The Scourge of Arendelle Chapter IV: One Year Hence

(Anna POV)

A brisk and warm summer wind did sweep through the unfastened window ruffling the black curtains that decorated it's lavish windowsill, knocking a small stack of papers of a wooden desk that rested under the sill, scattering them across the otherwise orderly room.

Slumbering peacefully in her lavish bed Anna princess of Arendelle was utterly oblivious to the comings and goings of the outside world. Her splendiferous brown hair tattered and ungroomed.

She snored clamorously as she tossed and turned from side to side as if reacting to some sort of unseen stimulant, in the end she jolted awake bolting upright in her bed. A cold sweat trickled down her pallid skin descending and landing on the linen sheets below.

This had become a far to ordinary occurrence, the terror obligated her to scan the room in frenzy before quelling her frantic mind to a lulling rest. She was never one to remember her dreams however this one was far more vivid than any that came before.

She had envisioned Elsa kneeling crippled at the feet of a monstrous towering prince Hans, his stainless steel blade glistening as it smoked in the frigidity of the winter dusk, he muttered words that she could not make out and than proceeded to run his sword clean through her sister killing her.

Anna felt the shivery winds of winter splitting and tearing at her fleecy fleshy skin, the rotten stench of fresh blood filling her nostrils as intense nausea overcame her. It had been one year hence this very day, one year since the most monstrous schemes of the villainous Hans became unearthed.

A sense of concordance had fell over every aspect of the young princesses life, she was madly in love with her partner and soon to be husband Kristoff, Arendelle was prosperous and it's citizens never lacking in smiles and laugher.

Most importantly the anxiety and distance that pooled to form a wall that separated Anna and Elsa had vanished with haste, in just the last year she had partaken in more sisterly bonding than at any point in her entire little life.

A most grandiose festival was to be held in the Arendelle square this evening in honour of the princess Anna and the wintry queen Elsa all of this in hope for the continued good fortune of Arendelle.

Stocks of pork, beef, and chicken alongside countless quantities of wine were destined to arrive in port today, numerous preparations were yet to be made and a myriad of affairs yet to be attended.

Excersing all her mental might Anna tried in earnest to not dwell on the sinister foreboding imagery that appeared like a raging sky of blackest cloud and lightning smirching her otherwise cheery life.

With no time for lollygaging the princess smacked her cheeks in a gentalmanner, liberating her from the incapacitating anxiety that festered and grew inside the deepest fissures of her psyche. Leaping from her bed hair in tatters and disarray princess Anna greeted the dawn of a fresh new day.

Anna stripped, discarding her sleepwear in favour of more presentable clothing, a elegant blue sleeved shirt under a black vest with golden trimmings and a majestic scarlet skirt that covered her reaching to her feet.

Pushing the closed windows open wide with a formidable thrust Anna smiled radiantly as she allowed herself to be enveloped by the glaring sunlight of a crisp morn. Basking in the enticing glow Anna felt the ominous nightmare that plagued her head being pulled down into the murkiest corners of her mind.

Dashing through the narrow corridors and miniature hallways that cluttered their residence with clumsy swiftness, weaving and navigating the twists and turns, than sliding down the rail that ran the length of the ever coiling staircase.

Reflecting on the sheer plethora of tasks that must be seen to completion before the timely arrive of dusk, Anna knew now more than ever that narrowing her focal point would be essential. Elsa had named her the chief coordinator of the restoration festival.

In essence the job entailed little more than the overseeing of all parties participating in the organising and erecting the festivities and to keep the peace so as the evening might flow smoothly.

Elsa was delusional, Anna thought musing to herself as she considered whether her sister might be aware that she's not the most reliable person, regarding matters of this nature. Surely their were those more apt with skills suited better to handle such crucial responsibilities than herself.

Never the less as it where the obligations of a princess are often vast, time consuming and always seem to take sterling delectation at exhausting said princess of all the vigour she might had once held.

The first and most pressing agenda on her hit-list today was paying a cheery visit to the suppliers of liquid refreshment, She had to check in with the wine masters to assure that the mouths of Arendelle citizens never parch or wither during the span of the festivals life.

