Pabbie nearly collapsed from exhaustion, and allowed his fellow trolls to guide him into a nearby cave, similar to the one that Elsa and Anna had used. He sat in a wide overstuffed chair and the Queen and Princess pulled up chairs to sit by him.

The old shaman sat very still for a long while, and only spoke when Anna began to fidget. "We need to speak of Jörmungandr, Queen Elsa."

Elsa sat back in her chair and crossed her legs. "I am more interested in speaking of Arendelle, and of this war you say is coming."

"War is inevitable, as Fimbulvetr is inevitable. Destiny cannot be broken, nor can men meddle in the affairs of the gods."

"But what of Arendelle," Elsa insisted.

"Arendelle finds its enemies conspiring against it, they fulfill the ancient prophecy, yet they remain in ignorance and darkness. They fail to understand the ageless prognostications." Pabbie sighed heavily. "They will fight under a banner of their own delusions. "

"There is something I don't understand," Anna spoke out. "I thought there has to be three years of endless storms without summer."

Elsa turned to Anna and gently took her hand. "Did we not spend three years completely apart, after our parents died? It was like an eternal winter for me—my powers out of control, being without you. The Fimbulvetr exists within me, doesn't it, Grand Pabbie?"

"It subsists within you and in the world, as you can now see."

Elsa glanced at her sister, her feelings raw. "Don't you see, Anna? The three years of horrible winters was mine alone to bear, which I did." The Queen looked down, not wanting to relive those memories. "Yes."

Anna nodded, although she remained slightly doubtful. "I understand, Elsa."

The Queen sat back in her chair. "I do not worry over myself, but for those that are under my protection—my Kingdom."

Anna squinted at her, incredulous. "Well, I'm anxious over you." She looked over at Pabbie. "What can you do to help her?"

Pabbie frowned. "Your sister lies at the center of what is to come, Princess Anna. I can not change this."

Elsa reached over and grasped her sister's hand. "Please, Anna."

Anna wrenched her hand free and stood up. "No, I refuse to believe this! You have to do something to help her. Look at what's happening to her body. Are you saying you can't cure her?"

Pabbie looked confused for a moment. "You wish me to interfere with Jörmungandr and the Fimbulvetr? This I cannot do—I must not do, if destiny is to be fulfilled."

The princess began to pace. "I don't care about destiny, or prophecies, or any of that! My sister is—"

The blonde stood and wrapped Anna in her arms. "Please, Anna. Will you do a favor for me?"

Anna blinked back some tears. "Anything, Elsa."

"Stop your arguing, it is not helping me. Okay?"

Anna squeezed her eyes shut and blew out a ragged breath. "Okay."

The Queen guided her sister to her seat. "Please sit down, Anna." Elsa returned to her own chair. "Tell me of Jörmungandr."

Pabbie blinked. "Midgard is not completely abandoned or left unaided in the days of Fimbulvetr. There is the prophecy of Jörmungandr, the serpent, who will stand in the midst of war and the nine worlds to bring about harmony, with the jötnar. Only when there is concord between Jörmungandr and jötnar may the Fimbulvetr pass by the world, and cleanse it."

If Elsa was shocked or surprised by Pabbie's words she didn't show it. She merely nodded, and then asked, "What is jötnar?"

"The inhabitants of one of the nine worlds. They are mysterious and secretive, yet they hide in the midst of Midgard, for all to see. I can tell you that if you do not deny Jörmungandr the jötnar will come to the aid of Arendelle at its time of need. This is what I discern from the prophecies."

Elsa sat back in her chair and pondered everything that the Grand Pabbie revealed. After a short while she looked up. "Am I the Jörmungandr?"

"Only if you accept destiny."

Elsa stood again. "I need a moment. Please excuse me." With that she left the cave and went outside to the forest. It somehow looked different from when they first entered it; looking more enchanted, as if otherworldly creatures really inhabited it. She wandered about the trees in thought. Was it really as outlandish as it sounded, or as Anna made it out to be? She was born with powers, after all, and nobody seemed to question that once it was no longer a secret. The castle staff didn't even bat an eye, nor did the people when they saw how benevolent a ruler she was. Was it possible that there were magical creatures about, and that the world was subject to them and the ancient stories?

If the people accepted her ice powers could they not accept other magical things? Elsa snorted, and stopped moving. Magic. It was scary what she didn't know of the things that were not of this world, that were not of Arendelle and its people. Had she really lived in ignorance all these years? And if so, at what price?

The Queen looked up from her wanderings and saw she was at the Yggdrasil—the center tree at the heart of the forest. She looked up into its high branches and thought she saw… There was something amongst the higher branches of the great white tree, and it was looking at her, she was sure of it. Then it moved, and skipped downward, from one branch to another, its eyes never leaving her as it moved.

