~Chapter 10~

Anna

I was getting ready for bed as Bruni curled up on one of my pillows after Kristoff left for the night. What a day it had been and then some. Sitting on the edge of my bed looking out the window facing the fjord outside, the waves were splashing against the docks and the winds were picking up. Bruni crawled into my lap as I patted his head with my finger. My aunt and cousins were in danger and I didn't know how we were going to find this fifth spirit person. A crack of thunder startled me as I felt my fire warm my hands as they began to catch fire. I calmed down quickly not wanting to set anything in the room on fire. The fjord looked wild and I grew concerned for Niklas's family crossing the water today. Aria went back with her father and all the rest of the princes of the Isles. Lord Alastor left yesterday and was already home. The Southern Isles is a mere half-day journey by ship, but sometimes even that seems longer.

I was nowhere near ready for sleep yet. Throwing on a small coat and boots and resting Bruni on my shoulder I ventured outside taking the shortcut through the southern wing and out a wooden door in the rain. I didn't mind getting a little wet and I needed to do something to clear my head. Bruni hung his tongue out catching the droplets of rain that fell. I passed by a few guards who offered to escort me around, but I wanted to be alone. Wandering down to the docks, I circled them a few times as more lightning lit up the sky. It was then I heard that voice again calling to me. I wish I knew where it was coming from. After getting wet, I was about to head back inside when I saw a bucket adrift in the water beneath the dock. Not thinking anything of it until I looked past that and saw some rope, crates, and broken planks of wood coming from the fjord. Debris from a ship? I scanned the surface of the water quickly and that's when I saw someone drifting on a large wood panel. I didn't waste any time, I yelled for help before yanking off my boots and putting Bruni safely on the dock. Diving head first into the depths, I didn't think about how rough the fjord was now. The currents hit me from all directions with waves I had constantly dive under until I reached the person in the water. It was little Aria and she was unconscious. How she had managed to drift this long, I didn't know. Three of our guards were at the dock waving to me. One threw me a line. It was hard to hear anything as my ears came up and down consistently out of the water. Tying the end of the line around the debris Aria was on, the guards began to pull as I kicked from the other side. We made it to the dock as I was helped out of the water along with Aria. Water made my clothes quite heavy weighing me down as I did my best to wring them out. One of the guards tried to put a cloak on me for warmth, but I was fine. My powers always kept me warm, but I insisted they warm up Aria. She was barely breathing as I began pumping her chest. Her eyes suddenly popped open as she coughed up some water and she began trembling. Disoriented and confused, she looked between me and the guards and flung her arms around me crying. I began rocking her knowing how unforgiving the fjord can be in a storm.

"Shh, it's okay, Aria."

I clung to me as I rose to my feet with her arms around my neck and her head nestled against my shoulder.

"Let us take her, your highness." One of the guards offered.

Aria just held on tighter upon hearing that.

"I've got her," I nodded, "Please, go on ahead and get some hot cider going from the kitchen staff. Find Hans and the king and queen before we figure out what happened."

"Yes, your highness."

As the guards ran ahead as Aria and I came up from the docks, Kristoff and Olaf ran toward me from the courtyard and Bruni was resting on his shoulder.

"Anna," Kristoff said, seemingly nervous, "You okay? Bruni came and found me and it got me worried. He's been quite attached to you since Bayard gave him to you."

"Just a bit wet. I'm fine." I shrugged, "Little Aria here has been through it though."

"Let's get out of the rain before we all get sick," Kristoff urged.

"But why?" Olaf said, stopping holding out his tongue, "I love the sky water."

Suddenly a blue light enveloped the upstairs level on the palace drawing all our eyes. A bright blue flash and as soon as it came, it vanished.

"I don't like the look of that," Kristoff muttered.

"Anna, do you know what's happening?" Olaf asked.

"We're gonna find out Olaf." I told him.

The four of us got inside the palace met by Kai and Brigitta who informed us of the cider available in the hall. It was a relief to be out of the rain. I used to never mind the rain, but that was before I had developed my fire powers. Somehow I feel like it affected me somehow. Brigitta had a change of clothes ready for Aria to help get her warm quicker.

"Aria," I whispered, "We need to get you into dry clothes. Can you do that for me?"

She nodded her head. Brigitta took her to get changed privately as the rest of us waited in the hall. Hans joined us shortly after Aria left and he held a look of panic.

"What happened? Where's Aria?" He asked.

"She's fine, she's getting changed." I replied.

"Word to the wise, stay calm. She's quite rattled." Kristoff added.

Hans glared at him crossing his arms taking a step toward Kristoff.

"My niece could have died and you're telling me to be calm?"

"Enough," I said, moving between them,

Soon, a guard poked his head over the stair banister.

