Hello readers and patient followers/favoriters, I bet you are wondering why the nearly three month delay in posting. Truth be told, this is by far the hardest chapter for me to write so far. Longest span of writer's block I've encountered in this project. Days would go by and I simply could not think of anything to write. I apologize if it appeared that I had abandoned the project. It's still going, but at a rather slow rate. Unless otherwise announced, I will never set a release schedule, it just will not work for me.

Another factor that resulted in the delay is that for a while, I was going at it with the attitude of another 8k word, action and drama filled behemoth like the previous two chapters. Then, inspiration stuck and I found it much easier to put in a mostly fluffy, and shorter chapter. So, here you go.

Thank you to all who have been patient.

And if you're someone who has started reading this fanfic long after this post, completely disregard this entire message.

Golden light spills through the trees, rays flickering between shadow and glow. The sun's position indicates dusk, yet the radiation of the forest is reminisce of an afternoon bathed in honey. The air was pleasant in these crowded woods, despite the absence of a cool breeze. Leaves fell with a gentle grace, a dance of swishing and swaying as they approached the ground. The chatter of birds and critters permeate the surroundings with their pleasant songs. Even the footsteps of travelers do not sound out of place in this peaceful place.

Peace, however, is an impossible thing that these travelers could relate to their situation. A cloud of grief and worry shadows the nine individuals who trek through the leafy land of Lothlorien. Yes, Aragorn, the current leader of the fellowship felt some relief in approaching the Elf kingdom, yet he could not shake the gloom of Gandalf's death, nor the effects of Elsa's morose attitude. Their ice sorceress, who had performed remarkably in his opinion, despite being handicapped with one arm, had become withdrawn and silent, always staring either at her hands or the ground. Her reticent attitude was a virus, the negative energy quieting even Pippin.

Only Gimli's fervent beliefs against the elves provided a distraction from their thoughts.

"Stay close, young hobbits…they say a sorceress lives in these woods. An Elf-witch of terrible power. All who look upon her fall under her spell…"

Frodo scoffs at the Dwarf's mini-rant. Did they not have a sorceress themselves? And since her beauty didn't bewitch them, what chance did this so-called Elf-witch have?

Frodo…

A pleasant voice speaks to his mind, halting him in his tracks. He whips his head around to seek out its source.

"And are never seen again."

…your coming to us is as the footsteps of doom. You bring a great evil here, ringbearer. Even with the protection provided by the ice maiden.

"Mr. Frodo?" Sam's question snaps him out of his daze and he resumes his walk.

"Well, here's one dwarf she won't ensnare so easily. I have the eyes of a hawk and the ears of a fox!"

Just as he finishes his claim an arrow bursts from a bush and stops right in front of his nose. Other arrows follow suit and soon the fellowship finds itsElf surrounded by Elves.

"The Dwarf breathes so loud we could have shot him in the dark." Says a blonde Elf. His face is a mixture of soft and strong features. His eyes are sharp, peering over a solid nose, yet his cheeks and chin are smooth. Aragorn approaches this Elf with a smile.

"Haldir of Lorien, we come here for your help. We need protection." He speaks to the Elf in their language, grasping his hand.

"Aragorn! These woods are perilous. We should go back." Says Gimli, but his protests are ignored.

"You have entered the realm of the Lady of the Wood. You cannot go back." He locks eyes with Frodo. "Come, she is waiting." He glances towards a different part of the fellowship, and when he spots Elsa his eyes narrow. He studies her but says nothing.

"Can I…help you?" Elsa inquires.

"Would you happen to be Queen Elsa, of Arendelle?"

Elsa's eyebrows arch, "Yes. How did you know that?"

A small smirk grows on the Elf's face, "We have been expecting you also. There is somehow who will undoubtedly be excited to see you."

"Excited? Just who is this person?"

Haldir continues to smirk as he turns to lead the group deeper into the forest. Grumbling under their breaths, Elsa and Gimli follow.

As Elsa ponders the mysterious individual eager to see her, a glint catches her eye. Glancing to her right, she spots a shimmer that is almost indistinguishable from the rest of the foliage. Recognizing her ice swallow in flight, she holds out her hand for it to perch. This catches the attention of Pippin, who smiles at the sight of the ice construct.

