(Normal pov)

While the physical wounds have been healed for the two sisters, the mental damage involved was a painfully slow and grueling process of healing for the two girls. The last two nights have been especially cruel to them.

Sleep evaded the two sisters like a ghost, even though they were with each other. Both of them suffered horrifying nightmares, with Anna often awakening in the middle of the night with a piercing shriek. The poor girl's nightmares were also the most vivid, the dreadful visions of her time with Ulfric the most common night terror. On the other hand, Elsa's own blood-curdling nightmares manifested as her vicious scourging or worse, watching Anna helplessly violated by the demon Prince.

The realm of sleep-- what's supposed to be an escape from their earthly problems - became a Hell itself.

Anna had the most trouble coping with the nightmarish mental hell. The younger girl had bouts of screaming and begging, for Elsa to save her. Disturbed from her own restless sleep, the blonde could only embrace the redhead, holding her to her chest and placating her with soft words that the nightmare they had experienced had past. Elsa awaited for the redhead to sob herself to sleep so she can catch up on rest as well, only to be either awoken by her own nightmares or Anna's screaming an hour later.

It was moments like these that made Elsa wish that Death had taken her.

The blonde's bloodshot eyes shot open, disturbed from her light sleep by the sound of her sister shrieking and struggling in her arms. Springing into action, the queen embraced her, attempting to wrench her from her nightmare's clutches. "Anna, Anna wake up! It's only a dream, you're safe!"

Anna held her older sister tightly, sobbing incoherently into her chest.

"Shhhh, I'm here Anna, you're safe with me..." The platinum blonde cooed softly.

It lasted only a few minutes, but it felt like an agonizing eternity before the redhead returned to reality. Elsa planted soft kisses into her sister's head, assuring her that she was there for her.

"Oh God... Elsa, it was so horrifying..." Anna rasped, her voice dry and hurting from crying.

"I'm here Anna, shhh..."

Elsa cradled her closer, tears streaming down her own eyes. The words that her guardian angel had said to her - that Fate was now on her side-- started to sound more like a cleverly crafted lie than words of inspiration. The only time that fate had been on their side was when they were rescued from Hans, but since then it seemed as if fate had abandoned them once more.

She wallowed in her silent misery, but not daring to show Anna her weakness. The younger girl slowly stopped crying, finally falling asleep on the blonde's chest. Resting her head against the pillow, Elsa closed her eyes, slowly drifting off into light sleep to await the next moment Anna awoke in fear.

Here we go again...

She had only been asleep for thirty minutes when the door to their quarters opened abruptly, waking the blonde from her light sleep. "What is it?!" Elsa groaned, heavily irritated from the lack of restful sleep.

Athelwold was standing under the doorway. "Queen Elsa? One of your guards has captured someone near the woods. He said he's a friend but we're waiting for your judgment on what to do with him."

Groaning, the young queen gently shook her sister awake to get her off of her. The redhead awoke with a start, but thankfully she did not scream. "What's going on?"

Elsa gently helped her up, ignoring the skull-splitting headache tormenting her. The platinum blonde's face grimaced in agony, but she fought through the pain. "There's someone who wants to meet us."

After helping Anna off the bed, Elsa gently cradled her sister to her, following Athelwold's lead. Irwin, Lord Clemenson, and Valka were already awaiting for them in the Living Quarters, with the person Athelwold was talking about bound to a chair.

Irwin acknowledged her with a nod. "Queen Elsa, Princess Anna. My men found him wandering outside twenty minutes ago muttering your name. I don't know if he was one of Han's men or a civilian so my men ambushed him and tied him up."

Elsa's eyes widen when she recognized the prisoner.

"Aiden?"

Although the housecarl was the one who had to administer her flogging, Aiden gave a heartfelt apology afterwards, begging on his knees for forgiveness of his unwanted sin. He was also the one that destroyed her chains so Athelwold could free her. She had also voicelessly promised him that she'll remember him when she takes back her kingdom.

"Queen Elsa! Thank God you're alive! List-" A death glare from Irwin silenced him, Elsa however, raised her hand to stop Irwin. "This man is a friend of ours, Irwin. Let him speak."

