'Anna! Anna!' Elsa cried urgently as she galloped through the shaded forest. The early morning dawn peaked over the horizon painting the sky in colours of orange, yellow and pink. Her heart pounded as trees scratched at her face and arms, tangling in her hair, tearing her clothes. Where was Anna?
She slumped in the saddle. She'd been searching the forest for hours. Dirt mixed with sweat created an unpleasant grime that coated her skin. Thirst filled her mouth, its message constant, stubborn to move. Her stomach growled, reminding her repeatedly that she hadn't eaten in – she couldn't even remember.
Elsa brought her horse abruptly to a stop. She scanned the area slowly, searching for signs of life. Defeated, she turned her gaze downward tears prickling in the corners of her eyes. She was lost, she had to admit. She knew she shouldn't have gone racing off into the forest when she had no idea of where to go. No sense of where the trolls lived.
She thought she could remember from all those years ago. From when she visited with Anna on that horrifying childhood night. But she couldn't. And now, Elsa thought miserably, I've gotten myself lost, with no way of getting out of this forest. I'll never find Anna. I'll never see Jack again…
Elsa squashed that last thought. She could think of Jack when she was searching for Anna. She had to focus on her goal, not let anything interfere.
A sudden rustle caused Elsa to jerk wildly. Her horse reared up in startled fright. Elsa exclaimed and clung to the reins, tangling one hand in her horse's mane.
'Shh, shh. It's okay, it's okay,' Elsa soothed, stroking its soft, brown neck. 'There, there. There's nothing to be frightened of. It was just a noise.'
She turned her head around in as her racing heart slowed, searching for the source of the sound. She turned her gaze upwards and a flock of birds flew from the trees, towards the sun.
Calm down Elsa. It was just the birds. Nothing is going to hurt you, she reassured herself. She took deep breaths and closed her eyes to calm her racing heart. Now, she thought, how am I going to find my way back to Arendelle?
'How are we going to get out Seb?' she asked her horse. Seb snorted in reply, shaking his mane. 'No ideas, huh? Well I suppose we could keep going straight ahead, but we'd get lost. We could follow the birds and see if they can help,' she gestured to the horizon. She froze. The birds. They were flying to the sun. The sun could be used as a navigator, she remembered.
Elsa recalled one of the many tedious lessons she and Anna had been forced to take when they were children. She was sitting on the soft carpet of the library in Arendelle. Anna, four years old, sat next to Elsa, who was eight, picking at a loose thread of carpet. Elsa leaned on the low table in front of her as their tutor droned on about the sun and the stars and what not. Her elbow rested on the table, keeping her head from falling flat on the surface. Her eyes drooped with boredom.
What had her tutor been saying? The lesson, she remembered, had been on navigation and using the sun and stars to find your way.
'The sun is a mysterious instrument,' her tutor had said. 'Depending on the season, the sun rises in different locations. Mostly, the sun will rise in the east and set in the west. But in countries such as Denmark, Sweden and Norway-.'
'That's where we are!' Anna had exclaimed cutting the tutor off. She lay on her back, her feet and arms flailing about in the air.
'Yes, yes Princess Anna. We are in Norway. As I was saying, in countries such as Denmark, Sweden and Norway – or Scandinavia – the sun will rise in the north-east and set in the north-west. But this only happens in the months of summer. Princess Elsa, can you tell me which months make up summer.
Elsa had sighed and raised her head. 'June, July and August,' she had answered, boredom lacing her voice.
June, July and August, Elsa thought halting the memory. It was July now although you wouldn't know it from the cool night breezes. There was snow on the North Mountain. But there was always snow on the North Mountain.
Arendelle was located to the south of the North Mountain, Elsa reasoned. When she'd fled Arendelle, almost a year ago now, she'd headed north. So if I head towards the sun, she thought, I should be able to find my way to the North Mountain and from there I can see where Arendelle is and how to return to it! She knew it would be tedious and probably take most of the day but she didn't care. She was going home.
'Yes!' she exclaimed out loud, giving a triumphant jump of joy in the saddle. 'Seb, I know how we're getting out of here. We're going home.' She turned Seb towards the sun and set off.