"Oh, Elsa! Your bird is back. What news does it bring?"

Elsa grins down at the hobbit as the bird lands on her outstretched fingers, "Hopefully something useful on Saruman." She peers into the little swallows eyes, ready to connect with the memories of the construct.

All she finds is pain and a giant flaming eye.

"Agh!" She throws the bird at a tree, the ice shattering on contact. Falling to her knees, she clutches her head as a massive headache blooms in her skull. Her arm shakes as she inhales ragged breaths, eyes scrunched as throbbing waves course through her skull.

Frodo rushes to her side, placing a tentative hand on her shoulder. "Elsa?"

Elsa shudders a few times before looking up at the hobbit, a mix of anger and ache on her face.

"I've been compromised."

Saruman watches a small orc hunch over a large twisting blob of red and brown. It reaches down and rips open the thin film covering a larger and more muscular creature. This orc moves in an instant and grabs the smaller worker's throat. The larger orc snarls as his grip tightens, the worker flails at the hands squeezing the life out of him, gasping for breaths. Other worker orcs rush forward but are blocked by Saruman, who is watching with amusement. With one final gasp, the worker is dead. The orc tosses away the limp body.

With a deep-throated growl the newly born orc rises, arms crossed over chest. The grin on Saruman's face grows. The orc unfolds his arms and flexes his right hand, studying the contours of the rippling muscles. Saruman is about to approach his new breed of orc, before a message of magic courses through his mind.

The images are brief, but they tell him all he needs: blonde; short hair; female; arm in cast; clothes of ice; and values her sister above all else.

The message ends with the same abrupt crash, but Saruman pays it no heed. With a wicked smile on his face, he confronts the orc glaring at him.

"You were an Elf, once. Taken by the Dark Powers…tortured and mutilated…a ruined and terrible form of life. And now…perfected." His smile reaches his eyes as they glint with glee. "My fighting Uruk-hai, who do you serve?"

The orc, growling at the wizard facing him, gives a reluctant answer, "Saruman."

Saruman's grin remains, the glint in his eye growing brighter. "Yes, Lurtz. Now, I have a task for you. A group of nine travels towards Mordor. Their path will likely take them near Silverlode River. There are two in this group I value highly. A Halfling carries an object of great value. Bring him to me…alive and unsoiled."

The orc grunts in confirmation.

"The other is a maiden. She too must be brought to me unharmed. Her hair is white as snow and cut like that of a man. Do not underestimate her, she wields powerful magic of ice. However, she is vulnerable if members close to her are brought within harms direction."

The orc growls at the mention of magic, "It will be done."

Saruman watches with an even wider smile as his army of Uruk-hai is treated like orc royalty as armor and weapons are attached to their bodies.

After Elsa's explanation of Saruman's deceit with her ice swallow, the fellowship's walk into Lothlorein was quiet. Even with the sight of halls of willow and Elves bowing in their presence did little to stem their discontent. All were paranoid of the white wizard.

The fellowship made its way into the foyer of the Kind and Queen of the forest, stopping before the mighty Elves. However, it is three figures that stand before them. On the left is a tall male with long blonde hair, wearing a sparkling white shirt and draped in a gray cloak. On the right is a figure of smaller stature, with a dark green cloak and hood that hides the mysterious identity in shadow. And in the middle…

Stood the most gorgeous woman Elsa had ever seen. Clothed in a gown of pure white, the Elf Queen bore a beautiful smile at the fellowship that was accented by the small curls in her blonde hair, which cascaded down the sides of her face. She too, was tall, standing an inch shorter than the Elf to her right. Her eyes reminded Elsa of her own, the pure azure blue sparkling with kindness. Elsa almost felt at ease in the presence of this beautiful Elf, if it weren't for the shadowy figure to her left, who appeared to be…quivering?

Just who is this figure that our hosts want to remain unknown?

Elsa shook the thought from her head as the male speaks.

"I am Celeborn, King of Lothlorien. Nine there are, yet ten there were set out from Rivendell. Tell me, where is Gandalf, for I much desire to speak with him."

Eyes shift between members of the fellowship. Before any can respond, Galadriel speaks.

"He has fallen into shadow."

She looks to Aragorn, then Elsa.

