Yggdrasil's humming still continued, and so did the erratic movement of the creatures that dwelt upon it. In the outer forests, where the relatives of the stags lived with the Horses of the Æsir, a caravan of familiar creatures traveled with a man who rode on a reindeer. Their destination was Yggdrasil, and their purpose was to seek counsel and commune with the great white tree. For the man, as of late, was plagued with queer dreams and bouts of second site.

The mighty Horses of the Æsir silently followed the creatures and the man, seeking out answers.

…Glad and Gyllir,

Gler and Skeidbrimir,

Sillfrintopp and Sinir,

Gisl and Falhofnir,

Gulltopp and Lettfeti;

on these steeds the Æsir

each day ride,

when they to council go,

at Yggdrasil's ash…

The man lifted up his hand and the caravan stopped. His weary eyes glanced all around him, looking out for danger of any kind. He reached around and grabbed his water skin and took a long draught of the cold water, trying to quench an overwhelming thirst and wondered if the trolls—or what they had changed into—needed food, because he did.

They made him feel a bit apprehensive at times because ever since their transformation they no longer communicated with him, except maybe for Hølje, who sometimes invaded his dreams, or so he believed. But they followed him everywhere he went, and he truly believed they would go into battle with him, as he most likely would.

His senses sharpened, and a new feeling crept up his spine, one that told him to forego Yggdrasil and head directly to Arendelle instead, a journey that would take about a day and a half. He turned his reindeer around and looked at the beings that were once the trolls.

They were giants, who for some strange reason, now resembled large trees, minus the many branches. Each one looked at him now; their otherworldly features resembled human faces, but were obvious not.

"We're not heading to Yggdrasil. We are going to Arendelle instead." He glanced up at the creature that he thought was Hølje. "Tell the Horses of the Æsir to remain at Yggdrasil. I have a feeling that something wicked is heading this way, and must be stopped at all costs. They can work with the stags in the forest. Tell Gyllir to be on watch and to gather up as many of the stags that he can."

The man turned his reindeer around and spurred him forward again …Anna…

Elsa entered her private office on the first floor of Arendelle Castle and immediately went to her small liquor cabinet. It had been difficult leaving Anna with Leif, but this interrogation with the Captain from the Southern Isles ship needed to be done. She turned her head as Master Kai entered the room. "Hello, Kai." She took a second look at the man and noticed his disheveled clothing. "You look like you haven't slept."

"I didn't, Your Majesty. Putting Arendelle on complete lock-down has taken up a lot of time."

"Oh, I see. Why don't you have the kitchen send a large pot of coffee to my private office. Are you hungry?"

"Well, I have been up all night."

"Then have them send some breakfast, as well."

Kai bowed slightly before leaving. Elsa watched him for a moment before turning back to the liquor cabinet. She sighed while pouring herself a brandy and then sat down at her desk, feeling somewhat ill at ease. Her inner self was on edge, had been ever since Jörmungandr's encounter with Thor, in the Arendelle harbor.

Elsa leaned back in her chair and contemplated everything that had come to pass in the last few months. What was it that was begging her to look at all the previous events through a different lens, so to speak. Something just wasn't right, and she could feel it now. It had the air of manipulation to it.

She sipped at her brandy and rolled the glass between her palms, thinking from a different and hopefully new perspective. At that moment their was a knock at her door. "Come in."

The door opened, revealing a man in civilian clothes flanked by two guards. His head was down, and Elsa could not see his face through all of his hair. She looked at the guards and they let go of their prisoner.

Kai arrived at that moment, and gasped when the man lifted his head. "Zander?"

Elsa looked up swiftly and caught Zander's eyes before he turned to Kai. "Nice to see you, Kai…"

"Zander…" Elsa took a few hesitant steps forward, relieved and angry at the same time now that he was finally back in Arendelle. "You… you…are responsible for Lieutenant Ingarth's death, aren't you?" There was a tremor in her voice that disgusted her, and her anger was matched by genuine concern for him.

It took awhile for Zander to meet her eyes. "I'm sorry… Elsa—I don't know what to say. But, please call me by my real name, Roman."

"I take it your plan went horribly wrong."

