FOR QUEEN AND COUNTRY
A Frozen Fanfiction
An attack on Anna's life turns Kristoff into the cold, bitter Governor of a naval business that monopolizes ice, fur, and spice and employs private armies to wreak revenge. Elsa and Anna must now confront a monster they helped to create: Arendelle's chartered, rapacious, empire-building corporation, the North Mountain Company! Can the royal sisters defeat – and save – Kristoff?
Disclaimer 1: I don't own Disney's Frozen or any of its characters.
Disclaimer 2: As this story is (an attempt at) a drama about Arendelle's transformation into a naval empire through Kristoff's North Mountain Company, it will feature OCs.
Disclaimer 3: This story definitely not a celebration of colonial entities like Jardine, Matheson and Co. or the East India Company. It's about the struggle between Queen Elsa and the political and military interests of a powerful, 1840's-style chartered corporation (as far as I can tell, Arendelle's environment and technology resemble the early nineteenth century). It's about the bond between two sisters tested as they try to stop the North Mountain Company from committing crimes in the Crown's name, and to redeem a fundamentally good man.
I hope you enjoy this fanfic as much as I enjoy writing it. If you like it, why not leave a review or some feedback for improvement. :D Have fun! ^.^
Chapter 1
Vengeance from the Past
The sled was always his pride and joy. It had been a gift bestowed on him from the highest power in the land. To this day he found it hard to believe: the sovereign herself, the body politic of Arendelle's people, had deigned to grant a royal warrant to his then-bankrupt ice business. There was not much in life that could surpass the pride of watching Sven pulling this sled except for one thing: the medallion the reindeer wore every time Kristoff rode out to meet powerful merchants from other empires and principalities. It was emblazoned with the personal coat-of-arms of the Snow Queen, the ever-familiar insignia of the snowflake.
It meant nothing less than this: as far as Elsa was concerned, Kristoff represented her family and her personal interests.
Was there any higher honor, any greater trust invested in a humble ice trader like him?
Life was good. There was even better news on the way, though he wouldn't know until he reunited with his beloved. His princess – literally.
The sky was an almost blinding blue, and the cries of seagulls complemented the salty harbor air that had become a common smell to Kristoff. Garbed in his usual unkempt outfit, he closed his eyes briefly and took a deep breath. It had become an increasingly acquainted smell to him, to the point that he was as at home sailing as in the snowy woods or the Valley of the Living Rock.
It wasn't enough to simply travel to bordering towns or neighboring kingdoms with Sven to trade in bags of ice, no matter how large. Shipping demands to other great nations and empires demanded seafaring expertise and technology, of which profit-minded Kristoff was more than willing to learn. He already had invested almost half of his gold reserves into a magnificent sailing ship christened, "Rime Clipper". It had more than enough deck space to accommodate ice and other products for an entire town.
"Good thing it was licensed before I had to set sail this time round," he muttered, sighing to himself. "I'll be needing another one soon. Here's to paying off my debts."
As he slipped off his leather gloves and looked over the ship's balcony, Kristoff couldn't help smiling as he glimpsed that instantly recognizable grin on the planks of the dock. She was waiting for him down there, giving him a goofy spin in her lime-green blouse and black top. She stood on sandaled tiptoes and waved frenziedly, prompting a quiet chuckle from him.
The gorgeous Anna would have looked like any common citizen – were it not for the small, modest tiara nestled at the top of her red tresses. Its snowflake crest indicated a station higher than any aristocracy.
"Got anything for me?" she shouted, calling up at him through cupped hands.
The plank slammed onto the dock floorboards, and Kristoff was the first one to stride down. He hurried over to his princess and held her in a firm but tender embrace. "Nothing. Except this," he said, pulling away, before drawing in to kiss her expectant, waiting lips. She clutched his broad shoulders, which sheltered her petite form protectively. They breathed in deeply, sighing at the sensation of each other's skin and clothing. He smelled of sea salt, she of wild flowers. She giggled, mindful of his desire after many weeks away at sea as he clasped her tighter. They remained like that for several long, splendid moments, completely oblivious to the chuckling sailors on the Rime Clipper.