"The Quest stands upon the edge of a knife. Stray but a little and it will fail, to the ruin of all. But there is hope while the company is true."

Downward glances befall a few of the members, frowns on their faces. Sam wears the most mournful expression, which Galadriel picks up.

"Do not let your hearts be troubled. For here you find allies," she turns her gaze back towards Elsa, "especially you, Queen Elsa."

Elsa raises her eyebrows, "Especially me? Just who here is that eager to be my ally?"

Galadriel gives a small smile before turning her head and nodding to the shorter figure, who was bouncing on the balls of their feet. Before any member of the fellowship can react, the figure rushes straight to Elsa while a loud shriek rings through the forest.

"Elsa!"

Elsa nearly topples over as the figure collides with her, wincing at the pain in her left arm from the figure…hugging her? Looking down, Elsa is shocked to find a mass of red hair burrowing into her shoulder, incoherent mumbling vibrating into her chest. The closeness of this figure also provided a certain warmth Elsa had been devoid of in months.

"Anna?"

The head whips up, unmistakable teal eyes bore straight into hers, shining brighter than an aurora of Arendelle's night sky. She breaks the hug and grasps Elsa's right hand in hers, a wide grin breaking across her face.

"It's you! It's really you! I mean, it's not like it couldn't be you. Even with your bandaged arm in ice and shorter hair and, wait what?"

Anna cocks her head, her mouth agape, "Elsa…just what have you been up to?"

Elsa bears a similar expression, but more towards Anna's presence, and appearance. Her younger sister is decked not in formal wear, but is adorned with the combat attire Elsa ordered from the best blacksmith and seamstress around. Dark leather pants and boots with thickness added around the ankles and femoral arteries. Metal plates cover the front and back of her thighs and calves. Her torso is adorned with similar form fitting thick leather, with a metal plate situated upon her chest. Straddled to her back are two broadswords three and a half feet long. In her rush to hug Elsa, the cloak that previously shadowed her features had fallen to the floor.

"It's a long story, but Anna…what are you doing here? Who's in charge of Arendelle?"

Anna blushes and avoids eye contact at Elsa's inquiry, her boot scuffing the ground as she gives it a light kick.

"Welllll, that's a long story also. Although when I started looking for you I never intended this." She gestures to the surrounding forest and its inhabitants. "Anywho, story time for later, fixing your arm is a must. And I just met the person, er, Elf heh-heh."

With that, Anna grabs Elsa's good arms and leads her off into the spiraling, beautiful maze of a forest city. As they descend the steps, the fellowship is able to make out one final comment.

"Also, you must tell me who shaped your hair, the short crop look is fantastic on you."

Eight members of the fellowship turn to Aragorn, who is now sporting a faint blush, a sight that only Arwen had seen.

One trip to a talented Elf healer, and storytelling time during the process later, Elsa could now fully enjoy the embrace of her beloved sister without flinching in pain. However, the running of a foreign hand, even if it was Anna's, through her hair was rather unusual.

"So…are you gonna tell me who gave you this fabulous new do?" A wide smirk splashes onto Anna's face as she questions Elsa. The short haired blonde stammers momentarily, before regaining some semblance of composure.

"We-well, you know how we were last at the attack of the Night Riders?"

"Yes! That snow soldier you described sounds amazing, compared to the previous one I met, you must show me!"

"…Continuing, this is the battle that both bequeathed my short hair and (previously) injured arm." Anna's eyes flux between appraise and worry as Elsa goes on to describe the following incidents that lead to her being injured and Aragorn's action which shortened her hair. However, Elsa left out the bit of her killing the man. At the end, Anna is staring down while nibbling on her finger.

"So, haircut by arrow eh? Sounds like something those ice harvesters or hunters would do."

"I doubt they do it while being manhandled in the middle of the fight."

Anna gives a small cackle. "Hey, you never know. Maybe a scuffle is exactly what that method needs."

"Yes, lets risk life and limb to ensure that upended pixie cuts become all the rage." Elsa plants her hands on her hips, mentally rolling her eyes.

"It will become the next big thing the moment you return to Arendelle. A magical queen who now sports a devilish, cute hair style? Don't be surprised if women start to swoon around you also."