"I… I didn't know what to do. My plan was interrupted when Ingarth was mistaken for a spy and arrested—his accent gave him away."

Elsa clenched her fists. "Where were you when he was arrested?"

"Ah…we were in a brothel, my Queen." Roman took a tentative step backwards, but did not stop looking at Elsa. "We were to proceed the next day."

"Is Ingarth in a prison, then? Why didn't you arrange for his release before you left the Southern Isles?"

Roman, being a liar and a reprobate his entire life, and who would do anything to prevent his capture, made a difficult decision and told the truth. "No, Queen Elsa, Ingarth is dead, and I killed him." His eyes widened at the frost seeping from the Queen's hands. "There is an explanation, Queen Elsa!"

The frost gently swirled down Elsa's pants and puddled at her feet. "You killed Ingarth? Why?" The words came out too softly, as if they were holding back a raging snowstorm. "You owe restitution to the Crown and his family, and I expect you to pay it as soon as possible."

"My brother, Hans, had Ingarth sent to our worst prison on Jonvar and planned to interrogate him; perhaps to death. I could not risk my true intentions being found out so…so…"

"So you sacrificed him, to hide your position as a spy?"

"Like I said, Your Majesty, I did not know what else to do."

"I knew your methods were dubious at best, but I ignored it, because I knew you brought us good information. But now I don't know if I can trust you anymore." She turned away from Roman and addressed his guards. "Please, take him away. I don't care where—just get him out of the castle."

The guards grabbed Roman and shoved him towards the door. He didn't resist, but turned his head to look back at the Queen. "I still have news for you, Elsa! There is a member of your own household, don't trust—"

But the man was already out the door, and Elsa did not look up at his words. She glanced at Kai and then sat down at her desk. "Would you pour me a brandy, Kai?"

"Of course, Your Majesty." Kai did as he was told, then sat down at the opposite side of the Queen's desk. "What do you suppose he was trying to say? There are members of Her Majesty's household that are spies?"

Elsa swallowed her drink and relished its warm after effect. "There are always sympathizers, Kai. I know this. Like Barthold the Groomsman and Anders the Under Butler. But I'm not worried about them, they are just loud mouths. But, aside from that, I am worried."

"What are you worried about, my Queen?"

"I started thinking about our current situation from a different perspective, Kai, and I can't help thinking that something is terribly wrong about it."

"Everything is wrong with war, I agree. But we know who are adversaries are, at least." Kai poured another brandy for himself.

"No, I'm not referring to the war, itself, Kai. Nor am I talking about those who are involved in it." Elsa leaned back in her chair. "It's just a feeling I have; a feeling that I'm being manipulated, and I don't like it."

"Well, you could say that you are being manipulated by the prophecies, couldn't you?" Kai looked closely at his Queen.

"No, I'm not talking about pre-destination, Kai. So many things are happening at once—Weselton, the Southern Isles, Corona, the Nordic gods, two different prophecies, Yggdrasil, and Kristoff and the Trolls." Elsa looked at the cup in her hand. "And then there's Anna."

"Is she—"

"Don't worry, the stags are at the windows." Elsa felt her heart clench. "I still wonder if she'd be safer at Yggdrasil."

"What are you going to do about Roman, my Queen, if I may be so bold."

"I'm still so angry at him. Ingarth's family will need to know about his demise—including Lindar." Elsa put her cup back on her desk. "Have Lindar and the Bishop left yet?"

"They left shortly after the meeting, Your Majesty. Although Johannes was less than enthusiastic."

Elsa chuckled. "I have no doubt about that." Her smiled faded, and the queer sensation of violation took hold of her again. Yes, that's what it felt like, more than just being manipulated, but being violated. "Will you excuse me, Kai, I need to see Anna."

The Master of the Castle stood when the Queen got to her feet. "If I may speak freely, Your Majesty?"

"Of course."

"I don't think it wise to send Princess Anna to the Land of the Living Rock, Your Majesty. The equestrian army will pass by its borders on its way to Arendelle."

"Thank you, Kai. I should have realized that myself."