Elsa realized that she wasn't afraid of the creature as it slithered down towards her. It stopped when it was about twenty yards from her, and poked its head out from the branches and eyed her warily. Elsa had seen lizards in the Arendelle zoo, but this was something beyond that, because there was certain intelligence in its eyes. She felt as if the creature was scrutinizing her, as if it were taking her measure.

As soon as she locked gazes with the creature all doubts and uncertainties faltered within her. Here was something that was not part of the world she grew up in, but something that lived here, in this magical forest, and was so obviously alive.

Time seemed to stop. But, then again, the passage of time had no meaning here.

Just as Elsa was about to turn around and leave the wyrm spoke. "Greetings, Queen Elsa of Arendelle. I am Níðhöggr of the Yggdrasil."

Elsa wasn't surprised that the beast could speak, and she could feel the creature's menace. "What do you want from me?"

"Surely kin will recognize kin?" The dragon rolled onto its back and appeared to smirk.

"What am I to you?" Elsa couldn't be sure, but she felt a loathsome humor roll off the beast.

"Brother, sister—what does it matter?"

Elsa eyed the creature speculatively. "So, you believe we are related in some way? How can we be when I am a human and you are…?"

"Me? Oh, do not concern yourself over what we are—only be happy in that we finally meet. That is the most important thing, Queen Elsa."

"Oh, so this is an auspicious occasion?" Elsa was not about to trust what the creature said to her. Her inner voice was practically screaming at her at this point, and she listened.

The dragon was not put off. "Do I detect a hint of sarcasm, Queen Elsa? This won't do at all." It's voice deepened. "I am here to enlighten you."

"Tell me, then, friend. What is the next move?"

"Oh, no, Queen Elsa. We are not at odds at all. But I really must insist, in the name of hospitality, that we should dispense with all this flummery and nonsense." There was a cold fire burning in its eyes. "Shall we have a proper greeting, as friends?"

Elsa noticed the look in its eyes, and stood firm. "If you are expecting me to fear you then you are mistaken."

Níðhöggr cackled. "Fear? Why ought you to fear me, Queen Elsa? I only wish is to welcome you. Just beg me to come down from Yggdrasil so that we may be friends."

Elsa was wary, and knew not to do as the creature insisted. "I'm afraid I won't do that. It wouldn't be prudent." She felt a familiar tingling in her hands.

The wyrm paused, its face momentarily hardened. "What of hospitality? Surely we can at least embrace?"

The blonde shook her head. "No." The prickling in her hands becoming almost painful.

The wyrm contorted, and its face became human-like. "Do not mock me, Jörmungandr! I would tear at your face if only you would let me!"

Elsa felt something stir within her, a feeling of complete familiarity, and then certitude. "You know that I'll never consent to you coming off Yggdrasil. You bring pestilence and havoc. You would pollute the world with your chaos should I let you down. Yes, did you think that I didn't know you, Níðhöggr—or that you'd trick me into a friendly greeting so that you could escape? I do know you, wyrm, and brother. I have seen you in my dreams." Elsa lifted her hands and a blast of ethereal ice flew to surround the base of the giant white tree. It floated there, and moved into an orbit, surrounding the tree. "Go back and hide in the three roots."

The creature hissed and then disappeared back into the branches, and there was a mighty rumble at the base of Yggdrasil as Níðhöggr passed into the foundation of the world, never to be seen again.

Elsa took a step back and looked at her hands, and marveled at the return of her powers.

Back in the cave, Pabbie's eyes went wide at the tremor and he looked pointedly at Anna. "She has accepted." He collapsed on the ground.

The Duke of Weselton cried out from his bed as the earth shook, and screamed for his nurses to come to his assistance. But they were terrified by the earthquake, and hid under a table as the portraits fell from the walls and shattered on the carpeted floors. Weselton shot up into a sitting position, his eyes fixed on something that only he could see, and before he could utter another word, he fell back down to his bed and died.

Prince Hans of the Southern Isles sat with his generals in the great meeting hall of the castle, strategizing over the upcoming war with Arendelle when the floor began to shake.

"It's an earthquake!" General Hilfred shouted.

"No one move!" Hans rested his hands on the table, and smiled serenely.

Hilfred panicked. "We need to get outside!"

After a few moments the walls stopped shaking and the floor stopped moving. Hans looked up at the ceiling before speaking. "That was an auspicious happening, don't you think, General?"

The man looked at his Commander as if he was crazy. "We could have been killed!"

