Chapter Ten: Lessons and Past Lives

Anna bit her lips as she finished breakfast with Elsa and Kristoff. She hadn't told him about all the craziness the night before. What was she supposed to say? "Hey, honey? I saved Alphonse from a crazy magic bird last night, then I started glowing, and he told me I'm a reincarnated god. Crazy, right?" Nope, not the way it was gonna happen.

As Anna wracked her brain for a way to broach the topic, Alphonse wandered in dressed in a simple linen shirt and wool pants, as well as his sturdy boots. The dark circles under his eyes indicated he was still tired, but at least he was up and moving. As Elsa watched him approach, she bit back an order to go back to bed. Not only was he a guest, but he was teaching Anna today. And it didn't seem right to causally order around a man who had saved her people. Twice.

"So, Princess," Alphonse said, "are you ready to begin?" he asked calmly. Kristoff's eyebrows rose in confusion.

"Ready for what?" he asked. Alphonse's eye twitched and his cheeks colored as he realized neither Anna nor Elsa had told him about the night before. For the thousandth time, he cursed not having a normal childhood.

"Kristoff," Anna said sweetly, though her voice shook ever-so-slightly, "can you come with me? Something … weird happened last night that you should know about." Kristoff hesitated, wondering what the odds were that he would need to tell her the same. He nodded and followed her out, leaving Elsa and Alphonse alone.

Alphonse fidgeted for a moment before squeezing the bridge of his nose with a sigh. "I'm sorry, Queen Elsa," he said. Elsa's eyebrow rose in question. She gestured to a seat, which he gratefully took. After a few moments of silence, Elsa broached the topic.

"What are you sorry about, Alphonse?" she asked. The mage sighed and straightened before answering.

"That social break aside, I'm sorry Anna is in this situation at all. If those-" he bit back a curse "-birds hadn't gotten their hooks in, Anna could have lived a normal life, for a princess." He met her eyes, regret brimming like the shine over a lake. "I'm sorry," he said, almost pleading. Acting on instinct, Elsa placed her hand on Alphonse's, seeking to comfort him.

"It's not your fault, Alphonse," she said. "It's the way things work sometimes, and I'm glad you're here to do what you can." The queen smiled. "Besides, it's not like there's much normalcy to break here." Frost covered the tabletop, creeping up the silverware and dishes. "See?"

Alphonse smiled, relieved that the queen didn't blame him. He glanced down at their hands, still joined, and red blossomed in his cheeks. Elsa turned pink as well and slowly withdrew, though she felt an odd sense of loss.

"Hungry?" she asked, hoping to relieve the sudden awkwardness. Alphonse nodded and took some pancakes lathered with sweet cream and dusted with cocoa. After a moment of hesitation, he took a bite, humming in delight.

"Delicious," he said. Elsa smiled and continued with her own meal.

It took Anna nearly a half hour to fully relate what had happened the night before, including her dream from the night before that (it never hurt to be totally honest). After a stunned silence, Kristoff had been supportive of her decision and proud of her actions in defending Alphonse. After all, strange magical events had been the norm for him even before he met Anna. And this gave him a chance to forget about that metal chest he had hidden in one of the gardens.

As they approached Alphonse to begin the lesson, Kristoff spoke up. "Can I sit in for this?" he asked, just a tad worried. Pabbie had never been keen on him, nor even other troll children, being around when he did his work. He claimed it was "too dangerous should something go wrong". Not that things ever actually "went wrong" but the old troll was cautious with something as dangerous as magic, and Kristoff had seen dangerous magic up-close with Marshmallow and Anna's heart being frozen. But all that aside, he still wanted to be there for Anna in any way he could.

Alphonse's eyes narrowed as he thought it over, then gave the slightest nod. Anna fist-pumped; Kristoff could watch her learn whatever-it-was! (Should she be so excited? Ah, it didn't matter!)

"But," Alphonse stressed, "I need your word that you will not interfere. My methods may be … unorthodox, but interruption could lead to disaster. No matter what happens, you will watch, not intervene. Is that clear?" Kristoff had never been easily intimidated. To date, only Oaken the massive shopkeeper, Marshmallow the even-more-massive snow golem, and Elsa the Snow Queen herself had done so. But the steely force in Alphonse's voice, even coming from a lithe figure a head shorter than him drew the ice harvester up short. Before he knew it, he was nodding, and Alphonse relaxed. Alphonse gestured for them to follow, retrieving his staff and satchel before they left the castle.

As they left the town behind, Alphonse Shifted into his wolf form and led the way up the mountains at an easy trot, allowing the princess and her consort to keep up. Anna glanced at Kristoff, sensing they had a similar question. "Why the wolf thing?" Anna asked, blunt as ever. Alphonse chuckled, the sound oddly guttural coming from his now-canine throat.

