Chapter 4 — The Snow Queen

Violence warning at the end of the chapter.

Anna ran desperately, her lungs panting like there were burning embers in her chest. With every step she took, she felt the weight of accumulated fatigue, but her determination never wavered. Looking back, her eyes met those of Captain Kristoff, still in relentless pursuit. A mixture of anger and frustration washed over her.

Would that idiot ever leave her alone?

Wasting no time, Anna tried every trick in the book to stop him. She pushed people in his direction, knocked over objects in his path, but the Captain persisted, finding loopholes and overcoming the obstacles she created. Anna's patience was wearing thin, the urgency of escape becoming unbearable.

It was then that her ears caught a voice echoing through the square, drawing people's attention to the stage in the center. A mischievous smile crept across her face as she identified Ryder in the crowd. The gathering of people around him was the perfect opportunity to finally outwit Kristoff.

Anna increased her speed, spurred on by one last effort. She dove into the crowd, using the cover provided by the people around her. She managed to sneak to the bottom of the stage, where she found Honeymaren.

The dancer waved to Anna, but soon turned her attention to her brother, waiting for her cue.

"Dance, Honeymaren... Dance!" In less than a second, a hatch opened and Honeymaren jumped up, while Ryder fell down, taking the place where his sister had once been.

The old smoke screen trick never fails!

Noticing that he was not alone, the young man simply gave Anna a smile and gestured towards the tent where he had been before. Cautiously, the two crept along until they were unnoticed, which was easy since all eyes were focused on Honeymaren.

When they finally reached the tent, Anna quickly sat down and grabbed some water to quench her thirst, feeling exhausted after the intense escape. Ryder was kneeling in a corner, rummaging through a trunk for something.

"I haven't seen you all day, where have you been?" He offered her a small pot of rice pudding, which she gladly accepted.

"Running away from some stupid soldiers." She replied between bites of the dessert.

"Have you finally decided to follow my suggestion?" His smirk was cut off by an annoyed look from the redhead.

"Honestly, Ryder, I don't think stealing the soldiers was a very good idea…"

"You don't mean you felt sorry for those pigs?" He asked, a hint of anger in his voice. "It doesn't matter if we steal or behave, they will try to arrest us anyway, look what happened to you!"

The girl remained silent at his reaction. She knew that Ryder harbored a great hatred for the soldiers for what they had taken from him and his sister. Anna finished eating, came over and hugged him.

"I don't like the idea either…" He admitted and let her go. "But I wanted to have a plan B in case Maren didn't want to continue with her part."

"You didn't want her to think she had no choice, did you?" He nodded.

They both knew that most of the time Honeymaren tried to put all the responsibilities of the tribe on her shoulders, something that had only gotten worse after she had been chosen as Yelana's successor.

"Deep down, you're just like a teddy bear, aren't you?" Anna said laughing.

Ryder raised an eyebrow, confused. "I don't know what that means, but… Yes, I'm like a bear!" He declared proudly with a mocking smile.

Anna playfully pushed him and the two of them prepared to leave to watch the rest of Honeymaren's performance.

As they walked through the crowd, Anna was intrigued by what Ryder had to say. "Although… Something very strange happened." She stopped and gave her full attention to what he had to report. "A tall, blond soldier was about to slit my throat, but he let me go without even trying to hit me."

Ryder's words shocked Anna, who immediately remembered Kristoff. Could she have misjudged the captain? A mixture of doubt and uncertainty enveloped her as she tried to process this new information.

However, Anna quickly pushed the thought aside. There was no reason to think highly of the officer; after all, if the king wished for the death of all Northuldra, she doubted Kristoff would oppose it. Her distrust of the captain remained, despite the intriguing episode.

Meanwhile, Kristoff was frustrated that he could not carry out the king's first order, but at the same time he felt a certain relief that he would not have to commit an injustice. He had lost all trace of the young Northuldra, and amidst the confusion of his feelings, one question lingered in his mind.

"This girl, who is she?" He muttered to himself, deciding to put the question aside and enjoy the rest of the festival. He set out to meet Runeard, determined to fulfill his obligations, but with a feeling of unease and uncertainty in his heart.

