Anna & Elsa Read online

  Copyright © 2015 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved. Published by Disney Press, an imprint of Disney Book Group. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without written permission from the publisher. For information address Disney Press, 1101 Flower Street, Glendale, California 91201.

  ISBN 978-1-4847-2871-0

  Visit www.disneybooks.com

  Contents

  Dedication

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  To sisters everywhere.

  May the magic of Anna and Elsa

  always be yours!

  —E.D.

  It was a crisp winter day in Arendelle, and Queen Elsa was returning to her castle. She had just finished a long day of bringing supplies and gifts to her villagers. She had delivered a box of new saws and picks to the ice harvesters. She’d brought blankets and hot soup to the stable boys. She had even given books to the schoolchildren.

  Elsa smiled. She loved helping people. She felt more like a queen every day.

  Suddenly, a snowball sailed right over her head.

  “Hello?” Elsa called out. She hopped down from her horse and looked around, but no one was there. Then she heard a rustling in the bushes nearby. It was Olaf, the walking, talking snowman.

  “Sorry, Elsa!” Olaf said with a giggle. “I was just having a snowball fight with Sven.”

  “That’s okay, Olaf,” Elsa said, laughing and shaking snow from her hair. She didn’t bother to ask him how a reindeer could throw a snowball.

  Sven poked his head out from behind a tree and snorted happily. Elsa was glad she had remembered to bring carrots with her. Carrots were Sven’s favorite food. She pulled one from her bag and let the reindeer take a bite. Sven nuzzled her in appreciation.

  “Oh, isn’t Arendelle wonderful, Elsa?” Olaf asked, opening his stick arms wide with glee. “I just love snowball fights, and sledding, and playing with Sven.”

  Elsa looked around. Snow-covered branches sparkled in the sunlight. Icicles twinkled. Arendelle really was beautiful this time of year.

  “Although it is awfully white,” Olaf continued, “and cold. Brrrr. That’s why I really love summer. Oh, wouldn’t it be fun to travel to Summer Land? We could meet the Summer Queen and see her tropical magic!”

  Elsa chuckled at Olaf’s joke. “Tropical magic,” she said, nodding. “That would be nice, wouldn’t it?”

  “No, really,” Olaf said. “I was visiting with the ice harvesters, and they were all talking about the kingdom of Eldora, where it’s always summer!”

  Elsa was puzzled. She was familiar with most of the neighboring kingdoms, but she had never heard of the kingdom of Eldora. “Really?” she asked.

  “Uh-huh!” Olaf said merrily. “The Queen of Eldora can control fire and heat! Just like your ice and snow magic!”

  Elsa was intrigued. She’d never met anyone with magical powers. She enjoyed the idea that maybe there was someone else like her in the world.

  “Can you imagine?” Olaf said, talking to himself. “Oh, I just love summer, and the sun, and everything warm, and—”

  “Olaf?” Elsa interrupted. “Are you sure it’s always summer in Eldora?”

  Olaf nodded. “Isn’t it great?”

  Elsa agreed and climbed back on her horse. She had royal duties to attend to at the castle. But as she traveled across the snowbanks, she became completely lost in her thoughts. Could there really be a Summer Land? Did the queen of Summer Land really have magical powers? Elsa was so distracted that she almost ran right into Fritz, the innkeeper. He was busy loading firewood onto a large sled.

  “Sorry, Fritz!” Elsa said, peering at him from her saddle. “I almost didn’t see you down there.”

  “That’s all right, Your Majesty,” Fritz said with a bow. “How are you on this fine afternoon?”

  “Fritz?” Elsa said, sliding down from her horse. “Have you ever heard of the kingdom of Eldora?”

  “Why, yes, Your Majesty,” Fritz said. “Just last week, a foreign merchant came to stay at the inn. He had recently returned from Eldora. He said it was one of the warmest places on earth.”

  Elsa felt a twinge of excitement. It sounded as though Olaf had been right. “So,” she said to Fritz carefully, “it was still summer in Eldora, then? When this merchant went for a visit?”