She took a seat across from the housecarl, with Anna sitting on her lap. Elsa nodded her head, giving him permission to continue whatever he had to say to her. There was a look of urgency in his blood-streaked face, and she deduced that the youth had fled from the city some time ago.

"Thank you Queen Elsa for letting me speak, but I have horrible news to tell you. There's a massive Viking fleet sailing to Arendelle that thirsts for vengeance against your husband Hiccup. Hans had heard that Hiccup killed this Viking kingdoms king-- Olaf. And to draw you and Anna back to Hans, that... monster has called for these Vikings to demolish Arendelle if you don't return in two days."

All of the others gasped quietly in shock, but Elsa kept silent. "How many ships?"

A shadow of fear passed over the housecarl's face. "Four hundred. Hans already has two warships that arrived before he usurped you and since you've been in hiding? He's summoned reinforcements to aid the Viking hordes that are already here as we speak. Hans now has forty ships filled to the brim with traitorous men of the Southern Isles."

The headache already plaguing Elsa burned even stronger as she fathomed the image of the vengeful Viking hordes and Han's own traitorous armies.

Arendelle doesn't stand a chance.

She don't stand a chance.

The blonde had been plotting during the afternoon with Lord Clemenson over the past two days on how they were going to retake Arendelle. So far, nothing useful had come out of their-- she hates to admit it-- hopeless scheming.

"Four hundred Viking ships and forty Southern Isle ships..." Clemenson's face turned beet red in anger. "What do they have against us?! We never did anything to them!"

Aiden gazed forlornly at the fireplace, black shadows dancing across his face. "My former master is mad. He takes pleasure in hellish tortures and deaths, and he's more than happy to demolish a city for the hell of it..."

Athelwold recoiled in horror at his description of Han's insanity. "He's a devil!" He spat out, causing many of the Saxons in the room to nod and hum in agreement.

Elsa cradled the now sleeping Anna against her breast, gently brushing aside a tuft of strawberry blond hair out of her freckled face, she then looked at Aiden. "How many men does Hans have stationed in Arendelle right now?"

"One hundred thirty personal guards and one thousand soldiers, not counting the crew of the ships." Another wave of pain twisted his face. "But that's more than enough men to brutalize the citizens of your kingdom."

Anger flared in the Queen. "What?" She hissed. No one hurts the people of her kingdom without expecting retribution.

The housecarl nodded sadly. "His men pillage and rape Arendelle's people without fear of retribution from your people. They fear the Prince, for he has command over hellfire. The citizens no doubt would have risen up already if he was a regular mortal..." Aiden drifted off, pain twisting his lips.

Uneasiness oppressed the living room, silencing everyone. Fury boiled inside Elsa as she glared into the fireplace quietly. Hans has a large platoon's worth of soldiers with him and a massive Viking fleet to back him up as well. Furthermore, the bastard himself burns with the powers of the fires hell itself.

'What can I do?' Elsa thought bitterly.

All Elsa has with her are her powers over ice, her sister, Valka and her tribe of dragon riders and the Bewilderbeast and a few of her loyal followers. Despite having the advantage of dragons, she did not want to see those amazing creatures slaughtered by Hans and his hordes of thieves, cutthroats, murders and heathen allies.

The hopelessness of their situation was so pathetic it was laughable.

Elsa started giggling, an uncanny noise that sent a disturbed everyone around her. They all gawked at her, distraught by her eerie laughter. Even Anna awoke, unsettled by the blonde's chuckling. "Elsa, what are you laughing at?" She asked, disturbed by her sister's laughter.

"Don't you see how fucking hopeless we are?" Elsa said. Everyone was taken aback by her choice in words. "We'll get killed before we reach the outskirts if we try to retake Arendelle..."

An awkward stillness followed before Irwin snapped at her. "Don't say that Lady! I will not let you give up! Not when Arendelle and its people need saving from the forces of darkness!"

The others followed Irwin's example, attempting to support Elsa. "We can't give up now! Queen Elsa, the lives of your kingdom are at stake! They need you now more than ever!" Lord Clemenson said.

"The people want you back Elsa," Aiden soothed. "I could see it in their eyes. They pray every day and night that you return to save them."

