Chapter 1:
The Four Peeks
It's been a whole month since Queen Elsa had advocated her throne and left her sister, Princess Anna in charge of Arendelle as the new reigning monarch with her fiancé, Lord Kristoff Bjorman.
The decision wasn't easy to make, at first she felt that she would be betraying Arendelle, betraying her loved ones and worst of all, betraying her sister. But Anna surprisingly took her decision rather well. In fact she was happy for Elsa and supported her, just as long as she promised to visit once a week to which Elsa was planning to do anyways.
Every Friday morning she leaves her Northuldra camp site and rides with Nokk back to Arendelle with the help of Gale, of course. Had it not been for the magical spirits, the journey back to Arendelle would take a whole day, but thankfully Elsa would arrive there only an hours time and would walk inside the castle just in time to enjoy a breakfast meal with her sister, Kristoff, Sven and Olaf.
Her family. That's what she could truly call them once after all. People she truly lived and cared for. People she loved coming home too.
Her new home in the enchanted forest however provided her a feeling of satisfaction in which she never needed to feel home sick.
Living with the Northuldra was a lot easier than what Elsa had expected. In fact, she adapted to their lifestyle right away. Even the indigenous people were surprised how comfortable the Queen and fifth spirit felt around them and around their lifestyle.
It also probably helped that she already knew the family tradition of ice fishing from her mother who proudly passed it down to her and Anna. In fact Elsa was a master at it, far better than many of the Northuldrans.
They adored her and had accepted her as one of their own immediately. She was a great help to their people and fulfilled her calling as Guardian of the Enchanted Forest with worthiness.
Even if Elsa tried, she couldn't complain. Everything seemed... perfect. As if everything worked out perfectly well at the end and everyone somehow grew and changed in their own way.
But something was off.
Every morning Elsa rose from her bed, she would emerge from her own hut she had created with the help of Ryder and HoneyMaren and would often look up to the high mountain peeks that were just on the other side of the forest where she felt a strong impression as if it were calling her.
She wasn't hearing a mysterious siren anymore, that was for sure. But for some reason the mountain peaks seemed very peculiar to her.
The Four Peaks, that's what the Northuldra called it.
They stood out because the high mountains were designed of four specific peaks sticking out on the top, lined up in perfect order. It was covered in fog, due to the high altitude and it wasn't a place where the inhabitants of the enchanted forest found admirable. Not even the earth spirit giants saw it as a place to travel or pass by which was odd. They found it uninteresting and too dark of a place that rarely had the sun to shine on.
Nightfall had come in the Northuldra camp and the people, including Elsa, had made a circle around a large bonfire that they had created and were roasting fish from the catch they had made that day.
Elsa as usual sat at the very end of the cicle with HoneyMaren and Ryder to her left, the twin Northuldran siblings that she had established a close friendship with. More Honeymaren than Ryder to be quiet frank.
Ryder was going off on another one of his infamous tales and adventures with his reindeer and the herd. As usual HoneyMaren would only glare, roll her eyes and even give a few jabs at to her brother because of how ridiculous he sounded. Elsa found it all amusing and would always end up giggling at the Northuldra twins. Even the children gathered around to laugh at Ryder.
But tonight was different. Elsa was moving her last piece of fish meat around in circles with her wooden fork while her mind was in deep thought. HoneyMaren noticed this as she glanced over to her right where Elsa wasn't even paying attention to Ryder's stories anymore. Instead she was just concentrating.
"You know if you want that piece of fish meat to magically disappear, I suggest the best way to do that is by placing on your mouth." She declared for her teasingly.
"Huh? Oh right! Sorry.." Elsa chuckled as she set her wooden bowl down on the dirt. "I might have gotten a little distracted."
"I know what you mean, Ryder's stories tend to be exaggerated and terrible. Or just made up."
"Hey!" Retaliated Ryder. "My stories are not terrible, or made up!"
"No, no. Ryder's stories aren't bothering me." Giggled Elsa. "It's just... I keep looking up to the mountains over there." She finished as she gestured towards the direction.
"You mean the four peeks??" Asked Honeymaren.
"Yeah. The four peeks." Said Elsa softly.
"There really isn't anything over there that would interest you." Chuckled HoneyMaren. "It's just the fog and shadows that make it stand out. It's a plain old mountain just like every other one here."
"That is unless, you encounter..." Ryder paused for dramatic affect and leaned over to the two women before he whispered. "Him."
The children who were gathered around gasped and whispered silently to themselves at how devious his sentence has come out.
