Chapter III

Ominous thunders.

Anna quickly noted the signs of trouble. It didn't take long for her to notice the shift on Elsa's mood. She was preoccupied, often times so distracted Anna had to remind her of her appointments and royal tasks. It began to show even when they were alone, as they dining in Elsa's room after a loaded day or in one of their shared, sporadic outings into the woods.

She had been worried but Elsa eventually came around. After all, they shared everything. She explained the call, ever-growing: a voice coming from the north, luring her.

"I'm afraid," her sister had confessed on that fateful night. Years on the throne had greatly helped her shyness, but whenever she opened up to her, Elsa's voice shrunk into a soft whisper. Anna saw the Queen's hesitation as she spoke. She took her hand in between hers as they lay together on Elsa's bed.

At some point during the last two years of her reign, they had taken the habit of sleeping together on either one of their bedrooms. It was a silent arrangement they had both accepted fully.

A part of her had wondered sometimes if they were pushing some unspoken boundaries. A bigger part of her hadn't cared. She couldn't put it into words: she had always done what felt right, and this was no exception. Her concerns quieted, even if some unknown fire stirred inside her each time she allowed herself to explore those thoughts.

She would stand by Elsa's side, even if it meant going to the end of the world.

After a few weeks of preparations, they began their journey.

Elsa's voice grew stronger as they approached the fabled forest, the subject of many tales among their people. The mists greeted them both, parting to reveal Elsa's destiny.

They meet with the Northuldra. They found Lieutenant Matthias, and they learned about their mother's past. The betrayal of King Runeard, their grandfather, and the so called fifth spirit. Elsa kept moving forward, but Anna had been worried, more and more each day. It scared her. It bothered her, too, to see Elsa so blinded, so focused on her mission. Each trial seemed more dangerous than the last, until they reached the north-most coast.

They had reached the end of the world, but Anna stayed behind.

As she saw Elsa's struggles against the raging sea, she bitterly realized what little she could truly do for her. For the first time, a simple, heart-breaking fact dawned on her: eventually, their paths would no longer align.

She had stared blankly at the angry waves behind which Elsa had disappeared. All her life she had blindly assumed they would remain together, enjoying every day life as one. Now, a terrifying new horizon had opened like a chasm below her feet, a truth that shook the foundations of her world.

Elsa would leave her, someday. Perhaps, it had finally come. Even if they managed to come back safe from their travel, her sister's heart would leave someday, chasing or falling in love with some unknown woman. That very notion made her sick to her core.

She hated herself for it.

How could have she been so egoist? Was it her punishment, to stand still on that freezing beach and watch impotently as Elsa drifted away from her?

How could she hate the idea of Elsa being happy on her own?

-ooo-

The last Council meeting had gone well, Anna thought. As she scribbled and signed on her usual paperwork, she recounted the events of that morning. The room had felt emptier now that Lord Grenn had gone back to the central mountains. Lord Ettan had left as well a few days ago, him and the last of her infantry, a good two thousand men. She hoped that if her governor managed to finish the gathering of a local militia on the southern towns, the Faraxian and Coronian forces combined may face something that resembled a real army.

Her Capital, Arendelle proper, sat on the very center of her kingdom. To the east lay the Black Sea, with its treacherous straits and many inhabited islands. The rest of her lands extended in every other direction. In the north was Lirendelle, a province known for its many forests. In the center, a ring of mountains protected the central valley like a shield. They were the keystone of her defenses, and there she had sent most of her army, to protect the mountain passes and her silver mines, vital for her financial strength.

Both regions she could defend with relative ease, but the south was different. The lands around its main province of Orendelle were mostly flat, surged by countless rivers that ran all the way to Corona. Since they were brother kingdoms, there had never been any need to build frontier posts and defensive fortifications. Who could have predicted the downfall of its crown? The kingdom of Corona had always stood shoulder-to-shoulder with them, but it all had changed the day of Rapunzel's coronation.

