oO Northuldran Lands Oo

Joyous stomach-pain inducing laughter filled the table, Elsa herself found it difficult to hold in her own mirth as she watched the two siblings beside her. A brief flicker of sadness fluttering over her thoughts as she observed the pair; had things been different, could she and Anna have shared the same kinship?

"I had mud in my nose for weeks! I could hardly breathe to talk!" Ryder let out another belt of laughter as he finished his heroing tale of his first time riding a reindeer. A most amusing tale to be heard.

"Mum and Dad were searching for weeks to find the source of the smell! You remember when they actually tore up the matting in the hut in their search?" Honeymaren's own face was red with her happiness, her eyes shining like the night sky.

"Remember? I had to throw all of it on the fire while you were turning purple to stop from laughing!" Ryder let out another small bit of laughter before turning his attention towards the guest of honor, his brows turning as he watched Elsa's face flush with her modest, 'polite' jolts of laughter, "What about you? Surely you have an embarrassing childhood story?"

Elsa's smile faded like ice melting in the spring time sun, a slow breath left her chest but before she was able to speak her focus went to the hand that came to rest over her own, her fingers twitching beyond her command at the gentle contact.

Honeymaren's smile fell just a touch, while Elsa hadn't been exceptionally forth coming about her upbringing, anyone who was observant enough would be able to tell that her past might not have been as pleasant. Her body shifted when the smile fell from Elsa's face, her own eyes turning towards concern. Just as she was about to redirect the conversation away however, a sharp gust of cold wind shot down the table straight towards Elsa.

Elsa's body jolted, not just from falling deep into the darkness of her past but from the whispered words that wisped past her ear—a word of warning. Before she'd even known what she was doing; she found herself on her feet, her sharp blue eyes looking out into the forest, her stance tense as though preparing for battle. Her hands clenched tightly at her sides where a soft mist of ice was beginning to form, "Something's wrong."

No sooner had the words left her mouth had large shapes begun to form from the sides of trees; large, beast-like shapes with glimmers of steel. Her observation was not solely hers to claim, as Yelena had already come to her feet to stand and face the shapes that were now becoming more clear, her stance just as tense as Elsa's own.

"Well, this is a nice welcome and here I thought I'd be turned away." A large man finally took shape out of the wintery fog to stand just to the line of the snow cleared camp. His sharp green eyes immediately landing on the chieftess, "It has been a while."

Honeymaren brought herself up as well, making sure to position herself between Elsa and the men who had come. A cold shiver rolled down her spine when her eyes landed on a small bit of torn paper that had come with the gust of wind, the soft scrawl of the latter half of Elsa's name making her heart beat just a little faster.

"You are not welcome here." Yelena had reclaimed her staff, bringing herself fearlessly in front of the man who dared to speak.

"Oh, come now. Is that the way to greet an old friend?" More men formed behind them, though none of them dared to step much closer, their eyes were sharp and tracking those who slowly rose to their feet.

"We have never been friends, Alrik." More of the tribe had come to stand beside their leader, their eyes and jaws set as the air grew thick around them.

Elsa made a small movement in order to join the others but a small hand to her chest kept her in place. When her eyes shot down into Honeymaren's a small shake of the latter's head kept her in place though a thickness was beginning to form in her throat she heeded the younger's silent warning. This was not her fight. Not yet.

"What do you want?" Yelena's voice could have frozen the fjord all on it's own, her body tense as the man turned his eyes from her own.

"What I have always sought." Alrik found exactly what he had been looking for in seconds. It wasn't a difficult task to be fair, "What you have always denied me."

"It was never in my power to give," Yelena struggled not to follow his gaze but she didn't truly have a need to.

"No, it wasn't." Alrik leaned down with a sneer, his eyes leveling on Yelena's own in attempt to intimidate his way through, unfortunately for him, she was not so easily put off guard. Sensing the mood shifting towards a dangerous encounter Alrik leaned himself back with a disarmingly handsome grin, "You know, I would have thought it would take more time to become more...diverse."

Elsa's body trembled, not from fear but from something familiar in his voice, almost as though she had met this very man before. As her mind cycled back through all she could, her ears lost track of the conversation until she felt the weight of the man's lecherous eyes upon her.

