Chapter 1
Reverend Elsa Winters. Not the best sounding title in the world, but Elsa had been assigned it. Ever since she was a child, she had devoted her whole life to the church and to God, seeking to better the world in which she lived. Elsa had been the first woman in the country to climb up the ranks of the church, many claiming that she would be a bishop by the time she was 25, but Elsa had preferred to remain a humble minister at her current age of 21, not wanting to take high responsibilities easily.
She had been appointed a position at a church in a small town in the countryside called Arendelle. It was a quiet sort of place, where everyone knew each other, at least that's what Elsa had been told. She knew that there was always something hidden behind ever cloud, so she decided to tread carefully wherever she went.
As she rode in the back of the carriage, the noise of the hooves clacking in her ears, Elsa decided to pull out her book, her only book, the holy book.
She took out her glasses, pushed her braid of platinum blonde hair behind her head and studied the verses carefully, feeling the purity and sanctity flow into her, cleansing her soul.
"We're here now, Miss," the driver called to her as they arrived at their destination.
Elsa put her book down and sighed, she would have to catch up later, "I'm coming!"
She climbed out of the carriage, her suitcase in hand. The dark sky that greeted her seemed to resonate with the cold winter air she felt.
"Seems a very hospitable place," Elsa thought as she made her way towards the town. The buildings looked old and worn, probably had been built just before the war. The street in front of her was littered with puddles, rain had clearly fallen on this place recently.
She headed towards the town hall, to meet with the mayor about her appointment and any arrangements that would have to be made.
The town hall was a very large and impressive building, possibly the largest in the town.
Elsa walked inside the building, coming to a reception desk. Standing behind the counter was a young woman with short black hair, red lips and wearing a short blue dress.
"Excuse me, I'm Elsa Winters, I believe the mayor has been expecting me."
"Good afternoon Miss Winters," the receptionist greeted her in a cheerful manner," I will go and check with the mayor right away."
The receptionist walked over to a large door behind her and opened it, poking her head through. "Sir, the new vicar is here to see you."
"Send her in, Miss White, " a large booming voice replied.
"Mayor Bjorgman will see you now," the receptionist stated.
Elsa walked through the door into the office of the mayor. The mayor himself was a large man, in both width and height. He wore a brown suit, with a burgundy coloured tie. His head was bald, but there was some sections of blond at the sides.
"Good evening, Miss Winters," the mayor greeted her, "I trust your trip was eventful?"
"Not as such, your worship," Elsa answered, "but I had God to liven my spirits so I was safe."
The mayor chuckled, walking over to his desk and pouring a drink, "Port, my dear?"
"No thank you, sir," Elsa said politely, pushing her glasses back, "drinking of alcohol is against my beliefs."
"A very wise choice, but not a popular one," the mayor commented, "but beliefs like that are the future of our society, as was our past."
Elsa smiled, "so when am I to start my work?"
"It will be a few days yet," the mayor told her, "the police haven't finished cleaning out the vicarage of your predecessor."
"The police?" Elsa wondered. She had heard that one of the reasons for her appointment was that the previous clergy had been excommunicated, but for what reasons she did not know.
"Yes, Weselton was one of those sorts of men," the mayor took another sip of his drink, "couldn't leave the little boys alone."
Elsa felt a bit sick inside, "can we not continue on this topic? It is quite sensitive for me."
"I am sorry my dear," the mayor accepted, "I have set up an accommodation for you in the meantime, a rather nice apartment, just opposite the church."
"You are most thoughtful," Elsa thanked him.
"It's my job to be thoughtful," the mayor replied. "Ah it seems we have guests."
Elsa turned around to see a young man enter the room. He was rather tall and looked about two years older than Elsa. His brown hair was neatly combed and he had very bushy sideburns.
"Ah Hans, good to see you!" the mayor addressed, holding his drink out to the young man, "this is Hans Arendelle, the son of lord Arendelle. His family has lived here for many generations, in fact our town was named after them!"
"Good evening, my mayor," Hans spoke in a rather polite manner, "I take it this young woman is the replacement for that filthy rat Weselton?"
"She is indeed. May I introduce, Reverend Elsa Winters," the mayor introduced Elsa.
"Charmed, I'm sure," Hans stated, kneeling down and kissing Elsa's hand. Elsa felt a bit irked by this. She wasn't used to having men be so... intimate with her.
"I take it you are a fellow believer of god?" She asked as Hans got up off his knees.
"Oh yes, your reverence, I study the holy book every night when I go to my bed," Hans happily responded.
"Then I look forward to you attendance to my sermons, ," Elsa complimented.
"My dear, Elsa, you should be going now, I've given my receptionist the address for the accommodation. Good night," the mayor stated rather hurriedly.
"Very well, I bid you good day," Elsa said her goodbye.
As she walked out of the room and closed the door, she felt something off about her encounter with Hans. Something about his polite mannerisms felt amiss, like they were a mask for him to hide behind.
Maybe this arrangement would be difficult for Elsa after all.
xXx
The next morning, Elsa awoke early, wanting to have a look around the town and meet the residents whom she would be servicing.