Those were painful memories. Her uncle and aunt dead, the whole city pillaged after the nobility's mercenaries breached the gates. Had Elsa not accompanied her that day, the Usurper may have managed to wipe out both monarchies in one swift strike. He had come close, though, thanks to the Black Sorceress.

A little plop sound pierced through her idly recollections. The young Queen looked down. Little black stains now dotted most of the lower half of the paper, with her empty quill hanging a few inches above. She shook her head, crumbling the sheet and started anew, writing down again the orders for the general distribution of the goods that Weselton had delivered so far. The shipments had helped alleviate the situation of the refugees on the city, but she knew it was just a drop in a bucket.

The comfort and warmth of her study felt deceptive. For anyone else, it would have been hard to imagine the whole kingdom cracking under invasion if they could see her, scribbling away silently over her grand desk. Her stomach twisted uncomfortably. It made her think of a reflection on water: an image that could be shattered by the slightest of touches.

How much longer would this last?

In those moments of solitude, her longing grew, suffocating her. It felt like ages ago since she and Elsa had shared this room, working together. She remembered the little smiles when they caught each other's stares. How she had teased Elsa every once in a while, sneaking into the room while Elsa sat by herself, reading some boring report with that little, cute frown of concentration.

Even after Athohallan, Elsa had visited every once in a while.

Those times had been different. The glances they had shared, the littles touches and gestures – Elsa tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, Anna's hand on her sister's arms – loaded with unspoken words.

Anna sighed. She sniffled back the tears and went back to work, for once thankful for the mind-numbing reports and orders that piled on almost every single day.

-ooo-

After finishing most of the paperwork for the day, Anna decided to take a few minutes to stroll around the castle's garden. She had always had a soft spot for it, only partially because of the memories she had made in it. There was a certain, strange stillness in that place: like a living, breathing painting that changed with each station.

Aside from the keepers and herself, the grounds were usually empty, so Anna was surprised to see someone already on the gardens.

A lone, tall figure sat on one of the stone benches. The woman – clad in a wine-colored dress – had both her hands clasped over her heart. Around her shoulders fell a curtain of black, shining hair, and her eyes were dutifully closed as she prayed.

Anna recognized Lady Talya immediately. The woman opened her eyes, probably having heard the Queen footsteps on the quiet gallery.

"Your Majesty," greeted the tall woman, standing up and curtsying elegantly. "Were you looking for me?" She inquired, her brown eyes filled with interest.

"Oh, no. Actually, I didn't know you were here. In the castle, I mean." Anna answered somewhat awkwardly. "I'm sorry for interrupting your prayer."

The lady didn't seem to care, smiling politely. "You're no bother, Your Highness. And, to answer your implied question: my husband thought it wise for me to stay. I assumed the lord steward would've informed your Majesty."

Anna recalled the last time she talked with Kai, and the lady's words seemed to ring a distant bell.

"I think he did mention it, but I may have been distracted." The Queen said sheepishly.

Lady Talya's smile widened a little, her subtle features revealing some restrained amusement.

"It's all right, your Majesty. If my presence on the castle is unwanted, I'm sure I can find lodging somewhere in the city." She said nonchalantly.

Anna's hands shot forward in a flurry as she shook her head in embarrassment.

"I didn't mean it like that," she declared. "You can stay, of course. You're a guest of the crown, after all."

The lady nodded. The woman's natural elegance made Anna feel, even after a whole royal life, a little bit inadequate.

"Your garden it's quite pretty, Your Majesty. It felt like a good place for prayer." The raven-haired woman said as she sat on the left side of the bench. Taking the hint, Anna sat down as well. They both looked around in silence. For Anna, the garden was as beautiful as ever. There were flowers mixed in each patch of greenery, claviers, roses and even winter lilies, with their white petals standing out in between the sea of other colors. The few trees the garden had, had turned already, shedding their sunset leafs everywhere.

Anna inhaled deeply. She had always enjoyed that very peculiar, earthly smell. On the side, Lady Talya began to hum quietly, her eyes still overlooking the garden's grounds.

