written: 04.09.24-

Once upon a time...

"Anna, Elsworth!"

"Bedtime soon!"

The two ignored their parents, playing on the floor in their bedroom in their pajamas, Anna in a green nightgown and Elswortg in blue. Snow fell on the floor from the prince, making their landscape and dolls for them.

Anna picked up a snowman doll, turning it around to show its evil face. "Oh, no! The princess is trapped by the snow goblin's evil spell!" She made it hit another figure, Elsworth giving a small gasp. "Quick, Elsworth, make a price! A fancy one!"

He conjured one up with his hand, wind lines wrapping around it.

King Agnarr stood at the door, quietly observing his children play together.

"Oh, no! The prince is trapped, too!" She brought the figures together, making them kiss and said in a lower voice, " 'Who cares about danger when there's love?' "

Elsworth scrunched his face up, gagging, as most boys that age would. "Blech, Anna. Kissing won't save the forest." But he was able to laugh with her at her fantasies, still playing along. "The lost fairies cry out! He elephant-trumpeted, then looked at the animals in his hand, confused. "What sound does a giraffe make? Nevermind."

Agnarr walked in with a small candle in his hand that he set down on the dresser by the door, his queen behind him, still at the door. He watched them with a smile, letting them finish their game.

"They wake the Fairy Queen -" He made a figure for the queen and threw it at the others. "- who breaks the spell, and the spell saves everyone!"

"And they all get married!" Anna added, taking them all in her arms. [How all my games as a kid ended:]

"What are you playing?" Agnarr asked once all their laughing died down.

"Enchanted forest!" Anna answered enthusiastically, dropping everything.

Agnarr took the candle back up and walked to the Elsworth's bed. "That's like no enchanted forest I've ever seen," he began, hoping he had caught their ear.

Elsworth was the first to get up on his knees, intrigued in a childlike way, Anna still too invested in her own story. "You were in an enchanted forest?!"

But she always heard what her brother said. She kneeled next to him with a blank look. "Wait, what?"

"I have...once."

On her feet, Anna put her hands on her hips, demanding, "And you never told us this before?!"

Even Elsworth, more matured, looked unimpressed.

"Well, I could tell you now...if you..."

They ran to the prince's bed jumping on top of it. Anna threw herself on full-force, hitting Elsworth's shoulder. She put her arms around him, pushing herself up against it as they barely contained their excitement.

Iduna had found her way too the other side of the bed. She asked hesitantly, "Are you sure about this?"

"It's time they knew," Agnarr replied, sitting carefully on the bed next to his children.

Anna leaned over and whispered in her brother's ear, "Let's build a big snowman later."

"If they can settle down and listen."

They both sat up straight, Anna's cheeks puffed out, both breaths being held.

-

Far away, as north as we can go, stood a very old and very enchanted forest. But its magic wasn't that of goblin spells and lost fairies. It was protected by the most powerful spirits of all: those of air, fire, water, and earth.

Inside of the trees, camp was set up. Leaves blew all around a little girl with wild, untamed, brown hair. She jumped up after them, giggling.

But it was also a home to the mysterious Northuldra people.

Were the Northuldra magical? Like me?

A woman put a pot over the fire pit where a purple flame began to glow.

No, Elsworth, they were not magical, they just took advantage of the forest gifts.

One of the Northuldra's slid across the water, feet on top, while another allowed the earth to let her and the reindeer up a mountain.

-

Their ways were so different from ours. But still, they promised us friendship.

The tribe leader and king at the time stepped forward, warmly shaking the other's hand, while their people watched from behind them.

-

In honor of that, your grandfather, King Runeard, built them a mighty dam to strengthen their waters. It was a gift of peace.

That's a big gift of peace.

And I was so honored to get to go to the forest to celebrate it.

A handsome preteen Prince Agnarr bounced excitedly, looking around at everyone. His father tapped his cheek with a fist gently. "Stand tall, Agnarr," he instructed and the boy's shoulders rolled back.

I wasn't at all prepared for what the day would bring.

-

Everyone wanted the reindeer run in a circle, the Northuldras riding them with the wind in their hair, laughing joyfully. The guard next to Agnarr clapped heartily, laughing the loudest.

We let down our guard. We were charmed.

He chuckled at the people gliding on top of the water and the purple flames; gasping at the giant rock formations putting themselves back together.

And it felt so...magical.

