The Elder Scrolls V½: Arendelle
Info: Crossover Frozen x Skyrim. Two years after the Great Thaw, the Kingdom of Arendelle is under siege by the undead, evil magic and dragons. Their only hope, a disgraced prince, exiled from Europe, that found his place in the frigid and dangerous lands of Skyrim. Hans/Elsa
One
Arrival
— Incomiiiiing! — one of the guards screamed, as another shot was fired from the enemy's cannon.
The refugees of the kingdom looked up with fright to their ruler and protector. Elsa Frosberg, Queen of Arendelle was visibly exhausted. Since the first incursion of the enemy months ago, since the dead started crawling out of their graves, since the first dragon had been sighted, every time they came it was up to her and the dwindling number of guards in her service to keep the Arendellians from harm.
Their allies from neighboring lands could not offer much help, themselves having to deal with the enemy from Arendelle threatening to spread beyond the kingdom's borders. The supply lines had been cut by sea and land, and rare were the sight of ships arriving in the port, for the fear of the undead made commerce almost non-existent in the kingdom. The capital city was once again under attack, Elsa rose to the occasion again.
The Snow Queen mustered whatever energy she could and restored the ice wall to protect the fleeing civilians from enemy fire. The ice formed just in time to deflect the cannonballs, and chunks of it fell around the path of the refugees. Behind the crippled walls, the horde of undead kept attacking the Queen's ice and carving their way through.
The line of defense behind them was headed by Anna Frosberg and Kristoff Bjorgman, the formers' princess and ice harvester turned into warriors fought bravely against the few monsters that escalated the wall. They both had the feeling that that was not like the other isolated attacks. The evil behind all that nightmare was coordinating its forces now. It wasn't just to inflict terror and inspire fear among the living; It was an attack to end it all.
Anna swung the blade of her sword to block the axe heading against her, and turning around graciously, she cut off the limbs of her attacker, finishing him up with the blade impaling his black heart. Kristoff didn't have the grace or speed of his wife, but he had strength, and he did damage with his enormous battleaxe, cutting through leather, flesh and metal, separating body parts on the undead around him with one firm swing.
— Your Highness, to the gates! — One of the guards yelled, pointing at the bridge which most of the refugees already crossing.
Anna decapitated another undead in retreating, while Kristoff cut in a half one of the flying beasts that got too close to him.
— Arrooooows! — Anna yelled.
Immediately, the archers at the bridge lit their tips and shot a barrage of burning arrows against the enemy at the ice wall, giving the line of the defense to retreat. Elsa sighed relieved as she saw her sister and her brother-in-law approaching. once they were inside the castle she could unleash a blizzard against the attacking hordes safely.
However, the relief gave place to fear once a loud and terrifying roar echoed through the skies. all eyes went up to the sky, for their worst fears had arrived.
— Dragon... DRAGON! — Elsa screamed to the crowd — To the Palace, NOW!
The queen saw the winged beast coming from behind the clouds heading towards the village. She saw the soldiers, Anna and Kristoff fighting off the creatures that came over the wall, and she acted. Summoning her magic, she created a staircase of ice, and climbed it up quickly, extending the ice all the way to the wall. the creatures climbing it were caught by surprise by ice spikes and fell on top of their fellow monsters.
— Elsa! — Anna screamed as she saw her sister passing over her head towards the enemy — Elsa, No!
The princess almost turned back, but Kristoff, knowing how she thought, grabbed her by the waist and lifted her as he sprinted towards the bridge.
— Kristoff, let me go! — the princess protested — I have to help her!
— The beginning of the staircase in that way! — He replied.
At the top of the wall, the Snow Queen looked down at the evil hordes, and unleashed huge snowballs, that rolled down the wall, striking into the enemy and causing havoc. She didn't have time to admire her work though, for the next thing she saw was the beastly shadow over her...
GAAN LAH-HAAS!
The creature unleashed his breath against her, but it wasn't fire or ice, it was magic. The Snow Queen felt drained, her strength, gone. Anna and Kristoff, that had reached the stairs and were hurrying to her aid, saw the blonde ruler fall to her knees as the beast flew up high against. Despair took over Anna as she saw a giant creature climb up the all, with its aims set on her sister.
— ELSAAAA! — the princess screamed.
