Chapter 2: The Wreck

The sound of waves crashing against the shore was the first thing Iduna heard as she slowly came to. She was lying on a sandy beach, her body numb and aching all over. She tried to sit up, but a wave of dizziness washed over her, forcing her to lie back down. As she struggled to catch her breath, she saw a group of fishermen approaching her. They were dressed in worn, practical clothing, and their faces were weathered from years of working at sea. The fishermen gathered around her, speaking in a dialect Iduna didn't understand. One of them, an older man with a kind face, knelt beside her and examined her injuries. Iduna winced as he gently touched her bruised and battered body. He spoke softly to her, trying to comfort her, and Iduna saw that he was holding a small, leather-bound book. After a few moments, the fishermen lifted Iduna onto a makeshift stretcher and began to carry her towards a small village. As they walked, Iduna caught glimpses of the surrounding landscape. The village was situated on a small island, with dense forests and rocky cliffs rising up from the shore. The air was filled with the sweet scent of exotic flowers, and the sound of seagulls crying overhead. The villagers were shocked by Iduna's appearance, but they quickly rallied around her, offering her food and shelter. The kind-faced fisherman, whose name was Grimbold, took Iduna to the local lord's residence, a large stone building with a thatched roof. King Westergaard, the ruler of the southern isles, was a tall, imposing figure with a stern expression. He examined Iduna's injuries and asked her a series of questions in a formal, measured tone. Iduna, still dazed and disoriented, struggled to respond. As she looked around the room, Iduna saw several young men standing in the shadows. They were all dressed in fine clothing, and their faces were haughty and arrogant. Iduna sensed that they were the king's sons, and she felt a shiver run down her spine as they gazed at her with curiosity. One of the princes, a tall, dark-haired young man with a cold expression, stepped forward. "Father, who is this woman?" he asked. King Westergaard's expression softened slightly as he looked at Iduna. "This is Iduna, the queen of Arendelle," he said. "She has been shipwrecked on our shores." The princes exchanged glances, and Iduna saw a flicker of interest in their eyes. She realized that her arrival could have significant implications for the southern isles, and she steeled herself for what lay ahead. As the king ordered his servants to take Iduna to a guest room, she caught a glimpse of herself in a mirror. Her hair was matted and tangled, and her face was bruised and battered. But her eyes, a deep brown, sparkled with determination. Iduna knew that she had to recover quickly, not just for her own sake, but for the sake of her daughters, Elsa and Anna. She was determined to find a way back to Arendelle, and to uncover the truth about Elsa's powers. With the help of the king's servants, Iduna was bathed and dressed in clean clothes. She was given food and drink, and she slowly began to feel like herself again. As she lay in bed, she thought about her journey to Ahtohallan, and the reasons that had driven her to set sail. Iduna's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of footsteps outside her room. The door opened, and King Westergaard entered, accompanied by his sons. Iduna sat up in bed, her heart pounding in her chest. "Your Majesty," she said, trying to sound calm. "I...I don't know how I came to be here." King Westergaard smiled, his eyes glinting with curiosity. "You are safe now, Queen Iduna," he said. "You will rest and recover here, and then we will talk about how you came to be here." Iduna nodded, feeling a sense of relief wash over her. She knew that she had a long and difficult journey ahead of her, but for now, she was grateful to be alive.