Disclaimer. I do not own either "Thor" or "Frozen" as well as their characters. I do love them, though.

Author's Note. The idea of this crossover may well be not new. Still, it does not leave me from the moment when I first watched "Frozen II". Suddenly, I saw so many parallels between the stories of Loki and Elsa. The "Show Yourself" song was a casting-vote that destined their meeting.

Speaking of the timeline. Loki: the scene on the destroyed bridge; the events of the first film are unchanged. Elsa: the beginning of the second film; the first one is unchanged.

Finally, English is not my native language and this work is my first serious attempt. Feel free to let me know if I should correct any mistakes. Do you like some really long works? Here we go then… The first two chapters are just the beginning; for more action see chapter three and all that follows. Now, you are warned. Hope you enjoy it!

Prologue

Asgard

The feeling of an incredible heaviness on his chest disappeared; brother had summoned Mjölnir. As breath started to return, Loki's mind caught some fragmentary, incomprehensible even to himself, attempts to calculate everything. Instead of clarity of perception, the thoughts were a complete chaos the last few minutes, although one was his supreme empery. But once. Now he could understand neither his actions, nor others'. "But Thor will never see her again, then why would he..."

While his brother was savagely hammering the Rainbow Bridge, Loki scarcely got up and, carrying the spear, moved forward. The whole brilliant plan had crumbled like a broken hourglass. It didn't work out at all, and even in his last desperate desire, his brother brutally broke him off. Yet Loki meant well, he only destroyed their common enemy... Common? Personal? After what he had done, there was no one left except for personal enemies in the whole worlds!

It felt just annoying, and he wanted to end everything at once. But when the most powerful multi-colored flash flooded the whole space around, and Loki was thrown aside, he had a chance to think he did not want such an end. What a tremendous idea of Thor's to destroy the only means of transportation between the realms! Now the Realm Eternal will only have to compose legends about its – glory. If Thor had not broken into his plans, Loki would have brought prosperity to Asgard, and not that... sheer chaos!

For what reason did the thought of Asgard hurt him, being but a mere stranger there? It just flashed through his head like a bird accidentally caught flying. And then Loki was already hanging over the Abyss, clutching the spear with one hand, squeezing it with all his might. There wasn't any pity left for a deceitful family, or for the mawkishly ideal Asgard. Just for his efforts, that's it.

Everything flashed through so fast that for a moment he could not even realize that All-Father had saved both of them. Father. He awakened after all. And, surprisingly, it was not fear what made Loki make excuses. Defeat had already been inflicted, the future was indifferent. Assessing the situation, Loki realized that the probability of falling is higher than the probability of being saved. Only one important thing remained.

"I could have done it, father!" he exclaimed, putting an unaccountable hope in what was conceived as insolence. "I could have done it! For you! For all of us. "

"No, Loki," All-Father replied with an indifferent conviction.

Chilling pain passed through the heart, and Loki winced, clutching at what was supposed to be Gungnir and was not one. A blinding flash, explosion, fall, then darkness... Loki recovered his memory, and he growled in epicene fury. Even in death he was unlucky.

When Odin did not hesitate to put an end to all Loki's explanations, the young man resorted to an extreme remedy: he left, saving the last word for himself. He did not have time to think whether it was his revenge or mercy: to just leave the family he could never match. It was obvious that for them he was already as good as dead, and it was only a beautiful last gesture to unclench his fingers. He did not want to go on. That's enough. Bitterness and despair. Heart and soul being devoured by ice. To late to change anything – and Loki opened his fist.

Despite the rapid fall, Loki managed to hear his brother's roar and, with a bitter surprise, he remotely thought that Thor still might have cared. And then he discovered his own belated regret and almost ridiculous desire not to die.

"Damn," Loki tried to open his eyes, but the light was too bright. The blinding pain interfered with a slightest movement. Landing in Hel could have been softer, but there was no choice. Loki looked around, trying to raise his head, and then moved his arms, cut by something, to his face. Then he felt with his fingers and noticed some small fragments shining like gems. He saw a huge space full of light. A deadly-beautiful icy treasure-trove circled around, bizarrely twisting. It was no realm of death.

