There's a lot of things that happened in this chapter, things are really set in motion.

Elsa's mysterious new role.

The exchange between Kai and Magnusson. It was a really interesting scene, especially when the topic of Anna as Queen was brought up. Magnusson is racist, but his words about Anna and the rulership of the kingdom were all valid points. And Kai, as well written as you made him, handled the situation very well.

Chagan and Honeymaren splitting up made me sad. I can't explain it well, but their dynamic is just so interesting that I can't help but feel selfish and would like to see them more at the forefront of the story. Whether it's comradeship or being destined as true enemies, I'm really curious about what will happen to them.

I was waiting when you would bring up Mattias' race in the story and you delivered here. The confrontation between him and Hudvishka was really tense.

Elsa. Is terrifying. Whatever it is that's happening to her, she feels like the hidden villain of the story.

I immensely enjoyed this chapter just because of how invested I am with Chagan and Honeymaren's relationship, whatever it is. Truly was a ride to read this one.

Chagan and Honeymaren. Nuff said. Chagan and Honeymaren have a very, very interesting chemistry/dynamic.

Chagan's backstory here was really compelling. It made him so real. I'm still impressed by your own rendition of the lullaby with your own lyrics, it amazingly fits the original melody. And again, another great way of recontextualizing an existing motif, it really strengthened the connection of the tribe to Arendelle's history.

Elsa... being so removed from everything was also another interesting thing. It was almost ominous, how far away she is from the rest of the conflict.

I really loved the intro with Kai here, you made him rightfully layered within his role as the right hand man of the crown. I enjoyed the whole section of him going through letters- and I have to say, I really love the way you write letters and take advantage of them. The scale of the story is expanded greatly through them alone, and I feel the great difference of their respective origins, which is very cool.

Anna, Anna, Anna. In a way, I wish you had also given Anna more layers as you did with Kai, but of course, I thought to myself, this is very much within her canon traits. Her naivety, privilege and ignorance here really stood out, and though it's not her fault, I was actually thankful that you had Huvishka confront their party already. As Queen, I really want to see her truly experience the weight of that crown.

I was stressed as heck for Honeymaren here but I'm really glad she survived. You made her a hell of a one tough woman, and I love her. Her inner strength here really shone.

It's funny because this chapter had both extremes for me: something I immensely enjoyed and disliked.

I'll just go ahead and say that I know it must have been tough as this fic was canon compliant, though I feel like it's close to canon divergence anyway.

Olaf absolutely threw me off, haha. His existence disrupted the tone for me a bit, and broke my suspension of disbelief. I feel that having him around at any point of the story will inevitably do that effect.

On the other hand, I seriously had so much fun reading through Agnarr's past adventures. It almost feels like it's worth a spinoff of its own.

In my opinion, this is definitely where the story finally kicked off, your rising action.

If I didn't miss anything before, this was also the first time you took a famous line(s)/motif(s) from the film and recontextualized it (the sky is awake) which is honestly one of my favorite things about this work. It was a great way to connect the Steppe tribe to the world and establish their significance in it.

Also. Chagan my boy. I remember sensing his hesitation here and I was immediately intrigued. He truly sounded like the hidden protagonist of this work finally popped out. I want to say the same for Honeymaren too. I think both of them being at the center of this first big conflict made it so.

As an Elsamaren writer, I approve. I enjoyed Elsa and Honeymaren's relationship here, it felt like having a breather from the heaviness of the story.

Fittingly enough before Chapter 7.

Revisiting this chapter, I think I appreciate the ensemble of the Steppe cast more. At this point of the story this is the second time we get their perspective, though I feel that perhaps on first read it was easy to get lost and confused on what's going on, with around five new characters being at the spotlight. At the same time though, the banter between them is a great insight on what the stakes mean for them, and it just makes you wonder how far they will go.

I remember being fascinated by the introduction of the Steppe's main cast here, but also overwhelmed. It is quite a lot, the way you have presented them, as well the foreign terms that sometimes, I tried very hard to understand within context.

Perhaps that was the intention, to be shocked by the existence of a whole group of people with their own rich values, culture, and grudges. To not expect another layer of conflict beyond the Northuldra, hidden forcefully from the rest of the world. Like that water from the broken dam.

This need not saying as we've been communicating in private but by the time this review is being written I have caught up with the story by Chapter 14.

I still remember being hooked by this pilot chapter with the single line:

"The Great Dam was built by slave."

I was immediately intrigued as this isn't necessarily uncharted waters for Frozen 2, but it's a topic that the movie attempted to delve into but failed. A topic that's so relevant today that it's a dismay they have failed to completely satisfy me with how they handle it.

Ending this pilot chapter with a letter from Agnarr was powerful.

WOW. What a chapter. So much to take in, so much action and perspectives that you balanced like a game of chess. The council scene was a sight to behold; so much subtlety and Kai is a badass. One of my favourite things to read in a post-F2 fic is the political ramifications and you nailed it. I am still a huge (even bigger) fan of Chagan. That little moment—"I'll come back for you"—evoked such sense of kinship; the enemy of my enemy is my friend? Suddenly there's an immediate sense of a greater danger, and I'm more unnerved than ever. Godspeed with the next chapter!

Her blood chilled in her veins and so did mine.
I felt for Elsa slowly unfurling the secrets of Arendelle's past rulers, the pit in her stomach was only as deep as mine.
I like Agnarr's letters a lot; the douptb that starts seeping into every word as the missive progresses, his changing view of his own father... I dig.
You're instilling an aura of mystery around the Steppe I am very eager to see unveiled. The image of an army of ten thousand men waiting for their hour in the shadows is both enticing and chilling.
Good stuff!

Man, you managed to write a long and tense chapter without showing the two main characters! Seriously, the way you created these new concepts, events, lore and characters is amazing.
Great job!