoulders back. She walked toward her temporary wardrobe, unlacing the ties on her dress. She felt bad for yelling at Anna the way she had; the conversation had spiraled out of control faster than she could keep up with, and between the blossoming headache and her sister's stubborn will she'd lost her temper. She didn't regret what she said, only how she had said it. Elsa loved her sister dearly, but Anna could be so naïve, not to mention infuriatingly stubborn, once she latched on to an idea.

She knew where the girl was heading, because she knew Anna would do everything within her power to help someone she felt was in need, to the point she would push forward blindly, regardless of the cost. Elsa preferred to find a way to compromise with her sister when disagreed on an issue, but this was one instance where she could not give Anna any ground. They were sisters before anything, but Elsa could not make this decision without doing so as Queen. This time, she didn't need her sister to understand her reasoning, but she did expect her to listen. Anna wasn't just putting herself at risk by her insistence on helping the Sirma, but risking the safety of all Arendelle, and Elsa could not allow that. She was determined to put an end to this matter before it spiraled out of her control.

She felt a twinge of guilt over interrupting the staff's lunch, not to mention the abrupt ending she had put to her guards' well-earned downtime, but she wanted this matter settled immediately. Her guard would be waiting for her at the front of the house, and Alarik was having his stablemaster prepare her horse.

Elsa grabbed a pair of dark grey leggings from inside the wardrobe, and a dark blue off-shoulder dress. The dress was adorned with sliver embroidering, opening at the hip across to the opposite knee, leaving legs exposed allowing for freedom of movement, making it perfect for riding. She finished the outfit with a matching silvery-blue sash around her waist and the same black calf-high boots she'd worn on her last adventure. She made a mental note to thank the maid for managing to remove the mud. She studied her reflection and nodded sharply, then headed out of the room to where her guards would no doubt be gathered already.

"Your Majesty," Captain Jogeir greeted her, with a sharp salute. The rest of the guard stood in a line behind him.

"Captain." Elsa dipped her head. "I want you and your guards to go into the village. There are men there from one of the tribes to the north of our borders. I am not sure how many. I want them all detained, but not harmed. You are to hold them until soldiers from Sioaskard Fortress can retrieve them and see them escorted out of the kingdom."

"And if they resist, Your Majesty?"

Elsa pressed her lips into a thin line. "Any acts of aggression should be met with equal force. If you require more manpower, tell Baron Oskar you have my orders to use whatever men he has both here and in the village."

"Yes, ma'am."

"If my sister is with them," she continued, working her jaw. "She is to be escorted back to the estate and remain here until I return. If she is not, have one of your guards find her in the village and stay with her. I don't care how much she objects. They are to stay by her side as though their very lives depend on it."

"Yes, ma'am." The captain nodded. He frowned then, cleared his throat.

Elsa could see the questions in his eyes. "Go ahead, Captain."

"You said until you return. If Your Majesty doesn't mind my asking . . ."

"I will be riding up to Sioaskard," she said. "I have some things to discuss with the commander. It's only a few hours away and I will be back in the morning."

"If there are northmen about, I believe it might be prudent for a guard to accompany you," the Captain said. "Just to be safe."

"I'll be going with the Queen."

Elsa looked over her shoulder and saw Alarik approaching, the reins of her horse and another clutched in his hands. She had planned on riding alone and using the time to clear her head, thinking things through, but the Captain was right. She was the Queen and with foreigners close by, it wasn't safe to go alone. She couldn't very well criticize her sister for something and then do the very same thing.

She turned back to the Jogeir. "Alarik is a captain in the Royal Navy. Will that satisfy your concern?"

The Captain stared appraisingly at Alarik before nodding. "Yes, ma'am, I believe that will."

"Good." Elsa took the reins of her horse and slid her foot into the stirrup, grabbing hold of the saddle to lift herself up, swinging her leg over the horse. "I will have Sioaskard's commander send a detachment of men down as soon as I arrive to retrieve the northmen."

"Safe travels, Your Majesty," Jogeir said with a salute. The guards standing behind him snapped to attention and did the same.

Elsa settled into the saddle, giving Alarik time to do the same before she dug her heels into Garnet's sides and headed toward the road that lead to Sioaskard.


