Elsa was reluctant to fully speak her mind, and carefully watched as the confusion on her sister's face intensified. She wasn't telling Anna everything, and her heart grieved once again. She had a feeling that Anna knew she was harboring secrets.

It was getting closer, its tendrils reached out cautiously, yet predictably into the city of Arendelle . . .

"What is it?"

Startled, Elsa turned to face her sister. "What is what?" She looked down to a still sleeping Leif.

Anna sat up and eyed her sister suspiciously. "You have a strange expression on your face. What are you thinking, and what aren't you telling me?"

Elsa lowered her head and adjusted her coat. Indeed, there was something on her mind; something that was sure to bring Anna hardship and heartache. There was something she had to do, to write, as soon as they reached the castle, and it caused her heart to ache. But it could be ignored no longer, as her senses were telling her many things that she kept to herself. She sighed and looked away from her sister, hoping the move would signal Anna to stop talking, and it did. A pang of guilt hit her then, and she completely turned away.

The stags, who were accompanying the carriage back to the castle, looked up and glanced at the Queen, sensing something. Because of this, they decided to settle just below Anna's balcony and not the Queen's, as they had a certain feeling that something was wrong. And Dáinn was worried beyond reason, and the feelings grew. Winds blew harder and sharp hail fell over everyone and everything. The snow turned into a slush that got stuck on everyone's boots including the soldiers, even though they had better equipment than the civilians.

Óðinn watched as the carriage party traveled past the Cathedral and slightly nodded to the Queen. But the god turned away abruptly when his fingers began to tingle. Thor put his hand on his father's shoulder. "I know."

Elsa nodded back and then cradled her son in her arms. She smiled at the princess but when Anna didn't return the gesture she stopped trying. There was a tension between them, one that had never existed before.

Even though the weather was horrible there was a lot of activity outside in the Market Square as soldiers went about their duty, and castle guards followed them wherever they went. This seemed to aggravate the soldiers, and tensions were rising. Anna looked outside the carriage window and noticeably frowned, as she had no desire to speak to anyone of them. The atmosphere made her feel like she was drowning. But something was different on this day. An ale house was open when it shouldn't have been.

Elsa indicated the carriage driver to stop at the castle entrance and then handed over Leif to his mother. "Here, Snowflake."

The Princess didn't say anything as she took their son, and she didn't even speak when Elsa gave her a curious look.

Anna had retreated to her own room and now stood on her own balcony, looking over the Square at the castle gates. Soldiers were everywhere, either speaking to each other or standing at the ready, should something happen. To her side, Leif was sleeping in a crib that the household staff had put there, and it had wheels so Anna could take it anywhere. The tarp that she had requested kept the rain out. It was almost dinner time, but her appetite had died hours ago, as she walked the empty halls and corridors. She needed to speak with her librarian and wondered if Elsa had found her yet. She felt a strange pulling sensation go up he spine and she didn't like it, not at all. It made her feel aggravated and annoyed. Her eyes widened and she quickly looked down to Leif. But the baby did not seem to feel her frustration, and continued to sleep.

The stags were in the Square, under her balcony railing, and seemed to be on high alert. The princess sighed as she reached over to rub at her somewhat swollen belly. She knew the Queen was on the edge of losing her mind, but she did not know how to help her, as her own thoughts flew into many directions at once. She looked beyond the Square to the marketplace beyond, and wished it was devoid of its growing madness. Before the city was closed, and the people were free. Her heart was troubled by the chaos all around her and she secretly wondered if she needed to be somewhere else, and not trapped in this suffocating castle. She cringed somewhat as she never saw the castle as a burden to her before.

The Princess sighed and clutched the railing a little tighter. She wanted her own choices, and her decisions back. The way Harald Halfdansson had treated her in that Council meeting was reprehensible; handling her as if she were a child. And, god bless her, Elsa was doing the same thing. But maybe without Harald's condescension. She was weary. Perhaps too weary to keep on going, as it was. And her annoyance grew.

Anna didn't know it, but the Queen was at her door, and watching her closely. Elsa closed her eyes and reached out with her dragon senses. "I can feel your anguish."

