~Chapter 14~

Anna

The sleeping spell or illness was spreading and I was beside myself trying to help. We all were worried about Aria now adding her to the list of growing victims bringing the number to five. I felt lost without my sister and Niklas. Not that I couldn't make decisions, but it was support from those I loved most that made these sorts of situations easier. Kristoff being the sweetheart he is tried to distract me for the morning after Hans discovered Aria being the latest victim of the frost, but it was at breakfast that I heard of a family in the village square who had also been claimed by the frost. This was getting progressively worse and I had no answers for anyone and people were getting scared. It was this same morning that Kai took me aside speaking to me in confidence.

"Your highness, this is embarrassing that I'm bringing this to your attention now,"

"What is it, Kai?" I asked.

"It's something that recently came into memory through a dream only recently. A message your father saved."

"My father?" I questioned, "What's so significant about it now?"

"He told me about the message if something were to happen to him or if a great elemental event occurred. It's strange, I feel like the memory just appeared out of nowhere."

I wasn't sure, but I wondered if Elsa was behind this.

"May I see this message, Kai?"

"Of course, your highness. I pulled it up from the floorboards just this morning."

Kai handed me the letter and I quickly tore the envelope open to read the letter's contents. I was correct in thinking it was from my sister as I recognized her handwriting.

Anna-

Niklas and I are okay. The night that blue light appeared seemed to have opened a portal through time. It was an accident, but we're twenty-four years behind in the past believe it or not trying to find answers to the frost that has claimed our family. Seek out a place called Ahtohallan, it's where mother and Aunt Isidora are from originally. Be safe and don't worry about me and Niklas, we'll be home soon. Take care of Arendelle while we're away, we trust you wholeheartedly.

I'm not really sure how I could have guessed Elsa sent this, especially from the past. The letter was signed by both of them. I thanked Kai for bringing this to my attention before running around to look for Kristoff. He wasn't in the palace and after asking several sources I found him in the village square with Olaf. Before he noticed I was here, he was preoccupied with a large bit of ice that had come up through the ground. It was like a tree branch, but made entirely of ice. Word had already been spreading as there were Arendelle citizens gathering around. Olaf noticed me first waddling over to me with his usual warm smile and demeanor.

"Good morning, Anna." He greeted me cheerfully.

"Hey Olaf," I acknowledged, "Would you mind doing me a huge favor, it would be a big help."

"Well, I can't favor you until you ask," Olaf laughed.

"Can you clear people away from this ice? Take Sven and maybe make a blockade of some sort. I'll get some additional guards to assist."

Olaf looked at me in surprise.

"You're not afraid, are you, Anna?"

"Of the ice?" I said raising a brow," Heck no," I reassured him.

"Elsa's ice isn't meant to be feared,"

"I couldn't agree more, Olaf." I nodded, "I just want to keep everyone calm."

"But isn't putting up a blockade drawing attention to it?"

He had a point, but I didn't want to risk anything with this ice. One important distinction was this ice didn't come from my sister. Olaf still agreed to my plan nonetheless.

I approached Kristoff from behind putting my hand on his shoulder startling him as he spun around toward me.

"Anna, a little warning next time, huh?"

I smirked.

"Sorry, why are you so on edge?"

"People keep asking me questions that I'm unsure how to answer. It's been making me tense."

"I asked Olaf to keep people back,"

"Good idea, send a snowman to stop people from getting close to an area." Kristoff teased.

"Hey, do you want help or not?" I smirked.

He put an arm around the small of my back before kissing my forehead.

"You've been the best part of my morning so far," He nodded.

"I needed to see your face this morning, I'm worried about Aria and the rest of my family as this ice keeps growing."

Kristoff hugged me as I relaxed in his embrace.

"We're going to figure this out, Anna." Kristoff reassured me.

I pulled back from him nodding my head.

"I know that," I nodded, "Oh, I got a message from my sister."

"Really?"

I showed him the message as he read it quickly before glancing back up at me.

"Elsa and Niklas are traveling through time?"

"Apparently," I shrugged.

I could see the crowd that Olaf was trying to contain grow as people kept calling to me.

"Princess Anna, the ice is engulfing my house," One mother said.

"Can your fire help?" Another asked.

"Why is Queen Elsa growing this ice? Is this a plan of our new king?" Another said.

