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Kristoff came closer to the statue. “Who is this girl?” he asked. Alex examined it closely and gave his verdict, “She’s Northuldra.”

“How are you so sure?” Anna asked.

“I don’t know… I’ve met them before, so I know how they look and dress,” replied Alex as he came close to the statue and gently placed his hand on the girl’s face. Running his thumb over her cheek, he asked himself, “But why does this face feel so… familiar?”

A rustle was heard in the bushes, and a mysterious vibration filled the air. They felt a movement, as though the bushes had come alive; all of them began to carefully retreat.

“What is that?” asked Kristoff. Alex confirmed, “We are not alone here.”

“Olaf, get behind me,” said Elsa, as a terrified Olaf buried himself behind her. As they furthered their retreat, Anna drew the royal sword out of its scabbard without telling Alex.

“Hey!” he hissed, both shocked and provoked. “What are you trying to do?!” he whispered urgently, wishing not to give them away to whatever lurked in the bushes. He tried to grab its hilt out of Anna’s hand.

“No!” she started. “I’m not giving it back; it’s mine!” she said aloud, resisting his pull.

“Well, technically, it’s Elsa’s, but I have been given custodianship over it AND can decide when and where to use it!” declared Alex.

Out of the bushes, two peoples emerged: the Northuldra and Arendellian soldiers. The two age-old rivals did not notice each other but stared at Alex and Anna in awe.

“No! Gimme, it’s mine!” cribbed Anna.

“Mine!” protested Alex.

“MINE!” they both squabbled like little children, going forehead to forehead.

Some soldiers couldn’t help but twist their mouths into awkward smiles, while some Northuldra were reduced to giggles. Kristoff placed his hand on Alex’s shoulder—he was becoming an embarrassment. Alex looked at Kristoff and then at the amused people. He felt ashamed. Releasing his grip from Anna’s hand, he smiled plainly at them to excuse the absurdness.

“Thank you,” Anna said as she took the sword for herself. The two peoples confronted each other and raised their weapons.

“Threatening my people, lieutenant?” crowed an elderly Northuldra woman who led her people. She gripped her weapon firmly and pointed it at Lieutenant Mattias. He wore the wear and tear of a great many years—he was quite alive, but not as much as he was impressed.

“Invading my dance space, Yelena?” he asked, mocking her tone. Anna pointed the royal sword at Mattias, “Hey, Alex. Have you seen him before?” Alex was instantly alarmed. He warned,

“No, no, no! That’s not how to--” But he was too late.

“Lieutenant, the royal sword!” cried a soldier.

“Well, don’t just stand there, get it!” commanded Lieutenant Mattias.

“Get the sword!” chorused the Northuldra and soldiers as they sprinted to secure it toward Anna. Elsa let out a burst of magic and froze the ground beneath them at once. The two peoples were stunned. The Northuldra slipped and slid while Arendellian soldiers crashed into a heap. The lieutenant and Yelena slid slowly with their backs against each other.

“… That was magic! Did you see that?” asked a dumbfounded Mattias.

“Of course, I saw it.” croaked Yelena, trying to show that she wasn’t amused.

“You chose a nice, cold greeting,” Anna whispered to her sister.

“They’ve been trapped in here this whole time?” wondered Kristoff.

“What do we do now?” asked Elsa. Alex prepared to speak but was swiftly interrupted by Olaf.

“I got this,” he began, pushing the others out of the way. “Hi! I’m Olaf.” he greeted them. The Northuldra and soldiers alike gasped in disbelief at the sight of a living snowman.

Olaf believed that they were shocked to see that he didn’t wear any clothes. Covering his body shyly, he declared, “Oh, sorry! Yeah, I just find clothes restricting. Bet you’re wondering who we are and why we’re here. It’s really quite simple.”

The people were at a loss for words. However, when Olaf began his narration, they listened interestedly, if not awkwardly.

