The Enchanted Forest was filled with silence under a thick cover of snow with tiny snowflakes joining in from above.
Elsa stood at the edge of the frozen river, her watching the dancing flames of Bruni, the fire spirit.
He wasn't moving as cheerfully as he usually did, his purple tail flicked quickly and jerkily, and his glow was way dimmer than normal.
"Bruni," Elsa knelt, her icy gown pooling around her.
She extended her hand, allowing him to hop onto her palm.
His small body trembled, and for the first time, Elsa winced.
She looked her palm that held him, shocked—- the heat from his flames were burning her skin.
"You're restless," she voiced softly in concern.
"What's wrong?"
Bruni began moving about her palm frantically while she followed him with her eyes.
He let out several chirping sounds without stopping in his movements.
The wind spirit, Gale, swirled around Elsa tugging at her white blonde hair.
"Gale, calm down," Elsa said, standing.
But the winds only grew stronger, and the snow around her feet lifted, swirling up into a vortex.
Then the ground beneath her feet started to tremble.
It was coming from a massive stone giant, the earth spirit, that lumbered into her view from the forest.
Its steps were sending deep vibrations through the ground, and Elsa staggered back.
Something was disturbing the balance of the spirits.
She could feel it.
"What is happening?"
—---------------
IN ARENDELLE
Anna leaned back in her chair in the palace's huge grand hall, sighing as she scanned the mountain of parchment before her.
Ruling Arendelle was not easy at all, but she was doing her best.
It was just that lately…
"My Queen," her advisor, Gerda, called.
"You've been staring at that trade agreement for the past ten minutes."
Yes her mind had been wandering for days.
"Hmm? Oh, right." Anna shook her head and sat up straight.
"Sorry, Gerda. It's just… I don't know. Something feels strange today."
"Strange how?"
Anna paused and looked out the window with the beams from the sun rays tinting it while her advisor waited patiently to hear her words.
"It's Kristoff," she finally said.
"He's been acting… different. It's like he's here, but his heart isn't."
Gerda gave her a small smile.
"Relationships have their ups and downs, Your Majesty. Perhaps he's just preoccupied."
Anna nodded absently, she wasn't relieved at all.
Kristoff had always been her anchor, aside from Elsa, he was her partner in everything.
Just thinking that something might be wrong with him—no, with them— made her worried.
Suddenly, the doors to the hall creaked open, and Kristoff stepped in.
His broad shoulders cast a long shadow on the floor while he walked and his warm brown eyes were…
… dark?
"Anna."
"Kristoff, is everything okay? You've been so…"
She trailed off, thinking of the right word to use.
"Busy?" he offered, curving his lips into a smile.
"I've had a lot on my mind."
Anna got up from her seat and walked toward him, hugging his arm to her chest.
"If something's bothering you, you can tell me. You know that, right?"
Kristoff looked down at her, "Of course, Anna."