Aqua rode Fidella, with Cassandra's permission, over the bridge to Old Corona. She had just gotten back a few days prior from a visit to Arendelle to see Iduna and Agnarr. She had gone back to Arendelle a few times with her mother and father since she first went. She called them her aunt and uncle because of how close she had gotten to them.

She would've stayed longer, but they were finally leaving to try and find Ahtohallan. She didn't know why they wanted to keep the trip a secret, but she kept it a secret like Iduna had asked.

She got off Fidella and let her graze with the other horses in the tall grass before she saw Quirin and ran to him with a smile.

"Quirin! Where's Varian?"

"Ah, Aquaria. You've returned. He is still down in his little lab," Quirin said to his son's best friend.

"Thank you, sir!" Aquaria waved and ran down to Varian's small lab area.

"Varian!" She exclaimed excitedly and he stopped working when he heard her voice.

"Aqua! You're back!" Varian ran over and hugged her tightly.

"Yep! I would've come two days ago but I was busy. What are you up to today!"

"I'm working on keeping out these pesky animals! Wanna help?" Varian asked his best friend.

"Why don't you make friends with the animals?"

"Pfft! Make friends with a pesky bird? With an annoying raccoon? I don't think so!"

"You never know!" Aquaria giggled.

"Watch this!" He grabbed a purple ball and threw it down at her feet, but it expanded to both their feet.

Varian smiled as she tried to get out. "Here, I've got it."

Varian reached over to try and grab the neutralizer to release them. "Heh... it's just over there..." He kept trying to grab the salt shaker but it was just out of reach.

"Looks like we're stuck here... again..." Aquaria said and she laughed a little. For the time being, she was content with being there with her best friend, even though they were stuck.

After a while of Varian trying to reach the salt shaker, Aquaria was getting hungry.

"Why don't you just call for your dad? He can get it for us," Aquaria suggested and he shook his head.

"No. I can't show him any mistakes. He has to be proud of me, not see me as a failure. I wanted you to be proud too, but I messed up like I always do," Varian said as he slumped.

"Var, I'm always proud of you and so is your father. Plus, your trap works!"

"I guess you're right. Thanks, Aqua! You're the most amazing best friend in the entire kingdom." Varian hugged her and smiled brightly.

She hugged him back and smiled before there was a knock at the door. "Varian?"

"Dad! Hey! Can you help us?" He felt embarrassed, but he knew Aquaria was right.

Quirin came in and looked at his son. "Varian, what did you do this time?"

"I was working on a trap for the animals and it works! I tried showing it to Aquaria, but I got both of us. Can you just get the neutralizing particles? It's the white stuff in the salt shaker," Varian said and Quirin sighed.

He got the salt shaker to his son and Varian smiled. He got them out of the sticky compound and hugged his dad.

"Thanks, dad!" Varian was smiling so brightly, letting go of Quirin.

"You're welcome, son," Quirin said and he put a hand on his son's shoulder.

"Come on, Aqua!" Varian waved her over and she ran to his side.

Quirin chuckled lightly before he left.

🛡

Almost two weeks later, Quirin heard a knock on the door.

He opened the door to see Arianna, her eyes puffy from crying.

"Your majesty? What is wrong?"

"I-I need to see Aquaria," she requested weakly and he nodded quickly.

"She's in the lab with Varian," he said and she went there immediately.

When Aqua saw her mom in the lab she smiled before seeing the tears trickling down her cheeks.

"Mom? What's wrong?" Aqua quickly ran over.

Varian stopped working and looked over.

"Aquaria... Iduna and Agnarr... they passed away sweetie... they were at sea and their ship sank..."

Aqua felt her heart shatter. She knew exactly what happened... they were trying to find Ahtohallan...

"N-no... Delta would've protected them! They can't be gone!" She trembled and Arianna hugged her tight.

"I'm so sorry, sweetie." Arianna ran a hand through her daughter's hair as they cried together.

Varian went over and hugged them both. He had never met Iduna and Agnarr that he could recall, but he knew that Aquaria was close to them ever since she had come home.

"I-I'm gonna go home, Varian... I'll see you tomorrow..." Aqua whimpered as she turned to hug him tight.

"It's okay. I understand," he murmured and she sniffed.

Aqua left with her mother and they went back to the palace.

🧪

Varian had gotten his dad to help him bake some cookies for Aquaria, knowing that she was really upset.

When she came over the next day, Varian immediately greeted her with a hug.

She wasn't her usual happy self and Varian completely understood why.

"I made you some cookies with my dad," Varian said softly as he held onto her.

"Thank you, Var," she said with a weak smile. "You're the best."

Varian took her to the kitchen and they each grabbed two cookies before going to the living room. They sat on the couch and Aqua curled into his side.

"What do you wanna do today? It's completely up to you." Varian looked at her, but she was looking at the floor.

"Can we just stay here for a while?" Aqua asked, not wanting to do anything, but she felt comforted by Varian's warmth and she didn't want that to go away.

"Of course," he said softly. He finished his cookie and then wrapped his arms around her.

Aqua clutched her scarf tightly as she cuddled with her best friend. She felt as though Iduna and Agnarr died because of her. If she hadn't gone to Arendelle then maybe Iduna never would've gotten the map to Ahtohallan and they never would've tried to go.

She started to cry softly and Varian rubbed her back gently. "It's all my fault... I'm the reason they're dead..."

"Don't say that, Aqua. It's not your fault," Varian said softly and she choked out a sob.

"But I'm the reason they had the map... if I didn't go to Arendelle, Grand Pabbie wouldn't have given the map to Iduna and they never would've tried to sail through the dark sea..." She trembled as Varian held her close.

"Don't look at it that way, Aqua. I may not know them, but I am pretty sure that they wouldn't blame you for their deaths," Varian said as he pulled the blanket down from the back of the couch. He covered them both and started to sing the song she had sung to him a lot over the past couple of years.

"Where the northwind meets the sea, there's a river full of memory. Sleep, my darling, safe and sound, for in this river all is found," he sang to her for the first time and she felt relaxed almost immediately.

"In her waters, deep and true, lie the answers and a path for you. Dive down deep into her sound, but not too far or you'll be drowned," Aqua joined him and they sang in unison.

Quirin had come into the house and saw the two of them. He stayed silent, listening to them sing.

"Yes, she will sing to those who hear and in her song all magic flows. But can you brave what you most fear? Can you face what the river knows? Where the northwind meets the sea, there's a mother full of memory. Come, my darling, homeward bound. When all is lost, then all is found."

Aquaria smiled a little as she laid on Varian when he laid down on the couch. She curled up and he kept her close, letting her fall asleep on him. Not long after, he fell asleep as well.

The two were out for hours and Frederic had come to check on his daughter, knowing that she was hurting. He knocked on the door which opened to Quirin.

"Your majesty, you may wish to be quiet. They are both asleep," Quirin said and Frederic peered into the living room to see the two cuddled up adorably.

"I see. I came to make sure Aqua was okay. She hasn't been taking the news of Iduna and Agnarr passing well." Frederic sighed softly and Quirin hummed with a nod.

"If you don't mind, I wish to stay here until she wakes," Frederic requested.

"Of course. I have some work to do in the village so I will leave you with them. I merely stopped by to make sure they were both safe," Quirin said to which the king nodded.

Once Quirin left, Frederic went into the living room. He knew that this was a moment where he should feel like a protective dad who hates that a boy is holding his daughter, but he smiled at the sight.

Over the past two years he could've sworn they were attached by the hip. He knew that they were best friends and he also knew that neither of them were thinking of the other in any way other than best friends.

He honestly hoped that it never changed.