**Chapter 2: Wreckage and Rescue**

The biting winds howled as Queen Iduna stood at the prow of her ship, her brown hair whipping about her face like a maddening dance of dark ribbons. Her eyes, a piercing shade of blue, gazed out at the horizon, fixed on the shimmering mist that veiled Ahtohallan, the mystical fjord she had long sought to explore. The worn leather of her gloves creaked as she gripped the wooden railing, her knuckles white with tension. For years, she had been driven by an insatiable curiosity about the ancient magic that coursed through her veins, and the secrets that lay hidden within the fjord's crystal depths. As the sun began to set, casting a golden glow over the waves, Iduna's thoughts turned to her daughters, Elsa and Anna, left behind in Arendelle. She wondered what they were doing at that very moment, and whether they were safe. A pang of longing pierced her heart, but she pushed it aside, focusing on the task at hand. The creaking of the ship's wooden hull and the cries of the gulls overhead filled the air as she scanned the horizon for any sign of danger. The crew, seasoned sailors from Arendelle, had warned her of the treacherous waters that lay ahead, but Iduna had pressed on, driven by a sense of destiny. As night began to fall, the storm that had been brewing on the horizon closed in with a ferocity that caught even the most seasoned sailors off guard. The ship creaked and groaned under the force of the gale, and Iduna stumbled, her footing unsure on the slick deck. The waves crashed over the ship, threatening to engulf it, and Iduna felt herself torn from the rail, her body tumbling through the darkness. She remembered nothing but the sound of crashing waves and the feeling of weightlessness, as if she were flying. And then, suddenly, she was alone, her head spinning, her body battered and bruised. When she came to, Iduna found herself lying on a cold, sandy beach, her head pounding in time with the waves that lapped gently at the shore. She struggled to sit up, wincing as her muscles protested, but as she looked around, she realized that she was alone. The ship that had carried her to this place was gone, wrecked, no doubt, in the storm that had brought her here. Iduna took stock of her surroundings, her gaze drifting over the unfamiliar landscape. The Southern Isles, she would later learn, a kingdom far removed from the icy shores of Arendelle. The air was thick with the smell of salt and seaweed, and the sound of seagulls filled the air. As she struggled to her feet, a group of rough-looking men and women approached her, their faces wary, their eyes narrowed. "Who are you?" one of them growled, his hand on the hilt of his sword. Iduna stood tall, her regal bearing evident even in her battered state. "I am Queen Iduna of Arendelle," she said, her voice steady, her eyes locked on the speaker. The group exchanged uneasy glances, but one of them, a burly man with a thick beard, stepped forward. "We'll take you to see the king," he said, his tone a little softer. "He'll decide what to do with you." Iduna nodded, her heart heavy with worry, but a spark of hope flickering to life within her. She had survived the shipwreck, and now, it seemed, she would find refuge in this strange, new land. As she walked with the group, her eyes scanned the surroundings, taking in the thatched roofs of the village homes, the smell of smoke and cooking meat, and the sound of children playing in the distance. The group led her to a large, wooden building, adorned with intricate carvings of sea creatures and mythical beasts. Iduna's heart quickened as she entered, her eyes adjusting to the dim light within. A large, stone fireplace dominated one wall, and a throne-like chair sat at the far end of the hall. The burly man approached the throne and bowed. "Your Majesty, we have brought a visitor. A queen from a far-off land." Iduna's eyes met those of the king, and she saw kindness and curiosity there, rather than suspicion or hostility. The king rose from his throne and approached her, his eyes scanning her battered face. "Welcome, Queen Iduna," he said, his voice warm. "I am King Westergard. We will do everything in our power to help you recover from your ordeal." Iduna smiled, a sense of gratitude washing over her. She had found refuge in this strange, new land, and perhaps, just perhaps, she would find a way to uncover the secrets of Ahtohallan, and to reconnect with her daughters, Elsa and Anna. But for now, she would rest, and let the kindness of King Westergard and his people soothe her battered soul.