Nathan approached Mark slowly, saying completely shocked. "That's why you survived. That's why when I look at you... I only see your pain... Not your darkness." Mark glanced around at the walls, watching the images repeat without sound now. Shaking his head, he mumbled out to himself. "No. It can't be right... I would remember..." The images on the wall faded and the soft motherly voice answered him as the room began to ripple with the bright colors of the Northern Lights. "Not all your memories have returned. You are missing a piece of yourself still." Both Mark and Nathan turned in unison. Her voice didn't sound so ethereal now. It sounded so close. Upon turning to see a little entranceway that led down into the darkness, there stood a breathtaking woman in a solid form. Her long soft green hair swayed around her without a breeze, highlighting her striking features. Her soft purple skin giving her a warm welcoming look that made her loving blue eyes gleam with pure affection and acceptance. Her slender frame was adorned in an endless void with billions of twinkling stars that formed a formal looking dress on her. Nathan wanted to ask her if she was an elf because of her pointed ears, but it seemed silly to ask.

She looked them over in turn, before smiling as she said rather calmly. "To restore yourself. You will need to take Sten back into yourself. Only then will the mist lift around the forest. Only then will your people be set free... from the spell you created to protect them." Mark hugged himself, huffing out in a guarded tone. "You're saying I did this to them? That I'm to blame." She gracefully walked across the icy floor toward him as she said in a confronting motherly voice. "You did what you believed would save them from King Runeard's wraith. You had no way of knowing that he died. You saved lives by separating them... You protected me. But it's time to end the divide. It's time to make you whole again, my darling. People need me. And they need you." Backing up from her, Mark mumbled out shakily. "I don't understand... Who am I? What am I?" Reaching out she touched his cheek to calm him, telling him sweetly. "You are my son. You are my voice in the day for the lost, when my lights can't be seen. You are the bridge between magic and life. So that when all is lost, all is found." Tears leaked down her cheeks as she cupped his face and told him so heartwarmingly. "I tried to guide you home... but you couldn't hear me. And you couldn't reach me. You'd forgotten who you are. I feared that I'd lost you... but..."

Dropping her hands from him, she turned to face Nathan. Nathan gulped, taking a nervous step back as he looked between them. Nathan feared looking into her eyes directly, but in this moment, he slipped up. However, within her eyes, all he saw were flashes of beautiful memories from all forms of life. Approaching him, she lifted his chin and told him so blissfully. "I'm so proud of you. You brought him home." Nathan opened his mouth, prompting her to smile and quietly tell him in a whisper. "I know. You're lost. Let me help you. Come with me." Extending out a hand to him, he timidly took it and let her walk him to the dark entrance and down the icy steps. Nathan glanced back to see Mark quickly following behind them. She walked slow and careful, informing him coolly. "When Stig came here. He sought to steal the source of magic and only left with the tiniest part of me. For like the ocean... magic is a deep and vast mystery. It isn't something one can capture and cut off from the world. You can only find it a vessel to hold pieces of it for a time." Nathan eyed her cautiously, asking softly. "You're saying I'm a vessel?" Stopping to look at him, she told him with a smile. "Yes. The magic Stig took from the river is in you. While that piece is small... it links you to the river. To me."

Putting a hand on his chest, she told him gently. "Forgive me. For while I did not intend the magic to pass to you... I did use you to help me." Nathan blinked, not understanding. Locking eyes with him, Nathan gasped as the images he saw in her eyes changed to his own. The ice that he'd unleashed when the Duke upset him. Then her singing that kept him up at night. Leading to her touching his hands to use his snow to show him images. When the images stopped, she told him so beautifully. "When I couldn't reach him. I reached out to you. He couldn't get here without your help. It took a while for me to find a way to get a message to you... but my father was right. Magic had planned for all this to happen just as intended. I didn't see it coming... but magic always has a plan and plans centuries ahead." She started walking again, causing Nathan to say a little perplexed. "I'm not sure I understand..." Chuckling, she told him calmly. "You'll see." The soft ripple of water could be heard coming up the steps, when Mark asked her curiously. "You have a father? Where are you leading us?" She glanced back briefly, answering curtly. "Yes. My father is the North Wind. And I'm taking you to my source of magic. The Ahtohallan River."

Mark tensed and Nathan shared a nervous look with him. Descending the last of the steps, Nathan gawked as the icy rounded tunnel lit up in colors that made the crystal looking water shimmer like liquid diamond. The water weaved through the heart of the glacier like a shimmering ribbon and the trickling sound of it was so peaceful that if he closed his eyes, he could lose himself to the sheer calm of it. She released his hand, kneeling by the river as she informed him seriously. "The answers you seek are here. If you truly desire to know the answers you seek, look. But be warned. The river knows all about you. Your secrets. Your desires. It will tempt you. Look too long into my sound and you'll drown. If that happens, the parts you love about yourself will be lost to it... forever. Leaving only the parts you kept deep with your soul to remain." Mark shuffled his feet, asking hopefully. "The river is apart of you, right? Can't you just... keep that from happening?" Shaking her head grimly, she informed him gently. "I cannot. I'm a vessel for only a small share of magic myself. Magic is ancient. It only gives so much, and the more you ask it for... the more it costs you. It's how it keeps things in the world balanced. You don't have to look. But if you do... you'll become wiser, because you'll see what you have to change or improve upon in yourself."

