Happy New Year people, and welcome back to Frozen: Lords of Storm and Stone. Let's start this new year by catching up with the folks in Arendelle shall we?
As their sled, neared the mountain range overlooking Arendelle, everyone felt the anticipation mounting every second. They haven't been home in well over a month, and aside from a few letters, they have had no contact with their kingdom. None of them thought they were badly needed, but home was still home.
The people meanwhile, were still busy with not only their personal lives, but also storing the Christmas decorations for next years. It was strange for them to not have Elsa there to give them a spectacle, but they could do so before they knew about her magic, they could do so nowadays. Some of the people were on the lookout for the royal family since they were due to appear on that day.
When they finally arrived, the town was immediately abuzz, and a messenger rushed to the castle to spread the news.
"They're coming!" He yelled, and the guards opened the gates to the castle, and the rest of the guards and staff spread the word to the others at a rapid pace. Dozens of people were more driven than before to get their respective tasks done, while others were coaxed out of their relaxation time to make sure things were as well as they could possibly be. Kai in particular went around inspecting the decor, and found nothing to complain about as he went to the front door to await the royal family.
The rest of the townsfolk swarmed the streets to greet the returning royals, and showed their excitement with cheers, waves, and applause. Anna, Elsa, Kristoff, and Olaf all returned the people's affections with equal enthusiasm, especially Anna. Sven continued trotting down the streets at a steady pace, with the people following them all the way to the castle that awaited them.
When they reached the castle, they found the gates open for them, spotted Kai waiting to welcome them home, and the people poured into the courtyard at a distance behind them.
"Welcome home Your Majesties." Kai said with a bow as they exited the sled.
"It's good to be home Kai." Anna said, then they turned to face the people.
"We should say something to them." Kristoff said.
"I know just the thing." Anna said before Sven pulled the sled to the side, and Anna stepped in front of the door, with Elsa and Olaf next to her.
"Now's your chance..." Elsa said as the people continued swarming the courtyard until they got far enough.
"People of Arendelle! It is great to be back home, and I hope all of you had a Merry Christmas, all of us did." Anna said, and the people continued clapping and cheering.
"Yes we did." A woman said.
"It's good to hear you had a Merry Christmas Your Majesty." A man said.
"Now, we are not here to stay; there is still alot going on up north, but we are not leaving until the New Year comes, so whatever you missed from us on Christmas? Well, I'm sorry it's late, but we can still give it." Anna said, and the people continued applauding.
"Your Majesty? Who is this Lord of Stone we keep hearing about?" A man asked.
"His name is Sigmund, and like Elsa, he can use magic." Anna said, and everyone looked at each other before clamoring.
"What's he like?" A man asked.
"Is he good?" A child asked.
"Is he handsome?" A woman asked.
"Is he strong?" Another child asked.
"What is he doing about the storms?" An elderly man asked, and Anna raised her hands, which made the people settle down.
"People! People! Please! Sigmund is fighting a war up north, and he still is, which is why he needs our help. The good news is that things are going in our favor, especially since other people are getting word of what Sigmund is doing about the storms, and the people behind them." Anna said.
"A man named Absalom is behind the storms in some way, we don't know how, but we think Absalom is up to something, and is using the storms as a means to an end." Elsa said.
"So we're going to find out what he's up to, put a stop to it, and possibly, save not only Arendelle, but the whole country." Anna said, and the people continued cheering as the family went inside.
When the people were content, and left the courtyard, the guards returned to their patrols, and Kai followed them to the dining room.
"That was quite a speech Your Majesty." He said.
"Thanks." Anna said.
"I am also glad to inform you that while you were away, everything has been as peaceful as ever." Kai said.
"What about the storms?" Elsa asked.
"They haven't been bothering us lately, although we have had reports out at sea that storms have been brewing in far away locations. I pray that no serious damage was done." Kai said.
"As do I." Elsa said.
"Me too." Kristoff said.
"Well, what about Arendelle itself?" Anna asked.
"Nothing we couldn't handle Your Majesty." Kai said.
"I would still like to see whatever needs my attention." Anna said seriously.
"Of course." Kai said, then Anna and Elsa followed him to Anna's office.
"I'll go keep an eye on Sven." Kristoff said.
"Me too." Olaf said before following Kristoff outside.
While Anna looked through a series of documents, Elsa went outside via the balcony, and a handful of leaves flew around her.
"Gale. Long time no see. What? You didn't have to wait for me; I was north of the Enchanted Forest the whole time. Speaking of which, how is everyone back at-" Elsa stopped talking when she spotted an envelop among the leaves. She then tore it open, and read the letter inside before she went back inside.
