Chapter 7 – Runaway
"How much personal contact have you had with former Councilor Gerhard?" Councilor Vilrun asked Guardsman Oslin. He was nearing the end of a long list of questions they were putting to each guardsman individually about any ties they may have had to the traitorous former councilor.
"I've been a Castle Guardsman for eighteen years. In that time, I've spoken to Lord Councilor Gerhard only twice," Oslin stated. His close set eyes didn't blink as he pressed his narrow lips together under a bulbous nose. He was telling the truth. The part he left out was that both of those conversations had happened after Queen Elsa's coronation and the freeze.
The question Vilrun didn't ask, and that Oslin didn't answer, was how Queen Elsa's ice storm had affected him personally. His son was dead because of the queen. Already ailing with a lung infection, his son didn't survive the cold snap; they hadn't had firewood stacked in the summertime. Oslin hadn't even been there when he died. He'd accompanied Lord Councilor Bern and Lieutenant Almar on the rescue party when they found the queen in that palace of ice up the North Mountain. He'd helped save her life at the same time she'd killed his son. His presence on that excursion lent a sheen of sincerity to his declaration of loyalty for the queen.
"Approved?" Captain Torvin suggested. When Vilrun nodded, Torvin added Oslin's name to the list of guardsmen who could serve as bodyguards for the queen and princess.
The door opened and Lieutenant Almar came in. In his mid-thirties and of middle height, he'd devoted his life to his career. He was the squadron leader for the Castle Guards who would form the corps of bodyguards. "I beg your pardon at the interruption, but Princess Anna is missing."
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Anna didn't sleep very well that night, nightmares of Prince Hans kept breaking in. She got out of bed earlier than usual and slipped out of the castle's open gates, wondering how long it would be before Elsa ordered them closed against the threats they'd discussed at yesterday's council meeting. At the back of her mind was the fear that this would be the last time she would be able to simply go where she pleased. She wanted to tell Kristoff that Hans was dead and listen to him tell her that there wasn't anything to worry about; Hans wouldn't come back and haunt her.
The marketplace was all but deserted. There was no one in the ice shed. Kristoff's sled was gone. Again, he'd left without any warning and she had no idea when he would come back. She recalled her resolve from the other day to let Kristoff be independent and refused to let herself be irritated.
"Good morning, Princess. If you're looking for Kristoff, they've gone to put the freeze lines in the lakes." It was Tyra, the flower girl she'd met two days ago.
Anna turned. "Good morning, Tyra. Are you still here?"
"Some days I don't mind a chance to be out of the house," Tyra said. "I don't think I'll sell much today, but it's quieter here than at home."
"What are freeze lines?" Anna asked.
"They're the cutting guides they put in the water before the hard freeze sets in. You know the ice blocks have to be perfectly square or they can't stack a full load. That's what the freeze lines are for," Tyra said.
"I didn't know that," Anna said. Ice harvesting was Kristoff's life, and she'd never asked him one question about what he did other than to whine about when he was coming back.
"It doesn't take them long, just a week or so," Tyra said.
"How long have you been selling flowers, Tyra?" Anna asked. She may as well get to know her, since she was planning to be godmother to all her children, including that daughter who would be named Anna.
Tyra was happy to have someone to talk to. They talked about flowers, Kristoff, Tyra's family, winter, Kristoff again, dresses, being a princess, the farm Tyra used to live on before her father's accident, more about Kristoff, life in the village, life in the castle, and Kristoff. Anna was giggling and happy and wishing she'd met Tyra years ago. While it was wonderful to have a sister again, Elsa was not the chatty type. Tyra could talk about a brick and make it interesting.
"Will you and the queen come to the village Christmas party this year?" Tyra asked. "I sell holly and mistletoe, and there's music and dancing and food in the Village Green. It's the happiest day of the winter."
"I would love that! The castle was always somber and quiet on Christmas. We would light a candle for the Christ child at morning services, and then spend the rest of the day waiting for the feast in the evening," Anna said.
"Then you have to come! Do you dance?" Tyra asked.
"Yes!" And they talked for another hour about dancing. Then they walked to the bakery together and bought currant rolls.
They linked arms and were strolling through the streets when Anna heard someone say, "Your Highness." The voice was flat with displeasure.
"Oh. Hello Captain Torvin," Anna said. Captain Torvin was accompanied by four other Castle Guards. Anna swallowed her last bite of currant roll and licked the jam off her thumb.
"There was some concern about your disappearance," Torvin said.
"I didn't mean to be gone so long," Anna offered.
Torvin merely looked more disapproving.
Anna hugged Tyra and whispered in her ear, "I have to go. It was lovely to talk to you. We'll have to see each other again soon."
Tyra hugged her back. "Yes, of course."
Anna tried to look appropriately remorseful to appease Captain Torvin as they escorted her back to the castle, but she couldn't do it. Her steps were bouncing and she couldn't keep from smiling. She'd kept her resolve to put Kristoff's needs ahead of her own and it had resulted in a surge of emotional strength that had made it sincere instead of reluctant. She was genuinely happy that he liked what he did for a living and that he had a friend like Tyra. Her heart had learned to let Kristoff be Kristoff after all. She hadn't expected that to make her so happy. Olaf would be proud of her and she couldn't wait to tell him.
She hadn't gotten to talk about Prince Hans and it didn't even matter anymore. He was dead and she was done with him. True love was such a strong feeling, nothing at all like the needy weakness that had left her vulnerable to Hans' manipulation.
Author Note: Short chapter; the next one is longer. The posting schedule is Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. Thank you to the readers who leave reviews. That makes my day. :)
