Hello, Happy New Year! I would like to firstly apologize for the lack of updates, but I found myself stuck in writing this chapter, other than that I actually did have to work during New Year, so that's that.

Anyway, I'm a little dusty in terms of writing from Hans' POV, so forgive me about that too.

She didn't think it would be now that she asked.

Making their way through the woods, she could already see the start of the rising sun at the horizon, feeling the stream of warm sunlight coming through the tall trees as wind blew softly against their skins, the rustling of leaves as the only sound except the crunching of their boots against the ground. She may not be an expert like her husband was when it came into finding her direction, but she had learned a thing or two throughout the duration of their marriage, and she was confident enough in knowing that they were correctly heading north.

There was no denying to the fact that she had kept on thinking about those she had left behind, but what choice did she have? Wilhelm was her son, the only one that she had, and after everything that they had faced and the possibilities of things that will come their way soon she could no longer involve him in this. He had heard of the call just like she, but if her theory back when she had heard of it that night, then staying away from Wilhelm will drive the voice away from him as well, he would be unbothered. She had never wanted to say that Hans getting hurt was a good thing, but it did give her a reason to have him staying back too, for his own sake and for Wilhelm's as well.

If anything was to happen, then she did not want her son to be orphaned, it was better if he still had his father with him even when she was to…

Shaking her head, as to dismiss the thought that had sent a chill down her spine, she had turned to look over her shoulder at her strangely quiet sister. It was so unlike for her to not fill her ears with her constant ramblings, as Anna was known to sometimes unable to stop with her talking, yet now she was merely walking behind her silently while Olaf had wandered off a little behind yet had promised that he was still following them. But she didn't wish to press on, as she perhaps was deep in her own thoughts just like she was, leaving her to decide whether she wanted to share what was on her mind or not.

"Do you think it's possible, Elsa?"

There. An opening to her train of thoughts, though she couldn't quite figure out what it was she truly wished to speak about just yet, leaving the topic hanging thickly in the air for the older to catch up on. "What of?"

"Marriage between me and Kristoff."

She had expected many things to be questioned, even this one had crossed her mind once or twice ever since Anna had been romantically involved with the Ice Harvester, but to have her voicing it out to her had still driven her into state of shock as she took a moment to slow down until she could match her sister's pace, clearing her throat. "I didn't realize you are considering that already."

Yes, Anna and Kristoff had known each other close to two years' time now, though she had no idea when exactly their friendship had turned into something more, and Anna had reached the age of twenty-two, no longer a child nor the younger sister that needed her protection at all times, could decided her course of life by herself, and yet still the prospect of her being married, to no longer lived under her responsibility as she would create a family of her own, still sit a little uncomfortably in her mind and heart.

Heat quickly crawled up the Princess' neck as she looked at her sister with wide eyes. "No, no! Just asking out of… curiosity." Adverting her gaze away from the Queen, Anna had fiddled with the hem of her coat. "With the Council's strict law and all-"

A Princess should not marry a commoner.

She had worked tirelessly in convincing the Council that Kristoff was a good man, no matter how low he may be in the social scale when compared to the royal family, and even had better manner than some of the nobilities that she had encountered. She would not have Anna be wed with a duke who had laid his hand on the Queen's shoulder despite the clear display of discomfort she had given him, or one who had taken pride in fathering many bastards in his own kingdom.

Yet social regulation had been their greatest obstacle, as the low ranking should not ever propose to someone higher, a rule that still made her shudder with disgust. Even a Queen could hardly do anything about it.

Taking her younger sister's hand in hers had prompted the strawberry-blonde haired Princess to look up just as she gave her a reassuring smile. "I'll find a way, Anna." Whatever it may be and however the thought felt for her, she would do her best for her younger sister. She could find a way, one that would benefit them without breaking ancient law. A loophole.

There was something that crossed over the turquoise of her eyes, as Anna nodded, squeezing against her hold. "Thank you."

Continuing on, the Princess was still mostly quiet during their journey, though now she could see that some of the weight had definitely been lifted off her shoulders by seeing how much lighter she had walked now, yet still she had slowed herself back down until she walked a few steps behind, allowing the older sister to lead at the front.

The once lush and colorful forest had slowly decreased itself as they headed farther north, the ground beneath them had changed from dried leaves and prospering soil into rocky dirt and yellowing grass, dying trees losing their leaves until the only thing left of them were their still standing yet blackened trunks, larger rocks scattered around them, the colors had been drained until their surroundings turned almost gray.

It was almost depressing, this part of the forest.

"Has the voice been calling for you again?"

The question came from behind her, voiced by her younger sister who no doubt had felt the same gloom that blanketed the atmosphere, and she had shaken her head for an answer. It had been quiet, too quiet, that her earlier confidence about being correct in her direction was starting to waver. If they were drawing close then surely she would hear of the voices once more, perhaps even louder, just to confirm that she was right on track instead of going in circles.

