Nico placed his last card and smiled triumphantly.
"I win" Nico said
"Now we get to play what I want" I said
"What do you want to play?" Nico asked
I smiled then I set down the cards and made trees and people out of snow.
"The evil queen has entrapped the people of the forest and only the prince can save the day" I said
"You can never beat me" I said in my best evil queen voice as I handed Nico the prince
"What do I do?" Nico asked
"The evil queen cast a spell and made the true rule fall and into a deep sleep, only true love can save them now" I whispered
"I'm here to stop you and wake the princess" Nico said in his deepest manly voice
"Princess?" I asked
"You said true love" Nico said
"What are you two playing?" Mama asked
"Enchanted forest" I said
"That's anything like the Enchanted Forest I've seen" Mama said
"You've seen an Enchanted Forest?" I asked
"Wait, really?" Nico asked
"That's right. Once. A long time ago" Mama said
"And this is the first you're telling us?" Nico asked
"Would you like to hear more?" Mama asked
"Yes!" Nico and I yelled excitedly
"Are you sure about this?" Papa asked
"It's time they know" Mama said
"Do you want to make a snowman later?" Nico whispered in my ear and I nodded
"That is if they can listen" Mama said and we both quickly stopped talking and run to the bed to sit.
"Far away, as north as we can go, stood a very old and very Enchanted Forest." Mama said
"Whoa" Nico said
"This forest was protected by the most powerful spirits and of all... Those of air, fire, water, and earth. But it was also a home to a mysterious people." Mama said
"Were they magical people, like me?" I asked
"They were just people who took advantage of the forest gifts. Their ways were so different from ours so strange. But still, they promised us friendship and In honor of that, your grandfather, King Runeard, gathered all the men he could and built them a mighty dam to strengthen their waters. This was a gift of peace."
"That's a dam gift of peace." Nico said and Papa gave a stern look.
"Once the dam was completed I got to go the the forest and celebrate it, I felt so honored" Mama said
"But nothing could have prepared me for what wouldhappen. We let down our guard. We were charmed. And it felt so... magical. But then something went terribly wrong. They started attacking us" Mama said
"The general pushed me behind him as the women attacked" Mama said
"And as the battle raged on your grandfather was killed" Mama said
"The fighting enraged the women and the forest and a strong wind blew knocking me to the ground and I hit my head on a rock" Mama said
"How did you make it out?" I asked
"I heard this... voice. And someone saved me. I'm told, the spirits then vanished. And a powerful mist covered the forest, locking everyone out. And that night, I came home, Queen of Arendelle."
"Whoa, Mama, that was epic. I wish I knew who save you so I could thank them" Nico said
"So do I" Mama said
"What about the spirits? And the forest" I asked
"The mist still stands. No one has been able to get in, and no one has since come out." Mama said
"So we're safe." Papa said
"Yes, but the forest could wake again, and we must be prepared for whatever danger it may bring." Mama said
"Ok, it's bedtime. say goodnight to your mother" Papa said
"What? You can expect us to go to bed now, I questions!" Nico said
"You'll have to save them for tomorrow night, Nico." Mama said
"I can't wait that long" Nico said folding his arm and frowning as Mama left
"Why did they attack? They were given gifts" Nico said
"Papa? Do you think the forest might wake again?" I asked
"Only Lethe knows" Papa said
"Who?" Nico asked and Papa chuckled a little
"Long ago, I....heard of a river called Lethe the river of memories, it took the memories of everyone who went in. But what people didn't know was that the river actually held the memories of everyone and could even show them to very special people, there was a song about it to" Papa said
"That's cool!" Nico said
"Could you sing it for us? Please?" I asked
"Yes my girl" Papa said as he sat down on the bed with us.
"Come close." Papa said wrapping his arms around both of us.
"Where the North wind meets the sea
There's a river full of memory
Sleep, my darling, safe and sound
For in this river, all is found" Papa sang and Nico slowly fell asleep
"In his waters, deep and true
Lie the answers and a path for you
Dive down deep into his sound
But not too far or you'll be drowned" Papa sang as he picked me up and walked to the window
"Yes, he will sing to those who'll hear
And in his song, all magic flows
But can you brave what you most fear?
Can you face what the river knows?" Papa sang holding me close
"Where the North wind meets the sea
There's a father full of memory
Come, my darling, homeward bound
When all is lost, then all is found" Papa sang