"Elsa?" Anna asked as she sent down a paper.
"The Spirits have been worried about us, specifically me. Everyone there wishes us a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year of course, and they're pretty curious about how much havoc is being wrought." Elsa said.
"Well...what are you going to say?" Anna asked.
"The truth. We return the wishes, and we have a good position against Absalom, which is getting better." Elsa said.
"Alright..." Anna said.
"What about you? Do you need help with anything?" Elsa asked.
"I don't think so. Things really have been going smoothly. Although it probably took some getting used to for some people being without all of us." Anna said.
"At least they have a good idea why that is." Elsa said.
"Still." Anna said.
"Well, we still have a long day ahead of us before New Year, so how should we spend the last day of the year?" Elsa asked.
"Together." Anna said casually, then Elsa chuckled.
"I meant how." She said, before Anna smiled.
"Let's look around." She said.
They they went to the main hall, and found a bounty of presents addressed to them, from common citizens, to the members of the counsel. Some of them included stockings which were excellent for decorating, or simple letters wishing them a Merry Christmas. Some even had paintings or drawings that were clearing made by children, or amateur, but all had wondrous winter settings, including the time Elsa made that gigantic ice tree in the middle of a frozen lake in the middle of the woods.
As the two sisters were recalling the day they discovered Olaf was their family tradition onto himself...they heard a voice they knew all too well.
"Welcome back Your Majesty." Mattias said, they then turned to see him, then beamed.
"It's good to be back general." Anna said before standing up.
"I've heard of your campaign up north...it's a shame Arendelle's army is so small. I would send aid without hesitation." Mattias said.
"It's no trouble. Arendelle needs you more than we do, and that didn't change." Anna said.
"Does that mean that things aren't as bad as we thought?" Mattias asked.
"No things are pretty bad, but thanks to Lord Sigmund, and myself, the Valley of Stone is well-protected." Elsa said.
"For now at least, and even if it wasn't, he still needs us." Anna said.
"I would very much like to meet His Lordship." Mattias said.
"We might bring him here when the war ends, but...we can't promise anything." Elsa said.
"I'm sure he'd love it here." Anna said.
"Speaking of love, Halima sends Christmas wishes of her own." Mattias said.
"And we send her ours." Anna said.
"Where is she?" Elsa asked.
"She wanted to be here, but she's recovering from a sickness." Mattias said.
"What?" Elsa and Anna asked at the same time.
"She got sick a week ago, and she's better now, but she still needs to take it easy." Mattias said.
"Well, at least she's not in danger." Anna said.
"Yes indeed Your Majesty." Mattias said.
"How was Christmas?" Anna asked.
"Not bad actually. Everyone exchanged presents and kept to themselves to celebrate in their own ways, but it's glaringly obvious that without all of you...it's not as grand as it could be." Mattias said.
"And that's why this New Year will make up for it." Elsa said.
"Right." Anna said and Mattias smiled.
"I cannot wait to see what you have in mind." He said.
"Alright, when's lunch? I'm starved." Anna said.
"The cooks have been saving some duck for your Christmas dinner actually." Mattias said.
"Well...that answers that." Anna said.
"I'll get Kristoff." Elsa said before walking out of the castle as Anna went with Mattias to the dinning room.
After lunch, the family continued to unwrap presents meant for each of them, and had the servants store the decorations for next year. They also personally went to Anna and Kristoff's room to hang up the drawings and pictures, and marveled at the memories they invoked. Some of the more winter-themed pictures were stored with the rest of their personal belongings for next years, but the rest were left hanging.
They then took the sled to the rock trolls...and they were already out and about, chatting among themselves, before one of them spotted the sled.
"They're coming!" He yelled, and the rest looked to see the sled, and made way for Grandpabbie to roll towards them from his hut.
"Welcome back." Grandpabbie said.
"It's good to be back." Elsa said.
"I have been watching over you, and I am quite relieved to see your mission going well." Grandpabbie said with a smile.
"It is for now at least." Elsa said.
"Grandpabbie? Have you heard of the Lodge of Sacred Stars?" Anna asked.
"I...have heard of them yes." Grandpabbie said.
"Who are they?" Anna asked.
"That title has been used countless times throughout history, but almost no one knows who they are, or how they originated." Grandpabbie said.
"We heard they're a group of people that study different types of magic." Anna said.
"I have heard such claims before, but regardless...you are likely better-informed than I." Grandpabbie said.
"I met their leader actually, Saint William." Anna said.
