ELSA TRAVERSED THROUGH a majestic autumn forest with the brisk air from the morning, her long platinum hair blowing over her shoulders. The train from her shimmering white gown glided behind her as she ran her hands along the bark of trees.

She glanced around as deer grazed on the grass, squirrels raced up and down trees, and birds chirped above her head. It all seemed so peaceful. She smiled as she folded her hands in front of her, taking in the beauty around her.

Her gaze was drawn to two squirrels who playfully stalked up to her and sat at her feet, both staring up at her.

She looked down at them with a bright smile. "Why, hello there." She crouched down, hoping to touch their soft fur, but before her hand could reach them, they both scurried off in the opposite direction.

She giggled. "Hey, wait up!" she shouted as she took off in a sprint to keep up with the squirrels. They both ran so quickly it was hard to catch them.

Just as the two squirrels dashed up a tree, Elsa was suddenly thrown backwards by an invisible force. She landed on her side, skidding along the grass to a stop. She clenched her eyes shut tightly as pain erupted from her side. She pushed herself up with her elbows and slowly relaxed her facial muscles. Her eyes shot open when she became clear of her surroundings. 

Fire! Blue fire!

She quickly hopped to her feet, frantically gazing at the fire as it burned the trees and licked at the grass. Something to her left caught her attention. The two squirrels she had been chasing were now two little fire balls running around screaming in agony.

"No, no, no!" She thrust her hands forward expecting ice to burst forward saving the two creatures, but fear struck when the ice didn't come.

She looked down at her hands as they shook. She tried once again but got the same result. The two squirrels only inches away slowly fell to the ground, both giving off a high squeal as they perished and their burnt flesh filled her nostrils.

"No!" She flung her hands forward, but still nothing happened.

A sudden cold sensation washed over her body. She turned around to find a woman standing before her. She levitated off the burnt grass and snowflakes danced around her in the air.

"Is this really what you wanted, Elsa?" Elsa clenched her jaw. "You should have come alone," the woman continued. She stretched out her arms gesturing to her surroundings. "Now, because of your foolishness, this is your future. The forest is doomed."

Elsa balled her hands into fists. "What did you do to me?" she shouted. She jabbed a finger at the woman. "You took away my powers!"

"It was not I, Elsa," the lady's icy voice returned. "There is a man on your boat. He is destined to destroy us all if you do not stop him. He has the stone. I don't have control over myself. Stop him, find the stone, and save us before it's too late."

Elsa shook her head. "What are you talking about? What stone?"

The lady didn't respond, but she felt a sting on the left side of her neck. She reached up to find what had caused the pain, and something slick coated her fingers. She withdrew her hand to notice a red substance painting her palm. Her eyes grew wide and her heart began to pound against her chest. Blood?

"What is this?" she asked the woman before her. "What's happening?" The blood began to thicken, running down her shoulder and staining her white gown as it dripped to the dead grass. It continued to gush as she pressed her hand against her neck.

"It's up to you, Elsa." The lady vanished in a blur of flurries, but her voice rang out as a distant echo. "Save us all."

Elsa's hand slowly fell down to her side as she stared into the blue flames. "Wait. This is all... a dream?"

Elsa gasped as she sucked oxygen back into her lungs. She swiftly used what strength she had and flipped herself onto her side just as water exited through her mouth.

She plopped back down on her back panting heavily as water pelted her face. Through blurry vision, she could see faces hovering above her moving around in a hustle. Someone barked out commands, but she couldn't tell what they had said. The voice was too scrambled for her brain to compute.

As she laid there staring up at the black clouds in the sky, her dream haunted her memory. The forest was in trouble, and only she could save it. What did it all mean? She didn't even know what forest was being spoken of. A deeper thought pricked her mind. The man on the boat. The man here to harm everyone on board. At least, that's what the lady in her dream said.

Confusion burned in her brain, but she felt too tired to figure it all out. She laid on the deck, let out a deep breath, and allowed her head to fall to the side as unconsciousness welcomed her.