General Urban's tent was erected at the northern Gate of Arendelle proper, and was the seat of his command for the duration of the war. It was a rather large edifice, housing not only his personal quarters, but also a large meeting place for his officers and other dignitaries. The huge canvas flaps to the tent were now tied open, and two sentries stood there, rifles at the ready. At the present time, the General was at his desk in a small office, talking with a scout, who had just come back from the border of the Valley of the Living Rock.

"Are you sure about what you saw, Espen?"

The scout squirmed a bit in his seat. "Yes, General, they looked like monsters, not like any living thing I've ever seen."

Urban frowned. "And they are headed toward Arendelle?" The General knew all about the Ragnarök and the mythical creatures associated with it. "What about the man?"

"He looked old, and ragged, and like I said, he appeared to be leading those creatures directly towards the city."

Urban considered the scout's words. "Could the man have been Master Kristoff?"

"Princess Anna's Kristoff? If it was him, then he's aged, a lot."

"How far out are they?" Urban got up and poured himself a cup of coffee.

"I think they will here tomorrow, General."

"All right, Espen, you may go. Will you send in Captain Zacharia?"

The Scout saluted. "Yes, my General."

Urban returned to his seat and sipped his coffee, his thoughts interrupted by the arrival of Zacharia. "Come in, Captain." He coolly regarded the other man. "I have a mission for you."

Elsa quietly entered her parlor and removed her cape and uniform jacket. After draping the garments over her favourite chair she made her way to her bedroom, and found Anna attending to their son. She frowned at the look on the Princess' face. "What is it, Anna?"

"I don't like how the castle is locked down, Elsa. It seems like everyone is gone, leaving me with only the stags for company." Anna placed a sleeping Leif in his crib. "Where are my Ladies in Waiting?"

"The castle needed to be almost empty so we could search it for irregularities; none were found. Your Ladies ought to be returned to you by tomorrow." Elsa moved closer to her sister. "The Royal Guards are already roaming the first floor."

"I've never considered any of my Ladies as an actual friend. I was thinking about the Librarian, Beatrice. I trusted her."

Elsa moved even closer to the Princess, standing at her back, as close as she could get without touching her. "I'll see what I can do about getting her back."

Anna could feel Elsa's heat, and the warm breath on her neck. She could feel the power roiling off her lover. "Oh, Elsa…what is it with you these few days?"

Breathing heavily, Elsa undid the clasp and released her growing flesh, needing to be inside her beloved sister. When Anna turned around Elsa picked her up and gently placed her on their bed. Anna's skirts went up and Elsa slipped inside, holding herself steady until her sister's legs wrapped around her.

"Oh, god… this feels so good." Anna squeezed her legs tighter, forcing the Queen more deeply inside her. "Move, please…"

Elsa grabbed at Anna's skirts to anchor herself while she gently moved in and out. But, in the midst of her lust, an unwanted feeling stole over her; one that caused her to open her eyes and stare at the young woman below her. "Anna?" she breathed.

The Princess captured the Queen's bottom and squeezed, forcing her even deeper. "Aw… please, no talking…"

You are being deceived.

Startled, the Queen stopped moving completely and gently shook Anna's shoulders.
"Snowflake, please look at me."

Anna finally opened her eyes as her chest heaved with frustration. "Why are you doing this?"

violation…deception…manipulation…its all around you…

Groaning, Elsa tried to roll off Anna but she would not allow it. "Someone or something is trying to warn me. I can feel it in my mind, Snowflake." She lifted her head and seemed to look beyond the room they were in. "They are on their way—I can smell the ocean waves surrounding their ships." A deep sigh escaped her. "There was once a great war…Æsir and the Vanir…I can't clearly see it; it is cast in the deepest of shadows…at the center of it all…it was her."

Anna looked wide-eyed at her sister, not quite understanding what she was talking about. "Have you been having visions?" She finally loosened her arms and let Elsa free.

The Queen quickly got up and re-clasped her pants. "I'm being taunted, Anna," she said. "I don't have to be Jörmungandr to see these things. His senses are now my senses."

Anna slid off the bed and straightened out her skirts just as Leif began to fidget. She went to him and gently stroked his cheek. "What are you trying to say, Elsa. You were mumbling strange things when we were trying to make love." She picked up their little boy. "You mentioned a her. Who were you talking about?"