"So, how's it going, mister Ice Master?" prompted Anna, looking perkily up at her boyfriend. She ran her fingers slowly through his ruffled blond hair, smiling slyly.
"Our holdings beyond Arendelle grow by the day," said Kristoff, stroking Anna's cheek. His hand made its way to her pigtails. "Fair, but robust competition with the other ice traders. I don't want to shove my government-backed advantage in their faces."
Anna looked over Kristoff's shoulder and gave a playful glare at the peeping sailors, who chortled and quickly retreated from the ship's edge. "And how do you plan to do that?" she asked, turning her fickle attention back to Kristoff.
"Business is simple. Just offer something your rivals can't. I've been thinking about expanding my goods – on the side, of course. I'm still Her Majesty's official Ice Master and Deliverer," he added quickly, noticing Anna's rising eyebrow. "I mean, I've been travelling the world, talking to so many rulers and big shots. Their courts can now keep food good for as long as they like. And that means new opportunities. Ice-related opportunities. For example – " He leaned in to whisper a business secret in her ear. "Ice cream. Fresh fruit. Fresh spices. Anything that ice can help preserve, we should trade in too. We have a cool combination," he insisted, ignoring Anna as she rolled her eyes at the pun. "The product range is near-limitless. And everyone stands to win from this trade, from the Moors to Pride Rock."
"Did you bring back some ice cream?" demanded Anna.
"Mix milk and cream with the chocolate at the palace, and you get a dessert that's just… amazing. I packed some of it into the ice on the way back. I'll show you later."
She took his arm eagerly, and they led each other towards the market and beyond to the long bridge that connected the island castle to its dominion. They spoke of their blissful present, and their anticipated future together. After all, Kristoff was someone more than a commoner; he was a man with the Queen's favor and her sister's heart. More than that: he had the latter's hand in marriage. The knowing smile on Anna's joyful countenance, and the shining ring on her left hand's third finger, told more than any words could express.
But unbeknownst to them, the shadowy, cloaked figure that had been trailing behind them amongst the ignorantly heedless crowd had disappeared into the brick walls behind the market square.
Its beady gaze never left the princess's back.
The private court with the Queen was in session.
Kristoff knelt on one knee and looked down at the floor, as was royal protocol. On the surface, he was just a humble subject of Queen Elsa. But both he and the beautiful monarch observing his supplant form knew that it wasn't so simple. As her Ice Master, Kristoff not only had been granted a royal warrant, but an official charter for his expanding business. His products were not only personally approved by Elsa, but if threatened by marauding pirates on less predictable sea routes, his partners could appeal for the intervention of Arendelle's Royal Navy.
In a few short years, Kristoff had become the country's most influential merchant. This era was, without a doubt, the height of Arendelle's prosperity.
"I read your report. The commercial treaty with the Kingdom of DunBroch will reap immense rewards for your firm and for Arendelle. Your techniques and technology of ice sculpting will enrich their people's livelihoods, while the taxes I collect from your business swell my government's coffers ever more." Elsa's smile was broad and radiant. Her blonde ponytail draped around her neck and lingered over her half-bared shoulder, as if coyly covering her vulnerability. Her blue eyes shimmered with noble but sometimes passionate emotion. Her glittering, patterned mantle, fashioned from the supernatural curse-turned-blessing of her hoarfrost powers, draped around her sapphire, body-hugging dress. Her almost ethereal youth was exactly as he remembered when he first saw her in the midst of her self-conjured blizzard several years ago.
She had almost been murdered, and were it not for Anna's selfless bravery, their entwined fortunes might have been dramatically different. Now he was poised to earn even more gold for Elsa, who didn't use it to show off her increasingly powerful kingdom: nothing flash or vulgar, just comfortable, self-assured, manor-dwelling royalty.
"You need a greater fleet of commercial ships, don't you?"
"If that is possible, my Queen."
"Legislation is essential to ensure this is done fairly and at no one else's expense," declared Elsa, her gentle but authoritative voice echoing throughout the throne room. "Purchase as many as your accounts allow you to borrow gold. Your writers also reported that some ice shipments were lost to bandits and thieves? That's not helpful when you have debts to pay to your shipbuilders."
