Thirty years later, the peace remained unbroken. Kingdoms avoided war, and the Arendelle Alliance, as it had come to be known, had not been threatened. Times changed, as did leaders; Ida had been Queen for several years now, and took a young man from Karland, Erik, for her King Consort.

Liv married Henry's son, Daniel, and moved to Weselton. When his father expressed his desire to step down as Duke, the people there asked Daniel to take over; he did so graciously, promising as the new Duke to follow in his father's footsteps and continue working to improve Weselton's standing in the world. Liv stood beside him as Duchess.

But while the Arendelle Alliance was prosperous and at peace, sadness could still be found. In a darkened bedroom in the family wing of Arendelle castle, Alek lay abed, his age threatening to take him into the afterlife. On one side of his bed sat Ida, a sad expression on her face, though she had accepted her father's fate. Liv sat beside her, having come in from Weselton a day before; tears fell freely down her cheeks, as she hadn't seen her papa in over a year, and found it hard to see him like this.

On the other side of the bed, indeed, the darker side of the room, two figures stood, their faces hidden by the black, hooded capes they wore. Their faces, if they'd been seen, were both grim; they had been fearing this day for years, more so than any others that had already passed except one. They knelt next to the bed as one, and a woman's hand reached out to take Alek's. "It's almost time, isn't it?" the hand's owner asked softly.

Alek's eyes opened slightly, and he turned his head toward her. "Yes," he managed after a ragged breath. "I can feel it. I won't be here much longer. But it's okay. I've had a long, happy life with all of you. Now I can go see everyone who has gone before."

"Papa," Liv almost cried out as she moved to his side and took his other hand, "I love you, Papa. I'll...I'll miss you, more than I ever have." She wiped more tears from her eyes, and Ida moved beside her and hugged her.

"I know you will, little one. But always remember that I am so very proud of you, of both of you," he replied, his voice weakening as he spoke. "You have both done your family proud, and you'll continue to do so, I just know it."

A man's voice came from the other hooded figure. "You've done your family proud as well, Alek. You have been a good son, a good father, and a good man. We will all miss you." His voice was barely a whisper as he finished, and he choked back a sob as he rested his hand over Alek's and the woman's.

"Thank you," Alek answered hoarsely. "That means so much to me, more than you could ever know. I'm glad I was able to make you proud." His hand twitched, his feeble attempt at a squeeze. "Ida, you are a great queen. I know you'll continue to make our people proud, and Erik will support you no matter what. I love you so much, my daughter."

Ida choked back her own sob. "Thank you, Papa," she managed after a moment, wiping away her first tear since they'd gathered there. "I have a great legacy to follow. I'll do my best."

Alek coughed hard a few times, and squeezed his eyes again. "It's time," he whispered. "I love you all." Another sharp intake of breath, and Alek passed away before their eyes.

The four of them wept silently together, none of them able to find any words.

On a hill above Arendelle, two old monument stones no longer stood alone. To one side stood a trio: two stones, with a third, smaller stone beside them. Written on these stones were the following names: Princess Anna Bjorgman, Daughter of Agdar and Idunn; Kristoff Bjorgman, Husband to Princess Anna; and Sven, Faithful Hero of Arendelle. To the other side, several others could be found, including: Princess Klara the Fireheart, Daughter of Anna and Kristoff; her husband Alandr; and Queen Frida, Wife to King Aleksander. A new stone had just been placed that morning, for King Aleksander the Stonebearer, son of Nikolaus and Elsa.

Conspicuously missing, however, were stones for those last two. Two stones still stood in Hartlande for them, though it was widely rumored that it was not their final resting place. Some claimed they were laid to rest in Stonewell, though there was no marker for them there, either.

The ceremony was somber, as could be expected for a gathering of mourners. Few words were uttered by those gathered, though the Bishop delivered a message, both honoring the deceased and praying for his safe passage to the afterlife. Many in the crowd expressed their grief through sobs or outright tears.

At the forefront of those assembled stood six figures. Queen Ida and King Erik stood in the center, dressed in their mourning clothes. To their right, Duke Daniel held Duchess Liv as she cried. To their left, two more stood silently, their faces obscured by the black hooded cloaks they wore. Indeed, all of them that could easily be seen were their entwined hands as they stood side by side.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, the group dispersed slowly, with many coming forward to express their sympathy and condolences to the Queen and her sister. The cloaked pair stood off to the side, a respectful distance away. When the group dispersed, they continued to stand silently, giving the other four time to grieve together.