They had been riding in near silence for nearly an hour, the beat of the horses' hooves against the rocky dirt path and the natural noises of the forest surrounding them the only sound breaking up the quiet. Alarik had toyed with the idea of starting a conversation several times since they departed Valle but each time, one look at the Queen discouraged him. Her steely-eyed demeanor had slipped away since they began the ride, but in its place was now a deeply pensive look. She was clearly lost in her own thoughts, locked in some internal debate.

His mind kept playing back the argument he overheard. Alarik was familiar with the heated fights that were commonplace among siblings, having had plenty with his own brother and sisters. He would have brushed this one off as such an argument, and therefore none of his business, but the Queen had seemed positively infuriated by her sister, and the little bit he heard sounded like the matter they were discussing was much more than a simple disagreement between sisters.

As he rode next to the Queen it occurred to Alarik that while he'd known Anna for many years, it had been built over time watered down to into annual week-long increments, visits that had ceased three years earlier. He didn't truly know the Princess any more than he knew Elsa, who had allowed him to think and treat her like she was nothing more than a maid when she was really the single most important person in the whole of the kingdom. He knew next to nothing about her; no one knew anything about her due to the fact she had spent thirteen years in isolation. What he had to draw from was a fantastical, hard-to-believe story about ice powers and the rumors that had surrounded the royal family's sudden withdraw from public life.

One of the more prevailing, and believable. rumors that had been circulating over the past four months was that the Queen and Princess were extremely close, to the point of being damn near inseparable in their free time. Having seen them interact with each other and remembering Anna's words from the other day, he had an easy time believing those rumors than any other he'd heard. Especially considering the prolonged separation they suffered growing up. A thought that brought him back to his original wondering: what could have caused such an intense argument between them?

Conflicted, Alarik decided the only way to settle his overly curious mind was to strike up a conversation with the Queen and hope it doesn't end poorly. "You want to talk about it?"

"It?" Elsa's gaze didn't move from the road.

"Whatever is weighing so heavily on your mind."

She looked over, silently taking his measure before returning her gaze to the road. Alarik caught the crack in her mask, the same one she'd shown in the drawing room just after the argument with her sister. He had never been known for his patience, but he waited quietly for her speak, the air tense enough to be cut with a knife. Just as he was about to give up and change the subject, the Queen broke the silence.

She sighed heavily. "There are a great many things that weigh on my mind. If you are looking for something specific. . ."

Alarik shrugged, feeling encouraged. "Whatever is currently weighing the most, Your Majesty."

Elsa rolled her lips against her teeth. "Earlier you said that you had been arguing with your father, and in the stables the other day you eluded to being in disagreement with him." She picked at the hem of her skirt. "If you don't mind my asking, do you and your father not get along?"

"Good memory," Alarik said. And subtle deflection, he added silently. "My father and I . . ." He struggled to find a way to best summarize their relationship. "He wasn't happy with my choice to join the military. He felt that as his heir I should stay here and learn the finer points of running a barony. I have a lot of respect for my father, and his wishes, but joining the Navy was important to me. It may sound silly, but I felt a sort of . . . inexplicable pull to do so. So, I joined."

Her gaze narrowed thoughtfully, like she was recalling a distant memory. The faintest of smiles ghosted across Elsa's lips before she spoke. "It doesn't sound all that silly."

"Glad someone thinks so." He said with a smirk, then cleared his throat. "So, naturally, my first year in the Navy, Arendelle went to war in defense of an ally who was being invaded."

"I remember. it was a short-lived war, but . . ."

"Violent," Alarik finished for her, nodding solemnly. "I managed to come back in one piece, and my father all but ordered me to leave the Navy. We argued for days on end, and at one point he even threatened to disinherit me. But I couldn't leave. I still felt that pull to stay. It took a while but it seemed like he finally accepted it, or at least that he'd given up the argument."

"So, the argument today?"

Alarik opened his mouth to answer but stopped short, reminding himself that he wasn't talking to just anyone but to the Queen of Arendelle. Suddenly he wasn't sure how to phrase his words to cause the least amount of problems. On the other hand, no one knew the state of the country better than the Queen, and perhaps this was a good opportunity to learn how much truth there was in idle chatter.

She turned to him, her gaze filled with curiosity, "If it's a private matter, you don't have to tell me."

