"Can we trust what he says?" Honeymaren kept her voice low. Both she and Elsa had taken refuge in the bedroom, the door mostly closed with Honeymaren keeping her eye on Agnire who sat as still as a statue at the table.

"Do we really have a choice? If it is true, then it's happening. Tonight." Elsa had begun to pace in front of the fireplace, her hands opening and closing at her sides aggravating her wound.

"Yeah or it's just some elaborate trap..." Honeymaren didn't want to believe her own words. Her heart told her that Agnire was kind, that he was just someone caught inside a bad situation.

"You don't believe that...do you?" Elsa paused in her path to look critically at Honeymaren's face, the woman mirroring her own feelings regarding Agnire.

"Not really..." Honeymaren sighed softly catching Elsa's eye for a moment before leaning her head against the door frame. Her own hands had crossed themselves over her chest.

"We must tell Yelena..." Elsa walked towards the door with purpose. Her chin high and her back straight.

"Yeah, you're right but...What are you going to do? If...what he said is true then..." Honeymaren shifted to block her path, her hand lightly touching one of the arms still wrapped around Elsa's waist.

"I have faith that...that there's something I can do." Her body tensed despite herself.

"Now who's lying?" Honeymaren grinned ever just so, her hand giving the arm in her hold a gentle squeeze causing Elsa to release her arms completely.

"What choice do I have?" Elsa took a slow breath, her eyes looking around Honeymaren to Agnire.

"There's always a choice." Honeymaren turned as well, both of them falling into a deep pensive for a long minute.

"Anna is marching on the Valley as we speak, even if my walls held, she'd be able to get through when..." Elsa pushed back her vision as it threatened to weaken her resolve.

"Okay alright...you're right...but how are you going to warn her? She hasn't even replied to your last message? What if..." Honeymaren's mind flashed to her brother who had been sent to Arendelle and had yet to return.

"Don't. Just. I need to think. I need to..." A small commotion from beyond the walls of Elsa's home turned both of them towards the front door.

Agnire lifted his head to the noise as well before slowly coming to his feet to look through the window, "Someone's here..." He turned his head towards the two women who had now come back into the main room, "A man on a reindeer."

"Ryder." Honeymaren's heart lept into her throat and she couldn't help but smile broadly at Elsa, "He's back! He must have found a way to and from Arendelle!"

Elsa jumped on her thought train nearly immediately, pausing only long enough to motion for Agnire to follow before her as Honeymaren was already out the front door and running head long towards her brother.

"Ryder!"

"Maren!" Ryder opened his arms wide despite his sore backside and wrapped his younger sister in a fierce hug, "Ah, ow..."

"Are you alright?"

"Sore, you know. Reindeer." He grinned brightly before his eyes turned towards Yelena who had come to join them, "I delivered your message, the Queen is on her way."

"Thank you, Ryder." Yelana nodded her head in respect for a deed well done.

"How was she?" Elsa had come to the front of the people celebrating Ryder's safe return.

"Worried. You know? Your people had already seen the men in the valley by the time I'd gotten there. Then she said you never replied to her letter and I assured her that you were fine and that made her feel loads better." Ryder spoke without breath trying to ease the worry written on Elsa's features.

"She never got my letter?" Elsa pursed her lips for a moment but decided to push that thought aside for now, "Could you see her...on the path you took to get back here?"

"Yeah, I took the high pass, around the Valley. I lost sight maybe...three hours ago? The army seemed to be resting in the plains." Ryder absently scratched the side of his head.

"Could you show me the path?" Elsa knew she was getting three steps ahead of herself when she felt Honeymaren's hand upon her shoulder. She took a slow breath before waving her hand to dismiss her question from being answered.

Yelena stepped forward then her eyes narrowed as though she could sense something new had developed, "Elsa?"

Elsa bit the inside of her cheek and slowly turned to face the matriarch, a grimace twitching on her cheek before taking a breath to explain herself, however, her words never passed her lips as Honeymaren had decided to speak for her.