After a few minutes, Ida and Erik approached, with Liv and Daniel a step behind. "Granpapa, Nana," Ida began softly, "I'm glad you could be here with us. It means the world to us all."

Nik and Elsa glanced around, then lowered their hoods slowly. Their mirrored eyes were ringed with red, the only indication that they'd been crying. They were nearly eighty now, yet their appearance hadn't changed. "There is nowhere else we'd have been, Ida," Nik told her, his voice wavering slightly. "We've been fearing this day for years; we belong with family today more than any other." Beside him, Elsa nodded in agreement, then put an arm around him and pulled herself close; Nik returned the gesture, giving her a gentle squeeze.

Ida smiled as warmly as she could at them for a moment before her expression turned serious. "There's something you should know," she told them quietly, keeping her voice from carrying. "I met with Bulda about a month ago. She told me...well, she told me the magic in our family was going to skip several generations, if it returns at all. The world is changing, and she can't see what magic's place in it will be. If and when it resurfaces, there is a strong possibility it won't be as powerful as it has been recently. The people are also asking for more autonomy, and I believe the kingdom will split into two new countries to avoid a revolt."

Elsa nodded and straightened, meeting her granddaughter's eyes. "Yes, she's told us that as well. She mentioned it had to do with the end of the prophesy," she answered hesitantly. "Why do you bring it up, sweetheart?"

Ida was silent for a moment, apparently considering her next words. When she finally spoke, it wasn't to them. "Erik, can I have it?"

Erik unclipped the scabbard from his belt, the sword still sheathed in it, and handed it to Ida silently. She took it in both hands and turned back to her grandparents, pulling the sword out some to reveal the blue blade. On the hilt, the wolf's eyes stayed a dull red. "We made a replica to pass down. But Granpapa, Frostbite belongs to you. You and Nana can use it as it should be used. None of us can." She held it out horizontally, resting in her open palms. "I ask that you take the real one with you."

Nik silently studied his granddaughter's eyes for several moments, then looked down at the blade she held. *She really means it,* he sent to Elsa. *She wants us to take it.* He looked down into the eyes that mirrored his own, unsure what to do or say. Elsa shrugged slightly, her thoughts telling him it was his decision to make.

Nik looked back at the blade he'd carried for years, the one that had been used to protect the kingdom for generations. Finally he nodded. "We will take it, and keep it safe. If and when it's needed again, I'll try to make sure it returns."

He reached out with both hands, one finding the hilt, the other the scabbard. When his hand closed around the hilt, the blade pulsed a brighter blue, and the eyes of the wolf came to life once more, the soft glow returning to them as the blade responded to the magic he carried.

Elsa felt the surge through their shared thoughts. *I always forget just how much that boosts our magic,* she commented silently to him. *Will you keep Mjolnir?*

Nik slid the blade back into the scabbard slowly as he considered her question. *No. I'll hide it in one of the displays in Stonewell, or perhaps with my brothers' resting places, when we stop on our way home.* To their granddaughter, he said aloud, "We're leaving in the morning. May we stay in the castle tonight?" When she nodded, he continued, "Thank you. You four go ahead, we're going to stay here for a bit longer."

The younger family members turned then and headed for the city. When Nik and Elsa were alone, they stepped up to the markers for Anna and Kristoff. "He's with you now, little sister," Elsa said as an icy tear slid down her cheek. "Take care of him. I wish..." She paused, unable to finish her thought as she choked down a sob. "I miss you, Anna. And I always will. Say hello to Mama and Papa for me." Nik moved beside her and wrapped her in his arms for support.

A gentle breeze came up, whipping their cloaks around for a moment before settling back down. Neither of them summoned it.

*We weren't supposed to outlive them all,* Nik sent to her as he prepared for bed. He'd already set Mjolnir against the dresser next to Frostbite, and now tossed his shirt aside as he moved closer to her. He needed to feel her near him, and he knew she could sense it.

*I know. But what can we do?* Elsa asked as she pulled her brush a final time through her hair, then turned to look at him. *It's sad, really, that we've watched so many go before us. But,* she paused as she rose and closed the distance between them, her arms wrapping around him, *we will always have each other. That will help.*

Nik lowered his head as he pulled her close, his forehead resting against hers. *Yes, minn elska. It will help. And as long as we remember them, and keep them in our hearts, they'll live with us forever.* He shuddered a bit as he took a breath, then lifted her off the floor. *Come, let's go to bed.*

He set her down on the bed, then climbed in with her. Exhaustion pushed them both into slumber almost immediately after they curled up to one another. But it wouldn't be a dreamless sleep.