"Would my son allow you to give up?" Valka asked, Elsa turned to her mother in law to see the older woman's face twist with disbelief and disappointment in Elsa's words. "No. Hiccup would not want you to give up. He would want you to fight. To fight for him, for Anna, for your parents, for your people and for England itself!"

Their words filled Elsa with hope, giving her the strength to reconsider. But it wasn't enough to convince her. "It's all for nothing..." She muttered helplessly. "Don't you see? We're going against an enemy that knows what they're doing. and what we'll attempt to do!"

Her sister's voice shook her out of her self-deprecating. "Please don't give up Elsa, please don't let him win..." Anna embraced her tightly, almost choking the blonde from the force. "You said you'll fix this mess."

Anna's words pulled her back to reality. She blinked hard, her faith in herself starting to rekindle. Anna had always believed in her, no matter how dark their situation was. She returned the embrace, burying her face in Anna's neck. She had revived that faint light of hope in the restless ocean of misery in her.

But how long will it last?

"I'll see what I can do..." Elsa cried, her eyes watery. She pulled out the hug, giving her a faint smile.

Abruptly, Anna pulled her into a deep kiss. Elsa's eyes widen, and she glanced quickly at their companions. None of them objected to their display of affection, no disgust or shock in their faces, even from Valka. In fact, Athelwold was even smiling at them. Anna pulled out the kiss after a few moments. Despite the dark shadows under her eyes, the strawberry blond was still as beautiful as always. A burning blush coloured the platinum blonde's cheeks.

"Well, uhh, as I was saying, I'll see what I can do." She sighed and gently moves Anna out of her lap so she can stand up. There was a trace of steely determination in her azure eyes. "Lord Clemenson, get the map of Arendelle. We got battle plans to discuss."

(Hiccup's pov)

"GET UP TRAITOR!!!"

I bolted up right and saw the jail guards unlock my cell and two of the guards approached me and seized me by the arms, as we exited outside, I squinted my eyes as the blinding sunlight hit my face, I looked around the village to see it empty, but as we approached what looked like their training arena? I could hear battle grunts filling my ears.

The guards escorted me to the entrance of the arena, once the gate was opened, they pushed me inside and everyone gathered was booing and hurling insults my way, except Gobber, Gothi and Sigurd. I looked up to see two thrones, one belonging to Stoick and the other to Magnus, both chieftains sat down and barked orders out for their best warriors to enter the arena.

I looked behind me to see Astrid enter first, Snotlout second, Ruffnut and Tuffnut were third and fourth, then countless others that I knew and didn't know enter the arena and basked in their peoples cheers and praise. I then removed the leather arm braces, vest and green tunic around my upper body and was left in my leather pants and boots. The Vikings all murmured and whispered in shock and surprise at my clean lithe muscle and more surprised that I had a Viking tattoo on my back and forearms.

Approaching the weapons rack, I took two swords and twirled them in my hands expertly, I then returned to the center of the arena and looked into my fathers eyes with a hard and firm face, Stoick returned my look and he rose to his feet to address the Vikings gathered. "My friends! Today, is the day where we shall test Hiccup, if he is worthy of being redeemed and taken back as a Viking!" However, Stoick's words were met with looks of disapproval and boos, but Stoick silenced them by shooting a death glare at the crowds gathered. "If Hiccup succeeds in defeating every warrior gathered here? He will return to his Saxon people and worship his new god." He spat out, he then added as well. "However, should Hiccup fail? I will mold him into the finest Viking Midgard has ever seen."

I inhaled sharply and breathed out slowly, I had to win. Failure was not an option, I was surprised that. Stoick would allow me to leave should I win. But I couldn't dwell on that right now, I needed to focus and prepare for the fight ahead of me.

"Odin's warriors! Give this boy a challenge! And show him what true Vikings do to traitors like him." Magnus barked out, causing the Wolf warriors in the arena to roar in agreement as well as Hooligans, the group of warriors then circled me and raised their shields. I then got into a battle stance and calm my racing nerves.

"Let it be done. BEGIN!!!"