Loki groaned in despair, dropped his head back onto the ice floor and stopped feeling anything. A distant realization loomed in darkness: it was not the end, not at all. Not at all...

Part one. Forbidden Ice

Chapter One. Temptation

Arendelle

A clear blue sky and light fluffy clouds were reflected in the eternal, crystal clear surface of water. The breeze was cooling, which particularly pleased Elsa. It hardly ever was really hot in their northern kingdom, but the queen still just did not favor summer. The warmth barely perceptible to anyone else seemed more and more parching as the years passed by.

Her power is growing like the buds of trees swelling in spring, bringing no less inconvenience than joy. And now, when the cold winds have come and the sunshine has become not scorching, Elsa is finally relieved.

She knew that the omen of coming winter went into Anna and Olaf's hearts. Anna has always been more like a ray of sunshine, even when she had not forgotten her sister's abilities. And as soon as the trolls erased all the memories of Elsa's ice magic, Anna ceased to love winter. She was rarely allowed to walk in the snow since parents apparently feared that she would freeze. In the summer, she could play for hours in the secluded castle garden. Anyway, games among the lush herbs and flowers were more fun than among the snowdrifts that only reminded Anna of her loneliness. More than that, Olaf experienced an inexplicable – for the snowman – craving for 'summer, and sun, and all things hot', probably inherited from Anna's childhood memories. And only Elsa's increased magic allowed Olaf not to melt in the summer sun or by the fireplace in winter. Now he doesn't even need a snowy cloud. At first he was upset at its disappearance, but then Elsa convinced her friend that it was even cooler that way. Olaf can now see the sun better.

Elsa, on the contrary, is pleased with the coming cold. She is confident about her people because her subjects have gathered a rich harvest that autumn. Warehouses are bursting with delightful orange pumpkins, boxes of beets, carrots and turnips, as well as many other vegetables. There is no risk that the residents of Arendelle may freeze and starve in winter. Knowing that nothing is threatening them, Elsa can, without any fear, look forward to the coming winter. In more suitable conditions, she is feeling such an inspiration that she is ready to rush about the castle and sing, just like light-hearted Anna. And only the status of the queen and the constant cycle of concerns have always kept her from that.

But the soul of the young queen has sang and rejoiced lately. As if there weren't three difficult years of Elsa hardly reviving the kingdom. No, all matters were solved, and subjects, having made sure that the new ruler was not a 'monster', supported her and expressed their love in any possible way. But what a trial it was to get used to the fact that the anchoress suddenly became the first figure of the state! Any of her decisions would be a monarchial will now. New ambassadors' ships were coming to Arendelle port every day! She remembered that from her childhood. She watched her father rule. Three years before, she had to learn everything from the very beginning. All by herself. It could have been the most difficult ordeal after losing parents. Apart from a short-term but very destructive despair, when the new queen's first ball ended in her escape from people's fear.

And now, for the first time in forever, there is a feeling that everything is fine. People are full and happy, all neighboring states are peaceful. The powers are under control, and her younger sister, her polestar, is becoming lovelier and sweeter every day. Anna's boundless trust pleased and surprised Elsa. She could not understand how Anna remained so open, gullible and all-forgiving, having spent her whole life under lock and key. Anna was the true embodiment of selfless love.

Speaking of love! Sister may well deny it, but Elsa has been waiting for one important statement. Either from sister or from Kristoff. Depends on who has a heart. Elsa even wanted to bet with Olaf on the exact date when Kristoff would ask for Anna's hand. But then she was afraid that the simple-minded snowman would immediately reveal everything to the guy, so she did not. She'd rather let things take their course.

The trees rustled with orange, red, and golden foliage. They were touched by the magic that Elsa did not and would not desire to possess. Each season has its own beauty, and this one seems especially intense. Elsa could not but recalled mother's stories about the Enchanted Forest. That is how Elsa has always imagined it. Colorfulness. Vivacity. And – an elusive fragility as if the forest was some vulnerable creature.

