Frozen
A Melody from the Past
Chapter 2: Heavy is the Crown
It was still well before the sun would rise when the Queen of Arendelle's eyes fluttered open and a soft yawn escaped her lips. Quickly covering her mouth, she sat up, tilting her head one way, then the other, slowly stretching. Feeling movement beside her, she regarded the bed's other occupant.
Her sister was still fast asleep, her chest rising and falling in rhythm with her tiny, admittedly adorable, snores. Sprawled out across the bed, only half under the bed's covers, her hair an unruly mess, she was far from the picture of grace. She was, however, so entirely, completely Anna, and in that sense, she was absolutely perfect. The princess groaned and shifted in her sleep, the sudden movement snapping the Queen from her thoughts.
"Oh, Anna…" Elsa murmured, reaching out to brush the hair away from her sister's face. The moment her fingers touched her cheek, the serenity of the moment was shattered as Anna's skin suddenly turned blue, her temperature dropping until it was cold enough to begin to freeze the sheets. She was no longer breathing, no longer moving at all.
Elsa's eyes widened, her breathing becoming erratic as she stared at her sister's suddenly frozen form. She couldn't pull her hand away as the cold spread from her fingertips and consumed everything it touched. The walls were quickly coated in ice, her ceiling decorated with sharp, toothlike icicles that transformed the Queen's quarters into a gaping maw of ice and snow, threatening to swallow everything within. Distantly, she could hear a voice whispering "Conceal, don't feel" over and over again, growing louder with every second, until it was shouting in her ears. As the shouting reached a crescendo, everything suddenly went silent.
You killed her.
The words, spoken in her own voice, dripping with venom and bitterness, stole the young queen's breath away. Her vision was beginning to swim, everything left in the world fading into a blackness that framed her sister's frozen form. The screams had returned, becoming a howling storm, and the ice that had stolen her sister's life was beginning to work its way up her fingertips, her own skin becoming a lifeless shade of blue.
A knock at the door snapped Elsa out of her thoughts, the frozen hellscape around her vanishing in an instant. Once again, Anna was fast asleep, moaning softly as she rolled over and wrapped herself entirely in the covers, pulling them up to her chin.
"Your Majesty?" A soft, dry voice called from outside.
Elsa tugged her hand back, holding it in the other, checking her fingers for any residual frost. Other than her breathing, and the snowflakes fluttering in the air, the room was as it should be. She was as she should be.
"Come in," Elsa called, slipping out of bed and walking to her window, still rubbing her hand as she gazed out at the fjord, watching as some of the earliest merchant ships made their way toward the harbor. She shuddered, clutching her hands to her chest when the door opened and closed gently. Taking a deep breath, desperate to settle her nerves, she let herself become the Queen as she turned to face the young handmaiden.
"To what d-do I owe the pleasure of your company this morning, Vera?" Inwardly, she cursed herself as her voice caught momentarily in her throat. To her credit, Elsa thought, the handmaiden either didn't notice, or chose not to.
Vera curtseyed and bowed her head, gesturing toward the Queen's bed.
"I don't mean to intrude, Your Majesty, but, I've come to retrieve Her Highness," As Vera lifted her head and glanced toward the bed, Elsa noticed the faintest hint of a smile on her lips, before it was replaced with the girl's usual restraint, "If it pleases you," she quickly added, bowing her head once more.
Elsa smiled as she turned to look at her sister once again. No ice, no stillness...just Anna. Closing her eyes and taking what she hoped was a subtle deep breath, she shook her head.
"That won't be necessary, Vera. Let us leave her to sleep a bit longer, she had trouble falling asleep last night," the Queen explained as she moved to begin preparing for her day. She likely still had time before she'd be needed elsewhere, but there was no sense in putting off her morning routine.
She likely wouldn't be able to go back to sleep if she tried.
"Of course, Your Majesty," Vera began with another curtsey, "Will you be requiring my assistance in preparation for your day? I understand your schedule is quite...full, as of late," Vera asked, keeping her head bowed, "Since I am already here."
"No. Thank you, though, Vera. I believe I need some time to myself," Elsa assured her, gazing at her reflection in her standing mirror. From the reflection she could see a brief flash of emotion on Vera's face. Anna's handmaiden was well known for her restraint; rather, she was known for her lack of emotion entirely. There were, however, moments where she let her facade falter, when she was certain no one else could see.
