She slipped out the front door without saying goodbye and began to wander the village aimlessly. For once, she didn’t stop and talk to every person she saw. Instead, she kept her head down and hugged her arms to her chest, trying to smother the cold that seemed to permeate her body. It was a dream, yet it had felt so real.
Someone had been in terrible pain, but all wasn’t lost. If she trusted her instincts, Anna knew she could help. How strange…
She rubbed her arms to keep warm, walking aimlessly. Suddenly, a carriage roared down the road, startling her. Anna watched as it came to a halt in front of the church and a palace guard jumped out. Anna had never seen an official royal carriage in Harmon before. The guard nailed a proclamation to the church door, spoke to the bishop who came out to greet him, then got in the carriage and raced away. The bishop started talking to anyone who approached, and people began to run back to their homes with the news. Others flooded out of their houses, making their way to the proclamation to see what was written. Anna drifted closer and watched a woman read the news and gasp. Someone next to her burst into tears. There was commotion and wailing. Suddenly, the church bells began to toll. Anna tried to get through the crowd to see what was written, but people were pushing and shoving in an effort to get a closer look. Still she hugged her arms to her chest, struggling to get warm. It was silly, but she almost felt like she was still dreaming.
“Excuse me,” Anna said to a man who had just been standing near the front steps. “Can you tell me what the guard posted on the church?”
He wiped his eyes. “The king and queen, rest their souls, have been lost at sea. Their ship never reached its destination.”
“What?” Anna clutched her chest. “No!”
“Yes,” he said, pushing farther into the crowd. “The proclamation says we are entering a period of mourning.”
“And Princess Elsa?” Anna said, afraid to hear his response.
“She lives,” he said. “Spread the word and pray for Arendelle and our future queen. She is on her own now.”
I must tell Ma and Papa, Anna thought. She ran all the way to the bakery and found Papa sweeping the shop floor. When she flew through the door, slamming it behind her, he looked up, startled.
“What’s wrong?” Papa dropped the broom and moved toward her. “Anna Bear, are you all right? I heard the carriage. Someone said it was royal, but I didn’t go out to see. Is something the matter?”
Anna nodded, trying hard not to cry. “Where is Ma?”
“Here.” Ma came from the entry to their house, wiping her hands on her apron. She, too, saw Anna’s face, and her own fell. “What’s the matter?”
“I think you should both sit down,” Anna said. “Come into the living room.”
Her parents followed her inside, but they wouldn’t sit. They were holding hands. Anna took a deep breath. “There’s been a terrible tragedy. The king and queen have been lost at sea.” She closed her eyes; the news was almost too much even to think about.
“No!” her mother wailed so loud Anna began to shake. “That’s impossible! What happened?”
Anna’s lower lip trembled. “The castle just posted a proclamation. We are to enter a period of mourning. The king and queen’s ship never made it to its destination.” She bowed her head. “King Agnarr and Queen Iduna, may they rest in peace.” It was so tragic she couldn’t bear it, and both her parents were inconsolable. Her mother fell into a chair in a heap while her father rocked back and forth.
“No, why? Why?” he called to the heavens.
Anna tried to comfort her mother. “It’s terrible, I know. But all is not lost. The princess is safe. We will have a queen again.”
Her mother cried harder. Papa put his arm around Anna. “When she turns twenty-one, she will take her place at the throne. But for now…”
“That poor girl,” Anna whispered. She imagined her all alone in that big castle. She rubbed her chest. She couldn’t get warm. “I can’t believe the princess lost her parents.”
There was silence in the room. Finally, Papa spoke. “Tomally, we must tell her,” he said.
Anna looked from her mother to her father. “Tell me what?”
“Yes,” her mother agreed, and reached for Anna’s hands. “There is something you don’t know.” She sighed heavily. “Anna Bear, the queen had several ladies of the court with her on the ship. One of those ladies was Freya.” Ma burst into tears again, and Papa put his arm around her shoulders.
“Freya? No! Freya?” Anna immediately started to cry. “Are you sure? What about her family? Were they with her?”
Ma looked at Papa. “Her husband would be lost as well, but Freya told us their daughter was staying home.”
“Should we send for her? Does she have other family?” Anna whispered, her grief overwhelming her. “Will she be all right?”
“She will be fine,” Ma said, but she couldn’t stop crying.
“Papa, this can’t be true, can it? Are you sure Freya was on that ship?” Anna asked.
Her father hesitated. “Yes.” His jaw shook. “This was the trip Freya spoke of on her last visit. She didn’t like to boast, but she traveled with the king and queen.” His eyes filled with tears. “Our dear friend is gone.”
Yes, Anna was sad the king and queen had perished, but Freya was family. Anna felt weak in the knees. Her father reached out with his free arm to steady her. She sank to the floor, reaching for her mother to comfort her. “Not Freya. No!” She buried her head in her mother’s chest.
Her mother stroked her hair. “Anna Bear, I’m so sorry. So terribly sorry,” she choked out. She pulled her daughter away from her so she could look her in the eyes. “There’s something else you should know, too.”
“Tomally!” Papa’s voice was sharp. “You made a vow. You cannot break it now.”
Anna winced. She’d never heard her father raise his voice to her mother before.
“I have to, Johan! She deserves to know the truth! If not now, when?”
“It’s not your truth to tell!” he argued.
What truth? “I’m fifteen. If there is more, I want to hear it.”
Ma smiled sadly. “Nothing, darling. I’m sorry. I’m just terribly upset. Freya was my oldest and dearest friend.”
Anna reached for her mother again, and they clung to each other. Papa put an arm around each of them.
They were grieving; it made sense their emotions were high. She could feel the tears coming harder now. Freya wasn’t coming back. Their king and queen were gone. The walls seemed like they were closing in, but Anna refused to let them.
Her eyes searched for a comforting sight. Over her mother’s shoulder, she found the living room window. The image was hard to see with her eyes filled with tears, but Anna knew it was there. If she peered out between two rows of houses and looked toward the bottom of the mountain, Arendelle was still there, calling for her. She couldn’t help wondering what was happening inside the castle walls at that very moment. Who was comforting Princess Elsa?
Anna clung tighter to her parents. More than anything, Anna hoped Elsa wasn’t alone.