~Chapter 8~

Anna

I waited patiently for Elsa to come back just to make sure she was okay, but after a quarter of an hour, it was late and I could barely keep my eyes open. She needed her space, but how much did she possibly need? I'm only trying to be there for her and help. Try as I might, my bond with her was becoming a burden for her and that was the last thing I wanted. I wasn't sure what to do, but I had to keep trying.

I woke up with a start hearing a blood-curdling scream echo from none other than my sister. She wasn't in bed and the covers didn't look disturbed at all. I threw open the doors and found hundreds of ice crystals floating in the air. This looked familiar. Her screaming continued as the sounds of terror were coming from the library. I threw open the door in a nervous panic because nobody in the world likes to hear the deafening cries of a loved one scream.

"Elsa!" I said, shaking her awake trying to be gentle, but also move her around enough to wake her up. Her blue eyes popped open meeting mine as she was panting with flaring nostrils.

"Hey, take it easy. Breathe with me, okay?"

I took in a breath trying to do deep breathing exercises with her, but she was so agitated. Calming her down wouldn't be easy. As I thought about what to try next, I felt her icy hands push against me knocking me to the ground. She ran out the door and I called out to her from down the hallway. I chased her down as the ruckus I'm sure was disrupting people. I was only a few paces behind her until she turned to me angrily telling me to stay away. For a second there I wondered if she had in fact been sleep walking, but that was not the case. She looked at me intensely and extended her hand toward me nervously with careful aim. She wasn't going to try and hit me was she? She blasted a bit of magic toward my feet freezing me in place in the middle of the hallway. This was familiar. The last time she did this, she went to Ahtohallan alone. Could that be where she was going? My sister disappeared out of sight as I tried my best to free my feet from the ice that held me captive. It didn't take long for Kristoff to come looking for me down the hall with Olaf and Sven following behind.

"Anna! What the heck? Did you and your sister play a too intense game of tag?" He teased, "What happened?"

"She got scared...a nightmare or something. Kristoff, something isn't right."

"Well of course not, Anna." Olaf interrupted, "Elsa has forgotten all of us and Marcus is still taking a nap down the hall."

I put my hand on Olaf's shoulder.

"I wish it were only a nap, Olaf." I replied.

"Let me go get my climbing pick and I'll have you out of there in a jif. In the meantime, Sven, sit beside the ice and try to melt it with your fur."

Sven snorted in acknowledgment as Kristoff ran to grab his tools. It didn't take Kristoff long to come back and break my feet free of the ice. And as he helped me up, he hugged me and just stood there as my fiance held me at a loss for words. My sister has triumphed over so much in her life and her fear seemed different this time.

Kristoff got me some tea just to try and calm me down, but I just fell silent. I think that's what worried him most because he desperately wanted to help. I replayed the events from this morning over and over in my head wondering if I had dreamt it all. Who was I kidding? I couldn't live in denial. Elsa needed me.

"Anna, talk to me." Kristoff said, bringing his hand to my cheek.

I locked eyes with him putting my hand on top of his.

"I need to talk to Marcus."

Kristoff looked taken aback by my statement, but simply nodded.

"Okay, whatever you need. Let's go."

"Alone, Kristoff."

"O-Oh," He muttered, "Sure. I'll go get Sven ready to search the area."

"Thank you." I muttered.

His mouth slid up into a slight smile leaning down kissing my forehead and then he grew serious as he walked away. I wasted no time in running over to Marcus's room opening the door quietly. Not sure why I was being so quiet, it's not like I could disturb him even if I wanted to. He looked the same as always though the color in his cheeks was fading. I sat beside him on the bed grabbing his hand. It was as cold as ice as if Elsa was the last to touch him. The transparency of his other hand had moved up his arm almost to his shoulder. It had grown in such a short time.

"Marcus, I wish you were here and awake." I muttered as a single tear fell from my cheek, "I could use your advice and wisdom right about now. A brief update since I last talked, Elsa ran away in terror this morning. I don't know where she's gone, but Kristoff and I will find her. But don't worry, she's bound to leave a trail of ice wherever she went, so that's in our favor at least. Grand Pabbie said your waking up is tied to her memory, so that's why I've been so focused on her as of late. Just hang tight and I'll be back soon."

I leaned toward him kissing his forehead before leaving. So many people were counting on me and I couldn't afford to waste time.

I left the palace to find Kristoff with Sven and Olaf at our stables. Before leaving, I found General Mattias and Pieter making their rounds and giving them an update on where we were going.

"Anna, are you sure this is wise?" Pieter asked, nervously.