Lost in thoughts, Elsa lost her serenity as well. Scary stories of a magical forest came to her mind; the memories of her parents were accompanied by a sweet sorrow. The modulations of a half-forgotten lullaby that their mother sang to the daughters came to life.

"When all is lost then all is found..." either thought, or heard Elsa. Those were the last words of that strange song that she clearly did not understand as a child. And suddenly she was scared. The words fitted to that moment because of some inexplicable, hidden logic. They resembled ice from which Elsa could create anything. Like raw materials, like a spell, ready to materialize. Or more like a curse...

"I shouldn't have remembered this song," Elsa realized with regret, as if something was coming.

"Your Majesty?" she heard someone's voice behind her, and the queen, today seemingly jumpy, gave a start, freezing both hands to the railing she was leaning on. It was not worth it giving up gloves. Why would Anna persuade her not to wear them anymore?

"We're ready," the dignitary calmly informed her. All courtiers are well trained and used to her tricks. Elsa, feeling extremely embarrassed, escaped from the ice trap and got ready to majestically advance into the throne room.

"Hah, excuse me. I'm coming. "

Something hardly perceptible, maybe intuition or a hearing sharpened by magical abilities, made her turn around. The sense of anxiety that almost subsided when the dignitary came returned immediately. And she heard – something. In complete bewilderment, Elsa squinted, peering into the majestic view from the balcony. Of course, she could not distinguish where the sound came from. It was like a few notes of a long-forgotten motive. An echoing... magic? Could she have imagined that?

"Do you hear that?"

"Uh, what?" now the man allowed a slight concern to flash on his usually unflappable face.

"Never mind," Elsa said, as carelessly as possible and left pursing her lips. True, she has imagined it... But why is her heart sinking?

Elsa is well taught. Even inexperience does not prevent her from doing everything correctly during any of official visits. And now, sitting in the throne room, she is calmly listening to the visitors. She is talking amiably to the overseas princess wearing almost the same dress as hers, lilac and richly embroidered with shiny threads. In some ways, the girl reminds her of Anna; it's either her immediacy, or her sunny spirit, perfectly matching the emblem of her kingdom. It is easy to communicate with her, and she makes an impression as if she has arrived not with an official mission, but as a friend. She is younger, by the way. Maybe just the same age as Anna. What a nice little talk.

She was having a nice conversation about some foreign artists when the repeated calling distracted her again. And again, no one could hear anything or did not want to make it seen. The queen flinched and made an apology. Perhaps that's what they call overwork. But no later than in the morning she seemed to be full of energy. Now it's gone. If not for these depressing sounds...

The same thing happened at dinnertime. Instead of a joke from the ambassador, Elsa heard a bothering immaterial voice and dropped an icy spoon into a plate. The soup cooled to the temperature of ice immediately. It's good that the ice crust did not show, and even better, no one – except Anna – has noticed that.

Then Elsa heard a "voice" as she christened the alluring, insinuating notes when she was signing decrees in her cabinet. The queen bitterly set the seal of Arendelle aside and rose. That's enough. It is necessary to relax. The decrees aren't needed until tomorrow. Or so they will be.

From the balcony, Elsa was affectionately watching at Anna and Kristoff, laughing and discussing something in the square. "Today they will declare love," Elsa thought. It made the queen wonder why it would be today that her every thought seemed ready to materialize at the first call. And again, it took her breath away due to some causeless horror.

Elsa did not understand what was happening to her. No matter how she tried to get distracted, in her thoughts she continued to return to the mysterious voice.

"The winds are restless," the girl tried to console herself. After all, everyone hears the wind, but they are not surprised by it, right? Could that be why she's hearing something in it, somewhat like an ancient ballad? No need to be afraid. Her only hindrance is fear.

She had never felt such an attractive witchcraft in the wind's voice. The wind is not capable of that magic. And these echoes sound like an omen of the inexorable course of fate. Is something coming?

