A/N: Hello dear reader. Consider this your warning- this is a non-incest AU Elsanna fic set in the 1700s Caribbean, and it will most likely be graphic. Characters are likely to be slightly OOC to fit the time period. It is also heavily inspired by James Nelson's The Only Life that Mattered: The Short and Merry Lives of Anne Bonny, Mary Read, and Calico Jack Rackam, but it will not exactly mirror his novel. Certain major events may be parroted. I do not own Frozen, nor do I own any of Mr. Nelson's work. This story is intended for entertainment purposes only, and is not intended or authorized for profit.


I suppose there is a reason why they call it a short life and a merry one, Elsa thought as she leaned against the bars of her cells, picking straw out of her loose braid to pass the time. Her ice blue eyes flickered to the cell across from her own, settling on the lump of blankets in the corner. The distant tolling of bells signaled that it was noon- any moment now and the jailor would be here to rouse them. The fair blonde sighed, looking again toward the bundle of rags. "Anna," she called, voice carrying. "Rouse yourself! 'Tis a grand day for the people of the Southern Isles! I hear there is to be a trial."

The blankets moved and emitted a groaning noise. "Sod off." Elsa chuckled as she watched the redheaded woman rise up from straw bed and stretch like a kitten. Her eyes traced the curve of the woman's spine, barely visible under the crude burlap dress. After a yawn or two, Anna leaned against the bars of her own cell, green eyes staring into her companion's blue ones. "A trial you say? Well whoever is to be tried?"

"Pirates I believe."

"Ah, villains the lot of them. It would do well to hang them all."

Elsa's eyes flashed with sorrow for a second, before a genuine smile fell upon her face. "They may yet, my dear."

The jailer- a large, softspoken man- came into the cell block at that moment, leading guards dressed in the King's colors. Anna raised an eyebrow at Elsa before smirking toward the guard who was opening her cell. "Look at this, Elsa, they sent the whole damn company! And fancy that, this one's a sword- reckon I could best him?"

"Shut yer mouth," the guard growled, leaving Anna to impishly hold out her hands, her face the picture of innocence. Elsa chuckled at the ginger as she too was shackled, iron weighing heavily on her slim wrists.

"I'd be careful if I were you, Anna, you know flattery will get you nowhere."

"Right you are. It wouldn't answer to coddle this one at any rate," the smaller girl said, winking at her blonde companion. "I fancy him a proper dandy. Perhaps if we dressed as boys again, he might take a liking."

"I said quiet!" The man was now quite red in the face, his jaw jumping irritably. Anna snickered at this, but Elsa maintained a straight face. She was too long and too weary of this world to play games, though the wildness in the other girl would not allow such a resignation. Perhaps that fiery personality might suit the young girl, win over a guard, allow her to steal away into the middle of the night. Elsa quelled the hot twinge of jealousy that began to rise in her chest- no, Anna would never leave her here to die. Though the woman was nearly eight years her junior with a full and promising life ahead if she should ever escape, there was loyalty bred into her. She was certain Anna would rather hang by her side than be free on her own.

Be that as it were, Elsa knew there was little chance for their escape. Now was certainly neither the time nor the place to attempt it, not when the trial still awaited. Her eyes found the back of Anna's head and fixated on it. That beautiful mess of hair, once so bright and full of luster, was fading from the effects of being trapped in a dank cell for the better half of a month. If any higher power were still listening, she would have prayed to see Anna in clothes befitting of a lady, bathed in sunlight and laughing. The blonde smiled at the thought and allowed it to carry her to the bar.

It was as she suspected it might be. The men- her crew- were behind her and Anna- even Olaf, the small cabin boy. He's only a child, she snarled to herself, scowling as the bailiff shoved Anna a little too roughly into the bar. We're no better than dogs in their eyes. It would not matter to them whether Olaf was a boy or a man- he was a pirate, and therefore he was evil. Nevermind the fact that he saved the drowning pup, or always advocated for the release of the merchants unharmed, or would nestle against Elsa at night weeping for his mother, lost to the Yellow Fever. He was found with pirates, and he would hang with pirates. The rest was irrelevant.

Any other day, the court would be considered irregular if it were half full. Pirates were tried all the time in the Southern Isles, hardly a day went by when the gallows didn't see action. But the trial of female pirates, now that was a spectacle. Indeed, the air in the courtroom was stiflingly hot, due to the sheer number of bodies that had come to enjoy the show. Elsa refused to acknowledge them- she kept her eyes trained forward, only wavering to glance at Anna every now and then.

The Bailiff scowled one last time at the rogues before his booming voice filled the court. "All rise!" Silence filled the courthouse as voices died down. "This Monday, July the eighth, year of Our Lord 1712, a Court of Admiralty to be held before His Excellency the Duke of Weselton!"

The Duke was a small, thin man with an oversized wig and long, black robe that hung past his ankles. Spectacles sat on his too large nose, above an even larger moustache. He held an air of wavering superiority that the elder woman recognized from her years in the service, the same air that many of the young officers who had bought their way into ranking positions wore. It was not superiority bred from years of confidence and power, but one that sprung from the deepest recesses of fear. She could see the difference in his eyes- he was deathly, terribly afraid. Afraid of pirates, afraid of the audience, afraid of failure. Under any other circumstances, Elsa would have laughed at the man- she desperately wanted too even now. But it wouldn't do to be held in contempt of the court, not now.

"Mister Tottingham," the small man said, interrupting a long droning speech about the witnesses who were to be called. Elsa glanced sharply at the man in question, her prosecutor. His eyes were set in a permanent scowl, nose wrinkled in distaste from years of working a job he did not want or like. The Duke cleared his throat and proceeded. "It is my understanding that you are charging-" he glanced at the paper "-one Elsa Skadi and one Anna Christensen with piracy, adultery, and fornication."

"Yes, your Excellency."

"Then do you also mean to charge these men with adultery and fornication as well?"

A few sniggers echoed in the courtroom, and Tottingham looked down. He seemed to snarl at his boots for a minute, teeth clenched and bared. "No, your Excellency."

"Very well then. We shall hold a separate trial," the Duke announced, "for the two women in exactly one week's time. Bailiff, please escort the prisoners back to their cells."

And just as quickly as they were lead in, Elsa and Anna were removed from the courtroom. The tall blonde looked at her men- most were standing tall, smiling defiantly. Even little Olaf, though he looked to be shaking badly. Out of fear or sickness, she feared she may never know. Poor child, to be taken from the world so early. What godlike power had lead him on this path, had put him on the little sloop with Elsa, had caused the honest merchant to stray into piracy and drag the boy with her?

Perhaps it wasn't a god, but the Devil, Elsa thought, feeling the shackles fall from her wrists as she was shoved into the cell. Anna was muttering obscenities at the Bailiff when the blonde's eyes found her, softening immediately. Or perhaps God is to blame, for he has sent an Angel to the depths of hell to save my soul by destroying it.