Elsa turned around to face the Princess. "I don't know, Snowflake. It feels like I stumbled into someone's inner thoughts."

Anna cradled Leif to her. "Sounds like a strange thing, Elsa." She looked at her sister warily, not quite understanding what was going on.

The Queen saw that look, and it made her feel foolish for saying her thoughts out loud. "I'm sorry, Anna. I…I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable."

"I'm not uncomfortable, Elsa, I am confused by all this." The Princess raised the baby so his little head rested on her shoulder. "What are you going to do?"

Elsa looked puzzled for a few moments, considering Anna's words. The truth of the matter was , she was scared. Not scared that the war was looming even closer; but afraid she was finally loosing her mind. What am I going to do? Then it hit her suddenly, and she grabbed her shirt from the floor. "The Cathedral, yes, the Cathedral. That's where I need to go."

"Of course I'm going to go with you, right?"

Elsa's expression changed. "But, Leif…"

"He will be all right as long as he is with you." Anna patted the boy's back as she went into the parlor.

Anna looked out of the carriage window and frowned at the near empty streets. Only a smattering of soldiers remained, either stationed at key intersections, or roaming around in parties of two. "I don't like this—I don't like this, at all. Where are all the people, Elsa?"

"It was necessary to close the commercial center of town, Anna. The people are safely in their homes." Elsa looked down at the little boy in her arms, and wiggled her nose at him. He squealed with delight and flailed his little arms, sending a few snowflakes into the air. "That's my boy. C'mere." She tucked his head under her chin and sighed with pleasure.

The Princess glanced at Elsa before turning her attention back to the carriage window. Even though it warmed her heart to see her sister bond with their boy, a part of her worried that Leif would grow up not knowing her. Her heart broke at that moment, and a few tears escaped her stinging eyes. She tried to keep quiet, but then she felt Elsa's gentle fingers entwining with her own. "I'm sorry, El—"

"Shh, Snowflake. Now, why don't you tell me what's wrong." The blonde scooted closer to her sister and held her son even tighter.

"When I see you and Leif together, connecting in precious ways, I sometimes feel really sad because I think you might die in this—war, whatever it is."

"What do you mean by 'whatever,' Anna? " Elsa thought it for a few moments, and then spoke again. "You do not experience these happenings as I do, do you, Princess?"

Anna sighed and wiped at her tears. "I guess not, Elsa. I'm angry; some of it is directed at you. I am sick of agreeing to things as if I have no say in my own destiny. This business is driving my crazy."

"I can see it." Elsa smiled and wound her arm around Anna's waist. "You'll be all right, Anna, I'll see to it." She tilted her head slightly. "I would hate to loose you, Snowflake. Not just if you died, but also if you lost your self, so to speak. If you lost the person that you are."

Their conversation was interrupted by the arrival of the carriage at the Cathedral. A liveried footman opened the door and Anna stepped out first. She reached into the carriage and took Leif while Elsa gathered herself together. When the Queen emerged from the carriage she could not be more regal. She was wearing her black military uniform, again, and draped over her left shoulder was her dark gray cape.

Kai stepped down from the box seat and moved to the Cathedral doors, keys in hand. He looked over his shoulder when he heard the wolves, Geri and Freki, growl from the other side of the square. Several soldiers responded to the sound of the wolves and rushed into the square, their firearms at the ready. But the wolves did not appear to notice them, let alone attack. They simply lay down and proceeded to lick their paws.

Anna was watching them as well, and turned back to Elsa when the situation remained calm. "Do you think Óðinn is in the Cathedral, Elsa?"

"I'm sure he received my message." The Queen put on her gloves and looked over to the doors of the Cathedral. "Master Kai, is the Cathedral empty?"

Kai poked his head inside the doors and looked around. "Well, it appears empty, but one never knows these days, does one?"

Elsa chuckled and reached for Anna's hand. "Well put, Kai." She could hear the soldiers talk quietly among themselves, but other than that, the square was unnaturally silent. After quietly accepting the keys from the Master of the Castle, she stepped aside so that Anna could enter first.