"I'm not sure I want things to change at all," she feared. The citizens are looking for the autumn festival and praise her, the Queen of Arendelle. These days are precious. But she has just tamed the storm inside, and the subjects aren't ready to meet a new disaster. If anything nasty happens, they may refuse to trust the witch-queen for a second time. Does she have a right to demand their trust and devotion? Yes, since it is her birthright and she is the queen. But is she in her element? Is it worth it? Years have to pass before Elsa is ready to rule. Perhaps, were they alive, parents would have given the throne to Anna, and not the witch? The catastrophe has sped things up. And now everything except the main thing depends on Elsa: the decision on whether she has been ever worthy of the throne.

If only she could bring back the past and save her parents. Or see them just for a moment, so that they say she is doing fine. Return to the day of coronation and act differently so that the subjects never suffer. Protect the only sister from danger... Become a worthy queen immediately, and not after Anna's desperate self-sacrifice. Become the Elsa that father used to be proud of. Alas, she can't freeze any of the moments or revive them. Time is beyond her control.

"But I can still go out and seize this day," the queen decided. These three years haven't been all for nothing. Arendelle is already stronger and bolder as a kingdom. She is wiser and more experienced as a ruler. Last time they were just lucky. But now she must use every opportunity to shelter the state from a disaster. And not cause it herself.

In the meantime... she is a child of fortune. True, parents are not here to see it, but she can. Her little sister is going to get married to her loved one soon. And though he is not a king, Anna is not a queen either. The main thing is to make her little sister happy.

Tired, Elsa still clapped to Kristoff, as the guy was showing only-Sven-knows-what. Maybe it was a happy deer or a troll, growing mushrooms on its back. It was impossible to determine.

She almost forgot about the promise to play charades, but Anna met her in the town square and reminded her. During a feast in the town streets, full of happy children and adults, Elsa relaxed a little. The crowd's energy, joyful and creative, filled and reassured her. Elsa even deigned to conjure a small snow salute, which burst out over the heads of the townspeople and over the state flag recently planted on the square. Then she created magical toys for the children. People always like these little tricks. Especially when she decorates objects for them or scatters sparkling snowflakes in the air. The feast was heartwarming, the pumpkins were huge, and Olaf and Sven managed to break nothing. Smiling, Elsa watched the happy faces, especially – the glowing face of Anna, who, it seemed, did not notice anyone around, except for her true love. If at the beginning of the festival she was in charge for the organization, in the end she needed being controlled herself. Therefore, when people began to leave, Elsa stopped a lively conversation between the two doves and offered returning to the castle.

And now, although her legs and back ache, Elsa is enjoying herself. It is simply impossible to look at the participants of the game and not laugh. True, the queen is already a bit sleepy, and she has somehow found a pillow, so suitable for her nightgown.

It turned out that Christophe was showing a deer scratching his back on a tree. Who could possibly think of that? And then Anna performed. They could not guess the last word, and Olaf, fixated on the 'brown bears', did not help at all. The word turned out to be just a 'villain'. It might be wise to ask them not to write such abstract words in the future. Although... well, Elsa thought that villain was just quite easy to explain. For her, specifically. Yeah... Elsa sighed. Will she ever forgive herself for having been one?

Olaf explained seven words in a row for a blitz round, completely annoying the girls' team. However, they, too, were desperate. The next turn was the queen's. Slightly hesitant, Elsa stepped out into the center of the room. It's funnier to play charades when you guess, but explaining is always awkward. Maybe it changes after a while?

Elsa took a note with words from a basket and prepared to explain. The word she came across was so obvious that it was even difficult to choose how to show it. Elsa drove her hands in front of her, and stood up as if skating. She wanted just to freeze the carpet. If Olaf was allowed to interchange parts of his body, then why would Elsa, explaining the word ice, simply not conjure it? "Think like Anna while explaining to Anna. Now, how does Anna see ice?" Elsa wanted to pretend that she had slipped, but the feeling of chilling horror passed through her chest and remained there like a tiny lump of cold. Forgetting the charades at once, Elsa turned to the window. "Where do you come from, a strange calling? Why would you haunt me? "

She hardly even heard the bell. The round was a complete failure, and their team lost. But only one thing bothered Elsa. That voice...

