Team of Eight

Chapter One

To the queen of Arendelle,

You have ignored out demands to have jewels sent to us from your kingdom. We would attempt besiegement but that is not punishment hurtful enough to make you pay for your belligerence. For that we must sic a pack of wild animals on you. We only warn you this in advance so that you can save that pretty sister of yours, that the Duke of Weselton sent you.

(If you wish to offset this danger, you can send us your sister as a prize. She will be extremely welcome to our fair duke in marriage.

From,

Citizens of Weselton.

Elsa read this letter with much trepidation. Wild animals? What could they mean? They couldn't get them to port. And did they think Elsa wouldn't use her powers to protect her people? Especially Anna. If they did, they were sorely mistaken.

She called for Kristoff to bring her some paper. She couldn't bother Anna with this; it would worry her, and Anna had been shut in her room for the past week, anyway. It reminded Elsa largely of back when she was forbidden from showing Anna her powers, which she understood because they could hurt her dear, darling sister, whom she couldn't stand to bring any harm to, emotional or physical.

Kristoff brought the paper and Elsa began scribbling. "Put this in the cookie jar, and hide it in the forest nearby," Elsa instructed him. "Preferably in a tree, or underground."

"It's another message for Hiro, isn't it?"

"Him and his team are needed as much as ever. Our kingdom might be in grave danger soon, and I must make the preparations to stop it from happening."

"I shall place it somewhere where he can find it," Kristoff said.

Elsa nodded, and watched him go. Then Olaf came trotting in.

"Anna hasn't come out of her room all day," he said. "I'm really starting to get worried."

"So long as she's in the castle, things will be fine," Elsa said, twisting her hair. She was worried, too.

"Should we go check on her?"

"I think we'd best wait for her to come out. I doubt she'd stay shut in if she didn't have a good reason," Elsa said, thinking back to all those years that she stayed in her bedroom.

"She might be feeling down, though. It might help to cheer her up."

"What does Anna have to feel sad about?"

The snowman shrugged. "I'm not sure. But something's troubling her, I'm sure of it."

Elsa made a start for the exit, seeming to be intending to talk to Anna after all, but Gerda came up. "Excuse me, queen, but you are needed," she said, curtseying.

"Queenly duties?"

"Yes. The ambassador from the Southern Isles is waiting for you to speak to him about trade issues that have cropped up."

"Well, I suppose if I must go," Elsa said. "But make sure Anna knows where I am if she comes out of her room. I want her to find me once this is taken care of."

"I will be sure to inform her, your good grace."

Elsa left the room, going in the opposite direction she had intended. Images of wildcats and rats running through the castle entered her mind, and she shook her head to clear it. There are no wild animals here, Elsa, she thought. Not yet, anyway.