Behind him, he heard a rustling. Curiously investigating, he found the girl being blown up in the air by the wind, laughing loudly. A smile crept up and he began to approach slowly until the wind blew her away.

But something went wrong.

Hearing yelling, the girl and the wind were forgotten as he turned back to a bloody battle ground.

They were attacking us.

The soldier jumped in front of Agnarr, his shield up. "Get behind me!" he instructed, his hands flying out protectively before checking one of the Northuldras.

-

Swords swung and clashed, men battling until the gruesome end while the Northuldra women and children ran, screaming out for husbands and fathers.

In the midst of their confusion, Agnarr's head swiveled round and round, desperately looking for his father.

It was a brutal battle. Your grandfather...

He found him clashing swords with one of the men at the edge of a cliff. Losing his footing, he and the other man slid off before the king's eyes.  "Father!" he cried desperately, reaching out for him.

...was lost.

The purple flames caused Agnarr to jump back, his brown eyes widened when he saw just how big it got.

The fighting enraged the spirits.

Water splashed over the soldiers, followed by a heavy wind that Agnarr had to shield himself against, his eyes shut tight.

They turned their magic against us all.

It sent him back against a tree, his head hit. Slumped there, he fell asleep.

-

Ah ah ah ah...!

There was this...voice.

His eyes began to open at the sound and he felt himself being lifted up.

Ah ah ah ah, ah ah ah...

And someone saved me.

-

I'm told the spirits then vanished. And a powerful mist covered the forest...locking everyone out.

And that night, I came home...King of Arendelle.

-

Elsworth and Anna listened to the whole story, mouths agape.

"Whoa, Papa," Anna sighed, tilting her head towards Elsworth. "That was epic. Whoever saved you...I love them." She fell back into Iduna, who smiled brightly down at her as Agnarr chuckled. The queen threw her shawl over Anna's face, watching her struggle to get it off with amusement. [S U F F O C A T E   H E R]

"I wish I knew who it was."

"What happened to the spirits?" Elsworth asked sensibly. "What's in the forest now?"

"I don't know. The mist still stands. No one can get in, and no one has since come out."

"So we're safe," Iduna clarified.

"Yes," Agnarr agreed, but looked sternly on his eldest. "But the forest could wake again, and we must be prepared for whatever danger it may bring."

Noticing the frightened look on her son's face, the queen spoke over Agnarr. "And on that note, how about we say goodnight to your father?"

"Aawwohh!" Anna whined, sitting up. "But I still have so many questions!"

"Save them for another night, Anna," Agnarr chuckled, taking up his candle as he rose.

"He knows I don't have that kind of patience..." Anna grumbled you boys brother, who offered an amused smirk. To Agnarr, she exclaimed, getting on her knees, "Why did the Northuldra attack us, anyway? Who attacks people who gave them gifts?"

Agnarr had left, but Iduna patiently waited for the princess to calm down.

Even Elsworth was still curious, moving closer to his mother. "Do you think the forest will wake again?" he asked softly.

She gazed off with a melancholy smile. "Only Atohallan knows."

Of course, her children gave her a confused look, Anna's face scrunched up. "Atto-ha-what?"

"When I was little..." she began to explain, "my mother would sing a song about special river called Ahtohallan, that was said to hold all the answers about the past, about what we are apart of."

"Whoa..." Anna whispered, putting her head on her brother's shoulder.

"Will you sing it to us? Please?" he asked hopefully.

"Okay," she agreed and lied down next to them. Anna jumped up and grabbed her hand to play with as she pulled Elsworth closer with her other hand. "Cuddle close. Scooch in."

Iduna:
Where the North wind meets the sea,
There's a river full of memory

She booped Anna's nose, then began to stroke it, Anna's eyes slowly closing.

Iduna:
Sleep, my darling, safe and sound
For in this river, all is found

Her daughter instantly began to snore, Iduna wrapping her arms around her to carry her to the other bed before she could drool all over Elsworth's.

Iduna:
In her waters, deep and true
Lie the answers and a path for you

She tucked her in and closed her mouth, then went back to Elsworth, who had his arms out for her to take him into.

Iduna:
Dive down deep into her sound
But not too far or you'll be drowned

She dipped him down, touching noses, cradling him close as she took him to the window.

Iduna:
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?

ALL IS FOUND

Iduna:
Where the North wind meets the sea,
There's a mother full of memory
Come, my darling, homeward bound
When all is lost...then all is found...