Getting up, she told Nathan soothingly. "Not all who wander are lost. Sometimes they seek to heal the wounds of the past, by finding a solution long forgotten." Mark moved closer to Nathan, telling him firmly. "Let's just go. You don't need to expose yourself to something like that." Stepping closer to the river, Nathan told Mark with slightly ashamed honestly. "But... I want to. I... I need to know what started this divide between the Northuldrans and the people of Arendelle. I don't want to make the same mistake..." Mark gestured to Lady Borealis, blurting out. "You know. Just tell him." Lady Borealis bowed her head, before replying honestly. "I can't. The answers he's looking for... He has to look into himself for. He has to see it with his own eyes." Mark started to protest, but Nathan touched his arm to stop him and asked her. "How do I do it?" Guiding him to step into the water, she told him soothingly. "Step in. Then relax and look into the water. The water will do the rest." Swallowing, Nathan asked Mark with a hopefully smile. "You'll be there to pull me out... right?" Mark nodded, holding his hand for as long as he could as Nathan stepped into the river. The water was strangely warm as he went in up to his waist and sat down on the ledge that overlooked the deepest part of the river.

Closing his eyes, he looked down before slowly opening them. In the water his reflection stared up at him. Then as he stared, he saw the features change to Isak's. The water slowly changed and before he knew it, he was standing within the memory as if he was really there. Isak was working in field late at night with just a handful of people. It was dark and he looked tired, but he worked by lantern light to prep the fields for seeds. Then he suddenly just stopped and looked to the woods. Standing just hidden within the wood line was a large reindeer. It looked timid and afraid but watched Isak. Smiling, Isak cautiously approached it, cooing out sweetly. "Hello again. Shouldn't you be with your herd?" The reindeer backed up from him with a low snort but showed no sign of aggression. Taking a seat in the grass, Isak extended out a hand and told the reindeer nicely. "You don't have to be afraid. I won't hurt you." The reindeer looked toward the deeper part of the woods like he was going to run, but instead, his head slowly turned back to look at Isak. Taking a single step forward, the reindeer eased his big soft nose out to touch Isak's palm.

The moment they touched; Nathan flinched as voices suddenly overlapped the memory. The first was a woman yelling out as the memory stayed on the scene. "LOVE HIM?! How can you love a guy that you met in the woods?! Tell me! What makes HIM so damn special?! Do you know how crazy you sound?! You're supposed to love ME!" The first voice faded out and the scene changed to show that as Isak pet the reindeer's cheek, the reindeer slowly glowed a bright gold before revealing itself as Mark. Mark didn't seem to notice as he leaned against Isak's hand, enjoying his touch. Isak looked surprised but didn't pull away. Instead, he breathlessly asked him in awe. "Who are you? What are you?" Mark's eyes darted open, his eyes a little watery with embarrassment and guilt. Leaning toward him quickly, Mark pressed his lips to Isak's in a tender passionate kiss. Isak tensed a bit but let him linger in the kiss. Nathan's heart ached watching them. Something about the kiss was powerful. It was innocent and yet... so sad. There was a deep longing there that made Nathan want to cry. While the kiss lingered on, a male voice tore over the scene to angrily snap out. "You're an embarrassment! I saw you kissing the stableman! Don't lie to me, Isak! It's sick and you're going to stop! I'm the king, Isak! I'm ordering you to stop! And if you don't... I don't want you in the castle anymore."

As the kiss ended, Mark looked at him one last time, before changing back into a reindeer and dashing off into the woods as Isak called out to him. The image then changed to show Isak wandering the woods and stopping every so often, when he noticed the same reindeer spying on him from a distance. Nathan smirked as Isak pretended not to notice and went about collecting wood or berries. As the images changed over time, Nathan thought it was funny how Isak began talking to himself knowing Mark was listening. The next image slowed to show Isak napping under a tree with the reindeer sneaking up on him. Silently creeping up on him, the reindeer stilled as Isak opened his eyes and cooed out. "Hi. Are you ready to talk to me?" The reindeer slowly changed into Mark, before he nervously told him. "I shouldn't... I'm not supposed to." Isak relaxed, whispering out playfully. "I won't tell. You're one of those Northuldrans I've heard the people whisper about, aren't you?" Mark nodded, prompting Isak to grin and whisper as he added. "I'm Isak. What do they call you?" Mark started talking to Isak, until the image faded to show Isak once again working in the field.