"As you wish, Your Majesty. I'll not trouble you further." With one last curtsey, Vera turned to leave the room.
"Vera," Elsa called, now watching the young girl's reflection closely. There was a moment of hesitation before she turned to the Queen once more.
"Yes, Your Majesty?"
Elsa pondered for a moment if she should even pursue the question tickling her brain. She, once again, saw a flash of Anna's frozen face in her mind, settling the debate.
"Anna was not visiting Kristoff last night, was she?" It was more a statement than a question, a fact that wasn't lost on the teenager. When Vera hesitated to reply, Elsa continued, "When she came to my room last night, she could barely walk, and she was holding her side as though she'd been injured. I don't imagine that Kristoff would allow her to get in such a situation."
"Your Majesty," Vera finally spoke up. She was speaking slower now, carefully choosing each word as she continued, "It is not my place to make such a request, however, for Her Highness' sake, I must request that you not ask me to lie to you...again," she quickly added as she bowed her head once more.
Elsa narrowed her eyes, her gaze leaving Vera's reflection to focus on her sister's sleeping form. Anna had rolled over, again throwing the covers off, and was now lying on her back. Elsa could make out a bruise forming on her right shin, and noticed how Anna was still holding her side, even in her sleep. Pursing her lips, Elsa took a moment to collect her thoughts and choose her own words with the same care Vera had.
She finally settled on asking, "Is she in any danger?"
This time, Vera did little to hide the tiny smile on her lips.
"No, Your Majesty," The smile disappeared from her lips, her expression becoming utterly unreadable, "I will make sure of that, Your Majesty."
Sighing, Elsa finally allowed herself to relax, turning to face the handmaiden with a grateful smile.
"Thank you, Vera. That is all. You may return to your other duties." With one last curtsey, the teenager slipped out of the room, leaving the Queen to prepare for her day.
XXXX
While Elsa had been queen for little under a month, she'd quickly come to dread any meeting called by the Council of Twelve. The Council was made up of a number of Arendelle's oldest and most influential noble families, as well as a handful of the kingdom's elected officials. While they surely seemed to have Arendelle's best interest in mind, Elsa wasn't fool enough to ignore how many among them hungered for even more riches and influence. The meetings frequently became a battle of wills and egos, each member eager to dip their fingers in another's honey pot.
Each discussion managed to somehow drag every last second out of each minute, while simultaneously burning away the daylight at record pace. As yet another argument broke out, Elsa found her focus wavering, instead drifting away from the shouting to focus on anything else in the room.
Were it not for the company it hosted, it would have been a beautiful room. Large enough to comfortably seat twice the usual number of occupants, with a high ceiling and two large windows that looked out toward the North Mountain. The windows were framed by great burgundy curtains which had remained closed through countless meetings until the Queen grew tired of the dreary candle light that previously lit the room. There were portraits lining the walls; not of stern rulers, but of wondrous places from around the world, each of them a gift that had been presented to the royal family.
The great table they sat at was, Elsa had to admit, her favorite piece that tied the whole room together. Carved from what her father had called mahogany, it was a gift to her grandfather from a distant kingdom. Covered by an equally impressive tablecloth to preserve the pristine surface, the legs had always most fascinated the young queen. Carved to resemble those of a lion, they ended in impressive claws, and were decorated with intricate designs, each different, but somehow still fitting with one another.
Like snowflakes. Elsa thought, a smile finding its way to her lips.
While she'd grown to despise the room and the company it kept, Elsa couldn't help but run her hand along the table's smooth, flawless edge. It had seen countless meetings such as this one, some far more hostile than today's, and had survived each of them in turn. It was the least she could do to try to match its tenacity.
"Your Majesty, would you make a decision and settle this matter?" Lord Eberlin, one of the council's oldest, most revered, and most feared, members, demanded.
Keeping her expression neutral, and suppressing the urge to ignore him entirely and go back to admiring her table, the Queen turned her gaze toward Lord Eberlin. She must have failed to completely banish the frost from her eyes, because Lord Eberlin quickly cleared his throat and returned to his seat.
"If it pleases Your Majesty, of course," He muttered, his voice trailing off with a shiver as he caught sight of his own breath.
Elsa turned to face Lord Eberlin's opponent, Lady Tillisch, with a similar reaction. Quite the opposite of Lord Eberlin, Lady Tillisch had only recently joined the council after her father's passing. Only a few years older than the queen, she seemed to always be at odds with someone, perhaps overly eager to prove herself to the more seasoned members.