"My how you've grown, Princess Elsa."

'My Lord, please consider the councils' position...'

A sharp spike of cold entered Elsa's chest, stuttering her words, "W-What do you want?"

"Well, apparently, you." Alrik straightened himself up taller, the men that had become his shadow growing taller as well, as though they were readying themselves for an unseen command.

As soon as the words left his tongue the sound of dozens of crossbows clicking into their catch echoed from every side. Just the faintest of outlines to be seen through their winter camouflage. Elsa did her best to keep herself steady, whatever he wanted she would gladly give him if only to protect the people who had been so kind her.

"There's no need for this..." Her regal voice traveled through the tribesmen, her locked brow and strong stance bringing them a courage she could hardly comprehend.

"Elsa." Yelena turned her stance, though only just, her voice pleading with a warning that she could not explain, "This is not your burden."

"Yes. It is." She would never be free, she knew this. Deep down into the pits of her soul, her life was scripted long before she could walk. Filled with responsibilities no one should ever have to carry, yet some how she found the strength to see the dawn of each day.

"Excellent." Alrik glanced to the side but his archers never moved, their aim only shifting slightly, "Shall we then?"

"Shall we what?" Elsa still felt incredibly out of the loop and though she knew it might make her seem weak, she needed to know just what sacrifice she had made.

"Absolutely not. " Yelena made her stand, her body boldly coming between them, "You will seek your power elsewhere."

"But what about what she wants? What her father truly wished for her? Doesn't she get a voice?"

At the mention of her father, Elsa felt her body moving forward, though small arms had come to encircle her waist she still managed to take a dangerous step closer. The path between them only blocked by the matriarch and her granddaughter, "What do you know of my father?"

"Quite a bit, I'd be happy to share." His words were aloof and tantalizing. As though he knew her very weakness. A master in chess of the heart. Still, he was a patient man. A cunning and deviously intelligent man, he had to win her over in just the right way. Or bide his time until the day of Black Sun, "I will be in the Valley of the Dead for no more than two nights. After that, I might just have to take the long way around," his eyes leveled on Elsa's alone. His words colder than the ice resting in her palms, "I wonder how Arendelle has grown," He turned slowly though never lost her eye, his final words a warning, "In your absence."

oO Arendelle Oo

Anna smiled softly, waving to the families who were slowly making there way home to enjoy their family traditions. Her heart ached as she watched there excited faces, all unaware of the looming danger to their lives. A warmth from behind released a tense breath and she leaned her head back to look into the eyes of the only one who seemed to be left of her small family.

"Olaf didn't even make it..." The little snowman had taken a journey towards Elsa's ice palace in hopes of recruiting the Snowgies and Marshmellow for Elsa's birthday party. He had been expected to arrive before the bell and was even supposed to help pull the cord.

Kristoff frowned softly and looked out through the open gates, "Yeah...that is odd." Even he had to concede to his future wife's sadness at this point. The entire day just seemed cursed from the beginning, "I could go out and look for him if you want."

"No...I need you here." Truthfully Anna didn't want to be alone at the moment, the feeling of closed doors and endless years of isolation weighting down her shoulders, "Let's just..." What did she even want to do, what could she even do?

At a loss for direction Anna merely turned into Kristoff's embrace, her head nuzzling over his steadily beating heart. Her fingers opened and closed at his side as she felt an overwhelming sense of being completely alone in a crowded room.

"Let's just go inside..." A deep sigh passed her lips as she finally pulled away, her own arms wrapping around her waist in a very Elsa styled posture.

Kristoff frowned even further and turned with her to rest his arm around her shoulders. Just as they'd taken the first steps towards the castle doors the sound of hoof-falls caught his attention. Turning towards the sound his eyes narrowed as he spotted a soldier on horseback racing towards the castle with haste, "Anna..."

"Yeah...?" Anna turned slowly, a small hope widening her eyes before her back straightened from the obvious urgency of the situation.

Mattais, who stood to the side of the doors found himself quickly moving closer. As the horse and rider skidded to a halt in the courtyard his blood ran cold, "Syrain?"

