CHAPTER THREE: PEOPLE OF THE SUN
Anna and Hans sat before the Council. Any decision that concerned the welfare of the kingdom had to have the council's approval. Every decision was voted on. Decisions were approved and other times turned down. Anna attended meetings with Elsa, but never understood the burden of wearing the crown and sitting on the throne. Not until the crown was placed on her head and she sat in the throne that was once Elsa's.
The old member of the Council, comprising of Arendelle's most educated and successful kingdom officials, sat and whispered about her. She could read it on their faces. They never approved of her being Queen. To them, she was no Elsa, only the spare they were stuck with. Anna was often tempted with what if's. What if she didn't encourage Elsa to follow her heart and pursue what made her happy? What if she just kept her mouth shut and had Elsa stay instead? She's didn't regret her choice. She didn't regret letting Elsa find true love in Kristoff's wife and being free from the heavy burden of being Queen. Elsa never wanted the throne, but felt too guilty about walking away. For her, it was just selfish. Anna stood and cleared her throat to get their attention.
"I know you prefer Elsa to me and I don't blame you. My sister was beautiful, had magic and was born for the throne. She can rule this kingdom and put a smile on everyone's face. I know in your eyes, I'm just the spare and can't match the standard that Elsa has left behind. You are the best of Arendelle. It is because of your wisdom and guidance that Elsa and I were able to lead this kingdom. Hans and I have already been ruling this kingdom since Elsa entrusted the throne to me three years ago. This kingdom is my home and the people have always been my family. I assure you that I am not the immature girl you all still believe I am," Anna spoke.
"Queen Anna, we don't-" a council member tried to correct her.
"Let her finish," King Hans commanded.
Anna continued, "Elsa chose ME to be her heir. I am going to rule this kingdom as I always have…honoring Elsa's legacy by following her example and proving not only to myself but to Elsa, the Council and all of Arendelle that I am more than just the spare. You, honored Council Members, are among the top elites of Arendelle. This kingdom would not be where it is today if not for your years of guidance and wisdom. For my parents. For Elsa. Can I count on you all to help me make Arendelle even greater?"
They all looked at one another confused by her saying greater, they gradually smiled, impressed by her boldness. It was the first time that Anna spoke up for herself as a royal. No longer did a princess stand before her but a bold Queen with a fiery spirit. Lord Petterssen, a long friend of the family and one of the oldest members of the Council, stood and bowed formally to Queen Anna, "Her Majesty can always rely on me. How do we go about making Arendelle even greater?"
"By following the mission, we always had," Queen Anna smiled and Hans stood up by her side and explained, "Arendelle has become a kingdom of plenty, because it has always stood for the good of the many. My wife and I have discussed this amongst ourselves and believe our best bet is to branch out to our neighboring kingdoms, our allies, to not just do business with them but aid in their prosperity as well."
"What are you suggesting?" another council member asked.
"I'm saying that the kingdoms in the world must look out for one another as though we were one shining kingdom," Hans explained, "We form an alliance with our allies and we reach out to other kingdoms and invite them to join our cause, to become one people under one cause, above our petty differences and unified under the light the sun."
"You are suggesting a global alliance with all the other kingdoms?!" a council member asked. Even Lord Peterssen was blown away by the ambition in the young monarchs' proposal. "Something so bold and daring! Can that even be done?"
The Council were all talking among themselves. This was huge. Hans answered, "It can and will, as long as we all come together to make it happen. My wife and I alone can't but through you, my brothers and sisters of Arendelle, and through the passion of our allies. We CAN make this happen! Are you with us?!"
The Council all stood and began clapping, which made Anna smile with tears. Hans gave her a hug and whispered, "You did it. I'm so proud of you."
"We did it…together," Anna replied.
They never dreamed of such a radical and ambitions goal. It all began with Agnarr and Iduna, which Elsa maintained, but now, she, the final member of the original royal family was pushing it even further. If it was possible, the future of Arendelle and the world looked even brighter.
(Northuldra Camp)
Elsa's mind raced with the memories of attacking Kristoff and their daughter, Gerda, getting between her and her father, calling out to her. In her hands was an ice spear she was going to use to run them both threw. "NO!" Elsa yelled, shook awake by the horror. She looked around frantically. She was in a tent, but not theirs. She quickly got up and exited the tent and stopped when she saw there were many people with staffs. She scowled at them raising her hand, which was glowing blue with her magic. "Stay back!"
