Chapter 1- The Siege of Arendelle
Storms beat up against the two ships as the crew struggled to let down their sails even as waves tossed men from bow to stern. The rain turned to solid ice, blowing nearly sideways as it stabbed into flesh, forcing most of the crew to cover their faces with scarves.
The helmsman strained his muscles holding the wheel of the ship known as "Weathersbane" and yet could not keep the steady course, and feared the vessel might strike her sister, who too could not maintain a route to the fjords in the borders of Arendelle.
"We have to turn back!" the helmsman shouted to the captain. The captain agreed, giving a nod before turning to address the rest of the crew to signal their sister ship for the retreat.
"What are you doing?" said Hans, grabbing the captains arm.
"We're heading back. There's no way I'm wasting my life and the life of my crew here," said the captain.
"Your crew has been bought and paid for by me. And my orders are you continue the siege while we have the element of surprise," Hans retorted throwing the captains hand down. "Maintain your course!"
"Curses man! Look at this storm. It isn't natural. The monster herself is awake, I swear it," said the captain.
"There is no way she knows we're here. Come men, it's just an autumn storm. If you can't handle a little weather, wait until we reach the gates of Arendelle itself and face the monster," said Hans.
Elsa watched up from atop the inlet of the Arendellefjord that looked out to the sea and upon the two vessels that struggled against her storm. She hoped the winds alone would cause them to turn back, but still they came, defying what she would consider a relatively peaceful request to leave. Behind her were her men, positioned to surround the crews as soon as Elsa forced them into the narrow inlet of the fjord.
As Hans pushed his men onward, shouting about the reward they would receive and the praises to be heard when finally the great frost monster of Arendelle lay dead, a great wave came over them, looking to swallow the entire ship whole. As Hans braced himself, holding tight to the rigging, the wave was overcome with ice, freezing right in form as it loomed over the decks. The winds then died, and the ship continued, crashing bow side into the iceberg, splintering wood, and rupturing the heel.
Men jumped from the decks, some landing to the fridged waters, and others hitting solid ice. The other ship was less than lucky as a wall of ice spikes came fully furry from the cliffs, across the waters, and then tearing into the hull of the sister ship, ripping it to shards.
Hans tried to control the men, force them to stand ready and form up for an attack. Their well stocked discipline waned under the fear of the unnatural as the entire ocean seemed to freeze over.
They fought though, like a disorganized rabble of ants as Arendelle's soldiers climbed down from the cliff faces of the fjords via rope ladders they had previously made, making it even more apparent that the Snow Queen herself not only expected them, she knew exactly how and when they would attack. Their fighting only proved that Hans propaganda had indeed had some level of effect, for the feared her dungeons and her magic more than any consequences should they surrender even in a hopeless battle.
As desperate as they were, their courage suddenly failed, as the ice itself took on a mind of its own. Hans should have been more than aware that Elsa wouldn't sit idol and allow her men to risk their lives to save her own kingdom. She joined the battle, abet a bit at a distance from where the fray was, but none the less commanded the ice and snow to fight the men who attacked her kingdom. Shards of ice, harsh winds, even icicles falling from the heavens themselves.
"Enough with the storms! Come and face me Elsa!" Hans shouted, holding his hands out, one gripping the hilt of his drawn sword and a crossbow in the other.
The queen wouldn't benefit his challenge with words. She threw a bit of ice, knocking the sword from his hand, but not watching out for the crossbow, which was smartly launched. Clever, she realized as the bolt scrapped her arm, cutting flesh, just as a soldier tackled Hans to the ground.
"Are you okay?" the man asked as pinned Hans in an arm bar, kicking away the crossbow.
"I'm fine Bjorn," she replied shortly as she clutched her arm. "The others?"
"They surrendered as soon as you started throwing ice bolts. Well, except the charming prince. Most of them fled into the hills, but they wouldn't have gone far. I already signaled the calvery to start searching for them," Bjorn replied as he examined her wound. Elsa looked back as her soldiers made the crew kneel on the ice with their hands behind their backs.
"Let them go," she ordered as Bjorn bandaged her arm a bit crudely with a small cloth.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. Provided they leave Arendelle immediately," she said. Then nodded to Hans as soldiers already forced him to his knees. "All but him."
Hans was given no horse, instead made to walk the journey behind the one ridden by Bjorn, with a rope tired to the saddle to make sure he didn't leave. He constantly mocked Bjorn, who simply grinned back and replied, "You better be careful about who has your leash."
Being night of a siege, Elsa ordered everyone in Arendelle indoors with the shutters and doors closed tight, with extra supplies of wood and clothing, should she have to unleash winter in order to stop them. Just as well that they remained there, as Elsa didn't wish for anyone to greet her after a battle with parades and praise. Just to quietly walk in, retreat to the castle and retire for the evening.
She ordered Hans to the dungeon, and under guard, expressing that no one was to enter without her express permission.
"My lady, you're hurt," said Gerda.
"I'm fine, just..." said Elsa, waving her off.
"But..." Gerda looked at Bjorn who just shrugged.
"I looks as though my intelligence was correct. That prince from the Southern Isles was planning a siege after all," said the lanky man known as Gerik as he walked down the stairs, carrying a book in his hands.
"Yes it was. What I want to know is where he got the money to purchase that army," Elsa replied.
"Perhaps you made a mistake exiling him and the Duke of Weasletown," mocked Kai. Even Elsa had to grin at the reference, recalling the first time Kai mistakenly called him that. Or perhaps not so much a mistake, since one could never tell with Kai.
"At any rate, Arendelle thanks you Gerik. What was it that you wanted in return for the information?"
"Simply unlimited access to your library your majesty. There is much I need to do in the matter of research if I were to save my own people," said Gerik.
"It's yours for as long as you need it provided nothing leaves," said Elsa as she made her way to her room.
"Thank you."
"Now if you would all, please, just leave me alone," she said. The company nodded, allowing Elsa finally the time to herself she desired. The pressures and horrors of battle finally over came her mind, as she fell to her knees and cried causing a ripple of frost to cover the walls.