  “Your Majesty,” Fritz said kindly, “I think it’s fair to say that in Eldora, it’s always summer.”

  Elsa thought back to the time she had accidentally set off an eternal winter in Arendelle. It wasn’t that she’d wanted to freeze the summer or run away to the North Mountain. She definitely hadn’t liked shutting out her younger sister, Anna. It was just that avoiding everyone had seemed like the only way to be herself and keep her friends safe. She hadn’t yet learned how to control her powers.

  That was when it hit her. This Summer Queen might not know how to control her powers, either. How else could you explain an eternal summer?

  Elsa wasn’t sure what she was going to do, but she knew she needed some help.

  “I’ll see you later, Fritz!” Elsa said. With that, she jumped back on her horse and galloped away at full speed, all the way to the castle.

  Elsa found Anna in her room, admiring a portrait of a woman wearing shining armor.

  “Oh, Elsa!” Anna said. Her face lit up when she saw her sister. “I’m so glad you’re here. I just had this painting moved to my room. Isn’t it great?”

  “Anna!” Elsa said abruptly. “You’ll never believe what Olaf told me!” She quickly and carefully told her sister what she’d heard about the Summer Queen and her tropical magic.

  “I can’t believe it!” Anna exclaimed when Elsa had finished. “It’s just like the time you set off an eternal winter in Arendelle.”

  “Exactly,” Elsa said, nodding. “I think we should send a royal emissary to bring back information. What do you think?”

  “Hmm.” Anna looked a little disappointed. “I thought you were going to say that we should go.”

  Elsa was surprised. She hadn’t considered traveling to Eldora herself. After all, she had villagers to take care of and a kingdom to run. She couldn’t just leave everyone.

  Anna went to Elsa’s side and gently took her hand. “If this Summer Queen really doesn’t know how to control her powers, then surely you are the best person to help her.”

  Anna had a good point. “Maybe,” Elsa said cautiously. “But I have no idea where Eldora is. How would we even get there?”

  Anna paced back and forth across her room, thinking. “I’ve got it!” she said suddenly. “Come on!”

  Anna grabbed Elsa by the hand and pulled her down the hall to the library. She searched through her father’s collection of books until she found what she was looking for—an atlas.

  Inside the atlas were maps of all the neighboring kingdoms. She quickly flipped through the pages.

  “Here it is!” she cried.

  Elsa looked at the dingy, fraying map. First she found Arendelle. Then she traced her finger across the sea until she found Eldora.

  It would be a very long journey.

  Sometimes being a queen involved difficult decisions. Elsa plopped down in her father’s old armchair and sighed.

  “Oh, Elsa,” Anna said. “We have to help the Summer Queen. Just imagine how different things would be if you never had anyone around to help you.”

  Elsa thought about it. She knew how l
ucky she was to have a sister, someone who could help her make important decisions. She wondered if the Summer Queen had a sister, too. Or did she have to run the kingdom of Eldora all by herself?

  “Let me discuss this with Kai,” Elsa said finally. “I need to be certain that the ministers can handle things while we’re gone.”

  She summoned Kai, the royal butler, and explained her plans.

  “The ministers and I would be happy to watch over the villagers in your absence,” Kai said.

  Anna’s eyes widened with anticipation. “So, what do you say, Elsa?” she asked.

  “I do like helping people,” Elsa said quietly.

  “Of course you do! That’s why you’re such a wonderful queen,” Anna said. “Besides, we can do anything if we do it together.”

  Elsa smiled. She knew Anna was right.

  “Kai, ready the ship!” Elsa said. “We’re going to save Eldora and help the Summer Queen!”

  Kai bowed. “Right away, Your Majesty.”

  Anna squealed with delight.

  For the next several days, all of Arendelle was busy helping Anna and Elsa prepare for their trip. Maids helped the sisters pack some clothes. Villagers presented Anna and Elsa with gifts of bread and meat and cakes. Then, just as the sisters were preparing to leave for the docks, Olaf burst into Elsa’s room.

  “Can I come, too?” he asked. “I just love summer!”

  Anna giggled. Elsa gently patted Olaf’s head. “Of course, Olaf,” she said. “You can come, too.”