She gave the pair a moment to cool off, both figuratively and quite literally as she struggled to rein in her emotions and get the temperature of the room back to normal. Satisfied that there would be no further shouting, Elsa nodded.
"I believe that Lady Tillisch is correct, the agreement between the Merchant's Guild and Magnolia would certainly be a boon for Arendelle's economy. However, I do agree with Lord Eberlin's objections with regards to the timing of this arrangement. We cannot, in good faith, host such an extravagant event while those most affected by...recent events...are still struggling to get back on their feet." Elsa closed her eyes, pausing for effect as she nodded, "We will bring this matter up for discussion again in the near future." Her words left no further room for argument as she rose from her seat.
"I thank you all for coming today. I will send word when we are to next meet. Please, speak with Kai if you've any other proposals for consideration. Our meeting is adjourned. You are all dismissed," Without waiting, having learned just a week ago that doing so would result in at least another hour of discussion, Elsa took her leave.
As she left the room, she was joined by Kai, her royal attendant.
"I trust your meeting went...as well as could be expected?" He asked with a knowing smile as he fell into step behind her.
Elsa allowed herself a small, humorless chuckle as she nodded and continued to make her way toward the throne room. If she wasn't mistaken, she had…
"Our honored guest from afar has arrived and is awaiting your audience, Your Majesty," Kai explained, earning himself another nod.
"Of course, please, send him in once I've had time to settle."
With a bow, Kai separated from the queen, leaving to fetch the guest. Finally alone, Elsa sighed and let her mind wander once more as her feet carried her onwards to her destination. She still had to meet with the scholar, but, once that was taken care of, she'd finally be free to retire to her study and make an attempt to catch up on her paperwork: proposals to consider, treaties to negotiate, and correspondence to answer. She quickly covered her mouth as she began to giggle, recalling the night before.
She was tempted to draft the response to the Duke of Weselton that she'd given Anna last night, but she was certain that would be ill-advised. And yet, knowing that Anna would find it absolutely hilarious had her earnestly considering taking that risk.
Her laughter subsiding, Elsa's expression settled on a gentle smile.
How would Anna have handled meeting with the Council of Twelve? She'd always been far more headstrong than Elsa herself; never one to leave some injustice unchallenged or some slight unanswered. Would she have sided with Lord Eberlin, focusing their efforts and resources on tending to the damaged crops and ailing farmers who suffered the most from the sudden winter? Or, perhaps she'd have sided with Lady Tillisch, bringing Magnolia's Grand Bazaar to Arendelle, along with all the festivities that came with it, to bring smiles to the citizens' faces and relieve the tension they must be feeling?
Elsa's mood darkened as the image from before flashed in her mind. Anna's frozen form, her breath stopped, her heart still. Subconsciously, she began to wring her hands, her breath hitching as she focused on maintaining control of her powers. Was she starting to lose control again? Was it a warning? She'd never hurt Anna...not again. No, she'd do anything to prevent that from ever happening again. That was why…
Elsa's thoughts trailed off as she nodded to the guards on either side of the throne room doors. The throne in sight before her, she focused on the coming meeting. The details regarding their visitor were sparse. Kai had mentioned he was a traveling scholar, interested in the rich history hidden within the castle's great library. He hadn't mentioned, however, what it was the scholar specialized in.
Taking her seat, Elsa looked up just as the doors began to open again. She must have taken longer than she anticipated, she thought, forcing a smile to her face as Kai entered and announced the visitor.
"Queen Elsa, I present Scholar Safiya from the Kingdom of Granfel," With a bow, Kai stepped aside to allow the visitor to enter.
Wrapped in a cloak of dark green and black, the scholar was a short man with remarkably broad shoulders. He was hunched over from age, walking with a gnarled wooden cane, eyes hidden behind a thick pair of glasses. While he was clearly quite old, if his almost comically long, gray beard - the tip of his beard dragged along the floor, somehow never getting caught under his feet or his cane - was any indication. He somehow managed to walk with both a limp and a spring in his step. He paused and turned to Kai.
"Thank you, my good sir! I must say, you are far too kind!" With a raspy cackle, not an unfriendly laugh at all, he scurried further into the room, glancing up at the young queen, "Ah! There she is, there she is! Queen Elsa! My dear, I've heard much about you, yes I have!" Chuckling again, he picked up his pace, hurrying to the throne.