Anna sighed and patted Leif's head before turning to Elsa. "You can?" She wasn't surprised, nor was she surprised by her sister's depressive mood.

Elsa stayed at the door for only a moment, and did not even try to move to her sister. "Yes. This whole kingdom is in shambles, and so is your heart, I believe it." She lowered her head. "We have yet to hear from Crown Prince Hålogaland, and I believe the young Earl Klemmet was planning on making the journey with him, with about 300 loyal men at arms."

Anna fumed. "Don't you speak that man's name in my presence!"

Elsa, stunned at Anna's outburst, took a step back. "What?"

"Why did you do it, Elsa? Why did you make Hålogaland a Prince of Arendelle!?" Anna's voice betrayed her aggravation, and perhaps something even more ruinous.

"I, at the moment, thought I was doing a thing that would be good for Arendelle." The Queen stepped a little closer to her sister but stopped when she saw Anna's look. "I'm sorry—I wasn't thinking at the time."

"You weren't thinking? "Anna's frown deepened. "Just like you weren't thinking when you got me pregnant!" The Princess heard the words come out of her mouth, and her eyes widened. She glanced at their son.

The Queen blanched, her heart lurching within at the venom. "But I . . . never meant to hurt you, Anna. You know this."

"Really? Do I now? Starting right now I'm part of the decision-making process in this Kingdom, Elsa. Do you hear me? And how was it good for Arendelle, by the way? Or were you, yet again, just thinking of yourself!"

Elsa was flabbergasted at the turn of events. "What do you mean by that?"

"My son is the only Prince in this kingdom, Elsa! I'm glad Malkolm is dead, so I won't have to confront him, too! But you are going to dispatch a messenger to Hålogaland and divest him of his princely titles-all of his titles. I want this done today. RIGHT NOW!"

The Queen's heart sank some more. "Now? I'll—get on it right away, Princess Anna. Is there anything else that I can do for you?"

Anna waved her sister away. "Yes, I need Beatrice—the librarian—back. Today, if you don't mind."

"I don't know where she is."

"Then find her!"

Elsa nodded and bowed slightly. "Like I said, I'll work on that now." She turned to leave and then glanced back at her sister. "I'm sorry, Anna, for all my arrogance and presumptuousness." When she was at the door she turned around again. "Please don't hate me."

Anna turned angry eyes on her sister. "I need you to stop making decisions for me, Elsa. I am my own person—with my own ideas and capabilities. I fully understand your concern but its time I have a say in what is going on around me!" She sighed and lowered her head. "Don't misunderstand me on this, Elsa. I'm not throwing you out, so to speak. Just that, from now on I'm walking at your side, or in front of you, and not behind you ever again." She saw the abject fear in her sister's eyes. "I'm so sorry what I said about Leif. I love him."

Elsa nodded again and then quietly left the room. Ragnarøkkr.

When Elsa was gone Anna allowed her tears to flow freely, and her angry tears puzzled her; she was not connected as deeply to Rägnarok as the Queen was, but for the first time, finally felt as if she understood it. She moved to her balcony again and couldn't believe the amount anger she possessed. "What is wrong with me? " Anna leaned on the railing again. She whispered, "I'm sorry, as well. I don't hate you, Elsa—god, I never could."

The camp just beyond Arendelle proper was buzzing with soldierly activity. Messengers came and went, the cooks set up large barbeques under the trees and were now readying lunch for all, and more guard posts had been set up and were manned all day and night. But a foul mood was entering into the hearts of some of men and women, and hasty and angry words were spoken.

General Urban stood at the entrance to his command center and lit his pipe, dissatisfied that business wasn't happening with military professionalism, or so he thought.

The General was just about to enter his tent when a loud screaming could be heard way in the distance, in the deeper forest, and there was something inhuman about it. There was one of his scouts, Espen, guiding his horse between the trees and barreling its way to the camp. Several soldiers, an entire centuria, rushed to the outer boundary of the camp, and readied themselves for any danger.

Espen and his horse stormed into the camp at a fast clip. He wheeled his animal a few yards from Urban. "General, you need to see this now!" Espen turned quickly away from the tent and gasped, ready to face anything at hand, but not quite believing it.