Their questions did not fall on deaf ears, but as Kristoff mentioned, I didn't know how to answer their questions. Though all I knew I wanted to do was reassure them that this ice wasn't of Elsa's making. Looking to the crowd that Olaf was trying to keep at bay, I cleared my throat before speaking.

"I assure you, this ice is not of the queen's making that is all for now," I announced.

"Keeping us in the dark, Princess Anna, will not solve anything." Another citizen called out. The faces of the crowd were a mixture of concern and anger. We weren't trying to be deceitful, but also trying to avoid a panic. I knew all too well how powerful a motivator fear could be.

Kristoff and I returned to the palace and went to the library to strategize our next move. One thing that made me feel relieved was knowing my sister and brother-in-law were okay. Now it was the waiting game for them to return. Hans found us and his face looked solemn.

"How's Aria?" I asked.

"No change." He muttered, "The councilman from the Isles wants to see her, but I haven't allowed it feigning that she was sick and needed rest after her ordeal on the ship. Though he grows impatient."

"Well, he'll have to practice patience then," Kristoff shrugged, "What else does he want from us?"

"I need to find Ahtohallan." I nodded, "It's the only lead we have, but it's a start."

I asked Hans to bring Kai to the library thinking he could draw me a map as I went upstairs to talk to Elris. I knocked on the door to her room and heard her voice giving me permission to enter. The air in the room was cold, but nothing was frozen. She told me she got rid of her power, but clearly something remained within her. Elris was unnerved. She was gazing out the window with crossed arms.

"Come with us," I urged.

"You don't need me, you need your sister."

"I feel like Ahtohallan will give both of us something we need."

"And tell me, Anna, what do you think I need?"

She was being quite defensive.

"A way to get your power back?" I shrugged.

"Anna, I don't want any of it back." She said, quickly, "I never told you why I sought a way to rid myself of the for good."

"And why did you?" I asked, raising a brow.

"People were killed including my sister. I can't go anywhere. It's not safe."

I could hear the fear and tension in her voice. Stepping toward her, I grabbed her shoulder and she flinched.

"You traveled to this time to warn Elsa about certain choices, right? That probably was considered unsafe and you still did that."

"She still married, but has already made different choices than me. Maybe it's enough to not walk the same path I have."

"I never asked," I muttered, "How did you travel to get here anyway?"

Elris opened her mouth to answer, but then it was like her mouth clamped down shut not on her own accord.

"I'm sorry, my responses are limited." She said, "Be led by the voice from afar who will show you the way,"

I had heard a deep voice before, but not for several days. What was Elris trying to tell me, but wasn't allowed to?

"Go do what you need to," She urged.

"If you're sure, you are still welcome to come along," I said, still hoping she'd change her mind. I left the room alone while I returned to the library where Kai had just finished drawing up the map as Kristoff was looking it over.

"Kai, you remember quite a bit of detail," I said, glancing up from the map.

"I ventured to that place when your father was a young man quite often." He replied.

"It's quite a ways north. I've never been there." Kristoff said.

"Most haven't," Kai nodded, "Be safe of your journey, I've already alerted the ship's captain to take you out there. He's waiting at the harbor."

I pulled Kristoff aside tucking a loose piece of hair behind my ear.

"Kristoff, should I really be going anywhere right now? Part of me thinks maybe it's better if I stay. We're the only leaders in Arendelle while all these freakish circumstances keep happening. I don't want anyone to feel fearful."

"I'm here," A voice behind us chimed in.

Elris was standing in the doorway.

"I won't come to that place with you, but I can make appearances around Arendelle to keep people calm in knowing their queen is here."

"Thanks Elris," I smiled, "Kai, help her keep an eye on things until we return."

"Of course, your highness. Be safe on your journey and I hope the map is detailed enough for you."

"It's perfect," I reassured him.

Kristoff and I turned to leave for the harbor. I didn't pack a thing because I was anxious to just get there, but Kai thought of everything. Brigitta packed some things for me and put them in a bag already on the ship. Olaf was waiting at the bottom of the gangplank for us clapping his hands excitedly.

"Time for another family adventure,"

I got down on a knee at his level.

"Olaf, we don't know how dangerous this journey will be. You sure you don't want to wait in Arendelle for Elsa and Niklas to return?"