The balloon makers were to follow, than the cooks, the list was without an end and that was only scratching a fraction of the stupendous surface, though the work was soul shattering and gruelling Anna could do little more than take solace in the fact that all were being worked to the barest bone.

Kristina had been whisked into the depths of the snowy mountains to secure an absurd amount of ice it seemed a little unnecessary considering Elsa's more glacial talents but for the moment the queen desired to keep the exercising of the aforementioned abilities on the down low.

Anna ran and twirled through the large gates entering the bustling public square that was alive and thriving with energy and life, hundreds of breathing humans going about their day though all willing to pitch in to see the events ran according to plan.

That was one of the innumerable perks of calling the kingdom of Arendelle home, the populace was amiable and bursting with warmth and genuine kindness. Not the most gainful domain but an earnest, hospitable one to be sure.

The kitchens had been slaving tirelessly, the purveyor of spirited sky illuminating fire works were beyond considerable supplying them without enough sky fire to last ten evenings. Everyone man, women or child seemed eager to play their respective parts.

All seemed flourishing within the placid kingdom of Arendelle, a sense of pleasance and concord had fallen over all who dwelled inside it's storied boulder walls. Still the unbearable nightmares of days long since past remained, lingering over her like an old baleful spectre.

The day she almost lost everything her life and her sisters still burned vividly in her minds eye, the stench of fright, the glacial winter snowfall and the woeful tongue of prince Hans still replay anew in the blackest crevices of her nose and ears.

That is precisely why the first of what is ideally countless prosperity festivals simply must be a most arresting showcase of illustrious ebullience. A reminder of the resilience and perseverance of her sisters sensational subjects.

As the bustling streets and tireless labour came to a grinding stillness the people of Arendelle, especially Anna herself expressed an expansive collective sigh of felicity and contentment, marvelling at what they had so spiritedly brought to fruition.

The idyllic lukewarm air of night descended upon them they basked in a short but potent sense of unsullied happiness, much to her own surprise Anna found that it was herself who bore the widest smile of them all.

Tearing herself from a soft minute of absent-minded dreaming, Anna emptied her mind cleansing it of all inessential thoughts, so that she might better direct her focus towards the singular task that desperately required her tending.

Since the most crucial entry on her infinitely enlarging to do list yet remained, her meeting with the queen and her most cherished sister, Elsa. Keeping the queen waiting isn't part of her agenda.

so it was with a restful yawn, that Anna returned to the inviting castle the both called home.

Walking briskly through the winding streets and sprawling city squares of the capital waving and exchanging smiles with all whom passed her, Anna quickly found herself gazing upon freshly polished gates of the castle.

" Well, I better get a move on, I remember the last time I earned Elsa's ire" Anna shivered at the very thought of the last argument the pair had shared, the day she had so unwisely professed her intent on marrying the brutish prince Hans, the day her sisters gifts rose to the surface for all to witness.

As she made her way up the steps her weary eyes were greeted by a most unsuspected spectacle, Elsa standing still in all her elegance and grace, her arms crossed in conservative vexation. Anna gulped at the conversation that was bound to take place soon enough.

Anna slouched her shoulders desperately trying set a nonchalant tone, "Good afternoon, Sweet Sister, how's the day gone for you, resplendent I assume." Elsa's austere face was unshifting eyes glowering at the sight of her awkwardly upbeat sibling.

" Do have the faintest notion of the time, sister?." the queen enquired, her tone of voice unflinching and more frigid than winters resentful chill. Anna shrugged abysmally lowering her shoulders and easing her arms as her facial expression melted into a lour of lament and dramatic repentance.

"I'm terribly sorry, my queen. There was much today that needed a princesses attention, I have displeased you than please except this most authentic alibi." Elsa remained voiceless her eyes loitered on Anna in all her bumbling anxiousness.

" Come, let' have ourselves a little walk, shall we...sister." Elsa spoke her voice refusing to alter in it's sharpness, Anna dared not to refuse a request from the queen. So it was without a word Anna followed the queen even in the face of uncertainty she was beside her with merriment at the notion of cherishing quality time with her dearest Elsa.

END Chapter IV