"Saint William you say?" Grandpabbie said.
"Yes, and he can use fire magic himself, only in his case, the fire fixes things instead of destroying them." Anna said.
"How is this possible...?" Grandpabbie asked.
"He also said his power is fueled by hope." Anna said.
"Now that is intriguing." Grandpabbie said.
"Why?" Elsa asked.
"Countless acts of love and hatred have been behind uses of magic for centuries, but hope is a particularly rare case...and apparently a particularly potent case." Grandpabbie said.
"One of the other fire magic users, Dietrich, can use fire fueled by hatred." Elsa said and Grandpabbie's eyes widened.
"That is not good...not good at all..." He breathed out.
"To make matters worse, I believe he is being tricked. He blames Lord Sigmund, the man we were sent to help in the first place, for failing to prevent his home from being destroyed by one of the storms." Elsa said.
"Rage that is not refined is almost as dangerous as fear is...this Dietrich is in grave danger, as is the rest of the people around him." Grandpabbie said seriously.
"We tried to talk him out of it, but...he's quite stubborn to say the least." Elsa said.
"We also captured him and tried to get him to join us, but it failed...quite seriously too." Kristoff said.
"If you still mean to do so, expect to fail many more times. Rage can grip the heart just as tightly as love can, and you all know how much that means." Grandpabbie said.
"Sigmund has preached against anger countless times since we met him." Elsa said.
"He is a wise man for that reason alone." Grandpabbie said.
"He also cares about his people as much as we care about ours too." Anna said.
"As befits a lord..." Grandpabbie said.
"Although...he claims to have killed hundreds of enemy soldiers in his time." Elsa said.
"A cross everyone involved in war must bare at some point or another." Grandpabbie said.
"Right..." Anna whispered.
"Have you discovered the identity of the ones who hound him?" Grandpabbie asked.
"Yes, his name is Absalom." Elsa said.
"Absalom you say..." Grandpabbie said.
"Do you know him?" Anna asked.
"No, but if he is behind these storms in any way, then he is one of the most evil people I have ever heard of." Grandpabbie said.
"Lovely..." Kristoff said.
"If you have any more information on this war, do let me know. Things are getting more intense every day...I can feel it." Grandpabbie said seriously.
"We will." Anna said.
"Go in peace all of you, and a Happy New Year to us all." Grandpabbie said.
"Happy New Year." Anna said.
"HAPPY NEW YEAR!" The trolls said all at once, except for one troll who had a sour look on his face.
"It's not the new year yet..." He deadpanned, and the family all smiled and Kristoff shook his head before they went back to the sled.
By twilight, the family got ready for dinner, and then Elsa personally sent a notice to the townspeople to prepare for what she had in mind in the town square. Once the people heard the news, they were once again abuzz with excitement for whatever wonders their former queen would put on display. Granted there was still quite a bit of time beforehand, but the people had more than enough to do in their personal lives until then.
Anna and Kristoff in the meantime, went to their room and Anna laid down on their bed before sighing deeply.
"I almost missed this bed." She said softly.
"It's not much better than the one Sigmund gave us." Kristoff said.
"But it's our bed..." Anna said.
"Right, and the one Sigmund gave us isn't...?" Kristoff said.
"O.k...that's a bed he gave us, this bed is ours." Anna said.
"If you say so." Kristoff said.
"I say so because it is so." Anna said seriously.
"Alright, alright, I'm not going to fuss with you over a bed feistypants." Kristoff said, and Anna smiled and snuggled into his side as he put an arm around her.
"You haven't called me that in far too long." Anna said softly.
"Good point...feistypants." Kristoff said.
"O.k. don't overdo it now." Anna said.
"Sorry." Kristoff said.
"Anyway, what do you think Elsa's going to do?" Anna asked.
"No idea, but she's nothing if not creative." Kristoff said.
"Don't I know it." Anna said.
"I still can't believe she made that ice palace without knowing she could." Kristoff said.
"I still can't believe you tried to propose to me several times." Anna said.
"You are never going to let me live that down are you?" Kristoff asked, and Anna started giggling before snuggling into him even more, and sighing deeply.
"I love you." She breathed out.
"I love you too." Kristoff said before sharing a brief but sweet kiss with Anna, who smiled at him the moment they separated.
"Let's get some rest before Elsa's big event." Anna said.
"You know that's probably what they should officially call it." Kristoff said.
"Really?" Anna asked as she and Kristoff laid down.
"Yeah, I'm serious. It's got a pretty nice ring to it." Kristoff said.
"I guess so." Anna said.