  The Arendelle docks were crowded with villagers. To Elsa, it seemed as though everyone in town had come to wish her and her sister a safe journey. Women waved handkerchiefs in the air. Men hoisted children onto their shoulders. A crew of sailors carried trunk after trunk up the gangplank, loading the ship with everything Elsa and Anna would need for their trip.

  Elsa and Anna walked arm in arm through the crush of people. Elsa couldn’t help smiling. She was excited to travel to Eldora. She hoped she and the Summer Queen would become friends.

  When the sisters arrived at the ship, Elsa turned to face the townspeople. She had prepared a short speech. She wanted to thank them for their kindness and help. She also wanted to assure them that she would not be gone for long. But just as she was about to speak, she felt a sharp tug on the sleeve of her dress.

  It was Anna. She looked worried.

  “What’s the matter?” Elsa asked. “Are you nervous about sailing?”

  Anna shook her head. “No. I just realized how much I’m going to miss Kristoff and Sven.”

  Elsa felt a pang of sadness. She had been so busy making preparations for the trip that she hadn’t stopped to consider how much she would miss her friends, too. She looked up at the big wooden ship. There is plenty of room for two more travelers, she thought.

  Elsa smiled and put her arm around Anna’s shoulders. “Quick, go ask Kristoff and Sven if they would like to see Eldora, too.”

  “Really?” Anna said.

  Elsa nodded and gave Anna a wink.

  “Yes!” Anna said, clasping her hands together in gratitude. “I’ll be right back!” She dashed off into the crowd to share the good news.

  Elsa, Anna, and Olaf stood on the ship’s deck, waving goodbye to the villagers of Arendelle below. Meanwhile, Kristoff and Sven had decided to assist the crew. There was plenty of work to be done. Kristoff helped one group of sailors raise the anchor. Sven hoisted the mainsail with another group. Elsa watched in wonder as a giant white sail inched up the mast and began to billow in the breeze.

  “Heave-ho! Away we go!” cried the ship’s captain.

  The ship slowly began to drift out to sea. The people waiting on the docks waved wildly and called out good wishes.

  As they sailed farther and farther away from Arendelle, Elsa began to notice changes in scenery. In the fjord, she was used to seeing snowcapped mountains and glaciers floating in the icy blue water. Now she couldn’t see any snow at all. And the normally blue water was almost green. It was turquoise!

  Elsa took a deep breath of salty sea air. High above her, a seagull flew in a loop-the-loop.

  “Isn’t it beautiful, Anna?” she asked. She had never been this far from home. She was beginning to see how big the world really was, and she was looking forward to exploring.

  “It is beautiful!” Anna said. “In fact, I’m going to get an even better view!”

  Elsa watched as Anna’s gaze moved up the mainsail. At the very top was a wooden platform, tied to the mast with heavy rope. By standing on the platform, a sailor could see into the distance and look out to faraway lands.

  “You’re going to climb that?” Elsa asked, a hint of concern creeping into her voice.

  Anna’s face broke into a mischievous grin. “Don’t worry, Elsa. I’ll be careful.”

  Elsa watched as Anna marched over to the mast. Anna grabbed the rope ladder with both hands. Then she picked up one foot and carefully placed it on the lowest rung.

  “Excuse me, Your Highness,” Kristoff said, suddenly appearing at Anna’s side. “Don’t you think that I should be the one to climb all the way up there?” He jokingly flexed his muscles. Sven, standing next to Olaf near the back of the ship, gave a cheerful snort.

  “Kristoff, I’m perfectly capable of climbing a rope ladder,” Anna said, chuckling. She pulled herself up to the next rung on the ladder. Then she picked up her left foot and climbed higher. She was reaching for the next rung when she started to slip.

  “Oh, no!” Elsa cried. She held her breath.

  Kristoff stretched out his arms, ready to catch Anna if she fell. But to everyone’s surprise, Anna started to laugh.

  “Just kidding,” she said.

  Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

  Anna climbed to the top of the mast and carefully stepped onto the platform.