"We need to attack tonight." Honeymaren grimaced at her own bluntness, "The red moon, is happening tonight. Whatever power it may hold will be in effect. We need to strike before it comes to pass."

"How did you learn this?"

Honeymaren knew that her elder wouldn't like her answer but knew that truth was always the best policy, "Books and...well we simply asked..." She motioned idly to Agnire who was doing his best to impersonate a tree.

Yelena glanced to the skittish man before her sharp eyes regarded Elsa very closely, "You believe his words?"

"I do." Elsa held herself up tall, conviction seeping from her body.

"Then so do I." Yelena smiled softly, the confidence inside Elsa was what she'd been waiting for this entire time. It wouldn't do anyone any favors if the young woman constantly felt off balance. She had hoped her words would have struck a cord inside and took solace in the result.

Elsa had expected much more of an argument and blinked dumbly for a few moments before she moved to follow Yelena who had already begun to give orders for her warriors to prepare themselves, "I need to get to Anna...before we attack, she needs to know what I saw..."

"Is that what your heart is telling you?" Yelena didn't turn but did give her an examining glance through the corner of her eyes.

"Yes." Elsa's hands came to rest over her chest, "I will be beside you until the wall. I can give a signal that I am ready to lead the charge."

"Yes, I...I understand." Yelena turned to finally give Elsa her full attention and respect, "Elsa, I meant what I said. Every action, every choice is yours to make, you must simply be prepared to accept the consequence."

A small light seemed to go off inside Elsa's brain and a slow smile ticked a the corner of her lips before her face righted itself into a vision of strength, "I understand."

"Finally." Yelena chuckled to herself and turned away once more, "Let's move! Darkness is already upon us!"

oO Valley of the Dead: Outer Plains Oo

"We are forever in your debt Grand Pabbie," Anna smiled softly as the last of their supply sleds were pulled over the makeshift bridge the trolls had constructed.

"Consider it a wedding gift." Grand Pabbie joked with a low chuckle.

"That's one way to bless a marriage." Anna chuckled dryly before turning herself to look out over the entire Valley. Just like when she and Elsa had traveled their the first time, it was alive with beauty. The large snow topped trees hiding the hidden dangers inside.

"Lieutenant?"

"Your Highness?" Mattais turned away from the view as well coming closer to address his Queen.

"Do we have any of those..." Anna cupped her hands over her eyes and squinted.

"Binoculars?"

"Yes, those!" Anna lowered her hands and let out a small shuddering breath.

"Yes. One moment." Mattais moved into the throng of soldiers who were busy reorganizing their ranks. Moving from a simple traveling formation into one designed to defend or attack as needed.

Anna took slow calming breaths as she waited. This was the moment that would define her reign as Queen. Success or failure stood before her no more than a simple command away. The weight of her Kingdom rested on her shoulders.

"My Queen."

"Thank you." Anna took the newly invented technology and turned towards the small path that led to an outlook over the Valley. Her breath stuttered in her chest as she raised the glass to her eyes.

Despite the darkness that was quickly taking over, she was able to see campfires lighting the trees through the center pathway. No doubt the men whom she'd come to defend her Kingdom against. As she continued her brows furrowed, her focus shifting to the far edge near the Enchanted Forest. A large wall, at least as high as Arendelle castle's own stood in a crescent shape behind the stone monoliths that denoted the forests entrance. It seemed to stretch for miles in both directions, connecting with the northern mountains and cutting off the southern pass completely blocking all those inside from exiting from any other point other than where her army stood.

A small bit of light caught her attention and she brought her focus back towards the large monoliths only to feel her breath stick in her throat, "Elsa?"

She took a dangerous step closer trying to see more clearly, but whatever it was was moving and fast. It was a dizzying experience as she tried to track whatever it was coming along the top of the northern wall.

"Anna!" Kristoff's voice startled the woman to whom he was calling and a quick movement saved her from blindly stepping off the cliff into the trees below.