"We're family, Anna. We go together." He nodded simply, "Besides, we've faced danger many other times and have been fine."

I appreciated his simple optimism. Kristoff offered me his hand as I took his.

"Ready?" He asked.

I nodded and we climbed the gangplank checking in with the captain on the deck. We pulled out from the dock in moments and Arendelle began to fade into the distance as we merged out onto open water.

The ship moved swiftly out upon the water. Kristoff talked with our captain for a few minutes before joining me by the starboard rail and a few hours passed us by in a blink. As I gripped the rail, the ship seemed like it was shuddering. The more north we sailed, I began to spot large chunks of ice floating atop the surface. A few would have blocked the path forward, so I acted quickly blasting them with fire melting the blockages in moments.

"What do you suspect we'll find in Ahtohallan?" Kristoff asked.

"I wish I had an idea, but I'm glad I'm doing something. People's lives are at stake here and I hate waiting. I want to feel helpful."

"I know what you mean," Kristoff agreed, putting his arm around my shoulder, "We're going to figure this all out, we always do."

I appreciate Kristoff's optimism and at that same moment, I heard the echo of that all too familiar voice call out to me. Looking over my shoulder, the voice sounded like it came from directly behind me.

"Anna?" Kristoff muttered.

The voice called to me again, deep and piercing, making me bring my hands to my ears. Olaf waddled over to me looking concerned.

"Are you sea sick, Anna? I know we don't travel by ship very much."

I shook my head.

"Nothing like that, Olaf." I nodded.

"Do you need to sit?" Kristoff asked.

Taking a deep breath, the voice ceased and I felt immediate relief. I took hold of the railing again and the wood was shaking.

"That's not good," I said.

Kristoff grabbed the rail as well as we looked out over the water and I spotted a few bubbles rising to the surface. Turning toward the captain at the wheel, with one simple concerned expression, I knew he was nervous.

"Captain," A lookout from the ship's rigging called out, "There's something in the water below us."

Alarm rang in my head as ripples spread out on the surface. Kristoff ran below deck ordering the men below to prepare the two cannons we had on board. He armed himself with a sword

"Is that necessary?"

"I'm not taking any chances." He said.

It got quiet, eerily so. There were no seabirds flying overhead like from earlier in the voyage. Any other signs of life outright disappeared. The shaking of the ship ceased and we all sort of breathed a sigh of relief. I climbed the stairs to the ship's wheel where the captain was with Kristoff following behind and I looked at him seriously.

"Have you traversed these waters to the north before?" I asked.

"Not in many years, your highness, but I assure you, there were never any creatures among the depths then."

Elsa told me to search for this place and I knew she would have warned me of any dangers.

"Land hoe!" The lookout called.

I figured this place would be much further from home, but it only took a few hours to my surprise. My fascination was replaced with nerves in moments as the ship began to shake. Kristoff looked out over the portside while I gazed out over starboard. There was nothing. Moments later I heard a yelp from behind me as Olaf called my name. He was by the mast, but he vanished by the time I turned.

"Olaf?" I cried.

"Olaf?" Kristoff echoed.

"Kristoff! Anna!" We heard him yell immediately.

His voice came from the back of the ship and Olaf was in the water, but his head had been separated from his body. The three balls were floating apart in the water. Kristoff turned to order the captain to stop the ship and in that time, I dove overboard to rescue Olaf. Streamlined dive downward I saw something long and scaly around five hundred feet away. As I resurfaced bobbing my head out of the water, I swam over to Olaf's head first that was closest to me.

"Anna," He smiled.

"I gotcha, Olaf." I said between panting.

"Hurry, the pieces of me are scattering in the waves," Olaf said anxiously.

I heard a rumble from the water as I called for Kristoff.

"Kristoff, catch!" I yelled.

Throwing Olaf's head as hard as I could back to the ship, he caught it easily.

"Anna get out of there, we can rebuild Olaf's body!" Kristoff called.

I only managed to hear every other word as my head bobbed in and out the water, but I knew what he meant. I was already out here and the two balls of Olaf's body were a few strokes away in two slightly differing directions. Managing to grab them both and tossing them to Kristoff before something in the water brushed against my foot.

"Anna, get back here now!" Kristoff yelled, forcefully.