Yes, she will sing to those who'll hear.

She had been listening, how could she not when nothing could even block it out of her ears anyway, ringing in her ears tirelessly as it drove her into coming all the way here, bringing her family along with a sole goal of returning Arendelle back into it's safe state. Yet when she wanted to hear that voice, seeking guidance or at least clues left behind for her to gather, it was quiet.

Looking up at the gray sky hanging dully above her, she had taken a deep breath as she closed her eyes, trying her best to focus as she recalled of everything that has happened the past days, to find something she may have missed.

She was lost in this journey, having no idea what exactly she was supposed to do scared her, for she had people waiting for her to return, to restore the kingdom and to free the forest once and for all. Feeling her power surging within her like a horse that had gone wild did not help either, for she had to clenched her hands to keep her magic at bay while she continued on. The constant and large use of it yesterday when she had defended herself and the others from the raging spirits had exhausted her, though she had not dared said a word to anyone.

There was no time for her to sit around and cry, to show how burdened she actually was with everyone's life weighted on her shoulders, their hopes and their trust on her.

Her mother was Northuldra, this forest was her place growing up, she was familiar with it, had lived alongside the spirits before she had left for Arendelle with the boy that would become her husband later in life. This had suddenly made her feel like her mother was a stranger to her, in a way.

Her whole life she had thought that her mother was a mere commoner girl who had caught the attention and later the heart of the Arendellian Prince, a simple village girl that has no relation to an ancient forest where elemental spirits and magic lies within.

But she was her mother still, right?

She had been the one who taught her of the things she knew now, of how to be good and how to govern the land with kindness in her heart, she was the mother who held her close and sung lullabies for her to sleep, who told her of stories with a smile on her face.

"Hey, Gale's back!"

The interruption had drawn her out of her deep thoughts, as the wind spirit circled and blew it's way around her, whistling as it passed her. It was trying to tell her something, she was sure of it, as her eyes followed the direction it was heading, only to widened at the sight it had led her to.

Arendelle's royal flag.

"Princess Anna of Arendelle. My feisty, fearless, ginger, sweet love. Will you marry me?"

Morning sun streaming through the slightly opened door had assaulted his eyes and dragged him out of his deep slumber, bright and warm as he let out a quiet groan and had pulled his arm to cover his face, though the movement had only sent a jolt of pain from his side that had him begrudgingly waking up to stare at the unfamiliar ceiling above him as his brain slowly attempted to process what had occurred the night before.

When he had successfully recalled everything though, his first instinct was to sit up, slower than he would have liked as he was being careful of his injury, to assess the situation he was in. He was half-dressed, with only the dressing his wife had did the night before over his wound to cover part of his torso while his pants had thankfully remained intact.

Speaking of, he was quite surprised in finding himself lacking his wife's presence at the other side of the simple bed, there was only their son, lying down as he played with an ice crystal in his hand -undoubtedly had been his mother's creation to keep him occupied, though he had looked in quite discomfort, as his lips were pulled into a line and his brows furrowed, pulling a face he recognized as one where he had not been fed yet.

It had been what prompted him to come outside, Wilhelm propped up on his healthy side, pulling on a Northuldra's clothing after he found his own clothes had been reduced into a useless heap after it was partially burned off, venturing around as he looked for the striking platinum blonde hair that only Elsa had.

He did not expect to find Kristoff being as ridiculous as to propose to him.

The fog in the forest had been a little thicker than usual, he would admit that, and it may have been the reason why the mountain man had taken the whole situation wrongly, but did he really just mistaken him -who undoubted had zero similarities in term of build and figure, with the Princess?

"Uh, no." Staring at the blonde man with raised eyebrow, he had not even given any proper attention to Wilhelm who had giggled gleefully as he tried to reach for the falling dried leaf that had landed in his father's hair. "Kristoff, what are you-?"

He had not even gotten the chance to finish his sentence as another rustling sound had come behind his back. "Gentlemen, I am here to inform you that-" Yelena had paused then, brows knitted as brown eyes glanced from the ring Kristoff was holding before coming toward the auburn-haired Prince. "Have I stepped in the wrong moment?"

"What? No!" However ridiculous the situation had been could only got worse now that the leader of the Northuldra had even thought of such absurd thing that had happened between the two men as Kristoff had finally came down from the two stones he had been standing on, putting away the ring back in the pocket of his clothes. "What is it you were telling us?"

"Ah yes, we are heading west, to the meadows, you can come with us if you want."

The offer had come strangely, as neither of them had truly been part of the Northuldra tribe, coming with them had meant that they were to stray from their original purpose of coming here. "Have you seen Elsa?" If someone was to know of her whereabout it would be Yelena.