"Woah! Good catch..." Anna blinked quickly before backing up away from the edge, "Something is coming along the western wall. It was hard to see."

"I don't think you'll need those to figure it out." Kristoff pointed, his sharp eyes already picking up the unique equine movement. He'd bet his sleigh that he knew who was coming towards them.

Anna turned to follow his direction but a chorus of shouts from inside the Valley turned her attention south, "They've spotted it too."

"What should we do?" Kristoff held his theory close to his chest, not wanting to get Anna's hopes up.

"I don't know...wait and see what happens? They haven't spotted us yet, maybe we can use it as a distraction and slip into the valley unnoticed." Anna turned her eyes to Mattais who had come to join them in their observations.

"I think it's time we mount up, Kristoff as much as it pains me to say this but you need to be as far away from Anna as possible as of right now." Mattias gave the blond man a kind but stern look to which the former mountain man nodded solemnly.

"You can do this...I'm right here with you." Kristoff pressed a firm kiss to Anna's brow before allowing himself be led away by a special guard, back towards the volcanic plains.

"Yeah...." Anna tried not to pout but it was impossible, so instead she turned her eyes back towards the ever approaching white figure, "I'll stay here. Just in case..."

"Then I shall be here beside you." Mattais motioned for his men to come closer, quickly giving orders to begin entering the forest below. Slowly and cautiously.

"As will I," Grand Pabbie raised himself up just a bit higher though his brow was lined with worry.

oO Valley of the Dead: Forest Floor Oo

"Don't waste your arrows! Let her pass!" Alrik's voice echoed off the trees, his body turning as Elsa rode past, his keen eyes not missing the layer of glacier thick ice that formed in her wake along the Earth Giant's wall, "Save them for the Arendellians."

His sneer turned into a grin when his eyes locked with the Ice Queen's very own. Though the fear he had expected to see was not present he was sure he would be able to see it soon enough.

oOo

Elsa panted heavily, her heart thumping so hard inside her chest it nearly drowned out all other sound. She had hoped she'd been high enough and shielded enough to not have been seen but she failed to take into account the ethereal glow of Nokk that easily gave her away. Still the arrows that had attempted to reach her fell short thanks to sharp downward blasts from Gale. A whispered prayer of gratitude passed her lips as she turned her sights on the small form standing in the shadow of the Eastern cliffs.

"Come on, faster!" Nokk lurched at her command, it's body leaping seamlessly over the rocky wall.

oOo

Honeymaren watched Elsa's path, the ice made armor that they'd all been given leaving her body chilled. Her heart felt much too big to fit inside her chest and even when Ryder came to join her upon the wall she felt little comfort. Her mind turning back to the small moment she had been able to share.

"Just...come back to us okay?" Honeymaren was doing her best to stay strong as Elsa put the finishing touches over the armor, "I...I don't want this night to be our last..."

Elsa paused in her work, her eyes rising to Honeymaren's softly spoken plea, "I'll be careful...I...I believe in you...I promise before it happens. I'll be right beside you...I know you'll protect me."

Honeymaren's eyes glistened but she pushed the tears back, words she so desperately wanted to share sticking in her throat. Instead, she reached forward gently caressing Elsa's cheeks with the back of her fingers a woeful smile lifting her lips, "You didn't flinch..."

"It doesn't hurt..." Elsa closed her eyes and leaned into her touch, "I will be back..."

Honeymaren leaned in despite herself, and pressed her forehead against Elsa's her eyes falling so deeply into crystal blue waters, "Promise?"

"I promise..."

Honeymaren took a slow breath tearing her eyes away from Elsa's form to the rising full moon. It's beautiful white glow reflecting off the snow covered ground bringing light to the battlefield before them. Her eyes tracked the men moving inside, disorganized and poorly armed. It seemed that Alrik had decided that pure numbers were all he needed. It would be a fatal mistake.

oOo

Elsa grunted as a sharp pain tore through her side, her hand immediately pressing down on the stitches that must have torn from her vigorous ride. Even Nokk turned his head to glance black but Elsa just pushed harder, "It's fine."

