Chapter 3
Stian
Stian left the castle through the front, entering the Town Plaza. He was greeted by hand shakes, bows and cheers. He didn't know that these were all meant for him until he reached the center of the Plaza. He thanked everybody, and surveyed the area. He spotted one or two Ambassadors, but he was looking for one in particular. The Foreign Relations Official from Corona, Albert. Stian had met Albert at school. The two were best friends, and often went down to the shores in the morning, and copied down each other's homework. Stian had left Corona for Arendelle, and Albert had gone on to study under his father, a member of the Royal Court. He'd since worked his way up, and become Foreign Relations Official.
Stian squinted his eyes to look for his friend. There, in the dock, was the Corona Royal ship. Albert was in town, but where. Suddenly, Stian was spun around, and put in a headlock. A fist connected with his head, and began digging into his scalp.
"Albert!" Stian said excitedly, escaping from the noogie. There stood his friend, taller since he'd last seen him, wearing regal attire much like him self. Also looking very uncomfortable in the regal attire, much like himself.
"Stian! It's been a long time!" he said, shaking his hand. Stian looked around and saw guards with their swords at the ready. Stian told them to calm down.
"This man is a guest!" he said. Albert laughed, and pulled up a chair. They sat there, in the middle of the square. People bustled around them, occasionally stopping to say "Hello" to the King. Stian took off his gloves, and rubbed his knuckles.
"What's new, Al?" he asked.
"Well, I'm Foreign Relations lapdog, which is alright."
"Why do I think you took this job so you could come to Arendelle and give me a hard time?" Stian asked.
"I heard you left Corona on the trade ship bound for Arendelle. Next thing I know, I hear your King. Speaking of which, where's this Ice Queen I keep hearing so much about?" Albert asked, playfully. Stian shifted uncomfortably in his chair. She hated being called that.
"Elsa's with her sister. I think their-"
"Stian!" somebody yelled. From across the market, crowds leapt and ran to keep out of the way. None other than Olaf, riding atop Sven, was making his way toward them.
"Olaf! Slow down, what's going on?" Stian asked. Albert leapt back, slowly pointing up at Olaf.
"Is that snowman talking?" he asked.
"Yes." Stian answered.
"We've been looking for you all over the place. There's a dignitary from Bergan wants to speak to you." Bergan. The city a weeks ship ride west of Arendelle. They weren't exactly the nicest Kingdom, but they weren't the worst. They were like shadow hovering over Arendelle, wanting all of its exports. They had even tried to purchase the Kingdom a couple decades ago, which didn't go over well with the King and Queen. But, they were allies. That meant Stian had to talk with them.
"Come on, Albert. I could use a friend in there." Stian said.
"Hey…" Olaf objected.
"Another friend." Stian said. Olaf perked right back up, and the group began back their way back to the Castle.
"Stian, where have you been? Who's this?" Elsa whispered, as Stian sat down next to her. The room was large, with an incredibly long wooden table stretching all the way from wall to wall. Tapestries hung on the walls, and a fireplace roared behind Stian. He and Elsa sat at one end of the table, with Anna sitting next to Elsa, and Kristoff and Olaf next to Stian. Albert sat down cautiously next to Olaf, as if the snowman may explode at any second.
"This is Albert. He's a friend." Stian whispered back. At the other end of the table sat three men. One of these men was completely bald all over his face. He wore a monocle, and had a walking cane. The other two men were the exact opposite. They looked like bears, large and hairy.
"Your Majesties, it has come to my attention we have found somebody in our Kingdom you may know." the bald man said. Stian shifted in his seat, and leaned foreword.
"Yes?"
"He lives… Rather isolated in the hills to the west of Began." he said. Stian felt his stomach drop. He thought he knew where this was going.
"Is this man… A threat?" Anna asked.' "Not necessarily, Princess, but we are afraid of what he could do to the Kingdom."
"What do you mean?" Elsa asked. The bald man produced a small leaf from his pocket, and slid it down the table to the King and Queen. The leaf was completely white, covered in frost. Stian nearly passed out.
"What happened?" Stian asked, still staring at the leaf.
"Everything not protected by our city walls was flash frozen three days ago. The frost and snow creep closer and closer to the Kingdom, freezing everything. At first we suspected it was you, Queen Elsa." Elsa looked completely annoyed, but continued listening.
"But this man shows up at the exact same time, everywhere he goes freezes. People say he emanates… Winter." the bald man said. Stian passed the leaf to Elsa.
"What do we have to do to bring this man to justice?" Stian asked. Elsa's eyes widened, and she took Stian's arm.
"If we could… Have a moment?" Elsa asked. The bald dignitary waved them off. Elsa, Stian, Anna, Kristoff and Albert all left the room, leaving the dignitary to engage an awkward conversation with Olaf about Summer.
"Stian, if this is the man we think it is-"
"It is. Did you hear what he said, this guy can control snow and ice too. We need to find him."
"Maybe we should plan this out." Kristoff suggested. Elsa nodded.
"We need to know what we're up against. Remember last time?"
"I say go for it!" Anna said, putting a fist in the air. "You were just kids last time, right? You can take him."
"Anna, it's not that simple." Elsa said.
"Why not?" Stian asked, a bit loud. Olaf and the dignitary peeked through the door a the conversation.
"Come in, we know you've been listening." Kristoff said. The bald man and Olaf guilefully walked through the door. The hallway they were in led to the grand entrance of the Castle, so every sound and word echoed perfectly.
"What's your plan to take care of this situation?" Elsa asked the dignitary.
"We don't know. That's why the King sent me here. He knew about you, Your Majesty, and your powers. He thought you could aid us."
"I have powers, too. I could go!" Stian said.
"Stian, you need to stay here." Elsa said.
"He needs to go, he needs to keep Arendelle safe." Anna said.
"Let's just think about this-" Elsa started to say, before everyone started speaking at once. Anna argued with Olaf, Kristoff with Albert, and Stian with the dignitary. It was pure chaos.
"Nothing you could say will keep from finding him, Elsa." Stian said. He saw Elsa clench her fists and close her eyes.
"I'm pregnant." she said.
Everything went quiet. All eyes turned to Elsa, then Stian, then back to Elsa.
"That will certainly do it." Olaf said.