Her eyes had glanced at him, with a moment of confusion, before she had regained herself. "The Queen left with the Princess."

He could not believe his ears.

He could not believe that Elsa would actually leave without him nor Wilhelm, had only taken her younger sister and Olaf -who he just knew would be following them, without even the thought of taking the actual two men that were far more capable in defending them should something was to happen. She had left him without a word, no communication between the two of them, no discussion, had just simply left their son alone with him so that she could continue on.

Moments where his wife's attics had irritated him had been there in their marriage life, especially with her headstrong personality and her carelessness in minding for her own wellbeing, but never once did he ever felt such anger bubbling inside of him for the decision she had taken.

Turning at the older woman, he had shifted his hold on the boy on his hips so that he sat more comfortably even with only one arm supporting him. "Do you know where they were heading?"

"North. But I wouldn't try to follow, they were long gone."

After that, she had excused herself, with Ryder -whose presence he had barely acknowledge for he had been so quiet through the whole ordeal, following close behind, claiming that he had to go and pack for their move.

"Are you okay?" Kristoff had approached, one hand coming to rest on his shoulder, his question answered by the mere nod of his head. "Look, you should probably join the Northuldra, for Wilhelm's sake."

Turning to look at the boy in his embrace, a part of him must agree with the man, as seeing his son and all the danger they had gone through, of the ones that even he could not completely dodge from, the journey had taken such a dangerous turn, one Wilhelm should not be involved in, as the sense of protectiveness flared within him. But there was another part of him, fighting an internal battle in his mind, that urged him to find his wife, to be there by her side, just like how he had promised her.

"You're right, I should." He had started to walk back toward the village when he had noticed that Kristoff's footsteps did not follow, prompting him to stop and turned to look over his shoulder, seeing the blonde man patting his reindeer with a solemn look on his face. Poor guy. "Are you not coming?"

It seemed that his question had been unexpected, as the mountain man had looked up in surprise, before he had started to shake his head. "I'll… I'll meet you there."

He didn't want to press on, thus why he had merely nodded and continued on, following the dirt pathway until he could hear the sound of the people once more. Though his steps were once again stopped when Wilhelm had let out a whine, eyes teary as his fist clenched around the fabric of his father's clothing.

"Mama, Mama!"

"She's," somewhere out there. Far away from them, seeking the truth by herself, straying away from her own family without a word. "She will be back soon, Wilhelm." But it was merely an empty promise, one hopeful wish that even he could not tell would come true or not, and the young boy had taken none of it as his cries had only intensified.

He had to find a way to calm the boy down, to comfort him during his moment of need, his heart had ached at the sight of the wailing child as he was unable to give him what he desperately wanted.

"Where the north wind, meets the sea." The song had never been sung by him -he had barely ever sung in the first place, but the melody and the words were familiar to him nonetheless as he had countlessly found himself listening to Elsa's singing as she lulled their son to sleep, and it had been the only choice of action that he could take as his hand began patting Wilhelm's back soothingly. "There's a river full of memory."

The cries had slowly decreased, as he continued on without minding much of the people that may hear him, for his only focus had been of his son and his son only, who now had clung against him, calming down from the brink of tantrum he was about to throw. Wilhelm knew of this song, he grew up with it, grew up with his mother's voice, and the song alone was able to bring peace for him.

"Dive down deep into her sound," there were merely muffled sniffles now, as the boy had buried his face against his father's shoulder after he had handed him the ice crystal back for him to hold close to his chest.

"But not too far or you'll be drowned."

The voice coming behind his back had startled him, yet thankfully had not been enough to make him actually jumped, as he turned to see Honeymaren standing there, with a frown deep on her face as she stared back at him, almost suspiciously. "How did you know that song?"

He was supposed to be the one who asked her how she had known the song too, for he had never heard of anyone else sung it before. "It's Elsa's lullaby." She had then corrected him that it was Northuldra's lullaby, passed down for generations, though he had failed to be surprised at it, not after finding out that mother in-law had been a Northuldra as well. "Does it mean something?" the words that they had used, it was speaking of something, telling a story he did not know.

"Ahtohallan."

"Ahto-who-what?"

His misspell had made the Northuldra girl narrowed her eyes, perhaps a little offended, but on his defense it was the first time he had ever heard of the name anyway. "There is a special river called Ahtohallan. They said it holds all the answers about the past, about what we are part of."

Elsa seek of the past, the answers that may able to lift the curse and free Arendelle. This place, this magical river, could be the key they were looking for. "Do you think that's where she's going?"

Shoulders lifting in a shrug, she had handed him the staff she had been carrying, one he recognized to be her choice of weapon during their first meeting. "Wherever you decided to go, I think you will need this more than I do."

She had never truly said anything, but now he knew where he was going.