Ingleif stood at the main docks of Hamar, watching closely as the ships of the Southern Isles sailed away with those of Weselton. He winced slightly, his body still hurting from the ordeal Han's subjected him to; and, even though the General Council announced him innocent of all charges, his psyche was still bent towards retributive justice, to the point where it was poisoning his mind. He lowered the spyglass and adjusted the royal cape wrapped around his shoulders, for the wind whipping from the sea was harsh.

General Hilfred re-clasped his own cloak and moved to stand next to the Prince. "Do you wish you were with them, Your Highness?"

Ingleif shook his head. "Heavens, no! I don't have a death wish, you know."

"Some would say otherwise, if I may be so bold, Your Highness."

"Well, yes, but it is too bad my plans against Hans were brought out into the light." Ingleif put away the spyglass into a satchel. "Don't count me out, yet, General."

The general moved farther out onto the docks and waved the Prince over to him. He glanced back at the Royal Guard, and was pleased they didn't step forward when Ingleif did. "I trust we may speak freely, Your Highness."

"Of course."

"Do you really think they have any chance, at all?" Hilfred pointed to the ships on the far horizon. "Because I don't think so."

Ingleif regarded the ships. "Well, they trained for months. I can't say about the Weselton forces, I didn't attended the welcome banquet."

"It doesn't matter how long they prepared for war, the fact is they will suffer defeat."

The Prince turned to the General and studied him more closely. "Excuse me, Hilfred, but how could you know that?"

"There is a reason why I've kept a low profile in this Kingdom until now, Your Highness."

Ingleif stared hard at the other man, searching his face for any sign of deception. When he didn't find any, he turned towards his Royal Guard while putting on his gloves. 'I don't have time for this, General. I have a kingdom to oversee—"

A little frustrated, Hilfred called, "What we need is an Emperor, Your Highness!

Arendelle doesn't need a Queen, the Duchy of Weselton doesn't need a Duke, and we don't need a King!"

"What do you mean, not need a King? That is treason, General."

Hilfred only smiled. "How would you like to become an Emperor, Ingleif?"

Anna held Leif close to her as she walked about the Cathedral, admiring the artwork therein for its aesthetic value. Unlike her sister, she had some sense of the spiritual as she roamed about the place, and did not reject the faith associated with it. As she wandered the huge left transept, she was struck with a strange sensation. It felt like the power of lightening, but at a must smaller level, and it seeped inside her, she could feel it. Leif slept, and made little noises as he did so.

"Elsa, I think Óðinn might be coming—he must be, we saw his wolves outside." Anna turned around and looked for her sister. "Elsa?" Then another sensation hit her, and she could feel the Queen standing behind her—the sexual energy was palpable, but she could not understand why it was happening at this moment. "Why… why now?" she whispered.

"Put Leif down on the pew, wrap him in his blanket."

It wasn't a suggestion, but a command, and Anna felt its potency deep down to her bones. Her body awoke, even though she was still grappling with her feelings.

Anna felt Elsa's heated hand on her shoulder, and then she was lifted, and taken to a nearby column where she was thrust against it. "Elsa… please…turn me around to face you. Now!"

The feral growl that emanated from Elsa's throat was so deep it reverberated down Anna's spine and caused her to shiver. But the blonde finally relented, and opened her eyes as she easily turned Anna to face her.

The tips of Anna's fingers gently ran down her sister's cheeks. "Talk to me, my love… make me part of this." She felt Elsa's arms tighten around her, and her firm flesh was evident—and arousing.

The blonde blinked several times, as if coming out of a haze, and finally took notice of what she was doing. "Anna…" It came out like a croak. "What have I done?"

The Princess sighed deeply. "Nothing that is not excusable," she whispered. And then her body demanded to be satiated. "Fill me, please, Elsa…Good gods, woman, don't leave me like this…"

The Queen didn't hesitate for a moment, and quickly freed her heated flesh as Anna pulled up her own skirts. She pressed inside, and gasped at the welcoming sensation when the Princess squeezed her thighs. "Oh, Anna…my Anna…"

Anna's head lolled to the side as Elsa entered, and she hissed at the sensation. "Oh, my—you are so hard inside me, and it feels…" The words died; there was no more need of them at that one perfect moment in time…

…and it seemed to last forever as both of them caught the whirlwind. Anna found herself on her back, with Elsa's cloak beneath her. She clutched the blonde's head, and would not let her look away as the pounding continued, and there was nothing gentle about this rutting, only the deep thrusting Anna loved so much.