"Elsa, didn't give me much of a choice." I shrugged.

"But what about the kingdom, the rebuild is still underway. The people will want to know their queen is well and taking care of their needs." Mattias added.

"And their needs will be maintained." A voiced piped up behind us.

Riding at full speed on horseback toward us were none other than my cousin Rapunzel from Corona and her husband Eugene. My mouth hung open in sheer gratitude at seeing my cousin hop off her horse and run toward me with extended arms. I pulled her into a hug.

"What are you doing here?" I asked in sheer disbelief at her presence., "You already sent us aid for the rebuild."

"When Gale delivered your last letter requesting aid, I sent builders first, but I knew I would get on the next available ship. So here we are."

"I-I can't thank you enough."

"Go after your sister, Eugene and I will look after Arendelle in your absence."

"Thanks so much! We can keep in touch thanks to Gale and her letter delivery. Though let me teach you how to call to her." I said.

I opened my mouth and echoed the tune that Elsa used to sing. Soon Gale whisked up out of nowhere swirling around Rapunzel and Eugene.

"Friendly little thing." Eugene muttered.

"Thanks again for coming all this way."

"Now I get to see the new and improved Arendelle in all its glory." Rapunzel winked.

"I don't know about improved, but it is new." I replied, "We'll be back soon. We're closest to the north mountain, so I guess we'll start our search there." I glanced at Kristoff who simply nodded in reply.

"Why go there?" Eugene asked, "There was a trail of ice leading from the docks at the old port."

"Really?" I asked.

"Well that made the search a bit easier. Anna, she's in old Arendelle." Kristoff smiled, grabbing my shoulder.

I quickly hopped in the carriage that Kristoff had hitched to Sven and waved goodbye to Rapunzel and Eugene.

"We'll be right back." I nodded.

Olaf hopped up in the carriage beside me and Kristoff urged Sven forward as we took off toward old Arendelle. My sister was frightened, but at least she didn't go very far. Would memories of our old home awaken her old self?

As fast as Sven could get us there, we got to the shores of old Arendelle. The only thing we rebuilt here were the docks so ships could still make port here, even though they had to travel around the north mountain to our new location at the Kalde ruins. I hated that transition. Blending the old with the new. It was just like Arendelle took the ruins of Kalde without paying homage to what was once here. Once everything was sorted out, I would have to remedy that somehow. Just like Rapunzel and Eugene mentioned, there was a trail of ice leading up toward the docks, but the fjord wasn't frozen. Kristoff unhitched Sven from the carriage as I hopped out and Olaf plopped beside me as I began to investigate the area. The ice wasn't centered around old Arendelle ruins at all.

"Did she seriously take a ship?" I asked incredulously, "By herself?"

"Is she even a captain?" Olaf asked, "Besides, she could make something with her ice, right?"

"I wish I knew, Olaf." I muttered.

I was scared because I knew that because of her fear, she was capable of serious harm to anyone she could cross paths with. So instead of closed doors this time, she's exposing herself to the world. Great plan, Elsa. I thought smugly.

"Well, there's one boat left for us to take. It's no galleon, but it'll do the job." Kristoff said.

"Oh, can I steer?" Olaf asked, clapping his hands.

"Afraid not, my frosty friend," Kristoff remarked.

"I wish I knew who she went with." I muttered.

Kristoff grabbed my hand giving it a gentle squeeze.

"Queen Anna of Arendelle, I think I may have some of the answers that you seek about the ice woman." A voice behind us called out. Hopping out from the stone wall of the old Arendelle courtyard, a middle aged man came out of nowhere. This man had greying wisps of hair mixed among his dark brown head of hair. His clothes weren't from Arendelle. He had been through a lot, I could tell by seeing the fatigue in his eyes.

"Who are you?" Kristoff asked defensively.

"That ice woman...long blonde hair? Blue eyes? Wearing a fuchsia gown?" I asked questions in rapid-fire.

"Yes, that's who I saw." The man replied with a single nod.

I exhaled a huge sigh of relief.

"That woman is my sister, Elsa. Please, tell me everything you saw." I urged.

"By the time I got here, she was sailing off with a redheaded man who had a different ship. I believe from the Southern Isles."

No, anything but that. I thought.

"Kristoff, how do we get there? I don't even know how to get to the Southern Isles if that's where Elsa is headed." I muttered.

"Please, your highness. Allow me to accompany your party. I know these waters from many years of experience traversing them with my brother. I'll take the helm." The man smiled with a polite bow.

"Thank you so much." I said, shaking his hand, "What do we call you, captain?

"The names Rolf, your highness."