"General...There...we..." The man could hardly keep his breath as he slipped from his horse with a stumbling step into the man's steadying arm.

"Weren't there two of you?" Anna knew this young man as one of the newer recruits to the castle's growing army. She'd personally overseen the new recruits into their training, "Aren't there two scouts?"

"Always two." Mattais helped the man back to his feet, though he understood why the man had returned alone, "Your report solider."

"A thousand strong in the Valley, " He took a shaken breath his eyes blurring the from the pain of his not so obvious injury, "Another twenty in the forest, they have not returned. They're blocking the way for all in the pass."

"What happened?" Anna could hardly wrap her mind around the information being given her to by the obviously wounded man. Her unspoken but very obvious question hanging in the air.

"It only takes one to deliver a message." Mattais nodded his head as more soldiers came to aid the man.

"Then why send two?" Anna's voice squeaked despite her best to keep calm. Had she really sent a man to his death?

"It is a very effective way to judge the sensibilities of our enemies." Mattais found his words growing colder, his training as a soldier coming into practice. Men began gathering around him, awaiting his and the Queen's next command.

"My Queen, with all due respect, perhaps we should summon Elsa. She could protect the Kingdom, your people." Avon, the acting head of the guard had come to join them, having seen the man coming from one of the watch towers. While Mattais was the one who created the battle strategies, he was the one who was actually there on the front line to carry them out.

Anna felt a feral sneer crawling over her lips, "Elsa is not a weapon."

"Your Highness-"

"No, I will not subject her to that. This is my responsibility now, I will take care of this." Anna felt an iron encasing her. A heat like none other forming itself around her heart. Too many emotions pressing against her tender and caring nature.

"But-"

"I said, no." Anna turned toward the skyline, her eyes shining with fear and resolve, " Protect our people," A heavy lump formed in her throat to the next words to leave her mouth--ones she never thought she'd ever have to say, "And close the gates."

oO Northuldran Lands Oo

"He will return, and with greater numbers." Yelena had not moved from her spot, her keen eyes tracking the men through their apparent retreat. She was not so easily fooled.

"Please...you must let me protect your people." Elsa had pulled herself free from Honeymaren's hold once the men had seemingly disappeared back into the snow heavy forest mist, "Please..."

"I understand your desire," Yelena turned her head towards the former Queen, "I shall not stand in your way. However, I must caution you. There is something we have yet to understand about these men and their intentions. I would, for the time being, wish for you to stay inside the village."

"Of course..." Elsa glanced behind them, towards Ahtohallan, "Anything to help..."

Yelena nodded her head and finally turned fully away, "These men are dangerous, no one is to set foot outside of our home. Bring in the reindeer and ready your weapons. These men are not to be trusted, I want guards at every entry point. You know what to do."

There was no question from any of those present. All of whom knew exactly what to do in such a situation. Having lived with such a circumstance for nearly two generations, it was almost second nature for them. It took only moments to safely relocate the children, and for men and women to take up their arms. Each man and woman knowing exactly where they were expected to be and what they were expected to do.

Yelena walked calmly through the center of the village, years of experience keeping her mind clear and focused, "Ryder, Honeymaren." The two in question instantly came to their elder's side, their heads lowering to her quiet voice, "Protect Elsa at all costs, we cannot let these men tempt her in their ways."

"Yes, of course." Honeymaren and Ryder answered simultaneously, their eyes turning towards the blond who now stood where Alrik had, her gaze still going deep into the forest.

Yelena's arm stopped Ryder but allowed Honeymaren to pass, her words lowering even further for only him to hear, "I need you to warn Arendelle, Elsa will not be calmed until she knows her sister is safe. Take the backwoods around the valley and through the mountains. You should be there by dusk."

Ryder pursed his lips but nodded his head regardless, "What message should I give...?"

"We are under attack."

"Yes, ma'am." Ryder pushed himself away from his leader, grabbing his staff and riding gear before disappearing between the huts into the pastures.

"Elsa?" Honeymaren's voice was quiet but calm, her fingers very lightly reaching out towards the hand at Elsa's side, her own body twitching when Elsa's jerked.

"Yes?"

"Let's get some place safe...okay?"

