Chapter 3: Bon Voyage
After the festivities of Buckthorn Berry festival ended, Tuesday crept up quickly. Before she knew it, Anna stood at the edge of the docks, with her trunk behind her, and Elsa, Kristoff, Olaf and Sven in front.
"Are you sure you don't want to come to Denmark with me?"
"Of course I want to. But I've got a lot of icing to do. Babysitting that Texan put me back a few days."
Anna pouted. So Kristoff continued, "And Sven doesn't do boats." Anna looked at the reindeer who was eyeing the pier suspiciously. Kristoff came in closer and dropped his voice to a whisper. "You watch out for that Texan. I think he's joining your voyage. And I don't trust him. I'm pretty sure that's not a real country, and his name—Decker—that's not a real name."
Anna smiled and winked. "I'll keep an eye out for him."
Kristoff gave her one last kiss, before giving Sven's antler a tug and saying, "Come on, pal. Lots of ice to go dig up."
Elsa's eyes followed the man and his reindeer as they walked off the docks, before turning to Anna.
Anna was wearing the giddy little smile she always wore when she looked at Kristoff from a distance. "I know it's tradition for royalty to marry royalty," she began, turning to Elsa. "But times are changing, right? I mean Repunzel married a thief. And now Prince Eric is marrying a fish. So maybe you wouldn't mind if…" She trailed off, seeing a look of concern on her sister's face.
"I really hope you don't call her a fish when you get to Denmark."
Anna smiled with embarrassment. "Right. All I meant was traditions aren't…"
Elsa cut her off. "Kristoff is a wonderful man, and I can tell he loves you dearly. I saw it on the frozen fjord three months ago, and every day since." The queen smiled at her sister. In fact, she had already given Kristoff her blessing for his marriage proposal to Anna. Now it was up to Kristoff to get to the actual proposing. She knew he was planning something for when Anna returned from Denmark. And she wanted to keep it a surprise for Anna, so she played along with Kristoff's ruse. "But he does have a lot on his plate, now that he is the official Ice Master of the kingdom."
Anna gave her a skeptical look. "I thought we just made that title up."
"Maybe we did, but now that its official, it turns out there is a lot for an Ice Master to do."
Anna giggled in response. "Okay, so Kristoff is too busy to sail with me. But what about you? Can't you come to Denmark, let Louis run the kingdom for a few days? When we were little, we always dreamed of traveling the world together." Then to sweeten the deal, she added, "Plus, you could eat that breakfast chocolate—something-schokolade."
Elsa looked back at the castle. "There was an old story that our Icelandic cousins told me once. About bees who lost their queen. Then the bees started fighting amongst themselves—descending into a war because they felt the sky wasn't big enough for all of them. Eventually they were all eaten by birds."
Anna gave a screwy face. "Are you're saying that without you here, Arendell will fall into civil war until everyone gets eaten?"
"I'm saying that a Queen's place is with her people. Besides, Anna, I'm not sure the broader world is ready for my magic. So you need to go out first and ease the neighboring kingdoms into the idea that they live next door to a Snow Queen."
"Right. That's why I'm bringing Olaf." At the mention of his name, the little snowman waddled up to the two sisters.
"You mean it? I can come too?"
"As long as the Queen approves" Anna answered.
Olaf looked at Elsa who gave a quick nod. "Hooray!" he shouted. "I get to go to Denmark, and see the Mermaids, and eat the Danishes and … well I don't have an esophagus for eating, but I can smell the Danishes and …" He continued listing things he would do in Denmark as he boarded the boat, his personal flurry following close behind.
Elsa watched him go, then turned to Anna, saying, "Remember. You're an emissary for Arendelle now. Think about what you do and how that reflects on the kingdom."
"You don't need to worry. I won't call anyone a fish—" Anna began in reply.
"As a royal emissary, you'll need this." Elsa reached for a sparkling brooch pinned to her dress—a golden flower with amethyst and emerald backdrop. A jeweled miniature of the seal of the kingdom. She pinned it to Anna's sailing cloak. "There now it's official."
Anna looked at it, then added, "Yep, now I'm an official emissary of Arendelle. But I'm also an emissary of the Snow Queen, so maybe you could…" she finished her thought by twisting her hands over each other.
Elsa mimicked the motions, sending a stream of ice to the pin, growing an icy aquamarine snowflake above the golden flower. "There. Now it's officially official." She reached in to hug her sister, before backing up and saying, "I think the captain is waving everyone on. You'll need to start sailing while the tide is still right. Be safe Anna."