"Speaking of Arendelle," Anna's grin disappears at Elsa's narrowed eyes, "you still haven't answered on why you are here."

Anna's eyes shift, everything but Elsa having become of sudden greater interest. When she can no longer maintain the avoidance, she adopts what she calls the stance of embarrassment: closed eyes, awkward forced smile, and a hand behind her head that she acquired from a blonde German scientist/ambassador who most certainly was not short. "Eh-heh, well you see, after a couple days of fruitless search parties, I decided to seek out the trolls. Because, you know, mystical troll magic and all that."

Elsa is tempted to raise an eyebrow, but declines the action, as she prefers to save it for more gregarious statements; or if it could help punctuate a question. "Continue."

"Yes, anyway, I go to the trolls and ask if they have any guidance. Turns out, Grand Pabbie is capable of tracking magical…oh what was it again? Signs? No…personalities? That isn't right either."

Now Elsa would raise her eyebrow, "Signatures, perhaps?"

Anna's face brightens, her smile reaching to the heavens, right fist pounding into left palm. "Yes! That's it. Magical signatures! Of course, once Grand Pabbie discovered you went into a different world, it took some time to 'lock on' to your signature," she rolls her eyes along with her finger quotes, "So I had a bit of time to kill and…why are you not surprised about the whole different world part?"

Elsa attempts to suppress a small giggle, but the light chuckle still manages to tumble from her lips. "Oh Anna, that was one of the first things I learned upon arriving on Middle Earth."

While Anna doesn't employ the ever expressive single raised eyebrow, Elsa always found the open mouth with wide eyes look just as useful. "Middle…Earth? Is that what this land is called?"

Another chuckle from the short-haired queen, who nods afterwards.

"How…unique."

By this point, the two women had arrived at the encampment set up by the fellowship. Although her arm was free from the agonizing mixture of pain and numbness, Elsa's limb was still stiff from disuse, and her flexing and slow movements had resulted in minimal progress. Granted, the Elf who healed her did claim that recovery to full movement would probably take a few days. Elsa clenched her fist as best she could.

I'll be fine by morning.

"Ah, Lady Elsa, your arm is healed!" Pippin bounds over, a radiant smile on his. The rest of the group appears to be in similar spirits, with scattered bowls and plates surrounding a boiling pot of stew.

It appears Sam has whipped up that 'special' recipe he mentioned once. It's probably why everybody's mood seems to be lifted.

"Partially, Pippin. Being in a hastily created sling has stiffened its movements, for the meantime."

A look of disappointment flashes over the Hobbit's face, before returning to the jovial smile. He turns to Anna, "And what brings the lovely Lady Anna, I presume, to our acquaintance?"

A light blush colors Anna's cheeks at Pippin's words, causing her to stammer with her words as Elsa looks on with a mix of the curiosity and amusement. She moves to place a hand on her sister's shoulder.

"Perhaps, Anna, we should do introductions first."

Anna gives a few rapid nods, then smiles and offers a small wave as Elsa introduces the rest of the fellowship one by one. A small smirk tugs at the ice queen's lips as she points out the last member.

"And this is Aragorn, the man who you likened a master coiffeur." The man in question merely bows his head, face in hands as Anna chuckles. The laughter is cut short as Anna begins to sniff the air, her nose being drawn to the fire and the pot still roasting on top of the flames. But before she can take a step towards the bodacious, bountiful broth, a firm hand catches her by the shoulder. Anna turns to find Elsa fixing her a glare, but one that spoke in a strict manner.

"Before we eat, I still want to know why you are here."

Anna's hungry gaze drops, her lips pursing into a straight line. With a sigh, she straightens up.

"Well, when Grand Pabbie finally found your signal, he offered to 'show' me where you were. And I immediately said yes. Because why wouldn't I want to see where you were?"

"I'm sensing a but in there."

"Buuuuuuuuut, apparently his version of 'show' means shoving me into this world and shouting good luck."

"…What?"

A groan escapes Anna's lips before she continues. "Basically, I was expecting a light show. Instead he opened this, rip? No…tear? Ripple? Window? Crack? Slash?"

"Anna."

"Oh, right. Anyway, he opens this, whatever, says this is where you are, and shoves me in."