The centuria of soldiers, about forty yards from the General's tent, were nervously standing about, their attentions drawn to the thundering of hooves coming from the greater forest. A light shone along with the sound and frightened those soldiers to the core.

"What is going on—"

Urban gaped at the sight before him. Several—perhaps hundreds—of stags were running in and out of the forest and heading in the direction of his camp. The centuria of soldiers screamed, and they began to flee in various directions.

Espen was horrified by the retreat of the soldiers and stood his ground. He whirled towards the fleeing men and wiped rain from his face. "Men and women of Arendelle! Stop, just stop! We are Queen Elsa's mighty army! We don't run from anything!"

Most of those who were fleeing stopped and turned towards the General. Urban blew his whistle and waved. "Come back! That's an order—everyone to his or her post!"

Iðunn, a great goddess of the Æsir, raised the horn to her lips once again and blew out a mighty roar. She slowed her steed the closer she came to the soldiers and the stags stopped altogether, as they did want to upset the humans. "Queen Elsa! I need to council with Queen Elsa. Where is the Miðgarðr serpent!"

Urban felt an irrational fear crawl up his spine but calmly walked up to the huge golden steed and tried to exude an air of calmness, even though he was terrified. His pipe fell from his hand at the sight before him. A part of him was completely surprised at the immortal being's presence, but another wasn't, as he had believed everything his Queen had told him. "I am General Urban Pedersen, Supreme Commander of Her Majesty's, Queen Elsa's, Army." He tilted his head slightly. "I'm sorry but I don't know you."

The large Goddess unsheathed her golden sword and pointed it at the sky. "Iðunn—a great goddess of the Æsir. War is at hand, and we are here to fulfill the prophecy of the Ragnarøkkr . . . þatt ure Drihhtin wollde ben borenn i þiss middellærd . . . Foul things are on the move, but all is not lost."

Urban nodded, and let out a great cleansing breath. "Oh, I hope so." Hail fell on his shoulders, and he winced.

Iðunn turned around on her Golden Steed. "Stags of Yggdrasil's Forest! Come, and surround this encampment."

The soldiers looked on in amazement as each stag walked on over to them and stood at their sides; one stag to each soldier. The General, too, was surprised to see the Goddess move over to him. He turned to the great Goddess. "Are we invincible, now?"

The Goddess spurred her golden horse towards the General. "No hasty words, human." Iðunn turned her steed back towards the forest as the winds picked up speed. "A demon lies in that forest."

There was brawling at Arendelle's port as both civilians and soldiers came to blows even at trivial matters. There were even a few dead bodies in the marketplace, and no one came to haul them away even though their blood flowed over the cobblestone walkway. Now a shopkeeper was trying to close his ale house, but a few men were taunting him, trying to keep the business open. A few castle guards, who were not as strenuously trained as the soldiers, tried to stop them. They were gutted with knives and their bodies tossed aside. A few Sailors at the nearest pier saw what happened and ran towards the taunting men and shot them dead where they stood. Ragnarök.

Admiral Crispin stood impatiently on the main dock, and then he began to pace, his anger growing at the chaos before him. And he watched the activity in the Marketplace in horror as it was being destroyed by a mob.

He gasped when his own men gunned down the civilians; but he was nearly knocked down into the fjord when a particularly heavy gust of wind blew in from the sea. In Arendelle's harbor the remainder of the Fleet came into view. The winds flew in all directions as the chaos of Ragnarök continued to increase as the days and hours passed. Five vessels were entering the harbor itself while the remainder of the fleet took up strategic positions in the sea just west of the harbor entrance. The ships were being battered by the unceasing storm and its evil portents.

The Admiral raised his spyglass and looked beyond Arendelle's ships. He could see the ships from Weselton and the Southern Isles. They were, perhaps, only a day away from Arendelle's border.

The Baron of Farsund, Knight Asleik's master, stopped his horse just west of the great Forest of Yggdrasil and turned to his men. "All stop, right now!" About 200 of Farsund's equestrian forces stopped about thirty yards from the Baron and had to use clothes to keep the sleet from their horse's faces.