The first warrior to charge me was a valkyrie, the female warrior pulled her spear back to stab me, I side stepped the attack and bashed the butt of my sword into the back of her head, causing her to back off and groan in pain. A Wolf warrior charged me armed with tomahawks, he then unleashed a flurry of attacks, the warriors attacks were heavy and I got knocked by the tomahawk blade across my neck, I hissed in pain and heard the crowds roar in approval that their own warriors drew first blood.

"Kill that Christian dog!!"

"Flay the skin off his bones!"

"SPILL HIS GUTS OPEN!!!"

I ignored the peoples words and focussed on my battle, the valkyrie I hurt charged me again and bashed her shield into my chest, causing me to stumble back, the Wolf warrior behind me the cut my arm with his tomahawk and I yelled in pain. I shook the pain off and blocked another attack from the Wolf warrior, he tried spilling my guts open, but I moved away from his attack in time, I then proceeded to cut the blade off his first tomahawk and then stabbed him through the neck; killing him in seconds. Blood was spraying out of his neck as I pulled my sword out of his throat and then I flung my blade toward the valkyrie, causing the leftover blood to splatter in her eyes, she screamed in pain as the blood stung her eyes, I then drove my sword through her heart and twisted my blade, once the valkyrie fell dead, everyone was silent at my impressive display of sword fighting.

"Next!" I demanded, Stoick's face twisted from shock to determination, he then nodded at two more warriors, both of whom were bulky and strong, but the bigger they are? The harder they fall. Both these warriors were Wolves and they were armed with war hammers, the first one let out an animalistic yell and charged, he swung his hammer at my face, I ducked under the attack and back away as the warrior swung his hammer back at me. Soon, the second Wolf joined in, he brought his hammer down to my head, but I summersaulted out of the way to hear the hammer meet the ground and saw a slight crack on the ground.

"You will pay for your betrayal Useless Hiccup." One of the Wolves spat out, he then charged once more and swung his hammer at me, I blocked the attack with my swords, the second Wolf swung his hammer at me and I ducked to hear a sickening crunch and agonizing screams fill the air. The gasps of the crowds also filled the air, now that one Wolf accidenlty downed his companion, I finished the job by driving my sword in his throat and then hacked the other Wolf's leg off, he screamed in agony and clutched his bleeding stump, I then drove my sword into his mouth; muting his screams forever.

An enraged snarl reaches my ears as I see Magnus shoot up from his throne and bark out. "HAVE YOU ALL LOST YOUR HONOR?!!! YOU ARE BEING KILLED BY A TRAITOR AND A WALKING FISHBONE!!! SHOW. HIM. HIS. PLACE." With the White Wolf's chieftains words, three more warriors belonging to Magnus charged me, I kicked up threw one of my swords at the nearest warrior, causing my sword to drive itself into that warriors throat, the two other Wolves swung their weapons at me in unison, I ducked out of the way and picked up one of the fallen Wolves war hammers and bashed another one of the Wolves skulls in; blood and brains splattered on the floor as the final Wolf roared out in fury trying to cut me down, evaded all the attacks thrown at me and then brought the war hammer on that Wolf's foot, using the warriors time of agony to my advantage, I twirled the other sword in my hand and decapitated the Wolf with ease, that warriors head flew up in the air and then landed back on the gore slick ground with a splat.

There were no cheers thrown my way, but I didn't need their praise, I was panting heavily and was caked in blood, I then pointed my sword at Magnus and taunted him. "Those were your best warriors Magnus? I was expecting... more. At this rate? I'll be back in bed with my wives by nightfall." The White Wolf chieftain stood and huffed in puffed in rage, though Stoick held his ally back. "Snotlout! Prove that you are worthy of being my heir! Attack!" Stoick demanded, my cousin gave me a shark like grin and simply said. "With pleasure." He then charged with his own war hammer in hand and we soon locked weapons together.