Pain wrestled with pleasure; first one dominating and then the other, and Anna came quietly, without Elsa slowing, each little death an anticipation of what was to come.

Elsa, caught in the throes of an unquenchable passion, pumped her hips faster, as if spurred by a demon, or something else, altogether. Her head swam with dizziness when Anna let go of it, and she fell forward onto the Princess, enveloping her completely. And all sanity left her when Anna wound her hand between their bodies, guiding her, as she wanted.

It was that touch—simple and yet electrifying—the feeling of a gentle touch on over-heated flesh, which caused Elsa to hold Anna even tighter when she exploded. Her back arched when her heat burst into the Princess again and again. Reaching her peak, her eyes stinging with tears, she helped her sister over the precipice, and they fell together, not into a void, but in a rupture of a million stars.

Elsa, bereft of her stamina and strength, lay atop her sister, unable to move. "I have…never known a love so sweet and carnal as this. What can I say to you, Anna?" Her heart was moved by the mere mention of the Princess' name. "I think I'm spent."

Anna kept her eyes closed, her breath deep and still a little shaky. She knew what Elsa meant; her own arms lay uselessly at her sides even though legs still remained around the blonde's hips. Elsa was still deep inside, and she had no wish to ask her to leave, not yet. "I thought I already understood that sex was good. But this—beyond my scope, my dear sister."

A blind rush of incredible love filled the Queen at the moment, and she gently ran her lips over Anna's. "There is something I need to tell you, Anna. When I first approached you I wasn't quite myself, it was as if I was being controlled by something else, a force beyond my own." She lowered her head and rested it on Anna's shoulder. "But I forced it away, using Jörmungandr's strength as well as my own. I would not allow it to use my body to rape you."

"Oh, Elsa—thank you, thank you. Do you know what it was, because I felt it, too."

"No, unfortunately, I don't. But it was familiar."

The Princess considered this. "Do you think Óðinn would know? He is the Allfather, you know."

They looked at each other, now that the passion was spent, and a new shyness sprouted around them, enveloping them with sweetness and tenderness toward the other.

"How much I love you, Princess? I cannot form the necessary words to tell, because my heart is so… so…" She faltered in her speech, but need not have worried, because Anna was smiling at her in such a way that speech was unnecessary.

"There is no need for words right now, Elsa. I can feel into your heart as surely as you can see into mine." Anna placed her arm over her eyes and chuckled. "But, I need to ask… why are you still so rigid?" She moved her lips over to Elsa's. "I mean, I felt you release into me, many times. It usually doesn't remain like this," she whispered.

The blonde blushed, a deep pink. "Am I hurting you?"

"No, not at all."

Elsa knew she could stay like this forever, but there were things to be done, and she was beginning to feel vulnerable. "Anna…" She withdrew quickly and painlessly, and then helped the Princess to her feet.

They looked at each other wistfully, knowing this was something they would need to talk about, and soon. Because there were not too many days left, and the rumblings of the world were at hand. The fleets from Weselton and the Southern Isles drew even closer as the hours passed, and Arendelle's navy was just within sight of the city. A mighty force of equestrian soldiers from Weselton rode onward, and was at the border of the Valley of the Living Rock, and were soon to confront the Horses of the Æsir, and a multitude of stags.

Loki emerged from the Nine Worlds to the base of Yggdrasil, wounded, and wiped his bloody hands on its trunk, and a great groan drew up from the three roots and reverberated up the trunk to the top of the tree, and a shrill cry was heard for miles.

Master Kristoff paused as his ears picked up on the cry. He turned his head and watched the trolls; they heard it, too, but were apparently unmoved by its portent. Sven, however, was not. He began to shake and froth at the mouth, Kristoff barely had time to leap off the beast before the animal collapsed and died. "What… NO!" The man scrambled off his back and crawled to his fallen friend. "No…" He rested Sven's head in his lap, and his tears flowed freely. "NO!"

Óðinn was thrown back from the doors of the Cathedral, by a force yet unknown, and moaned out his pain. "…völva…"