"No, no. It's not. I just . . ." He licked his lips, choosing his words with care. "With everything that has happened recently, there have been rumors of the possibility of Arendelle being involved in another war."

Elsa eyes widened. She turned away, dropping her gaze to her lap, looking more like a young girl struggling to manage an impossible task as opposed to the commanding Queen that had given orders to her guard just a few short hours ago.

"Your Majesty, are there truth to the rumors?" It wasn't his place to ask, only to follow the orders given to him, but he felt the need anyway.

"No," she said, though her tone and posture spoke a different story. She took a deep breath, and Alarik saw the mask slip a little more. "There are—" She chuckled mirthlessly. "I feel like I have been on both ends of this conversation far too many times these past months."

"Ma'am, you don't have to explain yourself if you do not wish to."

"Glad someone thinks so," she said with an amused huff. "And please, just call me Elsa."

Alarik's eyes widened in surprise, though their interactions had been anything but formal. "Are you sure?"

"We are alone and miles away from anyone who cares about titles," Elsa said, clearly exasperated. "I am called 'ma'am' and 'Majesty' so often that I sometimes fear I shall forget my own name."

Alarik couldn't help but chuckle. "Very well then, Elsa."

"As for your question, I have no intentions of taking Arendelle to war with anyone. That being said, there are a few countries that are . . . uneasy with the idea of a Queen who has magic. The amount of power and the ease in which I used it . . ." She drew in a deep breath and released it slowly. "There are a lot of eyes on Arendelle right now, and on me, and I am trying to do what I can to show other nations that they have nothing to fear from us. I didn't spend thirteen years isolated from everyone just to allow one slip to doom my country."

Alarik sat still on his horse for a long, quiet moment before he shook his head, blowing out a deep breath. He couldn't begin to fathom the pressure of ruling a kingdom, let alone the complication of possessing magic like Elsa did. It was a lot of strain for a young Queen, perhaps more than any one person could - or at least should - handle.

He tilted his head, empathy, not sympathy, leading him to ask, "Is that what you and your sister were arguing about?"

Silence yawned between them as Elsa took a moment before answering. She sighed. "It played a large part, yes. Anna—"

A sharp twang and thunk of something hitting the tree directly behind them kept her from finishing the thought. Alarik brought his horse to a stop and twisted in his saddle to see a taunt rope stretched across the road. Before he had a chance to act or even speak, a second twang and thunk sounded in front of them and another arrow embedded itself in a tree, a length of rope attached. They were boxed in on the narrow road, cut off from retreating and advancing. The rope was too low to ride under, and too high to jump.

It was a trap.

The horses pawed nervously at the ground. Alarik drew his sword from its scabbard, cursing himself for not bringing anything more. Out of the corner of his eye, Elsa appeared calmer than he would have expected, given their situation. She leaned forward and rubbed a hand down her horse's neck, soothing the anxious animal, but her gaze was focused on the tree line.

Alarik considered cutting the rope and making a run for it, started urging his horse forward when a man stepped out of the woods just on the other side of the barrier. Another stepped out of the woods behind them.

"Fine day for a ride," the man said. He was strangely dressed, wearing leathers lined with fur, and carried a crossbow in one hand. Alarik spotted various smaller weapons lashed to his belt.

"Identify yourself," he called out, guiding his horse to turn sideways in the road, keeping both men in his sight. If these were mere thieves, and he were alone, Alarik knew he could take them both on. But he was not alone, and he worried about one of the men taking a cheap shot at the Queen, or worse, having unseen friends lying in wait in the woods.

"They're northmen," Elsa said, "from the Sirma tribe." That stormy look had returned to her features.

"Sirma?" Alarik was not familiar with the tribe's name, but knew it was a group of northmen that the Queen had sent her guards into town to detain. But trip to Sioaskard had been made at the last minute, and no one in town should have known she would be traveling this route. It occurred to him then that it was possible the Sirma had tracked them from the manor and waited until it was a good time to spring a trap. He cursed quietly under his breath. He should have been more aware of their surroundings.

"I see it's true that Arendelle's Queen is as intelligent as she is beautiful," the northman said with a toothy smile.

The grin immediately set Alarik on edge. "What do you want?" he asked.