When he reached the throne, the captain noticed Runeard's intense gaze on the stage. The king seemed mesmerized.

Honeymaren's performance was spellbinding. She wore a short red dress with several colorful flowing scarves that accompanied her every move. She was striking, wild, and beautiful.

Some Northuldra people played drums and tambourines in a rhythm that the woman followed perfectly. The audience applauded and threw gold coins on the stage floor. Every flash of skin, every flick of her skirt sent them into a frenzy.

Runeard's hands gripped the arms of the throne tightly, as if it would take away his intrusive thoughts. Kristoff looked at him curiously, surprised by the monarch's reaction to the Northuldra dancer.

"Look at that disgusting display!" The captain jumped to his feet, surprised that the king had noticed his presence. "She dances like the devil himself…"

Despite the scornful words, Runeard felt an intense heat he had not felt in years. It was as if a fire were burning within him, awakening long dormant sensations. Such fire…

In the middle of the audience, Elsa watched in amazement. She had never seen anyone dance like that before. Honeymaren seemed to float across the stage, moving with a grace and energy that captivated everyone around her.

She danced like an angel!

From time to time, the dancer's eyes scanned the crowd, looking for someone. Suddenly, her eyes met a hooded figure near the stage, whose blue eyes revealed her identity. As she had promised, Honeymaren waved at Elsa and winked in her direction.

The Snow Queen felt an intense heat in her chest, something completely different from the constant cold that was part of her daily life. It was as if a fire was burning within her too, a sensation she had never experienced before. Such fire…

"People of Arendelle! Come feel the heat, come taste the desire!" With every move she made, she excited the crowd more and more and received more and more money. "Feel them within you, crimson and gold, just like the coins you will throw as I dance to the rhythm of the tambourine!"

Finally, the performance ended, and the dancer bowed briefly, leaving the revelers in ecstasy. The Northuldra musicians who had been playing the instruments were now busy collecting the coins scattered about the stage.

Honeymaren came down from there and soon found her brother and Anna waiting for her. They both greeted her with warm hugs and beaming smiles.

"Maren, that was spectacular!" Anna said with a suggestive smile. "People won't forget this performance anytime soon!"

"Thank you, Ginger!" Honeymaren let go of the hugs, still a little euphoric. "I ended up liking it more than I expected!"

"You were amazing, sis!" Ryder looked at the amount of coins she had collected. "I'm sure this will be more than enough to help the tribe!"

"I hope you are right." She replied with a smile.

Sighing, she looked around, not sure what she was looking for. Soon, an older Northuldra approached and spoke to the three of them.

"We're ready…" Ryder nodded and turned to the two women.

"It's time. I'll go on stage while you gather the participants." The two women agreed and watched as he walked towards the platform.

"It's better if we get this over with and return to the Court of Miracles. If I have to run from more soldiers, I'll go crazy." Anna muttered the last part as she walked away.

At the end of the dance, the king remained motionless for a few seconds. His mind was still caught up in the entrancing atmosphere of Northuldra's performance. He noticed a subtle smile on the captain's face and forced himself back to reality.

"Did you catch the thief, Captain?" Runeard asked, watching as Kristoff looked away with an embarrassed expression.

"No sir, she was faster than me…"

"Well, what can one do?" He lifted the empty goblet he was holding, and a servant promptly filled it with wine. "They are like rats, after all."

Kristoff didn't answer.

Meanwhile, Elsa, still stunned by Honeymaren's dazzling performance, tried to look for the dancer as soon as the show ended, but eventually lost sight of her. Giving up on finding her, Elsa turned her attention to Ryder, who had reentered the stage.

"And now, ladies and gentlemen, the moment we have all been waiting for!" He picked up a fake crown and held it up, announcing, "Now is the time to gasp until our jaws ache, now is the time we crown - the King of the Festival!"

The audience laughed heartily. Each year, the magician with the best tricks was chosen as the King of the Festival. This tradition had its roots in the Northuldra culture, inspired by the tales of the mysterious Fifth Spirit, but over time it was incorporated into the festival.