"It's a sensitive thing to do, protecting my fleet with the Royal Navy," admitted Kristoff. "Better that I submit an appeal to incorporate my business. I can't run the show as your Ice Master and Deliverer forever, Elsa – I mean, Your Majesty – " he quickly said, berating himself silently for letting the rigid mask of politeness slip (he was still getting used to this even after three years). " – I'm just saying that it would be better for everyone if I just set up my own company. And you'd be protected from criticism about special favors, too."
"Please, call me by my name, Kristoff," replied Elsa indulgently. "You're right, in any case. Your business has expanded so rapidly that you can't call yourself a sole trader, or even a partner. You need legal recognition beyond my blessing. Please submit an appeal to the Ministry of Trade. I will give royal assent whenever you wish." Her hands were usually placed delicately on her lap, but now she raised a thoughtful finger to her lips. "Have you thought about the name?"
"I want to call my business after the place you built your first castle," said Kristoff quietly. "The chartered North Mountain Company – that would make a statement. And affirm my loyalty to you and the Crown."
Elsa lowered her flushing face, self-conscious. "Anna says you don't talk much, but when you do, your words taste like honey."
Kristoff moved on quickly. "And my accounts' tax returns – "
"Worry not. A flat tariff will remain in place until the next parliament of my government. When my people have elected a new Prime Minister, I'll advise him that the rate should stay as low as possible so your crews can employ more of our citizens. But I can't hinder the will of the people just for you. Not now that our laws proclaim a constitutional monarchy for Arendelle."
"I don't mind higher taxes, Elsa. Just make sure they go to helping the less fortunate of your kingdom." Kristoff continued to stare at the ground. "I remember what it was like to struggle for a living. I don't want kids to break their backs working on ice like I did."
The Snow Queen paused, tapping her high heel on her throne's dais. "Look at me, Kristoff."
Kristoff looked up at Anna's elder sister with a respect that bordered on reverence.
"Thank you, my Ice Master," she said quietly. "You're a good man, truly."
"Thank you," said Kristoff at once, lowering his head again. "I owe you… a lot. I pretty much owe you my life," he corrected himself quickly. He had never been good at conversation with those he was awestruck by. Yes, he had self-respect and he wouldn't take any insult lying down, but here was a woman who could freeze a kingdom to near-collapse, create a fortress of flawless ice in the mountains, and even summon sentient life from snow in the form of Olaf. No wealth could top that. And if he were really honest, would it not be true that he loved Elsa? Not like he did Anna, but surely, she had done so much for him, it wasn't easy to simply call her a benefactor. She was more than that. More than an elder sister. More like…
He couldn't really explain it.
They hadn't even spoken that much since Prince Hans' banishing from Arendelle. How could she treat him so kindly?
"I have one suggestion for you, though," came Elsa's gentle voice.
"Anything, Your Majesty."
"It's probably best for you to move into the palace," said Elsa, beaming. "I know you recently bought a mansion near Oaken's springs, but perhaps you could rent it out to some up-and-coming merchant. You're already well-established."
Kristoff looked up again, caught off-guard. "I said 'anything' and I mean it – but can I just ask why?" he asked. "It's a… strange proposal. Sorry, my Queen – I'm just being honest."
"I know, don't you dare apologize. I should explain myself. I ask because I hear you proposed to Anna," said Elsa, smiling down at him. "I saw her ring too, my prospective brother-in-law."
Kristoff's pale complexion failed to protect his blush. "It's an engagement I'm not sure I deserve, but yeah. It's been a couple of weeks since. But we haven't discussed anything about living together yet. Especially since…" He winked at the Queen. "Well, you know about the other guy Anna wanted to move in with."
"I know you'll make her very happy. You'll make a wonderful King Consort for her when she inherits my throne."
Kristoff blinked. Not that he minded, but it seemed all too fast. "Your Majesty… I don't know what to say."
Elsa (for once) giggled. "About what? That you might one day be part of our royal family, or that I haven't found a King to have children with? I'm much more looking forward to being an auntie, you know." The Queen, for all her august dignity, couldn't help tittering again at the thought.
Now he was blushing even harder. "You're putting me in a really awkward position, Elsa."