Kristoff skipped a breath as he saw the giant beast raise its clawed hands for the killing, barely registering the cloaked figure that jumped from Lord's-know-where, until he stroke the beast on its back with what the Ice harvester could only describe as thunder.
The cloaked man rolled between the legs of the beast, putting himself between the beast and the fallen queen. Anna noticed on the ground more cloaked figures drawing up bows and crossbows, aiming them at the beast from an impossible distance. they all fired simultaneously, and surprisingly, they all hit the beast that flew back in a myriad of fire, ice and lightning explosions. All that spectacle took a tow in the ice constructs, and Anna and Kristoff held on the rails when the staircase shook violently. They saw the cloaked figure on the wall collect the queen in his arms and saw the staircase breaking apart.
Without saying, the royal couple turned around running, and deciding that that wasn't fast enough, Kristoff grabbed Anna and sat on the rail, sliding down like a pro with a screaming princess over his shoulder. They landed on the bridge, being aided by soldiers and civilians at the same time that the wall broke apart. The scream from Anna for her sister was barely noticed among the loud sound of the ice collapsing, and the cloud of snow dust rose above the houses and around the fjord. For painful long moments, it was impossible to see past a few feet, but as soon as it came, the dust settled, and Anna saw with relief the cloaked figure placing gently the Queen on the floor.
Elsa felt weary. She was tired and dizzy. her eyes saw the blurry image of her savior, and her ears heard her sister far away and her savior among the ringing —"Drink that" — she heard him say, in a familiar accent. She felt the bottleneck touch her lips and welcomed the sweet liquid in her mouth. She felt her entire body tingling, and the dizziness and weakness of her body started to go away, as did the blur in her vision. She stared at the man that held her, and recognized the green eyes a former prince of The Southern Isles, the man that tried to take over her throne, the man that had just saved her life...
Anna, that had seen a glowing magic take over her sister for a moment, stopped in her tracks when she saw the man uncover his hood and revealed himself. Kristoff could not believe what his eyes were showing him, and disbelief and surprise were the feeling behind the gasps of the crowd that were witnessing the scene.
— Rest up, Your Majesty. — Hans Westergard, former prince of the Southern Isles, told the queen. He lifter her effortlessly to her feet, and turning around, the disgraced prince ignored the looks of surprise and hostility — Take your sister and everyone else inside the gates, Anna.
— What? — The princess asked, confused.
He let go of the Queen and walked towards the village, where his cloaked companions were walking from. Anna hurried to her sister's side, as did Kristoff. She looked confused to the man that almost killed her, and Elsa, equally confused, but indignant, shouted:
— I don't follow orders, least of all from the likes of you. — The Queen said in defiance.
The former prince stopped and looked at her over his shoulders at the kingdom's ruler:
— For once in my life I would like for you to think before acting, Queen Elsa. — Hans said, with a severe glance that neither sister knew he was capable of — If you care at all for you people, do as I say.
Elsa was at a loss for words, and Kristoff, despite the hostility towards the disgraced prince, saw wisdom in his words.
— Back to the castle! Quick, people! The enemy is still coming! — Kristoff ordered.
Elsa looked up to the mountain man, secretly grateful for his level headedness, and confirmed his orders to the people with a nod and a gesture of her hand. Anna looked at the man she almost married once, and saw a small, but genuine smile on his face:
— You chose well, Anna. — He said, before turning.
The two sisters, Kristoff and some guards looked at the companions that now were approaching and saw as they removed their cloaks. They were not from Arendelle, some of them were not even human...
— Legionnaires... from Cyrodiil?! — A soldier said, astonished for he had recognized the armor of one of the women.
A cat-man in robes approached Hans:
— J'zargo suggests a firestorm to deal with one's army. — J'zargo said.
— No, we have to be precise. No leveling of towns this time. — Hans replied.
The woman in legion's attire grabbed her sword and shield.
— The Ninth Legion is waiting for your signal, General. — Rikke said — The Legate must be itching for action.
— He will have it soon enough. — Hans said, as he himself let go of his cloak, revealing feathered robes.
The Elf among them grabbed his bow and said:
— They are coming, friends. — Faendal alerted.
— Excelent! Let them come. — Lydia spoke, tightening the grip on her sword.