Elsa could see Anna clearly now, her sister's armor shining in the beam of moonlight that managed to slip through the mountains. Her own armor gleamed clear, the light refracting inside the perfect ice casting rainbows of color over her white tunic beneath. Her diaphanous train flowing behind her like wings. Her cuirass was longer, but still provided her ample movement ability and though her side was shielded now, it was made of flexible dragon scale shaped ice.

"Jump!" Elsa pulled herself back, holding onto the reigns with one hand while her other shot out a thick bridge of ice that took her upward along the cliff face. A stomach turning angle made her fear the ground below but a small adjustment from Nokk and the pure speed at which he was moving was enough to keep her heart in her chest and allow her to send out another blast of ice to right their stride with the earth.

oOo

"Now that's magic..." Mattais couldn't help the pure shock and awe that fell over his face as Elsa grew closer. As though she were one with the wind and sky. Her body and her power flowed through the air with unprecedented grace.

"No...that's my sister." Anna felt a swell of pride in her chest over how far Elsa had come from fearing her magic to being in complete control. It was a journey she wished they could have shared together but she knew that some things just weren't meant to be.

As the bridge of ice formed over the cliff face, connecting the wall to where Anna stood, she had to keep herself from rushing out to meet her. Her face alight with hope and love.

"Elsa! You're alright!" Tears sprung to the corner of her eyes but she held them back as she waited for her sister to come into her open arms. However, when Elsa finally did come to stand she noticed the pain in her eyes and the hitch in her movement, "Elsa?"

"Oh, Anna..." Elsa wrapped her hand around her side, freezing the cloth beneath her layers to help numb the pain. A deep breath steeled her stance and she quickly covered the space between them holding her sister as tight as she could.

Anna's arms wrapped around Elsa's waist, unaware of the injury. Though their armor kept them from truly enjoying the feeling, they still took the moment for what could be had. When they pulled apart their hands met and Anna held tight.

"Oh Elsa, thank goodness you're alright." Anna could hardly restrain the emotion threatening to burst through her chest.

"Anna—"

"You missed your party and the Yule Bell and—"

"Anna!" Elsa's sharp tone silenced her younger sister nearly instantly. Her hands pulling back to her sides as she took a small step back.

"What?" Anna immediately felt the loss, her feet moving just a step closer as Elsa took another step back. Her brow filled with confusion and hurt, begging for an explanation.

"Why are you here...?" Elsa's voice was filled with sorrow, she would have hoped her younger sister would have made a better choice.

"I'm...protecting Arendelle." Anna's face twisted with confusion, her hand coming up to her heart, "Why else?"

"Anna, please go back...It's too dangerous." Elsa knew that time was short, her eyes turning up to look at the moon.

"I can't, Arendelle is in danger. I need to protect it." Anna's eyes flicked to the moon, her voice filling with anger and pride.

"Anna, please. For once in your life just do as I say." Elsa closed her eyes tight for a long moment, her own voice turning towards the sharper edge.

"No! I'm not a child anymore." Anna took a step closer, her tone and her body filled with emotion she could not identify.

Elsa let out a harsh breath, her hand going back to her side where the pain was starting to grate more and more on her senses. Another small flurry of ice burned her skin and her eyes struck Anna right to the core, "I'm just trying to protect you."

Each syllable struck like a bell inside Anna, her heart aching but her will to push forward raising her voice, "I don't need protecting."

"Yes. You do." Hadn't they had this very same conversation before?

"No! I am the Queen." Anna could have struck her sister had she been the sort. As it was, her temper only flared her eyes and opened her arms.

"And I am your sister!" Elsa's words were so sharp, so powerful they caused Anna to stagger back slightly, though Gale swept around the younger sister as though to comfort her the effort went unnoticed.

"Anna, go home! Get married, have a baby. This isn't your fight." Elsa knew she was digging deep now, hoping that the pain would push her sister far enough away that she could do what needed to be done.