Elsa's brows furrowed before she nodded her head reluctantly, "Alright...but...I want to help."

"And you will." Honeymaren smiled kindly, "But for now, I think it's best we seek a little outside help. Don't you agree?"

It took Elsa only a moment for her to understand the other's words, her head turning towards where the great stone giants slept. Their rampages having been calmed since her ascendance to the fifth spirit, "Yes."

"Come on, I know a way. Though you might get a little dirty." Honeymaren grinned slowly before taking her hand fully in her own and giving it a gentle but commanding pull.

Partially put off-guard by the touch, Elsa blindly followed after her; the warmth of the other's hand in her own growing inside her chest like a blossoming snowflake. The path they took towards the huts was maze like, and when they stepped inside a smaller one that Elsa had never really took notice of before she found herself standing inside a seemingly empty room.

Before she could even question their location Honeymaren had pulled back a mat on the floor revealing a one person sized hole in the floor, "I'll go first, just pull the mat back in place after you get in okay?" Honeymaren reached into the hole for a moment before pulling out a strange looking crystal that held its own yellow light, "Here, this will help." She offered it to Elsa, "I already know the way, just keep moving forward and don't hold your breath okay?"

Elsa could only blink dumbly as Honeymaren dropped herself down into the hole, a small 'thump' of her boots hitting the dirt before her grey hat disappeared completely in the darkness. A glance to the crystal now in her palm she took a deep breath and as calmly as she could, slipped down behind her.

oO Arendelle Oo

Anna stood on the balcony overlooking her entire kingdom, the movement of soldiers around the city's entrance and exits easily noticed. Her heart felt like it was breaking in two, the words of her advisers at the table behind her nothing more than white noise inside the storm in her heart. How could she have ever expected this? What was she even supposed to do? She wasn't even meant to be Queen at all. She was merely the 'spare', the second to Elsa. Never meant to rule, only meant to marry off into some other kingdom. Nothing in her life had even remotely prepared her for such a responsibility.

"Your Highness, Olaf has been spotted by the northern tower. He should be in the city within the hour."

"Thank you..." Anna let out a soft sigh, at least someone she cared about what accounted for, "What of the men in the Valley? What do we know about their kind?" Anna turned slowly, taking comfort in the fact if Olaf was alive and well, Elsa must have been as well. A deep shudder passing through her core as she remembered his loss.

Mattais stood, clearing his throat, "They come from the western lands. Strong in number and equally brutal. They barely take prisoners and those who have been rescued from their keep had reported wishing for death over imprisonment. They are not the kind who will give up easily."

"What do they seek?" Anna sat herself as gracefully as she could in her chair, her eyes looking out over the map of her lands.

"Power." Kristoff spoke this time, leaning forward at the Queen's right hand, "Every time I've run into them they've always been seeking power. Any kind they can, magical or military."

Anna's brows rose, "You've run into them before?"

"Never as a group," Kristoff gave her knee a small reassuring squeeze under the table, "Just in passing during my trips to the mountains for ice. They generally don't move in large groups."

"Quit right you are, the fact that they have amassed should be cause for great concern," Evon let out a small sigh of his own, "We have over a hundred troops ready inside the castle, we have another hundred waiting along the city borders. If we're able to split their forces through the city streets our archers should be able to take most of them."

"Two hundred to a thousand?" Anna didn't need to be skilled in maths to understand how greatly out manned they were, "What of our seaman?"

"We have three warships docked in port, that's at least one hundred and twenty more men for the field. The armory should be able to supply most if not all of them shields and armor."

Anna felt a sinking feeling in the bottom of her stomach, her hands came up to cradle her lowered head, the potential loss of life staggering, "What of our allies?"

"The fastest we would be able to receive reinforcements would be ten days. Our closest allies lie across the sea in the southern lands." Mattais could feel the very weight of the room pressing down on his shoulders, "The port is completely free, we could easily evacuate the towns people onto our warships."

"Yes...yes that is...a good plan." Anna didn't like the words in her mouth and her face showed it, "How long would it take to evacuate the entire town?"

"Three hours at the most." Avon shifted in his chair slightly.