As she walked down the pavement, taking a moment to admire some roses in a flower shop window, something caught Elsa's eye.
On the other side of the street, a young woman and a man were walking out of a grocery shop, the woman carrying a grocery bag that looked bigger than a small child.
Elsa watched as the young woman struggled to carry her baggage, her feet clearly off balance.
"Hey Anna, are you sure you can carry all that stuff?" the man, probably her friend asked her.
"Yeah, no sweat," the woman replied, straining at the weight. Eventually she tripped up and fell to the floor, the contents of her bag emptying out onto the pavement.
Elsa giggled slightly and walked over to her, holding her hand out to the woman, "are you alright there, Miss?"
"Yeah I'm fine," the woman replied, taking Elsa's hand. She looked rather young, about 18 or 19. She had long, strawberry blond hair in two braids that slid on either side of her head. "Could you help me with my stuff, it's kinda gone everywhere."
"I would be glad to," Elsa accepted, helping pick up the groceries, "you could have just used a carrier bag you know?"
"Yeah, but where's the challenge in that?" the young woman smirked.
Elsa smiled and put some of the groceries in her handbag, "I'll help carry your stuff for you."
"I appreciate that," the woman thanked her. She took a moment to analyse Elsa, seeing the stole around her neck, "you're the new priest guy aren't you."
"Priest girl actually," Elsa corrected her, "Reverend Elsa Winters at your service."
"Anna Arendelle," the young woman introduced herself, "this is my best friend, Kristoff Bjorgman." She pointed to the blond haired man next to her.
"Bjorgman, eh?" Elsa stated, "I had the pleasure of meeting your father last night."
"Did he offer you port?" the man asked, "because I hope you didn't drink it, last time someone drunk something he offered, they were in the hospital."
"Yes he did, but thankfully I stay away from the demon in the bottle," Elsa told him.
"Good advice," Kristoff replied.
"So Miss Winters, where are you from?" Anna inquired.
"I'm from London, but I was born in the country," Elsa answered her.
"So this is like a homecoming for you," Anna realised.
"In a sense," Elsa acknowledged, "I take it you are the daughter of Lord Arendelle?"
"Yes," Anna sighed, "regretfully."
"I'm sorry," Elsa spoke, "I was just wondering, seeing as how I met your brother-"
"It's fine," Anna interrupted, "don't worry."
Elsa felt she had touched a nerve.
"Hey do you mind coming round for dinner, my dad would love to meet you," Anna offered.
"It would be my pleasure Anna," Elsa accepted.
xXx
"How are you finding the meal, Miss Winters?" Lord Arendelle asked Elsa. He was an older man, mid 40s, with a fine head of light brown hair and a thin mustache.
"It is most enjoyable," Elsa replied, tucking into her meal, "especially the pork rinds."
"You won't find any better pork in this part of the country," the lord commented.
"Or any part of the country, father," Hans added.
"Good point my boy, good point," his father stated, sounding like he wanted to hush him.
Anna gave Elsa a look from the other side of the table, a look which gave the message, "just ignore him."
Hans gave Anna a very stern glare, before getting up out of his seat, "excuse me, Father, Sister, Reverend Winters, I must go now, I bid you goodnight," and with that he took his leave.
After Hans had shut the door, Lord Arendelle turned around to face Elsa, "I do apologise for that, my son has not been the same since his mother died."
"It is fine, sir," Elsa responded, "I have seen men like him before, troubled and secretive."
"You have no idea," Anna muttered under her breath.
"So I take it your sermons will be starting on Sunday?" Lord Arendelle wondered.
"Yes, I wrote one while I was on the way here," Elsa answered him.
"Well I look forward to hearing it," the lord said cheerfully. Suddenly, a servant walked up next to him and whispered something in his ear, "I'm sorry for butting out like this, something has come up about my estate that I need to take care of. Anna, show our guest home will you?"
"Of course, father," Anna replied as her father took his leave. She took Elsa by the hand and led her out of the manor house.
"Are you okay walking yourself home?" Anna asked Elsa.
"Yes, but I wouldn't mind the company," Elsa informed her, as they began to walk down the gravel track back to town.
"I can see why you interrupted me when I asked about your brother," she stated after they had walked for a short while "from what I saw at the table, he seemed to have something against you."
"Yeah, me and Hans don't exactly have the best relationship. He hates me as did my mother," Anna spoke, reflecting on her past.
"Why would you be hated? From what I have seen of you, you are a kind, sweet and intelligent young woman," Elsa told her.
"Thanks," Anna blushed a bit, "but it's mostly because of what I am, I'm different than most girls you meet."
"I understand," Elsa said, respecting that whatever Anna's issue was as a private matter.
"So do you mind if me and Kristoff hang out with you sometime?" Anna inquired, "I don't have many friends besides him, so maybe you could be my friend too, when your not doing church stuff, I mean."
"I would like to, Anna," Elsa said, happily accepting, "I never really had any friends back in London, while I was being trained, but I feel like you are... unique, so yes I would like to join you sometime."
"Yay!" Anna cheered hugging her new friend tight.
Elsa smiled and blushed slightly. She felt proud to be doing God's work, but she also felt proud by having made a new friend.