"Ouch...that hurt..." Anna swallowed down the lump in her throat, a lone tear rolling down her cheek. Was this what her sister truly thought of her? Had all their time apart really meant the end to their once budding relationship? Had their time together been too short to mend the wrongs of the past and create a warm and bright future?

"Please..."

"You don't belong here..." Elsa couldn't keep the remorse from coming over her face, her brow curling as she once more looked towards the moon, she had to stay strong. She had to do this, she had to accept the consequence, "I've seen it, please Anna. Don't do this it will be the last thing you do."

"What now that you're all powerful your also all knowing? You don't need a little sister anymore?" Anna's words tumbled out faster than her brain could process. Her emotions running the gambit and causing her to speak before she could think.

"No Anna you're twisting my words. Please just-"

"No, I won't stand in your shadow anymore. I am the Queen. I can do this. You need me." She had to tell her what she'd seen, surely if Elsa had seen the same she wouldn't be standing in her way right now. Surely...

"Anna, you've never so much as killed a spider!" Elsa could hear a ticking, a ticking like a clock echoing in the back of her mind. She needed to move, she needed to do what needed to be done.

"And you have?!" Anna found herself pulled back by Mattais, their argument having backed Elsa back towards the ice bridge she'd made and Anna towards the edge of the cliff it connected to.

"I am prepared to accept the consequences." Elsa placed her hand on Nokk before pulling herself up, unaware of the small droplets of crimson she'd left behind on the cliff face, as she pulled herself around to face Anna her heart ached to the words that followed her own.

"As am I!"

"Are you?" Elsa gave Anna a look that silenced her instantly and she turned her attention towards Mattais, "Keep your men back. You'll know when the time is right." Her eyes turned back towards Anna, fearful and hopeless, "And keep her by your side, at all times."

"You're highness?" Mattais shook his head slightly not sure if he understood her words but there was little time for explanation as Elsa turned back towards the trees.

"I love you, Anna..." Elsa's words felt like a haunting wind. The ice magic that had brought her up to her sister flurrying away into the midnight blue sky.

"Elsa!" Anna roared with anger and pain. Her voice echoing over the Valley like a lion's mighty call. Though unlike years before, Anna didn't collapse to her knees in despair, instead she allowed the emotion to fill her with determination and spirit. Her chest heaving as she tried to think of what she could do. The only option she had was to follow her sister into the woods and face this. Together.

Before Anna could even make it halfway down the path, a large wall of ice had begun to form and she, Mattais and Grand Pabbie, found themselves stopped by the large wall that had now separated them from the rest of their armies. Trapping all those who had already entered inside and keeping them out.

Anna seethed through her teeth and grabbed a handful of nearby snow, hurling it with frustration at the wall where it exploded harmlessly along the near clear side.

"Wow...Elsa really loves you." Olaf's words turned all those present on their heel, his large bright eyes blinking at them innocently.

"Olaf?" Anna could see something wasn't quite right with the little snowman, as though his body wasn't moving quite like it used to, "Are you alright?"

Olaf looked down at himself, his arms sticking out more at his sides as though he were built by a child and not some mystical creature, "Yeah... I think so...Did you tell Elsa about the moon?"

"I didn't get the chance..." Anna lowered her eyes, ashamed she'd allowed her emotions to run away from her. It was most certainly not becoming of her title that she so stubbornly proclaimed.

"Oh...well I'm sure she knows. Why else would she tell you to wait?" Olaf bounced his way closer, having heard the entire conversation.

Anna's brows furrowed slightly, "What do you mean?"

"Well...when you made it very clear that you weren't afraid to stay...she stopped trying to force to go and just...said to wait." Olaf tilted his head slightly looking over Anna's shoulder, "Oh! I think something's happening!"

Anna spun on her heel quickly rushing back towards the path leading to the outlook. Her boots slipping slightly in the slush of snow causing her to brace herself to save her face. When she managed to push herself up, her brow furrowed at the small bits of red left behind from her hand print. She turned her own hand to see but it was too dark to make out whether what she was seeing was dirt or...blood.

