The group stared at the swirling portal in front of them. No-one knew what to say. Oaken fell to his knees in disbelief.

'I swear I didn't know,' he pleaded, although no-one was scolding him.

'All this time,' Elsa began. 'In my own kingdom… I never thought…' Elsa didn't know what to say. The shocking discovery was all too much. Feelings of failure pierced Elsa's heart. She had failed to protect her kingdom. Her ignorance to this portal had cost hundreds of lives.

Jack watched Elsa sink to the ground. His heart went out to her. It wasn't her fault. 'Elsa,' he began stepping forward.

But before he took another step Anna had already reached her sister. 'Elsa, it's not your fault,' she was saying with one arm around her sister. 'You couldn't have known.' She leaned into Elsa comfortingly.

'No-one knew it was here,' Kristoff said standing behind his wife.

'E-even me,' Oaken stammered, still in shock. 'And I live here.'

Jack opened his mouth to comfort his friend as North began. 'Elsa, honey. It's not your fault. This portal hasn't always been here. Pitch has just recently created it.'

Elsa fixed North a stare that was both sad and hopeful. 'You can tell that?' she asked.

'Well… no,' North admitted after a moments consideration. 'But I'm positive that it hasn't always existed –.'

'Only fools are positive,' Jack muttered to himself.

'– The Guardians would've found it before now if it had,' North continue, oblivious to Jack's comment. 'We know of every portal in existence.'

Elsa smiled meekly. 'Thank you guys,' she said glancing at everyone. Jack felt a pang on loneliness and regret. He hadn't done anything, even though he desperately wanted to.

'You alright Oaken,' Elsa asked the big man as she stood up. Oaken rose slowly and nodded. The shock had vanished and the queen didn't seem to blame him for the discovery. Oh, I wish this was over, he thought.

'Before we proceed,' North began. 'We need to make sure it is safe –.'

'Let's go after Pitch!' Olaf shouted suddenly. The little snowman bounded over to the portal and jumped in.

'Olaf wait!' Anna shouted and rushed after him. She caught his leg with her hand and struggled to pull the snowman out. 'Ah! Cold!' she shouted as Olaf's icy body stung her hand. She released her grip on him and pulled her icy hand out.

'WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!' Olaf's shouts rose from the portal as he fell.

'Or we could just do that,' North remarked, jumping in after Olaf.

As Kristoff and Sven prepared for their jump, Elsa pulled Oaken aside.

'Thank you for all your help,' she said sincerely. 'I'm very sorry to have intruded on your life so suddenly. You have been a huge help to us. If there's anything you need, anything at all, don't hesitate to ask.'

Oaken nodded, unable to find words to express his gratitude.

As the shop owner retreated to the safety of his home, Elsa turned to see Sven followed by Anna and Kristoff, vanish into the portal. Jack stood at the edge of the swirling vortex awkwardly. Elsa moved next to him and stared nervously into the colourful abyss.

'Are you nervous?' Elsa asked Jack when his fidgeting hands and refusal to look at her became too much.

Jack ran a shaky hand through his hair at her voice. He wasn't nervous. He just wanted to comfort Elsa in any way that wasn't awkward. He thought he detected a slight waver in her question. Was she scared?

Jack shook his head and forced himself to look at her. The guilt he felt about not being able to comfort her earlier still tore his mind.

'Are you?' he asked.

Elsa stared at the portal and gave a slight nod. 'A little bit,' she confessed.

They stood in silence, neither of them knowing what to say. I should take her hand, Jack thought. That's comforting, right?

Jack cleared his throat and offered her his hand. 'We'll jump together if you like,' he said.

Elsa placed her dainty hand in his and smiled warmly at him. 'Let's go,' she said.

The pair gazed at the portal. Elsa took a deep breath trying to calm her racing heart and not think about the way her hand fitted perfectly in Jack's.

'On three,' she said.

'One,' Jack began.

'Two.'

'Three,' they said in unison.

Elsa bent her legs and pushed off into the swirling light. The force of the portal claimed her immediately, trying to tear Jack from her. She clung to him as they fell into another dimension.