The man tore his gaze from Elsa and glanced at him with distaste, quickly returning his attention to the Queen. He bowed deeply. "I am here to extend an invitation to the Queen of Arendelle on behalf of Tyr, Chief of the Sirma."

Elsa frowned tightly. "I have already given your chief my answer. Threatening me will not change it."

"Tyr merely wishes to speak with you," the man replied calmly. "He has a proposition he thinks you might be interested in. That's all."

Alarik between the men surrounding them. "You are well-armed for people who just want to talk."

"The woods can be dangerous," spoke up the man at their rear, with a leering grin.

"So, it seems."

A tense silence fell over the group. Alarik turned to Elsa, allowing her to make the decision on what they would do. He was still unsure whether it was just these men or there were more hiding in the woods, but he had not come prepared for a fight. He had no more than a sword, while the men on either side had the advantage of ranged weapons. Though his instinct was to protect Elsa, he worried that any sudden action on his part would leave her open to attack. He would have to remain on the defensive and wait to see who made the first move. "Queen Elsa?" he prompted quietly.

She sat perfectly still on her mount, watching the man in front of her with a narrowed gaze. A moment passed that may have been second but felt like hours, and then she raised her chin and pulled her shoulders back. "Very well." Her voice was as steady and commanding as it had been at the front of the manor in Valle. "I will accept his invitation to talk. But this will be the last time I have to have this conversation."


Elsa tightened her grip on Garnet's reins, concealing the tremor in her hands. Her head ached, a hot pulse behind her eyes that wasn't being helped by the rhythmic rocking of riding horseback, not to mention the stress of being led to some unknown location against her will. No. She wasn't going against her will; she was going with these men of her own accord. And once they brought her to Tyr, their chief, she would ensure it was the last she heard of these northmen. She lifted her chin, refusing to look at any of the four men flanking her and Alarik. There had in fact been two additional men concealed in the woods, most likely in case she refused to go peaceably.

There had been some arguing over Alarik's sword, the northmen wanting to relieve him of it while Alarik was understandably reluctant. They allowed him to keep it after Elsa pointed out that the group of northmen had between them four crossbows, a spear, and a variety of other small weapons, and Alarik carried a single sword. It was a thin play on the men's pride, but one that paid off, allowed him to remain armed.

After ten minutes on the main road the northmen led them to a narrower side path that was overgrown and rough, with lose rocks and shallow divots. The path wasn't wide enough for the horses to walk side by side, forcing Elsa and Alarik to fall into a line with one of the Sirma warriors walking on either side. Alarik didn't have to say anything for Elsa to see his displeasure in the formation. He clearly didn't want her to be in the front but also didn't want her out of his sight. She rotated in her saddle enough to offer him a reassuring smile, but it did nothing to change the dark look on his face.

With the Sirma so close Elsa had to struggle to keep her magic in check, fear and anger warring for her attention. She embraced the anger, knowing it might cause her magic to be more volatile, but it had always been easier to control than when she gave in to her fear. A few times frost began to gather on the bridle clenched in her hands, and she had to subtly will it away. There was also a noticeable temperature drop in the air around her, coming from her, but she knew there was little she could do at the moment without being obvious about it, and she didn't know what these northmen knew about her. She certainly didn't want to give them any more information than they already had.

After another thirty minutes of riding the forest opened into a clearing, a small yard and hunting cabin that reminded Elsa of the old Viking long houses she had seen in books, except for the narrow windows dotting the side at regular intervals. The building looked solidly intact, but like it hadn't been used in years. The only maintenance that appeared to have been done was what bare minimum was required to keep the structure from collapsing under its own weight. She brought her horse to a gentle stop just inside the yard and waited for Alarik to come up alongside her.

"Well," he said, his voice low and less than enthusiastic, "this doesn't look like a trap at all."

"Mm." Elsa pressed her lips together in a tight line. She couldn't help but agree; a tight pressure in her chest warned her that something was terribly wrong. Sioaskard Fortress wasn't expecting them, but she told her guard she would be back by morning. Assuming she didn't return on time, the Captain would likely send a rider up to the fortress to verify if she was there, but even their fastest rider would take hours to reach the fortress and return to Valle with news of their absence. She squinted up at the sky. It was late afternoon now, meaning if she was not in Valle by morning nearly an entire day would pass before the captain knew anything was wrong. A lot could happen over the course of a day.

