Chapter 1 - a Dream
Night had fallen over Arendelle.
The kingdom was steeped in silence, bathed in the pale light of the moon.
Most of the castle windows were dark, and in the deserted streets, only the wind could be heard, moving slowly among the houses.
Everything seemed peaceful.
Even in the queen's room.
Elsa was fast asleep.
Her breathing was steady, her face relaxed, and her long blonde hair spread across the pillow.
Then, something changed.
Elsa found herself in a place she had never seen before.She was surrounded by snow.
There were no houses.
There were no trees.
There was no one.
Only a white expanse that seemed to stretch on forever.
Elsa looked around, confused.
"Where am I...?"
Her voice was lost in the silence.
She took a few steps.
The snow crunched beneath her feet, yet there was no trace of footprints ahead of her.
Then she heard it.A sound.Distant.
Almost imperceptible.Elsa stopped.
"Is anyone there?" No answer.
The wind suddenly picked up, swirling tiny ice crystals around her.
Elsa wrapped her arms around herself.
"It's okay... it's just a dream."
But at that very moment, a voice cut through the silence.
"Elsa..."
The queen spun around sharply.
Her heart began to race.
"Who are you?"
Silence. Then, that voice again. Closer
"Elsa..."
She began to back away.
"Show yourself!"
A figure appeared in the distance. Elsa tried to make out the face, but a sudden sharp pain in her chest forced her to stop.
Something was wrong.
That presence...
She knew it.
Or at least, a part of her knew it.
The figure slowly raised a hand.
The wind exploded around Elsa.
"No!"
Elsa’s eyes flew open.
She bolted upright in bed with a gasp, breathing heavily.
For a few seconds, she remained motionless.
The room was dark.
Silent.
Familiar.
Elsa pressed a hand to her chest, trying to slow her racing heart.
She looked toward the window.
The moon cast a faint light over the room.
She was home.
She was safe.
"It was just a dream..." she whispered.
She looked down.
But something made her blood run cold.
On the floor, beside the bed, lay a thin layer of ice.
Elsa stared at it, unable to speak.
She didn't remember using her powers.
And that night...
it hadn't been cold.