“It began with two sisters—one born with magical powers, one born powerless. But their love for snowmen: infinite,” he began with the fervor of a storyteller. Anna frowned at what he said, yet confused. Elsa nervously bit her lip. “Anna, no! Too high! BLAST!” continued Olaf, as he fell to the ground on being hit by one of the buttons on his torso that he shot as Elsa. He quickly got up, acting out Elsa, “NO! Mama, Papa, HELP!”

Again, Olaf went on with the story and exclaimed, “SLAM! Doors shutting everywhere! Sisters torn apart!” Olaf took a deep breath, “Then, one fine day, a bunch of sea cadets came sailing into Arendelle; one of them decided to stay! Well, he wasn’t all that useless and gave the sisters some company.” Alex found the latter half of his description rather repulsive, so he crossed his arms. “Besides, at least they have their parents…” Olaf continued. In a lifeless tone, he declared, “Their parents are dead…”

This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

He weirdly brushed down the twigs on his head, and wearing eyelashes, he went on girlishly, “Hi! I’m Anna. I’ll marry a man I just met. Oh, Prince Hans.” Saying so, he turned back to normal. “Elsa’s gonna blow! Snow! AAHHH! Run!” he shouted.

“Magic pulses through my snowflakes—I live!” he told them his little part in the story before getting ready to play another piece of Elsa’s. “Ice palace for one, ice palace for one. Get out, Anna! Pew, pew!” Changing roles yet again, Olaf perfectly acted out being struck. “My heart…!” he gasped.

“Oh, my goodness!” Mattias expressed to himself, drawn into the story. Yelena, who sat next to him, found his involvement in the story ridiculous. Mocking Prince Hans, Olaf started, “I’m Prince Hans, and I locked up the army in the dungeons…! Ha, ha, ha!”

“WHAT?” exclaimed Mattias. Quickly imitating Grand Pabbie, Olaf spoke as wearily as him, “Only an act of true love can save you.” Again, Olaf played Hans and brought Sven in for a kiss. “Here’s a true love’s kiss.” Pushing Sven away, he said, “You’re not worth it! The castle is mine, and so is Arendelle… mu-ha, ha, ha, ha!”

The lieutenant nervously bit his nail, “Oh no, what now?”

Olaf went on with grief, “Then Anna freezes to death… forever.” Olaf brilliantly froze to solid ice.

“Oh, Anna…” swooned Mattias.

Unfreezing, Olaf narrated enthusiastically, “But wait, there’s more… remember that guy who decided to stay: Alex? He broke out of the dungeon, freed the soldiers, and helped Elsa out too! And then she thawed her sister’s heart—an act of true love!” The lieutenant was overwhelmed, almost in tears.

“Oh, I love happy endings!” he confessed as Yelena looked at him in disbelief.

“But wait! There’s more…” began Olaf yet again. He inhaled deeply and blurted it all out in one breath, “Elsa woke up the magical spirits, and we were forced out of our kingdom. Now, our only hope is to find the truth about the past, but we don’t have a clue how to do that, except Elsa’s hearing voices, so we got that going for us. Any questions?”

Very successfully, Olaf had solved their problem without failing his duty of embarrassing them. Elsa made the slippery ice disappear.

“Are you really Queen of Arendelle?” asked Lieutenant Mattias, getting up from the ground.

“I am,” Elsa confirmed.

“Why would nature reward a person of Arendelle with magic?” wondered Yelena as she retreated to stand with her people. Angered, the lieutenant guessed,

“Perhaps to make up for the actions of your people.”

Standing before her people, Yelena defended, “My people are innocent. We would have never attacked first.”

Anna began to observe the lieutenant from different angles, wearing a curious face.

“May the truth be found.” Mattias declared to Yelena.

“Hey, hold this one sec…” said Anna as she passed the royal sword to Alex, still staring at the lieutenant. Even though she wasn’t looking, Alex longingly took the sword and replied, “Took you long enough.” He sheathed the sword and glanced at the lieutenant—he too found something familiar.

Both Alex and Anna moved toward Mattias, observing him like a painting. The soldiers around him felt uneasy by how the two approached them: like two curious children up to some kind of mischief. Anna squinted, examining him. “Hey, do you know this guy?” she asked Alex. He joined her, studying the officer with scrutiny. Mattias felt uncomfortable when Anna put her hands in front of herself and tried to place him in a box she made with her fingers. He couldn’t help but ask, “I’m sor-, um, what’s happening?”