She had options. The persistent throb behind her eyes reminded her that her magic was unstable and unpredictable, at best, but if the Sirma weren't expecting it she could take them by surprise. Freezing all four men simultaneously seemed a tall order on a good day, let alone with her head pounding the way it was. Not to mention the fact she also didn't know how many more Sirma might be in the house or the surrounding woods, and if they had been trailing her and Alarik since they left the Baron's manor there would be no way to know until it was too late.

"Your Majesty?" Alarik prompted quietly.

Elsa took a deep breath and released it out slowly. She turned to him and nodded, then braced her hands against her saddle and swung herself to the ground. She pulled the bridle over Garnet's head and scratched his nose before leading him to wooden post to tie him off. She waited by the post for Alarik to join her, then turned her attention to the northmen standing close by. She folded her hands in front of her and lifted her chin. "After you," she said to the man who had originally addressed them, her tone chilly.

He scowled but walked past them toward the front of the house. "This way." He pulled open the door for them while the other Sirma hung back, waiting until Elsa and Alarik moved toward the door before following them uncomfortably closely.

She resisted the urge to look over her shoulder at them, uncomfortable with how close they were. People in general standing close still caused her to feel terribly uncomfortable. People not so subtly threatening her was that much worse. She kept her hands folded tightly together, fingers curling around themselves as frost leaked past her fingertips. She breathed deeply, steadily, reigning as much of the magic in as she could.

The inside of the long house was in far better condition than the exterior, leading Elsa to wonder exactly how long the northmen had been in the area and was something she'd be sure to bring up with the commander of Sioaskard. There was a long firepit extending along the center of the main hall, framed by rows of small tables for eating, and an open kitchen at the far end. Along the sides of the room, beyond the tables, there appeared to be additional rooms branching off, though the dim lighting didn't allow her to see much pass the fire.

A man walked up from the far end of the room and bowed deeply. "Queen Elsa, thank you for coming."

There was an obvious nervousness in his voice, and Elsa silently made note of it. She studied the man who had all but threatened her and Alarik for the purpose of getting her here, which was not a great start to any meeting. At first glance, the man appeared harmless enough, but she would not allow her guard to relax. He was still a stranger, and he had forced her into coming here. She was ready to defend herself if necessary.

The man straightened. "My name is Erik, from the Sirma tribes of the North."

So, not the leader. Still, his name struck her memory. "You sent the letter."

"I did." Erik looked to the Sirma standing by and waved them away. The men hesitated, but disappeared deeper into the dark cabin.

Out of the corner of her eye, Elsa saw Alarik step to the side, positioning himself between them and the rest of the northmen. His hand went to his hip, to the hilt of his sword.

Erik likewise watched the movement but didn't say anything about it. He turned back to Elsa and gestured to a table. "Would you like to sit?"

"I prefer to stand." Elsa had no intention of staying any longer than she had to, wanting to put an end to this business quickly.

Erik nodded, winced. "I know our people haven't had the greatest relationship in the past."

"Pillaging my northern settlements certainly put a strain on it, yes. Of course, sending armed men to request a meeting isn't really helping things."

He had the decency to look shamed. "I feel an apology at this point would only ring hollow and self-serving."

Elsa raised an eyebrow. "Smart man."

"I was hoping to make one last plea for help . . ."

Elsa bit back a weary sigh. "As I have stated more times then I like to, Arendelle cannot help your people. I am sorry for what has happened, I truly am. But I must think of my own people first and do what is best for them. What you are asking, moving any part of my military into another territory without proper reasoning comes at great risk. A risk I am unable to take at this time."

"I'm sorry to hear that."

It wasn't Erik who spoke, but another man from somewhere behind him who Elsa couldn't see. She squinted through the dim lightening as he emerged from the darkness and moved to stand a few feet away from Erik.

"Queen Elsa," Erik said in a clipped, tight tone. "This is my brother, Tyr. The chief of our people."

"Your Majesty," Tyr greeted with a nod of his chin. His tone was nothing short of malicious, causing the hair on the back of Elsa's neck to stand on end. "You have to do what's best for your people, no matter the cost. I'm sure you'll appreciate that we must do the same."