Hans saw the horde marching towards them, orderly as if they were parading. Jordis grabbed her two swords, while Brelyna summoned two fire atronachs. He glanced around and saw Freia, Serana, Aela, Iona, Aranea, Karliah, Valdimar and Ingun ready to face the enemy.
— Time to send the draugr back to their graves. — Rikke said, with confidence.
Elsa, Anna and Kristoff saw the former prince summon energy sparks in his hands as he marched past his companions, and shout with surprisingly loud voice:
— Take one more step, and you will be destroyed. — He warned.
That seemed like a useless demand against the undead, but to the surprise of the Arendellians, the hordes stopped, with frightening discipline. A line opened among their ranks, and a undead in rags of robes approached, hovering over the floor.
Hans let it go the sparks in his hand as the Dragon Priest approached him..
— Alduin disturbed your slumber. — The former prince said — He's gone now. Cease your hostility and return to your tombs.
— The First-Born is never truly gone — The ghostly voice of the draugr echoed. — Neither are his designs.
— And what are his designs in this land? — Hans asked.
The Dragon Priest hovered from side to side in front of him, and after a moment, he pointed through his followers and towards the crowds, directly at the Queen. Elsa gasped with the creature pointing at her:
— She is World-Eater design — The Dragon Priest said
Hans turned his head, looking at the royal family, and his expression turned from serious to murderous.
— No. — He said, the sparks coming back to his hands with a vengeance.
— Then die. — The Dragon Priest said, raising his staff.
In an exchange of fire and sparks, the former prince endured the flames from the priest long enough to unleash a chain of lightning that lit up the priest and half a dozen draugr in the front row, so bright and with such thunder that they disintegrated into ashes instantly.
— Kill! — Ghostly voices echoed, and like drones, they repeated —Kill all!
— You may try! — Lydia said, sprinting against the horde, jumping against the draugr with a full swing of her sword.
All the companions sprung into action after Lydia, in a onslaught against the enemy. The damage made against enemy's ranks gave a new breath to the defending forces of the Kingdom. Archers shot against the draugr with abandon, buying the people at the bridge time enough to reach safety.
— Close the gates! — Elsa ordered, after she saw the last of the refugees pass. — Guards, to arms!
— Elsa! — Anna protested — You have to go inside!
— And so do you, but we both know that this is not happening — the Queen said, summoning flurries in her hands
Kristoff shook his head, knowing how similar the sister were, and looking at the guards, he said:
— You heard the queen! Let's take the fight to them! — The mountain man barked.
The soldiers on the bridge cheered the turn of events and charged towards the village. Anna ran with the soldiers, as did Kristoff. The Snow Queen, from the back, summoned a giant snowman, that pounced into the undead with mighty force. Hans noticed the magical creature on the battleground, and after impaling a draugr horseman with his sword, he turned around, to see the royal family joining the fight.
— By Azura, these people will be the death of me one day... — He complained, after unleashing ice spikes against a group of flying chauruses.
— Funny, I thought we were the death of you, my Thane — Lydia said, jokingly as she swung her sword, the Dawnbreaker against some draugr, burning a handful of them and causing a purifying explosion that destroyed another handful of undead.
The housecarl didn't seem to mind the dirty look her thane gave her in return, and they both combined and attack of fireballs and the sword of Meridia to make the draugr around them either burn, be destroyer or run away.
Anna ran through the wall, cutting whatever enemy she could find, and jumped as she saw more cannon fire. The giant snowman got shot by the cannonballs, and stumbled back, hitting a house and falling on top of a group of ashmen, creating a terrifying geiser with the destruction of both creatures.
Kristoff went straight through the middle of the battlefield, leading the guards as he helped push back the undead and the other monsters. His job was made easier by J'Zargo and his chain lightning.
— J'Zargo welcomes the help, friends — The Khajiit mage said.
The Mountain Man nodded with his head and brought down his battleaxe, cutting in half one of the draugr deathlords fighting them.
— This one looked tougher than the rest of the horde. — Kristoff said, while decapitating another undead.
— The Deathlords are the leaders of any group of draugr — Igun said, as she electrocuted a pack of undead wolves.