Several people of various ages and appearances began to take the stage, some in costume, others not afraid to reveal their identities. Elsa remembered Honeymaren's suggestion, but she didn't have the courage to expose herself like that. Besides, the last thing she needed was for her master to find out that she had left.

"Elsa…"

As she hesitated, a soft voice called her name, making the hairs on the back of Elsa's neck stand up. She turned to find Honeymaren smiling softly at her.

"Honeymaren…" She whispered, almost in a trance, feeling captivated by the dancer's presence.

"I hope you enjoyed my presentation." Said Honeymaren with a twinkle in her eye.

Elsa's heart began to race, her cheeks flushed, and she struggled to find the right words:

"It was… Beautiful! I was speechless…"

It was Honeymaren's turn to blush. She wanted to continue the conversation with the blonde, but then she heard Ryder's whistle, indicating that the last contestants should enter the stage. Turning her eyes to Elsa, Honeymaren smiled and asked:

"So you're not going to join the competition?" The taller woman's eyes widened at the question.

"I don't think that's a good idea…"

In fact, it was a terrible idea! It had been years since she had deliberately used her powers, and the chances of something going wrong were very high.

"What? Wouldn't you like to be crowned queen for a day?" Honeymaren teased, trying to convince her. "With that trick you showed me, the people will be thrilled!"

When the Northuldra's words reached Elsa's ears, she couldn't help but feel disappointed. Of course, she had thought her powers were a simple trick, why else would she accept them so easily.

Noticing Elsa's dejected expression, Honeymaren changed tactics and tried to comfort her by holding her shoulder.

"You don't even have to reveal your identity if you don't want to. You can cover yourself with the cloak…" Honeymaren tried to cheer her up. "It will be fun, I promise…"

Elsa considered the proposal. On the one hand, she could simply deny it and watch the festival end and return to her empty life. On the other hand, this was one last chance to enjoy herself, to give her curse some meaning, and to have the people cheer her on, if only for once.

If Honeymaren had enjoyed her magic so much, even though she thought it was just a trick, maybe the rest of the people would too. And as the young woman had mentioned, Elsa could keep her identity a secret.

Elsa sighed deeply and made a decision.

"All right, if you insist!" Elsa agreed, allowing herself to open up to this experience.

"That's the spirit! Come, let me introduce you to my brother." Honeymaren said excitedly as she led Elsa towards Ryder.

With each step, Elsa felt a mix of emotions, but a spark of excitement began to rise within her. Perhaps entering the competition would not be as horrible as she had imagined. When they arrived at the stage, Ryder was surprised to see his sister standing next to the person he had pushed a few hours earlier.

"Well, if it isn't my shy friend. I see you decided to enter the competition!" Ryder said, laughing at the situation.

Elsa was a little annoyed to have been pushed by the young man, but decided to remain silent and let Honeymaren handle the situation.

"Ryder… She is my friend!" Honeymaren said, giving him a light tap on the shoulder. "She will blow us all away! Won't you?" Elsa couldn't help but smile at the confidence the woman had in her.

"Yes… I rather don't use my real name, though." She replied, wondering what it would be like to reveal herself.

"All right! What name do you want to use?" Ryder asked.

Elsa thought for a few seconds, searching for a name that would express her identity.

"Snow Queen!" She answered determinedly.

"Wow, such a dramatic name! I like it!" Ryder commented, indicating the place where Elsa should wait.

Honeymaren guided Elsa to the spot, making sure to pull her hood up a little higher so that no one would see her face.

"I will be there when you are crowned, Your Majesty!" Honeymaren said, laughing and bowing briefly. Elsa followed the gesture and bowed in return.

Suddenly, Ryder called the first contestant and Honeymaren said goodbye to Elsa. Now alone, Elsa began to lose some of the confidence the Northuldra woman had instilled in her. She could feel her own heartbeat racing, the fear growing with each passing moment.

Every minute, each magician gave a performance more impressive than the last. Rabbits came out of their hats, assistants disappeared into smoke, levitation tricks amazed the audience.