Whoever these people were, they approached her cautiously with their staffs up to defend themselves. Elsa got angrier when she saw they were surrounding her. "I said stay back!" she yelled, waving a hand to drive a few away with icy spikes. A young woman about her age with brown hair and eyes whispered to a male who could've been her twin and he ran off as she approached Elsa cautiously. "It's okay. Don't be afraid. Stay calm. No one is going to hurt you," she spoke softly to Elsa, getting closer, making Elsa freeze her in place out of defensive instinct. The ice stopped at the woman's throat and Elsa approached her and demanded, "Where. Is. My. Family?"
The woman in the ice tried to speak but was too cold. Elsa got closer and raised her hand to her face, gathering more magic, "Answer me now."
A hand quickly grabbed her's and forced her into a hug. She tried to fight free, but stopped when she recognized the warm embrace. "Everything is okay. I'm so happy you're awake."
Elsa looked up at him and began to tear up, "I'm sorry. I'm sorry-"
Kristoff pulled her closer and hugged her firmer as she kept apologizing. "Shhh. It's okay. Gerda and I are okay."
Elsa pulled away, "Where's Gerda?! GERDA!" Their daughter ran over to her and hugged her leg. Elsa quickly knelt and hugged her with such frantic desperation. "You're awake, Mama!"
Elsa smiled and tears escaped her eyes as she hugged Gerda firmer, which no sign she was letting go anytime soon.
Kristoff knelt by her and explained, "We're in the Northuldra camp. Yelena explained everything. A spirit manipulated you into doing what you did. I knew it wasn't you."
"A spirit?" Elsa asked, pulling away from Gerda.
Kristoff looked away as an elderly woman approached them, "This is Yelena. She's the leader of the Northuldra. You need to hear what she has to say, Elsa."
Yelena looked at Honeymaren who was still frozen up to her throat. "Hmm. Would you mind-?"
"Yes, of course," Elsa replied, freeing Honeymaren from the ice and said, "Sorry. I overreacted."
Honeymaren hugged herself and smiled, "No problem. I would've done the same thing too." The same man from earlier covered Honeymaren with a blanket and guided her to a nearby fire. "Thanks, Ryder."
"Come with me. We'll talk in my tent so we can have more room," Yelena invited and Kristoff picked up Gerda before following with Elsa wrapped in his other arm.
The three sat with Yelena in her larger tent, which she used for meeting with the other camp leaders. Yelena offered them a cup of warm tea. Kristoff declined, but Elsa accepted and sipped the herbal tea. "We are the Northuldra. We are…the people of the sun. We follow the ways of Nature and watch over it. In exchange, Nature provides us with all we need. For centuries we lived in peace with the spirits, but the spirits have turned against us all. All except one. They have been greatly angered by your arrival, dear."
"Me? I don't understand? What could I have done to upset the spirits?" Elsa asked.
"It's not what you've done, but who you are and the magic you possess," Yelena gestured to Elsa's hands.
Elsa raised one of her hands and summoned icy magic, causing snowflakes to dance beautifully around her hand. "I was born with it. I never understood what it was or where it came from. I had so many questions but no answers. My parents didn't know and not even the rock trolls knew. I doubt there's anyone in the world who can." Elsa's voice sounded sad and Kristoff hugged her gently with his arm. Elsa looked at Yelena who was smiling.
"What if I told you there was one who could?" Yelena asked and Elsa lit up with excitement.
"Who?! Please tell me! How do I find them?!" Elsa questioned urgently, putting her cup down and sitting up straighter with anticipation.
"You already know, my dear," Yelena revealed, but this confused Elsa and she asked, "I do? How?" Just then the same ethereal voice that has been calling to her called out again, making Elsa quickly look in the direction of north and standing to her feet.
"Elsa, what's wrong?" Kristoff asked.
"She hears it. Don't you, dear?" Yelena asked.
Elsa kept facing north. "Yes! I can hear it! I can hear it!" She smiled with such great joy. She was getting closer. The more she followed the voice, the closer she got. The closer she got; the more happiness shot out of her like a natural fountain. Whatever or whoever the voice was had all the answers to all the questions she's been seeking her whole life. She knew it deep down.
"You must follow the voice. Find Ahtohallan," Yelena instructed.
"Octa who what?" Gerda asked confused.
"Ahtohallan. Is that the person calling my wife?" Kristoff asked.
"Ahtohallan isn't a person-" Yelena tried to explain.