Something struck Anna. She exclaimed in celebration, “That’s right! Library, second portrait on the left… but I forgot who he was.” Alex was stoned to see him alive; he could hardly believe his eyes. He recalled his name, “That’s Lieutenant Destin Mattias, Anna.”

Anna spoke happily, yet amazed, “Of course! Lieutenant Mattias. You are our father’s personal guard!”

Mattias finally recognized them and smiled, “Agnarr.” Looking sorrowful, he asked Elsa and Anna, “What did happen to your parents?”

“Our parent’s ship went down in the Southern Sea three years ago,” Anna informed. Alex was disturbed by that statement—he was never going to believe that.

“Or that is what they say.” he interrupted her as he came forward.

“And who may you be, soldier?” asked Lieutenant Mattias. Alex came to attention and saluted.

“Color Sergeant Alex of the Royal Guard, sir! Personal guard to the queen and princess of Arendelle.” He reported smartly.

“At ease, Color Alex,” Mattias ordered. “It seems we once served under the same designation.” He put his hand forward and shook it firmly with Alex’s.

The soldiers behind Mattias got a glimpse of the sergeant at such proximity for the first time. Amazed, they admired their kingdom’s highest gallantry award hanging from his chest. “A Hero of Arendelle!” “Woah!” “No way!” expressed several soldiers in hushed voices. Examining him thoroughly, the lieutenant asked, “May I know why are you in possession of the Royal Sword of Arendelle?”

Alex looked at the sword and then back at Mattias, “I was entrusted with the upkeep and protection of the sword on behalf of King Agnarr himself, sir.”

Acknowledging that, Mattias turned to the sisters and agreed, “Yeah, Agnarr. I see him… I see him in your faces.” Anna grew delighted.

“Really?” she asked as both Elsa and herself glowed with happiness.

“Soldiers,” commanded the lieutenant, as all of them maneuvered into a defensive position around the queen and princess, facing the Northuldra. They stood ready to attack. Mattias confessed, “We may be getting old in years, but we’re still strong. Proud to serve Arendelle.”

Elsa stepped ahead and directly faced the Northuldra. “Wait, please.” she started. All the guards, save Alex, found her move unnecessary, if not repulsive. “Somebody has called me here. If I can just--”

“I don’t trust any of this. This is all sorcery and spells!” Yelena crowed out loud. Alex had heard that word once before—he didn’t want to listen to it again: he got in front of Elsa. The Northuldra readily raised their weapons at him. Alex stood bravely, with his chest broadened and head held high, keeping Elsa close behind.

“The queen is not a sorcerer, and I can explain.” Alex offered. Yelena didn’t seem interested in negotiation but hesitantly motioned her people to stand down. Alex then did something she could never have anticipated: he began to show her an array of facial expressions. She responded in kind while the other Northuldra watched them communicate. Everyone else, including Elsa, stood bemused.

“We believe in what you say and are honored that you have learned our language. But we will never accept that whatever is happening is the doing of our people.” Yelena stated.

“And I do not ask of you that, ma’am,” Alex told her.

Turning to Lieutenant Mattias, Kristoff began, “Um… er… lieutenant, sir? It looks like neither of our people knows the cause of the conflict. With the truth so close to being found, I recommend we work together.”

The lieutenant didn’t have a clue of who Kristoff was. He spat, “And just who are you to--”

“Lord Kristoff of Arendelle, sir. His Lordship has a right to advise you.” Alex returned before he could finish. Mattias shrugged, mused on it for a bit, and answered,

“I am not opposed to that… provided they agree to do the same.”

Yelena wasn’t keen on working with them, but Elsa pleaded again, “I believe the voice has an answer that may help us free this forest. Trust me, I just want to help.”

Yelena spoke, “We only trust nature. When nature speaks…” A frisson of fire abruptly engulfed a tree behind them. All of them watched in dismay. Yelena’s jaw hung open as she finished, “We listen.”