Elsa's expression transformed curiously as her eyes widened. "Him? Who's him??"
HoneyMaren rolled her eyes. "It's no one, it's just a dumb old tale that has been told for the past three years and Ryder here claims he saw him."
"Because I did!" Exclaimed Ryder excitingly as he scooted closer to his sister and Elsa while the children did the same, even a few jumping on top of Elsa and HoneyMarens laps. "Okay so there I was, herding the reindeers in the morning just like I usually do except this time I was alone. Honey was sick with a cold."
"Yeah, no thanks to you." She scoffed.
"Anyways, one of the young calves had wandered off from the herd. It's mother was desperately worried, so I did what any other loyal reindeer herder would do."
"Not tell false stories?" Added his teasing sister as the children erupted into giggles.
"NO!" Retaliated Ryder as he stood up on his feet. "I went to look for the little calf around the forest. I must've been gone for a while because sunset was approaching. I heard the little calf honking from a bush near the four peaks."
"His little antlers were stuck on the bush's twig so I picked up the young calf and carried him over my shoulders. I started making my way down back to the path I was coming from and then... I heard something."
"What did you hear?" Asked Elsa.
"Footsteps." Whispered Ryder dramatically. "Crunching sounds of leaves as if someone was speeding through the forest. I panicked so I grabbed my staff as fast I could with the calf still in my other arm to see where the noise was coming from and that's where I saw him..."
"What did you see??" Asked Elsa, although it was more of a demand.
"A dark large figure of a man. He was speeding through the forest so quickly that it was as if he were some kind of wolf! Before I knew it he had disappeared into the four peaks."
"You didn't see his face?" Asked Elsa.
"I couldn't... it was somehow hidden. It's as if he was a shadow, or a ghost—"
"Or maybe he was just your imagination?" Finished HoneyMaren with a eyebrow raised as the children giggled. "Face it, Ryder. No one has ever seen a random dark shadowy figure lurking in the four peaks. There's a reason the place is abandoned in the first place."
"But I did see him!" Retaliated Ryder somewhat annoyed. "And I'm not the only one who has. Jágát and Birki saw him too."
"How do you even know it's a man?" Retaliated HoneyMaren with her arms crossed.
"A man always knows how to tell a real man apart." Winked Ryder to which his sister just rolled her eyes at him again. The children all laughed in union as they started making their way back to their hits with their families.
"Welp, I think I've had enough of Ryder's fairytales for tonight, see you guys tomorrow." Said HoneyMaren as she stood up on her feet and dusted her boots off.
"Good night, Maren." Called out Elsa.
Soon enough it was just Elsa and Ryder who were the only ones remaining around the camp fire. She continued to stare out to the mountains as if she was expecting to see a man or a wolf, or anything that would put her thought at ease quite frankly.
"I'm gonna pour water on the campfire, unless you want to stay out here for a little longer." Said Ryder who was holding a wooden jug full of water.
"No it's okay, I think I'm going to bed too." Said Elsa as she stood up on her feet. She stopped midway to her hut until her attention was fixed towards the mountains again. She hated not knowing why they seemed so intriguing.
"You know, you could always travel up there one day. I'm sure you could get there quicker than all of us with the Nokk as your new steed." Said Ryder teasingly to which Elsa chuckled at.
"I'm afraid however that you have to have an enormous amount of luck to even see a shadowy figure of a person there that's not your own."
"Is it dangerous up there?" Asked Elsa.
"Pfft! Not at all!" Said Ryder waving his hand dramatically. "I mean there might be a few bears. But if you don't mess with them they won't mess with you. Usually. And wolves? They scare easily. Besides, I don't think anyone would want to mess with the likes of you."
Elsa giggled.
"But what exactly has you interested about the four peaks anyways?? As much as I hate to admit it, Maren is right. There isn't really anything out there except... well wilderness."
Elsa shrugged. "I don't know... I think it's because I've noticed Gale fly through the peaks occasionally. Almost as if she's checking up on someone, or something."
Ryder nodded understandably. "Of course, I forget that you're able to communicate with the spirits in some way."
"Something like that." Replied Elsa playing with her fingers. "It's more of a presence than actual communication."
"Well, if you ever need the directions up there just ask... well Gale, I suppose. She knows the way." Chuckled Ryder to which Elsa smiled at. "Well, good night Elsa. Let us know if you need anything."
"Night." Said Elsa as she turned her attention once again to the mountains to which she noticed Gale making it's way towards mountains until it disappeared into the darkness.