Elsa began to rise from her seat, but the scholar shook his head.
"No, no! Please, please! It's not at all proper for a queen to rise for a silly old man! I'll hurry along!" As the scholar continued toward the throne, Elsa threw a look toward her steward. Kai nodded and hurried to the side of the room, returning with a chair.
Safiya looked at the chair, then to Elsa with a sparkle in his eyes, "My word, Arendelle's hospitality is bountiful, Your Majesty! Oh thank you, these tired bones will surely not turn away such generosity." With a big sigh, the old man took his seat and began to smooth out his beard, running his hand from his chin to its tip, "Ah there we are, there we are! Forgive me, Your Majesty, I fear if I were to kneel I may not get up again!" He laughed again and Elsa couldn't resist a polite chuckle.
"It's quite alright, Sir Safiya. Arendelle is honored to receive someone of your talents. I trust your trip was a pleasant one?"
"Oh it was ever so lovely, thank you for asking! Quite a long trip, I must say, but well worth the journey. Arendelle is every bit as beautiful as I had read...and, if I may be so bold, as are you, Your Majesty. The honor is all mine, I assure you," Safiya rambled, still stroking his beard. Then, without missing a beat, he continued, "Eh, forgive my boldness, but, are the rumors true? Are you in possession of some magical power? I heard, from a source of dubious reliability I must admit, that you're able to conjure winter winds and erect structures of ice with little more than your hands and a thought!"
Normally, such forwardness regarding her magic would have caused Elsa a moment of discomfort. But, it was the way he spoke, his eyes wide and his voice trembling with childlike wonder, that set her mind at ease and brought another smile to her face. After a moment of consideration, Elsa lifted her hand and, with a twirl of her wrist, crafted a frozen statue of a reindeer before the scholar's eyes.
She laughed softly when the old man leaped from his chair, hobbling over to the statue, oohs and ahhs escaping him as he inspected it.
"It is true! Moon, sun, and stars, I never imagined…" He murmured as he looked over her, admittedly rushed, handiwork, "It gives off a chilly aura, perhaps shielding itself from the heat of the room? Yes...and such precision...I know many an artisan who would turn red with envy if he were to see your skill, Your Majesty!" The scholar raved, tapping on the ice first with his cane, then, feeling braver, running his hand along it.
"You're not afraid? Most people react quite differently to seeing my magic for the first time," Elsa inquired, rising from her throne and joining the scholar in observing the statue.
"Oh, yes, yes, most do. Why, I recall, and mind you my memory isn't what it used to be, but, I do recall the first time I saw the supernatural for myself. It must have been, oh, fifty years ago...it was nothing compared to this, mind you. His abilities were mere parlor tricks, designed to hustle coin from unsuspecting travelers, but this? This is truly something to marvel at…"
His answer caught the Queen off guard.
"You've...seen magic before?" Elsa asked incredulously.
"My word, yes. It is rare in this day and age, I assure you, but, you are not alone, Your Majesty. Magic is still alive and well in this world...that is part of what brought me here! You see, ahem, forgive my manners, I'm already rambling, aren't I?" Safiya gave a wistful sigh, patting the ice-reindeer's nose before returning to his seat, groaning as he sat down.
Her interest piqued, Elsa returned to her throne.
"Please continue, Scholar Safiya," Elsa insisted with a nod.
XXXX
Her meeting with the scholar finished and the old man safely tucked away in the castle library, Elsa had retired to her study to pour over the documents remaining from the day prior, along with the new ones that had arrived throughout the day. Sitting back in her seat, she sighed as she held her head. She could feel a headache coming on.
It had been a long day, one that seemed to only be getting longer with every passing moment. She was desperately lonely, as she considered the stack of letters and documents she'd yet to review. Normally, she'd have found the time to enjoy dinner with her sister, but, the council meeting and her meeting with Safiya had gone much longer than she'd anticipated. Not only that, but she knew putting off her correspondence would only cause the monumental pile to grow ever larger, robbing her of even more time to spend with her sister as the days unfolded.
Her visits with Anna had become the sole grounding point to her day, allowing her, even if for a moment, to cease being the Queen and to simply be Elsa. It was when she was with Anna that she could smile honestly, that she could laugh freely, or that she could breathe easily. Despite the old man's good nature, she couldn't help but keep her guard up around the scholar, or her own attendants. And Freya knew that every moment she spent with the Council only made her anxiety worse.