"Elsa?" Anna's eyes turned back towards the wall. Elsa having stopped about halfway between the Enchanted Forest and the Snake's Head Pass a purple flame coming to join her from the far side before a deep rumble shook the ground.

Anna stumbled backward towards the cliff face to save herself a most nasty fall but her eyes widened with wonder as the stone that had formed the wall began to grow, "Earth Giants...she made a wall with Earth Giants..."

oOo

Elsa stood beside Nokk, her breathing slow and even. Despite her best efforts, her want to keep her sister from joining her had failed. She knew as soon as the ice wall came down Anna would be rushing into the forest to be by her side. While the thought of her sister's love was heart warming, the thought of losing her over it was soul shattering. Another slow breath cleared her thoughts, her mind going quiet as she reached out to all the spirits that were around her now.

"Please help me protect you..." Elsa's eyes opened to the rising moon, the very corner of it's full projection missing, "Protect your people...and keep magic in this world."

Her eyes closed again as the earth beneath her feet began to hum, to move. The rumble of the giants coming to their feet rattled her teeth but she merely clenched her jaw tighter, her eyes looking out into the forest where a clearing had been made in the center by felled trees. On one of the large stumps stood the man who had set all this in motion.

It all seemed so fast...one moment he was a mysterious person coming into the forest uninvited, next she was facing him down in the middle of a battlefield. How could she have ever expected her life to twist in such a way? How could she have ever seen herself making the choice she did at that very moment. To throw away her wont for diplomacy for violence. It didn't feel right...it—hurt. Deep to her core, she knew this wasn't who she was but the choice before her was so clear, so present that she had felt left with no other options.

"There is always a choice."

Elsa's body jolted to the words whispering through her heart but before she could reflect on their wisdom a small heat was quickly crawling up her leg and she leaned down just in time to catch Bruni in her palms as he jumped up to greet her.

"Hey you...where've you been?" Elsa smiled softly pressing a small kiss to the top of his head before the little salamander jumped rather impressively onto the back of Nokk who let out a small whinny of protest, turning its glowing glare towards the creature for only a moment before closing it's eyes in acceptance.

"So glad you two have learned to get along." Elsa took a slow breath before raising her hand soothingly to Nokk's neck, her eyes closing once more as she gathered her courage and power. A deep lung filling wind whipped up from below, raising her chin towards the sky and filling her with the spirits' power. The pain, the power melding together as one to bring a deep peace that was most welcome.

When Elsa opened her eyes she felt a shift beside her, as she turned to look at Nokk the Earth began to rumble again. Her eyes widened as small stones rose up from the forest floor, her eyes following them as they began to shift and break away into pieces resembling plaques of armor and a saddle. Another small step had her turning completely towards Nokk whose ice formed body began to glow, large wings made of water and fire bursting from his flanks. The pink flame was quickly exchanged for beautifully snow captured wind that formed the most delicate looking feathers. Nokk's waterfall mane shifted from rivers of water to pouring flames giving off the most powerful glow. A sharp stomp by his hooves gave way to an ice bridge leading directly ahead, it's sides lined with cold burning fire.

Elsa felt herself completely humbled by the unbelievable transformation. The combination of all the spirits coming together as one mighty beast. A small voice in her heart told her what she needed to do next and with all the reverence for those who had come to aid her, she pulled herself up onto the back of the newly formed Bevingethest.

"Let's do this." Elsa rocked forward, her body, her armor, caught in the haunting ethereal glow of the fire that raged beside her as Nokk took off. Her body tensed and ready for what was to come. She rode over the tops of the trees, the sounds of men fearing for their lives drowned out by the voices of the spirits around her. Her eyes narrowed and locked onto the man who had led them all here.

As she neared the man-made clearing she pulled Nokk to a stop, the bridge of ice stopping with her, leaving her towering over the man who stood unflinching against her power. His eyes hungry and filled with envy over fear.

