The banquet unfolded in a warm and festive atmosphere. The people of Arendelle celebrated Anna's coronation with enthusiasm, and the town square was illuminated by the sparkling lights of lanterns and the joyful laughter of the guests. The clinking of silverware punctuated the lively conversations of the guests, and loud laughter emanated from the children's table where Olaf amused himself by clowning around and changing shape.
As the appetizers were brought back to the kitchens, Aodhan discreetly exited the castle and joined the festivities, standing next to Kristoff. He was dressed in a simple three-piece suit topped with a purple coat adorned with golden trimmings. Throughout the evening, he offered apologies and thanks.
Anna had watched Aodhan from the corner of her eye throughout the banquet, looking for signs that might confirm her fears. But the newcomer was engaging in lively conversation with her fiancé, and soon they both engaged in a food contest, laughing heartily, soon joined by Olaf who had left the children's table. Anna noticed how he laughed heartily with Kristoff, his sincere smile, and his natural way of fitting into the celebration. Clearly, there was nothing to justify her suspicions, but she couldn't shake them from her mind.
Finally, the new queen delivered a moving speech, warmly thanking all those present and expressing her gratitude for their support. After delicious desserts (mostly chocolate), everyone left the table, bowing and respectfully bidding farewell to the royal family. Laughter gradually faded, giving way to a gentle melancholy as guests began to say their goodbyes. The townspeople went to bed, and soon Elsa, Anna, Kristoff, and Olaf followed suit, followed by Aodhan, who was allowed to stay in the guest room.

The next day, shortly after noon, Elsa took Aodhan to the base of Arendelle Castle, near the shores of the fjord. The water was calm and peacefully reflected the midday sun. Distant sounds of the city floated to them, carried by the wind, but here, they seemed isolated in relative tranquility.

"We'll be better off here," she explained. "I can extinguish your flames with my ice, but if your powers get out of control, it's best to take all precautions."

She gestured towards the small waves crashing onto the pebbles beside them. Aodhan nodded without replying, visibly nervous. Elsa sighed to release her own stress—she had no idea where to begin. After all, no one had taught her how to control her own powers. With a pang in her heart, she thought of her parents who had asked her to hide her powers. She wouldn't make the same mistake with the man before her.

"First of all, you need to stay calm," she finally said. "Don't be afraid of your powers, they are part of you. Once you've accepted that, you've already taken a big step. Your powers are like the flow of a raging sea, and with my help, you'll learn to master it."

As she spoke, she traced a large circle with her arms, letting her magic form at her fingertips, and with quick, precise movements, she formed a snowflake almost as big as herself.
Aodhan watched her with fascination, feeling the power emanating from her, a quiet strength contrasting with his own, impetuous and uncontrollable. He had always been afraid of this part of himself, but at this moment, he felt ready to face it, guided by Elsa's reassuring presence. Still, his thoughts were swirling in his head.
She made the large snowflake disappear before raising her hand and conjuring a new one, normal-sized, in her palm. She gave the young man an encouraging smile.

"First, try to create a flame in your hand, like this."

Aodhan extended his hand as she instructed and concentrated. He hoped something would happen, even a simple spark, but nothing except tingling at his fingertips. He clenched his fist, overcome by a wave of disappointment that didn't escape the young woman. She stepped forward and wrapped her hands around his fist.

"Don't expect immediate results, you're just starting out. But be patient, you'll get there, I know it."
"Thank you," he replied with a grateful smile. "But after all these years living with it, I would have hoped to at least succeed in producing a spark. Even that, I can't control, it's ridiculous..."
"It's not ridiculous, Aodhan. Magic is something powerful, and even a small spark can be difficult to tame."

He looked at her for a few more seconds before nodding. Elsa stepped back, and they tried the same operation again. She created a small snowflake in her hand, and the young man had to try to imitate it with his fire magic.
Two hours had passed, and despite all his efforts, nothing happened. His hand trembled with fatigue and disappointment. After a long moment, he brought his hand to his face, his eyebrows furrowed.

"Why can't I do it?" he murmured, his voice betraying his frustration.
"Aodhan..."
"Wait, I'll try again," he continued with conviction.

His face tensed with anger, he extended his hand in front of him, above the water. But still nothing. He brought his arm back to him before trying again. And suddenly, as he tried once again to create a spark in his palm, an explosion of fire burst above the water, surprising both himself and Elsa.
Aodhan's eyes widened in surprise as he felt immense relief at finally managing to summon fire. But this feeling was quickly replaced by fear as his magic didn't calm down and his hand continued to spew out immense flames.

"Aodhan, listen to me," Elsa called out in a soft voice. "Try to calm down."