Hans merely shook his head. "I don't believe in coincidences, do you? Here we are planning out our war against our enemy and the earth shakes? It is a sign from God that we are the righteous ones, and that our war is just! Does anyone disagree with me?" When no one answered the prince pressed forward. "Alright, then. Now, let us continue…"

Arendelle absorbed the earthquake as it did all others, and its citizens braced for more. But the earth shook only once. There was no panic in the city, and the people returned to their businesses once the shaking was over.

Anna rushed to Pabbie and knelt down next to the old troll. "Grand Pabbie!" She held his face and frantically looked about the cave. "Help! Will someone please help us?"

Several trolls entered the cave and went over to their fallen shaman. They picked him up and carried him away just as Elsa was returning to the cave. She stared at the old troll then she went over to her sister.

"Anna, what happened to Pabbie?"

Anna was visibly shaking. "He… he crumpled after—what was that, anyway?"

Elsa wrapped an arm around Anna's waist and looked to the entrance of the cave. "Something foul tempted me while I was out thinking, and… well, I took care of it." Elsa looked at Anna and wondered how much she could tell her. "Do you trust me, Anna?"

"Yes, absolutely."

"Do you? I need for you to let go of all doubt, and if nothing else, believe in me and in what I must do to ensure that you and Arendelle remain safe."

Anna frowned. "You make it sound like a bad thing."

"No, not bad. But I fear you may not like some of the decisions I will make." Elsa wrapped her sister in a tight embrace.

Anna rested her head on Elsa's shoulder. "Well, what kind of decisions?"

"Let us not worry over such things right now." Elsa turned her head and buried her nose in Anna's hair. It felt good to hold her, perhaps a little too good.

Anna didn't appear to notice Elsa's slight discomfort. "I hope Pabbie will be alright. Elsa, how much longer do we have to stay here? I want to go home."

The blonde smiled and tugged at her sister. "Come on, let's go outside; I want to show you something." Elsa led Anna outside the cave but then stopped abruptly. "Where did the trolls disappear to?"

Anna looked about the woods. "How could they be gone so quickly?"

"Never mind, let's go." The Queen led Anna back through the forest and took her to the Yggdrasil. When they were at its base Anna stared wide-eyed at the large white tree and the ice slowly circling around it.

"You did this, didn't you, Elsa. Your powers are back."

"They never really went away; were only subdued for a time being until I was reconciled to the world." Elsa looked up, and noticed the sun's position in the sky. It had not changed since their arrival in the Valley.

Anna glanced at her sister. "You sound like Pabbie." She shyly took her sister's hand. "Tell me what's going on up here." She pointed to Elsa's head.

"Besides my new horns? I think I need to be Jörmungandr."

Anna sighed, and remembered Elsa's plea to trust her. "You are going to have to give me some time to accept it—with everything that's going on."

Elsa leaned forward, until their foreheads were touching. "Don't feel that you are alone in this, there are a few things that do trouble me." She put her hands on Anna's hips. "I don't want to hurt you, Anna. I need reassurances from these—trolls, that I don't become a complete monster. I need to know that I will retain my humanity." There was certainly more that troubled her about the Fimbulvetr itself, and specific parts of the prophecy. But she kept those to herself at the moment.

Anna felt a few tears again. "I refuse to believe you will be a monster, Elsa."

"I have no desire to be one, either." Elsa took a step back, and decided to lighten the mood. "I don't know about you but I could sure use some time in one of these hot springs."

"There was one near the entrance to the cave we slept in." Anna looked about her at the forest. "But I don't know how to get back there."

Elsa looked ahead, as if she was seeing it in her mind's eye. "I know. Follow me."

Pabbie opened his eyes to see his daughter, Bulda standing before him, along with his apprentice, Hølje. They were in the great clearing at the Valley of the Living Rock. Pabbie rose and noticed that the other trolls had already withdrew into themselves.

The old troll sighed. "Hølje, tell me what you have learned?"

The younger troll's fire crystals glowed a very faint yellow. "It is Weselton and the Westegaard's. They draw up plans against Arendelle—and they call upon the ancient feudal loyalties to draw other Kingdoms into the great battle to come."

Pabbie looked troubled. "Whom else do they call upon?"

"They have sent emissaries to Arendelle's chief ally—Corona."

"How can they?" Bulda cried. "Corona against Arendelle—kin against kin."

Hølje looked to the east. "See—even the elements themselves take sides. The winds and the great storms have fallen under the influence of the enemies of Arendelle."