The small army from the southern most end of Arendelle's border consisted of equestrian soldiers only, as none of its other inhabitants wanted to have anything to do with the war, and did not believe the prophecies. But Farsund was a noble land, and its Baron was loyal to its Queen.

Knight Asleik trotted up the Baron from the back of the riders. "This is where it is, my Baron. I know it. Just look at it, the darkness is more pronounced here."

Baron Frode Kristiansen scratched at his sideburn. "How do you know this, Asleik? We've yet to pass any people on this quest—on this mission. Not since that last village we visited two days ago."

The Knight pulled his mount closer to the Baron. "The stablemaster sat by me in the ale house and told me an unbelievable story. He said that a huge company of equestrian forces had passed through their village ten days ago and were conscripting mercenaries by the hundreds. He described their uniforms to me—they are from Weselton. Exactly like I told you from my meetings in Arendelle."

Frode wiped the rain from his steed's face. "Weselton you say? They are the enemies of Arendelle and our Queen. You think these horse soldiers are in there?" He nodded his head toward the darker forest beyond them.

"Not just them, Baron. But if that stablemaster was right then they have doubled their strength by taking those men from the villages." The Knight adjusted his cape to keep the rain out. "If I'm right about what I think then those men from Weselton will have the conscripts go before them in their lines, and we will be fighting them, and not the men from Weselton. Then the horse riders will strike, and our forces will be depleted."

Another knight broke ranks and steered her horse next to the Baron's. "There are rumors, Baron. Within our company, they say there is a demon in that dark place."

Frode closed his eyes for a moment and shook his head. "Who is starting rumors?"

"I don't know, Baron." Knight Estrid patted her horse and stared at the dark woods before them. She turned to the Knight. "You were at Arendelle, weren't you? What did Her Majesty say about all this?"

Asleik's mount was skittish, and he tried to reign it in. "She thinks this has to do with certain prophecies that our culture holds dear."

The Baron turned to the Knight. "What? You didn't say anything about that at our meeting?"

Asleik sighed as a slight pang of aggravation took hold of him. "I . . . I didn't want to . . . appear foolish."

"Foolish!" Estrid glared at the Knight. "What are you saying? If Queen Elsa told you what was really happening, then you had an obligation to let us know! Am I right, Baron Frode?"

"Absolutely!" The Baron grabbed at Asleik's reins and pulled him closer. "What prophecies?"

"Ragnarök and Fimbulvetr! The Queen told the entire Council, and not just me." The Knight grabbed his horse back from the Baron, and tried to control his anger.

The Baron lowered his head for a moment, then looked back up at his two officers. "Do any other Knights know about this?"

Asleik shook his head, then looked back at his fellow soldiers. "No, they don't. All they know is that this is an exercise, just like you told me to say."

A low rumbling began in the Great Forest could be heard and felt and it rippled out to the Baron's party of soldiers. The Baron and his two Officer Knights turned their steeds towards the Forest.

"Then we will proceed cautiously." The Baron Frode Kristiansen hesitated for only a second before blowing his horn. The riders followed him into Yggdrasil's forbidding forest.

Hours later, when night approached, Elsa stared at the dying flames and sighed deeply. She looked at the parchment in her hand and then threw it on a table. Anna had not showed up for dinner, and she feared she may have ruined their relationship by simply doing her duty. But it wasn't duty, as far as the Queen was concerned. Anna was no more a duty to her as her need to breathe. It seemed like this part of the Castle, her parlor, was free from the devasting effects of the Rägnarok and she didn't understand why. Nor was she cognizant of the chaos living in the other parts of the castle. She could feel the anger and aggravation growing amongst her staff, and knew that even Kai was being affected. But she had dispatched him to find Beatrice, and hoped for his success.

Just as she was about to get up, she heard the door to her parlor creak open.

Anna stood at her doorway, carrying Leif on her shoulder. "I'm so sorry, Elsa." She went to the vacant, over-stuffed chair and laid Leif down on his blanket.