"I enjoy walking in this form. It makes me feel … more connected to nature." They walked for a few more minutes before Alphonse stopped in a small clearing off the trail, a creek running through and the sun shining. He Shifted back to his normal shape and cleared his throat.

"Kristoff, please give us some room. You are free to listen, but I repeat: do not intervene." Kristoff nodded, though he was getting nervous with the repeated request. What could happen that it would make him want to intervene in something Alphonse clearly knew about? Kristoff sat on a nearby log and watched as Alphonse guided Anna to sit cross-legged before sitting in front of her in a mirrored stance.

"So, what do I have to do?" Anna asked cheerily.

"Are you familiar with the old stories of our people?" Alphonse asked. Anna nodded and began explaining what she knew, drawing on the countless times her father had told them to her. Alphonse stopped her after a good fifteen minutes, convinced she was far from ignorant.

"What do you know about Freya?" he asked. The question drew the princess up short. She expected him to ask about Thor or Odin or Loki, or whomever else. Freya was … not her specialty.

"Um, she's from the Vanir, right?" Alphonse nodded. "Uh, she was goddess of love, Thor dressed as her to get his hammer back, she was Frey's sister, she had an awesome necklace …" Anna trailed off, having run out of details that she could remember and painfully aware that she had given only the barebones of Freya's description. Alphonse cleared his throat to begin.

"Freya was more than a love goddess," he explained. "She was the ruler of Vanaheim, one of the two halls of the Fallen Dead. She was a goddess of war and death, who took half of the honored dead to her home, in preparation for Ragnarok." Anna smiled as she remembered that Odin got the other half, but kept it to herself. "She was the goddess of beauty, said to be the fairest among both Aesir and Vanir. And lastly, but far from least important, she was a goddess of magic. It was said that she brought magic to the Aesir; she was the standard for women who used magic."

Anna mulled all of this over, but couldn't see why he was telling her this. Alphonse was looking at her with his usual calm, the kind that was eerily like Elsa's had been before the Eternal Winter, as if he were waiting for her to connect the dots. "What's this have to do with-" Anna cut off as an impossible thought crossed her mind. Was he saying-?

"You are the Residuum of Freya," he confirmed. All of the emotions from last night came rushing back: incredulity, denial, wonder, and a dozen others she couldn't begin to identify. She was supposed to be Freya?! Her - clumsy, awkward Anna? No way! There was no way!

"What's a Residuum?" Kristoff asked. Alphonse glanced at him, but there was no frustration at the interruption; only acceptance and a tinge of pride. "That is a subject for later, when Elsa can listen as well." Elsa had wanted to come, but had had her duties to attend to. "Suffice it to say, it is not pleasant to embrace, but Anna no longer has a choice." He turned back to address Anna. "Last night, you somehow made contact with Freya's essence inside you through sheer instinct and force of will, though I'm sure Hugin's … state of being, had something to do with it, too.

"Since you have made contact, no matter how small, Freya's essence is waking and will begin to meld with your psyche. If not guided, this process could have disastrous consequences." Anna was starting to get a little nervous. Part of her was glad he was being honest, but the other kind of wished he would sugarcoat it just a little.

"What kind of consequences?" she asked.

"How about Freya taking full control and pushing you into the back of your own mind?" Alphonse asked. "And that's the best-case scenario. There's also raving madness, blindness or deafness, crippling physical deformity, paralysis-" Anna cut him off, assuring him that she got the picture, chuckling nervously as she did. Alphonse gave her a look that almost screamed "No, you really don't" but let it pass.

"To properly align with Freya's essence without losing yourself, you will have to become like her; but on your own terms, not her's." Alphonse twisted his neck, popping it to loosen up. "The first step for you is to embrace one of her aspects." He smiled a bit. "You've started on war and battle fairly well, so now we need the next step: magic."

Anna's eyes widened in surprise. "I'm going to learn magic?" she asked. Alphonse nodded, but seemed almost sad for her.

"The first step for natural magic," he explained, "the power of the Vanir as opposed to the runic magic discovered by Odin, is to forge a link to your inner-fire to act as the fuel for the magic itself." Anna raised a hand, almost like a child in school. Alphonse nodded for her to ask; as he had told Kristoff, curiosity was a good thing.

"Did Elsa have to do that to get hers?" Anna asked.

"I doubt it," Alphonse answered. "Your sister's power is something different. Something very rare that even the Aesir and Vanir knew little about. Something about the moon aligning with planets every thousand years or so …" Alphonse quieted as he thought about what little he knew about Elsa's particular powers. After a few moments he shook it off and focused on Anna.