I could see he was trying to decide whether or not to jump in after me, but as I began to stroke my way toward the ship, something strong coiled around my legs and yanked me underneath the surface. I wasn't under long and as I gasped reclaiming some air for my lungs, I was lifted a few hundred feet above the water by a tail of a scaly creature. I wriggled desperately trying to yank myself free as Kristoff and the sailors were throwing spears and firing arrows. The coil got tighter the more I struggled and moments later, I was face to face with the head of the creature. Big yellow eyes blinked at me as its snout blew air and a short misting of water at me. It wasted no time opening its mouth and I saw its long sharp teeth inching toward me. I called upon my fire powers and got my body hot while I tried to wriggle my arms free. The creature hissed the hotter it became and its grip loosened enough for me to lay my hands against the creature engulfing its tail with a large blast of fire. The creature screeched in pain as I was completely released falling back into the water below. I was high up so resubmerging knocked the wind out of me as I struggled to resurface.

"Kristoff," I yelled once I breached the water again.

The creature was still yowling in pain before it submerged itself to put out the fire. I began to swim toward the ship as quickly as my sore body could manage. Kristoff threw me a line as I quickly tied it around my waist and he began to pull me quickly to the ship faster than I could swim. Once I was pulled aboard, I lay here on the deck dripping wet panting heavily.

"Next time, let's rebuild Olaf, deal?" Kristoff nodded, giving me a hand to pull me up.

"It's not like I was expecting a creature to be near here." I shrugged, as he pulled me to my feet.

"Captain, continue our course to Ahtohallan," Kristoff ordered.

The captain nodded running to the ship's wheel.

"Anna," Olaf muttered, he was already put back together safe and sound, "You could have died, I think Kristoff is right and you should have just rebuilt my body."

"It was easy," I winked, "People sometimes do crazy things when they care about someone, ya know?"

Olaf hugged me as the captain called to Kristoff and I.

"The rudder is jammed, the ship is stuck on a reef or something."

"I doubt it's a reef," Kristoff replied.

"Didn't your fire kill it, Anna?" Olaf asked.

"Hardly," I replied, "I only made it angry."

"Ahtohallan is close, let's get to the row boat." Kristoff nodded.

The spare rowboat was attached to a rope and pulley system at the bow of the ship. As Kristoff began messing with it, Olaf and I hopped in the boat as Kristoff began to get it ready to lower. A scream was heard from the rigging as a shadow swung behind the mast. Our captain grabbed a spear near him. Two other sailors were swiped by the tail yanked off the ship.

"The boat is ready captain," Kristoff called toward the upper deck.

The captain looked toward us with ferocity in his eyes.

"Protect her highness and get out of here. I'll buy you some time to get ashore."

"But captain, there is time, come with us. Let the creature take the ship."

"Sorry lad, a captain often goes down with his ship. Go now."

Tears came to my eyes as I looked at the captain selflessly giving his life for our escape. The tail smacked down against the deck bringing down the mast. It toppled over into the water with a big splash. The boat was lowering too slowly, so Kristoff took a knife and cut us free of the ropes. My stomach dropped as the boat fell splashing into the water. Kristoff took the oars and began row as quick as he could to the land. We watched as the ship got further and further away. The serpent coiled around it finally before crushing it to splinters. Every man on that ship would be remembered for their bravery. It wasn't too long before the rowboat breached the sand of Ahtohallan's shore. Olaf was the first one to get out as I looked out toward the final resting place of the ship and one thing certainly bothered me. Why would Elsa send me here if there was such a creature seemingly guarding it?

The sun fell on the horizon and the nighttime in this place seemed darker than that in Arendelle. I lit our path with a fireball in my hand, but given the level of darkness, we could only see a few steps ahead in our path. Olaf waddled forward like usual undeterred about what had happened. I fell quiet thinking about the good men we lost from the ship today. All because my sister urged us to come here with no explanation. Kristoff grabbed my free hand giving it a gentle squeeze.

"You okay?"

"I've been worse," I shrugged, "I just feel responsible for those men's deaths. If I hadn't gotten in the water-"

"Anna, stop," Kristoff said quickly, "I think that creature would have hunted us regardless of you being in the water. We probably sailed right into its territory."

"Elsa gave me no warning about such a thing."

"She probably didn't know such a beast hunted in the area. Your sister would never put you in harms way, you know that."

"Yeah I know," I sighed, "Well, hopefully this place has the answers we seek." I nodded.