He tried to obey by taking deep breaths, but he was too fixated on the brilliance of the flames growing larger and larger. He desperately tried to smother the fire with his will, but fear engulfed him. He felt powerless against this uncontrolled manifestation of his magic. His heart pounded against his chest as if trying to escape.
Elsa took a deep breath to try to calm her own surprise and approached the young man, keeping a safe distance.

"Aodhan, listen to me carefully. Close your eyes, and focus only on my voice. Breathe deeply."

Aodhan struggled to tear his gaze away from the flames emanating from his trembling hand and dancing before him. The flames seemed much more impressive thanks to their reflection in the calm waters of the fjord, their doubled glows creating the illusion of much larger and more menacing flames than they actually were. And this vision terrified Aodhan.
After long seconds, he managed to close his eyes and focus on the soft, reassuring voice of the young woman. Slowly, the rhythm of his heart slowed down. The light of his magic continued to filter through his closed eyelids.
The flames slowly began to diminish in intensity, until they were completely extinguished, and when he opened his eyes again, he only saw wisps of smoke rising into the air. He let himself fall onto the pebbles, his breathing still a bit labored, his eyes still fixed on where his flames had been projected. He felt exhausted from the effort, but also relieved that the fire had finally disappeared. Finally, he looked up at Elsa, who had approached him, and smiled with joy.

"I managed to do magic!"
"You see, Aodhan," she replied, sitting down beside him. "Magic takes time, practice, and concentration. You did it... Beyond our expectations," she added with a little laugh.
"What a fright!" exclaimed Aodhan, looking at his hands. "I let myself be overwhelmed by anger and frustration, and... And it's as if the magic exploded in my hand."

Elsa looked at him, thoughtful.

"It's true that you seemed very angry with yourself," she affirmed. "I feel like your magic is linked to that feeling of anger."
"So how do I control it?" the young man asked, turning his head towards her.
"It seems like you'll have to learn to control your anger to allow yourself to control your magic."

Aodhan lowered his eyes to the small waves lapping at his feet. He looked serious, and Elsa feared he might give up. However, after a short silence, he turned his head back to her, a amused smile on his lips.

"Nothing's ever simple, huh?" he chuckled softly.
"No, indeed," she replied in the same tone.

They chuckled together for a few moments before silence settled in again.

"You can be proud of what you've accomplished today, Aodhan," she said more seriously.

Aodhan locked his azure gaze with Elsa's, and although he didn't say a word, his eyes already expressed all the gratitude he felt.


The following days, Aodhan and Elsa continued to spend their afternoons on his training. They would go to the shores of the fjord, at the base of the castle, and Aodhan, though still torn with apprehension, showed significant progress. His flames were less uncontrollable, and under Elsa's guidance, he managed to summon them with measured anger.
Outside of his training sessions, Aodhan spent his days with Kristoff and Olaf. Kristoff took him with Sven to the frozen lakes in the mountains to show him his job as the kingdom of Arendelle's official ice supplier (emphasizing the "official"). With Olaf, the young man seemed to rediscover a childlike spirit and spent his time playing with him throughout the castle and the town. Elsa even began to wonder if it wasn't a child's soul trapped inside Aodhan's body.
In the evenings, the castle's living room echoed with laughter as the group gathered for game nights. However, the young man preferred to stay in the background, leaning against the fireplace, preferring to observe others rather than participate in their antics. But that didn't stop him from laughing heartily with them.
Elsa noticed his hesitation and tried to invite him to join in. While he initially refused, he eventually relented in the face of the young woman's insistence. That evening, he participated in their games, teaming up with Sven, and the reindeer proved to be much better than him at riddles. Even Anna seemed more relaxed in his presence, occasionally exchanging amused smiles with him.
After a crushing defeat for his team, Aodhan lingered in the living room for a while to enjoy the last embers in the fireplace while everyone else went to bed. As he was about to do the same, a cool breeze brushed against his skin. He turned around and discovered, through the open window, Elsa standing on the balcony. He quietly went out to join her under the starry sky.
The young blonde was elegantly leaning against the stone balustrade, gazing down at Arendelle. She wore a light purple silk dress that rippled in the breeze, and her icy blonde hair swirled with captivating lightness.

"May I join you?" he asked softly.

Elsa slightly startled and turned around with a smile.

"Of course."

Aodhan approached and leaned on the railing beside Elsa.

"You're not sleepy?" she asked him.
"Not really, I have too many thoughts racing through my head," he admitted. "These past few days, I've been trying to remember. I've tried, with all my might, to retrieve those missing memories, but nothing."
"It's okay, Aodhan," she reassured him, turning to face him. "Just like your powers, it takes time for you to regain your memory."
"Speaking of my powers, I'd like to thank you for everything you've done. I've made more progress in two weeks with you than in my entire life," he chuckled.