"I give you this chance. End this now, go back to your lands and never return." Elsa's voice commanded respect and her face showed not a single ounce of weakness behind her conviction.

Alrik grinned and lifted his chin, "All I ever wanted was safe passage. Yet you come at me with two armies and a magical beast. Are you sure I'm the real monster here?"

"We both know that's not why you came here." Elsa shifted on her saddle, her eyes tracking the movement of the men on the outskirts of the clearing.

"It's not? Are you so sure?" Alrik folded his hands behind his back so Elsa could not see the commands he was giving to his men.

"Yes, I know who you are Alrik. What you tried to do."

"What? Save you from a life of pain, princess?" Alrik knew she would have found out eventually, learned as she was. Oh yes, he knew many things that had happened in the castle over the years that had passed.

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

"You tried to put me in chains! Your father tried to kidnap me! Take me from my parents." Nokk stamped its hoof in reflection of Elsa's indignation causing a flare of fire to coat the forest floor. Though the snow protected the ground from catching it did send the men who were trying to move closer into retreat.

"All for your betterment. Could you imagine if you'd have been free to be who you are from the start! How much better your life would have been!" Alrik didn't flinch from the display, he knew he had to bide his time. He knew he had to wait until just the right moment.

"I would trade nothing for the life I've had." A deep love filled her sou and her eyes turned towards the distant form of Anna who had thankfully returned to the cliff's edge, "Last chance. Leave, forget your bid for power and just go."

"I wonder..." Alrik shifted his stance slightly, his cold green eyes locking straight into Elsa's own, "Is it in you? To do what your father could not?"

Elsa let out a slow breath, she had given him every opportunity. Every chance to save his own life. Though his question still hung thickly in the air. A heavier weight descended over the clearing, no man, woman or creature daring to breathe as the weight of the decision loomed in the air.

A soft pressure came to each of her shoulders, and though she knew if she looked she wouldn't see anyone there; in her heart she knew that her mother and father had come to join her now. Her brow furrowed with determination and strength giving to her by their love and support and her hand raised slowly into the air. A spark of magic illuminating the sky.

The blast formed slowly, as if pulling the water from the winter air. Its branches forming into the respective elements that stood beside her now. The snowflake turned slowly, it's ribs and rimes orienting to the four cardinal directions where their powers hailed from. With one final look at Alrik who stood fast on his want, Elsa exhaled sending the large rune carved diamonds out over the valley.

"Now!" Alrik jumped from the stump he had been standing on, dashing deep into the cover of trees while a hail of arrows came up from every possible side.

Elsa's heart roared to life as Nokk reared back, her hold on the reigns the only thing that kept her from being thrown off as he took to the sky well out of reach of the archers bow. Meanwhile, chaos ensued along the boarders. Each element tearing through with unbridled force.

To the north, tornadic winds ripped trees from their roots. To the east, fire engulfed the forest floor, melting the snow and ice. To the west, water rose up from the river, sweeping across with unrelenting fury. To the south, mountains moved, large boulders falling down with explosive force. And Elsa, to the sky in the center of it all.

oOo

"That's my girl!" Honeymaren couldn't help but let out a cry of amazement, her eyes wide with wonder. The rush of water crashing against the wall that protected her people not enough to drown out her pride. Sensing her brother's gaze she forcibly pulled her eyes away from the orchestral chaos before her, "What?"

Ryder couldn't help but snort and smirk shaking his head slightly, "Knew it."

"Knew what?" Honeymaren's brows furrowed to the odd wiggle of her brothers hips and the fluttering of his eyebrows.

But before he could respond a sharp smack to the back of his head silenced them both, "Enough both of you, look." Yelena pointed her staff towards the moon, nearly a quarter of it had gone, "We must get ready."

oOo

"Tell me again why you didn't want your sister's help?" Mattais' voice had gone up a few octaves, the sheer amount of power before him enough to bring a battle hardened man such as himself to complete astonishment. The fire that raged below had started well before the Arendellian soldiers, but now they were pinned between the inferno and the wall of ice Elsa had placed in front of the Snake's Head Pass.