"Gotta admit Useless, you surprised me with your sword skills. Too bad they won't save you from me." He seethed out, I broke our weapon lock and head butted him, he backed up and clutched his now bleeding nose, I pointed my sword at him and snarled out. "You will pay for what you have done to me when we were younger!!" I then try stabbing him, but he side steps the attack and tried breaking my back with his hammer, I ducked under the attack and kicked his hammer out of his hands. We then exchange powerful and bone breaking blows to each other, Snotlout fought like a bear, while I moved gracefully, noticing this Snotlout pushed me back and he sneered out at me. "Stop dancing Usless..." My nostrils flared up in outrage at my old... nickname, I'd show just how "useless" I am. "...stop dancing, and fight me!!" Snotlout snarled out while inviting me to attack him, I was more than happy to oblige his arrogant ass.

I then kicked dirt in his eyes, temporarily blinding him, I then picked up my sword and slashed him across the chest, then his hip and then his leg. Snotlout yelled in pain every time I left sizable gashes across his body, blood seeping out of his wounds and he breathed heavily, Snotlout picked his hammer back up and tried attacking, but I then chopped his hand off that wielded his hammer, causing my cousin to scream in agony while clutching his bleeding stump. While he was distracted, I caught the flying war hammer and bashed the side of Snotlout's head open, my cousin was now splayed out on the ground and tried crawling away, but I continued to bash my worst bullies head in without compassion or mercy.

CRACK!

I remembered Snotlout pushing me into the ocean during the winter while I was fishing, I nearly died of hypothermia and he simply said that he was a friendly patting me on the back. I hated him so much for doing that to me.

CRACK!!

I remembered Snolout and the twins dragging me off and then stripping me naked and abusing my body for their sick pleasure and... Snotlout nearly raping me, had Astrid not showed up and stopped him.

CRACK!!!

I unleash one last brutal strike to Snotlout's head and the floor was splattered with my cousins blood, brains and pieces of his skull. I left out a ghastly roar in the air and pound a fist in my chest and throw Stoick and Magnus a cold glare. "Your warriors are beaten!!! I do not wish to kill anymore of them!! I just want to go home to my wives, my mother and my dragon!" I say while panting heavily and feeling my sweat and enemies blood slide down my skin. Stoick rose from his throne and looked me with disbelief. "Your mother truly lives?" He asks with hope, I nod at him. "She does. And she has renounced the Viking way of life as well." I state, causing Stoick to look away with pain and... betrayal twisting across his face, Magnus rose from his seat and sneered at me. "If you think you're leaving here? You have another thing com--"

"Go."

Everyone turned to Stoick in shock, disbelief and anger, Hooligans and Wolves alike shouted in disapproval and demanded that I be executed immediately, but Stoick grabbed his own war hammer and banged it against the arena bars and screamed out. "SILENCE!!!" Once everyone was quiet, Stoick turned to me and gave me a stern look an asks. "Is this really what you want boy? To go back to your... traitorous life?" I scoff at his words and nod in confirmation. "How can I be a traitor when I never was a Viking Stoick?" I challenge, I then threw the sword in my hand and pant heavily. "When Arendelle is reclaimed and when the battles that ensue for control over England and Arendelle itself? I pray that we do not meet each other on the battlefield." I say before turning to Astrid. "Despite the abuse you all inflicted upon me? I want to forgive and forget. But if you threaten my people, my home and my land any further? I will not hesitate to kill you all in the name of peace."

Astrid shakes her head at me and counters my words. "We're Vikings Haddock! We will claim these lands in the name of Odin the Allfather and in the name of those you've slain and in the name of our forefathers. We will never surrender." She seethes out at me, causing everyone to bark and roar in agreement, I simply shrug at Astrid's words and look her directly in the eyes and speak with a cold tone. "Then I will kill you. Don't think I will hesitate Hofferson. I will kill you." I then spit out a wad of spit on the ground and leave the arena, eager to return to my wives loving embrace.

(Normal pov)

The scaffoldings of a coup started taking shape as the war meeting progressed. Aiden, with his crucial information regarding the routes of the guards, helped develop the plan. Everyone gave suggestions on how to progress, even Anna. For a time, it seemed all was going well and the plan was going to be successful. Even the fading light of hope within Elsa grew stronger.

Until they considered the numbers they faced. Both Viking and Hans men.

Like a worn-out tree branch, the schematics of the coup fell apart. All the hope Elsa had for retaking Arendelle was extinguished to a single dying ember once more.