This place seemed like a desolate island. We walked upon sand until ahead in the darkness my eyes noticed the glint of something shiny reflecting faintly against the moonlight. An enormous glacier of ice lay ahead of us. It was massive and why such a thing existed out here made me curious.

"What is this place?" I asked.

"It's nothing like the ice palace that Elsa built those years ago on the north mountain," Olaf answered.

"This is bigger." Kristoff nodded.

As we approached the large wall of ice, I couldn't see a way in. What Elsa wanted me to find here I had no idea, but just being here and investigating was a start. We didn't dare split up to look for an entrance just in case there were any dangers we were unaware of. None of us could be too careful. Dark grey clouds loomed overhead looking more menacing than ever. I wish there was an explanation for these phenomena.

"Hey Anna, what is this place?" Olaf asked.

I patted Olaf's head gently looking at him.

"That's what we're here to find out, Olaf. Elsa wanted me to come here, so that's what I'm trying to do."

"Too bad she didn't send you a key," Kristoff smirked.

"Well, I do have something a bit better," I said, raising my brow lighting up my hand in fire. I didn't want to destroy anything inside, so I was careful to control the heat output, which took quite a bit of focus. Holding my hand a few inches from the icy surface, I waited for the ice to start to melt. Nothing. I increased the size of the fire. Nothing. Was this ice immune to my magic somehow?

"I don't understand," I muttered.

Olaf began pounding on the ice.

"Hey, let us in!" He cried.

Frustrated, I began to walk the length of the ice to try and find any sort of breach or weak point. There were none as far as I could tell. Kristoff grabbed my shoulders as I looked at him with a solemn expression.

"We can come back more prepared next time," He nodded.

"What about this time?" I spat, "Men lost their lives to get us here."

"I know," He replied.

"And if my fire can't get us in, what will?"

I didn't know what to do and I didn't want to waste the sacrifice of the captain and his men in getting us here.

"We'll keep looking," I nodded.

"Hey Anna, Kristoff," Olaf shouted.

I had walked the length of the ice in one direction trying to find a way in that I didn't even realize that Olaf was in the opposite direction. Kristoff and I ran toward him luckily his snow glistened in the moonlight he was easy to spot in the darkness.

"Sorry Olaf, I walked farther than I thought I did," I told him trying to catch my breath.

"It's okay," He laughed, "But I thought you'd like to know that I found a way in,"

He pointed with his hand a slight narrow opening nearby. It was hard to even see in the darkness. Kristoff fitted his hands inside trying to see how narrow it was.

"Suck in your gut, this will be a tight fit." He told me.

I felt stupid for missing this opening and the fact that is was right there the whole time.

"I owe you a thousand warm hugs, Olaf!" I said, giving him one right now.

"I'll keep count," He laughed.

Olaf had no trouble slipping through as Kristoff went before me and I brought up the rear. The ice pressed firmly against my back and front walking several feet until we were no longer pressed up against ice, but slid out into a dome chamber. One single path lay forward, but by now it was late. The chill in the air raised goosebumps on my arms even though fire power burned inside me, this cold was something else. We couldn't stop and make camp. Whatever Elsa wanted me here for would have to be found quickly. The single path went downward in a sharp slope. Olaf pushed Kristoff and I back in his natural dramatic fashion.

"I'll go first in case of an icy impalement," He said.

Olaf ran forward and squealed as he slid down the path out of sight. I could hear the echo of his laughter reverberate off the walls. After a few minutes, I cupped my hands around my mouth near the slide.

"Olaf, you okay?"

"All clear," He replied, "You should come down,"

Kristoff peered down the seemingly unending slope and glanced back at me.

"Question, how will we get back up?"

"Oh come on Kristoff, where's your sense of adventure? I thought ice was your life?" I teased mockingly.

"It was until a certain redhead came along," He winked before sitting down on the slope giving me his hand, "Together?"

He sat down first and I sat behind him with my arms around his torso pretending we were just riding an icy sled.

"Hang on," He said.

"Trust me, I have no intention of letting go."

Then suddenly we sped off tipping down the edge of the slope. My stomach dropped on the way down as we sped by icy walls before slowing into another cavern joining Olaf.

"You made it," He clapped.