Plucking a letter from the pile she'd been working through, Elsa's eyes narrowed and a noticeable chill fell over the room. The letter was sealed with the crest of the royal family of the Southern Isles. She considered for a moment opening it, if only to have another topic of ridicule to share with Anna. However, the thought of hearing any of that lot's voices in her mind as she read their treacherous words filled her with disgust. Without a second thought, she tossed the letter aside, the envelope already encased in a thick sheet of ice.
Elsa resumed her thankless work, finally allowing herself a moment to craft a proper response to the Duke of Weselton. Once again she found herself laughing as she heard Anna's voice in her mind, telling the Duke where to shove his letter. Shaking her head and wearing an amused smile, she decided against open hostility in her response.
As she wrote, she found herself humming a song she'd heard Anna singing the night before, after she'd dozed off. Elsa wasn't exactly sure where it had come from. It was a song that was somehow unknowable, yet comfortably familiar at the same time. As her humming turned to soft singing, that mystery drifted out of her thoughts. As her song came to a close, Elsa set her pen aside, satisfied with her draft.
While she waited for the ink to dry, she leaned back, resting her eyes for a moment. She still had one last arrangement to see to before the night was done, so she figured it wise to rest for just a moment.
She's dead because of you.
Elsa's eyes snapped open. Quickly sitting up, she looked around the room, expecting to find it covered in ice and snow. There was a thin layer of ice starting to spread from where her feet touched the ground, but she quickly willed it away with a thought, wrapping her arms around her middle and focusing on her breathing. Focusing on her thoughts of Anna. As quickly as it came, the feeling passed, leaving the Queen shivering.
A knock at the door startled the Queen, allowing her to finally release the breath she'd been holding. While she'd asked to not be disturbed, she welcomed the distraction.
"Come in," She called, sitting back and resuming a more regal posture as she turned to the newcomer. It was Thorold, captain of the city guard. He paused just inside the doorway, saluting and then bowing. Elsa nodded, "To what do I owe the pleasure, Captain Thorold?"
Thorold was quite unlike his counterpart in the Queen's Guard. Where Captain Haile was a loud, commanding, mountain of a man, Thorold was soft spoken and ever professional. She'd heard guards and servants alike gossiping that even after a gallon of liquor the man seemed unphased and ever the gentleman. As such, Elsa knew he'd never have disturbed her if it weren't of the utmost importance.
"Your Majesty," Despite the calm in his deep voice, Elsa could see the concern in his eyes, "I am terribly sorry for disturbing you this evening. However, there is a matter regarding the Elderwoods that I feel requires your attention," Glancing up to ensure he could continue, Thorold nodded, "Recently, we've received reports of bandit attacks in the Elderwoods. I've dispatched several of my men, but, they've come back empty handed...until tonight, that is."
"Were they able to find the culprits?" Elsa asked, gleaning what information she could from the Captain's body language. She frowned when Thorold shook his head.
"Not exactly, Your Majesty. We've not been able to apprehend the culprits, however, three of my men were attacked by what we presume to be the group responsible. Aesir's blessing, they all returned alive, however, they were gravely injured and will be out of commission for some time." Thorold paused, the corner of his mouth twitching before he continued, "These were three of my most skilled men. And yet, they report that when they were attacked, they weren't able to even see their attackers. I fear what may transpire if we allow this situation to fester, Your Majesty."
"I understand, Captain...please, ensure their families are cared for as they recover. Have we expanded our patrol routes through the Elderwoods? Is there any assistance I can provide to aid in resolving this matter?" Elsa asked, her fingers tugging at the fabric of her dress. She released the breath she hadn't realized she was holding when the Captain shook his head.
"Not at this time, Your Majesty. I merely wanted to make you aware of the situation. I've doubled the number of men I have patrolling the Elderwoods. My men are also asking around town and investigating the neighboring villages, primarily Greenriver, to see if we can gather more information about these bandits and where they are held up. Once we find where they're hiding, we'll make quick work of them, I assure you," The Captain saluted and bowed once more, "That is all, Your Majesty."
Elsa nodded, "Thank you for all your hard work, Captain Thorold. I would also ask that you bring this matter to Lady Gudrun's attention. She may be able to provide additional assistance in sorting out where these bandits are hiding," She advised.