"This power is not Elsa's." Grand Pabbie stepped forward, his eyes closing as the spirits around him cried out.

Anna swallowed thickly, her eyes tracking her sister as she seemed to be chasing something or someone through the forest, Nokk was going high and low, sometimes disappearing into the tree tops only to resurface somewhere else. Like a giant circle. Small blasts of snow could be seen from time to time, but over all Elsa's power seemed to pale in comparison to the elements raging around her.

"There is not much time left." Grand Pabbie turned his eyes towards the moon, his action followed by Anna who could feel a tightness building in her chest.

"Does any body else feel funny?" Olaf tried to move but found himself unable to do so, though his arms did wiggle, they didn't bend or flex as they should have, "No? Just me?"

oOo

"Get out here and face me!" Elsa had been trying to stop both the men who attacked her and catch the man who now fled from her. Her movement with Nokk rolling her empty stomach and making her throat burn, "Is this not what you wanted!?"

Elsa panted heavily turning Nokk again her eyes blurring from the furious wind that was growing ever closer. The elements were pushing everyone and everything to the center and she had to move with it or be caught in its power. Another grunt pushed Nokk forward down below the tree tops where she found herself suddenly without her mount.

A dark blur from the corner of her eye had raised the shield she'd made to protect herself from arrows, just in time. The heavy blow of the man who took her down was enough to take all the air from her lungs but a blast from her hands sent the man head over arse into a nearby tree just before her own body crashed down into the snow below. Elsa skidded to a halt, her back cracking against the tree that stopped her completely. A harsh cough brought frigid air back inside and her eyes rose to dirty leather boots and a black-steel sword.

"That's one way to even the playing field," Alrik had been waiting, calling his men to the trees. He knew he had no way of getting to the Ice Queen without her feet firmly on the ground.

Elsa panted heavily, her head light and her body sore. Her eyes crossed for the briefest of moments before her hand clenched tight, her own sword appearing in her palm to strike at the one pointed at her now. A rage built inside her as she spun her way to her feet, her shield coming up to block the blow coming straight for her head. The sword caught in the ice becoming stuck and before Elsa could blink a boot suddenly connected with her stomach; the cracking sound she heard was not of her armor but of the ribs behind as she found herself staggering back.

"You know you really should have played to your strengths." Alrik raised his now freed sword again before a sharp flat spear returned the favor of his kick, sending him spinning in the snow to keep his balance.

"I'll keep that in mind..." Elsa could taste iron in her mouth but refused to allow herself to be felled by a man such as he. As she raised her sword to counter his strike, it shattered as though made of glass, the lack of resistance sending her spinning.

"I think your time is up, princess." Alrik raised his chin towards the sky, his sword pointing to the moon that had almost been completely engulfed by darkness. The light around them growing dimmer, the battlefield growing colder.

"You know what...?" Elsa took a heavy breath, "I think you're right." Dropping her shield and broken sword, she reached out as Nokk came by again. The large horse having had to make a wide circle to keep from losing its footing.

"No!" Alrik snarled as Elsa took flight. His plan nearly in ruins but before he could reach for his bow, a large tree came hurtling towards him pinning him face first to the ground, "Islan!"

The archer who had been waiting for his master's call, raised his bow.

Elsa could feel the magic around her and inside her growing weaker. The armor that had protected Nokk was steadily falling away, the fire that illuminated his mane going out. She could feel the ice she had placed over his form cracking and giving way.

Her hands shot down beneath her, her body now without mount sliding over the surface of her makeshift bridge. The ice therein weak and cracking as soon as she passed. Her hands burned with the coldness that left her palms and her eyes sought out the one person who she needed to return to.

'I promise.'

Her mother's call passed her lips, it's sound carried along the last wisps of wind in the valley. Just as she found what she was looking for, the last of her magic faded and she found herself flying without wings. She never felt the ground.