"Your highness, I think you need to come see this,"

"Now, what?" I groaned.

Though as I climbed upstairs, something in my gut lurch telling me something wasn't right as Hans and Kristoff followed right behind me. The guard led me straight to Elsa and Niklas's suite pushing the doors open. Pabbie was already there examining the floor where there was a star-shaped pattern that looked to be scorched into the floor. Two of the other guards had apprehended some hooded stranger whose face was veiled.

"What happened here? Where are the king and queen?"

"We can't find them anywhere, your highness." One guard said, "Though this woman was found here shortly after that light appeared."

Such a strange series of events this evening, but more importantly my sister and brother-in-law were missing.

"Was she alone?" I asked.

"Yes, your highness." A guard replied.

"Sweep the grounds, be sure we don't have any additional visitors," Kristoff ordered.

He was slowly falling into his future prince role and I was proud of him often taking initiative with the guards and security.

"But sir, we mustn't leave any of you undefended." The soldier retorted.

A ball of fire engulfed my hand as I smirked.

"We'll be fine." I nodded, "Let this woman go and return once you're certain she was alone."

They obeyed my command as the woman was released and the rest of us remained in the suite. The woman crossed her arms and even though her gaze was veiled by her hood, I could feel her stare on me.

"Can I get you any water?" I offered.

"I'm fine." She replied, abruptly.

"I don't want to have you arrested, but you are trespassing. If you tell us anything you might know of what happened here…"

"I can't,"

Her tone was familiar. I could feel the angst.

"The king and queen are missing and you can't share why you were found in the last place they were seen?" Hans growled.

I held up my hand to him as he grew silent. This woman was nervous.

"Can we at least know your name?" I asked.

She paused hesitating a reply.

"Elris," She replied.

Lightning lit up the sky outside startling all of us. It was a good thing I spotted Aria when I did otherwise she could have drowned.

"Elris?" I echoed, "Strange, you share the same middle name as my sister, the queen."

Bruni suddenly hopped from Kristoff's shoulder to mine and crawled closer to Elris. She held out her hand and he plopped down looking content. I reached out a hand and pulled down her hood. My sister's eyes looked back in mine and I stepped back nervously.

"E-Elsa?" I questioned, feeling confused, "What're-what's going on?"

It was my sister, but somehow older with a scar on her face and more lines on her skin especially around her eyes. It was her and then again, it wasn't her.

"My answers are limited, I quite literally can't speak of certain things." She replied.

I grabbed her by the shoulders shaking her nervously.

"Tell us what you can,"

My sister was cool to the touch like she always was, but something about her rang false in my head. I reached out and touched the scar on her face as she closed her eyes almost as if she wanted to resist my touch.

"Anna," She muttered, "I've missed you."

"I'm right here and I'm not going anywhere. What's going on?"

My sister opened her mouth to speak, but her hands balled into tight fists.

"I found a way to -"

Her mouth was suddenly clamped shut and I could tell it wasn't of her choosing.

"You see? That's what happens,"

"Can you write it?" Kristoff asked.

"The words will be scribbled." She replied

"Who did this?" I asked, "Is it a curse?"

"More like forced control," She said.

I looked up at Kristoff and he looked concerned. Hans looked angry and frustrated beginning to pace the room.

"Maybe you can tell us without telling us, there's always a loophole."

"Not always, Anna."

"Let me see what I can see," Pabbie offered.

He extended his hand to her and my sister timidly reached out.

"Just relax, you don't have to say anything." He told her.

Pabbie closed his eyes as my sister watched him nervously. After a minute, he scrunched his face as if he was in distress.

"So you're a traveler, but from how far?" Pabbie asked, with his eyes still closed

A traveler? I questioned. Suddenly a force knocked Pabbie back as he hit the wall with a thud.

"Pabbie!" Kristoff shouted.

"I'm sorry, it's my fault!" My sister cried with shaking hands.

I had seen this terror for her before from her power, but this wasn't just her power. This was terror from something else. Pabbie didn't stir, but laid there on the ground as a frost built up around him. He was breathing as though only sleeping.

"It's the frost like what's surrounding my aunt and cousins," I said.

"Will he wake?" Hans asked.

I looked up at Kristoff.

"I don't know how much time we have, but we must find that Fifth Spirit," I said.

"Elsa, can you help us?" I asked her.

"I-I can try, but I shouldn't even be here."

"Wait," Hans interrupted, "Pabbie said she's a traveler, right? Then why isn't Niklas with her?" He knelt down getting in her face and Kristoff grabbed his arm.

"Where is my brother and why isn't he with you?" Hans muttered emphasizing every word. My sister pushed her back to the nearest wall as her eyes filled with tears.

"He's gone," She muttered, "And I'm the one who killed him."