"Anyway, no, your own magic will be different from Elsa's. Similar, in a way, but very different." He held out his hands for Anna to take. "But first you have to connect with yourself to start the ball rolling." Anna took his hands. "You need to journey inside yourself and find that spark of power that rests inside you, both in yourself and from Freya. After that, learning will be simple once you hit your stride. After all, in a way, you have learned before. It's like riding a bike." Alphonse closed his eyes.

"Close your eyes, take a deep breath, and breath out through your nose." Anna did as she was told. "Good. Again." Anna did it again, and again, and again. When she started to speed up, Alphonse gently told her to slow down. When she wriggled to get more comfortable, which was often, she stopped, only to do it again a few moments later.

If Kristoff had been any less patient he would have left after the second hour. If he were any less secure or had any less faith in Anna, he would think Alphonse had only brought her out here to be alone. But he was none of those things and waited it out for the full fours hours before Alphonse sighed heavily and broke contact, rubbing his temples.

"This is getting us nowhere fast," the mage muttered, just a little frustrated.

"Really? I had no idea," Anna said, more than a little frustrated. "I thought you said this would be easy?" Anna asked, trying to forcibly push down her irritation.

"I never said 'easy', Anna. I said simple, and once you hit your stride. Magic is never easy, otherwise everyone would do it."

Alphonse stood and stretched the kinks from his back and joints, motioning for Anna to do the same. After loosening up, Alphonse considered his options. As he had suspected, Anna was a "doer", one who learned by action, not reading or methodical reasoning. In some ways, that would help her learn later, but for now it was a handicap. Alphonse bit back a curse as he something in his bag came to mind. A shortcut that could jumpstart the process. But it had its own share of not-insignificant dangers.

"Anna, there may be a shortcut." He waited out the shocked pause that followed and weathered Anna's brief rant about why he didn't say that before, until she calmed down. "But it is dangerous," he finished. Alphonse looked Anna in the eye, as dire as he could be. "In these things, there are always shortcuts. But trust me when I say they are not only dangerous, they are painful. 'Only through suffering may wisdom be achieved'. I only offer because of the dire circumstances, and not just your Residuum, but the sorcerer who has it in for you." And Elsa, he thought, but didn't voice that. "Are you still willing to take the shortcut?"

Anna, looking into those sad, fierce, mismatched eyes, knew he was deadly serious. Emphasis on "deadly". But he was right in the sense that Hans (she was certain it was Hans, though she didn't know why) could strike at any time. She had to move past the danger and learn fast if she wanted to help Elsa deal with this. After all, that's what she really hoped to get out of this, that was the reason she wanted to learn magic. Not for herself, but to help Elsa. To not just be a burden, for once.

"Let's do it," she said, steel in her voice. Alphonse sighed and nodded before retrieving something from his bag. He removed a small stone bottle and a large wooden cup, as well as a small metal rod. The mage crossed to the creek and filled the cup, then returned to Anna, gesturing for Kristoff to approach. Alphonse unstoppered the bottle and poured the tiniest drop Anna had ever seen into it. He re-stoppered the bottle and began stirring with the rod, motioning for them to sit again.

"What's that?" Kristoff asked, familiar to a degree with potions.

"This," Alphonse answered, "is a catalyst to spiritual travel. It … loosens the spirit from the body, allowing it to move more freely. This can manifest in prophetic dreams or out-of-body experiences in the real world. It can also help one delve into their own psyche, which is what we need." He handed the cup of water to Anna, who hesitated.

"Why don't I just drink a full drop? Don't drugs and stuff work faster if you have more?" Anna asked. Alphonse rubbed his forehead in light exasperation. She still had so much to learn.

"If you drank even a drop straight from the bottle, it would surely kill you. You have no tolerance. And it wouldn't be quick either. Even this is not entirely safe, so I ask again: are you sure you want to do this?" Alphonse knew what she would do before she did it, and he hated himself for it. Anna's gaze hardened and she downed the water in three huge gulps. She sighed at the cold water and waited.

"Well, that wasn't-" Anna coughed and fell forward, Kristoff catching her. Alphonse placed a hand on her forehead and focused, delving within himself for the rune for potential. With a little creative thinking it could mean potential to help Anna, and the magic linked them, allowing him to see into her journey …

Anna gasped as she came-to, finding herself back in one of the castle's hallways. No, wait, it wasn't the castle. Everything was swaying, like it was seen through the air above a campfire, but slower. The light came from nowhere, but it was still there. In all, it reminded her of that weird dream, the one she was rapidly beginning to think was not just a dream.