"Dammit!" Irwin hissed. "We need an army to do this right!"

"Whatever remains of them are dead..." Aiden said, with a grim tone. "The army was all but purged after they tried overthrowing Hans for allowing Viking armies to sail directly into Arendelle and go into the heart of England."

Clemenson twirled his bushy mustache. "Hmm..." His eyes suddenly widen. "Of course, why didn't I think of it before? Elsa, do you think you can conjure an army of ice golems?"

Elsa looked at him, her lips pursed. She had considered it many times but had been fearful of the consequences. She of losing control of her creations and feared that they might turn on her and her loyal followers and people.

"Controlling one will not be as easy as it looks. I've never done this before and I fear that I cannot control one, let alone an army of golems!" A horrifying vision of the ice golems running out of control flashes in her mind.

They all looked at her expectantly, and Anna puts her arm around her to give her support. "Elsa, you're our best and only chance we have to take back Arendelle from Hans. No one else here has powers such as yours." She gave her a half-grin. "So use it!"

Taking a deep breath, Elsa stood up. "I... I need time to consider it." She walked towards the entrance, surprising everyone. "I need time to think about it first, okay? Leave me alone until I return." She was masking the agony in her voice, for something deeper than the fear of losing control of a few golems was haunting her now.

Then, without saying any word on where she was going, she exited the lodge, running off into the dim afternoon. Anna was about to go after her, but Valka pulled her back. "Let me go!" The strawberry blond blurted. "I have to talk to her!"

"Leave her be, Anna." Valka advised, she then pulled the princess back to her seat. Anna tried to push Valka away, but the older woman was stronger than her daughter in law. "If she needs time to herself, leave her be."

Anna reluctantly stopped resisting Valka's grasp, she then sat back down on her seat. "Fine..."

(Elsa's pov)

The thick overcast above made the late afternoon resemble nighttime already. Snow had started to fall, courtesy of my runaway emotions. A cocktail of fear, anger, and hopelessness swirled in a dangerous mixture inside of me. Judging myself far enough, I collapsed in front of a large rock right in the middle of a clearing. I looked up at the clouded sky, gazing at the dark heavens above.

I had been losing my faith in the Almighty long ago during my years of isolation and fear. My excruciating torments under Hans almost snuffed it out completely. Why should I believe after all the abandonment I had suffered? However, my near-death experience revived the little, struggling spark of faith I had. But it was barely glowing in the sea of hopelessness, threatening to be smothered under the fury of the storm.

Do the heavens still care for me?

Clutching my hands together in front of me, I lowered my head. For the first time in years, I said the words of a prayer.

"Father, please hear my prayer... I know that I have sinned gravely recently. I have committed a dark sin that would have condemned me to death if the people found out..."

Her love for Anna was wicked, a heinous sin that would have casted her to hellfire. It was considered adultery for loving someone other than Hiccup, but I loved both Hiccup and Anna equally, as he did he for the two of us. To others, my love for Anna was an abomination, something inhuman that should be destroyed. The world would rather see us lynched in cold blood than let Anna and I live with this sinful lifestyle. Despite this, Hiccup didn't mind it, those loyal to me didn't mind it, and I hoped there was still a chance the Almighty would consider my plight.

No matter how slim it might be.

I took a deep breath before continuing my solemn prayer. "But I beg of you to consider me. The blood of innocents already stains my hands, yet more will suffer if I don't act." I thought about the hundreds and thousands of soldiers and the citizens that are now dead because Han's tyranny, their blood shed upon the ground pointlessly. And it was all my fault.

I resumed my plea to the heavens. My deepest emotions welled up inside of me, spilling into my heartfelt prayer. "Help me God, for I am afraid... my spirit and flesh are weak... I beg of you to give the strength to overcome my fear before more innocent lives are lost..." A beat of silence, then a soft, agonized whisper. "Please..."

My sweat and tears were like great drops of blood falling down upon the ground. I gazed into the dark heavens, tears of ice falling from my eyes. "Please Father, don't abandon me in my time in need... I need you."

Something suddenly touched her shoulder. My eyes shot open and I scrambled backwards, yelping in surprise. When I recovered, my eyes widen even further as I recognized him instantly.

