Chapter Three

Lady Kirstine von Weselton

Elsa changed into her ice dress.

It was very much a strategic decision on her part. Kai had said Lady Kirstine was confident. Well, she would meet that confidence with confidence. There could be no sign of weakness, no hint of anything to indicate that she was nervous. Which, of course, she was.

What is her game? What trump card does she think she has? No matter- I'll find out soon enough.

Seated upon her throne, Elsa waited. The servants had gone to inform the lady that she had been summoned. In the precious seconds that remained before she was no longer alone, the queen of Arendelle allowed herself to fall into speculation, to conjure phantoms before her eyes, each fearsome ghoul the imagined face behind the mask that was the face of the Duke of Weselton's eldest daughter.

Stop that! she told herself. You haven't even seen her yet.

Yet the visions flashed before her eyes, metaphors for the fear that the duke's choice of messenger heralded something deadly, something devious.

"Your majesty."

She jerked her head up at the announcement: "The Lady Kirstine von Weselton."

The servant stepped aside, allowing the woman in question to enter the throne room.

Elsa eyed Lady Kirstine carefully. The lady wore her brown hair in ringlets; her green eyes seemed especially keen. Her physiognomy, Elsa judged, was that of a woman who, while not uncaring, was not unused to the harder realities of life.

She doesn't look malevolent. But then, neither did Hans. Don't rely too much on appearances.

With a gesture of her hand, Elsa dismissed the servant. Then, to Lady Kirstine, she said: "Approach." Kirstine did so.

"I understand you come from his Grace, the Duke of Weselton?"

Kirstine responded at once.

"I have," she said. "I come with tidings from my nation, and a fervent request."

Tidings? That's new. I expected the request. But- tidings?

"Yes, go on," Elsa said aloud.

"I'm going to suppose the news hasn't reached you," said Kirstine.

"News?"

In spite of herself, Elsa could not prevent a note of nervous curiosity from creeping into her voice. From Kirstine's expression, she knew that the lady had not failed to make note of it. Stop that! Stop it.

"Then you have not heard?" Kirstine continued. "You have not heard of the deep sorrows of my people?"

Sorrows? What-? How-?

"You have not heard of the economic disaster in Weselton? Of the crop failure? Of the travails of the merchants?"

"What are you saying?"

The comment was spontaneous, laced with shock.

She's scored a point against me. Why must I lose my composure?

"Economic disaster," Kirstine repeated. "Yes, I know what you must be thinking- I am quite free with the reality of our situation. I expose myself."

"I do wonder at that," Elsa admitted.

"Yet I must risk all. My mission is desperate, a last throw of the dice. You have refused all our overtures for a resumption of trade-"

"And you know why," Elsa interjected.

"But I beg you," Kirstine continued, "relent. We were hard hit by the embargo. Arendelle's trade was essential to the economy. Now businesses are failing. Families are being turned out into the streets. And with the recent crop failure, our suffering is compounded. We have a humanitarian disaster on our hands."

Lady Kirstine's eyes lit up. "But you can help us. Your reputation precedes you. You are not unkind, you are not cruel."

"This is blackmail isn't it?"

Kirstine started. "Blackmail? Come to Weselton, your majesty. Come and see the pitiful sights, and tell me that I am not sincere."

Elsa gripped the armrests of her throne tightly with her fingers. She closed her eyes.

All the signs of emotional blackmail are here. But if she's telling the truth...does that matter? Is punishing the duke really more important than the welfare of others?

"Your majesty," said Kirstine. "If it eases your mind…I never had to tell you any of this. I could have threatened retaliation. I could have hidden the truth- pretended Weselton was stronger than it is. Instead, I chose to tell you the truth…because I believe you are a good person."

"I've never met you before today," said Elsa. "You don't know me."

"I know what I have heard, what I have seen. Arendelle is at peace, it is prosperous. Its people are happy." She sighed. "I want my people to have the same happiness…and so does my father."

At this, Elsa opened her eyes again. That makes sense. He needs the support of his people.

His people.

Elsa looked Kirstine full in the face, searching for any sign of a hidden motivation, any indication of exaggeration or scheming on her part.

I can't read her. I'd like to think she cares, though she's laying it on pretty thick. But then again, she may just be a passionate person. There are times when I can relate to that.

"I'll go," Elsa said at last. "I'll see these sorrows in person. And I am willing to negotiate. But I must warn you- I cannot guarantee a settlement."

"Your willingness is enough for now," Kirstine replied. "When the time comes, you will see that Weselton can be reasonable."

When the time comes…oh yes, when the time comes, I've no doubt that Rudolph will be very reasonable. So reasonable, in fact, that if I'm not careful, he'll make the most unfavorable terms for Arendelle seem very reasonable indeed.

I begin to wonder, Lady Kirstine, if your father made your care and concern his tool? He counted on you persuading me. And he was right to do so.

"You may go," Elsa said. "Tell his grace that I will be in Weselton within a fortnight."

Lady Kirstine bowed and exited the throne room.

I can't stand suffering, pain. I can't stand unhappiness. They know that. They exploited it. Yet I couldn't help myself.

Why can't politics ever be simple?

Noticing that her hands were still gripping the throne's arm rests, Elsa released her hold on them. Where her fingertips had rested, the throne was coated with ice.