Elsa followed her instinct and led them back through the forest to the cave they spent the night in. It didn't surprise her to find their mare at the cave's entrance, or the provisions provided for them for the journey back to Arendelle. What did surprise her was that her own horse was there, as well, and it appeared to be unharmed and well cared for. The Queen wondered again about the true nature of the trolls whose land they were in, and of what magic they possessed. She watched as Anna calmly walked over to the beasts and rummaged in the saddlebag, looking for the sugary treats.

The blonde blinked, and noted again, that the hour had not changed. She felt a little panicky, even though they were safe in the Valley. "Anna, ought we to head back to Arendelle?"

The princess looked up from where she was giving her horse a treat. "You think so?"

"How can we be gone for so long without anyone noticing?" Elsa stood at the entrance to the cave.

Anna noticed her sister's uneasiness. "I thought you said we are safe here. Don't you think Arendelle is, as well?"

Elsa blew out a ragged breath. "I'm sorry, Anna. Well, you see, the sun hasn't moved since we arrived at this Valley—my senses are just a bit overwhelmed." She slumped against the rock wall. "I'm not feeling…"

Anna was at her side in an instant. "Come on inside, only a few steps and we'll be in there." After she took hold of Elsa she led her inside the cave.

The cave had not been disturbed since their earlier time in it, and Anna led Elsa over to the large bed and helped her to sit down. When she was certain that her sister wouldn't fall over she went to fetch some water. When she returned Elsa had removed her shirt and was trying to scratch at her back.

"What is it?" Anna placed the jug of water next to the bed and kneeled next to her sister.

"My back is hurting; it feels as if my skin is ripping apart."

Anna stood quickly and turned Elsa so she could see her back. The slits were longer, and the leathery skin that protruded from them extended about six inches from her back. Anna examined the wings and for the first time saw the outline of bone in them. She turned back to face her sister. "Can you move them?"

"That's the problem, Anna. It hurts."

"Maybe if you tried to stretch them. You know, ease the stiffness a little."

Elsa concentrated on her back and the wings began to stretch apart until there was a definite pop. The Queen started at the sensation and her eyes widened. "What happened?"

"They came out a little more, and there's a little blood on them." Anna still had to fight against the urge to vomit at the sight, as it sickened her a bit. "Come on to the hot spring, Elsa, we need to clean your back."

The Queen bent down and removed her boots; she felt a minute amount of blood trickle down her back. She looked up and saw the look in Anna's eyes. "This disgusts you, doesn't it?"

The princess glanced at her sister; her emotions conflicted. The physical changes in Elsa bothered her, she knew as much. But there was something else about Elsa—it wafted from her in waves—a musky scent of some sort, which had her captured. "I don't know how you want me to answer that, Elsa. But blood does make me queasy, yes." She took Elsa's hand. "Come."

Anna led them to the nearest hot springs, about forty feet from the cave's entrance, which was partially hidden by tall foliage. She helped Elsa to the edge of the water and turned around as Elsa removed her pants. When her sister was in the water, Anna hesitated for a moment, feeling a bit self-conscious.

Elsa groaned as she slid into the hot steaming water. She moved until she found a sturdy, flat stone to sit on and then dunked her head. When she surfaced with a splash Anna was still not in the hot spring with her, but was sitting on the water's edge. "Is something wrong, Anna?"

Anna hesitated for a moment, and tried to sort through the conflicting emotions within. The princess squirmed a little, and was experiencing an unfamiliar feeling. "Would you believe me if I said I was feeling shy?"

Elsa snorted, and offered her sister a crooked smile. "No, I would not. Now come on in, it will be good for you."

"Turn around, please."

Elsa complied. From behind her she could hear the rustle of clothing being discarded, and a certain inner part of her perked up at the sound. She slowly turned her head slightly and caught a glimpse of freckled skin. The impact on her psyche was immediate and lasting, and she turned away from an unsuspecting Anna and closed her eyes. There was something inside of her—primal and in need—and it was growing, slowly but surely. How long would it be until she was completely shattered by this hungry beast? Elsa didn't know, but she had to protect Anna from it. The beast growled and fought to surface completely to claim its prize. But Elsa fought it down, and it cowered, but not before leaving a physical evidence of its presence.

As Anna dipped into the hot springs Elsa slid farther away from her, in the pretense of dunking her head again. But Anna did see, and she closed her eyes and wrestled against her body's visceral reaction to the hardened flesh.

Elsa and Anna locked gazes; this fight was going to be tougher than they originally thought.

For some reason this chapter was very difficult to write, and I'm not completely happy with it. Oh, well. I've taken a few liberties with the Norse myths in this chapter to fit in with Elsa's transformation, and tweaked them just a little bit. Again, please let me know how I'm doing, please review. The next chapter will find us back in Arendelle.