"He's always awkward. Don't let that put you off, big sister," came Anna's cheerful voice, as the doors to the throne room gave way to her bubbly form.
"Anna! I mean, Your Highness," cried Kristoff, turning his head briefly. But he was relieved. The atmosphere with Elsa had gotten curiously awkward.
"What a coincidence, dear Anna," called Elsa, rising from her modest wooden throne. "I was just teasing Kristoff about his future in our court."
"You've been merciless to him recently," laughed Anna, bounding over and putting a hand on Kristoff's shoulder. "Hey, I think you can get up now," she mock-whispered at him.
"Rise, Ice Master," said Elsa, lifting a hand from her lap. "In fact, don't kneel in my presence anymore. Family don't scrape and grovel before each other – "
Muffled screams of pain and anguish suddenly filled the air, and for a moment, Elsa and Anna didn't even think they were cries. But as they grew louder, to the point that it seemed they were just outside the throne room, they looked at each other in hasty alarm.
"What's going on, Anna?" said Elsa cautiously.
"I – I have no idea," replied Anna, "honestly!" She turned around, gesturing outside towards the palace corridor. It was empty. "See? No one's there." Kristoff had also stood back up, turning to look at the direction of the screams. Then, as if to answer Elsa's question, two lifeless figures of the royal guards fell into sight. Their limp hands had long released their pikes. They were standing at attention as late as Anna's arrival. Now, their uniformed bodies were silent. Anna screamed loudly, and Kristoff couldn't tell if they were unconscious or dead.
"What's happening?" whispered Elsa, also standing. "Who's there?" Sensing a sinister presence, her wide cerulean eyes narrowed as she conjured a hail of ice and hurled it at the wooden beams in the ceiling. "Move, now!"
Kristoff grabbed a screaming Anna and ran for it as Elsa's barrage of melon-sized projectiles pummeled and punched dozens of holes in the oak. A lithe shadow landed, unharmed, on the floor, standing between Elsa and the shocked couple of Anna and Kristoff.
He was almost shapeless, his hood covering his entire head and his cloak enswathing his whole body. It was hard to even tell if he was thin or fat.
"Assassin," cried Elsa, displaying her rarely seen but dread anger, "How dare you dirty this royal court and harm my guards!" She flicked back her braided ponytail and clenched her fist, and the howl of an elemental blizzard grew louder. Her rage was enough to invoke her snowy defenses. Jagged icicles of winter freeze erupted from the castle floor, rumbling aggressively towards the intruder. When the assassin didn't attempt to move, Elsa lost what little was left of her temper. She waved her hands in a violent gesture, and her ill will was all it took for the ice daggers to shoot straight for the mysterious figure's legs. But to Kristoff and Anna's surprise and trepidation, the faceless man in the black cloak seemed utterly unperturbed. As light on his feet as a cat, he leaped out of the way of the icy stalagmites, dancing away from Elsa's cryokinesis. Glaring, Elsa reached for him, and the floorboards of the castle splintered, giving way to a massive hand that would crush any human being to pulp upon impact. But despite the magical ice that moved almost as swiftly as her thoughts, the newcomer moved even quicker. He landed softly before the throne and suddenly whipped out from his ebony outfit a small contraption with a long, wooden barrel.
A matchlock pistol? How did he manage to sneak a firearm in here? thought Kristoff in panic to himself, holding Anna tighter. The assassin pointed his weapon at the bewildered Elsa. From the shadows of his hood, a sadistic grin at last betrayed itself to Kristoff.
Anna's stomach began to churn with dread. He's going to shoot her. He's going to hurt Elsa. No. No!
I won't let you!
"Stop him," roared Kristoff instinctively, but there were no guards to hear him.
"For Prince Hans," was all that the assassin declared, as he pressed the trigger of the matchlock pistol.
"ELSA!" screamed Anna, as she wrenched herself free from Kristoff's grip and sprinted towards her elder sister.
The terrifying boom that came from that small, sinister barrel would echo louder than any blizzard that Elsa could summon.
It would change Arendelle forever.
And it would change the Snow Queen, her sister, and the Ice Master forever.
TO BE CONTINUED