There was something calming about this particular noblewoman: she possessed a sort of gentle aura, evident in the way she moved and spoke.

She reminds me of mother, she noted sadly.

From her eye's corner, she saw a little trinket clutched on the lady's pale hand.

The woman followed her gaze, lifting the tiny object for Anna to see. It was an encircled, four-cornered star made out of wood, with little, black beads on each pointy end.

"The Star Mother," Lady Talya explained, rotating the object in between her delicate, milky fingers. "It was my mother's religion. It is not very spread on Arendelle, your Highness, so you may not have heard of it."

Anna shook her head. She had never cared much about religion. The talks from her tutors about their many principles and rules had all been very boring. Since Arendelle's monarchy didn't have an official doctrine or church, many religions, large and little, had settled on their lands during the centuries.

Lady Talya stared straight ahead as she talked.

"It's a very old belief, your Majesty. My mother's ancestors believed every person is born under a certain star. They call it their 'signo', or sign, determined on where the stars stood at their moment of birth. The greatest of those stars is the Star Mother, and each of her four daughters," she counted each of the beads on her trinket, "its one of the possible paths a man's life can take."

Anna saw that the lady's features had morphed subtly as she spoke, revealing some hidden melancholy.

"I prayed for the Star Mother to keep my husband's path safe." The woman looked down at the Queen, a calm smile overcoming her previous sadness. "Do you pray, your Majesty?"

The Queen looked up at the glass ceiling.

"My parents didn't believe in a god," Anna confessed, feeling oddly comfortable in Lady Talya's presence. "There are times I feel guilty, like I should believe in something. I don't think prayer serves if you don't believe in any of the gods out there."

"I don't think you should worry much about that, your Majesty." The woman said after some consideration. "While I hold to my mother's faith, I think we should have our fate on people first."

Anna went over those words.

"Sometimes it's hard," she said, grabbing the fabric of her dress. "With everything that's happening…"

Her companion nodded thoughtfully. They both sat in silence after that, each one falling back into their own musings.

Did she still have faith? She thought of the last months, of the many threats that now besieged her reign. It was but a glimpse of what men could do to each other, out of greed and envy. She thought of her foe, King Falax. She had seen it in his eyes and his amused smile: his disregard of all she held dear.

But then, there was Elsa, of course. Her parents' legacy, too, and the values they had taught her. It hurt most days, of course, but she wouldn't give up on either of them.

"Your Majesty," Lady Talya called after a few minutes with her velvet-like voice. "I believe him there is your lord steward, waiting for you." She pointed to one end of the gallery. Anna looked, furrowing her brows. If Kai had looked for her, something important must've happened.

She rose, looking back at the black-haired lady. "I hope the Star Mother hears your prayers."

"I do too, your Majesty. I thank you for this few moments in your company." Her words sounded sincere. As Anna backed away, she closed and clasped her hands around the Star Mother's symbol, falling back into prayer.

Kai stood still in his usual pose. When he reached him, he began to walk back into the castle, Anna following on his footsteps.

"Yes?" The Queen asked, half-dreading what he would say. Kai gave her an odd look.

The one look he only used when it came to a certain affair.

Wait… Anna's heart skipped a beat.

Her eyebrows shot up. She stopped on her tracks, looking inquisitively at her steward, who confirmed her suspicions with a subtle nod. Without care, she jumped a little, raising her fist into the air. Relief and anticipation flooded her in a sudden, powerful rush that bubbled up in an uncontained laugh.

"Where is it? When did it arrive?" She asked. Even Kai's formal face cracked a little, a half-smile gracing his lips. He patted one of the pockets on his uniform.

"Lady Varin brought it just some five minutes ago." He explained, handing her a folded parchment. She all but snatched it from her steward's hand and began to sprint through the hallway, shooting him an apologetic smile. Kai stayed behind, shaking his head fondly after the Queen disappeared from sight.