"Rematch?" jumped Anna.

"Oh, you know what..." Elsa began, but she imagined how she would lock herself in the room and felt uneasy. "Let's do it!" she agreed recklessly. Far too recklessly, and the sister noticed that, of course.

"Are you definitely not tired?" A serious expression appeared on Anna's face.

"No, let's continue," Elsa invited. "After all, while I'm with you, maybe I can distract myself," she added in her mind.

That time the team of sisters won.

Elsa returned to her room, wide-awake. "We've just played too much, laughed too much, and the sleep vanished as if by magic," the young queen consoled herself. But actually she was scared. Like when she was left to sleep alone with the door closed for the first time. And Anna was no longer in her room. Little Elsa couldn't open the door herself, and pride wouldn't let a princess ring the bell.

Now she is scared, and the smallest sparks have begun to swirl in the air by themselves. Elsa waved her hand in exasperation, and the snowflakes melted, and the frost on the window disappeared. She is already an adult. She needs to control herself. "Conceal, don't feel, don't let them know," she repeated habitually. Did this immutable phrase give her anything? Wouldn't it be better to tell Anna right away? She'll find out no matter how. Elsa smiled. Will she worry Anna? Well, she sure won't…

There was a knock on the door, and Elsa smiled again. Speak of the angel and you will hear the fluttering of her wings.

"Come in," Elsa allowed, although permission was unnecessary for entering. The sisters would never shut each other out again.

"Are you awake?" Anna examined the room, then Elsa, and declared, as if answering her own thoughts: "Yep, something is wrong."

"With you?"

"No, with you. You're wearing mother's scarf. You do this when something's wrong."

Indeed, Elsa was somehow chilly this evening, so she wrapped herself in an old, warm and very soothing scarf. She got it from her mother. Actually, she presented it to the daughter at one of joyless and full shed tears nights to console the young princess. Even now, the scarf was used for this purpose.

"Everything is fine," Elsa smiled warmly, hiding her concern. "And here you come, happy and shining. Mind telling me why?"

"Only if you tell me what is worrying you," Anna demanded seriously. People give the oath of allegiance with such king of look on the face.

"Well, what do you mean, Anna?"

"Don't you dodge questions! I'll find out no matter how. And I do not want to suffer from the unknown, especially this evening!"

"Well then ..." Elsa sighed. She already knew what Anna would tell her, and she did not want to spoil the evening, especially this one. But hiding the truth from Anna, when sister had already had the idea that something was up, was just wrong.

"Kristoff's asked for my hand!" Anna yelled and rushed to Elsa, who had barely managed to open her arms. "Can you imagine we'll soon get married?"

"Oh, really?" Elsa tried to look surprised. Anna suddenly freed herself from her embrace and looked warily at her elder sister.

"Just don't you dare to freeze everything again! This time I've thought very well! And he is not the first man I've met that day!"

"He's the second one," Elsa agreed, but she didn't say it out loud. Kristoff was not a right choice for the role of a queen's husband, but as a man he turned out to be nice. What is wrong with a love marriage for a younger princess if a man is worthy?

Anna considered Elsa to be offended, not thoughtful.

"No-no-no-no! Only joking! I know that you do like Kristoff, too!"

"Well, of course I do like him," Elsa gently pinched Anna's nose. "And I will give my blessing for your marriage."

"Hooray!" this exclamation was probably heard in the whole kingdom. Not a very pleasant sound at half past one in the night. But no one heard a few soft notes of a haunting voice, which made Elsa clench her fists tightly and plunge the sharp nails into her palms.

"What's going on?" reacted Anna. "I told you, and now it's your turn to share! What's the matter with you?"

"Nothing," Elsa smiled. "Just a noise... you know... a ringing in my ear. It's normal to happen sometimes."

"Tell me everything!" Anna insisted.