"And now, everyone, last but not least, our final contestant! Let's hear it for the Snow Queen!" Ryder announced, drawing everyone's attention to Elsa.

Slowly, Elsa removed her gloves, feeling her palms itch as her magic begged to be released. The audience watched her intently, curious to see the trick that was to come.

As she raised her face, Elsa's eyes met those of Runeard, who seemed more distracted than usual. The sight almost made her give up. But as she looked away, the comforting image of Honeymaren whispering, "Come on, Queen!" filled her with courage and determination.

Elsa braced herself and closed her eyes for a moment, concentrating on her connection to the ice and snow. With a gentle movement of her hands, she began to conjure her power.

Small snowflakes began to fall around them, dancing in the air like bright stars. It seemed to be just a trick of illusion, something common in performances. The people in the audience were amazed by the effect and clapped enthusiastically. Honeymaren jumped up and waved to Elsa, calling out her stage name.

While everyone marveled at the spectacle, Runeard watched intently, feeling a sense of déjà vu. Something seemed off, as if he had witnessed something similar in the past, but couldn't remember exactly.

Tears of joy began to flow from Elsa's eyes, it was the first time she had ever felt appreciated by others. For a brief moment, she felt like a normal person, welcomed by the warmth of the applause.

Yet the peace was shattered when Ryder, who had crept up on her, lightly touched Elsa's shoulder. She jumped, momentarily losing control of her magic. A blast of ice was released, forming sharp stalactites that rose from the ground and nearly hit the nearest bystanders.

The air grew heavy with the silence that followed, and the merry faces of the revelers turned to horror. Their wide eyes witnessed the real magic before them, something beyond any illusionist's trick. Some took steps backward, others ducked for cover.

"My God! That's not a trick!" Said one of the men in the crowd. From then on it was chaos.

"It's the devil!"

"Who is that?!"

"It must be the witch from the bell tower!"

"King Runeard's pet! No wonder he keeps her hidden! His secret friend!"

Embarrassed, the monarch ignored his first impulse to get up and go to where the girl was. Instead, he remained on his throne, trying to hide his face from the crowd, which laughed derisively in his direction.

Ryder, realizing the situation was getting out of hand, stood in front of Elsa and tried to calm the crowd with his words:

"Ladies and gentlemen! We're in luck, we asked for the best magician to be crowned, and we found her! The Snow Queen, the Witch of Arendelle!"

But the young man's words were drowned out by the screams of anger and terror from the crowd, who were gripped by the fear of the unknown. One of the soldiers seized the opportunity and threw a snowball at Elsa, who was frozen in place.

The laughter began to echo through the square, turning into a torrent of mockery and cruelty. The people, once frightened, now delighted in the Snow Queen's suffering, throwing food and objects in her direction. In the confusion, some of the more deranged approached Elsa with improvised ropes.

"Long live the Queen!" They shouted, joy and malice mixed in their voices.

Some of the attackers held her tightly, while others tied her down with the improvised ropes. Panic and pain dominated Elsa's expression as she struggled desperately to free herself and find a way out of this horrible situation.

The crowd had never done this before, not in all the years of the festival. But they had never seen real magic - and it drove them wild!

For a brief moment, Elsa considered using her powers, but she knew there was a good chance she would accidentally hurt or even kill someone. The last thing she wanted was to be responsible for someone's death, which would only reinforce the belief that she was a true monster.

As the violence unfolded before Honeymaren's horrified eyes, she felt an immense weight of guilt. After all, she was the one who gave Elsa the idea to enter the competition. Next to her, Anna helped Ryder, who had been thrown off the stage, and was also outraged by the cruel and inhuman reaction of the people.

The ambassador gave a sign to the other Northuldra people, who began to leave the square surreptitiously, preparing to return to their hiding place. Runeard grimaced as he watched his protégé being tortured. Elsa raised her face, searching for the king.

"Master, help me!"

He couldn't take it anymore and looked away as he saw one of the spectators raise a whip. The scream of pain filled the square, but Runeard did not move. Kristoff, disgusted, prepared to intervene.