-ooo-

Anna slammed the study's door shut, the sound echoing loudly against the walls. Her fingers trembled a little. She fumbled her way towards the desk, tripping at least twice before she reached it.

It had been more than a month since the last letter had arrived, and ever since, uncertainty had tainted her days, a little bit more each passing day.

With a mix of dread and hopeful anticipation, she opened the parchment and began to read hungrily. She instantly recognized Matthias' cramped handwriting:

'My liege, began the letter, I'm sorry for these last weeks of silence. Things in Faraxia are worst than we initially thought. Most cities are under severe control, and we cannot afford to raise suspicions about our mission. People in here are not happy. They are quick to turn on each other, so we need to be careful to whom we speak. We keep mostly to the fields, avoiding the roads when we can. It's not an easy task, and our progress is slow, but…'

Anna's heart began to pound in anticipation. Please, please, she prayed. Please let this be it.

'I believe we have, finally, caught on her tracks. We have reached the southern-most provinces, and we're close to the place the locals call the Black Mountain, or Ashenpeak, as Lady Elsa spoke of. Even after months, a local trader remembered a young, blonde woman, travelling towards the mountain on her own.

If the Gods are good, and we manage to find some horses for trade, we may reach the peak in a couple of days, at the latest. Hopefully Yelena's charms may be enough for whatever we find on that place.

I hope we can come back in time. I have an absolute trust you'll be able to manage till then.

Your loyal servant,

M.

Anna sat down, rereading the letter to make sure the words were actually there, and weren't the fabrications of her overworked, stressed mind. She chuckled softly, with tears rapidly gathering around her eyes. Her heart swelled, threatening to burst out of her chest in pure relief. After months of grim thoughts, at last, a tiny ray of hope had managed to pierce the clouds that hung over her head. She released a faltering laugh, wiping some of the tears with the back of her hand.

A tiny part of her didn't want to believe it. It felt too good to be true. Yet, the thought of Elsa coming back was too irresistible. After many months – after almost a year since her sister left – Matthias had finally found about her whereabouts.

There was fear, too, battling against her renewed hopes. She indulged in that bittersweet feeling. For a brief moment, the ever-present threat of war loosened its grasp on her heart, even if only a little.

She wanted to believe it would happen. She had to. For now, all she could was to keep everything together, 'till the day Elsa came back to her.

-ooo-

It was late at night. She had invited Rapunzel to her bedroom an hour ago to share the news from Matthias. Ever since reading his letter, Anna felt lighter, warmer. It was as if the letter had kindled the fires of her heart, making them burn bright in her chest.

Anna cuddled by herself on one of the large chairs in front of the fireplace, with Rapunzel dozing off on the other, her right arm hanging precariously over the armrest. She couldn't help but hope. She gazed blankly at the dying fire, going over Matthias words time and time again.

Outside, she heard the midnight bells rang. Rapunzel woke up at their call, stretching and yawning loudly.

Anna smiled at her. Her cousin rose from her seat, wiggling her toes freely. Anna had never understood how she could go around bare-footed all day long. Then again, after Ahtohallan, Elsa had done the same. Perhaps it's something about having magic powers, she mused.

"Don't they hurt? Or get cold?" she asked lazily. Rapunzel arched an eyebrow. "Your feet, I'm mean." Her cousin rolled her eyes playfully.

"Not anymore."

"Must be nice," Anna said, sinking further on her chair.

Rapunzel laughed. "It is, actually. I can't go back to wearing shoes now."

Anna chuckled.

"I think I'm turning in," the blonde told her, gently patting her hand.

A strange sound made them both turn their heads. Weak voices came from outside her room. Rapunzel turned towards her with a puzzled expression, but Anna shrugged her shoulders, far too relaxed to worry just yet.

"Your Majesty," her guard's called, his voice muffled by the door. "General Dunarr is here to see you."

Anna's brows furrowed. She looked over her cousin who shook her head, equally confused.