"F-Father?"

There was a faint smile on his face as he kneeled down to my level. He was dressed in the same battle armor he had worn the day he fallen to Alvin the Treacherous, it was as if he had never died.

I shook her head and blinked hard, knowing full well I was hallucinating. This can't be real. But my father did not disappear from my vision.

"Hello my daughter. You've grown so much since the last time since I've seen you."

Hearing the sound of his voice after three long years struck a fragile chord in me, and I burst into icy tears. The fallen king hugged me to comfort me. "Elsa, don't cry... your father's here, don't be afraid..."

I however, pushed him away to arm's length. "Why? Why are you here?"

His face twisted with from a pain that cannot be matched by either earthly torture or psychological nightmare. It was the pain of utter failure. He then swallowed the agony, then staring right into my eyes. "To tell you what I should have told you long ago... that I'm so, so sorry for what I've done to you, my daughter. This..." He gestured around him. "... this is all of my fault, not yours."

Confused by his words, I tilted my head in confusion. "What do you mean it's your fault?"

"Everything that recently went wrong to Arendelle, is all of my fault, not yours..."

I kept silent, contemplating his words. It took a few seconds for a spark in my brain to connect everything. It was my father's fault that Anna and I never got a chance to grow up together. It was his fault that our kingdom had little defense from foreign threats. And it was his fault that I never had a chance to fully realize her powers. Thus, all of these errors eventually culminated into my hellish predicament.

The revelation was more than I could handle.

All the anger and frustration that I harbored for him exploded in a fury of ice behind her. The rock I prayed on became entombed in frost, while shards of ice forced their way out the ground like fingers. My father backed up slightly to give me space, but he held his ground.

The wind around her picked up, reflecting my pent up fury. "You stupid, stupid man! You were supposed to keep this kingdom safe!"

The king looked down in intense shame. "I failed in that regard..."

"You failed in raising the kingdom right! You failed in raising me right! "My azure eyes burned with anger at the king. "Now I have to burden everything because of your damn decisions!"

The king kept silent, looking down on the ground bitterly. "Everything that went wrong is my fault Elsa, I admit it. The blame rightfully belongs to me, but you have to listen to--"

"Why should I listen to you when you've done nothing but fail me in my life! And then you leave me without even fixing your failures?!"

The blizzard around me raged further, the hailstones and snow forming a powerful vortex of ice. "I know how much you're angry at me Elsa, but please hear me out!" Tears started streaming down his cheeks as he walked up to me, the hail strangely not affecting him. "You have to listen to me if you want to right all of my wrongs!"

Falling to my knees with a strangled sob, I looked up at my father again, voice breaking. "I do... I do want to right this mess, b-but..." I broke down, crying hopelessly. The vortex of hate ceased, the hailstones clinking on the snow-covered ground.

My father approached me again, cradling me in his arms. "Everyone now depends on you. The trolls depend on you. Arendelle depends on you." He wiped my tears away. "Hiccup depends on you. Anna depends on you."

"I know they depend on me father, but..." I sniffled before resuming. "...that's why I'm afraid father... I'm afraid I'm not strong enough to help them..."

The king pulled back, gently caressing my face. "You are strong enough to help them all, Elsa." He poked his finger into my heart. "This is why. Elsa, you're still holding back the true extent of your powers. A long time ago I told you to conceal and don't feel." My father looked away briefly before locking eyes with my intently. "Only now do I see how wrong I was."

"But Hans--"

"Your powers are the greatest the world has ever seen Elsa. Nothing, not even fire can match the true potential that you hold." He smiled warmly at her, holding his daughter in his arms lovingly. "You have to believe in yourself, for your ice will be the saving grace for the kingdom."

The blonde's fury for the man shattered like thin glass. She threw her arms around him, hope filling her empty vessel. "You don't want to disappoint Hiccup or Anna now, do you? She believes in you immensely. Even in her nightmares, the anchor she uses to return to reality is her hope that you'll be there for her."

Something inside me was revived by his words.

"I'll do it... for everyone." A beat of silence, then, a steely whisper. "For Hiccup and Anna."