"No, Anna. You have nothing to be sorry for—I'm just an idiot." The Queen stood and beckoned her sister closer.

Anna moved to within a few inches of Elsa. "I know you have this huge burden on your shoulders, and I won't pretend to understand what it must feel like, I'm just sorry I added to it."

"We must be careful with our feelings from now on, Snowflake. Ragnarök is here, it's here, I can feel it. Our people are killing each other." This time the Queen could not hold back her tears and wept when Anna wound her arm around her shoulders.

Anna pulled her sister closer. "Don't worry, Elsa. I'm here."

Elsa unleashed all of her pent up emotion, and her tears flowed like a river, and cascaded down her uniform jacket. Anna wound both arms around the Queen and fought down a growing sense of dread. She could literally feel the sorrow coming from her sister, and wondered the deep cause of it.

The Queen gently disengaged Anna's arms from around her. "There is something so important that we must talk about, but the mere thought of it strikes me like thunder."

Anna blinked. "You mean something more than the prophecies?"

"No, Snowflake. Jörmungandr's time has come."

"What do you mean?" A small tingling of fear stole up the Princess' back.

"We have come to the end-or the beginning. I, as Elsa, must fade so that Jömundandr can rise and fulfill destiny."

Anna blanched, and she gasped. "What are you saying? You are leaving?"

Elsa carressed Anna's cheek. "Have we not known all along that it would come to this? The signs were there, over all these months. I ought to have paid closer attention."

"You can't leave me and Leif! You told me that you would never leave. I . . . I won't allow it." Anna wiped at new tears.

Elsa wiped a her own tears, and her heart wanted nothing more than to stay with her beloved. "Óðinn is in the Cathedral, and Thor is with him." She furiously wiped at her face. "The Æsir are fleeing Ásgard, and have finally found the jötnar." Anna tried to grab hold of Elsa. The Queen turned again and tore off her officer's jacket, easily escaping Anna's grip. "A Fossegrim has escaped Yggdrasil and is headed for Arendelle's harbor. Nothing will stop it." She whirled to Anna again, her eyes wild. "I am abdicatting, Anna! I have to! Jödrmungandr's time is at hand, and I must go. Anna, Jörmundandr is a sea serpent!" She went over to the table and picked up the parchment and calmly gave it to her sister.

Anna, eyes wide, grabbed the paper and hurriedly looked at the words. "Oh, my God . . .Now, this is happening now!"

Both turned abruptly at the loud banging on the Queen's parlor door. Anna went to a startled Leif.

Kai slammed into the room with the Librarian, Beatrice, at his heels. "I found her, Your Majesty, Duke Otleiv was bringing her to the castle-and I got your message."

Beatrice frantically looked about the room, and finally saw Anna. "Princeess Anna!"

The Queen looked furiously at the other woman. "We don't have time for this! Kai, I need for you and the Librarian to co-sign this document for me, as official witnesses. I don't have time for the Council and it needs to be done. I'm abdicating the Throne."

"What!" Kai was horrified, but knew his Queen's reasoning. He grabbed Beatrice's arm. "Come on! We have to sign it."

Both the Master of Arendelle and its Librarian quickly glanced at Anna before adding their names to the official decree. Elsa calmly took the document over to her desk and added her offcial seal and patents. She folded the document and sealed it with wax. Then handed it to Kai. "Take this to the Privy Council Chamber and post it as it is an official decree. Dispatch couriers to all the duchies and fiefdoms and announce the news. I have to go now." She hesitated for a second, feeling what Jörmungandr was feeling. "Weselton and the Southern Isles . . . They are so close they can see the shore."

Elsa offered her sister a small smile. "I love you, Your Majesty." In a few steps she had Leif in her arms and gently kissed him on the forehead. "My son. I love you, Leif." After placing him on the chair again she gathered Anna into her arms and passionately kissed her, her love free and obvious. "I will always love you, my sister, my wife. But now I must take my leave of you and fight a mighty battle." She lifted her hand and gently wiped Anna's continuing tears. "It is not for just Arendelle, and not just for you that I must go, but for all the free people's of the land."