Anna attempts to placate Elsa with a small smile at the end of her retelling, but it accomplishes little in dampening not only Elsa's scrunched face, but also the now small drifts of snow falling around the site.

"Did he…did he instruct you on how to get back?"

The smile drops, and Anna finds it difficult to find something better to stare at besides the dirt at her feet.

"No."

The small flutters of snow that had gained steady numbers stopped their movements. The air surrounding the encampment dropped several degrees in mere seconds as a tense pregnant pause emanated from the royal siblings.

"So, basically, you're saying the wise Grand Pabbie, who has been watching over the lands of Arendelle since before the birth of the country, who has provided…good but vague advice over the years, shoved you, the only royal member of the Arendelle line in the land, into an alternate world, without telling you how to get BACK?"

Elsa had thrown her good arm to the side in emphasis, a bolt of ice blasting toward the unfortunate tree that was in her path. The seething look in Elsa's eyes caused parts of the Fellowship to shiver, but not Anna. Frankly, the princess was too embarrassed by her situation to feel fear. At best, she can answer with one word without stuttering.

"Yes."

Elsa appeared ready to let loose a string of colorful language unbecoming of a member of royalty, yet manages to restrain her vocal anger. In return, the air dropped another thirty degrees. And the parts of the tree stuck by her ice shatter. Elsa glares at the ground before raising her eyes to meet Anna's. Elsa's attempts to put on a neutral face only manage to make her scowl appear less menacing

"Anna, when we get back, Grand Pabbie, you, and me are going to have a long talk about the appropriateness of sending people off to foreign worlds."

"O-okay."

"In the meantime…" as Elsa's sentence trails off, she stomps over to the pot of stew, pours hersElf a generous portion with her left hand, and moves to a stump far from fellowship, sits down, and forms a small igloo around her.

There's a quiet moment among the fellowship and Anna as they observe these brusque actions. Shock and confusion make way through the faces of the men, yet only Anna releases a frustrated sigh.

"Just leave her be. Whenever she's angered by what she calls 'sheer stupidity', it's best to just let her cool off." She eyes the rest of fellowship as they are giving her odd looks. "No, no pun was intended. I've actually seen Elsa melt her own ice with just fury." She glances over to Elsa's mini-igloo, which was sporting a few large drops of liquid down the side. Anna points to this as she talks. "Like that." Although the moment Anna speaks, the water freezes over.

The members of the fellowship give the fluctuating ice barrier one last look before shrugging and resuming their conversations. Anna uses this lull of attention away from her to pour some soup into a bowl for her before making her way towards a spot nearby the ice dome. Finding a comfortable spot to sit, she then raps on the ice with her favorite five beat knock. Despite the years of either being ignored or told to leave when she performed this action, Anna still used it when approaching her sister.

There was a small pause, during which Anna believed she heard an exasperated sigh.

"Yes, Anna?"

"Okay, so I know you are absolutely peeved at Grand Pabbie at the moment."

"That's a rather gentle way of putting it."

"But we have to remember he's looking out for the best of the royal family, and if that means bringing us together across separate worlds, so be it."

Anna turns her head to the dome at the lack of a response to find the surface melting faster than earlier, and there are even spurts of steam coming from the top.

"Are you sure you haven't been keeping fire powers from me? I mean, how do you even do that, that melting thing?"

The liquefaction of the ice stopped just as fast as the previous instance Anna mentioned this phenomenon. A loud groan emanates from the dome, the ice amplifying the sound.

"No, Anna, I do not have pyrotechnic abilities. The melting just…happens."

Anna gives the faceless dome an incredulous stare, before huffing and returning to her soup.

"It's just…the last time Grand Pabbie 'helped' the royal family…never mind. Anna, sorry but I would be quite grateful to eat in peace."

Anna sighs, but relents to her sister's wish.

"Of course, Elsa. And just so you know the Elves have allowed us some beds to rest for the next few days. Your companions seem to need it."

Anna rises and makes her way towards Pippin, curious to know the peppy little hobbit more. Elsa sighs at the retreating footsteps, grateful for the quietness, yet still fuming over the information provided by Anna. However, one thought helps in quelling the maelstrom in her mind.

I've been here for months, but to Anna it's been a couple days…extraordinary. There may be hope yet in returning before something drastic happens in Arendelle.