Authors Note: Hello again, first off, I apologize for the long wait time, I just couldn't find any motivation these last couple of weeks, and also, sorry about how short this chapter is, the next one should be longer, I hope. Reviews are always welcome.
Knock, knock, knock. A rhythmic tapping cut through the fog of sleep, slowly pulling Elsa from her troubled sleep. Sun filtered through the shuttered of the window, filling the room with a calming glow. For a moment, she felt at piece, but as her eyes opened more fully, fear once again took hold of her mind. This was not her room, not her bed or her cloths. The previous night's events came rushing to the forefront of her mind and she bolt upright. It had happened, it had actually happened. Her flight from her castle, the midnight ride through the forest.
The knocking came again, more frantic. Elsa rose on shaky feet and opened the door slowly. Outside was one of the men who had been appointed as her guard, Sven. He stood slightly hunched over, like he was trying to make himself seem smaller than his massive frame. He smiled nervously and held out a small bundle towards the queen. Elsa regarded both Sven and the bundle sceptically, "What's this?" Sven opened his mouth to reply before staring down at his feet nervously, holding the bundle out again.
"Don't mind him, your Majesty." From behind Sven, waddled Bulda. She placed a loving hand on the man's arm and squeezed gently "Sven has difficulty speaking with strangers, I ask that you do not take offence of it." She smiled up at the young queen and motioned to the bundle "The Grandmaster has tasked me with supplying you with some clothing for your stay." She smiled widely when Elsa took the bundle "They may not be as regal as you may be used to, but I think you will understand when I say, we don't really wish for the whole village to know that you are here."
Elsa held the bundle close to her chest, quietly thanking Sven when he bowed, spurred on by a sharp elbow to his ribs, and left.
Bulda clasped her hands together. "Right then. The Grandmaster is waiting her you in his study, he would be honoured if you would take your morning meal with him." She curtsied and excused herself, leaving Elsa alone once more.
When Elsa finally made her way to the study, she dressed in a simple blue dress with deep purple crocuses embroidered around the hem. She was again struck with how strange it was that clothing had been ready for her, as the dress fit perfectly. The blonde reached out for the handle, stopping herself before laying her hand on it. A queen she may have been, but she had to remember that she was no longer in her castle, she was a guest of this strange village. Steeling herself, she knocked her gloved knuckles against the heavy oak door. "Enter" the Grandmasters called.
Where the study had looked dark and foreboding at night, in the light of day it seemed to have gone through a total transformation. Sunlight filled the cream coloured room with a warm and inviting light, a breeze blew the pale blue curtains, reminding Elsa of the country home her and her parents and once summered in.
"Good morning, my Queen. I trust you slept well?" the Grandmaster smiled sweetly at her from where he sat at his desk. He gestured to the chair across from him "Please, sit." After she sat he offered her a small bowl of dried fruits. "You will have to forgive me, I mean no offence when I say that I did not fully trust offered foods from a killer." The Grandmaster merely smiled more as he took a small handful for himself "And you have every right to be wary, but I assure you" he popped a piece into his mouth "you will find no poisoners here. Tis a coward's weapon, and this village houses no cowards."
Slowly, Elsa took a piece of her own, watching how the older man eyed her hand. "Strange, the Sparrowhawk told me the same thing." She said before eating, she had not realized just how hungry she was as she ate piece after piece of the fruit. The Grandmaster chuckled, eating from his own bowl "It is good to see that that girl has at least taken one thing I've taught her to heart."
The pair of leaders ate in silence for a long while before the Grandmaster spoke again, "Why did you ask her to help you?" he bluntly asked as he poured them both tea. Elsa's dark brows furrowed in confusion "I'm sorry, what?", "Allow me to elaborate. She, my Anna that is, is the Sparrowhawk, the most feared assassin in the north and mayhap the better half of Europe. A wanted criminal. A murderer. Why did you ask for her help?"
Elsa grip on her teacup tightened "I did not do so lightly. But, when I asked her to reveal herself, she did so without a word of complaint. I expected to see some kind of murderous glee, or a darkness, but I saw none of what I expected", "and what did you see?" Pabbie interrupted, "Sadness" came the Queens reply "and remorse. Like she did not wish to be there."
Pabbie nodded and motioned for Elsa to follow as he made his way to the window.
In the small training yard that lay just outside of the mansion, Anna danced in elegant circles, her training sword swishing before with practised ease. Her movements were so smooth and fluid, that to Elsa they seemed more a kin to those of a ballroom dance than those of swordplay. She felt her heart skip a beat when from around the corner of the mansion, charged a small group of children. They circled the ginger assassin and with a shout from one of the boy, they launched their attack. They latched onto her legs and jumped u onto her back, pulling faces. It wasn't long before the infamous Sparrowhawk was face down in the dirt, the children laughing and cheering over their victory. Anna stood and threw her head back and laughed before chasing after the children, who took off giggling with glee.
Elsa could barely suppress the smile that threatened to stretch across her face. "I don't understand. How can this girl, be the same feared assassin the reports tell of?" none of this made any sense. "Anna, she has her own way of dealing with the horrors she has committed. Whatever they be, they allow her to be both Anna and Sparrowhawk." He smiled softly as they watched Anna continue chasing the children. "She chose this life" he sighed, "Chose it? Who would choose this?", "Anna would and did."
He turned and leveled his gaze on the queen "I would ask that you do not judge her by what she has done, and I can promise you that she will do the same." Elsa narrowed her eyes at this "and what, Grandmaster, do you mean by that?" she demanded. He merely smiled his kind smile and gently told hold of her gloved hands "Secrets are not always as secret as one may think in this place." With that he moved back to his desk and once again took his seat.
"There, now that those pleasantries are out of the way, we may continue. I would ask a favour of you before we get down to the creating of your contract.", "My contract?" the queen questioned as she to return to the desk. "But of course, if you plan on hiring my little Sparrowhawk, we will need to write a contract out lining her services. It is only good business." She supposed that that made sense and nodded "Very well, and what of this favour?", "Well it seems to be in bad taste for us to draw up a contract for her without her approval. Would you mind going and collecting her?" he tapped his knee "I'm afraid my old knees don't quite agree with the effort of tracking that girl down."
With a sigh, Elsa agreed. It couldn't be that hard, the Sparrowhawk had been in the training ground, but when she finally made it out into the yard, all traces of the ginger haired woman had vanished. The only sign that she had been there at all, was the abandoned training sword. Elsa clenched her jaw, feeling tricked. Maybe this wouldn't be as easy as she had hoped.