All in all, Elsa told her everything she could explain. Beginning with the thoughts about the kingdom business and ending with the concern about it. She confided that the voice appeared at the most unexpected moment. And it was only Elsa who was aware of the calling. It was not like this before, but from now on the voice is tempting her. As if she is needed – somewhere else.

Anna could not explain it. She knew about the sorcery far less than Elsa did. The sisters could not remember the legends mentioning something like that. Elsa repulsed the mere offer to go to the doctor, as well as to the trolls. Subconsciously, Elsa had feared them since that terrible night in her childhood, when she bewitched Anna. But now there is no need to go to the trolls. They do not engage themselves into the magic of sound, no, they never do. Do they?

And yet Anna was able to reassure Elsa, so to say, to thaw her. And the queen was no longer chilled. Soon, they abandoned sinister voices and were discussing preparations for the wedding.

The new day brought the new worries. In addition to the usual duties, new ones fell on Elsa: after all, the younger sister does not announce her engagement every day! (And thanks to all gods for that!) Last night Elsa and Anna had an enthusiastic discussion of urgent chores and so they fell asleep just at dawn. The voice would not stand a chance to wake the queen after that, but a simple bell and a sense of duty did the trick.

Firstly, Elsa congratulated Kristoff, and then found Anna, and the three of them began to think how to make an official announcement. However, they needn't have. Olaf broke into the living room and proclaimed that the whole kingdom is already aware of the soon-to-be wedding. Elsa looked at Anna reproachfully, she stared at Olaf and then grinned wryly. Well, how could she possibly not tell him? She whispered to Olaf about Kristoff 's proposal yesterday as a top secret. And who would have guessed that he would blurt out the news throughout the whole kingdom, right?

So it turned out that people already knew everything. High time to discuss preparations for the wedding itself instead of betrothal. Anna said it would be great to get married in the spring when it's beautiful. "But I can't wait..." And all of them turned to Elsa demandingly.

"I can only conjure some beautiful ice," she smiled, but they still stared.

"Then you managed to melt the snow. Can you make spring in winter? Just for a single day?"

"I can't, I shouldn't interference with the laws of nature."

"Well, please?"

"Let's see how it goes."

"Hooray!" Anna rushed to her sister and hugged her. "Thank you, Elsa!"

"But then it's better not to keep it on ice," Elsa warned. "Otherwise winter comes into effect, making it harder for me!"

"Then... may we just get married tomorrow?" Anna asked, and her eyes shone.

"I don't mind," Kristoff said affectionately, fascinated by his bride.

"In two months," Elsa decided. "If we hurry, we'll manage. And winter is just going to begin. Still, it would be an unreal spring. A bit... magical and slightly sparkling. Is that okay?"

"As I've always wanted!" Anna reassured her. "You just have to make it warm enough so that we not freeze in our beautiful dresses!"

"I will certainly manage," Elsa laughed. Well, it seems that her sister does not even imagine that it takes more than just making some gorgeous outfits when getting ready for the wedding!

She could not fall asleep at once. Then she realized that she woke up, meaning she was sleeping a moment before. She heard that calling in the dead of night. Although during the day she didn't hear that voice at all. Well, that is, she did hear it once. She just ignored it.

Elsa turned on the bed and covered her head with a pillow. It was still there, no matter how she was trying to hide. She really wanted to get up and explore the source of that sound.

Wide awake, Elsa looked out from the window longingly, watching the quiet Arendelle. If it wasn't for Anna, the queen would have left. That very second. It was clear the voice would not give in, making Elsa bent to its will.

"I'm sorry, secret siren," Elsa whispered as if putting on a spell. "But I'm blocking out your calls."

And it helped. For a while.

In the morning, Anna asked her about the voice and Elsa admitted that she never fell asleep after hearing it. What was it like? Hard to explain. It was like a song – but kind of inhuman one.

"It's good that you did not go to investigate it!" said Anna knowingly and patted her sister on the shoulder.

"Actually, I wanted to," Elsa admitted again, her eyes downcast.