"Let him pass," she ordered, rising from her seat. A tall figure entered the room, stepping forward until the hearth's dim lights showed half his face.

"Your Majesty," he addressed her. There was something wild shining in the man's eyes. He held his helmet on his right hand, and his uniform was a little off, as if he had put it on a hurry. A shiver went down Anna's back.

"General Dunarr? What's going on?" The Queen asked apprehensively. She could feel it on her gut: something had gone terribly wrong.

The general's expression hardened. Anna's remaining smile faded as he spoke.

"News from the north," he began, his body falling back into his usual martial pose. "They just arrived a few minutes ago. The Hanians have launched a full-scale attack along the northern border, your Majesty. They're riding and looting their way towards Lirendelle as we speak."

-ooo-

Anna walked briskly through the dark hallways leading to the castle's barracks. With each step, her armor pieces clinked a little. Captain Garmond and Lord Jarwood followed closely, the latter struggling to keep with her pace.

"I'm taking the Royal Guard," the Queen announced, making her way into the torch-lit stables. Pages and soldiers ran all around, franticly trying to get ready. "Lord Jarwood. Ride to Fyrren. Bring the cavalry battalions to Lirendelle, and rally whatever troops you can. The town's garrison, militia, whomever is available."

The governor opened his mouth to object, but Anna's glare changed his mind.

"Will do, your Grace." He said, panting lightly. The man retreated after half-bowing.

The redhead turned to her Captain. "Are the Guards ready?"

"Always, your Grace," the young officer confirmed. He hesitated a little before talking again. "May I have a word?"

Anna lifted an eyebrow questioningly.

"I'm not sure it's a good idea for you to come, your Majesty." He stated, holding her gaze. "If we engage in battle, your Guard may not be enough. The Hanians are fierce warriors, and we don't know their full strength. I humbly ask you to reconsider."

She looked at the Captain. She knew he meant his words, and it was brave for him to say them openly. Nonetheless, she shook her head.

"I trust you." She declared with finality. "I know you want to keep me safe, but I have made my choice. I couldn't live with myself if all I do is order others to go and die for me. I will go, no matter what."

I am not staying behind, ever again, she vowed.

She thought of her subjects, of her many soldiers fighting in Arendelle's soil. Memories of the enchanted forest surfaced as well, the pain she had felt as Elsa left her. No more. As long as she could help it, she would act.

The Captain's features fell back into a mask of neutrality. She could see he didn't like her decision, but the man didn't object further. He put on his helmet, retreating into one of the stalls to prepare.

A young little page, with eyes wide as plates, delivered her saddled mount. She smiled and thanked the little fellow before mounting in one swift motion. As she exited the stables and made her way into the castle's courtyard, the cold from the night's air seeped into her armor.

She briefly touched one end of the scarf she had wrapped below her neck's protecting plate. It had been Elsa's, a half-joking, half-ironic gift Anna gave her years ago; but to her surprise, her sister had worn it, even if she didn't have any need to. During the last months, Anna had taken to wear occasionally. Its presence made her feel safer, even luckier.

Her decision to go was risky, bordering on foolish. Also, it was the right thing to do. What kind of monarch would she be, if she wasn't ready to risk her own life for her subject's?

Waiting for her at the castle's entrance were her mounted guards, holding close ranks, with many servants holding torches around them. All of her soldiers seemed to carry the same look of hardened resolve.

Captain Garmond linked up with her, glancing over the two dozen heavily armored men. Anna nodded when he looked at her, reining her horse towards the gates. She spurred forward, quickly passing the castle's moot. The horses' hoofs clattered loudly on the cobblestones as their company shoot up through Arendelle's main street. Her racing heart seemed to overlap with the thunderous noise, and she could feel her chest fill with anticipation.

Soon the city walls came into view, and the startled garrison quickly opened the northern gate after recognizing the Royal banner.

The Queen's retinue rode swiftly into the darkness of the surrounding woods, speeding up through the dirt road ahead, leaving on their wake only fading echoes.