'I'm sorry you couldn't find anything in your memories Anna,' Kistroff said solemnly as Sven plodded into Arendelle. Anna, Kristoff and Olaf rode on Sven's back, her hands circling his waist as he drove. Olaf was perched on Sven's antlers, navigating for Kristoff. The sun was setting in the north-west. Night was falling and an unnatural chill bit into the summer air.
Anna lifted her head from his back. 'It's okay,' she replied. 'I didn't expect to find anything,' she tried to keep the disappointment from her voice. 'And besides,' she went on. 'It was nice to see the family again.'
Kristoff smiled at Anna's bravery. 'Yes,' he agreed.
'I just wish I knew where Elsa went,' she said. 'I feel so lost not knowing. I can't help but worry. I mean, I know Elsa can take care of herself but she's so fragile sometimes. Her emotions can go spiralling out of control. And she still hasn't gotten a full grasp on her powers. What if something happened to her?'
'Anna, she'll be alright,' Kristoff comforted. 'Elsa will come back. She will always come back to you. Nothing – no one – can keep you two apart.'
Anna was silent as she considered his words. 'Do you think so?' she asked in a voice barely more than a whisper. Kristoff could hear the tears she was trying so hard to keep in.
'Yes,' he replied as they reached the castle.
'We're here!' Olaf announced, his little snow cloud moving wildly as he jumped. 'Please step cautiously as you exit the reindeer. Remember to take all personal items with you. Forgotten items will be discarded. We hope you enjoyed your journey and thank you for choosing to ride with reindeers. As the motto goes, reindeers are better than people. We'll see you next time.' He laughed as he jumped from Sven's head. The reindeer snorted and shook in head in amusement. The snowman fascinated him. He was so little and he moved a lot. He was always climbing over Sven and falling over this snowy limbs. And there was his nose…
Anna smiled as Kristoff helped her off Sven's back. 'Thank you Olaf for your delightful, attentive services. We couldn't have asked for a better guide.'
Olaf bowed.
'And let's not forget Sven,' Kristoff said, ruffling the reindeer's fur. 'He did an excellent job too.' Kristoff produced a carrot from inside his jacket and offered it to Sven. The tired and hungry reindeer munched it up in one gulp. 'Uh-uh-uh,' Kristoff scolded lightly. 'Share.' Sven stuck the end of the carrot out of his mouth. Kristoff broke it in half and took a bite out of his.
'Ew, yuck,' Anna exclaimed turning away.
'Want some,' Kristoff teased. He knew Anna hated the way he shared his food with Sven but Kristoff wasn't going to change it for anything, despite how much the girl he loved urged him to do so.
Anna stuck her tongue out and shook her head.
'You're loss,' Kristoff shrugged.
'Hey guys,' Olaf called from inside the castle. Anna looked around. She hadn't even realised Olaf had disappeared. I would be a terrible mother, she thought. She climbed the stairs, Kristoff and Sven behind her, to the castle door which hung slightly ajar. Darkness spilled out into the night air. Queasiness invaded Anna's stomach. The castle was dark but night was falling.
'Something's wrong,' she whispered.
Kristoff, sensing Anna's distress, circled his arm protectively around her waist. Together they entered the dark recesses of the castle walls.
Anna stopped short in the entrance way. A sight met her eyes. Curtains, ripped from their hooks, lay torn across the floor. Vase fragments decorated the halls, their pillars toppled over. Window glass dotted the floor like thousands of tiny stars.
'What happened here?' Anna whispered.
Through the front hall the party crept, dodging broken sculptures, avoiding broken glass.
'Anna,' Kristoff whispered, unable to hide the disbelief and shock of what lay in the next room. Nervously, preparing for the worst, Anna joined him. She froze immediately. Nothing could've prepared her for the sight that lay before her.
Bodies lay unmoving amongst black sand, broken glass and debris that made up the castle's possessions. Anna's legs gave away. Kristoff's strong arms encircled her, softening her fall.
Olaf stood next to the trio. Anna felt a wetness on her face. 'Who could've done this?' she whispered, her voice breaking grief.
'Anna,' a solemn voice broke the silence. Kristoff, Olaf and Sven turned to the speaker.
'I can explain,' Elsa said.