Ice pooled in Elsa's stomach and around her fingertips, and she sensed Alarik tense next to her, his hand tightening around the hilt of his sword.

"Tyr." Erik said, the single word coming out like a pleading request.

Tyr turned to his brother, his own expression a neutral mask. Only a hint of anger and determination deepened the creases of his face, exacerbated by the flickering firelight. "We tried it your way, Erik, and you failed." He turned his attention to Elsa, squaring his shoulders. "Now we go with my way."

Erik frowned deeply, taking a step back and folding his arms over his chest, but remaining quiet.

A cocky smirk spread across Tyr's face, and Elsa had a feeling she was not going to like what the man said next. She already found herself detesting, and distrusting, this older brother. She remained silent as Tyr drew himself up.

"Your sister is currently in the care of some of our soldiers," he said. "If you agree to help us, no harm will come to her, and we will let her go."

Elsa felt as though the ground had dropped out from under her. She rocked back a step, the man's words cutting through her like a lance of fire. "Excuse me?" Her attention whipped toward Erik, and she glared daggers at the young man. She was both furious and terrified at the thought of these men having her sister, but for the moment the fury was pushing her as she turned back to Tyr. "You entered my kingdom, threatened me, and now you have the audacity to ask for help with one hand while holding my sister hostage with the other?"

Tyr shrugged, as though they were discussing no more than a minor inconvenience. "You do what you feel is necessary for your people, and we are doing what we feel necessary to protect ours."

Elsa could feel her magic leaking out with her anger, the temperature in the house plummeting as the fire waxed and waned. As she looked between the two brothers, the fear began to push its way to the surface. Anna. Her chest seized and her breath hitched, and ice began to collect in a broken circle around her feet. She struggled to ignore it, to maintain her composure. "You are outsiders in my kingdom, and the leader of your people," she said in a low, steady tone. "What you are doing is an act of war."

"Which is why we got insurance first," Tyr returned, looking smug.

She wanted nothing more than to wipe the smirk of the man's face with more violence then she ever thought herself capable of. Her fingers curled into a fist at her side, and blood pounded in her ears. The temperature of the room dropped even further, and from the corner of her eye she saw Erik glance around nervously.

Good, Elsa thought. He should be scared. She drew herself up, locking eyes with Tyr, refusing to be cowed by the man. "I want to see my sister. Now."


Anna rolled her wrists under their bindings, curling her fingers into fists until her nails dug into her palms, trying to use the bite of pain to ground herself and separate from her increasing fear.

When Tyr had suggested there was a way that she could still help them, her spirits had raised until she saw the look on Erik's face. His pale, solemn expression had immediately put her ill at ease and for once, erring on the side the side of caution. "You know," she'd said, rising slowly from her seat. "I should really be getting back." Back to the safety of the Baron's estate, where she was sure Elsa was waiting with a lecture of some kind. Anna backed away, swearing to herself that she wouldn't even argue the fact she'd earned this one. Tyr had swiftly blocked her path and told her he "insisted" she come with them. Anna had looked to Erik, but while he seemed remorseful look, he did nothing to help. A sting of betrayal rocked her back a step, and she cursed her sister for having the foresight that she herself so badly lacked. Elsa had known not to trust these men right away.

It was two against one – even if Erik didn't seem to be against her, he certainly wasn't with her – and Anna knew her only option in the moment was to concede and hope an opportunity to run for help presented itself. Tyr had led her from the inn into a suffocating small carriage, where two other men were waiting. Men who tied a cloth around her eyes and pressed intimidatingly close to her, making it clear this was not the time to make a run for it. She tried to count to determine how long they rode, to calculate the distance from the inn to wherever they were taking her, but the frantic pounding of her heart kept distracting her and causing her to lose her place. After what seemed like hours but could have been mere minutes, they stopped. Large, rough hands led her into some sort of structure and pushed her into a chair. Her wrists were secured to the armrests with a length of rope, but they thankfully removed the blindfold. Once her eyes had adjusted to the dim light, Anna deduced she was being held in some sort of unused hunting cabin. The group of men left her in a small bedroom off the main room of the cabin, with one standing guard at the doorway. The space was cramped and smelled musty, but it was tidy. Enough so that she clung to the hope that someone would be coming. Someone would find her.

