**Chapter 3: The Locals' Discovery**

The dark waters of the fjord churned and foamed as Queen Iduna stood at the helm of her ship, her brown hair whipping about her face in the biting wind. She gazed out at the horizon, her eyes fixed on the shimmering mist that veiled Ahtohallan, the mystical river said to hold the secrets of the past. Determined to find a solution to Elsa's eternal winter, Iduna had set sail on this perilous journey, braving the treacherous seas alone. As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a golden glow over the waves, a fierce storm began to brew. The winds howled and the ship creaked, its wooden hull groaning under the force of the gale. Iduna clung to the wheel, her knuckles white with tension, as the vessel bucked and pitched. A massive wave crashed over the bow, sweeping Iduna off her feet. She felt herself tumbling through the air, her stomach lurching as she plunged into the icy waters. The shock of the impact took her breath away, and she sank beneath the surface, her body battered by the turbulent sea. Somehow, Iduna managed to cling to life, her consciousness flickering like a candle flame in the darkness. She felt herself being tossed about, her body bruised and battered, until finally, she was washed up on a rocky shore. As she lay there, her vision blurry, Iduna saw the twisted wreckage of her ship, the mast splintered and broken. She closed her eyes, her body aching all over, and let the darkness claim her. The storm had passed, leaving behind a eerie calm. The only sound was the gentle lapping of the waves against the shore. Iduna lay there, her body numb, her mind foggy. She tried to remember how she had ended up there, but her memories were hazy. As the sun began to set, casting a golden glow over the shore, Iduna stirred. She slowly sat up, her body protesting with a wave of pain. She looked around, taking in her surroundings. She was on a small beach, surrounded by rocky cliffs and dense foliage. The wreckage of her ship was scattered along the shore, a stark reminder of her failed journey. Days passed, and Iduna lost track of time. She survived on berries and rainwater, her body slowly healing. But her spirit was crushed, her determination and courage worn down by the relentless battering of the sea. One day, as she was exploring the shore, Iduna saw a group of fishermen approaching her. They were rough-looking men, with weathered faces and calloused hands. Iduna's instincts told her to be wary, but she was too weak to resist. The fishermen surrounded her, their eyes curious. One of them, an older man with a kind face, spoke to her in a dialect Iduna didn't understand. But she shook her head, trying to clear the fog from her mind. The older man nodded and gestured to one of his companions, who pulled out a rough-made stretcher. Iduna was lifted onto it, and the fishermen carried her away from the shore, into the unknown. As they walked, Iduna caught glimpses of a small village, with thatched roofs and smoke drifting lazily into the air. She was taken to a small hut, where a stout woman with a warm smile and a gentle touch tended to her wounds. "Velkomin, Queen Iduna," the woman said, her voice soothing. "You've been washed up on our shores, injured and half-frozen. We've brought you to our healer, who has tended to your wounds." Iduna tried to speak, but her voice was hoarse and barely audible. The woman, who introduced herself as Gudrun, handed her a cup of warm broth, which Iduna sipped gratefully. As she recovered, Iduna's thoughts turned to her daughters, Elsa and Anna, and the desperation that had driven her to seek out Ahtohallan's secrets. She knew she had to find a way back to Arendelle, but for now, she was at the mercy of these strangers. Gudrun noticed Iduna's gaze and smiled. "Don't worry, Queen Iduna. You are safe here. Our queen, Maren, will want to meet you. She will decide what to do with you next." Iduna nodded, her eyes drifting shut as exhaustion claimed her once more. She knew that her journey was far from over, and that the fate of Arendelle hung in the balance. But for now, she rested, her body healing, her spirit unbroken.