She had transformed her dress into a night gown and was looking up at the stars through the visible hole she had cut out. She loved looking at the stars, they put her to sleep and before she knew it, she was already dreaming.
—
The next morning was practically like any other day. They started their morning with a breakfast which mostly consisted of fruits and cooked ham. A few of the Northuldrans would go ice fishing while Ryder and HoneyMaren would herd and help breed the reindeers in their pack.
Usually Elsa would spend her time with the twins and would even help out in the usual routines. And today she just so happened to be learning how to milk a reindeer for the first time.
At first it was a little odd for Elsa, but through Ryder's and HoneyMarens confidence she was able to master it quite well.
"There you go!" Cheered Ryder as he and his sister watched proudly. "You're milking that reindeer like you've been doing it your whole life!"
HoneyMaren snickered. "I don't think you realize what you just said, Ryder."
She and Elsa erupted into giggles. "Here you go, freshly squeezed reindeer milk." Said Elsa as she stood up and handed the large bucket of milk to Ryder.
The twins each placed their finger on the bucket of freshly squeezed reindeer milk Elsa had just squeezed and placed it on their lips, savoring the milk as if it were sweet honey.
"Mmmm." Both of them moaned in contentment with expressions filled with glee as Elsa giggled at them.
"Rich and sweet. Perfect texture and taste, exactly what reindeer milk should taste like." Said HoneyMaren smiling happily while Ryder continued to use his finger to taste the reindeer milk.
"I guess I'm a professional now." Chuckled Elsa as she finished wiped her hands with a wet cloth.
"Mmm. HoneyMaren is right, you do belong up here." Said Ryder as he continued to taste the reindeer milk.
"Did your mother teach you how to milk reindeer? I mean you're already so good at ice finishing, even without using your gifts." Said HoneyMaren.
"No, unfortunately she never did teach me about milking reindeer, or reindeer for that matter. But I guess I'm a fast learner. I was the crown princess so I always had to expand my brain with as much knowledge as possible."
"You can say that again." Said Ryder as he licked his wet finger clean again. HoneyMaren had to take the bucket away from him before he finished it all. "Hey! I just got a great idea, you should teach us how to read!"
"Ryder!" Retaliated Honeymaren, her tone with a hint of embarrassment.
Elsa's happy expression slowly drifted away as she furrowed her eyebrows. "I'm sorry, did you just say that you want me to teach you how to read?"
"Wel not just me, all of us!"
Elsa had to blink her eyes several times.
"I-I'm sorry, I thought—"
"We only know how to read in our language." Sighed HoneyMaren. "We don't have knowledge from the outside world."
"Outside world?? Well, what about math, and science and geometry??" Asked Elsa with a confused yet worried expression.
"What's geometry??" Asked Ryder with his mouth full of wet pita bread.
Elsa's mouth still remained parted in shock. She knew the Northuldra had been cut from the outside world for years now, but she had never realized how cut they really were. They were never properly introduced to the advancing world.
"You don't have to listen to my brother." Said HoneyMaren rolling her eyes. "We wouldn't want to bother you with your responsibilities as the fifth spirit and all—"
"Absolutely." Said Elsa suddenly.
"Huh?" Said HoneyMaren confused while Ryder's eyes lit up with glee.
"I will gladly teach you and the rest of the tribe everything I learned that's knowledgeable." Said Elsa smiling.
"Yes!" Exclaimed Ryder happily.
"You really don't have to, Elsa." Said HoneyMaren with a frown.
"It's really no problem at all. I love teaching, and learning new things at the same time. I feel like this could be one of them." Said Elsa smiling in return. "Besides, it's never a bad thing to seek as much knowledge as possible."
"This is great, right Honey!? Oh everyone back at camp is gonna be so happy!" Said Ryder.
""Well.." Said HoneyMaren rubbing the back of her neck. "If it really isn't a problem with you then... I suppose that'd be okay?"
"More than okay." Smiled Elsa. "This Friday when I head to Arendelle I'll make sure to return with as much books and paperwork as I can. I was meaning to bring them anyways, I love reading novels and history books."
"What's a novel??" Asked Ryder with more pita bread stuffed in his mouth while his sister stared at him with a questionable expression.
Elsa chuckled and patted his arm. "Soon you'll know."
"All right well we should head back to camp. I'm sure the children are just desperate for some morning milk." Said HoneyMaren as each if them carried about two gallons worth of reindeer milk back to camp.