He was working in the dark under the Northern Lights, when a single golden drop fell from the sky and splashed the top of his head. It seemed like nothing, but Nathan knew otherwise. By the time the next scene rolled in, Mark was pacing and telling Isak anxiously in the woods. "She blessed you. She is hoping that you'll help us. There is a storm coming. A bad one. If you can master enough of your gift by then. You can help us and Arendelle get through the winter. Then maybe... your brother will try learning about our culture." Isak sighed heavily but told him grimly. "What if I can't?" Mark pulled him into a hug as another voice stated over the memory. "IT'S YOUR FAULT! The crops died because of you! You summoned the storm! You've always been jealous of the way I was treated!" Isak's voice pleaded out shortly after. "NO! That's not what happened! Listen to me! There are these trolls in the mountains. I learned about them too late. The harsh winter was my fault... but not in the way you're thinking! Brother, please?! We have to unite the kingdoms! We can learn from their culture and history! There are things in those woods that people need to know-" The other man's voice cut in then to yell out. "STOP LYING! I know what you want! You want to marry that savage and usurp me! Then you can rule over this entire coast and even more people can kiss your blessed ass! Well, it's not going to happen!"

The image changed to a palace office that Nathan recognized. King Frederik sat in a chair behind the deck, while Isak leaned on it and snapped out heatedly. "I can't believe you're not even going to talk to him! When are you going to understand? My wife wanted YOU! You both are miserable because you insist on changing ME! Why can't you just let me go?! You can't fix me. You can't change how I feel. I love him and NOTHING either of you do is going to change that. He won't marry anyone else. It has to be me. Think of how strong Arendelle will be if you let the Northuldran help us. We could save so much and not have to rely on other kingdoms in times of crisis! Brother, please?! I'm begging you. Let me do this for Arendelle. Let me show you that they are not something to be feared." King Frederik narrowed his eyes on his brother but told him in a guarded voice. "Fine. Meet me in the stables. We'll go for a little ride to see your... friend in the woods." Nathan bowed his head, realizing how that turned out. It didn't seem right or fair. Isak was in love and never got the chance to bring their worlds together. Nathan tensed as his mind drifted to the Grand Pabbie's vision. Recalling a pair of two hands holding each other.

In that moment, the image darkened, and he heard Mark's voice say distantly. "I'm more worried about you marrying someone else and forgetting me." Nathan inhaled, watching a new image appear farther away in the darkness. Mark stood alone dressed as the shaman and standing on their lake by the North Mountain. Extending out his hand to him, Mark told him in a beautiful voice. "Nathan... Let's go home. Together." Nathan jogged toward him, only to slow down as a more desperate voice called out his name from a distance. Turning away from Mark, Nathan gasped and jumped back as he saw himself. Only this version of him had solid white eyes that glinted like ice. His skin was frosted over in a way that looked like he had glowing tattoos of snowflakes and his every breath puffed thick fog of pure cold. Staring at himself, the menacing version of himself stepped toward him, his voice distorted and eerie as it said clearly. "Why would you help them? Arendelle tried to kill you. They find out about you and Mark... They'll kill you both. They aren't worth saving. You should save yourself." Backing up, Nathan panted out. "No. You're wrong... They just need time to learn-"

The other Nathan's hands shot out ice that trapped Nathan from backing up or running away as he approached and yelled out. "They FEAR you! You almost killed them! You're going to destroy Arendelle! You're going to get Mark killed. Just like you got your parents killed." Nathan shook his head as tears brimmed his eyes. The other Nate stopped before him, then leaned close to his ear to whisper so coolly. "See for yourself. You're a monster." Nathan looked over his shoulder a bit reluctantly to see Mark still waiting for him on the other side of the ice wall. Mark started to approach the wall with a concerned look, when Hans raised King Runeard's sword behind him. Nathan lifted his hand to hit the ice and screamed as the ice gave out from under his feet. Sinking into the water, Nathan tried to go back up to the surface, but the ice wall had fallen over the top to trap him beneath the ice. Allowing him to only see a dark shadow walking toward Mark. Banging on the ice, he tried to scream, but the sound was muffled. He banged on the ice, until his throat began to burn. The dark waters below him looking so... calm. Pushing himself down from the ice, he was about to take his fingers off the ice above him... until a strong hand grabbed his wrist. Weakly looking up at the light above him, he heard Mark call out his name.

Part of him wanted to just let go and sink, but another part of him got a surge of strength and gripped the wrist in return. The sudden feeling of water rushing around him was a little surreal, until he broke from the surface of the water. Mark hefted him up into his arms quickly, carrying him from the river. While Aputsiaq paced the dry spot by the steps, letting out distressed cries. To Be Continued...