She didn't know what Tyr's plan was, but she heard him speaking with one of the other men, heard him mention her sister's name. Anna's heart dropped, that bit of hope dissipating. It felt like a lifetime had passed since their argument, but it had been heated enough, and she wondered what Elsa would be willing to do to help her, if it came to that. What she would be willing to compromise. Elsa had been livid, angrier with Anna than she could remember ever seeing her be with anyone. She knew her sister loved her and would do almost anything to protect her, but a small nagging voice in the back of Anna's mind kept reminding her of that almost. Kept telling her, asking her: what would Elsa risk for her? Would she risk the kingdom? Her throne? Should she? Was it selfish of Anna to want her to?

Someone leaned into the room and beckoned to the guard watching her. He stepped through the open doorway, leaving her alone in the dark, and had a brief, hushed conversation. Anna strained against the chair, struggling to eavesdrop, but couldn't hear anything that was being said, or even see who it was on threshold. She flopped back with a huff.

Anna tried to keep her mind from wandering too much, wanting to focus on her surroundings and find anything that could be used to her advantage. Her back was to the small window that allowed soft light to filter into the room, allowing her see nothing more than a narrow bed across from where she sat. She twisted her wrists once more under their bindings, hoping for some give. She was stopped short by a familiar chill creeping into the room.

Elsa was nearby. The sudden biting cold told Anna that her sister was not happy and was not doing anything to hide that fact. She didn't know whether to feel worried or relieved.

The guard reentered the room, with a second following close by. Anna's heart thudded painfully against her chest.

The man stepped next to her. "Ready to see your sister?" He didn't wait for her answer before he pulled at the knots around her wrists.

Anna tensed up, emboldened by Elsa's presence and thinking this might be her opening to escape, but a second man stepped into the room with a loaded crossbow in his hands. He swung the weapon around to point it in her direction, quickly deflating her hopes. Multiple sets of footsteps sounded from the main room, and her heart thudded painfully in her chest when she heard voices. One was obviously her sister, but Anna could not make out what was being said.

The moment her wrists were loose, the guard brought her hands together and immediately got to work binding them in front of her, before she could even think about making a move. Still, Anna was forced to bite down on the overwhelming urge to fight, to yank her arm free and claw the man in the face. The unspoken threat of the crossbow pointed at her kept her from resisting. That's fine, she thought. Give them a false sense of security. Then maybe they'll let their guard down.

The man wordlessly gripped Anna's upper arm and roughly pulled her to her feet just as the voices in the main hall rose in volume, specifically Elsa. There was a snap of cold in the air as they immediately dropped too low for her to hear, and frost gathered in the corners of the room. Her hopes rose another fraction, and she braced herself to be ready when the opportunity presented itself.

The guard pulled her out of the room, and the second man with the crossbow followed uncomfortably close behind. Anna had only just stepped out in the main room, eyes adjusting to the change in lighting and barely catching a glimpse of her sister before Erik stepped in front of her, blocking her view.

"I never meant for this to happen," he said, his voice low and remorseful.

Anna clenched her jaw. "Then stop it." She stepped forward, pulling against the guard's hold.

Erik looked over his shoulder to where her sister and his brother stood arguing. "I can't," he said, his shoulders slumping and his chin dropping to his chest. "Whatever else he is, he's my brother."

Anna felt a pang in her chest, understanding the sentiment. This was the same thing she had repeated to herself multiple times as she climbed the North Mountain to reach her own older sibling. But this – this was different. Right? It had to be different. Elsa hadn't hurt anyone on purpose; she'd been scared and reacted out of instinct. Tyr had knowingly taken Anna hostage for his own, still unknown ends. It was a decision he had made intentionally, which meant he was nothing like Elsa. Anna clung to that thought, comforted herself with it.

She mustered the anger warming her chest and glared at Erik. No matter what sins may or may not have been committed by their older siblings, Erik had misled her, and betrayed her. "I trusted you."

Erik looked at her for a long moment without speaking. He sighed heavily and shook his head. "Well then, you can't blame me, can you? It was your mistake." The words were biting, causing Anna to recoil, but his tone spoke volumes of regret.

He walked away without another word, and the guard dragged Anna forward.