Nik opened his eyes when he felt the breeze swirl around him, and found himself standing on the edge of a cliff. He looked in both directions, noting that the edge he stood on disappeared into the mist and fog that surrounded him. He didn't see anyone, but he felt Elsa's presence all around him, and knew she was with him somehow. "Where am I?" he asked aloud, not expecting an answer.

A voice he hadn't heard in years answered him from the mist in front of him. "You're at the divide between life and the after," Johan answered. As the fog pulled back, Nik first made out a figure, then his brother snapped into focus; the cliff he stood on turned out to be a ravine. "Don't worry, we're fine. But it isn't your time to join us."

"Us?" Nik asked, though he realized he already knew the answer. Aksel stepped out of the fog beside Johan, a smile on his face. "Why are you all here?" As he spoke, Anna, Kristoff, and Klara appeared as well.

Another voice behind him startled him, and he turned his head; the rest of his body wouldn't respond, and he didn't understand why. "They've come to walk with me, Papa," Alek answered as he stepped up and faced him. "I may have passed, but I still have to cross. And I still had to get something."

Nik stared at his son in confusion, then glanced down. In his hands, Alek held Mjolnir. "That? Why do you need that?" he asked, unable to comprehend what use a weapon would be in the afterlife. "I don't understand."

Aksel answered; he didn't shout, but his voice carried as if he were standing next to Nik. "Because its owner has asked for it back. Remember how we didn't know where it came from?" When Nik nodded, Aksel continued. "It was loaned to you, because it would help you, and you were worthy of it. But now, like Alek, it needs to go home."

"Papa, I love you," Alek told him. "But it's my time to go. Don't worry, we'll all be fine." His son hugged him tight, then turned and stepped off the edge; the mist and fog supported Alek until he stood on the far side with the others. Then they turned back to face him and raised their hands in farewell as the fog closed in around them once more.

Nik woke with a start, sitting bolt upright in the bed, his breathing ragged. He turned when he heard Elsa panting, and saw her mirroring him as she sat beside him. She met his eyes, and he didn't have to ask what was wrong; the tears in her eyes and thoughts told him she'd seen the same dream. They fell into each other's arms and wept.

A sudden thought made Nik pull back and turn toward the dresser. Elsa followed his gaze, then lit the bedside lamp so they could see better. The doors and windows were closed and locked, but what they saw by the dresser left them speechless.

Mjolnir was gone.

For years to come, adventurers and hunters would occasionally return from the mountains of the far north with odd tales. Sometimes, it was that they got lost, and a small snowman offered them a warm hug, and it and its massive friend guided them back to a path or trail. Other times, two great snow beasts would appear and carry an injured or freezing person to a nearby fur trader's, and vanish before anyone else saw them.

Once, though, a more interesting tale surfaced. A lone man, lost and half frozen, stumbled upon a small home made of ice. Smoke rose from the chimney, and a small greenhouse, likewise constructed of ice, contained a small garden. The two inhabitants offered him a place to warm up and food, then sent him on his way on a horse of snow. As he approached the nearest town, however, the horse crumpled into powder, forcing him to walk the final half mile.

No one believed his story, however, and he set back out to find the house once more. He never reemerged from the mountains.

Well, here it is. The absolute end of The Ice and Wind Saga. I hope you all enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. I certainly never expected to be at this a year later. It's been quite the adventure, that's for sure.
Thank you to all my readers. This was written for me, but I'm glad I was able to share it with each and every one of you. To those who left reviews, here or on FFN, I thank you very much. Your feedback has been deeply appreciated.
I can't say enough about my wife. She supported me through this entire thing, and was more than willing to let me know if things began to go astray.
Well, that's about it. I do have other projects in the works, and I hope to be able to start posting some of them soon. Keep an eye out for them!

Kathy22334 - It's difficult to explain. But you need some kind of starting point, an idea of what you want to happen, so to speak. Then, just write. It won't be what you expected at the end, as it will change and alter itself over and over as you go. If you decide to do it, good luck to you!

Seraph of Snows - That's...amazingly accurate for this. I actually didn't remember that line, as it's been a while since I've read the Hobbit. Thank you!