Despite his laughter, Elsa sensed something else. She couldn't tell if it was shame or something even more serious.
Aodhan seemed to notice her gaze, as his smile slightly faltered before fading away.

"I've always been afraid of my fire magic, you know," he confessed. "Ever since I was little, it only brought me trouble. When I was about twelve, my powers got out of control and set half the village I lived in on fire. Miraculously, no one lost their lives."

Elsa listened, apprehension gnawing at her heart. She could only imagine the pain he had felt. Aodhan, on the other hand, kept his eyes fixed on the horizon, his gaze betraying his pain.

"I was exiled from my hometown. Overnight, my family, my friends, everyone dear to me, abandoned me as if I were nothing. As if I had never existed. I had to fend for myself, living here and there, as a nomad."
"Aodhan..."

The young woman placed a comforting hand on Aodhan's shoulder. Tears welled up in her eyes, unable to find the right words to comfort him.
He placed his hand on hers, giving her a reassuring smile.

"Don't worry about me, Elsa. I've learned to live with this burden. And for the first time, I feel accepted. I almost feel like I have a home."

His smile widened as he gestured to the castle behind them. Elsa responded with a broad smile, and he struggled to tear his gaze away from her silhouette gracefully standing out against the dark starry backdrop.

"I understand what it's like to be afraid of your powers," she continued, her smile fading slightly. "I spent my childhood trying to hide them from the world, as instructed by my parents. They only wanted what was best for me, and I had accidentally hurt my sister in the past. On the day of my coronation..."
"I've heard what happened," he interrupted.

This time, it was his turn to place a reassuring hand on her shoulder and give her a small smile.

"That's how I heard about the Snow Queen reigning in Arendelle. The Duke of Weselton wasn't very happy," he added with a laugh.
"It's 'Weselton'!" Elsa mimicked, giggling.

They both laughed heartily, the sound of their voices echoing in the night. After a few moments, they managed to regain their composure.

"Thank you, Elsa, for everything," he said very solemnly. "I really feel better after being able to talk about all this. Goodnight, Elsa. Rest well."
"You too, Aodhan," she replied.

With one last smile, he walked away into the darkness of the night, leaving Elsa alone with her thoughts under Arendelle's starry sky.
However, she didn't remain alone for long. Just a few seconds after Aodhan left, someone cleared their throat behind her. She turned to find Anna, who joined her with a disapproving look on her face.

"Were you eavesdropping?" Elsa asked, a hint of amusement in her voice.
"No, I came back because Olaf forgot his nose on the couch," her sister replied with a small laugh, holding up the carrot in her hand.

When she looked back up at her sister, however, Anna's face was dark. Her brows furrowed, a hint of worry shining in her eyes despite her attempt at humor.

"We need to talk about Aodhan."

Elsa shook her head with a sigh.

"You still don't trust him."
"Elsa, I know you've been spending a lot of time with him lately, but don't forget that we still know nothing about him. Don't you think you've been too... quick to come to his aid?"
"What do you mean?"

Elsa raised her eyebrows as her sister clearly searched for her words to avoid offending her.

"You didn't stop to wonder if he might be pretending to have amnesia? We've never heard of anyone else with magical powers besides you, and here he is suddenly showing up in Arendelle."
"He heard about the incident on the day of my coronation, he's already explained it to us," Elsa interjected.
"I know, but it still seems strange to me. I worry about you, Elsa, it's not like you to trust someone so easily."

Elsa straightened up and looked at her younger sister with a gaze that mingled coldness and melancholy, where before there had been assurance and love for her. Her shoulders were slightly tense under the grief and confusion that assailed her.

"Anna, for the first time in forever, there's someone who's like me. Someone who can understand the weight of magical powers."
"I'm here too!" Anna protested, furrowing her brows. "I've always been by your side!"
"You don't understand, Anna," sighed the young blonde.

But the Queen of Arendelle got carried away before she could add anything.

"No, Elsa, it's you who doesn't understand! No matter what you say, there's something suspicious about Aodhan, and I won't trust him until he's told us everything! And what if he's trying to get close to you just so you'll teach him how to control his magic? You could be training an enemy of Arendelle without even knowing it!"
"He's not Hans!"

Elsa's voice cracked like thunder and pierced her sister's heart. Even the ice spell that had once pierced her heart seemed less cold than her words. Tears welled up in the young redhead's eyes, but she refused to let them fall. But her face betrayed the pain and sadness she felt.
Elsa widened her eyes, surprised herself by what she had just said, and bit her lip, visibly overcome with remorse. But she said nothing more and simply went back inside the castle, leaving the poor Queen of Arendelle whose sobs echoed in the night.