Elsa ran after Anna, without the same skill, but freezing all the enemies in her sister's path, making it easy for her to add up numbers to her kill list. the princess warrior saw mounted undeads charging against some of Hans' friends, and pointed:
— Elsa, ramp! —
The queen noticed the intention of her sister, and immediately created a ice ramp, that Anna promptly jumped on and slid, gaining speed enough to jump in the air over Aela and Ingun, surprising both the huntress and the alchemist, and tackling the riders, making them fall of their beasts. before she could have a chance to finish them off, Faendal had already done that with his bow. The elf smiled at the princess and bowed flamboyantly, before killing striking at a undead Mammoth.
— Faendal! — Aela gritou, pointing at the sky, and the sun that was now coming from behind the clouds.
Kristoff looked up without understanding, as did Anna. Immediately Ingun screamed:
— Serana! —
The name was shouted by Aela, Faendal, and kept repeating throughout the battle by Hans' companions... Elsa, that was on the back line, noticed when a bunch of bats that were wreaking havoc among the undead, suddenly materialized into a woman that ran with unnatural speed away from battle and into her direction. her first instinct was to summon ice spikes, but before she had a chance to do it, she saw the woman slide under the roof of a kiosk.
— Safe! — Serana shouted.
Faendal grabbed one of his Sunhallowed arrows and pointed to the sun. Elsa saw Hans break from his fight and run towards the woman, jumping over draugr, knocking one of them out of a horse, stepping up on the saddle, jumping from there to grab the pole and swing past his friends as he rushed to the woman's aid.
She saw him kneeling next to her,covering the woman up with his robe while at the same time he started to raise a wall of ice into one of the openings. Elsa didn't necessarily understand what was happening until she saw light falling from the skies. All over the village, the undead got bombarded by rays of light that burned them into ashes, Elsa saw that even despite the protection, the woman under Hans' robes shrieked in pain, and she instinctively ran to them, raising ice walls even faster than the former prince could do it. Anna was caught by surprise by the undead exploding around her, as were Kristoff and the Arendellians guards. she saw a second too late Elsa running to where Hans was, and enclosing them into a wall of ice.
Inside the wall, Elsa looked at Hans, and the woman he was holding. She had very ugly burns in her face and exposed her hair was partially burned as well.
— Oh, my god!, Is she ok? — Elsa asked.
— She will be, thanks to you — Hans replied
The burnt woman looked up at the queen, and said:
— I-i'm sorry, your majesty... — Senara said — That i'm not p-presentable...
— Think nothing of it. — Elsa said, her voice filled with mercy — She needs the help of the healers.
— No, She just need to some blood. — He replied.
Elsa looked at him confused, and as bit worried when she saw him take off his glove and expose his wrist to the woman. Only when the fangs in Serana's mouth appeared that Elsa understood what that woman truly were, and the air around them got several degrees colder as she witnessed a vampire feeding of the former prince.
After a few moments, Serana let go of the wrist, and quickly her wounds were cured, and her hair grew exactly as it was before. Elsa could see that she was a strikingly beautiful woman, with exotic red eyes. Hans put back his glove, and helped the vampire get up. The two of them looked at the queen, and Elsa could now take a look at the former prince himself: Hans Westergard looked older than before, or at least, more mature. He still sported the long sideburns, but now his hair was longer, and kept into a ponytail. Surprisingly, he was wearing more jewelry than herself. In his head he worn some sort of golden crown with a huge gem that clearly had magical properties. The same could be said about the amulet in his neck and the ring in his hand.
The object of her scrutiny cleared his throat, and Elsa looked at him caught in the act. He looked at her with an unreadable expression and she kept looking lost for a moment. Serana noticed the exchange of glances, and said:
— Would you guys like some time alone? — The Nord vampire asked, half-jokingly.
— Don't be ridiculous — Elsa said, crossing her arms and turning around.
— If Your Majesty don't mind, could you undo the ice so that I can get back into the battle? — Hans asked.
With a gesture of her hand, the ice walls vanished, and they could see the current state of the fight. There was but a small number of draugr still standing, and the numbers of their forces had tripled, with the arrival of the Imperial Legion, that was now engaging what was left of the enemy.
— I have to say, those sunhollowed arrows are really handy. — Serana said, whistling at the damage done by the sun.
Anna and Kristoff ran, together with some guards, approached the Queen and the two warriors.