Thorold nodded and bowed once more, "I shall make my way to see Lady Gudrun at once, by your leave." After receiving a nod from his queen, Thorold turned and left the room, closing the door behind him.
As it clicked shut, Elsa looked down at her hands. The fabric of her dress that she'd been fussing with had frozen solid. Her paperwork would have to wait. Now, more than ever, she needed to make her way to her final meeting for the night.
XXXX
Standing barefoot on a secluded beach off the northern edge of Arendelle, Elsa watched the waves roll in and out, lapping gently at the course sand. She held her hand out, watching as frigid air bent to her will, coming together to form a rather large, but immensely sharp, spear. The spear floated around above her hand, suspended in the air by her magic. Then, with a flick of her wrist, she hurled it toward the sea, watching it shatter as it collided with one of the numerous sharp rocks that littered the waters off that beach. Those same rocks made this the perfect location for her meeting, warning away ships from stumbling upon her secret meeting.
"A good shot," A voice called out over the crashing waves, "Your aim is getting better, Your Majesty."
Elsa glanced over her shoulder, smiling as Captain Haile paused for a moment to offer her a polite bow.
"I've told you before, Captain, there's no need for such formalities when we meet like this. Here I am not the Queen, I am just a student," she insisted as moved to join him.
"Aye, and I've told you to stop with the Captain nonsense out here. I'm not your commander, Elsa, I'm just an old man who knows how to swing a sword," Captain Haile laughed, tossing the satchel he'd been carrying aside. With a loud groan, thankfully masked by the crashing waves, Captain Haile marched to the edge of the beach and looked out toward the rock that Elsa had struck.
"Nearly cleaved that stone in two," He pointed out with a whistle, "You must have had some Hel of a day, did you, girl?"
Elsa crossed her arms and pursed her lips, "We'll just say I needed this after today," she answered, leaving it at that.
The Captain shrugged and chuckled, tossing his sword into the sand and settling his massive shield on his arm, "I've had many of those days in my time. Best thing you can do is work up a sweat and go to bed sore. Gets the grief out of you," He explained.
Elsa smiled, realizing quickly that she agreed. Not even a day after she returned to Arendelle and released the spell she'd placed on it, she'd sought out her dear Uncle Haile's assistance in learning to better control her powers. And to better defend herself, should the need ever arise. They didn't meet often, but when they did their training would last well into the night, until the Queen was scarcely able to summon even a snowflake. Though it had been little less than a month, she was proud of the progress she'd been making.
"No one saw you leave, did they?" Elsa asked, suddenly worried that their secret might be discovered. She wasn't ashamed of her powers anymore, nor was she ashamed that she was learning to defend herself. She did, however, fear that if word got out, it might spread to the surrounding kingdoms. They already feared her powers, if they learned that she was studying to improve them, to weaponize them, even if it was for self-defense, it may cause them to panic.
Or, worse, she feared that Anna may find out and insist on helping her, even if it put herself at risk.
The Captain laughed, moving to stand across from the Queen.
"I may be big as a bear, but I'm quiet as a mouse, girl. Your secret is safe. Now, did we come here to chat or did we come here to fight? I'm at your service either way, but this shield doesn't get any lighter!" the Captain took up a defensive stance and Elsa quickly followed, "You did a good number on that rock, let's start by practicing some more with those spears you like so much."
Elsa nodded and took a deep breath. Slowly letting it out, she concentrated her power in the air around her, using her hands merely as a guide for the magic as it solidified into another spear-like icicle. With a thrust of her arm, the icicle shot out, shattering as the Captain repelled it with a flick of his arm.
"Nice shot! Keep it up now, I'm giving you five minutes before I charge in," Captain Haile called, deflecting another icicle with a simple backhand.
Elsa nodded, mostly ignoring the Captain's words as she kept her focus on controlling her powers. While one hand directed an icicle spear, the other focused on conjuring a new one. Soon, she found her rhythm, firing one as another was summoned. Each of them bounced harmlessly off the Captain's shield, but as she continued they came faster and faster.
"Don't always aim for the same spot, it makes it too easy to predict!"
Heeding the Captain's words, Elsa began to move, searching for holes in his defense. The icicles weren't sharp enough to pierce the skin, but if one of them met their mark, they'd leave a nasty bruise, as the pair had found out the first time Elsa managed to slip one past Haile's shield. She'd been horrified at the time, but the old man had never seemed prouder.