Relief and dread swirled in her stomach when she saw her sister standing in the entrance to the cabin. Elsa stood tall, chin held high and hands folded in front of her. She looked every bit the part of a calm, composed, and powerful Queen. Alarik stood at her side, his hand wrapped tightly around the hilt of his sword. The sight of another friendly face nearly had her grinning, until she saw how tightly her sister's hands were clenched. She guessed Elsa was attempting to control the ice that was slowly leaching through the room. Anna knew her older sister was struggling to hold everything together without allowing fear or anxiety to rule her actions.

Elsa tore her narrowed gaze from Tyr and turned to her sister. "Anna, are you okay?"

Struggling to follow her sister's example and remain calm, Anna lifted a shoulder. "I've been better." She bit her lip, feeling the need to tell her sister she was sorry for this whole situation, acutely aware that they wouldn't be here if it wasn't for her blind trust, her insatiable optimism. "Elsa—"

Her sister's attention snapped away, cutting Anna off as effectively as if she had covered her mouth. The obvious dismissal of her apology, or explanation, left her feeling stung.

"Release my sister and I will allow you and your men safe passage back north." Elsa commanded, her gaze locked onto Tyr's.

He cocked his head. "I'm afraid we can't do that. Returning to our people without assistance would be as good as sentencing them to death."

"Even if I gave you a battalion of my own men, there is no way to ensure you would win." She gestured toward Anna. "You kidnapped their princess and threatened their queen. Do you really think my men would fight for you, would help you win, regardless of their orders? Even you have to be smarter than that."

The man tipped his head. "I'm not as naive as my brother. I'm well aware we are past that point. Which is why I'm not asking for a battalion of your men, or any number of soldiers."

Elsa narrowed her gaze, her clenched knuckles whitening. "Then what is it you are hoping to gain from this?"

"The Vindarr are a formidable force, but so are our own men. The smallest advantage would turn the tides in our favor. An advantage such as the ability to command ice and snow." A slow grin spread across his face. "Or to create a blizzard on command."

It clicked in Anna's mind then what he was asking, seemingly quicker than it clicked in Elsa's. She could see the realization on Alarik's face and in his posture as he took a step forward, positioning himself close enough to step between Tyr and Elsa if need be. There was no question when her sister realized what Tyr was implying; the temperature of the room plummeted with shocking swiftness.

"I will not be used as a weapon in someone else's war!" she exclaimed. The room continued to grow colder, until their breath clouded in front of their faces.

"Today you will be, Your Majesty." The older man narrowed his gaze. "If you want your sister to live."

"I'd be very cautious of my next move if I were you, Chief." Elsa's fingers tightened further. "If you force me to use my power to defend myself and my sister, there will be no going back."

Despite the threat of her own, Anna could see the glimmer of panic just below her sister's boiling surface. She knew this single moment encompassed the two things Elsa feared most: something awful happening to Anna, and her magic being used to hurt someone.

Tyr smirked, but Anna caught the waver in his cocky posture as his shoulder dropped, just a fraction, a crack in his armor. "You should save that fury for the battlefield, Your Majesty. You'll need it."

Elsa's gaze was burning. "You have not yet seen my fury. But if any harm comes to my sister, I promise you, it will be the last thing you and your men ever see of this earth."

"Well, let's hope it doesn't come to that then," he replied. "For everyone's sake." He talked a big game, but Anna watched as the crack in Tyr's armor split a fraction more. He folded his arms over his chest, audibly exhaling through his nose. "I grow weary of this. If you want your sister to return home unharmed, you will do as you're told."

Elsa bristled. The temperature of the room dropped further, turning the air painfully cold. Anna shivered in the guard's hold.

"You can't honestly expect me to—"

Tyr turned to the man with the crossbow and gave him a curt nod. "Shoot him," he said simply.

Anna's eyes widened as the guard lifted his weapon and aimed it at Alarik.

It happened quickly.

"No!" Elsa shouted, throwing out a hand as the bolt left the crossbow. Whether due to the lingering effects of her head injury or simply the stress of the situation, the stream of ice that shot forth merely knocked the bolt off-course. Instead of piercing his chest, and likely his heart, the sharp tip grazed Alarik's side. He toppled backward with a yelp of surprise and pain.

And then all hell broke loose.