"Strange, isn't it?" Anna yelped and whirled around to find Alphonse standing behind her. Or wait, maybe standing wasn't the right word. It was a ball of whirling fire as big as an apple, the smoke coming off swirling into a shape that gave off the impression of Alphonse in his cloak, the eyes glowing blue and gold. The … figment faded away about a foot from the ground, suspended in the air.

"What you're seeing is the smallest representation of my inner-self," Alphonse explained in a voice that was more like an echo. "I've come to guide you, but I can't see as well as you. What do you see?" Anna tried to explain, but she wasn't sure she could do it justice. Everything was so … alien. Alphonse seemed to understand. "We have to find your inner-fire. It will probably resemble a large torch or a candelabra. Something to light on fire."

Anna tried to think, but was distracted by a flash of movement, out of sync with the swaying of the hallway. She almost thought it had been … a person? Alphonse noticed her hesitation. "What do you see?" he asked, wariness in his voice. Anna didn't answer, she simply bolted down the hall. As she turned the corner, she caught another glimpse, this time making out green, and ran toward it.

This pattern continued for some time as they ran through the castle, the princess catching only glimpses of their mysterious guide. She couldn't help but notice that their path led them steadily downward, and was confirmed when they entered the dungeons. Among the lower levels, they entered a room that wasn't in the castle proper. The room held a massive fireplace carved in the shape of an open lion's maw. Before the hearth stood their guide.

Anna would have gone red if she had been in her body. This woman was … was … Anna couldn't think of a fitting word; beautiful, gorgeous, lovely, they all seemed to fall short. Everything from her wavy blonde hair to her emerald eyes to her rosy cheeks and … other attributes, seemed to dwarf anyone anna had ever seen, even Elsa and Rapunzel. This woman was, Anna could say as a married woman, every wife's waking nightmare.

The woman smiled and curtsied ever-so-slightly. "Hello, Anna," she said, her voice low and alluring (she had to admit that). "I've waited a long time to meet you. Finally, dear Woden has led you here." She smiled in a way that was both calming and a little predatory, and waved to Alphonse's shadow.

"You- you're Freya," Anna stammered. Freya nodded and stepped aside to reveal the fireplace.

"Despite what Woden, or whatever his new name is, has probably told you, Anna, I'm not going to fight you for your body." Anna's eyebrows shot up and her eyes narrowed in suspicion. Freya only chuckled.

"I'm a Vanir, Anna. Or I was, before the end of our world. One could say I was a princess among the Vanir, much as you are. And while the Aesir focused on war, and for good reason, we Vanir were made of much … simpler things. Growth, seasons, fertility." She smiled wider at that before sobering up. "In other words, I know how cycles work. Our time is done and gone, no matter that some others wish it otherwise. While our spirits linger, our place is no more. It is time for you, and your kin, to take up the mantle and fight for yourselves."

Freya gestured to the fireplace, prompting Anna to step forward. Unsure of what to do, Anna simply reached forward. She felt that warmth from before take hold and her skin began to glow. The fireplace roared to life, the shockwave blasting Anna back-

Anna gasped as she became aware of her surroundings. Kristoff was holding her, Alphonse was rubbing his temples, and her skin was glowing again! All around the clearing the trees and grass started blooming, then would wilt and then grow green again. The glowing faded and the plants returned to normal.

"What just happened?" Anna asked.

"You lit your inner-fire, Anna, and you met your Remnant." He stood and shook himself out, prompting Anna and Kristoff to do the same. "I think that's enough for today," he said, gesturing at the darkening sky. "We'll start the real lessons tomorrow." With that, he led the way back to the castle.

As Kristoff and Anna followed, Kristoff was silently freaking out. Anna had been glowing, and not just in a literal way. She had seemed more … vibrant, more bright, if that were even possible. Like warmth and light that nourished the plants and made life good had been coming from her at the source.

After a moment, the ice harvester came to a decision. "Anna," he said gently squeezing his wife's hand. Anna turned to look at him, question in her eyes. Alphonse slowed, but continued on, granting the couple some measure of privacy. "I think there's something I need to show you."

Around noon that day, Elsa had finished most of her paperwork and stood to take a break. She glanced out the window of her study, wondering how anna's lessons were going. Alphonse had been generous enough to give a few details on what he intended to do, but had still been rather vague. Perhaps he didn't fully understand what he planned to do himself? Magic seemed like a rather intuitive thing, judging by her own experiences.

A knock at the door interrupted Elsa's thoughts. "Enter," she called, prompting a guard to open the door and bow.