Anna reached up and cupped Elsa's cheeks. "Please, my love, please don't go!" She held on tightly when Elsa tried to pull away. "I love you, Elsa! Oh, my god, I have always loved you! What a damn fool I've been, I ought to told you sooner. What will I do without you?""

Elsa smiled again at her dear sister before turning to Kai. "I am now Princess Consort of Arendelle, with rights and privileges. But no longer Queen. You both with honor this and recognize your new Queen."

Kai and Beatrice both bowed to Anna. Kai picked up Queen Anna's hand and kissed it. "Your Majesty."

Elsa quickly moved to the door and then turned to stare hard at Beatrice. "What are you going to tell her?" She glanced at Anna before turning towards the door.

"The truth."

The New Princess quickly walked back to Anna again. "When all this is over, and war is gone from Arendelle, we'll go on that date."

Anna threw her arms around Elsa's shoulders. "Come back to me, and Leif." She brought Elsa's hand up to her belly. "And our unborn child."

"Kai, take good care of her." Elsa could hear the restles stags below her balcony outside. "And let them in the castle. The Queen will need them now."

"Yes, Your Maj-, I mean Your Highness."

Elsa nodded and then flew out the door, Kai following.

Crown Prince Hålogaland and the Earl Klemmet both looked up when a scout entered their dining tent. They ate what the cooks had prepared even thouh they weren't hungry. Klemment reached under the table they were sitting at and brought up a bottle of ale.

Hålogaland sighed while putting his fork down. "Do you really think that's appropriate?" He gestured to the outside the tent. "I'm not allowing them alcohol."

Klemmet uncorked the decanter. "It'll take th edge off."

The Prince frowned. "I said no. I outrank you now, my Lord."

A soldier opened the flap of their tent and freezing air blew in. "A rider just droppped off this package." He saluted the two officers and then handed the package he was carrying to the Earl. "For you, sir."

Klemmet put the package on the table and waved the scout away. "I'm not expecting anything. Are you, Hålogaland?"

It was night, and it was cold. The dining tent had to be tied to the nearby trees with twice the amount a rope as usual, accounting for the winds that were picking up. The heavy rains were still an hour away as the Ragnarök moved slowly through this type of habitat—heavy forests with a sparce scattering of villages in between. The Privy Council had been unsure of what would come to Arendelle proper from this part of their territory, so had sent a limited number of weaponries with the two armies present. Earl Klemmet's riflemen had a limited amount of ammunition while Hålogaland's personal forces had swords but no bowmen.

The Earl opened the package, moving very slowly, as he was a careful man. When it was open, he stood up and just stared, eyes wide. "Oh, my . . . "

The Prince stood up as well at the smell coming from box. "What in God's name . . .?!"

Just as the Prince shouted a great cry was heard in the far distance. Both men rushed outside to see what was happening. The fires from the different encampments loomed off into the distance, making it seem like the whole hill was on fire. And Her Majesty's Lords tried to see what was beyond their armies, but the blackness of night hid what was advancing towards them.

Njörðr of the Vanir cackled with delight and clutched at his giant club. His sojourn in Alfheim was a success, and went beyond his expectations. He had thought the Æsir to stop him, but it didn't happen. The Goddess had been right, the remaining Æsir weren't aware of his movements, even Freyr. He looked over his shoulder at those who had followed him, but they were barely visible in this black night. They were The Elves of Old, when the nine worlds were young, and their hearts were just as dark as his own. The Dökkálfar kept a steady pace with the god from the Vanir.

He was far from Vanaheimr, but he didn't care. This kill meant everything, as it would elevate his worth to his fellow gods and goddesses.

Brœðr muno beriaz ok at bǫnom verða[z]

muno systrungar sifiom spilla.

Hart er í heimi, hórdómr mikill

—skeggǫld, skálmǫld —skildir ro klofnir—

vindǫld, vargǫld— áðr verǫld steypiz.

Mun engi maðr ǫðrom þyrma . . .

Their chanting was barley audible, and was felt rather than heard by the mortal men before them.

Phew, never thought i'd pull that off. Now to the battles . . . I want reviews! And yes, I'm acting like a petulant child.