As always they were welcomed with cheerful children who were just waiting eagerly for the reindeer milk and pretty soon breakfast had been served. Eggs with some cooked ham.
The children loved Elsa, partially because of her powers and how she always created a playground made of snow and ice for them.
As HoneyMaren and Ryder were sharing a laugh, Elsa had grown quiet because she was noticing Gale once again heading up to the four peaks.
This time she was keeping count. She had noticed for the past couple of days the Gale goes at least three times up to the four peeks. In the morning, in the afternoon and right after all of Northuldrans went to sleep.
She couldn't understand it, she didn't understand why Gale had a repetitive scdheudle of going there everyday. But she was going to know sooner rather than later. Because the next time she would see Gale, she was going to ask her.
—
"Yawn... morning Bruni." Said Elsa as she stood up from her bed. The Fire spirit had grown used to sleeping beside Elsa. He loved the little pile of snow she would do for him.
The lizard smiled at Elsa and stuck his tongue out happily with a stretch of his own.
"Come on." Giggled Elsa as she stuck her hand out. Bruni jumped on top of her palm happily. "Let's go get some breakfast."
As usual the Northuldrans were beginning their morning with a few of them going fishing while Ryder and HoneyMaren were getting staddled up on their reindeers.
"Morning Elsa!" Called out Ryder.
"Good morning you two." Said Elsa as she approached the twins.
"You sleep okay?" Asked HoneyMaren smiling at Elsa.
"I did actually." She smiled back.
"Well good! We're just in our way to rattle up the rest on the reindeer, wanna come?" Asked Ryder.
"Yeah I would love—" suddenly Elsa stopped as she noticed Gale from the corner of her eye. She was returning back from the four peaks... as usual.
"Excuse me for just one second." Said Elsa politely as she approached the wind spirit respectfully.
"Good morning Gale." Said Elsa politely to which the wind spirit returned with a variety of giddy whistles.
"I slept great, thank you for asking." Chuckled Elsa as the wind spirit surround Elsa in circles as if she was giving her a hug.
"It's crazy how she can talk to them." Whispered Ryder to her sister from afar off to which she nodded and agreed with him.
"Hey Gale, can I ask you something?" Said Elsa as the wind spirit whistled yes in response. "What's in the four peaks?? I'm just curious because you go there often."
The wind spirit only seemed to whistle strangely, as if it were Anna when she had gotten caught sneaking chocolates around.
Elsa raised her eyebrows. "Gale, everything okay?"
"I wonder what they're taking about." Whispered Ryder to his twin sister. "Wait! Are they talking about me??"
"Ryder, why on earth would the spirits want to talk about you??" Retaliated HoneyMaren.
"Just saying, you never know! Besides, what if they are and Elsa isn't saying anything. What if— OH HEY ELSA! We weren't taking about you." exclaimed Ryder nervously as Elsa had returned again to them.
"Uh, everything okay?" Asked HoneyMaren.
"Something strange is going on." Said Elsa as she rubbed her chin as if she was pondering.
"Strange? How strange??"
"It's just that Gale keeps going up to the four peaks. Almost everyday. And you said there's nothing up there. So I decided to ask her and she almost seemed defensive and nervous when trying to respond to me." Said Elsa as she watched Gale, Bruni, the earth giants and Nokk all surround each other as if they were talking in secrecy.
"You got all that with her whistling in just two minutes??" Said Ryder with eyes widened in awe.
"Hmm, well I don't know what to tell you. If the spirits don't want to tell you then I suppose you have to respect that." Replied HoneyMaren.
"But I'm the fifth spirit, shouldn't I be involved too or know what's going on??"
"Things are a lot different here, Elsa. The spirits are very independent and they don't really have a higher power to report to. That's why we always pay respect to them and try our best not to offend them."
"But I feel like I should still feel involved.." sighed Elsa. "Im just curious why only Gale seems to be the one going to the four peaks. Not even the earth giants go."
"Well if you want my advice." Said Ryder clearing his throat. "You just have to be more... bold."
"Bold?" Repeated Elsa.
"Yeah, bold! You see of all the spirits, Gale has the better advantage. She can travel anywhere she pleases, so you just have to present yourself in a way that'll make Gale realize you deserve to know as well." Explained Ryder.
"How am I supposed to do that?"
"Well... how about when you were Queen? There had to be times where you had to be bold and demanding, right?" Said Ryder.
HoneyMaren nodded and to her surprise she shrugged. "Not his worst idea I'll tell you that."