— Elsa! — the Princess said, with excitement — You should have seen. It was awesome! Light rained down and destroyed the undeads just like this — she said, snapping her fingers.
— The bow from Auriel is really something — Serana said, and noticing the tension that suddenly formed between the three royals and her friend, she said — I'm going to check on the others.
Hans saw the vampire moving out of the way, with the shadow of a dirty look in his eyes. He turned turned around to find some pairs of eyes onto him, in particular from the two women he had tried to assassinate and the current husband of the one he tried to marry. The three of them looked at him probably expecting an explanation. Too bad for them he was not in the mood to give them one at that moment.
— It is time to check on the wounded and sick, and assert the damage to the buildings. — the former prince said.
— Now, wait a minute... — Anna said, indignant — You can't just come out of the blue barking orders...
He cut her abruptly, with a severe tone:
— There is no telling how long the enemy will take to raise more draugr and attack again — Hans said, covering his head again with the hood of his robes. — The sick and wounded might not have enough time.
He turned around, walking away from the trio, and towards some legionnaires. Elsa saw the former prince be saluted by the soldiers, and his salute in return:
— General, all the draugr and other beast were destroyed. — The soldier reported.
— Well done, Tribune. — Hans replied — Instruct Hadvar and Rikke to report back, and assemble the tents in the market. Secure the pier and signal the fleet. I want the supply ships docked before sunrise.
The men saluted again and went around to carry the orders.
— Supply ships? — Elsa asked, letting herself being noticed.
The former prince turned again to face the Queen:
— Supplies sent by the High Queen of Skyrim, the Emperor of Cyrodiil and the Great Council of Morrowind, to help Arendelle survive its struggles and rebuild. — He said, as if reciting lines from a speech.
Elsa was surprised once again. she knew of the countries in the continent of Tamriel, but they were so isolated and distant that she didn't think the news of her kingdom would reach them so fast. She opened her mouth to say something when she saw the former prince look up to the sky.
— It is not over yet. — He said. Turning around to a passing legionnaire, he told him — Watch the skies. Pass the word along.
The soldier nodded and shouted to the others the words he had heard, and like before, the warning echoed through the village. Elsa looked up around, suddenly remembering that there was still a dragon flying around somewhere.
— Anna, Kristoff! Guards! Back to the palace now! — Elsa ordered with haste.
She turned around, looking at the former prince, That had in his hand a bow and a quiver that was immediately strapped to his back. She then took off towards the castle.
Legionnaires and the followers took out the bows and staves, and the vigil of the clouds began. Soon, a beastly shout echoed through the valley.
VEN MUL RIIK!
Elsa had just passed the gates when she saw the sun disappear behind dense clouds, and a fog descended upon the village. Nothing beyond the bridge could be seen, but the roar of the dragon could be heard.
— Close the gates! — The queen commanded.
The guards repeated the order, and soon the mechanisms that moved the heavy doors were activated... Sounds of explosions, thunder and more roaring were heard from beyond the walls. Anna looked at Kristoff, but the mountain didn't have much in the way of comforting words. Elsa looked around noticing the frightened expressions in the faces of the civilians and guards alike.
Suddenly, a dragon descended on top of one of the towers along the wall. The guards didn't even bother to react, deciding for the wiser decision of running for their lives and from the fire breath from the beast. Elsa created a ice wall to protect the soldiers, that didn't last long against the fire, but it was enough to save the guards' lives.
It was with a heavy thump that a second dragon landed on top of the tower on the opposite side of the wall, making a dire situation even more severe.
— There are two of them?! — Anna asked, in horror.
— Not two, three! — Someone yelled from the crowd, as indeed, a third dragon hovered and slowly descended in the middle of the castle grounds.
Elsa took two steps back, truly fearing from her life and the lives of everyone else with her... The mythical beast stared straight at the queen, so close that she could see herself reflected in its eyes.
— Aar Qiilaak — The dragon roared — The Revakiiz Maker will come, or the Dovah will feast on the joor.
Elsa didn't know the words the beast uttered, but there was no mistake that it was talking about her. She looked around, and immediately Anna saw in her sister's eyes her intention.
— Elsa, DON'T! — The princess cried.