"Don't you worry for me, you can't break anything I haven't broken already," He'd said back then. It pained her to see him hurt, but she trusted him to know when enough was enough, so she let herself focus instead on her own performance.
"There you go! Now, get ready! Here I come!"
Elsa's eyes widened as the Captain suddenly shot forward, snatching his sword from the ground and clearing the distance between them in what felt like an instant. She didn't have time to admire the man's unbelievable speed before she found herself backing off, waving her hands to create temporary shields of ice in the air to deflect his attacks.
"Don't just focus on defending! Look for an opening to strike! A good defense will keep you alive, but it won't win you any battles!"
Though it was just a wooden sword, it took most of Elsa's concentration to keep deflecting his blows. Each of her shields shattered the moment the sword's dull edge collided with them, but they did their job, keeping her unharmed despite the power behind the Captain's blows.
The pair moved around the sands, Elsa doing her best to keep from tripping over her feet. Narrowing her eyes, hearing Lord Eberlin's booming voice echoing in her memory, she took a bold step toward the Captain. This time, she concentrated the ice around her hand forming a crude blade as she took a swing at him. The icy blade shattered against the Captain's shield, but it bought her enough time to thrust her other hand out, releasing a burst of frigid wind powerful enough to force the giant man back several steps.
"Haha! Now that's more like it! Let's pick it up, shall we?"
Back and forth the pair moved across the rapidly cooling sands. Much as she tried to keep her powers focused around herself, as she began to wear down under Haile's relentless attack, Elsa felt her control slipping, causing icicles to spread across the ground and begin to crawl up the cliffside that overlooked the tiny beach.
"Let's practice that dodge then!"
The world exploded in a blinding flash of colors as a tremendous force collided with Elsa's chest and sent her flying through the air, crashing into the sand. Groaning, her head spinning and her chest burning as she tried to catch her breath, Elsa found herself staring up at the cloudless night sky. Her vision swam as she tried to get her arms and legs to listen to her commands. As her vision cleared up, she noticed a massive hand reaching out toward her.
"My apologies, Your Majesty. I may have gotten a bit carried away with that last attack," Captain Haile apologized, his voice uncharacteristically soft and subdued as he knelt down beside her, helping her side up. "Are you alright, Elsa?" he asked, cradling her in his arms.
"I'm...I'm fine…" Elsa managed to breathe out, going limp as she stared up at the night sky, trying to catch her breath. She was certainly in better shape than she had been a month ago, but the combined effort of physically keeping up with the Captain's movements, and focusing her powers to be both effective offensive strikes and defensive maneuvers quickly drained her ever-improving stamina.
"Just...caught off...guard…" Elsa huffed out between deep gulps of air. She nodded and silently thanked Captain Haile as he helped her to her feet, holding her steady when she nearly toppled over again.
"Well, that's what we're here to work on, isn't it? You've definitely gotten stronger, even a week ago a blow like that would have put you out cold!" The Captain laughed. Though he was joking, the guilt in his voice was impossible to miss.
"You're right...thank you, Cap, ahem," Elsa stood up straight, her breathing returning to normal. For a moment, as she clutched her chest, still throbbing with pain, she wondered what had possessed her to request something so...undignified, from the captain of the Queen's Guard, no less. But, as she closed her eyes, she saw a flash of Anna's frozen face, and knew that she'd made the right decision.
She gave the Captain's massive hand a pat and offered him a sincere smile, "Thank you, Uncle Haile. I know this arrangement is irregular, but I cannot tell you enough how much I appreciate what you're doing for me."
Captain Haile laughed, a touch harder than Elsa felt her comment warranted, and gave her a rough pat on the back.
"It isn't quite as irregular as you may think, Your Majesty." Captain Haile cleared his throat and, after making sure she could stand on her own, went to retrieve his sword. "Well then, are you ready for more?"
Elsa took one last calming breath and opened her eyes, letting it out slowly. The Captain turned to face her, sword and shield at the ready. Spreading her feet and raising her hands, she took up her defensive stance. As the pain faded, it was replaced by the sensation of her power spreading through her body, from the tips of her toes to the tips of her fingers. The air around her hands began to sparkle with snowflakes.
"Let us continue," she commanded, this time taking the offensive as she rushed toward the Captain.