"And I'll bring you back the Pålægschokolade." Anna said as she turned and walked up the gangplank.
As she reached the rail of the ship, a short, scruffy looking man, perhaps thirty years Anna's elder, clad in a brown military uniform and high riding belt with an over-sized buckle, ran up the plank behind her. "This boat going to Denmark?" he asked in French with a bad accent.
"Decker! You made it!" Olaf exclaimed, running up to the scruffy man.
"Oh, you must be the Texan." Anna added in English.
"And you must be the Princess." Decker answered, grabbing Anna's hand and giving it a quick peck. "Decker of the Lone Star Republic, at yer service," he followed up with a clumsy bow. "An' a good thing someone 'round speaks a proper language. I mean this feller here," he pointed to Olaf, "he's a fine translator, but his accent ain't nothing to brag about."
Anna was unsure how to respond to this. Fortunately for her, the ship's captain called out, "Cast off! Ready about, weigh anchor, First Mate Errol, take us to sea!" There was a bustle about as the ship came to life, crew scattering to various lines and stations. A minute later, they were sailing out to the open water.
Anna found her way to the bow of the ship, where Decker was already standing. "It's amazing," She said of the water splashing below them.
"Ain't you never been on a boat before?"
"Never."
"Well, let me tell yuh, it stops being amazing pretty quick. Try crossing the Atlantic. Nuthin' but seawater an' hardtack for 6 weeks. Wouldn't wish that even on my enemies."
"That's too bad, cause from what I can tell, now that Arendelle's got an embargo with Wesleton, we have to look across the Atlantic for new trade. In fact since you're the representative of a country in the Americas I'm supposed to be buttering you up for a trade deal. So what do you say-let's strike a deal between Arendelle and Texas?"
Decker had to laugh. "I like your negotiatin' tack. Show off yer cards, and call 'em out. But honey, I already signed a trade deal with your sister. I'm leavin' Norway fer good." He looked at the towering cliffs overhead and waved. "Goodbye to the Land of Gnomes and Trolls!"
Olaf walked up to join them. "When did you meet the trolls?"
"And where did you find gnomes?" Anna added.
"Oh, I never met thems. But I know there's magic in this land."
Anna tried to push him for more. "How… how can you tell there's magic in this land?"
"Hon, Norway ain't the only land with magic. Where I grew up, they was a crew doin' magic too. Alchemy."
"Alchemy?" Anna asked.
"Not the good kind tho—not turning lead to gold nur nuthin' like that. They was turning brown dirt into glowing green dirt. Turned out that green dirt was real poison-like and they was spillin' it in the river accidentally. So I skedaddled, found myself in Texas. Fought fer the independence, ended up in a position I could volunteer to go on a deeplomatic trip to Old Europe."
"But if you hated sailing across the Atlantic so much, why did you volunteer?" Anna asked.
"Lookin' for a special bit of magic I heard about. Flyin.' Some folks down in France built a bag that'll lift you into the air an' let you sail with the birds. So I'm leavin' Norway and headin' for the land of Pastries and Turtlenecks. But first I'm hitchin' a lift to Denmark."
At the bandits' encampment, in a forgotten island in far north, the Bandit Queen was once again staring into the campfire. She had had another vision, and although it was brief it finally confirmed that her plan would work. It showed the princess boarding a ship—a ship rigged for a journey across the Skagerrak strait, between Norway and Denmark. A journey right into her trap.
At that moment, Askel walked up, supposedly with news of the progress the newest company of men was making in clearing out the fortress. No doubt he had requests for her to tighten her grip on the minds of some of the newest men—even though it was his duty to keep the recruits in check.
Aksel was grimy; Aksel was lazy. But Aksel was useful. His loyalty ensured the loyalty of all the Boreal Bandits. And because her hypnotic magic did not seem to work on them, their loyalty was incredibly important.
He opened his mouth to begin to speak, but the queen held up a finger to silence him. "The Princess is sailing to Eric's wedding as we speak. Our little boat will find them come nightfall."
"Indeed? Then your plan appears to be on track. The fortress will … well, I'll make sure the newest men kick up their pace. The fortress will be ready for our … guest's arrival. But it could be sped along if …"
"Give me a list of names."
As Askel turned to go prepare that list, a strong gust of wind howled through the camp, causing the fire to gutter, blowing it down to embers. Aksel regarded the dying flames for a moment, saying "Perhaps you could also…" He finished his thought with a twisting motion of his hands directed at the fire.
"Kjersten has the fire crystal," answered the Bandit Queen, with a pang of annoyance in her voice.
"The Princess's boat is certainly in for a surprise, then."