"Permission to stop this cruelty, Your Majesty."

"Not yet, Captain." The answer shocked the soldier. "A lesson needs to be learned here."

Reluctantly, the captain remained silent and obeyed the king's command. Unlike him, Honeymaren, as soon as she got over her shock, made her way through the crowd, and Anna tried to follow her.

"Wait!" Ryder tried to stop her. "If you go there, they will turn on you!" He said worriedly.

"And stand still in front of all this? Not a chance!" She yelled, pulling away from the man.

Ryder growled in frustration, but decided to follow them.

"Stop it!" Elsa's attackers stopped at Honeymaren's cry.

The Northuldra approached Elsa with a cloth, but Elsa, still terrified, recoiled from the action.

"I am so sorry. Do not be afraid…" Seeing no threat, Elsa let the other approach and clean her face. "This was not supposed to happen."

"Water, water…" She begged softly.

Anna, who had also climbed onto the stage, handed her canteen to Honeymaren, who began to give Elsa a drink. The Northuldra dancer's action finally gave Runeard the courage to act.

"You! Northuldra girls! Get away from her, now!" He ordered.

Without saying a word, Honeymaren pulled out a knife hidden in her boot and cut the ropes holding the bell ringer.

"Go! Please…" She whispered to Elsa.

Although relieved to see his granddaughter's agony come to an end, Runeard was still angered by their act of defiance.

"How dare you defy me?" He shouted, pointing at her.

"You call yourself Righteous, yet you do nothing in the face of this poor girl's torment!"

Then it was Anna's turn to challenge the king and the crowd:

"You call us sinners, but you are the ones who do such cruelty. You are all drowning in your own hypocrisy!"

The two women's words echoed through the square, silencing the crowd for a moment. People looked at Anna and Honeymaren, confused and uncomfortable with the truth being disclosed.

"What are you doing?" Shouted one of the men who had tied Elsa up earlier. A wave of indignation swept through the crowd.

"You're ruining all our fun!"

"Dirty Northuldra!"

"Whores! Get them! Don't let them get away!"

The angry mob was about to attack Anna and Honeymaren. Ryder quickly came on stage and intervened with a sarcastic tone:

"Good job, girls!" He threw some gunpowder on the floor and the three disappeared in a cloud of smoke.

The revelers stood stunned, trying to absorb what had just happened. Then they turned their attention to Elsa, ready to resume the torture.

"There she is!"

"Stop this at once!" The king's voice drew everyone's attention. "We must show kindness to this creature, as our Savior did when he healed the lepers. Time to go home! The festival is over!"

"Get out of here!" Kristoff shouted, motioning for the soldiers to escort the people.

The revelers dispersed and began to pack up. Runeard looked at Elsa, who was trying to hide her own face. The king gasped when he noticed a cut on her back, but took no action to help her.

"See how it's cruel, see how it's wicked? See how I sheltered you from having to go through this?" He said, without meeting her eyes. "How could you do this… To me?"

"Forgive, master. Won't ever leave again." She said, sobbing.

"Now, girl, you see you don't belong with normal men; you are happy when you're in your sanctuary… Back to your sanctuary!" He ordered, pointing towards the bell tower.

"Never to come out here… Again." Elsa whispered resignedly.

The king sighed wearily and called Kristoff.

"Take the girl inside." The captain approached to help the woman, but she refused the escort and left alone, feeling all eyes upon her.

Now alone, Runeard noticed a colored rag on the floor near the stage. It was one of Honeymaren's scarves. Making sure no one was watching him, he bent down and picked it up, holding it to his face for a moment, remembering again the Northuldra that burned in his mind, wondering:

Who was that Northuldra, Honeymaren?

I do not own Frozen, or any of the related characters. The Frozen Franchise is owned by Walt Disney Pictures. This fanfiction is intended for entertainment only. I am not making any profit from this story. All rights of the original Frozen story belong to Walt Disney Pictures.

Poor Elsa, this part broke my heart. This terrible experience will certainly affect her. I tried not to make it too graphic, but I don't know how it turned out.

Also, thanks for all the comments, they really make me happy!