**Chapter 1: The Fateful Voyage**

The stormy seas tossed the small ship about like a toy, threatening to capsize it at any moment. Iduna, Queen of Arendelle, clung to the wooden rail, her knuckles white with fear. She had set sail for Ahtohallan, the mystical river that flowed from the heart of the earth, in search of answers about Elsa's powers. The isolation and solitude of the journey had been a welcome respite from the pressures of ruling, but now, as the tempest raged on, she wondered if she had made a terrible mistake. The crew, a grizzled group of sailors, shouted and struggled to keep the ship afloat, but it was no use. A massive wave crashed over the bow, sweeping Iduna off her feet and sending her tumbling across the deck. She landed hard on the wet wood, her head spinning. As she struggled to sit up, a blast of wind and water slammed into her, knocking her back down. The ship creaked and groaned, the sound of splintering wood filling the air. Iduna's world went dark, and she lost all sense of time and space. When she came to, she was lying on a sandy beach, her head throbbing with pain. She sat up slowly, taking stock of her surroundings. The ship was nowhere to be seen, wrecked and destroyed by the storm. Iduna stumbled to her feet, her legs shaking beneath her. As she looked around, she saw that she was on a small, isolated beach, surrounded by rocky cliffs and dense forest. The air was cool and fresh, filled with the scent of pine and seaweed. Iduna took a deep breath, feeling a sense of unease and disorientation. She stumbled along the beach, searching for any signs of life or civilization. As she walked, she noticed that her clothes were torn and soaked, her hair a tangled mess. She wore her brown hair up in a coronet braid, a habit she had developed over the years, but now it was loose and wild. After what felt like hours, Iduna saw a figure approaching her. It was a young woman, dressed in a simple tunic and carrying a basket slung over her arm. The woman's eyes widened as she took in Iduna's bedraggled appearance. "You're a long way from home, aren't you?" the woman said, her voice kind and gentle. Iduna nodded, feeling a lump form in her throat. "I...I was on a ship," she said, her voice shaking. "It wrecked in the storm." The woman nodded sympathetically. "Come with me," she said. "We'll get you to King Westergaard. He'll be able to help you." Iduna hesitated for a moment, unsure of what to do. But the woman's kind face and gentle manner put her at ease, and she nodded, following the woman as she led her away from the beach and into the unknown. As they walked, Iduna couldn't help but wonder what lay ahead. She had survived the shipwreck, but she had no idea what other challenges awaited her. Little did she know, her journey was only just beginning, and it would lead her to a place where she would have to confront her own past and the darkness that had haunted her family for so long.