Smiling, the king helped me up, gently wiping the last remnants of the tears on my pale cheeks. He planted a soft kiss to my forehead. "It's your duty to fix my mess, but I know you can do it." His eyes were full of pure hope as he beamed down at me. "I believe in you my daughter."

"I know you can."

There was a sudden flash of white light, blinding me for a few moments. I blinked hard, but when I opened her eyes again I noticed my father was no longer with me. In fact, I was kneeling again in front of my prayer rock as if nothing ever happened.

Although the heavens were silent, I knew that my vision was the Almighty's answer for my prayer. For the first time in days, hope had fully returned to me. I looked up at the clouded skies, tears of joy streaming down my cheeks.

"Thank you..." I whispered to the sky. The clouds parted momentarily, shining down a ray from the light of the moon upon me.

A slow grin crossed my face as I looked around the clearing. I felt pure, unadulterated power rush in my veins like mighty rapids. It felt right. After twenty-one years, I was finally wielding my power with a precision worthy that it was always meant to be.

The first thing I did with my resurgent powers was change my clothes. The simple tunic and trousers I wore shimmered as they became my ice armor. Plates of ice covered me from the neck down. To finish my armor, I conjured a large cloak of dark ice, but it was colored ebony instead of the typical azure.

Now for my army.

Taking a deep breath, I opened my now glowing azure eyes, blasting a furious gale of ice in front of me with my palms. The temperature dropped fifty degrees as the ice I summoned began taking the form of an army. Fifty ice golems slowly emerged out of the sheet of ice, an assortment of weapons in their frost hands. Some carried claymores of frost, others icy crossbows, but most wielded a sword and shield of ice. They were fearsome and undoubtedly more than a match for a human.

But I wasn't fully satisfied.

I hurl another wintry tempest to my right, blasting the trees down effortlessly. The immense ice sheet that formed on the ground stirred as another army of ice soldiers were born. Thirty stallions made of frost whinnied as they broke through the sheet, their bodies covered with blue plates. Following them were their riders-- knights in frosted armor-- emerging out of the plane of ice. I grinned as I watched the ice knights mount their steeds, their right arms elongating to wicked sharp lances. The mounted knights reared high in the air, a gust of cold wind blowing through the clearing.

And this isn't even the true extent of what I can do.

The frozen army was silent, their faces expressionless as they awaited for my orders. As much as I want to run off and reclaim Arendelle by myself, I know I still needed rest. Looking at my army, I gave them one order. "Follow me." My voice was rich with power, and I swore that there was a soft echo after the utterance of every word.

The golems bowed reverently before forming a marching column behind me. Satisfied, I walked back towards lodge we've been using as a hideout for the time being, an air of confidence. Once we arrived back at the lodge, I raised my hand to signal for them to stop. "Wait here." I said, a faint smile appeared on my pale lips as I approached the door. "Here we go." I murmured as I opened the door to the lodge, a blast of wintry wind accompanying me. Everyone jerked their heads towards me, and their eyes widen when they notice my wardrobe change.

Anna blinked a couple of times as she beheld my new ice armor. My eyes were literally glowing with utter confidence, as was my whole appearance.

"Elsa h-how -"

"We march to Arendelle at dawn."

Clemenson spat out his tea, splattering poor Athelwold's face with warm tea. "But Lady, we don't--" I held my hand up to stop Clemenson's words.

"Look outside."

The old general ran up to the window. His eyes widen as he gawked at the ice golems obediently waiting my orders. "Wha-- how did you do that?" He sputtered. Everyone else piled up behind him to have a look at the newly reborn Army of Arendelle.

I smirked at him. "The power of hope." I smiled at Anna, and the my sister tearfully smiled back. I saw the spark of hope inside Anna's soul burn brightly for the first time in days.

I knew that no nightmares will dare haunt them tonight. Instead, the dreams of retaking our home back from that vile monster Hans would motivate us to liberate our kingdom from the traitors.

A/N: A few more chapters left! Hope y'all are ready for this!! Hans already has Bloodhair's warriors and Olaf's warriors to call upon for aid, and he'll extend an invitation to Stoick and Magnus to join in the fight as well. The final battle is going to be crazy! Until then? See y'all in the next chapter!