"What!" Anna stared at her in bewilderment. "Without me?! This is unfair! And worse – irresponsible!"

"That's why I'm here now, and not somewhere else, in the forest."

"Do you think the voice comes from there?" Anna asked.

"I do not know. I'm not sure."

"Don't you dare go alone, do you hear me?" Anna asked raising her eyebrows sternly.

"You know, Anna..." Elsa hesitated. "I think I'll have to..."

"Promise we do it together, okay?"

"I promise," Elsa confirmed, shaking her hand gently.

Later that day it was announced that the queen wished to inspect her lands before they get covered with impassable snow. Elsa spent three years in the castle, so her desire to travel around was not surprising that at. Seeing is believing.

She was getting ready for an expedition and giving instructions to her soldiers the whole day. She was so busy that she made Anna her substitute and gave her the longest list of duties her sister had ever seen. Royal duties made the girl discouraged, but it would only last a couple of days, she comforted herself. Then they would be gone travelling and finding that mysterious voice!

The next day the queen disappeared. No one asked questions. Anna stayed in Arendelle. Was it weird? Well, someone should keep an eye on the kingdom, right? "The princess will do as a substitute for Elsa," so the townspeople scolded and forgot about the issue. The princess remained restless much longer.

She found a letter when she came to Elsa's room to say good morning to her. She saw but several lines, written in queen's impeccably smooth handwriting.

"Dear Anna!

We will go through this together. The trip may take a while, and you are needed at home, in Arendelle. You need to get ready for the wedding (do not hesitate!) And, more importantly, you must take care of the kingdom. I entrust Arendelle to you. Follow the instructions you already have from me. The rest of them you will find in the usual place in the library. I need you very much.

I'm leaving at night. I heard a calling again. I was hearing it the whole night. It is louder and more persistent now. My guards are ready, so we are leaving now. I'll let you know about how we are doing!

I'll be back as soon as I solve a puzzle.

Love,

Elsa"

Listening to a clatter of hooves, Elsa really wanted to doze off. However, she rode on horseback, as the wagon would slow everyone down and would not drive off-road, so she had no chance to sleep. All things were carried in bales on three more horses. Elsa insisted on taking what was really needed for the expedition. The queen had no things with her, since she could conjure almost anything. Except for food.

They left at night. Elsa was hesitant to leave Arendelle so secretly. "Anna will sure hate me," the queen thought, pacing through the room nervously. And yet she decided. Indeed, in the light of day, she could not slip away, and then the sister would go with her, disobeying not only her sister's but even the royal word. But Elsa strived to protect Anna from danger. And she didn't cheat, saying that at least one of the sisters was needed in Arendelle. The main thing is that Anna, even after reading the letter, does not rush after her, as she likes to.

Elsa selected twelve guards, whom she knew personally. All of them were good men and well-mannered. No one uttered a single word during the first two hours, and Elsa was the first to break the silence, allowing the soldiers to talk to each other. Perhaps, it'll help pass the time.

She did not listen to their conversations. Her thoughts were full of anxiety and apprehension. The words of that lullaby that she remembered a few days ago would come back to her all the time. Hands felt significantly colder even with gloves on them, which was an obvious sign of nervousness. "I ought not have succumbed to temptation so easily" the queen said to herself. "Why did I answer your call? I'm afraid of what I'm risking if I follow you. I don't even know if you're my friend or enemy." The voice was silent. It was as if a being who sent the signal heard only by the girl understood that its persuasions had achieved the goal. "Well, show yourself?" Elsa was angry. "You know how to distract me from a thousand public reasons, but would you mind directing me? Why have you disappeared? Where are you? Did I choose the right direction?" The voice was silent. Maybe it could not read minds or did not want to answer. How about Elsa asking it out loud? But what would the warriors think of the queen talking to herself?

Only when the cavalry stopped at the crossroads, and the captain asked where to go, Elsa heard the call again. The warriors were surprised to see how confidently the queen gave a sign to go after her, got off the road and rode along a barely visible path leading to the Enchanted Forest.