Kristoff helped me up as we struggled with our footing considering the ice. I looked around and my mouth was agape as I took in the surroundings. Broken remains of a town stood before us seemingly frozen in time. Broken glass strewn about the ground with chunks of stone broken off all around us. A stone fountain stood crumbled in the center of the homes. Splintered doorways and broken windows with shoes and clothing stuck hard in the ground.

"What happened to this place?" I questioned as I picked up a small shoe no bigger than that of a toddler. Kristoff stood next to me grabbing my hand.

"Is there another Ahtohallan your sister could have been referring to?"

I shook my head exhaling a sharp breath.

"The captain knew about this place. This is it."

It was clear to see that something mysterious happened here. A whole civilization and town was frozen within the ice, but for what purpose? To keep something out or keep something trapped inside?

"If Elsa and Niklas are in a past time, maybe they're here and maybe we're supposed to save this place."

Kristoff raised a curious brow.

"Anna, this place is in ruins. There is nothing to save, but maybe that's what Elsa and Niklas are trying to do."

My eyes widened in recognition.

"They're in danger, Kristoff!"

"Woah, slow down. We don't know that." He said grabbing my shoulders.

Olaf waddled nearby weaving through the homes. Though he calmly rejoined us as he took my hand looking sad.

"What's wrong, Olaf?"

"I found people," He muttered.

"But how could they possibly survive in these conditions-" I said as Olaf tugged my sleeve looking solemn.

"They aren't living, Anna."

Kristoff and I exchanged worried looks as I bit my lip.

"Where?" Kristoff asked.

Olaf directed us behind one of the homes as we told him to stay put. He didn't need to see such things again not that I knew what we were walking toward. Kristoff and I circled the house that Olaf pointed out and behind lay a large pit that was frozen over, but through the ice we saw the pile of bodies. All skeletal remains by now, but it was one mass grave. I cupped a hand over my mouth not exactly expecting to find something like this. Images not easily forgotten. These people were murdered and how or why I didn't know. Maybe Kai could offer some more insight for us. Kristoff and I said a prayer for the lives lost here and rejoined Olaf. After finding the mass grave, I wanted to leave. In our absence, Olaf took a path out from the main square where I could see the entrance to a cave, but it was blocked by ice. If this was a way out, I had to try to melt the ice. Kristoff and I ran to catch up with Olaf and I stuck my hands against the ice and summoned my fire. My hands lit up like candles, but the ice didn't even start to drip.

"Ugh, what's wrong with me?" I grumbled.

"More like, what's wrong with the ice in this place?" Kristoff corrected.

I kept pouring out fire from my hands for a few minutes before Kristoff urged me to stop and save my energy.

"Let's go home, I think we've seen enough of this place. I wish I knew the point of your sister urging you to come here."

"Trust me, I wish I knew too."

If we were to go back up the slope from where we came, we'd need some climbing tools. Kristoff searched one of the homes and came back with an ice pick and rope, which is all we needed. I stared at the cave entrance up the hill and felt my curiosity growing, but it didn't matter much as I couldn't get through. The voice rang in my head, but it was shrill and piercing. I had to get out of here, I snatched the rope and ice pick from Kristoff and tied the one end around my waist. Before he could even argue, I began the climb up the slope as Olaf and Kristoff tied the rope on them behind me. Once we made it to the top, we untied the rope and I headed for the small slit of an entrance in the ice. Before I got far, Kristoff grabbed my shoulder turning to face.

"What was that," His face quickly turned to surprise, "Anna, you're bleeding!"

"Huh?"

"Your nose," Olaf clarified.

I wiped my nose on my sleeve and sure enough there was a trail of blood left behind.

"It's nothing, I must be dehydrated." I shrugged, thinking nothing of it.

"Let's get back to Arendelle," Kristoff urged as we left Ahtohallan.

It would be too soon if I ever came back to this place. I wish Elsa was here to tell me the point of making the trip out here. Kristoff rowed us home through the cover of night. Olaf helped him row for part of the journey home and when I asked, he insisted I rest.

"How about a compromise?" I offered.

"Good practice for us," Kristoff smirked.

"If you won't let me help row, will you at least stop and take a rest?" I asked.

Kristoff shook his head.

"Sorry Anna, the fjord is unpredictable. We best keep moving that creature could still be lurking out here."

"Fine, then compromise number two-let me help row. I can help."