  “Elsa, Kristoff—this view is amazing!” she called. “I can see for miles in every direction!” Anna turned in a slow circle, taking in the impressive view, then stopped and pointed straight out to sea.

  “Look!” she cried. “Dolphins!”

  Elsa and Kristoff turned and saw a pod of dolphins swimming faster and faster toward the ship.

  “I’ve always wanted to see a dolphin!” Olaf said. He sprinted across the deck. His little cloud flurry bobbed above his head. “Hello, dolphins! My name is Olaf, and I like warm—”

  Suddenly, Olaf slipped on a rope and went flying into the air!

  It seemed to Elsa that Olaf was falling in slow motion. She knew if she didn’t do something, he would fall right off the side of the ship and into the sea. She quickly opened her arms and summoned her magic. A slide made entirely of ice appeared in the air below Olaf. He fell onto the slide and slid down to land safely on the deck.

  “Whee! That was fun!” Olaf exclaimed.

  Elsa breathed another sigh of relief.

  “That was close,” Kristoff muttered.

  Elsa nodded. After all the excitement, she was feeling a little tired. While she looked for a place to sit down, she saw the ship’s captain approaching. He held his hat in his hands.

  “Excuse me, Your Majesty,” he said. “If you and your friends would like to go belowdecks, dinner is served.”

  “Great!” Kristoff said. “I’m starved!”

  Sven snorted in agreement.

  “Be right down!” Anna shouted from the lookout.

  Elsa felt her stomach rumble. She was hungry, too. She started toward the eating and sleeping quarters, when a thought occurred to her. She turned back to the captain.

  “What about the crew?” Elsa asked.

  “We’ll wait until you’re finished. Then we’ll eat,” the captain said with a bow.

  “Nonsense!” Elsa said. “We’ll all eat together, as friends.”

  The captain broke into a wide smile. “Thank you, Your Majesty.”

  Belowdecks, Elsa watched happily as the Arendelle sailors shared their meal of soup, bread, and hot glögg. Some of them sang songs.
Others shared stories of their travels.

  Elsa smiled. Her journey was just beginning, but she couldn’t wait to find out what tomorrow would bring.

  “Ahoy! Land ho!”

  Elsa opened her eyes and sat up in her bunk with a start. What was that sound? She listened as hard as she could. All she could hear was Anna snoring.

  “Land ho!”

  There it was again. Elsa gasped. She suddenly realized it was one of the sailors alerting the crew. Someone had spotted Eldora in the distance!

  “Anna! Wake up!” Elsa said, flying out of her bed.

  Anna rubbed her eyes with her fists and yawned. “What is it?” she asked sleepily.

  “We’re almost there!” Elsa cried. “We’ve reached Summer Land!”

  Anna jumped right out of bed. “Oh, finally!”

  The last few days aboard the ship had been filled with adventure. Elsa had learned how to hoist the sails and batten down the hatches. But despite the fun she was having, she was eager to reach Eldora. She missed dry land. She also couldn’t wait to meet the Summer Queen. Elsa and Anna quickly changed out of their nightclothes. They joined everyone else on deck.

  Elsa said good morning to Kristoff, Sven, and the captain. Then she put her hand to her forehead to block the sun. In the distance, she could see a thin stretch of brown land. She felt a drop of sweat slide down her cheek and drip onto her neck.

  “This heat!” Elsa said, turning to Anna. “I’ve never felt anything like it!”

  Anna was squinting. She waved her hand in front of her face like a fan. “I know,” she said. “It’s so hot! And the sun is so bright! It’s so…it’s so…”

  “Summery?” Olaf said with a giggle.

  The sisters looked over at Olaf. He had a huge smile on his face, perfectly cool beneath his very own snow flurry.

  “Yes, Olaf,” Elsa said, laughing. “It’s very summery.”

  Just then, a huge gust of wind billowed the sails. The ship rolled in the waves. The crew worked feverishly to keep it steady. Elsa was surprised to notice that the wind was not cool and refreshing, like it was in Arendelle. This wind was hot. She didn’t feel refreshed at all. In fact, she felt even warmer when it blew.