"You remember that aurora that happened on Christmas?" Kristoff asked.
"It's hard not to...I haven't seen one in far too long...well, at the time anyway." Anna said.
"I could see the look on your face all day." Kristoff said.
"Let's just get some rest." Anna said casually, then Kristoff smirked.
"Right..." Kristoff said before he let Anna lay her head on his brawny chest before they drifted off.
Later on, they heard a knock on their door, then Anna woke up, looked outside, and saw it was nighttime.
"Oh my gosh!" Anna exclaimed before getting up and going to her closet, then stopping halfway there, looking at the door and going towards it as Kristoff woke up.
"What's wrong...?" He breathed out as Anna opened the door to see Kai.
"Your sister is getting started Your Majesty." He said.
"Without us?" Anna asked seriously.
"No, but she made sure to gather everyone in the town square. She specifically said she will not start without you both." Kai said, then Anna sighed.
"That's a relief..." She said, before closing the door.
"What's going on?" Kristoff asked.
"We overslept. Elsa is ready to start. Get your clothes on, quick." Anna said seriously, then Kristoff's eyes widened.
The two then rushed to the town square, squeezing past dozens of people, many of whom made way for them when they found out who it was.
"Alright...now that my dear sister and brother-in-law have arrived, who's ready?" Elsa asked, then the crowd started cheering as Elsa shared a look and a smile with Anna. Elsa then stomped on the ground, and ice flowed out of her foot, and towards the four corners of the town square, which eventually formed four copies of the tree she made in the Valley of Stone, only far smaller. The people marveled at the display, just as Anna thought they would, and Elsa even had each tree turn a different color: one green, one cyan, one indigo, and one violet as tribute to the Spirits.
"Marvelous...truly marvelous..." An old man breathed out as everyone stared at the trees, then Anna spotted Olaf by Elsa's side.
"Does anyone want to skate?" Elsa asked, then everyone cheered before Elsa stomped her foot yet again, and the entire town square frozen. She then snapped her fingers, and everyone's shoes grew cleats and rails, then everyone put them to use by skating around either on their own, or with someone. Olaf then waddled around and began to skate on his feet alone, then balanced himself on one foot, or spun around while jumping, then even landed on his head while continuing to skate in that position, and Elsa giggled before Olaf corrected himself.
"Your Majesty? May I have this dance?" Kristoff asked while offering his hand, and smirking, then Anna smiled and curtsied.
"Of course my dear." She said before Kristoff pulled her down the ice, and held her hand out to the side, with the rest of her body pressed into his. Elsa then spotted them, and smiled brighter as Anna and Kristoff's physical and emotional closeness stole the show. Both of them moved with the same grace they had when they danced together on Christmas, and neither of them had interest in anything but each other.
Mattias who was merely a spectator during the event, heard the door his house behind him open, and Halima stepped out, despite still being in below-average condition.
"Halima...!" Mattias breathed out.
"I have to see this dear..." Halima said seriously, and Mattias relaxed before they shared a smile, then looked back at the festivities unfolding before them. Elsa then added more intensity to the event by launching a burst of frost into the air that turned into a giant snowflake, and then launched a barrage of clouds into the air that came down as a simple snow shower. Several people stopped to watch it, while others were invigorated by their former queen's display, and skated with any fatigue forgotten.
Kristoff and Anna then stopped skating, joined Elsa and Olaf in the middle, then Anna embraced Elsa.
"This is one way to celebrate a new year." Anna said.
"If you ask me, it's the only way." Elsa said before Anna pulled away, and kept holding her hands. The people then began to slow down and simply observe the display of Elsa's magic unfold, then Elsa watched as more and more people slowed down, or stopped. When enough people finally had enough, she thawed out the ground, and re-absorbed all of the ice in the area.
"Well, I hope all of you enjoyed this start to a new year, I know the four of us did." Anna said.
"Unfortunately, we have to return to the Valley of Stone tomorrow, but we have all of you to thank for easing our spirits, and we thank you all for that." Elsa said softly, and the people began applauding.
"See you next year." Olaf said while waving.
"It's already the next year." Elsa said.
"Wait, what happened to the old year?" Olaf asked.
"It's done and over with." Kristoff said.
"Eh, whatever. Years are just another measurement of time that we have left on this Earth anyway." Olaf said casually.
"Right..." Kristoff trailed off.
Ho boy...that was a celebration wasn't it? But it's back to the old grindstone as a wise man said...who knows how His Lordship celebrated New Year's...? Well, until that question gets answered, please remember to Rate, Review, and Share...and stay tuned.