"Your majesty," he said, "Something has happened in the infirmary," the guard reported. Elsa's eyes widened in surprise and she followed the guard, who explained the situation. Apparently, one of the guards had found a survivor of the Serpent who was not a citizen of Arendelle. She had claimed to be a survivor of a shipwreck caused by the monster and had floated up on shore. The guard who had found her had arranged her time in the infirmary.

"Why was I not informed of this?" Elsa asked. While she had no problem with helping those who needed it, especially from something so terrifying, she had a right to know who was staying in her home.

"I only just found out myself, your highness," the captain explained. "Josef is a young man, a fresh recruit, and he stayed with the girl all night. He only explained when I found him this morning watching over her, dead on his feet." The captain grimaced. "Rest assured, your highness, he was severely reprimanded for neglecting protocol and abandoning his duties."

Elsa nodded at the captain's assurance. While she wasn't entirely comfortable with the thought of a man being punished after saving an innocent life, she knew more than anyone that discipline was important in a career such as the guardsmen. After a few more minutes, they arrived at the infirmary, Elsa having to push down a slight twinge of apprehension after what had happened the night before. Was it really only last night?

Elsa was greeted by the sight of a young woman, perhaps a few years older than herself, staring through the window out onto the fjord. The woman had long black hair and bright green eyes, as well as a heart-shaped face and fair skin. She was quite tall for a woman, a head taller than Elsa. A small mole at the corner of her mouth completed the image of a lovely girl. Elsa could see, now, why a young guard would feel so protective.

"Your majesty," the woman greeted with a honey-smooth voice and graceful curtsey. "Thank you so much for your hospitality. I can't begin to thank you enough." She folded her hands before her in a gesture that was quite demure.

"You are most welcome," Elsa said, keeping her reservations to herself. She approached and sat in a chair for visitors, gesturing for the girl to seat herself. "What is your name?" Elsa asked curiously.

"Ester," she replied.

"How did you get here?" Elsa asked. Ester blushed and looked away, rubbing her arm in embarrassment. Elsa was surprised by the response and assured her that it was going to be alright.

Ester seemed to steel herself and blutred out, "I have magic!" before clamping her lips shut and turning away. To say Elsa was surprised was an understatement. If what this girl said was true, it would be two new magic users who had come to Arendelle in the past week.

"That's nothing to be ashamed of," Elsa said gently. She lifted her hand palm-up and conjured a whirl of snowflakes that floated down around the room. "Magic does not make you evil, only your intent." Elsa smiled reassuringly. "So what can you do?"

Ester hesitated before explaining. "I can- I- I see visions of the future," she said. "Things that will happen. When I was a girl, I predicted a fearsome storm that would hit my village three days before it happened. Another time I predicted that a wolf would slaughter a farmer's sheep, and two nights later, the sheep were dead. And a few months ago, I foresaw a fire that would burn half the village to ash." Ester lowered her eyes, moisture gathering in them. "The townsfolk … they called me a witch, said I was d-doing it on purpose. T-t-that I was causing it." She paused to choke back a sob. "They threw rocks at me, threatened my family …" She sniffled. "I left to - to protect them." She looked Elsa in the eyes, tears falling.

"Then I saw something far worse than anything before. I saw … I saw a fearsome snake rise from the sea, attacking a small kingdom. I knew, somehow, that it was here. I-I boarded a ship to try and warn the queen, you, but-" she sobbed, "but our ship was destroyed by the beast! I was too late!" With that, the girl burst into tears, fearsome sobs wracking her slim form.

Elsa herself covered her mouth in horror, horror at what this girl had gone through. In a way, it was an even darker reflection of her own childhood. Elsa placed a hand on Ester's shoulder, hoping to comfort her, and the girl latched onto the queen. Elsa stiffened and blushed, rubbing the girl's back with an air of awkwardness. After a few moments, Ester pulled away and rubbed her eyes.

"Apologies, your highness, I just-" she cut off, too overwhelmed by her grief. Elsa pushed down her discomfort and smiled for her, rising from her seat.

"It's fine, Ester. Why don't you get some rest? I'll ask my chief of commerce about a job in the city, if you wish?" Ester smiled and nodded, standing as well.

"Thank you, your highness. You're too k-" Ester grimaced with a hiss of pain and stumbled back, clutching her head and panting hard. Elsa approached and tried to examine her. Ester opened her eyes to reveal the green and black replaced by the palest blue. She seemed to look around before shrieking in mortal panic. She grimaced again and collapsed onto the bed.

Elsa summoned the physician, but the older man had no chance to examine her. Ester bolted upright and looked at Elsa, fear in her eyes. "Your Majesty, you have to do something. The princess! She's going to be killed!"

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