"It's a place," Elsa finished explaining, her eyes focused north as the voice continued calling to her. She turned her head slightly towards Kristoff and explained, "When my sister and I were little, our mother told us a story about a magical river called Ahtohallan. It is a place through which all the world's memories can be found." Kristoff came around, studying her excited face as she turned to him and took his hands. "Just think, Kristoff! All the answers to all our questions and the world's."
Kristoff smiled at her. It made him happy to see her so excited about something. He's seen her excited before but this meant something more for her. A question bothered Elsa though, "If the spirits have indeed turned against humanity, then why don't the spirits leave the Northuldra forest and attack Arendelle and other kingdoms?"
"The Ice Spirit. The only spirit to remain loyal to humanity. The young of our tribe believe it to only be a myth, but the oldest say it's real," Yelena explained. "The day the spirits turned against us; I remember too well. The Northuldra were celebrating the light of the sun, giving thanks for its warmth and life. The Ice Spirit acted to defend us, sealing all the spirits in the Northuldra Forest, but it was weakened by the battle and disappeared. We have not seen it since."
"Ice Spirit? Could that be whose calling me?" Elsa asked.
"I guarantee it. Some say the day the spirits attacked, they heard the Ice Spirit call out to them before it intervened to protect us," Yelena smiled, "Your magic, from what I saw, looks remarkably like the magic of the Ice Spirit."
"I have to go find it," Elsa thought out loud, looking at her hands as snow danced around them.
"You won't be alone. We'll all go find the Ice Spirit…together," Kristoff said behind Elsa, his hands rested on her shoulders.
"That will be impossible," Yelena said from her seated position causing Elsa and Kristoff to both turn and look at her.
"Excuse me?" Kristoff asked. "I am her husband and she is my wife. I go wherever she goes."
"She possesses the magic of the Ice Spirit. She can defend herself. You and your daughter will perish before you even get to the shores of the Dark Sea," Yelena replied, "If the Ice Spirit is calling you North, than she will have to cross the Dark Sea. The rebellious spirits are becoming too bold and aggressive against us, which means the final battle is upon us. I can feel it. The seal of the Ice Spirit, keeping them locked away in this forest is weakening which means-"
Elsa looked up at Yelena in horror, "The Ice Spirit is dying."
Yelena was silent but nodded, "Your magic serves you well, dear. The same magic you possess belongs to the Ice Spirit as well. If the Ice Spirit could hurt the spirits long ago, so can you. That is why only you can make it through the forest and find Ahtohallan before all hope is lost."
Elsa's face and demeanor became more confident and regal before she marched out of the tent. Kristoff ran after her. "Elsa!"
Elsa turned to Kristoff when he grabbed her arm and said, "We need to go back home, Elsa. Anna needs to be warned. We didn't sign up for this. Did you hear all that in there? Spirits turning against humanity? What good is a sword going to do against a spiritual being?"
"There's no time! The Ice Spirit is dying! I have to find it, Kristoff! We have to stop the spirits before they escape the Northuldra forest and attack Arendelle! You once told me you believed in me, that I was meant for something great! Did you even mean that?!"
Kristoff stared at his wife, shocked. He could see doubt fester in her eyes, doubt in him. He pulled her close and whispered, "Of course, I believe in you, Elsa. I always have and I always will. More than anyone or anything. I don't want to stand in the way of you becoming the woman you were meant to be, but I can't let you die trying to become everything for everyone. I love you, Elsa. Out of everything in the world, you are my greatest love. I can't lose you."
Elsa's face became tainted with pain as tears leaked out of her eyes, "I love you two, as well." She pulled away as Gerda ran to their legs and looked up at them with an adorable smile. "Which is why I can't lose you either."
She quickly pushed them away and surrounded them completely with ice, perfect protection from the spirits. She stepped closer to the ice wall as Kirstoff's muffled calls of her name were heard. She placed her hand against his and fought back tears, "Goodbye, Kristoff and Gerda."
Kristoff yelled and banged on the ice as Elsa ran off north through the woods where surely all the evil spirits had gathered and were waiting for her. He struck the ice with such ferocity and desperation to get to Elsa, that he ignored the state of his hand until a sharp pain brought him to his knees and holding his mangled hand. Gerda stepped closer to her father and wrapped her little arms around his hurt arm and looked at him with big, worried eyes. Kristoff held her close.
(A/N: Sorry for the wait. I was a bit discouraged from continuing this story. It does take strong inspiration from Frozen 2, but follows what I thought we were going to get with the spirits. I hope you like it.)