To Elsas surprise she actually rose her eyebrow up. She was still a royal, meaning she still had the ability and authority to present herself as a powerful monarch. She had to do that at times even when she was dealing with angry old councilman.
"Excuse me a moment, I'll be right back." Said Elsa as she walked over to where the spirits where huddled up again.
"Hope my idea works..." whispered Ryder nervously to his sister as they watched Elsa approach the spirits.
"Hello everyone." Said Elsa politely as she curtsied with royalty to the four respected spirits. "May I have a moment with Gale alone, please?"
The request must have come off as a surprise because the Earth giants, Bruni and the Nokka all looked at each other in surprise.
"It'll just take a moment I assure you." Smiled Elsa. The spirits all looked at each other one last time until Gale whistled to them all that it was no problem. Soon after they all left, leaving Elsa and Gale alone.
"Listen, Gale." Started Elsa by clearing her throat. "I respect you tremendously. You helped saved my fathers life and even provided shelter for my mother. And you were such a great help to me last year."
Gale whistled as if she was grateful for Elsa's words.
"So I hope that you understand when I say that I am in need to know what exactly are in the four peaks."
Gale grew silent and Elsa only studied her as if she was waiting her to whistle or move or do anything. She quickly glanced over the other spirits who seemed to be watching nervously from the other side of the forest.
"Do they know what's in the four peaks?"
Gale whistled no.
"But you do?"
Gale whistled yes.
Elsa sighed. "Gale please, I want to fulfill my duties in helping this beautiful forest as much I possibly can. But I can't do that when we keep secrets with each other. I promise I won't tell anyone, but please, let me help."
Gale hovered above the air with leaves silently as if she was contemplating answering.
"Please?" Asked Elsa once more.
Gale began to whistle to Elsa and she was not expecting Gale to give her that response. Shorty after Gale flew away to another direction, leaving Elsa alone again.
"What do you think happened??" Whispered Ryder.
"I don't know." Whispered HoneyMaren just as curious as he was.
"Oh wait, here she comes!" Whispered Ryder as Elsa began to approach them rather quickly.
"Ryder, HoneyMaren. I might need your assistance."
"Sure! Uhh, with what exactly??" Asked Ryder.
"I need you to show me the fastest way to get to the four peaks." Said Elsa as she made her way inside her hut to pack a few things.
"Wait, the four peaks?? You're not going to go... are you??" Said HoneyMaren as she and Ryder followed behind Elsa.
"Gale said that if I go up there perhaps I can see what she is seeing." Said Elsa as she packed a small lunch and pouch of water inside a little Arendelle side bag Anna had gifted to her.
"But there's nothing there..." replied HoneyMaren. "I've been there before, Elsa. It's nothing but wilderness. Not even worth establishing a camp, everything is too far."
"Not according to Gale, she says there is indeed something there and she was meaning to tell me, guess she was just waiting for the right time." Said Elsa as she sat on the ground and began to take her ice sandals off and replaced it with white traveling boots to match her dress.
"What exactly is there then??" Asked HoneyMaren.
"Only one way to find out." Replied Elsa as she finished adjusting her left boot.
"She didn't tell you?" Asked Ryder.
"She said she can't describe it, I have to see it for myself." Said Elsa as she created a beautiful white cowl which she tied the strings to her neck.
"Nokk!" She called out the water spirit as he neighed majestically and made his way up from the water and towards Elsa. "Wanna go for a ride?" She said as she touched her forehead with his and froze its body so he can travel in land.
"Wait, Elsa. Just hold on a second." Said HoneyMaren as she stepped forward and Elsa hopped on top of the Nokk. "What if your wrong... okay what if there's nothing there??"
"Are you suggesting Gale is lying?" Teased Elsa with a smirk on the corner of her lips.
HoneyMarens eyes widened in embarrassment as she quickly glanced at the nokk who was already staring at her.
"She got you there!" Chuckled Ryder as he came bring his sister and nudged her shoulder.
HoneyMaren sighed and chuckled. "Fine then, let's go for a ride, Hai!" She called out and quickly two of their childhood reindeer pets came galloping forward.
"Ready?" Asked HoneyMaren as she and her brother each jumped on top of their respective reindeers.
Elsa lifted her white cowl hoodie and covered the back of her head. "Ready."
"Try to keep up. Hiyah!" And with that command from Ryder to his reindeer, him and his sister quickly took off and head through the forest as the Nokk neighed majestically and followed behind the two reindeers with the Snow Queen.