*****

ELSA SLOWLY OPENED her eyes as a soft light hit her face. She groaned as she tried sitting up, pain jolting through her neck as she maneuvered her head. She lifted a hand up to her neck to find a bandage lying across a good portion of her neck and shoulder. She pushed herself up into a sitting position and looked around. She recognized the walls and furniture as one of the cabins on the ship. She heaved a sigh. She couldn't remember much of what had happened, but she knew she had been found out.

She flung her feet over the side of the bed and shuffled over to the door. Her head spun, but she pushed the feeling aside and continued on. She opened the door to find herself in a small, narrow hallway. 

"Princess Elsa."

She turned her head to the right to find one of her guards leaning casually against the wall. She cleared her throat, and gave him an uneasy smile.

"King Agnarr and Queen Iduna have been waiting for you to awake," the guard continued. He gestured forwards down the hall.

Elsa's heart began to beat rapidly as a lump formed in her throat. Her parents were totally going to kill her. She prayed that if Anna had found her way on board, they hadn't found her yet. She slowly stepped outside the cabin, and began walking down the corridor with the guard following close behind.

When she arrived at the door to her parents cabin, the wooden door embroidered with gold, she heard raised voices coming from inside. Gulping, she laid a hand on the door and pushed it open.

Right as the door swung, Papa slammed a fist into the desk that sat in front of a wall of windows, and Anna jumped out of her skin.

Elsa's gaze met Papa's as his angered expression softened. "Elsa," he whispered.

She stepped inside and glanced between each family member. She looked at Anna, frowning when she noticed the tears in her eyes. Elsa had never seen Papa so angry before in her life.

"Is everything okay in here?" She let the words roll slowly off her tongue.

Mama huffed. "Do you think everything is okay? You two stowed away on our ship, and left Arendelle without a ruler."

Elsa noticed Anna looking at her through the corner of her eye and whispered, "That's not entirely true."

Elsa was startled as Papa's booming voice filled the room. "What were you girls thinking? It's not safe. Elsa you would've died if Anna had not rescued you, and you both would've died if one of the crew had not seen you in the water."

Elsa lowered her head. "We're sorry, Papa." She raised her head and puffed out her chest as she spoke boldly. "But we had to come along. We knew something wasn't right when you announced your voyage at the party. You would never leave me in charge of Arendelle without giving me further notice." She eyed Mama. "Especially you."

Her heart sank with her words. Mama had never trusted her to be the Queen of Arendelle. Said her powers would ruin the kingdom if the people learned what she was, and always wished that she would give up her birthright to Anna, claiming that she was incapable of handling the responsibility. Anna didn't know any of this, but there was no point in telling her. Anna didn't know about her powers anymore.

"We want to know what's really going on." Anna stepped forward. "We want the truth this time."

Papa sighed as he crossed his arms and turned around, looking out the wall of glass at the dark waves. He sighed and lowered his head. "You're right," he began.

"Agnarr," Mama snapped.

"No, she's right," Papa continued, flinging himself towards Mama. "We should never have lied to them."

Elsa leaned forward as eagerness mixed with fear flooded over her. She yearned to know what they were really doing out here in these rough seas.

Papa straightened himself. "We're sailing through the Dark Seas towards a river called Ahtohallan."

"Ahtohallan? Why?" Anna asked.

Papa didn't reply, but his gaze shifted to Elsa.

Elsa felt the color drain from her face. Me! They're sailing there because of me.

Papa turned and gave Anna a smile. "We will answer your questions later. Right now, we have other things to worry about."

"Like the sea for one," Mama inputted. "The Dark Seas are rough and hard to sail on. Not many have survived the rampant waves. We all need to be ready to do our part to make our sail through the waters easier."

Elsa lowered her head. The thought of Mama and Papa searching for Ahtohallan for her was unsettling. Did they want to learn how she could control her powers or... She gulped. Take them away?

Yelling suddenly erupted from outside bringing her out of her thoughts. Someone barged through the door with a sword in hand. "Your majesty," he began while panting. "We're under attack. You need to stay here and stay safe. We'll take care of them."

Papa snorted. "Not in a million years, Garrett." He pulled a sword from its scabbard that rested on his hip and headed toward the door. He gave one last look back at his girls before disappearing, the door shutting behind him.

Elsa's heartbeat quickened in fear and anxiety. Papa!