"Begin loading provisions..." Anna pushed her hair back from her face, "As soon as they move, we move."

"Yes, your Highness."

oO Valley of the Dead Oo

"What shall we do now, sir?"

"Now we wait."

"Are you so sure she'll come to you?"

"Positive." Alrik grinned darkly down at the downed scout held prisoner at their camp, bathed in his own blood face down in the mud and muck, "If not I, then her sister, will."

oO Enchanted Forest Oo

"You okay back there?" Honeymaren grinned softly when she heard another small cough from behind her, no doubt Elsa had attempted to breath through her mouth and got a nice mouth full of dust for her trouble.

"Just fine..." Elsa wiped her mouth for what felt like the hundredth time, "How much farther?"

"Not much, almost there." Just as she finished speaking her body bumped blindly into the dirt wall that signified the end of the tunnel. With the light source behind her she'd completely missed the ending of the tunnel, "Can you pass me the crystal?" She could hardly turn to reach back but instantly felt the magical light in her fingers. A very tight adjustment brought it over her head and she was quickly able to find the small rope that held the rock over the tunnel. A sharp pull rolled the boulder away and the tiny tunnel was instantly covered with blinding white light and a healthy dose of fresh snow.

"Ah! Cold cold..." Honeymaren could only squirm as the snow rained down over her head and down the neck of her outer coat. There was a small tingle along the back of her neck that jolted all the way to her toes before the wetness completely disappeared. A warm smile curled her lips as she reached up towards the opening, "Thanks."

"No problem," Elsa waited patiently for Honeymaren to get her footing, moving forward when she realized she'd need just a bit more help to pull herself free. Taking hold of her slim waist was easy and the push and pull of their combined strength released the younger girl from the burrow below.

Elsa shook the dirt and snow from her own head before she reached for the hand that had come down to help her. Another cooperative effort and Elsa saw daylight once more and she couldn't help but heave a heavy sigh of relief as clean air filled her lungs. Despite the cold she laid flat on her back in the thick snow as she adjusted to clear air once again.

"The cold really doesn't bother you does it?" Honeymaren chuckled softly when Elsa playfully pushed herself deeper into the snow.

"Not in the slightest."

"Lucky you." A sharp shiver of cold wracked her frame before she began to rub at her arms. The tunnel had been well below freezing and she was already beginning to lose feeling in the tips of her fingers and toes, "I can hardly feel my hands..."

Elsa sat herself up with concern, "Was it really that cold down there?" The violent shake that shook her new found friend brought her closer, her arm wrapping around the smaller woman, "Let me see..."

Without really asking for permission but not heeded in her task, Elsa carefully removed the elk skin mittens only to frown deeper at the light purple that colored Honeymaren's finger nails. Without a second thought, Elsa pulled them into her own, gently massaging them before bringing them up to her lips to blow warm air over them, completely oblivious to the somewhat intimate nature of her actions.

Despite all the warning bells going off inside Honeymaren's mind she flexed her fingers slowly, the tingling burn hardly anything compared to the warmth inside her heart from the kind gesture. When Elsa released her hands she didn't stop herself from reaching up further to brush away a bit of dirt off the other's cheek, her brow furrowing slightly when Elsa's cheek twitched from the contact.

"Why do you do that?" Her voice was soft, nearly a whisper, her head moving just a little closer so as to catch the blond's eyes.

"Do what?"

"Flinch. Does it...does it hurt...when people touch you?" The backs of her fingers very lightly grazed over the small rise of Elsa's cheek.

Elsa could feel the air in her chest sticking slightly, "N-no...it doesn't hurt..." Almost caught in a trance she found her eyes lowering to the small fingers that lingered.

"Then why?"

"I...I guess...it's just not something...I'm used to..."

"I'm sorry to hear that..." Honeymaren pulled her hand away slowly, her heart aching in ways she didn't know possible for the elder woman.

A heavy silence fell over the pair, each ones eyes locked on the other's hands. The stillness of the forest almost echoing their deep revere as though it too was unwilling to shatter the shared moment. That was until the tell-tale sound of a footfall crunching in fresh snow.

Elsa's head snapped up immediately to the sound, her eyes going wide, "Honeymaren!"