The queen gave her sister an apologetic look, but her responsibility to her people went beyond her own well-being. She turned to the beast, ready to ask for assurance of Arendelle's safety, when the booming voice of Westergard was heard:
— She won't. — The former prince said, hovering from beyond the walls.
He had an flashing aura surrounding him, and most prominent in his hands as he descended quickly, but orderly, until he landed in front of the queen, between her and the dragon. the aura ceased as soon as he landed, and the light from his hands extinguished.
— Joor ruth! — The dragon roared — Your interference is meaningless.
— Mey dovah — The former prince replied, his voice denoting his severeness — The time of preying on the meek is over.
— Thinvaak dovahzul — The beast roared back — Who are you?
— In Skyrim they call me Dragonborn — Hans said, seeing recognition on th the dragon's eyes — but to your kind i'm Dovahkiin.
The dragon roared in a futile attempt of intimidation, but Hans' retort came in the form of thu'um:
FUS RO DAH!
The unrelenting force. The prime will of the dragonborn manifested into sheer motion sent everything in its path away. the beast tried to hold to the stone ground with its claws, but it was not enough. With the force of a hurricane, the dragon was propelled back, hitting the gatehouse with such violence that the impact destroyed the building, as the falling dragon went down, rolling on the bridge.
Elsa could not believe what she was witnessing. nor could anyone else. That didn't stop the dragonborn prince from looking at the dragon to his left and liberate a powerful lightning spell, that hit the roof of the tower with the boom of the thunder, destroying most of it and sending the dragon flying back. turning quickly his attention to the dragon at the west tower, his hands emitted a glow that enveloped his body, propelling him up into the air, letting him at eye level with the dragon:
VEN GAAR NOS!
The winged creature tried to take off, but a tornado formed under him, enveloping the beast and sending it crashing into the water.
Hans descended over the dragon at the bridge, unleashing a barrage of fire and lightning, hurting the beast that responded with ice breath at his nemesis.
— Your ice is nothing compared to the Snow Queen! — The dragonborn said, unfazed by the attack.
The legionaries on the village saw the mythical beast backing up their way, and immediately Hadvar yelled to his men:
— Steer clear! This is the Dragonborn's fight. — He said, knowing his friend well enough to know his intent.
As the unlikely savior of the kingdom kept pressing his attack against the beast, The Queen, followed closely by the princess her husband, and a few guards and peasants walked into the bridge to witness the clash of fire, ice and shock.
They saw the dragonborn climb a pile of crates in leaps, and jump from the top of it to the roof of a house, throwing ice spikes against the dragon, impaling one of his wings on the ground. The beast roared in pain and shouted his fire breath a his assailant, but the former prince was moving fast, and jumped from one roof on top of a pole, avoiding the fire. With one hand he shot sparks at the base of the pole, making it weak, and he put on his weight to make the metal bend on top of the dragon. Maintaining balance during the fall, he landed on the neck of the creature, and jumped as the weight of the metal made the dragon fall to its knees. He rolled down on the ground and landed facing the dragon, a few feet away for the Arendellians.
In his two hands, he concentrated a immense amount of lightning, as the beast tried to regain its feet. When the huge dark eyes met green eyes, it became clear that it was over... Hans Westergard, the Dragonborn Arch-Mage of Skyrim, brought together his hands to unleash a lightning storm that lit up the dragon like fireworks, making his bone structure visible in a few moments, as the beast succumbed to the onslaught of electricity. Hans ceased his destructive spell, and the dragon gave a last roar of agony, as it fell to the ground, its body fuming from the electricity that killed it.
Elsa looked astonished at what the man before her had just done. She saw him turn to face her and the rest of Arendelle. she thought he was going to say something, address the crowd, but Hans just opened his arms, feeling the energy from the fallen foe come. If everything else that had transpired had not caused complete surprise to the Arendellians, what came next did for sure; the body of the dragon went up in flames, turning flesh into ashes and releasing waves of energy that moved towards the former prince, bathing in in energy that was promptly absorbed by his body. When the whole thing was over, only the skeleton remained from the dragon, and fire could been seen in Hans eyes from those that were nearest him, namely, the Royal family. And although they could not understand why or how they knew it, there was no doubt in their minds about what they had just seen; a man had just absorbed the soul of a dragon.
End of Chapter One