Chapter 8

Pabbie the troll clucked his tongue as he placed his hand under Freja's chin, examining her. Bulda and the rest of the troll family were huddled around them in a small clearing, one of the only places in the kingdom were snow hadn't touched.

"I'm sorry your highness," said Pabbie, looking sadly into the queen's eyes. "I cannot help you. My magic is powerful, but not that powerful. You have ice in your heart, and the only thing that will heal you at this point is an act of true love."

"True love?" Freja shivered.

"But where do we find that?" Bulda asked Pabbie, "We have to do something."

The trolls whispered amongst themselves for a few minutes, but to no avail.

Freja could hardly think, she was so cold. But there was one person she knew who loved her, and who would always love her.

"Stellan."

"The king?" said Bulda.

"Of course!" exclaimed Pabbie, "What magic is more powerful than that of a true love's kiss?"

"None!" cheered all the trolls together.

"Then it's settled. Your highness, you must stay here, where you are warmer. It will slow down the process."

"The process of what?"

"Did I not say? Oh bother, I'm very sorry. I'm afraid, if true love does not intervene soon, you will freeze to solid ice. Very beautiful, but also, very permanent. Except on rare occasions."

Freja thought of Elsa and a single tear ran down her cheek.

"Don't you worry, your highness!" said Bulda, "We will find the king and bring him to you. Quicker than a snowman melts in summer! Come on, you lot! Let's go find true love!"

"Sire! Sire!"

Stellan's horse had slipped on ice, and the king had been buried waist deep in snow.

"I'm fine, captain. Just get me out!"

He was lifted up and set on his feet.

"This storm is getting worse by the minute! We need to find shelter!"

"Not until we find my wife!"

Without warning, the procession was surrounded. On all sides, strange, talking rock-like creatures were jumping up and down, singing and chanting.

"True love, true love true love!"

"What is this!?" demanded the captain, "Hold your ground, men, do not attack!"

"Your majesty! King!" A creature yelled, running up to Stellan.

"Halt!" the captain brandished his sword and pointed it at the creature.

Stellan squinted at it through the falling snow.

"Trolls! They're trolls!"

"King, sir! We need to take you to the queen!"

"Freja? You found her?" Stellan felt the terror rolling off of him like steam.

"Yes, yes! But you need to come, quickly! She needs you!"

That sent a new kind of fear washing over the king. Was she hurt? Was the baby? Mounting his horse, he turned to face his men.

"I thank you for your service today. Now I want you to go back to Arendelle. Be with your families, and make sure they are safe. Go." Then he turned and kicked his horse into a gallop, slipping and sliding down the mountain, following the trolls as they rolled and bounced along in front of him.

Freja was only half conscious as Pabbie placed hot liquid on her lips. He opened her mouth and tried to swallow, but her tongue felt swollen and her jaw rigid. She couldn't move. She couldn't think. She couldn't do anything.

"Remember to keep breathing," Pabbie urged. Freja realized in shock that she had not inhaled in about half a minute. She shakily put a hand on her abdomen.

"Will… sh-she…"

"Hush, now," said Pabbie, spooning more soup into her mouth. Most of it dribbled down her chin.

A commotion at the far end of the clearing caused Freja to crane her neck painfully in that direction. A group of trolls was skipping and hooting and escorting a man toward her.

"Stellan!" she tried to shout for him, but her voice didn't come.

Stellan ran toward her and caught her around the waist as she fell toward him. He stared at her. Was it possible for someone to look awful and gorgeous at the same time? If not, his wife was definitely the exception. Her hair was completely white now, and her face pale.

"Oh, Freja, I'm so sorry!"

"No time for talk, sire," interrupted Pabbie, "You need to kiss her. Now!"

And kiss her, the king did. Freja blinked as he leaned in. His lips were warm against hers. The warmth felt better than anything she had ever experienced in her whole life. It spread through her whole body, starting deep inside her chest and radiating out through her cheeks and fingers and toes. Her scalp tingled with sensation, and her hair turned back to its natural brown color. She felt so alive that she wanted to scream. But instead, she wrapped her arms around Stellan and pulled him close to her, tears of joy streaming freely down both of their faces.

At last, they both pulled back, laughing. Freja threw her arms around her husband and hugged him tightly, and he hugged her back.

"Oh!" exclaimed Freja. She turned to Pabbie, leaving Stellan a little perplexed.

"Will… will Elsa be okay?"

Pabbie smiled. "I think she will be just… incredible."

As if to reiterate, a soft kick hit the inside of Freja's belly.

"Thank heavens!" said Stellan. He drew Freja to him, knelt down, and planted his lips on her bulge. "Thank heavens, my little Elsa."

He stood up, smiling.

Freja gasped.

"Edvard! He… he…"

"We know he took you," Stellan said, "One of the servants saw him sneaking into the castle on the day you disappeared and we put two and two together. You don't have to worry about him anymore. He is locked away in the dungeon until we can give him a trial."

"He's in Arendelle?!"

"Yes. He's not going anywhere. He has five guards sitting on his cell."

Freja's eyes were hard.

"That won't be enough."