I was insistent on helping and he knew better than to argue with me on this. He gave me an oar and we both worked hard rowing us back to Arendelle. The waves picked up the closer we got to the harbor. Still the middle of night and even though the moon was high in the sky, I felt overwhelmed by the darkness. It was hard to see anything. A wave suddenly swelled the boat pushing us to crash against a rock shoulder running parallel to the Arendelle docks. Our boat went down, but we just had to swim a little further pulling ourselves up on the docks. We lay on our backs panting before rising to our feet going inside the palace. Kai, Brigitta, and Gerda met us in the foyer shocked at our dripping wet appearance. Olaf went to go visit little Aria as he so often checked on her though nothing had changed. All I wanted was a change of clothes and to get to bed, though as Kristoff said his goodnights to head to his room, I didn't let go of his hand.

"Can you stay here until I fall asleep?" I asked, locking his gaze in mine.

"Of course," He nodded.

He pulled up a chair beside my bed as I nestled down in the covers my mind still reeling from today, not to mention a headache that wouldn't leave me since Ahtohallan. Kristoff hummed a lullaby and that helped ease my mind and my eyes felt instantly heavier. I was asleep before too long. I awoke to that voice beckoning to me as my eyes shot open barely weighed down with fatigue. Kristoff had fallen asleep in the chair beside me and he was passed out peacefully. At least one of us was. I flipped to my side wrestling with my covers and put the pillow around my head. The voice beckoned even louder as I threw down my covers getting up to quietly leave the room not wanting to disturb my fiance from his much needed sleep. As I closed the door behind me, I trailed down the hall trying to not stub my toe or run into anything in my sleepy stupor.

"I'm up, you happy now?" I sassed in a gentle whisper to this imaginary voice I seemingly was hearing, but I didn't expect him to answer back.

"Princess of Arendelle," He bellowed in my head as if he was standing right beside me, "Your sister will return and face grave consequences of her actions."

"Consequences? She has done nothing wrong."

"If only that were so,"

Before I realized it, I had moved myself outside the palace on the banks of the fjord. A misty morning met me and I shivered down to my bones as my fire power offered no warmth to this.

"How did I get out here,"

"You were drawn to this place,"

"The fjord?" I questioned.

The voice spoke to me in a friendly demeanor, but I didn't know how to feel about it.

"I need you to listen carefully."

"Who are you and why can I hear you?"

"That's not important,"

"It is if anything you say is to be considered credible, yeah, it is important."

A slight pause before a reply came.

"Very well, my name is Rasmus."

"And why can I hear you?"

"I'm a telepath and have been sealed for many years beneath the fjord. My voice has finally reached someone's ears for the first time in years."

"Who trapped you?"

"Raevich. We sealed eachother. You see, I'm one of the ancestors of the Southern Isles who imprisoned him after he flooded Carcallier and killed all those people. This was my penance for trying to do what was right."

"I'm sorry all that happened to you and I wish there is something I could do to help,"

"You can, your highness."

"How?"

"I can bestow you a gift as you become The Siren. All you have to do is find Raevich's other victims and say an incantation and I'll be freed."

It sounded easy enough, but with my sister still missing, I wondered if it was best to wait for her.

"I can sense your hesitation,"

"There is much happening in Arendelle. Have someone else become your Siren."

"It can't be just anyone princess, it must be you."

"But why me?"

"Because my voice only reached you after trying to summon so many others. The past weeks you heard my call, but not the words and ignored me. Now you hear my words, so you must act. Raevich cannot win."

Moments later, we were interrupted by Kristoff yelling my name snapping me out of the conversation. Dazed and confused I looked around taking a knee as I suddenly felt unsteady. Kristoff helped me up to my feet.

"Anna, what are you doing out here so early? Olaf woke me and noticed you were gone. This was the third place I looked."

"I-I thought I heard something." I shrugged.

"You could have woken me."

"It's fine, all is well. Besides you needed sleep. How about some breakfast?" I smiled.

"That sounds fine." He said, with a dubious expression.

I smiled weakly taking his hand in mine as we walked back from the fjord.

"You're trembling, you okay?"

"Uh huh, just cold," I said.

Of course, it wasn't only that. It was the foreboding nature of Rasmus and I didn't know what to make of him, but he was desperate for help and surely I couldn't ignore that.